We Remember Still...

May perpetual light shine upon them.

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America, Religion & Freedom

From a piece by Archbishop Charles Chaput:

Note what James Madison said in his “Memorial and Remonstrance against Religious Assessments” in 1785: “[Man’s duty of honoring God] is precedent both in order of time and degree of obligation to the claims of civil society. Before any man can be considered as a member of civil society, he must be considered as a subject of the Governor of the universe.”

That is why religious freedom is humanity’s first and most important freedom. Our first governor is God, our Creator, the Governor of the universe. We are created for a religious purpose. We have a religious destiny. Our right to pursue this destiny precedes the state. Any attempt to suppress our right to worship, preach, teach, practice, organize and peacefully engage society because of our belief in God is an attack not only on the cornerstone of human dignity, but also on the identity of the American experiment.

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The Cost of Independence

Thank you, to all those that have paid the cost of freedom at their expense of their own lives so that we may live in the best country in the world.

Thank you also to the Veterans that carry with them the cost for the rest of their lives.

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Happy Memorial Day 2011!

• Happy Memorial Day 2011!
  

• Please share this video with everyone...

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK0T4pVHP28
  

• "It is, in a way, an odd thing to honor
  those who died in defense of our country
  in wars far away. The imagination plays a
  trick. We see these soldiers in our mind as old
  and wise. We see them as something like the
  Founding Fathers, grave and gray-haired. But
  most of them were boys when they died, they
  gave up two lives -- the one they were living and
  the one they would have lived. When they died,
  they gave up their chance to be husbands and
  fathers and grandfathers. They gave up their chance
  to be revered old men. They gave up everything
  for their county, for us. All we can do is remember."
  -- President Ronald Wilson Reagan
  Remarks at Veteran's Day ceremony,
  Arlington National Cemetery November 11, 1985

• "I, a humble citizen of this great country USA,
  proudly salute the men and women of our Armed
  Forces all over the world! Thank You for securing
  our freedom, and providing us unmatched safety,
  peace, and making USA the greatest democracy
  in the world!
  
  
• "I moved to USA from India in 1987 to study.
  I became a U.S. citizen in 2008, and voted for the
  first time - this was a terrific experience. I am
  very grateful to USA for providing me great
  education, fantastic work experience, freedom,
  entrepreneurship, and success!! Above all, I am
  very thankful and grateful that I have been able
  to raise a wonderful family and grow here.

• "As U.S. citizen, I am particularly proud of
  the constitutional first amendment:
  "Congress shall make no law respecting an
  establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
  exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of
  speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
  peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
  Government for a redress of grievances."
  The fourth amendment:
  "The right of the people to be secure in their
  persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
  unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not
  be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but
  upon probable cause, supported by Oath or
  affirmation, and particularly describing the
  place to be searched, and the persons or
  things to be seized."
  Finally, the fourteenth amendment:
  "All persons born or naturalized in the
  United States, and subject to the jurisdiction
  thereof, are citizens of the United States and
  of the State wherein they reside. No State shall
  make or enforce any law which shall abridge
  the privileges or immunities of citizens of the
  United States; nor shall any State deprive any
  person of life, liberty, or property, without
  due process of law; nor deny to any person
  within its jurisdiction the equal protection of
  the laws"

• Sincere regards,
  Sanjay Dalal, CEO / Founder

• oGoing
  

• Small Business Social Network
  Catering to USA Small Businesses
  

• Join Now: www.oGoing.com

• follow: oGoing.com/sanjaydalal

• blog: www.SanjayDalal.com

• main: 949.288.6880

• (receptionist: 7 am to 5 pm PST M-F)

Things just got interesting... or boring.

Daniels has this much % chance of running.

Mitch Daniels - OUT.
Huck - Out.
Trump - Out.
Pence - Out.

If anyone thinks they know, or say they know what is going on - they don't. Politics is constantly a changing game, and a lot depends on what the "other guy/girl" does. With Daniels out, we have 4 "Big" names for sure out... that in November we thought would play a big roll in what happens. Now, like I said, we can't really know what is going to happen, we have to evaluate things step by step. Aside from those four, I don't think we can say for sure that anyone else is 'Out'.

What we can do is watch to see where momentum is mounting. That is the fun part of politics, you get to watch things happen... as if it were in slow motion. So let's look at the momentum areas, all of "Indiana" is out, so let us focus in on various groups:

• The Minnesota Delegation:
• Bachmann & Pawlenty: They can't run together, that would cut out Minnesota's Electoral College votes... but they both might run. Pawlenty has a lot of the same problems that some of the folks choosing not to run have... and Bachmann may actually be hurt by so many of the middle of the road moderates dropping out. 
• The Young Guns:
• Paul Ryan & Marco Rubio have said they aren't running... oh really? Something tells me the pressure mounts on these folks from the "draft" folks. These guys are going to be "pulling on some heartstrings" ... problem is they are unknown quantities on the national stage.
• The "Retro Crowd":
• Santorum, Romney, Ron Paul, Newt, Rudy - Now I am not saying these are all birds of a feather, but I am saying that they have been here before, and a lot of people are going to start saying, "See, I told you we should have gone with ________ in 2008." This might help some, and hurt others.
• The "I can't believe they are aren't running" crowd: 
• JEB & CHRISTIE - If you would have asked your typical everyday Republican a year ago whether Jeb & Christie should run, they would have probably laughed and said no, they can run their state but the country would never rally behind them. Well, it is now 2011 and folks are going to start begging these guys to run... if they haven't already.
• The Man & The Woman:
• At this moment, there are two people who I believe take center stage. That isn't to say they are going to get the win here, but the momentum and focus shift to them. Herman Cain and Sarah Palin. One is in... the other holds the pendulum. Herman Cain came in as a conservative "sentimental favorite" of folks like Erick Erickson and now seems to have a ton of the "conservative" support. Palin - what she does (or doesn't do) will have a huge affect on almost everyone else. 
• The ? Marks:
• There are a few names out there, that I think could jump into the race or could have an affect now that we have seen so many "Big names" drop out. Folks like Gary Johnson, Huntsman, Rick Perry. I know some will run, and some have said they wont, but people will put a focus on them until the picture gets more clear. Also, folks like Jindal and Barbour 

Now these groups are more for general focus, I don't think that the groups I put people has any more meaning than to help categorize them. All and all, I really don't think we are anywhere near having a clear or full picture of what is going to happen. Plus, once we do get a full slate of candidates, then the real interesting race and momentum start to happen. 

