In Case You Missed It - Chasing Lightning

Last month National Geographic ran a story about Tim Samaras a lightning chaser following thunderstorms out in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Writer George Johnson and photographer Carsten Peter, joined Samaras on the hunt for a perfect photo of a perfect storm. “Tim Samaras has a storm in his headlights and the world’s fastest high-resolution camera in the trailer behind. Can it catch lightning in the act?"

Amazing photo by Carsten Peter showing a strike straddling the bridge up ahead.

 

 

Above in the video a cloud-to-ground lightning strike severs the sky near Los Lunas, New Mexico. Tim Samaras and his crew chased the slow-moving storm cell until they ran out of road, and now can only watch as it moves on. New Mexico's sparse road system makes lightning chasing difficult. Far easier to navigate are the tight grids of farm roads crisscrossing the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles.

The full story from National Geographic is here.

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Hunting With Percy Craven

It is more than a mile off the blacktop and down a winding gravel road to Percy's cabin at the lake. The road is bumpy yet soft thanks to the Carolina Pines that litter their needles like rust colored carpet atop the stones. The frost has come early this year, it is not yet October and with the frost comes the smell of burning fires and fresh coffee on a wood stove.

Photo by Cedar Posts

Percy's cabin is more shack than home, the kind of place that Eric Rudolph the Olympic park bomber would have called home while on the run for five years in the North Carolina mountains. There is not even the slightest amount of insulation, in fact some of the cedar planks that cover the walls show daylight as the sun first beams across the lake in the early dawn.

The water comes from a spring up the side of the mountain that collects into a concrete tank barely visible half way up the hill and tucked into the woods. Water pressure is supplied by gravity and the 200 foot run down to the house.

The sound the gravel popping under the tires of my SUV quiets as I roll to a stop. The stillness of the lake is stunning in the early morning sun beams of gold as the fog gently lifts and then falls over the tree tops. There are no signs of life inside the cabin but the fire is burning and the front door's ajar.

Percy is old enough that I often fear I'll find him dead one morning and if that be the case today, I'll take great relief knowing that he passed in his sleep in the place his father built nearly 100 years ago.

A raspy familiar voice from around the back side of the shed leaves me startled and relived at the same time.

"Whatcha no good?" Percy calls out.

"Not much, just looking for the old coot, who owns this piece of shit house in the middle of God's majestic wilderness" I figure I'd get that jab in before he says something about my WalMart boots.

"I see's you wearing your fancy boots again" Percy doesn't miss a thing. "You ready to go hunting?"

"Yep", I reply as Percy shoves a Styrofoam cup of black coffee my way.

This is no big game hunt Mr. Carven has invited me on, while it is deer season bears can't be tracked until mid October. Nope, no wall trophies today because we are going to bag squirrels and/or chipmunks.

No doubt some people consider them, adorable little creatures. But before anyone gets all city slicker squeamish on me let me explain at even Percy Craven won't eat a squirrel. Only thing nastier tasting Percy can attest to this fact, is a opossum. I on the other hand have tasted neither and never intend to.

So, we won't be frying up Rocky the Squirrel today, rather those the little varmints will be "shot" for their tails. It just happens that squirrel and chipmunk tails make great flies for trout fishing.

What Percy doesn't keep to make his own trout flies he sells to a artificial lure company in Kingsport, Tennessee. He'll get a dollar a tail, plus his shipping costs.

The trick to shooting squirrels you have to use a 22 with a scope and a steady hand. Head shot and the scope makes it a rather personal interaction with the squirrel. Percy has a Boykin Spaniel named Jake who spent the night snoozing next to the wood stove. Jake's job is to run in circles until the squirrels start chattering. The squirrels sound off about the dog and Percy takes careful aim and drops the squirrel from 30 feet up. Jake then brings the now dead squirrel to Percy and the process is repeated over and over.

It takes about three hours to bring down around 100 squirrels. Percy killed 99 and myself 1. The chipmunks are spared, Jake is wore out, and the coffee inside me is now cold, so we start our walk back to the cabin a 1/2 a mile away.

I ask Percy if it bothers him killing so many animals at one time. His answer a simple "nope". Then he adds: "I guess if it bothered them they would move away, maybe over the ridge or up the road".

Back at the cabin Percy makes another pot of coffee, and begins sorting the tails, selecting the best for himself. The others are put in zip lock bags, boxed and labled to an address in Kingsport and before I know it we are headed the the post office.

We drive along in silence until Percy speaks: "Whatcha thinking about".

"Dead squirrels" I answer.

"I see, well if you're worrying about a giant mother squirrel that is gonna come charging out of the woods after us, forget about it, I shot her last year right between the eyes. Dropped her dead in her tracks back there a spell."

I play along, "What if there's another one?"

Percy holds up a large hand gun: "That's why I brought this along, you never know."

We round the turn, crest a ridge and and the road swings down and to the right, and in the clearing ahead is a lone buck. The buck stands his ground no more than ten feet from the edge of the road.

I slow down to a crawl and the buck stays put. Sixteen point bucks are rare this close to town and I look to Percy as I stop the truck. It is broad daylight at least a mile from anyone. It is deer season. Percy Craven could step out of the truck walk along the road 20 yards and with one shot have the biggest deer of his life.

The stands perfectly still, looking right at us and the truck. I look at Percy and he looks at the buck. Then without waring Percy speaks up:

"Guess we better go",  and he reaches across the cab of the truck and taps the horn. The sound sends the buck "tail high" and snorting into the woods.

I look at Percy like he's lost his mind, and he just shakes his head and says, "some other day".

We drive on to the Post Office in silence.

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Monday's Odd and Ends

Belk South Park Fire Hazard - This is the fire exit at Belk SouthPark, which is cluttered with boxes and stock. You got to love the sign "Do Not Block Fire Door"

The trouble is this exit is one of two on the second floor that in the event of a fire customers would use to escape death. So CP was pretty surprised when one of the floor managers offered, "It doesn't look that bad".  

