Sarah Palin - God Planned Iraq War

This from Sarah Palin's CNN Network:

WASILLA, Alaska (CNN) -- For more than two decades, current Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was a practicing Pentecostal.

Palin - Iraq War Planned By God

Speaking of the troops in Iraq, Palin says on the video, ""Pray for our military men and women who are striving do to what is right. Also for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending them out on a task that is from God. That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for -- that there is a plan, and that plan is God's plan." Watch Palin speak at her former church »

Palin - God Helps "Seal The Deal" In Gas Pipeline Projects

Her campaign says she doesn't mix her faith with government business. But Palin did ask her audience to pray for $30 billion natural gas pipeline she is on a mission to build in Alaska. In the video Palin says, "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas pipeline built. So pray for that ... I can do my job there in developing my natural resources. But all of that doesn't do any good if the people of Alaska's heart is not good with God."

Palin's Current Church - Terrorism Used By God To Punish Jews

Palin now attends the Wasilla Bible Church. She was there on August 17, just days before entering the national spotlight. David Brickner, the founder of Jews for Jesus, was a speaker. He told congregants that terrorist attacks on Israel were God's "judgment" of Jews who haven't embraced Christianity. Brickner said, "Judgment is very real and we see it played out on the pages of the newspapers and on the television. When a Palestinian from East Jerusalem took a bulldozer and went plowing through a score of cars, killing numbers of people. Judgment -- you can't miss it."

The McCain campaign says his comments do not reflect her religious views. Palin's spokeswoman says she is pro-Israel.

Palin's Pastor - Vote Democrat And You'll Go To Hell

Pastor Ed Kalnin, the senior pastor of Palin's former Pentecostal church, has also come under fire for his comments. In 2004, he told church members if they voted for John Kerry for president, they wouldn't get into heaven. He told them, "I question your salvation."

Assembly of God issued a statement online in response which said Kalnin was "joking" when he suggested "Kerry supporters would go to hell," and statement went on to say, "We do acknowledge in hindsight that it was careless, and we do apologize for that. This statement is not written as a defense, but as a clarification."

Palin has done little while in office to advance a social conservative agenda. She told the Associated Press in an interview in 2006 that she would not allow her personal beliefs to dictate public policy.

"I've honestly answered the questions on what my personal views are on things like abortion and a lot of controversial issues," Palin told the Associated Press. "I won't hesitate to answer those questions about what my personal views are, but I am not one to be out there preaching and forcing my views on anyone else."

But in the last week, her religious background and outlook has certainly spurred debate far beyond Alaska.

U.S. Police Violate RNC Protester's Rights

RNC "Protesters" Looked For Trouble & Cops Provide It

"Some May Respect The Badge, But All Fear The Gun"

For International Readers, in the United States, the police are used to infiltrate political groups, break into homes without warrants, detain and arrest people on false charges, confiscate political materials, arrest journalist, arrest lawyers. Sound familiar? Land of the Free and Home of the Brave?

Now all of this is in addition to the general state of surveillance that Americans live under including having every aspect of their lives under review by the State.

In America we are allowed to work in order to pay taxes, to serve the police, and military, and make more children to hand down our way of life to the next generation. In the mean time we storm ass all over the world, and want to promote our "freedoms".

In the videos you are about to see I couldn't be more proud of these young people. Twenty years ago, and this would never have happened, but there are tens of millions of young Americans who detest what has become of their nation. These young people have the courage to stand up for their country, and hopefully, we pray, that it isn't too late.

As the Bush administration gasps its last stinking rotting breath the GOP hopes to somehow maintain its sleazy corrupt grip upon the reigns of power. Stay tuned folks, it's about to get interesting.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some Protesters (Protesting is not a crime) broke the law, and the police were only doing their jobs arresting. Having said that the methods and techniques employed by law enforcement violated hundred's, if not thousand's, of citizen's constitutional rights - which makes the police law breakers too.


Live Feed Uptake Journalist Video Of RNC Cops Arresting Hundreds!


Watch As Live-Feed Uptake Journalist Narrowly Avoid Arrest


The following text was lifted from here.

In the months leading up to the Republican National Convention, the FBI-led Minneapolis Joint Terrorist Task Force actively recruited people to infiltrate vegan groups and other leftist organizations and report back about their activities. On May 21, the Minneapolis City Pages ran a recruiting story called "Moles Wanted." Law enforcement sought to preempt lawful protest against the policies of the Bush administration during the convention.


RNC - Police Raid On "Convergent Center" Finds No Weapons

Since Friday, local police and sheriffs, working with the FBI, conducted preemptive searches, seizures and arrests. Glenn Greenwald described the targeting of protestors by "teams of 25-30 officers in riot gear, with semi-automatic weapons drawn, entering homes of those suspected of planning protests, handcuffing and forcing them to lay on the floor, while law enforcement officers searched the homes, seizing computers, journals, and political pamphlets." Journalists were detained at gunpoint and lawyers representing detainees were handcuffed at the scene.
"I was personally present and saw officers with riot gear and assault rifles, pump action shotguns," said Bruce Nestor, the President of the Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, who is representing several of the protestors. "The neighbor of one of the houses had a gun pointed in her face when she walked out on her back porch to see what was going on. There were children in all of these houses, and children were held at gunpoint."


RNC Police Raid Homes - Gather People For Detention Centers

The raids targeted members of "Food Not Bombs," an anti-war, anti-authoritarian protest group that provides free vegetarian meals every week in hundreds of cities all over the world. They served meals torescue workers at the World Trade Center after 9/11 and to nearly 20 communities in the Gulf region following Hurricane Katrina.

Also targeted were members of I-Witness Video, a media watchdog group that monitors the police to protect civil liberties. The group worked with the National Lawyers Guild to gain the dismissal of charges or acquittals of about 400 of the 1,800 who were arrested during the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York. Preemptive policing was used at that time as well. Police infiltrated protest groups in advance of the convention.
Nestor said that no violence or illegality has taken place to justify the arrests. "Seizing boxes of political literature shows the motive of these raids was political," he said.


