#11 Michigan Rolls over #2 Notre Dame, 47-21

Press Conference Quotes: Lloyd Carr | Players

#11 Michigan at #2 Notre Dame

Saturday, Sept. 16 • 3:30 p.m.
Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, Ind.
NBC Television
Michigan Football Game Notes

• U-M leads the series 18-14-1
• Series Streak: U-M lost last two and three straight at Notre Dame
• The teams rank #1 and #2 in all-time wins (851-813), winning percentage (.7446443 vs. .7439785), tv appearances and all-time final composite AP poll rankings.

Yahoo! Game Preview
ESPN: Wolverine's Seek First Win In South Bend Since '94

ESPN: Michigan Clubhouse
Yahoo!: Michigan Team Page
Detroit Free-Press: Michigan Team Page
Detroit News: Michigan Clubhouse

Michigan Stats

• Michigan is #11 in the AP Poll and #13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll
  
• Michigan has more wins that any football program in NCAA history, 851-280-36 (.7446443)
• Michigan has the highest winning percentage of any team in the NCAA history (.7446443)
• Michigan ranks #1 all-time in composite AP final football polls (1936-2005)
• Michigan has 42 Big 10 titles which is the most conference titles of any NCAA school
• Michigan has the most weekly appearances in the AP poll, appearing 726 times entering the 2006 season
• Michigan has led the nation in attendance 31 of the last 32 years
• Michigan has played 194 consecutive games at "The Big House" in front of 100,000+ fans
  
• Michigan has appeared in 31 straight bowls, the longest current streak in NCAA history.
  
• Michigan has had 358 football games televised (239-111-8), which leads the NCAA.
• The Wolverines have compiled a xxx-xxx-xx (.xxx) all-time record against AP nationally ranked teams.
• The Michigan football program is the only Big 10 team in any sport to win a conference title in each decade. It is the winningest overall athletic program in Big 10 Conference history
• Michigan has appeared in more Rose Bowls (19) than any other Big 10 Conference school
• Michigan has 11 national championships (5th all-time) to OSU's 7
• Michigan's five current NFL quarterback's are more than any other school in the country.

Lloyd Carr Stats

• Head coach Lloyd Carr has a career winning percentage of .754 (104-34), ranking him fifth among active Division I coaches.
• Michigan has a 38-21 overall record against nationally ranked teams under Carr. They are 15-6 against Top 10 opponents; 7-2 against teams in the Top 5; and 3-1 against No. 2 ranked teams.
  
• He now leads active Big 10 coaches with 68 conference wins (68-20).
• He grabbed the active career lead in Big 10 wins during the 2003 season.
• He is the eighth coach in conference history to claim five or more Big 10 championships.

Central Michigan @ #10 Michigan

Michigan Football Game Notes
U-M leads the series 2-0

Yahoo! Game Preview
ESPN: Michigan looks to work out offensive kinks vs. CMU

Saturday, Sept. 9 • Noon EDT
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Mich.
ESPN Television




ESPN: Michigan Clubhouse
Yahoo!: Michigan Team Page

Michigan Stats

• Michigan is #10 in the AP Poll and #13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll
  
• Michigan has more wins that any football program in NCAA history, 850-280-36 (.7444253)
• Michigan has the highest winning percentage of any team in the NCAA history (.7444253)
• Michigan ranks #1 all-time in composite AP final football polls (1936-2005)
• Michigan has 42 Big 10 titles which is the most conference titles of any NCAA school
• Michigan has the most weekly appearances in the AP poll, appearing 725 times entering the 2006 season
• Michigan has led the nation in attendance 31 of the last 32 years
• Michigan has played 194 consecutive games at "The Big House" in front of 100,000+ fans
  
• Michigan has appeared in 31 straight bowls, the longest current streak in NCAA history.
  