So, like I said, things just got more interesting or boring. It is sort of like when we hear that new Bishops are going to be announced, and we get all excited. Except we can't really know what is going to happen, until it does. 

The take away from all of this is - guys like, Huck, Daniels and Trump are all out. So is Pence, but that is a sore spot for me - I think he could and would win if he ran. As for the big takeaway here there are 5 people to watch, I think they become the biggest influences on this situation. That does not mean they are my top 5, or the best 5, or even the 5 that will make it to the end. What I am saying is they affect what happens with everyone else the most:

• Cain: Is he a marathon runner? Can he grab the reins and hold on through this whole process? If so can he raise money? Who would be a "rumored" running mate for him as we get to the point where that becomes important? Does he peak too soon?
• Romney: Love him, hate him, it doesnt matter - this guy is here and is raising billions, literally. McCain showed us that if you raise money, and can keep yourself from being labeled you might have the best chance. No one really knows where this guys stands on anything... his greatest strength is his greatest weakness.
• Pawlenty: What is this guys deal? If you asked me or other Catholics who we wanted once Pence was gone... this was the quick answer in January. Now with folks like Bachmann, Cain, and Palin around he doesn't seem to be the shining star. I know a lot about the guy, and I have no idea what he is like. I know this sounds shallow, but the name might hurt him, and his quiet conservative way might as well. 
• Christie: He probably won't will won't will won't will  run. I have no idea what this guy is going to do, which is what makes him such a force in this situation. The GOP needs strong, agressive, and bold leadership. They need a candidate that makes 2008 Barack Hussein Obama look like boring. If Palin doesn't run, look to him to become a major focus. (You could also see Jeb doing the same thing here).
• Palin: She is on the "clock" so she is the one everyone will be looking at to make her decision. I think her decision will influence a lot of 'Outs' one way or the other. So folks like Jeb, Christie, Ryan and Rubio will be heavily influenced one way or the other depending on what she does. Not only for fundraising reasons, but for spotlight reasons. Palin draws - love her or hate her, she draws, all the guys I mentioned are big names, but pale compared to Palin... that is important for many reasons, it might even make one of them an underdog, something they are not used to but could capitalize on. I think she is the biggest focus and will be long after her decision. If she throws 'In' - she becomes the instant #1, if she doesn't run - she becomes a focus not only for V.P. but also for who she backs and what she does between now and Nov. 2012. 

My Darkhorse: I still have a feeling about Bachmann. I think if she runs, and Palin doesn't she becomes a force, but different than Palin would be. She is bold enough to really shape the debates, the issues, and the focus of this race. Even if she doesn't eventually win, she will have an effect over what is said and done during the primary run-up. If cards fall a certain way she could end up the nominee and with a V.P. like a Christie or Jeb, this could be a Darkhorse candidate.

Ok, did anyone get this far? I just mentally threw some ideas down, and now I want this blog to self-destruct because it is shallow in analysis and I disagree with all of it. Like I said, politics is ever changing. Don't be surprised if this post disappears. 

###

Startup America initiative by President Obama and the White House - SBA Report

"I attended the "Startup America" event on May 12 at Stanford Law School. This event, organized by President Obama and the White House, provided a great forum for leaders, White House and SBA officials, entrepreneurs and community to connect and share our thoughts on growing and fostering startups and entrepreneurship in USA. I am happy to share that I was mentioned in the weekly news update by Small Business Administration - San Francisco District Office. I also submitted my idea for growing 1 million new entrepreneurs in USA." - Sanjay Dalal, CEO / Founder, Ogoing Inc., Small Business Social Network

In this issue:

White House “Startup America” Initiative Comes to Silico Valley
San Francisco District Office
News Update
May 13, 2011

‘Startup America’ Initiative Comes to Silicon Valley, the U.S. Startup Capital

STANFORD, CA - “Startup America,” the White House initiative to celebrate, inspire and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation, made a stop in the heart of the nation's startup capital for high tech yesterday during an afternoon event at Stanford University.

“Stanford University is a great place for the birth of companies,” said Stanford Law Professor Dan Siciliano, who welcomed 100 entrepreneurs, small business owners, business leaders and government officials to the campus during opening remarks. “The folks who started HP, Google and Yahoo, among others, all went to school here and started companies in the area. This is an exciting time and an exciting place to be right now.”

The coordinated public-private effort of “Startup America” brings together an alliance of the country‟s most innovative entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, foundations and other leaders working in convert with a wide range of federal agencies to dramatically increase the prevalence and success of America‟s entrepreneurs.

“America's story has been forged in large part by entrepreneurs who have against great odds created innovative products and services that have changed the world and created millions of jobs,” said Steve Case, the founder of AOL who was appointed by President Obama to chair the “Startup America: Reducing Barriers” initiative. “Our nation once again needs to look towards these creative risk-takers to unleash the next wave of American innovation.”

SBA's Sean Greene, who heads the agency's SBIC program, moderated opening comments on the state of entrepreneurship. Panelists included Peggy Hamburg, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Teresa Rea, deputy director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Ginger Lew, a senior advisor to the National Economic Council; Canice Wu, president of Plug and Play Tech Center; and Joe Grundfest, a Stanford law professor and the former commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Attending an event like this allows me to gain an insight into the thinking of my fellow entrepreneurs and policy makers,” said Sanjay Dalal, CEO and founder of OGoing Inc., a small business social network site. “I want to share some of my ideas with them and see what they think.”

Jose Corona, who heads the Oakland-based Inner City Advisors, said the people in attendance at the Stanford event like to shape success and meet challenges.
“Entrepreneurs focus on action,” observed Corona. “We can talk all day about problems but entrepreneurs and small business owners really want answers on fixing problems.”

Benjamin Abram, an associate with The Westly Group, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm, had praise for the government's role in business.

“Many of our nation's most innovative companies have arisen from federal programs like the SBIC,” said Abram, “and so many new jobs have been the result of those investments.”

