Sadly, the House narrowly passed the carbon tax/cap-and-trade bill today, 219-212. Jill at Business of Life has a good wrap-up of the issues around the Economic Suicide Act here. And The Club for Growth has a great list here, Fifteen Reasons to Oppose the Climate Bill.
Honestly, Obama and Congress seem intent on further wrecking the economy, don't they? Please burn the phone lines to your senators. Write, e-mail, call.
Pretty decent coverage of the continuing controversy of the Islamic Society of Boston (ISB) Roxbury mosque on NECN this evening (sorry, you have to sit through the ad....).
The ISB (actually the Muslim American Society of Boston) held their opening ceremony today, and there was a well-mannered group of protestors across the street bearing signs that read "Prayer Yes! Extremism No!" Sweet! It's not the mosque anyone is against, it's the leadership with its demonstrated ties to radicalism. The building is handsome, I'm sure local Muslims are thrilled to have this center. But all the controversy about the leadership of the ISB/MAS that has plagued this project from the beginning is still with us.
Let's not forget who we're dealing with here. To refresh your memory on the legal jihad waged by the ISB, please read The Silencing by Solomonia. To refresh your memory on the improper (if not illegal, given the conflict of interest issue) real estate transaction between the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and the ISB, please read Menino's Mosque by David Bernstein of the Boston Phoenix.
UPDATE: You can see a video of the press conferencehere.
This sounds extremely interesting.....I hope our local media and politicians pay attention to who's in charge at the Islamic Society of Boston. This deserves attention, scrutiny and action from our leaders. From Americans for Peace and Tolerance:
WHAT: Press Conference to Caution about Extremist Leadership of the Boston Islamic Center. WHEN: Thursday, June 25th, 10:30 AM WHERE: Sheraton Crowne Plaza Hotel, Newton, 320 Washington Street, Newton MA 02158
Continue reading "Press Conference Thursday - Extremist Leadership at Roxbury Mosque" »
Because in ZImbabwe (and other African countries, no doubt), many men believe that having sex with a virgin can cure AIDS.
"Like many young girls in Zimbabwe, Hope was the victim of a widely held belief that if a man with HIV or AIDS rapes a virgin he will be cured of his disease. This so-called virgin myth, perpetuated by Zimbabwe's traditional healers, has led to the rape of hundreds of girls, according to UNICEF. Some of those victims are too young to walk, much less protect themselves."
Condoms really won't help here, will they?
Betty Mokani, who was raped as a 14-year old by her uncle, started an organization called Girl Child Network Worldwide, to provide a haven for the tens of thousands of girls who are abused in this way.
According to a reader, Muhammed Masosod, former imam of the Islamic Center of New England in Sharon, has been trying to find work in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Masood is reportedly in KSA right now with his brother Hafiz Hamid, the former imam at the Islamic Center of Greater Worcester. Masood was reportedly in Malaysia for the past two months seeking a job there so he can for bring his family there, but had no luck in finding a job. The family is still in Sharon, and my reader writes that the family wants to leave the U.S. but they dont want to settle in Pakistan. That's understandable.
Life was good in Sharon and Worcester for Hafiz Saeed's brothers, but things are tough now.
Will try to find out when the Masood family deportation hearings continue.
How curious, the ongoing Lahore High Court hearing on Pakistani terrorist group founder Hafiz Saeed finds a link between Saeed's group (Lashkar-e-Toiba, LeT and its offshoot Jamaat ud Dawah, JuD) and Al Qaeda:
"The Lahore High Court has adjourned the hearing of house-arrest case of Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, chief of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawah till Monday. The federal and provincial government presented the secret documents about Hafiz Mohammad Saeed the before the court."
"Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa said that the documents are related with the national security; therefore he has presented them in closed session of the court.... JuD leader’s counsel AK Dogar said these documents should be presented in an open session of the court in the presence of Hafiz Saeed."
"Latif Khosa said that JuD is linked to Al-Qaeda, adding one culprit involved in Mumbai attacks is said to have links with JuD."
Today, the Lahore High Court released Saeed from house arrest, which he's been under since December 2008. You can scroll through and read my previous blogposts about the notorious Hafiz "Jihad Will Never Stop" Saeed and his groups LeT and JuD here.