• Michigan has had 357 football games televised (238-111-8), which leads the NCAA.
• The Michigan football program is the only Big 10 team in any sport to win a conference title in each decade. It is the winningest overall athletic program in Big 10 Conference history
• Michigan has appeared in more Rose Bowls (19) than any other Big 10 Conference school
• Michigan has 11 national championships (5th all-time) to OSU's 7

Lloyd Carr Stats

• Head coach Lloyd Carr has a career winning percentage of .752 (103-34), ranking him fifth among active Division I coaches.
• Michigan has a xx-xx overall record against AP nationally ranked teams under Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines have compiled a xxx-xxx-xx (.xxx) all-time record against AP nationally ranked teams.
• He now leads active Big 10 coaches with 68 conference wins (68-20).
• He grabbed the active career lead in Big 10 wins during the 2003 season.
• He is the eighth coach in conference history to claim five or more Big 10 championships.

Michigan Blogs:

• Big House Football
• Blah Me To Death
• The Blog That Yost Built
• Champions Of The West
• The Diag
• iBlog For Cookies
• Maize 'n' Brew
• The M Zone
• MGoBlog
• Michigan Sports Center
• Michigan Football Saturdays
• Mr. Wolverine
• Ron Bellamy's Underachieving All Stars
• Schembechler Hall
• Stadium And Main
• Westsider Rider

Nerve Center In The War On Terror

"How do you prevent another 9/11? You don't take anything for granted."

---

Scott Redd,
head of the National Counterterrorism Center

National Counterterrorism Center (CBS)

Fighting Terror Every Day
Only On The Web: David Martin spoke to Admiral Scott Redd, Director of the top-secret National Counterterrorism Center, about the critical role his agency plays in the War On Terror.

Vanderbilt @ #14 Michigan

Michigan Football Game Notes


2006 University of Michigan Football Team
Vanderbilt at #14 Michigan
U-M leads the series 9-0-1

Saturday, Sept. 2 • Noon EDT
Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Mich.
ESPN Television

Michigan Stats

• Michigan is #14 in the AP Poll and #15 in the USA Today Coaches Poll
  
• Michigan has more wins that any football program in NCAA history, 849-280-36 (.744206)
• Michigan has the highest winning percentage of any team in the NCAA history (.744206)
• Michigan ranks #1 all-time in composite AP final football polls (1936-2005)
• Michigan has 42 Big 10 titles which is the most conference titles of any NCAA school
• Michigan has the most weekly appearances in the AP poll, appearing 724 times entering the 2006 season
• Michigan has led the nation in attendance 31 of the last 32 years
• Michigan has appeared in 31 straight bowls, the longest current streak in NCAA history.
  
• Michigan has had 356 football games televised (237-111-8), which leads the NCAA.
• The Michigan football program is the only Big 10 team in any sport to win a conference title in each decade. It is the winningest overall athletic program in Big 10 Conference history
• Michigan has appeared in more Rose Bowls (19) than any other Big 10 Conference school
• Michigan has 11 national championships (5th all-time) to OSU's 7

Lloyd Carr Stats

• Head coach Lloyd Carr has a career winning percentage of .750 (102-34), ranking him fifth among active Division I coaches.
• Michigan has a xx-xx overall record against AP nationally ranked teams under Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines have compiled a xxx-xxx-xx (.xxx) all-time record against AP nationally ranked teams.
• He now leads active Big 10 coaches with 68 conference wins (68-20).
• He grabbed the active career lead in Big 10 wins during the 2003 season.
• He is the eighth coach in conference history to claim five or more Big 10 championships.

Christian megastar: Bono on record.

Review -- One Step Closer: Why U2 Matters to Those Seeking God

U2 on All-Time Album Chart

U2 on All-Time Album Chart

The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was today voted the nation’s favourite Number One album.

The smash hit only just pushed Michael Jackson’s Thriller album into second place by 201 votes in the BBC’s Radio 2 Music Club Top 100 Albums chart.

The nationwide survey saw more than 220,000 people select their favourite artists and was designed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the official UK album charts.

A full run-down of the top 100 was broadcast on Radio 2 by DJ Simon Mayo today.

U2’s Joshua Tree came in third, with Rumours by Fleetwood Mac taking fourth place.

