RESTRICT ENERGY PRODUCTION OR PRODUCE MORE?

If the Democratic Party in Congress gets its way on energy policy, it will lead to more restrictions on the efficiency and volume of energy production. Some Republicans, especially California Rep. Devin Nunes, want a broad plan to expand energy production using free market forces with Government as the facilitator, not the "restrictor". An outstanding part of the plan involves the rapid approval of 200 new nuclear power plants (no carbon emissions) with modernized regulation and more flexibility in handling nuclear waste.

Consider the two alternatives. First, the restrictive energy policies of the Democrats which are limited areas to drill or retrieve oil, heavy government regulation of the energy industry, cap and trade (cap and tax) all of which will limit production and raise energy costs. Outside of bad effects on business and employment, what is the worst result of this dangerous policy? Continuing to purchase vast amounts of oil from the OPEC criminals at great cost to our country and draining of our economic resources. (No, we can't just live off of a service industry economy. We have to MAKE THINGS!)

The second alternative, and the one many people think is better, is to produce more energy from all sources including nuclear, solar, wind, oil drilling, oil shale, and opening more areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife preserve, the Continental shelf areas, and the Western Oil Shale areas as a start. The objective here is many-fold: more jobs at home, cheaper energy for industry and consumers, a stronger economy, and finally ENERGY INDEPENDENCE which also means retaining AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE!

Write and call your congressman and tell him!

CHINA COULD TAKE OVER GLOBAL MEDIA

Chinese companies are issuing IPO's and planning to invest billions in media companies all over the world.

What if China managed to gain a majority interest in say for example the New York Times or even the Washington Post? Do you think that China could impose censoring on the media outlets or software companies it might own out-right or control by means of stock purchases?

If this happens, China will be in a position to spoon feed everyone in the world their brand of Communism and censor whatever they want to. No more freedom of the press. Newspapers, television, radio, wireless networks, the Internet, or any company that has issued stock on the open market or is controlled by an international agency, such as the International Telecommunications Union, would be susceptible to a Chinese Communistic takeover with the censorship and the restrictions of Communistic rule.

Is this acceptable to America? I don't think so! What can we do about it? The main way to stop this kind of activity is to make it illegal for any foreign company to own stock in any American company. Period.

Write and call your Congressman and make him aware of the problem today!

BOND MARKET IN TURMOIL DUE TO DODD-FRANK BILL

The new financial regulation bill (FINREG) authored by Sens. Frank and Dodd is causing turmoil in the bond market because bond rating services Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitcch Ratings fear legal liabilities due to the FINREG bill.

Ford Motor Co. had to quit plans to issue new bonds to finance business as one of the first effects of the bill with many more bad effects probably to come. How bad is this going to get? No one knows and the markets will not like this uncertainty!

The rating agencies say that according to the new bill they can be held legally responsible for their ratings. In other words they can be sued big time if even just one of their ratings turns out to be wrong. Who would want to do business under these circumstances?

So who, pray tell, is going to rate new bonds now? Well, obviously it will have to be the government, probably the SEC or one of the other agencies. So even more power will be in the hands of the government. This power could be abused. The government can rate a certain privately issued bond low so that the company would not be able to sell bonds. This could lead to its ruin just because some government hack does not like them or even because he has a secret conflict of interest in the deal.

How much more of this liberal socialist legislation do we have to put up with before we act like Americans and tell these Congressmen in no uncertain terms that we don't like their work in Congress and we are going to remember it when November elections come around. Both Democrats and Republicans are at fault here so lets rattle their cages. Call and write letters today!

DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION

Portugal is leading the way in reducing criminal drug trafficking by fully decriminalizing drug use in 2001. By 2008 drug addiction has dropped nearly by one-half. Also rates of HIV and hepatitus infections have dropped as a result. Crime has also reportedly decreased in Portugal.

How does it work? The government provides many treament centers for addicts where they can recieve treament with methadone, counseling, and help with their addiction problems. They recieve the methadone at no charge. The methadone helps addicts to stop using other dangerous drugs such as cocaine and heroin. But Portugal knows that some people, even under treatment, will never lose their addiction.

One problem is that criminally produced synthetic drugs are now becoming popular so that eventually some people may not be helped with the methadone treatment. To solve this problem, it may be necessary for the government to produce new, and safer drugs for addicts to use, while still providing the drugs at no charge or a very low price to discourage criminal trafficking.

