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<p>In a long-anticipated referendum, British citizens voted in favor of their country exiting from the European Union (EU).</p>
<p>Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron has resigned and Britain will now begin the multi-year process of negotiating its exit from the EU.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Think of it as a drawn-out, messy divorce.</p>
<p>Two main issues for voters were immigration control and free-trade pacts that some believe have sent jobs elsewhere. These are similar issues Americans grapple with as well.</p>
<p>In my opinion, this decision will have significant implications for the future of the European Union, currency exchange rates and global financial markets.</p>
<p>Stock markets experienced a sell-off after the news. Yet, though there is a great deal of trading volatility, there hasn’t yet been the market chaos many feared.</p>
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<p>In my opinion, here are the the likely immediate and longer-term impacts for global investment markets.</p>
<p>We immediately saw unprecedented pressure on the British pound sterling and the euro. The weakness in the pound and the euro hastened a flight to “safe haven” currencies such as the US dollar as well as the Japanese yen.</p>
<p>In my view the stronger US dollar will put pressure on American corporations that do business overseas. Additionally, a stronger dollar may add downward pressure on commodities and crude oil.</p>
<p>Business sentiment, which has been lackluster but seemed to be improving, will most likely pull back once again, forcing corporations to slow down investment.</p>
<p>This may have a more pronounced effect on our domestic economy than trade with Britain, which amounts to only 4% of global GDP.</p>
<p>The US economy, though not currently running at full steam, is still a bright spot in the broader global economy.</p>
<p>I believe the US Federal Reserve Bank will most likely further slow its pace of normalizing interest rates, providing support and more potential upside for US Treasuries and investment grade bonds.</p>
<p>Even with 10-year US Treasuries trading with a meager yield of 1.57%, that’s a level that is still high relative to other developed economies, many of which have negative yields.</p>
<p>The Federal Reserve and other global central banks, in my view, will continue to be “lower for longer” in regard to interest rate policy, especially as the global fiscal response remains muted.</p>
<p>Market participants loathe uncertainty. Again, Brexit is an ugly divorce and it is heightening volatility into the markets given its broad ramifications on trade, regulation and labor.</p>
<p>It will ultimately manifest itself in ways not yet imaginable over the coming months and years as well. &#160;In my opinion, such an environment underscores the importance of a diversified portfolio.</p>
<p>Over the coming days and weeks, market participants will have to sort out how best to navigate the outcome of the Brexit referendum. The longer term prescription is diversity in asset allocation in my view.</p>
<p>The short term prescription? Don’t panic and don’t try to be a hero, neither going completely to cash or all in the market. Financial markets need a chance to digest the changes underway, which will lead to clearer directions and new themes emerging.</p>
<p>For now, Brexit is unlikely to significantly change the fundamental outlook for US equities. Perception is another matter.</p>
<p>In my opinion, it is best to be patient as there will be opportunity to buy quality names on sale.</p>
<p>Photo Credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomeknacho/" type="external">Tomek Nacho Opens a New Window.</a> via <a href="https://www.flickr.com/" type="external">Flickr Creative Commons Opens a New Window.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/304233/d35c314d-234a-4afd-8b0d-7fc75bf8873c" type="external">Opens a New Window.</a>//</p>
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<p>The post <a href="http://investing.covestor.com/2016/06/brexit-keep-calm-carry" type="external">Brexit: Keep calm and carry on Opens a New Window.</a> appeared first on <a href="http://investing.covestor.com" type="external">Smarter Investing Opens a New Window.</a>Covestor Ltd. is a registered investment advisor. Covestor licenses investment strategies from its Model Managers to establish investment models. The commentary here is provided as general and impersonal information and should not be construed as recommendations or advice. Information from Model Managers and third-party sources deemed to be reliable but not guaranteed. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Transaction histories for Covestor models available upon request. Additional important disclosures available at http://site.covestor.com/help/disclosures.</p> | Brexit: Keep calm and carry on | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/06/27/brexit-keep-calm-and-carry-on.html | 2016-06-27 | 0 |
<p>Rick Stafford (photo courtesy of Stafford)</p>
<p>Rick Stafford, a longtime LGBT activist in the Democratic Party, died on Sept. 2 at a hospital near his home in southern Minnesota, according to his friend Kurt Vorndran. He was 65. The cause of death was a heart ailment.</p>
<p>“He was a major force within the Democratic Party even though I don’t think he was a household name,” Vorndran said. “He was just a brilliant strategist who knew the party rules and really knew how to get things done. He was a member of the national committee and knew all the major national figures — Hillary Clinton, Obama, Bill Clinton.”</p>
<p>Vorndran said Stafford would often stay with him when he visited Washington.</p>
<p>“He would say, ‘I’m here running a caucus or I have a ward committee meeting. … He was just so involved in grassroots retail politics and that’s what made him such a tremendous force, I think, his whole life.”</p>
<p>Stafford, a Minnesota native who lived there his whole life, was born Aug. 25, 1952.</p>
<p>Stafford was credited with playing a lead role in lobbying, cajoling and nudging the Democratic Party to take a strong stand on LGBT rights and to&#160;change its delegate selection rules and policies to reach out to minorities, especially LGBT people, resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of LGBT delegates.</p>
<p>He was a veteran of national Democratic conventions having been to at least 10. He came out in the 1970s.</p>
<p>In 1992, Minnesota Democrats elected Stafford as chair of the state party, making him the first out gay person to win election to chair either of the two major parties in a state.</p>
<p>Since the 1990s Stafford served at various times as a member of the Democratic National Committee. He chaired the DNC’s LGBT Americans Caucus.</p>
<p>“I was a rabble rouser,” said Stafford in a 2012 Washington Blade <a href="" type="internal">interview</a>. “But we knew about timing, when it’s the best time to pick and choose your battles. It’s just sheer stupidity when we’re even thinking about a negative protest when we have so much to celebrate.”</p>
<p>“He really believed politics could make a difference in the lives of ordinary people,” Vorndran said.</p>
<p>Stafford was single. No information about services was immediately available.</p>
<p>Lou Chibbaro Jr. contributed to this report.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Barack Obama</a> <a href="" type="internal">Bill Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">Democratic National Committee</a> <a href="" type="internal">Democratic Party</a> <a href="" type="internal">DNC</a> <a href="" type="internal">Hillary Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">Kurt Vorndran</a> <a href="" type="internal">LGBT</a> <a href="" type="internal">Minnesota</a> <a href="" type="internal">Rick Stafford</a></p> | DNC activist Rick Stafford dies at 65 | false | http://washingtonblade.com/2017/09/06/dnc-activist-rick-stafford-dies-65/ | 3 |
|
<p>WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday the administration is committed to getting major tax reform legislation through Congress by August. He predicted that President Donald Trump’s economic proposals will be able to boost growth significantly to annual rates above 3 percent.</p>
<p>Mnuchin said that tax reform is the administration’s top economic priority and the goal is to have a measure approved by the time Congress takes its August recess.</p>
<p>“We are committed to pass tax reform,” Mnuchin said in an interview on CNBC. “It’s going to be focused on middle income tax cuts, simplification and making (the U.S.) business tax competitive with the rest of the world, which has been a big problem.”</p>
<p>He said implementation of Trump’s economic program including tax cuts and deregulation would make growth in a range of 3 percent to 3.5 percent “very achievable.”</p>
<p>During the campaign, candidate Trump had set a goal of achieving growth, as measured by the gross domestic product, of 4 percent or better. The country has struggled through the weakest recovery in the post-World War II period in terms of growth, with GDP averaging annual gains of just above 2 percent in the seven years since the recession ended in mid-2009.</p>
<p>“We have underperformed where we need to be,” Mnuchin said. “We believe we can be competitive and get back to sustainable growth of 3 percent or more.”</p>
<p>The GDP grew by just 1.6 percent last year, and many forecasters are predicting growth this year at an only slightly better pace of 2 percent to 2.5 percent. Mnuchin said it would take time for Trump’s economic program to translate to faster growth. But he said positive effects would be realized by next year.</p>
<p>Mnuchin’s prediction of an August passage of a tax plan could prove optimistic given that House and Senate Republicans seem sharply divided over key elements of the program. GOP lawmakers in the Senate have expressed opposition to a House proposal to replace the current 35 percent tax on corporate profits with a border adjustment tax.</p>
<p>Under the House proposal, American companies that produce and sell their products in the United States would pay a new 20 percent tax on the profits from those sales. But if the company exports its products, the profits from those exports would not be taxed by the United states. However, foreign companies that import goods into the United States would have to pay the 20 percent tax.</p>
<p>Mnuchin did not commit to supporting the border adjustment tax but said the administration was “looking closely” at the issues raised by this type of tax. He said he has discussed those issues with two supporters of the approach, House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas.</p>
<p>“We think there are some very interesting aspects of it. We think there are some concerns about it,” Mnuchin said.</p>
<p>He said one thing the administration wants is a combined plan that would draw support from lawmakers in both the House and Senate.</p>
<p>“We’re working behind the scenes very carefully. We’re running a lot of numbers and we’re taking into account a lot of issues,” he said. He said the administration hoped to have a proposal ready to unveil in “the near future, and we’re committed to get this passed by August.”</p>
<p>In a separate interview with the Fox Business Network, Mnuchin said the administration was focused on an “aggressive timeline” to enact tax reform, calling it critical to stimulating economic growth.</p>
<p>“There’s trillions of dollars offshore that will come back, and this will create jobs (and) this will create investment and we need to make sure our U.S. businesses are competitive,” Mnuchin said.</p> | Mnuchin says administration wants tax reforms through Congress by August | false | https://reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/mnuchin-says-administration-wants-tax-reforms-through-congress-by-august/ | 2017-02-23 | 1 |
<p>Iran missile launch / AP</p>
<p>BY: <a href="" type="internal">Bill Gertz</a> June 28, 2013 5:00 am</p>
<p>U.S. intelligence agencies recently detected Iran conducting a static ground test of a large rocket motor that could be used for a future intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), according to U.S. officials.</p>
<p>Disclosure of the recent rocket engine test comes as Congress is prodding the Obama administration to deploy a third ground-based missile defense interceptor base on the U.S. East Coast.</p>
<p>"This engine could be used for an ICBM," said one official familiar with the intelligence reports of the test.</p>
<p>No other details were available. A Defense Intelligence Agency spokesman declined to comment on the test.</p>
<p>However, the Pentagon and civilian U.S. intelligence agencies have been closely tracking the Iranian missile program and are concerned with Tehran’s drive for a missile capable of reaching the United States.</p>
<p>The Pentagon’s annual report to Congress on the Iranian military said the Iranians are continuing to build missiles that can reach Israel and Eastern Europe.</p>
<p>"Iran may be technically capable of flight testing an intercontinental ballistic missile by 2015," the report said.</p>
<p>It also stated that Iran’s development of space launchers would assist in building ICBMs.</p>
<p>"Since 2008, Iran has launched multistage space launch vehicles that could serve as a test bed for developing long-range ballistic missile technologies," the report said.</p>
<p>A recent International Atomic Energy Agency report on Iran’s nuclear programs said the agency has questions about Iran’s work on a nuclear payload for a missile.</p>
<p>The House version of the fiscal 2014 defense authorization bill provides funding for development of an East Coast missile defense site to counter Iranian long-range missiles.</p>
<p>The East Coast site, possibly to be built at military bases in New York or New England, would complement two current missile defense interceptor bases in the western United States, at Fort Greely, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.</p>
<p>Locations mentioned for the site include the Army’s Fort Drum, New York, base, the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York, and a site in Caribou, Maine.</p>
<p>The Pentagon’s budget request contained no funds for the East Coast site, as the Pentagon is opposing the facility.</p>
<p>"The committee believes such a site is critical to the defense of the United States," the House report on the defense bill stated. "The committee is concerned that funding for the [East Coast interceptor site] process to implement section 227 is not included in the budget request, and notes that the Missile Defense Agency intends to treat it as an unfunded requirement."</p>
<p>The House bill would provide $210.6 million for the missile defense site.</p>
<p>Pentagon officials have told Congress there is "no validated military requirement to deploy an East Coast missile defense site."</p>
<p>However, the Pentagon recently canceled its planned Phase 4 of European-based missile defenses that included a SM-3 interceptor variant capable of hitting Iranian missiles fired at the United States. The plan was canceled amid pressure from Moscow to restrict U.S. missile defenses in Europe.</p>
<p>A group of Republican House members, led by Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon (R., Calif.), wrote to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in March that the cancelation of a European-based missile defense interceptor "creates a large capability gap to defend the United States from Iran."</p>
<p>The lawmakers said "it appears Iran could flight test an ICBM this year."</p>
<p>"Yet, with the cancelation of the SM-3IIB missile, even with the deployment of 44 [ground based interceptors] in Alaska and California … there is a large gap in the missile defense of the United States against the Iranian threat," the 19 House members <a href="http://blog.al.com/breaking/2013/03/brooks_rogers_question_missile.html" type="external">stated.</a></p>
<p>Michael Elleman, a former U.N. weapons inspector and author of the book Iran’s Ballistic Missile Capabilities, stated in a recent article that the Iranian space program is critical in building powerful booster rockets and other skills that could be used in developing longer range missiles, including ICBMs.</p>
<p>The main space launcher is the Safir that in 2009 launched an Iranian satellite into space. "It demonstrated a new sophistication in multistage separation and propulsion systems," Elleman stated in an article published by the U.S. Institute of Peace.</p>
<p>Another space launcher is called Simorgh and it was displayed for the first time in 2010.</p>
<p>The Simorgh uses four short-range missile engines that are clustered to create a booster stage.</p>
<p>Classified U.S. assessments of Iran’s missile program were disclosed by Wikileaks, which posted several State Department cables prepared for the international forum on the Missile Technology Control Regime, an export control group that seeks to prevent missile proliferation to rogue states.</p>
<p>A Sept. 23, 2009, cable said "Iran has established an SLV [space launch vehicle] program that complements and advances its missile development," the cable, labeled "secret," <a href="http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/09/09STATE98749.html" type="external">stated</a>.</p>
<p>"Although currently the Safir is restricted to very small payloads, Iran’s ability to place a satellite into orbit has demonstrated several technical capabilities applicable to longer-range ballistic missile systems, including staging, clustering small engines, and using gimbaled engines for control of the Safir’s second stage," the cable said. "As such, Iran’s SLV program remains a key concern, as many technologies required for this program will directly benefit Iran’s long-range ballistic missile development efforts."</p>
<p>A National Research Council study made public last year on U.S. missile defense efforts stated that an Iranian ICBM with a liquid fuel rocket motor launched from central Iran to the U.S. East Coast would burn for about 250 seconds during its initial "boost-phase" and a total flight time is about 40 minutes.</p>
<p>A solid-fuel Iranian ICBM launched from the same location would burn for 180 seconds during boost phase.</p>
<p>The report recommended building an additional missile defense interceptor site in the continental United States to counter the missile threat likely to emerge from North Korea or Iran over the next several decades.</p>
<p>A 2008 State Department cable <a href="http://wikileaks.org/cable/2008/10/08STATE105103.html" type="external">said</a>: "Tehran could attempt to develop and test much of this [long-range] missile technology under the guise of a space program."</p>
<p>A third cable said North Korea has provided assistance to Iran’s space launcher program, a fact U.S. intelligence <a href="http://wikileaks.org/cable/2009/10/09STATE103755.html" type="external">said</a> "suggests that North Korea and Iran may also be cooperating on the development of long-range ballistic missiles."</p> | Iran ICBM Advances | true | http://freebeacon.com/iran-icbm-advances/ | 2013-06-28 | 0 |
<p>A lawmaker from Ukraine's far-right, ultra-nationalist party has been filmed assaulting the head of state television in his own office before forcing him to write a letter of resignation.</p>
<p>Igor Miroshnichenko visited the offices of First National TV on Tuesday evening and accused channel boss Oleksandr Panteleymonov of working for the Russian authorities after the station broadcast <a href="" type="internal">Vladimir Putin's speech on Crimea</a>.</p>
<p>A video of the incident was posted online and the resignation letter was <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=756650354347089&amp;set=a.250122871666509.71763.100000063934079&amp;type=1&amp;theater" type="external">published on Facebook</a> by the Svoboda Party's Press Secretary Aleksandr Aronets.</p>
<p>"You lied to Ukrainians using their own money," Miroshnichenko shouts in the video. (The physical assault comes about 4:40 into the video below).</p>
<p>Miroshnichenko is a member of parliament for the far-right Svoboda (Freedom) Party - which has been described by some analysts as "neo-fascist." He is the deputy head on Ukraine's freedom of speech committee. He was accompanied by at least five other people.</p>
<p>Miroshnichenko is not a new member of parliament, he was a lawmaker during the administration of former President Viktor Yanukovych. But since Yanukovych's ouster, the right-wing Svoboda Party has gained more ministry positions, now making up around a quarter of the ministries including that of defense minister. The Right Sector, an even more extremist group which made up the most militant aspects of the Kiev protests last month, also has stronger links to the new government.</p>
<p>Panteleymonov's letter asked for him to be released from his position and said he was writing it “on his own free will.” As of Wednesday, it was not clear if he had formally left his position.</p>
<p>"It is astonishing that a member of the parliamentary committee on freedom of speech was involved in this attack," <a href="http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/oleksandr-panteleymonov-first-channel-attack-2014-03-19" type="external">said a statement by Heather McGill</a>, Ukraine researcher at rights group Amnesty International. "The acting authorities must send a signal that this sort of behavior will not be tolerated in Ukraine."</p>
<p>Russia has legitimized its actions in Crimea by saying it is protecting ethnic Russians from the "fascist" government in Kiev. The West has largely dismissed this as propaganda, but the incident at First National TV highlights the fact that a sizable proportion of the country's new ministers are aligned with the extreme right.</p>
<p>- NBC News' Alexander Smith</p> | Far-Right Ukrainian Lawmaker Assaults State TV Boss | false | http://nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/far-right-ukrainian-lawmaker-assaults-state-tv-boss-n56786 | 2014-03-19 | 3 |
<p>Academy Charter 63, Bound Brook 56</p>
<p>Academy for Urban Leadership 52, Passaic Charter 35</p>
<p>Allentown 69, Robbinsville 65</p>
<p>Atlantic City 45, Millville 43</p>
<p>Barnegat 64, Bridgeton 47</p>
<p>Brick Township 64, Toms River East 58</p>
<p>Camden Tech 92, LEAP Academy 76</p>
<p>Carteret 68, South Plainfield 57</p>
<p>Central Regional 56, Lacey 39</p>
<p>Christian Brothers 69, Marlboro 54</p>
<p>Foundation Collegiate 72, Kohelet Yeshiva, Pa. 51</p>
<p>Highland Park 55, Wardlaw-Hartridge 45</p>
<p>Middlesex 51, Metuchen 43</p>
<p>Piscataway Tech 66, Dunellen 47</p>
<p>Pleasantville 93, Cape May Tech 51</p>
<p>Spotswood 71, South River 65</p>
<p>Timothy Christian 64, Perth Amboy 58</p>
<p>Wallington 90, Central Jersey College Charter 29</p>
<p>Wildwood Catholic 73, Buena Regional 32</p>
<p>Academy Charter 63, Bound Brook 56</p>
<p>Academy for Urban Leadership 52, Passaic Charter 35</p>
<p>Allentown 69, Robbinsville 65</p>
<p>Atlantic City 45, Millville 43</p>
<p>Barnegat 64, Bridgeton 47</p>
<p>Brick Township 64, Toms River East 58</p>
<p>Camden Tech 92, LEAP Academy 76</p>
<p>Carteret 68, South Plainfield 57</p>
<p>Central Regional 56, Lacey 39</p>
<p>Christian Brothers 69, Marlboro 54</p>
<p>Foundation Collegiate 72, Kohelet Yeshiva, Pa. 51</p>
<p>Highland Park 55, Wardlaw-Hartridge 45</p>
<p>Middlesex 51, Metuchen 43</p>
<p>Piscataway Tech 66, Dunellen 47</p>
<p>Pleasantville 93, Cape May Tech 51</p>
<p>Spotswood 71, South River 65</p>
<p>Timothy Christian 64, Perth Amboy 58</p>
<p>Wallington 90, Central Jersey College Charter 29</p>
<p>Wildwood Catholic 73, Buena Regional 32</p> | Wednesday's Scores | false | https://apnews.com/amp/cc168c1615a84ef79a508541e37455cb | 2018-01-18 | 2 |
<p>Ever since his failed bid for the presidency, Marco Rubio has been been a thorn in the side of the Republican party, offering his limp support for the Republican nominee while also jabbing the candidate with charges that he is unfit for the office.</p>
<p>This week, Rubio re-upped his confusing stance on Trump by calling the man a “con man” in the same breath that he said he still supported the Republican nominee. Rubio suggested that Republicans should and could vote for Trump for one key reason: whoever is president in 2017 will have the honor and responsibility of choosing Supreme Court judges, maybe as many as 3, which would shift the branch’s political leanings for the next several decades. It’s a massive issue to consider, and one which no one should take lightly.</p>
<p>Of course, for the progressives of the nation, nothing sounds more horrific than a bench full of Scalia clones, but that’s exactly what Rubio and other Republicans are begging for.</p>
<p>Said Rubio:</p>
<p>“I just don’t believe there’s any chance at all that Hillary Clinton will ever appoint someone to the Supreme Court with the views that Scalia had.”</p>
<p>I think you’re right on that one, buddy, which is exactly why she, not Trump, has to become POTUS despite our misgivings and her shortcomings.</p>
<p>Watch. &#160;</p> | Irrelevant Marco Says Repugs Have to Do What’s Necessary to Put Scalia Clones in SCOTUS | true | http://trofire.com/2016/08/17/irrelevant-marco-says-repugs-whats-necessary-put-scalia-clones-scotus/ | 2016-08-17 | 4 |
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. My father left for the United States when I was 7 years old. From the time I was 6 years old (that I can remember), I was subjected to sexual abuse by my uncle and other people who were close to my family. The physical part of the sexual abuse continued until I was 15. At 21, I immigrated to New York City to join my father, brothers and sisters.</p>
<p>Up to that point, my main focus in life was to survive. I did not know myself. I only knew of my troubles. The greatest expectation I had for myself was to get through another day without being sexually assaulted by my uncle.</p>
<p>Before I got to New York, all I knew was that my name was Marcia Olivo and that I was Dominican. My entire life experience was shaped by the Dominican Republic. I had little sense of American culture, politics or the reality of race in America. I remember arriving at Kennedy Airport and as part of the immigration process, I was asked to fill out a lengthy document. On this document, I was asked to state my nationality and ethnicity.</p>
<p>I did not know the meaning of the words “ethnic group.” After all, how I defined myself was by my name and nationality: “Marcia Olivo, born and raised in the Dominican Republic.” As a new immigrant, I faced a long bureaucratic process which included adaptation and acculturation, filing for Social Security, learning English and job searching.</p>
<p>I lived with my family in small apartments in the Bronx and Washington Heights. I went back to school, and I made friends. When I was 21, I joined a group of poets in the Bronx. One day, while in a meeting, a colleague was making a presentation on the Latin American diaspora in New York City. In her presentation, she referred to all the women as “women of color.” This caused a lot of confusion for me, as it was the first time I heard that term “of color.” Living in the Dominican Republic, I never had any thoughts on the color of my skin as something that defined me.</p>
<p>In the Republic, I was neither white nor Black. The term used to describe me was “India Clara,” a light skinned Indian. This classification was almost white among others. In the Dominican Republic, the worst thing you could be was Black, which even if you were of long Dominican descent, was designated for Haitians only.</p>
<p>There is a long history between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Although the two nations, share the same island and much of the same history, the consciousness that exists is that of two different worlds. Haitians are mostly Black, are largely immigrant farmworkers and in the Dominican Republic, are considered by many the lowest of the Dominican social order.</p>
<p>My arrival in New York made me confront the reality of my own racial history. Here I learned about my African descent. I never thought of myself as Black before. I learned what it meant to be an immigrant. And as a survivor of sexual and physical violence that did not speak English fluently, I had to learn to overcome my barriers to fully being a part of the new society of which I now belonged.</p>
<p>The most important thing I learned in this process was understanding that this new reality offered me two options: Either succumb to oppression involving the above identities or take them on with pride and courage. I chose the latter. By embracing these multiple identities, I developed the clarity and understanding to fight against the multiple systems of racism/white supremacy, patriarchy and gender violence and the structural oppression against immigrant workers. I learned to both institutionally and individually take on the roots of what had impacted me, tackle roadblocks and live to my full potential.</p>
<p>In my early days in New York, I worked on several general issues such as labor exploitation, low wages and the constant attacks against the rights and dignity of workers for example. What I found interesting was that in relation to the general employees, there were always groups that also suffered sexual harassment, verbal abuse and teased because of their gender, race and immigration status.</p>
<p>Within two years of arriving in the United States, I began to work as a community organizer. The organization with which I worked only focused on public education and it constantly had internal problems among the membership of the organization. Although very few men were active within the membership, several of the active women usually succumbed to the male power within the organization.</p>
<p>Constantly, as a female member once said: “We do all the work for them to look good.” Over time, I realized this was not the fault of the members directly but that the organization itself did not have an operating system to address gender differences internally or in the community at large.</p>
<p>I experienced the lack of systemic gender analysis and action directly. In my second job as a community organizer in New York, I was a victim of sexual harassment at the organization. When I complained to the head of the organization, I was told that the people involved are “important” to the organization. The head of the organization suggested that I get use to the behavior because “you are a very beautiful woman and that’s going to happen all the time.”</p>
<p>Years later, I moved to Florida to be with my life partner where I continued to work as a community organizer. There was very little happening in terms of social justice movements when I first moved here. There were only the unions and some social service organizations but very few organizations with a progressive vision of doing socially-centered work. In recent years, the movement for social, economic and racial justice has grown.</p>
<p>However, there is still a lack of gender focus in the development goals and victories of these movements. There is still a lacking gender analysis that recognizes the differences in roles among women, men and transgender people in society, the differences between the positions of power and opportunities assigned by society to each one of those groups and the needs of each group and how their differences impact the lives of everyone.</p>
<p>Four years ago, along with a co-worker, I founded Sisterhood of Survivors (SOS), an organization run by survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The mission of SOS is to empower survivors to organize and raise consciousness for systemic and social change to end violence against women.</p>
<p>The organization has focused its work on the need for people directly affected to be part of the decision-making process and to be clear on how gender, class and race differences impact the decisions made. Despite the lack of financial support, our greatest achievements with SOS is reflected in the leadership development of our members who are focused on a campaign to ensure that Florida recognizes domestic violence as a just cause to qualify for unemployment insurance when the victim has to leave her job to protect her life.</p>
<p>However, beyond just the issues facing survivors of domestic violence, SOS and my work has started to become more broadly involved with the social justice movement in Florida. With the rising incidents of sexual assault and gender discrimination in South Florida, I have been called to help facilitate and establish processes and protocols within movement organizations and leaders. Hopefully, this process leads toward a transformation in the way that social justice organizations deal with gender issues within their organizations, staff and membership.</p>
<p>My hard work and many accomplishments with SOS has helped me to be chosen to be a participant in the second cohort of the Move to End Violence, a program of the NoVo Foundation.</p>
<p>In the first meeting of Cohort 2, I was asked what is my inspiration or reason for doing the work I do, I answered: “I am inspired by the Members of Sisterhood of Survivors.”</p>
<p>One of the major impacts so far this experience has had on my participation in the second cohort is that it has made me think more about my work, including my motives, learning, experiences, expectations and vision. After the first meeting with my group, I kept thinking more about what inspires and motivates me and the reasons I am a part of the movement to end violence against women and girls.</p>
<p>I’ve realized that my motives were born with me as a result of me being born a woman. The development of my motives has been determined and impacted by social behavior, individual and institutional.</p>
<p>As a woman, I’ve been given roles and have had expectations set for me that have created unequal conditions in the social structure of our society. In addition, my being an immigrant Latina meant that my path was anchored in multiple realities.</p>
<p>But at the center of it all is my being a woman, and it is from that centrality that I do my work, understand my world and do my part to transform it.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.miamiworkerscenter.org/index.php/en/about/leadership/staff?view=employee&amp;id=7" type="external">Marcia Olivo</a>, a community organizer and advocate for domestic violence survivors, is the gender justice coordinator for the <a href="http://www.miamiworkerscenter.org/index.php" type="external">Miami Workers Center</a>. The South Florida organization supports low-income communities of color. This blog post first appeared on the Miami Workers Center website.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Contact author</a></p>
<p>&#160;&#160; <a href="" type="internal">domestic violence</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Florida</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Marcia Olivo</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Miami Workers Center</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Sisterhood of Survivors</a></p> | Why I am Moved to End Domestic and All Types of Violence | true | http://equalvoiceforfamilies.org/why-i-am-moved-to-end-domestic-and-all-types-of-violence/ | 4 |
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<p>It was the first time testimony about the actual damage the leaks may have caused has been allowed at trial.</p>
<p>Retired Army Brig. Gen. Robert Carr said the material Manning leaked identified hundreds of friendly Afghan villagers by name, causing some of them to stop helping U.S. forces.</p>
<p>“One of our primary missions is to protect the population over there,” said Carr, who led a Defense Department task force that looked at the risks of the leaks. “We had to get close to the population, had to understand that population and we had to protect them. If the adversary had more clarity, as to which people in the village were collaborating with the U.S. forces, then there is a chance that those folks could be at greater risk.”</p>
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<p>The former intelligence analyst was convicted of 20 of 22 charges for sending hundreds of thousands of government and diplomatic secrets to WikiLeaks and faces up to 136 years in prison. He was found not guilty of aiding the enemy, which alone could have meant life in prison without parole.</p>
<p>Manning’s defense is hoping for a much shorter prison sentence and asked the military judge hearing the case to merge two of his espionage convictions and two of his theft convictions. If Army Col. Denise Lind agrees to do so, he would face up to 116 years in prison.</p>
<p>Carr said the Taliban killed an Afghan man who had a relationship with the U.S., and later the Taliban said publicly the man was associated with the Manning leaks. The general, however, couldn’t find the Afghan’s name in the material Manning revealed.</p>
<p>“We went back and searched for his name in the disclosures. The name was not there,” Carr said.</p>
<p>The defense objected and the judge said she would disregard that part of his testimony.</p>
<p>Carr also said the leak of cables hurt relationships with other countries because the U.S. had to negotiate with them in order to bring supplies into war zones.</p>
<p>Some of the cables “were very blunt and sometimes critical of how that particular host nation responded, so that created some fractures between our ability to get in there and communicate.”</p>
<p>Military prosecutors said they would call as many as 20 witnesses for the sentencing phase. The government said as many as half of the prosecution witnesses would testify about classified matters in closed court. They include experts on counterintelligence, strategic planning and terrorism.</p>
<p>The release of diplomatic cables, warzone logs and videos embarrassed the U.S. and its allies. U.S. officials warned of dire consequences in the days immediately after the first disclosures in July 2010, but a Pentagon review later suggested those fears might have been overblown.</p>
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<p /> | General says Manning’s leaks fractured relationships | false | https://abqjournal.com/240206/general-says-mannings-leaks-fractured-relationships.html | 2013-08-01 | 2 |
<p>GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Police say a 19-year-old man has been shot to death in Grand Island.</p>
<p>Officers and medics sent to a home around 3:45 a.m. Monday found the wounded man. Police say he was taken to a Grand Island hospital, where he died. Police identified him as Trevor Sok.</p>
<p>No arrests have been reported.</p>
<p>GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Police say a 19-year-old man has been shot to death in Grand Island.</p>
<p>Officers and medics sent to a home around 3:45 a.m. Monday found the wounded man. Police say he was taken to a Grand Island hospital, where he died. Police identified him as Trevor Sok.</p>
<p>No arrests have been reported.</p> | Police say 19-year-old shot to death in Grand Island | false | https://apnews.com/da8f2b74d336430187d3f3c9858a50cc | 2018-01-01 | 2 |
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<p>It's been a hundred years since the "discovery" of Machu Picchu.</p>
<p>Of course the city high in the Andes Mountrains was actually built centuries earlier by the Incans.</p>
<p>And local farmers had known about its existence for years before American historian Hiram Bingham showed up in 1911.</p>
<p>body.page-dispatches-globalpost-blogs-que-pasa-photos-peru-machu-picchu-discovery-100-years div.lead-media-photo, body.page-globalpost-blogs-que-pasa #node-5669725 div.lead-media-photo {</p>
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<p>Bingham had even been <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-14060341" type="external">beaten to the site</a> by Peruvian Agustin Lizarraga and German Augusto Berns, who bought land there in the 1860s.</p>
<p>But&#160;Bingham - the inspiration for Hollywood's "Indiana Jones" character - is credited with introducing Machu Picchu to the modern world after he shared his findings about the "lost city of the Incas" in National Geographic.</p>
<p>And so celebrations of&#160;"100 years of Machu Picchu in the world"&#160; <a href="http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/Noticia.aspx?id=idB2pbGwtjs=" type="external">began this morning</a> with a 21-gun salute in the Imperial City. Art and cultural festivals are scheduled, as is a staging&#160;of the traditional Tinkay ceremony and a concert titled "Heights of Machu Picchu."</p>
<p>Historians and archeologists have yet to <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hkPhw5D-hrQoOsOGtA2JPG1OQt_Q?docId=CNG.f4f2fcf3ab8866b8b4dad98bcec9dead.4b1" type="external">agree on the function</a> of Machu Picchu, which is located&#160;7,900 feet above sea level. Some believe it was a sacred site, while other believe it was a resort for an Inca emperor.</p>
<p><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/stephaniegarlow" type="external">Follow Stephanie on Twitter: @stephaniegarlow</a></p>
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<p>Chilean musician Mario Mutis, member of the legendary Chilean band Los Jaibas, rehearses in the ruins of Machu Picchu citadel, on July 6, 2011. (Cris Bouroncle/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>A girl wearing a traditional regional Andean attire participates in a civic parade in the town of Machu Picchu, on July 6, 2011. (Cris Bouroncle/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>(Brent Stirton/Getty Images)</p>
<p>(Brent Stirton/Getty Images)</p>
<p>The Coricancha Inca temple on April 1 2010. (Ernesto Benavides/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>An&#160;archaelogical piece from Machu Picchu on April 4, 2011.&#160;(Ernesto Benavides/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Foreign tourists at Machu Picchu on April 1, 2010. (Ernesto Benavides/AFP/Getty Images)</p>
<p>Top photo by Ernesto Benavides/AFP/Getty Images</p> | Photos: 100 years of Machu Picchu | false | https://pri.org/stories/2011-07-07/photos-100-years-machu-picchu | 2011-07-07 | 3 |
<p>A fake news story shared on social media claims that Ted Cruz wants veterans to sell cookies to fund their government programs.</p>
<p>There’s not a lot that Ted Cruz would say that would honestly surprise me. It wouldn’t be that much of a shock for him to say that the world is only 6,000 years old because his father, a former Castro supporter and evangelical preacher, said so. Or perhaps that Jesus Christ himself penned the Constitution, or that liberals secretly worship Adolf Hitler – because nothing beats invoking Godwin’s Law in a political argument.</p>
<p>Needless to say, there is a lot of campaign rhetoric going on within the rapidly-expanding Republican field ahead of the 2016 primaries, and Ted Cruz has been making his fair share of <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/cruz-sympathizes-jade-helm-15-conspiracy-theorists" type="external">inflammatory statements</a>.</p>
<p>Ted Cruz is currently running for president as the most viable candidate the right-wing fringe has to offer as an alternative to the inevitable coronation of Jeb Bush in 2016 as the GOP’s contender. Part of his campaign involves throwing political red meat and conspiracy stories like <a href="http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/05/cruz-roundup-little-love-from-glenn-beck-straw-poll-sweep-few-answers-on-jade-helm-15.html/" type="external">Jade Helm</a> to the base and constantly criticizing President Obama in order to keep candidates like Mike Huckabee from cutting into his field of supporters.</p>
<p>The latest story circulated by the liberal website Occupy Democrats (which is owned by Omar Rivero, a one-time candidate for Florida’s House of Representatives) allegedly comes from Iowa. The story claims that Senator Ted Cruz wants to slash benefits for veterans and have them fund the remaining spending by selling cookies like Girl Scouts do.</p>
<p>Ted Cruz’s longshot&#160;campaign for the presidency continues to drive itself further off the rails in a desperate pursuit of relevancy. His latest attention grab came at a Des Moines, Iowa, town hall meeting, where he has some special words for veterans in need- that he plans to slash veteran benefits and that our brave vets should make up the difference&#160;selling cookies like Girl Scouts.</p>
<p>Somehow Cruz had the gall to say this to the face of a man who lost his leg fighting for his country. For all the tearful &#160;celebrations of our veterans in his speeches and talking points, Cruz is quick to take an axe to their benefits and healthcare. He told the wounded man that&#160;“we need to be innovative if we want to help veterans. We need to be practical and pragmatic. But we also need to remain vigilant with our government’s out-of-control spending, and find ways of mitigating expenses wherever possible…So we need a president whose willing to tackle the hard issues, and come up with innovative solutions to these problems, head-on.” ( <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150511144841/http://www.occupydemocrats.com/ted-cruz-wants-our-veterans-to-sell-cookies-for-their-own-funding-like-girl-scouts/" type="external">Source</a>)</p>
<p>That sounds absolutely OUTRAGEOUS, right? There’s no way that he could be this stupid and say something so heartless to someone who lost a limb fighting for his country – even Ted Cruz can’t be that insane. Well, it turns out that the author of this story, Colin Taylor (who is also listed as a managing editor for Occupy Democrats), failed to do some basic fact checking before hitting the “publish” button. The entire story is based on this article at USAToday.com.co, which is all <a href="http://usatoday.com.co/nevada-man-arrested-after-successful-test-of-3d-printed-thermonuclear-bomb/" type="external">fake news</a> posing as the real USA Today, and it is also rehosted from NationalReport.net, which is a website that has this disclaimer at the bottom.</p>
<p>National Report is a news and political satire web publication, which may or may not use real names, often in semi-real or mostly fictitious ways. All news articles contained within National Report are fiction, and presumably fake news. Any resemblance to the truth is purely coincidental. Advice given is NOT to be construed as professional. If you are in need of professional help, please consult a professional. National Report is not intended for children under the age of 18. ( <a href="http://nationalreport.net/disclaimer/" type="external">Source</a>)</p>
<p>If something sounds too outrageous to be true, it doesn’t hurt to stop and take some time to research a story before passing it along as legitimate – especially if you’re someone who is a managing editor for a political website owned by <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Omar_Rivero" type="external">a politician</a>,&#160;and you have a degree in political science.</p>
<p>Think about it for a minute. Ted Cruz is a politician and he’s made his career so far by catering to the radical right which claims to love&#160;the military and jumps at a chance for war whenever possible. He also represents Texas, which has a ton of military bases – including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hood" type="external">Fort Hood</a>which is the largest military base in the country in terms of population. Making a statement like this wouldn’t go over with his base of support, and in fact, it would be career suicide. These are all factors that anyone with a little political knowledge and critical thinking skills would take into consideration instead of blindly passing on stories like this as proof that Republicans are insane or hateful hypocrites.</p>
<p>Ahead of a crucial presidential election, we here at Forward Progressives still subscribe to the belief that the truth matters. If we can’t expect “our side” to tell the truth and get the facts right – and call them out on it when they don’t – then we’re nothing more than hypocrites for complaining about lies coming from the “other side.”</p>
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<p><a href="" type="internal">Senator Ted Cruz Should Slither Back Into The Nefarious Cave He Escaped From</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Ted Cruz Voted Against Sandy Relief, But Now Demands Federal Aid After Texas Floods (VIDEO)</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Here are the 5 Main Types of Ted Cruz Supporters</a></p>
<p>0 Facebook comments</p> | Fact Check: Did Ted Cruz Ask Veterans To Sell Cookies For Funding? | true | http://forwardprogressives.com/fact-check-did-ted-cruz-ask-veterans-to-sell-cookies-for-funding/ | 2015-05-11 | 4 |
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<p>Growing up is tough enough without the worries of your financial future, so <a href="" type="internal">Money101 Opens a New Window.</a> &#160;is here for you. <a href="http://mailto:[email protected]" type="external">E-mail us Opens a New Window.</a> your questions and let us take off some of the pressure.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>As freshmen gear up to head off to school in the fall, they are realizing that not only are they saying goodbye to their parents, they are also leaving behind home-cooked meals and the comfort of a fully-stocked fridge and pantry.</p>