RNC - Police Continue To Win Hearts And Minds


So here we have a massive assault led by Federal Government law enforcement agencies on left-wing dissidents and protestors who have committed no acts of violence or illegality whatsoever, preceded by months-long espionage efforts to track what they do," Greenwald wrote on Salon.
Preventive detention violates the Fourth Amendment, which requires that warrants be supported by probable cause. Protestors were charged with "conspiracy to commit riot," a rarely-used statute that is so vague, it is probably unconstitutional. Nestor said it "basically criminalizes political advocacy."


RNC - Police Round Up Journalist And Lawyers

Further evidence the political nature of the police action was the boarding up of the Convergence Center, where protestors had gathered, for unspecified code violations. St. Paul City Council member David Thune said, "Normally we only board up buildings that are vacant and ramshackle." Thune and fellow City Council member Elizabeth Glidden decried "actions that appear excessive and create an atmosphere of fear and intimidation for those who wish to exercise their first amendment rights

On Sunday, the National Lawyers Guild and Communities United Against Police Brutality filed an emergency motion requesting an injunction to prevent police from seizing video equipment and cellular phones used to document their conduct.
During Monday's demonstration, law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force. At least 284 people were arrested, including Amy Goodman, the prominent host of Democracy Now!, as well as the show's producers, Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. "St. Paul was the most militarized I have ever seen an American city to be," Greenwald wrote, "with troops of federal, state and local law enforcement agents marching around with riot gear, machine guns, and tear gas cannisters, shouting military chants and marching in military formations."
Bruce Nestor said the timing of the arrests was intended to stop protest activity, "to make people fearful of the protests, but also to discourage people from protesting," he told Amy Goodman. Nevertheless, 10,000 people, many opposed to the Iraq war, turned out to demonstrate on Monday. A legal team from the National Lawyers Guild has been working diligently to protect the constitutional rights of protestors.

http://www.democracynow.org/

David's Mother's Quilt Dream

Being the Tuesday evening after a three day weekend, a weekend in which I stayed up entirely too late, I felt very sleepy, and wanted a nap when I came home.

And so I took one, and actually wasn't interrupted!

The nap was so long that I actually experienced some REM sleep, and had one or more dreams.

The last dream had a snippet which was odd, but only because it referenced my friend, Dave of the11thhour.blogspot.com. Actually it made reference to one of his mother's quilts.

I was in a different time and place, and so I am assuming it wasn't the now-when, but perhaps the recent past, or seeing through the eyes of another person (yes, I believe in that).

I was at a home in which everything was being moved, or actually had already been moved.

It was empty, except for some scraps of some cardboard boxes, and perhaps some moving tape.

But there was a desk, or some kind of pedestal sitting in the middle of the room - where I guess many boxes had moved through - a command center for the family which just moved.

Upon the squat little table lay a quilt - or perhaps it was an old comforter with patchwork.

I looked at it, and I felt I knew that I had seen it before, that it had belonged to my friend Dave's mother. It was a quilt, but not really a quilt as much as it was a heavy duty patchwork type comforter that was old. Something from the 1950s perhaps, and it had a pattern which I totally recall having seen at Dave's house perhaps on an old comforter at his house years ago.

Something I believe Dave would have used during his college years in the extension room which he blogged about.

I asked the mover, did I say there was a mover, who had just moved out of the house, and he said that he didn't know.

I said I knew who had just moved out, and that before he continued to move someone into the house that I wanted that old blanket.

He began to speak Spanish, but I believe I understood that he objected to me just taking the blanket, and I realized I was going to just take it anyway, and then

I realized I was dreaming, and decided I wanted to remember the dream and so I deliberately awoke.

Dream Ends

I went to see my daughter - no longer dreaming here folks - and she asked me about Sigmund Freud. She had just learned about Freud for the very first time today.

I told her that sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and that Freud had some interesting ideas about dream interpretation, and I saw the coincidence in my half dream like state (which I still was in) while telling my daughter about dream interpretation, and considered it

more than just a coincidence

So I decided to write about my quilt dream, and post it.

That's it. Dave, where's that old blanket?

The Chrysler Conquest SRi

Springfield, Illinois - The Chrysler Conquest SRi

Click on the photo to enlarge it. I just thought this car looked very retro in a Mid 1980s kind of way. In fact I had never even heard of this car until today. I gave it the walk around, and snapped some photos of it. I then looked it up on Wikipedia. Made by Mitsubishi, and sold in the U.S. by Chrysler. The rear of the car (I didn't post the pic due to license plate) has wording that it is a "European Import", but I'm not sure how that could be.

Someone has taken very good care of this little red sports car for the last nineteen to twenty four years. If you check out the rims they look original, and are in perfect condition along with the rest of this car. Sort of as if someone had just transported it to 2008 from 1985!

A Red Chrysler Conquest SRi

The Chrysler Conquest doesn't shout luxury, and is an odd looking car from my perspective here in 2008. Some slight modifications, and this car would have been sex on wheels, but there's too many straight lines for me. Still I find the style peculiar to the 1980s, and therefore interesting in a historical kind of way.

Red Chrysler Conquest SRi in Springfield, Illinois

The front turn lights and air intake make the front of the car look like a squished fish face. No front license plate completes the sporty look. Definitely Japanese in style. Chrysler stopped making Conquest SRi at the end of the 1980s, and so I guess it was a kind of "New Wave" sports car for those who couldn't afford a porche.

By the way, the suped up version of this car took many victories in various races at the time.

I took this photograph from the parking lot of the Super Walmart off Dirksen Parkway in Springfield, Illinois on Labor Day 2008.

These Are Your Rights

Little Video On Youtube About Your Rights When Dealing With U.S. Police

Your Rights (The Clash)

• The right not to be killed (unless done by a policeman or an aristocrat).

• The right to food money (provided you are willing to submit to harassment and humiliation).

• The right to free speech (as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it).

My "Plan" For U.S. Energy Independence

My "Plan" For U.S. Energy Independence

Thank you CubConn for the idea.

