WTF Has Obama Done? - Issue No. 007 - Foreign Affairs and International Affairs

Regardless of what Republicans will have you believe, President Barack Obama has re-established our nation's standing in the world.  It's shocking to say, but after 911 the whole world was united with us, they supported us and they admired us for standing up to these horrible terrorists who had invaded our land.  We have never encountered such a catastrophe since Japan invaded Pearl Harbor in WWII.  But despite all of this, George Bush managed to turn us into the most hated and despised country in the world.  But you don't need me to prove that to you, you can actually "Google " it.

In other news... Can you believe it?  I have completed 7 days (7 issues) of "WTF Has Obama Done?" and I've had fun doing it.  It is time consuming, but I'm also learning so much!

In today's issue, I will cover some of the broad policies in foreign affairs, because despite what the right is telling you, Obama has achieved so much in this area. I will post 3 WTFs and come back at a later time to discuss this topic again.

WTF-17

Re-established the United States standing in the world.

The image of the United States has improved markedly in most parts of the world, reflecting global confidence in Barack Obama. In many countries opinions of the United States are now about as positive as they were at the beginning of the decade before George W. Bush took office. Improvements in the U.S. image have been most pronounced in Western Europe, where favorable ratings for both the nation and the American people have soared. But opinions of America have also become more positive in key countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well. [Reference-1]

Global views of the United States have improved markedly over the last year while views of many countries have become more negative, according to the latest BBC World Service poll across 28 countries.

For the first time since the BBC started tracking in 2005, views of the United States' influence in the world are now more positive than negative on average. [Reference-2]

Significant improvements in sentiment toward U.S. leadership are evident in all four major global regions, with the largest year-over-year increase in approval measured in Europe. Median approval of U.S. leadership increased by 28 percentage points between 2008 and 2009 in this region. A median of 47% approves and a median of 20% disapproves -- the first time disapproval has dropped below 50% in Europe since Gallup first asked the question. [Reference-3]

WTF-18

Poll: World’s opinion of U.S. has “improved sharply” under Obama.

Since Barack Obama entered office, the world's view of the United States has 'improved sharply,' according to a poll carried out by the BBC World Service.

Nearly 30,000 people in 28 countries were asked to rate countries on their positive impact upon the world. This year 46% of the respondents rated the US's influence as positive - the first time since 2005 that the survey returned more positive votes than negative for America. [Reference]

WTF-19

47 nations rise to Obama’s challenge at US nuke summit and agree to four years of non-proliferation efforts.

The Nuclear Security Summit convened by President Barack Obama attracted 47 high-level participants – over 30 of them heads of state or government – who collectively agreed on several small but important steps on the path towards global safety from a “rogue” nuclear attack. This could be mounted by “non-state” sources or by a state that does not observe the rules.

"The agreement of 47 nations to specific steps to safeguard nuclear materials and technology has to be welcomed especially in averting the dangers of nuclear weapon proliferation and non-state actors acquiring them,” says Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, who presided over the 1995 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review and Extension Conference. Formerly the UN Under-Secretary General for Disarmament (1998-2003), he is President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, and Jennings Randolph Senior Visiting Scholar, U.S. Institute of Peace. [Reference]

As promised, I will come back to Foreign policy in another issue.  Please make sure to read Issue No. 008 tomorrow as I continue with WTF-20
Everyday on BLADE 7184

The Truth About Rock, Paper, Scissors

Too cute I had to share.

Crimes of the Century - No. 9 - Richard Speck

RICHARD SPECK, 1966

It sounds like a recurring nightmare: an armed male intruder breaks into a women's dorm and with a gun and a butcher's knife, binds and gags all the residents. Then one by one, he kills them cruelly and with great brutality. All of that happened in Chicago on the night of July 14, 1966, in a dormitory that housed eight nurses who worked at the South Chicago Community Hospital.

The perpetrator was Richard Speck, then 24, a drifter born in Illinois, raised in Texas, wandering from petty crime to petty crime and bar to bar. At the age of 19, he had the words "Born to Raise Hell" tattooed on his arm. His victims were all eulogized as saints, people who had committed their lives to helping others. He would be positively identified by one of his intended targets, Corazon Amurao, who survived the attack by hiding under a bed. Speck knew there were eight women in the dorm; he did not know that a friend was also staying over that night. So Amurao survived as the guest was led to slaughter.

The jury found Speck guilty after a mere 49 minutes of deliberation and he was sentenced to the electric chair. In 1972, however, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the death sentence unconstitutional. Resentenced to hundreds of years in prison, Speck died in 1991. No one claimed his body, which was cremated and the ashes scattered to the wind. 

***

Visit my blog every Saturday as a new crime will be posted each week.

*** 

Go back and read the previous 7 crimes here.

You can actually watch a great A&E Biography on this monstrous man after the jump.

Baby Sleeping Positions You Know Are True

This blog is for those parents who find themselves in these positions day in and day out, for those parents who can reflect on these positions, and for those "parents to be" - this is what you can expect. LOL.  

I especially love the "snow angels" and "I'm not speaking to you" baby positions. LMAO.