<p>Choosing a meal plan for college can be difficult with most schools offering different plans to suit a wide range of eating habits. College life can be hectic and its important students provide their body with enough good fuel to give them the energy to hop from a lecture, to an intramural soccer game and then a study group.</p>
<p>You want to be at your best studying so you can remember and have the energy to make it through your day, says registered dietician <a href="http://www.nutritionexpert.com/" type="external">Mitzi Dulan Opens a New Window.</a>. The food that you eat really can make a difference in how you can really optimize the energy for your day.</p>
<p>Meal plans are a convenient and cost-effective way for college students to eat, but because dining halls tend not be open around the clock, its important students choose the right plan.</p>
<p>Choosing a meal plan</p>
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<p>Meal plans take the stress out of planning meals, shopping for food and dining out for college students already facing back-to-back classes and work schedules.</p>
<p>Fitness expert <a href="http://www.slimandfit.com/" type="external">Jaime Brenkus Opens a New Window.</a>explains that not getting enough food makes it more difficult for students to study and retain information.</p>
<p>Your brain needs glucose to survive and if your blood sugar level is low, you really cant function that well, he says. You really cant be 100% on your game at that point.</p>
<p>For most schools, meal plans are built into tuition costs, something students and their families have already planned for. Tight budgets can often lead to students choosing inexpensive fast food options, which can result in unhealthy habits and weight gain, says Dulan.</p>
<p>Many universities offer different levels of meal plans; some include all meals plus extra money for snacks, while others are more limited. Students should choose a plan that corresponds with how much time theyll be on or off campus.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.lisahark.com/" type="external">&#160;Lisa Hark, Opens a New Window.</a> family nutrition expert, recommends students eat at least two meals a day on their plan, and to try and eat with friends because it forces them to slow down.</p>
<p>Brenkus suggests making a balanced plate for each meal: half for fruit and vegetables, a quarter for protein, and a quarter for carbohydrates (each one no bigger than your fist). He also stressed the importance of protein for students energy and endurance.</p>
<p>Protein makes you feel fuller, longer, says Brenkus. For college kids, thats a plus.</p>
<p>But having a meal plan doesnt necessarily mean healthy eating, the experts warn. To avoid the dreaded freshman 15, students should be aware of portion control, which can be especially difficult with the gigantic-sized helpings or buffet-style spreads dining halls usually offer.</p>
<p>That creates an excess in portion sizes and if youre going to do it every day and every meal, youre eating much more than you normally would eat, so its very easy to add calories, says Hark. Pace yourself, have some balance [on your plate], and listen to your body, because when you start to feel full, thats when you want to stop.</p>
<p>Another downside to meal plans is the extensive (not to mention tempting) dessert selection. Hark says that just because its free, doesnt make it OK.</p>
<p>One or two times a week have the desserts, says Hark. Not every day and not every meal.</p>
<p>When youre not on campus</p>
<p>Student should keep healthy snacks in their dorms to bring along on a particularly busy day when they can't fit in a dining hall stop or just for grazing on during study sessions.</p>
<p>Hark suggests students keep a supply of unsalted nuts, dried fruit, peanut butter, crackers and rice cakes in their dorm room, saying they will feel much better eating foods rich in vitamins and protein rather than fulfilling cravings for sugar and caffeine, which only provide a temporary boost before a crash.</p> | Avoid the Freshman 15: Pick the Right Meal Plan | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2011/07/08/avoid-freshman-15-pick-right-meal-plan.html | 2016-03-04 | 0 |
<p>The Queen will watch her £3.1 billion ($4.1 billion) namesake ship be unveiled today as the Royal Navy raises the White Ensign over its biggest and most expensive vessel. The British monarch is attending the commissioning of a new aircraft carrier, HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth,’ sister ship of the HMS ‘Prince of Wales.’</p>
<p>The pair of ships were originally estimated to cost the navy £3.5 billion ($4.7 billion) but the price tag has since escalated to £6.2 billion ($8.25 billion). Though the ceremony on Thursday will be full of symbolic pomp and glory, there is a growing problem looming on the horizon.&#160;</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/uk/409973-isis-weapon-security-military/" type="external" /></p>
<p>While Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne, Prime Minister Theresa May and First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Philip Jones will attend the ceremony, officials in the Department of Defense are attempting to plug a £30 billion ($40 billion) black hole in its finances.</p>
<p>Cuts are planned for the UK’s three pillars of defense: the army, navy and Royal Air Force. Experts are warning the government that the UK will not be able to defend itself with the 50,000 troops proposed – well below the 82,000 target once set by former defense minister Michael Fallon.</p>
<p>Amphibious ships HMS ‘Bulwark’ and ‘Albion’ are rumored to be for the chop, meaning the UK will lose its ability to carry heavy artillery easily from sea to land, potentially risking soldiers on foreign deployment.</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/uk/397432-trident-war-plans-unachievable/" type="external" /></p>
<p>HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’ successfully completed her sea trials but is not expected to deploy until 2021, after trials have been completed with F-35 fighter jets, though it is currently unknown how many of the problematic £100-million ($133.3-million) jets the vessel will carry.</p>
<p>The vessel has been beset with problems including major security concerns.It was reportedly using outdated Windows XP software, which has not been reviewed by Microsoft since 2014, and could therefore be an easy target for hackers.</p>
<p>The new generation F-35 jets will be carried on the ship, but they are yet to arrive meaning it cannot defend itself. The warplanes have been beset by issues for years, including major problems during flight trials in the US.</p>
<p>Aviation expert Pierre Sprey, says the aircraft have an “unbelievably abnormal” amount of issues, including computing systems that are vulnerable to cyberattack and communication issues between the planes and ships.</p>
<p>The British Queen will board the ship for the second time in Portsmouth on Thursday, three years after she first broke a bottle of whiskey on its hull. The vessel has a 280-meter flight deck and boasts a crew of around 700.</p>
<p>“The first sailing from Rosyth was only nine months ago, we have come a long way,” said Captain Jerry Kyd.</p>
<p>“The first entry into Portsmouth was in the summer and here we are today accepting the ship into Her Majesty’s fleet formally. So, it is right at the top, it is the latest milestone, many more to come, but hugely exciting and a very proud day.”</p>
<p>At the ceremony, the commissioning warrant will be read, and the Blue Ensign will be replaced with the White Ensign to mark the formal handover as the HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’ officially becomes a war ship. The flag will be raised by 20-year-old Able Seaman Ellie Smith from Hull.</p>
<p>[embedded content]</p> | Queen honors British Navy’s new £3bn warship…despite government slashing military funding | false | https://newsline.com/queen-honors-british-navys-new-3bn-warship-despite-government-slashing-military-funding/ | 2017-12-07 | 1 |
<p>A department of peace, 60 more official languages and declaring sugar a toxic substance. All fine Liberal ideas about to get some serious consideration.</p>
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<p>The federal Liberal Party, with their hands on the reigns of power, are going to have a convention later this month at the same time as the <a href="" type="internal">Conservative convention</a>.</p>
<p>The Conservatives will discuss how to take power back from the Liberals, and Liberals will discuss what to do with their new found power, and that’s <a href="" type="internal">worrisome</a>.</p>
<p>Among the ideas? A department of peace! We already have a well-funded global body doing what this Liberal motion is proposing and it <a href="" type="internal">fails miserably</a>. Adding Canadian bureaucrats to the fray won’t help.</p>
<p>A department of peace isn’t the only looney idea the Liberals are considering.</p>
<p>I review some of the worst big-spending proposals including one to eliminate all forms of <a href="" type="internal">Islamophobia</a>, a couple on aboriginal issues with one that CANNOT become government of Canada policy calling for <a href="" type="internal">aboriginal</a> languages to join English and French as official languages. According to Stats Canada there are 60 aboriginal languages spoken in Canada. Ready for 62 official languages?</p>
<p>The answer should be “no”, but that won’t stop them. Remember, they’re already looking to change our <a href="" type="internal">voting system</a> to benefit their own fortunes using a <a href="" type="internal">stacked committee</a>.</p>
<p>Most of these policies are unworkable but they’ll push ahead indifferent to the cost to taxpayers or damage to the national fabric. <a href="" type="internal">All for the cause</a>.</p>
<p>I'd say pity the poor Liberals, but we’re the ones that elected them and may have to live under these policies.</p> | A “Department of Peace”? 62 official languages? Liberals to discuss “loony” policy proposals at convention | true | http://therebel.media/a_department_of_peace_62_official_languages_liberals_set_to_discuss_looney_policy_proposals_at_convention | 2016-05-16 | 0 |
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<p>Mother Jones DC bureau chief <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/DavidCornDC" type="external">David Corn</a> joined host Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC’s <a href="http://thelastword.msnbc.msn.com/" type="external">The Last Word</a> to discuss Mitt Romeny and Bain Capital’s $75 million investment in Stericycle, a company that disposes of medical waste—including aborted fetuses. Read his investigative piece on the subject <a href="" type="internal">here</a>.</p>
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<p>David Corn is Mother Jones’ Washington bureau chief. For more of his stories, <a href="" type="internal">click here</a>. He’s also on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/davidcorndc" type="external">Twitter</a>.</p>
<p /> | Corn on MSNBC: Romney’s Abortion Investment | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2012/07/corn-msnbc-romney-abortion-investment/ | 2012-07-03 | 4 |
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<p>State District Court Judge Michael Vigil on Friday sentenced 34-year-old Gregg Salas to 18 months of probation for a felony charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Vigil declined a request from Salas’ attorney, Damian Horne, to remove the conviction from Salas’ record at the end of his probation.</p>
<p>Santa Fe police said the 13-year-old victim was on a shopping trip at the mall on Dec. 23, 2010. Salas, who worked at the Rue 21 store, allegedly complimented the teen on his looks and clothes as the boy picked out and tried on shirts.</p>
<p>Salas then followed the boy into a dressing room and engaged in a sexual act with him. The boy eventually disclosed the act to his parents, and police arrested Salas in the spring on a charge of second-degree criminal sexual penetration.</p>
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<p>Deputy District Attorney Judith Reed told Vigil the no-contest plea agreement includes the reduced charge, which will not require Salas to register as a sex offender, because the teen in the case did not want to testify. She said the teen wanted to put the case behind him.</p>
<p>The victim’s father addressed the judge, asking that he not grant Salas’ conditional discharge request, while at the same time explaining his son’s decision not to continue. He said his son was embarrassed by the incident and was going through treatment. His father recounted how his son was having problems with school following the encounter.</p>
<p>“It stuck to him, you know,” the boy’s father told Vigil.</p>
<p>Vigil told the father he understood and that he wanted to tell the boy, who is now 15, that he was a “courageous young man.”</p>
<p>Horne, however, painted a different picture of the victim, stating that the teen was of an “alternative lifestyle” and was “on the prowl” for his older client. Horne said Salas chose to take the plea because he wished to remain “aloof,” partially out of concern for the young man.</p>
<p>“If there is a victim here, I’m saying this with absolute conviction, I’m standing next to him,” Horne said, referring to his client.</p>
<p>Horne, without naming anyone directly, said, “We have people who are long on Jesus, but short on Christianity” and commented that people cannot be “cured of alternative lifestyles.” He said his client, by comparison, demonstrated Christian values.</p>
<p>Horne could not be reached following the hearing to elaborate on his comments.</p>
<p>Salas declined to comment prior to sentencing. Vigil said the case was serious, and he denied Horne’s request for a conditional discharge because the charge needed to remain on his record.</p>
<p>Following the hearing, the victim’s parents said their son was not a homosexual and they had made no attempts to “cure” him of that orientation. They responded following the hearing that Salas was old enough to know right from wrong and he was neither the victim in the case or an example of Christian values, as his attorney stated.</p>
<p>The victim’s father said their son was receiving treatment and was recovering from the trauma of the incident with the help of his church and youth group.</p>
<p>“We serve an awesome God,” the victim’s father said. Salas has an open felony embezzlement case in state District Court in Portales, according to an online court records database.</p> | SF Man, 34, Pleads in Sex Case Involving Boy, 13 | false | https://abqjournal.com/129406/sf-man-34-pleads-in-sex-case-involving-boy-13.html | 2012-09-08 | 2 |
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The US Supreme Court has taken up the issue whether the executive branch can detain people indefinitely merely by declaring them to be suspected terrorists or illegal enemy combatants. The case is a habeas corpus issue and, therefore, of the utmost importance. Without the protection of habeas corpus, government can lock away anyone on the basis of unsubstantiated charges as the Guantanamo detainees have been for nearly six years.</p>
<p>Reporting on the Court’s deliberations about Odah v. US and Boumediene v. Bush, Tom Curry, a national affairs writer for MSNBC, reports that Justice Stephen Breyer suggested to US Solicitor General Paul Clement that the executive branch could indefinitely hold people such as those in Guantanamo prison if Congress were to pass “some special statute involving preventive detention and danger, which has not yet been enacted.”</p>
<p>According to Curry, senators Dianne Feinstein and Arlen Specter regard a preventive detention statute as a possibility worth considering.</p>
<p>Pray that Curry has misunderstood Breyer. A different interpretation of Breyer’s remarks is that the justice was telling Bush’s solicitor general that in the absence of a preventive detention statute there is no legal basis for holding the detainees.</p>
<p>If there were such a statute, the case before the court would be its constitutionality.</p>
<p>Support for the latter interpretation comes from House Judiciary Committee member Jerrold Nadler (D,NY). Rep. Nadler thinks Breyer was merely “thinking out loud,” not “floating an idea” and inviting Congress to pass an unconstitutional statute. Nadler believes that Breyer was telling Clement that as there is not even a preventive detention statute, the executive branch has no basis for holding the Gitmo detainees.</p>
<p>That Feinstein, Specter, Jon Kyl, and other US senators think it is “worth considering” for Congress to overturn habeas corpus, the greatest bulwark against tyranny, indicates how much the US constitutional tradition has been lost. The importance of the case seems to be completely over the heads of the media, who appear to be looking for a technical solution that permits people accused without evidence to be held forever. The American press apparently believes that the US government can make no mistake or behave improperly and that the detainees, actually comprise, in Senator Kyl’s words, “a danger to our troops.”</p>
<p>It is a “danger” that the Bush regime has been unable to prove even with torture and secret evidence. Half of the detainees have had to be released. According to news reports, the regime has been able to create cases against only 14 of those remaining. After all the years of illegal detention, harsh treatment, and denial of access to attorneys, the Bush regime has come up with 14 cases, and they are probably fabricated.</p>
<p>Where is the rule of law when hundreds of people can have years stolen from their lives?</p>
<p>It is uncertain how the court will decide the case. Bush’s solicitor general has told the justices that they should trust the executive branch to correctly balance “the interests of the prisoners” with the administration’s ability to “prosecute the global war on terror.”</p>
<p>In other words, it is Waco all over again. The executive branch runs roughshod over the US Constitution and then demands, “trust us,” which means don’t take away any of the illegitimate power that the executive branch has claimed and exercised or hold anyone accountable for abusing executive power. Unfortunately for the future of liberty in America, a number of the Republican justices see the issue as one of the separation of powers. The Republican justices or most of them are, or were, members of the Federalist Society, an organization of Republican lawyers committed to increased power for the executive. These Republican justices will be inclined to decide the case in the interest of executive power.</p>
<p>The Federalist Society is a product of a past time when Republicans were said to have “a lock on the presidency” but could not get their agenda into law because the Democrats had a lock on Congress. Republican frustrations manifested themselves in attempts to heighten the president’s powers so that a Republican agenda could prevail over a Democratic Congress. Like generals who fight the last war, the Federalist Society is stuck in its assault on the separation of powers in the interest of “energy in the executive.”</p>
<p>Many Federalist Society members join for social reasons and for net-working, as the society provides the pool of attorneys for Republican appointments to the federal bench and for Department of Justice appointees. Many members mistakenly think that the society stands for “original intent,” but as their real interest is career-driven, they don’t pay much attention to the society’s assault on the US Constitution.</p>
<p>Kings exercised the power to throw into dungeons people who offended them or whom they regarded as a threat. Once arrested, a person could be locked up forever without charges or evidence brought before a court. Habeas corpus was an English invention that provides quick release of a person unlawfully held by orders of the executive.</p>
<p>The Bush Regime has made the most determined assault the Anglo-American world has seen on the principle of habeas corpus. The previous assault was by Stuart kings who destroyed their rule by proclaiming the “divine right of kings.” Now Americans are faced with Bush/Cheney and the solicitor general of the US Department of Justice (sic), Paul Clement, proclaiming the divine right of President Bush and his Justice (sic) Department.</p>
<p>We must all pray that there are not enough Federalist Society members on the Supreme Court to uphold a Benthamite ruling of preventive detention.</p>
<p>Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was the Englishman who renewed the assault on liberty, which centuries of English reforms had created. Bentham believed that tyranny was no longer a problem, because people were empowered by democracy to control the government. He argued that any restraint placed on government’s powers would limit the ability of government to do good. To protect citizens from crime, Bentham favored preventive arrest of everyone whose social class, bone structure or other chosen indicator suggested a proclivity toward crime. “The greatest good for the greatest number.”</p>
<p>The Bush regime is comprised of modern day Benthamites. Their agenda is to overthrow the civil liberties that make law a shield of the people instead of a weapon in the hands of the state. As anyone can be declared a suspect, the weapons that Bush would use to fight “the global war on terror” would soon be turned on the American people. Without habeas corpus, there is no liberty.</p>
<p>PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He was Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page and Contributing Editor of National Review. He is coauthor of <a href="" type="internal">The Tyranny of Good Intentions.</a>He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | It’s Waco All Over Again | true | https://counterpunch.org/2007/12/12/it-s-waco-all-over-again/ | 2007-12-12 | 4 |
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<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary abruptly withdrew his nomination Wednesday after Senate Republicans balked at supporting him, in part over taxes he belatedly paid on a former housekeeper not authorized to work in the United States.</p>
<p>Fast-food executive Andrew Puzder issued a short statement abandoning the effort, saying he was “honored to have been considered by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Labor.”</p>
<p>White House spokesman Sean Spicer declined to comment on possible replacements, but said late Wednesday that the White House had seen the writing on the wall.</p>
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<p>“We know how to count,” he said.</p>
<p>Puzder’s nomination became part of a streak of contentious confirmation battles and haphazard White House actions, including a botched rollout of Trump’s executive order on refugees and the ouster of national security adviser Michael Flynn.</p>
<p>Sen. Lamar Alexander, who would have chaired Puzder’s confirmation hearing Thursday, issued a terse statement saying the nominee would have made an “excellent” labor secretary, but “I respect his decision” to quit pursuing the post. Puzder spokesman George Thompson said his boss was a victim of “an unprecedented smear campaign.”</p>
<p>What troubled majority Republicans most of all was Puzder’s acknowledgement that he had not paid taxes on the housekeeper until after Trump nominated him to the Cabinet post Dec. 9 — five years after he had fired the worker.</p>
<p>Thompson said in an e-mail that Puzder informed the White House of the housekeeper matter “after the nomination.” People interviewed during the transition period said they were not asked by Trump’s team to provide vetting information, raising questions about the level of scrutiny.</p>
<p>Ultimately, Republicans made it clear that Puzder did not have the votes for confirmation.</p>
<p>Democrats and their allies welcomed Puzder’s withdrawal, saying his corporate background and opposition to such proposals as a big hike in the minimum wage made him an unfit advocate for American workers at the top of an agency charged with enforcing protections.</p>
<p>They had already made it clear that Puzder’s statements about women and his own workers would be major issues at his confirmation hearing.</p>
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<p>Puzder was quoted in Entrepreneur magazine in 2015 as saying, “I like beautiful women eating burgers in bikinis.” He said the racy commercials for Carl’s Jr., one of his companies, were “very American.”</p>
<p>Democrats also said Puzder had disparaged workers at his restaurants by calling them “the best of the worst.” He was quoted by Business Insider as saying he wanted to try robots at his restaurants, because “They’re always polite, they always upsell, they never take a vacation, they never show up late, there’s never a slip-and-fall, or an age, sex or race discrimination case.”</p>
<p>A coalition led by the pro-labor National Employment Law Project and Jobs With Justice groups said Puzder’s withdrawal represents the “first victory of the resistance against President Trump.”</p>
<p>“Workers and families across the country spoke up loud and clear that they want a true champion for all workers in the Labor Department,” said Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the panel that was to handle the hearing.</p>
<p>One GOP senator, speaking on condition of anonymity because the conversations were private, said six senators had asked the White House to call off Puzder’s Thursday hearing because they couldn’t see themselves voting for him. That would have put the nomination in jeopardy, since Senate Republicans have only a 52-48 majority and Democrats are solidly opposed.</p>
<p>Puzder’s spokesman said the nominee had paid the taxes as soon as he found out he owed them. But the discrepancy remained a growing political problem for Republicans and the Trump White House, which has taken a hard line on immigration and taxes.</p>
<p>“I want to hear what he has to say about that,” Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said before Puzder withdrew.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press Writers Alan Fram, Erica Werner and Jill Colvin contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Kellman and Lucey at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman" type="external">http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman</a> and @Catherine_Lucey.</p> | Puzder withdraws nomination to be Trump’s labor secretary | false | https://abqjournal.com/950655/puzders-nomination-as-labor-secretary-in-serious-trouble.html | 2017-02-15 | 2 |
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<p>BARCELONA, Spain — For teacher Elisa Aroca, Sunday was the moment Spain lost the battle for the hearts and minds of 7.5 million people living in the Catalonia region.</p>
<p>Aroca intended to defend her Spanish roots and cast a ballot against Catalonia breaking away from the rest of the country. But when a squad of police in riot gear marched up, roughly tossed her and other voters aside and shattered the glass entrance of the Estel School in central Barcelona to confiscate ballot boxes, she felt something break inside her.</p>
<p>“I felt so angry and hurt inside that I thought, ‘A country that hits me wants me to stay? You don’t listen to me and on top of it you hit me?’ For me that is abuse,” she said a day later.</p>
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<p>Similar indignation swept across the wealthy northeastern region, one of 17 in Spain, as police stormed through packs of voters and peaceful protesters at polling stations.</p>
<p>The outrage was compounded as mobile phone footage made the rounds on social media, showing officers in body armor pushing people, dragging them by the hair and hitting them with batons. Hundreds of civilians and police officers were injured. The Spanish government, acting on a judge’s order to shut down the referendum, defended the response as professional and proportionate.</p>
<p>The ugly scenes run the risk of confirming a long-held belief among many Catalans that the region is chronically mistreated by Spain’s central government despite serving as an economic driver for southern Europe — it generates a fifth of Spain’s 1.1 trillion-euro economy — and having a high degree of self-governance.</p>
<p>Catalan officials said that 90 percent of the 2.3 million people who voted Sunday were in favor of independence. But fewer than half of those eligible to vote turned out. The vote was boycotted by most of Spain’s national parties on grounds it was illegal and lacked basic guarantees, such as a census.</p>
<p>Polls and the most recent regional elections showed residents of Catalonia roughly split on the divisive issue of independence, but it remains to be seen how many people like Aroca are changing their minds after the events of recent weeks.</p>
<p>“I was crying from rage,” she recalled. “Now, I was going to vote no matter what. My husband and I didn’t even have to talk about it, we just looked each other in the eyes and we knew that we had to vote. And that we had to vote ‘yes’ (for independence).”</p>
<p>Born of parents from other parts of Spain, Aroca, a 40-year-old mother of two, still wants to embrace a dual identity of both Spanish and Catalan. But she says the political crisis caused by a lack of dialogue between Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Catalan regional chief Carles Puigdemont has forced her to choose.</p>
<p>“All bonds have been broken. Not by the referendum, but by the police,” Aroca said. “I feel rage and pain. I think that is how most people feel, seeing what people are chatting about, talks I have had at work. (Sunday) night I was very sad, truly sad that it has reached this point of me wondering what kind of country my daughters will inherit.”</p>
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<p>Aroca also believes that Puigdemont and other leaders of the separatist movement are partly to blame for provoking the crackdown when they flouted court orders to stop the vote on grounds that it could violate Spain’s constitution.</p>
<p>Puigdemont has vowed to act on the results regardless of the legality of the referendum. He is expected to present them this week to Catalonia’s regional parliament, which could trigger the process of starting to break away from Spain. Such a move that would inevitably be met by a robust response from Madrid, and Spain’s interior minister has said the 5,000 extra officers deployed to Catalonia will stay as long as necessary.</p>
<p>Ruben Satinya is afraid more clashes are coming. The 40-year-old father of one felt compelled to join the separatist camp when Spain first tried to stop the referendum.</p>
<p>When a judge ordered police to seal off polling stations before the vote, Satinya joined a groundswell of parents who occupied their local schools from Friday to Sunday, staying overnight in sleeping bags and organizing activities for children during the day.</p>
<p>The Congres-Indians School, which Satinya helped occupy, was not hit by police even though it is just a 15-minute walk from the Estel School.</p>
<p>But Satinya said voting amid the fear that police could descend at any moment made him feel more Catalan than ever, and convinced him that severing centuries-old ties with Spain was necessary.</p>
<p>The transformative experience reached its climax when the polls closed and the crowd gathered at the school joined in singing the Catalan anthem, “Els Segadors” (“The Reapers” in Catalan).</p>
<p>“There really is a different sentiment that sets us apart from the rest of Spain, and that was reinforced in me,” he said. “Hearing Els Segadors sung by so many people, I got goose bumps. It was spectacular.”</p> | Spain’s crackdown on Catalan voters spawns new separatists | false | https://abqjournal.com/1072494/spains-crackdown-on-catalan-voters-spawns-new-separatists.html | 2017-10-03 | 2 |
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<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
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<p>Shutterstock (NYSE: SSTK) shares fell 20.2% in November 2016, according to data from <a href="https://www.capitaliq.com/CIQDotNet/Login.aspx" type="external">S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence Opens a New Window.</a>. A mixed earnings report with soft guidance goals dragged the stock down, erasing a full quarter's worth of share-price gains.</p>
<p>In the third quarter, Shutterstock beat Wall Street's earnings targets but fell short of analysts' revenue estimates. The provider of digital image services for both consumers and businesses delivered 40% year-over-year earnings growth on a 15% sales boost, but paid download sales increased by just 8%.</p>
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<p>Looking ahead, management expects fourth-quarter sales of roughly $407 million and adjusted operating profit growth in the 15% range. These targets have stayed in place for the last three quarters, which is not encouraging for a company in the high-growth investment category.</p>
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<p>Shutterstock's trailing sales have doubled over the last three years, but the growth rate is slowing down drastically. In the fall of 2014, trailing revenues were growing at a 40% annual clip; today, the pace has slipped all the way down to 15%.</p>
<p>Share prices don't follow the revenue trend with robotic precision, but sales-growth results do tend to set the tone for Shutterstock's stock chart. Setting a low bar for the important holiday quarter will not inspire investors.</p>
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<p>We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/motley.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">considering a diverse range of insights Opens a New Window.</a> makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | Why Shutterstock, Inc. Fell 20% in November | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/12/07/why-shutterstock-inc-fell-20-in-november.html | 2016-12-07 | 0 |
<p>On March 9 at 11 p.m., two gunmen <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2016/03/10/Multiple-people-shot-in-Wilkinsburg/stories/201603100136" type="external">opened fire</a> on dozens of people enjoying an unseasonably warm night at a family cookout in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Armed with a .40-caliber handgun and an AK-47-style rifle, the assailants killed five, including a pregnant woman, and wounded three. Investigators have yet to piece together a motive, leaving area officials little to do except <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2016/03/11/Wilkinsburg-community-leaders-promise-an-end-to-violence/stories/201603100192" type="external">sympathize</a> with the pain of the victims and promise to bring the shooters to justice.</p>
<p>Dramatic incidents of gun violence are often followed by public commitments to try to stop the next shooting. John Thompson, the mayor of Wilkinsburg and a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/local/east/2016/03/10/Reaction-to-the-fatal-shootings-in-Wilkinsburg/stories/201603100151" type="external">said</a> in the aftermath, “I can say for certain there is more we can do to reduce the senseless violence that claims 91 American lives every day.” But just how much Pennsylvania’s local officials can do in pursuit of that goal is sharply constrained: Thanks to a unique, year-and-a-half-old Pennsylvania law, any city or town that attempts to take gun safety into its own hands risks a costly lawsuit from the National Rifle Association.</p>
<p>Subscribe to receive The Trace’s newsletters on important gun news and analysis.</p>
<p>Passed by the State Assembly in November 2014, <a href="http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2014&amp;sessInd=0&amp;act=192" type="external">Act 192</a>&#160;allows any resident of Pennsylvania — or, crucially, any larger organization of which he is a member, such as the NRA — to sue a township or city over its gun restrictions, even if the plaintiff lives outside the township or city’s jurisdiction. Just before the massacre in Wilkinsburg, neighboring Pittsburgh was in the <a href="http://www.witf.org/news/2016/03/pennsylvania-high-court-weighs-challenge-to-local-gun-laws.php" type="external">final stages</a> of its legal battle to take down Act 192, which the city says <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/02/nra_s_new_legal_strategy_for_killing_guns_laws_pennsylvania_s_act_192_is.2.html" type="external">strips local leaders</a> of the ability to deal with gun violence.</p>
<p>Act 192 opened the floodgates to individual gun owners and national gun lobbies who didn’t agree with municipal restrictions on firearms. In effect, the act says that as long as a group like the NRA has members in Pennsylvania, the organization has the green light to dip into its <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nra-lobbying-money-national-rifle-association-washington-2012-12" type="external">litigation war chest</a> to go head-to-head with local governments over their gun ordinances.</p>
<p>That power is something that the NRA had wanted for <a href="https://www.nraila.org/articles/20150114/nra-files-lawsuits-to-protect-2nd-amendment-rights-in-pennsylvania" type="external">decades</a>. Under an older, <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/02/nra_s_new_legal_strategy_for_killing_guns_laws_pennsylvania_s_act_192_is.html" type="external">1974 law</a>, local governments in Pennsylvania have been barred from passing restrictions on the sale, transport, and possession of guns, part of a wave of similar so-called “preemption” laws enacted across the country in the late 1980s and early 1990s in a campaign that stands as one of the NRA’s hallmark <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=pFOSdZmSjnUC&amp;pg=PA72&amp;lpg=PA72&amp;dq=richard+feldman+preemption+priority&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=wUZkLNruVO&amp;sig=T8KVa3WD16nPpGKiZF_Vy_lVdpo&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0ahUKEwipgOqJxLnLAhXJVz4KHZC7BEMQ6AEILDAC#v=onepage&amp;q=preemption&amp;f=false" type="external">legislative victories</a>. In the years since, cities and towns in Pennsylvania have nonetheless moved forward with some new local ordinances, such as limitations on assault weapons or concealed carry.</p>
<p>The local leaders behind those rules believe they do not violate the preemption law. The NRA has begged to differ. But before Act 192, the gun group did not have an easy way to argue its side in court. To bring a case, it had to find actual gun-owning plaintiffs who lived in a city with a restrictive ordinance and could claim to be negatively impacted by those restrictions. Years could go by before the NRA could file a new lawsuit against a single city.</p>
<p>Once Act 192 paved the way to the courts, the NRA <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/01/15/nra-sues-pennsylvania-cities-over-gun-restrictions/" type="external">acted swiftly</a>, filing lawsuits against the capital city of <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/09/philadelphia_act_192_gun_lawsu.html" type="external">Harrisburg</a> in December 2014, the month after the law went onto the books. The following month, it sued Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Lancaster.</p>
<p>The NRA’s <a href="http://jurist.org/paperchase/uploads/NRA_v_Pittsburgh_Complaint.pdf" type="external">lawsuit against Pittsburgh</a> centered on ordinances that banned carrying in cars and on the person without a license, prohibited the sale of ammunition, and required gun owners to report lost or stolen weapons to law enforcement. The group told a state court that Pittsburgh had no right to adopt those safety measures. When Pittsburgh, in response, decided to hold off on enforcing its stolen gun ordinance, residents showed up to a city council meeting to testify on the continuing neighborhood gun violence that the stolen gun ordinance was meant to address. “I’m getting scared to sleep in my house at night,” <a href="http://www.pghcitypaper.com/KeepingUpWiththeCouncil/archives/2015/08/28/recent-gun-violence-reawakens-support-for-lost-and-stolen-gun-ordinance" type="external">said</a> one resident.</p>
<p>As more NRA lawsuits rolled in, more than <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2015/01/more_than_20_pa_municipalities.html" type="external">20</a> cities across Pennsylvania began to <a href="http://crossroads.newsworks.org/index.php/local/keystone-crossroads/83518-pennsylvania-gun-law-has-prompted-nearly-100-municipalities-to-repeal-ordinances" type="external">repeal</a> their firearms ordinances —&#160;preemption, as it were, against costly legal battles over whether they had violated the preemption law. Wilkinsburg was one of those cities. In January 2015, the Borough Council repealed its own stolen-guns reporting mandate.</p>
<p>Act 192 contains a particularly devastating provision for local governments contemplating court standoffs against the group. Under the law, if a city loses a lawsuit brought against it, it has to pay — at a minimum — attorneys’ fees, lost income, court expenses, and the cost of expert witnesses. And even if a city repeals its gun laws before a judge makes a ruling, it’s still on the hook for legal costs incurred by the NRA up to that point. Leaving gun ordinances on the books became an untenable financial liability for small governments with limited resources.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh was one of a handful of cities with the wherewithal to push back. While keeping its gun ordinances intact, the city <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/06/commonwealth_court_act_192_unc.html" type="external">sued</a> the Assembly itself for passing Act 192, arguing it violated lawmaking procedures. The Pennsylvania constitution requires laws to follow through on the “original purpose” of the bill while remaining limited to a single subject. Pittsburgh made the case that Act 192 —&#160;filed as an eleventh-hour appendage to legislation brought to address scrap metal theft —&#160;didn’t meet that standard.</p>
<p>While Pittsburgh was pressing Pennsylvania courts to rule Act 192 unconstitutional, a judge put the NRA’s lawsuit — which only existed because Act 192 passed —&#160;on <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2015/04/09/Judge-rules-on-NRA-appeal-of-stay-on-case-against-Pittsburgh/stories/201504090178" type="external">hold</a>. Last June, the Commonwealth Court took Pittsburgh’s side and agreed that Act 192 was exactly the kind of sneaky hybridization of bills that the Pennsylvania constitution tried to curtail. If every law was passed the way Act 192 was, the court <a href="http://www.pacourts.us/assets/opinions/Commonwealth/out/585md14_6-25-15.pdf" type="external">explained</a>, the legislature would have full license to hide its real intentions from the people.</p>
<p>The NRA has appealed that ruling, leaving its lawsuit against Pittsburgh in limbo.</p>
<p />
<p>From measures to expand background checks to campaigns that would establish (or ban) campus carry, these are the ballot initiative fights poised to shape gun policy in 2016 and beyond.</p>
<p>by <a href="/index.php?s=Sarah%20Kollmorgen" type="external">Sarah Kollmorgen</a></p>
<p />
<p>As it happens, the latest arguments in the case were presented to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court last Wednesday morning, roughly 12&#160;hours before the shooting in Wilkinsburg. &#160;The justices seemed unconvinced by assurances from the NRA and Republican lawmakers that Act 192 was legitimate, <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20160310_Pa__justices_question_roots_of_NRA-friendly_law.html" type="external">saying</a>that they didn’t see what the firearms provisions had “to do with stealing copper wire.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, for the smaller local governments — including Wilkinsburg — who repealed their gun ordinances because they lacked the means for the kind of fight Pittsburgh is waging, pursuing their own solutions to gun violence will remain off the table unless the Supreme Court fully dismantles Act 192. “It seemed to make a lot of sense to repeal and wait,” <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20160310_Pa__justices_question_roots_of_NRA-friendly_law.html#fQo1veOrPqgVuU8e.99" type="external">said</a> the solicitor for a township outside Philadelphia, “and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”</p>
<p>[Photo:&#160;AP Photo/Keith Srakocic]</p> | The Pittsburgh Suburb Where Gunmen Attacked a Family Cookout Was One of Dozens Forced to Scrap Its Firearms Rules | false | https://thetrace.org/2016/03/the-pittsburg-suburb-where-gunmen-attacked-a-family-cookout-was-one-of-dozens-forced-to-scrap-its-firearms-rules/ | 2016-03-14 | 3 |
<p>Investing.com – U.K. stocks were lower after the close on Thursday, as losses in the , and sectors led shares lower.</p>
<p>At the close in London, the fell 0.15%.</p>
<p>The best performers of the session on the were Johnson Matthey PLC (LON:), which rose 14.60% or 432.00 points to trade at 3390.00 at the close. Meanwhile, ITV PLC (LON:) added 2.90% or 4.70 points to end at 166.90 and Anglo American PLC (LON:) was up 2.90% or 37.50 points to 1331.50 in late trade.</p>
<p>The worst performers of the session were Capita PLC (LON:), which fell 11.57% or 74.50 points to trade at 569.50 at the close. Kingfisher PLC (LON:) declined 4.09% or 12.80 points to end at 300.20 and J Sainsbury PLC (LON:) was down 4.05% or 9.90 points to 234.30.</p>
<p>Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the London Stock Exchange by 1062 to 865 and 424 ended unchanged.</p>
<p>Gold Futures for December delivery was down 1.43% or 18.79 to $1297.61 a troy ounce. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Crude oil for delivery in November fell 0.06% or 0.03 to hit $50.66 a barrel, while the November Brent oil contract rose 0.07% or 0.04 to trade at $56.33 a barrel.</p>
<p>GBP/USD was up 0.50% to 1.3562, while EUR/GBP fell 0.10% to 0.8803.</p>
<p>The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.25% at 91.99.</p>
<p />
<p>Fusion Media or anyone involved with Fusion Media will not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information including data, quotes, charts and buy/sell signals contained within this website. Please be fully informed regarding the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the riskiest investment forms possible.</p> | U.K. stocks lower at close of trade; Investing.com United Kingdom 100 down 0.15% | false | https://newsline.com/u-k-stocks-lower-at-close-of-trade-investing-com-united-kingdom-100-down-0-15/ | 2017-09-21 | 1 |
<p>Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Tuesday:</p>
<p>1. <a href="" type="internal">MUELLER INTERESTED IN INTERVIEWING TRUMP, SOURCE TELLS AP</a></p>
<p>The issue of an interview with the president has come up in recent discussions between the special counsel's team and Trump lawyers.</p>
<p>2. <a href="" type="internal">WHY US COULD FORCE OUT 200,000 SALVADORAN REFUGEES</a></p>
<p>President Trump ends Temporary Protected Status for the immigrants, driven from their country by deadly earthquakes.</p>
<p>3. <a href="" type="internal">POLICE DISAGREE ON RESALE OF SEIZED GUNS</a></p>
<p>A yearlong AP review shows that some firearms make it back into the hands of criminals when law enforcement departments sell them instead of destroying them.</p>
<p>4. <a href="" type="internal">WHAT NATURAL DISASTERS COST US LAST YEAR</a></p>
<p>Hit by three major hurricanes, widespread wildfires, floods and drought, the U.S. spent a record-high $306 billion in 2017.</p>
<p>5. <a href="" type="internal">HOW RETAIL HOPES TO SURVIVE E-COMMERCE ONSLAUGHT</a></p>
<p>As more consumers abandon stores and buy online, retailers want to stay afloat by offering personal shoppers and in-home product assistance.</p>
<p>6. <a href="" type="internal">DEMOCRATS GO ON HEALTH CARE OFFENSIVE</a></p>
<p>With Republicans unable to agree on their vision, Democrats say their ultimate goal is a government guarantee of affordable coverage for all.</p>
<p>7. <a href="" type="internal">CONSUMER ELECTRONIC SHOW UNVEILS SLEW OF NEW TVs</a></p>
<p>Samsung, LG and other television makers showcase super-high definition models at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas.</p>
<p>8. <a href="" type="internal">APPLE URGED TO CONFRONT TEEN SMARTPHONE ADDICTION</a></p>
<p>Two major investors press the iPhone maker to help rein in the effects of electronic gadgets on youngsters.</p>
<p>9. <a href="" type="internal">WHERE PRISONERS ARE NOW FREE TO READ BOOK ABOUT PRISONS</a></p>