Summary: Think plug-in flex fuel hybrids operating on biodieselhol made right here in the USA. The biodieselhol would be a mix of cellulosic and algae derived Biobutanol, and algae-biodiesel.

Such a mix would burn cleanly, be carbon neutral, domestically produced, renewable, and priced at today's fuel prices. It would not drive food prices up. It would be used in small super efficient diesel engines that would charge plug in hybrids (which use electric motors) when needed - thus achieving up to 100 MPG in an average sedan, or about half that in a full sized truck or SUV.

Think 80-100 MPG (easy to achieve, and already has been with a battery pack, and plug in kit using a Toyota Prius) for sedans, and 40-50 MPG for full sized flex fuel plug in hybrid trucks and SUVs.

Biodiesel and ethanol could be used to heat homes, and power factories.

The technologies are all converging on providing a solution to the problem of oil, and it is just a matter of having a government on the people's side long enough to help industries to convert.

Any solution will take time. No one can snap their fingers, and suddenly replace imported oil. Any solution will take decades. Existing automobiles will take up to thirty years to eliminate from the nations roads, and my plan would accelerate that to twenty years.

I recommend that the U.S. government take the major role in the transition toward a carbon neutral economy. Industry will do the work, but government needs to play an important role in getting the process started.

First, this will cost money, lots of it, so no balanced budget for awhile.

I don't pretend to know all of the details so I'm going to keep my proposal very rough.


NOT SO MUCH A PLAN AS SOME IDEAS I HAVE WHICH I'D LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED

I would implement a cap and trade program for green house gas emissions.

I would implement tough CAFE standards on cars, suvs, and trucks so that within ten years such fleets must average 45 MPG, within fifteen years 55 MPG, and within twenty years 70 MPG.

I would provide tax breaks to homeowners, landlords, developers, etc., to increase the energy efficiency of their commercial and residential buildings.

I would also restore, and triple tax breaks on the purchase of hybrid automobiles.

I would triple federal tax breaks for businesses, and homeowners which install solar voltaic systems.

I would provide federal grants to rural school districts which purchase solar systems and wind turbines to provide power for their schools.

I would mandate that all federal automobile fleets, including the postal service, use hybrid vehicles, and run on flex fuels.

I would mandate that every federal building install photovoltaic, and/or solar heating systems.

I would provide federal grants to each state to subsidize the installation of solar heating and electric systems to heat and power every state's governmental buildings, all the way down to the municipal level.

I would provide federal grants to any university, community college, secondary, and elementary school in the nation to help pay for the installation of photovoltaic systems.

I would provide grants to State, County, and Municipal governments to replace their fleets of automobiles and trucks with hybrids.

I would promote the use of biodiesel, cellulosic-ethanol, and biodieselhol in all military land, ships, and aircraft with the exception of nuclear powered craft. Jet aircraft fuel would also be derived from renewable sources.

I would pass laws which encourage municipalities to allow homeowners, and businesses which produce more electricity than they need to sell it to the utility companies, and force utilities to purchase that power.

I would provide tax incentives to investors in green companies.

I would provide low interest rate loans to businesses seeking to develop cellulosic ethanol.

I would provide low interest rate loans to businesses seeking to develop bio diesel.

I would fully fund mass transit programs, and high speed rail programs.

I would provide grants to governmental bodies to switch their mass transit systems so as to rely upon renewable domestically produced carbon neutral forms of fuel and energy.

I would fund cash rewards programs to businesses which pass milestones in the development of technology and processes which lead to energy independence.

I would fund carbon sequestration pilot programs (clean coal).

I would authorize the building of the next generation of nuclear power plants, and begin the process of moving and processing of spent nuclear fuel to the Yucca Mountain long term storage facility.

I would subsidize a proof of concept program on cracked rock geothermal, and provide tax breaks to companies starting such power plants.

I would provide grants to each state which could be used to build very large energy projects of their own choosing as long as they were carbon neutral, and use domestically produced energy.

I would encourage through grants and tax breaks the development of small scale hydroelectric plants.

I would require that all fuel service stations in the country offer ethanol based flex fuels, and biodiesel. Such stations would receive grants and tax breaks to pay for the cost of the installation.

I would provide for tax breaks for households and businesses which would install LED lighting, replacing less efficient forms of lighting. Less efficient forms of lighting would become illegal to sell after ten years.

I would make the standard gasoline engine illegal to sell (new) within ten years. Engines would need to be able to burn flex fuels, including: ethanol, biodiesel, or biodiesalhol.

I would make the sale of gasoline illegal within twenty years.

I would cut red tape, and reduce approval time for use of federal lands to be used by corporations, and municipal power companies for the development of those lands for photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric power plants.

It could take ten or twenty years to break our dependence upon foreign oil, but it could be done in a way that creates jobs, and helps our economy. We're going to have to do it anyway, so why not do it in a way the benefits the people of the U.S. instead of waiting until the oil economy collapses.

CNN Calls Sarah Palin Maverick Pioneer

But I Thought McCain Was "Maverick"

CNN, ever concerned about bringing in additional oil and big pharma industry advertising has been spinning as best they can for their team - so much so that at times it gets a bit confusing.


Can McCain and Palin Both Be Maverick?

We see in the screen capture above that CNN fails to indicate if their story title is a quote, an opinion piece, or simply a CNN pronouncement of a legal, or scientific fact. CNN, the advertising slut that it is, has continued its downward spin into the realm of such "news sources" as FOX, and the Globe. When it's not talking about politics it's filling its airtime with missing toddlers, and missing white women.


Why any real red state American simply knows that Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska is both a pioneer and a Maverick. It's even in children's books.

Every red state child knows the story of Sarah Palin. When she settled in Alaska she had to fight huge polar bears, and fly around in her helicopter using her machine gun to kill giant moose. She was a real pioneer, killing wild bears, and helping lumberjacks and oil company executives to build an oil and natural gas pipeline.

Oh yes, and she's a game changer. By the way, there's no identification at all in the article that the piece is quoting a source, or that it is a opinion piece. Therefore we must consider this article to simply be a statement of fact - without sources. CNN has endorsed the McCain Palin ticket! It's official!

