My ears perk up whenever I hear anything about Cass Sunstein, so this video caught my attention. This blog has discussed Czar Sunstein on a previous occasion (FLASHBACK: Cass Sunstein Says Wikileaks Was Founded by Dissidents in China and Other Nations (2007)), so please feel free to brief yourself on that article too. I am also posting the above video, because I love when Luke Rudkowski confronts these political types like Zbigniew Brzezinski and Van Jones.
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Monday, February 06, 2012
President Obama Signs Executive Order Freezing All Iranian Government Assets Held in US Banks
File Photo of Iran Central Bank in Tehran (Subject to license)
It seems like the long-threatened war with Iran is going to happen at some point soon. There is simply too much saber-rattling for it not to happen. Case in point, the latest executive order from President Obama that freezes Iranian assets in US banks. Once money is frozen, it usually isn't too long before the bombs will be falling!
Please note that there is no Executive Order number yet, but I will add it when it is actually published.
###
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 06, 2012
Executive Order -- Blocking Property of the Government of Iran and Iranian Financial Institutions
EXECUTIVE ORDER
- - - - - - -
BLOCKING PROPERTY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN AND IRANIAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112-81) (NDAA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957 of March 15, 1995, particularly in light of the deceptive practices of the Central Bank of Iran and other Iranian banks to conceal transactions of sanctioned parties, the deficiencies in Iran's anti-money laundering regime and the weaknesses in its implementation, and the continuing and unacceptable risk posed to the international financial system by Iran's activities, hereby order:
Section 1
(a) All property and interests in property of the Government of Iran, including the Central Bank of Iran, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person, including any foreign branch, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.
(b) All property and interests in property of any Iranian financial institution, including the Central Bank of Iran, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person, including any foreign branch, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.
(c) All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person, including any foreign branch, of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.
Section 2
I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type of articles specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to section 1 of this order would seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by section 1 of this order.
Section 3
The prohibitions in section 1 of this order include but are not limited to: (a) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; and
(b) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
Section 4
(a) The prohibitions in section 1 of this order apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date of this order.
(b) The prohibitions in section 1 of this order do not apply to property and interests in property of the Government of Iran that were blocked pursuant to Executive Order 12170 of November 14, 1979, and thereafter made subject to the transfer directives set forth in Executive Order 12281 of January 19, 1981, and implementing regulations thereunder.
Section 5
(a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
Section 6
Nothing in section 1 of this order shall prohibit transactions for the conduct of the official business of the Federal Government by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof.
Section 7
For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term "person" means an individual or entity;
(b) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
(c) the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States;
(d) the term "Government of Iran" means the Government of Iran, any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including the Central Bank of Iran, and any person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, the Government of Iran;
(e) the term "Iran" means the territory of Iran and any other territory or marine area, including the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, over which the Government of Iran claims sovereignty, sovereign rights, or jurisdiction, provided that the Government of Iran exercises partial or total de facto control over the area or derives a benefit from economic activity in the area pursuant to international arrangements; and
(f) the term "Iranian financial institution" means a financial institution organized under the laws of Iran or any jurisdiction within Iran (including foreign branches), any financial institution in Iran, any financial institution, wherever located, owned or controlled by the Government of Iran, and any financial institution, wherever located, owned or controlled by any of the foregoing.
Section 8
For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render those measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957, there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to section 1 of this order.
Section 9
The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order, other than the purposes described in section 11. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions and authorities to other officers and agencies of the United States Government consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order.
Section 10
The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President by section 1245(d)(1)(A) of the NDAA and to redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby further authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President by section 1245(g)(1) of the NDAA to the extent necessary to exercise the other functions and authorities delegated in this section and may redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law.
Section 11
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of National Intelligence, is hereby authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President by section 1245(d)(4)(D) of the NDAA and to redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, is hereby further authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President by sections 1245(e)(1) and 1245(e)(2) of the NDAA and to redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, is hereby further authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President by section 1245(g)(1) of the NDAA to the extent necessary to exercise the other functions and authorities delegated in this section and may redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law.
Section 12
This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Section 13
The measures taken pursuant to this order are in response to actions of the Government of Iran occurring after the conclusion of the 1981 Algiers Accords, and are intended solely as a response to those later actions.
Section 14
This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on February 6, 2012.
BARACK OBAMA
Please note that there is no Executive Order number yet, but I will add it when it is actually published.
###
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 06, 2012
Executive Order -- Blocking Property of the Government of Iran and Iranian Financial Institutions
EXECUTIVE ORDER
- - - - - - -
BLOCKING PROPERTY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN AND IRANIAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112-81) (NDAA), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957 of March 15, 1995, particularly in light of the deceptive practices of the Central Bank of Iran and other Iranian banks to conceal transactions of sanctioned parties, the deficiencies in Iran's anti-money laundering regime and the weaknesses in its implementation, and the continuing and unacceptable risk posed to the international financial system by Iran's activities, hereby order:
Section 1
(a) All property and interests in property of the Government of Iran, including the Central Bank of Iran, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person, including any foreign branch, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.
(b) All property and interests in property of any Iranian financial institution, including the Central Bank of Iran, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person, including any foreign branch, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in.
(c) All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of any United States person, including any foreign branch, of the following persons are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.
Section 2
I hereby determine that the making of donations of the type of articles specified in section 203(b)(2) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(2)) by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to section 1 of this order would seriously impair my ability to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957, and I hereby prohibit such donations as provided by section 1 of this order.
Section 3
The prohibitions in section 1 of this order include but are not limited to: (a) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; and
(b) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
Section 4
(a) The prohibitions in section 1 of this order apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date of this order.
(b) The prohibitions in section 1 of this order do not apply to property and interests in property of the Government of Iran that were blocked pursuant to Executive Order 12170 of November 14, 1979, and thereafter made subject to the transfer directives set forth in Executive Order 12281 of January 19, 1981, and implementing regulations thereunder.
Section 5
(a) Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
(b) Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.
Section 6
Nothing in section 1 of this order shall prohibit transactions for the conduct of the official business of the Federal Government by employees, grantees, or contractors thereof.
Section 7
For the purposes of this order:
(a) the term "person" means an individual or entity;
(b) the term "entity" means a partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization;
(c) the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States;
(d) the term "Government of Iran" means the Government of Iran, any political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including the Central Bank of Iran, and any person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, the Government of Iran;
(e) the term "Iran" means the territory of Iran and any other territory or marine area, including the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, over which the Government of Iran claims sovereignty, sovereign rights, or jurisdiction, provided that the Government of Iran exercises partial or total de facto control over the area or derives a benefit from economic activity in the area pursuant to international arrangements; and
(f) the term "Iranian financial institution" means a financial institution organized under the laws of Iran or any jurisdiction within Iran (including foreign branches), any financial institution in Iran, any financial institution, wherever located, owned or controlled by the Government of Iran, and any financial institution, wherever located, owned or controlled by any of the foregoing.
Section 8
For those persons whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order who might have a constitutional presence in the United States, I find that because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render those measures ineffectual. I therefore determine that for these measures to be effective in addressing the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957, there need be no prior notice of a listing or determination made pursuant to section 1 of this order.
