Obama's statement on Eid

Barack Obama released a statement on on Tuesday marking Eid-ul-Fitr. Here it is in its entirety.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

August 30, 2011

Statement by the President on the Occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr

Michelle and I would like to send Eid greetings to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world. Ramadan has been a time for families and communities to share the happiness of coming together in intense devotion, reflection, and service. Millions all over the world have been inspired to honor their faith by reaching out to those less fortunate. This year, many have observed the month while courageously persevering in their efforts to secure basic necessities and fundamental freedoms. The United States will continue to stand with them and for the dignity and rights of all people, whether a hungry child in the Horn of Africa or a young person demanding freedom in the Middle East and North Africa.

As Ramadan comes to an end, we send our best wishes for a blessed holiday to Muslim communities around the world. Eid Mubarak.

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Flood images from my area

I've been looking since yesterday for images from around my area. I wanted to go out yesterday but our township is still under a State of Emergency until at least today.

Check out this video from NJ.com on flooding in my area.



Here are some photos from around the area. Click on the links in the caption to see more from each of those sources.

This is a median on Route 18 in New Brunswick. (THNT)

Route 18 in New Brunswick (THNT)

Route 18 once again (THNT)

Canoe on Route 18 in New Brunswick (Credit Adam Helfgott)

Donaldson Park in Highland Park (THNT)

Route 27 (NJ.com)

Flooded Minor League Baseball Stadium (Jim Holovacko)

Easton Avenue by JFK Blvd. (Christopher Chipps)

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Remember this "flood" video from 2005?

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Some Hurricane survival tips from a novice

Living in the Northeast I have never really been through a hurricane threat like this but do know that there are some common sense thing everyone should be doing to prepare.


Here they are in no particular order:

• Have plenty of bottled water available. If there are power outages because of flooding it will get hot inside the house. 
• Have plenty of non-perishable snacks. We loaded up on chips, crackers, cookies, etc. These are things that won't go bad and if nothing happens these aren't things that will go to waste.
• Flashlights and a battery operated radio should be a must although I have to be honest I don't know if any radio of ours actually work. 
• Car charger for your cellphones is a good bet. If you lose power at least you can go charge your phone in the car. 
• I set up text alerts from the local police department through Nixle since I don't have a land line and would not have received any "Reverse 911" calls.
• If you are asked to be evacuate....DO IT! It makes no sense to risk your life or that of any first responders. 
• Have a bag packed and ready to go. Make sure you keep all important documents and medical supplies. 
• Here's one I saw on twitter earlier. Fill up your bath tub with water. You can use it to flush your toilet if need be. Had plenty of water in buckets and stuff but again...just to be safe. 
• Is your gas tank topped off? Filled up our car yesterday and there like 8-10 cars lined up at each pump. 
• Don't dress up like a bear and go to the beach. 
• If you a reporter covering the storm DO NOT embarrass yourself and your organization by reporting from ankle deep water.
• FEMA says to put your freezer and refrigerator at the coldest possible temperature setting. 
• Update people on how you are doing via social media (facebook/twitter) periodically so family and friends can check in on you

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Vin Scully announces his return as only he can

One of the greatest ever announced his return to return in 2012.

Vin Scully will his 63rd season as the broadcaster of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has had the gig since they played in Brooklyn. This news comes just days after it was reported that the Dodgers were asking season ticket holders to evaluate Vin Scully.

Watch the clip.



As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Hurricane Irene

Looks like the hurricane downgraded to Category 1 ahead of hitting North Carolina which is good news but the danger is far from over.

Already seeing so many idiots talking about "typical weathermen" and them being wrong. These are likely the very same people who will be complaining if we have extended power outages. The roads get bad here during an average storm so I don't even want to get into how bad they would with up to a foot of rain falling in a three hour period as was being mentioned last night. I'd rather the Hurricane Center be wrong while being extra cautious instead of being wrong by taking things lightly. If you live in a high rise building and are safe from the flooding don't take things lightly as the higher you are the more wind damage your apartment can receive. They've been talking about being worried about falling debris from skyscrapers in Manhattan injuring people on the ground.