Maybe the US and Mexico should give this system a try here? How nice it would be to get rid of the drug lords and criminals fighting on our border all the time with millions suffering degrading lives under their control.

IRAN TO HAVE BALLISTIC MISSILES BY 2015?

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal of July 14, Iran will have nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) by the year 2015. And it may not be one or two. It may be dozens or even one hundred or more, because of the vast uranium resources that they have and the rate of weapons-grade uranium they are now producing. Most of our large cities will be in danger. We cannot afford this risk. It is an unacceptable risk.

Does anyone think that once Iran obtains this goal that they will hesitate to use the missiles against the US and Israel? Are we ready to shoot down these missiles, or are we ready to take the military action that is really needed? I don't think so in either case.

So what should be our real priorities? The oil leak? The financial regulations? Immigration? The Democrats other liberal agendas? Politics? No! We need to think about saving our lives and our existence as a nation.

Hello? Is anyone listening? Is anyone concerned? President Obama? CIA? Pentagon? Congress? Hello, is everyone asleep in this country? Wake up people! This is the real crisis we face! Call and write your Congressman. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Ask them to write and call others and their Congressmen about this problem. find out what is happening and what we are going to do, if anything.

MICROSOFT AND FUJITSU TO JOIN IN CLOUDS

Microsoft and Fujitsu will form a collaboration in cloud computing. The alliance will form a next generation method of computing that is accessed online so that a user has access to extensive software, online storage, and possibly even processing power in certain cases.

Potentially, or hopefully, for the user it will be like having access to a super computer.

Microsoft will gain access to Fujitsu's data centers, and Fujitsu will be allowed to offer Microsoft's Windows library of software to the user.

Expect a downside though. Instead of just paying the up-front cost of your own computing power and software, you will most likely have to pay a monthly fee or a usage fee per data block for rental of software, storage, and processing time if used.

It will be like the old days where you have a relatively dumb terminal and you log-in remotely to the computer service. (Compuserve are you coming back?)

Apple where are you? Hello?

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN TELEVISION

Original post by Marie-Eunice M. Alarcon

A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IS A NEW SERVICE THAT WILL PROVIDE ONLINE DOWNLOADABLE TV SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA.

This new service could have far reaching implications for television everywhere. If you can get better TV service and features on your computer, why do we need stand-alone TV's anymore, unless they are Internet capable. See the Press Release below:


Media Release
Date: Thursday 8 July 2010

STARTS
AUSTAR partners with online video platform provider Switch Media to launch Australia’s first streaming and downloadable on demand TV service.
The AUSTAR AnyWhereTM service is a first in the Asia Pacific region that lets viewers stream and download TV programs on Mac and PC.
Technical Director for Switch Media Luke Durham says this is possible because of the type Digital Rights Management (DRM) chosen.
The use of DRM means that online broadcasters have controlling rights over the content permissions given to different levels of subscribers.
Luke Durham says: “The challenge was bringing together leading edge capabilities like Adobe Flash Access 2.0 DRM, protected streaming and download access into a single you beaut service.”
He says Switch Media has also been able to provide a cost effective and reliable distribution network to AUSTAR’s regional subscriber base.
Switch Media Chief Executive, Christopher Stenhouse says: “We are on an evolutionary path, going from leaning forward to watch online videos to a lean-back on demand internet TV experience.”
AUSTAR Chief Executive Officer, John Porter, said, “AUSTAR AnyWhereTM is the next step in making the best entertainment available to our customers whenever and however they want it. It will give our subscribers complete flexibility and control over when they view their favourite shows, as long as they have an internet connection on their PC. A key feature of AUSTAR AnyWhereTM is that it will offer the ability to both stream and download content, meaning customers can either watch the video straight away online, or download it to their PC watch later.”
The online TV portal is available only on the AUSTAR AnyWhereTM service at www.austar.com.au/onlinetv.
ENDS

ANNOUNCING TELEVISION FOR SOUTH-EAST ASIA

Original post by Marie-Eunice M. Alarcon

AUSTAR LAUNCHES ONLINE VIDEO PLATFORM FOR ON DEMAND TV SERVICE

A major development is to provide an excellent service to Australia and other South-East Asian countries. Read this important release:

