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<p>Salam Fayyad has achieved what the world thought was impossible. He finally got Fatah and Hamas to agree on something: the two bitterly divided factions both happily accepted his resignation.</p>
<p>During the 2006 legislative elections, the American-educated Dr. Fayyad ran alongside Hanan Ashrawi as part of the Third Way party. Both won their seats. Fayyad was vocally secular and anti-corruption. In June of 2007, he was appointed Prime Minister by Mahmoud Abbas. The key word here is appointed, not elected, which means he had zero legitimate popular support. Fayyad stepped into his new role after Abbas lost control of Gaza and declared a "national emergency" that conveniently has yet to end. He is considered a technocrat, which I believe means he's a Democrat who loves glowsticks.</p>
<p>Complicating things is the fact that Hamas has its very own Prime Minister, the ever-lovable Ismail Haniyeh. This did nothing to bolster Fayyad's already shaky street credibility. It’s kind of like having two Popes minus the red shoes, and just like Pope Benedict XVI, Fayyad never caught on with the flock. The Palestinian streets’ number one beef with him was that they believed he was America’s puppet. This shouldn't have been a deal-breaker, though, since rumor has it the entire leadership is bought and paid for by the U.S. So what made Fayyad so special that he didn't get a pass and was, instead, the target of such wrath?</p>
<p>It could be because America loved him so much they refused to accept the fact that Palestinians were just not that into him. The U.S. administration would gush over Fayyad, just stopping short of calling him their Boo. This coziness made many feel Fayyad was putting the U.S. and Israel's wants and needs above those of his own people. In the end, all the praise and support from the international community was for naught. Fayyad could not possibly build a state under these conditions and when he finally threw in the towel, America went into denial. They insisted he wasn't leaving and would be "sticking around."</p>
<p>No matter how hard he tried, Fayyad got no respect back home. Hamas and Fatah treated him like a piñata. He was the scapegoat for every economic failure that befell the Palestinian people. If Israel withheld the Palestinians’ tax money, it was Salam’s fault. When the U.S. Congress blocked almost $200 million in aid to punish Abbas for declaring statehood at the U.N., it was Salam’s fault. And when the public servants’ paychecks did not arrive, it was—you guessed it—Salam’s fault. One of the few accomplishments he is praised for is instituting direct deposit to help curb corruption. This innovation came back to haunt Fayyad when, as Prime Minister, he was late paying public sector salaries and couldn't buy time by promising them, "Your checks are in the mail."</p>
<p>Another accusation lobbed at Fayyad was that his state-building initiatives were easing Israel’s ability to continue the occupation while making the lives of Palestinians increasingly difficult. Students commuting to universities were unimpressed by the detour roads, beautifully paved by USAID, that the Israelis forced them to take. Meanwhile, Israel turned Fayyad's dream of building a viable Palestinian state into a never-ending nightmare with its ongoing illegal settlement building. While his genuine effort to eradicate corruption was applauded, his success rate was abysmal. He also made a massive judgment error by going after the most vulnerable members of Palestinian society in his quest to strengthen the economy. The mere suggestion that he would start charging refugees for electricity at the same time UNRWA was strangling them with service cutbacks was met with protests.</p>
<p>Fayyad is also being blamed for introducing Palestinians to one of America's favorite pastimes: credit card debt. Prior to his appointment, loans and credit were extremely rare. Now, several Palestinian families who were encouraged to take on debt under Fayyad are drowning in it. The average monthly payment eats up over half of their income. Unemployment is on the rise. The Israeli occupation continues to strangle the economy, and those lured into debt see no end in sight.</p>
<p>Asked if Salam Fayyad’s resignation would change anything for Palestinians, the most popular response was that nothing would ever change because, whether he stays or goes, Israel is still in control. Rima Najjar, a local university professor, said Fayyad’s resignation would only change things, “If Palestinians take the opportunity to push for a much more accountable and representative government than what they have now, including representation of Palestinians in the Diaspora.”</p>
<p>The overwhelming response to the question “what’s the best thing Salam Fayyad has done?” was simple: “He resigned.”</p>
<p>For those sad to see Salam Fayyad say goodbye, there's still hope. Palestinian politicians are like soap opera characters; they tend to return from the dead. Saeb Erekat has resigned more times than Larry King has walked down the aisle; yet, there he is, still negotiating away Palestinian rights every chance he gets. Fayyad’s resignation may not be as permanent as it sounds, but his leaving has dealt a severe blow to any chances the mythical two state solution ever had. His mission impossible has officially been aborted.</p> | Why Palestinians Welcomed Fayyad’s Resignation | true | https://thedailybeast.com/why-palestinians-welcomed-fayyads-resignation | 2018-10-03 | 4 |
<p>After alt-right demonstrations in Charlottesville turned into clashes led by Antifa, leading to an alt-right Nazi sympathizer driving a car into a group of counter-protesters, things were bad enough.</p>
<p>As always, both sides of the political aisle have determined to make an awful situation worse.</p>
<p>The big problem is that both Left and Right now use President Trump as a cognitive shortcut. The Left sees everything Trump says as antithetical to truth and decency; the Right sees everything the Left says as motivated by animus and untruth. This means that no matter what Trump says, either Left or Right will be wrong, since the truth of his statements has no bearing on this cognitive shortcut.</p>
<p>This has particularly dire ramifications for Charlottesville.</p>
<p>The Left has determined that everything President Trump says is wildly horrifying, no matter what the content. If Trump says that Antifa is a violent group, then the Left must declare that Antifa is equivalent to the allied soldiers of World War II.</p>
<p>That’s absurd, but that’s the case actively being made by journalists like <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffreyGoldberg/status/897667217340420098" type="external">Jeffrey Goldberg</a> of The Atlantic, who tweeted: “Watching Saving Private Ryan, a movie about a group of very aggressive alt-left protesters invading a beach without a permit”, and Hillary Clinton spokesperson Brian Fallon, who <a href="https://twitter.com/brianefallon/status/897666629735264256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&amp;ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fdailycaller.com%2F2017%2F08%2F16%2Fhillarys-campaign-spox-compares-d-day-soldiers-to-antifa%2F" type="external">posted a picture</a> of Normandy with the caption, “Also confronted the Nazis without a permit”). In the pages of The Washington Post, historian Mark Bray <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2017/08/16/who-are-the-antifa/?utm_term=.76f6d8baad71" type="external">defended</a> Antifa as a necessary countermovement to stop neo-Nazism, gushing, “their willingness to physically defend themselves and others from white supremacist violence and preemptively shut down fascist organizing efforts before they turn deadly distinguishes from liberal anti-racists.”</p>
<p>The problem is that Antifa isn’t merely anti-fascist — it’s fascist in its own right. It’s a communist and anarchist movement dedicated to the use of violence against anyone they deem worthy — up to and including normal Trump voters and conservative Republicans. By allying with Antifa, the Left lends credence to the alt-right’s claim that they are victims of violence rather than perpetrators of it.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, thanks to the overreach of the Left, many on the Right have determined that everything Trump says is correct.</p>
<p><a href="http://forward.com/opinion/380286/both-sides-are-lying-about-what-happened-in-charlottesville/" type="external">Read the rest here</a>.</p> | Shapiro At 'The Forward': Everybody's Lying About Charlottesville | true | https://dailywire.com/news/19847/shapiro-forward-everybodys-lying-about-ben-shapiro | 2017-08-17 | 0 |
<p>HILL CITY, Kan. (AP) - A suspect in a homicide in northwestern Kansas has been found dead.</p>
<p>The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says the body of 29-year-old Efren Mascarenas Jr. was found Thursday night in northeast Graham County.</p>
<p>Authorities began searching for Mascarenas after two people were found dead Thursday in the unincorporated town of Penokee, near Hill City.</p>
<p>The victims were found after Graham County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of an unresponsive man.</p>
<p>Authorities have released no other information about the homicides, Mascarenas' connection to the victims or details of how his body was found.</p>
<p>Kansas Department of Corrections records show Mascarenas has three prior convictions for aggravated battery and another for interference with law enforcement. He was released from prison in February of 2017 and his post-release expired in August.</p>
<p>HILL CITY, Kan. (AP) - A suspect in a homicide in northwestern Kansas has been found dead.</p>
<p>The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says the body of 29-year-old Efren Mascarenas Jr. was found Thursday night in northeast Graham County.</p>
<p>Authorities began searching for Mascarenas after two people were found dead Thursday in the unincorporated town of Penokee, near Hill City.</p>
<p>The victims were found after Graham County Sheriff's Office responded to a call of an unresponsive man.</p>
<p>Authorities have released no other information about the homicides, Mascarenas' connection to the victims or details of how his body was found.</p>
<p>Kansas Department of Corrections records show Mascarenas has three prior convictions for aggravated battery and another for interference with law enforcement. He was released from prison in February of 2017 and his post-release expired in August.</p> | Body of suspect in Kansas double homicide found | false | https://apnews.com/770b8c92a317448fb0cfa58b80d5c103 | 2018-01-05 | 2 |
<p>Democrats are so often predictable, which is why there was little surprise at the flags that were <a href="http://twitchy.com/twitchys-3839/2016/07/28/these-three-flags-say-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-dncs-loyalties/" type="external">raised</a> at the Democratic National Convention this week, and the flags that were shamefully excluded.</p>
<p>Here are three flags that were shown love at the DNC:</p>
<p>1. The Palestinian flag.</p>
<p>The DNC, where no American flags are visible -but a Palestinian Flag is center stage. Let that sink in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemsInPhilly?src=hash" type="external">#DemsInPhilly</a> <a href="https://t.co/Lp2PQDAR1j" type="external">pic.twitter.com/Lp2PQDAR1j</a></p>
<p>According to Ali Kurnaz, a Sanders delegate who led a an anti-Israel demonstration at the DNC, his Palestinian flag hoisting and Palestine sticker distributing was cheered on by many Democrats who were there.</p>
<p>“I have not had a single Bernie delegate say anything negative when I have given out these signs,” he told Mondoweiss, a pro-Sanders website. “I get fist bumps, high fives. Or thank you for saying what you said.”</p>
<p>2. The North Korean flag.</p>
<p>One wonders why a party that so often panders to human rights issues would welcome a flag that represents mass genocide and restriction under communist rule… Key word "communist." however.</p>
<p>Why the North Korean flag at a Bernie rally? <a href="https://t.co/U4qZUl9340" type="external">pic.twitter.com/U4qZUl9340</a></p>
<p>3. The Soviet flag.</p>
<p>Anybody irked that the founding Marxist regime was being represented at an American political convention without much of a reaction from passersby? Why is this considered normal for Democrats?</p>
<p>Soviet flags fly proudly for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemsInPhilly?src=hash" type="external">#DemsInPhilly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FeelTheBern?src=hash" type="external">#FeelTheBern</a> March. <a href="https://t.co/LhgfkddO5q" type="external">pic.twitter.com/LhgfkddO5q</a></p>
<p>Here are three flags that were burned, stomped on, and even removed from the DNC:</p>
<p>1. The Mississippi flag.</p>
<p>The Mississippi flag was removed by the City of Philadelphia using a huge crane after dozens of protesters conducted a “sit-in” while yelling “Take it down! Take it down!” to protest the flag for representing “oppression.”</p>
<p>Here is the Mississippi flag getting removed. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNCinPHL?src=hash" type="external">#DNCinPHL</a> <a href="https://t.co/Wcb5IkxhxX" type="external">pic.twitter.com/Wcb5IkxhxX</a></p>
<p>2. The Israeli flag.</p>
<p>The Israeli flag was burned while a large crowd of leftists yelled “long live the Intifada!” calling for the mass murder of civilians and tourists living in Israel. Multiple Israeli flags were burned outside of the convention hall as demonstrators cheered.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/zlando" type="external">@zlando</a> &amp; this 2night outside <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DNC?src=hash" type="external">#DNC</a> Protesters burning an <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israel?src=hash" type="external">#Israel</a> flag in front secure perimeter &amp; chanting "intifada <a href="https://t.co/hiKNlyvLWS" type="external">pic.twitter.com/hiKNlyvLWS</a></p>
<p>3. The United States flag.</p>
<p>This one was tricky. During the first couple of days at the DNC, socialists were compelled to burn American flags as they did the Israeli flags. The only problem was… there were no American flags in sight!</p>
<p>But one was found eventually. Apparently burning the U.S. flag was not enough-- there had to be stomping involved too. Perfectly, as one guy gleefully <a href="" type="internal">stomped</a> on a burning American flag, he was caught on fire. Or should I say, he really felt the ‘bern.’</p>
<p>Protester set herself on fire stamping on American flag outside DNC last night. <a href="https://t.co/r8GDyJae64" type="external">pic.twitter.com/r8GDyJae64</a></p>
<p>The absence of American patriotism was noted on stage as well, as one after another speeches encouraged open borders and the victimization of criminals (and implied vilification of police officers), while ISIS was barely mentioned.</p>
<p>But hey, they tried to make it up Thursday night with a bedazzled stars-and-stripes microphone for Katy Perry and a “USA” chant at the end. Guess they thought nobody noticed their unpatriotic flop.</p>
<p>Follow Pardes Seleh on <a href="https://twitter.com/PardesSeleh" type="external">Twitter</a>.</p> | 3 Flags Democrats Loved At The DNC, And 3 They Hated | true | https://dailywire.com/news/7911/3-flags-democrats-loved-dnc-and-3-they-hated-pardes-seleh | 2016-07-29 | 0 |
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<p>All but five of the 26 staffers at BusBank, a transportation booking service, have been sick at some point this season. On the worst day so far, six people were out sick or caring for children with the flu, and four others were on already planned days off.</p>
<p>“It has been hard for us to keep up, with lots of folks running backup for each other,” says Brandon Dudley, vice president of the Chicago-based company that arranges bus charters for events ranging from nights on the town to long-distance trips.</p>
<p>Human-resources consultants have been hearing from company owners overwhelmed by flu-related absences. In its latest report, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 35 states had moderate to high levels of flu cases. More than 5 percent of people seeking medical help complained of flu-like symptoms during the week ended Feb. 11, up from a baseline of 2.2 percent, the CDC said.</p>
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<p>“Small businesses’ operations are so lean that having two people sick at one time is a very big impact,” says Amy Marcum, a human-resources consultant with Houston-based Insperity.</p>
<p>Telecommuting has helped lessen the flu’s impact on companies like BusBank, where staffers mainly work on laptops. So customers are getting their buses, Dudley says. But some projects such as updating the company’s website have had to be delayed.</p>
<p>When Denise Stern’s staffers are sick, they can’t work, period. Stern owns Let Mommy Sleep, a franchise company that provides overnight baby care for children ranging from newborn to 6 months old – and someone who’s sick cannot care for an infant. At times during this flu season, Stern has had a quarter of her more than 20 caregivers calling out sick.</p>
<p>“It hit us like a ton of bricks,” says Stern, who founded Let Mommy Sleep and runs the Washington, D.C.-area branch of her company. Let Mommy Sleep also has franchises in northern New Jersey and Philadelphia.</p>
<p>When a caregiver is ill, Stern will try to call in a backup. But so many employees have been sick that at times she either has no one available, or found the family is reluctant to have a caregiver they’re not familiar with.</p>
<p>“I can’t tell you how awful it is to be speaking with a mom on the verge of tears because we don’t have staff to help,” says Stern, who estimates her profits are down 15 percent for February.</p>
<p>At BOCA Communications, as many as four employees at a time have been sick with either the flu or a stomach virus.</p>
<p>“It’s the gnarliest flu season we’ve seen in 10 years,” says Ashley Breinlinger, a senior vice president at the San Francisco-based public-relations firm. “People have been sicker than I’ve ever seen.”</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>The bugs have been so bad that Breinlinger and CEO Kathleen Shanahan have asked staffers when they first start feeling unwell to stay home and not spread their germs.</p>
<p>Employees’ ability to work from home as much as possible has limited the impact on BOCA’s productivity, and the company is set up so everyone has a backup to finish projects. Another saving grace is that clients are empathizing, not complaining.</p>
<p>“Clients are sick too, so they’re understanding,” Breinlinger says.</p>
<p>With the flu season expected to last into the spring, Insperity’s Marcum advises business owners to be proactive to protect staffers’ health as well as company operations. Employees should be encouraged to work at home if they’re not feeling well, and to get flu shots if they haven’t already done so. Some companies will bring in medical personnel to administer shots on site.</p>
<p>Now is also the time to create backup plans, designating which staffers will cover for others. Some owners might also want to think in advance about arranging to get temporary help if needed.</p>
<p>Kristen Burris estimates she lost a third of her working days in January when she was sick three times and her son was also ill.</p>
<p>“It’s definitely the worst flu season we have experienced in years,” says Burris, co-owner of Eagle Acupuncture in Eagle, Idaho.</p>
<p>Her husband, Tony, covered the practice as best he could. But many clients whose sessions were canceled just waited till their next appointment. Practice hours lost to the flu came on top of cancellations forced by record snowfall in Idaho last month.</p>
<p>Burris is adding 12 extra hours to her weekly schedule in hopes of recouping some income. But the rest? “It’s 100 percent lost,” she says.</p>
<p /> | Small companies struggle with bad flu season | false | https://abqjournal.com/957751/small-companies-struggle-with-bad-flu-season.html | 2 |
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<p>In Washington state, an immigration judge decided against releasing an Iraq War veteran from custody while he fights the government's efforts to deport him even after his military service where he saw combat. Chong Kim is from South Korea but came to the US at age 5. After serving in the National Guard since 2005 and deploying to Iraq in 2009 and 2010, he began struggling with substance abuse and petty crimes.</p>
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<p>Credit: Tim Warden-Hertz</p>
<p>Family and friends of Kim say he has done a lot better since completing a substance abuse program run by the Department of Veterans Affairs earlier this year, but that doesn't stop immigration agents from arresting him. He was arrested by the agents and brought to a detention center in Tacoma, Washington where he will be deported because of his convictions. Matt Luce, 41, attended high school with Kim and says, "It's just wrong to be deporting an Army veteran. Despite his convictions, he was on and continues to be on the right path. This is just a travesty of justice."</p>
<p>Tim Warden-Hertz of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project is serving as Kim's attorney and highlights the difficulty in securing bond in the immigration detention system since authorities argue that subjects are often flight risks or pose a threat to the public. Kim's immigration issues arise primarily from two incidents, one a burglary and another a dumb prank where he threw a maltov cocktail against the back of a building.</p>