Section 9
The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order, other than the purposes described in section 11. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions and authorities to other officers and agencies of the United States Government consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order.
Section 10
The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President by section 1245(d)(1)(A) of the NDAA and to redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is hereby further authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President by section 1245(g)(1) of the NDAA to the extent necessary to exercise the other functions and authorities delegated in this section and may redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law.
Section 11
The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Energy, and the Director of National Intelligence, is hereby authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President by section 1245(d)(4)(D) of the NDAA and to redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, is hereby further authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President by sections 1245(e)(1) and 1245(e)(2) of the NDAA and to redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law. The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, is hereby further authorized to exercise the functions and authorities conferred upon the President by section 1245(g)(1) of the NDAA to the extent necessary to exercise the other functions and authorities delegated in this section and may redelegate these functions and authorities consistent with applicable law.
Section 12
This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
Section 13
The measures taken pursuant to this order are in response to actions of the Government of Iran occurring after the conclusion of the 1981 Algiers Accords, and are intended solely as a response to those later actions.
Section 14
This order is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on February 6, 2012.
BARACK OBAMA
Monday, March 21, 2011
First Documentary about Frank Marshall Davis (Rises & Roses)
This is the first documentary that I have ever seen on Frank Marshall Davis. I actually have his biography which I need to read sometime soon. If you cannot view the videos above, here are the videos in their respective parts.
For further reading:
Sunday, February 20, 2011
FCC to Air First-Ever Presidential Alert on Nation's Emergency Alert System
When I did radio in Santa Barbara, there was a protocol in place to conduct emergency broadcast transmissions and the radio station (per the FCC) required that the DJs conduct regular tests of the system. I don't recall ever transmitting an emergency broadcast, but I certainly conducted tests that usually only took a minute or two. President Obama's administration is taking it a step further and will broadcast an actual Presidential Alert on this system for the first time ever.
###
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NEWS MEDIA
CONTACT:
February 3, 2011
Robert Kenny: 202-418-0506
Washington D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission today took action to help pave the way for the first-ever Presidential alert to be aired across the United States on the Nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS).
The national test will help determine the reliability of the EAS system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential danger nationwide and regionally.
The FCC voted unanimously to adopt a Third Report and Order that sets forth rules that will facilitate the federal government’s efforts to conduct a national EAS test by transmitting a Presidential Alert from Washington, D.C. to television and radio broadcasters, cable systems and satellite service providers who will then deliver the alert to the American public.
The test will assist the FCC, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS), with assessing the current system and better determining what improvements need to be made to further strengthen the Nation’s EAS, particularly as broadband technologies continue to emerge. Although the date for the National EAS test has yet to be determined, establishing the rules is an important first step in the process.
As Next Generation EAS systems become operational over the next few years, they will complement other public alert and warning systems now being developed, including FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and the Commercial Mobile Alert System that will enable consumers to receive alerts through a variety of multi-media platforms on their smart-phones, blackberries and other mobile broadband devices.
The national test will require EAS participants to be part of the exercise and to receive and transmit a live code that includes a Presidential alert message to their respective viewers and listeners. The FCC, FEMA and NWS, in coordination with EAS participants, will work together to launch a nationwide EAS Public Education and Awareness Campaign that will include press statements, workshops, regional outreach, and television and radio public service announcements targeted to consumers in general, and more specifically persons with disabilities and seniors, as well as first responders and state, local and tribal governments. The outreach will help ensure that the American public is aware that the national test will be conducted and the benefits of these kinds of public alerts in a real emergency.
Action by the Commission, February 3, 2011, by Third Report and Order (FCC 11-12). Chairman Genachowski, and Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker. EB Docket No. 04-296.
For additional information about the Third Report and Order please contact Lisa Fowlkes, Deputy Chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), at 202-418-7452 or via email: lisa.fowlkes@fcc.gov; or Gregory Cooke, Associate Chief, Policy Division, PSHSB, at 202-418-2351 or via email: gregory.cooke@fcc.gov.
NEWS
News media Information 202 / 418-0500
Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830
TTY 202/418-2555
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C. 20554
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
President Obama Wants an Internet ID for All Americans (Secretary Locke's Remarks at National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace 2011)
While the government currently has the ability to track, trace and database a person's Internet usage, it cannot do so as easily when a person uses the Internet from work or from a public Internet terminal. However, a universal Internet ID eliminates this potential tracking issue, because the Internet ID would be unique to each individual Internet user in the United States of America. The White House now wants everyone to have an Internet ID. No word on what happens when a person's Internet ID is hacked or identity-jacked by nefarious parties to do evil deeds.
Source: NBC Bay Area ; White House - Cyberspace Policy Review: Assuring a Trusted and Resilient Information and Communications Infrastructure
###
The remarks were made by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) at Stanford University on January 7, 2011. A transcript of the event can be viewed through Google Documents (an excerpt is below) and the highlighted portion below can be viewed at the 08:55 mark in the above video.
"We are not talking about a government-controlled system. What we are talking about is enhancing online security and privacy, and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorize a dozen passwords, through creation and use of more trusted digital identities," Locke continued.
Source: NBC Bay Area ; White House - Cyberspace Policy Review: Assuring a Trusted and Resilient Information and Communications Infrastructure
###
The remarks were made by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke at the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC) at Stanford University on January 7, 2011. A transcript of the event can be viewed through Google Documents (an excerpt is below) and the highlighted portion below can be viewed at the 08:55 mark in the above video.
