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President Barack Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize

OSLO – President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a stunning decision designed to encourage his initiatives to reduce nuclear arms, ease tensions with the Muslim world and stress diplomacy and cooperation rather than unilateralism.

Many observers were shocked by the unexpected choice so early in the Obama presidency, which began less than two weeks before the Feb. 1 nomination deadline and has yet to yield concrete achievements in peacemaking.

Some around the world objected to the choice of Obama, who still oversees wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and has launched deadly counter-terror strikes in Pakistan and Somalia.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee countered that it was trying “to promote what he stands for and the positive processes that have started now.” It lauded the change in global mood wrought by Obama’s calls for peace and cooperation, and praised his pledges to reduce the world stock of nuclear arms, ease American conflicts with Muslim nations and strengthen the U.S. role in combating climate change.

The peace prize was created partly to encourage ongoing peace efforts but Obama’s efforts are at far earlier stages than past winners’. The Nobel committee acknowledged that they may not bear fruit at all.

“He got the prize because he has been able to change the international climate,” Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said. “Some people say, and I understand it, isn’t it premature? Too early? Well, I’d say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now. It is now that we have the opportunity to respond — all of us.”

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_nobel_analysis

Analysis: Obama’s Nobel honors promise, not action

By JENNIFER LOVEN, AP White House Correspondent Jennifer Loven, Ap White House Correspondent – 34 mins ago

WASHINGTON – The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama landed with a shock on darkened, still-asleep Washington. He won! For what?

For one of America’s youngest presidents, in office less than nine months — and only for 12 days before the Nobel nomination deadline last February — it was an astonishing award.

But the prize seems to be more for promise than performance. Obama so far has no standout moment of victory. As for most presidents in their first year, the report card on Obama’s ambitious agenda is an “incomplete.”

He banned extreme interrogation techniques for terrorists. But he also promised to close the globally controversial U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a task with difficulties that have Obama headed to miss his own January 2010 deadline.

He said he would end the Iraq war. But he slowed the U.S. troop drawdown a bit. Meantime, he’s running a second war in the Muslim world, in Afghanistan — and is seriously considering ramping that one up.

He has pushed for new efforts to make peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. But there’s been little cooperation so far.

His administration is talking to U.S. foes, like Iran, North Korea and Cuba. But there’s not much to show from that, either.

He said he wants a nuclear-free world. But it was one thing to show the desire in his April Prague speech, and quite another to unite hesitant nations and U.S. lawmakers behind the necessary web of treaties and agreements.

He pledged to take the lead against climate change. But the U.S. seems likely to head into December’s crucial international negotiations in Copenhagen with Obama-backed legislation still stalled.

And what about Obama’s global prestige? It seemed to take a hit exactly a week ago when his trans-Atlantic journey to win the 2016 Olympics for Chicago was rejected with a last-place finish.

For the Nobel committee, merely altering the tone out of Washington toward the rest of the world seemed enough. Obama got much attention for his speech from Cairo reaching out a U.S. hand to the world’s Muslims. His remarks at the U.N. General Assembly last month set down internationally welcome new markers for the way the U.S. works with the world.

But still. …

Obama aides seemed as surprised as everyone else, not even aware of his nomination along with a record 204 others. The president was awakened with the news about an hour after the vote was announced, and aides scrambled to prepare a statement.

The prize is not necessarily a big plus for Obama in the tricky U.S. political arena.

He won election last year in part because voters weary with the nation’s battered image abroad were attracted to his promise of a new start. But Republicans have been criticizing Obama as being too much celebrity and too little action, and they immediately seized on this new praise — from Europeans, no less — to try to bring him down a peg.

From Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, for instance: “It is unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements.”

For Nobel voters, the award could be as much a slap at Obama’s predecessor as about lauding Obama. Former President George W. Bush was reviled by much of the world for his cowboy diplomacy, Iraq war and snubbing of European priorities like global warming.

And remember that the Nobel prize has a long history of being awarded more for the committee’s aspirations than for others’ accomplishments — for Mideast peace or a better South Africa, for instance. In some cases, the prize is awarded to encourage those who receive it to see the effort through, sometimes at critical moments.

Nobel committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said as much. “Some people say, and I understand it, isn’t it premature? Too early?” he said in an interview with The Associated Press. “Well, I’d say then that it could be too late to respond three years from now. It is now that we have the opportunity to respond — all of us.”

Obama certainly understands his challenges are too steep to resolve quickly. “It’s not going to be easy,” the president often says as he sets tasks for the United States.

The Nobel committee, it seems, had the audacity to hope that he’ll eventually produce a record worthy of its prize.

