Montana

Facebook Friends With Chelsea Clinton

Paramendra and Chelsea Clinton are now friends.10:58am

In The News

Analysis: Google App Engine alluring, will be hard to escape Ars Technica Aimed almost squarely at the loosely-coupled Amazon Web Services, Google is betting that developers and startups will opt to host their applications in Google's cloud, taking advantage of Google APIs, and leveraging the nearly unlimited processing power and storage capacity of Google's servers. ..... it allows you, the developer, to begin coding without having to worry about all the nitty-gritty issues involved with hosting, buying expensive hardware, and scaling your code. ..... Amazon's more open-ended EC2 service

Officials extinguish Olympic flame amid heavy protests in Paris CBC.ca
India joins queue for Africa's resources Guardian
Tibetan leaders struggle to speak for split populace Christian Science Monitor In the past 20 years, the Dalai Lama has transformed the Tibetan government in exile from the semitheocracy he brought from Tibet to a relatively independent democracy. In doing so, he has invested it with more responsibility. ....... 80 schools and 40 refugee settlements across South Asia .... 110,000 Tibetan refugees worldwide ...... more than 140 Tibetans have been killed in the crackdown. ....... embassy-like missions in 13 cities from New York to London to Tokyo ...... "He always says, 'You should work as though there is no Dalai Lama' " ...... 43-member parliament, which are held every five years in the subcontinent, Europe, and North America.
Barack Obama Opens Campaign Headquarters In Lexington WYMT
Clinton's Mark Penn Problem TIME Burson-Marsteller, one of the largest firms in the world of public relations ...... Penn's private blog for his Burson-Marsteller colleagues
Help for Sex-Starved Wives a desire gap ..... one out of every three couples experiences this difficulty ...... the kinds of hills and valleys that all couples go through, even when they have a really healthy sex life ..... what becomes the main issue in their relationship. ...... the person with the higher desire just lives their life in lonely misery ..... Low desire in men has got to be America's best-kept secret. ...... the vast majority of men who experienced low sexual desire were completely unwilling to talk with their wives, go to a doctor or go to a therapist ..... it is very, very common for people to be mismatched in their sexual desire ...... the person with the lower sex drive controls the sexual relationship ...... they have veto power. .... biological, emotional or relationship-oriented ....... most antidepressants dampen desire and the ability to be aroused. A cardiovascular disease of any sort is a problem too ........ depression is rampant ...... if he has a childhood history of sexual abuse, or if he grew up in a dysfunctional family and has low self-esteem ....... underlying, unresolved relationship problems ...... wives are critical or nagging ....... criticism and nagging are not aphrodisiacs. So, many men just go into a cave. ...... she has totally let herself go. She doesn't eat well. She doesn't exercise. All she ever wears is sweatpants ....... attraction is a very basic, animalistic thing ..... Men are more visually oriented ...... anyone wanting a more robust sex life can have it. It's never too late to have a great sex life.

Situation unfavourable for polls in five districts: NEMA NepalNews Dhankuta, Dhanusha, Dhading, Jumla and Kalikot ..... out of 290 incidents of code of conduct violations recorded over the last two weeks, Maoist have their involvement in all except for one in Doti

Violence-hit Nepal ups security ahead of polls AFP
The Life of a Polygamous Woman ABC News largest child abuse case in the nation's history ..... some wonder how and why women in the cloistered community led by the jailed polygamist leader Warren Jeffs were silent for so long. .... The women spend much of their days caring for children on the compound's 1,700 acres. The women till gardens, quilt and often were forced to marry while still in their teens. ..... it's the power of persuasion and control that keeps the women captive. ...... Women wear hand-sewn garments, their extremely long hair pinned up in braids, and don ankle-length dresses, as if from another century. ....... He allowed no television, radio or Internet access. Even laughter was forbidden. ....... he did allow iPods, which people could use to listen to hours of his sermons, and his control extended beyond what people could read, see and wear. He also controlled who married whom and, he claimed, who got to go to heaven. ........ You don't do anything except do what you're told ...... many women remain loyal to Jeffs ...... "I have a right to worship any damn thing I want; wear any damn clothes I want," said one female follower.
ANALYSIS: Asian giants India, China prepare to compete in Africa Monsters and Critics.com
Iraqi cleric cancels plans for massive protest march Los Angeles Times Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr abruptly canceled plans for a massive anti-government and anti-U.S. march on Wednesday after accusing security forces of blocking followers from reaching the capital.
Why The Clintons Held Onto Mark Penn CBS News
Clinton Punches, Obama Bowls, and McCain Reminisces Media Channel
Obama to Question Petraeus This Afternoon CBS News
Obama visited Pakistan as a college student Thaindian.com
Strategist's behaviour may rob Clinton of weapon against Obama Globe and Mail