The Fab Four scooped five spots in the album top 11, with Revolver taking sixth place, Abbey Road in eighth, the White Album at 10 and Rubber Soul taking 11th place.

Colossal Mike Oldfield hit Tubular Bells, which stayed in the charts for five years, also featured, taking the number 18 slot.

Of the classic albums that failed to reach the number one position, Britons voted Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon as their favourite with The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars, by David Bowie, as number two.

The Official Album Chart started in 1956 and since then there have been 787 number one albums.

Presenter Simon Mayo said: “It is a very impressive list and no surprise at all that Sgt Pepper is at the top.

“It revolutionised music and what we expect from an album. A fine choice indeed.”

Misspellings by voters keen to take part in the poll also saw votes go to “The Dark Side of the Room” by “Pink Flid” and “Achtung Bono” by U2.

Other blunders included fans voting for “Codplay” and “Oink Floyd”.

The BBC Radio 2 Music Club Top 100 Albums list in full:

1 Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – Beatles
2 Thriller – Michael Jackson
3 The Joshua Tree – U2
4 Rumours – Fleetwood Mac
5 Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
6 Revolver – Beatles
7 Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
8 Abbey Road – Beatles
9 A Night At The Opera – Queen
10 The Beatles (The White Album) – Beatles
11 Rubber Soul – Beatles
12 Brothers In Arms – Dire Straits
13 (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? – Oasis
14 Automatic For The People – REM
15 Led Zeppelin IV (Four Symbols) – Led Zeppelin
16 Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette
17 Parallel Lines – Blondie
18 Tubular Bells – Mike Oldfield
19 Led Zeppelin II – Led Zeppelin
20 Band On The Run – Paul McCartney & Wings
21 Hounds Of Love – Kate Bush
22 Definitely Maybe – Oasis
23 Graceland – Paul Simon
24 Ray Of Light – Madonna
25 Who’s Next – Who
26 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
27 OK Computer – Radiohead
28 Never Mind The Bollocks Here’s The Sex Pistols – Sex Pistols
29 Aladdin Sane – David Bowie
30 Out Of Time – REM
31 A Rush Of Blood To The Head – Coldplay
32 Scissor Sisters – Scissor Sisters
33 X & Y – Coldplay
34 Born In The USA – Bruce Springsteen
35 Like A Prayer – Madonna
36 A Hard Day’s Night – Beatles
37 Confessions On A Dancefloor – Madonna
38 Parachutes – Coldplay
39 Harvest – Neil Young
40 Bad – Michael Jackson
41 American Idiot – Green Day
42 A Kind Of Magic – Queen
43 Faith – George Michael
44 Fever – Kylie Minogue
45 Back In Black – AC/DC
46 Let It Be – Beatles
47 Like A Virgin – Madonna
48 The Unforgettable Fire – U2
49 Imagine – John Lennon & The Plastic Ono Band With The Flux Fiddlers
50 Help! – Beatles
51 Arrival – Abba
52 Led Zeppelin 3 – Led Zeppelin
53 Urban Hymns – Verve
54 Spice – Spice Girls
55 Sing When You’re Winning – Robbie Williams
56 Let’s Dance – David Bowie
57 Hopes And Fears – Keane
58 Diamond Dogs – David Bowie
59 Escapology – Robbie Williams
60 Parklife – Blur
61 Rattle And Hum – U2
62 Hot Fuss – The Killers
63 How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb – U2
64 True Blue – Madonna
65 Sticky Fingers – Rolling Stones
66 Music – Madonna
67 A Day At The Races – Queen
=68 War – U2
=68 Life Thru A Lens – Robbie Williams
70 No Angel – Dido
71 Physical Graffiti – Led Zeppelin
72 Swing When You’re Winning – Robbie Williams
=73 Super Trouper – Abba
=73 Let It Bleed – Rolling Stones
75 All Things Must Pass – George Harrison
76 Spiceworld – Spice Girls
77 Dare! – Human League
78 Different Class – Pulp
79 Please Please Me – Beatles
80 Back To Bedlam – James Blunt
81 So – Peter Gabriel
82 All That You Can’t Leave Behind – U2
83 Diva – Annie Lennox
84 Paranoid – Black Sabbath
85 The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan – Bob Dylan
86 Songs About Jane – Maroon 5
87 By The Way – Red Hot Chili Peppers
=88 The Division Bell – Pink Floyd
=88 Scary Monsters And Super Creeps – David Bowie
90 Play – Moby
91 Listen Without Prejudice Volume 1 – George Michael
92 Dangerous – Michael Jackson
93 Voulez-Vous – Abba
94 Innuendo – Queen
95 Demon Days – Gorillaz
96 Love Over Gold – Dire Straits
=97 The Album – Abba
=97 Come On Over – Shania Twain
99 I’ve Been Expecting You – Robbie Williams
100 Welcome To The Pleasuredome – Frankie Goes To Hollywood