The Belk manager is correct it doesn't look that bad, except with the power out, smoke filling rapidly and a store filled with Christmas shoppers the death toll would be stunning.  They would all die right here, with the first person to stumble and fall.

You can guess that if this is in plain sight there are more violations behind the doors.

Cedar Posts not being real pleased with the official response from Belk looked to Charlotte's Fire Department as plan "B".  The CFD has a "on-line" form that can be completed to "rat out" violators, so CP did just that. But a week later, nothing but crickets.

The CFD form is here.

Plan "C" was a tweet with the above photo attached directed to CFD public information officer Mark Basnight. His response was classic "@MarkBasnight Sorry, not on the clock nor do the comments made on my personal Twitter account represent CFD"

Rea Road Construction - The mess on Rea Road between Highway 51 and Colony continues. The good news is that after a week of traffic tie-ups the improvements to the intersection at 51 and Rea was completed Sunday afternoon.

Bank of America - Friday BofA announced 16,000 lay offs, that will happen before Christmas.

Greed of course is good, and with interest margins shrinking and banking fees coming under the watchful eyes of the Feds, Bank of America has little choice but to try and cut their way to profitability.

Laying off 16 thousand employees when just a week before they announced they were ready to grow strikes many as odd. But this is the way Bank of America has treated their customers for years.

More from ABC News here.

Percy Craven - Cedar Posts is going to spin off Percy Craven and give him a dedicated twitter account. I doubt the world will flock to see what Percy has on his mind but if a far right leaning, 89 year old self admitted "semi" racist pickup truck driving hillbilly farmer former USFS employee now turned "full time" fisherman has something on his mind you just might read it here. https://twitter.com/@percycraven  A little insight at Percy Craven and a fish story of sorts is here http://cedarposts.blogspot.com/2012/08/percy-craven.html

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Friday Wrap Up - Cam Newton Edition

The "P" Word - Pathetic comes to mind. You knew it wouldn't be pretty, the pre game stats said NY all the way but the reality of it was uglier than you could have imagined.

Newton was 16-of-30 on the night for 242 yards. Zip zero zilch in the touchdown pass column and 3 interceptions. Sacked twice and rushed for 6 yards. His numbers don't live up to the Cam hype.

Charlotte's big bet has been Cam Newton and casual fans expected he would make Charlotte a dynasty, something to tell their grand kids about.

Reality check, it is still a team sport and until the rest of the team shows up with at least 1/2 the intensity of Steve Smith, Panther fans will be to be doing the walk of shame with 18 mins left on the clock.

Cedar Bonus Take: Until the rest of the team shows up, Cam Newton might want to "can" the superman gig.

On the bright side you can still cheer for Carolina as long as you don't mind yelling Go Gamecocks!

Obama's Pole (Poll) Numbers - If the phone dialer's and surveys are right will have another four years of Obamanation. Obama leads Mitt Romney across the board and no Pole (Poll)shows Obama trailing. Which might just work out to Romney's advantage. If the Democrats are as lazy as Republicans think then with a Obama led going into November maybe 1/2 the Obama voters will stay home on Tuesday November 6th.

Don't forget Monday November 5th is Philly at New Orleans

CMPD DWI Check Point Nets 5 Drunks - CMPD and State Law Enforcement spent four hours idling on North Sharon Amity Road early this morning.  Pretty inefficient use of time but it does point to a bigger issue. In the "drag net" CMPD charged 32 people for driving with a revoked license, 28 charged because they had no license at all, as well as another 45 drivers with tag, inspection or proof of insurance violations.

The influx of Latino, and Asian drivers has sent the NCDMV into a tail spin. There is not effective way to control these drivers who thumb there nose at the laws most of us obey. These are people that should be removed from the streets. They don't have the basic skill set to pass a drivers test. Nuts!

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/09/21/3546025/cmpd-finds-60-driving-without.html#storylink=cpy

Kydaryune Curry - His name shortened to KC for obvious reason was gunned down last weekend because he "had shown disrespect" to one the suspects he was 17.

Kydaryune "K.C." Curry and his mom, Benita Turner.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/09/18/3538893/five-teens-charged-in-17-year.html#storylink=cpy

Now it is up to Mecklenburg District Attorney Andrew Murray to sort it out and charge the five teens responsible appropriately.


Bruck Birega Fekadu, 16

 

Sheldon Gregory, 17



 Dedrick Lorenzo McKenzie, 16

Jeremy Elijah Pate, 19

Samuel Jerome Walker Jr., 18

Currently charged with first-degree murder are: Bruck Birega Fekadu, 16; Sheldon Gregory, 17; Dedrick Lorenzo McKenzie, 16; Jeremy Elijah Pate, 19; and Samuel Jerome Walker Jr., 18.  However you can expect some of these charges will be reduced or dismissed as Andrew Murray's office seeks an expeditious resolution vs trial.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/09/18/3538893/five-teens-charged-in-17-year.html#storylink=cpy

Two camps have already formed those who say they are all guilty and those who say only the one who pulled the trigger McKenzie should be charged with Murder.

This whole "disrespect" thing is a black cultural holdover from the 80's. In Chicago it has helped pile up bodies of black youth, 21 so far this month. Chicago's homicide total for 2012 is expected to exceed 500. As of July, 201 out of 259 homicide victims were African American.

Of the 201 African American victims 143 were between 15-35 of those 133 had arrest histories.
Then there are the more than 1000 shooting victims through July 2012 who were shot, but didn't die.

KC is the exception to the rule, he didn't have an arrest record. But for the thugs who murdered KC, those who don't end up spending life in prison will return to the streets with a big target on their back and chances are pretty good, they will end up with a chalk outline.