 I don't know why it is so hard for people to grasp that certain areas are asked to evacuate early so there is less traffic on the roads at the end. NJ has had only a few counties be evacuated so far and there was already a 20 mile backup on the Garden State Parkway (which is like one of the few real highways in the area instead of the typical 2-3 lane ones we get around here). I heard people on the radio complain about the sports station here spreading paranoia in calling for the Giants/Jets pre-season game today to be postponed. Let me bold that part for you.....pre-season game.

NYC folks can find what kind of evacuation zone they are in by going here. You can also find shelter locations there.

If you are on twitter follow @breakingirene

If you want text alerts from your local police department you can do so by registering here. I signed yesterday and already got notified of road closures.

Be safe....get the hell out if their is an evacuation called for where you live. Better to be safe then to put your life in danger or that of any first responders that might have to respond to an emergency.

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

"Moneyball" Trailer

A month from today "Moneyball" hits theaters. I have to say that I am looking forward to the movie and will be checking it out. I read the book a while back and thought it was a pretty good read. Yes, I am well aware that the Athletics haven't even reached the World Series under Beane but he still turned out division winners with a low budget teams. Who knows, if the umpire calls Jeremy Giambi safe on the "flip play" (I still think the play was a tie at worst) maybe the A's win the World Series that year and vindicate Billy Beane?



As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Earthquake

This might be the first time I've felt an earthquake.

I was sitting on my bed when it started shaking. I felt it for a good 5-10 seconds. I went on twitter and saw a  tweet from Brendan Prunty of the Star-Ledger which confirmed by suspicions. If you felt the earthquake and would like to help the (USGS) fill out this little form. You can find out how strong the earthquake was where you were by entering your zip code here. It was a 4.1 where I live.

From the Washington Post.

The earthquake’s epicenter was nine miles south of Mineral, Va., and 87 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS initially recorded the quake at 5.8 magnitude but later upgraded it to a 5.9. It struck at 1:51 p.m. Eastern time, the USGS said. At 2.8 magnitude aftershock was reported at 2:46 p.m.

Predictably Verizon, AT&T and Sprint customers all had trouble making phone calls in the aftermath but I was able to text on my AT&T phone.

Manhattan District Attorney's press conference regarding Dominique Strauss-Kahn was interrupted by the earthquake and it was caught on video.

XKCD delivered with a great comic.

I've seen a lot of tweets and blog posts from the west coast mocking the east for the panic caused by this earthquake. I posted a response to that on Tumblr.

West coasters laughing at the east coast over the earthquake panic….just remember we’ve seen how you react to half an inch of snow.

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Barry Bonds - Reality TV star?

Barry Bonds is getting his own Reality TV show.

I had to read the article multiple times because at first I thought it was some sort of satirical piece.

Barry Bonds will confront a fan who hates him in an upcoming reality show “H8R”, The New York Post is reporting.

The CW show, set to debut next month, will have the Giants great watch a tape of a hater sounding off on him, then will try to convince the person he’s a decent human being, The Post said.

Will anyone seriously watch this? I'm a big Barry Bonds fan but I just don't see a reason for him to do this show unless those defense bills are forcing him to do this for money?

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or

Mike Jacobs of Colorado Rockies tests positive for HGH, banned 50 games

Mike Jacobs of Colorado Rockies tests positive for HGH, banned 50 games - ESPN

What a shame. His career hasn't lived up to the hype that surrounded him after he hit 11 homeruns in his first 30 MLB games and now this? He becomes the first player in North American team sports to be suspended for the use of HGH.

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Foursquare Lists

Now that Foursquare has added lists I am really going to make more of an effort to review places I dine at. I already did one such review earlier.

What is Foursquare?

Foursquare is a location-based mobile platform that makes cities easier to use and more interesting to explore. By “checking in” via a smartphone app or SMS, users share their location with friends while collecting points and virtual badges. Foursquare guides real-world experiences by allowing users to bookmark information about venues that they want to visit and surfacing relevant suggestions about nearby venues. Merchants and brands leverage the foursquare platform by utilizing a wide set of tools to obtain, engage, and retain customers and audiences.

At first I wasn't sure how much I would use Foursquare but over the course of the year I have been using it more and more not only to get reviews for places but to leave them myself as well. It is a neat little tool that can be very helpful not only when you're visiting a new city but also roaming around your own.