--Evening Echo

Rumsfeld's American Legion Speech, Aug. 29, 2006

Address at the American Legion National Convention

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Salt Lake City, Utah, Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Tom [American Legion Commander Tom Bock], I understand that your son is flying a Chinook in Iraq -- following in his dad's proud tradition of military service. Our country is deeply grateful to him -- and to all of you who have children or relatives serving in our nation's military.

They are in our thoughts and prayers. Please tell them we appreciate all they do for our country.

I thank each of you for the love and support you provide for our troops every day.

No one is more proud of those young people than their Commander-in-Chief. I know that President Bush is looking forward to being with you on Thursday.

We are truly fortunate to have a leader of resolve at a time of war. Through all the challenges, he remains the same man who stood atop the rubble of lower Manhattan, with a bullhorn, vowing to fight back; the leader who told a grieving nation that we will never forget what was lost; and the determined President who works every day to fulfill his vow to bring the enemy to justice or to bring justice to the enemy.

Our nation is so fortunate to have the American Legion standing up for all those who are serving our country in this time of testing.

About a year ago, I participated in the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. And when I looked out into the audience, I could see a great many American Legion caps. It was a reminder of the millions who sacrificed for our country, so many of whom did not come home.

And it was also a reminder of all that American Legionnaires do to for our servicemen and women. Indeed, through nearly nine decades of service, the American Legion continues to find new ways and to undertake new initiatives to embody their motto: "For God and Country."

The Department of Defense is proud to be a partner with you in the "Heroes to Hometowns" program, which is helping severely wounded veterans with job searches, their homes, and other activities to aid the transition to civilian life. Your partnership with the "The America Supports You" campaign helps communities, organizations, and individuals across this nation express their appreciation to our troops, and to their families.

And, on a personal note, I commend the American Legion for its sponsorship of the Boy Scouts. I know there are some places where Boy Scouts are a subject of scorn.

Well, I was a proud Cub Scout, then a Boy Scout; then an Explorer Scout; an Eagle Scout; and, in 1975, a Distinguished Eagle Scout. The Scouts represent some of the best qualities in our great country -- and they certainly deserve our support!

The American Legion has achieved a great deal for our country since its founding in the months following World War I, when those folks came together in a hotel in Europe to find a way to help some of their fellow veterans who would be coming home soon.

Indeed, that year -- 1919 -- turned out to be one of those pivotal junctures in modern history -- with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles and the creation of the League of Nations -- a treaty and an organization intended to make future wars unnecessary and obsolete.

Indeed, 1919 was the beginning of a period where, over time, a very different set of views would come to dominate discourse and thinking in the west.

Over the next decades, a sentiment took root that contended that if only the growing threats that had begun to emerge in Europe and Asia could be appeased, then the carnage and destruction of then-recent memory of World War I might be avoided. It was a time when a certain amount of cynicism and moral confusion set in among the western democracies. When those who warned about a coming crisis -- the rise of fascism and Nazism -- were ridiculed and ignored.

Indeed, in the decades before World War II, a great many argued that the fascist threat was exaggerated -- or that it was someone else's problem. Some nations tried to negotiate a separate peace -- even as the enemy made its deadly ambitions crystal clear.

