Muslim Woman brutally stabs British MP at local Constituency Service meeting

Theo van Gogh style attack, now in the UK

From Eric Dondero:

A prominent British Member of Parliament was stabbed in the stomach by a Muslim woman during a constituency service meeting in his district. Towards the end of a routine meeting with constituents, the woman jumped over a desk and repeatedly lunged a long knife into the abdomen area of Labour MP Stephen Timms. He is said to be in critical but stable condition.

From a late night (US) report from the UK Daily Mail:

Stephen Timms was attacked by the 21-year-old, who appeared to be wearing Muslim dress, at his regular Friday afternoon surgery in his East London constituency.

She lunged at him and stabbed him twice before being wrestled away by a security guard and arrested.

An aide to Timms, 22-year old Andrew Bazeley, wrestled with the woman and took the knife away.

Attacker was wearing a long black Burqa

A witness described a crazed Muslim woman as the perpetrator:

'The security guard had grabbed this Asian woman. She was wearing a long black outfit like what Muslims wear and an orangey headscarf. I think she was a Muslim.

'She wasn't saying anything. They were just grabbing her to keep her still. She was really shaking.

'The Muslim woman seem shocked and distressed. It was the most shocking thing I've ever seen.

Note - in the British press Middle Easterners and most especially Pakistanis are often described as "Asian."

Ironically, Timms is a very popular politician in his East Ham (greater London) district. He is a self-described "Christian Socialist." And he is said to be a friend of the Muslim community.

UPDATE!!

Suspect: Muslim Woman from Bangladesh

OutlookIndia.com is reporting:

A 21-year-old Bangladeshi-origin Muslim woman Roshonara Choudhary was today charged with the attempted murder over stabbing of Labour MP Stephen Timms who escaped death narrowly, and will appear in the court on Monday.

James Bovard: A Big Government "Libertarian"?

by Eric Dondero

James Bovard is an author and self-proclaimed "scholar" who has been hanging around the fringes of the libertarian movement for decades. Lately he's penned a scathing editorial attacking the libertarian-founded Tea Party movement. Bovard complains that libertarians and conservatives in the movement are not sufficiently pacifist enough, and are too militaristic in fighting Islamo-Fascism. He also complains that Tea Partiers complain too much about foreigners entering the United States illegally.

From The American Conservative (sic), May 11:

Many “tea party” activists staunchly oppose big government, except when it is warring, wiretapping, or waterboarding. A movement that started out denouncing government power apparently has no beef with some of the worst abuses of modern times.

Unfortunately, there is scant evidence that most tea partyers have studied the copies of the Constitution they generously hand out to bystanders.

Tea Partiers have read the Constitution and our Founding Documents. We Tea Partiers understand "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."

What about the Constitutional rights of those 3000 Americans who died on 9/11? What about the Constitutional rights of the 13 US Army soldiers who were killed by Radical Islamist Major Nidal Hassan at Ft. Hood last December? Don't they deserve that Life and Liberty?

Bovard, typical of Leftists masquerading as "Libertarians," offers no solution for dealing with the threat of Radical Islamism.

One has to wonder how much freedom Bovard would have under Sharia Law? He makes no mention of Islamist opposition to individual liberties; free speech, legalized prostitution, gambling, marijuana, gun rights, and capitalism. Does he really expect that a Muslim-run country will be more willing to grant these Rights?

He goes on to offer snarky remarks about speakers who attended a recent Maryland Tea Party rally. Continuing:

Jeffrey Kuhner, a local talk-show host, sneered that Obama “has found his inner Muslim” and raged against his bowing to foreign leaders and kings. He complained that Obama has “taken over college loans,” and warned that illegal immigrants could be “the shock troops of Obama’s socialist revolution.” The crowd ate it up.

Presumably, Bovard is just fine with American Presidents bowing to foreign leaders, Government-subsidized student loans, illegal aliens and even socialism.

Bottom line: The Tea Party is libertarian; Mr. Bovard is anything but.

Katherine Jenerette for Congress, South Carolina – "Secure our Borders!"

From Steve Maloney, LR Contributor:

LR: What do you think most separates you from your eight primary opponents? What sets you apart?