Noted Congressman Mike Honda's deputy director in San Jose, Mike Nguyen, “We‟re glad "Startup America" stopped in Silicon Valley. We want a chance to shape public policy and help the economy grow.”

Thanks,
Bob Borden
Assistant District Director/Entrepreneurial Development
U.S. Small Business Administration
San Francisco District Office

Download the Startup America News Update from San Francisco SBA Office:

SFDO News Update 051311.pdf (555.16 kb)

President Obama and White House on American Innovation

Remarks by the President to the Chamber of Commerce
Posted on February 07, 2011 at 02:16 PM EST
Type: Press Article, Speeches and Remarks
for America to win the future.  We need to out-innovate, we need to out-educate, we need to out-build our competitors.  We need an economy that’s based not on what we consume and borrow from other nations, but what we make and what we sell around the world.  We need to make America the best place on Earth to do business.       And this is a job for all of us.  As a government, we will help lay the foundation for you to grow and innovate and succeed.  We will upgrade our transportation ... .  That’s what I want to talk about today –- the responsibilities we all have -- the mutual responsibilities we have -- to secure the future that we all share.       Now, as a country, we have a responsibility to encourage American innovation.  More...

Smarter Regulation
Posted on February 07, 2011 at 11:29 AM EST
Type: Blog post
-five significant reforms to its process for reviewing new medical devices, creating a smarter program that will promote innovation, keep jobs here at home, and bring safe, effective, and important technologies to patients more quickly. Responding to public ... developments have shown, we can advance plans to out innovate, out-educate and out build the world by eliminating unjustified regulatory burdens, even as we insist on common sense safeguards. But much more work needs to be done, and we’ll need your ideas ... More...

Raw Video: President Obama Drops-By a Meeting with Young Leaders at Penn State
Posted on February 07, 2011 at 09:54 AM EST
Type: Office of Public Engagement, Blog Post
President Obama made a surprise drop-by at a roundtable conversation with young Americans at Penn State University during his visit last week . The roundtable was one of four held by the White House Office of Public Engagement surrounding the President’s visit to Central Pennsylvania. The roundtables provided an opportunity for a diverse group of young leaders to sit down for a candid conversation with the White House on key issues the President has been working on, including jobs and the economy, the cost of education, civic engagement, energy, innovation, housing, Sudan, and equal rights. Check out some of what the President said during his visit: Play/pause Mute/unmute Rewind and stop ... More ...

Charles Bolden's Story: "From the Segregated South to Low Earth Orbit"
Posted on February 06, 2011 at 12:07 PM EST
Type: Blog Post
development and innovation that would be required, many African Americans have given their heart and soul to the space program. The list is long at NASA. Astronauts like Guion S. Bluford, Dr. Mae Jemison, Frederick D. Gregory, and Dr. Ronald McNair and Michael ... 's lives around the world through new technologies and discoveries and showing that with innovation, creativity and passion, you can knock down any barrier of race, ethnicity, creed, or gender. Learn more about NASA at NASA.gov . ... More...

Council on Women and girls Weekly Highlights
Posted on February 05, 2011 at 02:57 PM EST
Type: Council on Women and Girls, Blog Post
Welcome to this edition of the Council on Women and Girls weekly highlights. This week, President Obama emphasized the administration’s goal to win the future by visiting with innovators in business and the media. In keeping with his message of moving forward, the President also spoke on the situation in Egypt, stressing the importance of peaceful, democratic action as a force for change. Read below for more information on our activities. If you have friends or family who would like to join our ... ’s vision Watch the Weekly Address: Out-Innovating, Out-Educating & Out-Building Our Competitors Monique Dorsainvil is a Staff Assistant in the Office of Public Engagement focusing on the Council for Women and Girls and LGBT ...More...

Weekly Address: If Business and Government Fulfill Their Responsibilities, America Will Win the Future
Posted on February 05, 2011 at 06:00 AM EST
Type: Press Article, Statements and Releases
WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Obama said America can prosper and win the future by supporting innovation, education, and infrastructure.  This past week, the President highlighted how students and researchers at Penn State University are poised lead the way on innovation and job creation through their work on energy efficiency.  In the coming week, he will visit Marquette, Michigan, where high-speed broadband infrastructure is connecting a small town to the larger world ... , America needs to out-educate, out-innovate, and out-build the rest of the world.   On Thursday, I went to Penn State University, whose students and researchers are poised to lead the way on innovation and job creation.  They’re taking up ... More...

Weekly Address: Winning the Future through American Innovation
Posted on February 05, 2011 at 05:30 AM EST
Type: Blog Post, Includes Video
The President discusses the labs at Penn State as an example of how American innovation, particularly in infrastructure and energy, can create jobs and win the future for America. ... More...

Weekly Wrap Up: "Innovation Is What This Country Is All About"
Posted on February 04, 2011 at 06:41 PM EST
Type: Blog Post
";To support American innovation, what my administration is trying to do is not just hand out money.  What we’re doing is we’re issuing a challenge. Because right now, some of the most promising innovation is happening ... generations."; --President Obama, speaking at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania, about the future of American innovation. Watch the speech here . President Barack Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu tour ... , the Department of Transportation shares the story of Alex Brown in this moving video . American Innovation Abroad: U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk meets with members of the President's Technology CEO Council to discuss how the Administration ... More...

Keep up with the latest talk, thoughts and ideas on American Innovation by President Obama and White House Staff here...

Breaking: CNN Reports - "Pence rules out 2012 bid"

Bummer! But at the same time... he is ramping up for a later run I have a feeling!

Mike Pence - (R) Indiana | CNN Photo

Here is the CNN Report:

(CNN) – Two sources close to Republican Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana tell CNN they are told he will announce he is not running for president in 2012 and will instead begin exploring a run for governor.
These sources say he has been flattered by the efforts to nudge him into the GOP presidential race but, as one of the sources put it, "he is a realist and kept coming back to questions about the fund-raising." The second source said some around Pence also have reminded him of the difficulty of mounting a presidential campaign from the House, and noted that, at age 51, he would have a better platform to explore a presidential run if he first was elected governor.