Hurricanes To Increase Gasoline Prices

Hurricane Gustav Will Lead To Higher Gasoline Prices

With Hurricane Gustav headed toward the gulf at least a few oil related facilities will be disrupted, and with even a hint of disruption will come speculation on the oil commodities market - which means higher gasoline prices at the pump.

Unfortunately gasoline prices are already high, and with the labor day weekend anyone wanting to top off their tanks in preparation of even higher prices won't get much of a break. However, there's no telling how high gasoline prices could go.


Average Price of Regular Gasoline 08/30/2008 Springfield, Illinois Was $3.80/Gallon

Depending upon the track of the hurricane, and the amount of damage to offshore facilities, and coastal refineries I'd say we should expect to see prices over $4.00 per gallon by the middle of next week - perhaps even higher.

We in the U.S. might get lucky, and the hurricane may be made to veer off toward Mexico, but from all indications the time needed to make major changes in hurricane Gustav's course is rapidly coming to a close.

McPain

Governor McPain Please Kill The Polar Bears!

After a long week I'm a bit tired, so I'll relax a bit this evening with the wife. In the mean time watch this video on "George" McSame's pick for V.P. - Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Governor Palin seems like your average conservative nutcase from Alaska.

Kill the Whales and Polar Bears Dudes! Oh yes, and like McCain she's owned lock stock and oil barrel by the oil industry.

Obama's Acceptance Speech

Wow, where do I begin. Barack Obama gave a stirring acceptance speech tonight. I've seen many political speeches, and this one was one of the best I have ever witnessed.

I do, and have believed that now is the time for America to take a different direction, and I honestly believe that Barack Obama is the man that can take us there.

Will we win the upcoming election?

I don't know. The rich in the United States are used to controlling who gets all the cookies, and they aren't going to be happy having to share. But we as a nation are at a crossroads as to what type of nation we shall be.

Is the U.S. just a large third world dictatorship similar to those seen throughout the developing world, or is it an advanced nation like those in Europe, or Japan?

Only time will tell, but I'm sure hoping if enough voters come out and support Barack that it will be harder for the Republicans to steal the upcoming election like they did the 2000 election.

Republicans Fear The Truth

True Story

Today I emailed a person I know is a "conservative". Actually she is a "Christian" and believes that true Christians are always Republicans.

I sent her an email in which I asked if it made good sense to spend $7,000,000,000,000 on imported oil from the Middle East over the next ten years (actually closer to Ten Trillion).

I asked her if that is what a true patriotic American would support.

I came by her place of business, and with her permission I leaned over to check for my email in her inbox.

She had deleted the email.

That's right. She had immediately deleted it.

She was afraid of even considering such an issue as it might create doubt that the only choice she has is to support a Republican candidate in the upcoming Presidential election.

It is like a form of mental insanity.

I felt as if I were a character in a B grade movie in which I suddenly find myself surrounded by pod people.

I then spoke with another Republican.

I told her I was so excited about watching Barack Obama tonight.

She told me that she would never watch the convention tonight.

I asked her why, and she responded,

You mean watch Osama Bin Laden speak tonight?

This was the best she could do.

She had no other rational reason to provide, just some crazy response that one would expect from a grade school child.

The nation is filled with two types of people.

Those whose eyes are open, and those whose eyes are shut.

The nation has been run by the most corrupt regime in history, and those who put the evil regime in power live in fear of ever learning the truth.

For if they did - they would have to live with the guilt of what they have done to this nation, and the world.

God Bless The Real America

Wonder why 35,000 people show up in a city the size of Springfield, Illinois to see Barack Obama?

Wonder why 80,000 people show up in Denver to see Barack Obama?*

It's called the real America.

There's something odd about the polls, and how close this election is.

Something odd again.

Something hard to figure.

Are American elections fixed?
.
.
.
*The line to the stadium stretched six miles - per CNN.

It Will Survive Us

We live with the truth buried deep inside us all.
We tell ourselves that it doesn't really matter.
That the truth is for someone else to grapple with.
That it is for another time and place, but not now.

We spend our lives scraping an existence along the surface.
The surface of what we think little of day to day.
But down inside deep within - it is there waiting
Waiting for that moment to express itself - to take flight

Our crude bodies demand food water sustenance
The things we seek the things we hunt we then worship
And as we age as we rot we close our eyes and try to forget
That which has awaited within us from the very start

On that day that final day that final moment after which
We shall be no more we believe we shall find our escape
Perhaps in our devotion to some higher power or some greater good
We seek this form of immortality and hope and pray

And after we are gone it exist another day within another
And when we are forgot it continues beyond us awaiting
And it leads us to ask - when will there be union?
When will there be oneness?

When will there be ecstasy of purpose and truth?

Barack Obama In Springfield, Illinois

Springfield, Illinois - Crowd of Thirty Five Thousand Line Up For Blocks To See Obama

The photo above was taken on 9th Street in Springfield, Illinois. The view looks north toward the intersection of 9th and Adams Street. The line of attendees snakes west on Adams past 7th Street and then reverses to the east returning to 9th Street. The line then continued north toward Washington Street.

Everyone seemed to be following a set of informal rules of not sneaking into line. Black, brown, white, young, old, male, female, rich, poor, middle class, gay, straight, east side, west side - everyone seemed to be in positive mood. We were all headed to the same place together.


Springfield, Illinois - Looking West On Adams - Line To Barack Obama and Joe Biden Speech

Something to scare of Republicans - who have always ruled by inspiring fear among the people in an attempt to divide us against each other - divided we have fallen - to the powerful, and corrupt, over and over again.

Not this time McCain fans.

Obama & Biden Crowd Springfield, Illinois

Barack Obama Announced His Choice For Running Mate In Springfield, Illinois

Click here for the larger version of the Obama Rally Photograph.

The photograph above was taken in the middle of Route 66 in downtown Springfield, Illinois. Just in front of the oldest bank in Illinois, Marine Bank. Looking back toward the corner of Sixth and Washington many in the crowd begin to lower their heads in prayer - just before Barack Obama came on stage to make his VP choice announcement.

