Oh, how times have changed. It was just 22 months ago that the press had heralded her as the frontrunner for the Democratic Party's nomination for president. Victory was all but a foregone conclusion. First she would conquer the Democrats, then win the General Election and in the process make history by becoming the first female president. Remember her announcement when she declared she was running? She proudly proclaimed, “She's in it to win it.” Whats more, she meant every word.

But as the old saying goes, “Life is what happens while you are making plans.” The unthinkable happened, she lost the nomination. The reasons for her defeat are debatable; depending upon which camp you belong to. Whether it was a misrun campaign, political gaffes, an underestimation of the “Obama Phenomena” or a combination of all of the above, the fact remains she lost. She will not be the first female president in 2008. The dream may be dead for now. But don't feel sorry for her. Her star may shine a tad dimmer presently, but her future is bright and she has numerous options to choose from.

Now never let it be said that Hillary isn't a team player. As promised during her concession speech, she was seen with Obama on the campaign trail shaking hands, making the obligatory sweet talk and attempting to rally her supporters behind him. Regardless whether she thought Obama was as strong a candidate as she was (she didn't), the last thing she wanted to see was another Republican sworn in as president this fall. So she placed her pride aside and did the honorable thing, the team thing.

The speculation of Hillary being on the Democratic ticket is over. Before Biden's selection as Obama's running mate, there was compelling evidence suggesting her pairing with Obama would be an electoral smash hit. Here's why. Hillary's strength was with white women and middle class voters. Obama's strength was with African-Americans and young voters, theoretically their teaming would create a political dream team. However after their meeting at Senator Barbara Feinstein's home in June, though they both were cordial, it was evident the scars of the campaign were too much to overcome. But more importantly, even with Dick Cheney's revamping of the vice presidency, Hillary wasn't seriously interested in being anyone's number 2.

A much better fit for her would be a spot on Obama's cabinet, for example secretary of state. There she would yield considerable power, influence and be on the world stage. She'd be able to help shape US foreign policy on hot topics like expanding NATO and the Middle East. Better yet, she'd do a great job, so look out Condi!

How about Governor Clinton? Yes, the Governor of the great state of New York. An intriguing possibility to say the least. Following in the footsteps of Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, she could use the office as a launching pad for her next run at the presidency. Currently David Paterson holds the office, replacing the disgraced Eliot Spitzer. She could probably win the office if she ran, but she doesn't covet this office so Governor Paterson's job is probably safe.

Supreme Court Justice Clinton? Sound absurd? Well maybe, maybe not. Nominating one's political rival is not unheard of. In 1860 and 1864 Abraham Lincoln and Salmon Chase opposed each other in two bitterly contested races. After Lincoln's re-election in 1864, he nominated Chase for the Supreme Court. Dwight Eisenhower and Governor Earl Warren of California fought for the Republican nomination in 1952. After a pre-arranged deal, President Eisenhower nominated Warren to the bench in 1953. Could Obama nominate Hillary to the bench upon the next opening? Stranger things have happened.

How about a third party run for the presidency? Conventional wisdom says a third party candidate can't win the presidency, it's never been done and it can't be done. If you weren't aware of the following facts let me enlighten you. The words “never” and “can't” aren't a part of her vocabulary. What's more she has 18 million reasons to run which are considerably more than John Anderson, Ross Perot or Ralph Nader could lay claim to before Election Day. Remember again, Hillary's a team player. She thinks she'll have another shot at the brass ring. So she won't rock the boat. Now, if she were 10 years older, well…

There are a plethora of other possibilities. Television, ambassador, talk shows host, political commentary, news anchor, "Dancing With the Stars" (can you imagine Bill and Hillary doing the tango on national tv?) But my point is clear, she has a world of options.

When Hillary finally conceded the press delivered its usual dose of doom and gloom when alluding to her career. Things looked bleak, as if there were no tomorrow. However after the dust settled a strange thing happened. Hillary actually seemed to be, if not in an enviable position, definitely not in the dire political straits as reported. Seems, “The rumors of her demise were greatly exaggerated,” to borrow from Mark Twain.