<p>Jason Phebus, 31, is an Air Force veteran who also struggled to adjust to civilian life after serving in the armed forces and seeing combat. "He was man enough to stand up and serve this country, in combat no less," he said. "Now he's not fit to be here?"</p>
<p>On Twitter:</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/ErvinProduction" type="external">@ErvinProduction</a></p>
<p>Tips? Info? Send me a message!</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-declines-release-iraq-vet-fights-deportation-50287004" type="external">abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-declines-release-iraq-vet-fights-deportation-50287004</a></p> | Iraq War Veteran Fighting Deportation In Washington | true | http://thegoldwater.com/news/9193-Iraq-War-Veteran-Fighting-Deportation-In-Washington | 2017-10-05 | 0 |
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<p>file photo</p>
<p>CARLSBAD — A false report might have led to a SWAT incident Monday night in which three people were detained, police said.</p>
<p>Two women who reported an armed robbery in the parking lot of Happy’s restaurant on Monday are now under investigation for allegedly filing a false report, according to a news release from the Carlsbad Police Department.</p>
<p>“Although this investigation is ongoing, it is apparent the armed robbery claim by the two female victims was false,” the release said.</p>
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<p>The alleged false report was called in after an alleged drug deal did not go as planned, police said.</p>
<p>After questioning all the people involved, police believe that the two women, who claimed to be victims, were meeting a man to sell him drugs.</p>
<p>During the meeting, the women and the man began arguing, accusing each other of being “associated with law enforcement,” the release said.</p>
<p>When the women and the man could not agree on a purchase, one of the women allegedly pulled out a bag of drugs and asked, “If I was a cop, would I have this?” the release said.</p>
<p>The man then allegedly grabbed the bag of drugs and got into his vehicle with two other people, police said.</p>
<p>One of the women then allegedly rammed her vehicle into the man’s vehicle, police said.</p>
<p>The two women then chased the vehicle with the three other individuals to a house on Caballo Street.</p>
<p>A witness who saw the entire incident followed the two vehicles, police said.</p>
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<p>The witness told police that the vehicle with the three people was rammed a second time in an alley.</p>
<p>The man who had taken the bag of drugs then got out of the vehicle and allegedly threw the original bag of drugs back at the women’s car, police said.</p>
<p>Later, officers were called to Happy’s restaurant, where the two women claimed they had been held up at gunpoint, police said.</p>
<p>Because the alleged crime involved a gun, the Carlsbad SWAT team was used to execute a search warrant to enter the home on Caballo Street.</p>
<p>Carlsbad police had the roads around Caballo Road blocked off Monday night while three people who were allegedly involved in the drug deal were detained for questioning.</p>
<p>During questioning, the police began to suspect the women’s report was false, the release said.</p>
<p>“These three individuals cooperated with the investigation during their interviews,” the release said. “Criminal complaints are pending for filing a false police report on the two females reporting the armed robbery.”</p>
<p>No charges have been filed at this time and the investigation into the incident is ongoing.</p>
<p>Police will not release the identities of any of the people involved until the investigation is no longer active.</p>
<p>Katie England can be reached at 575-628-5516.</p>
<p>——</p>
<p>©2015 the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.)</p>
<p>Visit the Carlsbad Current-Argus (Carlsbad, N.M.) at <a href="http://www.currentargus.com" type="external">www.currentargus.com</a></p>
<p>Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC</p>
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<p>Topics: t000002458,t000027866,t000027880,g000065558,g000225333,g000362661,g000066164</p> | Police: Bad drug deal led to false report, SWAT situation | false | https://abqjournal.com/526746/police-bad-drug-deal-led-to-false-report-swat-situation.html | 2 |
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<p>TUCSON, Ariz. — Authorities say a Tucson woman suspected of lighting a cat on fire tried to stab a fire captain early on Friday morning.</p>
<p>Firefighters responded to the apartment around 2:30 a.m. They say 41-year-old Ebony Hurndon lunged at a fire captain with a knife as he tried to enter the smoky apartment, striking him in the chest. The knife didn’t penetrate the firefighter’s jacket.</p>
<p>The woman threatened to stab anyone who tried to enter her apartment even as firefighters spotted a cat on fire on the top of the stove.</p>
<p>Police had to use an electronic stun gun to subdue the woman, who was naked.</p>
<p>Hurndon faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, arson of an occupied structure and animal cruelty.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Police: Woman lit cat on fire, tried to stab firefighter | false | https://abqjournal.com/1074456/police-woman-lit-cat-on-fire-tried-to-stab-firefighter.html | 2 |
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<p>I really don’t want to ignite a firestorm in the comments by posting this, but the degree to which Israel’s leaders see America as in their back pocket is pretty remarkable. When people across the Arab world feel like they will never get a fair shake from America, it is in part because of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/13/washington/13olmert.html?_r=1&amp;scp=1&amp;sq=olmert%20rice&amp;st=cse" type="external">episodes like this</a>.</p>
<p>Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel said Monday that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had been forced to abstain from a United Nations [cease fire] resolution on Gaza that she helped draft, after Mr. Olmert placed a phone call to President Bush. “I said, ‘Get me President Bush on the phone,'” Mr. Olmert said in a speech in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, according to The Associated Press. They said he was in the middle of giving a speech in Philadelphia. I said I didn’t care: ‘I need to talk to him now,'” Mr. Olmert continued. “He got off the podium and spoke to me.” …</p>
<p>Mr. Olmert claimed that once he made his case to Mr. Bush, the president called Ms. Rice and told her to abstain. “She was left pretty embarrassed,” Mr. Olmert said, according to The A.P.</p>
<p>Forget what you think about Israel: no country in the world should have this sort of sway over our president and secretary of state. (H/T <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/01/when-olmert-cal.html" type="external">Andrew</a>)</p>
<p /> | Israel’s Power | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2009/01/israels-power/ | 2009-01-13 | 4 |
<p>PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine man who was accused of a massive welfare fraud scheme at a grocery store with his brother has been convicted.</p>
<p>Abdulkareem Daham was found guilty Thursday of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. in U.S. District Court in Portland.</p>
<p>Federal agents raided Ahram Halal Market in 2016 after being tipped off of unusually high sales at the market coming from food stamps. Prosecutors say Daham and his older brother, Ali Ratib Daham, had allowed customers to exchange food assistance benefits for cash at a discounted rate from June 2011 through April 2016.</p>
<p>Ali Ratib Daham pleaded guilty to multiple offenses including conspiracy and money laundering last year. Both brothers are awaiting sentencing.</p>
<p>PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine man who was accused of a massive welfare fraud scheme at a grocery store with his brother has been convicted.</p>
<p>Abdulkareem Daham was found guilty Thursday of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. in U.S. District Court in Portland.</p>
<p>Federal agents raided Ahram Halal Market in 2016 after being tipped off of unusually high sales at the market coming from food stamps. Prosecutors say Daham and his older brother, Ali Ratib Daham, had allowed customers to exchange food assistance benefits for cash at a discounted rate from June 2011 through April 2016.</p>
<p>Ali Ratib Daham pleaded guilty to multiple offenses including conspiracy and money laundering last year. Both brothers are awaiting sentencing.</p> | Man convicted of welfare fraud at halal market | false | https://apnews.com/ebbba221f84d403198f782555e5d40e4 | 2018-01-12 | 2 |
<p />
<p>LAKE PLACID, NY—A New York Army National Guard Soldier from the 2nd Battalion 108th Infantry keeps his head down while serving as brakeman on a sled speeds down the Mount Van Hoevenberg bobsled track during the Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge in 2009. ( <a href="http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/01/05/32499-new-york-army-national-guard-soldiers-become-bobsledders-this-weekend/index.html" type="external">US&#160;Army photo</a> by Lt. Col. Robert Bullock.)</p> | We’re Still at War: Photo of the Day for January 8, 2010 | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2010/01/were-still-war-photo-day-january-8-2010/ | 2010-01-08 | 4 |
<p>Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/peasap/" type="external">peasap</a> / <a href="http://www.welovecostarica.com/watching/" type="external">We Love Costa Rica</a> / <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" type="external">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p>In a post-Citizens United world, the growing influence of lavishly paid fundraisers like Mary Pat Bonner has angered donors to both Democrats and Republicans.</p>
<p>Bonner is a leading fundraiser for Hillary Clinton’s expected presidential campaign. The New York Times’ Nicholas Confessore reports that tax filings and campaign disclosures of Bonner’s consulting firm, the Bonner Group, reveal that she typically earns a commission of 12.5 percent on any money she brings in. That quickly brings Bonner’s pay into the millions of dollars. Her company’s database keeps on file the contact information, records on past giving and known political ties of 70,000 donors.</p>
<p>Some organizations, such as Freedom Partners, run by the conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch, emphasize their reliance on salaried staff members to raise money. Confessore quotes Andrew Sabin, a prominent Republican donor, as saying, “I want my money to go to the candidate, to get them elected; I don’t want it to go to middlemen.”</p>
<p />
<p>“Her tenacity, ties to wealthy givers and mastery of making donors happy have made Ms. Bonner, 48, among the most successful practitioners of a trade that is virtually invisible to voters but has taken on immense power and influence,” Confessore continues. The commission method of compensation has led some donors to suspect that others are getting preferential treatment.</p>
<p>Confessore writes:</p>
<p>Political fund-raisers are typically paid monthly retainers, which can reach $25,000 a month during campaigns. The Bonner Group is paid almost exclusively on commission, a practice that is legal but frowned upon by some fund-raising consultants, who say it leads to fights with clients and other consultants over credit. It is considered unethical by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, partly because it can encourage abuses and, in the charity world, places self-gain over philanthropy.</p>
<p>… In an email, Ms. Bonner said she routinely disclosed to donors that she was being paid on commission. “We charge all of our clients the same way, so there is no incentive for anyone in the firm to focus on one client more than another,” Ms. Bonner said.</p>
<p>Of course, vague as it is, Bonner’s statement is problematic. If a commission from one donor is significantly larger than a commission from another, her company, which profits from the exchange, has every incentive to treat the larger donor preferentially.</p>
<p>Confessore’s report is a view into one of the more subtle aspects of money-grubbing in the political establishment. Read more <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/06/us/in-invisible-world-of-political-donor-advisers-a-highly-visible-player.html?ref=topics&amp;_r=0" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>— Posted by <a href="" type="internal">Alexander Reed Kelly</a>.</p> | It Pays to Be a Political Fundraiser | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/it-pays-to-be-a-political-fundraiser/ | 2015-02-06 | 4 |
<p>After months of breathless anticipation, techies everywhere have a new gadget/cultural phenomenon on their hands in the form of Apple Inc.?s new tablet, the iPad. Apple CEO Steve Jobs was on hand to do the unveiling honors at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Wednesday morning, and based on the results, you can bet the lines will be forming in front of Apple stores yet again.</p>
<p>Click <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/live-from-the-apple-tablet-latest-creation-event/" type="external">here</a> to read play-by-play updates from Engadget's coverage of the iPad event.</p>
<p>Los Angeles Times:</p>
<p>Perhaps the worst kept secret since, well, the iPhone, the iPad is a 10-inch touch-screen computer. It resembles an oversized iPod Touch.</p>
<p />
<p>"We want to kick off 2010 by introducing a truly magical and revolutionary new product," Jobs said early on to ease the throngs of technology journalists and analysts who knew what was coming.</p>
<p><a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/01/apple-tablet.html" type="external">Read more</a></p> | Behold the iPad | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/behold-the-ipad/ | 2010-01-27 | 4 |
<p>Shares of Zillow Group Inc. soared in Tuesday's extended session after the real estate website announced a smaller quarterly loss compared with a year earlier. Zillow reported its first-quarter loss narrowed to $47.6 million, or 27 cents a share, from a loss of $58.4 million, or 40 cents a share, a year earlier. The latest quarter's loss includes $15.7 million in legal costs related to a lawsuit involving News Corp and the National Association of Realtors. News Corp owns MarketWatch, the publisher of this report. On an adjusted basis, Zillow would have lost 13 cents a share. Revenue grew to $186 million from $127.3 million. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had projected a loss of 9 cents a share on revenue of $177 million. Zillow also raised its full-year revenue outlook to a range of $825 million to $835 million from $805 million to $815 million previously. Zillow soared 12% in after-hours trading.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2016 MarketWatch, Inc.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p> | Zillow Shares Soar As Quarterly Loss Narrows | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/05/03/zillow-shares-soar-as-quarterly-loss-narrows.html | 2016-05-03 | 0 |
<p>Forget for a moment the names and biographies of the ever-growing array of 2016 White House hopefuls in favor of this question: What kinds of candidates are Americans ready to embrace?</p>
<p>According to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, the American general electorate is most accepting of the idea of a presidential candidate who is African-American, followed by one who is a woman, a person under the age of 50, or a Hispanic.</p>
<p>It's most sour on the notion of a candidate with no prior political experience, followed by one who is a Tea Party leader or one who lacks a college degree.</p>
<p>And it appears to be more ready for a presidential candidate who is gay or lesbian than for one who is an evangelical Christian.</p>
<p>Here's how that math works: Our NBC/Wall Street Journal pollsters asked whether specific candidate traits would make a respondent “enthusiastic,” “comfortable,” “have reservations” or “uncomfortable.”</p>
<p>By subtracting the positive responses from the negative ones, we can get a pretty good picture of what the most acceptable and unacceptable traits might be for a presidential candidate.</p>
<p>As you can see, there's moderate comfort with the idea of a candidate who is Catholic (which in the 2016 field would include two GOP heavyweights in Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio). And voters are a little lukewarm - but not overwhelmingly negative - about the idea of a candidate who’s related to a former president (which would include Bush and Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton.)</p>
<p>And, despite plenty of ongoing debate about the rights of LGBT Americans, more voters say they would be unperturbed by a presidential candidate who is gay or lesbian than those who say they would “have reservations” or be “uncomfortable.”</p>
<p>But there are some traits that get a thumbs down from most voters. Americans who intend to vote in the 2016 general election tend to say they would have reservations or significant discomfort with a candidate who had no college degree, who was a leader of the Tea Party movement or who had no previous elected experience.</p>
<p>Those figures may not be great news for Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who did not complete college, or political newcomers Carly Fiorina and Dr. Ben Carson, who have never held elected office.</p>
<p>Some of the priorities of Republican and Democratic primary voters look significantly different from the electorate at large.</p>
<p>Democrats are most supportive of the idea of a woman as a presidential candidate. An evangelical Christian would be met by the party with particularly strong skepticism, the poll shows, while a gay or lesbian candidate would be generally more acceptable to the party even than a candidate over 65 years of age.</p>
<p>GOP primary voters are most receptive to a candidate with a military background, which would include just former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham.</p>
<p>And Republicans, who have widely derided President Barack Obama as too inexperienced for the presidency, are sour on the notion of another presidential candidate who is a first-term senator. That could be unwelcome news for freshman senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul.</p>
<p /> | What Voters Want - and Don’t Want - in a Presidential Candidate | false | http://nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/what-americans-want-dont-want-presidential-candidate-n354141 | 2015-05-05 | 3 |
<p>Published time: 30 Nov, 2017 10:11</p>
<p>Google is being taken to court over allegations it collected personal data of millions of unknowing iPhone users. Up to 5.4 million people in Britain could be entitled to compensation if the class action is successful.</p>
<p>A group led by Richard Lloyd, the executive director of consumer body Which?, claims the internet giant unlawfully collected personal information by bypassing the default settings on the iPhone and tracking online behavior of people using the Safari browser between June 2011 and February 2012.</p>
<p>Google then allegedly used the data in its DoubleClick advertising business, which enables advertisers to target content according to a user’s browsing habits. Such action is a “violation of trust” against iPhone users, Lloyd said. He added that the lawsuit is unprecedented and represents “one of the biggest fights of my life.”</p>
<p>[embedded content]</p>
<p>The lawsuit, filed in London’s High Court, alleged Google’s tactic, known as the ‘Safari Workaround,’ breached UK data protection laws by taking personal information without permission.</p>
<p>“I believe what Google did was simply against the law. Their actions have affected millions, and we’ll be asking the courts to remedy this major breach of trust,” Lloyd told the Guardian. “In all my years speaking up for consumers, I’ve rarely seen such as massive abuse of trust where so many people have no way to seek redress on their own.”</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/uk/409092-intelligence-privacy-data-surveillance/" type="external" /></p>
<p>Lloyd, who has set up the group Google You Owe Us, added: “Google owes all of those affected fairness, trust and money. By joining together, we can show Google that they can’t get away with taking our data without our consent, and that no matter how large and powerful they are, nobody is above the law.”</p>
<p>Roughly 5.4 million people in Britain had an iPhone between June 2011 and February 2012 and could be eligible for compensation, according to the claim. Although the size of any potential payout would be determined by the court, Lloyd said he expected each claimant would receive several hundred pounds.</p>
<p>Lloyd has secured £15.5 million in backing from Therium, a company that funds litigation and has previously backed group claims such as the consumer action against Volkswagen in the scandal over diesel emissions.</p>
<p>A Google spokesperson said: “This is not new. We have defended similar cases before. We don’t believe it has any merit and we will contest it.”</p>
<p>The case is the first time such a collective action – in which one person represents a group with a shared grievance, akin to a US-style class action – has been brought in Britain against a leading tech company over alleged misuse of data.</p>
<p>Google has already paid millions of dollars to US states and the US Federal Trade Commission over the Safari security bypass.</p> | Google sued for ‘snooping on iPhone users’: Will 5.4mn Brits get compensation? | false | https://newsline.com/google-sued-for-snooping-on-iphone-users-will-5-4mn-brits-get-compensation/ | 2017-11-30 | 1 |