Do you use Foursquare? Why or why not?
As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Interfaith Iftar at Central NJ Mosque

If you're in the vicinity of Piscataway, New Jersey and want to know more about why your Muslim friend/neighbor/classmate/co-worker has been fasting during Ramadan (and for that matter what is the significance of Ramadan) come visit the Muslim Center of Middlesex County on Thursday August 18th. The event starts at 6:30 PM. There will be a presentation from the Imam after which there will be a Q&A session where everyone is welcome to ask a question. In the past local elected officials as well as members of neighboring Churches have attended the event.

Program
Welcome Presentation....................... 6:30 PM
Iftar & Prayer Observation..........7:50 PM
Interactive Dinner................................8:15 PM

As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11 there will be a lot of negative portrayal of Muslims and Islam in the media. Come see what Islam and Muslims are really about for yourself.  For more information contact dawah@mcmcnj.org You can RSVP by sending an e-mail to Imam@mcmcnj.org or by calling 732-463-2004 X111

Muslim Center of Middlesex County
1000 Hoes Lane
Piscataway, NJ 08854


View Larger Map

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Google Doodle for Pakistan's Independence Day

Google Pakistan has a doodle up for Pakistan's Independence Day.

You can find an archive of Google Doodles from around the world here.

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or

Green Bay Packers visit the White House

Barack Obama welcomed the Green Bay Packers to the White House on Friday.



The NFC North blog on ESPN.com has some cool photos of the Packers players at the White House. Linebacker Desmond Bishop wasn't allowed into the White House because he forgot his ID on the team plane.

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Barack Obama's remarks at the White House Iftar

Here is the video and transcript of President Obama's remarks at the White House Iftar tonight.



Transcript.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release                          August 10, 2011

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

DURING IFTAR DINNER

East Room

8:35 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)  Everyone, please have a seat, have a seat.

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the White House.  Tonight is part of a rich tradition here at the White House of celebrating the holy days of many faiths and the diversity that define us as a nation.  So these are quintessentially American celebrations -- people of different faiths coming together, with humility before our maker, to reaffirm our obligations to one another, because no matter who we are, or how we pray, we’re all children of a loving God.

Now, this year, Ramadan is entirely in August.  That means the days are long, the weather is hot, and you are hungry.  (Laughter.)  So I will be brief.

I want to welcome the members of the diplomatic corps who are here; the members of Congress, including two Muslim American members of Congress -- Keith Ellison and Andre Carson; and leaders and officials from across my administration.  Thank you all for being here.  Please give them a big round of applause.  (Applause.)   

To the millions of Muslim Americans across the United States and more -- the more than one billion Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a time of reflection and a time of devotion.  It’s an occasion to join with family and friends in celebration of a faith known for its diversity and a commitment to justice and the dignity of all human beings.  So to you and your families, Ramadan Kareem. 

This evening reminds us of both the timeless teachings of a great religion and the enduring strengths of a great nation.  Like so many faiths, Islam has always been part of our American family, and Muslim Americans have long contributed to the strength and character of our country, in all walks of life.  This has been especially true over the past 10 years.

In one month, we will mark the 10th anniversary of those awful attacks that brought so much pain to our hearts.  It will be a time to honor all those that we’ve lost, the families who carry on their legacy, the heroes who rushed to help that day and all who have served to keep us safe during a difficult decade.  And tonight, it’s worth remembering that these Americans were of many faiths and backgrounds, including proud and patriotic Muslim Americans.

Muslim Americans were innocent passengers on those planes, including a young married couple looking forward to the birth of their first child.  They were workers in the Twin Towers -- Americans by birth and Americans by choice, immigrants who crossed the oceans to give their children a better life.  They were cooks and waiters, but also analysts and executives.  

There, in the towers where they worked, they came together for daily prayers and meals at Iftar.  They were looking to the future -- getting married, sending their kids to college, enjoying a well-deserved retirement.  And they were taken from us much too soon.  And today, they live on in the love of their families and a nation that will never forget.  And tonight, we’re deeply humbled to be joined by some of these 9/11 families, and I would ask them to stand and be recognized, please.  (Applause.)

Muslim Americans were first responders -- the former police cadet who raced to the scene to help and then was lost when the towers collapsed around him; the EMTs who evacuated so many to safety; the nurse who tended to so many victims; the naval officer at the Pentagon who rushed into the flames and pulled the injured to safety.  On this 10th anniversary, we honor these men and women for what they are -- American heroes.