Clinton campaign wobbles after top strategist quits AFP Penn's departure had been rumored as early as January, when Clinton lost the leadoff nominating contest in Iowa to Obama, in what has evolved into a furious confrontation for the nomination. ..... But Clinton's win in New Hampshire a few days later staved off a shakeup and left internal rivalries simmering
Obama Raises Cash, Clinton Shakes Up Staff KCBS Obama raised more than $1 million at four private fundraisers
Clinton: ‘The Boys’ Made Me Tough New York Times all those years fighting off the “boys” that gives her the strength to resist calls to drop out ..... “Well, I have not bowled since I left the White House,” Mrs. Clinton said. ..... She didn’t fare much better than Mr. Obama. Her first try was a gutter ball. On the second try, she knocked down a lone pin.
Campaign to highlight Clinton's humanity after Penn's departure Guardian, UK clashes over his outside work for other clients - notably the government of Colombia, screaming matches with senior campaign staff, and withering criticism of his strategy. ...... Clinton would gradually try to shift the focus from experience and readiness to lead - Penn's vision for her candidacy - towards highlighting her more human side. ...... Penn would continue to provide polling for Clinton. ........ Penn's latest blunder had merely been a pretext to end a relationship that was no longer benefiting the Clintons. ...... Penn has earned $13 million for his work for the Clinton campaign - while maintaining his corporate jobs. ...... Garin describe him as a solid, data-driven strategist with a command of intricate polling data. ...... a more personable character than Penn, and is less likely to be a part of publicly aired infighting
Dean: Clinton or Obama Will Be Firm Leader for Nomination by July U.S. News & World Report, DC Once the Democratic primaries conclude in early June, the superdelegates will make their final decisions and put either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama on a clear path to the party's presidential nomination, says Howard Dean ....... he expects the unpledged delegates to clarify their positions by July 1 ...... will make the national convention in Denver much less contentious than is now feared. ..... Florida and Michigan ..... seat the delegates in some way ..... Puerto Rico, Montana, and South Dakota in early June .... the long fight for the Democratic nomination has been good for the party because it has generated intense excitement and drawn hundreds of thousands of new voters to the party ....... he liked an extended primary season because it allows candidates to build excitement, recruit supporters, and show their mettle over a long time. ....... the Texas Democratic Party has had a "rebirth"
Poll: Obama widening lead over Clinton Kansas City Star
Gallup Daily: Obama Moves to 9-point Lead Over Clinton Gallup Poll News









Tibetan Buddhism's next leader? International Herald Tribune In a thriller that is already a legend among Buddhists, the Karmapa and two fellow monks drove in secret from Tsurphu Monastery, north of Lhasa, to the remote and rugged border of Mustang, a former Buddhist kingdom now part of Nepal. From there he and his companions made a dash by horseback to the nearest Nepali airport, from which they were able to fly unnoticed via Katmandu to Delhi. The Karmapa, born Ogyen Trinley Dorji, arrived unannounced in Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama's base, in January 2000, and has remained under the watchful eye of the Tibetan leader since. ...... The Karmapa's American followers would like to have him establish his base in the United States, making him the first Asian religious leader of that magnitude to live in the West. ..... the wise older man and the vigorous young lama



McCain Calls Plans to Withdraw From Iraq, ‘Reckless’ New York Times
McCain rebukes Democrats' views on Iraq withdrawal Los Angeles Times
McCain says Iraq approaching normalcy MSNBC
Protest Disrupts Torch Relay in Paris New York Times
Olympic torch relay again met with protests Sports Network

Princess Diana unlawfully killed BBC News the "gross negligence" of driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi ...... Mr Paul's drink-driving and a lack of seatbelts contributed to their deaths. ....... unlawful killing through grossly negligent driving - or gross negligence manslaughter...... The total cost to British taxpayers of investigating Princess Diana's death is expected to top £10 million. ....... "For 10 years I have endured two police investigations. The French and the Scotland Yard inquiries were wrong. These inquests prove it. They said it was an accident and their findings are now dismissed." ........ there is no conspiracy



Hillary Clinton strategist quits amid Colombia trade flap Reuters
Top Clinton Aide Leaving His Post Under Pressure New York Times
Hillary's chief strategist is ousted Newsday
Penn Out As Clinton Senior Strategist The Associated Press
Campaign Memo Up Close, Montana Compares Clinton and Obama New York Times
Obama's trip out West MSNBC

