Archive for September 15th, 2014

15
Sep
14

End The Day With Laughter

By Nerdy Wonka 45 Comments
Categories: All Photos
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15
Sep
14

A Tweet Or Two

By Nerdy Wonka 124 Comments
Categories: All Photos
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This is what happens when some Democrats lock hands with Republicans to jeopardize the nomination of a man who would have been fantastic for the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ. Jerks.

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15
Sep
14

Scotland the Brave?

By Chipsticks 94 Comments
Categories: All Photos, All Videos and Articles

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What?! A post on the referendum for Scottish Independence? Why?!

Good question.

Well, President Obama’s ancestry can be traced to William the Lion, who ruled Scotland from 1165 to 1214, and who looked like a member of ZZ Top.

So, that’ll do.

(Also too, my mother and father honeymooned in Scotland – so that’s another excellent reason for the post)

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Right then, the United Kingdom, made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Ireland was divided in the 1920s, Northern Ireland remaining in the UK, southern Ireland having the good sense and swagger to go independent 😎

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So, how long has Scotland been part of the United Kingdom?

Since when most of Amk’s jokes were written: 1707.

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How is the UK governed?

The central parliament (Westminster) for the United Kingdom is in England, and MPs are elected to it from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – but Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also have their own home-based parliaments (Scotland since 1998) which have powers not taken by Westminster (eg The Scottish parliament has no powers over defense and foreign affairs, Westminster decides all that).

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So, why all this talk about independence now?

Because on September 18, the people of Scotland will vote in a referendum to decide whether they will break away from the United Kingdom and form an independent Scotland. And if that happened, it’d be gobsmacking!1!1!

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Continue reading ‘Scotland the Brave?’

15
Sep
14

President Obama Awards The Medal Of Honor To Two Heroes

By Nerdy Wonka 90 Comments
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Army Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins salutes after President Barack Obama awards him the Medal of Honor for actions during the Vietnam War

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President Barack Obama applauds at right after presenting the Medal of Honor for Army Spc. Donald P. Sloat to his brother William Sloat, left, in the East Room of the White House. Donald P. Sloat of Coweta, Okla., was killed in action on Jan. 17, 1970, at age 20. While on patrol, a soldier in his squad triggered a hand grenade trap that had been placed in their path by enemy forces. According to the White House, Sloat picked up the live grenade, initially to throw it away. When he realized it was about to detonate, he shielded the blast with his own body in order to save the lives of his fellow soldiers

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15
Sep
14

President Obama Awards the Medal of Honor

By Chipsticks 108 Comments
Categories: All Photos

1:50 EDT: The President awards Army Command Sergeant Major Bennie G. Adkins and Army Specialist Four Donald P. Sloat the Medal of Honor

Information here

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15
Sep
14

Rise and Shine

By Chipsticks 136 Comments
Categories: All Photos, All Videos and Articles

On This Day: President Barack Obama shares a laugh with Jean Meyer, the grandmother of Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer, second from left, as they and members of the Meyer family walk along the Colonnade of the White House, Sept. 15, 2011 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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Today (all times Eastern)

11:45: White House press briefing

1:50: President Obama awards Army Command Sergeant Major Bennie G Adkins and Army Specialist Four Donald P Sloat, the Medal of Honor

5:20: Attends a fundraiser for Senate Democrats, Washington DC

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The Week Ahead

Tuesday: The President will travel to Atlanta, GA to visit the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

That evening, the President will travel to Tampa, Florida, where he will remain overnight.

Wednesday: The President will visit U.S. Central Command at the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL.

In the afternoon, he will return to Washington, DC.

In the evening, the President will host a picnic for members of Congress.

Thursday: On Thursday morning the President will participate in an Ambassador Credentialing Ceremony in the Oval Office.

In the afternoon, he will host President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine at the White House.

That evening, the President will attend a DNC event in Washington, DC.

Friday: The President will participate in an event with the DNC’s Women’s Leadership Forum in Washington, DC.

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US Secretary of State John Kerry looks out over Baghdad from a helicopter on Sept. 10, 2014 (my knees are still wobbling from looking at this photo)

But Chuck Todd said……

BBC: Islamic State crisis: World leaders pledge Iraq support

A summit of international foreign ministers has pledged to help Iraq fight Islamic State (IS) militants “by all means necessary”.

A joint statement by the 30 countries taking part in the Paris talks said support would include “appropriate military assistance”.

The talks had been called to agree a strategy to combat the group.

The conference followed a whirlwind tour of the Middle East by US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Mr Kerry, who attended the summit, has been drumming up support for a plan of action unveiled by President Barack Obama last week.

More here

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Army First Lieutenant Alonzo H. Cushing

USA Today: Obama’s day: Medals of Honor

President Obama pays tribute to the military Monday by presenting the Medal of Honor to three heroes from conflicts past: The Vietnam War and the Civil War.

One Medal of Honor is dedicated to the memory of 1st Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing, who gave his life while commanding Union troops against Pickett’s Charge during the battle of Gettysburg in 1863, a turning point in the War Between the States.

Family members and supporters have lobbied the government for years to honor Cushing.

Obama will also bestow the Medal of Honor on a pair of soldiers who fought during the Vietnam War: Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins and Army Spc. Donald P. Sloat.

Adkins, who lives in Alabama, is being honored for running through enemy fire to rescue comrades during a Vietnam battle in 1966.

Sloat died on the field of battle in 1970, when he used his body to shield other soldiers from an exploding grenade.

More here – and more information here

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Jeffrey Zients (WH.gov): Growing Our Economy and Strengthening Our Financial System

Six years ago today, Wall Street was rocked by a financial crisis that culminated in the bankruptcy filing of Lehman Brothers, the largest in U.S. history. The financial crisis resulted in the longest and deepest recession the American economy had experienced in 60 years. While more work remains to continue digging out of the deep hole that was left by the crisis, this week offers a chance to reflect on the significant progress that has been made since then in strengthening the economy and reforming the financial sector.

To understand how far we have come, it is important to remember the dark days that marked the beginning of the financial crisis. In the span of a few weeks in 2008, many of our nation’s largest financial institutions failed or were acquired to avoid insolvency. Capital markets froze, and the availability of credit for mortgages, student, auto, and small business loans was drastically reduced. The recession ultimately eliminated nearly 9 million jobs, threatened the American auto industry, and shrank the economy by hundreds of billions of dollars. The crisis was the result of many factors, including an overvalued housing market, predatory lending practices, thinly capitalized financial institutions that took big risks, and a regulatory system that was outdated and unequipped to meet modern challenges.

When President Obama came into office in January 2009, the Administration worked quickly to put our economy on the path to recovery. Facing a potential collapse, the federal government launched a coordinated effort to tackle the financial crisis on several fronts.

More here

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Did I mention Manchester United won 4-0 yesterday?

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MoooOOOooorning!

15
Sep
14

Early Bird Chat

By Chipsticks 110 Comments
Categories: All Photos

On This Day: Bo, the Obama family dog, lounges in the West Garden Room of the White House, Sept. 15, 2011 (Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

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MoooOOOooorning – Happy Monday!

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