President Barack Obama is greeted by U.S. military personnel, their families, and members of the U.S diplomatic community upon his arrival to deliver a speech at U.S. military base Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, South Korea
****
****
President Barack Obama greets members of the military as he arrives with South Korean President Park Geun-hye to be briefed by U.S.-ROK Combined Forces Command officers including U.S. Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, Commander UNC/CFC/USFK, at the U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, South Korea
President Barack Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye, arrive to be briefed by U.S.-ROK Combined Forces Command officers including U.S. Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, right, Commander UNC/CFC/USFK, at the U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, South Korea
****
****
President Barack Obama is briefed by U.S.-ROK Combined Forces Command officers including U.S. Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, Commander UNC/CFC/USFK, at the U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, South Korea
President Barack Obama greets U.S. military personnel, their familes, and members of the diplomatic community at Yongsan Army Garrison in Seoul, South Korea
****
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
****
President Barack Obama walks with Malaysian King Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, as he participates in an arrival ceremony in Parliament Square in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
President Barack Obama reviews troops as he participates in an arrival ceremony in Parliament Square in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
****
****
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Datuk Wan Hamidah Wan Ibrahim, Chief of Ceremony Prime Minister’s Department, as he arrives on Air Force One at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Airbase, Subang, outside of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
****
****
President Barack Obama walks with Malaysian King Sultan Abdul Halim Al-Muadzam Shah during a welcoming ceremony at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
President Barack Obama smiles as he arrives for the inspection of an honor guard outside Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur.
President Barack Obama inspects Malaysian guard-of-honor during a welcoming ceremony at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
President Barack Obama arrives at Istana Negara for a state dinner in Kuala Lumpur
President Barack Obama talks with Malaysian King Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah during a state dinner at the King’s Palace or Istana Negara in, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
President Barack Obama stands during the U.S. national anthem next to Malaysia’s King Abdul Halim of Kedah and Queen Haminah while attending the Malaysian State Dinner at Istana Negara Palace in Kuala Lumpur
****
Remarks by President Obama and His Majesty King Halim of Malaysia at State Banquet go.usa.gov/kpw5 via @WhiteHouse
—
Department of State (@StateDept) April 26, 2025****
President Barack Obama, center right, and Malaysian King Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, center left, toast during a state dinner with Malaysian Queen Haminah, right, and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, left, at the King’s Palace or Istana Negara in, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
President Barack Obama makes a toast to Malaysian King Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah during a state banquet at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong & Permaisuri looking upon Pres. @BarackObama as he signs the guest book at Istana Negera. http://t.co/s5IGZdPWT5
—
U.S. Embassy KL (@usembassykl) April 26, 2025****
Performers line up on the night of the Malaysia State Dinner for President Barack Obama, hosted by Malaysia’s King Abdul Halim of Kedah, at the Istana Negara Palace in Kuala Lumpur
President Barack Obama stands with Malaysian King Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, Malaysian Queen Haminah Hamidun, and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak before a State Dinner at National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
President Barack Obama shakes hand with Malaysian King Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah during a state banquet at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. President Obama is the first U.S. President to visit Malaysia as part of an Asian tour to forge alliances in more than three decades since former President Lyndon Johnson in 1966
White House.gov
Hello TOD…. Thanks for the week in review Chips! I can finally catch up :cool:
L.A. Clippers starting center Deandre Jordan
New name: “Injustice Roberts”
Totally. He and the rest of his conservative brethren are so out of touch with the real world. Roberts mocked Sotomayor for her dissent and yet not even 24 hours later, Justice Sotomayor was proven right when Cliven Bundy opened his mouth and spoke. This is 2014 and Justice Scalia doesn’t know that HBO is not free. It is a package one pays for along with their other cable subscription and he was hearing a case concerning network TV, cable companies, and online TV companies. If one doesn’t know that common fact, how is one expected to understand the world that minorities, women, workers, the poor, etc, live in?
I heard about Donald Sterling on MSNBC and TNT or is it TBS? The one that carry the NBA games, and Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaq and Ernie were talking about it too.