It was, as Churchill observed, a bit like feeding a crocodile, hoping it would eat you last.

There was a strange innocence in views of the world. Someone recently recalled one U.S. Senator's reaction in September 1939, upon hearing that Hitler had invaded Poland to start World War II. He exclaimed:

"Lord, if only I could have talked with Hitler, all this might have been avoided."

Think of that!

I recount this history because once again we face the same kind of challenges in efforts to confront the rising threat of a new type of fascism.

Today, another enemy -- a different kind of enemy -- has also made clear its intentions -- in places like New York, Washington, D.C., Bali, London, Madrid, and Moscow. But it is apparent that many have still not learned history's lessons.

We need to face the following questions:

• With the growing lethality and availability of weapons, can we truly afford to believe that somehow vicious extremists can be appeased?

• Can we really continue to think that free countries can negotiate a separate peace with terrorists?

• Can we truly afford the luxury of pretending that the threats today are simply "law enforcement" problems, rather than fundamentally different threats, requiring fundamentally different approaches?

• And can we truly afford to return to the destructive view that America -- not the enemy -- is the real source of the world's trouble?

These are central questions of our time. And we must face them.

We hear everyday of new plans, new efforts, to murder Americans and other free people. Indeed, the plot recently discovered that would have killed hundreds -- possibly thousands -- of innocent men, women, and children on planes coming from Britain to the United States should have demonstrated to all that the enemy is serious, lethal, and relentless.

But this is still -- in 2006 -- not well recognized or fully understood. It seems that in some quarters there is more of a focus on dividing our country, than acting with unity against the gathering threats.

We find ourselves in a strange time:

• When a database search of America's leading newspapers turns up 10 times as many mentions of one of the soldiers at Abu Ghraib who was punished for misconduct, than mentions of Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith, the first recipient of the Medal of Honor in the Global War on Terror;

• When a senior editor at Newsweek disparagingly refers to the brave volunteers in our Armed Forces as a "mercenary army";

• When the former head of CNN accuses the American military of deliberately targeting journalists and the former CNN Baghdad bureau chief admits he concealed reports of Saddam Hussein's crimes when he was in power so CNN could stay in Iraq; and

• It is a time when Amnesty International disgracefully refers to the military facility at Guantanamo Bay, which holds terrorists who have vowed to kill Americans and which is arguably the best run and most scrutinized detention facility in the history of warfare, as "the gulag of our times."

Those who know the truth need to speak out against these kinds of myths, and lies, and distortions being told about our troops and our country.

The struggle we are in is too important -- the consequences too severe -- to have the luxury of returning to the old mentality of "Blame America First."

One of the most important things the Legion has done is not only to serve, and assist, and advocate as you've done so superbly for much of the past century -- but also to educate and speak the truth about our country and our military.

Not so long ago, an exhibit on the Enola Gay at the Smithsonian during the 1990s seemed to try to rewrite the history of World War II by portraying the United States as an aggressor. Fortunately, the American Legion was there to lead the effort to set the record straight.

This watchdog role is even more important today in a war that is to a great extent fought in the media on a global stage -- to not allow the lies and the myths be repeated without question or challenge -- so that at least the second and third draft of history will be more accurate than the quick first allegations.

You know from experience that in every war there have been mistakes and setbacks and casualties. War is, as Clemenceau said, a "series of catastrophes that results in victory."

And in every army, there are occasionally bad actors -- the ones who dominate the headlines today -- who don't live up to the standards of their oath and of our country.

But you also know that they are a small percentage of the hundreds of thousands of honorable men and women in all theaters in this struggle who are serving with humanity and decency in the face of constant provocation.

And that is important in this "long war," where any kind of moral and intellectual confusion about who and what is right or wrong can severely weaken the ability of free societies to persevere.

Our enemy knows this well. They frequently invoke the names of Beirut and Somalia -- places they see as examples of American retreat and weakness. And as we have seen most recently -- indeed, this month -- in Lebanon, they design attacks and manipulate the media to try to demoralize public opinion. They doctor photographs of casualties, use civilians as human shields and then provoke an outcry when civilians are accidentally killed in their midst.