Now for just one last thing. Don't ever forget, her dream, her goal, her aspiration is to become president. The first female president. The leader of the free world. She sees the possibility. Even more the country sees the possibility. And she came close. Very close. Ooh, so close. Though from time to time she may say she's not interested in another run for the presidency, don't ever believe her. It just wasn't meant to be... this time. So in the meantime look for her to do her duty and remain a senator. She'll bide her time, wait and see how things unfold over the next few years. Then she'll decide what her next move is. Translation? We have definitely not seen the last of Hillary Rodham Clinton. So don't shed any tears for her. I wonder if she can sing?

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I needn’t have worried. It turned out to be his first official exhibition in New York, at The Village Pet Store and Charcoal Grill, in Manhattan.

The well known Graffiti artist who now sells his studio works for hundreds of thousands of dollars, to people such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Dennis Hopper, described the fake pet shop as being about "our relationship with animals and the ethics and sustainability of factory farming".

The works in his exhibition are all three dimensional animatronics, and can be seen through the windows of the store.

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Stephen Adams, Arts Correspondent for the Telegraph describes some of the exhibits. One of them entitled “two chicken nuggets” ,as “two bite-sized ready-to-eat pieces peck at a single-serving carton of tomato ketchup, watched over by their mother hen.

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A second installation in the series shows what appears to be a leopard resting on a branch in a zoo enclosure, which turns out on closer inspection to be a fur coat.

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Another sees two fish fingers (fish sticks) swimming gently around in a goldfish bowl.”

In a statement about the exhibition Banksy said: “New Yorkers don’t care about art, they care about pets. So I’m exhibiting them instead. I wanted to make art that questioned our relationship with animals and the ethics and sustainability of factory farming, but it ended up as chicken nuggets singing.

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I took all the money I made exploiting an animal in my last show and used it to fund a new show about the exploitation of animals. If its art and you can see it from the street, I guess it could still be considered street art."

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The New York Times said: "Banksy's statements, like much of his pranksterish oeuvre, should be taken with a grain of salt. But there's no denying the show's attention to comically pointed detail."

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Links to associated articles:

Urban Graffiti as Art: Banksy

Banksy in Bethlehem: Art and the Barrier Between Two Nations

Banksy Storms New Orleans: Banksy vs the Grey Ghost

Banksy Gunrat Will Double Value of British Pub

Banksy: How to Make Millions with Spraycan and Stencil

Banksy Punked Paris Hilton: Cunning Stunts

Before he performed this stunt 5 years ago, he put on a lot of weight, but it was important that he did so that the body fat would sustain and maintain his physical health.

It was also important that he drank a lot of water because dehydration would have set in. Especially when you spend 44 days exposed to the elements of the sun.

So with all this in mind and with the added experience of his Vertigo stunt, I’m sure David Blaine is confident that his newest stunt, with all it’s dangers, should go according to plan.

David Blaine has often performed live magic tricks on the streets, but he has apparently turned his eyes to the sky. With more and more airborne stunt, it makes you wonder where does it go from here and what will be his next challenge.

This is a man who is an international terrorist according to a web site about him. Now he gets to add the United States to his list of enemies. My question to our commander and chief is; how could we let this murder get away? Over 3,000 people were murdered by the commands of this man. We went after Saddam Hussein and found him in a sewer but we cannot find this man in a cave? A man who in some way or another keeps getting videos and letters into the U.S. to torment us even more but we find Saddam in a sewer!

Just think about the people who were murdered on his command; have you ever had someone you love or even care about die? Think about some of the last things you have said to this person just before they have died.