Media Release
Date: Thursday 8 July 2010

STARTS
AUSTAR partners with online video platform provider Switch Media to launch Australia’s first streaming and downloadable on demand TV service.
The AUSTAR AnyWhereTM service is a first in the Asia Pacific region that lets viewers stream and download TV programs on Mac and PC.
Technical Director for Switch Media Luke Durham says this is possible because of the type Digital Rights Management (DRM) chosen.
The use of DRM means that online broadcasters have controlling rights over the content permissions given to different levels of subscribers.
Luke Durham says: “The challenge was bringing together leading edge capabilities like Adobe Flash Access 2.0 DRM, protected streaming and download access into a single you beaut service.”
He says Switch Media has also been able to provide a cost effective and reliable distribution network to AUSTAR’s regional subscriber base.
Switch Media Chief Executive, Christopher Stenhouse says: “We are on an evolutionary path, going from leaning forward to watch online videos to a lean-back on demand internet TV experience.”
AUSTAR Chief Executive Officer, John Porter, said, “AUSTAR AnyWhereTM is the next step in making the best entertainment available to our customers whenever and however they want it. It will give our subscribers complete flexibility and control over when they view their favourite shows, as long as they have an internet connection on their PC. A key feature of AUSTAR AnyWhereTM is that it will offer the ability to both stream and download content, meaning customers can either watch the video straight away online, or download it to their PC watch later.”
The online TV portal is available only on the AUSTAR AnyWhereTM service at www.austar.com.au/onlinetv.
ENDS

WHY DOES US WANT TO BUY EU AIRCRAFT FOR US AIRFORCE?

The Air Force has a contract for $35 billion for military tanker aircraft. Boeing and the EU company EADS have already bid once on this contract and Boeing won. But EADS complained that the bid was not fair, so the US is going to let them bid again. Why? Is there political influence at high levels involved? is there a deal between US and EU political leaders to give them the contract as a sort of EU welfare hand-out?

In the first place, EADS has virtually no experience building military aircraft such as tankers. Secondly, is the EU subsidizing the EADS company, whereas Boeing is a free enterprise and is not subsidized? And third, Boeing has exactly the type of aircraft the Air Force needs and has many years of experience in building and supplying all kinds of military aircraft to the US Air Force. If EADS is selected as the contract winner, we would have to hold their hand and show them what to do every step of the way. How much longer would deliveries take do you think?

Why in the world would the Air Force even qualify EADS to bid on the contract? It is very suspicious that political pressure from somewhere is involved. (Alabama would get a plant to build parts of the aircraft if EADS is the winner.)

If we are going to buy foreign made aircraft for military use, at least we should buy from a country that knows how to build military aircraft. Why not Russia, for example? We are already buying their Mi17 helicopters for use by Iraq and Afghanistan forces. Why not let Russia bid on the tanker contract? Politics again?

Americans, wake up! The leftist politicians are running our economy into the ground by foreign "free trade" and give-aways like the tanker contract.

Call and write your Congressman and tell him how you feel about what is happening to us.

HOW ABOUT THIS SOLUTION FOR IMMIGRATION?

This is a proposed solution for some of the Mexican immigration problems we have. It is a compilation of the best ideas we have heard but it is a preliminary plan subject to change. Let us say first that we have nothing against Hispanics in our country. Most of them add good things to our culture and workforce as industrious and law abiding people.

But here is the proposal:

1. Close the holes in the fence, and create an effective law enforcement patrol with state and federal law working together.

2. Loosen regulations on legal immigration, especially if an immigrant has a relative or other legal resident to sponsor him or her.

3. Give illegals a grace period of 30 to 90 days to report to a government office (which will be ready and is at a designated location for each state) to apply for a visa or citizenship. If they have documents and can qualify they can become legal and stay at least until their visa expires. This would give them time to work for citizenship.

4. If illegals do not come forward during the grace period they will be subject to arrest and immediate deportation.

If you don't like the plan, leave your comments with a better plan. We are open to suggestions and hope that there is discussion on this subject.

If you do like the plan, call and write your Congressman and let him know about it!

CHINA ISSUES LARGEST IPO EVER

The Chinese Agricultural Bank with its 24,000 branches has issued what may be the largest IPO in history. It is expected to be as much $22 billion. That is an interesting statistic, but what is the deeper meaning of this? Remember that this bank is owned by the Chinese government, so here we have the case of a major government getting into major business. How can private businesses compete with this kind of clout in the world?