<p>LISA MULLINS: I'm Lisa Mullins, and this is The World. Today, President Barack Obama submitted his first budget outline to Congress, and there are some staggering numbers on it. Let's start with $1.75 Trillion dollars. That's how big the federal budget deficit for 2009 is projected to be. The figure represents about 12 percent of the US economy - the highest deficit level in decades. President Obama's budget makes a financial commitment to comprehensive healthcare reform. There are also large investments in education. And unlike President Bush, President Obama includes the cost of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in his regular budget plan. But this morning, President Obama said he's not focusing just on the spending side of the equation.</p>
<p>PRESIDENT OBAMA: We need to be honest with ourselves about what costs are being racked up, because that's how we'll come to grips with the hard choices that lie ahead, and there are some hard choices that lie ahead. Just as a family has to make hard choices about where to spend and where to save, so do we as a government. You know? There are times when you can afford to redecorate your house, and there are times when you need to focus on rebuilding its foundation.</p>
<p>MULLINS: President Obama said this is a time to concentrate on the foundation of the American economy. That's what many people around the world might be thinking as well. Simon Johnson is an economist at MIT, with special expertise in financial and economic crises - similar subjects that he worked on as former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund. We suspect you are very busy these days dealing with the crisis going on now, Professor Johnson. Suppose that you are the leader of the UK or China, for instance, or Iceland for that matter. Was there anything that you heard in the budget blueprint today from President Obama that would make you feel any better? SIMON JOHNSON: I think the blueprint today and the speech that President Obama gave on Tuesday evening would generally have a reassuring effect. First of all, his tone is very good. It's very positive. And there's a lot of recognition that we're in serious trouble. And there's a lot of sort of ideas about how to get us out of it. At a more technical level, there's a fiscal stimulus. Obviously, we have a stimulus package and we have a push on healthcare spending, education spending and energy spending that is going to boost the US economy relative to what it would be otherwise, and that will help everyone around the world who sells us goods and services.</p>
<p>MULLINS: And in terms of what might worry you? Certainly the $1.75 Trillion dollar figure worries a lot of people in the United States. How about if you're elsewhere?</p>
<p>JOHNSON: No. I don't think that's the worry. You know, the US has relatively low debt to GDP so the total amount of debt outstanding compared to the size of our economy is actually on the low side for industrialized countries. It's clearly going to go up as a result of spending and also what will be done and what has to do be for the financial system, for housing. But that's really still at manageable levels. Now, I think the problem - the weakness, the thing that would sort of nag in my mind a little bit, although I have not quite wanted to say it this week, if I were a foreign leader is the strategy for pulling the US out of the financial morass that we're in, the problem with the bank system. That strategy remains rather vague and unconvincing. And so President Obama said that it's a big problem. He's got to deal with it. And he's got a vision, a collective investment four years down the road that makes sense and would particularly make sense to people outside the US who don't have hang-ups about collecting investments of those kind. But how you get from here to there is not very well mapped out right now.</p>
<p>MULLINS: So what specifically do leaders in other countries need to hear and want to hear in terms of what the United States is going to do to shore up the financial system? I mean, would it be saying that it's going to be nationalizing banks? I mean, what would it be?</p>
<p>JOHNSON: The word "nationalization" is a red herring, I think, in this context. I don't think anybody's asking for that word to be used. But a clear strategy through which you intervene and take over for banks that are deficient in capital and re-privatize them and sell them back to the private sector. Unless and until we have that kind of policy and go through that, you know, the experience from around the world - the experience from Japan, experience from Sweden, experience from other European countries right now, many emerging markets, the experience is very simple. If you don't confront that reality, if you don't deal with it sooner rather than later, then the costs of the whole cleanup become much higher, and any kind of longer term spending plans you may have, the dream of rebuilding education and healthcare, and so on, those are not implemented.</p>
<p>MULLINS: Iceland is pretty much on the brink of collapse economically. Are there other countries that are similarly poised?</p>
<p>JOHNSON: Yes. Most of East Central Europe is in very bad shape, and from East Central Europe, I'm afraid to say, the problem's spread directly to Western Europe because most of the banks in East Central Europe are West European banks. And I'm afraid to say that the Europeans are quite far from having a strategy that's capable of containing this or dealing with it.</p>
<p>MULLINS: All right. Thank you very much. Simon Johnson teaches at MIT's Sloan School of Management. He's also a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and he co-founded a website on the global economic and financial crisis, which we're going to link to you at our website, theworld.org. Nice to speak with you, Simon. Thank you.</p>
<p>JOHNSON: Thank you.</p> | International reaction to Obama budget | false | https://pri.org/stories/2009-02-26/international-reaction-obama-budget | 2009-02-26 | 3 |
<p>Editor's note: Afghanistan's Hurt Locker is a three-part series on the U.S. military's efforts to combat increasingly deadly roadside bombs in Afghanistan. It examines the <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/afghanistan/100205/hurt-locker-IED-attacks" type="external">history of IED attacks</a>, follows the work of a unit tasked with locating the bombs and looks at the <a href="../../../../../../dispatch/afghanistan/100205/IED-civilian-casualties" type="external">unintended consequences</a> of the U.S. strategy.</p>
<p>KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The soldiers in Task Force Thor have one of the most dangerous — and boring — jobs in southern Afghanistan: looking for improvised explosive devices on the roads.</p>
<p>The troops in the unit are a tight bunch. They are like the military’s gypsy caravan, constantly roaming the highways, driving at 7 miles per hour for 10 to 14 hours at a time in an effort to find IEDs.&#160;</p>
<p>“Our mission is to give freedom of movement along the main supply routes, more importantly Highway 1 in our area,” said U.S. Army Capt. Christopher Burkhart, 30, the commander of Task Force Thor’s 630th engineering company, referring to the main highway in southern Afghanistan. “We keep that open from IEDs, so we can get troops and supplies to and from different locations, and help out the local populace by keeping routes open for them.”&#160;</p>
<p>Task Force Thor has specialized equipment to help them find IEDs, the vehicles being the most important part. There are the MRAPS, or Mine Resistance, Ambush Protected vehicles, that provide security, some equipped with anti-mine rollers. Then there are the one-man Huskies, which look like something out of Star Wars. They have metal detectors and a long arm with a camera and remote control claw to inspect suspected bombs.&#160;</p>
<p>The biggest vehicle is the Buffalo. It's the largest vehicle in the U.S. Army. It has a mechanical arm and video cameras that are used to “interrogate,” meaning to inspect, a suspected IED.&#160; &#160;</p>
<p />
<p>Before any unit from TF Thor leaves a base, they do a mission brief.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>The soldiers gather together, and they talk about where they might get attacked, and what to do if they are. Then, they say a prayer.&#160;</p>
<p>“We are grateful that God has watched over us, and we ask him to guide us ... and to keep us safe,” one soldier said before the night mission. A truck’s headlights illuminated the faces of the unit’s soldiers surrounding him.&#160;</p>
<p>“God watch over all of our brothers in arms in the country, and help them to all get back safely to their families and friends.”</p>
<p>Eleven soldiers from Task Force Thor have been killed in Afghanistan, and 18 wounded, since they arrived in February 2009. Five of those killed were from this platoon of about 25 soldiers — the 3rd platoon, 569 engineering company.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>“It’s taken a toll on all of us,” said Sgt. Jason Kulhawy, who is a vehicle commander of one of the Buffalos and who was anxiously hoping the 10 weeks between him and his return to the U.S. would pass without incident. He’s married with a young child.</p>
<p>“We look at the mission at hand,” he said. “It’s a very dangerous job, but somebody’s got to do it.”</p>
<p>After the prayer, the soldiers strap on body armor and exchange high fives and hugs. Before climbing into the Buffalo, Kulhawy tells his crew what to do if the vehicle flips, or is on fire. It’s not that unlikely of an event: these platoons find a bomb every few days. More often than not, the bombs find these soldiers' trucks first.</p>
<p>They roll out the gate of Forward Operating Base Wilson at 3:30 a.m.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Riding with Task Force Thor at night is like moving through a moon landscape. The powerful floodlights on the side of each vehicle in the convoy are the only lights for miles. The soldiers are separated from the world like astronauts — a foot of steel and ballistic glass separating them from the outside world. Metal bars surround the vehicle, making it feel like a cage, although they’re there to stop rocket-propelled grenades from penetrating the armor.</p>
<p>As they drive through the dark, the soldiers munch on Pop Tarts and trail mix, swig energy drinks and rock out on iPods channeled lightly through their headsets. In the truck, and occasionally over the radio, they crack jokes and break into teenager-ish giggles. The Buffalo’s driver, Pfc. Bryan Kelly, 23, says he’ll talk and joke about anything for hours — music, marriage, movie stars, his kids — to keep himself and his crew awake.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>“You laugh so you don’t go crazy,” he said.&#160; “You try to keep calm, avoid the anger, the scaredness, and try to get your job done so nobody gets hurt who doesn’t deserve to.”</p>
<p>The soldiers seem to not even be looking out the window, until suddenly someone calls out “all stop” over the radio. The convoy comes to an immediate halt.&#160; The work begins.&#160;</p>
<p>Somehow, Kulhawy spotted a tiny piece of wire barely sticking out of the ground in the dirt next to the road. It could be an IED triggering device. He deploys the arm on the buffalo and pulls at it. We’re only a few meters away if something were to explode. He examines the wire. It’s nothing. Over the radio, an “all clear” is given, and the convoy begins moving again. They drive through the night, and into day.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>Along the way they pass the twisted and mangled hulls of blown up vehicles rusting on the side of the road — victims of previous IED attacks.&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>This area is where Task Force Thor lost one of their men.&#160;</p>
<p>In September, the Taliban used a 1,600-pound bomb to target the 633rd Engineering Company’s Buffalo. Pfc. Jeremiah Monroe, 31, was killed.</p>
<p>Sgt. Justin Mottoshiski, 26, was just 50 meters away from the explosion. He says the blast blew the Buffalo 40 feet into the air. It landed on its roof, where the escape hatches are located.</p>
<p>“When it came down on top of Monroe, there was no way to survive that,” he said.&#160;</p>
<p>Mottoshiski was one of the first people on the scene. There was no way to open the hatches to save the men severely injured but still alive inside the vehicle.</p>
<p>Most of the injured men were either knocked out or had broken backs. But one of the surviving soldiers was still awake, and able to crawl to the back exit and open the rear door. Otherwise, the crew probably wouldn’t have survived.</p>
<p>Mottoshiski said it was the biggest explosion he’s ever seen. He and the rest of his unit were horrified the U.S. Army’s strongest vehicle could be damaged so severely.&#160;</p>
<p>“All the new soldiers were really scared after that, because they were like, if that’s what happens every time we get blown up, then we’re all gonna die,” he said.&#160;</p>
<p>“I said no, it’s not that bad. We’ve been blown up twice since then, right where we’re going today.”</p>
<p>Mottoshiski says those IEDs he’s survived aren’t “really all that bad.”</p>
<p>“It’s an adrenaline rush, when you get hit. As long as, as long as you don’t get knocked out, and you ride it out, it’s actually a pretty neat ride,” he said, then laughed at the seeming absurdity of his comments. Then, he added, “To to do this job you have to be an adrenaline junky.”</p>
<p>“Not any normal person can get on the road and drive for 15 hours per day and look for things that can blow you up and possibly kill you.”</p>
<p>Still, the men and women of this battalion feel the wear and tear. They are human minesweepers. And because they drive so slowly, they are a moving target. They get hit all the time by ambushes, small arms fire and, of course, IEDs. And the more blasts they survive the more damage to their ears, brains and backs that occur.&#160;</p>
<p>“You start to feel it after a while,” Mottoshiski said. “Migranes. Headaches. I really can’t hear too well out of my left ear. And all the gear we wear, when we get blown up, it messes you up:&#160; messes up your back.”</p>
<p>As the route clearance patrol comes into Kandahar, people along the side of the road stare.&#160; Some children wave. At one point, rocks are thrown from a crowd of men in what appears to be a refugee camp.</p>
<p>When they arrive to their destination, a Canadian base, the soldiers are relieved.&#160;</p>
<p>“It feels good cause I got good food, a good gym to work out in, and I’m still alive,” said the Buffalo’s driver, Kelly. “It’s always scary going out there looking for stuff that’s meant to hurt you, but it’s a good feeling when you finally make it, and you’re that much closer to going home.”</p>
<p>The soldiers head off for food, and the gym. Then, they collapse into bed. They’ve been up since midnight, and it is 4 p.m. now. They have to get up and do it all over again later tonight.&#160;</p>
<p>Afghanistan's Hurt Locker: The series</p>
<p><a href="../../../../../../dispatch/afghanistan/100205/IED-civilian-casualties" type="external">Attack the network: Blowback from clearing Highway One</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/afghanistan/100205/hurt-locker-IED-attacks?page=0,4" type="external">Facing off against IEDs: An increasingly deadly battle</a></p>
<p>Editor's note:&#160;This story was updated to make several clarifications, including the fact that Task Force Thor is a battalion.</p> | Afghanistan's Hurt Locker: Defeat the device | false | https://pri.org/stories/2010-02-10/afghanistans-hurt-locker-defeat-device | 2010-02-10 | 3 |
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>No nation that claims to value democracy for the world’s people can maintain a military occupation against the will of the occupied population. Yet despite what seems like a fundamental moral truism-the notion that a military occupation of one country by another can only be justified if the occupied population supports it-mainstream commentators in this country rarely broach the subject of Iraqi attitudes toward the US-led occupation. Iraqi public opinion polls, when they even make it into the newspapers, are accorded astoundingly little weight. Instead, most US politicians and analysts repeat vague slogans about how “Iraqis need us” and how “we’ll leave when they ask us to.”</p>
<p>A brief look at Iraqi attitudes toward the occupation reveals why mainstream commentators in this country opt for such ambiguity rather than dealing with the polls themselves: Iraqis have consistently stated that the occupation is a destabilizing force in their country, that the situation would improve after a US withdrawal, and that the US has ulterior motives for staying in Iraq.</p>
<p>Over the last four years, and in polls from a wide range of sources, Iraqis have been especially unequivocal on one point: that the US military occupation of their country produces more violence than it prevents. A May 2004 poll sponsored by the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority found that roughly 80 percent of Iraqis had “no confidence” in US-led forces to improve security and that most “would feel safer if Coalition forces left immediately.”</p>
<p>A year later, in August 2005, a secret poll conducted for the British Defense Ministry found that “less than one per cent [sic] of the population believes coalition forces are responsible for any improvement in security.” Polls conducted over the past two years have continued to find strong majorities of Iraqis concurring in this view:</p>
<p>January 2006: A poll by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) found that around two-thirds of respondents agreed that “‘day to day security for ordinary Iraqis’ would increase,” that “violent attacks would decrease,” and that “the amount of interethnic violence will decrease” if the United States withdrew by the summer of 2006.</p>
<p>September 2006: A second PIPA poll found that 78 percent of Iraqis believe the occupation “is provoking more conflict than it is preventing.”</p>
<p>March 2007: A poll sponsored by US, British, and German news agencies found that “[m]ore than seven in 10 Shiites-and nearly all Sunni Arabs-think the presence of U.S. forces in Iraq is making security worse.” A separate survey by the UK-based Opinion Research Business found that 74 percent of Iraqis (including 77 percent of Baghdad residents) expected the security situation in Iraq to improve (53 percent) or to stay roughly the same (21 percent) immediately following a withdrawal of occupation forces. Only 26 percent expected security to get worse.</p>
<p>August 2007: A poll sponsored by news agencies in the US, UK, and Germany found that around 70 percent of Iraqis “believe security has deteriorated in the area covered by the US military ‘surge’ of the past six months” Moreover, 67-70 percent “believe the surge has hampered conditions for political dialogue, reconstruction and economic development.” When asked how much confidence they had in the US-led forces, 85 percent of Iraqis answered “not very much” or “none at all”-compared with 82 percent in February 2007, 78 percent in 2005, and 66 percent in 2004. When given a list of 14 individuals, groups, and factors influencing the level of violence in Iraq, 27 percent of Iraqis identified the US-led forces or President Bush as the single biggest culprits for that violence. Seventy-two percent said that the presence of US forces continued to make security worse, with another 9 percent saying it had no effect.</p>
<p>October 2007: A poll by the US Defense Department found that 12 percent of Iraqis “had at least some confidence in the Multi-National Force to protect their families against threats”-evidently the most optimistic phrasing possible for such a dismal statistic. Curiously, the report also boasted of the “growing support of the local population” and marvelous improvements in security courtesy of the US surge.</p>
<p>Although the exact percentages have fluctuated from poll to poll, the major surveys of Iraqi public opinion since 2004 are very clear concerning the effects of the US presence in Iraq: Iraqis overwhelming believe that the continued occupation is an impediment to peace, and indeed, that it continues to create violence rather than quelling it. Among Iraqis the most generous view of the US presence is that it continually fails to improve security in Iraq-even after nearly a year of the much-vaunted “surge.”</p>
<p>With similar consistency, Iraqis have voiced strong opposition to the presence of occupation forces. In August 2005, 82 percent were “strongly opposed” to the occupation; in January 2006, 87 percent favored a timeline for withdrawal; a year later, in September 2006, 71 percent wanted a full withdrawal by mid-2007.</p>
<p>Although these figures fluctuate somewhat, the March 2007 poll commissioned by US, British, and German news corporations presents a clearer picture of rising Iraqi opposition to the occupation over time. This poll found that 78 percent of Iraqis “strongly” or “somewhat” opposed the occupation, and then compares this finding to answers to the same question from February 2004 and November 2005. At the start of 2004, nearly one year after the invasion, 51 percent of Iraqis “strongly” or “somewhat” opposed the occupation; 21 months later, that figure had risen to 65 percent; by March 2007, it had climbed again to 78 percent. By August 2007, the percentage “strongly” or “somewhat” opposed to the occupation had stayed more or less the same, increasing slightly to 79 percent.</p>
