New Version of An Old Classic

I don't know if you will be as surprised to hear a 'younger' person sing this song as I was. It was very popular when I was in a teenager. To know it has survived and been revived is amazing to me. I suppose some things will always remain as part of pop culture...no matter what year it happens to be. The original was recorded by Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs. This new artist simply calls herself 'The Brook'. I hope it brings back as many memories for you as it does for me. Enjoy :)

America's Song

President Barack Hussein Obama

At the age of 47, Barack Hussein Obama has become the 44th President of the United States. He took the oath of office on the steps of the U.S. Capitol before a crowd of more than one million people who had gathered in frigid temperatures to see the first African American become president. It is, indeed, a great day for all Americans. A chance for new beginnings...change....and restored faith in our government.

Below is the video of Barack Obama taking the oath of office. Was he just overcome with the magnitude of the crowd or did his mind just wander to other things? Clearly, something caused him to not concentrate on what he was to 'repeat' after The Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr. who administered the Presidential Oath of Office. It's kind of funny really. Shows he's human ... just like the rest of us.

Update:

For a couple of smooth-talking constitutional experts, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and President Barack Obama had a difficult time getting through the constitutional oath of office.

There was a false start by Mr. Obama, who started to respond before Chief Justice Roberts had completed the first phrase. Mr. Obama ended up saying the first two words — “I, Barack” — twice.

Then there was an extremely awkward pause after Chief Justice Roberts prompted Mr. Obama with these words: “That I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully.” The chief justice seemed to say “to” rather than “of,” but that was not the main problem. The main problem was that the word “faithfully” had floated upstream in the constitutional text, which actually says this: “That I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States.”

Mr. Obama seemed to realize this, pausing quizzically after saying, “that I will execute.”

Chief Justice Roberts gave it another try, getting closer but still not quite right with this: “Faithfully the office of president of the United States.” He omitted the word “execute.”

Mr. Obama now repeated the chief justice’s error of putting “faithfully” at the end and said, “The office of president of the United States faithfully.”

From there, smooth sailing.

It is academic to argue about what the failure to utter the words in the precise order required by the Constitution means. Could it be argued that Mr. Obama had not become president as a consequence? I think not.

There is, in any event, no rule against a do-over. When questions were raised about whether Calvin Coolidge, in 1923 after Warren G. Harding died, should have been sworn in by his father, a notary public, he took the oath again from a federal judge.

Rosie Talks....About Not Blogging, Ann Coulter and Drinking

Rosie O'Donnell visited Sirius satellite radio show, 'Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer' and made quite a stir.... addressing her embarrassments of 2008. The comedian bluntly talked about why she's no longer blogging, how her variety show reviews almost turned her into an alcoholic and why Ann Coulter has passionate, "deep-seeded" rage.

Excepts from Rosie's Radio Interview
(In Her Own Words)

Why she quit blogging: "I started the blog four years ago... See, I was a kid from Long Island, who said I was going to be rich and retire at 40. Now I'm 40. So I started to do a blog. It was a wonderful way for me to have an outlet to express myself. It got bigger and bigger to the point where whatever I would say or do would end up as one of the soundbites on one of the entertainment shows in the evening. It became more of a drain than an inspiration."

What she misses about having a blog: "Fame robs you of being able to talk to people one on one like at the mall. The blog gave me that outlet. There are people I've been e-mailing for four years and become friendly with. That part I miss - the people. But I don't miss the public part of it. It got a little bit draining."

Why she decided to quit drinking alcohol: "My little daughter, Vivi, came to me on her birthday and said, 'I wish that you would not drink beer.' And I was like, 'Oh my god!'... I stopped drinking beer. I'm off the beer. I haven't [had beer] for about a month and a half... Anyway, beer gets to be so fattening when you get older."

How her drinking has fluctuated throughout her life: "I didn't drink one time in my 20s for about nine years. From 20 to 29, I didn't drink at all. I was dating a woman at the time who was a shrink, and she told me, 'I think you have a drinking problem.' I went to an [Alcoholics Anonymous] meeting and heard all these people's stories about leaving their kids in the car... so I quit."

