President Barack Obama samples fudge offered by Squirrel’s Den fudge shop owner LaDonna Secrist, left, during a stop in Mansfield, Ohio, Aug. 1, 2012. Photo by Pete Souza
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More than 180 evangelical leaders endorse Obama’s carbon reduction plan thkpr.gs/3686725 http://t.co/dD9JAhMN1o
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ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) August 01, 2015****
Jack Jenkins: More Than 180 Evangelical Leaders Endorse Obama’s Carbon Reduction Plan
More than 180 evangelical Christian leaders signed a letter this week backing President Barack Obama’s plan to reduce carbon emissions from power plants, the latest effort in a growing faith-based environmental movement to curb the effects of climate change. On Thursday, theologically conservative faith leaders sent a letter to President Obama endorsing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan (CPP),
a sweeping, historic project unveiled in June and set to be officially released next week. Signers of the letter, which was posted on the Evangelical Environmental Network’s website, framed their support in explicitly moral terms. “We see overcoming the climate challenge as one of the great moral opportunities of our time, a chance to fulfill the Great Commandments to love God, our neighbors, and ourselves,” the letter read. “It is God’s love that calls all of us to take on this challenge. That is why we write to offer our support and encouragement for your efforts to overcome the climate challenge.”
More here
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Documents show trooper who arrested Sandra Bland once disciplined for "unprofessional conduct": apne.ws/1DgKpD1
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The Associated Press (@AP) August 01, 2015****
Terry Wallace: Trooper In Sandra Bland Arrest Had Been Disciplined
The Texas trooper who arrested Sandra Bland after a confrontation that began with a traffic stop was once cautioned about “unprofessional conduct” in a 2014 incident while he was still a probationary trooper, according to documents released Friday. The Texas Department of Public Safety released Encinia’s personnel file in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from The Associated Press. Encinia had been with the department for a little over a year. For the most part, his file was unremarkable. He received “competent” ratings in all of the evaluations that were released.
However, in an evaluation that covered September and October 2014, his supervisor noted that Encinia “was given a written counseling for unprofessional conduct … for an incident occurring while at a school in Austin.” The documents provided no additional details and a Department of Public Safety official did not return a phone call seeking comment Friday night. The evaluation goes on to say, “In the future, Trooper Encinia should conduct himself at all times in a manner that will reflect well upon himself, the Department, and the State of Texas. This supervisor will ensure that this is done by meeting periodically with Trooper Encinia.”
More here
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18-month-old baby burned alive in reported fire bomb attack by radical Israeli settlers thkpr.gs/3686621 http://t.co/CybR7R8dsH
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ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) August 01, 2015****
AP: Suspected Jewish Extremists Burn Palestinian Child To Death
Suspected Jewish assailants set fire to a West Bank home on Friday and burned a sleeping Palestinian toddler to death in an attack that drew Palestinian rage and widespread Israeli condemnation. The attack, which threatens to set off another violent escalation, shines a light on the growing lawlessness of extremist Jewish settlers that Israel is either unable or unwilling to contain. The extremists have for years staged attacks against Palestinian property, as well as mosques, churches, dovish Israeli groups and even Israeli military bases.
The attacks, known as “price tags” because they exact a price for Israeli steps seen as favorable to the Palestinians, have stirred fear in Palestinians and frustration among critics who say Israel has not done enough to quell the assaults. “This is a direct consequence of decades of impunity given by the Israeli government to settler terrorism,” said Palestinian official Saeb Erekat. “This is the consequence of a culture of hate funded and incentivized by the Israeli government and the impunity granted by the international community.”
More here
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Tara Culp-Ressler: Some Of The Videos Targeting Planned Parenthood May Be Illegal, Court Rules
An anti-abortion group that has so far released four inflammatory videos accusing Planned Parenthood of profiting from the sale of “aborted baby parts” will not be allowed to publish additional footage featuring a California company that facilitates fetal tissue donation, thanks to a temporary restraining order issued by the Los Angeles Superior Court. The court order issued this week blocks the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) from releasing video footage featuring employees who work at StemExpress, a biological company that partners with some Planned Parenthood clinics to help transfer fetal tissue donations to medical research facilities.