Can Ed Rendell Deliver for Clinton? Time "I am the best messenger to Philadelphia and Pennsylvania about the 1990s," Rendell boasts. "What part of the 1990s didn't you like—the peace or the prosperity?" ...... "It's stunning. Does Keith Olbermann get checks from the Obama campaign?" ..... grew up on Manhattan's Upper West Side ..... "I like Barack," he says. "If he's the nominee, we'll bust a hump for him."
Being American — and Muslim Wearing the hijab is first and foremost an act of worship and obedience ...... In Saudi Arabia, there was easy access to mosques — almost every street or neighborhood had one. While out shopping, I didn't have to plan around prayer times: shops closed at each prayer, and we would simply walk over to the closest mosque, pray, then resume our shopping. It's different in America. ...... I have a husband who can't understand how I spend so much time at the mall; I have big dreams for work; I play sports; I love to run. ..... Shireen Khan is a producer for Time.com

Texas removes 183 women and girls from sect ranch Reuters
Zimbabwe Opposition Reluctant on Runoff The Associated Press
Rival Resists Zimbabwe Runoff, Saying He Won New York Times
135000 police on the streets as Nepal waits for vote that could ... Scotsman
Roles Collide: Adviser To Clinton Campaign Loses Job for His Firm Washington Post The two roles collided last week when Penn met with Colombian officials to discuss a pending trade agreement
In Tibetan Monasteries, the Heavy Hand of the Party Washington Post After widespread protests swept the Tibetan plateau last month, Chinese leaders responded with a combination of arrests, interrogations and vigorous education campaigns. ....... For Tibetan Buddhists, the education campaigns undermine their core beliefs and are a hated humiliation. For the Chinese, the campaigns boil down to a simple loyalty oath. ...... the two years since tough-talking Zhang Qingli took over as party secretary for the Tibet Autonomous Region ...... China liberated Tibet from oppressive feudalism in the 1950s ..... officials insisted the only problem in Tibet was that a small group of "splittists" had incited people to riot and that the monks needed more education. ....... The campaigns intensified in 1995 after China named its own Panchen Lama, the second-most-revered figure in Tibetan Buddhism, and the Panchen Lama recognized by the Dalai Lama disappeared. ...... so many monks have fled in the past five decades that there are no more senior monks living in Tibet itself. That makes it nearly impossible to pass on core Buddhist teachings and provides little buffer between Chinese government officials who control the monasteries and the increasingly restive young monks attempting to study there.
Crushing New Poll For Clinton: Obama Leads By 23 In NC 411mania.com After days of Pennsylvania polls showed Hillary Clinton crumbling in the state .... just one month ago, Rasmussen's NC poll had Clinton not far behind in the state, trailing by 7%, 47% to 40%. .... The huge drop also gives more credibility to her huge drops in PA. ..... Obama leads 86% to 9% among black voters while Clinton is holding on to a slight lead among whites, 47% to 38%. A month ago, Clinton led by 20 points among whites. ...... Obama is flooding states with ads which he can afford because of the massive amounts of money he's raising .... she is basically out of money ..... The end is near.
Casey’s backing may be Obama’s key to win Lebanon Daily News It positions the junior senator against virtually the entire Democratic political establishment in the state — while it pits him even in his home town of Scranton against Hillary Clinton, the “hometown girl.” .... Casey, who won his Senate seat with almost 60 percent of the vote .... Casey, who will travel to many campaign stops with Obama and help him navigate through the often-byzantine world of state politics ... Of the state’s 29 supers, Casey becomes only the fourth to side with Obama.
Clinton Ramps Up Call to Count Fla, Mich The Associated Press
No Re-Vote in Michigan a Blow to Clinton Washington Post

In Anticipation

Darfur Solution: End The Dictatorship In Sudan

Darfur has been presented as a mystery problem for a long time now in the west. There is this huge humanitarian crisis, and noone seems to know how to fix it. Movie stars pay visits, and still nothing changes.

Spread Democracy

There is a major problem in Darfur, but it is not a mystery problem. We know how to fix it. We can fix it. At the risk of sounding like Republicans who think tax cuts are the solution to every problem, I would like to suggest democracy is the solution in Darfur like everywhere else.

Spread Democracy

There is a school of thought that says people make bad choices like violence. You can push that only so far. I happen to push that it is lack of infrastructure that gives rise to violence: political, social, economic infrastructure.