You. Are. A. Gem. Absolutely wonderful photos Nerdy, thank you so so so so much!
You’re the best, Chiparoo.
Thank you.
And he is walking……
This is so great. Thanks NW.
Thanks JER and thanks for the links you provide. They’re a huge help.
My pleasure, NW.
THESE MALAYSIAN PHOTOS ARE PRICELESS AND SO IS THE KING SULTAN…HE LOOKS LIKE A PICTURE POSTCARD…OUR PRESIDENT IS REALLY ENJOYING HIMSELF!….HAPPY SATURDAY EVERYONE!
“Obama is a parasite. He’s also a fungus, a spider and an extinct lizard. But before President Obama’s critics rejoice, having unappealing species named after you is apparently a good thing. “Honestly, it’s difficult for me to envision a higher honor,” Jason Bond, an Auburn University professor, told the Loop. “It’s permanent. In science, there are few things that we do as scientists that has the permanency that taxonomy does.”
University of California Riverside found a new lichen species, which is a kind of fungi, and named it “Caloplaca obamae”
……Bond, a spider expert at the university’s Department of Biological Sciences and its Museum of Natural History, discovered several new species of trapdoor spiders in late 2012, and named one of his favorites, “Aptostichus barackobamai” after the president. It had unique characteristics, Bond said, like Obama……..”
In December 2012, just after Obama won re-election, Yale scientists named an ancient extinct lizard species “Obamadon.”
that is the absolute truth about taxonomy and/or other fields of research - scientists/researchers naming their exceptional newly-discovered species after you is the greatest honor they can pay to someone;
thanks for this information about the species nomenclature - I was not aware of most of them
WOW!!!! NW, can’t thank you enough for the fine compilation of photos!!!
You’re so kind. Thank you very much, Bob.
I second Bobfr & everyone else here….. TY for your diligent, time consuming work putting together these wonderful posts. I know the effort that goes into producing a comprehensive thread, and the fact that you and Chips do it on a daily basis not only speaks to your dedication, but proves what an invaluable commodity you both are!
Wish I could do more than comment to show my appreciation.
Thanks so much, LP.
This^^! I feel the same way, thank you both!
Thanks, Ms Wonka!
I’mc guessing they are all asleep over there now, so we can catch up to them without rushing. ;)
LOL. Thanks, VC.
If only we had a US media that did the same work that NW and Chips do here.
I’d settle for half that. They are worse than they ever were.I would include yourself and all of us, actually, that consistently add to the informational fabric of this amazing space. A place to share, laugh, and learn more than I ever thought possible from one little slice of heaven…So much to be grateful for every day. Best pics, best info, best smiles, best banter, most respect and appreciation for an amazing and spectacularly hard working President. To learn that he’s had spiders, fungus and a lizard named for him is freaking AWESOME! :)
Hear hear, DF! I can’t give enough praise to Chips, NW, LL, and all the other people who keep this place running and protected from trolls! The job you do reporting on President Obama’s tenure in office is priceless!
PRICELESS, indeed:)
Crimean Residents To Face Russian-Style Repression
“If the Russian government begins to impose through its occupation and purported annexation of Crimea the repressive laws it is increasingly implementing in Russia, Crimean residents may experience surprising restrictions on the rights they once freely exercised. Among these are:
A Loss of Autonomy. Even as President Putin demands decentralization in Ukraine, he is abolishing it in Russia. A new bill in the Duma could cancel direct mayoral elections in Russia, stripping citizens of their ability to elect their local leaders.
Censorship and Propaganda. As has already been done within Russia, Russian authorities have tried to limit Crimean residents’ access to TV channels that are not Kremlin-controlled. From Russia’s internet space, Crimean residents could find themselves unable to access certain independent news sites.
Criminalization of Dissent. The Russian government could attempt to subject Crimean residents who wish to express dissent to its arsenal of laws unduly restricting freedom of expression, including Russian-style prosecutions of journalists and activists for “extremism” and “hooliganism” simply for expressing independent views.