The unfolding controversy plaguing Planned Parenthood has been focused on this type of tissue donation, which CMP misleadingly characterizes as trafficking in baby parts. Planned Parenthood emphasizes that it’s simply helping patients who choose to donate fetal tissue, which can play a role in helping scientists develop treatments for degenerative diseases. The national women’s health organization has condemned CMP’s secret recordings for potentially violating the privacy of staff and patients at their clinics.
More here
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President Barack Obama disembarks Air Force One upon his arrival at Mansfield Air National Guard Base in Mansfield, Ohio, Aug. 1, 2012. Photo by Pete Souza
The Obama Diary 
Maybe I am Furst? Good Morning 😉
Yay Terri! Congrats and Good Morning!
Congratulations, terri, and morning everyone.
Goooooooood Morning…everyone!!
Good morning all.
Morning tmtng!
Howdy doioooo pf! 😀
Good Morning TOD!
Greetings Don! 😃
Good Morning Everyone!
Hiya GCL! 😀
Reads like everyone is having a good morning. I had a very lazy Saturday. Retirement is not having to run around on the weekends “doing things”. Enjoy your Saturday
I’m so jealous! 😀
There are some disadvantages in being the older generation Dudette – I probably don’t need to explain them 🙂 – but not having to do the daily commute and the weekend frazzle is a definite advantage.
Among the things I will NEVER understand : one feeling so righteous in their morality & confident in one’s destiny, that you set a home of an innocent family on fire & murder a child by burning!! Real???? Once again, Bibi you built this by relying on the extremists vote to win reelection. But the silence of many ordinary Israelis as all Palestinians are demonized must be condemned too. Like racist for in US, you reap what you sow by either vocal agreement or by your silence
The oppressed have become the oppressors. These Jewish terrorists act with impunity and with the backing of other Israelis whose silence and lack of action against them show that they are in agreement. The U S must change its relationship with Israel and get on the right side of history again. They have become bullies in the region because they have the backing of Big Brother. They use and abuse us; a classic example of the tail wagging th dog, and we stand for it and get nothing for it that is meaningful in any way. It is sickening to see politicians kiss the Bibi’s ring and AIPAC’s ass. We would do much better if we forged deeper ties with various countries in the ME and showed them that we will not support Israel in everything that they do. Furthermore, there is no real need for Israel to have nuclear weapons; they need to be disarmed as well. What have not gotten nearly as much ( if anything) from Israel as they have from us. Our relationship with them and the latitude that we allow them shows us to be hypocrites to others in the region. If you give a mouse a cookie he will ask for a glass of milk. It is sickening that Bibi can come here and show disrespect to our president and be lauded by the republican run congress. You can bet that many over there laugh at us and hold us in contempt for allowing them to use us. It is more than time to change our relationship with Israel and to do more to help the Palestinian people. After the disasters of Iraq and Afghanistan, we should be done with allowing an entire country to suffer because there are some groups with whom we have issues.
Rant over. Off to get coffee and to calm down.
Have a good morning and a great weekend, TOD.
Thanks again to NW and amk for maintaining the blog while Chips and Danny are away.
Perfectly said, Ceb. I agree with this entire thing.
Sick, hateful bastards!
congrats on furst TG! GM TOD 🙂
I hope Jeb Bush reminded the Urban League that he sign “Stand Your Ground” into law.
I was reading about the event at BJ – If the US elects another Bush as President, I will turn of the news and the internet and become an isolationist over night. That anyone could even consider him as a candidate is beyond my understanding.
G’morning Nerdy, TOD, lurkers, even amk, and congrats terri on furst! Happy Saturday everyone. 🙂
G’mOOOOOorning, HF. 🙂
Good Morning Everyone.Off to swim and run errands.
Morning everyone…Look here: Mitch McConnell, they just MAY be talking about YOU!!
http://www.wdrb.com/story/29680115/feds-hope-billboards-will-help-to-curb-corruption-in-kentucky
From top elected officials to local police, no one is off-limits, according to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney.