Spread Democracy

Some say it is lack of resources, perhaps lack of water. There is a little bit of truth to that. But lack of resources should lead to competition or migration, not violence. When there is no political, social, economic infrastructure for competition and migration, you do end up with violence.

Spread Democracy

You can blame one guy for the tragedy in Darfur.

Politics of Sudan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sudan, Politics Timeline, 21st Century
Sudan: Political situation
Wikipedia - Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir
Omar Hassan al-Bashir - The TIME 100 - TIME
Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashier Biography - Sudan
BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Country profiles | Country ...
Omar El Bashir order re-opening of Popular Defence Training Camps
VIDEO : Interview with Omar Hassan al Bashir
War in Darfur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Darfur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Save Darfur
Darfur: A Genocide We can Stop
BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Q&A: Sudan's Darfur conflict
Eyes On Darfur
The Real Roots of Darfur




In The News

UN Chief: Darfur Violence Continues, Despite UN Efforts Voice of America
Darfur violence may be worse, despite UN efforts Reuters South Africa
UN Chief Urges Action on Darfur The Associated Press
UN chief says political process crucial to end Darfur crisis Sudan Tribune
Sudan: Darfur Groups Urge World Leaders Not To Attend Olympic ... African Path, MN
Darfur activists urge leaders to skip ceremony Reuters South Africa
Darfur Group Adds Olympics Boycott Call New York Sun
Farrow Going to Darfur for China Protest The Associated Press
UN Agency Appeals For $40 Million In Darfur Refugee Aid Allheadlines
"Turn It Up": Fight Against Darfur Genocide ACED Magazine, FL
George Clooney Mugged At Gunpoint In Darfur CBS 5, CA
Kristof: Don't get apathetic about Darfur The Brown Daily Herald, RI
Why China's Olympics is Good for Tibet, Darfur, and Puppies and ... Huffington Post, NY

Obama Visits Montana CBS News, USA

We Got The Mo, We Will Win

By the time the last primary/caucus is held, Hillary has to be out of the race.

1. Barack needs a full summer to campaign against McCain who we have to decimate, annihilate in November.
   
2. Barack needs a full summer to give us a 60 strong US Senate.
   
3. Barack needs a full summer with running mate Hillary.
   

How do you get Hillary out?

1. Spend the money. The primaries will be won through TV ads, and there money talks. Already we are giving Hillary a good chase in PA. I think we could win in PA if we do more of it.
   
2. Don't take any remaining state for granted.
   
3. Publicly keep urging the superdelegates to cast their preferences, one way or the other, now. Before the last primary/caucus, all of them must have come out of the closet. These are professionals, they must know by now which horse to pick. You pick the one with the most votes, the most delegates, the most states, the most money, the most volunteers, the most donors.