<p>The ACLU successfully lobbies New Jersey corrections officials to drop a ban on "The New Jim Crow," a best-seller on mass incarceration.</p>
<p>10. <a href="" type="internal">'A BRIGHTER MORNING EVEN IN OUR DARKEST NIGHTS'</a></p>
<p>That quote and others from Oprah Winfrey's Golden Globes speech has some political activists buzzing about the media superstar and the 2020 presidential race — even if it's just a fantasy.</p>
<p>Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Tuesday:</p>
<p>1. <a href="" type="internal">MUELLER INTERESTED IN INTERVIEWING TRUMP, SOURCE TELLS AP</a></p>
<p>The issue of an interview with the president has come up in recent discussions between the special counsel's team and Trump lawyers.</p>
<p>2. <a href="" type="internal">WHY US COULD FORCE OUT 200,000 SALVADORAN REFUGEES</a></p>
<p>President Trump ends Temporary Protected Status for the immigrants, driven from their country by deadly earthquakes.</p>
<p>3. <a href="" type="internal">POLICE DISAGREE ON RESALE OF SEIZED GUNS</a></p>
<p>A yearlong AP review shows that some firearms make it back into the hands of criminals when law enforcement departments sell them instead of destroying them.</p>
<p>4. <a href="" type="internal">WHAT NATURAL DISASTERS COST US LAST YEAR</a></p>
<p>Hit by three major hurricanes, widespread wildfires, floods and drought, the U.S. spent a record-high $306 billion in 2017.</p>
<p>5. <a href="" type="internal">HOW RETAIL HOPES TO SURVIVE E-COMMERCE ONSLAUGHT</a></p>
<p>As more consumers abandon stores and buy online, retailers want to stay afloat by offering personal shoppers and in-home product assistance.</p>
<p>6. <a href="" type="internal">DEMOCRATS GO ON HEALTH CARE OFFENSIVE</a></p>
<p>With Republicans unable to agree on their vision, Democrats say their ultimate goal is a government guarantee of affordable coverage for all.</p>
<p>7. <a href="" type="internal">CONSUMER ELECTRONIC SHOW UNVEILS SLEW OF NEW TVs</a></p>
<p>Samsung, LG and other television makers showcase super-high definition models at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas.</p>
<p>8. <a href="" type="internal">APPLE URGED TO CONFRONT TEEN SMARTPHONE ADDICTION</a></p>
<p>Two major investors press the iPhone maker to help rein in the effects of electronic gadgets on youngsters.</p>
<p>9. <a href="" type="internal">WHERE PRISONERS ARE NOW FREE TO READ BOOK ABOUT PRISONS</a></p>
<p>The ACLU successfully lobbies New Jersey corrections officials to drop a ban on "The New Jim Crow," a best-seller on mass incarceration.</p>
<p>10. <a href="" type="internal">'A BRIGHTER MORNING EVEN IN OUR DARKEST NIGHTS'</a></p>
<p>That quote and others from Oprah Winfrey's Golden Globes speech has some political activists buzzing about the media superstar and the 2020 presidential race — even if it's just a fantasy.</p> | 10 Things to Know for Tuesday | false | https://apnews.com/amp/60c411a7116e480484c080d7f3c4fb1b | 2018-01-09 | 2 |
<p>DALLAS (AP) — A 7-year-old Texas boy died after his father's girlfriend opened fire as the man drove away with his son and two other children, police said Friday.</p>
<p>Greenville police said Kaden Green died at a hospital after being taken there by a witness following the shooting Thursday afternoon.</p>
<p>The woman accused of shooting the boy, 26-year-old Brooke Craig, was arrested early Friday along with the child's father, 24-year-old Cameron Castillo, in the Dallas suburb of Frisco about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of Greenville. Authorities said Craig led police on a car chase before their arrests.</p>
<p>Craig faces a capital murder charge, while Castillo was arrested for a parole violation.</p>
<p>Officers were responding to a report of a disturbance at a home Thursday when they received a call that a boy had been taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest. Police said they believe Castillo and Craig had been involved in a disturbance at the home before he got into his vehicle and headed down the street.</p>
<p>After the shooting, the vehicle came to a stop and Craig and a witness approached it, police said. The witness then took the boy to the hospital in another vehicle.</p>
<p>Police said the two other children who were in the vehicle were placed in the custody of the state. Child Protective Services spokeswoman Marissa Gonzales said they have a 4-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl who are the siblings of Kaden in their custody.</p>
<p>Gonzales said Craig is not Kaden's mother. She said CPS has received a report about the boy's death and will investigate. She said the boy's family has had previous contact with CPS, but that the details are confidential.</p>
<p>McKinney police said Greenville police contacted them early Friday about the capital murder warrant for Craig. McKinney police then located her vehicle leaving a store and she fled into nearby Frisco, going through several residential areas before turning down a dead-end street, police said.</p>
<p>Craig and Castillo, who was her passenger, were arrested without incident after their vehicle struck a police cruiser while attempting to back up, police said.</p>
<p>Jail records show that Craig was transferred from Collin County, where McKinney is located, back to Hunt County, where Greenville is located, by Friday afternoon. The records did not list an attorney in relation to the capital murder charge.</p>
<p>Craig faces an evading arrest charge in Collin County, according to the jail records. The attorney listed in relation to that charge did not immediately return a call Friday.</p>
<p>Castillo was being held in Collin County jail Friday. Jail records did not list an attorney for him.</p>
<p>DALLAS (AP) — A 7-year-old Texas boy died after his father's girlfriend opened fire as the man drove away with his son and two other children, police said Friday.</p>
<p>Greenville police said Kaden Green died at a hospital after being taken there by a witness following the shooting Thursday afternoon.</p>
<p>The woman accused of shooting the boy, 26-year-old Brooke Craig, was arrested early Friday along with the child's father, 24-year-old Cameron Castillo, in the Dallas suburb of Frisco about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west of Greenville. Authorities said Craig led police on a car chase before their arrests.</p>
<p>Craig faces a capital murder charge, while Castillo was arrested for a parole violation.</p>
<p>Officers were responding to a report of a disturbance at a home Thursday when they received a call that a boy had been taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest. Police said they believe Castillo and Craig had been involved in a disturbance at the home before he got into his vehicle and headed down the street.</p>
<p>After the shooting, the vehicle came to a stop and Craig and a witness approached it, police said. The witness then took the boy to the hospital in another vehicle.</p>
<p>Police said the two other children who were in the vehicle were placed in the custody of the state. Child Protective Services spokeswoman Marissa Gonzales said they have a 4-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl who are the siblings of Kaden in their custody.</p>
<p>Gonzales said Craig is not Kaden's mother. She said CPS has received a report about the boy's death and will investigate. She said the boy's family has had previous contact with CPS, but that the details are confidential.</p>
<p>McKinney police said Greenville police contacted them early Friday about the capital murder warrant for Craig. McKinney police then located her vehicle leaving a store and she fled into nearby Frisco, going through several residential areas before turning down a dead-end street, police said.</p>
<p>Craig and Castillo, who was her passenger, were arrested without incident after their vehicle struck a police cruiser while attempting to back up, police said.</p>
<p>Jail records show that Craig was transferred from Collin County, where McKinney is located, back to Hunt County, where Greenville is located, by Friday afternoon. The records did not list an attorney in relation to the capital murder charge.</p>
<p>Craig faces an evading arrest charge in Collin County, according to the jail records. The attorney listed in relation to that charge did not immediately return a call Friday.</p>
<p>Castillo was being held in Collin County jail Friday. Jail records did not list an attorney for him.</p> | Texas woman accused in fatal shooting of boyfriend's son | false | https://apnews.com/amp/1d1674f47865405abc46fe831ebba628 | 2017-12-30 | 2 |
<p>Published time: 3 Oct, 2017 21:35</p>
<p>Up to 700,000 people have taken to the streets of Barcelona in the wake of Sunday’s controversial Catalonia independence referendum, municipal police announced. Huge crowds rallied Tuesday against the violent crackdown on voters by Spanish police.</p>
<p>Roads and traffic was blocked throughout the city on Tuesday, as protesters marched, chanting, “Independence!” and “The streets will always be ours!”</p>
<p>Unes 700.000 persones han participat aquesta tarda a les concentracions convocades a Barcelona. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/3oct?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" type="external">#3oct</a></p>
<p>— Guàrdia Urbana BCN (@barcelona_GUB) <a href="https://twitter.com/barcelona_GUB/status/915287456601329665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" type="external">October 3, 2017</a></p>
<p>Some 700,000 people took to the streets, Barcelona municipal police announced on Twitter.</p>
<p>[embedded content]</p>
<p>Thousands gathered outside the offices of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s People’s Party (PP) in Barcelona and the Catalonia regional HQ of the national police as police stood guard. Protesters shouted slogans and waved the red-and-yellow Catalan flag, and groups of firemen played bagpipes outside the PP’s office as the crowd cheered them on.</p>
<p>[embedded content]</p>
<p>“What happened on Oct. 1 has fired up an independence feeling that will never die,” 18-year-old student Monica Ventinc told Reuters.</p>
<p>“They brought violence with them. They have beaten people who were holding their hands up,” self-employed worker Josep Llavina said to the Guardian. “How can we not be outraged?”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/sport/405541-fc-barcelona-spain-catalonia-referendum/" type="external">READ MORE:&#160;What would happen to FC Barcelona if Catalonia split from Spain?</a></p>
<p>A protest strike was also called by major trade unions as government workers walked out and businesses and universities shut for the day. Metro stations were empty as services were drastically cut back, while the usually busy Boqueria market was deserted. Famous tourist attractions such as the Sagrada Familia church were also shut down.</p>
<p>Even FC Barcelona took part, canceling all its training sessions for the day. However, the main unions, the CCOO and UGT, avoided calling the walkout a general strike, instead called it a “temporary work stoppage” to get around laws that prohibit striking for political reasons.</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/news/405575-catalonia-referendum-church-vote-counting/" type="external" /></p>
<p>The Spanish government has condemned the protests as an affront to the rule of law.</p>
<p>“I’ve seen how President Puigdemont has flooded the streets with his followers to stop people obeying the law and to make them disrespect justice,” said Rajoy’s deputy prime minister, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria. “We are here to defend the rights and liberties of all Spaniards that have been trampled upon by the regional government.”</p>
<p>The Spanish government and the country’s Constitutional Court have declared the Catalonia referendum illegal, and dispatched thousands of officers from the National Police and the Civil Guard to prevent the vote taking place. In the ensuring operation, nearly 900 people were wounded as officers deployed batons and rubber bullets to break up crowds of voters.</p>
<p>Despite this, millions of Catalans still turned up to cast their ballots. Of those who managed to vote, the Catalan authorities claim, 90 percent voted for independence. Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has said he will take steps to start separating from Spain, and has appealed for international mediation with the central government.</p> | 700k protest Spain's referendum crackdown in Barcelona – local police (PHOTO, VIDEO) | false | https://newsline.com/700k-protest-spain039s-referendum-crackdown-in-barcelona-local-police-photo-video/ | 2017-10-03 | 1 |
<p>.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........</p>
<p>PHOENIX - Police have arrested five immigrant rights activists for locking themselves to the front entrance of the executive tower at the Capitol to demand Arizona gov. Doug Ducey veto what protesters call anti-immigrant legislation.</p>
<p>Four demonstrators chained themselves to doors blocking the front entrance Tuesday morning. Others carried signs saying "veto hate" and calling the governor's office the "Trump tower of terror."</p>
<p>Police cut the chains after about two hours arresting five demonstrators and charging them with trespassing.</p>
<p>Organizing director for Puente Francisca Porchas says about 30 protesters took over the entrance to demand that Ducey veto a bill that would require immigrants who are in the country illegally and are in prison to serve more of their sentences before they are released.</p>
<p>House Bill 2451 reached the governor's desk Monday.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Police arrest 5 immigrant rights activists at AZ Capitol | false | https://abqjournal.com/748781/police-arrest-5-immigrant-rights-activists-at-az-capitol.html | 2 |
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<p />
<p>Folks today were “parking” themselves—and plants and flowers, wheel barrows and benches—in parking spaces throughout San Francisco, a dozen other U.S. cities, and a dozen more cities worldwide as part of <a href="http://www.parkingday.org/" type="external">PARK(ing) Day</a>.</p>
<p>Some guys from a San Francisco architecture firm that had taken over a parking space near Mother Jones’ offices told me that the whole idea is get people to think about the concrete jungle they inhabit and to consider new, greener urban planning ideas. So I pulled up a bench surrounded by temporarily-placed indigenous plants and shrubs—and carbon monoxide-spewing cars and trucks whizzing by— and chatted them up.</p>
<p>Didn’t this concept conflict with the basic nature of architecture (you know, building things, which usually requires steel and concrete and fuel-burning machines)? They were quick to say no. Buildings in urban areas, they explained, can and should always include more green park space and, in some instances, <a href="http://www.calacademy.org/newacademy/theroof.php" type="external">roofs from which grass</a> and <a href="http://www.sunset.com/sunset/home/article/0,20633,1587526,00.html" type="external">plants</a> can grow.</p>
<p>Of course, in a small, compact little city like San Francisco, it’s pretty easy to live a car-less life where parking spaces can be used to make a political statement; in huge urban sprawls like Los Angeles where public transportation is lousy and everything is at least 20 minutes away (by car), not so much.</p>
<p>PARK(ing) Day folks say more than 70% of most cities’ outdoor space is dedicated to the private vehicle while only a fraction of that land is allocated to open space for people. For citizens who want to take back the pavement, they offer advice on creating temporary street intervention tool kits and slightly less plausible ideas like <a href="http://www.parkingday.org/get_involved/index.html" type="external">the Parkcycle</a>.</p>
<p>For another reporter’s take on Park(ing) Day, see Josh Harkinson’s <a href="/blue_marble_blog/archives/2007/09/5544_my_parking_day.html" type="external">post</a> below.</p>
<p /> | Park Your Greenery by the Curb | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2007/09/park-your-greenery-curb/ | 2007-09-22 | 4 |
<p>Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was not&#160;invited to speak at an HRC dinner, his campaign says. (Image via C-Span)</p>
<p>Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reportedly turned down an invitation to speak at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual dinner to appear on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” but the nation’s largest LGBT group didn’t&#160;turn to Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) as either a first or second choice, according to his campaign.</p>
<p>A Sanders spokesperson told the Washington Blade late Saturday the candidate did not&#160;receive an invite to speak at the 19th annual dinner or any other earlier dinner hosted by the organization.</p>
<p>“We don’t know of any time Bernie was invited to an HRC dinner,” said Sanders spokesperson Michael Briggs when the Washington Blade asked if an invite was extended.</p>
<p>Asked if the campaign objected to the lack of an invitation to the dinner, Briggs replied, “I don’t have anything to help on that.”</p>
<p>Briggs said he “can’t really say” if Sanders would have attended the HRC dinner had the candidate received an invite given the other events on the schedule.</p>
<p>“So many competing things tugging for his time,” Briggs said. “We’re in Boston tonight at a big rally. Are there 20,000 at the dinner?”</p>
<p>According to media reports, Sanders was set to hold rallies in Massachusetts on the same day as the HRC dinner. The candidate reportedly has drawn up to 19,000 people to attend his rallies. An estimated 3,500 people were set to attend the HRC dinner.</p>
<p>When the Blade pointed out the estimated 3,500 attendees, Briggs replied, “That’s huge too.”</p>
<p>Brandon Lorenz, a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, said presidential candidates will be able to speak about LGBT rights to the organization at other times.</p>
<p>“We hope to hear from all the pro-equality presidential candidates,” Lorenz said. “Our national dinner will not be the forum for that, but we have already reached out to each of the declared candidates with our official questionnaire and anticipate creating opportunities for pro-equality candidates to speak to HRC about their positions and plans to advance LGBT equality.”</p>
<p>A source familiar with HRC, who spoke on condition on anonymity, said Clinton was first invited to the 2016 dinner a year ago, which was before Sanders entered the race for the White House.</p>
<p>On the same day as the dinner, Clinton enjoyed a media bump and support from HRC President Chad Griffin at an earlier event hosted by the organization in which she&#160; <a href="" type="internal">laid out her LGBT vision</a>, which includes passing the Equality Act, transgender visibility and addressing health disparities facing LGBT people. HRC&#160;hasn’t yet endorsed a candidate in the presidential race.</p>
<p>According to the New York Times, HRC&#160;invited Clinton to speak at the national dinner, but she opted instead for an earlier event so she could appear on “Saturday Night Live” on the same evening the dinner took place. Vice President Joseph Biden was instead announced as the keynote speaker for the event.</p>
<p>Clinton continues to lead Sanders in national polls, but he’s the candidate closest to her among other Democrats. According to a Suffolk University/USA TODAY poll published on Thursday, Clinton is supported by 41 percent, followed by Sanders at 23 percent and Biden at 20 percent. Sanders tops Clinton in some polls for the early caucus state of Iowa and in many polls for the early primary state of New Hampshire.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Bernard Sanders</a> <a href="" type="internal">Hillary Clinton</a> <a href="" type="internal">Human Rights Campaign</a></p> | Sanders not invited to speak at HRC dinner: campaign | false | http://washingtonblade.com/2015/10/03/sanders-was-never-invited-to-speak-at-hrc-dinner-campaign/ | 3 |
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<p>TOKYO (Reuters) – Toshiba Corp said on Thursday that first-half operating profit had more than doubled, driven by a strong performance from its memory chip unit that it recently agreed to sell for $18 billion.</p>
<p>The struggling industrial conglomerate said operating profit jumped 149 percent to 231.77 billion yen ($2 billion), in April-September, compared with 93.19 billion yen in the same period a year earlier.</p>
<p />
<p>Fusion Media or anyone involved with Fusion Media will not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information including data, quotes, charts and buy/sell signals contained within this website. Please be fully informed regarding the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the riskiest investment forms possible.</p> | Toshiba first-half profit more than doubles on strong memory chip demand | false | https://newsline.com/toshiba-first-half-profit-more-than-doubles-on-strong-memory-chip-demand/ | 2017-11-09 | 1 |
<p>It's one thing to get a little squeamish at the sight of blood in your bio class. But what if your reaction included a panic attack, blacking out, hyperventilating, screaming in a classroom and feeling so much like you are under physical threat that you act out violently in front of other people?&#160;</p>
<p>For those with PTSD, certain content — whether it is&#160;sexual violence, graphic torture or intense war imagery — in&#160;books and movies can trigger past experiences. In response, students across the country are advocating for "trigger warnings" in academic settings, in order to prevent students from re-experiencing trauma.</p>
<p>University of California, Santa Barbara has become the first school to mandate trigger warnings in college courses. Students at Oberlin College, Rutgers University and other schools want to make it a campus policy, too. But the growing practice is not without its critics, who say it caters to overly-sensitive students and blurs the lines between protection and censorship.</p>
<p>Despite the controversy around trigger warnings,&#160;Ari Kohen&#160;says they're common sense. Ari is a professor of political science at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He doesn't sugar coat challenging material for his students, but&#160;includes warnings when the content is clearly hard to stomach for certain people.</p>
<p>"I think that sometimes it can make sense, and sometimes it can be a little bit overblown," he explains. "I teach a variety of different classes here — some political philosophy and some human rights courses. In my human rights classes, I've always told students from the first one that the material is potentially very upsetting because we're dealing with torture, genocide and sexual violence. The potential there, I think, is quite real to be not simply disturbing."</p>
<p>Professor Kohen says that because of the evocative course materials he chooses for his classes, he understands why some students could potentially be traumatized or re-traumatized, especially if an individual has had experience with violence, assault, war or other traumatic events.</p>
<p>"In that case, I tell students: 'Look, this is the class that you signed up for and this is the kind of material you're dealing with — take care of yourself, and know what you're getting into,'" he says.</p>
<p>When it comes to disturbing material, Kohen advises students to read the material slowly, take breaks and read along with a friend — something he says has helped students and his classes improve.</p>
<p>"I think when you do that, it really lets students know what's coming," he says. "Because they're prepared for it, because they're taking their time, it's really led to much better discussions in class after they've done the work."</p>
<p>While that may be the approach Kohen takes for his courses on human rights, it's not a hard and fast rule for his political philosophy classes, he says.&#160;</p>
<p>"When I teach a political philosophy course, if they're reading Plato or they're reading Nietzsche or something like that, the idea is for them to be challenged," he says. "I want to kind of shake them up and I want ask them questions that make them really consider their previously held opinions or beliefs."</p>
<p>Kohen stops short of endorsing UC Santa Barbara's approach of mandating warning labels, saying educators do not want to be "sanitizing everything" for students.</p>
<p>"College is a time when they're supposed to figure out what they can do and what they want to learn about, and really kind of push themselves," he says. "My sense is that this has to be something that faculty are figuring out on their own. I think that if this is being mandated, if it is a requirement that we have to issue blanket caution to everybody, I think the potential exists to really dumb down what we're doing in the classroom."</p>
<p>Instead of issuing mandates, Kohen says it would be better to have educators independently take a more "mindful" approach to course material.</p>
<p>This&#160; <a href="http://www.thetakeaway.org/story/should-college-material-come-trigger-warning/" type="external">interview&#160;</a>first appeared on&#160; <a href="http://www.thetakeaway.org/" type="external">PRI's The Takeaway</a>,&#160;a public media show that invites you to be a part of the American conversation.</p> | College courses consider requiring 'trigger warnings' before sensitive material in classes | false | https://pri.org/stories/2014-05-23/college-courses-consider-requiring-trigger-warnings-sensitive-material-classes | 2014-05-23 | 3 |
<p>Spanish stocks rally as central government takes over</p>
<p>U.S. stocks on Monday were poised to open lower after a series of hotter-than-expected quarterly results in the technology sector last week helped to power broad-market gains, ahead of a week that will see a key employment report and an updated policy statement from the Federal Reserve.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>What are stock-index futures doing?</p>
<p>Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 58 points, or 0.3%, to 23,314, while those for the S&amp;P 500 fell 5.65 points, or 0.3%, to 2,572.75. Meanwhile, Nasdaq-100 futures trade little changed at 6,215.</p>
<p>The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq Composite , closed at records on Friday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amazon-microsoft-alphabet-set-to-power-nasdaq-higher-after-blowout-results-2017-10-27), fueled tech stocks after Amazon.com Inc.(AMZN), and Microsoft Corp.(MSFT) results, among others. The Dow added 33.33 points, or 0.1%, at 23,434.19.</p>
<p>What could drive the markets?</p>
<p>Investors will also be awaiting President Donald Trump's decision on who will lead the Fed after Chairwoman Janet Yellen's term expires in February. A report Friday said Trump is leaning toward choosing Fed Gov. Jerome Powell (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-leaning-toward-appointing-powell-to-fed-report-2017-10-27).</p>
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<p>Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve meets Tuesday and Wednesday. . No changes to monetary policy are expected, but the statement at the conclusion of the meeting will be closely watched for clues on whether policy makers intend to go ahead with a widely expected December increase in interest rates. Bank of Japan and Bank of England also will have monetary policy meetings.</p>
<p>Read: Manafort told to surrender to federal authorities: report (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/manafort-told-to-surrender-to-federal-authorities-report-2017-10-30)</p>
<p>Beyond central banks, any further developments on U.S. tax reforms will hold investor attention. Republicans expect to unveil a much-awaited bill to overhaul the tax code Wednesday. The National Association of Home Builders is set to offer opposition (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/house-republicans-tax-overhaul-bill-to-be-opposed-by-home-builder-trade-group-2017-10-29).</p>
<p>What data are ahead?</p>
<p>Consumer spending leapt 1% in September, the biggest gain since early mid-2009, just as the current economic recovery got under way. Personal income rose 0.4%, but the savings rate fell to 3.1%, the lowest level since December 2007.</p>
<p>The personal-consumption-expenditure index, or PCE, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, increased 0.4% in September, while the closely followed "core" rate, that strips out food and energy, rose 0.1%.</p>
<p>Read:Apple engineer reportedly fired over daughter's viral video of iPhone X (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-engineer-reportedly-fired-over-daughters-viral-video-of-iphone-x-2017-10-29)</p>
<p>Also read: Why stock-market bulls should be wary of rising tide of earnings shenanigans (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-stock-market-bulls-should-be-wary-of-rising-tide-of-earnings-shenanigans-2017-10-28)</p>
<p>What are analysts saying?</p>
<p>"Financial markets have begun a key week of economic data and central bank decisions with a cautious tone today. In the coming days there will be some key risk events with a series of major central banks announcing monetary policy, including the Fed, the Bank of Japan and a potential historic rate hike from the Bank of England," said Richard Perry, market analyst at Hantec Markets, in a note.</p>
<p>Check out:Fed statement may have treats for the hawks and the doves (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fed-statement-may-have-treats-for-both-hawks-and-doves-2017-10-27)</p>
<p>Opinion:Trump-Ryan tax plan will encourage more corporate offshore tax avoidance (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-ryan-tax-plan-will-encourage-more-corporate-offshore-tax-avoidance-2017-10-24)</p>
<p>Which stocks are in focus?</p>
<p>Shares of CalAtlantic Group Inc.(CAA) soared 18% ahead of the bell after the home builder said it plans to merge with peer Lennar Corp (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/home-builders-lennar-calatlantic-to-merge-in-9-billion-deal-2017-10-30).(LEN) in a deal worth about $9.3 billion, including $3.6 billion in assumed net debt. Lennar shares didn't move premarket.</p>
<p>Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(WMT) slipped 0.2% before the open. The head of the company's U.K. chain Asda, Sean Clarke (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ceo-of-wal-marts-uk-chain-asda-to-leave-at-end-of-year-2017-10-30), will leave his post on Dec. 31 and will be followed by Roger Burnley.</p>
<p>Dynegy Inc.(DYN) climbed 4.2% premarket after news the energy company is merging with Vista Energy in a deal that would value the combined entities at more than $10 billion.</p>
<p>Akzo Nobel NV(AKZOY) (AKZOY) and U.S. rival Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. (AXTA) said they are in talks to merge (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/akzo-nobel-axalta-confirm-merger-talks-2017-10-30) (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/akzo-nobel-axalta-confirm-merger-talks-2017-10-30). Akzo Nobel shares rose 0.5% in Amsterdam, while Axalta shares fell 0.6% premarket.</p>
<p>Shares of Huntsman Corp.(HUN) could be in focus. Activist U.S. investors, who helped scuttle a proposed merger between Huntsman and Swiss chemicals company Clariant (CLN.EB), said they would try to seek a seat on Clariant's board of directors and push for more changes (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/activist-investors-seek-clariant-board-seat-2017-10-30).</p>
<p>U.S.-listed shares of HSBC Holdings PLC(HSBA.LN) fell 1.2% even after the bank said it swung to a third-quarter net profit of $3.24 billion (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hsbc-holdings-swings-to-324-billion-profit-2017-10-30).</p>
<p>What are other markets doing?</p>
<p>The ICE Dollar Index was down 0.2% to 94.676, with slight losses against the euro .</p>
<p>And:Is the euro rally toast after ECB unveils dovish bond-buying cutback? (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/is-the-euro-rally-toast-after-ecb-unveils-dovish-bond-buying-reduction-2017-10-26)</p>
<p>Oil prices were rising (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/brent-pushes-further-above-60-as-oil-rally-continues-2017-10-30), up 4 cents, or less than 0.1%, to $53.94 a barrel, while gold (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/gold-clings-to-narrow-gain-as-strong-dollar-pauses-its-climb-2017-10-30) was marginally higher at $1,272.50 an ounce.</p>
<p>Stocks in Europe opened flat, but Spanish stocks rallied 1.5%. Spain's central government is taking control of Catalonia after removing the region's president Carles Puigdemont and calling for new elections on Dec. 21 (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/spain-seizes-power-as-tension-mounts-in-independence-bent-catalonia-2017-10-28). (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/spain-seizes-power-as-tension-mounts-in-independence-bent-catalonia-2017-10-28) Hundreds of thousands of pro-unity demonstrators rallied in Catalonia on Sunday (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hundreds-of-thousands-of-pro-unity-demonstrators-rally-in-catalonia-2017-10-29).</p>
<p>Stocks in Asia finishedmostly fell (http://www.marketwatch.com/story/asian-markets-rally-thanks-to-tech-stock-gains-2017-10-29), with Chines stocks dented in part by a bond selloff.</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>October 30, 2017 08:44 ET (12:44 GMT)</p> | MARKET SNAPSHOT: U.S. Stocks Set To Retreat After Earnings-fueled Tech Surge | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2017/10/30/market-snapshot-u-s-stocks-set-to-retreat-after-earnings-fueled-tech-surge2.html | 2017-10-30 | 0 |
<p>South Carolina environmental regulators have rejected an effort by a company created by Donald Trump to limit its environmental cleanup liabilities at an industrial site.</p>
<p>The decision by the Department of Health and Environmental Control could leave Trump's DB Pace company responsible for the cleanup, regardless of whether it caused the pollution at the site, which was originally used by Lockheed Martin.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The agency says the Trumps didn't provide enough information for approval of a voluntary contract that would limit its liability. DB Pace and the Trump Organization have not commented.</p>
<p>Donald Trump Jr. helped start a concrete company on the site in 2010. The New York Times reports that after it failed, his father bailed him out in 2014 and created DB Pace, which took over the six-acre site.</p> | SC regulators deny cleanup deal for Trump family company | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/02/08/sc-regulators-deny-cleanup-deal-for-trump-family-company.html | 2017-02-08 | 0 |
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<p>Presbyterian declined to disclose terms of its deal with MD Urgent Care, which has two Albuquerque locations that will serve about 32,000 patients this year. The practice employs 41 people, all of whom will become Presbyterian employees.</p>
<p>MD Urgent Care CEO Tom Pascuzzi will lead Presbyterian’s new convenience care services division. Pascuzzi was Presbyterian’s medical director of care coordination and utilization management before founding MD Urgent Care four years ago.</p>
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<p>Lauren Cates, Presbyterian’s senior vice president of market development and operational planning, said MD Urgent Care patients will see no change in service and that the practice will continue to accept the same insurance, including Lovelace Health Plan and Blue Cross and Blue Shield.</p>
<p>Cates said Presbyterian’s five urgent-care centers, which serve 125,000 patients a year, will be folded into the new division next year and are planning to accept as many insurance plans as possible, including Lovelace and BCBS. Presbyterian facilities do not accept those plans today.</p>
<p>The new division will find ways to deliver “the care the customers want on their own terms,” she said. “That doesn’t always mean coming to a Presbyterian building.”</p>
<p>The division will experiment with creating on-site clinics for employers, mobile clinics that take care to the patients, telemedicine and Web- and smartphone-based physician visits.</p>
<p>Pascuzzi said that many patients can consult their medical providers remotely. Colds, coughs, sore throats and medication-related problems often can be handled via phone and email. Telemedicine systems can deliver patients’ vital signs to the physician. Camera-equipped cellphones can upload an image of a rash or a laceration to a medical provider in seconds.</p>
<p>“We should be on mobile and telemedicine technologies to serve larger populations in more comfortable settings,” Pascuzzi said. “Why should (a patient) go to a waiting room when he can wait on a mobile device?”</p>
<p>Employers are demanding health care on their own sites so employees won’t have to leave work for medical reasons, he said. — This article appeared on page B1 of the Albuquerque Journal</p> | Presbyterian Purchases Urgent-Care Practice | false | https://abqjournal.com/149662/presbyterian-purchases-urgentcare-practice.html | 2 |
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<p><a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Sen. Ted Cruz</a> announced a bid for the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a> on Monday, drawing praise from grass-roots conservatives but a fierce backlash from Hispanic groups that said they were appalled at the prospect of the first Hispanic to announce for president this cycle being such a firm champion of a crackdown on illegal immigrants.</p>
<p>The freshman lawmaker, whose father was Cuban, has been one of the most vocal opponents of President Obama’s immigration policy. He voted against a legalization bill in 2013 and helped lead opposition to the administration’s deportation amnesty over the past six months.</p>
<p>Announcing his candidacy at Liberty University, <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a> sounded familiar conservative themes and said he believes “God isn’t done with America yet.”</p>
<p><a href="/multimedia/collection/obamas-biggest-white-house-fails/" type="external">PHOTOS: See Obama's biggest White House fails</a></p>
<p>“I believe in you. I believe in the power of millions of courageous conservatives rising up to reignite the promise in America,” he said.</p>
<p><a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a> is the first elected Hispanic Republican in history to seek the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a>, but Hispanic groups found little to celebrate in the groundbreaking moment.</p>
<p>“We reject <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Ted Cruz</a>, which is sad, because while he is the first Latino to declare his candidacy, he may be the most anti-immigration candidate on stage during the debates,” Cesar Vargas and Erika Andiola, co-directors of the Dream Action Coalition, said in a joint statement. “While <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Ted Cruz</a> has a Latino name and immigration in his past, that’s where the similarities between him and the Latino community end.”</p>
<p><a href="/multimedia/collection/21-best-guns-home-protection/" type="external">PHOTOS: 21 best guns for home protection</a></p>
<p><a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a>’s announcement kick-starts the battle for the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a>, and a slew of others will soon follow. Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, is expected to declare his candidacy April 7.</p>
<p>A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School, <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a>, 44, served as solicitor general of Texas. He argued several cases before the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>He was elected to the Senate in 2012, and in his first two years in office he regularly battled with Republican establishment leaders over strategy and stances. Those fights earned him rock-star status among the party’s grass-roots activists.</p>
<p>Richard A. Viguerie, chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, said <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a>’s announcement means the rest of the field will have to “move right to respond to <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Cruz</a>, or be left behind by a grassroots conservative electorate fed-up with Republican candidates who are merely principle-free messengers for an out of touch Washington elite.”</p>
<p><a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a> is likely to be one of several Republican candidates adding diversity to the field. Former neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who is black, and Sen. Marco Rubio, who is of Cuban descent, are expected to run as well.</p>
<p>The big question for <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a> is whether he can build a big enough coalition to claim the mantle of the conservative alternative to the establishment candidate in a race that likely will include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Mr. Paul.</p>
<p>“He potentially can rebuild the Reagan coalition by adding a populist, anti-Washington message that attracted disaffected Democrats and independents,” said Craig Shirley, a biographer of former President Ronald Reagan.</p>
<p>The decision to speak to thousands of students at Liberty University, which bills itself as the world’s biggest Christian college, also sent a message, he said. “This is also a shot at Bush, who so far has run an establishment, big donor campaign which has rejected faith as an organizing principle.”</p>
<p>Ford O’Connell, a Republican Party strategist, said <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a> has a narrow path to the nomination.</p>
<p>“For <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Cruz</a> to have a legitimate shot at the nomination, he has to become the preeminent candidate for both grass-roots conservatives and social conservatives, which means he has to elbow out the darlings of social conservatives — Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Ben Carson,” Mr. O’Connell said.</p>
<p>In his speech, <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a> delivered conservative red meat by vowing to abolish the IRS, stand unapologetically with Israel and stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.</p>
<p>He pledged to champion religious liberty, pro-life policies and traditional marriage. He touted his support of Second Amendment gun rights as well as his desire to repeal Obamacare and scrap the K-12 education standards known as Common Core.</p>
<p><a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a> was joined by his wife, Heidi, who is taking leave during the campaign from her job at Goldman Sachs, and his two young daughters, Caroline and Catherine.</p>
<p>Polls show <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a> is running toward the back of the pack and has work to do to attract fellow Hispanics.</p>
<p>An October survey by Latino Decisions showed that 73 percent of respondents said they are unlikely to vote for <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a>, compared with 24 percent who said they likely would. Another Latino Decisions poll showed that nearly nine out of 10 Hispanic voters, including 76 percent of Hispanic Republicans, support Mr. Obama’s executive amnesties.</p>
<p><a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a> asked the thousands who turned out to hear him speak to think about how the nation could benefit from his conservative vision.</p>
<p>“Instead of the lawlessness and the president’s unconstitutional executive amnesty, imagine a president that finally, finally, finally secures the borders,” <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a> said. “And imagine a legal immigration system that welcomes and celebrates those who come to achieve the American dream.”</p>
<p>Hispanic and immigrant rights groups said Hispanic voters consider immigration to be a threshold issue and won’t be happy with <a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a>’s stance.</p>
<p>“The next president of the United States — and anyone who wants that job — has to come ready with a real plan and time table to fix our country’s broken immigration system,” said Lupe Lopez, executive director of the Alliance for Citizenship. “Candidates who spew anti-immigrant rhetoric and demagoguery have no place and no chance of winning the <a href="/topics/white-house/" type="external">White House</a>.”</p>
<p><a href="/topics/ted-cruz/" type="external">Mr. Cruz</a> is the first Hispanic to hold elected office to run for the Republican nomination. Ben Fernandez, a former U.S. ambassador to Paraguay who ran for president in 1980 and 1984, earned three delegates to the 1980 Republican convention.</p>
<p>Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson in 2008 became the first Hispanic to run for the Democratic nomination.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. <a href="http://license.icopyright.net/3.7280?icx_id=/news/2015/mar/23/ted-cruz-immigration-crackdown-advocacy-sparks-fie/" type="external">Click here for reprint permission</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | Ted Cruz faces fierce Hispanic backlash over immigration crackdown advocacy | true | http://washingtontimes.com/news/2015/mar/23/ted-cruz-immigration-crackdown-advocacy-sparks-fie/ | 2015-03-23 | 0 |
<p>Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPS leaders treaded lightly as they announced school actions for this year, holding true to a promise made by CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett by declining to close schools.</p>
<p>According to state law, CPS must announce actions by Dec. 1.&#160;</p>
<p>The only two actions being planned are to move Urban Prep’s Bronzeville campus to the building currently being used by Chicago High School for the Arts at 521 E. 35th St., known as ChiArts, and to have Frazier Prep Charter School share the Herzl Elementary building at 3711 W. Douglas.</p>
<p>Urban Prep currently shares a building with Drake Elementary at 2710 S. Dearborn. Drake expanded this year because it received students from the closed Williams.</p>
<p>CPS leaders say they haven’t identified a “final,” permanent location for ChiArts High, though parents of the school’s students received a letter saying that Lafayette, a shuttered school across town in East Humboldt Park, is likely to be the new location.</p>
<p>Moving ChiArts to Lafayette is controversial because parents point out that it is not a central location and will be difficult for South Side students to travel to. In addition, ChiArts is a contract school and some view its possible relocation in a closed school as a violation of Byrd-Bennett’s promise not to turn over shuttered schools to charters.</p>
<p>Since Chi Arts moved into its current location in 2011, CPS has spent more than $9 million renovating its space.</p>
<p>The other move will put Frazier Prep, which is a low-performing charter school in North Lawndale, in a building with a low-performing elementary. CPS says the move will allow Frazier International, which is currently sharing a building with Frazier Prep, to expand from 265 students to eventually 930 students. Frazier International is a high performing school.</p>
<p>What that would mean for Herzl is unclear. Herzl is a turnaround school run by the Academy for Urban School Leadership. But it is among the lowest-rated schools in the district and its enrollment dropped from 554 students in the 2012-2013 school year to 421 students this year.</p>
<p>The fact that CPS did not propose more co-locations is a bit surprising. Because of Byrd-Bennett’s promise not to hand over vacant school buildings to charters, new charters are searching for locations.</p>
<p>Even with this year’s closings of 49 schools, about 100 schools are half-full, including 13 neighborhood high schools. &#160;CPS officials have laid out no plans for these high schools, except to say that co-locations with charter schools are an option.</p>
<p>Closing them is a dicey proposition. Not only is Byrd-Bennett’s moratorium in place, but moving high school students has in the past led to violence.&#160;</p>
<p>This story has been corrected. It orginally said that the Frazier magnet would be sharing a building with Herzl. It is actually Frazier charter school that will be moving in with Herzl, if the board approves these plans.</p> | Two school actions proposed: moves for Urban Prep, Frazier | false | http://chicagoreporter.com/two-school-actions-proposed-moves-urban-prep-frazier/ | 2013-11-26 | 3 |
