Boston Celtics win 17th NBA Title
SEVENTEEN - BOSTON CELTICS DOMINATE … It has been a wonderful 24 hour.
Yesterday the Celtics won their 17th NBA title, something i wanted to blog about all day, however i had something more important to attend, my sister Azza Khogali’s convocation. I shall post up some pictures soon.
So back to the celtics … who would have predicted that the celtics after a 22 year NBA championship drought could take on the Lakers with their famous pint guard Kobi Bryant. I have to admit, i did, long before the skeptics came to the conclusion that the strong defence of the Celtics will dominate the lakers talented point guards.
Can i emphasize that the the Celtics did not just beat the Los Angeles Lakers, they crushed them – and left no doubt that the Larry O’Brien trophy belonged back in Boston after a 22-year hiatus. The turnaround for Boston this season was dramatic, after posting the worst record in the Eastern Conference just last year.
Some stats.
Paul Pierce, who averaged nearly 22 points per game, was named the series most valuable player.
The Lakers were trying to become the first team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 deficit and win the title. But Boston has finished with a 13-1 record at home during the postseason to give the Celtics a new NBA record for the most home wins in the postseason.
Boston has played 26 times in the playoffs, setting a new record for the most games played in the postseason.
Unite for Change - NDP vs the Obama Campaign Machinery (OCM)
Today i was finally able to do my taxes today and had the rest of the day off. So during my free time - i was surfing the web and …
I ran into two different campaign strategies that i found thought provoking.
Both the NDP and the Barack Obama Campaign are running a campaign know as
“Unite for Change”.
Here are the links:
NDP
My Analysis:
The NDP’s focus is to seek financial conributions for the campaign.
The Obama model emphasizes on recruiting volunteers and building the movement across all 50 states. Volunteers are asked to host events across their neighbourhood, and discuss the countries priorities. A grassroot movement dependant on the strength of local organizing.
Different strategies by progressive campaigns in different political climates.
Interestingly they both have simmillar task - they both want to combat opposing ideologies from the competitive current leadership.
Which campaign will work more effectively?
McCain or Obama better for foreign policy?
The world is watching closely the U.S upcoming election with thought, lots of interest and, more importantly, lots of optimism.
According to CNN, a new survey shows people around the globe believe the next American president will change U.S foreign policy for the better, especially if it’s Barack Obama.
According to Jack Cafferty, The Pew poll spoke to 25,000 people in 24 countries. It found that in all but two nations, those surveyed put more faith in Obama than in John McCain to “do the right thing” when it comes to world affairs. A slim majority in the U.S. and Jordan favored McCain. Obama’s edge was largest in Western Europe, Australia, Japan, Tanzania and Indonesia.
The world doesn’t appear to have given up on the United States: about two-thirds of those polled in France, Spain, Germany, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania think U.S. foreign policy will get better after the inauguration of the next U.S president. 20 of the 24 nations polled think U.S foreign policy will get better – rather than worse. This haas to make President Bush and the current Republican administration feel all warm and fuzzy just thinking about it.
The director of the Pew project suggests Obama’s appeal has “crossed the waters”, maybe because of his opposition to the Iraq war or because of his “charismatic qualities” or because he’s different from typical presidential candidates.
Because the global community has so much riding on next president of U.S, interest in this election is overwhelming in some places.
A local example is ” Canadians for Obama” a group of enthusiastic Canadians that travel to the United States to volunteer for Barack Obama.
In Japan, 83% are following the election closely… that’s more than in the U.S. Also, at least half of those polled in Germany, Australia Jordan and Britain are paying attention.
The United States is Canada’s largest trading partner. During the campaign trail both candidates have talked about NAFTA, The North American Free Trade Agreement and the possible revisions of this agreement in post 2009.
Here’s my question to you: Who will best serve Canadian’s foreign policy needs: John McCain or Barack Obama?
Are we Guilty before proven Innocent?
Reading the New York times today, i was informed that a jury found R. Kelly innocent on all 14 charges against him that centered on child pornography. Mr. Kelly was already labelled guilty by most conservative media outlets and his prosecution was thought t maintain that view.
On the same day, the United States Supreme Court ruled that suspected terrorists held by the U.S. military at Guantanamo Bay are entitled with the right to challenge their detention in federal court, thus injecting new life into the long-running debate over the controversial detention facility.