Summer

1. Pick Hillary immediately.
   
2. Bring in a million people for a summer rally in Central Park.
   

In The News

Mugabe Faces an Uphill Battle in Presidential Runoff (Update2) Bloomberg
The Comedy of Horrors: Obama vs. Clinton The Lincoln Tribune
Political Perceptions: Obama, Overflowing with Glamor Wall Street Journal Blogs
Weekend fix for poll junkies: Obama gains in Gallup, Rasmussen USA Today
Bill Clinton Earned $15.4 Million From Burkle Firm Since 2003 Bloomberg
Three bomb blasts erupt in Nepal's capital USA Today
Nepal ramps up security ahead of key polls AFP Nepal's government began air patrols on Saturday and deployed thousands of police nationwide ahead of key polls planned for next week that will likely abolish the world's last Hindu monarchy. ...... between seven to 25 police stationed at close to 21,000 voting centres ..... "The main challenge on the security front is 'booth capturing' and scaring voters into not turning up" ...... alcohol has been banned from Monday, along with carrying "swords, knife, sticks and batons ....... The lowland districts bordering India have seen sporadic outbreaks of deadly ethnic unrest over the past year, and observers have expressed fears that some of the worst election day violence could take place there.
John McCain regrets now opposing Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Los Angeles Times
McCain Gives Unvarnished View of His Past Wall Street Journal McCain, who has said he will compete for African-American votes ..... He began Monday in Meridian, Miss., near the Navy's McCain Field, named for his grandfather, and devoted most of the subsequent days to discussing his own past. ...... In Annapolis, Md., amid frigid weather and a nonfunctioning TelePrompTer, he skipped a full page of text. ...... he spoke of his poor academic record and demerits for misbehavior. He talked about unauthorized "nocturnal sojourns" off campus and "other petty acts of insubordination." He spoke of a youth spent drinking, dating and generally having a good time. ...... "I knew Fred real well," he said reading one plaque. "He was behind me at the Naval Academy," he said passing another. ..... "What did you do with the officers' club?" he asked a local official. "That's the most important thing!" he said, laughing. It was eradicated, he was told. "Oh no!" McCain replied.
Man lynched for stealing books in Bihar Thaindian.com
India: The Olympic Torch and Tibet Global Voices Online
Police Fire on Tibetan Protesters; 8 Die The Associated Press
IRAQ: Maliki vs Sadr, round 5 Los Angeles Times
The Dems, Now Dancing to His Tune Washington Post
WiMax is suffering from 'growing pains': Intel ZDNet Asia
Microsoft Said to Be Standing Pat on Yahoo New York Times “Since the offer was made, the market has deteriorated and there are numerous indications that Yahoo’s business has declined.”
Lines Drawn for Microsoft and Yahoo, and Neither Is Ceding Ground
What’s Online: At Last, Buffett’s Key to Success is patient and does his research — like most female investors ...... women trade much less often than men, do a lot more research and tend to base their investment decisions on considerations other than just numbers. ...... Men tend to be “frazzled, frenetic day traders, with their ties askew, hair on end and eyes bleary,” she writes. “Patience and good decision-making help set women apart here.” ....... As a result, women’s portfolios on average gain 1.4 percent more than men’s ..... Single women’s portfolios do 2.3 percent better than single men’s. ..... Just like Mr. Buffett, women “typically look beyond the shiniest, newest bio-techno-gadget and focus instead on retailers meeting their needs, on products that they can’t live without, and on consumer goods they buy in their day-to-day lives”
Mobile Phone Industry Takes Aim at the iPhone packing phones with multimedia and Web features. ....... 3.2-megapixel camera ..... high-speed network, includes a navigation function and eight gigabytes of memory, and has Internet radio and easy access to multimedia Web sites like YouTube and Flickr ...... more phones in the coming months were likely to combine touch screens with a keypad or slide-out keyboard
Report: Beyonce and Jay-Z Married on Friday Washington Post in New York ....... Jay wanted it to be a really private affair -- close friends and family. ...... the rapper's TriBeCa apartment ....... friend Gwyneth Paltrow ..... the roof of the building, where a white tent was erected. ..... the couple, who have been dating for several years ..... Gossip blogger Perez Hilton fanned the flames when he reported the wedding would take place Friday, then followed up by posting the address of Jay-Z's apartment as the location. ....... Jay-Z, 37 ..... Beyonce, 26 ..... onetime street hustler from Brooklyn
Verizon reveals plans for airwaves Los Angeles Times faster wireless Internet service by 2010. ..... new rules that forced the winning company to allow consumers to use any device or application on those airwaves. ..... Verizon Wireless has pledged to let customers use any device or software program on its entire network by the end of the year. ..... Having met its primary goal for the auction, Google never submitted another bid ..... the FCC's complex online auction appealed to the geeky side of the company's founders ...... "Larry and Sergey really dove into understanding the details of the auction" ..... "They wanted to be the one that pressed the button"

52 Girls Are Taken From Mormon Sect’s Ranch in Texas New York Times The compound is in Eldorado, roughly 160 miles northwest of San Antonio. ..... The breakaway group continued to teach that a man must have three wives to reach heaven’s highest realms.
In Nepal, a monarchy makes way for democracy Malaysia Star the king at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz, driving himself and his queen through the crowded streets of Katmandu. ....... Gyanendra's 269-year-old Shah dynasty has reached the end of the line. ...... His US$3.1 million (euro2 million) annual allowance and 10 of the family's palaces were taken away, as were the queen's beauticians and about half his ceremonial guard. ...... a hardheaded businessman with interests in tourism, tea and tobacco. ..... "I know the king certainly believes that he will still be the king next year, and the year after,'' Thapa said. "Maybe he knows something we don't.''
Clinton, Obama visits have Montana Democrats in a festive mood The Missoulian
Obama, Clinton Return to ND The Associated Press

