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

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.

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: $11.65 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: $14.66 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.

You have to wonder about the Illinois Constitution's set up, don't you.  Unlike the US Constition, which requires the President to veto a bill within 10 days, we're stuck with legislation sitting for weeks... months... years under the thumb of Governor King Rod Blagojevich.  Sitting... waiting... to cut off the funding that he oh so loves in his "pay to play" brand of politics.

Jesse Jackson was caught with his mouth flapping last weekend, only this time, he didn't know he was being recorded, and he said he wanted to "cut his nuts off" when discussing Barack Obama's speech to a Black church - in which Obama discussed the problems with fatherless children and promoted fatherhood, and said that staying in school was more important than trying to get into professional athletics. And this is talking down... how?

King Governor Rod Blagojevich is trying to get two political heavyweights, Glen Poshard and former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to convince the General Assembly that he can be trusted. Crain's Chicago Business is apparently buying into this bamboozle, too with their headline "Blagojevich moves to break budget logjam." But then they go on to say that King Rod himself never bothered to actually sign the memo that outlines the capital spending plan.

Rep Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) was a loyal follower of old King Rod Blagojevich way back in the early days of the Governor's takeover of the state government for his personal pleasure. And way back in 2003, King Rod asked those loyalists to submit the names of people to fill up porky seats in state government, with hefty salaries and even heftier perks - so Jack be nimble, and he tried to get some family members some nice jobs, sorta like the one Clown Prince Emil Jones' wife got.

Well, King Rod Blagojevich is at it again this year, stalling the state budget. Technically, all of the employees of the state should be on unpaid furlough right now and every state agency, other than emergency services, shut down. And King Rod says he's looking at the unbalanced budget looking for the appropriate areas to slice and dice with his line item veto authority, which he so callously used as a political weapon last fall.

author: Richard Thompson Ford rating: asin: 0374245754 binding: Hardcover list price: $26.00 USD amazon price: $17.16 USD

What do Katrina victims waiting for federal disaster relief, millionaire rappers buying vintage champagne, Ivy League professors waiting for taxis, and ghetto hustlers trying to find steady work have in common?

One thousand bodies showed up to dole out chunks of hot sweaty cash to support their favorite potentate and Federal Investigatee - King Rod Blagojevich - the other night. Makes me wonder if any of them worry that they are now potential suspects in the ongoing Federal investigation of King Rod's Jobs for Donations program.

Julie Sayre of ABC-Fox News in Springfield was simply AGHAST as she introduced a story that Rep Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth) has put a bill onto the floor in the General Assembly to *gasp* CUT OFF GIVING TAX DOLLARS TO ILLEGAL ALIENS! No, Bill, no! How COULD you think of of cutting off the flow of tax dollars to criminals, and making Illinois a less cozy environment for King Rod Blagojevich's favorite ethnic group?

How COULD you?