The good news is that most of the American people, though understandably influenced by what they read and see in the media, have inner gyroscopes and good centers of gravity.

And I am confident that over time they will evaluate and reflect on what is happening in this struggle and come to wise conclusions.

In Iraq, a country that was brutalized and traumatized by a cruel and dangerous dictatorship is now undertaking the slow, difficult, and uncertain steps to secure a new future, under a representative government -- one that is at peace with its neighbors, rather than a threat to their own people, their neighbors, and to the world.

As the nature of the threat and the conflict in Iraq has changed over these past three years, so have the tactics and deployments. But while military tactics have changed and adapted to the realities on the ground, the strategy has not -- which is to empower the Iraqi people to defend, govern, and rebuild their own country.

The extremists themselves have called Iraq the "epicenter" in the War on Terror. They mean it. And our troops know how important completing the mission is.

A Soldier who recently volunteered for a second tour in Iraq, likely captured the feelings of many of his peers. In an e-mail to friends he wrote:

"I ask that you never take advantage of the liberties guaranteed by the shedding of free blood, never take for granted the freedoms granted by our Constitution. For those liberties would be merely ink on paper were it not for the sacrifice of generations of Americans who heard the call of duty and responded heart, mind and soul with 'Yes, I will.'"

Someday that young man may be a member of the American Legion, attending a convention such as this. I hope he will be. And one day, a future speaker may reflect back on this time of historic choice -- remembering the questions raised as to our country's courage, dedication, and willingness to continue this fight until we have prevailed.

I believe the question is not whether we can win. It is whether we have the will to persevere.

I believe that Americans do have that steel. And that we have learned the lessons of history, the folly of turning a blind eye to danger, and of ignoring our responsibilities. These are lessons you know well -- lessons that your heroism has taught to generations of Americans.

May God bless each of you. May God bless the men and women in uniform and their families. And may God continue to bless our wonderful country.

U2's "One" on Greatest Songs List

"One" on Greatest Songs List Ed. Note: "One" has topped this list in the past and may very well do so again the next timepolls its readers. Oasis's "Live Forever" looks all set to live up to its title after being voted the greatest song ever. The 12-year-old single - the first to demonstrate that the Gallagher brothers could have a tender side as well as bravado and swagger - has beaten classic tracks by the Beatles, U2 and Queen in the Q magazine poll of music fans to identify the all-time greats. "Live Forever doesn't date. It satisfies a timeless need for communal joy," The Sun quoted a Q "People said after 'Live Forever,' 'Where are you gonna go after that?' I was like, 'I don't think it's that good.' I think I can do better," Noel Gallagher said. Oasis also claimed the second spot with their hit "Wonderwall," while two other songs, played by the band "Don't Look Back In Anger" and "Champagne Supernova," also made the top 100. Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was third in the poll. While the Beatles' "A Day In The Life" and U2's "One" came in fourth and fifth place respectively. The Beatles claimed six places in the top 100 songs, the most by any band. The list of the top ten "All-Time Top 100," as per Q magazine is: 1 Live Forever – Oasis 2 Wonderwall – Oasis 3 Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana 4 A Day In The Life – The Beatles 5 One – U2 6 Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen 7 Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division 8 Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin 9 Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve 10 Paranoid Android – Radiohead Q magazine spokesman as saying. --ANI

Expat life in Beijing

Stuck in Traffic
Cabs

Flight 93 - savagely funny?

I went to the local dvd "store" today and they had a number of the latest movies and tv shows in stock -- Click, Mi-III, the new Pirates of the Caribbean, Season 5 of 24, lost Season 2, etc. As I was looking at "Flight 93," I noticed something rather odd, or odder than usual.

The front markets the film this way:

"September 11, 2001. Four terrorists wanted to turn flight 93 into a weapon. Forty brave passengers and crew stopped it from reaching its target."

"Four Stars: Terrifving" -- Trhm trlr Boct


The back of the dvd however tells quite a different story.

