DarkStar Spouts Off

This is A Problem

Attention all players! Heads UP!!!

Computer hackers this week said they had cracked and published the secret code that protects 80 per cent of the world’s mobile phones. The move will leave more than 3bn people vulnerable to having their calls intercepted, and could force mobile phone operators into a costly upgrade of their networks.

Karsten Nohl, a German encryption expert, said he had organised the hack to demonstrate the weaknesses of the security measures protecting the global system for mobile communication (GSM) and to push mobile operators to improve their systems.

“This shows that existing GSM security is inadequate,” Mr Nohl told an audience of about 600 people at the Chaos Communication Congress in Berlin, a four-day conference of computer hackers.

This could be a real problem.

Should Obama Get Praise For This?

Should Obama get praise for ordering this missle attack on Yemen on December 17?

On orders from President Barack Obama, the U.S. military launched cruise missiles early Thursday against two suspected al-Qaeda sites in Yemen, administration officials told ABC News in a report broadcast on ABC World News with Charles Gibson.

One of the targeted sites was a suspected al Qaeda training camp north of the capitol, Sanaa, and the second target was a location where officials said "an imminent attack against a U.S. asset was being planned."

The Yemen attacks by the U.S. military represent a major escalation of the Obama administration's campaign against al Qaeda.

He struck a country that is a safe haven to terrorists and their planning activities. Shouldn't that be praised?

Explosive Drawers....

Spouting Off On: Avatar

Spoiler alert:

The Decade

The media are starting to push for "a title" for the end of the decade. I don't understand the need to label the decade, but if they are going to do that, then why not the "Terrorism Decade"?

Think about all of the changes that have happened BECAUSE people flew two planes into the World Trade Towers. Think about the loss of some civil liberties. Think about the fear that still exists, today. Think about the pending changes, I think, that are in store to "tighten security" in this country.

Harry Potter, the iPod, the iPhone, the Blackberry, the housing boom, and the financial bust have NOTHING on that, IMO.

Jib Jab Does 2009

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Merry Christmas, 2009

Luke 2:8-14

The Shepherds and the Angels

 ⁸And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

 ¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 ¹⁴"Glory to God in the highest,
      and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

TV Sportscasters Lose A Great TV Man

George Michael, THE MAN for D.C. sportscasters, died on Thursday of cancer.

George Michael, a high-rated and hyperanimated Washington sportscaster whose use of game highlights on his syndicated sports program became the model for successful broadcasters such as ESPN, died Thursday morning at Sibley Memorial Hospital, according to a statement issued by his former employer, WRC (Channel 4).

R.I.P.

Another "Acting White" Data Point

This is more for me than for you. But if you want to read it, enjoy.

A Problem We Can Agree Upon

There is a problem. On that, nearly everyone agrees. But to what forces should one attribute the black-white achievement gap? Sometimes it seems everyone has a confident opinion. Explanations for the persistent gap in education achievement between African-American and white students range from a decline in personal responsibility among black Americans, to unenlightened education policy, to lazy teachers, to entrenched poverty.

This brief from the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School concerns itself with one of the most sensitive and most ubiquitous explanations for the black-white gap in school achievement: the so-termed “burden of acting white.” For more than two decades, a range of people— pundits, educators on the ground in urban schools, and academics in the ivory tower— have contended that for the black student, the punishment for educational success is social ostracism among one’s black peers. Thus, the theory goes, high performing black students, fearing the charge of “acting white,” will refrain from excelling. It is a powerful idea. However, after more than twenty years since its scholarly introduction, there is still no broad consensus as to whether or not such a phenomenon accounts for any portion of the black-white achievement gap.

Acting White: A Media Invention, Dangerous Mindset or Something In-Between?

Simply put, some people argue that an “acting white” mindset is rampant among black youth, especially among young men, and that such attitudes are a major cause of differences in school achievement between black and white students. Others disagree, pointing to data that seem to dispel such ideas. This research brief attempts to summarize the literature and objectively discern whether or not the fear of “acting white” is a phenomenon hampering the eradication of the black-white achievement gap. What we find, not surprisingly, is that the

"Health Care" Politics

OK, to get the "health care" bills passed, we have congress-criters
getting bribes for their votes. We have the Democrats wheeling in a
feeble old man, Sen. Bryd, to make sure they have the 60 votes. You
have the vote happening on the weekend in the wee hours of the
morning, the time where the infamous quote ("Ain't nuthin open after
xxx 'cept legs) comes into play.

This is horse....

Health Care: Me No Understand

"Health care", me no understand:

• You don't like "big insurance" companies, but they helped write portions of the "health care" bill.
• You don't like "big pharmaceutical" companies, but they helped write portions of the "health care" bill.
• Reminding me of Wimpy from Popeye, you start paying next year for promises of "health care coverage" in a few years.
• You want to be able to "import" prescription drugs but the big pharmaceutical companies made sure that's not in the bill.

You support the bill.

Me no understand.

Snow :-)

Ex-Act-A-DAMNED RIGHT-LY!!!

P6 beat me to it.

The title of P6's post says it all.

More later

Political Grinch

This was sent to me via cell phone a few times, one by a [ formerly ] Strong Shelia Dixon supporter.

She's done. Even if her conviction gets over turned and she wins out on the other case and retrial, she's done.

Constitutional Show Down

If I remember correctly, right after 9/11, Osama bin Laden stated they will attack the U.S. and use the openness of the U.S. against us. I think about that from time to time. I thought about that hard when the Muslim college students from the Virginia area were arrested over seas attempting to join al Queda.