<p>As a rash of measles outbreaks raises&#160;health alarms, Californians are caught in a national crossfire of controversy over&#160;a new trend against vaccinating children. Thanks to relatively lenient laws, the Golden State has been caught flat-footed as over 100&#160;residents have <a href="http://ktla.com/2015/02/02/102-measles-cases-in-january-most-stemming-from-disneyland-outbreak-cdc/" type="external">contracted</a>&#160;the disease, which immunizations had rendered almost unheard of in contemporary America.</p>
<p>A 2012 law, designed to keep children vaccinated, <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_27433439/measles-outbreak-raises-fury-over-californias-vaccine-exemptions" type="external">forced</a> parents seeking exceptions to receive counseling and a signature from doctors or other health care professionals. But a carve-out&#160;applied by Gov. Jerry Brown <a href="http://www.nvic.org/Vaccine-Laws/state-vaccine-requirements/california.aspx" type="external">allowed</a> those with an objection rooted in personal beliefs&#160;to skirt the regulation.</p>
<p>The so-called “anti-vax” movement, which has attracted the attention of politicians since the&#160;past decade, has developed largely in response to concerns that the ingredients of many popular vaccines could contribute to autism.</p>
<p>Over the years, officeholders from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to President Barack Obama have <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/02/chris-christie-the-anti-vax-vote-vaccination-balance/385074/" type="external">weighed in</a>, sometimes tentatively, on the debate. Now events in California have sharpened battle lines and made opposing sides more strident.</p>
<p>Although California’s initially small population of unvaccinated or more slowly vaccinated children escaped the notice of regulators and activists, a recent increase to more sizable numbers has raised eyebrows and alarms. “State records show more than 13,000 kindergartners in California are unvaccinated because of either personal or religious beliefs,” the San Jose Mercury News <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_27433439/measles-outbreak-raises-fury-over-californias-vaccine-exemptions" type="external">reported</a>, with under half without vaccination at some private schools. Thousands more children in other grades, the paper concluded, had also&#160;skipped vaccines.</p>
<p>These trends were visible as early as the onset of the previous school year. In September, the Los Angeles Times <a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-school-vaccines-20140903-story.html#page=1" type="external">reported</a> that “parents are deciding against vaccinating their kindergarten-age children at twice the rate they did seven years ago, a fact public health experts said is contributing to the reemergence of measles across the state and may lead to outbreaks of other serious diseases.”</p>
<p>According to state data cited by the Times, the percentage of kindergartens with at least 8&#160;in 100&#160;unvaccinated children had&#160;more than doubled&#160;over the same time period. The Times observed the&#160;8 percent&#160;threshold “is significant because communities must be immunized at a high rate to avoid widespread disease outbreaks. It is a concept known as herd immunity, and for measles and whooping cough at least 92 percent of kids need to be immune, experts say.”</p>
<p>But in a recent follow-up report, the Times noted that vaccination rates had actually <a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-immunization-data-20150123-story.html" type="external">climbed</a> in 2014, “Statewide, the rate of vaccine waivers for kindergartners entering school in the fall declined to 2.5 percent in 2014 from 3.1 percent in 2013. Bigger declines were seen in districts with some of the larger vaccine exemption rates.”</p>
<p>For activists and analysts weighing in on the trends, however, last year’s dip in waivers isn’t enough to bring calm to the cultural storm. The “anti-vax” movement has attracted strong critics on the political right and left, each of which&#160;recognizes familiar stereotypes of their cultural opponents among the country’s vaccine rejectors. For conservatives, self-entitled upper-middle-class hipster parents are to blame; for liberals, scorn is directed at what they consider superstitious anti-science Christians.</p>
<p>As for medical professionals themselves, worry has centered around the elevated risk of outbreak for serious, painful diseases. Steven Salzberg, a biomedical engineer at Johns Hopkins,&#160; <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2015/02/01/anti-vaccine-movement-causes-worst-measles-epidemic-in-20-years/" type="external">issued</a> a typical warning several years ago concerning the spread of whooping cough. His frustration this year reflects a broad consensus among doctors that at least some vaccines are essential:</p>
<p>“Most of the anti-vax crowd have no scientific training or expertise, which might explain (but doesn’t excuse) their complete ignorance of the science. Over the past 15 years, dozens of studies involving hundreds of thousands of people have shown convincingly that neither vaccines nor any of the ingredients in them are linked to autism. Vaccines are not only safe, but they are perhaps the greatest public health success in the history of civilization.”</p>
<p>If pressure for increased regulation builds, “vaxxers” and “anti-vaxxers” may well be obliged to negotiate, with some vaccines becoming mandatory and others being regulated according to more or less restrictive timetables.</p>
<p>But on both sides, the appetite for compromise is weak. In one&#160;quote making the rounds in the media, a mother unwilling to let her child get&#160;a measles inoculation <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/31/us/vaccine-critics-turn-defensive-over-measles.html" type="external">told</a> the New York Times she’d rather her daughter “miss an entire semester” than receive one shot.</p> | CA stricken with vaccine controversy | false | https://calwatchdog.com/2015/02/05/ca-stricken-with-vaccine-controversy/ | 2018-02-20 | 3 |
<p>GUADALAJARA, Mexico - Sandra Avila Beltran, known in Mexico as "The Queen of the Pacific," has been handed to the United States where she will face charges of trafficking cocaine, <a href="http://noticierostelevisa.esmas.com/nacional/485444/entrega-mexico-extradicion-reina-del-pacifico-/" type="external">Mexican news agency Notimex reported today.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandra_?vila_Beltr?n" type="external">Avila Beltran</a> is well known for her suspected involvement in the Mexican drug trade.</p>
<p>She earned her nickname for allegedly carving out smuggling routes along Mexico's Pacific Coast into California.</p>
<p>Avila Beltran was arrested in Mexico in 2007 and convicted on money laundering charges. The court told prosecutors they had not provided enough evidence to convict her of drug trafficking.</p>
<p>In June, Avila Beltran lost a more than two-year battle against a US extradition request. She had argued she would be tried for the same crimes twice, <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/mexico-extradites-drug-cartel-queen-united-states-222617874.html" type="external">Reuters reported.</a></p>
<p>In a 2009 interview that aired on "60 Minutes" and CNN, Avila denied the charges against her, <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/09/world/americas/mexico-drug-queen-extradited/" type="external">CNN reported.</a></p>
<p>She instead blamed Mexican authorities for allowing drug trafficking to flourish.</p>
<p>"In Mexico there's a lot of corruption, a lot. Large shipments of drugs can come into the Mexican ports or airports without the authorities knowing about it. It's obvious and logical. The government has to be involved in everything that is corrupt," she said.</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/mexico/120809/mexico-violence-14-bodies-found-van-san-luis-potosi-sta" type="external">Mexico violence: 14 bodies found in van in San Luis Potosi state</a> &#160;</p>
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<p>Jay Mallin/ZUMA Wire</p>
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<p>On Wednesday, federal prosecutors indicted Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) on charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, honest services fraud, and making false statements. Salomon Melgen, a top Menendez benefactor and Florida opthalmologist, was named as a co-conspirator in the 22-count indictment. The feds allege that Melgen provided Menendez with private airfare and free accommodations at the donor’s luxury resort in the Dominican Republic. In exchange, Menendez helped “influence the immigration visa proceedings of Melgen’s foreign girlfriends” and pressured the State Department, Customs and Border Patrol, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to protect the doctor’s business interests.</p>
<p>Menendez will hold a press conference in Newark on Wednesday night to address the allegations.</p>
<p>You can read the full indictment here:</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p /> | Sen. Bob Menendez Was Just Charged With Bribery. Read the Indictment. | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2015/04/read-bob-menendez-federal-indictment/ | 2015-04-01 | 4 |
<p>By Mark Wingfield</p>
<p>As a Texan, I am not enamored with Ted Cruz as my senator. However, right now I have a bit of sympathy for him.</p>
<p>Last week, he called Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell a “liar” on the Senate floor. And the wrath of all decent society has descended upon Cruz for this social faux pas.</p>
<p>And yet the question no one seems to have asked out loud is this: Was Cruz right? Did McConnell, in fact, tell an outright lie? (Notwithstanding the question of whether a politician telling a lie actually is news anymore.) And if McConnell did tell a lie, does anyone care?</p>
<p>This Senate dustup illustrates one of the great social dilemmas of modern American society: Is it a greater sin to call out someone for telling a lie than to be the one who actually tells the lie?</p>
<p>I’ve experienced this, and you may have too. A few years ago, during a difficult dispute in an organization where I served as a board member, a leader of the organization sat in a meeting with multiple witnesses and told a flat-out lie. What was said was a 180-degree misrepresentation of the plain facts. This was not a matter of interpretation; there was written documentation to back up the truth.</p>
<p>Afterward, another well-meaning person who was trying to find a way through the larger conflict asked me why I was so upset. My answer was simple: Because this leader had told the group a bald-faced lie, meant to obfuscate the speaker’s own misdeeds.</p>
<p>This statement nearly ended our conversation. The intermediary, even in the course of a private two-person conversation, could not bear the fact that I had called out someone as a liar. Instead, the guilt suddenly became mine; I was the inappropriate person who needed to straighten things out. In this mediator’s view, it was a greater sin to call someone a “liar” than for someone to be a liar.</p>
<p>I’ve spent several years pondering this question and wondering why our social niceties demand that we not call an untruth an untruth. Shouldn’t there be some way to hold others accountable for their intentionally misleading speech?</p>
<p>Of course, I’m not talking about unintentional misstatements, the common errors we all make from time to time. Most folks, when confronted with a misstatement, will quickly acknowledge the error and move on. That is different than an intentional lie.</p>
<p>Is it possible that we have come to expect people to tell lies as a normal course of business, and therefore we are immune to their effects?</p>
<p>This has implications for the church, as well. More than a few pastors and church staff members have been undone by uncontested lies told by disgruntled parishioners. And more than a few businesspeople who are faithful church members have gained identities in the communities as purveyors of untruths in their business dealings. And more than a few pastors have taken up pen or pulpit to declare boldly that the Bible says things it clearly does not say.</p>
<p>Jesus called us to be people of truth, proclaiming that the truth will set us free. If we really believe what Jesus said, could we have a new conversation about how to foster truth with kindness that allows a way to hold others accountable for speaking untruths? One of the greatest gifts the church could give modern culture is to model truth-telling. That’s no lie.</p> | The problem of calling someone a liar | false | https://baptistnews.com/article/the-problem-of-calling-someone-a-liar/ | 3 |
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<p>Barack Obama wanted to be the Democrats’ Ronald Reagan. Instead, he is leaving office more like the Democrats’ Jerry Ford: personally popular but with his party defeated, divided, and in despair. Democrats on Obama’s watch have, like Republicans after Ford, dropped to historically low numbers of congressmen, governors, and state legislators. The Democratic party today has less direct influence on American government at all levels than at any time since Reconstruction. On the surface, that looks like a pretty awful political legacy.</p>
<p>But recall that Reagan and Republican renewal came just four years after Ford’s 1976 defeat. The seeds for that renewal were present for all who had eyes to see. Those seeds, coupled with an inexperienced Democratic president who could not meet the demands of his office and a series of economic and international crises that would have tested even the most skilled statesman, did not take long to bear fruit.</p>
<p>Obama planted a number of political seeds during his tenure, seeds that could, in the hands of a skilled gardener, blossom quite quickly if Donald Trump and the Republican Congress don’t govern wisely. If Obama’s strategy played poorly in the short run, we cannot yet count out the possibility that it will play out quite well over the coming years.</p>
<p>First, though, let us recount his political shortcomings. The president’s smug arrogance did not simply drive Republicans crazy, it led him to push on in pursuit of a progressive paradise when wiser Democrats were counselling caution. Obama had campaigned as a healer, a person who could mix red and blue in pursuit of a common American vision. When he instead governed as a progressive (albeit as one never pure enough for the faithful), pushing climate change and Obamacare as his major priorities, he broke faith with the independents and moderate blue-collar Democrats who had elected him and given Democrats the largest House and Senate majorities they had possessed since before Ronald Reagan.</p>
<p>These were simply unwise priorities to push when the nation was wracked with a massive, worsening recession. But that did not matter to the 47-year-old who had already authored two autobiographies. According to the New York Times, Obama’s first treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, told him early on that his legacy would be preventing a second great depression. Obama replied, “That’s not good enough for me.” That, plus encouraging a fast recovery, would have been plenty good for most Americans.</p>
<p>Obama’s progressive advisers, ignoring the counsel of his first chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel, believed the reason Bill Clinton’s Democrats had been wiped out in 1994—after they had sought to pass a progressive wish list—was that they had flinched and not rammed their priorities through Congress. Do that, they told Obama, and Americans will reward the bold. Instead, Democrats lost even more seats in the House in 2010 than they had in 1994, dropping to their lowest level since 1946.</p>
<p>Devastation dogged down-ballot Democrats, too. Republicans picked up five governorships, winning in the large states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. They gained an incredible 720 state legislative seats, picking up majority control in 21 legislative chambers. These gains allowed the GOP to control redistricting in each of the states listed above, as well as other important states they already controlled, such as Texas. This in turn allowed Republicans to dominate the redistricting process for the first time in decades, redrawing congressional and state legislative lines heavily in their favor.</p>
<p>Bill Clinton learned from his early mistakes and tacked to the center for the remainder of his presidency. Obama never did. He continued to push progressive priorities instead of those championed by the broad center of America, relying on the power of the executive to move them forward when the Republican-controlled House wouldn’t act. So, add stubbornness to arrogance as a second compounding feature of Obama’s political legacy.</p>
<p>Obama did win reelection in 2012, but that was because of Republican failure as much as his own genius. The Republican party thought it didn’t need to offer an attractive alternative vision to reach the disaffected center. It nominated in Mitt Romney a man who would have made a great scoutmaster but who developed no agenda that could make up for his bland, MBA-as-savior political persona. And so Republicans failed to win the White House or take control of the Senate in what they had thought would be an easy victory, given the seats up for grabs.</p>
<p>But Obama seems to think that he, not the Dos Equis guy, is the most interesting man in the world, and so he followed up his narrow escape with a second dose of stubbornness in pursuit of progressive ideals. The Paris climate accords, the Iran deal, the executive orders on immigration—all seemed wildly out of sorts with the priorities and policies preferred by the independents and blue-collar voters who had just reelected him. They therefore delivered another Democratic drubbing in 2014.</p>
<p>Trump’s nomination gave Democrats a golden opportunity to move beyond Obama. The Donald might indeed be the most interesting man in America, but throughout 2016 he was certainly among the least popular. As Hillary moved to the left to attract progressives, she doubled down on the policy priorities middle America didn’t value. Middle America had been screaming “What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand?” to Democrats for eight years. They didn’t listen, and so we are where we are.</p>
<p>Obama may look the fool now; he might, however, look the genius in the not-so-distant future. That’s because the very policies and priorities that don’t attract the current American center are quite popular with the future American voter.</p>
<p>Many young, college-educated whites want a form of secular multiculturalism. Many first-generation Latinos want friendly immigration policies and expanding government. These voters are poised to make up an ever-growing share of the electorate.</p>
<p>We should not forget that Clinton won the popular vote and only barely lost the three midwestern states that gave Trump the presidency. She also lost Florida and North Carolina by close margins and reduced the GOP’s winning margin in Arizona by almost two-thirds. Had she shown even the slightest interest in moving to the middle, Hillary Clinton would be president and the Democrats would control the Senate.</p>
<p>Other, wiser Democrats have run campaigns that appeal to the center and the Left, and they have won in key swing states. There is no reason a Democratic Reagan can’t see this and make the small but necessary adjustments to regain the White House.</p>
<p>Obama’s great success as a politician has been to build a very large and very loyal Democratic constituency. Even in his darkest hours, Obama’s popularity ratings never dropped below 40 percent, usually hovering in the low to mid 40s even when he was down. The Democrats’ progressivism may give them a low ceiling, but it also seems to give them a very high floor.</p>
<p>The Republicans would be wrong to think that their hold on the House or the states is impregnable. The GOP has nine governorships up for election in 2017 or 2018 in states that voted for Hillary Clinton and that Obama won twice. It holds another five up for election in those years in Obama/Trump states. It wouldn’t take much for Democrats to make a huge rebound in statehouses, and every governor elected in those years will be able to block Republican redistricting efforts in 2021.</p>
<p>Gerrymandering is a big reason Republicans hold large majorities in many statehouses, and is a significant reason they have a House majority. Fairer redistricting plans in states such as Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan could cost the GOP as many as 15 House seats. A court challenge to the Republican gerrymander of Wisconsin is already on its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Anthony Kennedy previously suggested that partisan gerrymanders can violate the Constitution. If he joins with the Court’s liberals in judging that Wisconsin’s plan does so, and if the majority were to adopt legal standards to constrain future redistricting, then the GOP’s House and state legislative majorities would no longer be secure.</p>
<p>The Obama political legacy, therefore, remains a work in progress. Moving the Democratic party to the left has given the Republicans a chance to come back. Only eight years ago, they were defeated, divided, and in despair. Obama gave them something to unite behind and the massive win in 2010 gave them hope. But a party that controls all the levers of government can no longer unite by being against something. It can only unite by being for something—and that remains a challenge for the GOP.</p>
<p>Republicans must do what Obama and Hillary Clinton failed to do: Find a way to unite the concerns of their base with those of the center. That will require what neither Democrat was willing to do, be creative and compromise. Trump’s core voters, in particular, believe they have been given a raw deal by both parties for a very long time. They flocked to him precisely because he seemed to be free of both parties’ bases and their tribal concerns. Republicans’ failure to recognize this would set the stage for conflict with the White House and defeat in 2018.</p>
<p>To avoid such an outcome, Republicans need to learn the difference between principle and ideology. Fortunately, they had a great teacher in Ronald Reagan.</p>
<p>Reagan’s 1977 speech “The New Republican Party” asserts that this difference provides the secret to winning. Americans hate ideology, which Reagan defined as the “slavish adherence to abstraction.” Ideologues, Reagan said, make the facts fit their preconceived theories. Conservatives derive their ideals from facts—and adjust their policies when they see new facts.</p>
<p>As president, Reagan did exactly that. He was for free trade but levied penalties on Japan many times because of what he saw as unfair trading practices. He was against tax increases, but he signed off on two tax hikes during his tenure, including one designed to keep Social Security solvent for decades. He hated the Soviet Union but was willing to sign an arms-control agreement with Mikhail Gorbachev when he came to believe Gorbachev was a different type of Soviet leader.</p>
<p>In his speech, Reagan specifically criticized ideological fanatics, people who “sacrifice principle to theory, worship only the god of political, social, and economic abstractions, ignoring the realities of everyday life. They are not conservatives.” Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were rightly judged by the American people to be ideologues, people who cared more about their abstractions than about everyday life. Smug, arrogant, and stubborn are no ways to go through political life. Republicans who want to make Obama’s political legacy an unambiguously negative one should listen to Reagan.</p>
<p>Mr. Olsen is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and an adjunct professor at Villanova University. He is the author of the forthcoming book Ronald Reagan: New Deal Republican.</p> | Obama’s Young Garden | false | https://eppc.org/publications/obamas-young-garden/ | 1 |
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<p>Wes MontgomeryIn the Beginning Resonance</p>
<p>Near the end of his life, jazz guitar virtuoso Wes Montgomery (1923-1968) caught the ear of pop audiences with a series of records that were slick and sophisticated, but a little dull. This vibrant two-disc set is far more satisfying. Spanning 1949 to 1958, In the Beginning is dominated by live performances from Montgomery’s hometown of Indianapolis, in small-group settings that often featured brothers Monk (bass) and Buddy (piano), along with underrated tenor sax player Alonzo “Pookie” Johnson. The recordings aren’t perfect technically, and the playing isn’t always razor-sharp, but all concerned sound like they’re having a great time, especially Wes, who swings and struts with a freewheeling joy missing from his later work. Also included are five polished studio tracks produced by none other than a 22-year-old Quincy Jones, although these pale next to the spontaneous sounds of Wes Montgomery onstage, finding himself and having fun.</p>
<p /> | The Freewheeling Fun of Jazz Guitarist Wes Montgomery’s Live Concerts | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/compilation-jazz-guitar-virtuoso-wes-montgomerys-live-concerts-are-great-fun/ | 2015-05-25 | 4 |
<p>VANCOUVER, Canada — Scientists are making some headway in figuring out what is killing millions of sea stars in the waters off the Pacific coast, from British Columbia to Mexico.</p>
<p>While a definitive answer eludes them, researchers suggest a pathogen — either bacterial or viral — is responsible for the death toll.</p>
<p>"We don't have an absolute answer yet," said Lesanna Lahner, a veterinarian at the Seattle Aquarium, after presenting the latest information at the Salish Sea Ecosystem conference in Seattle last week.</p>
<p>"We've narrowed in on it possibly being a pathogen, some sort of infectious source, bacterial or viral."</p>
<p>The disease was first noticed last summer, among sunflower sea stars near Vancouver and Seattle. Within weeks, whole colonies had dissolved into the sea.</p>
<p>White lesions appear on the arms of the sea stars — commonly called starfish. Very quickly, they begin to deteriorate until their arms fall off. Eventually, there's nothing left but "goo."</p>
<p>Just gathering specimens for testing was a challenge because the creatures disintegrated so quickly.</p>
<p>Populations of several different species have been wiped. Occurrences have been noted as far north as Sitka Sound, Alaska, but it's more common in British Columbia, where it's been confirmed from Port Hardy in the north and as far south as Montague Harbor, a marine park off Galiano Island, one of the Gulf Islands.</p>
<p>Washington state has many dozens of confirmed sites where the sea stars have wasted away, but Oregon only a handful. The California coast has been decimated.</p>
<p>The Pacific Northwest, in particular, is renowned for its bright array of sea stars — marine invertebrates that weigh up to 11 pounds and live from three to five years.</p>
<p>Martin Haulena, staff veterinarian at the Vancouver Aquarium, said ongoing surveillance has revealed the massive extent of the die-off.</p>
<p>A large team of researchers is working on it but they're hesitant to point the figure just yet on a cause.</p>
<p>"I think there's been a lot of progress," he said. "Certainly the microbiology side of things and the molecular biology side of things, the virology side of things have revealed some really interesting findings."</p>
<p>Sunflower sea stars were the first found disintegrating on the ocean floor, but the disease has not been discerning. Morning sun, mottled, giant pink, and purple stars have suffered the highest mortality.</p>
<p>Five more species have also been found dead and scientists believe 10 others are affected but haven't been well-documented.</p>
<p>In the pockets where the syndrome takes hold, mortality is upwards of 95 percent.</p>
<p>"It's very deadly in the regions where it's happening," said Lahner, whose aquarium is working with the Vancouver Aquarium, ZooPath, Cornell University, US Geological Service, Wildlife Conservation Society, SeaDoc and the Monterey Bay Aquarium to find the answer.</p>
<p>In July, researchers at the University of Rhode Island reported sea stars deaths on the east coast, as well, from New Jersey to Maine. The toll has been much less and scientists aren't sure if the two are related.</p>
<p>There has been much speculation about the cause of the largest ever die-off of the species ever documented.</p>
<p>Is it a virus? Warming water due to climate change? Some even blamed radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster in Japan. The Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network, or MARINe, ruled that out in January.</p>
<p>"There has been substantial speculation in the media that the disease could be a result of increased radiation from the nuclear power plant disaster in Fukushima, Japan. We have no evidence to suggest that radiation is a likely culprit," the agency said on its website.</p>
<p>Benjamin Miner, a biologist at Western Washington University, is working with colleagues at Cornell University and others to unlock the secret of the syndrome. They have not yet found the direct cause of the die-offs, he said.</p>
<p>"There is evidence that stars that die have elevated bacterial loads, probably from secondary infections. We have some evidence that a virus is involved, but the results are very preliminary," Miner said.</p>
<p>"Stress likely also plays a role."</p>
<p>It may be part of a natural cycle, he said.</p>
<p>"We currently know so little about the disease that we have no suggestions about how to prevent it," he said.</p> | What is killing all the starfish? | false | https://pri.org/stories/2014-05-04/what-killing-all-starfish | 2014-05-04 | 3 |
<p>On Monday afternoon, Philadelphia’s police department <a href="https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/07/25/ms-flag-removed-avenue-states-dnc/87543038/" type="external">removed</a> the Mississippi state flag from the Avenue of the States display on Broad Street created for the Democratic National Convention.</p>
<p>According to the Associated Press, around 50 protesters had camped on the road to shout that the flag should be removed from the lamp post, as it features the Confederate flag on it. Brian Abernathy with the Philadelphia mayor’s office told AP that there had been complaints from residents prior to the Monday protest. Most of the protesters were Bernie Sanders supporters; Philly Mag reporter Dan McQuade said one tried to yank the flag down using a rope.</p>
<p>Another Mississippi flag nearby will also be removed, according to Abernathy. The Avenue of the States display had been comprised of flags from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories.</p>
<p>Some Mississippi Democratic representatives to the DNC were <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/dnc/20160726_Mississippi_flag_won_t_fly_in_Philly.html" type="external">delighted</a> that the flag had been removed; Ouida Meruvia, a spokeswoman for the Mississippi Democratic Party, said the state's delegation was in concert with the decision, opining, "The Democratic Party in Mississippi does not advocate the Mississippi flag. A lot of delegates have come out against it." Curley Clark, a Hillary Clinton delegate and president of the Jackson County, Miss., NAACP, called the flag "an affront to the descendants of slaves" and said it "should be changed." Meruvia added that the flag’s removal "speaks to the national reaction about our flag and what we've been talking about."</p>
<p>In the spring of 2016, Carlos Moore of Grenada, Mississippi <a href="https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2016/03/04/lawsuit-calls-mississippi-flag-vestige-slavery/81355388/" type="external">filed suit</a> against Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, who preferred to let Mississippi residents decide whether to jettison the flag or keep it. Moore argued that the Confederate flag violated the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which outlawed slavery. He also argued that the flag violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection rights of blacks in Mississippi. He wrote, “Mississippi is the only state that includes a symbol of a treacherous and insurrectionist Confederate army in its official state flag, restricting the liberty to be free from such tyranny said non-residents enjoy in all other states.”</p>
<p>"The Democratic Party in Mississippi does not advocate the Mississippi flag. A lot of delegates have come out against it."</p>
<p>Ouida Meruvia, a spokeswoman for the Mississippi Democratic Party</p>
<p>Bryant spokesman Clay Chandler said Moore’s lawsuit was “frivolous.” Bryant honored a request from the Sons of Confederate Veterans to proclaim April as Confederate Heritage Month.</p>
<p>The impetus for removing the Mississippi flag seemed to derive from the massacre of nine black worshippers at a Charleston, South Carolina, church in June, as the murderer, Dylan Roof, had posed for online photos with the rebel flag. Some Mississippi cities and counties and some universities terminated the use of the state flag after the massacre.</p>
<p>By the end of February, efforts in the Mississippi legislature to remove the flag <a href="https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/27/legislature-2016-session/81006960/" type="external">had died</a> in committee.</p> | Philadelphia Police Remove Mississippi Flag To Avoid ‘Racist’ Implications At DNC | true | https://dailywire.com/news/7815/philadelphia-police-remove-mississippi-flag-avoid-hank-berrien | 2016-07-26 | 0 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />A Republican in Indiana <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/11/indiana-gop-candidate-no-one-has-the-guts-to-let-poor-people-wither-and-die/" type="external">has once again proven</a> just how much disdain the GOP has for the poor by saying one of the most disgusting things about them that I’ve ever heard.</p>
<p>During an online discussion about poverty, Republican John Johnston said of the poor,&#160;“no one has the guts to just let them wither and die.”</p>
<p>But to grasp just how much Johnston hates the poor, you really need to see his comments in their full context.</p>
<p>“For almost three generations people, in some cases, have been given handouts,” Johnston said. “They have been ‘enabled’ so much that their paradigm in life is simply being given the stuff of life, however meager.”</p>
<p>“What you see is a setting for a life of misery is life to them never-the-less,” he continued. “No one has the guts to just let them wither and die. No one who wants votes is willing to call a spade a spade. As long as the Dems can get their votes the enabling will continue. The Republicans need their votes and dare not cut the fiscal tether. It is really a political Catch-22.”</p>
<p>But Johnston didn’t stop there, “The voters are the ones in charge. &#160;However when only 10-11 percent show up to vote, not much will change. People simply are not hurting enough, or simply happy enough that they will do nothing. Consequently the dole continues.”</p>
<p>It’s the typical “people are poor because they’ve been enabled” right-wing propaganda. &#160;This fool seems unaware that millions of Americans work full-time jobs yet still rely on help from the government because they make so little due to&#160;his&#160;party continuing to oppose any hike in the minimum wage.</p>
<p>Are there people who abuse the system? &#160;Absolutely. &#160;But the way many Republicans perpetuate this myth that the majority of Americans living in poverty are living that way because they’re lazy is, quite frankly, pathetic.</p>
<p>Oh, someone might also want to inform him that there are more liberals than conservatives. Typically the higher the voter turnout, the better that is for Democrats – not Republicans.</p>
<p>That’s why Republicans are trying so hard to pass new voter ID laws that make it harder for people to vote. &#160;They know the lower the turnout, the better it is for the GOP.</p>
<p>But once again John Johnston proved just how much Republicans loathe Americans who are living in poverty.</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">The 5 Most Embarrassing Moments for Republicans in 2014</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">The Consequences Of Voters Staying Home: Ted Cruz Will Now Oversee Science and NASA in Senate</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Dear Poor and Middle Class Republicans: ....Why?!</a></p>
<p>0 Facebook comments</p> | Indiana Republican: ‘No One Has the Guts’ to Let the Poor ‘Wither and Die’ | true | http://forwardprogressives.com/indiana-republican-one-guts-let-poor-wither-die/ | 2014-06-12 | 4 |
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<p>Richard Nixon, say what you will of this criminally minded president, was a keen observer of politics. But he seems to have underestimated fellow Republican Ronald Reagan (or the American public). On the morning of November 17, 1971, Nixon, while meeting with National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger in the Oval Office, shared a few sharp–and negative–comments about California Governor Ronald Reagan, who had recently told Kissinger that Nixon had a “real problem” with conservatives who believed Nixon was not sufficiently hawkish on foreign policy matters.</p>
<p>For years, the Presidential Recordings Program of the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia has been transcribing and analyzing the tape recordings Nixon secretly made in the White House. Even though it’s been 33 years since a disgraced Nixon left office, his tapes are still being processed by the National Archives, and the Miller Center has only recently gotten to the tape of this particular conversation. According to the newly created <a href="http://tapes.millercenter.virginia.edu/transcripts/index.php/Nixon/620-008" type="external">transcript</a> of the meeting, both Nixon and Kissinger believed Reagan was not the brightest bulb in the GOP. Here are some key excerpts:</p>
<p>President Nixon: What’s your evaluation of Reagan after meeting him several times now.</p>
<p>Kissinger: Well, I think he’s a–actually I think he’s a pretty decent guy.</p>
<p>President Nixon: Oh, decent, no question, but his brains</p>
<p>Kissinger: Well, his brains, are negligible. I–</p>
<p>President Nixon: He’s really pretty shallow, Henry.</p>
<p>Kissinger: He’s shallow. He’s got no…he’s an actor. He–When he gets a line he does it very well. He said, “Hell, people are remembered not for what they do, but for what they say. Can’t you find a few good lines?” [Chuckles.] That’s really an actor’s approach to foreign policy–to substantive….</p>
<p>President Nixon: I’ve said a lot of good things, too, you know damn well.</p>
<p>Kissinger: Well, that too.</p>
<p>Later in the 24-minute-long discussion, the two discussed the possibility of Reagan running for president:</p>
<p>President Nixon: Can you think though, Henry, can you think, though, that Reagan with certain forces running in the direction could be sitting right here?</p>
<p>Kissinger: Inconceivable.</p>
<p>So much for Kissinger’s powers of prognostication. As they were finishing up–after discussing other matters–Nixon slammed Reagan again:</p>
<p>President Nixon: Back to Reagan though. It shows you how a man of limited mental capacity simply doesn’t know what the Christ is going on in the foreign area. He’s got to know that on defense–doesn’t he know these battles we fight and fight and fight? Goddamn it, Henry, we’ve been at–</p>
<p>Kissinger: And I told him–he said, “Why don’t you fire the bureaucracy?” I said, “Because there are only so many battles we can fight. We take on the bureaucracy now, they’re going to leak us to death. Name me one thing that we have done that the bureaucracy made us do.”</p>
<p>President Nixon: The bureaucracy has had nothing to do with anything.</p>
<p>Kissinger: No, no. They’ve made our lives harder. They’ve driven us crazy. But that doesn’t affect him.</p>
<p>Shallow, negligible brains, limited mental capacity? Well, Reagan did manage to get elected twice, and he served out his two terms–a feat Nixon did not accomplish. And Kissinger happily <a href="http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1985/111585c.htm" type="external">served</a> on Reagan’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.</p>
<p /> | Nixon on Tape: Reagan Was “Shallow” and of “Limited Mental Capacity” | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2007/11/nixon-tape-reagan-was-shallow-and-limited-mental-capacity/ | 2007-11-16 | 4 |
<p>By Alex Kirby / <a href="http://climatenewsnetwork.net/speed-of-arctic-changes-defies-scientists/" type="external">Climate News Network</a></p>
<p>LONDON — In an unusually stark warning a leading international scientific body says the Arctic climate is changing so fast that researchers are struggling to keep up. The changes happening there, it says, are affecting the weather worldwide.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://public.wmo.int/en" type="external">World Meteorological Organisation</a> (WMO) says: “Dramatic and unprecedented warming in the Arctic is driving sea level rise, affecting weather patterns around the world and may trigger even more changes in the climate system.</p>
<p>“The rate of change is challenging the current scientific capacity to monitor and predict what is becoming a journey into uncharted territory.”&#160;</p>
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<p>The WMO is the United Nations’ main agency responsible for weather, climate and water.&#160; &#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Its president, <a href="http://public.wmo.int/en/about-us/governance/david-grimes" type="external">David Grimes</a>, said: “The Arctic is a principal, global driver of the climate system and is undergoing an unprecedented rate of change with consequences far beyond its boundaries.</p>
<p>“The changes in the Arctic are serving as a global indicator – like&#160;‘a canary in the coal mine’ — and are happening at a much faster rate than we would have expected.”</p>
<p>He was speaking before addressing the first <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/05/13/white-house-arctic-science-ministerial-september-28-2016" type="external">White House Science Ministerial</a> meeting in Washington DC, held to develop international collaboration on Arctic science.</p>
<p>Climate change is causing global average temperatures to rise: 2014, 2015 and the first eight months of 2016 have all been record-breakers. The Arctic is warming at least twice as fast as the global average, in places even faster: the Canadian town of Inuvik has warmed by almost 4°C since 1948, about four times more than the global figure.</p>
<p>The increasing loss of Arctic sea ice is <a href="http://climatenewsnetwork.net/arctic-melt-cuts-polar-bears-chances/" type="external">threatening polar bears</a> across their range; melting sea ice is <a href="http://climatenewsnetwork.net/arctic-melting-feeds/" type="external">affecting the Arctic climate in a feedback loop</a>; and scientists expect melting permafrost will <a href="http://climatenewsnetwork.net/warming-arctic-creates-ghg-danger-zone/" type="external">release more carbon dioxide and methane</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>The WMO secretary-general, <a href="http://public.wmo.int/en/about-us/secretariat/petteri-taalas" type="external">Petteri Taalas</a>, said the Arctic changes had also been a factor in unusual winter weather patterns in North America and Europe. He said the thawing of the permafrost could release vast quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.</p>
<p>“These are part of the vicious circles of climate change which are the subject of intense scientific research”, he said.</p>
<p>Despite its certainty that the Arctic is in trouble, the WMO says it is hard to establish the implications of what is happening there. The Arctic makes up about 4% of the Earth’s surface, but the WMO says it is “one of the most data-sparse regions in the world because of its remoteness and previous inaccessibility.</p>
<p>“Lack of data and forecasts in the Arctic does impact on the quality of weather forecasts in other parts of the world.”&#160;</p>
<p>That’s a worry which is echoed at the other end of the planet.&#160;A study <a href="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/geography/staff/jones_julie/index" type="external">led by Dr Julie Jones</a>, from the department of geography at the University of Sheffield, UK, says limited data on Antarctica’s climate is making it difficult for researchers to disentangle changes caused by human activity from natural climate fluctuations.</p>
<p>It was only when regular satellite observations began in 1979 that measurement of surface climate over the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean became possible, says the study, published in the journal <a href="http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v6/n10/full/nclimate3103.html" type="external">Nature Climate Change</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>To gain a longer view, Dr Jones and her colleagues used a compilation of records from natural archives such as ice cores from the Antarctic ice sheet, which show how the region’s climate has changed over the last 200 years.</p>
<p>They confirmed that human-induced changes have caused the belt of prevailing westerly winds over the Southern Ocean to shift towards Antarctica.</p>
<p>But they conclude that for other changes, including regional warming and sea ice changes, the observations since 1979 are not yet long enough for the signal of human activity to be clearly separated from the strong natural variability.</p>
<p>The shift in the westerly winds has moved rainfall away from southern Australia. This year is set to be the country’s hottest on record.</p>
<p>Dr Jones said: “The Antarctic climate is like a giant jigsaw puzzle with most of the pieces still missing.</p>
<p>“There are some parts of the picture which are clear, particularly the way that climate change is causing westerly winds to shift southwards, but there are still huge gaps that we need to fill in order to fully understand how much human activity is changing weather in the region.”</p>
<p>Alex Kirby is a former BBC journalist and environment correspondent. He now works with universities, charities and international agencies to improve their media skills, and with journalists in the developing world keen to specialise in environmental reporting.</p> | Speed of Arctic Ice Melt Defies Scientific Predictions | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/speed-of-arctic-ice-melt-defies-scientific-predictions/ | 2016-10-01 | 4 |
<p>As people along the East Coast struggle to recover from super storm Sandy, there has been serious talk of building giant floodgates to protect parts of New York City from the next such event.</p>
<p>Giant floodgates might be part of a long-term solution, but we need to find others that address the looming consequences of climate change, and recognize that family planning is part of the mix.</p>
<p>As weather threats have grown, so has our world population. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, last year the United States suffered a record 14 weather events, each costing at least $1 billion in damage. And every year, more than 80 million people join our human family. That's like adding another New Jersey every six weeks.</p>
<p>Rapid population growth and fossil fuel emissions are two leading characteristics of our modern age. Since 1800, world population has grown sevenfold, while per capita CO2 emissions have increased 150 times. Put the two together, and you have about 1,100 times as much in terms of emissions.</p>
<p>It's taken about 200 years of carbon emissions to create our current climate crisis. Barring miraculous technological breakthroughs, it's going to take centuries to set things right again.</p>
<p>At first glance, it is hard to see how population growth in less developed nations is linked to climate change. After all, people who live in places with the lowest carbon emissions tend to have the largest families. Residents of the African nation of Chad have about six children each, yet their annual per capita carbon emissions are less than 1 percent of those of the average American. It would be unfair to blame climate change on people in less developed nations who seek the same creature comforts many of us take for granted.</p>
<p>But we can't escape this fact: A 2005 London School of Economics study concluded that, if each of us living in a highly developed country reduced our carbon footprint by 40 percent over 40 years, all of that would be cancelled by our present population growth rates alone. And that doesn't even take into account the fact that emissions will rise dramatically if and when billions of people are able to escape from poverty.</p>