“Foreign Agent” Hysteria. Following the xenophobic trend encouraged by authorities in Russia, lists of local “traitors” and “foreign agents” have already begun to appear in Crimea. Crimean non-governmental organizations (NGOs), like Russian ones, may find themselves subjected to a range of new burdensome regulations, including the notorious Russian “Foreign Agents” NGO law. Many Crimean human rights defenders have already fled Crimea, and many of those who stayed are considering a principled stance to avoid taking on the false and stigmatizing label of “foreign agent.”
Limits on Freedom of Assembly. Recent Russian laws instituting harsh fines (over $9000) for participating in peaceful unsanctioned protest, if imposed in Crimea, may have a chilling effect on public demonstrations. We’ve already seen evidence in Sevastopol – on April 15, the city banned an LGBT pride parade, citing Russia’s ban on LGBT “propaganda.””
See more at: http://blogs.state.gov/stories/2014/04/25/crimean-residents-face-russian-style-repression#sthash.968dtOwd.lnJvhIhV.dpuf
Put the President in a neighborhood in Chicago, a palace in England or Malaysia, among our troops in South Korea, or at the Easter Egg Roll at the White House … same guy.
That’s a king, in my book.
X 100!
Of the people. By the people. For the people. = a living example
None of us will forget it, either.
true!
exactly what I was thinking job… he walks with kings while still a man of the people. He is always so natural .. no matter the situation.
He is. And it’s quite the sight to see.
Snoop has a strong and accurate vocabulary!
SNOOP!! you are so fluent in ‘sailor speak’!! LMAO
Don’t hold back, Snoop! How do you really feel?
Snoooooop! :-D :-D :-D
Utal, my poor face is hurting! No matter how often I tell myself I’ll appreciate the pictures CALMLY, I find myself unconsciously grinning as soon as PBO is introduced or as soon as his face ‘appears’. :grin: :grin:
Amen to that VC! I could just levitate off the floor with the amount of pride I have for him! Best President Evah!
You experience it too, eh, Dudette? No matter how serious I am feeling, as soon as PBO is introduced I find myself smiling. The man’s presence is more effective than a tonic! I bet if it could be measured (separate and apart from the #ACA) we would find that PBO has extended many a life since his arrival on the public scene. :) :)
Not if everyone does not let it go THIS TIME!… and we should not!
Is the toilet on the sidewalk…
smh
hat tip, amk :-)
oops, meant the smh for something else. here i am usmh.
If they’ll take away your Obamacare, they’ll take away your Medicare
By LOLGOP
——————————-
I still believe this election holds unexpected promise for Democrats. In red and purple states, voters could literally vote themselves health care coverage by electing candidates for Medicaid expansion. In every other state, millions can vote to keep the coverage they’ve gained and to protect the promise we’ve made to seniors.
Republicans have shown again and again that they are willing to gut our health care system while cutting taxes for the richest.
Democrats just need to remind voters of that every chance they get.
—————————————-
http://www.eclectablog.com/2014/04/if-theyll-take-away-your-obamacare-theyll-take-away-your-medicare.html
” “You talk about troops, did they have any distinguishing insignia?”
“Of course I cannot be completely sure that they were Russian troops. But there were situations when it was possible to exchange a few words with them and we asked: “So where are you lads from?” What was going on? But no one said they were from Sloviansk. One of them said he was from Donbas, but Donbas is a big place.
Literally all the local people said these people had come from somewhere else, as if they had fallen out of the sky. But they were not from in town.””
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/26/us-palestinian-abbas-talks-idUSBREA3P08820140426
Palestinian unity government will recognize Israel: Abbas WTF will Bibi do?
I totally agree with the last tweet. The victims (the players with legally binding contracts) shouldn’t be blamed or be the ones held to account for making it “good,” through a boycott. That’s as sick as Sterling’s comments. I’m sick of all of this shit.
I agree with jacquelineoboomer in that the Fans can vote with their wallets. No jerseys purchased, for example if you already hold playoff tix and go to the games. Fans can sit on their wallets going forward.
