Re: America goes to the polls

**bb1** Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:48 pm

IMO, Sony did get hacked, and all those embarrassing emails, etc released - but it was by a disgruntled ex-employee who knew how lax their security was.

The rest was showbiz. And no, I won't be rushing to watch the dire movie, I wouldn't even watch it for free.

**lily** Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:55 pm

Their emails were hacked but the movie wasn't.

Am more than well aware of egos in that business so was not in the least surprised by what the contents were. The fact I personally know at least one person, more interesting. biggrin

**bb1** Tue Dec 23, 2014 5:58 pm

I suspect the emails were funnier than the movie script will be. In fact, this whole thing could be a movie script - Wag the Dog 2, mayhap?

**lily** Tue Dec 23, 2014 6:20 pm

There is no question that the e-mails will be. For anyone working in the business, it's business as usual.

**bb1** Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:42 am

The worst possible thing happened overnight:

http://news.sky.com/story/1397150/black-teen-shot-dead-by-police-in-st-louis

Black Teen Shot Dead By Police In St Louis
Police say the 18-year-old was armed when he was killed just two miles from where Michael Brown was shot dead in Ferguson.

A black teenager has been shot dead by a police officer in the same city where the killing of Michael Brown sparked global protests.

The 18-year-old was killed at a Mobil petrol station in the suburb of Berkeley in St Louis, Missouri, on Tuesday night.

Sergeant Brian Schellman, from St Louis County Police, said a police officer was conducting a routine business check at around 11.15pm when he saw two men and approached them.

He said one of the men pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the officer.

Sgt Schellman said: "Fearing for his life, the Berkeley Officer fired several shots, striking the subject, fatally wounding him."

He added that the second suspect fled.

Detectives said they recovered the dead man's weapon at the scene.

A crowd of around 60 people gathered at the scene, where a police cordon was set up around the forecourt.

Video, which is being live-streamed online, showed a wall of police officers, some wearing riot helmets, guarding the scene with bystanders shouting at them in a tense standoff.

Footage showed fireworks or smoke bombs being let off.

A number of people were arrested and there were also reports of people trying to break into local businesses.

More at link.

**bb1** Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:58 pm

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/did-the-fbi-get-it-wrong-on-north-korea/

Was FBI wrong on North Korea?
118 Comments Shares Tweets Stumble Email More +
LOS ANGELES -- Cybersecurity experts are questioning the FBI's claim that North Korea is responsible for the hack that crippled Sony Pictures. Kurt Stammberger, a senior vice president with cybersecurity firm Norse, told CBS News his company has data that doubts some of the FBI's findings.

"Sony was not just hacked, this is a company that was essentially nuked from the inside," said Stammberger.
tracy-sony-hack-transferframe233.jpg
Kurt Stammberger, a senior vice president with cybersecurity firm Norse CBS NEWS
While Norse is not involved in the Sony case, it has done its own investigation.

"We are very confident that this was not an attack master-minded by North Korea and that insiders were key to the implementation of one of the most devastating attacks in history," said Stammberger.

He says Norse data is pointing towards a woman who calls herself "Lena" and claims to be connected with the so-called "Guardians of Peace" hacking group. Norse believes it's identified this woman as someone who worked at Sony in Los Angeles for ten years until leaving the company this past May.

Former Anonymous hacker doubts North Korea behind Sony attack
"This woman was in precisely the right position and had the deep technical background she would need to locate the specific servers that were compromised," Stammberger told me.

Other experts in cybersecurity and private intelligence are also questioning the FBI's claim that North Korea is solely to blame for the Sony hack.

"There are certainly North Korean fingerprints on this but when we run all those leads to ground they turn out to be decoys or red herrings," said Stammberger.

For instance while the malware used to attack Sony has been used by North Korea before, it is also used by hackers around the world every day.

It's worth noting that the original demand of the hackers was for money from Sony in exchange for not releasing embarrassing information. There was no mention of the movie "The Interview," which will see a limited theatrical release on Christmas Day. The FBI is still continuing its investigation into the Sony hack.

