Justice Felix Frankfurter once observed that it is neither law, religious creed nor ideology that holds America together; it is, rather, a “binding tie of cohesive sentiment.” As a Jew, Frankfurter understood that while “sentiment” was not the most stately concept it had its clear advantages. For, while not totally immune to abuses of power, sentiment is far more resistant than law, theology or ideology. A tyrannical government might condemn today’s saint as tomorrow’s heretic, but it cannot remove feelings of solidarity and empathy from the hearts and minds of those who see him as one of their own. Not only, however, was Justice Frankfurter a Jew, he was an immigrant. And this too surely helped him see the importance of “cohesive sentiment,” even over such lofty concepts as law, equality or democracy.

Muslims too should now be learning about the importance of sentiment. Recently, Chicago attorney Mazen Asbahi was forced to retire as Barack Obama’s Muslim-Outreach advisor, after it was learned that in 2000 he briefly served on the board of an Islamic investment fund with an allegedly “fundamentalist” Imam who was recently named an un-indicted co-conspirator in a case against alleged Hamas fund-raisers. Of course, everyone understood the game that was being played here: Obama’s outreach to Muslim-Americans was about to be contorted into an exercise of aiding and abetting Muslim terrorists! In order to preempt this unfounded insinuation, Mr. Asbahi felt obliged to resign, in order, in his words, “to avoid distracting from Barack Obama’s message of change.”

Most Muslim observers have decried this fiasco as a blatant case of “guilt by association.” I think the matter goes deeper. After all, the so-called “fundamentalist” Imam with whom Asbahi was alleged to have ties was found guilty of no wrong-doing. With what guilt, then, was Asbahi supposed to be associated? Rather than any wrong-doing, Asbahi was simply being associated with being a Muslim, the same ‘charge’ with which some have tried to ‘smear’ Senator Obama. Parties aiming to exclude Muslims from the American political process simply found a way to strip Asbahi’s religious affiliation of all innocence, thereby inviting non-Muslim Americans to give full vent to their anti-Muslim phobia, under the cover of a would-be justification.

The real story in all of this, however, is that this tactic worked. And here we return to Justice Frankfurter’s point about sentiment. Muslim-Americans are vulnerable to the attacks of their detractors because they are not sufficiently bound to their fellow Americans by enough “cohesive sentiment” to place a proper burden of proof on their accusers. The way to that sentiment, however, is neither through simple protest nor acts of ostensible public altruism. The way to that sentiment is through becoming a part of the American story, a story of powerful truths, lies and contradictions that have destined America to struggle, to her dying breath, to find that balance between enough remembering and enough forgetting to point her towards redemption. It is a story of America’s quest to rid herself of the vile habit of violating her own principles and creating “problem peoples” who fall outside the reach of her lofty ideals. From the founding of the republic and Thomas Jefferson’s “We hold these truths to be self-evident …,” this quest -- more than anything else – has defined us as Americans. Indeed, this is the struggle that generates the “cohesive sentiment” that binds Americans as a people.

This is why Americans are so excited about the candidacy of Barack Obama: Obama holds out a chance for redemption. Amidst this excitement, however, Americans must remain mindful of the evil of which we have proved ourselves so capable of perpetrating. Muslim-Americans, meanwhile, must come to see that American history, whether we like it or not, is now our history, and that we cannot accept the bounties of her present without sharing responsibility for her past. And we must understand the difference between being a part of American society and being a part of the American story. To be part of the American story is to strive as mightily as other Americans in pursuit of American redemption. Thus far, however, Muslims remain outside the American story, which is why, despite their positive contributions to society, they seldom enlist empathy when they are jailed, deported or discriminated against. Hopefully, however, it will not be long before Muslims come to understand this. Once they do, while guilt by association may continue, Muslims will be able to fight back. For in this they will be joined by others.

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Sherman Jackson is a Professor of Near Eastern Studies, Law and Afro-American Studies at the University of Michigan. He is also a Fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU). He is author of Islam and the Blackamerican: Looking Toward the Third Resurrection (Oxford Univ. Press 2005) and Islam and the Problem of Black Suffering (Oxford Univ. Press forthcoming)

Çizgi romanların sinemaya uyarlanması sonucunda getirdiği büyük gelirler yapımcıları bu alana itmişti.Şuan da en çok beklenen uyarlamalardan birisi olan TenTen dünyaca ünlü 2 usta tarafından sinemaya uyarlandı. Filmin ilk bölümünü Steven Spielberg yönetirken, 2. bölümü Peter Jackson tarafından çekildi.Yine söylentilere göre eğer 3. film çekilirse iki usta bu filmi ortak yönetebilirmiş. Senaryosu Steven Moffat tarafından yazılan filmin çıkış tarihi ise henüz belli değil.

