Washington, D.C.--While making clear that "this is not a witch hunt," Attorney General Eric Holder announced dunking would be used as part of the trial by ordeal he authorized into the CIA's use of enhanced interrogation techniques on terrorists who then provided life-saving information used to stop future attacks.
The Justice Department released to the press a woodcut depicting the process.
Holder ordered the investigation even after professional, non-partisan prosecutors had already conducted an inquiry into the alleged misconduct and determined prosecution was not warranted due to insufficient evidence.
"9/11 terrorist mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed had to be waterboarded many times before he finally cracked and divulged crucial information that was used to cripple al-Qaeda," said Holder. "However, we expect to have to dunk CIA employees just a few times to obtain their confessions."
The decision was made to allow dunking because, as one Justice Department official put it, "The alternative would have required CIA employees to hire expensive lawyers and endure years of legal wrangling, and that would have amounted to an even crueler water torture."
Washington, D.C.--While making clear that "this is not a witch hunt," Attorney General Eric Holder announced dunking would be used as part of the trial by ordeal he authorized into the CIA's use of enhanced interrogation techniques on terrorists who then provided life-saving information used to stop future attacks.
The Justice Department released to the press a woodcut depicting the process.
Holder ordered the investigation even after professional, non-partisan prosecutors had already conducted an inquiry into the alleged misconduct and determined prosecution was not warranted due to insufficient evidence.
"9/11 terrorist mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed had to be waterboarded many times before he finally cracked and divulged crucial information that was used to cripple al-Qaeda," said Holder. "However, we expect to have to dunk CIA employees just a few times to obtain their confessions."
The decision was made to allow dunking because, as one Justice Department official put it, "The alternative would have required CIA employees to hire expensive lawyers and endure years of legal wrangling, and that would have amounted to an even crueler water torture."
When the Friday night lights turn back on at the stadiums around these parts, we don't rush into our storage bins to air out our winter sweaters.
Nooooooope....not for a few more months anyway.
Ugh!
You don't have to remind us in these parts that it's still officially summer.
We try to make the most of it and continue with our summer fun...
Our lake-jumpin' monkeys plus one.
Ridin' their rock 'n' roll water taco...into the night.
So, what else do we do around here when we're two days away from reaching the all-time hottest summer record? (We're currently at 67 days of 100+ temps this year; record is 69.)
Go spelunking, or course!
Construction crews found this cave system when they were building I-35. After they drilled down to a sufficient depth, they poured concrete for bridge supports. They kept pouring and pouring...and pouring--then got suspicious.
For the first time in its 40-year history, the federal National Endowment for the Arts convened a conference call to launch a government project encouraging artists to promote the Obama Administration's policies on health care and energy issues.
Throughout the conversation, artists were reminded of their ability to “shape the lives” of others. They did not need to be reminded that the NEA is the country's largest annual funder of the arts.
Following the call, the White House unveiled a series of government-funded paintings designed to "show how awesome their government benefactor is."
Obama formally announced the new program at the unveiling ceremony, stating "We've drawn many of our most hallowed traditions from England, including our common law legal system and, most recently, socialized medicine. Today we institute in America the old English system of royal patronage for the arts in which creative people are funded by the government to promote the grandeur of its blessed monarchs."
Hip up-and-coming artists embraced the opportunity. "Thanks to this government program," said one, "sucking up is cool again."
For the first time in its 40-year history, the federal National Endowment for the Arts convened a conference call to launch a government project encouraging artists to promote the Obama Administration's policies on health care and energy issues.
Throughout the conversation, artists were reminded of their ability to “shape the lives” of others. They did not need to be reminded that the NEA is the country's largest annual funder of the arts.
Following the call, the White House unveiled a series of government-funded paintings designed to "show how awesome their government benefactor is."
Obama formally announced the new program at the unveiling ceremony, stating "We've drawn many of our most hallowed traditions from England, including our common law legal system and, most recently, socialized medicine. Today we institute in America the old English system of royal patronage for the arts in which creative people are funded by the government to promote the grandeur of its blessed monarchs."
Hip up-and-coming artists embraced the opportunity. "Thanks to this government program," said one, "sucking up is cool again."
Mary Kate went ahead and turned nine yesterday. Hard for us to believe!
Her cake request for this year was: "A volcano cake with tropical flowers."
An early AM trip to the pool. Sweet potato waffles with strawberries and whipped cream for breakfast.
The beautiful newspaper drapery behind her is hiding her cake.
Friends over for cake and ice cream.
The kids ate the "lava" while we were serving up the cake.
Eating lava
The fam
(I can't wait for it to cool off so we can wear our hair down again...)
Ah, a lengthy childhood birthday... started off with the neighborhood gathering last weekend, celebrated her "real" birthday yesterday, and tomorrow Joe is off work, so we'll all go do something fun.
