Assassin's Guild

New Post at The War Journal - http://tinyurl.com/d7t496

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President Barack Obama's Inaugural Speech:

“My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.

“I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

“Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.

“At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents. So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

“That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.

“Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

“These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

“We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

“In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

“For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth. For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

“Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction. This is the journey we continue today.

“We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed.

“Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.

“We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

“Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short.

“For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

“What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.

“The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.

“Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government. Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.

“The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

“As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake.

“And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

“Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.

“Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

“We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.

“We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

“For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

“To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

“To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

“As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.

“And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

“For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours.

“It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

“Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

“This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

“So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood.

“At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: “Let it be told to the future world…that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive…that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].” America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words.

“With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.”

PRESIDENT OBAMA06

I told y'all I was on my grind, didn't I?

http://tinyurl.com/6wehw3

And if you're wondering why in the world I'm posting this, check it out and all will become clear...

Another post upcoming in a hot minute...

Got some posting to do - so these will be flying in at a rapid pace...

http://tinyurl.com/7lpw8b

The War Journal - Heroes Midseason Reboot.

Holla...papi's on his grind...

Although this is not an "exclusive", it is a great companion to the last post:

http://tinyurl.com/7rrp99

Click the link, beetleheadz...

And more goodness is coming for the '09...

I'm back on my grind.  This should scare you...

Exclusive. I'm not putting this on The War Journal. This is for y'all. Like the old days. Oh, it's going on Vox but hell, most of y'all are there anyway...lol...

The Wire - The mother of all endings. Yeah, the season was too short but the promise made that all loose ends would be tied up came true. No fade to black Sopranos ending here. And say what you want, those last three episodes were golden. Why this show was never recognized by any of the mainstream elite in terms of nominations is beyond me. Critics adored it, fans lived for it. Alan Moore recently called The Wire the best television show ever. One of the most talented casts ever assembled. Don't believe me - do an IMDB search of The Wire and then click on some cast names and see how busy these people are now. I still think one of the reasons HBO ended the show was because trying to keep that cast together was just too difficult.

LOST - One of the few shows who benefitted from the strike. By holding back episodes, LOST premiered after the strike and had the audacity to be the absolute best season ever. The Oceanic Six, flash forwards, game changers every freakin' episode. Once, maybe twice, three times if you're lucky a truly great show will have an authentic "Holy Shit!" moment. LOST had one every week. Talk about must see TV. LOST is a beast.

Burn Notice - USA finally has a show that I can truly get behind. Burned spy, Michael Weston is trying to find out why his organization has tossed a "burn notice" into his file and basically left him a man without a job or country. Stuck in Miami with his former lover, an ex burned out friend and his mother, Michael has found himself the commodity in what looks to be the consipiracy of the decade. Black Ops was never so much fun and so action packed at the same time.

Numb3rs - Probably the smartest show on television, Numb3rs entertains while making you think and teaching you a thing or two all at the same time. Rob Morrow has found his calling (again), combined with the ever awesome Judd Hirsch and a stellar cast, Numb3rs might be the best cop show on television that you're not watching.

Dirty Sexy Money - Recession my ass. Whoever decided to cancel this show needs his or hers head examined and also needs to be promptly fired. Television hasn't been this decadent since Dynasty. And this cast actually plays the outlandish nature of their lives for laughs and drama all at the same time. An all star cast, insane situations and balls to walls sex, power, greed, corruption and sometimes sheer lunacy made DSM a must see. The ratings weren't good enough? I'm not buying it...

Terminator - Sarah Connor Chronicles - Better than the last two Terminator movies combined, this show will scare the hell outta you and feed your sci-fi geek addiction all at the same time. Plus Summer Glau and Lena Headley. What more can you ask for?

Weeds - Another game changer. Take Nancy Botwin and her brood from their comfort zone and drop her into the middle of the biggest operation she ever had to deal with. Nancy finally embraced her drug dealing nature while rapidly becoming the worst mother of all time. With a season ender to end all season enders, right when you think Nancy is finally going to pay (one way or another) for all her crimes, she finds the ultimate loophole.

Bones - It's just a cool ass show with a cool cast. Sometimes that's all you need.

Ugly Betty - See "Bones".

Las Vegas - Before DSM, came Las Vegas. One of the most potent network casts in recent memory, again check them and see how in-demand they are. Another show that got shafted time and again by NBC. And they wonder why people are turning to cable in record number...

Some shows didn't make the fave list because either the strike actually saved them from a truly horrific season (Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, oh the list goes on and on) or they were part of the fall 2008 new shows and I'll save them when they complete a season. Then there were some shows that I just, as a fan, couldn't get with - CSI and the destruction of Warrick Brown leads the pack. Last, I can't watch everything and I'm just not committing myself - House, Battlestar Galactica, etc. And forget Mad Men - you can keep that old time shit. The first time I watch it and some black person is doing their best "yassir boss" routine, I'm done.

Then there was 24. Huge disappointment.

And now we have 2009. Grey's looks to be trying to right the ship even though this whole Izzie is being sexed by a dead man is way too much for me. Private Practice got their shit together fast. The Unit is a personal fave but still has more holes than I'm comfortable with. Desperate Housewives had one of the absolute best game changers and season enders ever which has led to one of it's most entertaining seasons thus far. 24 already looks damn good while Heroes came in sucking and left sucking. I'm hoping they can fix that train and soon.

Well, put in your faves and let me know what you agree with and disagree with.

And the hits just keep on coming...

Favorite Sites for 2008 up over at The War Journal.  Go ahead and see all the wonderful places I visit on a daily basis...

http://tinyurl.com/7ayjzh

Click the links, chuckleheadz....

I said I would have more game trailers, didn't I?  http://tinyurl.com/6uemgo

Check The War Journal.  Also more Faves of 08 coming...

Over at The War Journal - http://tinyurl.com/7ykhob

Enjoy children...

It was January 21, 2001 at the Hot97 radio station on Funkmaster Flex's show that a hip-hop dynasty came into being.  It was on that night that Jay-Z's Rocafella Crew consisting of himself, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Siegel and his State Property crew rolled up and went on a freestylin' rampage.  It was this defining moment where Rocafella firmly implanted themselves in hip-hop history as one of the most important crews of our generation.

Cipha Sounds recently dug into his vaults and started posting youtubes from that historic moment on his website, www.dontgetgassed.com and there is more to come.  Here are the first two...

Witness history in the making....

More to come...