<p>What sort of future do we picture for people in the poorest places on earth, where most people live on less than two dollars a day and where people lack access to clean water and basic sanitation? Many now-impoverished people in Africa and elsewhere would like to have - as many in the developed world do - central air conditioning. And cars. And air travel to other continents. All of these luxuries will increase per capita emissions.</p>
<p>Rather than assume long-term poverty for billions of our fellow human beings, we must cut our own emissions even as emissions of the poorest people increase to a level that yields a decent quality of life. To insure that the reduction of emissions in the developed countries is not cancelled by increases from the developing world, we must slow the growth rate of our human family.</p>
<p>Today, more than 222 million women in developing nations would like to limit their family size, yet they are unable to do so because of a host of obstacles. Lack of information about modern contraception and cost are important factors. But the most serious barriers are often more subtle and complex. They include misinformation about side effects of birth control methods, including the false notion that they lead to sterility. In many societies, women - especially young brides - have no power over their own lives. Husbands, clerics and even mothers-in-law occupy the positions of authority. Failure to procreate can have violent consequences for women, some of whom are barely into their teens.</p>
<p>If the United States were to invest one additional dollar per American per year in awareness-raising and education campaigns, we could help break down these barriers in partnership with other nations. Added to our current investment in international family planning, this would amount to one billion dollars per year.</p>
<p>Meeting the challenge of climate change is likely to take dedicated efforts over many generations. We also need a plan that will help lift out of poverty people in the developing world. Family planning should be a key part of that plan.</p>
<p>John Seager is president of <a href="http://populationconnection.org" type="external">Population Connection</a>, the nation's largest grassroots population organization. &#160;</p> | Links between climate change and population growth | false | https://pri.org/stories/2012-11-28/links-between-climate-change-and-population-growth | 2012-11-28 | 3 |
<p>SHELBURNE, Vt. (AP) — A former administrator at Dartmouth College and the University of Vermont and the husband of former Vermont Gov. Madeleine Kunin has died at age 92.</p>
<p>The Boucher and Pritchard Funeral Home in Burlington, Vermont, says John Hennessey died Jan. 11 at Wake Robin, a retirement community in Shelburne.</p>
<p>The Valley News <a href="http://www.vnews.com/John-Hennessey-Jr-14906288" type="external">reports</a> Hennessey was a dean of Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business in the late 1960s and '70s. He later served as provost and interim president of the University of Vermont.</p>
<p>His wife, Jean, an environmental and Democratic Party activist, died in 2004.</p>
<p>He met Kunin while both served on the board of Americans for Campaign Reform. They married in 2006.</p>
<p>A Circle of Remembrance will be held Jan. 27 at Wake Robin. A service is planned at a later date in Hanover, New Hampshire.</p>
<p>SHELBURNE, Vt. (AP) — A former administrator at Dartmouth College and the University of Vermont and the husband of former Vermont Gov. Madeleine Kunin has died at age 92.</p>
<p>The Boucher and Pritchard Funeral Home in Burlington, Vermont, says John Hennessey died Jan. 11 at Wake Robin, a retirement community in Shelburne.</p>
<p>The Valley News <a href="http://www.vnews.com/John-Hennessey-Jr-14906288" type="external">reports</a> Hennessey was a dean of Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business in the late 1960s and '70s. He later served as provost and interim president of the University of Vermont.</p>
<p>His wife, Jean, an environmental and Democratic Party activist, died in 2004.</p>
<p>He met Kunin while both served on the board of Americans for Campaign Reform. They married in 2006.</p>
<p>A Circle of Remembrance will be held Jan. 27 at Wake Robin. A service is planned at a later date in Hanover, New Hampshire.</p> | Former Dartmouth, UVM administer, husband of Kunin, dies | false | https://apnews.com/amp/09f4ae73d66444ebbb19d2f4c7b554ea | 2018-01-16 | 2 |
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<p><a href="" type="internal" />“People are starting to see our city as a center of excellence,” Berry said in a luncheon speech at the Albuquerque Convention Center. “People are coming together to support the idea of building a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.”</p>
<p>The conference is part of this week’s Tech Fiesta, which started last Saturday and includes more than 20 events through Sunday to celebrate technology and entrepreneurial innovation.</p>
<p>Some 1,600 people had participated as of Friday in a variety of workshops, presentations, networking activities and more during the week, said Eric Renz-Whitmore, community manager for the New Mexico Technology Council, one of the driving forces behind the Tech Fiesta.</p>
<p>The weeklong celebration began last year on a smaller scale to educate the public about Albuquerque’s newfound groundswell of technology development and startup activity, spurred in good part by efforts to build an “innovation district” Downtown.</p>
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<p>Berry said collaborative efforts by the city, the business community and institutions like the University of New Mexico are “changing the trajectory” of Albuquerque’s economy to one that promotes entrepreneurialism and homegrown innovation as a force for economic development.</p>
<p>“The best way to do that is to teach people to fish,” Berry said. “That’s what the Tech Fiesta, entrepreneurialism and building up the ecosystem is all about.”</p>
<p>The Tech Fiesta continues through this weekend, with a block party Saturday afternoon at First Galeria Plaza featuring startup displays, demonstrations and talks. There’s also a two-day “mini-makers fair” Saturday and Sunday at the Albuquerque International Balloon Museum to showcase things such as 3-D printing and modern technology for everything from welding, woodworking and metalworking to screen printing, electronics and robotics.</p> | Mayor: ABQ emerging as ‘center of excellence’ | false | https://abqjournal.com/461304/mayor-abq-emerging-as-center-of-excellence.html | 2 |
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<p>Entrepreneurs are dreamers; their vision is often a grand one. It can be their greatest strength and, at times, their unwitting downfall.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>"The vision of a new business owner is usually too broad," said Dan Murphy, founder and president of <a href="http://www.thegrowthcoach.com" type="external">The Growth Coach Opens a New Window.</a>, a nationwide business coaching franchise. "They lack some clarity and direction and end up wasting two &#160;of their key resources: time and energy."</p>
<p>Overly ambitious entrepreneurs can also run out of money trying to take on everything at once -- and burn themselves out in the process. To avoid this trap, consider the pitfalls of two entrepreneurs who struggled by starting out too broad, then refocused to find success.</p>
<p>Take One Target at a Time</p>
<p>When Mindy Berkson started an infertility consulting firm, <a href="http://www.lotusblossomconsulting.com" type="external">Lotus Blossom Consulting Opens a New Window.</a> in Chicago in late 2005, she thought her unique perspective provided an edge. She had a venture-capital background, previous experience recruiting surrogates and egg donors, and first-hand knowledge of her target market; she had sought out fertility treatment herself in the '90s, when she expanded her family.</p>
<p>But even armed with this experience, Berkson made the common misstep of many new business owners: starting too broad too soon.</p>
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<p>"I was marketing to just women over 35 and it wasn't specific enough," Berkson said.</p>
<p>Although she managed to break even in her first year, she wasn't making money and something had to give. "As a single business owner, I recognized it's impossible to focus on everything," she says, "it's too much and you just don't do it effectively."</p>
<p>So, the following year, she narrowed her market to professional women's groups, then specifically overweight women. Once she gained traction, gay men became her next niche market, then slowly followed by international clientele.</p>
<p>Berkson scheduled speaking engagements in her target areas and began networking with adoption attorneys, physicians, financial and estate planners and licensed insurance agents -- all of whom became referral sources.</p>
<p>"When I started to hone in on those specific groups and make alliances, I really started to see an increase in my business," Berkson said.</p>
<p>Don't Spend Too Much, Too Soon</p>
<p>Entrepreneur Rick Platt firmly believed he was going to launch the first-ever 3-D sport on a trampoline-walled playing field. His grandiose convictions were so strong in 2003, he was willing to spend millions of his own money -- and that of his family and friends.</p>
<p>It took him six months just to build a patented trampoline "field," another year to create the new "3-D" sport that combined elements of numerous games ranging from football to hockey. Then there was the testing phase that included reaching out to more than 500 athletes.</p>
<p>"We burned through money without any money coming in for nearly two years," Platt recalls.He slowly began to realize that introducing a brand-new sport to the world was becoming too difficult, and far too costly. At the same time, during the summer of 2004, the kids at the skate park next door starting clamoring to jump on the trampoline field at his center in Las Vegas. Platt saw a narrower, but more profitable, business opportunity.</p>
<p>He started charging by the hour for people to come in and jump, then added kid's birthday parties and fitness classes on the trampolines; <a href="http://www.skyzonesports.com" type="external">Sky Zone Recreational Centers Opens a New Window.</a>was born. In fact, Platt could hardly keep up with the demand. The first month drew 800 trampoline-jumpers -- and that doubled the following month. By August, Platt cobbled together a low-budget television commercial.</p>
<p>"Literally within five minutes [of the commercial airing] our phones started ringing," says Platt, noting that about 10,000 people visited the center that month, and by year's end that figure increased tenfold.</p>
<p>In 2009, Platt turned Sky Zone Recreational Centers into a franchise; the first five franchisees are expected to open this year and next. Platt also currently operates three company-owned locations with annual revenues now topping $3 million.</p>
<p>Ask the Right Questions</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Berkson's turnaround moment arrived after a daunting first year, when she went back to the people she respected in venture capital to ask for help. She had gone to them before, but now realized she asked the wrong questions.</p>
<p>"My first question had been: Do you like the look of my brochure?" Berkson says. "But It wasn't about the brochure, it was really about building strong strategic alliances."</p>
<p>Once focused on the right questions, Berkson's mentors helped her define specific targets and set parameters around each one.</p>
<p>"For example, if in such-and-such timeframe an opportunity didn't pan out, I would ask myself how much money and effort I'm willing to throw at it before turning to a different opportunity," says Berkson, noting that her firm's revenues topped $300,000 last year and continue to grow. "I made drastic changes [in the second year] and I've been profitable every year since."</p> | Avoid the Pitfalls of Taking on Too Much, Too Soon | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2010/10/06/avoid-pitfalls-taking-soon.html | 2016-03-23 | 0 |
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<p>Some varieties of Sabra hummus are being recalled amid concerns over possible listeria contamination.</p>
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<p>The Food and Drug Administration says the voluntary recall announced by Sabra Dipping Company includes hummus products with a "Best Before" date of Jan. 23, 2017, or earlier. The products were sent to retailers in the U.S. and Canada.</p>
<p>The FDA says listeria was identified at the manufacturing facility, but not in the finished product.</p>
<p>Sabra's organic hummus, salsa, guacamole and Greek yogurt dips are not included in the recall.</p>
<p>Listeria can be deadly for young children, frail people and the elderly.</p>
<p>Listeria concerns also prompted Sabra to recall about 30,000 cases of hummus last year.</p> | Sabra recalls hummus amid listeria contamination fears | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/11/21/sabra-recalls-hummus-amid-listeria-contamination-fears.html | 2016-11-21 | 0 |
<p>The European Union is giving member states the power to ban the cultivation of genetically modified crops even if they have been approved by the bloc's food safety authority.</p>
<p>The 28 EU member states on Monday approved the rule that national governments can have the final say in the matter - a move that goes counter to many EU initiatives, which traditionally seek a common stance on EU policies.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Mute Schimpf of Friends of the Earth Europe said the new law "is a massive opportunity for national governments to shut the door on biotech crops in Europe."</p>
<p>Only one GM crop is planted in the EU so far, predominantly in Spain. Under the rules, governments would still have to consult biotech companies when banning a crop.</p> | EU lets individual member states block GM crops on their territory | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2015/03/02/eu-lets-individual-member-states-block-gm-crops-on-their-territory.html | 2016-03-09 | 0 |
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<p>Sandia (2-0) recovered four fumbles while benefiting from an impressive goal-line stand to stifle Valley (0-2).</p>
<p>“I was proud of the way our defense responded,” Matadors coach Kevin Barker said. “We made a point of forcing turnovers this year.”</p>
<p>Sandia rushed for 222 yards, led by senior Kydae Jones, who racked up 143 yards on 15 carries and scored two second-half touchdowns that sealed the game.</p>
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<p>“We made some adjustments at halftime on what they were doing and just blew it up on the blocks,” Barker said.</p>
<p>Back in the first quarter, the Matadors let a punt trickle down to their 1. On second down, they fumbled and the Vikings recovered. Valley punched it in on a 2-yard run by Antonio Beltran.</p>
<p>Sandia tied it in the second quarter on a 76-yard touchdown pass from Junior Silva to DeAnte Bernard.</p>
<p>After Valley failed to move the ball, another punt ended up being downed on the 1. Again, the Matadors fumbled, giving the Vikings the ball on the 3. This time, though, Sandia held, snuffing out the scoring attempt with a fourth-down interception.</p>
<p>“That type of goal-line stand, all I had to do was say it at halftime and it blew the roof off,” Barker said. “Anytime you have one of those you have to be proud.”</p>
<p>The Matadors were then able to drive and get a 27-yard field goal to take the lead. After the Vikings failed to do anything again on offense, Sandia scored with 34.3 seconds left before halftime on a 30-yard pass from Silva to Bernard. The extra point was blocked, but it was still 16-7.</p>
<p>— Chris Jackson</p>
<p>BELEN 55, HIGHLAND 0: In Belen, the Eagles (2-0) scored on seven of their eight possessions in their home opener and held the Hornets to 54 total yards.</p>
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<p>Seniors Zach Halterman and Tim Bunker, and junior running back Diego Casillas all scored a pair of touchdowns in the victory. Halterman, who finished with 209 yards of total offense, ran for one score in the first half and threw a 25-yard scoring pass to Bunker, who also had a 22-yard touchdown run in the first half. Casillas finished with 87 yards on seven carries and touchdown runs of 6 and 4 yards.</p>
<p>Highland (0-2) had just one play that gained more than 15 yards all night. The Hornets’ deepest penetration was midway through the second quarter, when the Belen fumbled the ball at its 21. But Highland turned it over on downs at the 8.</p>
<p>— Kenn Rodriguez</p>
<p>RIO RANCHO 42, EL PASO AMERICAS 10: In El Paso, the Rams were forced to adjust — with just a day’s notice — to a 4 p.m. kickoff, but that hardly mattered as Rio Rancho (2-0) extended its overall winning streak to 15 games.</p>
<p>Until Wednesday night, Rio Rancho thought the game was a 7 p.m. kickoff. The change didn’t impact the Rams whatsoever.</p>
<p>“They didn’t say a whole lot. They just kind of took it in stride,” Rams coach David Howes said. “I was the only one that was truly put out.”</p>
<p>Howes said the El Paso school apologized for the mix-up.</p>
<p>Rio Rancho quarterback Logan Bruere’s numbers Friday were almost identical to last week. He had 331 yards and six TDs in the opener against Mayfield; he threw for 330 yards and five scores Friday.</p>
<p>Derrick Reyes caught 13 balls for 103 yards and a pair of TDs for the Rams. Austin Hise caught only four passes, but two went for TDs, including a 76-yarder. Reyes and Hise have combined to catch nine touchdowns already this season.</p>
<p>ATRISCO HERITAGE 49, OÑATE 7: At the Field of Dreams in Las Cruces, Jaguars running back Angel Ramirez followed up one 200-yard effort last week with an even bigger effort Friday night.</p>
<p>He rushed for 231 yards on 25 carries and scored a TD as Atrisco Heritage (1-1) rolled the Knights (0-2).</p>
<p>Quarterback Michael Alvidrez added 94 rushing yards and threw a TD pass to Luis Arenas.</p>
<p>ELSEWHERE: Hobbs had one of the most impressive wins Friday, going on the road at Bulldog Bowl and beating Artesia 56-49. … Albuquerque High (1-1) won on the road, 28-14 at Valencia. … Moriarty (2-0) won its second straight road game, 46-0 at Los Alamos. … Bernalillo (1-1) won its first game of the season, 21-6 over visiting Navajo Prep. … Farmington routed Del Norte 42-7 at Milne Stadium. … Los Lunas destroyed visiting Alamogordo 54-0.</p>
<p>Journal Staff Writer James Yodice contributed to this report.</p> | Prep football roundup | false | https://abqjournal.com/1057555/prep-football-roundup-2.html | 2 |
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<p>At Tuesday’s confirmation hearing, longtime gun control proponent Sen. <a href="" type="internal">Chris Murphy</a> asked Michigan billionaire and Donald Trump’s pick for education secretary Betsy DeVos outright whether guns had any place around schools.</p>
<p>“That’s best left to locales and states to decide,” DeVos responded. When pressed further by Murphy, who represented the district covering Newtown, Connecticut, where the nation’s deadliest school shooting took place more than four years ago, DeVos looped back to a question asked earlier by Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming about an elementary school in his state. “I would imagine that there’s probably a gun at the school to protect from potential grizzlies,” DeVos noted.</p>
<p>Watch the exchange below.</p>
<p />
<p />
<p /> | Watch Betsy DeVos Say She’d Allow Guns In Schools “To Protect From Potential Grizzlies” | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2017/01/watch-chris-murphy-press-betsy-devos-guns-schools/ | 2017-01-18 | 4 |
<p>NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) — A man who works as a contracted interpreter in Connecticut’s court system has been charged with trying to lure a 12-year-old girl from a courthouse.</p>
<p>Authorities say 28-year-old Mahfuz Alhamid, of Meriden, is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on charges including attempted kidnapping.</p>
<p>Police say Alhamid was working in New Britain Superior Court in September when he asked the girl if she had a boyfriend, asked for a kiss and hug, and asked if she would go to the parking lot. The girl was waiting for her mother who was in a probation meeting.</p>
<p>Police say the girl asked a stranger to pretend to be her stepfather and Alhamid left.</p>
<p>He was held on $250,000 bond pending his court appearance. It wasn’t immediately clear if he has a lawyer.</p>
<p>NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) — A man who works as a contracted interpreter in Connecticut’s court system has been charged with trying to lure a 12-year-old girl from a courthouse.</p>
<p>Authorities say 28-year-old Mahfuz Alhamid, of Meriden, is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday on charges including attempted kidnapping.</p>
<p>Police say Alhamid was working in New Britain Superior Court in September when he asked the girl if she had a boyfriend, asked for a kiss and hug, and asked if she would go to the parking lot. The girl was waiting for her mother who was in a probation meeting.</p>
<p>Police say the girl asked a stranger to pretend to be her stepfather and Alhamid left.</p>
<p>He was held on $250,000 bond pending his court appearance. It wasn’t immediately clear if he has a lawyer.</p> | Court interpreter charged with trying to kidnap girl | false | https://apnews.com/df36c5bed5d340c9974666880b46bfbf | 2018-01-23 | 2 |
<p>Canada's Conservative government has introduced legislation to force an end to a strike at Canadian Pacific Railway by more than 3,000 Teamsters members.</p>
<p>The strike by locomotive engineers and other train workers began late Saturday after contract talks failed.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The government says the rail strike poses a threat to the economy.</p>
<p>Teamsters union president Douglas Finnson calls the government's intervention disappointing and premature. CP Rail supports the move.</p>
<p>No new contract talks are scheduled.</p>
<p>In 2012, the government passed legislation to force an end to a nine-day railway strike. It was estimated then that a prolonged strike would cost the economy $540 million a week and halt shipments of grain, fertilizer, coal, cars and other goods.</p> | Canada introduces legislation to end rail strike affecting more than 3,000 Teamsters | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2015/02/16/canada-introduces-legislation-to-end-rail-strike-affecting-more-than-3000.html | 2016-03-09 | 0 |
<p>Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton added a new song to the campaign playlist. Guess who the singer is? The recently deceased artist Prince, of course.</p>
<p>Looks like Prince has officially been added to the Clinton playlist. "Let's Go Crazy" is playing before her event at an IN steel company.</p>
<p>The music legend sadly passed last Thursday, at the young age of 57.</p>
<p>Hillary, looking to score some cool points and win over a few Prince fans, ended up receiving an online tongue-lashing instead. One Twitter user called the stunt to add Prince's “Let’s Go Crazy” “disrespectful" and in poor taste.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/albamonica" type="external">@albamonica</a> that is the poorest taste I can imagine. Disrespectful</p>
<p>Stephen Miller from National Review got in on the Hillary mocking for her failed attempt at trying to be “hip”:</p>
<p>Hillary adding Prince to her campaign playlist <a href="https://t.co/2a6pchIMA4" type="external">https://t.co/2a6pchIMA4</a></p>
<p>Most of Hillary’s pandering escapades end in turmoil. For instance, the former secretary of state once tried to court Hispanic voters by telling them she was just like their abuela (Spanish for grandmother). The “Hispandering” attempt resulted in <a href="" type="internal">mass outrage</a> from the Hispanic community, as seen by the trending #NotMyAbuela hashtag on Twitter at the time.</p>
<p>Another cringeworthy moment was when Hillary, a 68-year-old white woman, told an urban radio show that she always keeps <a href="" type="internal">hot sauce in her purse</a>. Lyrics in a released Beyonce song, the racially-charged “Formation,” say that the songstress always keeps hot sauce in her bag, and, apparently, if the worshiped professional booty-shaker Beyonce does it, then Hillary will claim to do it, too.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/redsteeze" type="external">@redsteeze</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/albamonica" type="external">@albamonica</a> "I love Hot sauce AND Prince!"</p>
<p>H/T <a href="http://twitchy.com/sd-3133/2016/04/26/poorest-taste-i-can-imagine-shameless-hillary-seems-to-hope-prince-can-make-you-like-her/" type="external">Twitchy</a></p> | Hillary Breaks Out The Prince Music | true | https://dailywire.com/news/5302/hillary-beaks-out-prince-music-amanda-prestigiacomo | 2016-04-27 | 0 |
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<p>Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) has started to roll out Workplace, its enterprise collaboration and communications tool that hopes to challenge Slack and represents the social network's most ambitious plan yet to <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2016/10/11/2-important-ways-facebook-is-growing-up-with-workp.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">address the enterprise Opens a New Window.</a>. That makes sense since the market for enterprise productivity software is massive, and it may help Facebook diversify its revenue streams beyond just advertising.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The company really wants prospective customers to try it out, so it has just unveiled a new version of Workplace that's entirely free to use. Facebook product manager Simon Cross told <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-workplace-standard-free-slack-rival/" type="external">CNET Opens a New Window.</a> that a free version has always been part of the plan, which both allows companies to test it out without committing while also helping Facebook address emerging markets; Workplace is already taking off in India.</p>
<p>Image source: Facebook.</p>
<p>There is a new Workplace Standard tier that is free and "coming soon." Meanwhile, Workplace Premium offers a free trial through September before monthly billing kicks in. Both tiers include communications features like live video streaming and voice/video calls. Also included for both Standard and Premium are productivity tools like unlimited file, photo, and video storage; groups for teams and projects; and security.</p>
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<p>The features that are reserved for Premium customers expectedly cater to the enterprise. Things like administrative controls and monitoring, as well as single sign-on and third-party integrations. This is similar to Slack's own pricing structure, which also includes a very basic free version that allows users to test out the product before opening their wallets. However, there's a big difference between the paid versions of Slack and Workplace, and Facebook is aggressively undercutting its smaller start-up rival by starting at $3 per user per month (for the first 1,000 active users), which is less than half of the $6.67 per user per month that Slack Standard costs (if you make an annual commitment).</p>
<p>Facebook requires no long-term commitments, and offers discounts as Workplace scales to larger organizations; the fee drops to $2 per user per month for next 9,000 active users after the first 1,000, and then costs just $1 per user per month once you get above 10,000 active users. Facebook also won't charge you for inactive users. In addition to already undercutting on price, that level of flexibility further differentiates Workplace.</p>
<p>Slack is about to see competition heat up in a big way. Beyond Facebook, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) just launched Microsoft Teams for general availability <a href="https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/03/07/microsofts-slack-rival-is-almost-ready-for-prime-t.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">last month Opens a New Window.</a>, bundling its chat software with several tiers of Office 365; Microsoft also offers a free trial for Teams. Bundling is a different strategy than discrete pricing, but it looks promising for Microsoft given its expansive enterprise productivity offerings. In contrast, Workplace is Facebook's first enterprise offering, so it has relatively less to bring to the table.</p>
<p>Microsoft Teams uses an almost identical interface as Slack, so it would feel instantly familiar to any companies and users making the switch. Workplace resembles Facebook's core social network platform, which could even be seen as a risk since it's extremely important for users to distinguish between their personal accounts and their work accounts.</p>
<p>Slack has an intensely loyal following and user base, but the reality of the enterprise is that avid users aren't the ones actually making the purchasing decisions. That call usually falls on a high-level IT executive, and the best way to appeal to them is through aggressive pricing.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than FacebookWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*</p>
<p>David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the <a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=6e2ba3a0-a569-4e8b-9e39-b8935ad23b71&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">10 best stocks Opens a New Window.</a> for investors to buy right now... and Facebook wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.</p>
<p><a href="http://infotron.fool.com/infotrack/click?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fool.com%2Fmms%2Fmark%2Fe-foolcom-sa-bbn-dyn%3Faid%3D8867%26source%3Disaeditxt0010449%26ftm_cam%3Dsa-bbn-evergreen%26ftm_pit%3D6312%26ftm_veh%3Dbbn_article_pitch&amp;impression=6e2ba3a0-a569-4e8b-9e39-b8935ad23b71&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">Click here Opens a New Window.</a> to learn about these picks!</p>
<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of April 3, 2017</p>
<p>Teresa Kersten is an employee of LinkedIn and is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFNewCow/info.aspx" type="external">Evan Niu, CFA Opens a New Window.</a> owns shares of Facebook. <a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFNewCow/info.aspx" type="external">Evan Niu, CFA</a> has the following options: long January 2018 $120 calls on Facebook. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Facebook. The Motley Fool has a <a href="http://www.fool.com/Legal/fool-disclosure-policy.aspx?&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | Facebook Will Offer a Free Version of Workplace | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/04/05/facebook-will-offer-free-version-workplace.html | 2017-04-05 | 0 |
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<p>UNM CROSS-COUNTRY: Coaches picked the Lobo women to win their sixth consecutive Mountain West title and the UNM men to win their fifth straight.</p>
<p>UNM SOFTBALL: Lisa-Ann Wallace has joined the staff as an assistant.</p>
<p>NMSU WOMEN’S HOOPS: Courtney Good, who played at Cal Riverside, has been named coordinator of player development, and former Aggie Kelsie Rozendaal will be a graduate assistant.</p>
<p>WNBA: In Uncasville, Conn., Rebekkah Brunson had a season-high 24 points and 11 rebounds to lead Minnesota over Connecticut 91-77 on Thursday.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Etc. … | false | https://abqjournal.com/252288/etc-4.html | 2013-08-23 | 2 |
<p />
<p>Believe it or not, some people make it through tax-filing season without any hassle. That's because the Internal Revenue Service doesn't require them to file taxes. Unfortunately, most of us aren't that lucky. So just who has to file a tax return?</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>ACA premium credit claim</p>
<p>If you got health care coverage as required by the Affordable Care Act, also referred to as ACA or Obamacare, you might need to file a return.</p>
<p>This is the case if you qualified for federal help in buying your health care coverage through the health insurance marketplace. If advance payments of the ACA premium tax credit were made for you, your spouse, or a dependent who obtained such marketplace medical coverage, that amount must be reported by filing a Form 1040 tax return and Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit.</p>
<p>This will ensure that you got the appropriate tax credit in advance. If you received too much premium help, you'll have to repay it with your return filing. If you did not get enough, you can collect the extra when you file.</p>
<p>File a return</p>
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<p>In most cases, 3 things must be considered when determining whether you have to file a return: your age, your filing status and your income. Generally, once you reach a certain income level, the law requires you to file. The amounts are adjusted annually for inflation.</p>
<p>The income amounts also are based on taxpayer age on the last day of the tax year.</p>
<p>Individuals younger than age 65 must file if they make certain amounts. The earnings threshold amounts go up a bit for older (65-plus) individuals.</p>
<p>Regardless of age, the earnings target is the same for married couples who file separate tax returns.</p>
<p>In most situations, your age for tax purposes depends on how old you were on the last day of the year. But when it comes to determining whether you have to file a return, the IRS says if you turned 65 on New Year's Day, you are considered to be 65 at the end of the previous tax year. The 1-day grace period allows you to use the higher income thresholds to determine whether you must file a tax return.</p>
<p>Dependents and filing</p>
<p>The IRS also has different rules for dependents who earn money. And even though it's children we're usually talking about, the IRS doesn't make it easy, setting different earning standards for the 2 types of income -- unearned or earned -- that trigger filing requirements.</p>
<p>Generally, a child must file a return and pay tax due. But the amounts that trigger the filing depend on the type of income:</p>
<p>The amount of each type of earnings that triggers a young person's filing requirement is adjusted each year for inflation and is calculated using a formula that factors in the annual standard deduction amount.</p>
<p>Older individuals and persons of any age who are blind also must make some extra calculations to determine if they need to file a Form 1040.</p>
<p>Self-employment earnings</p>
<p>Don't forget about self-employment earnings, whether you're a teenager running a neighborhood lawn service or an adult with a 10-person manufacturing operation. This money counts toward determining if you have to file a return, regardless of whether it was your sole source of income or just an occasional side job to make a little extra cash.</p>
<p>If your annual gross self-employment income is at least as much as the income level for your filing status, you have to send in a Form 1040 and Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ reporting your earnings.</p>
<p>You also must file a Schedule SE to pay self-employment tax if your net earnings exceed $400.</p>
<p>When it pays to file</p>
<p>For those few who don't legally have to file, it sometimes pays to send in a return anyway.</p>
<p>This is the case for individuals who don't earn much but might be eligible for the earned income tax credit. This benefit is available to qualified individuals even if they owe no tax, meaning they would get money back from the federal government. Many people think the credit is available only to parents. It's not. But the credit amount is greater for eligible low-wage taxpayers with children.</p>
<p>Plus, the IRS says that most individual taxpayers are due a tax refund. But those taxpayers must send in a Form 1040 or Form 1040A or Form 1040EZ to get that cash.</p>
<p>You can check out the filing requirements section of IRS Publication 17 or the instructions for your tax return for more details on specific filing circumstances.</p>
<p>Copyright 2016, Bankrate Inc.</p> | Who Has to File Taxes? | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2016/01/27/who-has-to-file-taxes.html | 2016-03-06 | 0 |
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Several thousand Turkish troops crossed into northern Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish guerrillas early Wednesday. The incursion, though limited in scope, gives the crisis in Iraq a new twist.</p>
<p>“It is not a major offensive and the number of troops is not in the tens of thousands,” said an official in south-east Turkey where there has recently been an upsurge in activity by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) Turkish Kurd guerrillas.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the US will be worried that its entanglement in Iraq is about to become even more complicated if American troops and aircraft are asked to counter even a limited Turkish assault.</p>
<p>The US military said it could not confirm the reports but was “very concerned”. Turkey has been threatening an attack into Iraqi Kurdistan in recent weeks and, last weekend, Robert Gates, the US Defense Secretary, warned Ankara against a foray into northern Iraq.</p>
<p>The PKK have several base areas in Iraqi Kurdistan, including the rugged Kandil mountains on the Iranian border, a natural fortress providing ideal terrain for guerrillas. Even if the Turks did send a large military force into northern Iraq, as it did last in 1997, it would be difficult to locate, still less destroy, the PKK.</p>
<p>The scale of PKK activity in Kurdish-populated areas of south-eastern Turkey is still limited but the Turkish army and moderate Islamic government have threatened retaliation. Both have a motive for demonstrating their patriotic credentials in the approach to parliamentary elections this summer.</p>
<p>In a sign of the limited communication between the Turkish government and military, the Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, denied that a cross-border operation had taken place. “There is no such thing, no entry to another country,” Mr Gul said. “If such a thing happens we would announce it.”</p>
<p>The Iraqi government was also eager to play down reports of an attack, despite statements by Turkish military officials. Iraq’s Foreign Minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said there had been “no major operations” by Turkey though there had been a build-up of Turkish troops.</p>
<p>Turkey also has an incentive to put pressure on the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan regional government because a referendum is to be held on the future of the oil province of Kirkuk before the end of this year.</p>
<p>PATRICK COCKBURN is the author of ‘ <a href="" type="internal">The Occupation: War, resistance and daily life in Iraq</a>‘, a finalist for the National Book Critics’ Circle Award for best non-fiction book of 2006.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | The Turkish Incursion | true | https://counterpunch.org/2007/06/08/the-turkish-incursion/ | 2007-06-08 | 4 |
<p>BEIRUT/GENEVA (Reuters) – A Syrian government delegation will arrive in Geneva on Wednesday, a day later than expected, to attend peace talks being held there this week, Syrian state news agency SANA said.</p>
<p>The delegation had delayed its planned departure for the talks, which begin on Tuesday, because of the opposition’s insistence that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad step down.</p>
<p>The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has received assurances that the Syrian government delegation will attend the talks, U.N. spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci told a Geneva news briefing.</p>
<p>“At least we know that they are coming,” she said, declining to give details on who transmitted the message from Damascus.</p>
<p>A delegation from the newly-unified Syrian opposition, which arrived in the Swiss city on Monday, is due to hold a first meeting with de Mistura later on Tuesday, she said.</p>
<p>Earlier, the pro-Damascus Syrian newspaper al-Watan reported that the Syrian government delegation to an eighth round of peace talks in Geneva this week has not yet left Damascus.</p>
<p>It had reported on Monday that the delay was because of the opposition’s insistence that Assad step down, which he has refused to do.</p>
<p>Nasr Hariri, head of the opposition delegation, told a Geneva news conference on Monday night that he is aiming for Assad’s removal as a result of negotiations.</p>
<p>The government delegation will be headed by Syria’s U.N. ambassador and chief negotiator Bashar al-Ja’afari, SANA said.</p>
<p>A breakthrough in the talks is seen as unlikely as Assad and his allies push for total military victory in Syria’s civil war, now in its seventh year, and his opponents stick by their demand he leave power.</p>
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<p>Fusion Media or anyone involved with Fusion Media will not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information including data, quotes, charts and buy/sell signals contained within this website. Please be fully informed regarding the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the riskiest investment forms possible.</p> | Syrian government delegation to arrive in Geneva for peace talks on Wednesday | false | https://newsline.com/syrian-government-delegation-to-arrive-in-geneva-for-peace-talks-on-wednesday/ | 2017-11-28 | 1 |
<p />
<p>Wells Fargo &amp; Co's failure to convince regulators it can go through bankruptcy without severely disrupting financial markets is effectively costing the bank $100 million in trading revenues each quarter, its management said on Thursday.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>In December, Wells Fargo failed a so-called living will test administered by U.S. bank regulators. As a result, the bank is not allowed to establish international bank entities or acquire non-bank subsidiaries until regulators sign off on an amended plan.</p>
<p>Regulators can eventually force Wells Fargo to shrink its balance sheet to the level it was at on Sept. 30 if it does not appease them within two years.</p>
<p>Instead of waiting for that possibility, the third-largest U.S. bank is keeping its balance sheet at that size.</p>
<p>"Because we wouldn't want to put ourselves in the position of having to make an abrupt change for something that was out of our control, we decided to leave things at that level, and they're still operating there today," Chief Executive Tim Sloan said on a call with analysts after the bank reported first-quarter earnings.</p>
<p>Chief Financial Officer John Shrewsberry said Wells Fargo is holding lower trading assets to maintain balance sheet size, a decision that prevents the bank from earning an extra $100 million per quarter.</p>
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<p>(Reporting by Dan Freed in New York; Editing by Lauren Tara LaCapra and Meredith Mazzilli)</p> | Wells Fargo says failure on 'living will' test hurting trading revenues | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2017/04/13/wells-fargo-says-failure-on-living-will-test-hurting-trading-revenues.html | 2017-04-13 | 0 |
<p />
<p>The <a href="" type="internal">turmoil recently surrounding Bitcoin</a> is thought to be the cause of&#160;Autumn Radtke’s death. Police are investigating the death of 28-year-old American CEO of Bitcoin exchange firm First Meta, as a “suicide.”</p>
<p>Radtke was found dead last week, on February 28th. She was in her Singapore apartment when she died. Local media have joined with police in considering this a suicide, but officially Singapore is waiting for toxicology test results before ruling the cause of death.</p>
<p>Radtke’s death raises a number of questions, especially <a href="" type="internal">after five international bankers were found dead within a short period of about a week and a half</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>Most recent amongst these dead bankers was&#160;Richard Talley, 57, the founder and CEO of American Title Services in Centennial, Colorado,&#160;has reportedly committed suicide by shooting himself in the head – multiple times – with a nail gun.</p>
<p>Talley was said by coroners to have shot himself in the head with a nail gun, even after the first nails had entered his brain.</p>
<p>Why suicide? Talley’s company was, in fact, under investigation&#160;by state insurance regulators, but the means of suicide seem highly suspect.</p>
<p>Talley was found by a family member, dead in his garage. Talley had formed a number of companies, some of which have closed down, including American Escrow, Clear Title, Clear Creek Financial Holdings, Swift Basin, Sumar, American Real Estate Services, and the American Alliance of Real Estate Professionals.</p>
<p>Talley joins <a href="" type="internal">&#160;four other top officials from JP Morgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and the Federal Reserve have all turned up dead over the course of</a>&#160;the past two weeks.</p>
<p>Are these suicides? Is this simply the result of pressures commonplace in their line of work? Or is there something else going on?</p>
<p>(Article by M.B. David; image via LinkedIn)</p> | Bitcoin Firm CEO Found DEAD | true | http://politicalblindspot.com/bitcoin-firm-ceo-found-dead/ | 2014-03-05 | 4 |
<p>A week after <a href="http://variety.com/2017/music/news/u2-premiere-new-song-the-blackout-listen-1202542784/" type="external">releasing “The Blackout,” the first song from their long-awaited “Songs of Experience” album</a>, <a href="http://variety.com/t/u2/" type="external">U2</a> have dropped a second track, “You’re the Best Thing About Me” — which is apparently being positioned as the first real single from the set. &#160;With an anthemic chorus that recalls past songs like “The City of Blinding Lights” and “Beautiful Day,” is less rowdy than “The Blackout.”</p>
<p>“‘Im the kind of trouble that you enjoy’ Listen now. You’re The Best Thing About Me <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/U2SongsofExperience?src=hash" type="external">#U2SongsofExperience</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/U2BestThing?src=hash" type="external">#U2BestThing</a> <a href="https://t.co/p48e9GFOEA" type="external">https://u2.lnk.to/BestThingTW&#160;</a>,” the tweet on the group’s account announcing the song reads.</p>
<p><a href="http://variety.com/2017/music/news/u2-perform-intimate-set-at-musicares-benefit-1202479340/" type="external">U2 Perform Intimate Set at MusiCares Benefit Honoring Bassist Adam Clayton (Watch)</a></p>
<p>“ <a href="http://variety.com/t/songs-of-experience/" type="external">Songs of Experience</a>” is the companion album to “Songs of Innocence,” which the group released in 2014. The band completed the new album last year but felt, in the wake of Donald Trump’s election, it did not suit the changed political and social climate.</p>
<p>“Once the election had happened we didn’t want to put out a record without having some time to evaluate what was going on and what was behind the outcome,” bassist&#160; <a href="http://variety.com/t/adam-clayton/" type="external">Adam Clayton</a>&#160; <a href="http://variety.com/2017/music/news/u2-adam-clayton-talks-joshua-tree-tour-musicares-songs-of-experience-rebooting-democracy-1202471727/" type="external">told&#160;Variety&#160;in June</a>. “And certainly that wave of change seemed to be moving through Europe as well, so we did say ‘Let’s reexamine where we are,’ and we did reexamine and I think it’s been better for the record and it’s been better for the songwriting and it’s much more on-message of what U2 does and what U2 does well. [“Songs of Experience”] has been ready to go for awhile, because it didn’t require a lot of surgery, so to speak — it was a little bit of cosmetic surgery.”</p>
<p>The band is currently wrapping its “Joshua Tree” 30th anniversary tour and are expected to tour behind the new album next year.</p>
<p>[embedded content]</p> | U2 Drop New Single, ‘You’re the Best Thing About Me’ (Listen) | false | https://newsline.com/u2-drop-new-single-youre-the-best-thing-about-me-listen/ | 2017-09-06 | 1 |
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Cynthia McKinney is doing it. It’s time for you to do it too.</p>
<p>Have you, like many Americans, found yourself wondering why President Bush, over and over again, would hand the Democrats in Congress the weapon needed to bring him down?</p>
<p>Just look at the list:</p>