"I love you"
"You are so special to me"
"I hate you, you little worm"
"You make me sick, get out of my face!"
"You owe me money for that, you so and so"

The list goes on, just imagine the unresolved arguments, the marriage proposals, dates, kids saying goodbye to their parent(s), and all other things we go through. On September 11th, 2001 New Yorkers had to suffer the lost of their family and friends. Never being able to solve the issues had by their loved ones, that date never happened, wedding never has taken placed, and kids never seeing their parent(s) again. These are the things I think about when I see pictures of what is now known as ground zero. The look of pain and sorrows that are going on with New Yorkers today is still weighing heavily in my heart.

It is like any other crime that has been committed; I am not satisfied and will not be until justice has been served. Do you remember the D.C. Sniper and how the police chief Charles A Moose was looking so tired everyday on the news because he could not really get any sleep until ‘the man' as they thought were caught? This is the way I bet most New Yorkers who has knowingly lost their loved ones due to the September 11th attacks are feeling. I am thinking these things as I am typing:

My tuition has gone up,
Bin Laden walks free
A family has to choose to put gas in their car or pay their gas bill,
Bin Laden walks free
The price of living has increased
Bin Laden walks free
Many American Soldiers has been killed in Iraq
Bin Laden walks free
Everyday people in Manhattan has to walk or drive near Ground Zero to look at the rubble and debris left behind the attack
Bin Laden walks free
New Yorkers are still feeling the hurt of their lost loved ones
Bin Laden walks free
Issues never being resolved
Bin Laden walks free
Marriage never happens
Bin Laden walks free
First time Visit to New York
Bin Laden walks free
The fight of the people on the plane to survive
Bin Laden walks free
The I love you, and I am sorry never being said again
Bin Laden walks free
New Yorkers dying of a broken heart (it happens)
Bin Laden walks free
A national day of mourning
Bin Laden walks free
Business loosing money
Bin Laden walks free
Jobs laying people off (I was)
Bin Laden walks free
Frantic phone calls being made to New York and not being able to get through for almost a week
Bin Laden walks free
The tears and sorrows that was shown on the news
Bin Laden walks free
People going crazy and admitted into mental hospitals
Bin Laden walks free
The fear of terrorists striking again; he got away with it!
Bin Laden walks free

That stinks in my opinion, I want that man caught, tried, and sentenced to life in prison in New York. Not in isolation like Yolanda Saldivar the woman who has shot and killed Selena the Spanish super star. Like I feel about Yolanda; I believe he should be put in the general population. Unlike some Americans I do not want him sentenced to death. I do not believe that his being sentenced to death will be good enough for me. I feel as if death will get him a meal ticket out of suffering for his crime. I want him to feel the pain and suffering that he has inflicted over the years.

So my questions to our commander and chief; what is going to happen to Bin Laden? When are we going to get justice for the crime committed against us? When are we going to see him suffer for what has happened? Why is it so easy to find a man in a sewer and this bozo is hard to find in a cave or as I read mountain? If it really is a mountain, we have a lot of mountaineers in the U.S. who knows how to hunt, and just do the whole wilderness survival, why not get them to find him? While those New Yorkers get to sit and suffer while trying to move on for some, he gets to send us more videos and messages from his lair. The thing that worries me about this is he has been quiet for awhile. Unless he has caught a massive heart attack and died, then I am afraid he is up to something. That famous international terrorist is being too quiet for me, aren't you worried?

Back to my point, I want justice for his crime. Why should we let another criminal walk free? Please, please, please America if or when we catch him do not mess it up. You know what I am talking about, criminals being released due to a technicality; we do not need to be disappointed. Remember the pain, remember the lost, now we need him caught and sentenced to life in prison without parole, without making any phone calls and let him have to look over his shoulders from other inmates in New York who will kick his butt for the rest of his miserable life!

I remember dreaming of the attacks on the twin towers and the thought that I should call my brothers and tell them of my dream. It never came to pass, for they did not want to know the things that I saw or dreamed of because they said the gifts I possessed since birth were not natural and when we were growing up it scared them.