A Letter To Michelle Obama

I know, She'll Never Read The Message I Sent Via The Obama Website


Michelle:

It was such a privilege having you back in Springfield, Illinois for Barack's announcement that he chose Senator Biden as his running mate.

I proudly stood in arctic cold weather in February 2007 to see Barack, and then again to stand with thirty five thousand others the day Barack introduced us to Joe.

There is, however, something I must mention to you, something important because I know you'd want to know about it, and it affects your supporters, and the campaign.

For days now, since you left our community there's been an ongoing online expression of concern, some of it very angry and partisan, some of it not, about the numbers of people who physically collapsed, and the hundreds of others who nearly did, from heat exhaustion during Barack's speech.

I myself barely made it through the speech without passing out, and became sick afterward.

The Secret Service would not allow anyone to bring in bottled water, and the local media promised that there would be water available inside the event area.

However, once inside it became painfully obvious that it was nearly impossible to reach the few areas where water was being distributed.

Now Barack's detractors are suggesting that he, as the leader of his campaign, has shown a lack of leadership by not making certain that his campaign look out for his supporters under such dangerous conditions.

Quite frankly I doubt if you'll ever read this, but I hope that somehow you'll be made aware that many people I have spoken to have expressed their concern over just how close we came to having a major incident take place.

I hope that some of the money I donate, and will continue to donate, will go toward the purchase of provisions which volunteers can distribute to your supporters so as to help avoid anything like what happened here in Springfield.

Best of Luck, and God Bless!

A Letter To Michelle Obama From A Supporter In Springfield, Illinois

My Incredible Barack Obama Photograph

Incredible Only Because It Was Taken On A Cell Phone

From dozens of meters away.

I have several others of this type. I abandoned my real cameras so as to stay as light as possible for the event. Lesson learned, and I'll never do it again. I also have one, or two of Biden - pretty much like this. Kind of funny that I'd even write a post on this photo, but it's about all I have.

Obama Crowd Cheered A Cloud!

Actual Cloud Which Crowd Attending Obama Speech Cheered

Mike Davlin: How hot was it?
JeromeProphet: It was so hot that the crowd attending Obama's speech cheered for cloud.

That's right folks it was that hot and humid in downtown Springfield, Illinois on August 23, 2008, the day that Barack Obama came to Springfield with Joe Biden to announce his VP pick.

Confused McCain Supporter At Obama Speech

Springfield, Illinois 08.23.08 - A Confused McCain Supporter Drove Miles Just To See Obama

Seemed like a nice enough fella, hair dye and all, but Dave and I ditched him. He seemed fascinated with our cell phones. Don't they sell cell phones in Mason City?

Joe Biden To Obama Supporters

Here's Joe Biden Introducing Himself To Obama Supporters

I was expecting Senator Obama to pick Hillary Clinton, but I guess Joe Biden could be a better pick. Joe Biden probably doesn't arouse the same hateful knee jerk response that both Bill, and Hillary Clinton have. Joe Biden also has more than three decades of experience in the Senate, with his strong point being foreign policy.

And while I'm not expecting the upcoming Vice President to be anywhere near as powerful as the current puppet master, Dick Cheney, I do believe that a VP pick should consider how good of a President that VP would make in case the President couldn't finish the term out. In that regard it looks like Obama made a safe choice.

Springfield, Illinois Obama VP Announcement

Our Obama Line Began In Front of Saputos In Springfield, Illinois

Much More to come for this post - text will go here

Next photo will go here, here, here, here, here, here and here

Packing Lite For Obama Speech

Look for me in the crowd. I'll be wearing a black pull over (with collar), and maroon sweat pants, and brown New Balance sneakers. And maybe, just maybe a very small camera bag. Oh yes, and sunglasses.

I'll be using my cellphone as my camera this time, and so if you're interested you can go to:

www.sureyouare.blogspot.com to check out my semi-live uploads of both video, and photos. I won't bother with text.

I'll be out there with Dave of The11thhour blog. We both decided that waiting three hours while standing completely surrounded by hot sweaty people half a football field away from Mr. Obama was not really worth it - so we're going to arrive a bit after eleven, but before noon.

So I better go now, and hope it doesn't rain - because I'm not taking an umbrella.

Obama Website Down For Second Day

Obama Site Is Down For The Second Day In A Row - But Has Been Updated

Don't really know why they are "updating" the site in a way that demands it be brought down. Notice the DONATE button is still active (oops, that's off to the right, and can't be seen on the image I included for this post), and also note the brand spanking new Obama & Biden Logo.

Now it is off to the Obama & Biden Speech.

Springfield, Illinois Prepares For Obama

A Giant American Flag Already In Place For Barack Obama Speech In Springfield, Illinois

Barack Obama is returning to Springfield, Illinois tomorrow. All indications suggest that Mr. Obama will be announcing his Vice Presidential running mate's identity Saturday afternoon.



Workers Prepare VIP Stands At Springfield, Illinois' Old State Capitol

Senator Obama started his Presidential campaign, in February 2007, in the shadows of Illinois' Old State Capitol. Nearly twenty thousand well wishers came, and withstood subfreezing temperatures to watch Senator Obama announce his bid for the highest office. I was one of those people.


Stacks Of Blue Crowd Control Barriers Ready For Obama Speech

Now with the nomination at hand the Illinois Senator will be speaking as the leader of the Democratic Party. Much speculation surrounds who will be named as Mr. Obama's running mate. Joe Biden has been named by CNN, while I still hope for Senator Clinton. This time tomorrow, and the speculation will be over.


Workers Assemble Stands For Media In Preparation Of Barack Obama VP Announcement

I'll be going to tomorrow's speech, and will take my cameras. Last time I took photos of Mr. Obama temperatures were so cold that my camera was malfunctioning.


Obama Speech - Statues of Abe Lincoln Family Surrounded By CNN and Media Equipment

Tomorrow should be a sweltering humid Illinois day, with the possibility for showers.