**bb1** Sat Dec 27, 2014 6:42 pm

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-27/hundreds-nypd-officers-turn-their-back-de-blasio-again

Hundreds Of NYPD Officers Turn Their Back On de Blasio Again

Lesson from history-

IT'S NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO UPSET THE PRAETORIAN GUARDS.

**bb1** Sat Dec 27, 2014 7:21 pm

http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/12/26/obama-breaks-head-gear-rule-girl-scouts-agrees-don-tiara

Obama Breaks Head Gear Rule for Girl Scouts, Agrees to Don Tiara
Pic of the Day - December 26, 2014

America goes to the polls - Page 13 ObamaTiarra

America goes to the polls - Page 13 ObamaTiarra

I actually don't know what to say.

**lily** Sat Dec 27, 2014 9:34 pm

Getting ready for when he rules the world?

**bb1** Sat Dec 27, 2014 9:38 pm

It could have been worse. He could have been wearing his tiara when he was sitting on the Iron Throne.

**lily** Sat Dec 27, 2014 10:05 pm

**bb1** Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:12 pm

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-29/obamas-golf-game-disrupts-soldiers-wedding

Natalie Heimel and her fiancé, Edward Mallue Jr., a pair of captains in the Army, received two letters from President Obama in less than 24 hours as they prepared for their wedding ceremony at Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course in Hawaii. The first, a nicely worded regretful but congratulatory RSVP to their wedding invite... and the second, as Bloomberg reports, informing them that their wedding would have to be moved since President Obama wanted to play through.

He has absolutely NO class or concept of good behaviour. Rolling Eyes

**lily** Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:39 pm

I don't think he cares about anyone other than himself.

**bb1** Mon Dec 29, 2014 8:48 pm

That's the sort of imperious attitude that has ended with howling mobs, sharp blades, and dead heads of states in Europe in the past, Lily.

**lily** Mon Dec 29, 2014 9:03 pm

**bb1** Mon Dec 29, 2014 9:51 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-17499716

A newly-wed couple who met the Queen when she unexpectedly dropped in at their wedding have said it was "one of the best presents you could wish for".

John and Frances Canning were married at Manchester Town Hall on Friday, as the Queen and Prince Phillip were at a lunch, hosted by the lord mayor.

The Queen was touring the city as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Canning said it was "just phenomenal" and "one of the most memorable moments of my life".

'Tongue in cheek'
The couple only found out the Queen would be at the town hall after they had booked it as their wedding venue.

Mrs Canning said: "It was a bit scary but lovely.

"She was so nice and gracious.

"She was beautiful a really nice woman, and wished us all the best."

**lily** Mon Dec 29, 2014 10:10 pm

That's how you do it.....

**bb1** Tue Dec 30, 2014 12:02 pm

http://www.infowars.com/make-way-for-the-king-people-kicked-off-beaches-weddings-moved-for-obama-holiday/

MAKE WAY FOR THE KING! PEOPLE KICKED OFF BEACHES, WEDDINGS MOVED FOR OBAMA HOLIDAY
Family has spent $44,351,777.12 in taxpayer cash on travel expenses

America goes to the polls - Page 13 Obama_vacation

America goes to the polls - Page 13 Obama_vacation

On their umpteenth holiday this year alone, secret service agents this week made sure that the Obamas had a Hawaiian beach in Kailua completely to themselves, shooing tourists away and cordoning off areas of water so the president could go for a dip without the riff raff getting anywhere near him.

“The officers could be seen telling different groups at the popular spot to turn around, as they sectioned off part of the water.” reports the Daily Mail, displaying pictures of black helmeted jack boots on jet skis harassing people.

Local police were also called in to surveill the area and make sure the first family were undisturbed.

Unbelievable.

**bb1** Tue Dec 30, 2014 2:24 pm

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-30/it-wasnt-north-korea-or-russia-sony-hack-perpetrator-said-be-laid-disgruntled-employ

Bottom line: the hacker was a disgruntled employee, and the leaked email situation was promptly used by studio execs to dupe the idiot public into believing it was their sworn patriotic duty to watch a failed comedic flop, generating revenues of over $20 million for what would have been a total dud. Which is why expect none of this to get any media coverage.

