Snapped Shot

Hey, wait a minute, aren't I supposed to be discussing wire service photojournalism?

Yeah, pretty sure that's what Snapped Shot is supposed to be all about.

Apparently, I've missed out on yet another doozy, since I haven't been paying close attention to the presidential press corps. You remember a while ago how the press couldn't seem to get enough of Obama's shining halo? Or even glorious pictures of his warm spirit?

It would seem that the press has a different view of Sarah Palin entirely.

Quite respectful, even.

To think that the it's the Left that constantly refers to us as being "sexist" pigs. Perhaps the insane side of the American political elite needs to spend more time examining itself in the mirror these days?

Anyway, sorry for dropping the ball on this one. I know y'all have high expectations of this blog as a photo-media watcher, and I feel somehow that I've let you down once more. Like I always do.

At least I can comfort myself with the knowledge that we Republicans are still as dark and sinister as ever, right?

See-Also: A bunch of people who are plenty swifter than I am.

Newsbusters, , Ace of Spades

Call the CNN Truth Squad! CNN is confirming Palin's comments!

Copious Dissent has more...

[Update] If you go to Copious Dissent, you'll find three videos - two from the CNN "Truth" Squad and one contradicting CNN report.

Copious Dissent has now combined the videos:



Watch it, rate it, favorite it, and share it.

What your children are learning about history in America's public school system will probably surprise you. (h/t SmoothStone)

The authors found textbooks that stated or suggested:

• Jesus was a “Palestinian,” not a Jew.
• The Arab nations never attacked Israel. Arab-Israeli wars “just broke out,” or Israel started them
• Arab nations want peace, but Israel does not
• Israel expelled all Palestinian refugees
• Israel put the Palestinians in refugee camps in Arab lands, not Arab governments
• Palestinian terrorism is nonexistent or minimal
• Israel is not a victim of terrorism, or terrorism against Israel is justified
• U.S. support of Israel causes terrorism, including 9/11
• The intifadas were children’s revolts not involving adults or terrorism

I invite you to join me in an alternate world, one in which Christianity is afforded the same "respect" that these textbooks currently give to Islam. Imagine, if you will, the outrage that would be pouring out towards the school system if this is what was in the textbooks. Continue reading »

The Toledo Blade has responded. I won't quote verbatim, but if I may summarize their findings:

1. I'm a reckless boob. [Ed:—No argument there!]
2. The Director of Photography was involved in selecting photos on the day of the shoot, and didn't see anything unusual at the time.
3. They have internally done a frame-by-frame analysis, and the photo in question is in line with the rest of the shots from on-scene.
4. No alterations were visible in any of the shots.
5. Mr. Wadsworth used: Canon 5D 16-35mm zoom f/2.8 lens.
6. Image originally recorded in RAW format, resulting in 30mb file per-frame.
7. Oddities in photo related to high field-of-view. [Ed.:—combined with absolutely awful image resizing software. Might want to upgrade that, Luann!]
8. We were caught in the past, so we'll admit it if we get caught again. [Ed.:—Not sure about the logic on that one]
9. And, last but not least:
   We're gonna sue you! [Ed.:—Sigh. Never heard that one before...]

I'm satisfied by their technical answer, and as I had said from the beginning, this was nothing that was a "sure" thing. As such, I do offer my deepest apologies to Jeremy Wadsworth for this, and trust that his reputation will not be affected in the least by someone as insignificant as myself. (Besides which, judging by his bio photo, he'd beat me up right quick on any given day!)

My hat's off to the Blade's editorial staff for their quick (if not intellectually violent) response. And, should their Counsel come calling, please notice that my current net worth can be summarized thusly (see illustration).

Update: From the "You Ever See A Story Come Apart Like That?" department:—Rhonda Shearer of the Art Science Research Laboratory has been in touch with the Steele family regarding this photo. The verdict?

Yeah, you guessed it:—It is completely genuine, and it depicts exactly what they saw when they were in hospital.

It doesn't make me feel any better, but my thanks are due to Ms. Shearer for getting that cleared up with a bit of that old-fashioned "investigative" journalism.

(Maybe I'll have to try that out one of these days.) Continue reading »

The justice department has put new FBI guidelines on hold - rules that would allow limited profiling of suspected terrorists.