To help meet these challenges, the Obama administration recently released a comprehensive cyberspace policy review outlining a series of necessary actions by the public and private sector including improving identity solutions, identity management services, and privacy enhancing technologies. This review has helped to lay the groundwork for the administrations forthcoming national strategy for trusted I'dties in cyberspace, or NSTIC. The final version of this strategy will be signed by the president in the coming mods and Howard Schmidt will be from the White House will be talking more about this in just a few minutes. And many of you are familiar with the public draft release this past summer, and many of you participated in the open public process with comments on the strategy and we very much want to thank you for your thoughts and your recommendations. The end game of course, is to create an identity ecosystem where individuals and organizations can complete on-line transactions with greater confidence. Putting greater trust in the on-line identities of each other, and greater trust in the infrastructure that the transactions run over. Let's be clear, we're not talking about a national ID card. We're [not] talking about a government controlled system. But what we are talking about is enhancing on-line security and privacy and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorizing a dozen password through the creation and use of more trusted digital I'dties. To accomplish this, we're going to need your help. And we need the private sector's expertise and involvement in designing, building and implementing this identity ecosystem. To succeed we'll also need a national program office at the Department of Commerce focused on implementing our trusted I'dties strategy. The commerce department already has an expensive experience in this realm. Last April for instance we launched an inter net policy task force to address the most pressing Internet issues of the day. The task force was made up of experts from a contrast the department, experts in trade policy, intellectual property, information policy, Cybersecurity, and standards. And the task force is working on develop Cybersecurity policy recommendations for the commercial sector, as well as policy recommendations on other Internet issues like privacy, copy right protection, and international eCommerce. We've reached out expensively for public comments on all these topics and the task force just last month released initial recommendation for strengthening on-line privacy protection. The commerce department has the National Institute of Standards and Technology, one of the preeminent laboratories within the Federal Government that's part of the commerce department. It also has significant long standing investments in Cybersecurity R&D and in standard dags programs. And all of this experience can help a new program office be effective facilitators for both government and private sector engagement and indeed private sector leadership. In the end, we want to build consensus on legal and policy frame works necessary to make the trusted I'dties strategy successful, including ways to enhance privacy, free expression and open markets. We want to work with industry to identify where new standards or collaborative efforts may be needed and we want to support inner governmental collaboration and we want to support important pilot projects. These are important undertakings. And today's symposium and today's announcement is just an early step in a much longer journey. Of course, we all know that these pilot projects, any follow-on commercial deployments and the immersed ens of an identity ecosystem itself will not be a pan see a. There is no magic bullet to solve all the Cybersecurity issued out there. ( However we do know that robust identity solutions can substantially enhance the trustworthiness of on-line transactions. And they not only can improve security, but if done properly, can enhance privacy as well. Such an I'd identity ecosystem must be led by people that made Internet the Internet what it is today. That's why Howard and and Pat Gallagher our. Have come to Silicon Valley, which remains an epi center of American in in ovation and entrepreneur and Pat's going to be here for the rest of the day to talk more about our efforts but also to gather input from all of you.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
FLASHBACK: Body Scanner Manufacturer-CEO Travels in President Obama's Entourage to India
Please take note of CEO Deepak Chopra as my next few blog postings will focus on his company and the TSA body scanning machines that are being introduced throughout the country. For the record, Mr. Chopra recently accompanied President Obama on the recent Presidential visit to India.
###
OSI Systems Chief Executive Officer Joins US Presidential Visit to India
HAWTHORNE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- OSI Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIS), a vertically-integrated provider of specialized electronic products for critical applications in the Security and Healthcare industries, today announced that Deepak Chopra, Chairman and CEO, was selected to accompany US President, Barack Obama, to Mumbai and attended the US India Business Entrepreneurship meeting, which was held by the US India Business Council (US IBC). The goal of the meeting was to promote further trade between US and India.
Deepak Chopra, OSI Systems President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "I am honored to be selected to play a role in this very important cause. Currently the trade between US and India is only one tenth of the amount of trade between US and China. There is substantial opportunity to improve the trade relations with India for mutual economic gain."
The US India Business Council is a business advocacy organization representing America's top companies investing in India, joined by global Indian companies, with an aim to deepen trade and strengthen commercial ties.
About OSI Systems, Inc.
OSI Systems, Inc. is a vertically integrated designer and manufacturer of specialized electronic systems and components for critical applications in the homeland security, healthcare, defense and aerospace industries. We combine more than 30 years of electronics engineering and manufacturing experience with offices and production facilities in more than a dozen countries to implement a strategy of expansion into selective end product markets. For more information on OSI Systems Inc. or any of its subsidiary companies, visit www.osi-systems.com. News Filter: OSIS-G
OSI Systems Inc
Ajay Vashishat
Vice President, Business Development
310-349-2237
avashishat@osi-systems.com
Source: OSI Systems, Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media
###
OSI Systems Chief Executive Officer Joins US Presidential Visit to India
HAWTHORNE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- OSI Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIS), a vertically-integrated provider of specialized electronic products for critical applications in the Security and Healthcare industries, today announced that Deepak Chopra, Chairman and CEO, was selected to accompany US President, Barack Obama, to Mumbai and attended the US India Business Entrepreneurship meeting, which was held by the US India Business Council (US IBC). The goal of the meeting was to promote further trade between US and India.
Deepak Chopra, OSI Systems President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "I am honored to be selected to play a role in this very important cause. Currently the trade between US and India is only one tenth of the amount of trade between US and China. There is substantial opportunity to improve the trade relations with India for mutual economic gain."
The US India Business Council is a business advocacy organization representing America's top companies investing in India, joined by global Indian companies, with an aim to deepen trade and strengthen commercial ties.
About OSI Systems, Inc.
OSI Systems, Inc. is a vertically integrated designer and manufacturer of specialized electronic systems and components for critical applications in the homeland security, healthcare, defense and aerospace industries. We combine more than 30 years of electronics engineering and manufacturing experience with offices and production facilities in more than a dozen countries to implement a strategy of expansion into selective end product markets. For more information on OSI Systems Inc. or any of its subsidiary companies, visit www.osi-systems.com. News Filter: OSIS-G
OSI Systems Inc
Ajay Vashishat
Vice President, Business Development
310-349-2237
avashishat@osi-systems.com
Source: OSI Systems, Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media
Monday, October 11, 2010
FLASHBACK: President Obama Authorizes $20.3 Million from U.S. Emergency Refugee & Migration Assistance Fund to Address Palestinian Humanitarian Needs
Per the U.S. State Department (thanks, Hillary), see below.
###
United States Humanitarian Support to Palestinians
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
January 30, 2009
January 30, 2009
President Barack Obama has authorized the use of $20.3 million from the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA) Fund to address critical post-conflict humanitarian needs in Gaza. U.S. Government support for humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees and conflict victims now totals nearly $120 million in FY 2009, including nearly $60 million in Gaza.
Of the $20.3 million in new ERMA funds, $13.5 million will go to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), $6 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and $800,000 to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). These organizations are distributing emergency food assistance, providing medical assistance and temporary shelter, creating temporary employment, and restoring access to electricity and potable water to the people of Gaza.
Today’s contribution to UNRWA augments the $85 million the United States contributed in December 2008 toward UNRWA’s 2009 appeals. Of that amount, $25 million supported UNRWA emergency operations in West Bank and Gaza. The remaining $60 million supported UNRWA’s services for 4.6 million Palestinian refugees in the region, including Gaza. UNRWA is the largest provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza, providing 70 percent of the population with emergency food assistance, essential healthcare, and primary education. We are working to develop a longer-term reconstruction/development effort with international partners.
Furthermore, today’s contribution to ICRC complements the $9.7 million the United States provided earlier this month for ICRC’s activities for victims of conflict in the Middle East, with particular attention to its critical programs in Gaza. U.S. support of the ICRC buttresses the organization’s efforts to supply Gaza’s hospitals and clinics with urgently needed medical equipment, as well as to rehabilitate damaged water pumps and sanitation systems.
Finally, the U.S. contribution to OCHA supports its essential coordination activities for the Humanitarian Country Team, comprised of UN Agencies and non-governmental organizations providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
In addition to our contributions to UNRWA, ICRC, and OCHO, to date, USAID has provided more than $3.7 million for emergency assistance to Gaza. Food, milk powder, blankets, plastic sheeting, and other nonfood items have been distributed to beneficiaries, and the distributions are continuing. This assistance is distributed to beneficiaries through USAID’s implementing partners under six recently awarded grants ($250,000 each) to Mercy Corps, American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), CHF International, Relief International, Catholic Relief Services, and CARE International. Food distributions are done through USAID’s grant to the World Food Program (WFP).
