Mayor of London: Cool it, America

The Mayor of London wants us to cool it, to lay off of BP, to give the chaps a break. Really?

In todays news, that British Conservative politician and former so-called journalist, the Mayor of London, Mr. Boris Johnson, is worried that BP's problems may hurt all British companies that are doing business in the United States. He is worried. The honest, truthful reporting on the disaster in the Gulf has made BP the most hated corporation in America. BP has lost 40% of its stock market value, because there are fears by investors that the US government  might force the company to fork over money in amounts closer to the true cost of its negligence than anyone in business could have imagined. For heaven sakes, such a thing worries the mayor of London. In so many words, he is suggesting that paying Americans for damages and for the cleanup will hurt poor British pensioners who are depending on BP as an investment. Worse, the mayor of London is a little bothered that American politicians may press BP to halt its dividend payment and to use the money to reimburse Americans. See the video.

Lindsay Lohan In Trouble?

A judge in LA released Lindsay Lohan, age 23, on bond for an alleged parole violation on a DUI conviction and told her not to drink and ordered her to wear an ankle monitor that supposedly detects the presence of alcohol.

Well, Yesterday, Ms Lohan's bail was doubled to $200,000, by the judge after finding that Ms Lohan violated the terms of her release with an adverse report by an alcohol ankle monitor. First of all somebody should check the ankle device, and if it is working properly, Lindsay Lohan should check her head, to see if she has any sense left in it.

The Associated Press reports that there were several denials of wrongdoing posted on Ms. Lohan's Twitter account The DA office said it was an "alcohol-related violation" but did not provide further details. Ms. Lohan has a court date on July 6, for a hearing to determine whether she has violated her probation.

Marvin Isley, R.I.P.

Marvin Isley, American musician, outstanding bass guitarist, and the youngest member of one of the best family R&B / soul groups, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Isley Brothers, died Sunday morning, June 6th, in a Chicago hospice from complications with diabetes, after a twenty year struggle. He was only fifty six years old.

The Isley Brothers, which has often been called history's best brother's band was formed in 1954 with the three eldest brothers Isley -- O'Kelly Jr., Rudolph and Ronald -- Marvin Isley joined in 1973, when the group expanded to six performers. The Isley Brothers had many hits, including, "That Lady," "The Heat is On," "Go For Your Guns" and "Fight the Power."

The Associated Press reports, Marvin Isley's widow Sheila "is remembering her husband of 20 years as a great family man who loved his children."

Another sad loss. Marvin Isley, (August 18, 1953 – June 6, 2010) , R.I.P.

Wedding in a shark tank

NYPost — June 07, 2010 — "A Long Island couple exchanges vows in shark tank."

Say what? Read that again. A couple in Long Island, New York, got married in a shark tank? Crazy. I mean crazy. And a minister took part? Double crazy. I thought the marriage ceremony was a religious ceremony and not a weirdo show. Am I not right? See the video.

Well, people can get married any way they want, can't they? I suppose they can and do. Last month a couple in Japan exchanged their vows with a robot presiding. I don't think we need a preserve the sanity of marriage act, or a seriousness of marriage act.  We don't need a law or a Constitutional Amendment that says: No fish tanks, no robots, no gimmicks. Freedom is what freedom is, the right to make a complete fool out of ourselves at anytime. The Wedding Day is no exception.

Child Bullfighter: Stupid Idea

Great Scott! In Mexico, a twelve year old boy, Michel "Michelito" Lagravere," is a bull fighter! He killed his first bull in the ring, so he is a bull fighter! See the video.

A twelve year old boy fighting a bull, in the ring as a bull fighter, is stupid. It is child abuse. Grown men have been bloodied, maimed and killed by bulls. Why would anybody with an common sense put a child in a bull ring? Where are the child's parents? His father is seen in the video saying that he is happy and proud of his son, and that he, the father, was a bull fighter. Shame on him. To stand by and let his twelve year old son in a bull ring is criminal. Again, shame on him. Where are the authorities? Shame on them. In the video it shows the kid losing his footing against his second bull. The child was injured, could have been / may have been seriously injured. You can't trust the word of people would let a children in a bull ring. This whole thing is so outrageous that it is obscene.

Helen Thomas In Hot Water

Helen Thomas at age 89 is a good, decent, honest reporter who should have expressed herself much better in response to a reporter's question. See the video.