Drake – The best
Drake – Take you home
Drake – Toe up
Drake – Dead presidents
Drake – Don’t be scared
Drake – T.O. / N.O.
Drake – Dynasty
Drake – Push cash
Crooked I – My story
Big Goi – For your sorrows
Kid Cudi – Save my soul
Kid Cudi – Hear them calling
Kid Cudi – Follow me
Kid Cudi – Come around
Kid Cudi – Down & out
Joell Ortiz – Call Me (feat. Novel)
Young Jeezy – I Got This (Don’t Worry)
Wale – Bittersweet (feat. Colin Munroe)
David Banner – Something Is Wrong
Joell Ortiz – Brooklyn Girls Freestyle
Joell Ortiz – This child

mmmmmmmmmm…

]]> http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/2009/10/07/tribe-hummus/feed/ 0 http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/2009/09/24/awesome-4/ http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/2009/09/24/awesome-4/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:40:58 +0000 super sal http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/2009/09/24/awesome-4/

the museum of fine art is having a college night. free admission 7-12am, free food, drinks, dancing and we can see all the exhibits

]]> http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/2009/09/24/awesome-4/feed/ 0 http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/2009/09/23/top-songs-for-the-week-26/ http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/2009/09/23/top-songs-for-the-week-26/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:35:49 +0000 Ankur http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/2009/09/23/top-songs-for-the-week-26/ So it’s been awhile, there really hasn’t been anything lately. And I’m not even going to post tracks from Raekwon’s album, Kid Cudi’s Album, or Jay-Z’s album. So here is just a few tracks that ive been listening to other than these albums.

Wale – Ice turns to Rain
Drake – Fear
Fabolous – Never Let It Go
Joell Ortiz – 50 For The People

when i’m early i get to relax a few and catch up on undistracted music…

]]> http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/2009/09/09/best-part-of-school-2/feed/ 0 http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/2009/09/09/dj-am-%e2%80%9ci-put-a-gun-in-my-mouth-and-pulled-the-trigger%e2%80%9d/ http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/2009/09/09/dj-am-%e2%80%9ci-put-a-gun-in-my-mouth-and-pulled-the-trigger%e2%80%9d/#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:07:04 +0000 Ankur http://www.powerzamcam.com/blog/?p=4706
Stumbled across this article that was written in January of 2008 thought i would share it. I think its a great article. A little sad but really good.

Makes you think that maybe you feel as if you have it bad but you never know what someone else is going through or has gone through and your troubles may not be as bad as you think they are. At least that’s how I felt after reading it.

http://www.glamour.com/magazine/2008/01/dj-am

I think it’s always sad to hear about the passing of someone whether or not you knew him or her personally. Think of it this way they were someone’s brother/sister, son/daughter, mother/father, husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend and friend…

Hit the links below

http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/rest-in-peace-adam-dj-a-m-goldstein/

http://maddecent.com/blog/2009/08/28/in-our-hearts-on-our-minds-adam-goldstein/#comments

http://www.urb.com/permalink/7133/DJ-AM-Remembrance-by-Justin-Warfield.html

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“Like It Was Yesterday…”

from The Smoking Section by TSSCrew

Words By J. Tinsley

Personally, I hate constructing posts like these. But on the same accord, it brings me one of the greatest joys. Since the vast majority of us will never become close acquaintances to our favorite artists, let alone meet them, their music acts as our lone bond of friendship. I remember exactly what I was doing on August 25, 2001. A normal day it was, indeed. I had cut grass about two hours earlier and the rest of my day was dedicated to doing absolutely nothing. This was around the time AOL was the main source of internet entertainment and instant messenger seemed light years ahead of its time. Around six that evening, I received an IM from a friend asking if the ‘Aaliyah dying in a plane crash’ rumor was true.

I turned to BET. Nothing was there. I turned to MTV. Nothing was there either. Almost near the completion of typing my message, “hell naw, that’s some bullsh…,” the confirmation flashed across the screen. It was surreal, actually. Aaliyah was never my favorite artist, but I’d be a fool to say she wasn’t leagues beyond amazing. Like most other teenage boys at the time (and even to this day), I had the biggest crush on her. She was beautiful and seductive, but not whorish. Talented, but not cocky. Quiet, but full of potential. And in one fateful plane ride, it was over. It didn’t seem fair then, and it doesn’t seem fair eight years later. More than likely it never will, but that is the most disgustingly beautiful thing about life, you don’t know. You just don’t know.

As with most other celebrity passings, her death has increased the interest and value in her life tenfold. With production of a biopic on her life supposedly in motion, only time will tell if her silver screen representation will do justice what her physical managed to capture while here on Earth. Also, it is amazing to see the impact she had on the R&B landscape, specifically the female subgenre. Before Beyonc é and Alicia Keys became true household names, Aaliyah Dana Haughton held the top spot (with Mary J, too, of course). In death, she even helped influence the styles of artists like Ashanti, Ciara, Rihanna, Cassie and more.

In song, Tupac once asked the question, “How Long Will They Mourn Me?” and not even he knew the real answer. The solution is rather simple when you analyze it. They (the fans) will mourn you as long as your work continues to resonate with them. If Aaliyah’s creative resume’ is any proof, the answer could very well be until the end of time.

As if this tragedy wasn’t shell shocking enough, no one could have even remotely predicted what would happen only two weeks later.

Run This Town (Official Directors’ Commentary) from jeff on Vimeo.