The U.S. reiterates its support for humanitarian actors responding to emergency needs in Gaza and encourages other states to provide urgently needed funding to UNRWA, ICRC, WFP and other international and non-governmental organizations providing this lifesaving care to civilians in Gaza.
2009/087
###
United States Humanitarian Support to Palestinians
Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
January 30, 2009
January 30, 2009
President Barack Obama has authorized the use of $20.3 million from the U.S. Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA) Fund to address critical post-conflict humanitarian needs in Gaza. U.S. Government support for humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees and conflict victims now totals nearly $120 million in FY 2009, including nearly $60 million in Gaza.
Of the $20.3 million in new ERMA funds, $13.5 million will go to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), $6 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and $800,000 to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). These organizations are distributing emergency food assistance, providing medical assistance and temporary shelter, creating temporary employment, and restoring access to electricity and potable water to the people of Gaza.
Today’s contribution to UNRWA augments the $85 million the United States contributed in December 2008 toward UNRWA’s 2009 appeals. Of that amount, $25 million supported UNRWA emergency operations in West Bank and Gaza. The remaining $60 million supported UNRWA’s services for 4.6 million Palestinian refugees in the region, including Gaza. UNRWA is the largest provider of humanitarian aid in Gaza, providing 70 percent of the population with emergency food assistance, essential healthcare, and primary education. We are working to develop a longer-term reconstruction/development effort with international partners.
Furthermore, today’s contribution to ICRC complements the $9.7 million the United States provided earlier this month for ICRC’s activities for victims of conflict in the Middle East, with particular attention to its critical programs in Gaza. U.S. support of the ICRC buttresses the organization’s efforts to supply Gaza’s hospitals and clinics with urgently needed medical equipment, as well as to rehabilitate damaged water pumps and sanitation systems.
Finally, the U.S. contribution to OCHA supports its essential coordination activities for the Humanitarian Country Team, comprised of UN Agencies and non-governmental organizations providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
In addition to our contributions to UNRWA, ICRC, and OCHO, to date, USAID has provided more than $3.7 million for emergency assistance to Gaza. Food, milk powder, blankets, plastic sheeting, and other nonfood items have been distributed to beneficiaries, and the distributions are continuing. This assistance is distributed to beneficiaries through USAID’s implementing partners under six recently awarded grants ($250,000 each) to Mercy Corps, American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), CHF International, Relief International, Catholic Relief Services, and CARE International. Food distributions are done through USAID’s grant to the World Food Program (WFP).
The U.S. reiterates its support for humanitarian actors responding to emergency needs in Gaza and encourages other states to provide urgently needed funding to UNRWA, ICRC, WFP and other international and non-governmental organizations providing this lifesaving care to civilians in Gaza.
2009/087
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Man Robs Store in North Carolina While Wearing Obama Mask
Police said a man wearing a mask of President Barack Obama robbed the Sheetz on Somerset Center Drive at about 3:24 a.m. on Wednesday.
Source: WXII-12
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Stanley Ann Dunham Obama-Soetoro's Passport Application Reveals Barack Obama's "Saebarkah" Alter Ego
Stanley Ann Dunham Obama Soetoro Passport Application File Strunk v Dept of State FOIA Release 7-29-10
Who is Saebarkah? The name "Saebarkah" appears in quotes below Barack Obama's name on page 3 of the above documents. Christopher Strunk secured the documents from the U.S. State Department pursuant to a FOIA request.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Is There a Chicago Connection Between Righthaven Copyright Lawyer Steven A. Gibson and Barack & Michelle Obama to Chill Free Speech on the Internet?
Righthaven LLC is the company that is filing lawsuits against websites that allegedly infringe upon the copyrights of newspapers. Righthaven buys the copyrights from the newspaper or the rights holders and then brings lawsuits against alleged infringers without warning. This approach is similar to what the recording industry tried against people who were downloading MP3s. While many lawyers made money on these cases, the artists did not really see any monies, because after spending $64 million dollars, the RIAA only recovered $1.4 million. Nice return on that investment, huh!?
Typically, one would assume that Righthaven is comprised of nothing more than some slick Las Vegas attorneys trying to make a quick buck off of unsuspecting people. However, Righthaven appears to be a corporate subsidiary. The sole officer of the Righthaven LLC is Net Sortie Systems, LLC. The sole officer of Net Sortie Systems, LLC is Steven A. Gibson. The only past officer listed is John Peters. I cannot confirm if this is the same John Peters who operates teamjohnpeters.com as a realty website, but Mr. Gibson is certainly involved with Righthaven.
However, a more detailed analysis of Righthaven reveals some interesting coincidences. Namely, does Attorney Steven A. Gibson know either President Barack Obama or First Lady Michelle Obama?
As SHR at GodLikeProductions forums reveals below, the answer to the aforementioned question is very likely. Thank you SHR for pointing out this connection!
Of course, there is nothing wrong with knowing the Obamas, but with all the Chicago coincidences that SHR at GodLikeProductions forums shows above, is there something more devious occurring? Is Attorney Gibson acting under his own accord simply for profit? Or is Attorney Gibson filing these lawsuits using copyright and intellectual property laws in an attempt to chill speech?
The top news stories this week and last have been about the Wikileaks documents and the Sherry Sherrod story. Before the facts are even fully known in these news stories, there were talking heads on the mainstream media claiming that bloggers and the Internet were at fault and may need to be regulated.
Even President Obama (who conveniently used the Internet to win his presidential campaign in 2008) chimed in stating that there was no way to control a reckless governmental reaction to something that someone says on YouTube (see the below video). I guess the President has not heard about conducting due diligence and confirming the truth & accuracy of a story before jumping the gun.
Typically, one would assume that Righthaven is comprised of nothing more than some slick Las Vegas attorneys trying to make a quick buck off of unsuspecting people. However, Righthaven appears to be a corporate subsidiary. The sole officer of the Righthaven LLC is Net Sortie Systems, LLC. The sole officer of Net Sortie Systems, LLC is Steven A. Gibson. The only past officer listed is John Peters. I cannot confirm if this is the same John Peters who operates teamjohnpeters.com as a realty website, but Mr. Gibson is certainly involved with Righthaven.
Gibson’s vision is to monetize news content on the backend, by scouring the internet for infringing copies of his client’s articles, then suing and relying on the harsh penalties in the Copyright Act — up to $150,000 for a single infringement — to compel quick settlements.
However, a more detailed analysis of Righthaven reveals some interesting coincidences. Namely, does Attorney Steven A. Gibson know either President Barack Obama or First Lady Michelle Obama?
As SHR at GodLikeProductions forums reveals below, the answer to the aforementioned question is very likely. Thank you SHR for pointing out this connection!
This RightHaven founder Steven Gibson is definitely a "Chicago Guy"...so I did a little digging in the public domain.....
Steven A. Gibson
Born: Chicago, Illinois, December 11, 1963
School: Chicago-Kent College of Law
Degree: J.D.
City: Chicago
State: IL
Year: 1990
Honors: IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law. Cum Laude 1990.
Prior to establishing his own firm, Mr. Gibson was an associate at Sidley Austin LLP a Chicago Law firm...