Plus for me Magic Johnson was the friendly face of AIDS that our country (crazed by homophobia) could accept. Magic saved a lot of lives. America will read his tweets and respond accordingly.
X 2
THIS
Since the election of President Obama, I blame the GOP, the Tea party, and the media for not shaming these people like they used to. There will always be people like Bundy, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Palin, Sterling, etc., but when they are allowed to be legitimized by the media and not ostracized.
Agree!
Billy Crystal is a big Clippers fan, let’s see what he has to say about this.
Thanks for this, LP. Love Bill Simmons, hometown boy.
YW, Kathleen. I’m not sure how familiar TOD readers are with Bill Simmons, but he’s probably the most prominent /respected voice regarding matters on the NBA.
To Nerdy and Chips, A million thanks for the in-depth coverage of PBO’s Asian trip. I have watched the coverage and enjoyed every photo on this once-in-a-lifetime blog.
Thank you very much, Vicki and thanks Chiparoo!
Son of L.A. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, whose house was burned down b/c he was black.
This doesn’t finalize anything, but this is an example of how good people win. By ridiculing the ridiculous.
Nerdy Wonka >-I
Nerdy Wonka >-I
Nerdy Wonka >-I
Thanks, Nena.
Hip Hip Hooray! Nerdy Wonka Blog Tyrant Supreme!
Cliven Bundy.
David Sterling.
Antony Scalia.
SCOTUS
What a freaking week.
Those are some nice pictures of POTUS.
Great pix, thanks for the wonderful display.
Thank you very much, Bill.
Memo to Donald Sterling: If you’ve lost Magic Johnson, especially in L.A., then you’re done. You’re out. You are history.
Pretty much. Magic could run the city if he wanted to.
She really has so much more than most people really want to know about this guy…but she lives in LA, so I guess they are VERY FAMILIAR with his nasty antics.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2014/04/26/nba-owner-donald-sterling-you-can-sleep-with-black-people-but-dont-bring-them-to-my-games/
So at 8:30 PM today in Memphis or so, Commissioner, Silver will address the David Sterling 10 minutes racist diatribe rants?
Hmm?
How long did it take? Almost 24 hours? Shameful.
Here goes: David’s words were taken out of context. The conversation was of a private nature. However we do not support this type of language and we are sorry if this has offended anyone. David says he loves black people..
I hope for his sake he doesn’t save such foolish nonsense.
People are sick and tired of the silly pretentious platitudes. Many in the NBA are just not going to accept that and neither should the public at large.
:oops: Say
It won’t fly at all. Magic Johnson carries more weight in public opinion and in the NBA than any attempt at a cover up by these shmoes.
Sir Charles said:
The Jack a SS must go.
For being just 54 seconds long, this ad, titled “Put Racism in the Right Place” does an incredible job of exposing the ugliness of racism. The ad, which was created by the Portuguese Commission, was produced in 1998 in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It remains just as relevant today.
That is so right on. We should run that here.
Excellent!
Rev Jesse Jackson phone call with ESPN…audio
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/10843525/nba-investigating-offensive-audio-recording-allegedly-los-angeles-clippers-owner-donald-sterling
Seriously, David Sterling better wish that his life on earth comes quickly to an end for his Life as one of the few NBA Team owner is about to come to a quick end.
Dammit he’s a badass mofo! That’s MY DUDE!!! :-D
Hello TOD!
I’ve been sort of out of it the last couple of day. I had to have some dental surgery. ouch!!!!
I’ve got a lot of catching up to do….
Hi Grandma DD! Happy you can now talk. ;) {{{{DD4O}}}}
Hi VC!!
What’s up, other than the dentist having fun with your pearly whites?
Fun for the dentist and absolute misery for little ole me. I’m trying to deal with all this blatant racism that is coming to light this week. I think I am going to do some writing to purge some of the thoughts raging in my mind.
Hush (as a term of calm endearment), re the dentist.
