Luke_Wilbur

So your This Visual (Pixel) Advertising Project is basically a visual advertisement on the web at the cost of $100.00 USD per pixel. The cost seems rather high. According to Google there are 11,800,000 advertising schemes like yours. What makes Visual (Pixel) Advertising Project different? Pixel advertising gained popularity in the last quarter of 2005 when British student Alex Tew created a website named The Million Dollar Homepage, and solicited advertisers to buy ad space measured in pixels on the homepage. The price was set at $1 USD per pixel, and there were 1 million pixels of space available. In approximately five months all of the ad space was sold and Mr. Tew had made over one million dollars. This made news worldwide and gained public and business interest in pixel ads. Many web sites which host pixel ads exist in a variety of compositions. As a general rule, they follow Mr. Tew's example by selling pixel ads in 100 pixel "blocks" because this is the smallest size to reasonably display anything meaningful, and remain easily clickable. A few newer sites have additional feature that allows a larger image to appear when visitors hover the cursor over the small pixel ad, while others allow pixel ads to be bought for a temporary period of time.

Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) today issued the following statement: The British Home Secretary made an official statement about this morning's major counter terrorist operation to quash a significant terrorist plot and the subsequent increase to UK threat levels.

Hillary may be next. She voted for the war.

Jim, Who is the owner of this blog? Bob Summersgill http://bob-summersgill.blogspot.com I would suggest contacting Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043 phone: (650) 253-0000 fax: (650) 253-0001 They are the owners of this service. I would ask for Elliot Schrage. He is Google's Vice President of Global Communications & Public Affairs.

Jim (aka. Truthseeker, aka. Guest_wondering), As one of the owners of this Message Boards I do take responsibility. As one of the moderators of DC Message Boards I do take responsibility for decisions made. I have tried to answer all your questions. Please post the url of the topic that offends you to me. I will review it personally.

My computer is experiencing garbled text in some areas. I have noticed the problem in Internet Explorer Excel, and Outlook 2000. Norton does not detect any viruses. Could this be a video card or memory issue?

Your posts are currently being reviewed by moderators before appearing to the public. Since our volunteers do this on their own free time, there is no set schedule on when your approved posts will appear.

The Metropolitan Police's anti-terrorist branch and security service in London claimed this morning that a terrorist plot to detonate bombs mid-flight on as many as ten planes travelling from the United Kingdom to the United States has been thwarted. The bombs were to be smuggled onboard in passengers' hand luggage. It could have been the biggest terrorist attack since 9/11, government officials said. Information gathered after recent arrests in Pakistan convinced British investigators they had to act urgently to stop the plot. The counter-terrorism operation took several months to complete. Scotland Yard say twenty-one people are in custody, and they were arrested in London, Birmingham and the Thames Valley. At a press conference this afternoon, Home Secretary John Reid said the police believe the "main players" are accounted for. Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Paul Stephenson said this morning: "We are confident that we have disrupted a plan by terrorists to cause untold death and destruction and to commit, quite frankly, mass murder. We believe that the terrorists' aim was to smuggle explosives on to aeroplanes in hand luggage and to detonate these in flight. We also believe that the intended targets were flights from the United Kingdom to the United States of America. I can confirm that a significant number of people are currently in custody and the operation is ongoing." Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is currenly holidaying in the Caribbean, paid tribute to the the security services and the police. "I thank them for the great job they are doing in protecting our country. There has been an enormous amount of co-operation with the US authorities which has been of great value and underlines the threat we face and our determination to counter it," he said in a statement. It is believed that terrorists planned to detonate explosives on three US airlines. The White House has said the plot had been a direct threat to the US, and security officials there say aspects of the plot were suggestive of al-Qaeda. The US is also sending out more air marshals on flights between the UK and the US. President Bush said the arrests are a "stark reminder" that the U.S. is "at war with Islamic fascists." BELOW ARE REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT UPON ARRIVAL IN WISCONSIN Austin Straubel International Airport Green Bay, Wisconsin 10:54 A.M. CDT END 10:56 A.M. CDT

BAGDHAD, Iraq -- President Jalal Talabani met with Romanian counterpart Traian Basescu on Wednesday (9 August) and discussed economic and trade co-operation. According to Talabani, Romanian companies are welcome to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq. Basescu cited infrastructure projects such as electricity grids, railways and refineries. After the meeting, he reiterated that Romanian troops serving as part of the international peacekeeping mission in Iraq would withdraw only at Baghdad's request. Later, he visited the contingent deployed at a military base near Nasiriyah. On Thursday, Basescu was due to visit Kabul for talks with Afghani President Hamid Karzai and others. (Gardianul, Mediafax - 10/08/06; Rompres, Mediafax - 09/08/06)

This appears to be a good show.