I remember that I was out throwing the ball in the park for my two chocolate labs, Honey and Rebel. When I walk into the house nestled in the small town of Espanola Ontario Canada, my children and their mother who had come to visit them were all standing in front of the television and staring intently at the screen.

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I remember feeling my heart sink deep in my chest and the look upon my families faces, that of utter shock, horror and disbelief. It's happening! Oh no it's really happening! That is all I could say. I remember standing there frozen in place and watched as both the Twin Towers went crashing down as they imploded into themselves and how within my soul I became weak and could hardly stand.

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My ex wife handed me the phone and said, “Call them”. But I could not as the call lines were all jammed up. I tried for several days to reach my family there in the area but it was to no avail. The shock and confusion held everyone at bay. But in my heart and soul, I felt the sudden separation from those I love so dearly and when the news came that both my brothers were gone, I was cold inside. I could not mourn their deaths. All I could feel was my rage and utter disbelief that another human being could think life so worthless that they could crash a plane with innocent people on board into a building in the name of their God.

I was filled with a rage deep inside of me! I wanted to bring a hell on earth to those that would send others to do their deadly deeds in the name of their God.

For a short time, I turned away from my teachings and The Great Spirit, was not in my heart. I could not understand how he the all knowing one could allow such a thing to happen. I turned my pain inwards, as I could not deal with the heartache and my loss. It nearly lost me my freedom and my family. September 11th was my brother Edwin's birthday and the other brother's birthday was June 20th. So I'm forever reminded of that day that terrorist struck at the heart of America.

It has taken me a long time to come to terms with the loss of my loved ones and my heart goes out to all the victims and their families. Those that lost their lives in Sept.11 will forever live within my heart and mind. I was able to go too ground zero two years after that event and stand in my silence and say goodbye to my loved ones. It took me two years to gather the strength and courage to do so; it helped me to bring closure and allowed me to start living again. My pain will never go away. It's a part of me and I'll carry it as long as I live.

Please all that read this article, let us never forget the many that gave their lives for others, so we can enjoy the freedom that being free brings. Let us never forget our hero's of 9/11 or those that serve overseas in foreign countries helping to ensure our freedom, with the cost of life and limb to some.

Let us not forget all the heroes of Sept.11 and the sacrifice they made.

I know I won't.

Additionally, they informed everyone that if you intend to kiss anyone, to make sure they are not a carrier of this herpes. If the person is a carrier, they will not know but can transmit it to the next person without knowing and unless the person breaks out in sores around their genitals, they also won't know they are infected unless they get tested.

Remember, herpes is not curable. This disease stays with you forever. You will be taking medication for the rest of your lives and will experience outbreaks - which are sores that have a burning sensation at recurring moments. In the event that you find a partner that is willing to understand and deal with this disease, it's important for both of you to understand how this will affect you and your family if you choose to decide to have children.

Now if it is indeed true that you can infected with this herpes even with a kiss, will our culture revert back to when we didn't kiss, didn't grope, and didn't have sex until we were sure that we were truly in love and got tested for all diseases? Maybe this is what we were waiting for to elicit some kind of moral behavior among our society.

You must admit that the ethics and morality of our age has flown away with the birds. It is time for something drastic to happen for people have taken sexual promiscuity as a game to understand the importance of having some decency and respect for one's body. It's time we began looking beyond the body and the sex and began looking at the person and what they have to offer.

In my opinion, this will eventually bring back an increase in marriages and a decrease in divorce.

The Case and Verdict

The police claimed that they were in danger of the three men when they shot at them. They thought they heard one of them shout out that he had a gun. I find that really hard to believe since they were unarmed at the time of the shooting. The defense tried to convince the judge that the victims were the ones to blame in what happened. I wonder why the police didn't just fire warning shots if they felt that they were in real danger of getting killed themselves. Anyway, the prosecution was trying to prove that the cops didn't have to shoot them the way they did. Unfortunately, the judge didn't feel that way because he didn't find the defendants guilty of the shootings. The judge claimed that the witnesses weren't credible enough for him to find the cops responsible for what they did to Sean Bell and his friends.