Just click on "Work History"
[link to www.nolo.com]
well well well...another Chicago guy who was there at the time finishing up Law School along with....Barack Obama...maybe they crossed paths?
In late 1988, Obama entered Harvard Law School. He was selected as an editor of the Harvard Law Review at the end of his first year, and president of the journal in his second year. During his summers, he returned to Chicago, where he worked as a summer associate at the law firms of Sidley Austin in 1989...
[link to en.wikipedia.org]
...Guess where Mr and Mrs Obama met....
Following law school, she was an associate at the Chicago office of the law firm Sidley Austin, where she first met her future husband.
>>>> And Guess what Michelle and Steven Gibson both did???
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW...AT THE SAME LAW FIRM...!!!
At the firm, she worked on marketing and intellectual property.
[link to en.wikipedia.org]
Of course, there is nothing wrong with knowing the Obamas, but with all the Chicago coincidences that SHR at GodLikeProductions forums shows above, is there something more devious occurring? Is Attorney Gibson acting under his own accord simply for profit? Or is Attorney Gibson filing these lawsuits using copyright and intellectual property laws in an attempt to chill speech?
The top news stories this week and last have been about the Wikileaks documents and the Sherry Sherrod story. Before the facts are even fully known in these news stories, there were talking heads on the mainstream media claiming that bloggers and the Internet were at fault and may need to be regulated.
Even President Obama (who conveniently used the Internet to win his presidential campaign in 2008) chimed in stating that there was no way to control a reckless governmental reaction to something that someone says on YouTube (see the below video). I guess the President has not heard about conducting due diligence and confirming the truth & accuracy of a story before jumping the gun.
It would make sense for the powers-that-be to want to control the Internet, because the Internet allows people to get different perspectives from the government propaganda. In fact, more people get their news from the Internet than from the traditional sources. This blog is a testimonial to that fact.
While this lawsuit may indeed be a shakedown for profit, considering the potential connections in play here, a further investigation needs to be conducted on Righthaven and Steven A. Gibson to see if there are other reasons for these lawsuits aside from mere profit?
Source: Nolo; Wired; GodLikeProductions
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Willie Herenton Respectfully Disses President Obama's Endorsement of Rep. Steve Cohen in Tennessee 9th District Primary
I know Willie Herenton personally. I know Rep. Steve Cohen personally. And I actually like both of them personally. Nevertheless, this race has the potential to be a shocker on election night in a few weeks.
I find it interesting that President Obama would get involved in a local primary campaign, and Mayor Herenton correctly points this fact out in the above video. Did Rep. Cohen reach out to President Obama for the endorsement or did President Obama want to get involved in a local primary?
I don't doubt Rep. Cohen, because he has raised a lot of money and he doesn't lose often. However, President Obama's endorsement of Rep. Cohen may cause Rep. Cohen to lose white votes, because Obama's political touch to candidates is like kryptonite to Superman these days.
Nevertheless, the demographics will determine the race. If Mayor Herenton is correct about his numbers*, then Herenton will be going to Congress next January.
Rep. Cohen needs to receive significant black votes and Cohen has proven that he can get black votes in primary elections in both 2006** & 2008. Unfortunately for Rep. Cohen in 2010, Herenton is the only major black opponent on the ballot and Herenton is no Nikki Tinker. If Rep. Cohen wins this primary, then it will be Cohen's greatest victory in my opinion.
But if Herenton gets 80% of the black vote in this primary as alleged, then this election will be a wrap no matter what Rep. Cohen does.
Remixx World! Disclaimers:
*(1) Willie Herenton was the School Superintendent of the State-funded school system I attended until the 10th grade. Therefore, my writings are indirectly a product of Mr. Herenton's administration and educational objectives on my intelligence and skills; and
**(2) I lost in a Congressional primary that Steve Cohen won in 2006.
I find it interesting that President Obama would get involved in a local primary campaign, and Mayor Herenton correctly points this fact out in the above video. Did Rep. Cohen reach out to President Obama for the endorsement or did President Obama want to get involved in a local primary?
I don't doubt Rep. Cohen, because he has raised a lot of money and he doesn't lose often. However, President Obama's endorsement of Rep. Cohen may cause Rep. Cohen to lose white votes, because Obama's political touch to candidates is like kryptonite to Superman these days.
Nevertheless, the demographics will determine the race. If Mayor Herenton is correct about his numbers*, then Herenton will be going to Congress next January.
Rep. Cohen needs to receive significant black votes and Cohen has proven that he can get black votes in primary elections in both 2006** & 2008. Unfortunately for Rep. Cohen in 2010, Herenton is the only major black opponent on the ballot and Herenton is no Nikki Tinker. If Rep. Cohen wins this primary, then it will be Cohen's greatest victory in my opinion.
But if Herenton gets 80% of the black vote in this primary as alleged, then this election will be a wrap no matter what Rep. Cohen does.
Remixx World! Disclaimers:
*(1) Willie Herenton was the School Superintendent of the State-funded school system I attended until the 10th grade. Therefore, my writings are indirectly a product of Mr. Herenton's administration and educational objectives on my intelligence and skills; and
**(2) I lost in a Congressional primary that Steve Cohen won in 2006.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Internal Revenue Service Tells Congress It Does Not Have Sufficient Funding & Resources to Handle Obamacare
I seem to recall Republicans saying that the IRS would need to hire 16,500 new agents to enforce Obamacare. The Democrats disagreed and said the IRS did not need to hire 16,500 new agents. The IRS has weighed in and while it is not asking for 16,500 agents, the IRS does say that it does not have funding and resources to effectively enforce the health care mandates (as is stated in the National Taxpayer Advocate Mid-Year Report to Congress)
Source: IRS
Second, with respect to the IRS’s ability to deliver social programs, the report expresses concern that the IRS currently is neither structured nor funded to do the job effectively. “I have no doubt the IRS is capable of administering social programs, including health care,” Ms. Olson said. “But Congress must provide sufficient funding and the IRS itself must recognize that the skills and training required to administer social benefit programs are very different from the skills and training that employees of an enforcement agency typically possess. While some enforcement measures are required to prevent inappropriate claims, the overriding objective of agencies that administer social benefit programs is to help as many eligible persons qualify for the benefits as possible. That requires outreach and working one-on-one with potentially eligible individuals. If the IRS continues to ramp up enforcement while reducing taxpayer service programs, I would be concerned about its ability to administer the new health care credits and penalty taxes in a fair and compassionate way.”
Source: IRS
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Amtrak Train Hits Railroad Ties Placed Across Tracks on Seneca Nation Reservation Allegedly Due to Obama's PACT Act
Everyone is turning against President Obama, and now the President may have problems with the Indian Nations that were in the mail-order cigarette business. President Obama recently signed the PACT Act, which legislation bans the U.S. Postal Service from shipping cigarettes. Here is the full bill text of S.1147 - Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009 (a/k/a the PACT Act). It is expected that the new law will cripple the mail-order tobacco businesses run by members of the Seneca Nation of Indians.
No one has taken any credit, but an Amtrak train recently hit railroad ties that were placed across the tracks on the Seneca Indian Nation’s Cattaraugus reservation.