Must Watch: Love Has No Boundaries When It Comes To Our Soldiers

If this video doesn't move you to tears you're not human.  Seriously.  It doesn't matter if you're gay or straight, this video shows the true measure of a man.  Compassion, heart, and love for the human soul.  I posted this video on Facebook two years ago, and for the life of me couldn't remember who sang it.  But due to Facebook's new Timeline features, I was able to find it.  And since my blog readers haven't seen it I'm posting it as a treasured memory forever.

Before Don't Ask Don't Tell was abolished a surviving partner may or may not have been notified of the death of their loved one,  may or may not have been allowed to claim the body, attend the military burial and definitely would NOT receive the survivor's benefits.  Furthermore, the surviving partner could lose their home, their property, depending on their state.  The soldier's family could even petition in court for half of all property and holdings. And this is still going on, because DADT only allows you not to lie or keep it a secret that you're gay.

The song titled, "Lover" tells a story very rarely told: of the loss endured by partners of gay servicemembers who are killed in battle.

The video features the artist, Tom Goss as the bereaved partner of an army soldier (Washinton DC actor Ben Horen) killed while on duty in Afghanistan. Among those playing medics who come to the aid of the wounded soldier are several former servicemembers who were discharged under the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy: Mike Almy, David Hall, and Danny Hernandez, all of whom are active members of SLDN. Keith Bryant stars as a fellow soldier.

OMG Hilarious! - Cinderella

Quoted - Liam Gallagher of Oasis on Downloading Music

"Download is the same as I did: I used to tape-record the songs, the successes that I liked on the radio. I do not care. I hate seeing all these rockstars complaining. At least they are downloading your music fucking idiot, and they are paying attention to you. Do you know? You should appreciate that. What are you complaining? You have five huge houses, so just shut up" 

- Singer, Songwriter, and former frontman to the group Oasis, Liam Gallagher on the negativity surrounding music sharing and dowloading.

It's Purely Animal - Issue No. 45 - The Ant Hurricane

Not sure if you've seen the viral YouTube video of ants forming some sort of "hurricane-type" circle on land.  They aimlessly go round and round following each other. It's pretty darn weird, but cool nonetheless. It's garnered nearly 2 million views thus far.

Well... you're probably wondering why these little guys are doing that?

The Discovery channel tries to explain it for you after the jump...

College Facts

The real truth about college life...

If you're an alumni, currently attending, or about to go to college, here's some fun facts sure to make you laugh, smile, or worried... LOL.

I'd have to agree with number 20, it's so true.

Three's Company Reunion With Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt - 30 Years in the Making

I'm not sure how many of you remember the sitcom, "Three's Company".  It was a sitcom that aired between 1977 and 1984 on ABC.  I remember it so well, because I was a young lad at the time, and my parents loved watching the show, well... more-so my dad.  My mom never liked Chrissy Snow, played by Suzanne Somers - she was the ditzy blonde one of the roommates.  My mom always thought she was kinda slutty - remember I lived in a strict, Christian home.

In either case, the show was about three single roommates living together in an apartment.  Their names were Janet Wood (Joyce De Witt), Jack Tripper (John Ritter), and the aforementioned Chrissy Snow.  The apartment was owned by a Mr. and Mrs. Roper.  As the show progressed, Chrissy left to care for her ailing mother, while her cousin Jenny moved in, who was later replaced by Terri in the final two seasons of the show.  Around that same time the Ropers had also moved out, and Mr. Furley moved in as the new owner of the apartment complex.

The show was absolutely hilarious, I loved it.  It is up there with The Jeffersons - another one of my all time favorites.  The characters in the series dealt with various issues, along with their humorous take on life.  From their constant bickering, social lives and unable to pay the rent on time, the show was made for laughter, and there was plenty of it.

The reason for my blog today, is because a couple of days ago two of the original characters from the show, Janet Wood and Chrissy Snow, (Joyce DeWitt and Suzanne Somers), reunited for the first time in 30 years.  That's right, the show and it's characters became major hollywood Gossip back in the mid-80s and it went on through the years with each of them going back and forth telling lies.  Pretty much what happened was, it was time for re-negotiations and we all know what happens there.  Somers wanted a salary increase from $30,000 to $150,000 per episode, plus 10% of the profits, and they wouldn't give it to her.  Eventually there was a compromise where her final season with the show was taped separately from the other cast members.  No one wanted anything to do with her, because of the bad publicity she had caused.  Her contract was not renewed, and hence came in Cindy Snow played by Jenilee Harrison.  You can read more about it here.

Well, fast forward 30 years to Wednesday, February 2, 2012, on Susanne's web series, Breaking Through and you have a reunion of epic proportions.  Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt reunite to talk about their history with Three's Company, and each other.  It really is heartwarming knowing these two made up after all these years.  Part 2 covers the loss of John Ritter who played Jack on the show, which is also nice watch and listen to.  You can catch both, Part 2 and 3, after the after the jump.

 

On part two of the Three's Company Reunion, Suzanne Somers and Joyce DeWitt fondly remember their former costar John Ritter. The women also share the stories of their final moments with John. You can view this after the jump...