There has to be a Constitutional show down over religious freedoms and security of citizens of the United States. It's been clear, to me, that some forms of Islam just doesn't blend well with the culture of the United States and actually needs to destroy the culture of the United States in order for Islam to thrive. The fact that there are U.S. citizens and/or legal residents who adhere to those forms of Islam, is problematic. This is going to come to a head at some point and it will most likely come to a head when an attack happens or a big attack is thwarted and the extent of the planned attack becomes known.

The CBC Grows A Spine?

The CBC grew a spine?

According to this, it appears they did!

WASHINGTON (AP) — Call it the $6 billion boycott.

By boycotting a key House committee vote last week and threatening to abandon support for banking regulations, members of the Congressional Black Caucus got $4 billion added to a Wall Street regulation bill and $2 billion to a proposed House jobs bill in spending they sought for African-American communities.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) this week inserted $3 billion to the legislation to provide low-interest loans to unemployed homeowners in danger of foreclosure. He added $1 billion for neighborhood revitalization programs.

The money would come out of the $700 billion financial rescue fund.

Isn't this interesting? They finally get some spine.

There are some people who look at the political opposition to the Obama administration and wonder where this type of anger/fervor/strong opposition was when Bush was in office and wonder if it is because a Black man is president or flat out state the opposition exists because it is a Black man is president. Frankly, I think there is some merit in wondering that, but I want to take this in a slightly different direction.

Where was the CBC's spine when the Dems controlled congress and Clinton was in office? The CBC wouldn't stand up to the almighty "white man", then, but they'll stand up to "the brutha"? Why is the CBC not showing the same type of deference to President Obama that they showed to President Clinton? Could it be because they are afraid of the white powers that be in the Democrat party? *DAMN SKIPPY*!!!

That's right! I put it out there!

H/T: Booker Rising

CBC vs Obama: Ain't Nuthin' New

Some are pointing out the disagreement between the CBC and Obama concerning how much is "being done for Blacks" with the CBC saying there are not enough specific plans "for" Blacks while Obama is saying, essentially, what is good for America is good for Blacks since a rising tide lifts all boats.

So, what's new about disagreement between Black Democrats? Only demagogues or the politically ignorant would say this is something that doesn't happen in Black politics.

When Barry was running for mayor of D.C., at the core of his campaign was what he "would do" for Blacks in D.C. and not afraid of calling Blacks who didn't agree with him Uncle Tom. The same has happened in Baltimore and Camden mayoral races.

Let's not forget that half of the CBC supported Hillary Clinton and half supported Obama. So what makes anyone think they would be of one accord?

Oh. Wait. That's right. All Blacks think alike and so believe those who even say that Black Republicans show that all Blacks don't think alike. Think about it.

Democrats Past and Democrats Present

With Harry Reid spewing crap about "health care" and slavery, and many of my fellow Republicans responding with the history of the Democrats, may I interject reality?

The Democrats of the past are not the Democrats of today. Today, Blacks are an integral part of the party, even if they are taken for granted. And even with that, a Black man was nominated to run for President of the United States by Democrats and it was that Black Democrat who won the election, popular and electoral college, to become President of the United States.

Real talk: POTUS present trumps segregationist past.

"Wealth" Question

If you are not invested in gold and precious metals, and by invested I mean you actually have the gold or precious metal, and not in the form of jewelry, do you really have any wealth?

The U.S. dollar is fiat money.

So, do you have faith in the existence of your 401(K), 403(B) when you need it?

Michael Steele: Shut Your Trap

[Updates for spelling and grammar]

Michael Steele, you are demanding an apology from Sen. Reid for comparing opposition to the health care bill to slavery. Frankly, I don't like what Sen. Reid said and I think an apology is appropriate. However, for YOU, Michel Steele, to ask for it, for YOU, a person who loves to say Blacks who are not Republicans are on the plantation, to make the demand, is outrageous!

Michael Steele, shut the hell up!

I Ain't Mad At Tiger

I ain't mad or bothered about Tiger cheating on his wife. I'm not a member of his family, so I have nothing to be mad about.

I ain't disappointed in Tiger not taking his vows of marriage seriously. I ain't his wife and I have no personal stake in his life nor he in mine.

I ain't mad at the home wreakin' skanks who knew Tiger was married and still were willing to throw open their legs and anything else. I ain't even mad that they are now mad at Tiger for cheating WITH OTHER SKANKS so now they are ready to get their pieces of silver by telling or not telling about their bumpin' uglies with a married man.

I ain't even mad about the lack of shame.

I ain't mad because I didn't put the man on a pedestal and realized he has a great golf game but who knows about his character outside of the game of golf.

I ain't even mad that, so far, his lack of desire for Black women, doesn't have a sistah proclaiming without shame that she's a home wreakin' skank.

I AM a little pit perturbed that the women are getting called out of their names but some are calling Tiger a ho.

Tiger Woods, Golf Bad Pun Alert

OK, the "revelations" that Tiger Woods has had affairs, got my bad pun motor running. You have been warned. These are mine:

• Some women are coming out saying they bonked Tiger and felt his Wood.
• The women he cheated with are saying Tiger was never under par.
• Tiger never missed a hole in one.
• Tiger is good, but one time he did shank hit putt.
• Hopefully, Tiger doesn't develop a slice like O.J.
• Another women comes forward to say she likes Tiger's nine iron
• Tiger better hope none of these women are late for tee time
• Maybe Tiger should have stuck with the hand wedge
• I guess this puts a new meaning on foursome
• Do we even want to know about the back nine?
• Tiger's wife is going to California for the money ball
• Tiger, got confused with the ball washer

These are from others:

• Tiger's long off the tee, and can read the lies, which means his up and down game ain't bad.
• Given all of this, no wonder his wife is teed off
• Ouch! Talk about your sand traps!