Source: Olean Times Herald; Buffalo News
The Senecas stressed, though, that despite Obama's action, they aren't quitters.
"This is devastating for the Seneca Nation, the businesses and all the employees, but it won't take us down," Seneca said.
"We've been pushed around by the government for centuries, and we keep finding ways to survive."
No one has taken any credit, but an Amtrak train recently hit railroad ties that were placed across the tracks on the Seneca Indian Nation’s Cattaraugus reservation.
Investigators say there are signs on the western New York reservation saying “No Mail-No Rail,” in reference to a law that recently went into effect banning cigarette sellers from shipping tobacco through the mail.
Source: Olean Times Herald; Buffalo News
Monday, July 05, 2010
President Obama Tells NASA Chief Charles Bolden That His Foremost Task is to Build Self Esteem of Muslims
What in the f*ck? I don't usually cuss on this site, but this is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in the last twenty-four (24) hours. The below quote is around the 1:25 mark in the above video.
No wonder NASA won't be going to Mars anytime soon. Instead of building self-esteem, why doesn't President Obama provide some objective goals instead of this subjective nonsense that will not help NASA be a better organization?
Source: Weasel Zippers
“Bolden: I am here in the region – its sort of the first anniversary of President Barack Obama’s visit to Cairo – and his speech there when he gave what has now become known as Obama’s “Cairo Initiative” where he announced that he wanted this to become a new beginning of the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world. When I became the NASA Administrator – before I became the NASA Administrator - he charged me with three things: One was that he wanted me to re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, that he wanted me to expand our international relationships, and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with predominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering.”
No wonder NASA won't be going to Mars anytime soon. Instead of building self-esteem, why doesn't President Obama provide some objective goals instead of this subjective nonsense that will not help NASA be a better organization?
Source: Weasel Zippers
Saturday, July 03, 2010
FLASHBACK: Frank Marshall Davis' 1987 Interview with Hawaii's Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR)
For further reading, check out Frank Marshall Davis - Barack Obama's Real Father? (A "Star Wars" Level Conspiracy Theory).
###
Washington University Libraries adds Frank Marshall Davis Collection
Interview, photographs, news clippings of famous African-American poet and journalist preserved
October 8, 2009
Washington University Libraries' Film & Media Archive has partnered with the University of Hawaii-West Oahu to preserve and digitize an interview with African-American poet and journalist Frank Marshall Davis. Also preserved were photographs, news clippings and poetry readings by Davis, which along with the interview make up the Frank Marshall Davis Collection, a new addition to the holdings of the Film & Media Archive.
Davis published several books of poetry in the 1930s and '40s. Despite being based in Chicago and the Midwest, he was considered to be a part of the Harlem Renaissance along with prominent authors such as Langston Hughes. Davis also was a journalist and headed the American Negro Press. He moved to Hawaii in 1949. In Hawaii, Davis wrote a weekly column, "Frankly Speaking," in the labor-oriented Honolulu Record newspaper.
The newly digitized interview with Davis was conducted in 1987 by Hawaii's Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR) as part of a planned long-form documentary about Davis. Davis died before the program was completed. A shorter, 30-minute program was created as a tribute to Davis and aired on Hawaii Public Television.
Davis is mentioned in President Barack Obama's book "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" as a drinking buddy of his grandfather and an African-American that made an impression on Obama as a young man growing up in Hawaii.
CLEAR has transferred all the Frank Marshall Davis materials to Washington University's Film & Media Archive, where they complement existing holdings on civil rights, labor, democracy and 20th-century African-American artists.
The Frank Marshall Davis Collection is fully searchable in the Film & Media Archive catalog. Clips from Davis' interview can be viewed online at library.wustl.edu/units/spec/filmandmedia.
Washington University Libraries adds Frank Marshall Davis Collection
Interview, photographs, news clippings of famous African-American poet and journalist preserved
October 8, 2009
Washington University Libraries' Film & Media Archive has partnered with the University of Hawaii-West Oahu to preserve and digitize an interview with African-American poet and journalist Frank Marshall Davis. Also preserved were photographs, news clippings and poetry readings by Davis, which along with the interview make up the Frank Marshall Davis Collection, a new addition to the holdings of the Film & Media Archive.
Davis published several books of poetry in the 1930s and '40s. Despite being based in Chicago and the Midwest, he was considered to be a part of the Harlem Renaissance along with prominent authors such as Langston Hughes. Davis also was a journalist and headed the American Negro Press. He moved to Hawaii in 1949. In Hawaii, Davis wrote a weekly column, "Frankly Speaking," in the labor-oriented Honolulu Record newspaper.
The newly digitized interview with Davis was conducted in 1987 by Hawaii's Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR) as part of a planned long-form documentary about Davis. Davis died before the program was completed. A shorter, 30-minute program was created as a tribute to Davis and aired on Hawaii Public Television.
Davis is mentioned in President Barack Obama's book "Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" as a drinking buddy of his grandfather and an African-American that made an impression on Obama as a young man growing up in Hawaii.
CLEAR has transferred all the Frank Marshall Davis materials to Washington University's Film & Media Archive, where they complement existing holdings on civil rights, labor, democracy and 20th-century African-American artists.
The Frank Marshall Davis Collection is fully searchable in the Film & Media Archive catalog. Clips from Davis' interview can be viewed online at library.wustl.edu/units/spec/filmandmedia.
Friday, July 02, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
President Obama Appoints Muslim Attorney Samar Ali Who Specializes in Shari’a Compliant Transactions to 2010-2011 White House Fellowship
As Black Rob would have said way back when, "like whoa!" This is a pretty startling development that the White House would appoint Samar S. Ali, Esq. to a fellowship position when she specializes in Shari’a compliant transactions/Islamic banking and writes articles (click here or below to read New Court Ruling on Overseas Deposits) for various clients in the Middle East discussing how Shari'a allows Muslims to circumvent the jurisdiction of courts in the United States of America.
I'm not saying that Ms. Ali should be denied this position, but I highly doubt that Ms. Ali provided a full client disclosure list to the White House in her application materials and Obama's administration is too sloppy to properly verify said materials. Nevertheless, considering the United States is currently at war in two (2) Muslim countries, do any of Ms. Ali's current and/or past clients pose a national security risk to the United States of America?
I'm not saying that Ms. Ali should be denied this position, but I highly doubt that Ms. Ali provided a full client disclosure list to the White House in her application materials and Obama's administration is too sloppy to properly verify said materials. Nevertheless, considering the United States is currently at war in two (2) Muslim countries, do any of Ms. Ali's current and/or past clients pose a national security risk to the United States of America?
I had only briefly heard about Shari'a compliance and Islamic banking prior to hearing this story, so I have been doing some research on the topic. While not a definitive source by any means, here is the basic summary on Wikipedia:
Click here to read Attorney Ali's full attorney profile at Hogan Lovells.
###
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
June 22, 2010
White House Appoints 2010-2011 Class of White House Fellows
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the White House announced the appointment of 13 outstanding men and women to serve as White House Fellows. The White House Fellows come from diverse backgrounds, varied professions and all of the 2010-2011 Fellows have shown a strong commitment to public service and leadership. The 2010-2011 class of Fellows and their biographies are included below.