Everyone should have Polish (extended) birthdays... oh yes, and a Calvin shot to end the day on a good note!
Chicago, Illinois.--Religious leaders from around the country gathered to discuss newly-discovered passages in sermons given by President Obama in various town hall meetings to proselytize on behalf of his proposed health care overhaul. The sermons have been found to contain internal contradictions, creating a “crisis of faith” among Obama’s followers which the gathering sought to address.
In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Obama told followers we can’t “keep the system the way it is right now.” But in Grand Junction, Colorado, he told followers that, under his proposal, “If you like your health care plan, you keep your helth care plan.” But then in Belgrade, Montana, Obama told followers they could only keep their insurance plans if the plans met new, extensive requirements and regulations. Obama also told followers in Colorado that “Medicare is a government program that works really well.” But then he told followers in New Hampshire that Medicare is “unsustainable” and “running out of money.”
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright – Obama’s minister who infamously preached “God damn America” -- convened the meeting of religious leaders and said “Satanic and American armies are at work here, conspiring to cast doubt on the One.”
He insisted that Obama’s apparently contradictory statements were the result not of fundamental internal inconsistencies, but of the demonic “wee wee” forces Obama prophetically alluded to days earlier when he cryptically blamed the unpopularity of his health care proposals on too many people in Washington getting “all wee wee'd up.”
Chicago, Illinois.--Religious leaders from around the country gathered to discuss newly-discovered passages in sermons given by President Obama in various town hall meetings to proselytize on behalf of his proposed health care overhaul. The sermons have been found to contain internal contradictions, creating a “crisis of faith” among Obama’s followers which the gathering sought to address.
In Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Obama told followers we can’t “keep the system the way it is right now.” But in Grand Junction, Colorado, he told followers that, under his proposal, “If you like your health care plan, you keep your helth care plan.” But then in Belgrade, Montana, Obama told followers they could only keep their insurance plans if the plans met new, extensive requirements and regulations. Obama also told followers in Colorado that “Medicare is a government program that works really well.” But then he told followers in New Hampshire that Medicare is “unsustainable” and “running out of money.”
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright – Obama’s minister who infamously preached “God damn America” -- convened the meeting of religious leaders and said “Satanic and American armies are at work here, conspiring to cast doubt on the One.”
He insisted that Obama’s apparently contradictory statements were the result not of fundamental internal inconsistencies, but of the demonic “wee wee” forces Obama prophetically alluded to days earlier when he cryptically blamed the unpopularity of his health care proposals on too many people in Washington getting “all wee wee'd up.”
Washington, D.C.--Democrats in Congress have introduced a nearly 1,000-page bill to comprehensively regulate health care in the U.S. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has determined that just part of the legislation would cost over $1 trillion.
But critics say that figure fails to account for the large number of injuries that will result from people trying to follow a complex flow chart describing the operation of the program.
One doctor told reporters, “Eye strain, sticker shock, and self-inflicted trauma to the head are only some of the injuries that will be suffered by those simply trying to figure out how the government program works.”
Washington, D.C.--Democrats in Congress have introduced a nearly 1,000-page bill to comprehensively regulate health care in the U.S. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has determined that just part of the legislation would cost over $1 trillion.
But critics say that figure fails to account for the large number of injuries that will result from people trying to follow a complex flow chart describing the operation of the program.
One doctor told reporters, “Eye strain, sticker shock, and self-inflicted trauma to the head are only some of the injuries that will be suffered by those simply trying to figure out how the government program works.”
When was the last time you saw a nun...and one wearing a habit?
The new sisters that are to teach at our neighborhood Catholic school campus and work in our diocese just arrived from Michigan, so the ladies (& young ladies) at our parish greeted them with a welcome shower. Until now, the teaching sisters in these particular schools had dwindled down to...none.
These ladies are a joyful and fun bunch! The average age of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist is 26 years old. They even play soccer in their habits...after they remove their Rosaries and (usually) don proper shoes.
Each one of them told us where they're originally from and their story of when they became interested in becoming a sister.
Fun fact: This order of sisters has ties to the guy who started Domino's pizza. In 12 years, he helped them grow from 4 sisters to now 99...and counting.
Other fun facts: Two of the eight sisters are twins, one sister is originally from Austin, and two were homeschooled. Cool!
The sister on the left is originally from Austin and was homeschooled.
Okay, quiz time. Is there a difference between a "sister" and a "nun"?
Yep...but in normal everyday conversation, not really--sisters and nuns call themselves by either name. Short answer: Nuns live in monasteries, sisters work in their communities. Long answer: Nuns make perpetual solemn vows, and sisters profess perpetual simple vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience...the difference has to do with patrimony, but that's a longer answer!
As their gift to us for the occasion, they sang a beautiful chant. Lovely.
I visited with one of the sisters' identical twin sister--who is not a "sister". Got all that? She's a local physician who is due with her first baby in December (we also have the same doctor). After I mentioned I was from the Twin Cities, she told me a story about the wife and baby of one of her medical school friends who was from there. You can read about the story on this website. I've never experienced postpartum depression but have had friends suffer from it. It's something that should be talked about, and this site does. What a story it is.
While I was visiting with all of the vibrant sisters, I thought I had seen this one before. I just couldn't place where or when.
Sure enough, it was on TV. These sisters also have a religious education program for youngsters on EWTN, the national Catholic TV station. Here she is on the cover of her DVD.
Turns out a couple of the other sisters who just moved here have done different grade levels in this series as well.
Behind her in this photo, you can see some of the plans for our soon-to-be-built new church that Joe has been working on so hard. He'll be overseeing its construction, which is planned to begin fall '10.
As I was leaving with the girls, Mary Kate reminded me to ask one of the sisters a question for Jimmer. His question was: "Are you sisters going to be taking people's spark plugs out of their cars?"
(I had to remind the sister that we had just watched The Sound of Music not long ago. The nuns removing the spark plugs from the Nazi's vehicles was the kids' favorite part!)
Once again, we celebrated all the August birthdays on our block. In 9 adjacent houses (4 on one side of the street, 5 on the other), we have 8 people celebrating birthdays within 2 weeks of each other. Cause for celebration, of course.
Our hosts
(He is celebrating a BIG birthday year!)
Dueling grill sergeants
The crowd The birthday peeps minus one little boy
A fun and lively block--17 kids in 7 of the homes makes for busy yards and sidewalks!
All these August birthdays... Like I said, there must be something about November!
With record federal budget deficits combined with projections of the lowest federal tax receipts since the Great Depression, the White House is looking for ways to reduce the federal debt.
Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Geithner outlined the administration’s latest debt reduction program: a proposal to extend the President’s vacation in Martha’s Vineyard.
The White House press secretary told reporters, “The island’s almost 80 square miles, so we’re confident that by adding a few hikes and extra rounds of golf we can keep the President away from Washington, D.C. another three or four days."
With record federal budget deficits combined with projections of the lowest federal tax receipts since the Great Depression, the White House is looking for ways to reduce the federal debt.
Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Geithner outlined the administration’s latest debt reduction program: a proposal to extend the President’s vacation in Martha’s Vineyard.
The White House press secretary told reporters, “The island’s almost 80 square miles, so we’re confident that by adding a few hikes and extra rounds of golf we can keep the President away from Washington, D.C. another three or four days."
Washington, D.C.--A federal agency charged with enforcing consumer protection laws announced an investigation into the accuracy of Obama Administration claims that a massive federal spending bill passed earlier this year provides "economic enhancement."
"We're concerned that some of the public statements made about the stimulus bill go beyond mere puffery," said the head of the Federal Trade Commission. "Unemployment inched much higher than administration officials said it would after the stimulus bill was enacted, and the pace of federal spending has sagged even as the economy appears to be on the verge of recovering without much help from the $787 billion federal spending package."
FTC officials said the administration's "Take it from Obama!" ad campaign -- featuring a guy who's "way, way too happy" about random and inefficient spending decisions -- aroused enough suspicion to warrant "running it up the flagpole."
"We're endowed with the authority to look into the accuracy of these stimulation claims," said officials. "And we're going to determine whether any stiff penalties are in order."
Washington, D.C.--A federal agency charged with enforcing consumer protection laws announced an investigation into the accuracy of Obama Administration claims that a massive federal spending bill passed earlier this year provides "economic enhancement."
"We're concerned that some of the public statements made about the stimulus bill go beyond mere puffery," said the head of the Federal Trade Commission. "Unemployment inched much higher than administration officials said it would after the stimulus bill was enacted, and the pace of federal spending has sagged even as the economy appears to be on the verge of recovering without much help from the $787 billion federal spending package."
FTC officials said the administration's "Take it from Obama!" ad campaign -- featuring a guy who's "way, way too happy" about random and inefficient spending decisions -- aroused enough suspicion to warrant "running it up the flagpole."
"We're endowed with the authority to look into the accuracy of these stimulation claims," said officials. "And we're going to determine whether any stiff penalties are in order."
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba--Democrats' health care legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives includes several provisions that deny patients the ability to challenge access and treatment decisions in federal court. As a result, space is being cleared at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility -- which critics called a "legal black hole" -- to accommodate American health care patients.
Under the Bush Administration, the U.S. already granted terrorists more rights than any other country had granted enemy combatants in the history of the world. Now, many of those same terrorists are being transferred to the U.S. where they will be given even more constitutional rights and full access to U.S. courts. According to one Guantanamo Bay official, "That'll free up space down here for U.S. health care patients who'll be denied all access to judicial review."
Guards at the Guantanamo Bay facility said that while the terrorist detainees committed hundreds of physical assaults on guards each year, they expected the new American patient population to "just sit around and look depressed." Standing on a nearby watch tower, another guard said "We have orders to shoot anyone who makes a break for a courthouse."
Administration lawyers assured reporters that while it doesn't pass the straight-face test to insist terrorists get full access to U.S. courts while denying the same access to American citizen health care patients, "blatant hypocrisy isn't a violation of international law."
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba--Democrats' health care legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives includes several provisions that deny patients the ability to challenge access and treatment decisions in federal court. As a result, space is being cleared at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility -- which critics called a "legal black hole" -- to accommodate American health care patients.
Under the Bush Administration, the U.S. already granted terrorists more rights than any other country had granted enemy combatants in the history of the world. Now, many of those same terrorists are being transferred to the U.S. where they will be given even more constitutional rights and full access to U.S. courts. According to one Guantanamo Bay official, "That'll free up space down here for U.S. health care patients who'll be denied all access to judicial review."
Guards at the Guantanamo Bay facility said that while the terrorist detainees committed hundreds of physical assaults on guards each year, they expected the new American patient population to "just sit around and look depressed." Standing on a nearby watch tower, another guard said "We have orders to shoot anyone who makes a break for a courthouse."
Administration lawyers assured reporters that while it doesn't pass the straight-face test to insist terrorists get full access to U.S. courts while denying the same access to American citizen health care patients, "blatant hypocrisy isn't a violation of international law."
Tijuana, Mexico--Many were concerned when an unusually large number of Members of Congress failed to meet with their constituents at town hall meetings this summer to hear their concerns regarding controversial proposals to change the health care system, raise energy costs, and spend trillions of dollars on spending projects.
Those concerns were assuaged when many of those missing House and Senate Members were spotted at a popular Tijuana bar.
Spokespeople for the various congressional offices expressed relief, saying “At least we know they’re safe from their constituents.”
The Tijuana bar manager was also pleased with the turnout. “The Congress people told us universal health care in the U.S. would cover illegal aliens,” he said. “So we gave them free shots.”
Patrons cheered contestants who danced on the bar as part of a special “amateur night” for U.S. legislators.
Meanwhile, on the sidewalk outside the bar, employees of the community activist group ACORN were seen snapping cards in their hands to get the attention of passers-by so they could give them voter registration forms.
Tijuana, Mexico--Many were concerned when an unusually large number of Members of Congress failed to meet with their constituents at town hall meetings this summer to hear their concerns regarding controversial proposals to change the health care system, raise energy costs, and spend trillions of dollars on spending projects.
Those concerns were assuaged when many of those missing House and Senate Members were spotted at a popular Tijuana bar.
Spokespeople for the various congressional offices expressed relief, saying “At least we know they’re safe from their constituents.”
The Tijuana bar manager was also pleased with the turnout. “The Congress people told us universal health care in the U.S. would cover illegal aliens,” he said. “So we gave them free shots.”
Patrons cheered contestants who danced on the bar as part of a special “amateur night” for U.S. legislators.
Meanwhile, on the sidewalk outside the bar, employees of the community activist group ACORN were seen snapping cards in their hands to get the attention of passers-by so they could give them voter registration forms.
Philadelphia, PA--Political officials at President Obama's Justice Department approved reducing sanctions and dropping charges against members of the New Black Panther Party who hurled racial threats at potential voters at a polling station on election day, even after they were caught on videotape threatening voters with a nightstick and the government had already won a default judgment against them.
Today, Attorney General Eric Holder joined members of the New Black Panther Party to announce a partnership with the organization to promote a new election integrity campaign.
Administration officials said the communications campaign will be modeled on previously used slogans, but with slight modifications to give them more "punch."
So, for example, "Vote or Die!" is now simply "Die!" and "Rock the Vote" has become "Knock the Vote."
When he first took over as the nation's top law enforcement officer, Holder gave a speech in which he said America was "a nation of cowards" when it comes to discussing race. Holder said he considers this partnership with the New Black Panther Party to mark progress in that regard. "If Americans can't handle a nightstick and some racial insults," said Holder, "what hope do we have to advance a hard-hitting racial dialogue?"
The Panthers’ duties will include monitoring elections to help spot "patterns of irregularities," including votes for white and Latino candidates.
Holder added, "I'm confident the New Black Panther Party will pursue this campaign with the same drive and energy it brings to its programs promoting racial superiority."
Washington, D.C.--While making clear that "this is not a witch hunt," Attorney General Eric Holder announced dunking would be used as part of the trial by ordeal he authorized into the CIA's use of enhanced interrogation techniques on terrorists who then provided life-saving information used to stop future attacks.
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