PROMISE 1: Children and youth will be safe in their homes and communities. All too often in the District of Columbia, young people are abused or neglected by their parents or caregivers. Violence in our communities and homes also threatens the physical and emotional well-being of children and youth. There is much the government can and should do to build and cultivate safe, healthy and caring communities, communities that support and protect children and youth. Promise 2: Children and youth will have the resources to meet life's challenges Adults have a responsibility to support and nurture children and youth so they have the opportunity to thrive. We can change the current trajectory of many of the District's young people so that the city no longer leads the nation in adolescent drug use, teen pregnancy, teen violence and school drop-out rates. The District government is obligated to meet the critical needs of young people and provide adequate and quality resources for children and adolescents to transition into successful adults. What is promise 3 and 4?

This was communicated to me:

I would never invite a person to slander another person on DCMessageBoards. I would like to know who exactly made that post. Thanks in advance.

Mr. Rees never communicated his opinions of Bob Summersgill. I do not know Jonathon Rees or Bob Summersgill more than what they post on the these message boards. I banned Jonathon Rees IP address once and another board monitor did as well. Afterwards, Mr. Rees sent me releases on numberous occassions on issues that effect our city. I allowed him to post again on the message boards on the condition he was respectful to families and children and focused on issues important to the District. He promised me that he would do that. I never had any problems with Mr. Summersgill. I think he was the one that asked what was going on in Ward 5? He seems like a nice guy. I value our Freedom of Speech. I don't have to like everything people say. But, I think people need to communicate to find the truth.

A sharp slowdown in consumer spending and family spending on their homes, alongside slowing business investment and a widening trade deficit, resulted today in a surprising drop in the government’s estimated economic growth in the second quarter of this year. The weak estimated economic growth rate of 2.5 percent is a result of the heavy indebtedness of America’s households and of policy decisions by the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates for two years in a row, which made the debt burden more cumbersome for America’s families. According to the government’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, economic growth in the second quarter is less than half the strong annualized 5.6 percent in the first quarter. This decline in the economic growth rate in the second quarter continues a longer term trend of a slowing economy. Year-on-year growth in the second quarter was 3.5 percent, down from 3.7 percent in the first quarter and a far cry from the high of 4.5 percent for the period ending in the second quarter of 2004 (figure 1). With interest rates rising, families have found it harder to maintain the steep pace of the real estate boom of the past few years. And no wonder: By the first quarter of 2006, the last period for which data are available, American households had amassed debt in the equivalent of a record high of 126.4 percent of their disposable income. In the second quarter of 2006, residential fixed investment, or families’ spending on their homes, declined by a stunning 6.3 percent in the second quarter of 2006, the third decline in a row and the largest decline since the second quarter of 1995. Compared to a year earlier, residential fixed investment was -0.2 percent lower than in the second quarter of 2005. This is substantially slower than the 6.1 percent growth from the first quarter 2005 to the first quarter of 2006 — nowhere near the growth rate of 13.7 percent between the second quarter of 2003 and the second quarter of 2004 (figure 2). In the wake of a slowing housing boom, consumer spending growth for other items also appears on a downward trend. Consumers spent 2.5 percent more on an annualized basis in the second quarter than in the first quarter, down from an increase of 4.8 percent in the first quarter. Year-on-year consumer spending grew by 3.0 percent in the second quarter, compared to 3.4 percent in the first quarter and a high of 4.1 percent between the first quarter of 2003 and the first quarter of 2004 (figure 3). With the American consumer less inclined to borrow, continued strong economic growth would have required more business investment. But with consumer spending slowing, businesses apparently have fewer incentives to spend their money on new plants and equipment. In fact, data from the Federal Reserve shows that non-financial corporations have been holding about 6 percent of their total assets in cash, the largest share since the mid-1960s. Corporations’ reluctance to part with their cash is also reflected in the slowdown in business investment spending in the second quarter of 2006. Business investment grew at a low rate of 2.7 percent in the second quarter – the lowest growth rate since the first quarter of 2004. As a result, the year-on-year growth rate for the second quarter slowed to 6.8 percent in the second quarter, down from 7.4 percent in the first quarter of 2006 (figure 4). Nor are the remaining sectors of the economy picking up the slack. Government spending was essentially flat in the first quarter with an annualized increase by 0.6 percent as spending by the federal government declined by 3.4 percent and spending by state and local governments grew by 3.0 percent. And foreigners are not buying U.S. products either. The trade deficit expanded again relative to the size of the economy. To revive U.S. economic growth in the U.S., consumers need to find a way to raise their spending without going deeper into debt. This can only come about if more jobs are created and workers see real wage gains. At least in this case, today’s figures provide some hope that the labor market may be on the way to a stronger recovery. Total inflation-adjusted amount of wages and salaries were 3.4 percent higher in the second quarter of 2006 than in the second quarter of 2005. This is the second time in a row that the year-on-year growth rate expanded and it is the highest year-on-year growth rate of this business cycle, which started in 2006 (figure 5). The critical question, though, is if these apparent, albeit small, improvements can be sustained in the face of a Federal Reserve determined to slow the economy through higher interest rates, especially in the face of continued rising inflation. Without a revival of consumer spending on consumption and homes, though, the economy could find itself in this apparent slowdown for some time to come.