Clintons report $109 million in income over 8 years MarketWatch The Clintons listed $10.25 million in charitable contributions over those eight years. ..... the former president earned more than $10 million in speeches in 2007. He also earned $4.4 million in book income in 2007. ....... the couple have now made 30 years of tax returns public, "a record matched by few people in public service."
Mugabe unleashes thugs in Harare in final bid to stay in power Times Online
Chinese police open fire on protesters United Press International
Polls: Obama Leads Clinton Nationally, Closing Gap in Pennsylvania Trailwatch Pennsylvania polls, where Barack Obama has dramatically narrowed Hillary Clinton’s lead ..... Clinton has averaged 48%, and Obama has averaged 41.4%.
Chelsea Clinton coming to Purdue Monday Journal and Courier
Why China's Olympics is Good for Tibet, Darfur, and Puppies and ... Huffington Post
Sprint Delays Commercial Launch of WiMAX Sci-Tech Today
Jaya accuses Mayawati of targeting Amitabh for cheap publicity Hindustan Times
Amitabh, Shatrughan reunite Rediff
Windows 7, Successor To Vista, May Ship Next Year InformationWeek If Microsoft is moving up the release date for Windows 7, it may be because Vista has received only a lukewarm embrace from home and business computer users. Many have complained about Vista's hefty resource requirements and lack of compatibility with their existing applications.





Despite $20 million haul, signs of trouble emerge for Clinton The Hill the stream of money flowing to the former first lady is slowing significantly ..... While her fundraising numbers would be record-shattering in any other cycle ..... an opponent who appears to have near unlimited resources to counter any attack. ..... Her absence on the airwaves in key states like North Carolina and Indiana had been seen as another indication that money woes were plaguing the campaign. ..... the New York senator’s donor base might not be able to stem the Obama tide.

Carlos Odio In The Washington Post "We came in with a huge disadvantage, and we've introduced him more and more with pretty steady progress," said Carlos Odio, an Obama operative who works on Hispanic outreach in South Texas. "If we were down here for 10 months instead of one and [Obama] could make multiple visits, I'm sure we'd do very, very well. But it just came down to a matter of time and familiarity, and I'm not sure if people got to know him well enough."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/04/AR2008030402755.html



New signs of Mugabe crackdown in Zimbabwe International Herald Tribune
Obama’s Support Softens a Bit, Poll Shows New York Times
India Tiptoes in China’s Footsteps to Compete but Not Offend New York Times
In Iraq, Maliki warns of more offensives Los Angeles Times
Poll shows tight state primary race between Clinton, Obama Indianapolis Star
Obama events bringing buzz to Indiana campaign WLFI.com
Poll: Obama, Clinton Close in US Race The Associated Press Barack Obama, 46 percent Hillary Rodham Clinton, 43 percent
McCain outlines problems to be fixed as Obama gets Carter lift The Herald
Clinton Campaign Backpedals on Richardson Comments CBS News
Clinton to Leno: Bill “Does Get A Little Carried Away Sometimes” CBS News

A Flush Obama Campaign Pulls Out All the Stops Washington Post A whole lot of airtime and office space. ...... Two Obama television ads are airing around the state ..... The Obama campaign's latest gimmick: a high school-outreach program that targets students who will turn 18 by the Nov. 4 general election, making them eligible as primary voters. Indiana students who register at least 20 of their peers by April 6 will be eligible to play three-on-three basketball with Obama, a big-time hoops fan and reputed aggressor on the court.

Jay-Z: Music's $150 Million Man Time "I've turned into the Rolling Stones of hip hop." ..... Madonna announced a 10 year, roughly $120 million deal in 2007, while U2 revealed a 12 year touring and merchandising partnership earlier this week. .... the concert industry is booming. Last year revenues were up 8% to $3.9 billion ...... With top grossing pop (Madonna), rock (U2) and rap (Jay-Z) acts in its stable, the company certainly won't be short on inventory.








Zimbabwe Opposition Offices Raided The Associated Press
Mugabe Party Seems Poised to Fight for Presidency New York Times
Will Mugabe go out like a lion or a lamb? Christian Science Monitor
Dalai Lama Envoy Says Tibet Is Grim The Associated Press
ELECTION NOTEBOOK Clinton: Obama outspending us 4-1 in Pennsylvania MarketWatch
The writing on Clinton's wall Guardian
Obama Catches Clinton in Support From Superdelegate Lawmakers Bloomberg has pulled even with Barack ObamaHillary Clinton in endorsements from top elected officials
Barack Obama: Clinton Slayer Huffington Post
Clinton, Obama Use Different Tactics To Court Superdelegates CBS News Al Gore even joked that he was getting so many call from both sides that in order to do his "60 Minutes" interview with Leslie Stahl, he had to disconnect his phones.
Chelsea Clinton plans three Mountain State stops to stump for mom Daily Mail - Charleston

Michelle Is Back, I Missed Michelle

Just look at her. She is better than Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain put together. Where has she been? This woman gave us Iowa. You can't really give credit to any one person, but if you had to, you would have to give it to her. If we had lost Iowa, we would have been toast. We needed Iowa. And she gave it to us. Woman, are you something or are you something?