CP Take: I'll call on Mecklenburg DA Murray to stand against violence and see that all of these thugs get long (Active) prison sentences of at least 20 years. As for the shooter, seems the death penalty is most appropriate. I strongly believe that many many people deserve a second chance, however when it comes to violent crimes the sad truth is once a thug always a thug.  In North Carolina the number of drug offenders behind bars is 3x the number of violent offenders. Something is wrong here. I don't need to be protected from the pot smokers or pot growers, protect me and my family, my neighbors and friends from rapists, and murderers, child molesters and armed robbers. Lock them up toss the key.

Violent offenders should not be released on parole, put on probation or given a second chance, these people are savages. No better than a pack of wild dogs.

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NFL Films Producer Steve Sabol

Steve Sabol -- one of the founding members of "NFL Films" -- passed away this morning after battling brain cancer. He was 69.

CP's Take: As a kid I was sucked into the game of football not by the roar of the crowd but by the replay, a tight shot on the football and its super-slow motion spiral arching towards the receiver, a trade mark of Steve Sabol and his father Ed.  That sight, and the extended suspense it created, depicted everything football was, right to the 1/10th of a second and that moment of the completion and glory of the touchdown.

Steve had suffered a seizure in March 2011. Doctors discovered an inoperable tumor in his brain ... and he had been receiving treatment ever since.

Sabol co-founded NFL Films in the '60s with his father, Ed Sabol ... and together they revolutionized the way football fans watched the game ... with slow dramatic montages, compelling music and candid player soundbites from the field and the sidelines. Under Steve's leadership, NFL Films produced several iconic shows ... including, "Hard Knocks," "NFL Films Presents" and "Football Follies."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement on Sabol's death ... saying, "Steve’s passion for football was matched by his incredible talent and energy. Steve’s legacy will be part of the NFL forever. He was a major contributor to the success of the NFL, a man who changed the way we look at football and sports, and a great friend.”

More on Steve Sabol fromt the LA Times here.

Steve Sabol Interviews Carolina Panther Steve Smith

 

More Cedar Posts on NFL Films here.

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In Case You Missed It - Teacher Greed In Chicago

I think this pretty much says it all:

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Monday Odds and Ends

Another East Charlotte Shooting Death - Charlotte police are actively searching for a red SUV after a Charlotte teen is found dead.

According to Charlotte Mecklenburg Police, they received an assault with a deadly weapon call on Northgate Trail Drive around 6:37 p.m. on Sunday. Medic says when they arrived on scene they found 17-year-old Kydaryuni Curry suffering from a gunshot wound. A short time later he was pronounced deceased.

Detectives are canvassing the east Charlotte neighborhood to determine if there are any witnesses. Police say a red SUV with multiple passengers were seen fleeing the scene.

CMPD Bike Cops Rule - Cedar Posts talked with a couple of CMPD Officers over the weekend about the DNC 2012 and how things worked out.

Chief Monroe had already admitted that a "couple" of CMPD Officers were attending meetings to "monitor" the Occupy protest group. But Officers CP spoke to say that the "embedded" cops were many in number and had infiltrated the group's leadership.

It is CP's understanding that both CMPD and the FBI had guys in deep cover among the Occupy Protesters. These are CMPD guys who joined the protest group months ago and played the part, complete with long hair and even going so far as not having showered or shaved for weeks.

Not to be confused with these two guys who stood out like a couple of tourists.

The "insider information" gave CMPD advance knowledge of plans to break windows at Bank of America and Duke Energy offices Uptown on the final day of the convention using the "Bum Rush" method the anarchists put in play in Chicago.

CMPD Chief Monroe gets a couple of points for sending CMPD Officers to Chicago and Tampa, as the hands on work gave CMPD a couple of ideas that translated to an advantage when the DNC came to Charlotte.

The biggest advantage came from understanding the Chicago Police Department's inability to respond quickly and how useless riot shields were for crowd control. While riot shields are excellent in deflecting rocks and bottles their curved wrap around design gave protesters charging the line an advantage since the shields often acted more like spring doors allowing protesters to remain on their feet while "punching through"

 

In Tampa the bike cops ruled the night. Where shields forming a line were susceptible to break through mountain bikes interlocked wheel to wheel are impossible to cross. Further cops on bikes proved considerably more mobile than cars and faster than horses.

With the Chicago and Tampa knowledge of what works and what doesn't as well as the inside info CMPD used their bike cops to herd and control the Occupy crowd.

 

 

The undercover cops nearly broke out laughing when during one Occupy meeting a protester expressed his displeasure with the bike cops, saying that CMPD had more than 300 cops on wheels.

 

The truth is CMPD fielded less than 100, but with advance notice and military precision, coupled with speed CMPD bike cops were nearly able to be in two places at once. CMPD Bike Cops rode so many miles that one Office told CP that he lost more than five pounds during the week long work out.

 

Cedar Posts watched an impressive performance whenever the bike cops moved out or came down the street to rapidly form a line ahead of the Occupy marchers.

The combination of Bike Cops and inside information thwarted the Occupy groups plans to get attention by breaking windows and damaging property.

The End of The Arab Spring - The attacks on US Embassies, Consulates and business with some obscure home made movie as the excuse continue. But Cedar Posts says that may be the biggest mistake Muslim nations can make.

 

 

 

Cedar's Take: Throwing shoes at our president, or burning him in effigy we as Americans take pretty much in stride, but tearing down our flag and killing a US Ambassador is cause for a war.

The Obama Administration says the attacks were the result of hate speech, frankly if you ask CP, protesters bring signs and loud voices, not RPGs and AK-47s. This was an act of terrorism that requires a forceful response.

But it need not be a response of bombing or drone strikes. Rather one of collective punishment, expelling all Libyan and Egyptian students from the US and cutting off funding should be quick and direct.