The Justice Department has agreed to delay new rules giving the FBI greater leeway in investigations of suspected terrorists, deferring to concerns by senators that innocent Americans might be targeted.

[...]

Currently, the FBI must have evidence or allegations of wrongdoing before opening an investigation of U.S. citizens or legal residents from other countries. The new policy could let agents start investigating after building a profile of traits that, taken together, were deemed suspicious.

In other words, there must be clear evidence that an act of terrorism has already been committed or is being planned before the FBI could begin investigating individuals.

CAIR whines:

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today termed "unconstitutional and un-American" a proposed Justice Department policy change that would allow the FBI to investigate Americans without evidence of wrongdoing and could permit religious and ethnic profiling.

Under the new guidelines, which are expected to be implemented later this summer, the FBI would be permitted to consider race and ethnicity when opening an investigation. Agents would also be allowed to ask open-ended questions about the activities of American Muslims and Arab-Americans...

Well now, Let's just have a look at the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list and see if we can find any noticeable similarities to "American Muslims" or "Arab-Americans"... Remember, we are looking for visible traits of indications of Muslim or Arab characteristics:

Click to Enlarge

Think profiling would help? Nah...

NBC Olympics updates visitors on the country of Palestine:

Click to Enlarge

Never won an Olympic medal

Thank you, NBC Sports!

(Hat Tip: Sharon)

Watch this video and see if you can discover what's missing:



Continue reading »

During Obamassiah's glorious lecture to us peons on how to sacrifice for a better life, a picture was taken at the moment prior to his re-ascension back up to heaven. We must all be happy that he gave us just a bit of his time to come down to hell and do his miracle work to make our lives better and have meaning.

Meanwhile, earthlings are still trying to figure out the policy part of his energy policy for earthlings. As it stands at this time, we are unable to find anything of substance to his coded lecture he recently gave in Lansing Michigan to unemployed factory workers.

He did once again proclaim that he is all-knowing and all-sided as he mentioned that we should drill but should not drill, he will tax but then give the money away, and will lower temperature of the galaxy while sending America back to the pre-oil 13th century.
Continue reading »

And people wonder why black families are having a real problem today with the majority of people in prison being black.

Members and leaders from black churches gathered at Howard University School of Divinity [Ed: get that, at a divinity school] this week to discuss sexuality, including how to make churches inclusive for homosexuals and what they say is the failure of federally funded abstinence-only education programs.

A program of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC), a nationwide coalition of religious groups trying to advance abortion rights, the 12th annual National Black Church Summit on Sexuality featured speeches by the majority whip of the U.S. House, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders.

Dr. Elders was the one who pushed for the nation to teach actual sex education, masturbation and homosexuality in public schools. Why are they doing this? Also, why does there need to be a national conference to discuss HOW to let homosexuals into their churches? Are they saying that they are currently STOPPING them? Shouldn't that be the news? Or, are they asking how to devise the best way to change their philosophy and doctrine to allow homosexuality to be seen as more favored than non-homosexuality?

...attendees were taught how to lobby Congress to end funding of abstinence-only programs in favor of funding for “comprehensive sex education.” [Ed: forcing abortion on demand for kids in elementary school.]

The Rev. Carlton W. Veazey, president and CEO of RCRC, told Cybercast News Service that teaching abstinence isn’t enough to help stop the rise of teenage pregnancies in the black community.

Why that sounds like he does not believe in abstinence education. I wonder what his suggested alternatives are? Read on... Continue reading »

Update[Brian]: Retracted—Don't worry about it, Cap'n. Not all of us are up to date on the latest D.C. scandals.

Continue reading »

Ok, it is time to fire them all. I mean it. ALL of them have to go. Republican, Democrat, Independent, Socialist, Commie and Obama. They all have to be fired. Some in Congress want to nationalize oil companies. Others want to nationalize health care (we are half way there already).

Now some in Congress believe that you are too stupid to know how to drive and pay for the gas yourself. They do not believe that you are capable of knowing when and how to limit yourself.

WASHINGTON - An influential Republican senator suggested Thursday that Congress might want to consider reimposing a national speed limit to save gasoline and, in turn possibly ease fuel prices.