JENERETTE: When you mix motherhood, a USC education with an army paratrooper and years of experience in Local State and Federal government in South Carolina you could end up with a Congressman who is more than just a pretty face in a skirt and high heels on C-span. That¡¦s pretty different.

LR: Specifically, what would be the first two or three things you would do in your first year in office, if elected?

JENERETTE: The first two or three things I intend to do is a list of about two-dozen things starting with the Economy and Jobs and a lot in-between. I don't have to tell the people what our problems are in South Carolina ¡V they know it, we're almost broke from too many taxes and a lot of people are plain scared of losing the jobs they have and the answer isn't in Washington except to get the Federal government red-tape-bureaucracy as far away from small businesses and stop taxing peoples hard earned money.

Second, we have to get our National Security Agenda on track and that starts with securing our borders because if we can send unmanned aircraft drones thousands of miles away to take out targets in Afghanistan we can certainly build a fence along our border with Mexico. Arizona is on the right track and the Federal Governments policies on borders, visas and immigration is screwed up.

Third, I intend to reintroduce my fellow Congressman - especially Speaker Nancy Pelosi - to the U.S. Constitution, and I figure after a while even Pelosi will get tired of me whistling Dixie to her and learn something about us Carolina girls ability to stand our ground up-close and personal.

LR: What do you consider your single most important experience that has prepared you to serve in Congress?

JENERETTE: I'd say the single most important thing was my years as a U.S. Congressional Field Representative for the First District which gave me a ton of experiences about our needs and the needs of the average person in the district. That experience shaped my principles: As a congressman I won't just be representing the right, left or either extreme or the people in the middle - I will represent all the people of my district and that includes the richest businessmen and it includes single-moms with kids who are trying to get them through school to educate them and the ordinary people like me who go to work and pay their taxes and wished their government wasn't so dang big.

Government is supposed to be about people. I've always thought that the bigger the government, the smaller the individual and that one small voice is always important, because when we lose that, we lose what the American dream is all about.

LR: What do you feel has been the most overlooked issue in this campaign?

JENERETTE: I think that when fifty percent of your jobs and working people are involved with the Tourism Economy which I call "Industry without Smoke Stacks." I figure that issue should be up there on the list with the Ports of Georgetown and Charleston harbors. I felt that issue was overlooked and it needs to be part of the conversation, it only came up in the context of the Louisiana Oil Spill and like it on not, tourism is what we do best: Carolina Sun, Sand and Food and Charleston hospitality is who we are.

http://www.jenerette.com

RLC backs strong-minded Constitutionalist Conservative Jim Anderson for Congress – Kansas CD4

According to Republican Liberty Caucus National Committee member Aaron Bitterman:

The Republican Liberty Caucus has approved the endorsement of Jim Anderson in District 4.

Anderson is an outspoken Hard Right Republican.

Says Anderson on his campaign site:

I pledge to honor my conservative principles, my allegiance to my constituents, my country and the Constitution.

He adds:

No More Lawyers, Elitists, Career Politicians, People Trying to Buy the Office and Moderate RINOs! This election is about giving the voters in the 4th district a choice, where I stand alone as the people's candidate. We have learned that just because someone is a Republican that alone does not mean that they will represent you.

Anderson's top issues include: Emphasis on 2nd and 10th Amendments rights, Fair Tax Act, and The Federal Reserve Transparency Act.

Note - While there are a number of RLC members in Kansas, there is currently no organized chapter. Those wishing to help should contact Bitterman at rlc.org

Meet the Republican Party’s newest State Senator – Richard Ross of Wrentham, Mass

“During my time in the state legislature, I have stood up to the Beacon Hill agenda of higher taxes and spending, never voting for a tax increase... and I look forward to continuing the fight against higher taxes and spending in the Massachusetts State Senate.”

From Eric Dondero:

There was a little noticed special election on Tuesday in Massachusetts. But in one important way the race had national ties. It was for newly-elected US Senator Scott Brown's former State Senate seat.

The race was by no means assured for the GOP. Brown's district had always been "swing," at best, and in registration totals "lean Democrat."

But the GOP scored a big win.