The worst part of this is that we have a large government that is about to rule business (the IPO is the red flag.) What is next? Chinese business will rule the world? Yes, I think that we are headed in this direction, and if free democratic countries value their freedoms, especially free enterprise, they need to stand together and resist the giant oligarchy that we see emerging. We already have one that rules the oil business, namely OPEC. We don't need another that will rule all business and eventually our nations as well if we let it.

Free nations wake up. don't let your freedoms slip away and be lost forever!

Call and write your congressman and tell him how you feel about the situation.

WHAT DOES JULY 4TH MEAN TO AMERICANS?

The 4th of July should mean more than fireworks, barbecues, and hot dogs. It stands for the day that we declared independence from England with the Declaration of Independence adopted on July 4th 1776. Also it should remind Americans of the many sacrifices that Americans have made defending our freedoms: The battle of Edge Hill (Valley Forge) in 1777. The war of 1812. The battle of the Alamo, March 6, 1836. World War I in 1917. Pearl Harbor, Dec 7 1941 and WW II. The attack of Sept. 11 on Innocent Americans. Have we forgotten these events and what they mean to us? I hope not.

What else should July 4th be remembered for? It should be remembered that our freedoms were not achieved easily and that they should not be given away easily, either with the stroke of a pen, or with violence projected against us by anyone.

In addition to the rogue states and the terrorists trying to fight us, who else is attacking our freedoms? The far left liberals and so-called progressives who seek to supplant our individual freedoms, such as the right to bear arms, and freedom of expression of religion, to assert their agenda of creating a communist-style state that controls everyone and creates a giant big brother type of government. The progressives believe that people cannot control their own lives and must be controlled by government. They also lust for political power to feather their own nests leading to tyranny.

To defeat the progressive agenda, as Americans we must assert our basic conservative values, reduce the size of government, defeat the tax and spend bills of Congress, reduce the public debt, and vote for people who will defend American freedoms set down by our forefathers in the Constitution.

MORE SANCTIONS ON IRAN?

The White House has put sanctions on 16 Iranian banks and also assets of the Revolutionary Guards. Businesses that do any business with these banks will be barred from doing business in the US, according to the Wall Street Journal yesterday.

Are these sanctions doing any good? Iran will just find another way to take care of business and we are just looking like bumblers in foreign policy. Is this what Reagan would have done? I don't think so.

We need to remember the words of Teddy Roosevelt: "Talk softly and carry a big stick."

But Iran will soon have a big stick, and then what is our policy going to be? Are we just going to keep prodding a lion with a skinny little stick and making him more and more angry?

Whatever is done, we need a new policy.

FINREG CAUSING STOCK MARKET DECLINES?

Why would the new financial regulation bill cause recent stock market declines? For several reasons. First, the stock market does not like uncertainties and the FINREG bill is definitely a bill that will have economic effects which will not be apparent until it has been in effect for at least a year, and maybe even a decade.

Second there is a perception, probably correct, that the FINREGs will have a bad effect on the income of banks. This perception, if it becomes reality, will have large effects on the economy. What effects? Well probably there will be less credit available to ordinary individual or small business customers for starters.

Third, the banks will have less capital to invest on business ventures of virtually every type. Because banks are presently a major source of capital for investment, a decline in available capital could have a devastating effect on business growth, GDP, and general quality of life for the average American.

Finally, bank accounts will have a higher cost to maintain for the average person. Many people could even decide they can't afford a checking account and withdraw millions if not billions of capital from the banks. This of course further reduces capital available for investment.

Does anyone still want FINREG to be signed into law? Write or call your congressman now!

ANOTHER NEW GOV. AGENCY?

Congressional Democrats planned to tax banks a total of $18 billion per year to support a new financial regulatory agency. How much more ridiculous can Democrats get? The new financial regulations will prevent banks from doing their own proprietary trading so they will lose that source of income. Then the government is going to tax them some more to pay for an un-needed agency! Guess who is going to have to pay more money to support banks? You and me of course through more checking fees, account charges, and of course you better not have any overdrafts! Another silly aspect of this is that we already have numerous government agencies that could administer the new regulations (which are themselves silly and won't accomplish much anyway.)
To list the major agencies that already perform financial regulation tasks; the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On top of that, if there is any evidence of fraud or financial crime involved, the FBI should be the primary agency to investigate and make arrests if necessary.
What is really behind the Democrat's planned agency? Another liberal socialist attempt to grab power in this country in the name of the Progressive Party's agenda. Vote them out of office in November!