Needless to say, Sean Bell's family is completely outraged by the verdict. I am not surprised that they are. There was no real justice served in this case at all. Now Reverend Al Sharpton wants to continue to fight for what happened. He wants to start a peaceful rally about it. I guess he wants to make sure that Justice will be served. I have a bad feeling that the rally is going to be anything, but peaceful. I really do hope that there aren't any more people who end up dying because of this incident.

My Thoughts

I was shocked but not really surprised that the three detectives were let off the hook. Was that really justice for them to walk away without really being punished? They were even suspended with pay so they weren't even suffering for what they did to the young men. I guess in all fairness, the cops did apologize for what they did, but it doesn't bring Sean Bell back to his child as well as his family. It's a shame that Sean Bell was gunned down when he was so young and had his life ahead of him. For those of you who didn't know, he was on 23 years old when he died. He also had a young child as well as a fiancée that he has to leave behind. He also leaves behind his other family members as well. To be fair, I don't know why he chose to be out that late at night when he was getting married the next day. I do think that he should have the right to stay out if he wants without worrying about being gunned down by the police.

This was reminiscent of the killing of Amadou Diallo, an African immigrant who was shot with 41 bullets by the police in 1999. The police mistook his wallet for a gun. Those officers were also acquitted. Is this going to be a pattern that is developing? Are people going to have to stay indoors in order to avoid being shot for no reason? I am not saying that all police officers are bad people because that's not true. There are some that are out there that are really making the other good police officers look really bad. How many more people have to die by the police before anyone does something to stop it?

At this point, it is anyone's guess, what the Senator from New York will do. Her friends and supporters are hoping, she will have enough support, when this race is over to move on with dignity, and regroup her efforts, to have a major say in the party, should she not win the nomination of the party.

Things are beginning to come together, which would seem to indicate that the nomination, will not be bestowed upon Senator Clinton, this time around. Senator Obama, has garnered the most popular votes, the most pledged delegates, and the most states won. He does not yet have the magic number of 2,025 needed to win the nomination outright. But, he is much closer to that number, than Mrs. Clinton. At last count, he had a total of 1,646, while her total was 1,511. Washington Post columnist Robert Novak, reported that, he had spoken to about ten of the Super Delegates, who were supporters of Senator Clinton, and all of them said, in essence, they would be supporting her to the very end, but not one of them, could see anyway, that she would be the nominee, when the race ended.

The Super Delegates, have to decide, who they will vote for, to be the candidate, running against the Republican, presumptive nominee, Senator John McCain, in the November general election. With the momentum, apparently behind Senator Obama, in spite of the dust up, in recent days over remarks made by Senator Obama. At a San Francisco fundraiser, over the weekend, certain words he spoke, were taken as elitist. He had to explain what he meant, when he said people in rural areas were “bitter”, about their circumstances, and they often turn, to guns and religion and against people, who don't look like they do. This was quickly pounced upon, by Senators, Clinton and McCain, and portrayed as being elitist. As one reporter said, it is quite amazing, to portray a person, who was abandoned by his father at the age of two, lost his mother to cancer at an early age, raised by his grandparents, who depended, reportedly, on food stamps, and worked his way through college with loans and scholarships, as being elitist. But this, as they say, is the political game of hardball, you use what you have, as is the case with most politicians. Senator Obama has tried, with limited success, to explain what he meant.

Senator Obama, despite, all of this, currently has a seven point edge over Senator Clinton, in the national polls. Things could change, but for the moment, Senator Clinton's argument, that Senator Obama is unelectable, does not appear to be correct. The Super Delegates will choose, who they think, could best beat Senator McCain. Since Super Tuesday One, Senator Clinton has lost two Super Delegates, Senator Obama, has picked up fifty-four, if reported correctly.