The Milford Daily News offered an analysis:

Boston — Rep. Richard Ross’s drubbing of Peter Smulowitz in the May 11 special election to fill the seat U.S. Sen. Scott Brown held until February sustained momentum and enthusiasm for Massachusetts Republicans, but left questions about its significance.

Perhaps most significantly, it was tough to read where the 24-point landslide fit into the two dominant strains of conventional political wisdom this year: whether it was a validation of Republican assertions that the electoral tides are flowing their way, or a chink in the notion that voters are bloodthirsty for incumbent scalp...

Ross will now join Libertarian Republican State Senator Bob Hedlund of Weymouth, and 4 other Republicans in the Senate Caucus. Only 5 out of 40 Senators on Beacon Hill are Republican.

Ross received the enthusiastic endorsement of Citizens for Limited Taxation.

Francis J. Faulkner, Executive Director of CLT’s 2 ½ PAC said MassBeacon.com:

“Rep. Ross has also taken the taxpayer protection pledge. This pledge asks candidates to ‘oppose and vote against any and all efforts to increase taxes’. Signing the pledge means he is serious about not raising taxes and will focus instead on better management of state revenues.”

Public Sector Labor Unions now have the Power to hold Taxpayer’s Hostage

by JB Williams

As Democrat New York Governor David Patterson sought to feather the nests of his closest aides and allies with lavish pay increases topping 29%, he was pushing for a furlough of 100,000 state employees in an emergency effort to keep New York state from bellying up under the weight of excessive government waste in one of the highest taxed states in the country.

NYDailyNews:

A federal judge in Albany on Wednesday temporarily halted Gov. Paterson's plan to furlough 100,000 state workers, saying employees could face "irreparable harm" from a 20% pay cut.

The Legislature reluctantly backed Paterson's furlough plan Monday, rather than risk a government shutdown.

Of course Government Employee Labor Unions were furious, taking to the streets of New York like Greek union thugs, threatening to make the streets of New York look like the streets of Athens if someone didn’t step in and stop Patterson from putting 100,000 state workers on the unemployment line.

In rides the knight in shining armor on silver steed, a federal court judge who immediately issues a stay blocking New York from laying off 100,000 workers on the basis of – “it wasn’t collectively bargained” – which means, the labor union objects… and on that basis alone, one man stopped the state of New York, its elected Governor and the state legislature from balancing their own budget before going belly up. End analysis? – Where did states rights go?

Where will that federal judge be when New York payroll checks bounce?

Meanwhile, one must ask, since government jobs are taxpayer funded, why do we even have public sector labor unions which can hold taxpayers hostage under thug collective bargaining rules, perpetually increasing the cost of government to the detriment of every taxpayer, until we hit the bottom of the resource well?

Many other US cities and states are in the same position as New York. Since we now think federal legal precedent is the new supreme law of our land, this judge single handedly established that no city or state has the right to self-govern, unless they clear it with labor union thugs first.

New Robin Hood, libertarian-themed on Taxes, Liberty & Justice

MANLY LIBERTARIAN REBEL

From the NY Times, Review by A.O. Scott, May 14:

You may have heard that Robin Hood stole from the rich and gave to the poor, but that was just liberal media propaganda. This Robin is no socialist bandit practicing freelance wealth redistribution, but rather a manly libertarian rebel striking out against high taxes and a big government scheme to trample the ancient liberties of property owners and provincial nobles. Don’t tread on him!

So is “Robin Hood” one big medieval tea party? Kind of...

From the Editor: I went to see the film this evening. It was indeed libertarian-themed in parts. The issue of taxes, was front and center throughout the entire movie. Taxes without representation was portrayed quite negatively. Two political scenes in particularly stand out; a Braveheart-like moment where Crowe cries out forthrightly "Liberty," and nearing the end, the injustice displayed by King John as he tramples on the Rights of Man. Outside of the politics, it was thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end. It was a very complex story, much more in-depth than past Robin Hoods, and in some respects a bit difficult to follow. Two or more viewings may be best to full capture the plot.