CNN Truck Parked Next To Illinois' Old State Capitol Plaza Prior To Obama VP Speech

All the media, big and small are setting up for covering the announcement. Senator Obama plans to visit a few states after leaving Springfield, and then next week the Democratic Convention will be held in Denver.


CNN Satellite Truck Door - August 23, 2008 - Springfield, Illinois

I'll be making another donation to Barack's Obama's campaign - my August contribution. I hope to increase my payment once again. As the fight gets tighter our side will need every dollar, and so I encourage all those reading this to chip in. Surf to www.barackobama.com

See you tomorrow!

McCain At His Best - I Guess

John McCain Either Has Alzheimer's or He's Just Too Rich For My Taste

When asked during an interview how many homes he, and his spouse own, John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee (apparent), was unable to answer.

His staff later answered - at least four (probably seven).

Call me a classist, but just how the hell is this guy ever going to represent me?

I don't want another elder president - we had Reagan develop Alzheimer's during his presidency, and everyone tried to lie and say otherwise, but it was embarrassingly, and frighteningly obvious that he was no longer in control.

Then we had the buffoon king Bush who came right out and said his constituency was the rich, and he never tried to lie about that. Greed, and corruption in every form, war, and massive public debt are the hallmarks and legacy of his presidency.

We don't need some old rich dishonest incompetent codger President with a freakish looking mega millionaire wife pulling his strings. It's quite frightening really - she actually looks like an android. I'd venture the marriage is the unholy result of some pact with the devil.

Make me president, and I will serve you Satan!

Yes, John, I shall give you riches, and an earthly cohort to assist you in my bidding.

Maybe I'm being a bit too harsh? Then again have you seen her eyes - like the kind you see on a lizard, very creepy.

No Energy Crisis - Just Corrupt Government

There Is No Energy Crisis - Just A Corrupt Government

Big Oil owns the corrupt government of the United States. Oil is the justification used for maintaining a large military, and for starting war profiteering schemes like the Iraq war.
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What Oil Addiction Has Driven A Good Nation To Do

Raiding the treasury, saddling our children, and grandchildren with debt, destabilizing the Middle East, funding Islamic Extremist, polluting the environment, changing global climate, promoting anti-American hatred around the world, promoting fragility in a world economy which is dependent upon a finite source of energy, starting wars on false pretenses, and sending 700,000,000 dollars per year to oil producing nations (including some which detest the U.S.).


Algae Can Produce Clean Domestically Produced "Oil"

Oil, and natural gas came from algae, and it seems fitting that algae will one day produce clean, renewable, carbon neutral fuel which can be run in any flex fuel diesel engine.

The U.S. could easily produce its own clean carbon neutral fuel within a decade. It's that simple.
The problem isn't a matter of technology, it is one of will. The government of the United States is so corrupt that it no longer functions to protect, and promote the best interest of the people of the United States, but instead promotes, and protects the interest of Saudi Arabia, and other oil producing nations.

Being patriotic isn't wrong, but believing that keeping our U.S. troops tied down in a foreign country in the name of big oil is. Let's bring the troops home, and fund alternative domestically produced energy. Let's end our addiction to oil once and for all.

Start by learning about alternative energy, and support candidates that don't take money from Big Oil.

14,000,000 Exajoules!

There Is No Energy Crisis - U.S. Government Owned & Controlled By Oil Companies

The U.S. uses 100 Exajoules of energy each year - almost all of that energy is produced by the burning of oil, coal, and natural gas - all finite, polluting, and linked to war, and global warming.

Yet beneath our feet is a vast sea of energy - geothermal energy.

What does the corrupt government of the U.S. do?

Nothing - oil wars are fun and profitable, and can be used to further justify empire building.

While the U.S. government is wasting billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars on Iraq it is not funding geothermal technology.

It takes other nation's governments to do so, and it takes companies like Google to make small investments in developing the technologies, and techniques which will one day form an entire industry capable of providing vast amounts of clean, cheap energy for the world.

The Bush abomination has stolen billions from future generations in its Iraq war profiteering scheme, at the behest of the oil industry - an industry sending hundreds of billions of dollars to our enemies overseas.

It is time to take back the government for the people, for the future. It is time to keep our money here in the U.S., and use it to develop our economy, and raise our standard of living.

What can you do?

Learn more, and contact your congress person. Then support the presidential candidate that isn't taking money from Big Oil - and who would that be? Barack Obama, that's who.

Big oil jacked the price of gasoline up, earning record profits. Big oil then used some of that profit to saturate the television bands with commercials filled with lies they want you to believe. Big oil will now bring the oil prices down just before the election to convince you everything is o.k.

We've seen it before. War, and Oil - it's an old story.

Commander Wing and Other Adventurers

A Blog can be many things to many people. Some use their blog for political purposes. Some blog just to be nasty cranks. Other bloggers like to write poems. Some like to post photographs. I've tried to use my blog in just about every way possible. It's my soap box, my diary, and my scrap book.


This one is of an old friend, Dave "De Wing". Dave was an old buddy of mine way back in the 1970s - when this photo was taken. Dave was a strange lad who liked to climb TV antenna towers as high as he could and then jump. We used to call him "The Wing" because of his obsession. This photograph was taken north west of Springfield, Illinois.

Re-Vision

O.K., I must have remembered this part incorrectly - Dave never jumped off antennas {pause} he flew off them. Ka Ching!

O.K., O.K., that's a lie too, but it would have made for a better story if he had. He'd have some pretty bad knee problems about now, but still - interesting blogging material.

By the way, me, and my friends used to jump off the roof of our house when I was a kid. Single story, but it still smarted. Wonder I ever survived my youth.

Springfield Clinic In Living Colors

Springfield, Illinois' Springfield Clinic

I believe the new Springfield Clinic overpass is something you either grow to hate, or love. It certainly changes the character of the neighborhood.



Springfield, Illinois' Springfield Clinic Blood Red

I am confused about my feelings, because I started off hating it.


Springfield, Illinois' Springfield Clinic Feeling Blue

But on a beautiful blue sky day the structure actually looks good.


Springfield, Illinois' Springfield Clinic Night Orange

In fact I believe I see what the architects were hoping for.