In a statement issued by the Vatican Press Office ********************************************* “The Holy Father is following with great concern the destinies of all the peoples involved and has proclaimed this Sunday, July 23, as a special day of prayer and penance, inviting the pastors and faithful of all the particular Churches, and all believers of the world, to implore from God the precious gift of peace.” In answer to that call for prayer, we come together in this Basilica and around the altars throughout the Archdiocese of Washington to ask for God’s grace and peace. This is not the first time that we have done this. There is an uncomfortable sense of repetition to our prayer for peace in the Middle East. The situation in that part of the world reflects a tension that goes back for so many decades, not to say centuries. Some writers and commentators today refer to this “historic” unrest in the Middle East. Yet today there is a new dimension and an alarming aspect to what we face. The stakes increasingly become higher as the violence mounts in the Middle East, and particularly as it is focused now on Lebanon. As the violence becomes more destructive and as the range of the violence grows, so too do the implications of wider involvement. Today we can all be justifiably alarmed that the violence so visible in Lebanon and Israel is qualitatively different from just a year ago because of the introduction of a new level of weaponry and the wider range of destruction and the frightening implications of widening involvement of other nations. The Pope asked us to pray — to come together in supplication to God: “In particular, the Supreme Pontiff hopes that prayers will be raised to the Lord for an immediate cease-fire between the sides, for humanitarian corridors to be opened in order to bring help to the suffering peoples, and for reasonable and responsible negotiations to begin to put an end to objective situations of injustice that exist in that region." What the Holy Father is asking us to pray for is also in the statement the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops put out on July 18, calling for all of these actions. What can we accomplish? What do we bring to this moment? Just last Tuesday, Cardinal Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronite Church and the leader of the Christian faith community in Lebanon, was in Washington to pray for peace. We joined him at Our Lady of Lebanon Church to do the one thing that we as Catholics can do. We came together to show our support in solidarity — in communion — with those who suffer. We came together also to pray: to pray for our sisters and brothers in Lebanon, and to pray that God’s grace would touch the hearts of all of those who have the power to bring an end to the suffering, the violence, the division and the hatred. We gather today to be united one with each other, but also to recognize that we are one because we are one with God. Deep down in the heart of each of us is the realization that we do not stand alone. Our prayers today are to bridge that gap between those in the Middle East who suffer and ourselves. We are one with them in aspirations for peace. With our Christian sisters and brothers, we are one in faith. With all, we are one in our humanity. Never is the fact that we do not stand alone more keenly felt than when we face tragedy and violence seemingly beyond our control. Even when we do not have answers to so many of the questions surrounding violence, we know ultimately we must find our light, comprehension, strength, sustenance and wisdom from God. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that we are to pray. He offers his followers the example of stepping aside from all of the activities of life and simply praying, because he saw so many around him as sheep without a shepherd. As the good shepherd, Jesus offers us a pathway through life that will bring us even through the “valley of darkness.” But first we must place our faith and trust in him. We must also place our hope in his way — which includes the power of God’s Spirit to change human hearts. For two thousand years, the ultimate lesson of Jesus was, and remains, the cross as an example not only of self-giving love for others but the answer to the most profound human questions: How shall I live? What values should guide my steps and actions? Will God be with me in response to my prayers? Yet two millennia later, his voice continues to exert the strongest force for good in the world. “Love one another as I have loved you.” “Have courage. I have overcome the world.” “If you would be my disciple, take up your cross and follow me.” It is only in the shadow of the cross that we can begin to see Christ’s plan, the power of God’s spirit, the efficacy of God’s grace. Who would have thought that the violence that brought Jesus to the cross would have ultimately yielded to the ineffable experience of God’s grace. This is where we enter the picture in the global scene of violence, of despair and of a breakdown in human solidarity. Our part and why we are here today and why we have responded to the Pope’s summons to join in prayer is because we believe in the power of God’s grace and in the power of prayer to touch human hearts. At the core of our identity is the experience of resurrection and, therefore, the belief that God’s power transcends anything this world experiences. We are called to new life, to a new creation, to a new way of being and thinking. We are also aware that the Holy Spirit has been poured out on all who believe in the power to change hearts and through prayer to bring about a new creation. A second aspect of our contribution today is our witness to hope. We must never let ourselves, our vision of life, our understanding of the ultimate goodness of the human family, be overwhelmed by momentary violence, by sporadic hatred and by the encroachment of the power of darkness. We must be firm in our resolve to stand by our principles, to live by our convictions and to follow Jesus’s teaching. We must never allow evil or hatred to overwhelm us. The Church holds up Jesus’s example of prayer: let goodness win out over evil; let truth overcome falsehood; let life triumph over death; let love be victorious over hatred. His message continues to echo in our day. We are not powerless in the face of evil. We are not powerless in face of violence. We are not powerless in the face of all that divides us. The quiet, persistent voice of God’s love for us speaks of our human solidarity and the possibility of building a world, a truly good and just society that rests on mutual respect and peace. This is the proclamation that has been repeated over and over and over again from the days of the Apostles down to those of us gathered here. Let us renew our resolve — every member of this community — to do our part no matter how small it may seem or how insignificant it might appear to build a civilization of love so that we are never overwhelmed by a culture of violence, a culture of death. Can this be done? Yes, we can win in the struggle to let God’s kingdom of truth, justice, understanding, compassion, kindness and love win out here and around the world. It begins with each one of us. That is why the Pope asks us to come together in prayer. Our prayers can result in God’s grace, touching hearts. If we touch enough hearts, we can influence enough actions. If enough actions change, we can change the world in which we live. Is what we are doing today truly significant? Is our prayer today going to make a difference? Can we be a part spiritually of the vast effort to lift up the need for dialogue? The need for reconciliation? The need for peaceful solutions to intractable problems? Of course we can. That is why we are here to stand before God who will always stand with us and respond to our prayers.

