Black Rednecks and White Liberals author: Thomas Sowell rating: asin: 1594030863 binding: Hardcover list price: $25.95 USD amazon price: $17.13 USD

This explosive new book challenges many of the long-prevailing assumptions about blacks, about Jews, about Germans, about slavery, and about education. Plainly written, powerfully reasoned, and backed with a startling array of documented facts, Black Rednecks and White Liberals takes on not only the trendy intellectuals of our times but also such historic interpreters of American life as Alexis de Tocqueville and Frederick Law Olmsted.

Now, this takes the cake.  King Rod wants to be a reality television star. Perhaps the Federal and Illinois prison systems install 24/7 cameras inside of prisons, and broadcast it live daily, with weekly segments devoted to knifings and rapes that go on inside.  Talk about finally doing public service - maybe he'd keep some kid from winding up in prison.

Racism is alive and well in America, as shown by the support in Oakland California for a felon convicted of a violent crime.  Said criminal, Lovelle Mixon,open fired and killed four police officers upon being stopped by Oakland's police department, who were seeking him on numerous charges, including that of serial rape.

Well, the boys and girls in Congress are up at it again - pointing the finger at AIG executives for exercising their one thing truly driving the business - self-serving greed.  Greed is not good - greed and the search for the quick and easy buck is what has led to the debacle of the worldwide financial structure.

The Department of Homeland Security (YAWOHL!) has recently announced a huge blow on to the drug cartels.  Read my sarcasm into that sentence - they are all excited because they seized $3.2 million in cash over a three week time span.

Uh oh, Lisa Madigan has done it now - she's called for a reform of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.  If you've ever tried to extract information from a government official in Illinois - and I'm talking PUBLIC information - you'll know why the IFOIA is one of the most insincerely named laws on the books.

author: Shelby Steele rating: asin: 0060578629 binding: Hardcover list price: $24.95 USD amazon price: $24.95

In 1955 the killers of Emmett Till, a black Mississippi youth, were acquitted because they were white. Forty years later, despite the strong DNA evidence against him, accused murderer O. J. Simpson went free after his attorney portrayed him as a victim of racism. The age of white supremacy has given way to an age of white guilt—and neither has been good for African Americans. Through articulate analysis and engrossing recollections, acclaimed race relations scholar Shelby Steele sounds a powerful call for a new culture of personal responsibility.

I was really pretty disturbed to read this story, which was delivered with such open enthusiasm for the scientific work it represented - but absolutely NO mention of how freaking LOONIE it is that there is weapons-grade plutonium lying about in fairly unsecured locations.

Will Barack Obama be able to escape his already existing legacy as a politician - that of all talk and no action - or will he truly inspire the American people into action, to fix what is wrong with our country?  Mr. Obama is, without any question, a skilled orator - but can he lead?

I hope he moves past the mode of always on the campaign trail, and can pull us from the brink of national disaster and international laughingstock.

Well, here we go into a new legislative session, and the fifth most populous state in the nation is short a Senator in Washington because anyone even mildly tainted with the King Rod Blagojevich scandal is unacceptable to the Democrats in Illinois, and the national leadership of the party.  Roland Burris?  Come on - the guy is, of course a Chicago Democrat, and therefore subject to skepticism?  But the man has not ever been associated with anything dirtier.  Which, of course, says enough - that he's a Chicago Democrat.

Banks across the country came hat in hand, accepting wads of hot sweaty cash from the Federal Reserve, with still over $300 billion to go.  And what are they doing with it?  Why - sitting on it, of course.  And paying out massive bonuses to the very execs who helped drive the economy to the brink of disaster.  And HUD's voluntary program languishes.

This headline almost sounds like the editors at the Pantagraph are SHOCKED by King Rod Blagojevich's paid mouthpiece doing his job - keeping his client in office and out of jail.  Unfortunately, the people of Illinois will have to suffer at least another week of King Rod in the seat of power as his impeachment hearing is briefly drawn out.

author: Dean Ornish asin: 0060928115 binding: Paperback list price: $15.99 USD amazon price: $12.47 USD

Renowned cardiac researcher and bestselling author Dean Ornish, M.D., has inspired millions of people to choose a healthier lifestyle and a low-fat diet. But low-fat cooking can be time-consuming and hard to fit into a busy schedule, so Dr. Ornish has found 150 wonderful ways to make it fast, delicious and fun. Everyday Cooking with Dean Ornish includes 150 easy and extraordinary recipes that are extremely low in fat and cholesterol -- and high in flavor.

Governor King Rod Blagojevich obviously sees the handwriting on the wall.  With federal prosecturors feverishly drilling convicted influence peddler, and Blagojevich insider, Tony Rezko, King Rod is due up on the Attorney General's hit parade of corrupt politicians.

King Rod Blagojevich's comments show that he may have totally lost touch with reality, blaming the staggering national economy for approval ratings that have almost slipped into the single digits as he has reigned over one of the most corrupt and ineffective administrations in the history of the state of Illinois.

I do have to ponder though - who ARE those one in 10 citizens of Illinois who think King Rod is doing a good job?  Have they been living abroad?  Did they just relocate here?  Were they in a coma for the past 6 years?

Poisoned milk from China continues to make its way into the United States, according to press releases (1, 2) this past fortnight from the US Food and Drug Administration.  Products
containing melamine have been found to still be arriving in America,
months after the Chinese government allegedly shut down the dairy
operators who had been adding the industrial chemical to their
products, presumably so it would test a false positive for high protein

Well, here we go with the results of the first of what could be many mega-corporation bailout packages being abused by those receiving them - AIG American General spending part of that $85 billion package on a half a million dollar junket to a posh California resort (see the bill here http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/1007083aig1.html?link=rs...). 

A quick look at AIG Board of Directors shows a stream of finance industry corporate fatcats - and not ONE there representing the "investment" that the American people have made in this company.

You lucky folks in Missouri, the Barack Obama Truth Squad has recruited two top prosecuters to curtail your First Amendment rights - and you could end up in jail if you dare speak against Barack Obama.

Here we go - one more step toward Big Brother watching our every move, our every waking moment's activities. And in February 2009 - Big Brother will be in your living room via DHTV - able to monitor everything going on in that room.

author: Bill Bishop rating: asin: 0618689354 binding: Hardcover list price: $25.00 USD amazon price: $16.50 USD

The untold story of why America is so culturally and politically dividedAmerica may be more diverse than ever coast to coast, but the places where we live are becoming increasingly crowded with people who live, think, and vote as we do. This social transformation didn't happed by accident. We've built a country where we can all choose the neighborhood -- and religion and news show -- most compatible with our lifestyle and beliefs. And we are living with the consequences of this way-of-life segregation.