President speaks

eloquently about

Mandela legacy

President Obama and South African President Jacob Zume speak at a news conference in Pretoria on Saturday. Click image to enlarge.

President Barack Obama continued to play second fiddle to Nelson Mandela in the South African press on Saturday.
But, his visit was the lead story in international media like the BBC and The New York Times.
Obama, speaking at a news conference with South African President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria on Saturday, was full of praise for the ailing Nobel Peace Prize co-winner.
“Madiba’s historic courage, [and] this country’s historical transition to a free and democratic nation has been a personal inspiration to me,” he said.
“And it has been an inspiration to the world … and it continues to be.”

WATCH EXCLUSIVE VIDEO OF CALIFORNIA’S FIRST GAY MARRIAGE SINCE 2008
The bells are ringing in California today. Happiness and joy are spreading throughout the land after the first gay marriage in the state since 2008.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pronounced Paul Katami and Jeff Zarillo as “married” on Friday evening at a hastily arranged ceremony at L. A. City Hall.
Watch the video, get the back story here.

MAKE TRAVELING MORE FUN, LESS HASSLE
When you travel, be alert, be early, carry little cash – and ask everyone you possibly can for help (in their own language, if you can do it). You will have much more fun. Here are some tips on how to minimize the pain we all endure when on the road.

OBAMA’S VISIT NOT BIG NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA
News obviously is never predictable. The visit by President Barack Obama to South Africa, normally a front-page story, is being overshadowed in the local press by the condition of the ailing Nelson Mandela, whose health dominates the news in that country. My sister in Johannesburg confirmed that this morning. Find out why here.

THE WHOLE WORLD DEBATES CIVIL LINERTIES
Getting the topic of equal rights for gays and lesbians TO the top of the global agenda is progress indeed. It’s the lead story on the BBC World Service web site, and the radio show “World have your say” included viewpoints from countries in Africa and Asia. Get the scoop here.

DECISIONs WILL HAVE MAJOR IMPACT
It is a time of great happiness and joy throughout the land. A grievous wrong has finally been righted with Wednesday’s supreme Court decisions On gay marriage.
Read about the party in West Hollywood, and check out the pictures here.
VIDEO COMING TO THE BLOG stay tuned to this channel.

OBAMA REJOICES
I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act. This was discrimination enshrined in law. It treated loving, committed gay and lesbian couples as a separate and lesser class of people.

IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK
There are some questions in life that have very complicated answers.
The half-hour show “Reality check” on KCRW on Tuesday afternoon, posed the question, what is reality?
Google says: “The world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.”
Joe Francis has a slightly different take.

SOLAR MAX COULD WREAK GLOBAL HAVOC
NASA has warned ofpossible major disruptions to everything we depend on for modern life as storm activity on the sun reaches an 11-year high.
Massive computer system outages – similar to those reported in April – could occur. Imagine life without the internet! A blessing or curse?
Find out here.

SEARCH FOR WHISTLEBLOWER A WASTE OF TAPXPAYER MONEY
Surely there are other things the president should be focusing on than the dramatic disappearance and supposed transcontinental journey of fugitive Edward Snowden, charged with espionage by the Obama Administrtation.
The media circus that accompanied Snowden’s supposed global travels made for riveting drama, and lead the news cycle on Monday.
The fruitless battle to keep government secrets secret may provide dramatic television but it is a waste of taxpayers money – and won’t be worth a dime anyway.