On Friday, October 20, 2006, the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division Benefit Fund will host their 1st Charity Golf Tournament at the Fairfax National Golf Course located at 16850 Sudley Road, Centereville, Virginia 20120. This tournament provides the Benefit Fund an opportunity to raise money for several of our officers or family members that either lost a family member or an officer that has pasted away. To participate in this fundraiser we are asking your business or organization to make a contribution to this worthy cause. In exchange for your donation, we will advertise your company on either a tee box or near a green during the tournament. There are other ways for you to get involved in this event. For example, you are welcome to donate a prize, which will be included in the charity raffle at the golf tournament. All prizes will be displayed with the sponsor’s logo. Tickets will be sold before and during the event. Breakfast and lunch will be provided and players will get a chance to win a new car in the HOLE-IN-ONE contest. Please see the reverse side for specific details. We look forward to your partnership and seeing you at the tournament. TO OFFER YOUR SUPPORT, YOU CAN: Become a Gold Sponsor For $500.00 -Hole sponsorship with signage at a tee or green -Entry for a foursome w/cart and goody bag -Receive a special plaque of appreciation Become a Silver Sponsor For $440.00 -Hole sponsorship with signage at a tee or green -Entry for a foursome w/cart and goody bag Become a Bronze Sponsor For $100.00 -Hole sponsorship with signage at a tee or green Provide a Raffle Gift During the raffle, your company name will be displayed with your Donation, and your name will be recognized when the prize is Awarded. Cash Donation All additional cash donations will be recognized during the lunch After all players are seated. For sponsorship please make checks payable to UDBF and send to: The White House Gift Shop ATTN: Tom Muldoon 529 14th Street, N.W.. Washington, D.C. 20045 If you are using FedEx or UPS for larger raffle items please ship to: Tom Muldoon 6439 Muster Court Centreville, Virginia 20121 NOTE: Your response, by September 15, 2006, is greatly appreciated. For more information, contact Tom Muldoon at 202-662-7280 or 202-215-1444 1ST ANNUAL U.D. BENEFIT FUND GOLF FUND RAISER (PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT U.D. OFFICERS IN NEED) FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2006 SHOTGUN START AT 9:00am CHECK IN STARTING AT 7:30am ENTRY FEE $85.00 PER PERSON (INCLUDES: BREAKFAST, GREEN FEE W/CART, RANGE BALLS, LUNCH AFTER GOLF, GIFT BAG) FORMAT: CAPTAINS CHOICE ENTRY DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2006 MAIL ENRTYS TO THE WHITE HOUSE GIFT SHOP 529 14TH STREET, N.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20045 CALL 202-662-7280 FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR ENTRY FORM COMPLETE THE BELOW INFORMATION WE WILL ACCEPT PAYMENT BY CHECK, VISA, MASTER CARD, OR AMERICAN EXPRESS 1._________________________ 2._________________________ 3._________________________ 4._________________________ CREDIT CARD NUMBER__________________________EXP. DATE_______ TYPE___VISA ___MASTER CARD ___AMERICAN EXPRESS