<p>This progressive rise in popular hostility toward the US-led occupation is confirmed by another crucial statistic: the percentages of Iraqis who approve of insurgent attacks on occupation forces. In January 2006, 47 percent approved of such attacks; by September 2006, the figure had risen to 61 percent; in August 2007, 57 percent continued to approve of such attacks, including 93 percent of Sunnis. The resentment of ordinary Iraqis toward the US goes a long way toward explaining how a small insurgency numbering fewer than 30,000 Iraqis and 800-2,000 foreigners has successfully prevented US-led and Iraqi government forces (which together total over 600,000) from establishing military dominance in Iraq for almost five years.</p>
<p>Not all polling results are so unequivocal. In particular, the dozens of polls taken over the last four years suggest disagreements among Iraqis over exactly when and how the occupation forces should withdraw. Although almost all Iraqis have consistently supported a “timeline” for withdrawal, many polls do not ask respondents to comment on how soon that withdrawal should occur or on what should happen afterwards to bring peace. The few polls that have worded their questions more specifically have found subtle disagreements, such as whether the US-led forces should withdraw immediately, within six months, or within a year, etc. For example, a September 2006 poll by the US State Department found that 65 percent of Baghdad residents favored an immediate withdrawal of all US troops.</p>
<p>However, another poll that same month (described above) found that 71 percent of Iraqis wanted the US to withdraw within twelve months-with only 37 percent of that block favoring a US withdrawal within six months. Such results suggest significant variations in Iraqi attitudes not just over time, but even from one poll to the next within a very limited time frame. These variations probably derive largely from the subtleties of the polling process: the phrasing of the questions, the options given, the identity of the pollsters, the regional foci of the poll, etc.</p>
<p>In contrast, though, Iraqi respondents have been remarkably consistent in several of their answers, particularly with regard to the effects of the US military presence. They have consistently and overwhelmingly stated that the occupation produces more violence than it prevents. They have constantly expressed deep mistrust of US motives (most believe the US is largely motivated by the desire for Iraqi oil and that it plans to leave permanent military bases in their country). And they have consistently argued that a US withdrawal would not result in increased violence, but that it would actually help ease sectarian divisions and diminish the support bases of al Qaeda and other extremists.</p>
<p>In the August 2007 poll 46 percent answered that a “full-scale civil war” would be “less likely” given the immediate withdrawal of US forces, with another 19 percent saying that the withdrawal would “have no effect” in that regard. Only minorities of respondents stated that an immediate withdrawal would mean an increased terrorist presence or more power for Iran within Iraq, and only 9 percent said that a withdrawal would lead to “increased violence in the Kurdish areas.”</p>
<p>As journalist Patrick Cockburn noted in December 2007, “However much Iraqis may fight among themselves a central political fact in Iraq remains the unpopularity of the US-led occupation outside Kurdistan.”</p>
<p>KEVIN YOUNG is a Graduate Student in Latin American History at Stony Brook University. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | The US Occupation and Popular Opinion in Iraq | true | https://counterpunch.org/2008/01/05/the-us-occupation-and-popular-opinion-in-iraq/ | 2008-01-05 | 4 |
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<p>Calling employers to check on the status of your application lets them know that you are serious about the opportunity and sets you apart from other candidates.</p>
<p>Regardless of what stage you are at when looking for a job, there are a few key things to keep in mind when calling an employer. If you have sent in a résumé or dropped off an application, verify the information you have for your contact, and ask what the best time is to call.</p>
<p>Think about why you are calling and what you are going to say before you make the call. This will help if you are nervous and will build your confidence. To get the point and avoid rambling, have talking points ready that include what position you are calling about, why you are calling, and how they can best reach you if they have questions.</p>
<p>You want to gain positive attention from a prospective employer, so do not become overly aggressive by calling multiple times and leaving several messages. Avoid calling during busy times of the day, and try to call when you can speak to someone rather than leaving a voicemail.</p>
<p>Keep a log of your applications, contact information and follow-up phone calls. This will help you stay on task when applying for multiple jobs and will help you use your time most effectively.</p>
<p>After submitting an application or résumé, review the job posting for any specific directions for follow-up. Sometimes postings will note if the employer prefers phone calls or emails as follow-up. If you have not heard from the employer for one to two weeks, you can call to confirm that all your information has been received. You can also politely ask if interviews have been scheduled.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>After an interview, send thank-you notes to the interviewer and-or interview panel within 24 hours thanking them for the interview and restate your qualifications and experience as related to the job. If you have not heard from the employer or hiring manager within three to five days, you can follow-up with a phone call. They will probably need a few days after the interviews to organize their paperwork.</p>
<p>When calling after the interview, refresh their memory of who you are, what job you interviewed for, and politely ask if the position has been filled. If a candidate has not been selected, you may ask if there is a specific date or timeline in which a decision will be made, and finish the phone call by expressing your gratitude for the interview and reiterate why your interest in the job.</p>
<p>You might call after an interview, and the employer has selected another candidate. If this is the case, thank them for the opportunity and add that you would be interested in any future opportunities with the company. You never know when another job will become available with the company, and you want to leave them with a good impression.</p>
<p>This is a regular column written by the N.M. Department of Workforce Solutions. For more information, go to <a href="http://www.dws.state.nm.us" type="external">dws.state.nm.us</a>.</p>
<p /> | Follow-up call shows interest | false | https://abqjournal.com/324817/followup-call-shows-interest.html | 2 |
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<p>The Aggies are about to have a meaningful game in the month of December.</p>
<p>NMSU’s defense registered a school-record 11 sacks, and the Aggies inched closer to those magic two words – bowl eligible – with a gritty 17-10 victory over the Idaho Vandals before an announced crowd of 21,894 on Saturday afternoon at sun-splashed Aggie Memorial Stadium.</p>
<p>Bowl eligibility can be achieved if NMSU (5-6, 3-4 Sun Belt) beats visiting South Alabama (4-7, 3-4) next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The Aggies are looking to end a much-publicized, 57-year bowl drought, dating to the 1960 Sun Bowl.</p>
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<p>“We got a one-game playoff,” senior linebacker Dalton Herrington said. “Win or go home.”</p>
<p>An almost angry NMSU head coach Doug Martin phrased it another way.</p>
<p>“It’s about respect,” Martin said firmly. “More than the six wins, more than the bowl game, that’s what these guys are after.”</p>
<p>Backup quarterback Nick Jeanty, a redshirt junior, completed 31 of 49 passes for 231 yards, and Larry Rose III rushed for 113 yards and two scores as NMSU never trailed against the Vandals (3-8, 2-5).</p>
<p>The Aggies defense forced turnovers on Idaho’s first two possessions, converting both into touchdowns.</p>
<p>Leon McQuaker’s interception of Idaho starting QB Mason Petrino set up a 25-yard scoring run by Rose six plays later and a 7-0 lead barely 100 seconds into the contest.</p>
<p>Sophomore cornerback Shamad Lomax’s strip of Idaho receiver Alfonso Onunwor on the next possession was also recovered by Lomax. Another five plays after that, Rose scored easily on a 3-yard run up the middle on a fourth-and-1.</p>
<p>By now, the Vandals had freshman Colton Richardson in the game, after Petrino was knocked out by NMSU’s Cedric Wilcots II on the first play of Idaho’s second offensive series.</p>
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<p>And the Aggies swarmed Richardson, bringing him down 10 times after the QB listed at 6-foot-4, 230-pounds entered the game.</p>
<p>“We knew it wasn’t a mobile quarterback,” said Wilcots, who had 3½ sacks. “We knew we’d be able to get pressure on him, and we did.”</p>
<p>The Sun Belt Conference’s third-worst run defense also impressed, as the Aggies limited Idaho to a net total of 41 yards on the ground (which included the sacks). The leading rusher in the Sun Belt, Idaho senior Aaron Duckworth, was held to 40 yards on 13 carries.</p>
<p>“And they’ll have to do it again next week, too,” Martin said of his defense.</p>
<p>Conversely, NMSU’s league-worst run offense gained 172 yards, well ahead of its season average (100.7). The ground game and the defense eased the burden on Jeanty, who started in placed of the injured Tyler Rogers. The usual Aggie starter dinged his shoulder last week at Louisiana.</p>
<p>“Its a one-win season,” Jeanty said. “We’ll celebrate tonight and get back to work (Sunday).”</p>
<p>Martin said Rogers could have played Saturday, but preferred to hold him out and hope to have him at 100 percent for South Alabama. But Martin praised the work of Jeanty.</p>
<p>“He managed the game and got us a ‘W,’ and that’s what a backup is supposed to do,” Martin said.</p>
<p>Idaho finally broke through late in the first half, with Richardson throwing 25 yards to David Ungerer as the Vandals went into halftime trailing 14-7. The deficit closed to 14-10 on a short field goal midway through the third quarter.</p>
<p>NMSU picked up three crucial points with 12:29 left in the game on Dylan Brown’s 24-yard field goal. The Aggies had two field goals blocked earlier in the game.</p>
<p>“Inexcusable,” Martin said.</p>
<p>This is the first season since 2004 in which New Mexico State has won as many as five games.</p>
<p>“We want to earn respect across the country,” Jeanty said. “This next game is very big for us to get the respect we deserve.”</p>
<p><a href="https://d3el53au0d7w62.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/25/11-NM-State-17-Idaho-10.pdf" type="external">Box score: New Mexico State 17, Idaho 10</a></p>
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<p /> | Victorious Aggies go into Game 12 with bowl hopes | false | https://abqjournal.com/1097757/hold-out-bowl-hope.html | 2017-11-25 | 2 |
<p>Published time: 12 Oct, 2017 07:46Edited time: 12 Oct, 2017 08:04</p>
<p>The Pentagon is looking into a media report citing the CIA that Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) poster girl Sally Jones is dead. The “white widow,” the world’s most wanted female terrorist, was reportedly killed in a US drone strike in June.</p>
<p>According to a report by the Sun, British woman Sally Jones was killed while trying to escape Raqqa.</p>
<p>Read more</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/uk/387591-isis-sally-jones-drones/" type="external" /></p>
<p>“The Americans zapped her trying to get away from Raqqa. Quite frankly, it’s good riddance,” <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4665086/british-jihadi-sally-jones-killed-us-drone-strike-on-isis-syria/" type="external">the Sun</a> quoted a Whitehall source as saying.&#160;</p>
<p>The Sun’s article claims that the CIA told their British counterparts that Jones had been killed by a Predator drone strike.</p>
<p>There are fears that the strike might have also killed her 12-year-old son Joe ‘Jojo’ Dixon. The Sun’s sources said ‘Jojo’ was not specifically targeted in the strike, and it would have been called off if he had been known to be in the vicinity.</p>
<p>The Pentagon, however, declined to confirm the report of Jones’ death officially.</p>
<p>“I do not have any information that would substantiate that report but that could change and we are looking into this,” Pentagon spokesman Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway was quoted as saying by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/12/british-isis-member-sally-jones-white-widow-killed-airstrike-son-islamic-state-syria" type="external">the Guardian</a>.&#160;</p>
<p>There was no immediate comment from the CIA either.</p>
<p>Jones, who was the lead guitarist of an all-girl rock-band in the 1990s, left her home in Kent to join the terrorists in Syria with her husband Junaid Hussain back in 2013.</p>
<p>The couple were reportedly involved in planning IS attacks, and were considered to be among the organization’s most effective western recruiters. Hussain was killed in a US drone strike in 2015.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.rt.com/uk/395223-isis-sally-jones-return/" type="external">‘Most wanted’ British jihadist bride now ‘desperate’ to flee ISIS, return to UK</a></p>
<p>Jones used her social media accounts to recruit women for IS and was giving practical tips on how to travel to Syria. She also encouraged IS sympathizers to carry out attacks in the UK, reportedly offering practical guidance.</p>
<p>The “white widow” was also reportedly in charge of training European female fighters, or “muhajirat,” in Raqqa, according to British broadsheet the Telegraph.</p> | Pentagon looking into report ISIS ‘White Widow’ Sally Jones killed in US drone strike | false | https://newsline.com/pentagon-looking-into-report-isis-white-widow-sally-jones-killed-in-us-drone-strike/ | 2017-10-12 | 1 |
<p>More than 1.6 million four-drawer chests are being recalled because they pose a tip-over risk and potential hazard to children. Other recalled consumer products include children's sleepwear and toddler sweaters.</p>
<p>Here's a more detailed look:</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>CHEST OF DRAWERS</p>
<p>DETAILS: Mainstays four-drawer chests of drawers with plastic drawer glides and a single decorative pull on each drawer. Model numbers included in the recall are 5412012WP, 5412301WP, 5412328WP, 5412015WY, 5412301WY, 5412012PCOM, 5412015PCOM, 5412026PCOM, 5412213PCOM, 5412214PCOM, 5412301PCOM, 5412317PCOM, and 5412328PCOM. The model number is printed on the instruction manual. They were sold at Walmart stores and other retailers nationwide and at Walmart.com from April 2009 through May 2016.</p>
<p>WHY: The recalled chests of drawers are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing serious tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children.</p>
<p>INCIDENTS: One report of an injury after a chest of drawers tipped over onto a four-year-old.</p>
<p>HOW MANY: About 1.6 million in the U.S. and about 1,000 sold in Canada.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>FOR MORE: Call Ameriwood at 888-222-7460 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit www.Ameriwood.com and click on "Recall Notice" at the top of the page.</p>
<p>OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLES</p>
<p>DETAILS: All model year 2015 and 2016 Honda CRF450R motocross off-road motorcycles with 450cc, 4-cycle engines. The motorcycles are red, black and white and have "Honda" and "CRF450R" printed on both sides. The model year is printed on a label located at the front right top of the frame, near the steering head. Vehicle identification numbers (VIN) ending in 7FK400015 through 6FK403360, for the 2015 model, and 36GK500009 through 1GK502993, for the 2016 model, are included in this recall. The VIN is stamped on a nameplate located in the frame at the front right, near the steering head. They were sold at authorized Honda Powersports dealers nationwide from September 2014 through August 2017.</p>
<p>WHY: The transmission gear can break, posing crash and injury hazards.</p>
<p>INCIDENTS: None reported.</p>
<p>HOW MANY: About 5,700.</p>
<p>FOR MORE: Call American Honda at 866-784-1870 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit http://www.powersports.honda.com/ and click on "Recall Information" at the bottom of the page.</p>
<p>CHILDREN'S SLEEPWEAR</p>
<p>DETAILS: ASHERANGEL children's 100 percent cotton nightgowns and two-piece pajama sets sold on Amazon.com from December 2016 through July 2017. The short-sleeve nightgowns have white lace at the neckline and a ribbon bow. The nightgowns were sold in purple, pink and blue. The two-piece, long-sleeve shirt and pant pajama sets have a four button placket down the center front of the top and a pocket on the left chest. They were sold in solid pink, black with white polka dots, a pink gingham pattern and a blue gingham pattern. Both garments were sold in European sizes 110 cm (4-6 years), 120 cm (6-8 years), 130 cm (7-10 years), 140 cm (9-11 years) and 150 cm (11-13 years). The European size in inches is printed on a tag on the inside of the garment at the back of the neck. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled sleepwear, take them away from children and contact ASHERANGEL for a full refund. The firm is contacting all known purchasers directly.</p>
<p>WHY: The children's nightgowns and pajama sets fail to meet flammability standards for children's sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children.</p>
<p>INCIDENTS: None reported.</p>
<p>HOW MANY: About 950.</p>
<p>FOR MORE: Send email to ASHERANGEL at [email protected].</p>
<p>TODDLER SWEATERS</p>
<p>DETAILS: L.L. Bean toddler sweater fleece pullovers sold in sizes 2T, 3T and 4T. The pullovers have blue trim and were sold in three colors; deep garnet (red), heather gray and light lilac. They have four snaps, two pockets and the L.L. Bean logo tag on the front. Item number 300206 and lot 02/17 are printed on woven tags in attached to the neckline of the pullovers. They were sold at L.L. Bean stores nationwide, L.L. Bean catalog and online at www.llbean.com from April 2017 through August 2017.</p>
<p>WHY: The snaps on the fleece pullovers can detach, posing a choking hazard.</p>
<p>INCIDENTS: None reported.</p>
<p>HOW MANY: About 2,000.</p>
<p>FOR MORE: Call L.L. Bean at 800-555-9717 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET daily or visit www.llbean.com and click on "Recall &amp; Safety Info" at the bottom of the page.</p>
<p>SKI AND SNOWBOARD HELMENTS</p>
<p>DETAILS: All 2016 and 2017 Smith Quantum ski and snowboard helmets. Smith Quantum is printed on a label inside the helmet along with the manufacturing dates. They were sold at specialty ski and snowboard shops and by major retailers such as REI, online at Backcountry.com, Smithoptics.com, and other online retailers, from October 2016 through July 2017.</p>
<p>WHY: The buckle on the helmet can disengage, posing a risk of head injury.</p>
<p>INCIDENTS: None reported.</p>
<p>HOW MANY: About 7,000 in the U.S. and about 1,000 sold in Canada.</p>
<p>FOR MORE: Smith toll-free at 833-459-0417 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, email at [email protected] or online at www.smithoptics.com and click on the "Quantum Recall" at the bottom of the page.</p>
<p>SLAP BRACELETS</p>
<p>DETAILS: The recalled "slap bracelets" were included with "DreamWorks Trolls: It's Hug Time!" children's storybooks. The bracelet consists of an inner, flexible metal band wrapped in a purple fabric covering with a pink fabric flower. The ISBN for the book is 978-0-7944-3840-1 and is printed on the back of the book. They were sold at book and other retail stores nationwide, book fairs and clubs, and online at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Walmart.com and other online retailers from September 2016 through August 2017.</p>
<p>WHY: The metal band can wear through the fabric covering of the slap bracelet, posing a laceration hazard.</p>
<p>INCIDENTS: Five reports of the metal bands wearing through the fabric covering of the bracelet resulting in cuts to hands or fingers.</p>
<p>HOW MANY: About 79,000 in the U.S. and about 7,000 in Canada.</p>
<p>FOR MORE: Call Studio Fun International at 800-489-3402 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit www.studiofun.com and click on "Product Recall" in the left column.</p> | Recalls this week: chest of drawers, slap bracelets | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2017/09/08/recalls-this-week-chest-drawers-slap-bracelets.html | 2017-09-08 | 0 |
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — The NYPD says it has suspended two officers after questions arose about how they responded to check on a woman who was later found dead.</p>
<p>The body of 22-year-old Tonie Wells was found at the base of a stairwell in her Crown Heights, Brooklyn apartment Wednesday. Police said she had bruising on her neck and other signs of trauma.</p>
<p>Her 2-year-old daughter was found in the home unharmed. Her husband is in police custody and is being questioned.</p>
<p>An autopsy will determine the cause of death.</p>
<p>The NYPD said the incident was under review. The suspended officers reported no sign of distress when they checked on the woman after the initial call at 8:40 a.m. Different officers found the body after another call was placed around 10 a.m.</p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — The NYPD says it has suspended two officers after questions arose about how they responded to check on a woman who was later found dead.</p>
<p>The body of 22-year-old Tonie Wells was found at the base of a stairwell in her Crown Heights, Brooklyn apartment Wednesday. Police said she had bruising on her neck and other signs of trauma.</p>