Of course some will scream that not all Muslims are haters of America, well too bad. As the Germans found out during WWII living in a country is cause enough to be punished. As Americans we have all been punished again and again because of actions of a few. We need to be pissed and take action.

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Why Muslim Wack Jobs Get Our Attention

Islamic terrorism has been part of the American story, since the first (1801-1805) and the second (1815) U.S. wars against Libya, Tunisia and Algeria-based Muslim pirates.

Anti-U.S. Islamic terrorism has been fueled by Islam’s imperialistic vision, inflamed by core American values — irrespective of American national security policy — systematically and deliberately targeting innocent Americans in the U.S. and abroad.

Premeditated Islamic terrorism, accompanied by chants of “We are all bin Laden,” marked the 11th anniversary of Sept. 11 in Libya and Egypt. It erupted irrespective of the crucial role played by the U.S. in the toppling of Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the rough U.S. pressure on Israel and the financial and political U.S. support of the Palestinian Authority.

 

The U.S. ambassador to Libya and his three staff members were murdered and rocket-propelled grenades destroyed the consulate in Benghazi. The U.S. Embassies in Cairo and Sanaa were stormed, and U.S. flags were burned in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, the Gaza Strip, etc. Libyan, Egyptian and

Yemenite security forces were alerted, but did not prevent the assault.

 

So much for the delusions of the “Arab Spring,” “the New Middle East,” “the March of Democracy,” and “painful Israeli concessions for peace …”

 

Islamic terrorism has targeted the U.S. despite President Jimmy Carter’s support of Ruhollah Khomeini’s rise to power; despite President Ronald Reagan’s critical military and financial support of the mujahedeen, which terminated the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan; notwithstanding President Bill Clinton’s bombing of Serbia, which led to the establishment of Muslim-dominated Bosnia and Kosovo; and regardless of President Barack Obama’s policy of engaging — rather than confronting — rogue Muslim entities.

 

Islamic terrorism has focused on the U.S. in defiance of Obama’s instruction to delete any reference to Islam from training literature employed by the FBI, CIA, military and other counterterrorism agencies.

 

Islamic terrorism has focused on the U.S. although the Obama administration denies the existence of global Islamic jihadist terrorism, referring to terrorism as “man-caused disasters,” “workplace violence,” and “isolated extremism.”

Terrorists bite the hands that feed them.

 

For example, the murder of nearly 3,000 people on 9/11 was planned while Clinton extended his hand to the Muslim world in general and to the Palestinians in particular.

The Oct. 12, 2000 murder of 17 USS Cole sailors occurred when Clinton brokered unprecedented Israeli concessions to the Palestinian.

The Aug. 27, 1998 murder of 257 persons at the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania took place while Clinton brutally pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The murder of 19 U.S. soldiers in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia was carried out while Clinton courted Yasser Arafat.

The Dec. 21,1988 murder of 270 people in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland took place a few months following the groundbreaking recognition of the PLO by Reagan.

The 1983 murders of 368 people at the U.S. Embassy and U.S. and French military barracks in Beirut occurred while Reagan interfered with Israel’s hot pursuit of the PLO, blasting Israel for its war on PLO terrorism.

 

The last two years of the stormy “Arab Winter” have highlighted the 1,400-year-old inherent intra-Muslim violence, hatred, treachery and terrorism, which have also afflicted non-Muslims in general and the U.S. in particular.

It has been 1,400 years of no intra-Muslim comprehensive peace and no intra-Muslim compliance with most intra-Muslim agreements.

 

Rogue Muslim regimes consider the exceptional U.S. military, economic and diplomatic capabilities their chief adversary.

 

The U.S. and its core values have been targeted by Quran- and Shariah-driven dictatorial Muslim regimes and elites. They consider U.S. values to be the most lethal, clear and present danger. They dread U.S. civil liberties, such as freedom of religion, association, expression, movement, economy, equality for women, and the Internet.

 

The root cause of Islamic terrorism has been the nature of Islam.

In contrast to Western democracy, Islam is supremacist, aiming to bring “believers” and “infidels” to total spiritual and physical submission. Henceforth, the centrality of hate-education (toward “the other”) is forging the national state of mind; hence, the intolerant, violent, anti-doubt, anti-choice, anti-criticism and anti-individualistic nature of Islam. Therefore, Islam’s call for jihad (holy war), execution of apostates, “honor killing” of women by their own relatives, genital mutilation of young women, shuhada (suicide bombing), etc.

 

Anti-Western Islamic authoritarian-imperialism represents the predominant worldview of Muslim societies, which have been indoctrinated by their religious, political, ideological, educational and military elites since the 7th century. According to the tenets of mainstream Islam, any criticism of Islam in general and, especially its prophet, Muhammad, warrants severe retribution, including death.

 

Oversimplification and wishful thinking in the battle against global Islamic terrorism, and in the pursuit of peace, have been crashed against the rocks of reality. The delusion of the Arab Spring has been brutally exposed by the tectonic and stormy Arab Winter that is gaining momentum. Ideological and operational ambiguity (“man-caused disasters”) must yield to ideological and operational clarity, identifying the clear and present danger to peace and to the survival of Western democracies — global Islamic terrorism.

 

This article was originally published by Israel Hayom.

Cedar's Take: The above is pretty damn deep but even if you only understand a fraction of the above paragraphs you will understand more than Barrack Obama does. Wake up American we are at war.

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CMPD Officer Kills Suspect In South Charlotte

Domestic violence suspect shot and killed by CMPD veteran officer Ole Swenson. Details are hit and miss, but CP understands Officer Swenson responded to a 911 called and a suspect came towards him with a pair of garden shears. Officer Swenson attempted to use his taser but the suspect continued to attack.  The officer drew his service weapon and fire at the suspect.