This is quite interesting.

Synopsis Priscilla Chase (Parker Posey), a young Cleveland woman, seems to have it all – the perfect job, the perfect house, the perfect husband (Paul Rudd) – except for in bed, where sex has always left her a bit short of the finish line. When the problem drives her husband to leave her suddenly for one of his high school students (Mischa Barton), Priscilla’s idyllic world is shattered. She sets out on a quest to become just as good at sex as she is at everything else in life, embarking on a wild journey that leads her into the arms of the man she least expected and to the discovery that happiness is sometimes found in the most unlikely places. Written by Adam Wierzbianski and directed by Billy Kent in his feature debut, THE OH IN OHIO co-stars Danny DeVito, Liza Minnelli, Miranda Bailey (DEAD & BREAKFAST), Keith David (CRASH) and Robert John Burke (GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK). Following its premiere earlier this year at the South by Southwest Film Festival, THE OH IN OHIO was honored with the Best Comedy award at the 2006 Vail Film Festival and was named the Santa Monica Centerpiece at the 2006 Malibu Film Festival. Check out the trailer. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5...53&q=oh+in+ohio

Can you give us an example of how one can hear and see God?

Here is a military 'Stars and Stripes' news article where Robert is being interviewed. ******************************************************************* FORWARD OPERATING BASE LANE, Afghanistan — U.S. forces in the Chalcor Valley on Thursday faced their largest assault since the start of Operation Mountain Thrust, with more than 100 Taliban fighters blasting their defenses for more than two hours. Still, officials from the 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry said American and Afghan forces suffered only one minor casualty — a richocheted bullet passed through a U.S. soldier’s leg — and managed to force back the militants. First Lt. Ryan Edwards, 1st Platoon leader for the 2-4, said Taliban fighters advanced within yards of defensive positions in this northern section of Zabul province. At one point, U.S. soldiers were taking fire from five directions. Pvt. Robert Bobbin of the 4th Infantry’s Company A, said the unit has seen firefights in the area before, “but never this intense.” The area has become dangerous in recent months, according to base officials, with local villagers recently announcing a jihad against coalition forces. Edwards said patrols routinely search nearby villages and find few people left living there. But at night, Taliban forces often take control of those areas, leading coalition commanders to believe they are receiving help from locals. Thursday’s Taliban attack force was larger, better armed and better equipped than past fighters, Edwards said. The province shares a border with Pakistan on the south, and U.S. forces have been monitoring that line to prevent reinforcements from that country to Taliban forces in Afghanistan. The 2-4 is scheduled to pull out of Zabul province later this month, but unit commanders said plans for a continued U.S. presence here are still up in the air. http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?sectio...4&article=38821