The Republican congressman from Indiana's 6th Congressional District easily won re-election in November, beating his Democratic challenger by more than a two- to-one margin.
The third ranking House Republican then announced that he would step down at the end of the year from his leadership role as Republican Conference Chairman, sparking more speculation that Pence might be gearing up for a White House bid or a run for Indiana governor.

The current governor, Republican Mitch Daniels, is term limited, and also the subject of speculation over a possible White House bid. Indiana Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, also a Republican, announced late last month that she would not make a bid for the state's top job, increasing speculation that Pence would run for Indiana governor.

While Pence polls in the low single digits in most national surveys on a hypothetical 2012 GOP nomination match-up, he did create a lot of buzz by winning the presidential straw poll at the Values Voter Summit in September.

Earlier this month, two separate groups launched efforts to draft Pence make a bid for the White House.

If he announces for governor, a state ethics law passed last year would prevent Pence from campaigning immediately for the job. The measure prohibi
ts political fundraising by candidates for statewide office until the completion of the state legislature's session, which this year is scheduled to finish up in late April.
–CNN's Paul Steinhauser and Peter Hamby contributed to this report.

Dear Mr. President: Salmon are no laughing matter: An Open Letter to President Obama

The State of the Union (SOTU) was last night, and although this is a quasi-political blog, I will not bore you with my play-by-play on it. You can find that sort of thing in various places that are much smarter than I am. Instead, I am writing an open letter to the President about what is being called the comment that "all anyone seems to be talking about." The Salmon joke.

Now for those of you that didn't watch, read, or listen to the speech you have no idea what I am talking about. Well the Washington Post summarizes it in an article today:

President Obama's State of the Union address focused primarily on winning the future, competitiveness and "sustaining the American dream."

But all anyone seems to remember is the salmon.

Talking about an urgent need to reorganize the federal government, Obama noted that "The Interior Department is in charge of salmon while they're in fresh water, but the Commerce Department handles them in when they're in saltwater. I hear it gets even more complicated once they're smoked."

The joke earned one of the biggest laughs of the night and has since dominated TV news recaps of the speech. It also appears to be the most well-remembered moment of the night among Americans who watched, at least according to [NPR].

What makes jokes funny is the truth element in them. Unfortunately for Alaskans, and really the rest of America, the truth element of this joke is the furthest thing from funny. So in lieu of a commentary on the speech in specifics, I am writing an Open Letter to the President regarding this joke... as I am offended as both an Alaska, and an American.

Dear Mr. President:

I write you today because of the Salmon joke you told in last nights State of the Union. As an Alaskan and as an American that depends on the health of the economy for my financial well being I found the joke ill-timed, offensive, and not the least bit funny. We often tell jokes where we understand the truth element, but don't understand how closely they cut. It is the same reason why "ethnic" jokes are funny unless you are telling them to someone of that ethnicity.

I assume that someone such as yourself, that is financially removed from the effects of the economy, doesn't understand how government regulations, taxes, and federal departmental bureaucracies are job-killing limitations that choke and strangle economic prosperity for most Americans. So I am writing you this letter to explain it, so that you won't make the same mistake twice.

You see, as an Alaska, Salmon are of huge importance. They provide both food and income for many Alaskans. In fact, the Salmon industry is critical to a good portion of the business that is done in the state and that keeps it afloat. This explanation though would be the same regardless of the industry: oil, gas, minerals, tourism, etc... Unfortunately though, the source of your joke: the over-bearing and fiercely complex regulatory scheme of the federal government stifle each and every one of these industries.

Now, to be fair I know you made this joke following a comment that we need to reorganize the federal government. Sadly though, I find your call for such a thing insincere. Your "Obama-care" health legislation flies directly in the face of such a call. In fact, for Obama care to "work" there are dozens of new federal bureaucracies that need to be created. How is this a reduction or re-organization of the government? I guess you can "reorganize" a room by throwing everything in the closet, but what does that do for all the junk, let alone the closet? It makes a bigger mess waiting to explode. Your SOTU was transparent and hollow. Your "change" has inspired "hope" for one thing - a new administration come 2012.

The fishing and hunting laws in this state are made infinitely more complex because of the federal intrusion into the state, due to all the federally owned land. Fishing is controlled at different levels depending on the nature of the water, where the fish are, and the permits and licenses involved. At an individual level dealing with such things is nearly impossible. Making things worse, is when the government plays favorites and allows for these regulations to be ignored or handicapped for certain "groups." In Alaska for example you have federal 8(a) groups that are given no-bid federal contracts.

The government was created to work for the American people, and yet we are at the point where it works against it. When a fishing family has to deal with multiple state and federal agencies for one product, it is no wonder that the economy is in the shape that it is. A single family could easily fish salt and fresh water for the same salmon and then have a smoker at home. Why should they have to jump through the hoops of at least 3 federal departments, agencies, and bureaucracies? These socialist control measures are anti-American.

If you want to re-organize, you need to reduce federal regulations. Production and American business are the key to economic future and the prosperity of generations to come. Freezing spending, reorganization of the government, and innovation are smoke and mirrors and the words of a socialist. We need to succeed with the resources and people we have here and today. As Congressman Young says "production is the key to our future, not gestures.” He is right Mr. President. We can freeze, reorganize, and shift the government around all we want, but we will still drown.

We are over-spending, driving up the debt, adding rockets to the sky-rocketing deficit, and strangulating the economy with the bloated bureaucracies we currently have. We must reduce the government in all possible ways. That means less spending, less regulation, less services, less laws, less workers, less intervention, less EVERYTHING!

Mr. President, your joke wasn't funny. People in Alaska feel the effects of the government everyday. We pay more for car fuel that 95% of America does, and we are sitting on Oil Fields. Why? Because of federal regulation. We have more trees than any state in the union, but our timber production is miniscule compared that of other states. Why? Federal regulation. Our fishing industry has new laws and restrictions every year - from the federal government. Salmon are no laughing matter to us.