About her bad variety show reviews: "I wanted to hit the sauce after I read the reviews. What was disconcerting was in the room, it was great. Everyone, even reporter Liz Smith was like, 'What are you going to do?' Smith thought it was fantastic. Everyone at the party said it was genius. Then, I got home and turned on the blog. My blog people - the devoted ones - didn't like it. It was 'too dark.' I was like, 'Oh my. Half the people didn't like it.' Then I knew. Until that point, I had no idea. I was like, 'I could totally hit up a six-pack of Sam Adams right now.'"

Rosie's thoughts about Ann Coulter: "She's angry if you ask me. She's full of rage. When you see someone like that, you have to go back to what happened in their childhood ... You don't know what went on in their household. Sometimes, people with very controversial views, there is some part of their humanity that you can relate to. Even though they think differently than you do, you can still reach them as a human being, but she's not one of them for me."

On whether Coulter really has extremist views: "Yeah, I really do. I don't think it is a show. The passion from which she spews it... It's deep-seeded. It's bizarre."

So, there you have it. There will be no more blogging. I could 'almost' see it coming when she quit blogging for the entire month of August 2008. However, she would occasionally slip in a new header image or a few lines of 'her wisdom'... just enough to keep her fans coming back to check on her blog. And, we did....daily. She acknowledges, in the above interview, that her fans are Devoted to her. Never has anyone captured such a diverse following as Rosie O'Donnell.

We will miss you and your blog, Rosie....especially your 'talkie' blogs. For a few minutes each day, we could connect with you. I really hate that the media has contributed to taking that away from us/her. She's right though....no matter what she talked or wrote about on her blog, you could damn sure count on hearing about it on one of the entertainment shows.

Enjoy your family, Rosie. You will be missed...and I think you know that!

Disabled Man Sues Businesses for a Living

The man....Tom Mundy. What he does for a living is a disgrace to humanity and to all disabled people. After watching the video, I was outraged. This is extortion..plain and simple.

Mundy, who lives in California, documents and photographs every time a restaurant or business in the state doesn't have wheelchair-friendly tables, bathrooms or other features required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. His lawyer them files the papers to sue the businesses. Usually, the businesses pay Mundy a settlement of a few thousand dollars to avoid trial.

Okay, so he's in a wheelchair (for whatever reason) and has been for 20 years. He has been 'technically' unemployed for the past two years. He goes around from business to business to LOOK FOR a reason to sue and is reported to be bringing in a comfortable six figure income by legal extortion. There is one example in the video where he says he can't reach the seat covers for the toilet. I have serious doubts as to whether he would actually USE to seat covers to protect his ass from touching the toilet seat.

He tells the people who want to criticize him for what he's doing..."All you have to do is go out with me in my other wheel chair and I can show you how hard it is to get around." Hey Tom...you have two wheel chairs? A spare? Wow! There are people who need a wheel chair but can't afford one.

I can understand giving a business a warning and a chance to correct the situation. I do NOT agree with what this 'advocate for the disabled' is doing. Most people would like to say to him....Keep Your Ass At Home.

Happy Thanksgiving

Rosie O'Donnell - Interview on Today Show - Nov. 24th

Rosie O'Donnell stopped by the Today Show for an interview with Meredith Vieira. She talks about her new variety show ... 'Rosie Live' ... and the ongoing feud with Barbara Walters. As a former co-host herself, I'm sure Meredith didn't need any explanations.

Rosie O'Donnell's Search for 'AMERICA'

From Entertainment Tonight, the story of how Rosie O'Donnell found the lead actor for her new film 'America'. She was in Detroit looking for a teenage boy to play the film’s lead role....and found him at Small Plates, a restaurant where he was having lunch with his family. That kid was certainly in the right place at the right time! Can you imagine being approached by Rosie O'Donnell and having her ask you to play the lead role in a movie? The Lifetime Original movie will air in February 2009.
*Note, I had the video posted from Entertainment Tonight. However, they had a hidden 'auto start' code embedded in the video. When my page would load...the video automatically started playing. I prefer to give my readers the option of watching a video...or not. In my web surfing, if I come across a site that has auto start videos, I leave. I find it very intrusive...especially if there is a written article to go along with the video. That being said...you can see the video on ET's website. In the mean time I am trying to fix the problem.

Barack Obama - President-Elect

Around the world, from Kenya to California, people celebrated as Barack Obama was named as the 44th President of the United States. The crowds of people, anxiosly awaiting the outcome, could only be compared in number...to the crowds who gathered to usher in the new millineum.