‘ I am going to do some writing to purge some of the thoughts raging in my mind.’
No kidding, that’s exactly how I usually dealt with my raging mind! From my teen years whenever I was really upset I had to write things out. I found putting it all on paper would lance the hurt, and once I presented it to whoever was involved, I found I felt better, whatever response was given.
In the realm of blatant racism I confess that nowadays I’m no longer surprised by what is being revealed almost daily. Part of that reaction I blame on PBO. The responses to his arrival on the scene were initially (for me) quite shocking. Now, I find my eyes have been opened so widely that now I’m more likely to shake my head and wonder why as close a person as the ‘girlfriend’ wouldn’t have realized that she was being intimate with someone who despised her.
Hope you’re in much less pain now, Donna!!
I am. Thanks Bob!
Ow Donna! My mom had dental surgery yesterday. Hope your healing goes smoothly and quickly!
https://twitter.com/BaxterPamela/status/460162876720705536
I can’t imagine the organization going through with this, but if they do, I will revoke my membership as well. In fact, how could they even think about giving an award to the person who lost the biggest housing discrimination lawsuit in US history? He must have dropped huge bundle on them. Conscience money.
I don’t care how much money he gave them. They should give it all back to his sorry ass.
Agreed. Shouldn’t have accepted in the first damned place. My sister has had some dealings with the LA/Hollywood branch…don’t even get me started.
Sensationallllll coverage…and Sensational photos…..wow!
Couldn’t agree more, pf! TOD is THE place to be in the blogosphere!
“Afghanistan’s presidential election will go to a second round after no one candidate garnered more than 50% of the vote, the country’s election commission said Saturday.
The top two vote-getters, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, will be in a runoff slated for June 7, said Independent Election Commission head Ahmad Yusuf Nuristani.
“I think the elections went pretty good, we are satisfied with it and with the results,” Nuristani said on state television.
Seven million Afghans went to the polls on April 5 to choose a successor to outgoing President Hamid Karzai. It will be the country’s first democratic transfer of presidential power.”
http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/26/world/asia/afghanistan-presidential-election/
#TrustBarack
http://www.theguardian.com/comentis free/2013/nov/26/michelle-obama-feminism-activism-politico
I didn’t get this right, but i will keep trying.
I think this is what you were trying to get. :-)
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/26/michelle-obama-feminism-activism-politico
Despite all the bad publicity on Cover Oregon and its imminent demise, we are still signing up people!
TNT at the Half today:
I just saw Magic Johnson comment on Jim Hill’s CBS Sports Central. I did not know he called out Magic specifically. I heard that the girl friend is being sued for embezzlement and threatened the Clipper owner to retaliate. I hope it’s him on that tape and it’s not doctored because a lot of folks are speaking out.
I wonder if slavery would’ve been better
Hey Dudette…..This is my favorite movie and my favorite part too. I have lived that scene in my own life. I was unemployed and got the job of my dreams after I was told on Friday I did not get the job and was called on Monday asking if I wanted the job. The pure joy of getting the job you want after working so hard.
Yes. Those comments are coming unofficially from the Sterling’s family. The point is that they are not denying that the voice isn’t that of David Sterling’s. This is about Sterling in my opinion not about the conduct of the woman.
This was meant for a reply two comments or so up.
Snowden and his love buddies must be so proud.
The public racial episodes and rants from people in the news should give us an opportunity to ponder the racially-biased slights we inflict on each during our everyday lives – these are usually small but the person on the receiving end notices and may be hurt by it;
;
I am wondering how many people who are rightfully outraged by these racial insults have recently done something to others which others considered racially-biased?
;
For instance, just yesterday, in my Midwestern college town, I watched how many people refused to sit next to me on a public transit and instead chose to stand once all the seats near others had been taken – and rode long distances standing up;
;
These are everyday slights , which many thing others do not notice – but they do and just go along with the flow;
;
many people have dealt with far worse and more devastating things but trying to eliminate the smaller issues is something everyone can work on
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/04/26/president-obamas-america-2/