Obama in Traditional Somali Outfit

The release of a picture showing Obama wearing a traditional Somali costume in the northern Somali region of Kenya, with the motive of diminishing or tarnishing his image, is only damaging Hillary Clinton and the Democrats in general.

Obama putting on the traditional costume is no more than a sign of respect for the people he was visiting. His father was from Kenya. The costume consisting of a robe and turban were presented to him by the elders in the north-east region of Kenya.

As a tactic to smear Obama in some childish way, this was rightly described as "shameful, and offensive fear mongering".

The photo was sent to the website Drudge Report, who said it came from Clinton staffers. The Clinton camp has not issued any denial. Instead, Clinton's campaign manager tried to whitewash the dirty tactics by asking why should Obama's campaign find the photo divisive, evading the issue why Clinton staffers sent the photo to Drudge Report, not known for being supportive of the Democrats. Did they send it to promote Obama?

This photo should not be divisive, but the ill-intent behind the act, misconceived as it was, may well be a decisive issue that will drag Hillary Clinton down. It will also damage the Democrats generally. Republicans are probably relishing this farcical charade, and wondering what further gaffes the Democrats will serve up next.

Americans in general will only think that the Democrats have lost whatever moral high ground they have managed to achieve since the Clinton-Lewinsky fiasco.

Perhaps Ralph Nader is right after all, that Americans should have another choice.

Ralph Nader Announces Bid for Presidency - A Spanner in the Works?

Ralph Nader has announced he will run for president. Is he providing a real choice or is has he just thrown himself in as a spanner in the works?

Nader has for long been a vociferous voice for the little guy. A political activist who has taken on the big corporations, especially in the 60's through to the 80's. He became well-known with his study called Unsafe at Any Speed, an attack on the automobile industry and targeting General Motors' Corvair. His efforts led to a significant change in automobile safety.

In 1971 he founded Public Citizen, and dealt with a number of health, safety and environmental issues. Throughout the 70's and 80's, he was also an anti-nuclear-power activist.

But his foray into politics has not been welcomed as constructive. He garners some support. His bid in the 2000 presidential elections pulled some votes. But many see his intrusion simply pulled votes away from Al Gore, letting George Bush take the lead. He himself admits this was what happened.

In 2004 he also made a late entry in the presidential elections as an independent candidate.

He has now again officially announced his candidacy for the 2008 presidential elections. The swinging pendulum is just perceivably going towards the Democrats, it seems. There is a real chance of a Democratic victory this time round, though nothing is certain, and no one can even say that the Democrats are definitely favoured overall. But the prospect of another Republican term, however, is definitely not seen with relish by many Americans.

Ralph Nader will clearly get some votes, but the chance of him winning the elections is purely theoretical. Indeed he has, as he has often maintained, the constitutional right to stand for elections, and the American public should not be deprived of their constitutional rights of choice.

But by putting himself up as a candidate, is he really giving Americans more choice, or he is not in effect aiding and abetting the party that he himself may not wish to see continuing in power? The choice he is providing may be nothing more than illusory, but the spanner in the works will create a real effect.

Moroccan Facebook User Sentenced to Three Years' Jail

A young Moroccan, Fouad Mourtada, has been sentenced to jail for three years.

His crime was to have put up a profile on Facebook in the name of Prince Moulay Rachid, a member of the Royal Family.

This led to his arrest for identity theft. He was convicted of doing "villainous practices" in connection with stealing the idenitity of the prince.

He said he had put up the profile in January just for fun, and had not used it to send any messages. It was closed after a few days.

Sympathisers started an bilingual on-line petition to seek his release, and some Moroccan bloggers even went on strike.

Mourtada, aged 26, is a computer engineer. He had apologised saying it was just a joke, and asked for forgiveness for any harm caused.

This is indeed a severe punishment for a silly prank.

Obamania in Kenya

Obama is receiving support from perhaps the younger generation in the U.S., though not exclusively so. Those looking for a real change in the face of American politics and foreign policy also see in him a hope for an improved, more progressive, and more empathetic America.

Because of his diverse background he is also received with warmth and affection from other parts of the world, not least of all Kenya where his father was born.

But here's a twist, there is a beer in Kenya called Senator Keg lager, better known as "Obama". It's a popular beer, which came on the market in 2004, about the time that Obama was elected senator of Illinois, and Obama's image has helped in its growing popularity. It's also a cheaper beer than other brands and has a lower alcoholic content.

Let's hope that Kenyan drinkers will be downing "Obama" soon in celebration rather than in commiseration.



Grandma Obama

Supporters of Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Killed and Wounded in Suicide Bombing

Despite President's Musharraf's confidence that the elections, which are to held on Monday, would be free and fair, 37 people were killed and about 90 wounded by a suicide bombing in Parachinar in north-west Paskistan, all PPP members or supporters.

A car drove into a crowd outside the office of candidate who supports the PPP, and blew up, causing instant deaths and mayhem.

Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto's husband, denounced the attack, and urged the Party's supporters to stay calm and not to lose track.

Apart from outbreaks of violence, the opposition is on guard for possible electoral fraud.

The present volatile climate and unstable conditions have caused many not to participate openly in political gatherings.

Will Obama Survive The U.S. Elections?

An interesting view has been presented by Bernard Hopkins, who is known as "The Executioner" in the boxing ring. Hopkins a world champion boxer.

He says that even if Obama wins the nomination, "they" will not allow him to be president.

And even if he were to become president, his life will be in danger, and his presidency will be short-lived, maybe one or two months.

Americans will find such a change with Obama being president too much "heat".

Hopkins is a "Republicrat", as he styles himself. He supports Hillary Clinton as being the more experienced candidate. "She has already been a president for eight years", he says.

There is some truth in Hopkins' words. Obama being president may well be too radical a change for some Americans, and it may well be, although one hopes it won't happen, that some extreme elements may take drastic measures to curtail his term of office.

source
See xomba post

Environmental Scientist Dr. David Suzuki Calls For Political Leaders To Be Jailed

World famous environmental scientist and host of the well-known TV series The Nature of Things, Dr. David Suzuki accuses political leaders who ignore climate change of committing an "intergenerational crime". He says there should be some legal way that such leaders should be thrown into prison.

He made these remarks in a speech in Montreal, at the McGill Business Conference. It was well received by his audience who gave him rounds of applause.

Known as a libertarian, Dr. Suzuki, who has been a director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, has astonished some by adopting such an apparently hard line. His spokesman shortly afterwards assumed the defensive by saying that Dr. Suzuki did not mean his remarks literally.

Dr. Suzuki is a scientist, and one assumes his speaks with accuracy. It seems his spokesman is playing politician, which I am sure is exactly what Dr Suzuki does not want.

What he said in Montreal is consistent with what he had said in the past, as in the previous month in a speech at the University of Toronto.

Perhaps science and politics cannot mix, and when the two things are mixed together, the mixture tends to be unstable and may even be explosive.
Suzuki Wants Political Leaders Jailed

Audio Advertising | NetAudioAds

Many bloggers like to put something on their blog that can hopefully bring in some income. Almost everyone uses Adsense, or some type of affiliate advertising.

All that takes up space on the blog. One idea that is being implemented by NetAudioAds (Pay-Per-Play) is the use of audio advertising.

A small code is placed on your blog or web page, which will generate a short 5 second audio ad every time a visitor visits your page, without clicking or doing anything else.

Some people may feel that this is annoying, but some research has been done, and it seems most users are not put off. This is, in any event, something that the ads designers have in mind, so the ads will be done tastefully and unobtrusively.

The program has finally launched, after doubts, delays and teething problems. Some members are reporting initial earnings. So it may be something worth looking into. You can join under me as your referrer. It's free - just click: NetAudioAds

Super Tuesday | U.S. Elections | Primaries and Caucuses in 24 States

The whole world is looking at the events of Super Tuesday. 24 states, which cover half the American population, will be involved in primaries and caucuses.

The results will likely end the campaign for nominations for the Republicans. John McCain seems to be enjoying a comfortable lead over his rival Mitt Romney.

As for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, they have been running a close race. The polls favour Clinton with a slight edge over Obama. But the results will unlikely spell the demise of either just yet. Still this is a significant event, and their future directions will be seriously affected.

The U.S. elections are important for all the world, because the U.S. dominates the world, however you feel about it. Unfortunately, the candidates on both sides seem not too distinctive. It's debatable if there is a real freedom of choice. Or whether it's just a popularity contest.

The Hotel of Doom | The Ryugyong Hotel

In Pyongyang the capital city of North Korea, stands a mega-structure, the Ryungyong Hotel, also called by many the Hotel of Doom. Many have also labelled it the worst building in the history of all mankind.

Standing 105 stories high, it has a pyramid shape and its construction was started in 1987. It was to be a hotel of grandiose proportions, with rotating restaurants, casinos and nightclubs. It was to showcase to the world the economic prowess of North Korea.

It was in fact a symbol of human folly. Aesthetically disastrous, it's fate was to remain unfinished ever since work stopped in 1992, due to economic and other problems.

The embarrassment it causes is so hurting that it's removed from maps of the city and taken out of official pictures of the capital.

A building in the twilight zone, like the elephant in the room that cannot be seen.