I hope you do not die Marc. You should probably move out of the area. "There are serious obstacles to the achievement of a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon and northern Israel in the immediate future", Vijay Nambiar, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General, told the Security Council today. Briefing on a senior-level mission to the region, comprised also of Terje Roed-Larsen and Alvaro de Soto, he said the mission saw two vital political goals for the international community. The first one was to secure, urgently, some form of cessation of hostilities. The second goal was to quickly develop elements of a political framework that would pave the way for a full and durable ceasefire. A political package to that end should include the end of the Hizbollah threat against Israel and the full respect by all Lebanese parties and all Lebanon’s neighbours of the Government of Lebanon’s sovereignty and control. He said both Lebanon’s Prime Minister Fouad Siniora of and the Speaker of the Parliament, Nabih Berri, had expressed great pain and frustration over the scope of Israel’s military actions, and were almost incredulous that Israel had carried out actions that would, in their view, inevitably help Hizbollah in the long run. Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other interlocutors had stressed Hizbollah’s responsibility for initiating the conflict. They had made clear that Israel had decided that military operations would continue until Hizbollah was seriously weakened. After that, Israel would welcome a political framework that ensured no return to the status quo ante and would facilitate implementation of Council resolution 1559. In responding to the mission’s ideas, Lebanon’s Prime Minister had stressed that, any process to reassert the sovereignty of the Government of Lebanon over the entire country, must address what he termed the “core issues”, such as the issue of Shebaa Farms. Israel’s Prime Minister Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni had been adamant that the captured Israeli soldiers must be returned unconditionally. They would consider any proposal that would help guarantee that Israel would not be vulnerable to terrorist rocket attacks along its northern border, through the Government of Lebanon deploying in the south and the disarmament of Hizbollah and other militant groups. Regarding his consultations with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza, he said the President had expressed particular concern that the current crisis in Lebanon involved an attempt by non-Palestinian extremists to hijack leadership on the Palestinian issue. He felt it was important to de-link the crises, and for the Palestinian issue to be addressed on its merits. Briefing the Council on the humanitarian situation, Jan Egeland, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, also appealed for an immediate cessation of hostilities, as it was the only way humanitarian work could become effective. As a result of targeting of fuel facilities, Beirut had only days of fuel remaining. It was believed that there were sufficient food supplies, including wheat stocks, to cover national consumption for one to three months. The primary concern was the destruction to food supply chains. Hospitals were functioning, but were overwhelmed. With the number of people in shelters increasing, access to safe drinking water was also a concern. He said he had called on all parties to live up to their obligations under humanitarian law and grant access to humanitarian workers. Yesterday, he had handed over to Israel’s Permanent Representative a formal request to the Government of Israel, which called for safe passage routes for humanitarian corridors in and out of Lebanon. He had also requested the parties to identify focal points in their Governments and forces to discuss modalities. A country team was currently in Beirut working to produce a flash appeal that would address the most pressing humanitarian concerns for a period of three months. He asked for immediate contributions to that appeal, which would be launched on Monday. Opening today’s debate, in which nearly 50 speakers participated, the Permanent Observer of Palestine said the Council’s inaction last week regarding a “reasonable and balanced resolution” on the Palestinian question had further bolstered Israel’s perception that it was immune from the law and that it would not be held accountable for its illegal actions. “As the international community stands idly by, with the Security Council nearly paralyzed, Israel, the occupying Power, continues to kill, wound and maim defenceless Palestinian civilians,” he said. He said it was the duty of the Council to act immediately. It must begin by condemning the most recent Israeli aggression and