Federal agencies say they are working to end public corruption in the state, and you can help.
The federal agencies say public corruption has been an ongoing problem in the state of Kentucky. That’s why they’re hoping a new initiative will get the public involved and lead to changes.
snip/
In fact, a recent Harvard study concluded that Kentucky is one of the most corrupt states in the country.
If you know about some corruption happening in KY…there is a link in the story to report them anonymously …. just sayin’!
Good Morning Everybody.
The Count reports that President Obama is golfing at Andrews with friends from Hawaii. 78°, sunny, headed to 92°.
Good morning JER
Goooooal, um I mean, Hole in One 😘
Hi TODers,
I’m finally back stateside after my 7-month stay in West Africa. Hopefully I’ll get to post a few thoughts in a diary soon. Have a great weekend y’all. 🙂
Welcome back, zizi2:)
Welcome Back zizi! Looking forward to seeing your posts 🙂
Good West Coast morning NW & TOD family. Lazy Saturday morning for me 😄
Good MOOOOOOrning, GGail.
No pants Saturday for me. 🙂
Say whaaaaat??!!! 😳😄😀
❤
GM TODville.
Are Chips and Danny still on vacation? (No change for me, hopelessly behind [more so each day 😦 ] but saw reference to her vacation here earlier this week.)
Here’s something to put in our “tease Chips in the future” file (didn’t click, “controversy” doesn’t interest me, but tweet caught my eye, LOL):
Maybe Vicki, LDS, Edwina, Diane, etc. can weigh in from a local perspective.
She would flip out if she thought he could possibly have a highway named after him:)
Ahh, DF’s true (devious) colors shine through, LOL. 😉
But it’s true, there’s nothing more fun than teasing Chips, amk and VC — always a hilarious exercise.
Now that it’s August, are you getting ready to go back to school? 😦 Lots of back-to-school stuff on store shelves, even saw a Halloween decoration (!) or two this week.
amk thought it was going to be a week. So, she should be back the beginning of next week.
He’s in Philly on the 13th. Tickets still available…
Good morning TOD 🙂
Congrats on 1st terri!
Most excellent R&S, NW. Thank you and hope you are enjoying the weekend!!
Thanks, Bob.
Wishing you a great weekend as well! 🙂
bunch of updates, via RTs, in the sidebar …..
bbl …. 🙂
Good morning all……I speak from my cave where I’ll remain for a bit. In the meantime please accept this humble offering from my in-box…..Enjoy the rest of your day! 😉
Ever wished you
could take advantage of wisdom garnered from hundreds of years of life
experiences? This
collection of advice was gathered from numerous seniors in
their golden years.
Some you may have learned the hard way, some will surprise you, and
some are a reminder of what truly is
important:
1.
It’s time
for you to use
and enjoy whatever money you have saved. Don’t give it to a son,
daughter, or some other
relative who has no notion of the sacrifices you made to
accumulate your
hard earned capital. Even if their big ideas seem wonderful or
fool-proof, it
can only bring problems and worries. This is your time
to enjoy
well-earned peace and quiet and it is a bad time for a major
investment.
2. Stop
worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren.
You gave them an education, food, clothing, shelter, and you taught them
what you could. They are now responsible for earning their own money, so
don’t feel bad about spending yours on yourself.
3. Do not
surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren.
Sure, being surrounded by family may sound enticing, but we all need our
privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you have lost your
partner (our deepest condolences), then consider finding a roommate to
help cover
expenses. Even then, do so only if you really need
the help or do not want to live alone.
4. Always
buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other..
Someday, one of
you will miss the other and money is a poor replacement for that
companionship, so enjoy doing what makes you both
happiest.Your goal should be to enjoy
with your partner what you both worked so hard to accumulate.
5.
Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, your family,
and everyone who is special
in your life. Remember, “A man is not old as long as he has
intelligence and affection.”