<p>Her 2-year-old daughter was found in the home unharmed. Her husband is in police custody and is being questioned.</p>
<p>An autopsy will determine the cause of death.</p>
<p>The NYPD said the incident was under review. The suspended officers reported no sign of distress when they checked on the woman after the initial call at 8:40 a.m. Different officers found the body after another call was placed around 10 a.m.</p> | 2 NYC police officers suspended amid questions over response | false | https://apnews.com/09c508de87484549a436c9bd0a7c374d | 2017-12-28 | 2 |
<p>Advances in medical technology, combined with the fact that people are living longer, means more of us pass away with some kind of surgical implant.</p>
<p>For some, it’s a steel pin, others a titanium hip. But what happens to them after death? For almost 15 years, a Dutch company called <a href="http://www.orthometals.com/" type="external">OrthoMetals</a> has been recycling the metals leftover from cremation, and giving the bulk of the proceeds to charity.</p>
<p>OrthoMetals’ recycling facility sits in a nondescript building in an industrial area on the outskirts of the Dutch city of Zwolle. Giant sorting machines twirl and clank as tiny bits of metal run through them. Co-founder Ruud Verberne points to a big plastic container full of knee implants.</p>
<p>“These are the knees that we have to separate,” Verberne yelled as the machinery whirred on. “We take it apart so that the right metal gets into the right recycling area."</p>
<p>OrthoMetals recycles the metal implants from bodies that have been cremated.</p>
<p>Verberne had a long career in aluminum recycling. But in 1987 he met Dr. Jan Gabriëls, an orthopedic surgeon. Gabriëls asked Verberne what happens to the metal implants after cremation. Verberne had no idea, but he started doing research.</p>
<p>“The metals either ended up in the scrapyard, or in the case of France, Belgium, the U.K., and partly in Holland, they were put in old graves on the crematory premises. So, they were burying all of it.”</p>
<p>But the metals, Verberne knew, had a lot of value.</p>
<p>A decade later, in 1997, Gabriëls and Verberne founded OrthoMetals, and took their idea to cremation facilities.</p>
<p>“We told them that we would collect the metals for free, sort them, and then sell them back to the market. We take care that it’s being recycled, and not reused.”</p>
<p>This is an important point. These metal parts do not end up back in other people. Instead, they are melted down and resold for industrial purposes, like in cars, planes or even wind turbines.</p>
<p>It turns out it’s a lot of scrap metal. Verberne says OrthoMetals recycles more than 250 tons a year from cremations.</p>
<p>“We deduct the costs we have for the collection, the sorting, the administrative costs, the fees, and the remainder is given back to the crematoria, and they spend it on charity.”</p>
<p>To be clear, OrthoMetals does make a profit. But it tries to give 70 to 75 percent of what it brings in back to the crematoria for charitable purposes.</p>
<p>Henry Keizer oversees a memorial fund named after the first Dutch person ever cremated, back in 1913. He said the fund has helped crematoria distribute thousands in OrthoMetals donations to everything from cancer research groups to school libraries in the Netherlands.</p>
<p>“I think the recycling of implants, and artificial joints, etc. is an excellent idea,” said Keizer. “Now we get to use them for good purposes, for funds for people that do social things that are extremely important.”</p>
<p>OrthoMetals is now working with crematoria in more than 15 countries, including the United States.</p>
<p>The Donohue Funeral Home in Upper Darby, Pa., has been in business since 1898. Michael Donohue, a fourth generation funeral director, said cremation is becoming more popular in the U.S. So much so, he said, that the funeral home decided to build its own facility a few years ago.</p>
<p>“Before we actually started to get up and operating, our biggest thing was — what are we going to do with the metal remains that are left at the end of the process?” he said.</p>
<p>He did a Google search and found OrthoMetals.</p>
<p>Donohue said the funeral home is up front with loved ones about the recycling program.</p>
<p>“We are honest with them, and tell them that whatever money is given to us goes to the local organizations, and they love knowing that something from their loved one is being used in a great capacity.”</p>
<p>Verberne said his kids are now working for the company, as are his business partner’s kids.</p>
<p>Verberne has no metal implants himself, but he said his partner’s wife, who was helping sort out bits of metal in the factory on this day, has two titanium hips.</p>
<p>“She was asked once, 'Isn’t it strange that you know that one day your hips will run through this conveyor belt?’"? Verberne said. “And she said, ‘No, it’s just a part of life. You’re going to die, and I know that reusing metals is a very good thing, because I have worked for years in this business, so it is no problem at all. And my mother’s hip was on there too!’”</p> | Dutch company turns cremation remains into global charity | false | https://pri.org/stories/2012-01-31/dutch-company-turns-cremation-remains-global-charity | 2012-01-31 | 3 |
<p />
<p>Today’s must-reads:</p>
<p>I post articles like these throughout the day on <a href="http://twitter.com/nickbaumann" type="external">twitter</a>. You can <a href="http://twitter.com/NickBaumann" type="external">follow me</a>, of course. David&#160;Corn, Mother Jones‘ DC bureau chief, <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcorndc" type="external">also tweets</a>. So do my colleagues <a href="http://twitter.com/danielschulman" type="external">Daniel Schulman</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/rachel_c_morris" type="external">Rachel Morris</a> and our editors-in-chief, <a href="http://twitter.com/ClaraJeffery" type="external">Clara Jeffery</a> and Monika <a href="http://twitter.com/MonikaBauerlein" type="external">Bauerlein</a>. Follow them, too! (The magazine’s main account is <a href="http://www.twitter.com/motherjones" type="external">@motherjones</a>.)</p>
<p /> | Need To Read: September 2, 2009 | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2009/09/need-read-september-2-2009/ | 2009-09-02 | 4 |
<p>There are unwritten rules to get by in the city. Any city.</p>
<p>In Boston, you have to step&#160;out into traffic before it will stop for you in a crosswalk. If you don't you'll never get across.</p>
<p>But there are certain rules, or instructions, that are written. For&#160;London subway riders, this rule is escalator etiquette on the Tube.</p>
<p>A local explained&#160;it&#160;to me this way: "It's hell, but we do it in a civilized way."</p>
<p>Call it "Tube Etiquette." The most important part is the escalator: You stand on the right and walk on the left. Should you veer from this ... you'll feel the cold&#160;wrath of London.</p>
<p>But no one seems to know where the practice came from:&#160;</p>
<p>“I have no idea,” says the Underground’s Peter McNaught. “I'm from Scotland. And I remember when I first moved down to London and I accidentally made the mistake of standing on the left. And you soon learn from commuters coming behind you that you're doing something wrong. And you just all learn to do that, that's the unspoken rule if you like.”</p>
<p>McNaught is now in charge of several main Tube lines for the London Underground. It's an important gig. Up to 4&#160;million people use the system each day. And it's one particular stop where he noticed a problem: Holborn Station. During morning rush hour, it turns into an underground traffic jam. And it's all due to three long escalators carrying people up to the surface.</p>
<p>“What you find is that the majority of customers do not want to walk up a very long escalator,” he says. “And they tend to congregate at the bottom to wait to stand on the right hand side.”</p>
<p>A line forms. Then a group. Then a wall of people backing&#160;up all the way to the platform. It’s a problem.</p>
<p>But a study at Greenwich University showed there is a possible solution: The congestion would ease if everyone stood on both sides of the escalator. But no one wants to stand on both sides.</p>
<p>Or so they say.</p>
<p>The London Underground did a trial run last year. It lasted just three weeks. But it got good results. It showed that standing on both sides moved 30 percent more people per hour. Rather than expand the system by, say, adding more escalators, it simply made the system more efficient.</p>
<p>Again, this only works for particular stations like Holborn, ones with very long escalators and a high number of people trying to use them.</p>
<p>London Underground made the decision to expand the trial&#160;based on its success. This time they're going to try it for six&#160;months, and of the three escalators going up, two will be standing only and one will be for walkers.</p>
<p>McNaught made a prediction on how it would go the first day.</p>
<p>”I think the first peak it'll be people getting used to it. It'll be quite difficult, initially. And I think by the end of the week we'll be cooking on gas."</p>
<p />
<p>Morning commuters fill four escalators at Holborn Station in London, UK.&#160;</p>
<p>Bradley Campbell/The World</p>
<p>On the morning of the second trial, a Tube attendant stood at the bottom of the escalators.</p>
<p>“Good morning ladies and gentlemen,” he says. “We're asking you to stand on both sides of the escalator please.”</p>
<p>The people he addresses walk like cattle, slowly plodding toward the escalators. I’m with the group and step onto the right side of the escalator and look down. There are four footprints painted onto each step, a marker to remind both sides to stay put.</p>
<p>We do. But I notice a woman standing on the left side looking uncomfortable.</p>
<p>“Is this weird to stand on both sides?" I ask.</p>
<p>“It's really weird,” she says. “It's not natural. It goes against the laws of London.”</p>
<p>“Do you feel awkward being on the left side and standing?”</p>
<p>“I feel so wrong here! It feels really weird.”</p>
<p>“Like you're breaking the law?”</p>
<p>“Yeah!”</p>
<p>“Well, we’re almost at the top.”</p>
<p>“Thank God.”</p>
<p>At the top of the escalator —&#160;you can see the early results. The lines to the stand-only escalators moved people consistently and calmly.</p>
<p>But the other escalator did not.</p>
<p>It was supposed to be a walk-only escalator. But people reverted to the old&#160;ways. Stand on the right. Walk on the left.</p>
<p>And just like it always does at Holborn, a static line formed at the bottom.</p> | Londoners feel really awkward about new rules for exiting the subway | false | https://pri.org/stories/2016-04-18/londoners-feel-really-awkward-about-new-rules-exiting-subway | 2016-04-18 | 3 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>Bill Maher “New Rules “provided a pragmatic insight into the NSA, Snowden, personal freedom debate. He starts with the Benjamin Franklin quote “They who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” which apparently was tweeted a couple times by Sarah Palin. Early on he joked that if Sarah Palin repeated a quote twice and placed it on Facebook, it is not a smart statement, “That cancels it out” he says.</p>
<p>Maher illustrated that Americans negotiate their freedoms throughout life all the time. It is the social contract the individual makes to make a society better for all. He quipped that inasmuch as the founding fathers were brilliant they were not fortune tellers. He said “When they wrote the 4th amendment they couldn’t foresee email and when they wrote the second amendment they couldn’t foresee Ted Nugent.”</p>
<p>Maher pragmatically understands that absolutism with regards to one’s freedom in a society where massive harm can be inflicted on large multitudes by a few, the tradeoff of some freedom within strict guidelines is required. He recognizes that while Snowden was likely the wrong messenger for the cause, Snowden opened up the debate and the conversation.</p>
<p>Below are select snippets from his New Rules monologue that makes the point succinctly.</p>
<p />
<p>“They who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” … What do you think you are doing when you stop your car at a red light, or pay taxes? I am not free to keep all my money. I have to give some of the money to the government so they can equip an army, pay the police. … This is called the social contract. No Ben Franklin in his time could afford to be absolutist about not trading any liberty for safety because in 1755 the worst weapon the enemy could bring against you was a canon or a musket. …</p>
<p>You wanna see one reason I am willing to negotiate away some of my freedom for security? … The MK54 is a portable nuclear bomb that weighs just 51 pounds and we’ve known how to make it since the 1950s which means other people can make one too. Do I want someone snooping into their email? YES. … But I also want there to be draconian penalties if they snoop for any other reason. Then I can live with my tradeoff. …</p>
<p>The good news is there are at least ten bills in the House and Senate right now that would modify or outright repeal the Patriot Act. We are at least now having that debate about our security tradeoffs. And for that, I gotta give credit to Mr. Ed Snowden. … Before he showed up with his nerd glasses and his stripper girlfriend, nobody was talking about the NSA. It was just another government agency nobody paid attention to. You know, like Congress.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /> LIKE My <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/EgbertoWilliescom/181893712536" type="external">Facebook Page</a> – Visit My Blog: <a href="http://www.EgbertoWillies.com" type="external">EgbertoWillies.com</a></p> | Bill Maher: Reason I Am Willing To Negotiate Some Freedom For Security (VIDEO) | true | http://egbertowillies.com/2013/07/26/bill-maher-reason-i-am-willing-to-negotiate-some-freedom-for-security-video/?fb_source%3Dpubv1 | 2013-07-26 | 4 |
<p>Four Republicans, including Scott Brown of Massachusetts, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/us/politics/13cong.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss" type="external">broke ranks</a> Monday to help Democrats move an extension of unemployment benefits forward. The Dow may be over <a href="http://www.google.com/finance?chdnp=1&amp;chdd=1&amp;chds=1&amp;chdv=1&amp;chvs=Linear&amp;chdeh=0&amp;chfdeh=0&amp;chdet=1271120114139&amp;chddm=1173&amp;chls=IntervalBasedLine&amp;q=INDEXDJX:.DJI&amp;ntsp=0" type="external">11,000</a> again, but real unemployment is hovering around <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t15.htm" type="external">17 percent</a>, close to an all-time high.</p>
<p>(Real unemployment refers to people who are unemployed or underemployed or who have given up looking for work.)</p>
<p>Sources: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/us/politics/13cong.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss" type="external">New York Times</a>, <a href="http://www.google.com/finance?chdnp=1&amp;chdd=1&amp;chds=1&amp;chdv=1&amp;chvs=Linear&amp;chdeh=0&amp;chfdeh=0&amp;chdet=1271120114139&amp;chddm=1173&amp;chls=IntervalBasedLine&amp;q=INDEXDJX:.DJI&amp;ntsp=0" type="external">Google Finance</a>, <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t15.htm" type="external">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a></p>
<p>New York Times:</p>
<p />
<p>The Senate on Monday agreed to consider a temporary extension of unemployment benefits after four Republicans joined Democrats in voting to debate the proposal, which has become the focus of an intensifying fight over deficit spending.</p>
<p>Despite objections from conservative Republicans, the Senate voted 60 to 34 to move ahead with a measure that would keep checks flowing to jobless Americans who are exhausting their benefits and maintain federal subsidies for health insurance for the unemployed. The measure must clear other procedural hurdles, but Democrats hope to win its approval this week.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/us/politics/13cong.html?partner=rss&amp;emc=rss" type="external">Read more</a></p> | Senate Standoff on Unemployment Inches Toward Resolution | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/senate-standoff-on-unemployment-inches-toward-resolution/ | 2010-04-13 | 4 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />While looking through a few articles today, I ventured down into the comments section of several of the ones I read. It’s typically something I avoid doing because often the stupidity that quickly takes over the comments section on most articles is maddening. If it’s not the “trolls” out there just trying to validate their existence by ticking people off, it’s the people who are so mentally disturbed it’s shocking that they’re not locked up in a mental hospital.</p>
<p>But while perusing through some of these comments sections, I couldn’t help but notice how many conservatives seem to honestly believe that the first case of Ebola found in the United States is somehow linked to President Obama. I read outlandish comments that suggested he brought him into Texas to “wipe out conservatives in the South,” or others who believed the government was lying about this individual flying over here from Africa to cover up the “fact” that he’s really an illegal Mexican immigrant.</p>
<p>It never ceases to amaze me how evil and powerful conservatives think President Obama is. Honestly, if you listen to these people, he belongs in the same category as Hitler and Stalin – only&#160;much&#160;more powerful.</p>
<p>There’s seemingly an endless list of conspiracy theories linked to the president. I think it’s clear, conservatives seem to believe that Obama is the most powerful human who’s ever lived.</p>
<p>In fact, I decided I’d list 10 conspiracies theories to prove my point.</p>
<p>1)&#160;He became president even though he’s not really an American: Somehow President Obama managed to forge&#160;two&#160;different forms of his birth certificate; a birth announcement from over 40 years ago; fool every government intelligence agency that could easily verify his citizenship;&#160;and&#160;get countless officials (both federal and in Hawaii) behind the scenes to go along with this ruse.</p>
<p>2) He rigs our monthly jobs reports to make himself look better: Yes, a man who has no connections to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics managed to infiltrate the process by which they calculate jobs numbers so that they would make the economy look better on his watch. And he’s done this for nearly six years without a single member of the BLS exposing his deceit.</p>
<p>3) He faked the death of Osama bin Laden: Not only did he fake his death, but he got al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden to go along with this hoax, considering Osama hasn’t been heard from since 2011 and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/06/us-binladen-qaeda-confirmation-idUSTRE74528A20110506" type="external">the terrorist group confirmed he had been killed by American forces</a>.</p>
<p>4) He’s going to confiscate our guns: Any day now it’s going to happen… just watch. Actually, the fact he&#160;hasn’t&#160;confiscated our guns, or passed any laws to control gun violence, is all part of his master plan to take our guns – during his third term as president…</p>
<p>5) He’s going to run for a third term as president: Considering that this would take a massive change to our Constitution, or an even bigger violation of it, this would prove just how powerful he truly is. I guess we’ll find out soon when he announces he’s seeking another term as president.</p>
<p>6) He’s working with the Muslim Brotherhood: And he’s managed to hide any and all ties, visits, communications and intelligence swaps with the group from every single intelligence agency we have. Oh, I know how he’s done that. He’s managed to seize complete control over every intelligence gathering agency we have to ensure that his dastardly ties to the Muslim Brotherhood will never be found out. Makes sense now.</p>
<p>7) He faked the 8 million Obamacare sign ups: But he didn’t just fake these millions of sign ups. He then <a href="" type="internal">conspired to make 7.2 million Americans actually pay for these health care policies</a>.</p>
<p>8) He’s responsible for millions of jobs being lost: But not only that, he managed to cause the economic crash that was responsible for those millions of lost jobs nearly a full year before he was even elected.</p>
<p>9) He’s covered up the truth about Benghazi: Though he didn’t just cover up the truth about Benghazi, he also got the&#160;Republican-led House Intelligence Committee <a href="" type="external">to help cover up his lies</a> by officially finding in their investigation that there was no conspiracy to cover up what happened that night.</p>
<p>10) Is soft on illegal immigration and&#160; <a href="" type="internal">encouraging illegal immigrants to come here</a> so they’ll vote for Democrats: This one is good. Somehow he’s managed to be historically “soft” on illegal immigration, while currently being on a pace <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/10/american-principles-action/has-barack-obama-deported-more-people-any-other-pr/" type="external">to deport more illegal immigrants</a> than any president in history. He also apparently forced George W. Bush <a href="" type="internal">to sign the 2008 law</a> that determines how we must treat immigrants from non-contiguous countries. And I’m absolutely certain he’s the one who <a href="" type="internal">caused more illegal immigrants to come</a> here in the 80’s during Reagan’s administration than during his own.</p>