Hafiz Saeed still has close relatives living in Massachusetts, including brother-in-law Abdul Hannan, imam for the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell as well as the Islamic Society of Manchester, New Hanpshire. Hafiz Saeed's brother Muhammed Masood, former imam of the Islamic Center of New England in Sharon MA, took a "voluntary deportation" back to Pakistan in October 2008 after being convicted of visa fraud and lying to federal authorities. Masood's large family (wife Rehanna and eight children) are still living here, most of them residing at the ICNE 52-estate in Sharon. Rehanna and the five oldest children face their own deportation hearing this year.
Although the ICNE Board of Directors stated in 2008 that Hafiz Masood and his family was asked to leave the ICNE estate, his family is still living there, paying neither rent nor utilities. As one ICNE member wrote to me, "the ICNE is a charitable instituion and our tax dollars are supporting the life style of the Hafiz Masood Family. Why is this still going on at the ICNE?"
Any comments from the ICNE Board of Diectors, the Attorney General of Massachusetts, the FBI or the Department of Homeland Security on this?
Pentecost Sunday - commemorating when the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus' followers (painting by Titian, ~1545):
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord. The biblical origin of the seven gifts is found in Isaiah (11:1-3), where Isaiah describes the qualities of the Messiah. More on Pentecost and the gifts of the Holy Spirit here at EWTN.
... than photos of shredded fetuses:
Hat tip to Sissie. What was wrong with orphanges anyway? Why not bring them back as one of several alternatives to abortion?
On a related note, there's a campaign underway in Massachusetts for the RMV to offer "Choose Life" license plates. Again, that's an awfully good message, on many levels. L'chaim!
FYI, there are two Marian prayer services I know about next week, one in Boston and one in Lowell. Nice opportunity to pay special respects to Mary during her month of May, and with very pretty hymns too! Both are free and open to the public.
Monday, May 4th, 7 PM - St. Margaret's Church, Lowell, MA.
The Blessed Virgin Sodality of St. Margaret's Parish in Lowell is holding a Spring Rosary and Prayer Hour on Monday, May 4th at 7 PM. The prayer hour will include reciting the rosary, the Magnificat, chanting the Litany of Loreto and singing Marian hymns. All are invited to join us in this traditional prayer service honoring Mary. Refreshments will be served afterwards. The address is 374 Stevens Street, Lowell, MA, in the Our Lady of Lourdes chapel (downstairs) . For more information, please contact the St. Margaret's parish rectory at 978-454-5143.
Thursday, May 7th, 7 PM - St. Clements Shrine, Boston
From their blog: The 1st Thursday Women’s Prayer Group is hosting the May Dedication to Mary Crowning Ceremony in lieu of the regular May prayer group and we hope you will be able to join us for this very special event! We will begin with praying the rosary then have the crowning ceremony. Refreshments will be served afterward. You are invited to bring a flower to place before the Blessed Mother. All are welcome!
Interesting! Spengler, who's been a columnist at Asia Times since 1999, starts work as associate editor and writer at First Things, a Catholic journal about religion, culture and public life. His name is David P. Goldman and he's Jewish. His coming-out story is here. Excerpts from his latest column:
Spengler's- oops, David Goldman's - first article at First Things is about the link between demographics and economic depression. Very cool article, he looks at why children and two-parent families are essential to a healthy economy.
Goldman's recommendations for a family-oriented economic program:
Continue reading "Spengler Discusses Demographics and Economy" »
President Obama's teleprompter has his own blog, and it's very hilarious. The teleprompter certainly gets in a lot of photos of our Dear Leader! This is an AP photo from a Washington Times article on Obama's half-million dollar book deal he signed five days before becoming president.
There's the ubiquitous (and loquacious) teleprompter) to the left.
A commentor at HillBuzz writes that Rush Limbaugh has withdrawn his offer to debate Obama, instead Rush wants to debate the Telepromtper (which he refers to as the TOTUS).
The outrage against the AIG bonuses brings to mind Kabuki theatre. More make-up and masks, please! Power Line has the minority view, based on the testimony of Edward Liddy, which seems reasonable to me:
* All of these payments, as to AIG's troubled financial products division, are retention bonuses, not performance bonuses.
