Thursday, April 10, 2008

Google's having serious problems ... what the stock drop like a lead balloon

Google used to be the tops ...a nd all of a sudden, little cracks are appearing all over its Titanic Hull ... like ont he Video page where users upload videos. It used to have a perfect system to manage and record hits. You could get a total views on videos that you have uploaded for the day, the week, the month, past month and "all time." It was amazing, one of the things that made Google Video the best.

Now, the system is crashing practically every week and Google has to restart the counters ... they can't keep their statistics system running properly and the data keeps changing. It is very unreliable.

In addition, Google News isn't so newsy any more. It is too selective in what it showcases. It used to have a very liberal policy of placing articles on its front news page. Now, it's no different than mainstream sites. You used to be able to read some stories that might not otherwise find their way to your computer screen. In otherwords, what Google News offers now is the same crap that most mainstream online media offer. Nothing new. Same old same old. No diversity. Just rehash.

Puuuuke!

Ray Hanania
www.radiochicagoland.com

Bush way off base on Iraq war rhetoric

President Bush lives in his own little world of lies and distortions. How else do you explain a man so detached from reality?

15 Months ago, he told us today, al-Qaeda was increasing its strength and today we have them on the defensive.

Really? 60 Months ago, al-Qaeda didn't exist in Iraq. Bush brought them there.

Bush says the "Surge" is bringing Iraq closer to Democracy, but the reality the only thing the Surge is doing is allowing his Republican Party which got us into this unwinnable war, PR spin so they can prevent further losses in November.

Yes, the Republican Party is taking a beating. And while the Democrats have not been able to extricate this nation from the god-forsaken war in Iraq, they still are less guilty than the Republicans who bought all of Bush's lies and allowed Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld to push us into a conflict we never should have entered.

Today's press conference by Bush sounded much like the "We Have Prevailed" speech he gave months after illegally invading Iraq on March 19, 2003, falsely claiming "major combat operations are over."

If fighting this war is the only way to get out ot his war, then the American people, especially those who are blindly gung-ho supporting this wild expedition, should allow their sons and daughters to be DRAFTED into the military so we will have enough soldiers to fight the war.

But just as President Bush dodged active duty military service during the height of the Vietnam War, his Republican fanatic supporters want their own children to dodge active duty military service to fight this war. That's the hypocrisy in this conflict. The people screaming the loudest to fight this war are the ones who are refusing to send their own sons and daughters to fight it, relying on the soldiers who enlisted during the peacetime military era, hoping to off-set economic woes, and those gung-hoe and misguided Americans who enlisted in the military having swallowed whole all of Bush's outright lies.

15 months from now, we'll be in the same mud, mired in conflict, with an American death toll that is steadily climing and with no real hope of EVER bringing Western-style Democracy to Iraq.

And, 15 months from now, the real criminal, Osama Bin Laden, who orchestrated Sept. 11, 2001 which Bush used to justify this unjustified war in Iraq, is still loose in Afghanistan, protected in part by the Pakistani dictatorship we call an ally, the Government of Pervez Musharref.

What a mess!

Ray Hanania
www.hanania.com

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Iraqi US Marine Justin Kerwin of Glendale Heights on radio show this week

1st Lieutenant Justin Kerwin is our guest this week on Radio Chicagoland. Kerwin is a U.S. Marine from Glendale Heights near Carol Stream in the West Chicago suburbs. He has been serving in Iraq in the al-Anbar Province for about one month. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana, Lt. Kerwin discusses life in the Marines in Iraq and discusses the daily life of American marines fighting in Iraq.

It's not a political discussion -- as most Marines are prohibited from engaging in politics, but a fascinating insight into the life and challenges our soldiers face in Iraq.

Kerwin talks about his family, why he entered service and his favorite places growing up in Glendale Heights.

On Radio Chicagoland Thursday April 10, 2008 at 4 PM (The interview is pre-taped and is a part of the program's new regular feature, Voices from our Soldiers that will be featured in upcoming shows.

Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

PS ... if you cannot pick up the station (WCEV 1450 AM Radio -- it only broadcasts in the afternoon and evenings) you can listen to the show live on www.WCEV1450.com, or you can go to www.RadioChicagoland.com to listen to the archived interview (usually the next day) online. You can also download the podcast of the interview to your iPods from the web site or off of iTunes (again, usually available the following day of the broadcast.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Nationwide Asthma Screening Program May 7 & 21 at Chicago Ridge Mall

12th annual Nationwide Asthma Screening Program which will be helping people in your area by finding those at risk for asthma and by helping those who are diagnosed take control.

