Michael Phelps is ruining America's image

Michael Phelps was caught smoking cannabis. Yes, marijuana. Not surprisingly, this report was done by a UK news agency rather than an American. This diminishes his hero status and also makes him lesser of a role model and more of a "bad influence" like Lindsay Lohan. Here is a picture of him smoking the illegal drug with a "bong." The news agency also states: "Phelps’ aides went into a panic over our story and offered us a raft of extraordinary incentives not to run the bong picture." And also: "If he continues to party like that I’d be amazed if he ever won any more medals again." The article goes on to remind us of how Phelps had previously gotten into trouble with DUIs and possibly had smoked cannabis before.

Make no mistake, I've always been an admirer of the six-four legend for his record-breaking swimming performances and long list of highly prestigious awards. Believe me, it's hard to bash a national hero. But his hard partying record makes him something parents would discourage young swimmers or other athletes or future Olympians from looking up to.

This also ruins America's image as this guy is not only the best swimmer, but the best Olympian! Hence, he should represent the best of America ethically too as he is sort of like the face of American athletes to the world.

The news agency that filed the report approached the US Olympian Committee, which recently awarded Phelps the Sportsman of the Century award, but obviously they got no comment. And they were equally unsuccessful with Phelps' coach. But the picture sure does look a lot like him.

Borrowing Money

Perfect timing for this video:

Tax and Lobbying issues

So not only Geithner, but also Daschle has not been keeping up with taxes. Not only that lobbyists (remember Raytheon?) are being considered for posts violating the ethics rules just set. What is going on, Mr. President?

Hopefully, incoming Commerce Secretary Gregg is up to date with taxes.

RNC has a New Face

In a desperate attempt to rid themselves of the "old, small town white guy" image, GOP-ers thrust Michael Steele, an African American for the first time in the RNC's history to the chairmanship of the RNC.

Keep one thing in mind: An African American heading the RNC will not necessarily change the attitudes of the GOP to crucial issues facing the African American community in places like New Orleans and the rest of the nation or attitudes towards issues relating immigration, health care, stem cell research and war. It's just a new face.

Excellent Video on the History of the Internet

Al Arabiya TV is NOT representative of Middle East

The first televised interview as President by Barack Obama was given to Al-Arabiya TV, an Arab news channel in the Middle East and is known as "friendly" to US image. The interview definitely showed a new brand of politics in the White House and was generally well received in the Middle East and by American Dems. However, to be clear, unlike what many websites are saying right now, Al Arabiya is not the mainstream news channel of the Muslim world. It's Al-Jazeera. In fact, Al Jazeera has around as much TV viewership as BBC world. BBC and Al-Jazeera have this agreement now on being able to share each others footage among other things. But Al-Jazeera is largely regarded as "confrontational" by the US which was probably why Obama dodged granting them an interview instead. That is understandable especially if you're trying to bolster US image. But just know that Al-Arabiya is not mainstream and it is the 'FOX' of the Middle East to some. But I'm not complaining. You can't be that fussy about these things. Small baby steps must be taken first before we actually speak to Al-Jazeera.

Tourism

Contrary to what I thought, westerners still visit Iran. Given the current tensions, this may be a shocking video to some. As you know President Obama recently said "the Iranian people are a great people and the Persian civilization is a great civilization." Obviously that was not well received by Fox news and the GOP, but the Middle East largely praised him for being kind.

Matt Damon: Bond is "repulsive"

Award winning American actor, Matt Damon, had some not so polite words for James Bond, the fictional character of the famous/infamous Bond serious:

''They could never make a James Bond movie like any of the Bourne films ... Because Bond is an imperialist, misogynist sociopath who goes around bedding women and swilling martinis and killing people. He's repulsive."

This article goes on to describe the Harvard-educated Damon as "very smart" and a political thinker calling Republican Bill Kristol who appears regularly on Fox as an "idiot."

Shocking: Girl marries dog amidst superstition

Reuters: "In India's eastern Jharkhand, villagers 'married' off a young girl to a stray dog to ward off an evil spirit. The locals at Munda Dhanda village performed the ceremony as they believe it will overcome any curse that might fall on the family. Interestingly, the girl is free to get married later in life to a man without even seeking a divorce. Superstitions are widespread in India, especially in rural areas where literacy is scarce."

The Poll on the right should be gone, but...

Sorry guys, blogger is not letting me remove the now useless poll on the right. So if you're wondering why it's still there, I haven't forgotten about it and I will just have to wait for the number of days it indicates it is open for.

