Ancora Imparo

I am still learning
Gathering Of Eagles II
5/25/2007 5:32:11 PM

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 Gathering of Eagles 2

Surf over to MidnightBlue to follow along as I mobile blog the Rolling Thunder/Gathering of Eagles event this Saturday. Mike Miller has graciously offered to post my cell phone photos and my commentary on his blog:  Mikes America.

 A retrospective of the weekend can be found on MidnightBlue - HERE, HERE and HERE 

 

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First Wednesday
5/19/2007 10:08:25 PM

 IVC is hosting First Wednesday on June 6th, 7:00 pm at the Annex - Marriott Courtyard.  I am hoping to spend a Wednesday evening with fellow bloggers as we nosh and chat up the guests to our country.

What is IVC? IVC  stands for International Visitors Council.  It is an organization that considers  itself as an  'international relations organization', its role is further elucidated on the IVC webite:

IVC is an international relations organization and the "door" to the greater Philadelphia community for guests of the U.S. Government as well as individuals and corporations seeking professional connections to the people and institutions of our region.

We are the region's citizen diplomacy organization, fully believing in the power of exchanges: exchanges create human bonds and enduring relationships that build bridges of cooperation and understanding between peoples.

Our core program is the State Department's prestigious "International Visitor Leadership Program," but that's just one of several programs we administer. IVC has two divisions that cover all our work: The Center for International Development and the Center for International Business.

As the region's leading international organization, we link businesses and institutions with hundreds of rising and established leaders each year.  We are a non-profit, volunteer-based "citizen diplomacy" organization whose network of volunteers was nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.  We administer the U. S. State Department's leadership exchange programs (since 1954), and the City of Philadelphia's Sister Cities Program (since 1997).  IVC arranges the local itineraries and 'American experiences' for hundreds of delegations annually.  We identify experts in various fields to meet with the guests; we develop relationships for academic, cultural, civic and business institutions; and help prevent future wars by making friends with the world's new leaders.

Not so sure about the preventing future wars by group hug, but the organization has other strengths that make me proud to be a member.  I had a great time with The City Troll and Grizzly Mama and they have an open invititation to participate in the meet and greet. Ben & Jess - this is a compulsory event. :)  In the future, I hope to open this event to other area philly bloggers. 

 

 

 

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Post Debate Review
5/16/2007 10:22:48 PM

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Surf on over to MidnightBlue for my review of  the GOP Presidential Candidate debate in S.C. and to participate in my somewhat unscientific poll regarding the debate. 

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Apache Pilot Video
5/13/2007 10:48:08 PM

 

A YouTube video put together the good guys/girls serving in Iraq.

For the more liberally-impaired, that would be the US, Iraqi and Coalition forces.

Hat Tip: Guidons 

 

First Bat Wingaging

 

FYI:  Apache pilots are the real world equivalent to BSG Viper Pilots.

 

 

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Man Friday: Cowboys
5/11/2007 9:36:28 PM

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 Cowboys are sexy.....

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Winterthur Point to Point
5/5/2007 10:02:37 PM

Celebrating its 29th year, Winterthur's Point-to-Point is a beloved annual event at Winterthur. There is much excitement planned for this year, including tailgating, a carriage parade, activities for kids, and, of course, horse racing. 

 A stylish affair attracts the creme of Delaware society and sophisticated area bloggers.  Of course,  I will post my photos and report of the events the day this coming Monday.  Stay tuned to Ancora for a report rarely seen on liberal blogs. 

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A memorable day spent in the company of friends.  If you live in the Delaware Valley,  I highly recommend attending this yearly Point to Point hosted by Winterthur Gardens.

Some points to consider before attending:

Champagne and canapes are welcome additions to the traditional picnic basket menu.

Tailgating with one of the above pictures vehicles is preferable.

A 200 mm lens is an absolute must for this event, high speed CF or SD cards are highly recommended. 

Frilly hats are de rigeur, along with small poofy dogs, pearl necklaces and dark sunglasses. 

Confronting batty liberal media types is a favored pastime.

 Any Questions?

 

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We are all Nappy Headed Ho's
5/3/2007 9:53:38 PM

Found this gem over at Townhall.com and have reprinted it in its entirety:

Free Speech Controversy at URI 


 This country is now entering its fourth week of debate over whether the phrase “nappy headed hos” is acceptable speech in a public forum. But as the media focuses on the issue of free speech in broadcast, they overlook a venue where first amendment rights are regularly violated: academia. A story from the University of Rhode Island this week suggests that free speech rights are threatened on many campuses. While making phony paeans to “tolerance,” universities use unconstitutional speech codes to suppress ideas that don’t sit well with the politically correct crowd.