Could this be a trend?
Could jigga (Jay Z) be wrong.
Are we really innocent before proven guilty?
F.B.I vs Obama
I was reading the papers today and was simply shocked at the allegations made by imprisoned Chicago businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
The allegation were profound. Mr. Rezko has accused federal prosecutors of improperly pressuring him to implicate Barack Obama in a corruption case.
Could it be True? A federal agency involving itself in the national political process?
If so, then this is the sort of government political intervention that normally occurs in a police state.
U.S. reopening Arar probe
Maher Arar is a 34-year-old wireless technology consultant. He was born in Syria and came to Canada with his family at the age of 17. He became a Canadian citizen in 1991. On Sept. 26, 2002, while in transit in New York’s JFK airport when returning home from a vacation, Arar was detained by US officials and interrogated about alleged links to al-Qaeda.
Twelve days later, he was chained, shackled and flown to Syria, where he was held in a tiny “grave-like” cell for ten months and ten days before he was moved to a better cell in a different prison.
In Syria, he was beaten, tortured and forced to make a false confession.
On September 18, 2006, the Commissioner of the Inquiry, Justice Dennis O’Connor, cleared Arar of all terrorism allegations, stating he was “able to say categorically that there is no evidence to indicate that Mr. Arar has committed any offence or that his activities constitute a threat to the security of Canada.”
The Canadian government has apologized for its involvement in the violation of Mr. Arar civil liberties.
Mr. Arar still remains on the United States terrorist watch list.
Why is he on a government watch list when he was found innocent by the Canadian - Arar Commission?
According to the Toronto Star, the Arar Fiasco is being re-investigated.
With a possible change in US administration in 2009. Mr. Arar and his family might finally receive a formal apology from the U.S government. Let us also hope that the American individuals responsible for his mistreatment will finally be held responsible.
America’s First Black President?
This is a uniquely American story as well as a historic day.
In 1808, the United States of America ended the slave trade through the passage of the Slave Importation Act of (1807) effective in1808.
Exactly 200 years later on June 3rd 2008, the Democratic Party, one of the two most prominent parties in the United States will nominate its first African American nominee, Senator Barack Obama.
Senator Barack Obama has changed the American political process and opened the doors to young voters and African American candidates.
His candidacy is a generational shift in the political process.
We should all reflect on that accomplishment, it is truly historic. I am proud of the progressive changes in the United States thanks to his grassroots support.
Mission to Mars
At exactly 7:53 p.m. Eastern Pacific Time, a NASA Spacecraft will attempt landing on Mars.
This is an exciting time in the history of man’s exploration of the red planet.
So why am i writing about this? I am a fan of mar’s Attack and there are questions that still remain unanswered, such as - Is there water in or on the red planet - Mars?
The probe if it does land safely will hopefully help answer that question.
Will they send people to mars next? If so, we might have an earth colony on Mars.
Global Labor Organization
This could be Historic.
If the Media and Pundits are correct, Unite - Britain’s biggest trade union will merge with its U.S. counterpart United Steelworkers, paving the way for the first Global Labour Organisation.
What could this mean?
- An increase in Social Unionism where many unions will use their organizational strength to advocate for social policies and legislation favorable to their members or to workers in general.
- Close ties to Political parties that favor workers rights.
- A disproportionate shift in power to the labor unions.
- The end to the exploitation of the ordinary unionized worker?
- Global crackdowns on organized labour.
- Strikes against multinational conglomerates
It will be interesting to analyze the accomplishments of a globalized labor organization, epecially when millions of workers are exploited every day across the globe.
Whats next? A World Government.
How will China and other rising global economies react to an organized global labour movement?
It’s Football NOT Soccer!
So you might not all be aware, but i am a Manchester United Fan. As you might expect from a loyal fan, i have some resentment to Manchester United’s rivals.
So when not too long ago, Chelsea defeated Manchester United 5-0. I was pretty disappointed, probably even upset.
I am proud though that Manchester United was able to secure the Champions Cup once again, securing the fact that it is the only team to win the treble in a single year, that is when a club wins their country’s top tier league, primary domestic cup and continental level cup competition in the same season.
In Manchester United’s case, the English Premier League, Champions League and the FA Cup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1RlOo2ZtwI
Next …
The 2008 EURO CUP - It’s going to be fantastic.
http://www.euro2008.uefa.com/
