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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Inauguration social gallery

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President Barack Obama arrives at the inauguration. This is also the view he wanted to see one more time.

  
People attend the 57th presidential inauguration on Jan. 21, 2013.

 
People gather near the U.S. Capitol building on the National Mall while attending the public Inauguration ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn arrive for the swearing-in ceremonies for President Barack Obama.

A crowd gathers in front of the U.S. Capitol for the second inauguration of President Barack Obama.

  
Crowds gather at The National Mall for the 57th Presidential Inauguration.
People cheer as the enter the National Mall before the ceremonial swearing-in ceremonies on the West front of the U.S. Capitol

 
The sun rises before the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 21, in Washington, D.C.

3 Arrested in Hate Crime Attacks in Compton

Three Latino males are alleged to have tried to drive out a black family in Compton, sheriff's officials said

By Jason Kandel   |  Friday, Jan 25, 2013  |  Updated 7:48 PM PST



LA County sheriff's deputies are investigating two hate crimes in Compton. In one case, authorities say gang members repeatedly terrorized an African-American family. Michelle Valles reports from Compton for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on January 25, 2013.

Two men and a teenage boy were arrested in connection with a series of race-based attacks on an African American family in an attempt to drive them out of Compton, sheriff’s officials said.
A group of Latino males who claimed to be in a local street gang used metal pipes and shouted racial epithets at a black man who had recently moved into the neighborhood, sheriff’s officials said.
One of the suspects, identified as Efren Marquez, 21, allegedly pointed a gun at the victim and threatened to shoot him while he was being beaten with a metal pipe allegedly by a second suspect, identified as Jeffrey Aguilar, 19, officials said.
After the attack, the group left in a black sport utility vehicle.
Marquez and Aguilar returned 30 minutes later with a group of up to 20 gang members, who surrounded the front of the victims’ home shouting racial epithets and telling them that members of the African American race (using the ‘n-word’) were not allowed to live in the neighborhood, sheriff’s officials said.
An unidentified member of the group threw a beer bottle through the front living room window.
Sheriff’s officials said the suspects continued to drive by the home of the family -- which includes four children -- several times a day, shouting racial epithets while ordering the family to leave the neighborhood.
Aguilar, Marquez and a juvenile were arrested on Thursday, said Capt. Mike Parker of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.
They face hate crime charges.

Michelle Valles
LA County sheriff's deputies are investigating two hate crimes in Compton. In one case, authorities say gang members repeatedly terrorized an African-American family. Michelle Valles reports from Compton for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on January 25, 2013.
 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sheriff’s Operation Safe Streets Bureau gang investigators at (310) 603-3100 or the Compton Sheriff’s Station at (310) 605-6500.