<p>Last year it was the nominations of John Roberts and Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. Then, in the new Congress, it was a $120-billion supplemental funding request for continuing the hugely unpopular war in Iraq, followed by a bill to legalize the very National Security Agency spying program which he has been running illegally for the past half decade, and that has had people of all political stripes in an uproar. To top that off, knowing that the Democrats were gunning for his Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, Bush made sure to have the NSA spying bill put Gonzales in charge of the operation! And now this same president is coming to Congress to ask for another nearly $200 billion for his Iraq War!</p>
<p>At first glance, you have to wonder, why on earth would he do this?</p>
<p>But then look what happens:</p>
<p>In every instance, with the exception of the latest Iraq War funding bill (and we know what’s going to happen with that), the Democrats have folded and given the president exactly what he wanted, causing apoplexy among the Democratic and independent voters who put them in charge of Congress last November. After all, Democrats ran for office last year saying they would stand up to the president, defend the Constitution, and end the war. Now each time Bush taunts them and they fold, public support for the Democratic Congress slumps further, to the point that today, they are even less popular that Bush-quite an accomplishment!</p>
<p>This is a truly impressive strategy-surely the brainchild of Bush’s Rasputin, the dearly departed (to Texas) Karl Rove, who long ago understood that the Democrats would not have the courage and strength of conviction to stand against even a president as profoundly despised and distrusted as Bush.</p>
<p>So all Bush has to do to promote a Republican victory in the 2008 elections is keep putting forward outrageous bills, keep expanding the war, perhaps to include Iran, and keep undermining the Constitution. The Democrats will enable or sign on to each horrible act in turn. And with each such shameless action taken by the Democratic Congress, they further enrage 2008 voters.</p>
<p>The Democrats, under Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (surely two of the sorriest excuses for leaders that Congress has had in modern history), simply don’t get it. They don’t realize they’re being played for suckers and losers. And they don’t even realize that they are alienating their base.</p>
<p>Which brings us to what needs to be done.</p>
<p>The Democrats in Congress, and at the head of the party, need to receive a serious wake-up call. Since they’re clearly too dumb or too out of touch to realize what’s happening, we need to send them a message they can’t ignore-the political equivalent of a car bomb.</p>
<p>I’m talking about mass resignations from the Democratic Party, with every person who resigns and becomes an independent or who changes their registration to a third party sending a message to the DNC explaining why he or she is quitting.</p>
<p>It starts small with a few people here and a few people there, but as Arlo Guthrie once put it, pretty soon we’re talking about a movement, and you can join it right here!</p>
<p>A couple of months back, I set up an email address for people to register at, and listed it on my website. To date, over 600 people have mailed in saying they are quitting the Democratic Party until Democrats in Congress begin impeachment proceedings against Bush and Cheney, and until they cut of all funding for the Iraq War.</p>
<p>Now it’s time to really kick this campaign into high gear.</p>
<p>A few days ago, Cynthia McKinney, the gutsy and outspoken former congresswoman from Georgia who filed the first and so far only bill of impeachment against George W. Bush in the waning days of the last Congress, called me at home to say she wants to sign on. That’s a nice start to the campaign!</p>
<p>You read it first here: Former Rep. McKinney Quits the Democratic Party!</p>
<p>So how about you? Think about it: If you were to accept the official line, George Bush won the presidency in 2000 by capturing the state of Florida by 537 votes. And this movement has already got more than that number of people who are no longer going to be Democrats! If we could get 537 people in each state of the union to sign on and drop their party affiliation in protest, the Democratic leadership would have to start contemplating how many close states they are going to lose next year because of their abject failure to act on principle and with courage in Congress.</p>
<p>Better still, if we could get 100,000 or 500,000 people to drop their party affiliation nationwide, that would send a really powerful signal.</p>
<p>The beauty of this plan of action is that it is easy to do. And Democratic officials, from the DNC to local officeholders and county committees watch those registration totals like hawks, so they’ll spot any de-registering trend really quickly. In fact, if registrations start to drop, you’ll see local party officials start pressuring their Congressional representatives to take action and do something to stem the flow. For one thing, if you deregister, you’re off their mailing lists. That means they can’t hit you up for money, and they can’t target you for get-out-the-vote drives. (Meanwhile, in many states, you don’t even forfeit your right to participate in Democratic primaries by dropping your party registration, so you can still vote against Hillary and the rest of the warmongers in the party.)</p>
<p>Oh, you say, we can’t just quit the party and let the Republicans win again!</p>
<p>Really? And just what have we gotten for our support for the Democrats in 2006? The war is still fully funded, and in fact has gotten worse, with 30,000 more troops in the country, not counting the 100,000 or so private mercenaries. Spying on Americans here a home has been legalized, with the help of the Democrats. (Nancy Pelosi can use threats of party discipline to prevent members from moving on impeachment, but she won’t crack the whip to make them protect the Bill of Rights, or to defund the war?) And Bush is still issuing those signing statements, so any bills of consequence that Democrats have tried to pass have either been killed by Republican maneuvering, or vetoed.</p>
<p>And public support for the Democratic Congress is in the teens.</p>
<p>Clearly the only way to save the Democrats from themselves is to make it clear to them that they have to change or die.</p>
<p>And the way to do that is to join the “I Quit the Party” movement!</p>
<p>So click <a href="http://dlindorff.mayfirst.org/?q=iquitthisparty" type="external">here</a> and be a quitter. (Remember to get a voter registration form and follow through by cancelling your Democratic Party affiliation!)</p>
<p>After you quit, then go to <a href="http://www.stepfour.com/xdem/" type="external">Dem.org</a>, where Steve Fornier is trying to help organize people who have left the Democratic Party, but still want to be democrats. To learn more about Fornier’s idea, read his recent <a href="" type="internal">CounterPunch article</a>.</p>
<p>Note: You can also help build the movement by sending this article and link to every progressive person and progressive website you can think of. It’s time to take quitting the party viral.</p>
<p>DAVE LINDORFF is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567512283/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Killing Time: an Investigation into the Death Row Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal</a>. His book of CounterPunch columns titled “ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567512984/counterpunchmaga" type="external">This Can’t be Happening!</a>” is published by Common Courage Press. Lindorff’s newest book is “ <a href="" type="internal">The Case for Impeachment</a>“, co-authored by Barbara Olshansky.</p>
<p>He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | Quit the Party! | true | https://counterpunch.org/2007/09/27/quit-the-party/ | 2007-09-27 | 4 |
<p>SACRAMENTO (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the California Lottery's "Daily 4" game were:</p>
<p>3-5-5-6</p>
<p>(three, five, five, six)</p>
<p>¶ Ticket-holders with all four winning numbers in the order given win the top prize. Lesser amounts are also awarded to ticket-holders with other varying combinations of the winning numbers.</p>
<p>SACRAMENTO (AP) _ The winning numbers in Thursday evening's drawing of the California Lottery's "Daily 4" game were:</p>
<p>3-5-5-6</p>
<p>(three, five, five, six)</p>
<p>¶ Ticket-holders with all four winning numbers in the order given win the top prize. Lesser amounts are also awarded to ticket-holders with other varying combinations of the winning numbers.</p> | Winning numbers drawn in 'Daily 4' game | false | https://apnews.com/amp/57f9e09e310c485d9884d033778e19ea | 2017-12-29 | 2 |
<p>&lt;img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-22987" src="http://www.louderwithcrowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/WomanGunStalker.jpg" alt="WomanGunStalker" width="1200" height="627" srcset="https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/WomanGunStalker.jpg 1200w, https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/WomanGunStalker-300x157.jpg 300w, https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/WomanGunStalker-768x401.jpg 768w, https://www.louderwithcrowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/WomanGunStalker-1024x535.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /&gt;</p>
<p>The Second Amendment in action is a thing of beauty. Few stories rival the badassery of those which feature a good guy with a gun (see <a href="" type="internal">Desperate Father Uses a Gun in Hospital Standoff to Save His Son’s Life</a>). Or in this case, a good gal with a gun. It’s satisfying to see people manage to save the day thanks to their boom-boom stick – especially when they’d be a puddle of brain gravy otherwise. <a href="http://wkrn.com/2016/06/21/police-woman-shoots-ex-boyfriend-after-hes-found-hiding-under-bed/" type="external">Like this woman</a> who stumbled into a life-or-death situation in her own home…</p>
<p>Goodlettsville police say a woman shot her ex-boyfriend after he was allegedly found hiding under a bed at her home Tuesday afternoon. According to the police, the man entered the home, which was having an alarm system installed, while she went to a neighbor’s home for a few minutes. Police said the woman had a restraining order against him and that he had three outstanding violations against that order. The man, whose identity has not been released, suffered non-life threatening injuries.</p>
<p>Gun vs stalker and guess who’s winning? Hint: it’s not the guy who had to be wheeled to the hospital afterward.&#160;Because yes, this situation could’ve ended much differently.&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Carol Bowne of New Jersey wanted a gun to protect herself from a violent ex. She had to wait to get her gun. She was killed.</a></p>
<p>Ever notice how these stories never make an appearance in leftist arguments? That’s because they don’t exactly fit into the anti-gun narrative. <a href="" type="internal">Countless successful firearm-self-defense stories</a> don’t make the cut because they contest the idea that guns are inherently evil.</p>
<p>&lt;img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-18249" src="http://www.louderwithcrowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/reactionlaughing_americanpsycho.gif" alt="AmericanPsychoReactionBurn GIF" width="600" height="255" /&gt;</p>
<p>Calling all feminists. I have a bone to pick with you, and it’s not about <a href="" type="internal">your lack of hygiene</a> this time. You guys are awfully silent on this issue. Shouldn’t a strong, independent woman like this be celebrated? She handled business… Thanks to her feminist bookclub membership the heat she was packing. Can’t forget that tidbit. Had there not been a gun, methinks this scenario would have ended much differently. That’s guns for you: empowering women one incapacitated stalker at a time. One might even say guns are the solution to “rape culture” wouldn’t you agree, feminists?</p>
<p>Personally, I love stories like this. It’s what makes the Second Amendment great: being able to protect yourself (and your rights) when fit hits the shan. Even if you’re physically incapable (see <a href="" type="internal">65-year-old Granny Shoots Mugger</a>). Quite different than the picture leftists paint when it comes to talking guns. Then again, they couldn’t tell the difference <a href="" type="internal">between a grenade launcher and flare gun</a>. Good thing we have nifty things like facts to help us out when it comes to deciding if the <a href="" type="internal">Second Amendment</a> is really all that necessary.</p>
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<p>NOT SUBSCRIBED TO THE PODCAST?&#160; <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/louder-with-crowder/id929121341?mt=2" type="external">FIX THAT</a>! IT’S COMPLETELY FREE ON BOTH&#160; <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/louder-with-crowder/id929121341?mt=2" type="external">ITUNES&#160;HERE</a>&#160;AND&#160; <a href="https://soundcloud.com/louderwithcrowder" type="external">SOUNDCLOUD&#160;HERE</a>.</p>
<p /> | Thanks 2A: Woman With Gun Stops Crazed Stalker in His Tracks | true | http://louderwithcrowder.com/woman-with-gun-stops-stalker/ | 2016-06-24 | 0 |
<p />
<p>Fueled by soaring crude oil prices, profits at energy behemoth ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) leaped by a stronger-than-expected 69% in the first quarter.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>The Irving, Tex.-based blue-chip company said it earned $10.65 billion, or $2.14 a share, last quarter, compared with a profit of $6.3 billion, or $1.33 a share, a year earlier. Analysts had been calling for EPS of $2.07.</p>
<p>Revenue jumped 26% to $114 billion, slower than the prior-year’s 41% growth and just under the Street’s view of $114.85 billion.</p>
<p>“ExxonMobil’s earnings reflect continued leadership in operational performance during a period of strong commodity prices,” CEO Rex Tillerson said in a statement.</p>
<p>Exxon, which is the world’s largest publicly traded company and paid more than $8 billion in income taxes and total taxes in excess of $26 billion in the period, reported first-quarter upstream earnings of $8.68 billion, up from just $2.86 billion a year earlier.</p>
<p>Production rose 10% from the year before. U.S. upstream profits surged to $1.28 billion from $188 million, while international earnings leaped to $7.4 billion from $2.67 billion.</p>
<p>On the other hand, downstream earnings ebbed a bit, coming in at $694 million last quarter, compared with $754 million the year before.</p>
<p>Exxon reported record chemical earnings of $1.52 billion, up from just $267 million the year before.</p>
<p>Capital and exploration expenditures increased by 14% last quarter to $7.8 billion.</p>
<p>Shares of Exxon had a muted reaction to the earnings beat, slipping 0.43% to $87.40 in the premarkets. Jolted by the rise in oil prices, the company’s stock has jumped about 20% this year.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p> | ExxonMobil 1Q Tops Views, Profit Up 69% | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2011/04/28/exxon-mobil-beats-street-profit-jumps-6.html | 2016-01-28 | 0 |
<p>With the campaign headed into the final weeks before the election, new polls pop up every day, and they continue to show a strong trend in favor of Barack Obama. Depending on the survey, Obama is ahead or tied in as many as 10 states won by George W. Bush in 2004, including faux-purple <a href="http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/10/06/foxrasmussen_obama_gains_in_key_swing_states.html" type="external">Florida</a> and ruddy <a href="http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/10/07/research_2000_dead_heat_in_indiana.html" type="external">Indiana</a>. But just being ahead in the polls <a href="" type="internal">doesn’t mean</a> Obama will win.</p>
<p>Check out <a href="http://electoral-vote.com" type="external">Electoral-Vote.com</a> for a snapshot of the country, or see the latest on <a href="http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/10/07/ppp_poll_obama_regains_lead_in_ohio.html" type="external">Ohio</a>, <a href="http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/10/07/rgj_poll_obama_takes_lead_in_nevada.html" type="external">Nevada</a>, <a href="http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/10/07/research_2000_dead_heat_in_indiana.html" type="external">Indiana</a> and more over at <a href="http://politicalwire.com" type="external">Political Wire</a>.</p>
<p>Update: <a href="http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1847805,00.html" type="external">Time has more</a> on McCain’s Bush state blues.</p>
<p /> | Obama's Poll Surge Continues | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/obamas-poll-surge-continues/ | 2008-10-08 | 4 |
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<p>Business-related bankruptcies in New Mexico dropped to the lowest level in six years during the 12 months ending with September, in line with the national trend, according to federal data released this week.</p>
<p>Petitions were filed for 185 bankruptcies in which the majority of the debt was from business activities, a 19 percent drop from 229 petitions with mostly business debt over the same federal fiscal year period in 2010-11, the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts reported.</p>
<p>Nationwide, business-related bankruptcies dropped about 16 percent over the same period.</p>
<p>The drop in business-related bankruptcies could be a sign of a stabilizing economy, although many bankruptcy experts point to tighter credit standards as the reason. In a cause-and-effect way, tight credit means businesses haven’t been able to accumulate big debt loads that can lead to financial insolvency.</p>
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<p>The vast majority of business-related bankruptcies, both here and around the country, are consumer filings under any one of four chapters or types of bankruptcy. They are classified as business because the consumer checks a box on his or her petition that says the majority of the debt is related to a business.</p>
<p>The 185 business-related filings comprised just less than 4 percent of the total of 4,937 petitions for bankruptcy court protection filed in the state during the 2011-12 fiscal year. Nationwide, business-related bankruptcies made up roughly the same percent.</p>
<p>The 185 filings statewide was the lowest number of business-related bankruptcies since 127 were filed in the 2006-07 fiscal year. Business filings hit a recent high of 284 in the 2009-10 fiscal year.</p>
<p>The 4,937 petitions of all types is a 16 percent drop from the 5,897 filed statewide in the preceding 2010-11 fiscal year. Nationwide, filings of all types dropped 14 percent over the same period. — This article appeared on page B1 of the Albuquerque Journal</p> | N.M. Business Bankruptcies Dip | false | https://abqjournal.com/145862/nm-business-bankruptcies-dip.html | 2012-11-12 | 2 |
<p />
<p>New Miami Marlins CEO Derek Jeter says the franchise is exploring trade offers for outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, the highest-paid player in baseball, as part of a bid to reverse the team’s recent financial issues.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Ahead of the first major league owners' meeting since Bruce Sherman's group bought the team last month and put the former New York Yankees captain in charge, Jeter said he has not spoken yet with Stanton.</p>
<p>Jeter says "a lot of this started when he came out and expressed publicly that he didn't want to be part of a rebuild."</p>
<p>Stanton signed a 13-year contract in 2014 for a record $325 million. He will not be a free agent again until 2029, when he will be 40 years old.</p>
<p>Stanton is guaranteed $295 million over the remaining 10 years of his contract. He had the best season of his MLB career in 2017, setting personal bests with 59 home runs and 132 runs batted in.</p>
<p>Jeter says "it's an organization that's been losing money for quite some time, so we have to turn that around" and adds "it's easy to point the finger at him, because he makes the most money, but that doesn't necessarily mean that that's the move that's going to be made."</p>
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<p>The Yankee great was part of a group of investors that purchased the Marlins for $1.2 billion. The deal was finalized in October.</p>
<p>The Marlins have ranked near the bottom of MLB attendance for the last four seasons and operated at a loss for three of the last five years, according to Forbes.</p>
<p>The Associated Press contributed to this report.</p> | Marlins shopping Giancarlo Stanton, MLB's $325M star | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2017/11/15/marlins-shopping-giancarlo-stanton-mlbs-325m-star.html | 2017-11-15 | 0 |
<p>The California Secretary of State’s office just released figures showing the Nov. 4 election suffered the worst turnout rate ever. According to the Capitol Weekly <a href="http://capitolweekly.net/voter-participation-hits-record-low/" type="external">summary</a>:</p>
<p>Less than a third of California’s eligible voters cast ballots on Nov. 4….</p>
<p>Of those who registered to vote, little better than four in every 10 – about 42 percent – actually voted, either in person or by mail, the secretary of state reported in its Statement of the Vote….</p>
<p>In Los Angeles County, the most populace county with more than 5,000 voting precincts and eight million eligible voters, about 31 percent of registered voters cast ballots, the lowest participation level of any of the 58 counties. Of the L.A. voters who were eligible to cast ballots, less than a fourth went to the polls.</p>
<p>Part of this, I think, was due to California now being a one-party state dominated by Democrats. Gov. Jerry Brown hardly even campaigned for re-election; and even for that, he mainly talked about passing his initiatives, <a href="http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/en/propositions/1/" type="external">Proposition 1</a>, the water bonds, and <a href="http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/en/propositions/2/" type="external">Proposition 2</a>, the rainy-day fund. If he didn’t care about his own re-election, why should anybody else?</p>
<p>Democrats easily swept all statewide elections for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, etc. The&#160; <a href="http://vote2014.sos.ca.gov/returns/ballot-measures/" type="external">six&#160;ballot measure</a>s generated little controversy. Three won easily and three lost easily.</p>
<p>Turnout certainly will be higher in Nov. 2016, for the presidential election. But even there, nowadays the Democratic nominee easily wins with a 3 million-plus vote margin. The presidential candidates from both parties campaign here only troll for campaign cash.</p>
<p>However, numerous ballot measures are expected to be put before voters. The government-employee unions will be rallying their membership to pass several measures to gouge taxpayers even more. Taxpayers’ rights groups will be campaigning to keep taxes here slightly less preposterously unreasonable.</p>
<p>Otherwise, for most voters democracy in the Golden State seems about as appealing as one of First Lady Michelle Obama’s school lunches.</p> | Dismal election turnout | false | https://calwatchdog.com/2014/12/15/dismal-election-turnout/ | 2018-12-20 | 3 |
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<p>PHOENIX — Phoenix have identified a man fatally shot inside a gasoline station bathroom as 42-year-old Mario Ramos.</p>
<p>Sgt. Mercedes Fortune says the Thursday afternoon incident of a QuikTrip at Camelback Road and 27th Avenue remains under investigation.</p>
<p>Fortune says witnesses reported seeing and hearing a fight between two men in the bathroom.</p>
<p>As the two were fighting in the bathroom, police say one man shot the other.</p>
<p>Police say the alleged shooter told officers that the other man was physically assaulting him and he fired in self-defense.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Phoenix police ID man fatally shot in gas station bathroom | false | https://abqjournal.com/1002651/phoenix-police-id-man-fatally-shot-in-gas-station-bathroom.html | 2 |
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<p>English swimmers were surprised <a href="http://www.complex.com/art-design/2013/07/dragon-head-british-game-of-thrones-video" type="external">this week</a> to find a giant dragon's skull washed up on a beach in Dorset.</p>
<p>The skull <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/game-of-thrones-advertised-with-a-giant-dragon-hea,100431/" type="external">was found</a> on the region's Jurassic coast, known for dinosaur fossil findings.</p>
<p>Of course dragons likely didn't exist and this was all a PR student by a UK television streaming service to promote the new season of Game of Thrones.</p>
<p>BlinkBox <a href="http://www.complex.com/art-design/2013/07/dragon-head-british-game-of-thrones-video" type="external">worked for months</a> to create the giant skull they claim.</p>
<p>The stunt was inspired by the scene in the show in which Arya Stark finds a dragon skull in the dungeons of King's Landing (for those GOT viewers out there).</p>
<p>More from GlobalPost:&#160; <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/hollyworld/giant-colin-firth-statue-emerges-london-lake-video" type="external">Giant Colin Firth statue emerges from London lake (VIDEO)</a></p>
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<p /> | Dragon skull on Dorset, England beach PR stunt for Game of Thrones Season 3 (VIDEO) | false | https://pri.org/stories/2013-07-20/dragon-skull-dorset-england-beach-pr-stunt-game-thrones-season-3-video | 2013-07-20 | 3 |
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<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s attorneys initially wanted him to submit an updated financial disclosure without certifying the information as true, according to correspondence with the Office of Government Ethics.</p>
<p>Attorney Sheri Dillon said she saw no need for Trump to sign his 2016 personal financial disclosure because he is filing voluntarily this year. But OGE director Walter Shaub said his office would only work with Dillon if she agreed to follow the typical process of having Trump make the certification.</p>
<p>The Associated Press obtained the letters under a Freedom of Information Act request.</p>
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<p>Trump led his family’s private company until becoming president, and even now maintains financial ties to it. He has avoided full transparency about his finances by breaking the long tradition of major-party political candidates making their tax returns public.</p>
<p>Trump has routinely pointed to his previous public financial disclosures to justify his billionaire status and to dismiss calls for him to provide more information to the public. The filings are self-reported, though, making the personal certification all the more important to show the president is attesting for their accuracy.</p>
<p>The documents indicate that after OGE pushed back, Trump now plans to certify the information by mid-June. But his attorney’s effort to sidestep certification of his personal financial disclosure marks another departure from the norm. Each year, the OGE processes thousands of those forms, all of which are certified.</p>
<p>“This is not at all typical; in fact I’ve never heard of anyone trying this,” said Marilyn Glynn, an OGE employee for 17 years before retiring in 2008. Her positions included acting director and general counsel. “It would be as unusual as not signing your taxes.”</p>
<p>The certification means that if a person knowingly included incorrect financial information, the OGE can seek a civil penalty such as a fine, or even make a referral to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution.</p>
<p>Glynn said OGE has indeed used those tools to enforce the integrity of certification.</p>
<p>The letters indicate Shaub and Dillon talked through the importance of Trump presenting true information and signing off on it as such. OGE typically works with federal employees and their representatives and also certifies the financial disclosures.</p>
<p>“As we discussed, OGE will provide this assistance on the condition that the President is committed to certifying that the contents of his report are true, complete and correct,” Shaub wrote in a May 10 letter. “When we met on April 27, 2017, you requested that he be excused from providing this certification.”</p>
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<p>In her letter to Shaub, Dillon said the president will “sign and file” documents regarding his 2016 financials by mid-June — an indication that she agreed to the requirement.</p>
<p>Dillon also stressed in her letter, dated May 9, that Trump is under no obligation to file a financial disclosure this year and is doing so voluntarily. “President Trump welcomes the opportunity to provide this optional disclosure to the public, and hopes to file it shortly,” she wrote.</p>
<p>A person familiar with the matter said Dillon expressed concern in a meeting with OGE officials about the certification process because virtually everything on the new personal financial disclosure is now held in and managed by a trust overseen by people other than the president.</p>
<p>Dillon questioned how Trump could certify something he wasn’t supposed to have “direct, contemporaneous knowledge” about, the person said. Shaub assured her that other wealthy employees had certified as true their reports even though they didn’t independently verify every single underlying asset in them, said the person who demanded anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the interactions between Dillon’s law firm and OGE.</p>
<p>Personal financial disclosures include an accounting of a person’s personal income, assets and liabilities. Trump’s 2016 form will span his general election candidacy, election and transition to power — potentially shedding light on the immediate impact his Republican nomination and election had on his Trump Organization.</p>
<p>Last May, then-candidate Trump’s disclosure form showed his business empire had grown in value while he was running for office. His new filing is expected to outline what specific assets have been transferred to a trust overseen by one of his adult sons and a longtime Trump Organization executive.</p>
<p>However, the information is no substitute for tax returns, which Trump has chosen not to release. Tax documents would show his effective rate of income tax and detail the extent of his charitable giving.</p>
<p>Trump’s decision to file a personal financial disclosure puts him in the company of past Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and others. The law gives presidents a reprieve from filing financial disclosures in their first year, but citing transparency, they typically file anyway on or before May 15.</p>
<p>Shaub references that history in the first line of his letter to Dillon: “Thank you for your letter dated May 9, 2017, regarding the President’s decision to adhere to the longstanding tradition of voluntarily filing a public financial disclosure report in the first year after taking office.”</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Chad Day contributed to this report.</p>
<p>__</p>
<p>Read the documents here: <a href="http://apne.ws/2qFvHle" type="external">http://apne.ws/2qFvHle</a></p> | Trump tried to avoid certifying financial disclosure as true | false | https://abqjournal.com/1006347/trump-tried-to-avoid-certifying-financial-disclosure-as-true.html | 2017-05-20 | 2 |
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<p>The city’s mayor has become a hero to those seeking stronger immigration policies with his criticism of the federal government’s efforts to handle the thousands of immigrants, many of them mothers and children, who have flooded the Texas border.</p>
<p>Some of those immigrants were flown to California and were supposed to be processed at a Border Patrol facility in Murrieta, a fast-growing community in the conservative-leaning Inland Empire region. But protesters blocked the road, forcing federal officials to take the immigrants elsewhere.</p>
<p>A second protest is planned for today, when another convoy of buses with immigrants is rumored to arrive.</p>
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<p>“We’ve had it,” said Carol Schlaepfer, a retired Pomona resident who protested Tuesday in Murrieta. “We all want a better life. … You can’t come to our country and expect American citizens to dole out what you need, from grade school ’til death.”</p>
<p>People on both sides of the issue want immigration reform, but immigrant rights advocates say anti-illegal immigration protesters chastise the mostly women and children crossing the border.</p>
<p>“It’s sad that some community members don’t see the big picture,” said Luz Gallegos, co-founder of the immigration legal aid center TODEC in nearby Perris.</p>
<p>Thousands of children and families have arrived on the Texas border in recent months fleeing violence, murders and extortion from criminal gangs in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Since October, more than 52,000 unaccompanied children have been detained.</p>
<p>The crunch on the border in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley prompted U.S. authorities to fly immigrant families to other Texas cities and to Southern California for processing.</p>
<p>The Border Patrol is coping with excess capacity across the Southwest and cities’ responses to the arriving immigrants have ranged from welcoming to indifferent. In the border town of El Centro, California, a flight arrived Wednesday without protest.</p>
<p>The same day, 140 miles north in Murrieta, an overflow crowd filled a school auditorium for a town hall convened on immigrant arrivals. Those in the crowd chanted “Send them back!” at a Border Patrol official.</p>
<p>Some local leaders said the outrage among some area residents is justified, given the already stressed civil services infrastructure and the stagnant Inland Empire economy. Murrieta has a population of about 106,000.</p>
<p>“It’s not the 140 we’re concerned about,” Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone said of the number of people on the three buses turned away by Murrieta protesters. “It’s the thousands more that will follow that will … take away the resources we need to care for our own citizens.”</p>
<p>More protests are expected in the city Friday as rumors circulate of another convoy of immigrants arriving at the border patrol station there. The Murrieta Police Department plans to have additional staff in place, Lt. John Flavin said.</p>
<p>The Department of Homeland Security said that because of security concerns, it will not publicize immigrant transfers among border patrol facilities.</p>
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<p /> | Calif. city latest immigration flashpoint | false | https://abqjournal.com/425037/calif-city-latest-immigration-flashpoint.html | 2 |
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<p>With an extremely restrictive abortion ban heading towards a vote, Spain is on the verge of becoming the first country within the European Union to actually move backwards on abortion rights.</p>
<p>For a country that has enjoyed a fairly liberal social and sexual culture in recent decades, the backtracking on abortion—the proposed law would make the procedure illegal except in cases of rape or endangerment to the mother’s life— is all the more shocking. And it comes only four years after Spain <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/35565952/ns/world_news-europe/t/spain-oks-new-abortion-law-angers-church/" type="external">dramatically expanded</a> the original 1985 law permitting abortion, easing restrictions on abortion access.</p>
<p>And the country hasn’t just been progressive on women’s issues, either. Spain became one of the first countries to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/30/AR2005063000245.html" type="external">legalize same-sex marriage</a> way back in 2005.</p>
<p>However, abortion laws have become a major target of the ruling conservative Partido Popular, which took power in 2011 after nearly a decade of Socialist Party rule. The current Justice Minister, Alberto Ruiz Gallardón, has been unwavering in his commitment to rolling back the 2010 abortion provisions. In December of 2013, he <a href="http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/12/20/inenglish/1387553017_431286.html" type="external">announced</a> the party’s goal to ensure that a “woman can only abort if she is in danger, and if it is due to a sexual assault.” To add to the restrictions, under that proposed bill a woman would have to file a prior complaint even in these two allowed cases before she is permitted to have abortion.</p>
<p>Yet the rest of Spain has not become so socially conservative overnight. “The polls show they [Partido Popular] are completely out of touch with population at large,” says Johanna Westeson, the Regional Director of Europe for the Reproductive Rights Center. In fact, one <a href="http://www.cadenaser.com/espana/articulo/71-votantes-pp-rechaza-reforma-aborto/csrcsrpor/20140225csrcsrnac_7/Tes" type="external">survey</a> showed 80 percent of the population disapproved of the proposed restrictions. Even Celia Villalobos, who is a member of Partido Popular and is the deputy speaker of Spain’s Parliament, <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/02/27/283081599/anti-abortion-push-has-spain-debating-definition-of-progress" type="external">criticized</a> the proposal, saying “We’re not in 1985 anymore. We’re in 2014, and things have changed.”</p>
<p>Yet, in contrast to the extreme and apparently unpopular battle against abortion rights in Spain, gay-marriage rights have survived there. Though attempts to end gay marriage were made, Partido Popular ultimately left it up to the Constitutional Court, which <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/06/spain-gay-marriage-law-upheld_n_2083080.html" type="external">upheld</a> gay marriage. In fact, Gallardón went out of his way to <a href="http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/02/07/inenglish/1328595650_850210.html" type="external">say</a> that he did not think Partido Popular should interfere with gay marriage.</p>
<p>Against the backdrop of their tolerance, if not embrace, of same-sex marriage, Partido Popular’s fervent decision to go after abortion rights might seem peculiar. However, the schism between Spain’s treatment of the two controversial issues is not that unusual, at least in recent years. Westeson said “The notion that opposition to liberal abortion laws and LGBT rights go hand in hand in Europe does not at all hold.” As an example, she cited how Ireland, which has a near ban on abortion, is fast moving towards <a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/same-sex-marriage-referendum-will-make-ireland-a-beacon-of-light-260607.html" type="external">legalizing same-sex marriage</a>.</p>
<p>She believes that one of the reasons LGBT rights appear to be advancing faster in Europe than abortion rights is because of the policies of the European Union. “The EU has very strong protections against discrimination, including sexual orientation, whereas issue related to health and reproductive health are completely outside of the EU,” she says. “If a country is interested in restricting rights for same sex couples, it’s much harder in the EU context.”</p>
<p>Gillian Kane, a Senior Policy Adviser at <a href="http://www.ipas.org" type="external">Ipas</a>, an international reproductive-rights group, has also noticed what she sees as the “mainstreaming” of LGBT rights in recent years while abortion rights are facing a backlash in many countries. “My own pet theory is that abortion is a women’s issue. It’s gendered. Gay marriage isn’t, and it involves men. That makes it more mainstream,” she says. “You see it in the States, too.”</p>
<p>Whether it’s for the gendered reasoning that Kane suggests, the United States does reflect a similar discrepancy. According to the <a href="http://www.guttmacher.org/media/inthenews/2014/01/02/index.html" type="external">Guttmacher Institute</a>, between 2011 and 2013, more abortion restrictions were enacted than in any previous decade. At the very same time, <a href="http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/history-and-timeline-of-marriage" type="external">same-sex marriage</a> enjoyed a rise in <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/162398/sex-marriage-support-solidifies-above.aspx" type="external">positive public opinion</a>.</p>
<p>Abortion-rights advocates by no means seek to detract from LGBT movement or begrudge it victories. But purely from a policy perspective, it is a bewildering pattern. Kane believes conservatives like Partido Popular have pushed abortion restrictions because, unlike same-sex marriage, it is “framed as an issue of life, not an issue of rights,” she said. “In terms of wedge issues, it’s a way to get people on board.”</p>
<p>And mobilizing the masses may be what’s of greater concern to Partido Popular than the issue of abortion itself, especially as the country <a href="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2014/03/03/eu-must-do-more-to-help-spain-economy-pm-says/" type="external">still struggles</a> with a bad economy.</p>
<p>Start and finish your day with the top stories from The Daily Beast.</p>
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<p>“What we see now in many countries is to use it [abortion] to distract from the very real economic matters that are very serious, and Spain is one of the hardest hit,” said Westeson. “Morality issues surrounding women’s bodies tend to be a distraction from other issues that are critical now.”</p>
<p>Ana Prata, a professor at the California State University, Northridge, also suspects that conservatives in Spain may be playing abortion politics as “smoke and mirrors to distract from debating things that could be more challenging.”</p>
<p>Regardless of the exact motives, with Partido Popular in control of Spain’s government, the abortion bill is likely to pass in at least some form. That could be bad news not only for women seeking abortions in Spain, but all over Europe.</p>
<p>“I am afraid we will see a snowball effect in other countries,” said Westeson. “Conservative groups in many countries are looking towards Spain, and they will get motivation if the law passes. I’ve heard that groups in France and Germany are eagerly following what’s happening.”</p>
<p>Still, even if Spain’s proposal passes Parliament in its full form, it is unlikely to silence the national and global community. <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/02/27/283081599/anti-abortion-push-has-spain-debating-definition-of-progress" type="external">Thousands</a> have protested in Madrid, and FEMEN already staged a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/09/femen-spain-abortion-law-reform_n_4069514.html" type="external">topless protest</a> chanting, “Abortion is sacred.” By all accounts, these women are ready for a battle.</p>
<p>“Womens’ rights over their bodies aren’t usually given for free by the government,” says Prata. “They usually have to fight.”</p> | Why Does Spain Love Gay Marriage But Hate Abortion? | true | https://thedailybeast.com/why-does-spain-love-gay-marriage-but-hate-abortion | 2018-10-04 | 4 |
<p />
<p>The U.S. Supreme Court sided with Monsanto (NYSE:MON) in a ruling Monday that said a farmer violated the company’s patents by planting later generations of genetically engineered seeds without paying Monsanto.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>A legal dispute between St. Louis-based Monsanto and an elderly Indiana farmer began in 2007 over how long the company can claim patent protection for its genetically engineered seeds.</p>
<p>Monsanto sued the farmer, Vernon Bowman, after he planted soybeans that came from crops grown by other farmers using first-generation Monsanto seeds. Bowman argued that patent rights only protect first-generation seeds and expired by the time he purchased later-generation seeds from a local grain elevator.</p>
<p>But by planting the seeds without paying Monsanto for them, Bowman made unauthorized copies of Monsanto’s patent inventions, the high court said in a unanimous ruling.</p>
<p>Monsanto’s Roundup Ready seeds are made to be resistant to weed killer, and the seeds Bowman planted contained Roundup Ready traits. Those later-generation seeds are typically used for animal feed.</p>
<p>The decision upheld an $84,000 judgment against Bowman, who suspected that the seeds he purchased would be resistant to herbicide. He saved soybeans from his harvest for planting future crops.</p>
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<p>If Monsanto had lost the closely-watched Supreme Court battle, its business model would have been turned upside-down since the company restricts reproduction of its products beyond the initial sale.</p>
<p>In March, Monsanto and DuPont (NYSE:DD) <a href="" type="internal">agreed to technology licensing deals</a> that will expand the range of seed products each rival company can offer farmers. As part of the arrangement, the companies dismissed respective antitrust lawsuits.</p>
<p>Monsanto also dismissed the $1 billion it was awarded in August. The company had sued DuPont in another patent-infringement case related to Roundup Ready seeds.</p>
<p>Shares of Monsanto were trading 71 cents lower at $107.41 in early afternoon trading.</p> | Monsanto Wins Patent Fight in Supreme Court | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2013/05/13/supreme-court-rules-for-monsanto-in-patent-fight.html | 2016-03-06 | 0 |
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — A woman who worked for Michael Douglas in the late 1980s says he fondled himself in front of her — an allegation the actor has vigorously denied.</p>
<p>Susan Braudy appeared Friday on NBC’s “Today” show.</p>
<p>Braudy, a journalist and author, says Douglas unbuckled his belt, put his hand into his trousers and fondled himself in her presence. She says a friend later cautioned her not to tell anyone.</p>
<p>Douglas, a two-time Oscar winner, told Deadline earlier this month that he anticipated an upcoming report would contain an allegation by a former employee that he acted inappropriately in front of her about 32 years ago. He called it a “complete lie, fabrication.” He says his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, “has been very supportive.”</p>
<p>Douglas’ publicist said he would have no further comment.</p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — A woman who worked for Michael Douglas in the late 1980s says he fondled himself in front of her — an allegation the actor has vigorously denied.</p>
<p>Susan Braudy appeared Friday on NBC’s “Today” show.</p>
<p>Braudy, a journalist and author, says Douglas unbuckled his belt, put his hand into his trousers and fondled himself in her presence. She says a friend later cautioned her not to tell anyone.</p>
<p>Douglas, a two-time Oscar winner, told Deadline earlier this month that he anticipated an upcoming report would contain an allegation by a former employee that he acted inappropriately in front of her about 32 years ago. He called it a “complete lie, fabrication.” He says his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, “has been very supportive.”</p>
<p>Douglas’ publicist said he would have no further comment.</p> | Ex-employee: Michael Douglas fondled himself in front of her | false | https://apnews.com/8839f1d7b8dd416a8795b75925a4edca | 2018-01-19 | 2 |
<p>Given this grim reality, anti-fascist organizing and united front coalitions have never been more important.</p>
<p>The 45th president of the United States has exhibited some pretty outrageous behavior in his eight months in office, but his recent pardon of racist former Sheriff, Joe Arpaio of Ariz., might be the most ominous act yet.&#160;</p>
<p>A signature feature of dictators and tyrants is that they allow their henchmen to act with impunity, no matter how brutal, and to jail and punish their critics. The pardon of Arpaio sends a dangerous signal to racist cops and ruthless vigilantes alike. The message is: If you are doggedly loyal to Trump and his base, you can get away with anything. The President himself <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/us/politics/donald-trump-jeff-sessions.html?mcubz=3" type="external">boasted</a> last month that he has “complete power” to pardon. And with his praiseful pardon of Arpaio, a man Rolling Stone’s Joe Hagan referred to as “the most corrupt and abusive sheriff in America,” Trump has demonstrated that he is willing to exercise that power.</p>