I am sure that she knows enough history to know that there have been Jewish people in Palestine for some time. She was asked for her opinion of Israel. The interview is dated May 27 before the Israeli security forces unwise and stupid attack on a peace convoy in international waters, an attack that killed twenty peace activists. But the question came after many other heavy handed and over the top actions by Israeli forces in the Middle East, including Israel's destruction of Lebanon in 2006. Ms. Thomas is of Lebanese descent. I watched the video that is being circulated on the Internet by a right-wing group, and is being promoted by the right-wing media and others whom are screaming that she hate Jews and should lose her job!

Ms Thomas wrote on her website, "I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians.They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon."

Ms Thomas is the one White House reporter who has asked presidents of the United States tough questions about America's unconditional tolerance of Israeli security forces heavy handed treatment of Palestinians, and have asked presidents to comment on Israeli nuclear programs, which presidents have refused to do.

So silence her voice? That would be a loss for American journalism.

Robert Redford on the BP Oil Spill

Robert Redford has put a video on YouTube saying that the BP Gulf disaster is a wake up call to all of us to get the country to move toward a clean energy future, that citizens must push the "politicians in the government that are in collusion with the energy companies" to move America.away from fossil fuels. See the video.

Robert Redford is a conservationist and environmentalist who has for a long time advocated all things green. He and others are making a big push while the Gulf environmental crisis is in the news and on the minds of the American people. With America's East coast under threat of an ecological disaster, it is easier to point out the clear and present danger of off shore drilling, and of relying on the so-called expertise of the oil companies to know and to do what is best for our energy needs.

Three Cheers for Captain Picard!

Captain Picard's visit to Buckingham Palace, in the United Kingdom, this week, was not to brief England's head of state on Klingon business. Picard, one of the greatest captains in all of Starfleet history, was there to receive a small measure of his due. Yes, a knighthood. No, England's Queen did not bestow a knighthood on the good captain for saving the universe, a thousand times over, or for exploring the distant galaxies. No, she conferred upon him, Picard -- rather on Patrick Stewart, the title "Sir Knight", because Mr. Stewart is one of the best actors on the English stage. Mr Steward is also a star of TV, film, and of the English speaking live theater. He is one of the world's best actors. And he is a jolly good fellow! So now Picard / Mr Stewart is Sir Patrick Captain!

England's Queen is said to be a fan of the Star Trek. That speaks well for her.

In addition to his Star Trek work, Sir Patrick has been associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Sir Patrick, expressing his joy over receiving the honor, and his humility, said, "The knights of the theater represented to me not only the pinnacle of the profession but the esteem in which the profession was held. And now to find myself, to my astonishment, in that company is the grandest thing that has professionally happened to me." See the video.

Three Cheers for Sir Patrick, and for Captain Picard too.

Why Not An American?

Last night, Wednesday, June 2nd, the President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama, presented the former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney of the United Kingdom, with a lifetime achievement award for his contributions to popular music. The award is the U.S. Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Sir Paul became the third Gershwin prize recipient after the Americans Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder, whose titles are "American Citizen." and "America Citizen".

Don't get me wrong. I think Paul McCartney is a great song writer. I am a Beatles fan. My question is: Should American's highest award for song writing, handed out by the U.S. Library of Congress, be given to a non-American? Is the Booker Prize, England highest literary award given to a non-Brit or non-member of the Brit's Commonwealth? No.

I mean, couldn't the U.S. Library of Congress find a deserving American? Did they look? Do they need suggestions from the public? My opinion.

Palin's ‘Nazi tactics’?

Joe McGinniss is writing a book about Sarah Palin, and he has moved next door to her and she doesn't like it. In fact she has reacted badly and has organized a campaign to do a number on Joe McGinniss.

Mr McGinniss said of Mrs. Palin's reaction, " And I think it’s probably a lesson for the American people of the power Palin has to incite hatred and her willingness and readiness to do it. She has pushed a button and unleashed the Hounds of Hell, and now that they’re out there slavering and barking and growling. And that’s the same kind of tactic and I’m not calling her a Nazi, but that’s the same kind of tactic that the Nazi troopers used in Germany in the ’30s. And I don’t think there is any place for it in America." See the video.

The former Alaska half governor half baked schemes to get Mr. McGinniss could have unfortunate consequences for her. The FBI and Alaska state police are investigating the threats to Mr.McGinniss, and if a link can be shown to Mrs. Palin, she may find herself in hot water.

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