The public service campaign is conducted by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and will be available in more than 250 communities. Chicago-area allergists will be conducting free asthma screenings in your area at the following dates and locations:

May 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chicago Ridge Mall 831 Chicago Ridge Mall Drive, Chicago Ridge

May 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Chicago Ridge Mall, 831 Chicago Ridge Mall Drive, Chicago Ridge

During a screening, adults and children will be walked through a simple process that includes filling out a questionnaire, taking a painless lung function test (essentially just blowing into a tube) and meeting with an allergist to discuss the results of their screening.

This year, a special effort is being made to reach people who already know they have asthma but may be limiting their activities or missing days of school or work because of their disease. The initiative is in response to new government guidelines highlighting the importance of asthma control. A new brochure for people with asthma will be available at the screening.

I hope you can include information about this important health screening. I can also arrange an interview with a local allergist who can discuss asthma symptoms and the importance of taking control of the disease. For your convenience, below you can find the full release for the Nationwide Asthma Screening Program.


NATIONWIDE ASTHMA SCREENING PROGRAM
FINDS PEOPLE AT RISK IN CHICAGO AND
HELPS THOSE DIAGNOSED TAKE CONTROL

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., May 1, 2008 – Free asthma screenings will help adults and children find out if breathing problems might be asthma, and will help diagnosed asthmatics take control of their disease. The program is the 12th annual Nationwide Asthma Screening Program, sponsored by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
At-a-Glance
· Free asthma screenings for people with breathing problems and diagnosed asthmatics
· 22 million Americans have asthma
· New government guidelines highlight asthma control
Chicago-area allergists, who are asthma specialists, will offer free asthma screenings at the following locations:
· May 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at
Century Shopping Centre, 2828 N. Clark
Supported by AstraZeneca, the program has screened more than 108,000 people and referred more than half for further diagnosis.
This year a special effort is being made to reach people who already know they have asthma, but may be limiting their activities or missing days of school or work because their disease is not controlled. The initiative is in response to the latest guidelines from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) highlighting the importance of asthma control, including day-to-day monitoring and proper medication use to treat symptoms and prevent severe attacks from occurring.
“The government guidelines emphasize that undiagnosed or inadequately treated asthma worsens the severity of the disease,” said allergist John Winder, M.D., chair of the Nationwide Asthma Screening Program. “The screening program gives patients who are still having breathing problems a chance to meet with an allergist, discuss their symptoms and learn how to feel better.”
Asthma affects more than 22 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, and is responsible for almost 4,000 deaths a year. Although the exact cause of asthma is unknown, many treatments are available to control this chronic inflammation of the airways in the lungs.
An asthma attack is often triggered by allergens such as pollen, dust and animal dander, certain drugs and food additives, respiratory infections and physical exertion.
Once asthma is diagnosed, experts recommend aggressive treatment with allergen avoidance and medication. Because inflammation of the lungs and airways plays a central role in the development of asthma, the most effective medications are those that reduce inflammation. Studies show inhaled corticosteroids are the most powerful and effective anti-inflammatory medications for asthma, improving control of the disease and helping lungs function normally.
This year, a new brochure called Take Control: A Guide for People with Asthma highlighting the new federal guidelines will be available to help asthma patients learn more about managing their disease. The brochure discusses the goals of asthma treatment, measurement and control of symptoms, asthma triggers and avoidance, medications, and the importance of seeing an allergist. Information on allergy shots also is included.
“An asthma ‘attack’ isn’t the only sign of trouble. A cough that bothers you at night, shortness of breath, colds that go to your chest – these can all be symptoms of asthma, but few people recognize them or that they are a sign of undertreated disease,” said Dr. Winder. “No one with asthma should have to suffer. Anyone who is experiencing breathing problems or making compromises to live with their condition should attend a free screening and find out how to take control.”
During a screening, adults complete a 20-question Life Quality (LQ) Test developed by ACAAI for the program. Children under age 15 take a special test called the Kids’ Asthma Check that allows them to answer questions themselves about any breathing problems. Another version of the Check is available for parents of children up to 8 years of age to complete on their child’s behalf.
Participants also take a lung function test that involves blowing into a tube, and meet with an allergist to determine if they should seek a thorough examination and diagnosis.
For a list of asthma screening locations and dates or to take online versions of the LQ Test and Kids’ Asthma Check, visit the ACAAI Web site at www.acaai.org. Take Control: A Guide for People with Asthma also will be available online.
###

Saturday, April 5, 2008

RollCall Editorial urges investigation of Oak Lawn Trustee Jerry Hurckes

RollCall Newspaper, the newspaper of record covering Congress, called for an ethics investigation of Oak Lawn Trustee Jerry Hurckes who allegedly may have violated ethics rules regarding his role as a paid trustee and representative of Oak Lawn, and his role as paid chief of staff to Congressman Dan Lipinski who represents the 3rd District which includes Oak Lawn.