This joke goes to show how out of touch with the average American you really are. It also shows how out of touch with our economic problems you really are as well. It isn't that I am sensitive, it is that we need a President that isn't making jokes about our drowning economy but doing something to stop our country from going bankrupt. Every time I look at my daughter I wonder how her generation is going to pay the debt that my generation incurred. And for what? How are we better off with more government? How has more spending helped us? Didn't you recently have Halibut at the Press Lunch prior to the SOTU? Well, new federal regulations are in place this year on the Halibut fisheries, so if I were you I wouldn't plan on putting that on the menu again next year.

In closing I leave you with a joke of my own, and don't worry it isn't the one about the "'Mama Grizzly' and the Salmon." Here it goes:
"What do you call a one-term president who went to Harvard?"
Oh I am sorry, is that not funny to you sir?

Sincerely,

An American

I know that it was a tad more polite than I should have been, but you attract more flies with honey than vinegar.

###

Boehner invokes Catholic Faith during first speech as Speaker

Congressman John Boehner, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, invoked his Catholic Faith during his first speech as Speaker of the 112th Congress of the United States. He appears unwilling to make his faith a "private" matter. It is very early obviously, but if this is any sign, it is a very good and strong way to start out.

An excerpt from his speech:

“In the Catholic faith, we enter into a season of service by having ashes marked on our foreheads. The ashes remind us that life in all its forms is fragile – our time on this Earth, fleeting. As the ashes are delivered, we hear those humbling words: ‘Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’

“The American people have humbled us. They have refreshed our memories as to just how temporary the privilege to serve is. They have reminded us that everything here is on loan from them. That includes this gavel, which I accept cheerfully and gratefully, knowing I am but its caretaker. After all, this is the people’s House. This is their Congress. It’s about them, not us. What they want is a government that is honest, accountable and responsive to their needs. A government that respects individual liberty, honors our heritage, and bows before the public it serves."

This is a far cry from the former 'Catholic' speaker, let us hope that the differences will continue, in may ways.

God Speed Speaker... God Speed!



Link:
Full Text of Speech & Video

†††

Say it isn't so...

Is this true? I want to argue that it isn't true, but when you see an image like this you almost have to say that maybe the headline is on to something. 

I know the major problem most folks have with this is: "If I am going to subject myself to this type of intrusion, it better work." I think that in the minds of everyday people, there is a doubt. That doubt comes from the fact that over the last decade our airport security has continually ramped itself up, and yet it seems like we are barely staying ahead of the threat. 

The Dream - Realized!

Leave home without it - Lessons in poor customer service from American Express

Late Eighties, Early Nineties

My first credit card was American Express (NYSE: AXP) ... when I was doing my undergrad at The University of Texas at Austin in late eighties & early nineties. American Express offered me a credit card, and I accepted their offer for three reasons:

1. Indians don't like to owe money, and I loved the fact that you have to make your monthly payment in full for the American Express card.
2. American Express offered round-trip airline deals with Northwest Airlines for $99 anywhere in the U.S. within defined zones (and I used this offer a few times and enjoyed every bit of it).
3. Auto insurance coverage. When you rent a car with the American Express card, you did not need to buy additional auto insurance. And I loved this feature.

Those were the early college days, and I was definitely proud of being the American Express card holder, and never left home without it!

Fast Forward

My current American Express card is the American Express for Business card. I have had this card since 2001. I was a proud member, and always got a thrill out of watching the Seinfeld commercials... And I was enjoying the services of my card until recently...

During the last three years, I began carrying a modest balance on my card owing to growing my startup business, and having accumulated some debt from moving & related expenses (we moved from Fremont, CA to Irvine, CA in 2007).

I have always been making my monthly payments on the card, and for a period of one year to eighteen months, I even enrolled in their program wherein I made the required monthly payments that helped reduce the overall balance without incurring any interest expenses (the only downside was that I could not use the card during this period).

However, I am no longer in this program, and have been making more than the required monthly minimums, and am beginning to focus on growing my business...

What does American Express do? They add "insult to the injury" by taking away my credit... so in essence, after my working hard to reduce the balance, and creating an available credit in the thousands which could have helped me grow my business, American Express just arbitrarily cut my entire available credit. In essence, American Express "expressed" that I cannot use their card for any new expense. Even though I have been making more than the required minimum payments on time.

Leave Home Without It

Thank you American Express for this years of loyalty and customer service... I am no longer a proud member of my American Express card, and I am going to leave home without it! I no longer find a need for your credit card, and rather than you forcing the issue by reducing my available credit and not letting me use the card, I have decided to not use your card entirely... and oh yes, I will be mailing your card back to you "cut in half" of course... and I will talk about my experience to my friends & business contacts.

Why Innovators Fail?

American Express has been an innovator for over hundred and fifty years... however, the current economy and recession has put this innovator to test. And whereas American Express has been doing well and turning around financially, I am sure that loyal card members of American Express have felt the pinch and have had to bear the brunt wherein their credit lines have been reduced or eliminated altogether... One can argue that American Express is doing the right thing for the shareholder... however, is American Express doing the right thing for America and the American business? They ought to be helping the small business, and helping them grow... Today I have some unanswered questions...

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Update:

Here's the ho-hum response I got from American Express on July 7, 2010:

Dear Sanjay Dalal,

Thank you for writing in.

I understand your concern regarding the reduction in the line of credit on your Card. I would have liked to help you with the reason of the reduction or any other information regarding this, but unfortunately, we at Email Servicing do not have access to this information.

I have checked your account and see that the line of credit has been reduced by our Account Services. I would therefore request you to contact our Account Services Team at 1-800-842-5303 (24 hours/ 7 days) and they will be able to explain the reason for reduction. If you are outside the US please call collect at 1-336-393-1111.

If there's any other we may be of assistance, do write back to us.

Sincerely, Shruti Tandon Email Servicing Team American Express Interactive Services

Later, I had a conversation with American Express Account Services... Here's a gist of the conversation:

1. Their primary reason for reducing my credit line without informing me was a drop in my Experian credit score! And they offered to send me the Experian credit report (which I already have access to. I have already disputed a few items on my credit with Experian).