CP understands that the suspect has a history of violence including a manslaughter charge in the death of his father in law.

CMPD has confirmed that the suspect fatally shot by CMPD Officer Swenson, has be identified as Clay McCall age 26. McCall had a history of mental illness and violence.

This is a rapidly changing story and CP has not confirmed the above statements as fact.

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Odd Family Photos Assad and Gaddafi

Bashar al-Assad, Seif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, Muammar al-Gaddafi, Hafez al-Assad

I might come as a surprise the Syrian connection to Libya's Muammar Gaddafi, but the Assad and Gaddafi families go back nearly half a century.

The young Bashar Hafez al-Assad in the chair, Seif al Gaddafi, Muammar al Gaffafi and then president of Syria Bashar's Hafez al-Assad looking on from the end of the couch.

As Syria’s bloody uprising continues into its second year, there’s a growing realization that President Bashar Hafez al-Assad just might outlast the rebels. While many had hoped that al-Assad would soon go the way of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, it’s clear that even if it happens, his departure won’t be so swift. There are a number of reasons why Syria’s Assad has stuck around, and why some people are even predicting the Syrian strongman may ultimately prevail. Here are the top five ways that Syria is no Libya.

Russian Weapons: Like Syria, Libya relied heavily on importing arms from Russia, using weapons systems such as the Soviet-designed T-72 battle tank and Su-22 aircraft. But in March 2011, Russia finally sided with the international community asking for Gaddafi to step down, which ended the Russian arms pipeline to Libya. That decision ultimately cost Russia billions of dollars in arms sales, which may be why Moscow decided not to repeat the same mistake twice. In Syria, the flow of Russian weapons goes on, much to the consternation of the United States. Russia has pledged continuing support to the Assad regime, and has even made recent arms deliveries to the country.

Intelligence Service: Syria’s Mukhabarat intelligence service is one of the most ruthless in the Middle East, eliciting fear and even paranoia among the local population. Some estimates claim that as much as 20 percent of the population is on the intelligence service’s payroll. (As in other authoritarian states, the truth of the number may not matter; what matters is that people believe it.) Syria has effectively used the Mukhabarat to keep tabs on the insurgency and to limit its effectiveness by arresting leaders—even kidnapping them from Lebanon in some cases. Read more: 5 Reasons Why Syria Isn’t Libya - Bashar Hafez al-Assad - Popular Mechanics

Realistic President: Muammar Gaddafi was smart—you can’t hold on to power for decades without cunning. But he was also delusional, believing, perhaps until the very end, that his people loved and admired him. Assad may harbor some elements of self-delusion, but he clearly knows the extent of unrest in Syria. In fact, Assad, who was educated in the United Kingdom, is well-informed on the importance of social media; according to leaked emails, he regularly discusses coverage of events posted on YouTube and Facebook. And at this point, he probably knows his choices are down to clinging to power and trying to weather the storm or facing an end like Gaddafi’s.

Strong Military: Although there have been defections from the Syrian military, so far the rebels in Syria don’t have the equivalent of the Free Libyan Army (later renamed the National Liberation Army). That group, though it was a ragtag resistance force, could fight a conventional military. Syrian rebels, by contrast, aren’t so organized. Even when rebels take over neighborhoods or towns, the Syrian army has been able to roll back those gains. The rebels have formed a military council based in Paris but don’t yet appear to have any formal military hierarchy within Syria.

Iranian Support: Gaddafi was largely isolated from the international community before the collapse of his regime, but Assad still has a couple of stalwart supporters. Iran’s leaders, like Russia’s, have refused to join international condemnation of Assad, promising to stand by their man in Damascus. While Russia supplies Syria with weapons, Iran, a major player in the region, is allegedly providing surveillance assistance, helping the Assad regime keep tabs on the opposition.

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United States Ambassador Christopher Stevens is Murdered as State Department snuggles up to Muslim Extremists



United States Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens is dragged away by a Muslim Mob just before he is murdered. Cedar Posts Update: Obama Adminstration says mob was carrying Stevens to the hospital.

The US Consulate in Benghazi is seen in flames during a protest by an armed group said to have been protesting a film being produced in the United States on September 11, 2012

Yesterday on the anniversary of September 11 a coordinated attack by Muslim Extremists was carried out under the banner of "You Insulted Mohammad" and a little known film that was posted on YouTube over the weekend.

The United States responded to concerns about the film and protests via this press release:

"The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. Today, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Americans are honoring our patriots and those who serve our nation as the fitting response to the enemies of democracy. Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others."

The Obama administration later said the above press release was not cleared by Washington, in an effort to distance itself from the statement.

But Obama's response did little to stem the violence which was met with minimal if any Libyan or Egyptian military, police or governmental response.

The violence in Benghazi Libya eventually led to the murder of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens and 3 others.

Cedar's Take: I don't often speak out on world affairs, knowing my voice is only "spit on the skillet" but in this case I'm going to make an exception:

The only action at this point is a strong and rapid response to secure American interests, to protect American citizens and to show the world we will not sit by and wring our hands while Muslim nut cases murder our ambassadors. Mr. President you either act now or we the people will act in November.

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9/11 First Responders In Their Own Words Ten Years Later

Firefighters from Farmingville, NY walk up Fulton Street crossing Nassau in Lower Manhattan.
Hard to imagine how they must have felt entering ground zero, walking through dust and smoke of the destroyed World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

 

John Ceriello (then, firefighter, Squad 18, West Village, which lost seven members; now, lieutenant, Squad 252, Bushwick): I can’t stand hearing the pipes now. It’s a great sound, the bagpipes, that’s why I tried to learn how to play them. But now, it takes me right back to the funerals. It’s not just the sadness of remembering those days, though. It’s that so many people now see firefighters as the center of grief over 9/11. And the bagpipes are a symbol of us as a symbol of that grief. I understand why. And I mourn, too. But firefighters are not about grief.