Libertarian Party opposes Obama’s nomination of Elena Kagen to Supreme Court

Libertarians say Kagan is bad, but bigger problem exists

WASHINGTON - Wes Benedict, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party, issued the following statement today:

"Elena Kagan is another bad pick for the Supreme Court. If confirmed, it is likely that she will vote on cases with the intent of advancing political policy goals.

"Kagan will probably vote to advance liberal policy goals, just as some other justices vote to advance conservative policy goals. That is not the place of justices, who should be applying the Constitution, not trying to rewrite it to make society work better according to their views.

"However, the bitter battles over Supreme Court justices expose a more serious problem in our federal government: the legislative and executive branches simply refuse to take the Constitution seriously.

"Once upon a time, Congress felt it had a duty to legislate in accordance with the Constitution. Likewise, past presidents believed that they should veto laws that were not clearly constitutional. But in more recent years, both branches have thrown this crucial duty away. Now their attitude seems to be, 'We can pass anything we want to, and let the Supreme Court deal with it if they don't like it.' That was absolutely not what the American Founders had in mind.

http://www.lp.org

AG Holder babbles at House Comm. Hearing… Refuses to Blame Radical Muslims for Terrorism

Obama Administration now openly defending Radical Islamists?

Congressman Lamar Smith persists in questioning of Attorney General Eric Holder; desperately tries to get an answer to his question - Could Radical Islam have been a factor in the Times Square Bombing and other similar recent Islamic Terrorist attacks on the US.

Right Pundit Michelle Malkin called Holder's performance "pussy-footing" and "dancing around," worthy of Dancing with the Stars.

(H/t Breitbart & Memeo Memeo II)

Up-to-date News from BioImagene

The folks over at BioImagene sent over a summary of the latest BioImagene news.  Over the past several months they have brought several new products and applications to market.

Had a chance to see try out the slide input device and thought the responsiveness and accuracy was very good.  As I have mentioned before, the mouse is not the best human user interface tool and perhaps this is one more step towards moving digital pathology to "as fast as glass". 

Check out their other products and services below.

Digital pathology (DP) applications are gaining acceptance in the clinical, academic, and research markets, and BioImagene is at the forefront of several innovative technological advances sweeping this industry.

In the past few months, BioImagene has launched a new slide scanner, announced the availability of a new input device to transform the viewing experience of digital pathology images, unveiled a new version of its DP software, and entered into collaborations with several leading pathology vendors and academic medical centers, to further the development of next generation digital pathology solutions.

This email will keep you up-to-date on the latest BioImagene news from the past few months, by summarizing our most recent press releases:

BioImagene launched the iScan Coreo Au Slide Scanner and
Introduced the next generation of Virtuoso Digital Pathology Software
.

This marked a key milestone for the industry as it unequivocally took the speed of scanning and viewing to benchmark levels.

BioImagene’s Virtuoso digital pathology workflow software is now integrated with several market-leading anatomic pathology (AP) laboratory information systems (LIS).

The Virtuoso - LIS integration enables sharing of data between the two systems in the pathology laboratory, making critical information readily available to pathologists, and increasing pathology efficiency.

BioImagene adds New Companion Algorithms for Colon Cancer in their Virtuoso Digital Pathology Software.

Virtuoso is the only digital pathology software in the industry today to offer users Companion Algorithms to reproducibly quantify immuohistochemical stains used in breast, prostate, and colon cancers.

BioImagene announced the availability of the iSlide input device, an innovative device that allows pathologists to use a microscope-like interface to manipulate digital images of slides.

BioImagene is also the platinum sponsor of PathXchange (Px), a leading social networking tool for the pathology community. Px conducted its first trans-Pacific digital case conference between two leading hospitals in Mumbai, India and the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC).

PathXchange (Px), also announced the launch of Px Athena, an eLearning management system with Web 2.0 capabilities. Px Athena utilizes digital pathology technologies to provide a comprehensive online research and education solution to the academic pathology communities.

BioImagene also recently attended the annual USCAP meeting where we conducted a seminar series on digital pathology, amongst other events. To view a video of our presence at the meeting, click here.
To learn more about our company, please visit http://www.bioimagene.com.