Dopo diversi anni che suoni e che provi vari strumenti, passi in rassegna alcune caratteristiche che vorresti nel tuo strumento e, una volta deciso, cerchi la chitarra che abbia in se tutte quelle caratteristiche tecniche e sonore che cerchi. Io ho fatto così...

La mia prima chitarra era una Lenny Jackson imitazione di una Gibson "Diavoletto" SG: pessimo legno, due humbucker di dubbia fattura, molto pesante anche se ottima replica della chitarra originale. Da lì sono passato poi per alcune prove di Ibanez (RG e Jem) e Epiphone (Les Paul) fino a prendere una Yamaha massacrata da un amico. Con questa ho fatto confidenza con la configurazione H-S-H e ho potuto apprezzare suoni puliti derivate dalle posizioni intermedie che non conoscevo.

In seguito, dopo qualche mese di lavoretti, riuscii a comprare un ampli valvolare trovato d'occasione anche se non conoscevo le sue caratteristiche precise, un Peavey Classic 50 che, dopo 3 anni, permutai con una Fender Stratocaster molto particolare. Si trattava originariamente di una Classic 50 (o forse 60) di produzione Messicana ma di ottima fattura, al pari delle Americane. Il precedente proprietario l'aveva totalmente customizzata con ponte tremolo vintage originale Fender USA, set pickup e mascherina originale Fender USA, meccaniche Fender USA originali e io aggiunsi un minuhumb Seyrour Duncan Hot Rails al ponte.

Ovviamente nel frattempo provai moltissimi modelli e tipi (forme strane e diversi legni, configurazioni e stili) da amici, in negozi e in moltissime occasioni (anche ai festival approfittavo per provare la chitarra di qualche ragazzo conosciuto al momento). A questo punto le avevo provate un po' tutte ed ero giunto a una conclusione: come sarà la mia chitarra!

Tecnicamente cercavo una chitarra dal suono potente e definito, non squillante con quello Fender e neanche troppo compatto come quello Gibson. Configurazione H-H con selettore a 3 posizioni, pickup non splittabili, ponte Floyd Rose e (possibilmente) due soli potenziometri per i volumi dei rispettivi pickup.

Nel dettaglio volevo questa configurazione perché i single-coil non mi piacciono proprio sui distorti e io suono per lo più col distorsore acceso e il selettore a 5 posizioni lo trovo scomodo perchè non mi è risultato facile cambiare in maniera molto veloce, il Floyd Rose permette sicuramente più espressività di un ponte fisso e maggiore stabilità di un tremolo classico, il potenziometro del tono non l'ho mai capito e io non l'ho mai usato.

Esteticamente la volevo chiara, bianca. Col manico di legno chiaro come quello della Fender (che era in acero), leggera e dalla forma cattiva.

Altri dettagli, come i legni, le finiture, avvitato o incollato e similari li avrei valutati una volta considerate queste caratteristiche. Non secondario era il prezzo che non doveva superare i 1.000 euro: mai mi sarei potuto permettere un lusso superiore.

Nell'armamentario Fender non c'era nulla del genere se non un vecchio modello Strat (particolare e limitato) e neanche Gibson poteva soddisfarmi. Mi rivolsi a marche meno blasonate ma sicuramente di valore. Rimasi folgorato dalle Dean: cattive, aggressive e pacchiane, suono potente e curate. Adoravo la Razorback bianca di Matt Heafy dei Trivium: modello custom non in commercio, solo molto costose o scure.

Punto allora alcuni modelli Jackson di cui avevo molto sentito parlare: escludo la RR per la forma poco comoda anche se molto attraente (la RR1 la provai da un amico) e vado su qualcosa di classico. Casualmente un giorno, dopo aver preso appuntamento con un nuovo gruppo per un provino, capito in un negozietto poco fornito e... la vedo! Una folgorazione ed è subito amore. Antonio, un amico chitarrista, l'aveva presa ma poi, per problemi di comodità la riporta indietro. Immacolata e scontata è appesa alla parete e la squadro bene.

Jackson Pro Series DK2M Dinky, bianca, doppio humbuker e Floyd Rose su licenza, meccaniche nere. La provo. La riprovo dopo tre giorni. Lascio in consegna la Stratocaster (per una permuta che poi non feci) e la provo per cinque giorni a casa. La compro: 500 euro.

Mia e fantastica la adoro.