Over the weekend, at a dinner in Philadelphia, Governor Ed Rendell reportedly said, that the controversy over the words, spoken by Senator Obama might take a few points off of his polling numbers, but in the long run, it would not cost him the nomination, also that the words would be forgotten by November. Governor Rendell, is an ardent supporter of Senator Clinton, it would then appear, that reality is setting in, and observant people are slowly coming to the conclusion, that Senator Obama, as depicted on Saturday Night Live, will be the next President of the United States. Not withstanding, he has to fare well against Senator John McCain. But with Mr. McCain's “ one-hundred year” war stance, and the country wanting the Iraq war to end, Senator McCain may just be on the wrong side of the war issue.

It is therefore very interesting, that whispers are being heard, and speculation, is going on, as to what Senator Clinton might pursue next. The word is, that she might run for Governor of New York in 2009. This may be the perfect venue for Mrs. Clinton, depending on whether or not she becomes the Democratic nominee. She would bring a great deal of clot and expertise to the governorship, as well as bringing with her, the former President Bill Clinton. First couple of New York would be a very interesting place, for a very politically astute pair. New York, would surely welcome them, although, Mayor Bloomberg might have his eye on the same prize in 2009. Time will certainly tell.

In the mid-90's, Warren Morris stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the night with the LSU Tigers behind the Miami Hurricanes by one run in the College World Series. He promptly launched a Robbie Morrison offering into the right field seats to give the Tigers a bottom of the ninth, walk off home run victory.

The Baton Rouge paper did a survey asking around town how many people saw the blast in person. Something like 35,000 said they saw it. The problem is that Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha only holds around 20,000!

What's my point? Elliot Spitzer was elected to be governor of New York with 70% of the vote. That was margin of victory that set the record. You ask around New York today ... NOBODY voted for him!

extremists abroad but from opportunists and traitors within.

When patriotism becomes the refuge of scoundrels, that is the signal that time has come for a shakedown and re-emphasize the original definition of that word as founding fathers wanted it.

No, when I say “shakedown,” I am not talking about the phony CHANGE the presidential hopefuls are peddling around in caucuses. When they did inside the Capitol the opposite of what they said outside all these years, none of them has a right to present themselves as prophets of change. When they all failed in their constitutional duties in protecting the interests of the people, they forfeited the moral right to even to spell C-H-A-N-G-E.

So naturally the next question comes: Who is better?

Even before I finish uttering the name of Michael Bloomberg, my detractors are going to hurl stones at me. Let us pick up some of them:

HE is a billionaire - I don't care. Yes, I too may have a past of hating the filthy rich. But my personal likes and dislikes are not the issue here when the nation as a whole is at the crossroads, trying to decide which direction it should take next.

But I don't want a president who takes taxpayers money as salary and then greedily enters on secret deals with other heads of state of the world on sharing ill-gotten wealth.

HE is a Jew - so what? Has he flooded NY with Jews? His words and actions have been highly secular so far and transparent.

Don't tell me Mike piloted the planes that hit WTC by remote control from his office in downtown Manhattan.

But one thing I am sure. Mike was nowhere near Liverpool Street Station when the London bombs went off (unlike some other Americans who were in both New York and London when the terrorists struck those cities!)

HE is not “charismatic” - Wow! If you look at the performance of the so-called muchos so far, the heads on Mt. Rushmore should be hanging down in shame.

In a country, where some people will have no shame to send in an intern clad in a pink thong with cleft crotch to fell a president and then pay for her lawyer's fees as anonymous well wishers, it is better for my president to be less charismatic, or, even better, have no charisma at all.

Shame on those people who are encouraging Mike's employees to file cases against him in an election year!

HE is too soft-spoken - Thank the Good Lord. I can't stand megalomaniacs any more. My ear drums are already torn by vibrating to loud, empty promises a lifetime.

Here then Ladies and Gentlemen is:

Mr. Mike Bloomberg, who CHANGED our lives without crying about it from the rooftops! He can do it for you too!