Por Vanessa Cardenass | 1/25/2013
Uno no tiene que ser padre para sentir dolor, rabia, y pena después de tantas vidas perdidas en el  tiroteo en la escuela Sandy Hook. Desafortunadamente, para las comunidades de color tiroteos y la muerte de niños son a menudo parte de la vida diaria. Aunque sin duda un hecho de la magnitud de la tragedia de Newtown es fuera de lo común, la violencia en las comunidades caracterizadas por la pobreza y falta de recursos es común y afecta a personas de color muy profundamente.
Lo único que necesitamos hacer es conocer los datos para entender esta realidad. En Chicago, 319 estudiantes fueron heridos con armas de fuego durante el año escolar 2011-2012 y 24 de ellos murieron. En 2008 y 2009, la causa principal de muertes entre los adolescentes afroamericanos fue a causa de un arma homicida. La tasa de homicidios por arma de fuego entre los hombres afro-americanos es 2.4 veces más alta que los varones hispanos, y 15.3 veces mas alta que para los varones no-hispanos blancos. Las víctimas de asesinatos y homicidio involuntario son más frecuentemente de raza afroamericana o hispana,  los afroamericanos comprenden el 67 perfil de las víctimas y los hispanos comprenden el 28.1 perfil. Los afro-americanos representan casi cerca 13 por ciento de la población de los Estados Unidos, pero en 2009 sufrieron casi 24 por ciento de todas las muertes por armas— y más del 54 por ciento de todos los homicidios a mano armada. Justo este pasado verano el Departamento de Policía de la ciudad de Nueva York público un reporte indicando que 96 por ciento de todas la victimas de tiroteos y 97 por ciento de todas las personas sospechosas de tiroteos en la ciudad eran latinos o afro-americanos. 
La protesta pública contra la violencia de armas después de Sandy Hook debería haber pasado hace mucho tiempo  y ya es hora que el Congreso y al presidente tomen medidas significativas para evitar más violencia y derramamiento de sangre. El presidente Barack Obama está dando pasos importantes en la actualidad con el anuncio de medidas ejecutivas para fortalecer el sistema de verificación de antecedentes existente para mantener las armas lejos de las manos de las personas potencialmente peligrosas, así como para mejorar la salud mental y programas de seguridad escolar.
Pero el presidente no puede hacer esto solo. El Congreso debe aprobar una ley de sentido común que proteja a nuestras familias y comunidades. Necesitamos asegurarnos de que exista un sistema de verificación de antecedentes universal que impida a personas peligrosas la posibilidad de comprar un arma y también que nuestras comunidades y familias sean protegidas de armas de asalto de tipo militar. El Congreso también puede financiar la prevención y estrategias de intervención, tales como programas de fortalecimiento familiar, apoyos académicos y escolares, el desarrollo positivo de la juventud y otras intervenciones para prevenir la delincuencia juvenil y apoyar la rehabilitación de delincuentes juveniles.
Las comunidades de color entienden la importancia de la aplicación de estas medidas y las apoyan. Una encuesta encargada por Common Sense Media y el Centro para el Progreso Estadounidense muestra que los padres de color están especialmente preocupados por la seguridad de sus hijos y la mayoría apoyan las leyes estrictas de armas. La encuesta les preguntó a los padres con niños de 18 años o menos que compartan sus opiniones acerca de los factores que contribuyen a la violencia en Estados Unidos. La encuesta encontró que:
  • La mayoría de los padres de color se encuentran muy de acuerdo en que enfrentar la violencia de armas en los Estados Unidos requiere tomar medidas en los medios de comunicación y mantener las armas lejos de nuestros hijos.
  • El setenta y seis por ciento de los padres afroamericanos y 69 por ciento de los padres americanos asiáticos, creen que proteger a sus hijos de la violencia hoy en día es difícil.
  • Cuando se les preguntó qué factores contribuyen a la violencia en los EE.UU., los padres de color manifestaron que la violencia en la televisión, el cine y la delincuencia diaria son los factores más importantes. El 84 por ciento de los afroamericanos y los hispanos y el 88 por ciento de los asiáticos consideraron que la delincuencia diaria contribuyen a la violencia en los EE.UU. en comparación con el 82 por ciento de los blancos. 85 por ciento de los afroamericanos, el 81 por ciento de los hispanos y el 90 por ciento de los asiáticos citó la violencia en la televisión y el cine como un factor comparado con el 85 por ciento de los blancos.
  • La gran mayoría de los padres de color, el 91 por ciento de los afroamericanos, el 83 por ciento de los hispanos y el 92 por ciento de los asiático-americanos creen  que políticas que impiden la publicidad de los juegos y películas violentas cuando los niños están viendo televisión deben ser implementadas.
Además, un recién estudio realizado por Pew Research Center encontró que los afroamericanos y los latinos están 66 por ciento y 72 por ciento, respectivamente, a favor de controlar la tenencia de armas por encima de la protección del derecho a poseer armas en comparación con sus homólogos blancos en un 42 por ciento.
La violencia armada conlleva una enorme carga sobre los niños y los jóvenes de Estados Unidos, tanto en términos de vidas perdidas como en la calidad de vida. Políticas más sensibles de reducción de armas y de la violencia son un paso, pero si realmente nos concierne prevenir la violencia necesitamos también  intervenciones focalizadas en los barrios urbanos y pobres. Es el momento de defender a todos nuestros niños y comunidades y protegerlos contra la violencia de armas de fuego.