Springfield, Illinois' Springfield Clinic Vampire Purple

A mix of sky and blue tinted glass. And an arch which is classical, and functional built within the modern minimal glass extension.

Odd, but neat.

Old Springfield, Illinois' Hardee's Demolished

Demolished Vine Street Clinic (left) & Hardee's (right)

Out with the old and run down rat traps, and up with the soon to come CVS.


View Of Demolished Hardees From The Drive Through

I could never really understand how it is that the Hardee's at the corner of Sixth and South Grand closed. The place was always busy when I'd drive by, and it was always busy when I'd frequent it. In the wee hours of the night it was a very busy place. Oh well, hasn't been open for years so its demolition is for the best.

Springfield, Illinois welcomes yet another CVS - "coincidentally" just one block from the new Walgreen's at Seventh and South Grand. There is also development going on across the street.

And get this - the owners of the Pizza Hut along Sixth near South Grand are doing some roofing work - hope they modernized the entire pizza place, as it needs an update badly!

Springfield, Illinois' Vine Street Clinic Demolished

What Was Left Of The Old Vine Street Clinic Is Now Demolished

Another Springfield, Illinois eyesore has now been demolished. Vine Street Clinic, an outpatient Psychiatric center, was located on the south side of Vine Street between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

The lots which housed Vine Street Clinic, and the now demolished Hardee's just south of the clinic, will be developed into a CVS pharmacy. The project is part of an ongoing series of business developments in the area.

I drive by the area often, and am happy to see the older vacant buildings torn down, and replaced by brand new businesses.

I once went to Vine Street Clinic for a meeting with my undergraduate adviser, who was a practicing clinical Psychologist. Not much to say there.

Striped Clouds Over Abraham Lincoln Museum

Striped Clouds Over Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum

I took the photograph, above, earlier this week. I've already written a post, which included other photographs of the strange striped cloud formation over Springfield, Illinois. One comment the earlier post received stated that the formation was entirely natural. Maybe, but looks rather unusual.

Psycho Butterfly

JeromeProphet Digital Art - Psycho Butterfly

Real men like butterflies. I snapped some photographs of a beautiful yellow and black butterfly fluttering upon a patch of pink flowers. It was a remarkable sight as nearby was a Monarch butterfly - one of the largest, and most beautiful I had ever seen.

I digitally modified one photo, and present it here as Psyho Butterfly - a play on the word Psychedelic.

The butterfly dominates the foreground while a modern high rise office building lends its pattern to the background. The photograph was taken in August of 2008 in downtown Springfield, Illinois.

The photograph below was take of a Monarch butterfly using my camera phone at two mega pixels. Both the yellow and black butterfly above, and the Monarch were taking advantage of the flowers in Horace Mann Plaza.


Monarch Butterfly - August 2008 - Downtown Springfield, Illinois

Oddly Striated Clouds Over Springfield, Illinois

August 11th, 2008 Downtown Springfield, Illinois 7:00 P.M.

I shot these photos in black and white from downtown Springfield, Illinois. The north and western sky over Springfield, Illinois was covered with an unusual cloud formation. It looked as if some great cloud weaver had stitched the clouds together.

While I took several photographs I spoke with an associate about of all subjects - covert weather modification. Believe it or n0t - I wasn't the one to start the subject. Soon this individual, who is a former law enforcement officer, was sharing his beliefs about secret government programs to change the weather by creating overcast with jet aircraft contrails.

I had never even once spoken with this gentleman about the subject - it was kind of funny.


Oddly Striated Clouds Over Springfield, Illinois - High Contrast

The photograph included in this post is reproduced several time. The first image is pretty much what the photo looks like at 640 by 480. I haven't enhanced it in any way.

In the second photo we see the same image, but I have increased contrast to show the striations. These striations were highly visible with the naked eye, and several people noticed them.

The photograph below is a close up of the right hand side of the image above. You'll notice an almost mathematically precise striation affect within the cloud.

These striations appear to be due to a pile up of contrails from hundreds, perhaps thousands of jet aircraft contrails. I'm not quite certain what the process is which allows a mass of contrails to slowly merge forming clouds, however, this photo is an excellent illustration of the process.



Close Up - Odd Stripes In Clouds Over Springfield, Illinois

Link To Original Photo Of Odd Striped Clouds Over Springfield, Illinois photographed from the corner of 7th, and Jefferson (Downtown) at 7:00 P.M. Looking West.

Thank You For Your Kind Comments

To those of you who have sent me supportive emails, or have made kind comments, relating to my recent post regarding my estranged sisters - I say thanks. From Sweden to the Gulf Coast of America Hugs.

This Was Me - Years Ago

This Youtuber's Rant Sounds So Much Like Me - Years Ago

Now I'm just too tired at the end of the day for such rants. I just don't have the fire burning inside me anymore. Maybe that's maturity, or maybe I've given up, or maybe I'm just too old.

I doubt this guy is married, or has children. Sometimes just getting to the end of the day, or end of the week is a "win". Sometimes just avoiding another knock down drag out fight over money, or the lack of it is a big victory. Sometimes just avoiding being sucked into another fight about curfew is all that I hope to achieve.

The world has this evil way of sucking the idealism right out of a person. I'm sure the rich and powerful laugh their assess off at how that works to their advantage. Everyone is so pressed and stressed just struggling to survive that they're too exhausted, depressed, or just plain poor to challenge the status quo - to take on the all the wind mills that need tilting.

I guess that's how it works, then again maybe I'm just a fat lazy apathetic American who is just barely comfortable enough not to complain - not until it becomes too late to complain?

Whatever the situation, I'll let this "young" idealistic Youtuber do his rant for me. I don't believe in everything he says, but that's beside the point - it's the conviction he seems to have - that his beliefs are worth communicating - that I like.

Here's a link to The Amazing Atheist.

Did Sir Paul McCartney Visit Springfield, Illinois?

Sire, may I call you Paul?

Photo (used w/o permission) Paul McCartney in Springfield, Illinois?

The State Journal-Register ran a story today based upon a alleged encounter with Sir Paul McCartney - get this, right here in Springfield, Illinois.