During the presidential campaign, with unprecedented news coverage, Barack Obama captured world wide attention. Last night he secured victory with nearly 63 million votes....the largest total in history.

It is estimated that more than 64 percent of eligible American voters cast ballots, the best showing in at least 40 years....and in one estimate, since 1908.

This is truly an historic event. A victory in the nation's long civil rights struggle. Barriers have been broken. Dreams do come true. Obama's life story is a testiment to the fulfillment of the American dream.

To the thousands of people who gathered at Chicago's Grant Park, the President-Elect stated...
“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

God Bless America!


**Update
The United States Of America
Born 1776 Died 2008

It doesn't hurt to read

this

several times .

Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul , Minnesota
points out some interesting facts concerning the last Presidential election:

• Number of States won by: Obama: 19 McCain: 29

• Square miles of land won by: Obama: 580,000 McCain: 2,427,000

• Population of counties won by: Obama: 127 million McCain: 143 million

• Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Obama:13.2 McCain: 2.


Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory McCain won was mostly

the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of the country. Obama territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in low income tenements and living off various forms of government welfare..."

Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the "complacency and apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase.

If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal's - and they vote - then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years.
Very sad.

Computerized Election Fraud

George W. Bush should not have been elected President in 2000 AND he should not have won the 2004 election.

There is overwhelming evidence of organized vote-counting fraud in both elections but the news media and the Democratic party did nothing. As a result, nothing has changed since 2004.

What will the news media and the Democratic party do if the same election fraud that put George W. Bush into office illegally does the same thing for Senator John McCain?

Past performance suggests they will do nothing. Every American citizen should be made aware of Computerized Election Fraud. This video is taken from the movie "UNCOUNTED"...an explosive new documentary that shows how the election fraud that changed the outcome of the 2004 election led to even greater fraud in 2006....and now looms as an unbridled threat to the outcome of the 2008 election. This controversial feature length film by Emmy award-winning director David Earnhardt examines in factual, logical, and yet startling terms how easy it is to change election outcomes and undermine election integrity across the United States. Irrefutable proof is provided by noted computer programmers, statisticians, journalists, and experienced election officials.

American Stories, American Solutions

Rosie O'Donnell - Executive Producer/Star of 'America'

In 2002, shortly after having E.R. Frank on her TV show, Rosie O'Donnell purchased the film rights to America.

Fast forward 6 years: Rosie is in Detroit Michigan making a movie. Shooting started yesterday.

Rosie O'Donnell will star in and executive produce America, Lifetime's look at a 15-year-old boy's struggles within the foster-care system.

America reunites O'Donnell with producer Larry Sanitsky and scribe Joyce Eliason, with whom she worked on CBS' 2005 'Riding on the Bus With My Sister'.

Yvez Simoneau (HBO's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee) will direct the telepic, which hails from Sony Pictures Television.

Scheduled to premiere in February, the made-for-TV-movie is based on E.R. Frank's book. Rosie O'Donnell will play the therapist who guides the pictures title character, America, beyond his troubled past. O'Donnell is joined by Ruby Dee, who co-stars as one of the boy's caretakers.

Tanya Lopez, Senior VP, Original Movies, Lifetime Networks remarked, "We are truly inspired by Rosie's passion for this project. She's an incredible advocate for reforming the foster care system and a strong voice for children. She adds, "Rosie really understands the issues of these kids 'aging out' of the system without any resources to prepare them for life on their own and this film shines a light on this tragic crisis."

Sarah Palin - Before VP Nomination

Did I miss something? Was there any mention of John McCain?

McCain Palin 2008

If this doesn't scare the hell out of you there is something terribly wrong. Just watch the interview with Katie Couric and listen to Sarah Palin's answers. I've never seen such a display of ignorance by a vice presidential candidate. She may be trying to appeal to the average American with her folksy attitude, winning smile, and down home humor. I don't buy it for one second. IF they win the election, this woman would take over the office of President of the United States should something happen to McCain. That's a very scary thought for me. God help us all if that happens. Do your own research on Palin. You'll be surprised at what all you will find. A good place to start is here. Of course, there's always the Alaska News, chock full of articles about Sarah Palin. Time is running out. The election is less than a month away. I urge everyone to read all that you can in order to make an informed decision.

McCain - Palin Ticket

Just Sayin'............