Last night Cheyenne had her first game in the coed league. I was really worried how she would handle this new level of competition with boys on the field. She did amazing!! It was a rainy evening and the picture I got really sucked...but if you check out the photo feed you can see the pure power in her shots. She did not get a goal but took some really good shots....we did win over the Cape Girardeau team 2 to 1. Cheyenne took it up a notch!!!!

GV

http://stargate.mgm.com/specialops/link.php?urlid=11&id=1734

Also, click this link if you want to be up-to-date on all the new shows.

http://stargate.mgm.com/specialops/link.php?urlid=12&id=1734

An Official Stargate Special Ops member

On a sad side note... Stargate Atlantis will be cancelled after this season. Stargate hopes the SciFi channel will pick up their new series, Stargate Universe, but as for Atlantis, it will only be 2 hour movies from now on. Here’s a petition for those that want to sign.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-stargate-atlantis/signatures.html

As you all should know from my former blog, my team for life is none other than the Philadelphia Eagles! And, after watching the camps firsthand and hearing what experts have to say, I have a great feeling about this year. If McNabb can stay healthy and the other backs can take some junk carries away from Brian, we should be guranteed a winning record. Hell, if McNabb played the Pats last year, we won that game. And, if DeSean is as good as Andy Reid is saying he is (which, is alawrming, cuz Andy doesn't big up rookies whatsoever) and Curtis can play anywhere near his level with Reggie filling in the 2nd or 3rd spot, our Wideout core should be great. Yeah, I said that, Eagles Wideouts should be great. I predict a 12-4 Season, 10-6 being the worst case scenario, and superbowl victory anchored by out young but experienced D-Line and LB core, with that incredible, always dependable pass defense of ours. Let's do it Philly!

Because when I walk into scenes like this one from today,

I can either kill the kid, cry, scream, freak out.....

OR smile thinking of your faces as you share in the moment with me right here, run and grab my camera so I can put a smile on YOUR face!

OK, I'll admit, maybe even mine too. I'm getting better at finding the joy in moments like these. I'm learning that if I stop long enough, I will realize that it's really not as big of a deal as it seems at the moment.

I'm learning to laugh NOW, instead of waiting 'till later. Blogging has changed me in more ways that one. It has taught me how to respond differently to things I would have viewed before as bad, and it has helped me find the good and joy in all the "oops!" of life.

Why do YOU blog?

Hollywood heavyweight Samuel L. Jackson is furious about a stripper scene in his new movie -- because the girls were not allowed to get naked.

The Pulp Fiction star, 59, plays tightly wound LAPD officer Abel Turner in gritty thriller Lakeview Terrace, but the sex and violence had to be kept to a minimum in order to achieve a PG rating, much to Jackson's annoyance.

He explains, "There is a big scene in this movie that is really great.

"It is a bachelor party, and we have three strippers at the party. But it is a PG movie, so there aren't any titties. We have three strippers at the party, and none of them have their top off.

"How does that work? I'm like, come on! You could show the girl from the back, with her back bare. At least it gives a sense that she was naked.

"You can't just show them in their bras and panties. You have forty drunken cops in a house with three strippers? And nobody is naked? I don't f***ing think so!"

Lakeview Terrace, which is produced by Will Smith and also stars Patrick Wilson, is due for a September release.

Source

First clue, they were spotted sharing drinks in Malibu a couple of times. Uh oh. This could be true. Drinks are just drinks right?  First date Shutters Hotel on Malibu beach, second date coffee at the Country Mart. Both are relationship failures. Could this be the one? I predict she'll give him hepatitis and he'll die because of a weakened immune system. (news)

Tracklisting
01 - Intro
02 - A Millie & Two Freestyle
03 - Show Me How (ft. Gramz)
04 - Cold As Ice
05 - Shit That I'll Do For Attention
06 - Im Too Cool (ft. Gramz)
07 - Barry Bonds (remix)(ft. Kanye West & Lil' Wayne)
08 - Happy B-Day Jill
09 - Walk Away
10 - Ima Get Dough (ft. Ay-Cuz & Big Herb)
11 - Doo Doo Butter
12 - Be The Same (ft. Ay-Cuz)
13 - Booty Roll (snippet)
14 - The Aim (ft. Stack - Man)
15 - Interlude
16 - Hip-Hop Ain't Save My Life
17 - I Am The One (ft. Michael Jackson)
18 - My Satisfactory (snippet)
19 - With Me (ft. Gramz)
20 - 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted Freestyle (ft. Makell Bird)
21 - I Can Bless You (ft. J - Swift)
22 - Young Ghostrider 2