Sal Cassano (then, FDNY assistant chief; now, fire commissioner): Unfortunately for the department, we really got good at this business of doing funerals. We devised a book on what to do if there is a line-of-duty death in your firehouse. It talks about getting the bunting, hanging the bunting, going with the family to the funeral parlor, step by step, 40 pages. It even describes what we’re going to do a year later at the plaque dedication. But I don’t think people look at us as a department of mourning. I think they look at us as a department that, that day, displayed strength and courage like they’ve never seen before.

Adrienne Walsh (then, firefighter, Ladder 20, Soho, which lost seven members; now, lieutenant, Squad 18, West Village): The thing I have a problem with is when it became a myth, the whole event, the fire department and what we did. I understand why that happened, but when you make it a myth, you take the human aspect out of it. The important thing was that when people were scared—not scared, terrified, crapping their pants—they still did their jobs.
Paul Hyland (then, firefighter, Ladder 110, Downtown Brooklyn; retired March 2010): I don’t consider them nightmares, but you’d wake up just thinking about everything that happened. When we walked into the building, a woman in the lobby was severely mutilated. No legs, her arm was ripped off; her face, it looked like someone took it off with a saw. She had to be one of the jumpers.

Malachy Corrigan (then and now, director of FDNY counseling-services unit): The No. 1 illness is anxiety. No. 2 is depression. We’re seeing about 2,800 new cases a year now. That’s a lot of clients [F1]. “Why did I survive?” is still a big question.

Ceriello: Howie Scott and I had hooked up with a unit, Rescue 4, and Squad 288 in a staging area but left for a few minutes to get masks and air cylinders. While we were gone, Rescue 4 and 288 went into the South Tower. We were walking down West Street toward the Towers when it came down. Everything went to hell, went to darkness. All of those guys died, and I’m here ten years later. Why? I don’t know.

Hyland: The chief said, “Let’s go,” and we went up to the 23rd floor of the North Tower. To tell you the truth, I was kind of pissed off: The fire’s on the 90th floor, and we’re going to the 23rd? We’re doing nothing! Engine 207 from our firehouse, I was talking to them in the lobby, and then I believe they went into the Marriott. None of ’em were ever found. Not even a tool. If God had a plan, I don’t know what it was.

Artie Riccio (then, firefighter, Ladder 110, Downtown Brooklyn; now, lieutenant, Engine 311, Springfield Gardens, Queens): I wished I would have died there instead of my friends with young kids. I lived with survivor’s guilt for a long time. I finally went to counseling for it. I thought there was something wrong with me.

Walsh: I’m surprised more of us aren’t crazy. I didn’t see victims. They were dust. And I was inhaling them. So … you’re literally taking these people in. And there’s no one for us to help. When the wind blew, you couldn’t grab them. They were gone.

Hyland: We were on the 23rd floor, searching for people, and I was standing near a window when I saw the South Tower coming down. I thought it was a partial collapse. It must have taken us twenty minutes to walk down, and when we got to the lobby, it was completely destroyed. I remember these long spears of glass hanging above us. Huge panels turned into shards. If one of these releases, you’ll be killed. I have a piece of a window, glass from the World Trade Center, a small piece. I keep it above my desk. It’s right here in my hands now.

Cassano: The one thing I hold on to is a memory from that day, of meeting Father Judge on West Street. I says, “Father, you better get some help, you’re gonna need it, we’re gonna have a bad day here.” He gave me this smile and said, “It’s gonna be OK.” I hold on to that memory, for sure.

Riccio: Every year a bunch of us get together for dinner a week or so after September 11. It’s weird, but it’s good for us to get together and talk. I still can’t look at a plane landing, though. Ten years later.

Walsh: It’s always important to remember the 343, but more than 1,000 people have given their lives for the city over the years. All those deaths should be revered instead of focusing on this event as the be-all and end-all. That’s why I think the tenth anniversary is going to be huge. An end point of sorts. We’ll always remember. But the city can’t stop.

Hyland: There’s more attention now, ten years. For me, there’s no difference—seventh, eighth, eleventh. It’s every day you think about it. But even the bad days—I’m thankful for those.

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US Department of Justice Steps Between Chief Monroe and DNC Protesters

One of the interesting aspects of the Occupy protests during the DNC was the appearance of Department of Justice representatives.

In the clip below CMPD Chief Monroe, tells the reporter with the camera the DOJ “just sent them” without any request from the city. Turning the camera on the DOJ/CRS agents at the convention the reporter/camera man gets much the same answer. 

 

Seems the "higher ups" didn't have faith in CMPD's ability to peacefully handle the situation and sent counselors to "mediate" the protesters interaction with CMPD Command Staff.

 

Which would explain the "allowed to stay" aspect of the Marshall Park encampment and Bill James sudden silence on the matter last week. One can assume James got the memo late on Monday saying "The DOJ said so".

 

Which also might explain this little quote from the Charlotte Observer's Editorial Board

 

"The essence of hospitality is allowing others to be themselves in your home, and we embraced just that. Demonstrators demonstrated, often led in their marches by Police Chief Rodney Monroe himself." 



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Sunday's Pre Game Beer Ad

Figured it was time to revisit this Heineken commercial that popped up during the MLB All Star break.

First no that is not Amy Winehouse, remember she's dead. The band in question: Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes, an Australian group whose debut album, ‘Baby Caught the Bus,’ came out last November and includes the song ‘Love Letter,’ performed here. If you liked Amy Winehouse, then you'll get a big rush if you give a listen to Clairy and as a bonus you won't have to guess if she is high on H.

The full song is here. Yes the video is not very original, looking a lot like Lady Gaga.