Image of US already changing

Iran was staunchly anti-America during the days of the election and many Iranians had serious doubts that America would elect a black man. However, today that has changed slightly. President Ahmedinejad of Iran said he is ready for a new relationship and talks with America. But many Iranians are still skeptical that a US-Iran relationship would bring any good. Iranian students were seen demonstrating against the US' extensive support of Israel on the day Obama came into office.

Susan Rice, the new UN ambassador said we would engage in "direct diplomacy" with Iran. Hopefully, that means Iran won't be left completely isolated by this administration. That leaves poverty rate high in Iran and at the same time gives Iran a reason to pursue nuclear technology. But believe it or not, diplomacy with Iran could help lower gas prices. But, first you would need to lift those sanctions.

Hey, it worked with North Korea. They are now officially not a terrorist nation.

Oprah for Senate?

Blago considered Oprah for senate. Goddard of Political Wire writes:

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) told ABC News "that when he was deciding who would take President Obama's Senate seat he considered appointing talk show queen Oprah Winfrey."

Said Blagojevich: "She seemed to be someone who had helped Barack Obama in a significant way to become president," adding that "she had a much broader bully pulpit than a lot of senators."

Update: Oprah responds: "If I had been watching from the treadmill I probably would have fallen off the treadmill."

It's all yours captain!

Now watch this drive...

Top 15 National Losers of 2008

1. George Bush
   
2. The Middle Class
   
3. Rod Blagojevich
4. Sarah Palin
5. Dick Cheney
6. Eliot Spitzer
   
7. Tony Rezko
   
8. Hank Paulson
   
9. Hillary Clinton
10. Soulja Boy
    
11. Mitt Romney
    
12. The American Investor
13. Sam Zell (Owner of Tribune Company)
14. John McCain
15. Sean Hannity & Friends
    

US: Bin Laden not a threat anymore

Apparently, the US government and Obama have dismissed a newly released Osama audio tape discussing Israel-Gaza and the inauguration as a gentle reminder of a long lost enemy. According to Reuters, the tape does not in anyway disprove that Osama is too weak to be in a position to attack or cause any disturbances during the inauguration. Even PE Obama is now sort of shifting his position of capturing Osama. Commenting on this tape, Obama just said that if Bin Laden is having a tough time commanding or communicating from his secret location somewhere, then America is secure and suggested that capturing him wasn't the biggest of the biggest priority. This makes sense, Osama is now just a mere symbol (and symbols transcend a single individual) and the heavy bombing in Afghanistan should have bought America at least this far if nothing else. Right now, the top most priority is defeating Al Qaeda, not by military might, but by winning the hearts and minds of Al Qaeda's biggest supporters, the desperate hunger stricken poor, through compromise, aid, promise of a better life and smart psychologial warfare against Al Qaeda.

Here is the first psychological step we can take to derail Al Qaeda: Reprimand Israel as its ally for wrongly killing innocents and force a ceasefire. Too many are dead and Osama is taking advantage of this by seeking to tie Israel and the US to incite anger in the Muslim world. So do the right thing and throw Al Qaeda completely off and spoil its goal of sparking more hate-filled terrorism.

Best Movie of the Past Year

For those of you who have yet to see the film Slumdog Millionaire, the winner of four Golden Globes including Best Motion Picture, this is a good one.

In my humble opinion, this has been one of the best films of the year. Directed superbly by Danny Boyle, the film mainly portrays the harsh lifestyle of street kids in third world countries and the class-consciousness that exists in such societies. We just aren't doing enough.

And I'm pretty sure, it will not leave the February Oscars empty-handed either (though I didn't quite like the ending).

See it!

Silence speaks louder than words

President-Elect Obama's commitment to closing Gitmo is highly commendable, but with the murderous campaign raging in Gaza, his silence is too loud. The UN has stopped sending aid workers to Gaza due to deaths from Isreali airstrikes, Human Rights Organizations condemn Israel and more than a 1,000 have been killed. And yet he is silent. Why? He says "there is only one President at a time" but we MUST know what our future President will do. If he's going to do the same thing as the 'Washington Insiders' than there was no point in electing him. What frustrates much of the world is that we are in the dark as to where he stands on Gaza. Will he jump on the Bush bandwagon and support Israel until Hamas 'stops?' Or will he be in his right mind and be unbiased and neutral when dealing with both sides?

For those of you who say "Israel has a right to defend itself" from Hamas that refuses Israel the right to exist, then know that Israel also refuses the Palestinian people the right to live as an independent nation free from wrongful and tyrannical occupation. If Israel didn't blockade Gaza, the Palestinian people would've probably never have elected the Hamas in the first place. The blockade has garnered criticism from Human Rights groups.

Anyway, whatever Israel does from now until the 20th will happen unchallenged, but after that lets hope the PE gets something done.