Dave of the11thhour has aired his doubts, asking why anyone with Paul McCartney's money would bother to drive when he could fly instead. Good question, however, if Paul McCartney had a reason he might take an automobile.

One possible reason is that Sir Paul simply wanted to drive across the great expanse which is Illinois. Certainly, Paul McCartney has the right to get away from all the airports, and major cities, and make a break for it - to what many call "the real America".

Paul chose to do so when he purchased property in Arizona, and might wish to experience a little "normal life" by taking an average sized vehicle and simply getting behind the wheel and driving across country.

Certainly Paul McCartney has earned a little normalcy in compensation for putting up with all the crazed fans, the globe trotting stalker type photographers, and even us normal folk who would simply slow him down at every turn asking for autographs, and photo ops.

Could the photograph allegedly taken of Sir Paul be a fake? Why yes it very well could be.

Could we be looking at a photograph of an incredible wax dummy seconds from collapse in the upper ninety degree heat - less likely.

Could we be looking at a celebrity double - maybe, but he'd be a darned good one.

I'm just not sure.

In any case I sure wish it was Paul McCartney, and that I had been out there and met him. Now that would be totally FAB.

Dallman Unit Four

JeromeProphet - Dallman Unit Four

Dallman Unit Four is based upon a photograph which I took during a slide presentation on Dallman Unit 4. Dallman Unit 4 is a yet to be completed coal fired power plant in Springfield, Illinois. The slide presentation was given during the Spring of 2008 by City Water Light and Power - a municipally owned power company serving Springfield, Illinois and surounding communities.

I shifted colors to red to represent fire and industry, and employed a ribbon effect to create a flag like and blue print like banner.

Target Greatland Sign Springfield Illinois

Target Greatland Sign Springfield, Illinois

Sometimes commercial images, and commercial icons are truly beautiful. We live in a world that is increasingly based upon commerce, and commercial images surround us. An entire industry churns out commercial images, and icons to assist companies in their goal of making sales.

Growing up in free market society has obvious effects upon the psyche of all those living within it. From early childhood to death itself those living within commerce based societies are exposed to, and influenced by commercial art.

Many who consider themselves above, and beyond the influence of such art condemn it for being crass, and shallow, and these criticism are for the most part valid, however, on their own level commercial art is profound in the way it captures, or seeks to capture and then present what it is that people seek.

The Target Greatland sign is simple, and beautiful in its simplicity. That may be what the retail chain seeks to convey though their branding.

Looking out from a parking lot in Springfield, Illinois, one summer evening I saw a beautiful blue sky, and a beautifully colored, and designed sign, and I felt like I had to capture it in a photo.

The sign on the front of this store has since been changes, and thus this image is both art, and history.

Time To Talk About MRSA

I live in the Springfield, Illinois area, and can report that there is a silent epidemic that no one seems to be talking about - not the local press, and not the local health industry. I'm talking about MRSA.

Several decades ago as a small child I caught a antibiotic resistant form of Staph - today it would be called MRSA, but back then the doctors treating it had never seen it before.

It started as an innocent scratch on my outer right ankle.

I was only three years old.

My mother who worked in the pediatric ward at St. John's Hospital most likely transmitted an antibiotic resistant form of Staph - probably by not washing her hands properly before treating my wound. This is what I believe, although this is not the story told to me by my mother.

My mother insisted that it was another nurse at the hospital that infected me, but I find it hard to believe that my scratch was so badly infected that she felt I had to be placed into the hospital BEFORE being infected with Staph.

Thus, years after her death, I blame my mother - doesn't really matter anyway.

MRSA was EXTREMELY RARE in those days, there was only one place a person could get it - either in a health care facility, or coming into contact with a "colonized" health care worker, or recently released patient.

I recall to this day having my pedestrian clothing removed by candy stripers and soon being taken to my hospital room. It was a frightening place for me.

I was assured by my mother that I'd be in the hospital for a few days at most, but it turned out that I was not to be released for months - that's right - months.

They tried every antibiotic, and hot wrap treatment, but the infection only spread.

Soon they decided to amputate my leg.

A NOTE: If only they had used maggots on my wound I would have healed quickly.

My mother decided to push aside her Munchhausen Syndrome long enough to make the moral decision and bring me home.

There were two conditions for my being brought home, the first was that we purchase an air conditioner, the second was my home treatment.

My home treatment consisted of the following.

My mother would take a large pot of water and bring it to a roiling boil on the stove.

She would then add Epsom salts, actual salt, and baking soda, and with the water still steaming hot I would plunge my entire little boy leg into the pot of scalding hot water.

My mother and father would stand next to me, and give me a towel to squeeze as I writhed in agony from the boiling water.

I did this several times a day, each day for weeks.

And eventually my body won, the infection died out, and I kept my leg.

I bring up this story as a way of warning people about the power of MRSA, which is an antibiotic resistant form of Staph.

It's out there folks. In the subsequent decades it has spread to the greater community, and is in schools, gyms, fitness centers, and nursing homes.

It spreads innocently, and a large percentage of the population is "colonized" by MRSA - one in three.

It waits until an individual's immune system is weakend, and then it strikes.

It appears usually as boils, or a small patch of redness, but it gets much worse, and it needs to be treated quickly because it spreads - as it eats flesh.

And right now as I write this it's an epidemic - and few have even heard of it.

A relative of mine has had it for over a week, and the doctor totally missed the diagnosis. Many older general practicioners have no clue what it looks like, and so it is important to learn as much as you can about the symptoms of MRSA.

MRSA does respond to some antibiotics, but not others, which is why it is so important to become knowlegible about this disease. Delay in proper treatment can lead to amputation, and even death.

Meanwhile pharmaceutical companies have little invested in developing new antibiotics, and the few remaining antibiotics that treat MRSA may not remain effective for much longer. This will lead to a future in which amputations for infections will once again become common.

Why is big pharma holding off - money, antibiotics just aren't as profitable as another antacid.

You can catch MRSA from contact with people, and objects. It's highly contagious.