<p>And honestly, these 10 only scratch the surface. There are so many others that it’s really impossible to keep up with. From the IRS, to climate change to his falsifying school records while in college. There’s seemingly no end to the list of outrageous conspiracies conservatives have come up with as it relates to President Obama.</p>
<p>Which leads to only one conclusion: Republicans think President Obama is the most powerful human who’s ever lived.</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">Satire Has Become Reality: Rush Limbaugh Attacks Pope Francis for Acting Like a Christian</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">John Oliver Hilariously Crushes the Stupidity of Conspiracy Theorists (Video)</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Ted Cruz Asks Followers If They're Better Off After ACA, Gets The Shock Of A Lifetime</a></p>
<p>0 Facebook comments</p> | 10 Conspiracy Theories That Prove Republicans Think Obama is the Most Powerful Human Who’s Ever Lived | true | http://forwardprogressives.com/10-conspiracies-prove-republicans-think-obama-powerful-human-whos-ever-lived/ | 2014-10-02 | 4 |
<p />
<p />
<p>More than 240,000 people are being evacuated in eastern Indonesia as a volcano near Bali's Mount Agung threatens to erupt at any moment. Officials raised the warning level to four which is maximum on Friday night, that means an eruption is imminent. This will be the first time in 54 years the volcano has erupted and smoke can seen pouring from it's tip. The prediction is that the volcano will erupt anytime between now and the next 24 hours through Saturday morning.</p>
<p />
<p>Credit: AP</p>
<p>The local people reported that the wildlife including snakes and lizards can be seen fleeing from the volcano. The people have been warned to evacuate from within a nine to twelve kilometer radius when smoke was detected billowing 100 meters into the sky Friday night.</p>
<p />
<p>Credit: AP</p>
<p>Travel is still available to Bali as the airport is still operating however a series of increasing tremors has shaken the area around Mount Agung. Between 7:43 a.m. and 9:43 a.m. local time there were three earthquakes. The most recent was measured at 3.4 magnitude.</p>
<p />
<p>Credit: AP</p>
<p>The volcano did prompt the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs to issue a travel warning for Indonesia that said the eruption would likely impact the airlines in that region. The warning told travelers to "Contact your airline or tour operator to confirm travel plans." The statement also told travelers to listen to the local media and follow the instructions given by the local authorities.</p>
<p />
<p>Credit: AP</p>
<p>Meteorologists are keeping a close eye on conditions and a spokeswoman from Qantas said the airline would make any necessary changes if the situation requires it. The spokeswoman went on to say, "We are closely monitoring the activity of Mount Agung, but there is no impact to our services at this stage."</p>
<p />
<p>Credit: AP</p>
<p>Between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time Friday, around 500 tremors were recorded in the region of Mount Agung with the largest measured at 3.6-magnitude. The earthquakes are still increasing in frequency and intensity with a 3.7-magnitude hitting at 5 a.m. Saturday morning. The Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation said the tremors are the greater than any they've measured before, "This number of seismicity is an unprecedented seismic observation at Agung volcano ever recorded by our seismic networks."</p>
<p />
<p>Credit: AP</p>
<p>Kadek Nadi evacuated his family of 22 two days ago from their village in Bukit Galah which is only around 4km from the summit of the volcano. Kadek remembers his grandfather telling him about surviving the 1963 eruption, "They evacuated two days before Mount Agung erupted the last time." Kadek's grandfather told him he survived because they evacuated with the animals, "Monkeys, birds, snakes and deers, all fled the mountain [in 1963]. My grandfather's family evacuated when they saw the animals flee. That's how they survived then."</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Ni Ketut Arnawi lives in Singaraja which is around 80km from Mount Agung, she describes the morning of the 1963 eruption, "We didn't feel anything, no earthquake, we didn't hear anything either. But that morning, it was just dark, then people start shouting 'It's raining sand'." Arnawi later found out the volcano had erupted that day, "It stayed dark the whole day. We didn't see the sun at all that day." She went on to say, "But other than the darkness and the raining sand, our activity was normal. Maybe because we were far away."</p>
<p>On Twitter:</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/ErvinProduction" type="external">@ErvinProduction</a></p>
<p>Tips? Info? Send me a message!</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/world/bali-volcano-australians-warned-to-check-travel-plans-as-240000-residents-evacuate-20170922-gynb00.html" type="external">smh.com.au/world/bali-volcano-australians-warned-to-check-travel-plans-as-240000-residents-evacuate-20170922-gynb00.html</a></p> | Hundreds Of Thousands Flee Imminent Volcano Eruption In Indonesia | true | http://thegoldwater.com/news/8516-Hundreds-Of-Thousands-Flee-Imminent-Volcano-Eruption-In-Indonesia | 2017-09-23 | 0 |
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police were trying to learn Saturday what motivated a partner in a law firm to shoot two of his colleagues before turning the gun on himself.</p>
<p>Officers arrived at an office building in Long Beach on Friday to find the gunman and one victim dead and learned that the second victim had gone to a hospital, according to investigators.</p>
<p>The shooter was identified Saturday as John Mendoza, 58, of Redondo Beach. He shot the two men before killing himself, police said.</p>
<p>Major Langer, 75, of Rolling Hills, was shot in the upper body and died at the scene.</p>
<p>A friend told the Long Beach <a href="https://www.presstelegram.com/2017/12/29/long-beach-police-respond-to-active-shooting-in-bixby-knolls/" type="external">Press-Telegram</a> that the wounded man was another partner in the firm, Ronald Beck, who was driven to the hospital by his son. The 68-year-old injured man was shot in the torso and lower body, police said. He remained hospitalized in stable condition and was expected to survive.</p>
<p>"Several employees were in the office at the time of the shooting, however, no other injuries were reported," according to the police statement. "A motive for the shooting remains under investigation."</p>
<p>A gun was recovered from the scene.</p>
<p>Basieleus Zeno, who videotaped employees running from the building, told <a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/12/29/possible-victims-of-long-beach-law-firm-shooting-identified/" type="external">KCBS-TV</a> that he heard screams but thought they were from employees enjoying a holiday party at the office.</p>
<p>But it became clear that the half-dozen workers streaming from the law office, which is located in the well-to-do neighborhood of Bixby Knolls, were fleeing.</p>
<p>"The woman was saying 'They're shooting inside. They're shooting inside," Zeno said.</p>
<p>Beck ran day-to-day operations at the law firm of Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison. He also was managing partner of the Larry H. Parker law firm that worked with Perona and Langer. Beck and Parker have appeared in well-known Southern California television commercials for Parker's firm that conclude with Parker promising: "We'll fight for you!"</p>
<p>Langer was senior managing partner of both firms.</p>
<p>"This guy was the most caring, sincere man I probably ever met," longtime friend Jim Hall told the Press-Telegram. "He just had a heart of gold and really cared for everybody who works at the firm and considers them members of his family. He certainly didn't deserve this."</p>
<p>According to the Perona, Langer firm's website, Mendoza was a workers' compensation attorney who had worked thousands of industrial injury cases over the past 20 years and had been a frequent guest on local television and radio stations.</p>
<p>The office is about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles in Long Beach, a city of about 460,000 people.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Robert Jablon and Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Andrew Dalton on Twitter at twitter.com/andyjamesdalton.</p>
<p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police were trying to learn Saturday what motivated a partner in a law firm to shoot two of his colleagues before turning the gun on himself.</p>
<p>Officers arrived at an office building in Long Beach on Friday to find the gunman and one victim dead and learned that the second victim had gone to a hospital, according to investigators.</p>
<p>The shooter was identified Saturday as John Mendoza, 58, of Redondo Beach. He shot the two men before killing himself, police said.</p>
<p>Major Langer, 75, of Rolling Hills, was shot in the upper body and died at the scene.</p>
<p>A friend told the Long Beach <a href="https://www.presstelegram.com/2017/12/29/long-beach-police-respond-to-active-shooting-in-bixby-knolls/" type="external">Press-Telegram</a> that the wounded man was another partner in the firm, Ronald Beck, who was driven to the hospital by his son. The 68-year-old injured man was shot in the torso and lower body, police said. He remained hospitalized in stable condition and was expected to survive.</p>
<p>"Several employees were in the office at the time of the shooting, however, no other injuries were reported," according to the police statement. "A motive for the shooting remains under investigation."</p>
<p>A gun was recovered from the scene.</p>
<p>Basieleus Zeno, who videotaped employees running from the building, told <a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/12/29/possible-victims-of-long-beach-law-firm-shooting-identified/" type="external">KCBS-TV</a> that he heard screams but thought they were from employees enjoying a holiday party at the office.</p>
<p>But it became clear that the half-dozen workers streaming from the law office, which is located in the well-to-do neighborhood of Bixby Knolls, were fleeing.</p>
<p>"The woman was saying 'They're shooting inside. They're shooting inside," Zeno said.</p>
<p>Beck ran day-to-day operations at the law firm of Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin, Mendoza and Harrison. He also was managing partner of the Larry H. Parker law firm that worked with Perona and Langer. Beck and Parker have appeared in well-known Southern California television commercials for Parker's firm that conclude with Parker promising: "We'll fight for you!"</p>
<p>Langer was senior managing partner of both firms.</p>
<p>"This guy was the most caring, sincere man I probably ever met," longtime friend Jim Hall told the Press-Telegram. "He just had a heart of gold and really cared for everybody who works at the firm and considers them members of his family. He certainly didn't deserve this."</p>
<p>According to the Perona, Langer firm's website, Mendoza was a workers' compensation attorney who had worked thousands of industrial injury cases over the past 20 years and had been a frequent guest on local television and radio stations.</p>
<p>The office is about 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles in Long Beach, a city of about 460,000 people.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writers Robert Jablon and Michael Balsamo contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Andrew Dalton on Twitter at twitter.com/andyjamesdalton.</p> | Victim, gunman in California law firm shooting were partners | false | https://apnews.com/amp/8dfbc4439acf4351b100f950324c6b46 | 2017-12-30 | 2 |
<p>SEATTLE (AP) — A Washington state House committee on Tuesday approved a measure that would require fuel producers and importers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with gasoline and other transportation fuels.</p>
<p>Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, a Seattle Democrat who sponsored House Bill 2338, said it’s an opportunity to reduce air pollution, spur clean fuel technologies and carbon emissions from the transportation sector, which accounts for the largest share of the state’s total greenhouse gas emissions.</p>
<p>The House environment committee passed the measure 5-4 along party lines. The bill now heads to a fiscal committee.</p>
<p>The bill would override so-called “poison pill” language that Republicans inserted into the $16.1 billion transportation package in 2015.</p>
<p>That provision said money for bike paths and transit would be transferred to other transportation projects if any state agency adopts a low carbon fuel standard before 2023. Gov. Jay Inslee had opposed that language but eventually agreed to it and approved the transportation package.</p>
<p>HB 2338 directs the Department of Ecology to adopt a clean fuels program similar to ones in California and Oregon. It would require fuel producers to reduce the carbon emissions associated with their products 10 percent below 2017 levels by 2028. The program would begin in 2020.</p>
<p>The carbon intensity of certain transportation fuel types would be calculated over its entire life cycle, from when it’s produced and transported to when it’s used in a vehicle. Fuels used by aircraft, vessels and railroad locomotives would be exempt.</p>
<p>At a bill hearing in Olympia earlier this month, groups such as Carbon Washington and Climate Solutions and renewable energy producers testified in support of the program. They noted that the program has been working in other states.</p>
<p>Vlad Gutman-Britten with Climate Solutions said the policy will help the state transition to cleaner fuels.</p>
<p>Those opposed worried it would raise gasoline prices and said there isn’t the technological innovation yet or adequate supply of low-carbon fuels to meet those targets.</p>
<p>Frank Riordan, president of Becker Trucking who also spoke on behalf of the Washington Trucking Association, said state-based truckers would be at a disadvantage. He said any mandate should be done at a federal level for an even playing field.</p>
<p>Greg Hanon, a lobbyist with Western States Petroleum Association, urged the House environment committee to evaluate the potential costs to consumers and the uncertainty over whether fuel blends exists to supply the market and to determine how much it would cost the state to implement the program.</p>
<p>SEATTLE (AP) — A Washington state House committee on Tuesday approved a measure that would require fuel producers and importers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with gasoline and other transportation fuels.</p>
<p>Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, a Seattle Democrat who sponsored House Bill 2338, said it’s an opportunity to reduce air pollution, spur clean fuel technologies and carbon emissions from the transportation sector, which accounts for the largest share of the state’s total greenhouse gas emissions.</p>
<p>The House environment committee passed the measure 5-4 along party lines. The bill now heads to a fiscal committee.</p>
<p>The bill would override so-called “poison pill” language that Republicans inserted into the $16.1 billion transportation package in 2015.</p>
<p>That provision said money for bike paths and transit would be transferred to other transportation projects if any state agency adopts a low carbon fuel standard before 2023. Gov. Jay Inslee had opposed that language but eventually agreed to it and approved the transportation package.</p>
<p>HB 2338 directs the Department of Ecology to adopt a clean fuels program similar to ones in California and Oregon. It would require fuel producers to reduce the carbon emissions associated with their products 10 percent below 2017 levels by 2028. The program would begin in 2020.</p>
<p>The carbon intensity of certain transportation fuel types would be calculated over its entire life cycle, from when it’s produced and transported to when it’s used in a vehicle. Fuels used by aircraft, vessels and railroad locomotives would be exempt.</p>
<p>At a bill hearing in Olympia earlier this month, groups such as Carbon Washington and Climate Solutions and renewable energy producers testified in support of the program. They noted that the program has been working in other states.</p>
<p>Vlad Gutman-Britten with Climate Solutions said the policy will help the state transition to cleaner fuels.</p>
<p>Those opposed worried it would raise gasoline prices and said there isn’t the technological innovation yet or adequate supply of low-carbon fuels to meet those targets.</p>
<p>Frank Riordan, president of Becker Trucking who also spoke on behalf of the Washington Trucking Association, said state-based truckers would be at a disadvantage. He said any mandate should be done at a federal level for an even playing field.</p>
<p>Greg Hanon, a lobbyist with Western States Petroleum Association, urged the House environment committee to evaluate the potential costs to consumers and the uncertainty over whether fuel blends exists to supply the market and to determine how much it would cost the state to implement the program.</p> | Washington state panel OKs low carbon fuels standard | false | https://apnews.com/4aeb4c2236ef4d158add78afd2e94ccd | 2018-01-24 | 2 |
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<p>Cynthia Borrego</p>
<p>The decision to accept the complaints and hold evidentiary hearings in the cases isn’t a finding that the individuals or the committee violated city rules, but merely a determination that there may have been violations if the allegations in the complaints are proved.</p>
<p>City Councilor Don Harris</p>
<p>Borrego, who is running against Robert Aragon in the District 5 council runoff, is accused of accepting cash contributions and reporting them as in-kind contributions for signs and other election materials. Borrego is a publicly financed candidate and cannot take cash contributions, argued Colin Hunter, an attorney for West Side resident Felix Nuñez, who filed the complaint.</p>
<p>But Greg Payne, Borrego’s attorney, said no money changed hands between donors and his client. He said donors purchased campaign materials themselves, which he said is exactly what is envisioned by city rules.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Borrego’s campaign issued a news release that accused the board of being partisan and of moving a frivolous complaint forward.</p>
<p>“Our campaign followed the law and the direction given to us by the city clerk,” the release says. “We did not violate the rules.”</p>
<p>The ethics complaint against Harris was filed by Byron Powdrell, one of Harris’ opponents in the Oct. 3 election. Harris prevailed in that race.</p>
<p>But during the campaign, Harris created a website alleging past criminal behavior by Powdrell. The website contained links to dozens of police reports, criminal complaints and restraining orders stemming from alleged incidents of domestic violence in the late 1980s and early 1990s.</p>
<p>During the hearing, Powdrell told the board that Harris’ actions had brought violence to his home, resulting in broken windows and threatening phone calls. He alleged that his credit has been affected because Harris posted his personal information on the website. Powdrell also said Harris failed to declare the cost of the private investigator hired to dig into his past.</p>
<p>Attorney Doug Antoon, who represented Harris, said Powdrell’s complaint is insufficient to move forward because it doesn’t state a violation for which relief could be granted. He said that what is being alleged is beyond the board’s purview, and he asked the board to dismiss the complaint.</p>
<p>In response to questions from the board, Antoon said Harris’ law firm hired a private investigator to do research on Powdrell and then donated that work product to the campaign as an in-kind contribution. Harris ran a publicly financed campaign.</p>
<p>The two complaints against Make Albuquerque Safe – the political action committee that ran attack ads against Keller – were filed by Neri Holguin, chairwoman of ABQ Forward Together, the political action committee backing Keller.</p>
<p>One of Holguin’s complaints alleges that Make Albuquerque Safe failed to disclose contributions from Western Albuquerque Land Holdings, the owner of the Santolina development, and another donor in a timely manner. Her second complaint alleges that the committee broke the rules by failing to include the name and address of the establishment that created the television and radio spots attacking Keller.</p>
<p>The board majority voted to hold one evidentiary hearing on both matters.</p>
<p />
<p /> | Inquiry targets City Council races, anti-Keller attack ads | false | https://abqjournal.com/1083045/city-ethics-board-moves-forward-on-several-complaints.html | 2017-10-25 | 2 |
<p>On Thursday morning, an <a href="http://video.corriere.it/schettino-commosso-giglio-qui-onorare-morti/47a827a6-9f81-11e3-b156-8d7b053a3bcc" type="external">emotional and defiant</a> Francesco Schettino, the erstwhile captain of the Costa Concordia, finally got back on board the ill-fated cruise liner he crashed into the rocks of Giglio island on Friday the 13th of January, 2012. It was the first time since the accident that Schettino has been to Giglio to see the Concordia , which was parbuckled to an upright position in an <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2013/01/13/risky-rescue-a-year-after-it-sank-raising-the-costa-concordia.html" type="external">extraordinary maritime salvage operation last September</a>. “I’m here to help establish the truth,” he said before getting onboard. “I’m showing my face to honor the survivors and victims.”</p>