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Saturday Change Up - The Last Kiss

This may just be the most romantic / sexy photo of the summer. Graffiti artist Russell Murphy leans over to kiss his girlfriend of five months Alexis Creque as they are being taken away in handcuffs. The full story is here.

Alexis Creque kissing her handcuffed beau, Russell Murphy in New York last month.

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DNC Vote On God and Jerusalem - Epic!

Here's the deal the democrats got together and took out support for Israel and removed God from the party platform. Well, that wasn't sitting to well with those in charge of getting Barrack Obama re-elected they put it back in using a baseball bat.

Slick stuff, they took a voice vote to suspend the rules that require a roll call vote, when less than 1/2 the delegates where in the Time Warner Arena and the other half wasn't paying attention. Then they ask for a 2/3rds majority to approve the change, but the voice vote ("I" or "Nay") is clearly a draw and not a majorly needed to pass. In fact it may be better than 50% against the change.

But after three votes the Democratic chair says it passes by a 2/3rds majority. Amazing, the dems give the shaft to their delegates on live television.

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Another One Bites The Dust

Just out of the shadows of the last night's DNC events one of Charlotte's street thugs was gunned down shortly after dusk.

Deceased Zachary Jamal Pittman

A year ago Zachary Jamal Pittman was arrest and charged with attempted 1st degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon (gun) and armed robbery and possession.

These guys play hard and when it comes to guns they die hard. A culture of violence that no amount of police intervention can disrupt, sadly it is in their DNA.
 

So it comes as little surprise that he met his end along the 10000 block of English Setter Drive around 8:48 p.m. Wednesday night.

Just after "hard dark" CMPD Officers responded to a call for service in reference to shots fired at the intersection of Yellow Rose Lane and Terrier Way. 

As officers rolled up to the location a trail of blood was noticeable. In the damp evening air the smell of gunpowder was heavy enough that it still lingered.

A second call came to police for a suspicious person on English Setter Drive, located in close proximity to the shots fired call, police say. When officers got to the scene, they found a man lying on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound.
 

Medic arrived on the scene and pronounced the victim deceased. He was later identified as 25-year-old Zachary Jamal Pittman.

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In Case You Missed It - Hannah McCarley

The DNC's youngest delegate answered the roll call this morning for West Virginia.

McCarley just made it under the wire as a delegate, as the requirement is that all delegates be at least 18, and her birthday was Tuesday.

At just before for 1 a.m. Thursday morning Ms. McCarley answered "The Great State of West Virgina....." in a voice that projected confidence far beyond her years.

While most of the delegates had already left the Time Warner Arena with only delegates from Wisconsin and Wyoming standing McCarley's voice listing the virtues of Wild Wonderful West Virgina was met with thunderous applause.

More about Hannah McCarley here: W.Va. teen to be among youngest delegates at Democratic Convention in the State Journal.

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DNC Cancels Obama Bank of America Event

DNCC Announces Thursday’s Convention Proceedings Will Move to Time Warner Cable Arena Due to Severe Weather Forecasts

    

  

CHARLOTTE, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) today announced that convention programming, originally planned for Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, September 6, would be moved to Time Warner Cable Arena, the site of the first two days of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, due to severe weather forecasts.  The DNCC also announced that President Barack Obama will address community credential holders in a conference call on Thursday.  Call information will be emailed directly to community credential-holders.

About an hour ago the DNC posted the following announcement on their web site:

"We have been monitoring weather forecasts closely and several reports predict thunderstorms in the area, therefore we have decided to move Thursday’s proceedings to Time Warner Cable Arena to ensure the safety and security of our delegates and convention guests,” said DNCC CEO Steve Kerrigan. The energy and enthusiasm for our convention in Charlotte has been overwhelming and we share the disappointment of over 65,000 people who signed up for community credentials to be there with the President in person.  We encourage our community credential holders and Americans across the country to continue to come together with their friends and neighbors to watch and participate in history.  The President will speak to these credential holders on a national conference call tomorrow afternoon, and we will work with the campaign to ensure that those unable to attend tomorrow’s event will be invited to see the President between now and election day.” 

ABOUT THE DNCC

The 2012 Democratic National Convention Committee is a not-for-profit organization responsible for planning and executing the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, the week of September 3, 2012. 

CONTACT: Alex Glass, Joanne Peters, +1-980-249-5310

Cedar's Take: Sounds pretty lame to me and I suspect that it was more the fear that thousands would be no shows if rain showed up on the horizon. Much the way Panther fans do on not perfect Sundays.

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In Case You Missed It - Who's Really Running the White House

I'm certain your first response to the rhetorical question in the "hed" is Michelle Obama. You are half right, a woman does wear the pants at the White House but it's not Michelle, its Valerie Jarrett. Barack Obama's "work wife" is Iranian born, and now Chicagoan, Valerie Jarrett.

Valerie Jarrett in Charlotte at the Playbook Breakfast Tuesday Morning

From the New York Times piece you might have missed:

Valerie Jarrett is a White House senior adviser and assistant to the president for intergovernmental relations and public liaison. But that title tells less about her role in the White House than other descriptions: the Obamas’ first friend and a tenacious and powerful White House operator.

A Chicagoan who helped Mr. Obama navigate his rise through that city’s aggressive politics, Ms. Jarrett came to Washington with no national experience. But her unmatched access to the Obamas has made her a driving force in some of the most significant domestic policy decisions of the president’s first term, her persuasive power only amplified by Mr. Obama’s insular management style.

From the first, her official job has been somewhat vague. But nearly four years on, her standing is clear, to her many admirers and detractors alike.

Partly her power comes from her ubiquity, the guiding hand in everything from who sits on the Supreme Court to who sits next to whom at state dinners, the White House staff memos peppered with “VJ thinks” or “VJ says.” When the billionaire investor Warren E. Buffett showed up for a private lunch with the president in 2011, the table was set for three.