call for the immediate cessation of hostilities. The Council must also call for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli occupying forces to their original positions before the aggression against the Gaza Strip began. Moreover, the Council must call on Israel to immediately release all democratically elected Palestinian officials being detained since 28 June. The representative of Lebanon said that, once again, Israel was betting on its excessive military force to settle problems with its neighbours. Hiding behind the right to self-defence revealed Israel’s twisted understanding of international law. He reiterated his country’s call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire under the auspices of the United Nations, and the full responsibility of the Lebanese Government to preserve and provide safety to the country and its citizens, by extending its authority over all its territory, including in the area of the Shebaa Farms. He appealed to the international community, and to the Council, to protect the achievements of the Lebanese people, by supporting their Government in facing the aggression and continuing on the path of democracy. Israel’s representative said that, during the last week, the world had learned of the enormous arsenal of missiles that Hizbollah had been amassing in Lebanon, and how deeply Hizbollah had penetrated Lebanese society. The Council had learned how right it had been in repeatedly demanding the disarming of that terrorist monster. Terrorism had occupied, ravaged and pillaged Lebanon. Terror was the true occupying power of Lebanon. Lebanon’s Government, for its own political reasons, had chosen conflict with Israel, instead of battling the cancer that occupied the body and soul of its country. That cancer must be excised, not partially removed and allowed to fester again. Israel grieved for each civilian casualty, he said. The world had also heard how difficult it was to distinguish between Hizbollah and civilians. Before a cessation of hostilities could be contemplated, however, the cessation of terror must be insisted on. A temporary and artificial ceasefire would only result in an illusionary lull, which would allow that disease to kill again. The international community must finally address the terrorism that occupied Lebanon. The international community must also address the sponsors of terrorism, Syria and Iran, the axis of terror. He welcomed the declaration of the Group of Eight (G-8) leaders, whose 16 July statement provided a basis for progress towards a sustainable peace, he said. The representative of the United States said his Government was studying several proposals on how best to secure implementation of resolution 1559, including the insertion of an international stabilization force. However, the key goal should be to disarm and “defang” Hizbollah. An immediate and unconditional ceasefire would only allow Hizbollah time to regroup and plan its next wave of kidnappings and attacks against Israel. As for a stabilization force, the questions were how to empower it to deal with Hizbollah, and how it would relate to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Another question was how such a force could contribute to fully implementing resolution 1559, which called for disarmament of militias and extending control by the Government of Lebanon of all of its territory. There was no moral equivalence between acts of terrorism and Israel’s exercise of its legitimate right to self-defence, he said. The civilian deaths were a tragedy, and the United States had urged the Government of Israel to exercise the greatest possible care in its use of force. It was, however, a mistake to ascribe a moral equivalence to civilians who died as the direct result of malicious terrorist acts, the very purpose of which was to kill civilians, and the tragic and unfortunate consequence of civilian deaths, as a result of military action taken in self-defence. France’s representative, speaking in his national capacity and echoing many speakers’ sentiments, condemned in the strongest possible terms the continued firing of rockets into Israel. He also condemned Israel’s disproportionate response, which was holding the Lebanese people hostage, killing large numbers of civilians and causing substantial material damage in Lebanon. While Israeli military operations were weakening Hizbollah’s military capabilities, they were also fuelling hate. By systematically destroying the country’s infrastructure, Israel was greatly weakening the Lebanese State. The Secretary-General’s proposals provided the basis for developing a coherent solution. The Council must face up to its responsibilities and begin, as soon as possible, finalizing a resolution that would offer the framework for a lasting settlement of the crisis.