In the meantime, Obama almost launched another war over yet another video. So generally par for the course, bad pun intended.

The humiliation, however, is that not only did North Korea troll Obama, it officially got the upper hand. End result, at least someone is having a laugh.

I actually don't know which is worse - the fact that it was yet another f*ck-up, or the fact that the Norks' official statements were funnier than the stupid movie.

**lily** Tue Dec 30, 2014 3:03 pm

Big sigh.

**bb1** Tue Dec 30, 2014 3:45 pm

You shouldn't have bothered having that War of Independence, Lily. You could have had a Head of State with immaculate manners, that behaves in public and DOESN'T act like a Roman emperor, a PM that has to answer to parliament and mingles with the plebs, and a political system in which Ron Paul could be a Party leader with a voice in that parliament.

Seriously, what does Obama have to do before people are so angry, they do...something....to stop him? He's torn up your constitution and treats most Americans like peasants, while pandering to oligarchs and special interest groups.

It's horrifying to watch from a distance, it must be awful for proud Americans.

**lily** Tue Dec 30, 2014 4:06 pm

It is awful for so many, Bonny. They keep going by telling themselves that his reign will come to an end soon.

He's very clever at manipulation.

**bb1** Thu Jan 01, 2015 3:47 pm

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/president-obamas-hawaii-vacation-day-12-27932723

President Obama's Hawaii Vacation: Day 12
KAILUA, Hawaii — Jan 1, 2015, 1:03 AM ET
Associated Press
How President Barack Obama spent the 12th day of his family's holiday vacation in Hawaii on Wednesday:

? WORKING OUT: Obama started a sunny and breezy morning with a workout at a gym on a Marine Corps base near the oceanfront home he's renting. A faint rainbow appeared in the sky along the route to the base from Obama's rental home in the small town of Kailua outside Honolulu.

? HITTING THE LINKS: The president returned to the Marine base in the afternoon to golf at the Kaneohe Klipper Course overlooking the Pacific Ocean. His group included childhood friends Mike Ramos and Bobby Titcomb.

? NEW YEAR'S: The president plans to stay at home tonight and ring in the new year with family and friends.

Only a rainbow? No unicorns? No mermaids emerging from the surf to hail the Dear Leader?

And isn't that nice, golfing with old friends! That appalling piece of gush, worthy of North Korea, appears to fail to mention that the 'old friends' were his fellow-stoners from the Choom Gang.

From August:

http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2014/08/02/choom-gang-reunion/

In the 1970s, Barry Obama would shout “Interception!” to them as he took a hit off a joint out of turn. This weekend, he shouts “fore!” with the reunited members of the Choom Gang.

The president spends his birthday weekend like so many other weekends of his presidency: playing golf. Mike Ramos, Bobby Titcomb, and Greg Orme–friends from Obama’s high school daze in Hawaii–joined the president for a round on the links at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Saturday morning. The foursome, according to the Associated Press, teed off with another eight players.

Oh, and he won't be 'renting' Party Central, it will be the US taxpayer that foots the bill.

**bb1** Thu Jan 01, 2015 3:50 pm

“As a member of the Choom Gang,” David Maraniss explains in his presidential biography, “Barry Obama was known for starting a few pot-smoking trends.” These included “roof hits,” rolling the windows up and inhaling the last trails of smoke remaining in the Volkswagen van, and “total absorption,” or “TA” for short. “TA was the opposite of Bill Clinton’s claim that as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford he smoked dope but never inhaled,” Maraniss tells. In their pot circle, smokers exhaling too soon “were assessed a penalty and your turn was skipped the next time the joint came around.” Obama, a critic of football as president, imitated the elements of the game while pursuing his marijuana pastimes with his Punahou School friends. “When a joint was making the rounds,” Maraniss explains, “he often elbowed his way in, out of turn, shouted ‘Intercepted!,’ and took an extra hit.”

America goes to the polls - Page 13 Obama210

America goes to the polls - Page 13 Obama210

**lily** Thu Jan 01, 2015 5:13 pm

Wonderful credentials he has......

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