“This year’s White House Fellows are comprised of some of the best and brightest leaders in our country,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “I applaud their unyielding commitment to public service and dedication to serving their community.”
The White House Fellows Program was created in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson to give promising American leaders “first hand, high-level experience with the workings of the Federal government, and to increase their sense of participation in national affairs.” This unique position in our nation’s government encourages active citizenship and service to the nation. The Fellows also take part in an education program designed to broaden their knowledge of leadership, policy formulation, military operations, and current affairs. Community service is another important component of the program, and Fellows participate in service projects throughout the year in the Washington, D.C. area.
Selection as a White House Fellow is highly competitive and based on a record of remarkable early career professional achievement, evidence of leadership potential, a proven commitment to public service, and the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute successfully at the highest levels of the Federal government. Throughout its history, the program has fostered leaders in many fields including leaders in government, business, media, medicine, diplomacy and the military. Additional information about the White House Fellows program is available at www.WhiteHouse.gov/fellows.
2010-2011 Class of White House Fellows
Samar Ali, Waverly, TN. Samar Ali is an Associate with the firm Hogan Lovells US LLP. She is responsible for counseling clients on mergers & acquisitions, cross-border transactions, Shari’a compliant transactions, project finance, and international business matters. During her time with Hogan Lovells, she has been a founding member of the firm’s Abu Dhabi office. Prior to that, she clerked for The Honorable Gilbert S. Merritt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and for The Honorable Edwin Cameron, now of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, where she also worked extensively on editing his book Witness to AIDS. While in Nashville, Samar led the YMCA Israeli-Palestinian Modern Voices for Progress Program, and is currently the transatlantic liaison for the development of the Palestine Diabetes Institute. She is a founding member of the first U.S. Delegation to the World Islamic Economic Forum, and has served as an Advisory Board Member of the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health. She is also a three-time Southeastern Tae Kwon Do Black Belt Champion. Samar received a J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School and a B.S. in Political Science with Honors from Vanderbilt, where she served as the first Arab-Muslim student body president.
Islamic banking refers to a system of banking or banking activity that is consistent with the principles of Islamic law (Sharia) and its practical application through the development of Islamic economics. Sharia prohibits the payment or acceptance of interest fees for the lending and accepting of money respectively, (Riba, usury) for specific terms, as well as investing in businesses that provide goods or services considered contrary to its principles (Haraam, forbidden).
Click here to read Attorney Ali's full attorney profile at Hogan Lovells.
###
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
June 22, 2010
White House Appoints 2010-2011 Class of White House Fellows
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the White House announced the appointment of 13 outstanding men and women to serve as White House Fellows. The White House Fellows come from diverse backgrounds, varied professions and all of the 2010-2011 Fellows have shown a strong commitment to public service and leadership. The 2010-2011 class of Fellows and their biographies are included below.
“This year’s White House Fellows are comprised of some of the best and brightest leaders in our country,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “I applaud their unyielding commitment to public service and dedication to serving their community.”
The White House Fellows Program was created in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson to give promising American leaders “first hand, high-level experience with the workings of the Federal government, and to increase their sense of participation in national affairs.” This unique position in our nation’s government encourages active citizenship and service to the nation. The Fellows also take part in an education program designed to broaden their knowledge of leadership, policy formulation, military operations, and current affairs. Community service is another important component of the program, and Fellows participate in service projects throughout the year in the Washington, D.C. area.
Selection as a White House Fellow is highly competitive and based on a record of remarkable early career professional achievement, evidence of leadership potential, a proven commitment to public service, and the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute successfully at the highest levels of the Federal government. Throughout its history, the program has fostered leaders in many fields including leaders in government, business, media, medicine, diplomacy and the military. Additional information about the White House Fellows program is available at www.WhiteHouse.gov/fellows.
2010-2011 Class of White House Fellows
Samar Ali, Waverly, TN. Samar Ali is an Associate with the firm Hogan Lovells US LLP. She is responsible for counseling clients on mergers & acquisitions, cross-border transactions, Shari’a compliant transactions, project finance, and international business matters. During her time with Hogan Lovells, she has been a founding member of the firm’s Abu Dhabi office. Prior to that, she clerked for The Honorable Gilbert S. Merritt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and for The Honorable Edwin Cameron, now of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, where she also worked extensively on editing his book Witness to AIDS. While in Nashville, Samar led the YMCA Israeli-Palestinian Modern Voices for Progress Program, and is currently the transatlantic liaison for the development of the Palestine Diabetes Institute. She is a founding member of the first U.S. Delegation to the World Islamic Economic Forum, and has served as an Advisory Board Member of the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health. She is also a three-time Southeastern Tae Kwon Do Black Belt Champion. Samar received a J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School and a B.S. in Political Science with Honors from Vanderbilt, where she served as the first Arab-Muslim student body president.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer Tells President Obama That She Will Not Surrender Any Part of the State
I wish Gov. Brewer was my Governor. If anyone has some cheap land (2 acres plus with a house) for sale in Mohave County, Arizona, hit me up on email. Thank you.
White House Readies National Online Identification Plan (The National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace by Howard Schmidt)
The above video is from the morning keynote speech by Howard A. Schmidt, Special Assistant to the President and Cybersecurity Coordinator, Executive Office of the President at the Symantec Government Symposium 2010. As the White House prepares to roll its national identification plan in cyberspace, it appears that the executive branch of the government will indeed control the government as has been predicted.
###
Source: Information Week ; Homeland Security Television Network ; White House
The Obama administration is set to propose a new system for authenticating people, organizations and infrastructure on the Web. The online authentication and identity management system would be targeted at the transactional level -- for example, when someone logs into their banking website or completes an online e-commerce purchase.
###
The National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace
Posted by Howard A. Schmidt on June 25, 2010 at 02:00 PM EDT
Cyberspace has become an indispensible component of everyday life for all Americans. We have all witnessed how the application and use of this technology has increased exponentially over the years. Cyberspace includes the networks in our homes, businesses, schools, and our Nation’s critical infrastructure. It is where we exchange information, buy and sell products and services, and enable many other types of transactions across a wide range of sectors. But not all components of this technology have kept up with the pace of growth. Privacy and security require greater emphasis moving forward; and because of this, the technology that has brought many benefits to our society and has empowered us to do so much -- has also empowered those who are driven to cause harm.
Today, I am pleased to announce the latest step in moving our Nation forward in securing our cyberspace with the release of the draft National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC). This first draft of NSTIC was developed in collaboration with key government agencies, business leaders and privacy advocates. What has emerged is a blueprint to reduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities and improve online privacy protections through the use of trusted digital identities.