* The money is not going to anyone responsible for the implosion of AIG--those people, who were in the credit default swap area, are gone.
* These retention bonuses were promised to AIG employees who are responsible for winding down the company's financial products division. At the beginning, this division had a potential exposure of $2.7 trillion. Winding down AIG's book of business in this area was a dead-end job, and there was a great likelihood that the people responsible for the work, who knew the most about the products involved, would take jobs elsewhere.
* In late 2007 or early 2008, AIG made a deal with these employees: if they would stay at AIG until specified conditions were met, i.e., either certain business was wound down or a given period of time had elapsed, they would receive a specified retention bonus.
* As to all of the employees involved, they satisfied the terms of the bonus by wrapping up a portfolio for which they were responsible and/or staying on the job until now. As a result of the efforts of this group, AIG's financial products exposure is down from $2.7 trillion to $1.6 trillion.
I hope AIG takes legal action against Congress to stop the ridiculous 90% taxation of these bonuses. Talk about scapegoats. Washington Post has a good article about the situation, and Jonathan Goldberg wrote a good column about mixing politics and business too.
"We should have learned from the government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac what dangers lie ahead: The rule of law and political manipulation of the economy don’t mix well...What signal does it send when the president and Congress make it clear that they will revisit legal contracts that run afoul of populist outrage?"
If the AIG staff are forced to return their contractual bonuses, then shouldn't President Obama return the $130,000 he received from AIG in 2008? From ABC News:
"AIG employees kept doling out donations to politicians, including presidential candidate Barack Obama, after getting bailed out with federal funds last year, raising the question of whether those politicians will now return the money. AIG executives gave more than $630,000 during the 2008 political cycle even as the company was falling apart ."
More than $120,000 was donated after AIG received $85 billion in federal bailout funds in September 2008. Give it back, President Obama, Senator Dodd and Senator McCain!
It's about time! They've been taking place all around the country, attracting crowds ranging from hundreds of people to over 5,000! I've heard of a number of Taxpayer Revolt Tea Parties scheduled for Massachusetts, including the following:
Saturday March 28, 2009 - Essex County Tea Party, from: 12-2pm, 60 Pleasant St. (City Hall), Newburyport, MA.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 - Worcester Tea Party! 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Lincoln Square, Worcester. For more info, e-mail worcesterteaparty@charter.net.
Also on Tax Day, the Boston Tea Party, Boston 10:00am - 8:00pm at City Hall Plaza (Government Center T-stop). I think a lot of WTKK radio talk show hosts will be at this one.
There's a Lowell Tea Party in the works, also be on April 15th. It's planned for JFK Plaza in front of Lowell City Hall, from 3-7 PM. Will post additional info as I get it.
National clearinghouse info here. The tea bag image came from those folks. More tea parties listed here.
Newt Gingrich has caught the tea party fever too.
Don't just stand there while Mr. Obama tries to turn the U.S.A. into a socialist country! Tell Congress to stop right now with their reckless "stimulus" bills, and remind them that they work for us. Join a Tea Party rally!
There's a lot of great lectures, concerts and special masses coming up this Lenten season, take advantage of these!
Friday, March 20, 2009 - "The Restoration of Gregorian Chant in the 20th Century," lecture by Sam Schmitt, Ph.D., Friday, 8pm to 9pm, Humanities Room at Thomas More College. And while you're thinking about plain chant, enjoy this!
Sunday, March 22, 2009 - Seraphim Singers concert at the Mission Church in Boston, 1545 Tremont Street on Mission Hill, 4:00pm, with special guests, The Boston Boy Choir. I've heard both choirs and they are truly wonderful! Jennifer Lester is conductor of the Seraphim Singers. Selections include: BACH Jesu, Meine Freude, BRAHMS O Heiland Reis, GYGER Wie Schön, DISTLER Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, and a commissioned work by SAWYER. Suggested donation, $20.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - Sung Latin mass as the St. Francis Chapel at the Prudential mall (really), to celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, 7 PM. I'm sure it will be wonderful also.