Months before the victory she spoke truth to power, the powerful hired hands who ran Obama 2008. She said if we don't win Iowa, we might as well pack up and go home, and she was right. But suddenly the response was, this non-political wife just threw the bus into the ditch. She does not understand the expectations game. (I Stand With Michelle: Iowa Must And Can Be Won)

When I met her in summer 2007 at a Harlem event, I cut a deal. You give us Iowa, we will give you New York City. I meant it. (Michelle Obama Is Just Fabulous) She delivered, I did not. Where I made my mistake was I did not realize half of New York City can't even vote. (My Third World People Don't Get To Vote In This City) But Barack almost took Brooklyn, and he did take the district I live in. Well, Michelle, at least the next Mayor of New York City is going to be a black dude. Sorry for running two years behind schedule.

Barack is contemplative, Michelle is gutsy. It is not like Barack is not strong, but Michelle plain oozes strength. We need her every step of the way. Barack can't pull this thing alone. All his volunteers minus Michelle can't do it either. Michelle is needed.

Another Speech On Race Will Bring Victory In PA



Solution For Florida And Michigan

1. Wait until either Barack or Hillary get 2024, or one drops out.
   
2. Then divide the FL and MI delegates 50-50 between the two and seat them.
   

I can't imagine their not getting seated at the convention.



In The News

Life on the Edge: Learning from Facebook BusinessWeek Facebook now brings together 66 million online users ..... users 35 years old and older account for more than half of Facebook's daily visitors and are the network's most rapidly growing demographic ..... 150,000 active developers, who are now generating more than 20,000 applications. ...... that holy grail—"virality." ..... Applications take off and spread like a flu epidemic ...... "Many crummy trials beat deep thinking." ..... satisfies profound social needs to connect .... social interaction often precedes economic activity
Google: What Goes Up_ finally discovering gravity. First, the company missed Wall Street revenue forecasts in the fourth quarter for the first time ..... stock price has plunged 38% from its all-time peak, an intraday high of $747.24 last November .... "Everyone's scared." ..... the world's most enchanted corporation ..... some key people are leaving for new, potentially more lucrative opportunities. ....... the top sales vice-president who departed last month to become chief operating officer at Facebook ........ Google's seemingly scattershot attempts to find new avenues of growth in everything from online video ads to office software to wireless communications so far haven't produced much revenue. ...... a unique, just-do-it culture that helped it get this far this fast. ...... The company provides no guidance to financial analysts. ...... Its very success has created a company so big that some veterans are now feeling restless. ...... the enchanted corporation may need to search for new ways to maintain the magic.
There Is No Gas Shortage Gasoline reserves on hand are at the highest levels since the early 1990s ...... In January of this year, the U.S. used 4% less petroleum than we did a year ago. (Oil demand was down 3.2% in February.) Furthermore, demand has been falling slowly since July of last year. Ronald Bailey of Reason Online has pointed out that worldwide production of oil has risen 2.5% in the first quarter, while worldwide demand has grown by only 2%. ........ "The record run in oil prices is related more to speculation and a weakening dollar than supply and demand in the market." He added, "In terms of fundamentals, fear of supply reliability is overblown." ...... The dollar has depreciated 30% against the world's currencies since 2002, while the price of oil has gone up 500%. ..... in 2000 approximately $9 billion was invested in oil futures, while today that number has gone up to $250 billion ..... why protect the personal assets of those who were responsible for the mess ...... a free-for-all marketplace with no regulations at all, which lately these "bubble boys" have sent south for all of us. .... Washington missed the obvious: Protect all U.S. consumers and you're also protecting business expansion.
India's Videocon Wants Motorola Phone Biz Venugopal Dhoot, Videocon's 54-year-old chairman, is among India's most ambitious businessmen. Along with his two brothers and their families, Dhoot controls 71% of Mumbai-based Videocon. The Dhoots shot into the limelight in 2005 as the buyers of the picture-tube business of France's Thomson for $291 million. ..... as a typical Indian family-owned business, Videocon has a complex structure of cross-holdings across a web of private companies, with little transparency. ..... Of the 400 million handsets sold globally last year, 120 million were bought in India. ...... the news has stirred Videocon's stock, which climbed by 5%
Facetime with Barack Obama Barack Obama is arguably the most sought-after person in America—with the possible exceptions of soccer star David Beckham and Kristen, the call girl in the Eliot Spitzer scandal. ...... having added $4 trillion worth of debt .......... we should go back to probably a top marginal rate of 39%—what it was before the Bush tax cuts ..... I believe in the market. I believe in entrepreneurship. I believe in capitalism, and I want to do what works. ........ My basic approach to leadership is to hire very good people, set a clear vision for where I want the organization to go…then give people a lot of power to do their jobs and hold them accountable for doing them. .... I know how to manage a team.