Ms. Jarrett often serves as a counterweight to the more centrist Clinton veterans in the administration, reminding them and her innately cautious boss that he came to Washington to do big things. Some of his boldest moves, on women’s issues, gay rights and immigration, have been in areas she cares about most.

If Karl Rove was known as George W. Bush’s political brain, Ms. Jarrett is Mr. Obama’s spine.
She is also his gatekeeper, sometimes using that power to tip the balance in internal debates. After the financial crisis, as the administration grappled with how to rein in Wall Street, Ms. Jarrett made sure that Paul A. Volcker, a former Federal Reserve chairman whose voice was being drowned out, got a meeting with the president. The result: tougher measures than the president’s top economic advisers were advocating.

And she is the president’s protector in chief, or as Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner put it, the person who must be as “omniscient as possible” in spotting trouble on the way. Those whom she deems to have failed Mr. Obama tell of scolding late-night calls and her trademark accusation of betrayal: “You are hurting the president.”

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But she has also steered him toward controversy, as in a clash with the Roman Catholic church in early 2012 over contraceptive coverage, where Ms. Jarrett resisted efforts to water down the protection offered by the health care reform law. And some of Mr. Obama’s most senior advisers worry — perhaps not entirely without jealousy — that her direct access to the president has at times led to half-baked decision making and unclear lines of authority.

Mr. Obama’s first two chiefs of staff, Rahm Emanuel and Mr. Daley, clashed with Ms. Jarrett over strategic direction and over who had greater authority to interpret and carry out the president’s wishes, several officials said.

The New York Times continues here.

Over the last three years you may have wondered who is really calling the shots at the White House, well there is your answer.

In order for the 44th president of the United States to be a good leader the President desperately needed to surround himself with quality advisers. What he got was a room full of psychopaths and leg humpers, so he shut the door and turned to VJ.

Mrs. Jarrett doesn't hold cabinet position or a even a recognised position. She's just there. Which is why Syria is still out of control, and military and Afghanistan are back burnered and the Obama agenda for the last year has been all about winning reelection and the country has gone to hell. Every move, every statement has been directed by someone with no experience in foreign affairs, defense or the economy.

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Tuesday Change Up K-9 Humor

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White House Press Office Details Michelle Obama's Events for the DNC 2012

To request press credentials to cover the First Lady at a Caucus event, you must RSVP Patrick Rodenbush at rodenbushp@dnc.org by Monday, September 3^rd at 5:00 PM EDT.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 4
10:35 PM EDT:	First Lady Michelle Obama Speaks at the Democratic National Convention
	Location: Time Warner Cable Arena
	Charlotte, NC
	MEDIA: This event is open press for pre-credentialed media only.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 5
10:50 AM EDT:	First Lady Michelle Obama Speaks at the African American Caucus Meeting
	Location: Charlotte Convention Center
	Charlotte, NC
	MEDIA: Space is limited and to request credentials for this event you must RSVP to Patrick Rodenbush at rodenbushp@dnc.org by Monday, September 3rd at 5:00 PM EDT. Credentialed media will receive a follow-up confirmation email with logistical information.
11:20 AM EDT:	First Lady Michelle Obama Speaks at the Hispanic Caucus Meeting
	Location: Charlotte Convention Center
	Charlotte, NC
	MEDIA: Space is limited and to request credentials for this event you must RSVP to Patrick Rodenbush at rodenbushp@dnc.org by Monday, September 3rd at 5:00 PM EDT. Credentialed media will receive a follow-up confirmation email with logistical information.
12:40 PM EDT:	First Lady Michelle Obama Delivers Remarks at the Human Rights Campaign/Victory Fund Luncheon Honoring LGBT Elected Officials
	Location: Marriott City Center
	Raleigh, NC
	*Due to space limitations, this event will be pooled press. For further information, please contact Charlie Joughin at the Human Rights Campaign at Charles.Joughin@hrc.org.
Evening:	First Lady Michelle Obama Attends Democratic National Convention Evening Program
	Location: Time Warner Cable Arena
	Charlotte, NC
	MEDIA: This event is open press for pre-credentialed media only.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6
Morning:	First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Participate in USO Service Project
	Location: Charlotte Convention Center
	Charlotte, NC
	Details: The First Lady and Dr. Biden will help pack care packages containing comfort items like shampoo, razors and wash cloths for service members returning from overseas deployments who often don't have access to these types of items on their first nights back in the United States. The service project, organized in cooperation with the USO of North Carolina, is part of the 2012 Democratic National Convention's commitment to service and active participation in the local community. In March 2012, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced the "2,012 Hours for DNCC 2012" program, a commitment by the DNCC staff to perform at least 2,012 hours of service before the start of the convention.
	MEDIA: Space is limited and to request credentials for this event you must RSVP to press@demconvention.com by Monday, September 3rd at 5:00 PM EDT. Credentialed media will receive a follow-up confirmation email with logistical information.
11:35 AM EDT:	First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden Speak at the Women's Caucus Meeting
	Location: Charlotte Convention Center
	Charlotte, NC
	MEDIA: Space is limited and to request credentials for this event you must RSVP to Patrick Rodenbush at rodenbushp@dnc.org by Monday, September 3rd at 5:00 PM EDT. Credentialed media will receive a follow-up confirmation email with logistical information.
Evening:	First Lady Michelle Obama Attends DNCC Evening Program
	Location: Bank of America Stadium
	Charlotte, NC
	MEDIA: This event is open press for pre-credentialed media only.

If you received this message in error and wish to be removed from this list, please contact the Obama for America Press Office at 312-985-1198 or press@barackobama.com.
CONTACT: First Lady Press Office: (312) 985-1900

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/02/4780943/public-schedule-for-first-lady.html#storylink=cpy

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