Sen. John Warner, R-Va., asked Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to look into what speed limit would provide optimum gasoline efficiency given current technology. He said he wants to know if the administration might support efforts in Congress to require a lower speed limit.

Warner cited studies that showed the 55 mph speed limit saved 167,000 barrels of oil a day, or 2 percent of the country's highway fuel consumption, while avoiding up to 4,000 traffic deaths a year.

"Given the significant increase in the number of vehicles on America's highway system from 1974 to 2008, one could assume that the amount of fuel that could be conserved today is far greater," Warner wrote ...

A Republican? How about INCREASING SUPPLY instead of decreasing users and usage? Forcibly decreasing usage???

How can anyone even think that they can begin to limit the increase in users and consumption of oil? There is no way. There is no way, short of an international shortage. It is time for these people to just admit that our country is growing and we still need energy. If not, they should all be fired. If they can't stand up for what is right, then they are in the way.

It would seem that according to the mainstream media today, that one of the latest rulings from the US Supreme Court was all about reaffirming the right of ordinary people to only own guns for self-defense.

While self-defense was a major portion of the debate in front the Court, the main argument was whether or not ordinary citizens of this country are allowed to own guns as opposed to regulated militias and government armies.

Take a look at this photo and tell me what the MSM believe was the major crux of the ruling?

Americans can keep guns at home for self-defense, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday in the justices' first-ever pronouncement on the meaning of gun rights under the Second Amendment.

Well, no, not really. First, the ruling was not their "first-ever pronouncement" of guns rights. They made a semi-ruling back in 1791 and in 1939. But that was not a solid ruling to determine, FOR THE LEFT, what the 2nd Amendment really meant. And, from what I read of the ruling, the primary ruling was that people in general, no matter where they are living, have the unbridgeable constitutional right to own a gun. AND self-defense is one of the primary reasons for having that right to own a gun.
Continue reading »

With today's recent developments in the US Senate, the media had a lovely May-day this day. To tell you the facts, the Senate did not pass a plan to increase taxes on profits earned by US oil companies. With all the focus of Americans today on the price of gas, this movement in the Senate was pretty profound and news-worthy.



Now, how did the mainstream media handle this news? The NewsBuster's site has two postings about this as well, here and here, highlighting the media's bias in their reporting on the Senate vote. Let's take a look for ourselves shall we? From Yahoo News comes this AP report:

Senate GOP blocks windfall taxes on Big Oil

The author of this piece is H. Josef Hebert. This was his second posting to the internet. This post occurred around 6pm (central). The first post was around 2pm. Its title was:

Senate GOP blocks oil taxes

Evil Senate GOP'ers have actively blocked the passage of the plan to tax windfall profits of BIG OIL. And that was just the titles. The body of the piece highlights the author's apparent bias towards GOP'ers and taxing BIG OIL. (added emphasis is mine)...
Continue reading »

HonestReporting uncovered this blatant Palestinian propaganda, which was fueled by a reporter for the BBC. This is how the BBC's Aleem Maqbool covered the story:

One weekday last year, at about three in the afternoon, Israeli armoured jeeps moved into the centre of Ramallah, pulling up outside the most popular hummus cafe.

In full view of passers-by, including children on their way back from school, the troops dragged a man in his early 20s out of the cafe. He was a wanted militant. They shot him - first in the legs, then stomach, then his head.

Within minutes, the "Palestinian reflex" had kicked in. Schoolboys piled into the area to throw stones at the soldiers until they left. As we arrived, the troops fired back with live bullets, injuring four people, before the jeeps sped out of the city.

Once the army had gone, I have to say, I was a little surprised to see grown Palestinian men standing by the side of the road, weeping and hugging, and teenagers who'd been throwing stones, breaking down.

And this is what really happened according to the IDF, supported by accounts reported by Ha'aretz, The New York Times and AFP:

The force identified Abed Al-Halim aiming his AK-47 assault rifle at them and opened fire at him. Abed Al-Halim attempted to flee the scene. Forces fired at him once more and identified hitting him. The soldiers ceased fire at the moment Abed Al-Halim no longer posed a threat to him. ...

During the operation, shots were fired and stones were hurled at the Border Police force, which responded with warning shots and specific fire at an identified source of fire. The IDF has received no information regarding civilian injuries and no such claims were registered with the DCO.

HonestReporting.com