<p>To understand the full impact of this presidential action, we need to remember who Joe Arpaio is.&#160; He is not a crotchety old sheriff from a bygone era. Arpaio was an equal-opportunity oppressor, challenging the legitimacy of the nation’s first Black president as part of the racist “birther” movement while rounding up and inhumanely persecuting documented and undocumented <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/why-people-are-using-the-term-latinx_us_57753328e4b0cc0fa136a159" type="external">Latinx</a> Ariz. residents.</p>
<p>The Maricopa sheriff’s department, under Arpaio’s rule from 1993 to 2016, was notorious for its harassment and racial profiling of Latinx residents. Their tyrannical practices were so egregious that the Department of Homeland Security prohibited Arpaio from enforcing federal immigration policies. A scathing Department of Justice report indicates that Latinx prisoners under Arpaio’s control were routinely referred to by a litany of racist slurs, including: “wetbacks,” “Mexican bitches” and “stupid Mexicans.”</p>
<p>Arpaio’s scandalous open-air prison unit, dubbed “tent city,” housed hundreds of inmates, overwhelmingly Latinx, in unbearable desert heat and unsafe conditions. Arpaio jokingly called the facility his own “concentration camp.” He also re-instated the disgraceful and famously racist “chain gang,” where prisoners were traipsed around in public shackled together and—in a veiled homophobic insinuation—forced to wear pink underwear under their uniforms.</p>
<p>Essentially, Arpaio’s career was an unchecked reign of terror in Ariz. This is the man who&#160;Trump embraced, referring to his service as “admirable.”</p>
<p>Arpaio’s practices and persona bear a painful resemblance to the anti-Black racism of southern sheriffs in the 1960s—and the continued racist practices of many urban police forces today. Some observers have likened Arpaio to a modern-day Bull Connor, the notorious and blustering public safety commissioner of Birmingham, Ala. who brazenly defied federal law, unleashed dogs and turned powerful water hoses on Civil Rights protesters in the 1960s. The chain gang and racial epithets were a mainstays of southern law enforcement before and during the Civil Rights Movement.</p>
<p>Today, the Movement for Black Lives has foregrounded the fact that racist police violence and mistreatment are systemic and persistent, even after police forces have been desegregated. Think of the police shootings of Michael Brown, Walter Scott, Mya Hall, Tamir Rice, Ayana Jones, Laquan McDonald, Rekia Boyd and so many others in recent years.</p>
<p>The law-and-order president condones lawlessness when it suits him, another trait common to authoritarian regimes: rules for everybody but not for “us.” In a speech on Long Island in July, Trump condoned the rough treatment of suspects during an arrest. He jokingly told his law enforcement audience, “When you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon, you just see them thrown in, rough—I said, ‘Please don’t be too nice.’”</p>
<p>This must have sent a shiver down the spines of the families of Sandra Bland and Freddie Gray, two young Black people who died in police custody under highly suspicious circumstances, after being violently arrested.</p>
<p>Trump’s pardon of Arpaio, once referred to by detainees as “Hitler,” comes at a perilous time in this nation’s history. The scenes of heavily armed white supremacists marching through the streets of Charlottesville and rampaging across the campus of the University of Virginia with torches are fresh in our minds. It was only two weeks ago that Heather Heyer was murdered at the hands of a Neo-Nazi vigilante calling himself a patriot, the same term Trump used in applauding his buddy, “Sheriff Joe.”</p>
<p>Given this grim reality, anti-fascist organizing and united front coalitions have never been more important. The work of The Majority, a broad-based alliance of organizations called together by the Movement for Black Lives is one significant development. And the “Black and Brown” unity platform of the Expanded Sanctuary Movement, spearheaded by Mijente and Black Youth Project 100 to oppose the criminalization of Black and Brown communities, is yet another example of organizers taking seriously the slogan, “same enemy, same fight.” The local Chicago-based coalition, Resist. Reimagine. Rebuild, is doing this important united front work on the local level. There is much work for progressive, left and anti-racist activists to do from the electoral arena to protests in the streets. The stakes have rarely been higher.</p>
<p>Like what you’ve read? <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/itt-subscription-offer?refcode=WS_ITT_Article_Footer&amp;noskip=true" type="external">Subscribe to In These Times magazine</a>, or <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/support-in-these-times?refcode=WS_ITT_Article_Footer&amp;noskip=true" type="external">make a tax-deductible donation to fund this reporting</a>.</p>
<p>Barbara Ransby is a professor of history at the University of Illinois-Chicago and the author of Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision. She is a longtime activist and a founder of the group Ella's Daughters.</p> | With Pardon of Arpaio, Trump Gives a Green Light to Racist Cops and Vigilantes | true | http://inthesetimes.com/article/20463/Joe-Arpaio-Donald-Trump-Arizona-racial-profiling-undocumented | 2017-08-28 | 4 |
<p>This has been a tumultuous week for healthcare reform. First there was the pleasantly quick defeat of the American Health Care Act in the House of Representatives Friday afternoon. Then, that evening, Senator Sanders spoke at a town hall in Vermont with Senator Pat Leahy and Representative Peter Welch where he announced that he would introduce a Medicare for All bill. Medicare for All and Bernie supporters lit up social media with their excitement over the announcement. This should have been great news, but it wasn’t exactly.</p>
<p>Over the weekend, more information was revealed in a series of interviews with Sen. Sanders. Sunday, he said on CNN that single payer legislation wouldn’t have the votes, so the first priority will be to improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with a public insurance, called a public option, and possibly lowering the age of Medicare eligibility to 55.</p>
<p>There are a number of reasons why this isn’t the time for tinkering with the ACA. We have a healthcare crisis now and the means to solve it. The ACA is fundamentally flawed and cannot be tweaked into a universal program. And Sanders’ proposals are exactly the same ones used in 2008-10 to divide and weaken the movement for National Improved Medicare for All. We can’t be fooled into going down that path again.</p>
<p>The Current Crisis and its Solution</p>
<p>Right now in the United States, almost 30 million people have no health insurance. On top of that, tens of millions of people who have health insurance can’t afford health care. When people experience a serious accident or illness, they face a stark choice: seek care and risk financial ruin or go without it and risk disability or death. Hundreds of thousands of families go bankrupt each year due to medical illness and an estimated 29,000 people die each year due to lack of access to care.</p>
<p>Think about how the country galvanized when 3,000 people were killed in the attacks on 9/11 or when the 2,000th&#160;soldier was killed in Iraq, but that amount of death happens ten times a year or more in the US and we hardly hear a peep of outrage.</p>
<p>Health outcomes in the United States are not very good. A&#160; <a href="" type="internal">recent study</a>&#160;found:</p>
<p>“Notable among poor-performing countries is the USA, whose life expectancy at birth is already lower than most other high-income countries, and is projected to fall further behind such that its 2030 life expectancy at birth might be similar to the Czech Republic for men, and Croatia and Mexico for women. The USA has the highest child and maternal mortality, homicide rate, and body-mass index of any high-income country, and was the first of high-income countries to experience a halt or possibly reversal of increase in height in adulthood, which is associated with higher longevity. The USA is also the only country in the OECD without universal health coverage, and has the largest share of unmet health-care needs due to financial costs.”</p>
<p>Yet, of all of the industrialized nations, the United States spends the most per person on health care, in some cases double the amount and those countries cover everyone. We are already paying for universal comprehensive health coverage, but we aren’t getting it because the bottom line of the system in the US is profits for a few rather than health for all.</p>
<p>The US has the most complex and heavily bureaucratic system in the world because it is a market-based system with a few public programs to try to fill in the gaps. A third of our healthcare dollar goes to administration for the hundreds of different insurance plans with their differing coverage, networks and rules. And we pay the highest prices, by far, for health services and pharmaceuticals because there is no rational system to set a fair price.</p>
<p>To begin to solve the healthcare crisis in the US, we need a system that is based on health and the money to pay for it. The proven solution is a universal not-for-profit, publicly-funded system that provides all medically-necessary care. House Resolution 676: “The Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act,” which has 72 co-sponsors, is the model for that system. This would address the fundamental causes of the healthcare crisis.</p>
<p>The good news is that not only do we have the money to pay for this system, but there is also widespread support for it. For decades many independent polls have shown more than 60% support by the general public, plus more than 80% support by Democratic Party voters, rapidly growing support by Republicans who earn under $75,000 and majority support by health professionals.</p>
<p>Why a Public Option and Medicare for Some Plans will fail</p>
<p>Steve Bannon, President Trump’s chief strategist, had an interesting statement in the&#160; <a href="" type="internal">New York Magazine</a>&#160;recently. He criticized the Republican’s American Health Care Act (AHCA) because it was “written by the insurance industry.” That same criticism can be made of the Democrat’s ACA, which was basically written by Liz Fowler, a former executive for WellPoint. She also oversaw the regulations’ process.</p>
<p>The ACA is fundamentally flawed because it treats health care as a commodity, not a public necessity. It has achieved the best that it can do, and similar to other attempts at the state level that don’t address the roots of the crisis, it is starting to deteriorate with stagnant coverage and rising premiums and out-of-pocket costs.</p>
<p>Attempts to improve the ACA with a public insurance or Medicare for some will bring coverage to a few more, but they will similarly fail over time because they will not change the system or control healthcare costs.</p>
<p>Sen. Sanders and others are pushing a public option. This would be a public insurance that people could choose instead of private insurance. It sounds good in theory but has not worked in practice because it draws the sickest patients and struggles to cover their care while keeping premiums and out-of-pocket costs affordable. Private insurers are experts at attracting the healthiest enrollees. In fact,&#160; <a href="https://popularresistance.org/newsletter-dont-be-fooled-by-profiteers-option/" type="external">I have argued</a>&#160;that a public insurance is just what the private insurers want (though they are unlikely to admit it) because it serves as a relief valve to take sick people off their hands. That leaves private insurers to focus on the young, employed and wealthy, from which they can collect premiums and who won’t need much in the way of health care.</p>
<p>Sen. Sanders is also raising the possibility of lowering the age of Medicare to 55,&#160; <a href="" type="internal">just as Alan Grayson suggested</a>&#160;in 2010. This is another gift to the insurance industry because it takes a group that is more likely to have health problems off of their books. It will place more of a burden on the Medicare system without bringing the cost savings needed to cover health needs. I call this Medicare for some to contrast it with Medicare for all.</p>
<p>The basic reasons that Medicare for all works are because the administrative simplicity of one universal plan provides over $500 billion a year in administrative savings and its ability to negotiate fair drug prices means over $100 billion per year in savings on pharmaceuticals. The savings offset the cost of paying for care and getting rid of out-of-pocket costs that currently keep people from seeking necessary care.</p>
<p>Rather than wasting time and effort on a public option or Medicare for some, which will still leave people out and maintain the high costs of health care, we need to mobilize to win national improved Medicare for all. Like other industrialized nations, we need to create a universal high quality health system. It doesn’t make sense to leave anybody out when we have the resources to achieve it and public support for it. The only thing lacking is support from members of Congress. But as we witnessed last week with the defeat of the AHCA, changing the minds of members of Congress is within the power of the public.</p>
<p>The public option and Medicare for some are being used to divide and distract supporters of Medicare for all in order to weaken them and make them believe they are asking for too much, just as happened during the health reform efforts in 2008-10. We can’t be taken off track again.</p>
<p>What is the real purpose of a public option or lowering the age of Medicare when neither is an effective nor a lasting solution? It is only because the Democrats are unwilling to take on the powerful health insurance and pharmaceutical industries. The problem is that we can’t solve the healthcare crisis until we do.</p>
<p>This article originally appeared on <a href="" type="internal">Heath Over Profit</a>.</p> | Why the Public Option and Medicare for Some Will Fail | true | https://counterpunch.org/2017/03/30/why-the-public-option-and-medicare-for-some-will-fail/ | 2017-03-30 | 4 |
<p>For many small businesses, advertising is often the most difficult expense to fit in the budget. But getting your company’s name out there and your products seen is imperative. &#160;According to the Small Business Administration, an entrepreneur should budget just 5% of his or her gross sales for advertising, which doesn’t leave much room for full-page spreads in magazines, let alone a television spot. So how do you get your company out there without breaking the bank?</p>
<p>One entrepreneur, Jaclyn Smith, co-owner of Anzie, a fine jewelry company based in Toronto, Canada, may have the answer.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Fox Business: How do you get your jewelry into the public eye?</p>
<p>Anzie: Getting visibility is one of the hardest parts of the business, and it’s taken us a while. We started the company 11 years ago and it’s only this year and last year that we started to get a lot of press. I recently learned we can only do so much, I can’t be everywhere. Honestly, I think it usually takes a professional, or a whole team of people backing you up, which we have now.</p>
<p>Fox Business: So once you hired a PR professional, what were the next steps?</p>
<p>Anzie: Our PR rep has a great network, and she was attending a music festival in Canada and met Katy Perry’s representative. From there we were able to work with her to get Katy to wear our Bouquet bracelet at the 2010 Much Music Video Awards.</p>
<p>Fox Business: So other than the professional public relations help, how did you get the company out there?</p>
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<p>Anzie: Well, I try to give everyone at the company a little bit more responsibility, so even our sales reps are out making contacts in the industry and looking for new avenues through which we can get press. It really empowers people and gets them excited about their position. They aren’t afraid to go up to someone and introduce themselves and tell people that we have a great product that we’re proud of.</p>
<p>Fox Business: What about getting images of your jewelry in magazines or online? Is there a way to do that without taking out expensive ads?</p>
<p>Anzie: Well, we do things called “Gifting Events” or “Gifting Lounges,” which are suites that celebrities come through at different types of award shows like the Grammys, the Emmys, and even the Oscars. The idea is to get your products on a celebrity before they hit the red carpet. Companies that sell jewelry and accessories will set up in these lounges, and it costs somewhere between $3,000 and $15,000 to be an exhibitor.</p>
<p>Fox Business: So do you give these celebrities your products?</p>
<p>Anzie: Yes, and it really isn’t my favorite thing to do, because these guys are millionaires! But, we’ll have a photographer there, and we will dress the celebrity in our jewelry and take their picture. Each celebrity who poses with an item, we give it to them.</p>
<p>Fox Business: Isn’t it expensive to give away products to each celebrity who poses with an item?</p>
<p>Anzie: Yes, it’s not cheap, but we watch how much we are spending. While we’re at these events we also get a lot of contacts in the industry, and our presence there helps the company’s image. To be honest, we could just give the celebrities a gift certificate to spend on Anzie.com. But it creates more buzz and goodwill if they walk away with a piece on their arm or on their finger than if they have to put a piece of paper in their purse and say, “Okay, I’ll order something next week.”</p>
<p>Fox Business: What advice would you have for another small business looking to increase its visibility in a similar way?</p>
<p>Anzie:Unless you have a huge advertising budget, it’s more helpful to spend your money on PR. You get more for your dollar that way. This year we have branched out a little and have ads in Town and Country, but we are just testing it out to see the reactions. For now, <a href="" type="internal">Facebook</a> and <a href="" type="internal">Twitter</a> continue to be a big part of our promotional strategy!</p> | Getting Noticed on a Shoestring Budget | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2010/08/16/visibility-budget-qa-founder-anzie.html | 2016-03-18 | 0 |
<p>After more than thirty years filed away in the John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center, a diminutive jawbone fossil has emerged as part of the oldest fur seal on record.</p>
<p>The remains of the species Eotaria cypta were first discovered within a Southern Californian rock formation in the 1980s, but misidentified as an ancient walrus. It wasn’t until the University of Otago’s PhD student Robert Boessenecker took a closer look at the fossil’s teeth that a five-million-year evolutionary gap was filled for the fur seal.</p>
<p>“Until now we had no fossil evidence for the first five million years of fur seal and sea lion evolution,” said Boessenecker in the University’s <a href="http://www.otago.ac.nz/geology/news/otago086763.html" type="external">press release</a>. “It’s extremely satisfying to have remedied that.”</p>
<p>Based on the age of the rock formation, researchers estimate that the creature roamed the seas about fifteen-to-seventeen million years ago. The family of Otariidae, which includes fur seals and sea lions, previously only dated back ten-to-twelve million years.</p>
<p>“Yet we know that their fossil record must go back to around 16-17 million years ago or so, because walruses—the closest modern relative of the otariids—have a record reaching back that far,” adds Boessenecker.</p>
<p>The rarity of Eotaria cypta fossils remains an enigma, but paleontologist Dr. Naoki Kohno suggests that the majority of them have settled into the depths of the open ocean. It’s possible that these old bones are simply inaccessible by the nature of the creature’s natural habitat.</p>
<p>Boessenecker agrees that “This hypothesis is supported by this fossil having been collected from rock formed by sediments deposited in what was then continental shelf, rather than extensively studied inland fossil sites, such as Sharktooth Hill, that formed in bays.”</p>
<p>Eotaria, the genus name of the animal, appropriately stands for “dawn sea lion.”</p>
<p>The findings were originally published in the journal Biology Letters.</p>
<p /> | Ancient Fur Seal Seals Evolutionary Gap, Ignites Mystery | false | http://natmonitor.com/2015/02/14/ancient-fur-seal-seals-evolutionary-gap-ignites-mystery/ | 2015-02-14 | 3 |
<p>BERLIN (AP) — A new poll suggests the Swiss are willing to continue paying fees for public broadcasting before a referendum being closely watched across Europe.</p>
<p>The survey published Friday by Tamedia group found 59 percent of respondents would reject a proposal to abolish the current system of financing public TV and radio stations.</p>
<p>The online poll of 15,197 voters, conducted Jan. 15, found 40 percent would back the so-called No Billag proposal, named after the company tasked with collecting the fee.</p>
<p>The survey has a margin of error of 1.1 percentage points.</p>
<p>Backers of the proposal, to be voted on March 4, say charging households 451.10 Swiss francs ($472.30) a year to use radio and television is excessive.</p>
<p>Opponents warn it could imperial an important public service in multilingual Switzerland.</p>
<p>BERLIN (AP) — A new poll suggests the Swiss are willing to continue paying fees for public broadcasting before a referendum being closely watched across Europe.</p>
<p>The survey published Friday by Tamedia group found 59 percent of respondents would reject a proposal to abolish the current system of financing public TV and radio stations.</p>
<p>The online poll of 15,197 voters, conducted Jan. 15, found 40 percent would back the so-called No Billag proposal, named after the company tasked with collecting the fee.</p>
<p>The survey has a margin of error of 1.1 percentage points.</p>
<p>Backers of the proposal, to be voted on March 4, say charging households 451.10 Swiss francs ($472.30) a year to use radio and television is excessive.</p>
<p>Opponents warn it could imperial an important public service in multilingual Switzerland.</p> | Poll shows Swiss willing to keep paying for public TV, radio | false | https://apnews.com/amp/86db74f5f94441c3b98da25b6b7c3b81 | 2018-01-19 | 2 |
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<p>A British civil engineer has invented a building block made almost entirely of recycled glass, metal slag, sewage sludge and ash from power stations. John Forth of the University of Leeds said his “Bitublocks” might revolutionize the building industry by providing a sustainable, low-energy replacement for concrete blocks. This according to <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&amp;article=UPI-1-20070403-12013300-bc-britain-bitublocks.xml" type="external">UPI via Science Daily</a>.</p>
<p>The secret ingredient is asphalt, which binds the mixture of waste products together, before compacting them to form a solid block that is heat-cured until it hardens like concrete. Forth said it’s possible to use a higher proportion of waste in the Bitublock than by using a cement or clay binder. He’s now working on developing a “Vegeblock” using waste vegetable oil as the binder.</p>
<p>Another noble reincarnation for MacDonald’s used french-fry grease?– <a href="http://julia.whitty.googlepages.com/home" type="external">Julia Whitty</a></p>
<p /> | Scientists Turn Old Garbage Into New Homes | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2007/04/scientists-turn-old-garbage-new-homes/ | 2007-04-04 | 4 |
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<p>The year will almost certainly hold the prize for the hottest in recorded history, eclipsing the records set in 2015 and 2014. Researchers tracked how Antarctic ice sheets continue to melt and how the Arctic continues to warm. Coral reefs are dying. Air and water problems keep surfacing around the globe. Some scientists are predicting that sea levels will rise even more than expected in coming decades, while others are linking extreme weather events to the changing climate and detailing how environmental and climatic factors are fueling the spread of Zika and other devastating diseases.</p>
<p>So, yeah, pretty dismal.</p>
<p>At the same time, it’s not all bad news out there. The year saw some clear signs of environmental progress, too. Rare though they were, these five environmental stories were true bright spots:</p>
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<p>1) Global carbon emissions appear to have stopped increasing. A picture is beginning to emerge of a world where the increase in emissions of carbon dioxide seems to be flattening, despite countries’ continuing use of fossil fuels. In the United States, emissions are actually going down.</p>
<p>Data from the Global Carbon Project suggests that global emissions have not changed for three years straight. Moreover, the cause has not been a global recession – growth has continued. What appears to be happening is a “decoupling” of economic growth from carbon emissions, thanks to more clean energy and other lower-emitting sources of energy like natural gas. From the perspective of the climate system, it isn’t enough for emissions to flatten; they actually have to go down (and down and down). But this plateau is a very good start.</p>
<p>2) Worldwide, wind and solar are booming. The U.S. solar industry has experienced a blockbuster year. According to one recent report, the industry added a record 4,143 megawatts (or million watts) of solar-generating capacity in the third quarter of 2016 alone, with similar growth projected in coming months. Wind energy also had a record year, with thousands of turbines popping up from the U.S. heartland to Europe to China. This nation’s first offshore wind farm also became a reality off the coast of Rhode Island.</p>
<p>That growth shows few signs of slowing. A report this fall from the International Energy Agency said renewable energy products surpassed all other sources of new electricity in 2015, with wind and solar leading the way. Renewables still account for only about 23 percent of the electricity produced worldwide, according to the report. But the agency predicted that will increase to 28 percent by 2021, as the costs of building wind and solar farms continue to decline.</p>
<p>3) World leaders seem determined to combat global warming (well, most world leaders). In late 2015, leaders from nearly 200 countries joined a landmark climate accord negotiated in Paris. Each country pledged to help slash greenhouse-gas emissions, with the goal of avoiding the most drastic effects of global warming in the decades ahead. In 2016, countries began the first steps of backing up those promises. In October, the accord officially entered into force when more than 55 countries, representing more than 55 percent of global emissions, ratified the deal. The following month in Morocco, representatives took initial steps toward implementing the deal’s ambitious goals.</p>
<p>That said, the fate of the Paris accord is uncertain. The United States pledged to cut its emissions 26 percent to 28 percent below their 2005 level in the coming decade, but whether the country can meet that mark remains unclear. Other countries face similar obstacles. And even if countries meet their initial pledges, experts say the world must scale up its ambition over time. In addition, President-elect Donald Trump promised during his campaign to “cancel” U.S. participation in the deal, raising questions about whether other countries would stick to it if the United States abandons its leadership role.</p>
<p>4) Technology is providing a glimmer of hope. Iceland is home to magnificent landscapes, geothermal spas and spectacular views of the northern lights. But it also touted a potentially major advance in the growing effort to store carbon dioxide rather than allowing it to escape into the atmosphere, where it can fuel global warming.</p>
<p>Officials at Reykjavik Energy took carbon emissions from a geothermal plant (along with emissions of hydrogen sulfide, a dangerous gas) and stowed them away in the rocky ground 400 to 800 meters (1,300 to 2,600 feet) deep. Once injected into basalt rock, the carbon dioxide rapidly was mineralized, or turned into rock.</p>
<p>The Carbfix project, as it was known, is a big deal because it means the gas cannot escape back into the atmosphere. American researchers are working to take the science even further, in hopes that such storage of large amounts of carbon dioxide – that either come from industrial processes or are sucked from the atmosphere – may be a key piece of the solution to climate change. “We’d seen these things in the lab, but the field is often a case where your best-laid plans and ideas from lab experiments fall apart and just don’t work out,” one researcher said. In this case, the experiment might just work in the real world, too.</p>
<p>5) The oceans are finally getting the attention they deserve. A decade ago, only a fraction of the world’s oceans were protected from overfishing and other environmental threats. Slowly but surely, that has begun to change. In 2006, President George W. Bush designated an island chain spanning nearly 1,400 miles of the Pacific northwest of Hawaii as a national monument. This summer, President Barack Obama expanded the Papahānaumokuākea (pronounced “Papa-HA-now-moh-koo-AH-kay-ah”) Marine National Monument to 582,578 square miles of land and sea, creating the largest ecologically protected area on the planet.</p>
<p>In September, the State Department hosted the third annual Our Ocean conference, a global gathering of government leaders, scientists and environmental activists aimed at hastening protections. Roughly 3 percent of the oceans are now safeguarded – far from the 30 percent to 40 percent that many scientists claim is necessary for the seas’ sustainability over the long term, but a vast improvement in only a few years. “I’m thrilled with the progress we’ve made,” Secretary of State John Kerry told The Washington Post in an interview, even as he said much more work lies ahead.</p>
<p>enviro-good-year</p> | It wasn’t all bad news for the planet: 5 positive environmental stories from 2016. | false | https://abqjournal.com/916772/it-wasnt-all-bad-news-for-the-planet-5-positive-environmental-stories-from-2016.html | 2 |
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<p>The Institute for Supply Management reports on U.S. manufacturing production, orders and other activity in October. The ISM, a trade group of purchasing managers, will release its manufacturing index at 10 a.m. Eastern time Monday.</p>
<p>SLIGHT GAIN: Economists forecast that the index slipped last month — to 56.3 from 56.6 in September, according to a survey by FactSet. Any reading above 50 signals growth.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>SEPTEMBER SLOWDOWN: The September reading was down from 59 in August and interrupted two months of solid gains. Expectations for hiring and new orders slipped in September. Economists blamed the deceleration in part on a broader slowdown among U.S. trading partners. Europe is at an economic standstill and risks slipping into its third recession since 2008. China's economic growth slowed to a five-year low 7.3 percent in the July-September quarter from a year earlier.</p>
<p>U.S. orders for long-lasting manufactured goods also fell in September for the second straight month, the Commerce Department reported last week, though economists view the drops as a temporary setback.</p>
<p>ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT: Overall, the U.S. economy has shown signs of strength. The Commerce Department reported last week that U.S. economic growth came in at an annual rate of 3.5 percent from July through September. The third-quarter growth was driven by gains in business investment, exports and increased military spending.</p>
<p>Employers are adding nearly 227,000 jobs a month this year — on pace to make 2014 the best year for job creation since 1999. The unemployment rate has tumbled to a six-year low 5.9 percent in September from 7.2 percent a year earlier.</p>
<p>In a sign of increased confidence in the economy, the Federal Reserve this month ended a bond-buying program intended to push long-term interest rates lower and encourage more spending and borrowing. The Fed still plans to keep short-term rates near zero — where they've been since 2008 — for a "considerable time."</p> | US manufacturing likely expanded at slightly faster pace last month compared to September | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2014/11/03/us-manufacturing-likely-expanded-at-slightly-faster-pace-last-month-compared-to.html | 2016-03-05 | 0 |
<p>With Hillary Clinton's continuous train of scandals and her lies upon lies upon lies, somehow the mainstream media stays fixated on Trump and his mouthing-off on comparatively unimportant stuff rather than on the woman who's been at the highest levels of government for decades and mucking it up the entire time.</p>
<p>On Thursday’s NBC Today (video below), co-host Savannah Guthrie and Meet the Press' Chuck Todd point out the fact that based on all the bad news for Clinton, she should be having the worst campaign weeks of her career, yet Trump is still the focus because, as Todd says, his "lack of self-discipline."</p>
<p>Guthrie sends it to Todd with, “And what irritates so many Republicans is that if it were any other candidate running against Hillary Clinton, this would be a pretty rough patch for Hillary Clinton given some of the items in the news.”</p>
<p>“An incredibly rough patch," Todd tells her. “Whether it's the current state of the economy, anemic growth. Whether it is her insistence again that somehow [FBI] Director Comey let her off the hook on e-mails when – and she sort of reinterpreted what Comey said in a way that was misleading. Throw in the discomfort for many on this Iran deal.... never mind we just started air strikes in Libya because ISIS is there. Well Libya was a high profile intervention that Hillary Clinton pushed."</p>
<p>Todd sums it with, "The point is, in the last five days this could easily have been Hillary Clinton's worst five days post-convention, and instead the exact opposite, and it's all due to Donald Trump's lack of self-discipline.”</p>
<p><a href="http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/kyle-drennen/2016/08/04/nbc-just-imagine-how-bad-hillary-would-be-doing-if-we-actually?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=marketing&amp;utm_campaign=nbc-hillary-scandals" type="external">Newsbusters</a> points out that, "NBC has not been alone. On Wednesday’s <a href="http://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/nicholas-fondacaro/2016/08/04/cbs-fesses-trump-gives-every-excuse-not-cover-hillary" type="external">CBS Evening News</a> (below), correspondent Nancy Cordes made the same admission: '...ordinarily this would have been a challenging week for the Clinton campaign....But the sheer number of unorthodox comments made by Trump just this week has really been a boon to the Clinton campaign. They'll admit it themselves, overshadowing some of their bad news.'"</p>
<p>Exit thought:</p>
<p /> | NBC Hosts: We'd Cover Hillary's Constant Scandals More If Trump Would Shut His Trap | true | https://dailywire.com/news/8120/nbc-hosts-wed-cover-hillarys-constant-scandals-chase-stephens | 2016-08-05 | 0 |
<p>While <a href="" type="internal">BP</a> continues to come under fire for speed of response to the oil leak currently seeping into the Gulf of Mexico, a few small business owners facing the spill from the front lines say they won't go under without a fight.</p>
<p>Dave Marino, owner of <a href="http://www.myrtlegrovecharters.net/%20" type="external">Myrtle Grove Charters Opens a New Window.</a>, takes people out fishing for speckled trout and redfish in Louisiana. Currently, in what is normally “the busiest time of year” for business, most of the fishing grounds he frequents with clients are closed.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>He said the area he works is now more of a “spill response area” than a fishing ground. And that's where the work is now.</p>
<p>“I am in my boat and doing work with my parish,” said Marino. “It is through BP the work we’ve got. Almost everyone is working through contractors who are employed through BP.”</p>
<p>Marino is still optimistic that in the short term things will get back to normal. Currently, he is helping guide BP workers through the marsh area. Marino said that in one sense BP is helping out local businesses by using their services, but in the same sense, BP needs local guides to get them around safely.</p>
<p>“My business is changing right now but I am still in business,” said Marino. “This is not what I want to be doing, but I am actually still able to make changes and maybe even do better than I was doing before.”</p>
<p>Dickie Brennan, a third-generation restaurant owner of <a href="http://www.frenchquarter-dining.com/%20" type="external">Dickie Brennan and Co. Opens a New Window.</a> in New Orleans, has not, so far, seen much of an impact to his seafood inventory.</p>
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<p>“What we budgeted to do is where we are at business-wise,” said Brennan. “I don’t see a direct impact on whatever is happening with the Gulf.”</p>
<p>Brennan said he talks every day to his seafood suppliers, looking at each product individually for short-term and long-term availability.&#160;Brennan said he is holding out that the resources out there are so plentiful that as clean-up efforts improve, there will still be a safe stock to be harvested.</p>
<p>“In this situation, get outside of your business and see for yourself what is going on,” Brennan said. “We’ve gotten on boats and really tried to see for ourselves. Anytime we do that, the end result is I want to continue to work with the people who are providing me with these products.”</p>
<p>Last year, Tommy Cvitanovich, owner of <a href="http://www.dragosrestaurant.com/" type="external">Drago's Seafood Restaurant Opens a New Window.</a>served 3 million oysters – he reckons 95% of his diners order them. Since the spill, he said he’s continuing to get oysters, but is finding it more challenging and tricky.</p>
<p>“We’ll be OK because unlike other areas, we’ve [had] generations and generations of great cooks that use a unique cooking style with the seafood that is indigenous to our water,” said Cvitanovich. “It sets us apart from the rest of the country. We will have an issue with seafood for the short haul here, but the cooking style is so unique that we can make anything taste good.”</p>
<p>Cvitanovic said that the devastation won’t be like that suffered by the hands of <a href="" type="internal">Hurricane Katrina</a>, because after that tragedy most local residents were left with nothing. He said Louisiana can definitely survive and once again thrive despite BP’s mess.</p>
<p>“You just have to put one foot in front of the other,” said Cvitanovich. “Our big dish is oysters, but if things change and I can’t [get] oysters, we (will) bring in mussels.”</p> | Small Businesses Adapt, Evolve Amid Oil Spill | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2010/06/14/local-businesses-fighting-oils-hold.html | 2016-03-23 | 0 |
<p>The District cracked down Tuesday on motorists who fail to clean their vehicles after winter storms, which can result in chunks of ice hurtling onto other vehicles.</p>
<p>The City Council unanimously approved the ordinance, which makes the District the only U.S. city with such a law, but it did not include a $50 fine with the citation.</p>
<p>“It’s a common-sense measure,” said council member Harry Thomas Jr., Ward 5 Democrat, who introduced the legislation. “People need to take a little more time preparing as they drive in icy conditions.”</p>
<p>The decision to exclude the fine was the result of several council members saying the bill was too vague and was crafted without consulting the Metropolitan Police Department or the city’s Department of Motor Vehicles.</p>
<p>“Some amount of public comment [also] would be useful for this,” said council member Jim Graham, Ward 1 Democrat.</p>
<p>The council’s 13 members unanimously approved the bill after council member Michael Brown, at-large independent, made the amendment to omit the fine.</p>
<p>“We have cars coming off the roads that are like igloos,” he said.</p>
<p>The law takes effect immediately and will be in place for 90 days.</p>
<p>Council member Phil Mendelson, at-large Democrat, said the original bill gave too much authority to a police officer, who would have to determine whether a driver made the effort to clear accumulated snow.</p>
<p>John Lisle, spokesman for the D.C. Department of Transportation, said the agency had not been consulted on the issue but added that employees have been issuing similar notices.</p>
<p>“It’s just common sense,” he said.</p>
<p>John B. Townsend II, spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said freezing rain can add 10 to 20 pounds per foot to the weight of a vehicle, which can result in serious danger.</p>
<p>“It’s a debt you owe to other drivers to clean off your vehicle,” he said.</p>
<p>A similar bill is being debated in New Jersey. It would fine motorists as much as $75 for failing to clear their vehicles after a winter storm.</p>
<p>Pennsylvania has a similar law, which fines motorists as much as $1,000, but only if flying ice from a vehicle hits another vehicle or person and causes harm.</p>
<p>“We’ve all been subjected to situations where we see snow flying off the cars and onto pedestrians,” said D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray, a Democrat.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2018 The Washington Times, LLC. <a href="http://license.icopyright.net/3.7280?icx_id=/news/2009/feb/4/district-cracks-down-on-icy-cars/" type="external">Click here for reprint permission</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | District cracks down on icy cars | true | http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/04/district-cracks-down-on-icy-cars/ | 2009-02-04 | 0 |
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<p>The UN Committee on the <a href="http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/d_icerd.htm" type="external">Elimination of Racial Discrimination</a> has urged the United States to “freeze,” “desist” and “stop” actions or threatened actions against the Western Shoshone Peoples of the Western Shoshone Nation. This <a href="http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=33&amp;idsub=134&amp;id=2864" type="external">action</a> challenges the United States’ government’s claim of ownership of almost 90% of Western Shoshone lands.</p>
<p>According to Shoshone spokeswoman Bernice Lalo:</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.wsdp.org/minewatch.htm" type="external">mines</a> are polluting our waters, destroying hot springs and exploding sacred mountains–our burials along with them–attempting to erase our signature on the land. We are coerced and threatened by mining and Federal agencies when we seek to continue spiritual prayers for traditional food or medicine on Shoshone land.</p>
<p>And from spokesman Joe Kennedy:</p>
<p>…we have rights to protect our homelands and stop the destruction of our land, water, and air by the abuses of the United States government and the multinational corporations. He says “the situation is outrageous and we’re glad the United Nations Committee agrees with us.</p>
<p>The land in question has been used for military testing, nuclear waste disposal planning, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-pit_mining" type="external">open pit</a> cyanide heap leach gold mining. The federal government has seized Shoshone livestock, issued trespass fines, and practiced armed surveillance of Western Shoshone. The Shoshone claim that the U.S. government has also dug up their ancestors’ graves.</p>
<p /> | U.S. found guilty of violating human rights of Native Americans | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2006/03/us-found-guilty-violating-human-rights-native-americans/ | 2006-03-10 | 4 |
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<p>Federal prosecutors have now charged a man with providing the heroin that killed Cameron Weiss.</p>
<p>Joseph Dyson was charged this month in federal court with “distribution of heroin with death resulting,” and distribution to a person under 21.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The criminal complaint filed against Dyson, 23, by the Drug Enforcement Administration was unsealed Dec. 26.</p>
<p>Dyson appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Scott on Friday, waived a detention hearing and was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.</p>
<p>Jennifer Weiss became an outspoken advocate for raising awareness about a spike in heroin use among Albuquerque school students after Cameron revealed his addiction in 2010.</p>
<p>The investigation into Cameron Weiss’ death found that he had acquired heroin from a man known as “Joe.” Weiss injected three times in the presence of a person identified only as a confidential source on the evening of his death, the complaint says, and Dyson was identified through a photo lineup of six individuals.</p>
<p>The DEA source also said the only heroin Weiss had received was from Dyson.</p>
<p>Online records from the Department of Corrections show that Joseph Sewell Dyson was on probation/parole at a men’s recovery unit in Los Lunas after his release on four prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The number of heroin overdose deaths among teens in the state has increased over the past few years, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. Federal and state law enforcement officials responded with a concerted effort to crack down on dealers and last year rounded up more than a dozen suspected dealers in one high-profile investigation.</p>
<p>Jennifer Weiss founded the Heroin Awareness Committee in 2010 and, along with other parents, has pushed for more drug addiction programs.</p>
<p>She said after Cameron’s death that he had remained clean for about six months while enrolled in drug treatment programs in New Mexico and Arizona but fell into old, bad habits after returning to Albuquerque.</p>
<p>For Cameron, prescription opiates served as a gateway to addiction. After the La Cueva High athlete received painful injuries in wrestling and football practices in 2009, doctors prescribed narcotic painkillers that gave him a taste for opiates, his mother said.</p>
<p>In February 2010, Cameron confessed to family members that he was addicted and needed help. — This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal</p> | Man Charged In Death Of Activist’s Son | false | https://abqjournal.com/156430/man-charged-in-death-of-activists-son.html | 2012-12-29 | 2 |
<p>“Gram Parsons is on Exile in spirit.”—Dominique Tarle</p>
<p>Dominique Tarle, discusses his photo exhibit at the <a href="http://www.sfae.com/" type="external">San Francisco Art Exchange</a>, which features his intimate photographs that were taken at the Ville Nelcotte during the recording of the Rolling Stones’ album, “Exile On Main St.”. Tarle served as the official photographer for the Stones while they recorded what is arguably their greatest album, Exile On Main St. In addition to photos of the band members that are on exhibit from this period, photos he shot of Anita Pallenberg, Keith Richards’ son Marlin, and Jake Weber can be viewed.</p>
<p>At the San Francisco Art Exchange, there is also a concurrent exhibition of memorable Rolling Stones photos that were shot by heralded photographer Michael Cooper, which, like Tarle’s exhibit, also include rare photos of the late alternative country rocker Gram Parsons. Among Cooper’s photographic works that can be seen, there is a shot of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards at Joshua Tree, and Cooper’s photo that was used as the cover of the Stones album, Their Satanic Majesty’s Request. These legendary photographs can be seen at SFAE, located at 458 Geary Street, in San Francisco, until late August, 2008. Photos may also be purchased online via the SFAE website. In this interview, French photographer Tarle discusses his time with the band at Nelcotte, and the uniqueness of his photos taken of the Stones during that period, in which they recorded Exile On Main St.</p>
<p>Dominique, this is your first showing of these photos in the States. Why did it take so long? These photos are so well known.</p>
<p>When I came back from Nelcotte, when I got all the negs and the pictures together, since I didn’t work for a magazine or an agency, I started getting in touch with the French press. I found myself very quickly at the time in the mid seventies, I found myself illustrating articles that were the opposite of my pictures. Do you know what I mean? The articles were about sex, drugs, rock and roll and violence. None of it was about the family life, the children and everything. I thought it was completely ridiculous for me to use this kind of pictures to illustrate this kind of bullshit. So I just put the pictures in a box, down in the cellar. I felt I could do something better with my time than illustrating this kind of bullshit.</p>