"Deliciously entertaining. Savagely funny -- Nuts.

Nick Love's follow up to the The Football Factory may well be the best bloke film of the year. -- FHM

Golf Ball Collection @ a Chinese Driving Range

Excerpt from "The Gospel According to the Beatles," by Steve Turner

Is the Bush Doctrine Dead?

The president's critics are wrong. That includes the neocons.
by Norman Podhoretz

Bush & Friends

President Bush gestures during a statement after meetings at the National Counterterrorism Center on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006 in McLean, Va. From left is Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Fran Townsend, Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, Bush, CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden, and Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Vice Admiral John "Scott" Redd. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

US President George W. Bush(R) speaks while touring the operations center at the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean, Virginia with CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden(L), and Director of the center Vice Admiral John 'Scott' Redd. Bush pointed to last week's alleged plot in Britain to bomb US-bound airliners as evidence that the US-led war on terrorism will last "for years to come."(AFP/Tim Sloan)

President Bush gestures during a statement after meetings at the National Counterterrorism Center on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006 in McLean, Va. From left is Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Fran Townsend, Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, Bush, CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden and Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Vice Admiral John 'Scott' Redd. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

New to China

If you're looking for a fun read about a "newbies" experience in China, check out my former colleague, Chris Brooks' blog.

President Bush Meets with Counterterrorism Team

President George W. Bush addresses the media at the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean, Va., Aug. 15, 2006. Standing with President Bush are, from left: White House Homeland Security Advisor Frances Townsend; Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte; CIA Director Michael Hayden; and Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Vice Admiral John Scott Redd. White House photo by Paul Morse

THE PRESIDENT: It's been my honor to be here at the NCTC. A couple of observations: One, that of the work being done here by some really fine Americans because from different agencies in our government, America is safer than it has been. But it's not yet safe. The enemy has got an advantage when it comes to attacking our homeland - they've got to be right one time, and we've got to be right a hundred percent of the time to protect the American people.

I'm proud to report that there's a lot of good folks that are working hard to see to it that we're right a hundred percent of the time. And I want to thank all the people in this building and around our government who spend an incredible amount of time and energy and effort to do a very difficult job, and that's to protect the American people.

Recently we saw the fruits of their labor in conjunction with their counterparts in Great Britain. Because of the good work in Great Britain and because of the help of the people there at NCTC, we disrupted a terror plot, a plot where people were willing to kill innocent life to achieve political objectives. And that plot is -- and this building and the work going on here really is indicative of the challenge we face, not only this week, but this year and the years to come, because the United States of America is engaged in a war against a extremist group of folks bound together by an ideology, willing to use terror to achieve their objectives.

Our most solemn duty in the federal government is to protect the American people, and I will assure the American people that we're doing everything in our power to protect you. And we've got some good assets, and the best asset we have is the people, people represented right here in this building.

So I've come to listen and learn and to look at reforms that have been put in place. And I've also come to thank the good people who work here and elsewhere in our government for doing what they are doing.

Thank you very much. (Applause.)

Sharing Intelligence Across the Agencies

In the years after the Sept. 11 attacks revealed weaknesses in the way the government's intelligence agencies share and analyze information, the federal government changed the structure of the intelligence community. Its 16 components — many of which are part of the Defense Department — now report to a director of national intelligence. The National Counterterrorism Center integrates the components.

Yahweh

"blink" snags a Gold SABRE award

To date, “blink” has earned the following awards:

• Gold SABRE Award for Business-to-Consumer Marketing (New Product), 2005
• Smart Card Alliance's Financial Payments Innovation Award, 2005
• Smart Card Alliance's Outstanding Smart Card Achievement Award, 2005
• Frost & Sullivan’s Contactless Payments Card Product of the Year, 2006
• Frost & Sullivan’s Excellence in Industrial Technologies Award, 2006
• Internet Advertising Competition's (IAC) Outstanding Microsite/Landing Page Award, 2006
• Cards International's Best New Credit Card Product Launch, 2005; and
• PRWeek’s “10 Product Launches You Couldn’t Miss in 2005.”