The controversy at Rhode Island began last fall, when the College Republicans advertised a satirical “white heterosexual American male” scholarship in the school newspaper. College Republicans president Ryan Bilodeau said the ad was meant to be a humorous spin on affirmative action and identity-based scholarships.

Is a satirical ad in a school newspaper “speech”? Anyone with minimal understanding of the first amendment would say yes. But the Student Senate didn’t think so and declared that the ad violated URI’s anti-discrimination bylaws. The Senate told the group to apologize or face derecognition, an action that would cut off university funding.

But the College Republicans refused to apologize for something they weren’t sorry about, and on April 23, a Student Senate committee voted to derecognize the group. They only backed down when the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) threatened a first amendment lawsuit.

If you assume that selective censorship, forced apologies, and illegal bans on “offensive” speech are isolated incidents, think again. Groups like FIRE receive thousands of complaints each year, mostly from conservative or religious students whose universities apply speech codes only to them. Examples are not difficult to find:

- In October, San Francisco State University attempted to punish the College Republicans for stomping on Hezbollah and Hamas flags during an anti-terrorism rally.

- Administrators at Stetson University forbade students from distributing a conservative newsletter on campus because “elements of the publication lack sensitivity to and respect for diversity and inclusiveness,” according to a statement issued by the university.

- Professors in the Washington State University School of Education threatened to remove a conservative student from the teacher training program unless he attended “diversity training” classes.

Fortunately, the founding fathers forgot to include the “no hurt feelings” clause in the first amendment, which is why policies like these almost never hold up in court. But that doesn’t stop campus radicals from harassing any student who stands up for basic speech rights.

Last year, Georgia Tech senior Ruth Malhotra filed a lawsuit against the school for its unconstitutional speech code, which banned speech that was “injurous” or “maligning.” Malhotra believed the code was being used exclusively by gay-rights groups to prevent conservative Christians from speaking. Under Georgia Tech’s policy, accurately quoting a Bible passage related to homosexuality could constitute “injurous” speech.

Even people who support the gay-rights movement can recognize that others have a constitutional right to criticize it. But, for supporting the concept that people are allowed to say what they want, Malhotra received letters and e-mails threatening beatings, rape, and strangulation. Gay-rights activists passed out Twinkies to students on campus, explaining that Malhotra was “yellow on the outside, white on the inside” and “a Twinkie bitch” (Malhotra is Asian). Authorities suggested that she travel with a police escort in case the tolerant crowd got testy. Although the court sided with Malhotra, her experience most likely had a chilling effect on potential free-speech advocates.

It is ironic that, in an atmosphere that supposedly values free inquiry, it can take enormous courage to point out that free speech rights are for everyone. Only years of politically correct brainwashing can explain the widespread belief that “offensive” ideas should be banned.

It is also telling that speech totalitarianism is often embraced by extreme leftists – the same people that demand “tolerance” and “open-mindedness” toward certain favored groups.  If these people are so concerned with tolerance, why do they turn into Stalinist oppressors the second someone says something they don’t like?

 

Tolerance and open-mindedness are what come to mind when viewing the blog Jesus General.   Not surprisingly, the blog author and he/she/its following are staunch supporters of the DNC party platform.  

 

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Mayday, Mayday...
5/1/2007 6:24:46 PM

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What a freaking mess! How is can it be that a city such as San Francisco can openly flout established immigration laws of this country, and do so with impunity; yet a small Pennsylvania town has to create a legal defense fund simply because its City Council had the temerity(cojones) to draft a bill that labels  illegal residents as..well..ILLEGAL!

Lou Barleta - Mayor of Hazelton, Pennsylvania:

Illegal aliens in our City create an economic burden that threatens our quality of life.

With a growing problem and a limited budget, I could not sit back any longer and allow this to happen. I needed to act!

That’s why I drafted the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, a measure designed to say enough is enough.

To the residents of Hazleton, I say thank you for your support. To our recently arrived legal immigrants, I say welcome to our City. I wish you all the best and hope the United States and Hazleton can be a place where your dreams come true. I am proud to represent you as your Mayor.

And to illegal immigrants and those who would hire or abet them in any way, I say your time is up. You are no longer welcome.

There are thousands of small towns and cities across America like Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

I hope the steps we’re taking in Hazleton to defend ourselves will inspire others to become small town defenders.

You can donate to this fund HERE

Bravo to the members of Hazelton City Council!

 

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