Nor let us forget that every day for these past 10 years Muslim Americans have helped to protect our communities as police and firefighters, including some who join us tonight.  Across our federal government, they keep our homeland secure, they guide our intelligence and counterterrorism efforts and they uphold the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans.  So make no mistake, Muslim Americans help to keep us safe.

We see this in the brave service of our men and women in uniform, including thousands of Muslim Americans.  In a time of war, they volunteered, knowing they could be sent into harm’s way.  Our troops come from every corner of our country, with different backgrounds and different beliefs.  But every day they come together and succeed together, as one American team. 

During the 10 hard years of war, our troops have served with excellence and with honor.  Some have made the ultimate sacrifice, among them Army Specialist Kareem Khan.  Galvanized by 9/11 to serve his country, he gave his life in Iraq and now rests with his fellow heroes at Arlington.  And we thank Kareem’s mother, Elsheba, for being here again tonight.  (Applause.)  Like Kareem, this generation has earned its place in history, and I would ask all of our service members here tonight -- members of the 9/11 Generation -- to stand and accept the thanks of our fellow Americans.  (Applause.)        

This year and every year, we must ask ourselves:  How do we honor these patriots -- those who died and those who served?  In this season of remembrance, the answer is the same as it was 10 Septembers ago.  We must be the America they lived for and the America they died for, the America they sacrificed for. 

An America that doesn’t simply tolerate people of different backgrounds and beliefs, but an America where we are enriched by our diversity.  An America where we treat one another with respect and with dignity, remembering that here in the United States there is no “them” or “us;” it’s just us.  An America where our fundamental freedoms and inalienable rights are not simply preserved, but continually renewed and refreshed -- among them the right of every person to worship as they choose.  An America that stands up for dignity and the rights of people around the world, whether a young person demanding his or her freedom in the Middle East or North Africa, or a hungry child in the Horn of Africa, where we are working to save lives.

Put simply, we must be the America that goes forward as one family, like generations before us, pulling together in times of trial, staying true to our core values and emerging even stronger.  This is who we are and this is who we must always be. 

Tonight, as we near a solemn anniversary, I cannot imagine a more fitting wish for our nation.  So God bless you all and God bless the United States of America.  Thank you.  (Applause.)      

                        END           8:43 P.M. EDT

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Iftar at the White House tonight

Expect the bigots to be out in full force today.

Continuing what has become an annual tradition over the course of the last decade Barack Obama will host an Iftar at the White House tonight. Surely there are bound to be a bunch of "Obama is a secret Muslim" posts around the internet today.

As Barack Obama mentioned in his speech last year the first Iftar at the White House dates back to 1805 when Thomas Jefferson hosted one. Earlier this month President Obama did release a statement marking the start of Ramadan. The President did use the dinner last year to make some news when he announced support for the construction of the so called "Ground Zero Mosque." Of course he did so on a Friday evening with no TV coverage to protect himself against bigots but it was still a step in the right direction. Will he make news this year?

Here is the press release with the guest list.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

____________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                                           August 13, 2010

Expected Attendees at the White House Iftar Dinner

This evening, the President will continue a White House tradition of hosting an Iftar celebrating Ramadan in the State Dining Room.  This is the third Iftar hosted by the President.  The Iftar is the meal that breaks the day of fasting, when Muslim families and communities eat together after sunset.

Below is a list of some of the expected attendees at tonight’s White House dinner celebrating Ramadan:

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

The Honorable Andre Carson, United States Representative

The Honorable John Conyers, United States Representative

The Honorable Keith Ellison, United States Representative

The Honorable Donald Payne, United States Representative

DIPLOMATIC CORPS

Her Excellency Amina Salum Ali, Ambassador, African Union Mission

His Excellency Abdallah Baali, Ambassador, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria

His Excellency Yashar Aliyev, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Her Excellency Huda Ezra Nonoo, Ambassador of Bahrain

His Excellency Akramul Qader, Ambassador of the People's Republic of Bangladesh

His Excellency Bienvenu Joseph Charles Foe-Atangana, Ambassador of Cameroon

His Excellency Adam Bechir Mahamoud, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad

His Excellency Roble Olhaye, Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti

His Excellency Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt

His Excellency Mory Karamoko Kaba, Ambassador of Guinea

His Excellency Bayney Ram Karran, Ambassador of Guyana

His Excellency Dino Patti Djalal, Ambassador of Indonesia

His Excellency Samir Shakir Mahmood Sumaida’ie, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq

His Excellency Micahel Scott Oren, Ambassador of Israel

His Excellency Aziz Mekour, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco

Her Excellency Aminata Maiga Djibrilla, Ambassador of Niger

Her Excellency Hunaina Sultan Ahmed Al Mughairy, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman

His Excellency Husain Haqqani, Ambassador of Pakistan

His Excellency Mr. Maen Areikat, Ambassador, PLO Mission

His Excellency Ali Bin Fahad Faleh Al-Hajri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar

His Excellency Sergey Ivanovich Kislyak, Ambassador of the Russian Federation

His Excellency Adel A.M. Al-Jubeir, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia

Her Excellency Fatou Danielle Diagne, Ambassador of Senegal

His Excellency Bockari Kortu Stevens, Ambassador of Sierra Leone

His Excellency Subhas Chandra Mungra, Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname

His Excellency Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar, Ambassador of Tanzania

His Excellency Edawe Limbiye Kadangha Bariki, Ambassador, Togo

His Excellency Namik Tan, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey

His Excellency Yousif Mana Saeed Alotaiba, Ambassador, United Arab Emirates

His Excellency Ilhomjon Tuychievich Nematov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan

His Excellency Abdulwahab A. Al Hajjri, Ambassador of the Republic Yemen

His Excellency Ufuk Gokcen, Ambassador and Permanent Observer, Organization of the Islamic Conference

The Honorable Damir Dzanko, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of Bosnia

The Honorable Sufyan Salman Qudah, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

The Honorable Jetish Jashari, Chargé d'Affaires at Embassy of Republic of Kosovo

The Honorable Tarek Ben Youssef, Chargé d'Affaires at Interim of Tunisia

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Mr. Hamza Abdullah, Arizona Cardinals

Mr. Husain Abdullah, Minnesota Vikings

Ms. Dina Amer
Mrs. Durriya Badani, Brookings Institute

Ms. Faiza Arain, Los Angeles Police Department

Dr. Mahmoud Eboo, Aga Khan

Mr. Mohamed Ali Malouche, Tunisian American Young Professionals

Mr. Akram Syed, National Association of Indian Muslims

Mrs. Mansura Shajahan

Mr. Yusuf Shajahan

Dr. Manzoor Tariq, Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America

It remains a goal of mine to be on that list one of these years. Here are the guest lists from 2009 and 2010.

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

One of the greatest cricket catches you will ever see

This is from the Twenty20 match the other day. Amazing presence of mind not only from Angelo Mathews who threw the ball back up in the air but by Mahela Jayawardene as well.

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

Chad Ochocinco wants to be your roommate

Do you live near Gillette Stadium and have an extra room (with internet and Xbox) that you want to rent out?

Chad Ochocinco said today that he will be living with a fan for the first couple of weeks of the season.

Love this little passage on ESPN.com from his comments to the media today.

"I'm going to do something different, I'm actually going to stay with a fan for the first two, three weeks of the season," he said Tuesday. "That should be fun, until I get myself acclimated and learn my way around."

Ochocinco hasn't yet picked the fan.

"I'm not sure how it's going to work, but they have to have Internet and have to have Xbox," he said. "That's about it."

Asked if he was serious, Ochocinco said, "Have I ever lied to you before?"

Told there were some "crazy" fans, Ochocinco said, "I rode a bull."

The same article also quotes him as saying that he doesn't use a GPS and likes to get lost on purpose so he learn a new city.

"The way I learn a new city is by traveling out, adventuring out, getting lost on purpose, this past weekend, I was a little frustrated because I was lost for about an hour, an hour and 30 minutes, and I couldn't get where I needed to. (But) that's it. Boston, or actually heaven, has been good. A lot of people are not too fond of the Prius that I drive, which I find hard to believe. Other than that, the people have been great."

Seriously, how can you not like this guy? He did mention that he will be tweeting less because that is how the Patriots want it.
As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .