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Reflecting on Main and Wall Street USA...

rogerireport — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:02:35 GMT

As the 4th of July approaches, I explored what really happened where Main and Wall Streets meet. It was a real history lesson that involved more than just a financial crisis...

Michael Jackson being honored in Washington D.C., 1990

ozmakat — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:02:26 GMT

After a press event in the White House Rose Garden with Michael Jackson, April 5, 1990 - President George Bush presented Michael Jackson with an "Entertainer of the Decade" award, then Jackson spoke at a benefit dinner for the Capital Children's Museum at the home of Alan Kay.

- Mark Blackwell

Michael Jackson being honored in Washington D.C., 1990

ozmakat — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:47:26 GMT

- Mark Blackwell

Michael Jackson in the driveway of the White House, 1990

ozmakat — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:37:26 GMT

Michael Jackson leaving the White House after a press event in the Rose Garden, April 5, 1990 - President George Bush presents Michael Jackson with an "Entertainer of the Decade" award. I covered this story while working as an editor at Spin magazine, and it was quite a surreal occasion. For most of the presentation Jackson stood at attention, his hands tucked behind his back, as President Bush discussed late breaking developments regarding an upcoming summit meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev. Later when I asked if he had a quote for Spin readers, Jackson replied: "I love you all." - Mark Blackwell

At the White House with Michael Jackson and the original Bushes, 1990

ozmakat — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:32:26 GMT

At a press event in the White House Rose Garden with Michael Jackson, April 5, 1990 - President George Bush presents Michael Jackson with an "Entertainer of the Decade" award. I covered this story while working as an editor at Spin magazine, and it was quite a surreal occasion. For most of the presentation Jackson stood at attention, his hands tucked behind his back, as President Bush discussed late breaking developments regarding an upcoming summit meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev. Later when I asked if he had a quote for Spin readers, Jackson replied: "I love you all." - Mark Blackwell

At the White House with Michael Jackson and the original Bushes, 1990

ozmakat — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:27:26 GMT

SushiMasters Competition San Diego

ChrisMorrow — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:27:25 GMT

I attended the regional SushiMasters competition at Arterra in San Diego.

video by: Chris Morrow

Mufasa Obama - Maine's Little Lion King

sjordan — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:47:24 GMT

Mufasa Obama is a 10 month old African lion cub born August 24th at D.E.W. Animal Kingdom in Mt. Vernon Maine. He was named after a famous character in a movie and President Obama. He is very social and very playful enjoying the company of visitors to the farm. Bob and Julie Miner (owners of D.E.W.) spent many hours caring for Mufasa as a newborn preparing him for the Maine outdoors. Mufasa currently weighs about 150 pounds and is doing very well. His favorite toy is a bowling ball which he whacks around like a marble. There are more photos of him at www.dewanimalkingdom.com. If you are ever in central Maine stop by and see him in person at D.E.W. Animal Kingdom in Mt. Vernon Maine.

Voices from Honduras: The world just isn't listening.

thenhl15 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:18:00 GMT

Nathan Lents, reporting from La Ceiba, on the north coast of Honduras.

Today there was a march of those that support the removal of deposed president Mel Zelaya, and the swearing in of the new government here.

It was a peaceful demonstration, less about the new government, then about the desire for peace and tranquility.

There was some anti-Zelaya sentiment to be sure, but the overarching theme was exasperation. Exasperation that the international community has decided, almost instantaneously, that was has transpired was an illegal military coup.

The big question on everyone’s mind is, “Why can’t the world let us govern ourselves.” I saw many posters declaring the rights to autodeterminacion, and “Honduras for Hondurans,” echoing the famous words of the Monroe doctrine, “America for Americans.”

The Honduran constitution is very clear and declares itself unchangeable on several issues, one of them being the limit of one term by any president. Former president Zelaya made no secret of his wish to change this aspect of the constitution and proceeded to schedule a referendum to that effect. This action was ruled illegal and unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, the National Congress, and the Board of Elections and it was legally forbidden, yet Mel refused to back down and vowed to hold the referendum anyway.

He was removed from power by the military, yes, but the Supreme Court declared that the military was following their order when they did so. In Honduras, much like the US, the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, and the ultimate authority on what is legal and what is constitutional. Thus, it seems to this foreign observer that, if the supreme court says it was legal, it WAS legal, and thus, not a coup d’etat at all, but rather a forced removal and a constitutional transition of power.

Accusations from the other side are that the congress and the supreme court are corrupt institutions, controlled by the oligarchy, the wealthy elite. That may be. But if so, this would be an internal issue to be resolved by the Hondurans. The congress answers to the voters every election and democracy is very much at the heart of the Honduran government and Honduran values.

There were a limited number of pro-Zelaya counter demonstrators, as well, but their numbers were limited, and they were closely watched by the police and the military, as their demonstration the previous day included some signs of violence.

From my experiences here in Honduras, the people feel completely abandoned by the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the United States, and all the international community. By so immediately siding with the deposed president, what the UN and the US has said is that they know better what’s best for Honduras than the Honduran people, who overwhelmingly support the removal of Zelaya.

Even worse, there is no way that any foreign government can claim that the action was illegal or a coup d’etat without also holding that they understand the Honduran constitution better than the Honduran Supreme Court does.

Most people that I meet here are pro-democracy, pro-freedom of the press, and anti-communism. In fact, most people see Mel Zelaya as antithetical to those very things. More importantly, they have placed their faith in the constitutional processes that defend those freedoms, much as we do in the United States.

The world community needs to keep in mind that Honduras is among the most stable and peaceful countries in Latin America – they’ve never had a civil war.

So now I think you can imagine their confusion. The constitutional process was followed, with unanimous support of the supreme court, the national congress, and the military, and suddenly, the world community condemns it. No one from the UN, the OAS, or the USA has come down here and taken the time to read the constitution and understand the complexities of the situation.

Yes, the Hondurans feel very insulted by what has happened. It’s as if… no one is listening, or no one cares enough to get all the facts.

The theme of today was Honduras for Hondurans. I think the world community needs to keep that in mind – that self-rule means that each country gets to write its own constitution and make its own rules. If the constitutionally prescribed bodies exercise their constitutional duties, the world community must accept that. All other questions that may remain are for the Hondurans to decide.

Honduras for Hondurans.

Canadians Celebrate Canada Day In Unionville, Ontario

DavidBradley — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:32:28 GMT

Canada Day, July 1st is always a great day for Canadians to celebrate being Canadian. We like it best when it coincides with a weekend because then many escape to cottage country and make a long weekend of it. But this year, Wednesday was the day, so most businesses shut down, many people are off work and in Unionville, the Main Street becomes a gathering place for those wanting to stroll and each and drink and see neighbours they might have seen last week, or perhaps not since last year on Canada Day.

This album as just a few of the many shots I took as I wandered, strolled, and tried to drink in the fellowship and joy that was evident all over the very well preserved Main Street Unionville where kids and cops, boys and girls, grandparents and grandchildren enjoyed some fun and frolic.

The forecast was for rain, but that did not happen until late into the night and even if it had poured, you can not dampen the spirit of a Canadian on Canada Day.

Enjoy and thanks for looking...David Bradley

Canada Day Images From Unionville, Ontario

DavidBradley — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:12:29 GMT

Canada Day is celebrated from coast to coast to coast on July the 1st every year. Each community does something, or if nothing is planned undoubtedly something just happens.

In Unionville, Ontario, not far from Toronto, the very well preserved Main Street get even busier as young and old come to stroll and of course the family pets come along for the adventure.

In this collection of images you will see entertainers, an old double decker bus, my niece and brother inlaw (the two crouched down, posing and smiling) as well as a very cute dog, an organ grinder, the window of a lingerie store all decked out for the holiday, a glorious Plymouth Prowler, and friends shaking hands, saying how do you do...etc...

CANADA DAY comes but once a year like the 4th of July and Canadians pause to rejoice in our heritage and take some time out of our busy lives to visit family and often crank up the BBQ.

Thanks for looking...David Bradley

NYC Rally: Free the Political Prisoners in Iran

nycforiran — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:12:29 GMT

See http://nycforiran.wordpress.com for more photos, video, and profiles on how Iranians and Iranian-Americans in New York are reacting.

While protests in New York have become smaller in size, they have not ceased, and the emotion that permeated the crowd in the days after the Iranian election has not faded.

Candles spelling out Iran and the posters with the faces or names of dozens of those murdered or arrested were held for passersby to see.