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/53_113/editorial/22754-1.html

Friday, April 4, 2008

Arab fanatics come out swinging against my moderation

Sousan Hammad described herself to me as a Palestinian from Ramallah who can't decide if she wants to be a journalist or a political activist during an "interview" prior to my comedy performance at the World Affairs Council at Houston's Hobby Center March 25. I asked her if she was a Christian and she responded that she was "non-religious."

Then she went into her attack, criticizing me for performing with Israelis and denouncing my comedy before she even had a chance to see the show.

Hammad is the opinion page editor at the University of Houston's student newspaper "The Daily Cougar."

She then did a review of the show. And after reading it, I realized she decided to forgo journalism and become an activist before graduation.

I don't mind the criticism, especially from extremists who hate those like me who embrace peace based on compromise, denounce Hamas terrorism and suicide bombing as immoral, and who reject the ridiculous notion that the Holocaust did not exist. In fact, when the criticism is clever, talented and creative, I admire it. But Sousan doesn't have the talent to be creative, or clever. People who hate rarely do. So before the interview began, Sousan and I were not on good terms.

But what I do mind are her factual errors -- intentional, apparently.

She makes the false claim that I support the occupation of the Palestinians. Only a moron would say that. I didn't. She did. Of the fact that five Arab American groups cancelled my pre-bookings in early 2007, it was because I reject the Arab taboo on normalization, which she mischaracterizes as embracing the occupation. Dumb, but it feeds the haters out there.

She says that I won't go to Ramallah to perform because the Palestinians will shoot me. What I said was WE WANT TO GO TO RAMALLAH and to BETHLEHEM to perform comedy but there are hurdles that prevent Israelis from performing there and because the Palestinian groups said they could not guarantee security for the Israelis.

Sousan then rewrote the feature and changed more of the quotes and had it published on the "Electronic Intifada," the web site of the fanatics who embraced people like George Habash, the extremist who embraced violence and who fought for control of the Palestinian revolution with Yasir Arafat. Habash has always been hailed as a "Christian" but who openly denounced and rejected religion. He was a Marxist-Leninist, not a Christian.

When I look in Sousan's face, I recognize immediately why Palestinians have lost in their effort to establish a Palestinian State. So consumed with hatred, some Palestinians like Sousan live in a self-inflicted world of blind rage where they find it okay to murder innocent little Israeli children but only speak out against the killing of Palestinian children. When I told her I embrace one principle that I apply to all killings -- whether they are by Israeli occupation soldiers murdering Palestinian civilians, or Palestinian Hamas terrorists murdering Israeli civilians, I denounce them both -- she laughed saying I was "naive."

What I am confident of is that in her vicious hatred and intentionally distorted reporting, people like Sousan are the reasons why palestinians are this year commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Nakba.

Here's the version that appeared in the Electronic Intifada, the web site of the advocates of the "One State Solution," a failed and impossible dream promoted by extremist hatred not an embrace of living together. I'm glad the hatred has finally come out from under the rock of Palestinian extremism and is now in the public arena.

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9439.shtml

Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

Here's my letter sent to The Daily Cougar:

Sousan Hammd's "review" of the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour was filled with factual errors, distortions of what I said, and a clear effort to advance her own agenda.

I don't mind criticism when it is clever, creative and accurate, but when it completely distorts my views (saying I wouldn't perform in Ramallah because I was afraid Palestinians would shoot me is ridiculous since my cousins and many relatives live there, is pathetic on her part). And to say that I support the Israeli Occupation of the West Bank is also an outright lie. Clearly she hates me because I won't kill Jews, I oppose Hamas terrorism, denounce suicide bombings, criticize both the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians, and openly embrace peace based on two-states and compromise, things that clearly pose a problem for her.

Sousan told me she couldn't decide whether to pursue journalism or political activism. I think her ridiculous and inaccurate political attack against me and the Israeli-Palestinian Comedy Tour demonstrates that she has already made a choice.

Thanks
Ray Hanania
www.IPComedyTour.com

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Hurckes continues to get heat on duel role in Washington and Oak Lawn

Capitol Fax picked up on the story about Oak Lawn Trustee and Congressman Dan Lipinski's "Chief of Staff" playing duel roles and claiming he brings the benefits to Oak Lawn ... here's the link:

http://thecapitolfaxblog.com/2008/03/31/hurckes-attracts-national-heat/

Also, RollCall Newspaper has issued an editorial criticizing Hurckes role ...

The heat's on ...

Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com