The NSTIC, which is in response to one of the near term action items in the President’s Cyberspace Policy Review, calls for the creation of an online environment, or an Identity Ecosystem as we refer to it in the strategy, where individuals and organizations can complete online transactions with confidence, trusting the identities of each other and the identities of the infrastructure that the transaction runs on. For example, no longer should individuals have to remember an ever-expanding and potentially insecure list of usernames and passwords to login into various online services. Through the strategy we seek to enable a future where individuals can voluntarily choose to obtain a secure, interoperable, and privacy-enhancing credential (e.g., a smart identity card, a digital certificate on their cell phone, etc) from a variety of service providers – both public and private – to authenticate themselves online for different types of transactions (e.g., online banking, accessing electronic health records, sending email, etc.). Another key concept in the strategy is that the Identity Ecosystem is user-centric – that means you, as a user, will be able to have more control of the private information you use to authenticate yourself on-line, and generally will not have to reveal more than is necessary to do so.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a key partner in the development of the strategy, has posted the draft NSTIC at www.nstic.ideascale.com. Over the next three weeks (through July 19th), DHS will be collecting comments from any interested members of the general public on the strategy. I encourage you to go to this website, submit an idea for the strategy, comment on someone else’s idea, or vote on an idea. Your input is valuable to the ultimate success of this document. The NSTIC will be finalized later this fall.
Thank you for your input!
Howard A. Schmidt is the Cybersecurity Coordinator and Special Assistant to the President
Source: Information Week ; Homeland Security Television Network ; White House
Sunday, June 13, 2010
President Obama Issues Executive Order 13544 Mandating “Lifestyle Behavior Modification”
The federal government is the last entity that should mandate lifestyle behavior considering the number of convicted criminals and deviants who work or have worked for the federal government. Executive Order 13544 sucks! If I want to eat cheese fries, I'm going to eat cheese fries.
Check out Section 6(c) below to see the "lifestyle behavior modification" language. Lifestyle behavior modification sounds like something straight out of the old Soviet Union when the powers-that-be would send dissidents to Siberia for a few years.
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The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
June 10, 2010
Executive Order-- Establishing the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council
EXECUTIVE ORDER
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL PREVENTION, HEALTH PROMOTION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 4001 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148), it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Establishment. There is established within the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council (Council).
Sec. 2. Membership.
(a) The Surgeon General shall serve as the Chair of the Council, which shall be composed of:
(1) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(2) the Secretary of Labor;
(3) the Secretary of Health and Human Services;
(4) the Secretary of Transportation;
(5) the Secretary of Education;
(6) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
(7) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(8) the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission;
(9) the Director of National Drug Control Policy;
(10) the Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council;
(11) the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs;
(12) the Chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service; and
(13) the head of any other executive department or agency that the Chair may, from time to time, determine is appropriate.
(b) The Council shall meet at the call of the Chair.
Sec. 3. Purposes and Duties. The Council shall:
(a) provide coordination and leadership at the Federal level, and among all executive departments and agencies, with respect to prevention, wellness, and health promotion practices, the public health system, and integrative health care in the United States;
(b) develop, after obtaining input from relevant stakeholders, a national prevention, health promotion, public health, and integrative health-care strategy that incorporates the most effective and achievable means of improving the health status of Americans and reducing the incidence of preventable illness and disability in the United States, as further described in section 5 of this order;
(c) provide recommendations to the President and the Congress concerning the most pressing health issues confronting the United States and changes in Federal policy to achieve national wellness, health promotion, and public health goals, including the reduction of tobacco use, sedentary behavior, and poor nutrition;
(d) consider and propose evidence-based models, policies, and innovative approaches for the promotion of transformative models of prevention, integrative health, and public health on individual and community levels across the United States;
(e) establish processes for continual public input, including input from State, regional, and local leadership communities and other relevant stakeholders, including Indian tribes and tribal organizations;
(f) submit the reports required by section 6 of this order; and
(g) carry out such other activities as are determined appropriate by the President.
Sec. 4. Advisory Group.
(a) There is established within the Department of Health and Human Services an Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative and Public Health (Advisory Group), which shall report to the Chair of the Council.
(b) The Advisory Group shall be composed of not more than 25 members or representatives from outside the Federal Government appointed by the President and shall include a diverse group of licensed health professionals, including integrative health practitioners who are representative of or have expertise in:
(1) worksite health promotion;
(2) community services, including community health centers;
(3) preventive medicine;
(4) health coaching;
(5) public health education;
(6) geriatrics; and
(7) rehabilitation medicine.
(c) The Advisory Group shall develop policy and program recommendations and advise the Council on lifestyle-based chronic disease prevention and management, integrative health care practices, and health promotion.
Sec. 5. National Prevention and Health Promotion Strategy. Not later than March 23, 2011, the Chair, in consultation with the Council, shall develop and make public a national prevention, health promotion, and public health strategy (national strategy), and shall review and revise it periodically. The national strategy shall:
(a) set specific goals and objectives for improving the health of the United States through federally supported prevention, health promotion, and public health programs, consistent with ongoing goal setting efforts conducted by specific agencies;
(b) establish specific and measurable actions and timelines to carry out the strategy, and determine accountability for meeting those timelines, within and across Federal departments and agencies; and
(c) make recommendations to improve Federal efforts relating to prevention, health promotion, public health, and integrative health-care practices to ensure that Federal efforts are consistent with available standards and evidence.
Sec. 6. Reports. Not later than July 1, 2010, and annually thereafter until January 1, 2015, the Council shall submit to the President and the relevant committees of the Congress, a report that:
(a) describes the activities and efforts on prevention, health promotion, and public health and activities to develop the national strategy conducted by the Council during the period for which the report is prepared;
(b) describes the national progress in meeting specific prevention, health promotion, and public health goals defined in the national strategy and further describes corrective actions recommended by the Council and actions taken by relevant agencies and organizations to meet these goals;
(c) contains a list of national priorities on health promotion and disease prevention to address lifestyle behavior modification (emphasis added) (including smoking cessation, proper nutrition, appropriate exercise, mental health, behavioral health, substance-use disorder, and domestic violence screenings) and the prevention measures for the five leading disease killers in the United States;
(d) contains specific science-based initiatives to achieve the measurable goals of the Healthy People 2020 program of the Department of Health and Human Services regarding nutrition, exercise, and smoking cessation, and targeting the five leading disease killers in the United States;
(e) contains specific plans for consolidating Federal health programs and centers that exist to promote healthy behavior and reduce disease risk (including eliminating programs and offices determined to be ineffective in meeting the priority goals of the Healthy People 2020 program of the Department of Health and Human Services);
(f) contains specific plans to ensure that all Federal health-care programs are fully coordinated with science-based prevention recommendations by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
(g) contains specific plans to ensure that all prevention programs outside the Department of Health and Human Services are based on the science-based guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under subsection (d) of this section.
Sec. 7. Administration.
(a) The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide funding and administrative support for the Council and the Advisory Group to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations.
(b) All executive departments and agencies shall provide information and assistance to the Council as the Chair may request for purposes of carrying out the Council's functions, to the extent permitted by law.
(c) Members of the Advisory Group shall serve without compensation, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701-5707), consistent with the availability of funds.
Sec. 8. General Provisions.
(a) Insofar as the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C App.) may apply to the Advisory Group, any functions of the President under that Act, except that of reporting to the Congress, shall be performed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in accordance with the guidelines that have been issued by the Administrator of General Services.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(1) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or
(2) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE,
June 10, 2010
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