Errata and miscellaneous news

OK.  Lot of e-mails on my previous post about the post office and healthcare.  Apparently readers are unable to comment on the blog.  Since Typepad changed their platform to compose posts this has been a recurring problem. I have always kept comments open and unmoderated.  Will ask Typepad to look into this again.  The good news is there are no spam comments either.

Someone mentioned it costs 44 cents to mail a letter.  Not 42 cents.  Thanks for the correction.

In other news, Walgreens has decided not to sell Pathway Genomics genetics kits since the FDA has intervened.  I was really hoping I could run down to my corner drugstore and pick one of these up.  I think it wise for the FDA to do what they did and for Walgreens to postpone for the time being retailing this product.  There are still too many unanswered questions someone may be left with to have the ability to manage without appropriate reason for screening.

And finally, the US Census Bureau confirms preliminary data that more US residents claim a jail cell rather than a college dormitory room as their residence. Let's hope college students weren't as diligent about returning the forms or were counted elsewhere skewing the data.

FAU gets its own medical school – MiamiHerald.com

FAU gets its own medical school
MiamiHerald.com
Florida Atlantic University's is set to begin its own medical school, after Gov. Charlie Crist signed off on legislation authorizing its establishment. ...
Crist signs bill to launch FAU's medical schoolPalm Beach Post
Governor approves FAU's own medical education programUniversity Press
Crist Signs Legislation Authorizing FAU Medical ProgramWPBF West Palm Beach
Orlando Sentinel
all 13 news articles »

Following Conservative Win in UK, Center Right parties appear headed for Victory in the Netherlands

But Geert Wilders' Freedom Party behind Peoples Party and Christian Democrats

From Cliff Thies:

Recent polling data suggest that the three main center-right parties of the Netherlands appear headed for a majority in the upcoming June 9th snap election.

Among the three center-right parties, the market-liberal Peoples Party looks be finish strongest (and would presumably name the country's next Prime Minister), followed by the conservative Christian Democrats, and the populist Freedom Party.

Again, according to recent polling data, these parties will secure 77 of the 150 seats in the Dutch parliament, enough to form a government. The four main center-left parties - the Social Democrats, Socialists, Greens and Democrats - will secure 64 seats, the centrist Christian Union 6, and two very small parties the remaining 3.

Were these figures to be realized, the Peoples Party and Christian Democrats would probably be forced to deal with the Freedom Party.

Note - Wilders PVV is in many ways a breakaway from the Christian Democrats. He himself was originally a member of the Christian Democrats.

Another grand coalition is not advisable given the failure of the former grand coalition which precipitated the snap election, and the centrist Christian Union won't have enough seats. A coalition of the three center-right parties would require some compromise or accommodation of the divergent social positions of these parties, but this has happened previously in post-war Netherlands.

Note - Hans Viegel, former Deputy Prime Minister of the Peoples Party has openly advocated closer ties to Geert Wilders and the Party of Freedom, along with a coalition of Rita Verdonk's (photo) Proud of the Netherlands movement. Photo above Geert Wilders with current Peoples Party leader Mark Rutte.

Atlantis to Launch Tomorrow

Current Status: GO

Launch Date: Friday, 2:20 pm ET (10 minute window)

Odds of Launch: 70 percent

Shuttle: Atlantis (OV-104) – Sad to say this is the final scheduled flight for Atlantis.

Mission: STS-132

Mission Length: 12 days

EVA’s: 3 (on flight days: 4,6,8)

Primary Objectives: deliver an Integrated Cargo Carrier and a Russian-built Mini Research Module to the
International Space Station.

Commander: Ken Ham

Pilot: Tony Antonelli

Mission Specialists: Garrett Reisman, Michael Good, Piers Sellers and Steve Bowen


Launch Pad 39A — Webcam Image courtesy: NASA/Kennedy Space Center

NOAA’s Forecast:

Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high near 83. East southeast wind between 10 and 15 mph.

To keep current with the news about the launch, I recommend you go to NASA’s Launch Blog which should be live around 9:00 am ET. You will need to refresh your browser to get the latest from that site, but it’s THE place to get the up to the minute stuff especially if you can’t watch NASA TV.

I will be watching the launch itself on NASA-TV

Image Credits: NASA / NOAA