6. ALWAYS
stay
well-informed. Read newspapers, watch the news, go online
and read what other people are saying and thinking. Maintain an active
email account and try to use a social network. You will be pleasantly surprised when you
reconnect with old friends. Keeping up-to-date with current events and
with the people you have met in your life is important at any
age.
7. Be
proud, both inside and out. Do your nails, go to the dentist, the
dermatologist, your hair salon or barber, and keep your fragrances and creams
well-stocked. When you
are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in making you feel prouder and stronger.
8. Don’t
lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but do keep your own sense of
style. You have developed
a sense of what looks good on you, be proud of it. It’s part of
who you are.
9. Don’t
stress over the little things. You have overcome much in your life, resulting in good
and some bad
memories.
Don’t let the past drag you down or the future frighten you.
Feel good in the now, as the present is most important. Small issues will
soon be forgotten.
10. Respect
the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same
ideals as you, but they are the future and will take the world in their
direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them of
yesterday’s wisdom that still applies today.
11. Never
use the phrase “in my time.” Your time is now. You were
younger, but today you are part of this time.
12. Even if
you don’t feel like it, try accepting invitations. Baptisms, graduations,
birthdays, weddings, conferences, try to go. But, don’t get upset if you
are not invited. Some events are limited by resources and not everyone can
be hosted. The important thing is to leave the house from time to time,
meet people, especially those you have not seen in a while. Experience
something new (or something old), go to museums, walk through a field,
just get out there.
13. Live a healthy life
without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every
day), eat well, and get the
sleep you
need. As
we age, recovering from illness or injury takes longer. That
is why you need to
stay in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical
needs. Stay in touch with your doctor
and get regular physical
examinations even when you are feeling
well.
14. Pain
and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Everyone has their own
infirmities to bear, try not to dwell on yours. Accept them as a
part of the cycle of life you are going through. Try to minimize them in
your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to
you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person
you used to be.
15. Be a
conversationalist, but talk less and listen more. When the self-absorbed drone on about their past or latest ache or
pain, not caring whether listeners are interested, that is a great way to chase others away.
Listen first and answer questions, but don’t begin long stories unless
asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or to criticize
too much, unless you really need to. Still, always search for some good
things to say as well. Everyone is dealing with their own problems and
has a low
tolerance for hearing your
complaints.
16. Some
people embrace their golden years while others sadly become bitter and surly. Life is
too short to waste your days on the latter, as unhappy people will only make you older
and harder to be around. Spend your time with positive, cheerful
people. It will rub off on you and your days will become that much
better.
17. Don’t
abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, develop new ones. You can
travel, hike, cook, read, and/or dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow
a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, or learn to golf. You can
paint, volunteer at a charitable organization, or start a collection. Find
something you like and spend your time having fun with
it.
18. If you
have a strong
belief, savor it. But, don’t waste your time trying to convince others.
They prefer
making their own choices. Live true to
your faith, set
an example, and
let that memory sway them.
19. If
you’ve been offended by someone, forgive them. If you’ve offended someone,
apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make
you sad and bitter. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once
said, “Holding
a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.”
Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget, and move on with your
life.
20. Laugh A
LOT, and then laugh some
more. You are a lucky one. Many people never get to
experience a life as long or as fruitful as yours. So, find the humor in
whatever situation and enjoy
the laughter.
21. Ignore what others
say about you and take
even less notice of what they might be thinking. Have
pride in yourself and what you have achieved. Others have no idea about your
history, your memories, and your life thus far. There is still much
to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time wondering what
others aresaying or
thinking. Now is the time to be as happy as
you can be!
GM Yardarm, good tidings for you in your cave.
Thanks for the words of wisdom.
I’ll add one more hobby to #17, and that’s to take up patio container gardening. It’s much easier on your back than in-ground weeding, seeding, etc.
The plants become like your babies (less noisy though, LOL), when they thrive, have babies themselves (many succulents develop mini-me offshoots). Every day there’s something new in my patio garden (and not just new plants from the nursery, LOL).
Plus, most people find it very calming to be around a lot of greenery, and gives you something to talk about with guests or strangers walking by.