Update July 16: It appears that the real culprit could be Experian! I went to US Bank to open a new business account and obtain a business line of credit. I opened the business account, but when US Bank pulled my credit report, they were shown a credit score of only 589 from Experian. I told the business manager that my credit score has never been below 600... I was not satisfied with the explanation given while I was there. I pulled my own credit report from Experian the very same day in the evening, Experian gave me a score of 671. Thus, there is a huge disconnect between what Experian tells me what my credit score is, and what Experian tells the would be lenders such as Banks and Credit Card companies. Even the US Bank underwriting department was surprised by this disconnect. They have denied me credit based on the lower credit score reported by Experian to them; however, when I showed them my own credit report provided by Experian on the same day that shows a much higher score, they are not able to accept this. Now they are asking me to contact Experian and resolve this. Net: US Bank can't resolve this. American Express perhaps also acted in part due to what Experian reported them wrongly. Now, I need to get an answer from Experian and get to the bottom of this... Can't imagine why they will "mess" with a regular Joe...

2. My debt ratio (again based on the Experian report)

3. Some other mumbo-jumbo financial stuff...

Again, I asked them on whether my loyalty to American Express, multiple years of membership, my making payments on-time mattered... apparently it did not!

I told Account Services that the decision is mutual, and just as they decided to reduce my credit line and in essence stipulate my using the card, I decided to not use it at all...

We parted ways... she wished me good luck, I wished American Express good luck! An end of a chapter...

Happy Memorial Day!

• Happy Memorial Day wishes to you and family!!

• Please share this video with everyone...

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uddkol1Rlm0

• I, a humble citizen of this great country USA,
  proudly salute the men and women of our Armed
  Forces all over the world!! Thank You for securing
  our freedom, and providing us unmatched safety,
  peace & happiness!! USA is the greatest
  democracy in the world!
  
  
• I moved to USA from India in 1987 to study.
  I became a U.S. citizen in 2008, and voted for the
  first time - this was a terrific experience. I am very
  grateful to USA for providing me this wonderful
  education, fantastic work experience, freedom,
  entrepreneurship, and success!! Above all, I am
  very thankful and grateful that I have been able
  to raise a wonderful family and grow here.
  

• Sincere regards,
  Sanjay Dalal, CEO / Founder

• oGoing
  

• Small Business Social Network
  

• www.oGoing.com

• follow: oGoing.com/sanjaydalal

• blog: www.SanjayDalal.com

• main: 949.288.6880

• (receptionist: 7 am to 5 pm PST M-F)

Underwear Bomber... a TEST RUN??

I wasn't going to post about this issue. I didn't have time to do the research necessary, and we all have been  inundated with info about it, so I was sure that I didn't need to add to it. Especially considering the fact that I have been struggling with it internally, I decided it was best to leave it to the 'experts.' That was until I read these:

The Digital Hairshirt: Accessories
Patrick Madrid: Game Changer
DetNews: Wisc. Man Claims Incident Video Taped

These articles made me think that this incident may not have been an 'actual' attack. Yes, it was an attack, yes it was against out country and Christianity - ON CHRISTMAS. But maybe the intent was never to actually blow up the plane. This is just a theory, and I know I have done this before, so hang with me.

Let's pretend that there was a video taper of the incident. If the plane was SUPPOSED to blow up, what good would a tape be? None. So what would be the point? The point of taping is to watch - but what were they looking for. Again, going on the theory that this was staged and never intended as an actual "blow-up" we then have to analyze all aspects of it.

What were they looking for:

• The passengers reactions?
• The crews reactions? 
• Did they get what they were looking for?

The tape theory doesn't lend itself to these theories; but how about our reaction by DHS, the Administration, etc... if it was a 'dry run' what have they 'gained'?

I don't believe it was a 'real' attack. I have a feeling this was some sort of rehearsel. I know there are those that have forwarded this theory, and in response a lot of people reply with the argument that such a theory is silly because all it did was raise our 'awareness' and tip the terrorists 'hand.' My reply is, "What have we changed? REALLY?" We don't know their plan, this sort of device could EASILY still be on board, and if all they wanted was a plane blown up they could have accomplished it, right?

Now let's really throw the monkey wrench into this. Remember last week when the Obama Administration said that there will be a new 3-hour max for planes waiting on runways? What about waiting in-line at the airport? So now how do we reconcile all this with new "security measures?"

I just don't think is the last of all of this. I think there are too many things that point to something else, even though I am not quite sure what that "else" is. I hope that in the next few weeks we figure out a way to ensure the security of our air, our lives, and our freedom. I also hope that we take this serious and the appropriate steps are taken as opposed to a show being put on simply to make us all "feel" better.

The most that the majority of us can do is ... well, pray.

Detroit News on HomeSchool "Witch-hunt"

**(UPDATE)**
The current survey on the Detroit News website shows exactly where Michiganders are on this issue:

Michigan's laws on home schooling include no instruction-time requirements, no curriculum standards, no minimum education level for the teachers and no testing. Should the state toughen its laws on home schooling?
Yes 26.01%
No 73.99%

Remember the scene from Monty Python about the witches? [If you don't you can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_l5ntikaU]

Well, it seems like the Detroit News is doing the same thing. They are attacking Home-schooling for some unknown reason and seems to be spurred by one incident that happened back in 2008 where a girl died in a fire due to the abuse of her parents. She was kept from school under the guise of being home-schooled. This makes the writer equate that Home-schooling is a danger to our children. On top of that, the writer is slick enough to camouflage the article in an investigatory tone. [This makes me even MORE suspicious.] If you think that writers don't have a motive to write the next big "Breaking Investigative Story" - you are sadly mistaken.

Here are a few excerpts [my comments in black and blue (The burgundy is the DetNews Article by Mr. French)]:

Michigan has one of the most lenient home school laws in the nation, giving tens of thousands of families the freedom to teach their children in the manner they want without government interference.[Sets it up in a way to make readers think he is a freedom loving individual] But timid and sporadic enforcement of the law's minimal requirements has been exploited by some unscrupulous parents hiding abuse or educational neglect. [I haven't seen that many qualifiers in one sentence since Al Gore tried to explain that whole Global Warming Scam.]

Because the state is barred from collecting any data on home school students, [Is that a pressuposition that such date should be collected?] it's impossible to know how many parents may be abusing the law or how well those students are doing academically.[As opposed to Detroit where only 25% of students graduate high-school - in a district where more money is spent per student than almost anwhere in the mid-west and possibly country.] But at least two deaths can be traced to parents pulling their children from public schools to squelch abuse complaints, authorities say.[Since when? This year... ever...?] In both cases, parents claimed they were home schooling their children despite having no books or educational materials in their homes. [Hmm... I wonder if students ever die in the care of the AMAZINGLY SAFE public schools?]

This is just the beginning folks. This writer goes on for paragraphs pre-supposing that public schools are the set-point for education in our culture, that they are safe, that the education is good, and that home-schools are just unorganized cesspools of abuse and haphazard learning environments. Think I am over exaggerating? Read on:

No one knows the exact count, because state law bars officials from collecting records. [Wording this sentence in this manner implies that there is some natural positive duty or obligation of the state to have such information or be in ownership of such facts.]  The effect is that a Spartan Stadium-full of Michigan kids has dropped off the radar. Some studies suggest home-schooled students fare as well or better academically than their public school peers, although many home-schooled students don't take standardized tests. [This sentence is emblamatic of how faulty this entire article is: first he discounts the studies, then he discounts the entire proposal, and then he presupposes that standardized tests are the best way to measure student knowledge. Sounds like he works for the education system.]

Clearly this writer is blaming Home-schooling for the death and abuse of children. He seems to insinuate that if stricter limitations were put on the home-school families in Michigan, children would be safer, and the state could make sure they were learning what they were supposed to. He also implies that Calista Springer, a girl who died in a fire due to the abuse of her parents would be alive today if it weren't for the lack of home-school regulations. One problem:

Several complaints were lodged against the Springers to Children's Protective Services. It's not known publicly whether Centreville school officials were the source of those complaints, because complainants are kept confidential. What is known is school personnel, such as teachers, principals, counselors and nurses, are mandated by state law to report suspicions of abuse and neglect to the state agency. School officials turned in 13,287 complaints of suspected abuse and neglect statewide in 2007, the most recent year data is available. Those complaints accounted for more than 30 percent of all complaints made to Children's Protective Services, more than from any other group. [Where does the other 70% come from? I mean complaints are good, but he alluded to a MUCH higher number in his arguments above. He made it seem as if every child went to a public school then all abuse would be monitored. But only 3 out of every 10 reports come from schools?]

After the Springers pulled Calista from public school in 2005, telling officials they were going to home school their daughter, the abuse complaints stopped. [So the fault is on Home-schooling??!? What happened to all those complaints (plural)?? They stop so the state figures, "All is well!"?? Where is the outrage at the poor CPS system??? Talk about blame shifting.]

So what is this writer getting at? Why is he trying to "reform" the system? Well here is a glimpse at why:

But most states have other restrictions on home schools that likely would have prevented or halted Calista's home schooling. [AHHH... of course REGULATIONS!] Eleven states require home schools to be taught by certified teachers [I can hear his battle-cry: "Home-school reform will create jobs! And spur the economy!"]; 40 states require a certain number of instruction hours per day; 22 require testing.[Because - "More=better."]

Pennsylvania requires in-home visits by home school inspectors, who talk to the children about their education. ["So kids, what did you learn about today? WHAT? G-d?? NO!!!!" Don't think it would come to that... read a few posts back about Taunton.]

So you see, this WHOLE article is built and designed precisely for more regulations, oversight, and intervention. These people, these "elitists" in the media, government, and academia think they know better than you. In fact they think they know better for you! That is an important distinction. Again if you don't believe me here is the support:

A 2009 analysis of state home school policies conducted by Catherine Lugg, associate professor of education at Rutgers, and Andrea Rorrer, assistant professor of education at the University of Utah, found Michigan to have among the most permissive home school laws in the nation. [See, the cultural ELITE; they went to STATE regulated schools and therefore are SMART!] Those laws, while offering well-intentioned parents educational options for their children, "may unintentionally [unintentionally is a nice way of calling you "STUPID"] place (some) children at risk for poor educational outcomes, as well as endanger their well-being, in some instances," Lugg and Rorrer wrote.

Smith, of the ombudsman's office, recalls one case [one? really... well in that case BRING ON THE REGULATIONS! The whole system is corrupt!] in which the state was unable to stop a family with multiple abuse and neglect complaints from pulling [STOP! Before reading on... realize something... MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS. The parents were KNOWN TO BE PULLING their children from public school. (The argument in the article is that lax regulations prevent the state from knowing that parents pull their children from public school.)] their children from public school to home school, even though both parents were developmentally disabled. [So the state had ALL these facts... but let the children stay with their parents. So it implies that these were incapable parents and were only allowed to keep their children BECAUSE they decided to home school them?????? Does he think we are that daft as to not see him playing fast and loose with these facts???]

"If the children are not in (public) school, there's a whole segment of people who are responsible for filing complaints who are no longer in the children's lives," Smith said. "It's an opportunity for people who don't want outside attention." [This might be the most menacing part of the WHOLE article. This quote symbolizes what this author and what other controlling-statist-elitists believe: that they are smarter, more skilled, and better equipped to raise your children and oversee them. Parents are simply feeders and bathers.]

So he is building his case that Home-schooling killed Calista. Want the smoking gun? Here it is:

"Home school played a role in Calista's death," said prosecutor McDonough. "They basically eliminated any person who could have reported abuse, and the justification was the home school law." [Boom!]

The rest of the story is a bunch of blather about why the laws don't change and all the insurmountable obstacles state officers have in enforcing the proper care of children. This article is a menace. It is on the FRONT PAGE of the DETROIT NEWS. During a time where unemployment is over 25% in the state (50% in some cities); the nation is on the verge of the largest tax increase and social program ever implemented in the history of our country,  and the president's approval ratings are sinking faster than Tiger Woods' the titanic. ABOVE THE FOLD? REALLY?

Now let me put out a disclaimer: I was NOT home-schooled. I am passionate about it though, and feel that our educational system is a joke. I have a TON of respect for teachers, but that does not  mean I have to respect the regulations over the system. Michigan requires an educational certification to teach. So if you have a PhD you can't teach in a Michigan school because you didn't take classes on lesson plans and child psychology. I know that seems like a low-blow, but the author of this article represents a section of people that think that regulation and "education" fix everything. What needs fixing is now HOW we teach our children but WHAT we teach them.