Sunday, March 29, 2009 - 5th Annual GOSPEL BRUNCH at St. Clements Shrine in Boston (1105 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215), featuring the Joyful Voices of Inspiration Gospel Choir. Time is 12-2 PM, after the 11 AM mass. Tickets $20 for adults, $10 for children, fundraiser for the Oblates of the Virgin Mary Seminarian Scholarship Fund.
Having seen two references in the past two days to the Alia Ansari's tragic death, I feel compelled to take note of the speculation that Ansari's death was a hate crime or was due to her wearing hijab. These statements are made with no basis in fact, yet they are repeateded by many so-called Muslim leaders and non-Muslim liberal sympathisers. These speculations are apparently believed by many Muslims (and Harvard student filmmakers). Many Black civil rights leaders (i.e., Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton) make a might fine living off the minority grievance industry, but they're being surpassed by the grievance industry of Muslim organizations such as CAIR and MAS. The Alia Ansari case is a perfect example of pimping a tragedy, twisting the truth to score grievance points, and passing off rumor as truth.
Continue reading "Passing Off Rumor as Fact, Alia Ansari's Tragic Death " »
Praise the Lord, seriously.
Gregorian Chant is making a significant comeback in American and around the world. Its simple yet transcendent tones - immediately recognizable as sacred music - can't help but stir one's soul and bring one closer to Divinity. Learn more about restoring Gregorian chant to its rightful place this Friday:
Directions and map here.
Noted Catholic layman, author and lecturer Gil Bailie is back in Cambirdge to continue the Emmaus Road Initiative lecture series at S. Peter's Church.
Monday, March 16, 7 to 9 PM; St. Peter's Church, 100 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138.
Lecture topic: Why did it take the Resurrection to save us?
"Emmaus Road in Cambridge. In a collaborative effort, St. Paul’s, St, Peter’s and St John the Evangelist join together to host a series of monthly workshops over the next year called The Emmaus Road Initiative, Inspiring a Wholehearted Faith in a Halfhearted Age."
"Drawing on the theological tradition for which Benedict XVI is today’s preeminent exponent as well as on René Girard’s extraordinary insights into the anthropological and cultural uniqueness of Christianity, the Emmaus Road Initiative is an effort to bring 'the truly most exciting part of Christian faith' to bear on the challenges facing the Christian vocation in our time."
If you can use some more inspiration during Lent and want to hear provocative, challenging ideas, come to Gil Bailie's lecture at St. Peter's tomorrow.
Map & Directions - For more information: Jill Fallon: (781) 777-2067
A criminal investigation in Germany reveals that the Musim Brotherhood has set up "intricate financial, real estate and mosque structures" in Germany over several decades, which have been involved in variety of criminal activities. As reported at the Counterterrorism Blog:
"The Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report (free subscription required) brings the otherwise unreported here news of a major criminal investigation into several Muslim Brotherhood leaders and groups in Germany and Belgium. The raids were publicly announced in Germany, but have not been widely reported. The site also provides links to other reports, particularly by the NEFA Foundations on some of those under investigation."
"What is striking is the stature of the institutions that were raided on suspicion of money laundering, criminal activities, acquisition of property under false pretenses, and aiding "Islamists" and violent Islamic jihadists."
Boston has seen its share fund-raising to support violent Islamic jihad. And there's talk of exceedingly suspicious real estate transactions by a major Boston realty agency.
"One thing this shows is that, despite the constant protests to the contrary, at least the German prosecutors and those of several other nations, believe there is, in fact, a transnational Ikhwan organization. There is, but the Brotherhood usually denies its existence."
Continue reading "Criminal Investigation into Muslim Brotherhood in Germany" »
Our tax dollars. There was a time in America when wealthy families donated their own money for these sorts of things. Libraries, unviversities, hospitals and parks all over New England were often built by philanthropists. Not so the Kennedies:
"The federal government has approved $5 million for the construction of the first building on the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a 2,500-square-foot pavilion that is intended to serve as a "gateway" to the Boston Harbor Islands national park area."
"....The funding was included in a $410 billion federal spending bill that was passed by Congress Tuesday night and signed by President Obama today. The bill also included $22 million for an addition to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum and $5 million for the new Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate."
The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate?!
Do we really need to subsidize the Kennedies, one of the wealthiest and most politically powerful families in the country? Ayy gevalt!
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