The Bush administration is rushing a delivery of precision-guided bombs to Israel, according to The New York Times. The munitions are part of a sales package approved last year, the officials said. But some military officers said the request for expedited delivery was unusual and indicated that Israel has many targets it plans to hit in Lebanon.

Next Generation Awareness Foundation, Inc. (501©(3)) (NGAF), producers of the Black History Month Film & Discussion Series and the Urban Film Series Tour, announced today that Landmark Theatre's E Street Cinema will host two highly anticipated world premieres on July 27, 2006 in Washington, DC as a part of NGAF's First Annual Black Docs Film Series. Filmmakers and producers Mel Devonne and Jam Donaldson will be on hand for the world premiere of Steppin: A Way of Life (Devonne) and Hot Ghetto Mess (Donaldson). Screenings will begin at 7:30pm (sharp) and ticket prices are $9.75 ($9 if purchased in advance at InsiderEntertainment.com or UrbanFilmSeries.com). Attendees will witness Chicago's popular ballroom dance style up close and see what it has meant to many communities for decades. Attendees will also witness DC's own, Lazy Lamont, former co-host of the Russ Parr Morning Show, as he narrates the work of one of America's most popular websites which challenges the African American community with how it is looking and acting, including some of the most hilarious and suddenly shameful presentations. About Black Docs: The four-month fundraising event will benefit NGAF's upcoming community programming and help send its 2007 Urban Film Series Tour to underserved communities in the United States. Sticking true to the motto of Connecting Communities with History and Progressive Cinema, Black Docs is the only program of its kind in that it focuses exclusively on documentaries related to urban lifestyles and issues. Press/Media Privileges and Credentials: Members of the press should contact us at press@urbanfilmseries.com or (202) 409-7240. Please include your media credentials (media source, circulation/viewership, title/affiliation, and complete contact information). Please also state your request(s) as exact as possible (interview, article, pictures, attendance). If attendance, please include the names and number of persons in your party. ----------------------------- Who: Next Generation Awareness Foundation, Inc. What: World Premiere of Steppin: A Way of Life and Hot Ghetto Mess Where: Landmark Theatre's E Street Cinema When: June 29th, from 7:30pm - 9:30pm Tickets: $7.00. ----------------------------- Official Black Docs Schedule May 25 – Basketball ~ The Official Public Premiere Harlem Globetrotters: The Team That Changed The World (2005) Website: www.HarlemGlobeTrotters.com June 29 – Down Low ~ The Official Premiere Screening Project W.O.W.: A Look Into the Lives of Men on The DL (2005) Website: www.LisaDurden.com July 27 – Ways of Life ~ Two World Premieres Steppin: A Way of Life About the Documentary: As popularly recognized from R. Kelly's Step to the Name of Love, a Chicago ballroom dance that is more than a style, but a way of life for many. Hot Ghetto Mess About the Documentary: A documentary narrated by DC's own Lazy Lamont, former co-host of the Russ Parr Morning Show. Featuring the work of one of America's most popular websites which challenges the African American community with how it is looking and acting, including some of the most hilarious and suddenly shameful presentations. You have seen America's Funniest Home Videos, now see Hot Ghetto Mess and you will never, ever forget this program. Website: www.HotGhettoMess.com Featuring a Brief Q&A with filmmakers Mel Devonne (Steppin: A Way of Life) and Jam Donaldson (Hot Ghetto Mess). August 24 – Perseverance ~ Mid-Atlantic Premiere The Pact: Three Young Men Make A Promise And Fulfill A Dream (2006) Featuring a Q&A with The Doctors and The Spark Media and Duke Media (Bill Duke) Team, including filmmaker Andrea Kalin. About the Documentary: From the NY Times Bestseller, comes a gritty, provocative true-life story of three friends from the 'hood, Rameck Hunt, Sampson Davis, and George Jenkins, who made a pact in high school to find a way to go to college and then medical school. They not only accomplished this, but they're now spreading the word to inspire other inner-city kids to stay off of drugs, out of gangs and to take the educational route to a better life. THE PACT captures the pathos of the men's individual journeys, the integrity of their voices and the power of their rare friendship. Their stories affirm the values that ultimately sustained and drove them: courage, tenacity, and faith. And they give tribute to the life of the mind and its power to turn dreams into reality. Website: www.thepactthemovie.com

Adams Morgan Main Street host Summer Spruce-Up on Saturday, July 22. Tree Care & fertilizing, Illegal flyer and graffiti removal, Re-stake trees & place gator bags, Deliver tree care handouts, or assist at the sign-in table. Something for everyone! Enjoy refreshments & meet neighbors Meet up at Marie Reed school 9:30 - 2:00 pm