By Vanessa Cardenass | 1/25/2013
One need not be a parent to feel pain, anger, and grief after so many lives lost in the school shooting Sandy Hook. Unfortunately, for communities of color shooting and death of children are often part of daily life. While certainly an event of the magnitude of the tragedy of Newtown is unusual, violence in communities characterized by poverty and lack of resources is common and affects people very deeply colored.
All we need do is find the data to understand this reality. In Chicago, 319 students were wounded by firearms during the 2011-2012 school year and 24 of them died. In 2008 and 2009, the leading cause of death among black teens was because of a murder weapon. The rate of firearm homicides among African-American men is 2.4 times higher than Hispanic men, and 15.3 times higher than for non-Hispanic white males. The victims of murder and manslaughter are more often African American or Hispanic race, African Americans comprise 67 profile of victims and Hispanics comprise 28.1 profile. African Americans make up nearly 13 percent near the population of the United States, but in 2009 were almost 24 percent of all gun deaths, and more than 54 percent of all homicides at gunpoint. Just this past summer the Police Department of the City of New York released a report indicating that 96 percent of all the victims of shootings and 97 percent of all persons suspected of shootings in the city were Latino or African-American. 
Public outcry against gun violence after Sandy Hook should have happened a long time ago and it is time that Congress and the president take significant steps to prevent further violence and bloodshed. President Barack Obama is taking important steps today with the announcement of executive measures to strengthen the existing background checks to keep guns out of the hands of potentially dangerous people and to improve mental health and programs school safety.
But the president can not do this alone. Congress should pass a law common sense to protect our families and communities. We need to ensure that a system of universal background checks that would prevent dangerous people from buying the gun and also our communities and families are protected from assault weapons military type.Congress also can fund prevention and intervention strategies, such as family strengthening programs, school academic support and the positive youth development and other interventions to prevent youth crime and support the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
Communities of color understand the importance of the implementation of these measures and their supporters. A poll commissioned by Common Sense Media and the Center for American Progress shows that parents of color are especially concerned about the safety of their children and support the most stringent gun laws. The survey asked parents with children 18 years old and younger who occupy their views on the factors that contribute to violence in America. The survey found that:
  • Most parents of color are strongly agreed that confront gun violence in the United States requires action in the media and keep guns away from our children.
  • Seventy-six percent of African American parents and 69 percent of Asian American parents believe that to protect their children from violence today is difficult.
  • When asked what factors contribute to violence in the U.S., parents of color stated that violence on television, film and everyday crime are the most important factors. 84 percent of African Americans and Hispanics and 88 percent of Asians felt that daily crime contribute to violence in the U.S. compared with 82 percent of whites. 85 percent of African Americans, 81 percent of Hispanics and 90 percent of Asians cited violence in television and film as a factor compared to 85 percent of whites.
  • The vast majority of parents of color, 91 percent of blacks, 83 percent of Hispanics and 92 percent of Asian Americans believe that policies that prevent advertising of games and violent movies when children watching television should be implemented.
Furthermore, a recent study by Pew Research Center found that African Americans and Latinos are 66 percent and 72 percent, respectively, in favor of gun ownership control over the protection of the right to own guns compared to their white counterparts by 42 percent.
Armed violence carries a huge burden on children and youth in the United States, both in terms of lives lost and the quality of life. Most sensitive political arms reduction and violence are a step, but if we really need to prevent violence concerns also focused interventions and poor urban neighborhoods. It's time to defend our communities and protect children against violence of firearms.

Impact of ‘2016’ on 2012 presidential race uncertain

But anti-Obama documentary a box-office hit

I know this is really late, and I should have added this sometime around November of 2012,  but I had not seen it and I had to wait until  I could find it to download and add it. I found it full of misinformation, lies, and supposition.  The way Mr D'Souza, weaved his story and tried to make you believe that Obama's father had influence that was so much more than it was. Obama did not know him  A father who only saw him once in his entire life.
It was dull, flat and uninspiring. It looked pieced together, and brother it was boring. D'Souza made you believe, that Obama had salacious plans to do our country wrong.  The movie was a let down totally.....thank goodness and did not influence voters.
Movie itself is at bottom of this post......