Bottom line…..Get off your butt and do something, right?
Word to the wise! Thanks Sailor! 🙂
“It is intriguing that, along with Israel and Republican members of Congress, the most vociferous criticism of the deal has come from Saudi Arabia. The Saudis have had it with what they see as American fecklessness. They have been convinced since the Iraq invasion that the United States is pro-Shiite (read pro-Iran). They are so persuaded of Iran’s anti-Sunni imperial designs that they have embarked on an indiscriminate bombing campaign in Yemen with the purported aim of stopping the Houthis, seen as Iranian proxies.
Now the Saudis are American allies. Iran is, and will for the foreseeable future remain, a hostile power. But what have our “allies” done for us of late? Promoted, through madrasas and other means, the conservative Wahhabi Islam whose fierce anti-Western teachings provided the context for the emergence of Al Qaeda, the Taliban and, most recently, the Islamic State. Manipulated oil prices, most recently down, in order to undermine America’s liberating energy revolution through an attempt to make shale oil uncompetitive. Shunned Obama’s attempts to reassure Sunni monarchies that the Iran deal would not mean diminished support — and all this, of course, from the country that furnished the manpower for 9/11.
The Saudis are in lock step with Israel on hostility to the Iran deal but are no friends of Israel. Their goal, despite America’s dwindling dependence on the kingdom for oil, is to preserve a Middle Eastern status quo that limits American strategic options — including the possibility that Iran and the United States might find common cause in combating the Islamic State or, years from now, re-establish diplomatic relations.
Any deep dig into the facts, of Levin’s courageous kind, cannot escape the question of whether a deal with an enemy, Iran, so fiercely opposed by this one ally, Saudi Arabia, might not, over time, change the Middle East equation in ways favorable to America’s national interest.”
Other Iran updates in the sidebar. Would note that those trolling the #IranDeal are mostly and truly a pitiful lot of fools who evidence that they’d never have the intellectual fortitude to do what Rep Levin has done. Unfortunately for America, many of them are elected officials, some of whom are among the pack of nuts running (over each other) to become the biggest warmonger lunatic ever to win a Republican Party Presidential primary.
#TrustBarack …. and teach the truth about the #IranDeal to everyone you possibly can!!!
As we approach the 70th Anniversary of the end of WWII, thought I’d share a fact and a hope ….
” MH17 INVESTIGATION: Russia blocks UN MH17 tribunal because verdict would expose entire secret war in Ukraine
Kremlin desperate to avoid admitting Russian military role in MH17 attack for fear of undermining hybrid war tactic of ‘plausible deniability’
The ongoing Netherlands-led probe into the MH17 attack may in due course confirm the majority of these allegations, but Russia will feel relatively comfortable brushing this off as a politicized verdict without any basis in international law – indeed, the Kremlin has already begun laying the groundwork for future rebuttals along these very lines.
That would not prove so easy if confronted by the findings of a UN tribunal backed by the full weight of the international community. The diplomatic credibility of the Putin regime has already taken a battering over the past eighteen months of hybrid warfare and blanket denials – it would be unlikely to survive the shock of such unambiguous exposure. The days of denials would be over, and the Kremlin would need to explain the lies of the past year and a half.
Internationally, the results would be disastrous for Russia. The hawks of the sanctions camp would receive a massive boost, while Russia’s few remaining friends would run for cover as Moscow plummeted towards true pariah status. On the domestic front, the Kremlin would also face difficult questions about the massive disinformation campaign it has maintained over Ukraine in general and MH17 in particular.
Vetoing a UN international tribunal may seem like a rather drastic measure, but it pales in comparison to the fallout the Kremlin would face if such a tribunal ended up exposing Moscow’s entire secret war in Ukraine. Moscow is therefore ready to accept the condemnation of the MH17 victim nations, as long as it can continue to cling to the ‘plausible deniability’ that forms the basis of its hybrid war tactics.”
College football media days are the best! …..only 34 days till kickoff…but who’s counting 😕
Can’t wait to be at the Iron Bowl this year!!
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/08/01/selfie-time/