<p>Thirty-two people died during a chaotic evacuation more than an hour after the Concordia scraped the rocky shores of Giglio about three hours after the ship left Civitavecchia port on the Italian mainland. Schettino ordered a maritime salute or ‘fly-by’ of the island in an apparent attempt to impress a retired ship captain who lived on Giglio (but who wasn’t there that fatal night) and to show off to a Moldavian dancer who was his guest on the cruise. But the ship skimmed too close to the shore, lodging an 80 tonne boulder into its hull after hitting a shallow outcropping that was clearly marked on the maps. Last year the dancer, who was a witness in Schettino’s trial, admitted in court that she was in an amorous relationship with the Concordia captain, and that she was on the bridge with him when the disaster occurred. Schettino ensured the woman’s safe evacuation and then left the ship before hundreds of stranded passengers could get off the stricken vessel, claiming he “fell” into a lifeboat in the chaotic evacuation and that he could not get back onboard because the ship was slanted. He was seen by several passengers at the Bahamas hotel in Giglio port looking for dry socks.</p>
<p>In a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZSweqs3Aos" type="external">now-famous taped exchange</a> between Schettino and Giorgio De Falco, the port authority on duty in Livorno the night of the accident, it is clear that Schettino willingly refused to return to the capsized ship. When De Falco asked him why he left his post on the ship’s bridge from which he should have been directing the evacuation, Schettino’s voice quivered and he replied, “Commander, at this moment the ship is tilting.” De Falco then said, “I understand, but listen. There are people coming down the stem ladder. You must take the ladder in the opposite direction. Get on board the ship and you tell me how many people are on board. What do they have? Is that clear? You tell me if there are children, women, people with special needs. And you tell me how many there are. Look, Schettino, you might have been saved from the sea, but I will make your life difficult.” He then said, “Vada a bordo cazzo” which loosely translates to “ <a href="http://www.zazzle.co.uk/vada+a+bordo+cazzo+tshirts" type="external">Get on board, for f**k’s sake</a>.” The phrase has gone viral in Italy complete with t-shirts and bumper stickers with “Vada a bordo cazzo!”</p>
<p>This time, Schettino asked to get back on board and was allowed to climb onto the sunken Concordia via a makeshift scaffolding ladder as part of his ongoing criminal trial for manslaughter, abandoning ship and causing a maritime disaster. He was not allowed to comment or ask questions. He was there because he is a defendant in the case, not as an expert, the judge who approved Schettino’s participation in the visit told journalists. He joined his legal team, a three-judge panel and a slew of maritime experts who boarded the ship to examine the emergency generators and elevators, which Schettino’s team contends contributed to the gravity of the accident. Schettino says that emergency generators could have given the ship enough power to navigate the ship after it crashed. He also maintains that the failure of watertight doors led to the flooding of the engine compartments, ultimately causing the ship to capsize.</p>
<p>Schettino maintains that he is not solely responsible for the crash and has pointed to the fact that <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/20/world/europe/italy-costa-concordia-trial/" type="external">five Costa employees</a>, including officers on the ship and the emergency coordinator at the Costa headquarters in Genoa with whom Schettino spoke more than a dozen times between the crash and the call to abandon the ship, have already pled guilty to manslaughter as part of plea bargains in which they will testify against the captain. After he disembarked the sunken ship, Schettino told reporters that he accepts responsibility for his role in the disaster. "We can't say that nothing happened but we have to understand what really happened and every one has to assume responsibility for their actions."</p>
<p>He also claims he is a hero, not a villain, because only 32 of the 4,229 passengers and crew perished in the disaster. After the Concordia hit the rocks and lost power after the engine rooms flooded, the ship drifted out to sea before miraculously turning 180 degrees and heading back towards the island where it got caught on an underwater cliff and finally capsized. Schettino contends that his keen navigational skills helped save lives after the accident occurred—never mind that the ship had no steering power—and that the ship’s mechanical failures were what led to the deaths of the 32 passengers.</p>
<p>Schettino’s return to Giglio to board the ship is the first time he has been back since the crash. Residents of Giglio did not welcome him back. Some hung signs from their windows. One restaurant refused to serve him. His lawyer Domenico Pepe said the former captain’s life has been destroyed. "It's a difficult moment, but Schettino is a decent person who is struggling to prove the truth,”Pepe told reporters on Giglio harbor. “He has nothing left: the authorities have seized the only property he had. He was fired, so he has no salary. His wife does not work, and he has to support his child. His life is destroyed, and we are like David against Goliath.”</p>
<p>The captain’s case has been bolstered by the fact that two engineers working for the Costa company as consultants in the massive salvage operation have been put under criminal investigation for “breaking the seal of a crime scene” prior to the last judicial onboard visit and allegedly tampering with data to help bolster the case against Schettino. Franco Porcellacchia and Camillo Casella allegedly entered the bridge of the Costa Concordia prior to the last judicial visit in January without express permission from the court. No one—not even the head of the salvage operation—can board the ship without permission from the court because of ongoing trial. The salvage crews have conducted all of their work to upright and eventually refloat the ship on the extrenal portions of the vessel. “The idea that the breaking of the seals has been an episodic oversight or a superficial error is highly unlikely," wrote the investigating judge who is investigating whether the Costa experts are guilty of evidence tampering. A preliminary hearing will be held in Grosseto in late spring in the separate case.</p>
<p>Schettino is expected to testify in his trial sometime this spring, and a verdict is expected before the end of the year. He faces more than 20 years in prison. Meanwhile on Giglio, the Concordia will be refloated in late June—weather and legal sagas permitting—and eventually towed to a yet-unnamed port for dismantling.</p> | Captain Schettino Returns to Costa Concordia Crime Scene | true | https://thedailybeast.com/captain-schettino-returns-to-costa-concordia-crime-scene | 2018-10-03 | 4 |
<p>A journalist at The Times (of London) <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2268585_1,00.html" type="external">sums it up</a>: “West Baghdad is no stranger to bombings and killings, but in the past few days all restraint has vanished in an orgy of ethnic cleansing.”</p>
<p>The Times (U.K.):</p>
<p>As I hung up the phone, I wondered if I would ever see my friend Ali alive again. Ali, The Times translator for the past three years, lives in west Baghdad, an area that is now in meltdown as a bitter civil war rages between Sunni insurgents and Shia militias. It is, quite simply, out of control.</p>
<p>I returned to Baghdad on Monday after a break of several months, during which I too was guilty of glazing over every time I read another story of Iraqi violence. But two nights on the telephone, listening to my lost and frightened Iraqi staff facing death at any moment, persuaded me that Baghdad is now verging on total collapse.</p>
<p />
<p>Ali phoned me on Tuesday night, about 10.30pm. There were cars full of gunmen prowling his mixed neighbourhood, he said. He and his neighbours were frantically exchanging information, trying to identify the gunmen.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2268585_1,00.html" type="external">Link</a></p> | UK Reporter: Baghdad 'Verging on Total Collapse' | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/uk-reporter-baghdad-verging-on-total-collapse/ | 2006-07-18 | 4 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />While looking through a few articles today, I ventured down into the comments section of several of the ones I read. It’s typically something I avoid doing because often the stupidity that quickly takes over the comments section on most articles is maddening. If it’s not the “trolls” out there just trying to validate their existence by ticking people off, it’s the people who are so mentally disturbed it’s shocking that they’re not locked up in a mental hospital.</p>
<p>But while perusing through some of these comments sections, I couldn’t help but notice how many conservatives seem to honestly believe that the first case of Ebola found in the United States is somehow linked to President Obama. I read outlandish comments that suggested he brought him into Texas to “wipe out conservatives in the South,” or others who believed the government was lying about this individual flying over here from Africa to cover up the “fact” that he’s really an illegal Mexican immigrant.</p>
<p>It never ceases to amaze me how evil and powerful conservatives think President Obama is. Honestly, if you listen to these people, he belongs in the same category as Hitler and Stalin – only&#160;much&#160;more powerful.</p>
<p>There’s seemingly an endless list of conspiracy theories linked to the president. I think it’s clear, conservatives seem to believe that Obama is the most powerful human who’s ever lived.</p>
<p>In fact, I decided I’d list 10 conspiracies theories to prove my point.</p>
<p>1)&#160;He became president even though he’s not really an American: Somehow President Obama managed to forge&#160;two&#160;different forms of his birth certificate; a birth announcement from over 40 years ago; fool every government intelligence agency that could easily verify his citizenship;&#160;and&#160;get countless officials (both federal and in Hawaii) behind the scenes to go along with this ruse.</p>
<p>2) He rigs our monthly jobs reports to make himself look better: Yes, a man who has no connections to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics managed to infiltrate the process by which they calculate jobs numbers so that they would make the economy look better on his watch. And he’s done this for nearly six years without a single member of the BLS exposing his deceit.</p>
<p>3) He faked the death of Osama bin Laden: Not only did he fake his death, but he got al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden to go along with this hoax, considering Osama hasn’t been heard from since 2011 and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/06/us-binladen-qaeda-confirmation-idUSTRE74528A20110506" type="external">the terrorist group confirmed he had been killed by American forces</a>.</p>
<p>4) He’s going to confiscate our guns: Any day now it’s going to happen… just watch. Actually, the fact he&#160;hasn’t&#160;confiscated our guns, or passed any laws to control gun violence, is all part of his master plan to take our guns – during his third term as president…</p>
<p>5) He’s going to run for a third term as president: Considering that this would take a massive change to our Constitution, or an even bigger violation of it, this would prove just how powerful he truly is. I guess we’ll find out soon when he announces he’s seeking another term as president.</p>
<p>6) He’s working with the Muslim Brotherhood: And he’s managed to hide any and all ties, visits, communications and intelligence swaps with the group from every single intelligence agency we have. Oh, I know how he’s done that. He’s managed to seize complete control over every intelligence gathering agency we have to ensure that his dastardly ties to the Muslim Brotherhood will never be found out. Makes sense now.</p>
<p>7) He faked the 8 million Obamacare sign ups: But he didn’t just fake these millions of sign ups. He then <a href="" type="internal">conspired to make 7.2 million Americans actually pay for these health care policies</a>.</p>
<p>8) He’s responsible for millions of jobs being lost: But not only that, he managed to cause the economic crash that was responsible for those millions of lost jobs nearly a full year before he was even elected.</p>
<p>9) He’s covered up the truth about Benghazi: Though he didn’t just cover up the truth about Benghazi, he also got the&#160;Republican-led House Intelligence Committee <a href="" type="external">to help cover up his lies</a> by officially finding in their investigation that there was no conspiracy to cover up what happened that night.</p>
<p>10) Is soft on illegal immigration and&#160; <a href="" type="internal">encouraging illegal immigrants to come here</a> so they’ll vote for Democrats: This one is good. Somehow he’s managed to be historically “soft” on illegal immigration, while currently being on a pace <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/10/american-principles-action/has-barack-obama-deported-more-people-any-other-pr/" type="external">to deport more illegal immigrants</a> than any president in history. He also apparently forced George W. Bush <a href="" type="internal">to sign the 2008 law</a> that determines how we must treat immigrants from non-contiguous countries. And I’m absolutely certain he’s the one who <a href="" type="internal">caused more illegal immigrants to come</a> here in the 80’s during Reagan’s administration than during his own.</p>
<p>And honestly, these 10 only scratch the surface. There are so many others that it’s really impossible to keep up with. From the IRS, to climate change to his falsifying school records while in college. There’s seemingly no end to the list of outrageous conspiracies conservatives have come up with as it relates to President Obama.</p>
<p>Which leads to only one conclusion: Republicans think President Obama is the most powerful human who’s ever lived.</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">Satire Has Become Reality: Rush Limbaugh Attacks Pope Francis for Acting Like a Christian</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">John Oliver Hilariously Crushes the Stupidity of Conspiracy Theorists (Video)</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Ted Cruz Asks Followers If They're Better Off After ACA, Gets The Shock Of A Lifetime</a></p>
<p>0 Facebook comments</p> | 10 Conspiracy Theories That Prove Republicans Think Obama is the Most Powerful Human Who’s Ever Lived | true | http://forwardprogressives.com/10-conspiracies-prove-republicans-think-obama-powerful-human-whos-ever-lived/ | 2014-10-02 | 4 |
<p>“Is this America?” the father of school-aged children asked as he was forcefully removed from a&#160;was forcefully removed from a Baltimore County School District meeting during the question-and-answer portion of the forum. <a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>The parent, Robert Small, concerned about the&#160;school district’s plan to use Common Core standards in its curriculum, dared to verbally question school board officials after being told they would only take written questions from the parents, the Baltimore Sun <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/blog/bs-md-co-common-core-arrest-20130920,0,7127220.story" type="external">reported</a> this week.</p>
<p>“However, Small began speaking out against the district’s use of Common Core, prompting a security guard, who was also a police officer, to approach him and order him to leave,” the Sun <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/blog/bs-md-co-common-core-arrest-20130920,0,7127220.story" type="external">reported</a>. “'Let’s go!' he said sternly.”</p>
<p>“When Small didn’t immediately comply, the officer began pulling his arm and pushing him towards the exit. Some audience members gasped at the cop’s use of force.</p>
<p>“'Don’t stand for this,' the father said as he was dragged out. 'You are sitting here like cattle! Is this America?'”</p>
<p>Elected officials are increasingly closing off the public, all across America. And this is evident on every level of government — even during the legislative committee process.</p>
<p>The California State Legislature requires the public be allowed to speak during the committee process when bills are being heard.</p>
<p>“When testifying before the committee, first state your name and the organization that you represent or indicate that you are a concerned citizen and state where you live,” the Senate rules say. “The members of the committee will be interested to hear what you have to say and usually do not grill individual citizens who testify in the same way that they do lobbyists. Keep your testimony short and to the point.”</p>
<p>But more and more, Democratic legislators in Sacramento deny citizens the right to speak. Instead they tell visitors to the Capitol to give their name and affiliation only, and do not allow testimony.</p>
<p>I frequently witness members of the public being denied the opportunity to speak at legislative committee hearings. Often people have traveled hundreds of miles just to address their Legislature and elected representatives. More and more they are denied the opportunity to even give a statement.</p>
<p>Several times during this most recent legislative session, committee chairmen/chairwomen lied about another committee needing the hearing room, and forced members of the public to only give their names instead of allowing even a short statement.</p>
<p>When members of the public are invited to speak before committees, testimony is often limited to two minutes, while the same committees allow favored special interest groups to ramble on, well beyond two minutes.</p>
<p>In <a href="" type="internal">August 2012</a>, I witnessed a particularly egregious violation on the Bagley-Keene Act when&#160;Sen. Pres pro Tem Darrell Steinberg cut off access to the Capitol cable television program which was recording an important Senate hearing&#160;about four of the November 2012 ballot initiatives.</p>
<p>The California Channel, the cable television channel that broadcasts all Senate and Assembly floor sessions, and most legislative committee hearings, was apparently interrupted on orders from Steinberg. Just before the hearing was scheduled to start, a Senate staffer ordered the hearing access to be cut off. I wrote about it: “ <a href="" type="internal">Steinberg offers weak apology over hearing blackout</a>.”</p>
<p>The California Channel, the Capitol’s cable access television, recently cut off access to their video archive prior to 2009. In most cases, this is the only video archive of very important legislative hearings. I've made several&#160;inquiries to the California Channel asking for access to older videos, but have never received a response.</p>
<p>In 1967, the California Legislature passed the <a href="http://ag.ca.gov/publications/bagleykeene2004_ada.pdf" type="external">Open Meeting Act</a>, called the <a href="http://ag.ca.gov/publications/bagleykeene2004_ada.pdf" type="external">Bagely-Keene Act,</a>&#160;which requires all “state” boards and commissions to publicly notice their meetings, prepare agendas, accept public testimony and conduct their meetings in public unless specifically authorized to meet in closed session.</p>
<p>The California Attorney General's office explains <a href="http://ag.ca.gov/publications/bagleykeene2004_ada.pdf" type="external">the Act</a>:</p>
<p>“When the Legislature enacted the Bagley-Keene Act, it imposed still another value judgment on the governmental process. In effect, the Legislature said that when a body sits down to develop its consensus, there needs to be a seat at the table reserved for the public. (§ 11120.) By reserving this place for the public, the Legislature has provided the public with the ability to monitor and participate in the decision-making process. If the body were permitted to meet in secret, the public’s role in the decision-making process would be negated.”</p>
<p>“Therefore, absent a specific reason to keep&#160;the public out of the meeting, the public should be allowed to monitor and participate in the decision- making process.”</p>
<p>The State of Maryland also has an <a href="http://www.oag.state.md.us/Opengov/Openmeetings/support.htm" type="external">Open Meeting Act</a>. But after being physically removed from the meeting by a cop, Mr. Small was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer, which carries a fine of $2,500 and up to 10 years in prison, and disturbing a school operation, which carries a fine of $2,500 and up to six months, the Baltimore Sun <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/blog/bs-md-co-common-core-arrest-20130920,0,7127220.story" type="external">reported</a>.</p>
<p>When the people are kept out of the legislative process, or prevented form participating in the school governing process, it is deliberate — especially under one-party rule, as is occurring in California under the Democratic supermajority.</p>
<p>Thomas Jefferson said,&#160;“When the people fear the government it is called tyranny. When the government fears the people there is liberty.”</p>
<p>And when the government has to listen to the people, there is liberty, freedom and a healthy Republic.</p>