How much trouble is Dell really in? CNet it wants to reduce expenses by as much as $3 billion per year over the next three years. ...... How can a company that sat atop the entire computing industry for so long become a shadow of its former self in just two years? ..... HP's growth was estimated at 30 percent in 2007, while Dell's was just 1.7 percent. ...... and suddenly people are more likely to buy a computer at their local Best Buy than ever before. ..... an environment where margins are extremely low
MySpace unveils new music service free streaming music, unprotected MP3 downloads, ringtones, and e-commerce offerings such as merchandise and ticket sales ...... The partnership with MySpace is another sign that the music industry has decided to embrace the Web and digital technology instead of waging war against it. As CD sales continue to shrink and piracy expands, the labels are moving toward the inevitable: a redefining of how they make money from music. ........ MySpace could help modernize the music industry. ...... enable fans to have a fully immersive experience ...... MySpace can offer a place where all aspects of the music experience can be expressed. ....... MySpace, if they don't mess it up, should take the music industry to Music 2.0 ...... MySpace is already one of the largest music communities on the Internet

Obama raised more than $40 million in March Reuters Clinton has significantly less money available ..... Clinton had some $10.9 million in cash left at the end of February compared with $31.6 million for Obama ..... came from some 442,000 contributors, including 218,000 first-time donors. ........ average contribution level was $96
Chelsea Clinton plans three Mountain State stops to stump for mom Daily Mail - Charleston
Donations to DCCC Spike after Clinton Threat To Pelosi Atlantic Online --- that superdelegates ought strongly consider the expressed will of voters in their states. ....... and Nancy is the best .... Nancy is a great unifying force out here and everyone loves her ..... “I I can tell you she’s been disturbed about some of the Clinton campaign’s comments and tactics the last two months, especially saying John McCain would be a better Commander in Chief” ...... she is a secret supporter of Barack Obama's, although Pelosi aides insist that she's been careful to be - and to appear to be -- neutral.

McCain Says He Has List Of About 20 Possible Running Mates U.S. News & World Report
Superdelegate says Clinton needs 'big win' in Pennsylvania Los Angeles Times
Mugabe's Party Sets Sights on Presidential Runoff Vote Voice of America
Nepal as usual kowtows to China Kantipur Online
Dalai Lama urges world community to pressure China on Tibet Monsters and Critics.com
Sen. Obama gets support from proud grandmother The News Journal
Obama Says He Would Give Gore Key Role Shaping Climate Policy Bloomberg
Clinton: “Yo, Adrian!” MSNBC Bill Clinton thought his wife's April Fool's gag yesterday was a hoot ...... his daughter's comment that she thought her mom would be a better president than her dad ..... "We read he bowled there yesterday and bowled 37; she said, 'Finally I found an athletic event that even the middle-aged lady can beat him at, I wanna play that game,'" he said..... launching into a 50-minute discussion on health care, education, the economy, and energy policy. On the latter issue, he talked about the need to invest in clean coal technology

NATO Allies Oppose Bush on Georgia and Ukraine New York Times
China briefs India again on Tibet issue Hindu
Argentina's Christina: Honeymoon Over TIME
The Second Iran-Iraq War Wall Street Journal
New era in space travel begins -- and the US is on the sidelines MinnPost.com
Obama narrows Clinton's lead in Pennsylvania poll Xinhua Clinton winning nearly 60 percent of white Democrats while Obama drawing 75 percent of black voters.

Obama Catches Clinton in Support From Superdelegate Lawmakers Bloomberg with a surge in support from congressional freshmen and governors from Republican-dominated states. ...... endorsed by 16 U.S. House freshmen to Clinton's 6, and 40 percent of his congressional allies are from ``red states' ........ Obama, an Illinois senator, has the support of 99 Democratic U.S. lawmakers and governors, compared with Clinton's 96 ........ Clinton has the support of 250 of the 794 superdelegates; Obama has 220

The Obama Doctrine Wall Street Journal The strike force Mr. Obama envisioned would be in the region, not in Iraq.