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>There was so much press surrounding all the gossip, rather than the band’s work and their music.</p>
<p>Yes, exactly. And forty years later, people are still asking the same kind of questions, and “Oh, it must have been so difficult to leave Nelcotte, you know.” I say, “Why?” They say, “Well because of all of the drugs.” I said, “What was difficult when I left Nelcotte was that I missed all the music.”</p>
<p>A lot of my questions here I have planned have to do with the music, while the band was recording Exile On Main St.</p>
<p>Specifically, that’s why I kept all of those pictures away, just the time for people to realize it was…</p>
<p>It was about the music, not about scandal.</p>
<p>It was stronger; maybe it was a little a piece of history.</p>
<p>Okay. That was one of the questions I wanted to ask you, which was about the historical aspect of it. Do you view your work at Nelcotte as documenting history of the band, and if so, when did that occur to you that was what you were doing, or had done?</p>
<p>I realized that was going on each time I pressed the button.</p>
<p>Mmm…</p>
<p>If felt so lucky to be there and to be so welcome. I felt like one of the keys in the family. I was the official photographer on the Rolling Stones English tour at the beginning of 1971, before they left England. And I think they did that (tour) to have the money to move all their stuff from England to the South of France. During the last concert, Bianca Jagger told me that all of the members of the band were going to move to the South of France. I had been living and taking pictures of musicians in London for three years with a three months tourist visa. So the immigration was chasing after me, you know. “Don’t you miss your family? Don’t you miss the food? Go back to France as soon as possible,” you know! Tarle is amused at the memory.</p>
<p>So that ended your exile in England.</p>
<p>I felt much better in London than I did in Paris. I always did. Well, I had to go back to France. As I knew the Stones were going to be in the South of France, I went down to Cannes, and met with some of the people I knew that were working with The Stones at the time, Jo Bergman, Trevor Churchill and Marshall Chess. I said, “Listen I am here for a few days. Because hotels are so expensive here, so if I could take some pictures, let me know as quickly as possible. The next day they called me and gave me the address of the Ville Nelcotte, so I went down there for an afternoon, and at the end of the day after dinner, I said, “Thank you for the day, and maybe I am going to try to my find to the next railway station to catch a night train back to Paris.” And they said, “Your room is ready.” So that’s how I stayed at Ville Nelcotte for something like six months, as simple as that.</p>
<p>What do you feel your photographs taken at the Ville have in common with the album Exile On Main St. artistically?</p>
<p>Well, you know, people did ask this question about Gram. Gram Parsons was around, and he was playing and singing with Keith all day long, and a journalist asked Keith, “Did Gram play on Exile?” and Keith’s answer was, “Graham is on Exile in spirit.”&#160; And that’s what I feel about everybody around the band at the time, Anita Pallenberg, and all the technicians, and the friends. I think it’s a very peculiar album, because for once in their lifetime, The Stones were all staying in the same neighborhood. They didn’t know anybody. They had to see…|The only people they knew were also members of the band.</p>
<p>They were isolated.</p>
<p>Yes. And which was not the case in London, where every member of the band has his little code with his friends, and things like that, and they were each living a very different type of life. But you know, Charlie was kind of lost, and the first thing he did when he arrived in the South of France was to go visit Keith, and it was the same with Bill (Wyman), Mick Taylor and Mick Jagger. So in fact, they were really in a very different situation from the one…The Exile situation, the way it affected their way of life, was definitely that they were much closer to each other than they were before.</p>
<p />
<p>One of the questions I wanted to ask you regarding the band was how was it different in the studio downstairs when the band was recording and working, from when they were upstairs, where they lived together during that period. What was different in the interplay between the band members when they were upstairs versus downstairs? What was the difference when it came to what music they played together when they were downstairs, versus the musical interplay between the band members when they were upstairs?</p>
<p>Well, what I did notice for example, for instance, was when Charlie (Watts) was upstairs, maybe sometimes he would sit and play the piano, and downstairs, he would play the drums, you know. So I can tell you that to listen to Charlie Watts in 1971, playing free jazz on the piano, it’s a real experience, you know.</p>
<p>He later started his jazz albums in the ‘90’s.</p>
<p>Yeah. But at the time, he loved just sitting in front of the piano and playing a few notes, like all the jazz men do, trying to find their way through this kind of music. Well, of course, it was a great experience. Keith also spent a lot of time playing the piano, which he did not do on the albums. And through the music they were playing upstairs on the grand floor in the living room, they played the songs that they liked for many years, the old classic rhythm and blues and country music, and things like that. Basically nothing to do with what they were going to record downstairs.</p>
<p>That is fascinating. One thing I found really intriguing in the photographs of Keith and Gram was the guitar playing, and I wondered what they were playing. These were the pictures of them playing music. Do you have any recollection of what they were playing? Especially the photo of Keith sitting in the windowsill, playing guitar, and Gram is sitting in the chair next to him, listening intensely. And there was another photo you had shot, and they were sitting at a table, Keith, Gram and Mick, and Gram was playing. Do you have any comment on that? I am so mesmerized by this. You actually watched the interplay of the music, and I am just so curious, from a musical point of view, when you were shooting those pictures…</p>
<p>I think it was a very strange period of time, because for many years, The Stones could not play in America because of Brian Jones, because Brian could not a green card, or something like that.&#160; So they fired Brian, who died a few weeks later, while they were working with a new guitar player, and then they left the record company to create their own record company to work with new people, with a different target. They had to start from nothing again. And at this time, Keith and Gram were so close, that one side, Mick was trying to get the band as efficient as possible, so that they could be able to go back on tour in the U.S. And each time Mick came down to Ville Nelcotte, he saw Keith and Gram singing and playing together, and they were really, really ready to record. It was perfect, you know? I never heard anything like it before or after.</p>
<p>Were Gram and Keith playing country? Were they also playing, dabbling, in some other…</p>
<p>Yeah, yeah. A mix of some very old country songs, but they were approaching so many different kinds of music. But I think that Mick was a little bit afraid that if those two guys decided to record an album together, then they would have to promote the album, to go on tour, you know. The Stones who had just recovered from the fact that they could not play in the States, and all this work trying to get the band efficient again after all those years, all this work would go down the drain. And if those two did record what they were playing, and went to promote it, too, The Stones would be waiting for another couple of years or two, and of course, Mick knew The Stones could not afford it.</p>
<p />
<p>As it ended up though, Keith did not record a solo album, or embark on his own solo tour, until he put together the X-Pensive Winos in the 1980’s.</p>
<p>It did not see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s like the train going around the mountain, and you do not see what is coming up around the corner. I think that definitely Keith did not see, wasn’t sure, what was the future of the band at the time, because of the relationship between the members of the band, so he felt free to work with his own bands, since Mick did the same on the side with his solo recording.</p>
<p>So going back to the musical relationship between Keith and Gram, how did this affect the relationship with Mick Taylor? Did it ever cause any tension for Mick Taylor towards Gram, because of the obvious musical bonding between Keith and Gram?</p>
<p>No. I think that while I was staying at Nelcotte, the first person we went to visit one evening, Keith Marlon and me, was Mick Taylor, and I think Keith did everything he could as another guitar player in the band to make him feel at ease.</p>
<p>To make him feel a part of everything that was happening.</p>
<p>Yes. I think that it’s a usual thing between musicians. They don’t have a strong viable relationship. The communication goes through the music if they can play well, then it means that they get on well.</p>
<p>It’s sort of like how sometimes a relationship between a man and a woman may not be real good, but if the sex is good, the relationship can keep on going. It can be the same way with music.</p>
<p>Tarle:&#160; (Laughs) Yes! You can…Of course, Mick Taylor was pretty young. He did most of his work with bands that were unknown or confidential without a great commercial potential like with John Mayall. John was the first musician to give me the possibility of doing the work I the way wanted to do, the way I wanted to take pictures. He was the first person I met in London when I arrived in 1968, and I was in the studio with him, and that’s where I discovered Mick Taylor, while Mick Taylor was recording Blues From Laurel Canyon with John Mayall. I knew Mick Taylor for a long time before the Rolling Stones.</p>
<p>I live very close to Laurel Canyon. I had interviewed Mayall in the early ‘80’s. That’s pretty interesting it was John who hooked you up.</p>
<p>When Brian Jones was fired, I think that Mick (Jagger) was looking for another guitar player, but it is kind of difficult for a band like the Rolling Stones to make some kind of audition, you know, and to put an advert in the paper saying the Stones are looking for someone.&#160; So the first thing he did, he knew a lot of musicians at the time, who played and recorded with John Mayall through the years, and he knew that maybe John Mayall, or another musician who had played with him, could help them find the right person, without spending too much time or energy.</p>
<p>So Jagger made more of an effort to find another guitar player than Richards did?</p>
<p>Well, he needed another guitarist anyway.</p>
<p>But Jagger took more of the initiative to go about the process of finding that other guitar player than Richards?</p>
<p>Well, maybe it may be easier for Mick to make this effort than it is for Keith.&#160; Because Keith is the guitar player, so maybe the singer can look around, make a few phone calls, meet a few people, like it’s much more difficult for the actual guitar player. Maybe it’s more difficult for Keith to move around. It’s a big choice to make; it’s a big responsibility.</p>
<p>Although you shot Rock and Roll Circus, and you shot the band while they were touring, you are most known for your work with the band while they were recording Exile On Main St. Aside from the fact that Exile is arguably the band’s best album, why do you think these photos of yours from this period of time mean so much to the fans?</p>
<p>Well, they mean a lot to me. I was never aware the people in the photos loved the pictures. But that period of time for me was like when you’re young, you’ve got your family, the school and the church. And what did the people in church tell you when you were maybe around ten or something like that? If you’re a good guy, maybe one day you’ll go to Paradise, right? But you’ve got to be dead first, which I didn’t like at all. So from the age of ten, I said, “It’s completely stupid to be dead to go to Paradise. I’m sure that I can find Paradise on earth. I’m sure it does exist, and I’m sure I am going to find the people that think like me.” And of course, the first people we discovered, we had nothing for teenagers in France in the Sixties, you know, there was no radio, there were no magazines, no television programming, no movies. Everything was made for the young kids, like Disney movies, or things like that. So there was nothing for the teenagers. No clothes, jeans, no t-shirts, nothing. So certainly you get the picture. And later on, you get the Rolling Stones, and at least, there is something going on for you, something you can really understand, because those people, even if you don’t speak the language, you know that they are speaking your language.</p>
<p>That is so brilliant…Okay you brought up the church, and since I am Jewish, here is the segue where I have to bring this up. This house had the basement where the Rolling Stones recorded what is arguably their best album, and that basement had swastikas on the vents, because the SS had taken over the Ville during the Nazi Occupation of France. What irony did the band ever express that they were recording there, and what do you personally feel the karmic significance of this is? Meaning, Hitler’s henchmen, who represent the ultimate in repression, having been replaced in the house by the people, who were, at that that time, the world’s most prodigious rock and roll hedonists?</p>
<p>What I could say, is first, is that they (the Stones) didn’t know what happened during the Second World War in this house. They discovered kind of pieces by pieces.</p>
<p>Amazing…</p>
<p>Of course, the people who rented the house, the lady who was responsible for the house when people were renting it, or maybe when the house was empty, she was living there, she was German, and she knew perfectly what did happen in the house during, and at the end of the Second World War. But it’s just pieces by pieces. It wasn’t written on the front of the house that this was the situation.</p>
<p>So in other words, people in the house would notice things.</p>
<p>Yeah, they did notice things. We discovered things, and we discovered clothes, and we discovered equipment. There were a few people like me staying at the house, there was another guy, an American guy, who was doing the lighting on tour for Chip Monk and the Rolling Stones, and one who had been involved in Woodstock, because Chip was also involved in Woodstock.</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>There were just a few people like that who were allowed to live in the house, and of course, we, at had time, were going around and discovering things, and we were talking to each other, and most of the time, we did not say anything to Keith or Anita about it. Nothing. Like one night, we went around, as you said, in the basement, as is the case, and we discovered this huge wooden box with swastikas printed on it, and we opened up the box, and it was full of morphine.</p>
<p>Morphine that had been there for quite some time.</p>
<p>Yeah, in glass. In those, what we call ampoules.</p>
<p>In vials, yes. For injection.</p>
<p>And so we discovered that, you know. And there were hundreds of those things in the box, so we waited for everybody to go to bed, and maybe at three or four o’clock, we carried the box outside, and we took all the stuff, and from the top of the house we could put it into the sea there. The house was built by sea.</p>
<p>So when did you later tell Keith about this?</p>
<p>I never said anything at all. (Laughter.) Nothing. In fact, when we did that (Tarle is barely able to speak because he is laughing), we went down to the beach to see if the fish did survive those old things.</p>
<p>Oh, that’s funny. That is really wild.</p>
<p>Well, things were happening so quickly, you know, that you did something, and you were on…</p>
<p>To the next.</p>
<p>To the next. You did not have time to think for hours about something.</p>
<p>What has the band said to you about these photos? I assume they have seen your beautiful Exile book, containing your photographs.</p>
<p>Mick loves it. Mick thinks it’s not only a good book about the Rolling Stones. For Mick, it is a beautiful book about the Stones, which is different. That is what he wrote. I went to see the Rolling Stones while they were staying in Paris a few years ago, and I took the number one copy.</p>
<p>The limited edition book was signed by you, and they were numbered.</p>
<p>I took the book to the studio and the entire band signed the book, and Mick just put those few words, “What a beautiful book” in French.&#160; For Keith, “It’s thirty years of beautiful memories.” And it’s the same for Charlie.</p>
<p>When you were shooting, just from my having seen the Stones perform so many times, and seeing Jagger’s acute awareness of himself as a performer, even though the pictures are amazingly intimate and casual, very candid and open, did Jagger seem to be more aware of the camera when you were shooting, while the rest of the band seemed more oblivious to the camera, or less reactive to it, or perhaps more unphazed by it?</p>
<p>No, I don’t think so. Everyone was really relaxed, and I can tell you that I had started taking pictures of the Rolling Stones in Paris at the Paris Olympia in 1964. So I saw all the concerts in Paris, and I followed the 1970 tour of Europe with them, the 1971 tour of England, so really, I did so many concerts of the Rolling Stones, so to listen to them playing unplugged, acoustic, and playing a different type of music from what they did on stage, it was a complete knock out. It was fantastic. Keith could play the main theme of West Side Story or songs by Barbara Streisand. And he did it very well.</p>
<p />
<p>Keith was playing Barbara Streisand songs?</p>
<p>Yes. And he loved to do it. And it was fun, and he sung very well. They were enjoying themselves and the music was everywhere.</p>
<p>I have obviously seen a lot of photos of the Stones, and one thing that is amazing to me about your shots is that yours are so candid. They seem so spontaneous. They don’t look posed. Most rock photography today looks very wooden.</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>Most rock photography today looks very wooden, very posed. Very stiff. I want to ask you how you feel rock and roll photography has changed since you first started shooting the Stones.</p>
<p>I don’t feel I’m in a situation to give my opinion on what’s going on in rock photography now, because the evolution of music sticks to the younger generation, and the type of music they’re listening to. But the comment I can make is, for me, there are two types of pictures, whether it is of musicians, fashion, anything. As long as you are taking photos of people, you’ve got two choices. The people being aware of you being around, and you make them look at the camera, or you don’t. And you try to be invisible. And the main target is to have no impact at all on what is going on, and to be able to wait for hours, and then sometimes for days.</p>
<p>To get that shot that you want.</p>
<p>Of course, you know. And then, even when something happens, you’ve got the choice of pressing the button or not. This is a question of choice. Photographers are always in a hurry. I mean, you do a session…Remember the pictures of the Rolling Stones and The Beatles at the beginning? It’s all photo session, maybe for fifteen minutes, twenty minutes; we need a picture of the band for a magazine article, for an album cover, something like that. The band goes into the studio, the street, and puff, the band is together for fifteen minutes, the photographer works very quickly, and everyone seems to be very satisfied. With me, I can wait for days until everything until everything is perfect. I can wait for years to find the right publishers and do the right book. I’m really working on such a different level from the other professional photographers. I do not see myself as a professional photographer. I’m thinking maybe, I’m sixty now, I was twenty-two when I was shooting the Stones at Nelcotte. So you see, I think through those pictures, I was trying to give back to the Stones a little bit of what they gave me for years, with all the music, the road, the concerts and everything. And I knew that with those pictures, the band would not disappear in the next few months or few years, because there were thousands of people buying the albums, and going to the concerts, because we wanted that band to be together forever, right?</p>
<p>Right.</p>
<p>And the job I did in the South of France was to try to capture another side of the band, and to interest people in something different from the image of Mick Jagger on stage, or the bullshit about the drugs, the sex and everything, that there is another side of them. And maybe it’s not interesting for the daily papers, because they need strong emotions and things like that.</p>
<p>Controversy.</p>
<p>But I wanted something to show they did survive throughout the years because they are fantastic musicians, family men, and they know their responsibilities and they know how to look after their children. And this part of their private life makes them able to record songs and go on tour, and to give beautiful concerts. But this is once the curtain is closed; it is their private life.</p>
<p>I understand this.</p>
<p>Their private life has nothing to do with the concerts they give when they go on stage.</p>
<p>Right. I also noticed you had a photo you shot of Mick playing a Flying V. I was not aware that he was playing guitar off stage as much as he was back then. Of course, he plays more now on stage when the band is on tour than he used to. Do you have any comment on the state of his guitar playing back then?</p>
<p>What I would say is that the Stones, each member played many different instruments. Bill Wyman was playing the acoustic guitar, the bass, the double bass, the piano, and the electric piano. He was curious about many new instruments. Charlie was playing a little bit of jazz on the piano. Keith was playing was playing the piano, acoustic guitar. They are not limited in that way. I think Brian Jones was a good teacher for that, because he would go into a studio, and you rent it out and have work to do, you try everything.</p>
<p>Do you have a favorite song from Exile?</p>
<p>It changes with the months, the seasons, and the years. There are so many great songs on there. I think at the moment, and for quite a long time, I like most, the last song on the album, “Soul Survivor.” I regret, that to my knowledge, they never played it live on stage; it is a beautiful song.</p>
<p>Yes. You have a photo on exhibit at the San Francisco Art Exchange where Mick is smoking a cigarette, and Keith is playing guitar. Do you remember what Keith was playing?</p>
<p>In fact, Keith was playing with Gram. I took a picture of Gram singing, Keith playing, and Mick listening. And then I took a few pictures of Keith playing, with Mick in the background, smoking a cigarette. Mick is sitting there listening to Keith and Gram. Right. There were a few different combinations in photos. Do you remember what song Keith was playing in that shot?</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>I would love to have been a fly on the wall, because I would love to have heard what Keith and Gram were doing together musically.</p>
<p>No, I don’t remember what they were playing. They always played acoustic when they jammed together, Keith and Gram.</p>
<p>Yes.</p>
<p>Whose motorcycle, the Honda, was that in the shot where Jagger is riding?</p>
<p>Oh, they all went to buy Harley Davidson motorcycles, and they could not get any, so they all went to someone selling Japanese bikes, and they all had the same bike, the 350 Honda.</p>
<p>I love the Smirnoff photo with Keith.</p>
<p>That was during the 1971 tour of England. It was usual that backstage there was stuff from different events that were lying around. I think what some people did, was to use all that was left from events to do the decoration.</p>
<p>It was a large promo item that looks like it was made to stand up in a liquor store.</p>
<p>It was backstage, where I could not tell you. They were giving a concert every night, and we were moving around very quickly.</p>
<p>I love my Exile book of your photos.</p>
<p>I am really happy to do this exhibition with (SFAE co-founder/director) Theron Kabrich at the San Francisco Art Exchange. We get on well. I am really pleased to do this first exhibition ever in the United States in San Francisco.</p>
<p>All photographs by Dominque Tarle.</p>
<p>PHYLLIS POLLACK lives in Los Angeles where she is a publicist and music journalist. She can be reached through <a href="http://www.electricearl.com/phyllis" type="external">her blog</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | The Rolling Stones’ Exile on Geary Street | true | https://counterpunch.org/2008/08/02/the-rolling-stones-exile-on-geary-street/ | 2008-08-02 | 4 |
<p>BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — An 88-year-old former police officer serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity committed during Argentina’s dictatorship was transferred Friday to house arrest in a beach resort following a court ruling repudiated by human rights groups.</p>
<p>Miguel Etchecolatz was in charge of various clandestine detention and torture centers in Buenos Aries during the 1976-1983 military regime and became a symbol of the state’s deadly campaign against dissidents. He was considered the right-hand man of Ramon Camps, the feared police chief of Buenos Aires province at the time.</p>
<p>The decision by the federal court to let him serve his term under house arrest because of age and fragile health angered human rights groups and neighbors in Bosque Peralta Ramos, an upper-middle class neighborhood in the seaside resort of Mar del Plata, about 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of the Argentine capital.</p>
<p>The former police officer was transferred early Friday to his family’s residence in Mar del Plata.</p>
<p>Activists and leftist militants protested outside the mayor’s office under a sign saying: “Common prison and effective punishment for genocidists.”</p>
<p>The official number of dissidents killed during the dictatorship is 7,000, but human rights groups put the figure at 30,000.</p>
<p>BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — An 88-year-old former police officer serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity committed during Argentina’s dictatorship was transferred Friday to house arrest in a beach resort following a court ruling repudiated by human rights groups.</p>
<p>Miguel Etchecolatz was in charge of various clandestine detention and torture centers in Buenos Aries during the 1976-1983 military regime and became a symbol of the state’s deadly campaign against dissidents. He was considered the right-hand man of Ramon Camps, the feared police chief of Buenos Aires province at the time.</p>
<p>The decision by the federal court to let him serve his term under house arrest because of age and fragile health angered human rights groups and neighbors in Bosque Peralta Ramos, an upper-middle class neighborhood in the seaside resort of Mar del Plata, about 250 miles (400 kilometers) south of the Argentine capital.</p>
<p>The former police officer was transferred early Friday to his family’s residence in Mar del Plata.</p>
<p>Activists and leftist militants protested outside the mayor’s office under a sign saying: “Common prison and effective punishment for genocidists.”</p>
<p>The official number of dissidents killed during the dictatorship is 7,000, but human rights groups put the figure at 30,000.</p> | Argentina ‘dirty war’ killer gets house arrest | false | https://apnews.com/b5fd2b13a8134cf0bf64e0428f242aad | 2017-12-30 | 2 |
<p>If anyone wants to know why Iraqis set bombs for American soldiers, they had only to sit in the two-storey villa in this little farming village and look at the frozen face of Ahmed al-Ham and his angry friends yesterday.</p>
<p>Ahmed’s 50-year-old father, Sabah, was buried just a week ago–35 days after he died in American hands at the Abu Ghraib prison–and the 17-year-old youth with his small beard and piercing brown eyes blames George Bush for his death. “Pigs,” he mutters. Ahmed was a prisoner, too, and his father died in his arms. According to a cousin of Sabah’s, their tragedy began at 3am on 3 August when about 40 US military vehicles arrived in Saqlawiyah, a Sunni village 10 miles from Fallujah, the scene of dozens of fatal attacks on US occupation troops. A framed and undamaged photograph of Saddam Hussein hangs on the wall above us as we talk.</p>
<p>The cousin, a retired farmer with prostate problems who pleads that his name should not be used lest he be rearrested, says that he willingly allowed the Americans to search his home–just as Sabah al-Ham did a hundred metres away–and freely walked across to a group of US officers outside his house when was asked to do so.</p>
<p>“I gave my name and told them who I was and then some military police arrived,” he says. “I was asked to walk inside a barbed wire enclosure where about 30 other village men were brought. Ahmed was there with his father, Sabah. We were kept there for seven hours, sitting on the ground. Then they bound our hands and blindfolded us and put us on a truck. That’s when it went bad. The next night, we were kept in an old army base. Each of us was locked inside a toilet cubicle.”</p>
<p>None of the men was known to be on any wanted list and Sabah–who had high blood pressure and breathing <a href="" type="internal" />difficulties–was, his cousin says, a mere “under-officer” in the Iraqi army, equivalent to a second lieutenant.</p>
<p>“We complained about our health problems. I can only urinate through a catheter and Sabah kept saying he needed cold water. We were then taken by lorry to a big hall where we had to spend a day, sitting or ordered to stand with our hands bound and then afterwards taken to the prison camp at Baghdad airport. Here they had just three questions to ask us: ‘Have you attacked Americans?’ ‘What type of attacks did you stage?’ ‘Do you know any officials of the previous regime?’ We all said no.</p>
<p>“That was all the interrogation we had. Sabah was always asking for water but they did nothing else for him though we told them he had very high blood pressure. Then they moved us south to Nasariyah, into a desert camp under tents which was about 55 degrees. Sabah was in a bad way.”</p>
<p>After four days, during which an American medical officer administered liquid by tube for dehydration to Sabah, the men were all trucked north again, this time to Abu Ghraib. On the way, according to Ahmed, his father pleaded for cold water but the soldiers would give him only hot water and a tiny piece of ice to put in his mouth. In a tent in the heat again at Abu Ghraib, Sabah quickly lost consciousness.</p>
<p>“We asked again and again for help and they gave him the drip feed again but they wouldn’t send him to hospital or let him go,” Ahmed says.</p>
<p>Ahmed held his father as he died in the medical tent. “I washed his body and the prison imam said prayers over him and then they told me his body would be taken to his family village in three days. They said ‘sorry’.” But when, a month later, Ahmedand the others were freed, they returned to Saqlawiyah to find his family asking where he was. The Americans still had his body. “We dared not tell most of his family that he was dead,” the cousin says.</p>
<p>Only after they had asked the Red Cross for help did the Ham family trace Sabah’s corpse. It had been stored at Baghdad airport, they were told, and eventually found in a refrigeration area close to the old presidential palace in Baghdad. With much anger–and with guns fired into the air–the village buried Sabah on 17 September. No American offered the family compensation or formally expressed regret to them.</p>
<p>The cousin did say that there was a “good American” at Abu Ghraib who believed all the men were innocent. “He told us how sorry he was when Sabah died. And when we were freed, he came up to each one of us and shook us by the hand. His name was Johnson. He was a good man. The rest were bad.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the war goes on. In Baghdad yesterday, a roadside bomb blew up shortly after a US patrol had passed–tearing apart a city bus, killing one passenger and wounding 20.</p>
<p>Robert Fisk is a reporter for The Independent and author of <a href="" type="internal">Pity the Nation</a>. He is also a contributor to Cockburn and St. Clair’s forthcoming book, <a href="" type="internal">The Politics of Anti-Semitism</a>.</p> | Fanning the Flames of Hatred in Iraq | true | https://counterpunch.org/2003/09/25/fanning-the-flames-of-hatred-in-iraq/ | 2003-09-25 | 4 |
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<p>PHOENIX - Authorities would not comment Thursday on whether a group of armed bounty hunters who mistakenly swarmed the Phoenix police chief's home were the victims of a prank.</p>
<p>Phoenix police spokesman Trent Crump says it will take some time to investigate the social media tip that led 11 people to believe a fugitive was hiding in Chief Joe Yahner's house.</p>
<p>Officers arrested 43-year-old Brent Farley, the owner of a local bond-recovery company, after the Tuesday night incident.</p>
<p>He is facing one count each of disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing.</p>
<p>Joe Burns, the former president of the Arizona Bail Bondsmen Association, says any tips obtained from social media should be verified.</p>
<p>He also says the incident underscores the need for Arizona to require training for bond agents and bounty hunters.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Phoenix police not saying if raid of chief's home was a hoax | false | https://abqjournal.com/624271/phoenix-police-not-saying-if-raid-of-chiefs-home-was-a-hoax.html | 2 |
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<p>Andrejs Zemdega/iStock</p>
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<p>Cleopatra Harrison had large, dark bruises on her neck and scratches on her chest when she met the police at an apartment in Columbus, Georgia, in June. The night before, she told them, her boyfriend had flown into a rage after finding dirty dishes in the kitchen—hurling her to the ground and choking her unconscious. Harrison, 22, agreed to show up in court to testify, but she didn’t want to press charges herself. In response, the Columbus Recorder’s Court fined her $150 and threatened her with jail time if she didn’t pay within a week.</p>
<p>This “victim assessment fee,” as the judge called it, is mandated by a Columbus city ordinance that requires victims of domestic violence to help law enforcement prosecute their alleged abusers. Now Harrison is suing the city over the policy, which she says punishes victims and is unsupported by Georgia law. It “sounds like something out of the nineteenth century,” her attorney&#160;Sarah Geraghty <a href="http://www.schr.org/resources/lawsuit_challenges_city_s_domestic_violence_victim_fee_policy_and_threats_to_incarcerate" type="external">said</a> in a statement after filing the <a href="http://www.schr.org/wp-content/uploads/post/wp-content/uploads/Efiled%20Complaint_0.pdf" type="external">lawsuit</a> in district court earlier this month. “It’s a holdover from an era in which women were blamed for male violence.”</p>
<p>Georgia law allows courts to fine people who falsely and maliciously report a crime. Courts across the country do this regularly. But Geraghty says the city of Columbus and its Recorder’s Court have gone far beyond that, by fining people like Harrison who did not lie in court and may not have even reported the crime in the first place. (In Harrison’s case, a friend called the police on her behalf.) And, Geraghty adds, the court has failed to consider reasons why a victim of domestic violence might not want to press charges—like fear of retaliation by the abusive partner.</p>
<p>The lawsuit alleges that hundreds of people in Columbus, including many assault victims, have been forced to pay this fee, which can range from $50 to several times that amount. One woman was charged $200 after asking for charges to be dropped against her boyfriend, who allegedly beat her over the head with a handgun in May. “There’s no good policy reason to impose this fee,” Geraghty says. An attorney for the city of Columbus was not available to comment on the lawsuit, nor was a spokesperson for the Columbus Recorder’s Court. In a statement sent to Mother Jones, the city said the mayor and all law enforcement “want to insure that all citizens are treated fairly throughout the judicial process and are always concerned about the rights of victims of crimes.”</p>
<p>This isn’t the only recent case that’s called into question policies that critics say punish women who have been victims of domestic violence, assault, or sex crimes. Here’s a rundown of two more controversies:</p>
<p>What happens when a victim does want to bring charges, but the court worries she won’t show up to testify, perhaps because she appears emotionally unstable or has a history of drug abuse? In rare cases, a court may decide to jail the victim until trial. That’s what happened in August in Washington County, Oregon, after 41-year-old Brandy Buckmaster accused a former prison guard of sexual misconduct. “He manipulated and took advantage of me,” she <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2016/09/accuser_in_prison_sex_case_jai.html" type="external">told the Oregonian.</a>&#160;</p>
<p>The court worried Buckmaster might not show up at trial; she had met the guard while she was an inmate, and though she’d finished serving her time, she’d recently <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2016/09/accuser_in_prison_sex_case_jai.html" type="external">violated her parole and tested positive for meth.</a> To make sure she’d testify, the court stuck her back in jail for about 50 days, until trial, while the guard remained out of custody. “I feel like I’m being punished for what he did to me,” Buckmaster <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/19/oregon-prison-abuse-victim-brandy-buckmaster-incarcerated" type="external">told the Guardian</a> during a jailhouse interview, crying. “I get traumatized every day.”</p>
<p>Most states allow judges to detain witnesses who might flee—this is called “material witness detention.” Usually victims are held for less than a week, the Oregonian reports, but Oregon has no limit on the duration of detention in these cases. One material witness in the state was held for <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/washingtoncounty/index.ssf/2016/09/accuser_in_prison_sex_case_jai.html" type="external">900 days</a> in a murder case before he was released last year. Victims rights advocates warn there are consequences to holding sexual-abuse victims in jail, noting that it can deter other victims from bringing their cases forward. “It has a terrible ripple effect,” says Jessica Mindlin, an Oregon-based attorney at the Victim Rights Law Center.</p>
<p>Earlier this month, Buckmaster was released from jail and the former guard was convicted; he will be sentenced in November. Buckmaster is now <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2016/10/ex-prison_guard_guilty_of_sexu.html" type="external">reportedly considering</a> whether to pursue a civil case against the Oregon Department of Corrections and Washington County for her time in custody before trial.</p>
<p>This summer, a 25-year-old rape victim with bipolar disorder had a mental breakdown on the stand in Harris County, Texas, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/us/texas-rape-victim-was-jailed-for-fear-she-would-not-testify-lawsuit-says.html?_r=0" type="external">making national headlines</a>. Prosecutors worried she might not return to court to testify again, so she was jailed for about a month. But the county jail mistakenly admitted the woman as a defendant of sexual assault, rather than a victim, according to a lawsuit filed against the county in June. While she was there, she was allegedly attacked by an inmate and punched in the face by a guard.</p>
<p>Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson defended the decision to jail her: “If nothing was done to prevent the victim from leaving Harris County in the middle of trial, a serial rapist would have gone free—and her life would have been at risk while homeless on the street,” she said in a <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Rape-victim-jailed-after-breakdown-on-witness-8399580.php" type="external">video statement</a>. “This was an extraordinarily difficult and unusual situation. There were no apparent alternatives that would ensure both the victim’s safety and her appearance in trial.”</p>
<p>But Kim Ogg, a former prosecutor who is running against Anderson for election in November, argued there were other options. “They can be protected by placing them in a hotel, you can place them with family, you can keep in contact,” <a href="http://www.click2houston.com/news/rape-victim-put-in-jail-after-breakdown-on-witness-stand" type="external">Ogg said</a>.</p>
<p>It’s rare for assault victims to be jailed as material witnesses, Mindlin says, but “it has happened consistently over the years” in different states, including in <a href="http://jezebel.com/5899671/alleged-teen-rape-victim-being-held-in-juvenile-detention-to-make-sure-shell-testify" type="external">California</a>, <a href="http://tdn.com/news/local/victim-of-alleged-kidnapping-sexual-assault-arrested-to-help-prove/article_76ba318c-9b63-11e3-ab12-001a4bcf887a.html" type="external">Washington</a>, and <a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2013/09/20/news/state/prosecutor-orders-arrest-of-woman-as-material-witness-to-testify-against-her-alleged-abuser/" type="external">Maine</a>. She recognizes that prosecutors are trying to make sure criminals can be taken to court. But “if what you are doing is creating barriers to victims coming forward and seeking help and safety,” she adds, “in the end all you’re doing is making your community even more dangerous, not less.”</p>
<p /> | Courts Are Jailing Victims of Sexual Assault | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2016/10/why-are-women-thrown-jail-after-theyre-raped-or-assaulted/ | 2016-10-31 | 4 |
<p>Let’s go back to when we were all a little younger and less terrified. Obama is president. I am talking to a slightly older, white, heterosexual male, highly esteemed by the academic world and by me. I, a lesbian, admire and trust this guy. We’re catching up, talking about life, books, friends. I tell him my friend Beth is having a hard time writing her memoir. She’s trying to decide if she should include the fact that her very famous father, a renowned attorney, had sexually molested her for years while she was growing up.</p>
<p>I assume my friend’s reaction will be nuanced, temperate, compassionate – as it is concerning anything we discuss. That he’ll consider Beth’s pain and ambivalence. Instead, he takes a quarter-second to gasp, then blurts:</p>
<p>“Why would she want to destroy her father’s reputation and shit on his entire life’s work?”</p>
<p>See, two years ago, sexual abuse was nothing, compared to an alleged perpetrator’s power and fame. These days, bigger dudes than Beth’s father: Roy Moore, Harvey Weinstein, Al Franken, Charlie Rose, Matt Lauer, Donald Trump, Russell Simmons – the list grows almost hourly – are being called out as sexual predators. Although government men and multinationals like Google and Uber usually shrug off or fight back, famous men in media – pundits, producers, performers, broadcasters – now often admit they did wrong. That’s because people who work in news and entertainment are now more accountable to the public than government and corporations, which have moved far beyond our control. Sometimes, these famous men even express regret for hurting people. Finally, power is redistributed: even men who apologize can lose their jobs.</p>
<p>This must be Woody Allen’s worst nightmare. Remember how Woody warned, in the wake of Weinstein’s demise, of a brewing “witch hunt atmosphere … where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly having to call a lawyer”? Well, one man’s wink is another man’s grope, is another man’s rape. But what Woody probably meant was that, whether or not they’re guilty, he cares about his famous-dude colleagues and doesn’t want them to lose their careers.</p>
<p>This is how justice rolls down in the Trump years. Given the blaring excrescence that is the Trump administration, when the legislative and judicial branches of our government are being gutted and the executive branch is decomposing, maybe it’s time to let go of checks and balances and turn to the media for reason and moral authority.</p>
<p>I’m not the only one to feel this – you too, maybe? There are still some ethical reporters, right? A few media outlets with journalistic standards? And how about that First Amendment – not dead! Probably.</p>
<p>So we’re galvanized by these media sex scandals, not only because they remind women and trans people that fear of sexual abuse daily permeates our lives – but also because, for once, on TV, radio, newspapers, and all over the Web, we get some attention, a little accountability. I feel energized, like I’m part of a conversation with millions of good people who’ve also been through a lot. And! We’ve been given an exciting new power:&#160;Should we let these men go on with their careers?&#160;Should we still enjoy their work?&#160;</p>
<p>People like me now feel that, weirdly, even as America slips into full-on Gotterdammerung, we matter. Until we don’t.</p>
<p>Media-driven justice may trickle down, but it’s never going to reach folks in East New York or Sioux City. Across this country – as if you didn’t know – sexual harassment, assault, and humiliation is a normalized, everyday atrocity. It misshapes the lives of millions of women and children of any gender – anyone seen as too female or helpless or transgressive or uppity.</p>
<p>I used to work at a rape crisis center in Illinois. There were, of course, cases of rape, but there were other obscene acts of festering power perpetrated by men whose power in the world would always be thin and dinky. Some husband, having a really bad morning, didn’t like the way his wife fixed his eggs, so he drove a fork through her hand. Some little girl’s daddy, angry at her sassing off to him, threw her down and sprayed Easy-Off Oven Cleaner up her vagina.</p>
<p>But these are cases for small town emergency rooms; they’ll never make it to prime time. Even if they did, they wouldn’t find justice there. Because the most anyone can get from the media court of public opinion is an apology.</p>
<p>The #MeToo campaign, heartening though it is, offers consolation, not institutional empowerment or compensation. And the 700,000 female farm workers who reportedly “Stood with Hollywood Actors Against Sexual Assault” last November can hope only for a little solidarity.</p>
<p>History has a spotty memory, in part because the media, over the long haul, do a sucky job of doling out either morality or justice. News media are great on attention-getting firsts, like King’s March on Washington or ACT UP invading St Pat’s Cathedral or Watergate. But media know that we, their consuming public, can consume only so much. So, for instance, the benchmark for government corruption remains Watergate, not the far worse, Constitutional dismemberment now perpetrated by Trump’s mob.</p>
<p>Before this sex-scandal wave ends – and it will – we need to realize that, though media can take down a few powerful men, they’re not the keyhole through which we can peep the real power in Trump’s America. The thugs now annihilating net neutrality, immigrants’ rights, healthcare, environmental protections, safeguards to nuclear war, Palestine and what’s left of the New Deal, are impervious to media news, “fake” or not. They’re&#160;almostimpervious to petitions and protests. The thing is, beneath the hopeful social-change discourse we create in the media and on Facebook and Twitter, we are losing everything.</p>
<p>Whether or not we still like Woody Allen, Trump and his hired goons are grabbing everything by the pussy. I only wish we knew how to stop them.</p> | Trump’s Thug Power or Does Anybody Still Like Woody Allen? | true | https://counterpunch.org/2017/12/08/trumps-thug-power-or-does-anybody-still-like-woody-allen/ | 2017-12-08 | 4 |
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