Early in the 2012 campaign season, predictions were that a major film would reach theaters in the fall, shine a spotlight on one of the presidential candidates, and possibly influence the outcome of the election.

And that's how it happened, except the movie wasn't "Zero Dark Thirty," the surefire Hollywood blockbuster about the killing of Osama bin Laden that Republicans feared would throw the election to President Obama. That film is now slated for wide release Dec. 19.

Instead, the movie at the center of this year's presidential race is "2016: Obama's America," an upstart independent documentary by conservative author Dinesh D'Souza that has stunned the filmmaking world with its success.

As of last weekend, "2016" had grossed more than $30 million, making it the second-highest-grossing political documentary and fifth-highest documentary of all time. It appears poised to climb still higher, given that it continues to play on 1,876 screens after opening in wide release Aug. 24, according to Box Office Mojo.

While conservative filmmakers have a long way to go before they rule Hollywood, they've become a force to be reckoned with on the documentary side. Dozens of serious documentaries from the right have burst onto the scene in the past decade and, while most have gone straight to DVD, they've achieved a rough parity with their brethren on the left.

"In terms of what's being produced and released, there is far more ideological balance in documentary films," said Michael Medved, the former film critic turned conservative author and radio host.

Mr. D'Souza sees a simple reason for the success of "2016."

"There is a hunger for information about Obama," he said. "Americans feel that they don't have the full story and the film supplies the missing pieces."

What distinguishes "2016" is its blue-chip bona fides. The film's producer is Gerald Molen, the Academy Award-winning producer behind "Schindler's List" and "Jurassic Park," who gave "2016" the kind of insider clout that most conservative documentaries lack.

"You have two things different here: One is the credibility of Gerald Molen, and, two, they spent a boatload on advertising," Mr. Medved said. "They probably spent more on advertising the film than producing it. There have always been these attempts to break through, but this one really did it."

The film centers on Mr. D'Souza's search for the president's "compass" by examining the president's childhood and relationship with his largely absent Kenyan father. He concludes that Mr. Obama has been heavily influenced by anti-colonialist views that he would have absorbed in Indonesia and Hawaii, and from his father, a leftist academic.

Other conservative filmmakers are hoping the success of "2016" opens doors for them with distributors and theaters. Certainly there is no shortage of such films in the pipeline: On Tuesday, Citizens United released, "The Hope and the Change," another film critical of Mr. Obama, on six cable channels and six broadcast networks, and plans to issue a second documentary, "Occupy Unmasked," in limited release Friday.

Conservatives say they have one man to thank: Michael Moore, who hit it big with a string of liberal documentaries beginning in the 1990s and culminating in 2004's "Fahrenheit 9/11," which made more than $119 million and remains the highest-grossing political documentary of all time.

David Bossie, president of Citizens United, credits the success of "Fahrenheit 9/11" with compelling him to go into show business.

"When I called around Washington, D.C., in 2004, 'How do we respond to this?' 'Fahrenheit 9/11' was a 90-minute attack piece on George Bush," said Mr. Bossie. "My thought was, 'My gosh, we have to respond to this,' but nobody I called knew how to make a movie."

Mr. Bossie ended up connecting with a couple of Hollywood conservatives, actor Ron Silver and screenwriter Lionel Chetwynd, and released "Celsius 41.11: The Truth Behind the Lies of 'Fahrenheit 9/11'" in 2004. The documentary did well enough that Mr. Bossie went on to make "Hillary: The Movie" in 2007 about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, which became the basis for the 2010 Supreme Court case Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission.

Don't expect "2016: Obama's America" to change that trend. Only three of 14 "major critics" listed on the Rotten Tomatoes website gave the film a positive review, with reviewers describing it as everything from "a vicious, larger-than-life racist lie" to "deeply boring." On the other hand, 77 percent of moviegoers gave it a positive rating.

"There is a huge market that is not being well-served by Hollywood. If conservatives can make high quality films that are entertaining and informative then there is a lot of opportunity out there," Mr. D'Souza said.