You can find the original article here: Lax Home-School Laws Put Kids at Risk

I also suggest you write the author and tell him how WRONG he is:

rfrench@detnews.com (313) 222-2175

Also a survey here: Home-School Survey

Dockers "Man-ifesto"...

Big ole' cowboy H/T: to Truemanhood.com for this:

It is a Dockers Ad. It leaves me wanting more... and a little underwhelmed. Sure, it is a nice effort, and I get that it is a product ad and not an actual "Man-ifesto." But what really shocked me is that this ad is somewhat very sarcastic. We live in a culture where these things are so alien to us, that an advertisement can utilize them in a nostalgic way. Nostalgic? Yes, think about about the target audience for this ad or Dockers for that matter? What, 34-65? 24-48? [Think about who wears and buys Dockers.] Regardless... we are looking at around 30-40 years since these things were actually virtues men possessed. So let's do a little math problem:

2009 - 35 = 1974

So... the last time that men en masse possessed these virtues was approximately 1974. Then, you have to figure that it probably took our society about 5-10 years to kill and drain men of these virtues so we need to do a tad more subtraction:

1974 - 5 = 1969

Woodstock Music Festival = 1969

I wonder if there is ANY correlation between the loss of these virtues from Men and the counter-culture revolution of the 1960's? What do you think?

When will MEN reclaim their Manhood? For the sake of our culture and society... hopefully soon.

Sarah Palin: A post redux

So I received a comment in my last post about Sarah Palin and it brought to my attention something that I overlooked in my initial post. It was something that I would have missed had the commentator not brought it to my attention. You see, most readers don't know my history of support for Sarah Palin, and they don't understand the context in which that first post was written.

You see... I was so conflicted over the McCain pick of Palin. I remember exactly where I was when I found out, and I had in fact told my parents that she would be a good VP pick, before we even knew McCain was the person. [I made the pick/guess when I thought that there was a chance that Romney or even Thompson were going to get the Republican nod - so you see I am not some political genius.] So when McCain, someone whom I was not and am not a political fan of chose her, it was somewhat bitter-sweet for me.

I have always been a fan of Alaska, even prior to moving here. So the Sarah Palin ascent in this state was something that I followed at afar first. This state is very unique, and so her victory into the governorship was very interesting. It was a statement about what this state wanted, but more importantly what it needed.

Likewise in the lower 48 there seems to be that same sentiment. So my first post was more about that. The re-emergence of Sarah Palin post Decision 2008. Most VP candidates who lose are doomed to a life of irrelevance. Even those who become VP for the most part are left to exists in political mediocrity. Few go on after being tapped to make any sort of waves. Here is a recent list:

• Walter Mondale
• Geraldine A. Ferraro
• Lloyd Bentsen
• Al Gore
• Joe Lieberman
• John Edwards
• Bob Dole
• George HW Bush
• Dan Quayle
• Jack Kemp
• Dick Cheney

So my point isn't so much that I am just realizing what Sarah Palin is... but trying to explain to other that she appears to be transforming before our eyes. Not into something new, but something bigger. There are a lot of people here in Alaska that are still confused and perplexed at why she stepped down. There are a lot of good explanations, but it is understandable that people don't accept those explanations or continue to question the ultimate decision.

Regardless of that issue though, Sarah Palin is here to stay. A losing VP candidate from the last election is now within the margin of error in some polls when posed against our current, first term President who is less than a year into his role. That is unfathomable. Not only that, but her BOOK tour has been a major news story... including every stop along the way. [All while such huge stories such as Tiger Woods, the Health Care votes, and the Afghan surge exist.]

The reason this woman, aside from her political implications, matters to this blog is two-fold. First, I am a fan, a big one, and I think she could do great things in a multitude of roles. But secondly, and most importantly she has brought very important questions to the table and have placed them in the arena of dialogue. She is forcing the Republican party to chose conservatism or relativism. She is making this country talk about the role of families, government, and the role both play in our national life. She talks about the people that don't live in the cities, that don't believe that the government is the first solution, and don't believe that they elect people to make major decisions for them. 

Sarah Palin gets under the skin of the media, of the cultural elite,  and of hollywood. They don't like her because she is a danger to them. She is the inverse of those groups. She is small town and private living. She makes her mistakes, takes her bumps, and keeps on ticking. She puts herself out there and makes the media report on her... which in turn annoys them because it keeps her relevant. She makes statements which the press tries to assassinate her with, only to have her poll numbers rise. 

The commentator that inspired this post also said something, which I very much agree with. "You either love her or hate her." I think this is true... and I think that is the sign that this woman is something special and something important. As you know, I take the cultural and societal battle we are all in very seriously. I think there are two sides and the middle ground is fiction. Dante said: "The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality during times of moral crisis." I believe he is right. I believe that Sarah Palin drew a line in the sand during the 2008 election. That wasn't enough. So she regrouped, went and got some heavy equipment and is digging a canyon. When the 2012 elections come around I think Sarah Palin will have molded the social and political landscape in such a way that we will for the first time in a long while have a true Conservative candidate. I don't know if she will be on the ticket, but I think her message is resonating loud enough, and gaining such support that we as a nation will demand a real conservative candidate. 

She isn't just a pretty face, but it helps. In fact, it helps so much that it infuriates the left. Sarah Palin has really good policies, but you don't hear about them. It isn't due to the lack of anything substantive, it is due to the lack of coverage. You see our current "news" media works on hate, fear, and failure. Sarah's policies more often than not - simply work. Sure there are some losses and mistakes along the way, all politicians have em. There are also lots of areas in which people can disagree, that's the nature of the game. Yet, you don't hear the media attacking her policies because the public wouldn't stand for it right now. Not with the abysmal job the current president is doing. 

So you see, right now Sarah Palin is doing something that almost no losing VP candidate, or any VP for that matter, has done in decades. She is remaining relevant, and in fact gaining in relevance. Although I have tried to keep this blog mostly Catholic, and mostly about American CATHOLIC politics, I think that Sarah Palin is an important enough person who embodies the principles of American Catholic politics enough to justify covering her in some posts. I think she is here to stay, and will only grow in her influence and her relevance.