<p>“Look, I am being manhandled and shut down because I asked inconvenient questions,” Small <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/education/blog/bs-md-co-common-core-arrest-20130920,0,7127220.story" type="external">said</a>. “Why won't they allow an open forum where there can be a debate? We are told to sit there and be lectured to about how great common core is.”</p> | New America: Parent tossed from public meeting for speaking | false | https://calwatchdog.com/2013/09/23/new-america-parent-tossed-from-public-meeting-for-speaking/ | 2018-09-20 | 3 |
<p>Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday he would ask the United States to extradite an Islamic cleric he accuses of plotting to topple him and undermine Turkey with concocted graft accusations and secret wire taps.</p>
<p>Fethullah Gulen has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1997, when secularist authorities raised accusations of Islamist activity against him. Erdogan accuses him of building a "parallel state" of followers in institutions such as the police and judiciary and using them to try to pull the levers of state power.</p>
<p>Gulen, a former ally, denies engineering a police graft investigation which has seen three cabinet ministers quit, but has denounced Erdogan over moves to shut down the inquiry by purging police and judiciary of his followers.</p>
<p>Asked by a reporter at parliament after a meeting of his ruling AK Party if a process would begin for Gulen's extradition, Erdogan said: "Yes, it will begin."</p>
<p>In an interview with PBS talk show host Charlie Rose broadcast late on Monday, Erdogan said Gulen could also pose a threat to US security by his activities.</p>
<p>"These elements which threaten the national security of Turkey cannot be allowed to exist in other countries because what they do to us here, they might do against their host," Erdogan told Rose in the interview, according to a transcript.</p>
<p>Erdogan has drawn accusations of increasing authoritarianism with his response to the graft investigation, which has included removing thousands of police officers and hundreds of judges and prosecutors, as well as imposing a two-week ban on Twitter and broadening the powers of the state intelligence service.</p>
<p>Human Rights Watch on Monday criticized a new law giving the national intelligence agency (MIT) more scope for eavesdropping, greater immunity from prosecution for top agents and jail terms for leaks of sensitive information, saying it gave the agency "carte blanche" and was open to abuse.</p>
<p>The government has said the law replaces outdated legislation and brings Turkey in line with international norms.</p>
<p>German President Joachim Gauck criticized Erdogan's leadership style during a trip to Turkey on Monday and warned against curbing freedom of expression.</p>
<p>"Presumably he still thinks he is a clergyman," Erdogan said of Gauck, a former Lutheran pastor, adding his comments showed a lack of statesmanship and that he was "saddened" by his attitude.</p>
<p>Extradition</p>
<p>Erdogan said Turkey had complied with more than 10 extradition requests from the United States and now expected the same response from its NATO ally. But it was not clear on what basis an extradition might be agreed.</p>
<p>Turkish authorities would first need to issue an arrest warrant for Gulen and produce evidence indicating he has committed a crime, according to the 1979 treaty signed between the two countries.</p>
<p>"If he was tried in Turkey and had been convicted, then you can send that court ruling. You can request extradition for the implementation (of that sentence)," said former European Court of Human Rights judge Riza Turmen, a deputy from the main opposition CHP party.</p>
<p>"But none of these are currently the case," he told Reuters.</p>
<p>The 1979 treaty also exempts all crimes of a "political character" unless they can be shown to have targeted either the head of state or head of government, or their families.</p>
<p>Erdogan said Turkey had canceled Gulen's passport and that he was in the United States as a legal resident on a green card.</p>
<p>The US embassy in Ankara had no immediate comment.</p>
<p>Gulen runs a network of businesses and schools, well-funded and secular in nature, across the world. The schools are a major source of influence and funding and have become the target of government efforts to have them shut down.</p>
<p>Erdogan accuses Gulen of contriving criminal allegations that his son and the children of three ministers were involved in a corruption scandal and took billions of dollars of bribes.</p>
<p>He has also accused Gulen's Hizmet (Service) movement of bugging thousands of phones and leaking audio recordings, including purportedly of his foreign minister and senior security officials discussing possible armed intervention in neighboring Syria, on the website YouTube.</p>
<p>Gulen has denied these accusations.</p>
<p>The recordings appeared ahead of a March 30 municipal election, but did little to affect Erdogan's popularity, with his AK Party dominating the electoral map.</p>
<p>(Additional reporting by Ayla Jean Yackley and Daren Butler in Istanbul, Jonny Hogg in Ankara; Editing by Nick Tattersall, Ralph Boulton and Sonya Hepinstall)</p> | Turkish prime minister calls on the US to extradite his rival Fethullah Gulen | false | https://pri.org/stories/2014-04-29/turkish-prime-minister-calls-us-extradite-his-rival-fethullah-gulen | 2014-04-29 | 3 |
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<p>The announcement came as the Reno City Council approved Apple's plans to build a $4 million shipping and receiving warehouse on a vacant lot in downtown Reno that will make it eligible for millions of dollars in tax breaks.</p>
<p>"We're excited to be increasing our contributions to the local economy with an additional $1 billion investment to expand our data center and supporting facilities," Apple spokesman John Rosenstock said in an email to The Associated Press. "As part of our growth, we plan to hire 100 employees and expect construction will support an additional 300 jobs."</p>
<p>Last week, Apple announced a new $1 billion fund aimed at creating more U.S. manufacturing jobs, but provided few details. As part of a strategy emphasizing its role in the U.S. economy, it also released a state-by-state breakdown of where its 80,000 U.S. employees work - more than half in California's Silicon Valley.</p>
<p>Apple currently has more than 700 workers in Nevada, which Rosentock said is home to the company's largest solar investment, "powering our data center with clean energy."</p>
<p>The 5-year-old $1 billion data center is located in the Reno Technology Center near the Tracy generating station along U.S. Interstate 80. It's between Reno and the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center where Tesla's giant battery factory is based about 15 miles (24 km) east of Reno-Sparks.</p>
<p>Apple was awarded $89 million in state property and sales tax abatements when it committed to the data center in 2012.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p>
<p>Gov. Brian Sandoval said it was "the first major economic development success in northern Nevada and helped place this region on the technology and innovation map."</p>
<p>"Apple's decision to increase their local investment by $1 billion is a testament to our successful partnership and a demonstration that the best companies in the world are coming to Nevada, creating hundreds of jobs, investing in our communities and making our state their permanent home," he said in a statement Wednesday.</p>
<p>The Reno Gazette-Journal reported City Councilwoman Jenny Brekhus voted against the downtown land deal Wednesday, calling for an end to unfair tax deals for "some powerful, well-connected corporations and not the rest of us."</p>
<p>Mayor Hillary Schieve and Councilman Paul McKenzie said the whole city will benefit from the developments.</p>
<p>"Apple doesn't just pay, they offer a living wage," McKenzie said.</p> | Apple plans $1 billion expansion at data center in Nevada | false | https://abqjournal.com/1001950/apple-plans-1-billion-expansion-at-data-center-in-nevada.html | 2 |
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<p>This post originally ran on <a href="http://www.juancole.com/2014/11/secdef-daeshisil-scorecard.html" type="external">Juan Cole's Web page</a>.</p>
<p>Mosul rose up in alliance with Daesh /ISIL against the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on June 9 of this year, sparking a crisis in Obama administration foreign policy. Obama had been open to keeping some troops in Iraq, but the Iraqi parliament did not want that, and Obama acquiesced in the legislature's decision. (Obama is criticized for giving in, but it is not clear how he could have kept troops in Iraq over the objections of the Iraqi parliament without exposing them to war crimes trials in Iraqi courts whenever anything went wrong on the battlefield.)</p>
<p>It is not clear how central Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel was to crafting a response. But he must have been intimately involved in aspects of it. I don't see anyone talking about how that response has gone. Here are what seem to me the major outcomes of the new Defense Department involvement in Iraq:</p>
<p />
<p>In mid-June, Daesh (what Arabs call ISIL or ISIS) made a move toward Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, and initially defeated lightly armed Peshmerga national guard troops.</p>
<p>The Obama administration, of which Hagel was a key principal, decided to use the US air force in the response. Obama has an aversion to getting too deeply involved in Iraq, but he could not afford to run the risk that the siege of, e.g., Iraqi Kurdistan would turn into a rout and result in large numbers of people killed.</p>
<p>The air intervention pushed Daesh back from the Kurdistan capital. It improved the morale of the Kurdistan paramilitary, the Peshmerga, so that it began taking further territory after an earlier collapse of esprit de corps. That intervention to save Kurdistan has to be pronounced a success so far.</p>
<p>Threats that Daesh might go on down and try to take Baghdad itself receded.</p>
<p>The US military hoped also to stiffen the backbone of the Iraqi army (which had collapsed in June), retrain Iraqi army troops and to help them deploy to stop the march of Daesh on Baghdad and points south.</p>
<p>Whether the US is responsible or not, the Iraqi military and allied Shiite militias and the Kurdistan paramilitary, the Peshmerga (one who stands before death) have now taken territory back away from Daesh.</p>
<p>The Iraqi forces loyal to Baghdad have had some successes. The Shiite militiamen appear to have taken the lead in Jurf al-Sakhr, where a Sunni town of 80,000 that had thrown in with Daesh a couple years ago, was subjected and Daesh and expelled. Jurf al-Sakhr was a radical Sunni base from which attacks on Shiite interests in the south were launched. The political fallout of Shiite militias taking a Sunni town is probably negative, but in purely military terms this was a success; Daesh no longer has a major base south of Baghdad.</p>
<p>Iraqi troops and militiamen, along with Sunni Arab tribal levies, also took back the oil refinery in Beiji in Salahuddin Province, which they had previously relinquished to Daesh. Crude oil is not valuable and cannot be smuggled, whereas refined petroleum products like gasoline can be sold to other countries. Without the refinery, Daesh may not be able to make as much by gasoline smuggling.</p>
<p>Just on Monday, the Kurdish town of Jalawla in Diyala province fell to a mixture of Iraqi forces, including IA, Peshmerga and Shiite militias. Diyala is a mixed province but the northwest had begun falling to Daesh in June and ripostes had earlier been ineffective. Now Daesh is losing towns there.</p>
<p>So in Diyala and Salahuddin Provinces, Hagel and his allies have had some success.</p>
<p>In contrast, Daesh has strengthened its positions among Sunni Arabs in Al-Anbar Province, and no progress has been made toward dislodging it from the populous Ninewah Province in the north.</p>
<p>It is a mixed bag of a story, but the long and short of it is, that Hagel at Defense has some genuine achievements, or at least that counter-Daesh strategy on the ground has, with Hagel's DoD providing close air support in many instances. Whatever the reasons for Hagel's departure, it is hard to see how this record in Iraq, where Daesh has largely been contained and even slightly rolled back, can be it.</p>
<p>""-</p>
<p>Video added by Juan Cole:</p>
<p><a href="http://youtu.be/cTfbGhsCCDQ%20" type="external">Kurds Ambush ISIS Near Sinjar, Iraq</a></p>
<p /> | As Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel Exits, Let's Take a Look at an Islamic State Scorecard | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/as-secretary-of-defense-chuck-hagel-exits-lets-take-a-look-at-an-islamic-state-scorecard/ | 2014-11-25 | 4 |
<p>Candy colors dominated at Chris Benz, where a rainbow of looks lined a white wall. A stand-out item, of course, were the neon mittens (center).</p>
<p>Marc Jacobs featured subtle metallics, splashes of yellow, and fur on his fall runway.</p>
<p>Marc Jacobs and Robert Duffy emerged at the beginning of the show to unwrap a massive paper box, where all of their models stood fully dressed inside.</p>
<p>A board of models in the show.</p>
<p>Rachel Zoe and Marc Jacobs pose together for a photo after the presentation of Jacobs' Fall 2010 collection.</p>
<p>Jacobs with Lorenzo Martone at the show's after party on the 18th floor of the Standard Hotel.</p>
<p>Anna Wintour watches Carolina Herrera's Fall/Winter 2010 show at Bryant Park on Monday. The collection featured confident color-blocked jackets topped with fur, and, as expected, luxurious eveningwear: shimmering metallics, floral prints, and on one dress, tartan plaid.</p>
<p>Monique Lhuillier's collection was romantic and Asian-inspired. Jewel-toned gowns featured delicate detailing, and minidresses injected playful, brighter colors.</p>
<p>A splash of green found its way onto the runway at Monique Lhuillier.</p>
<p>It was all hands on deck backstage at Donna Karan, where makeup artists and hairstylists applied the finishing touches.</p>
<p>Demi Moore reportedly flew in just for Donna Karan's runway show, where she sat in the front row between Brooke Shields and Susan Sarandon. "Damn!," Joe Zee, Elle Magazine's Creative Director <a href="http://twitter.com/mrjoezee/status/9152034226" type="external">tweeted</a> about Susan Sarandon. "Single looks good!" The collection featured lots of black (with a few doses of color), and exaggerated shapes: shoulders that would get in the way at a cocktail party, seductively sculpted hips, and sky-grazing details on dresses.</p>
<p>Halston's presentation featured jewel-toned eveningwear and heavyweight knits.</p>
<p>Tracy Reese's collection introduced vamp to fashion week: pink tutus, lots of lace, bustiers and mesh.</p> | Fashion Week Day 5 | true | https://thedailybeast.com/fashion-week-day-5-1 | 2018-10-05 | 4 |
<p>Investing.com – The dollar remained broadly lower on Wednesday, as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s highly-anticipated monetary policy statement due later in the day.</p>
<p>Later Wednesday, the U.S. central bank was widely expected to leave interest rates on hold, but it was also likely to announce plans to trim its $4.2 trillion in bond holdings.</p>
<p>The safe-haven yen and Swiss franc remained stronger, with down 0.25% at 111.32 and with shedding 0.21% to 0.9607.</p>
<p>Traders were also cautious amid potentially higher tensions between the U.S. and North Korea following hawkish statements from U.S. President Donald Trump.</p>
<p>In his first speech before the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, “the United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself and its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.”</p>
<p>Elsewhere, added 0.08% to 1.2004, while gained 0.22% to 1.3318, re-approaching Monday’s 15-month peak of 1.3620.</p>
<p>The pound was boosted after the UK Office for National Statistics reported on Wednesday that retail sales , increasing 1.0%.</p>
<p>Sterling had come under some pressure after that Brexit will weigh on overseas trade and that leaving the EU was already limiting the potential size of the UK economy.</p>
<p>However, Carney also said that interest rates are likely to rise “over the coming months”, reiterating what was said at the BoE’s most recent policy meeting and had already pushed the pound broadly higher.</p>
<p>The Australian and New Zealand dollars pushed higher, with up 0.57% at 0.8056 and with advancing 0.77% to 0.7373.</p>
<p>Earlier Wednesday, Statistics New Zealand said the country’s current account surplus swung into a deficit of in the second quarter from a surplus of NZ$240,000 in the previous quarter.</p>
<p>Analysts were expecting a current account deficit of NZ$880,000 in the last quarter.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, slumped 0.37% to 1.2247.</p>
<p>The , which measures the greenback’s strength against a trade-weighted basket of six major currencies, was down 0.16% at 91.47 by 08:20 a.m. ET (12:20 GMT), the lowest since September 11.</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> | Forex – Dollar Broadly Lower With All Eyes On Fed | false | https://newsline.com/forex-dollar-broadly-lower-with-all-eyes-on-fed/ | 2017-09-20 | 1 |
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<p>SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio police say an officer has shot and killed a shotgun-wielding suspect who aimed at officers trying to serve a narcotics warrant at a home.</p>
<p>Police Chief William McManus says the armed man was shot once and died at the scene late Thursday morning. The officer who opened fire was not hurt.</p>
<p>McManus says the shooting took place as officers, some in uniform and others undercover, entered the home and a suspect pulled a sawed-off shotgun. Police detained several other people at the residence for questioning.</p>
<p>San Antonio police didn’t immediately announce any arrests in the drug-related investigation.</p>
<p>The name of the man who died wasn’t immediately released. Further details weren’t immediately available.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | San Antonio officer fatally shoots shotgun-wielding man | false | https://abqjournal.com/951514/san-antonio-officer-fatally-shoots-shotgun-wielding-man.html | 2 |
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<p>In today's day and&#160;age,&#160;social proof and timeliness are critical to standing out in the&#160;job market. To make the most of <a href="https://www.recruiter.com/job/job-search-advice.html" type="external">your job search Opens a New Window.</a>, you want to&#160;put your skills and career acumen&#160;where they will be&#160;viewed by your network, potential new connections, recruiters, hiring managers, and companies.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>People have been talking about ways to <a href="https://www.recruiter.com/i/the-next-big-thing-in-recruiting-tech-6-expert-predictions/" type="external">use Snapchat in your job search Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;for a while, and now there is a new contender in the social media world: <a href="http://blog.instagram.com/post/148348940287/160802-stories" type="external">Instagram Stories Opens a New Window.</a>,&#160;Instagram's latest feature that is unashamedly similar to Snapchat. Employers <a href="https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/blog/2015/06/how-instagram-can-get-you-more-job-applicants#!" type="external">saw Instagram as an opportunity Opens a New Window.</a>&#160;already, and now <a href="http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/instagram-stories-guide#sm.00015jcbn1r0rex5tf611eaeev66p" type="external">they see Instagram Stories as one Opens a New Window.</a>, too.</p>
<p>This new feature is a big deal. If you're looking for ideas on how to stand out to employers, I've got you! I know you're tired of waiting for responses from&#160;job boards or referrals from friends. A few of you have already tried Snapchat to create stronger online presences &#160;– and that's a good thing! Here are some reasons why you should also add Instagram Stories to your arsenal of job search tools:</p>
<p>1. More Variety of Content on One Platform</p>
<p>Your reach with Instagram was already more substantive than your reach with Snapchat before Instagram Stories arrived. Now, you have the chance to weave pictures and videos together into a custom story for your audience.</p>
<p>As a&#160;job seeker, you can alter, add, or omit content relevant to who engages with you, and you can respond to people in a timely and customized way. If you notice&#160;a recruiter or employer responding to your&#160;story or message, you have an&#160;opportunity to demonstrate your skills or entertain questions about your experience.</p>
<p>Advertisement</p>
<p>2. More Measurable Engagement</p>
<p>Snapchat lacks metrics. In fact, it doesn't provide anything useful. Instagram Stories are far more useful, especially for altering your content based on views and likes. A job seeker can easily make a "Frequently Asked Questions" video, schedule it,&#160;post&#160;images promoting it, and release the it on the same platform.</p>
<p>Comments are instantly visible, and you can easily respond to them throughout a single thread. Hashtags are the key to increasing reach, and the possibilities are endless. You can also repost the same content multiple times in a day, unlike Snapchat.&#160;However, your stories will go away in 24 hours, so keep that in mind.</p>
<p>3. Your Community Is Ready and Willing on Instagram</p>
<p>My bet is you have more followers on Instagram than on Snapchat, correct? If you were&#160;on Instagram in the day or two after the Instagram Stories were announced, you likely noticed that it wasn't long before people&#160;were testing and adapting the feature – and they did that more quickly than they did on Snapchat, right?</p>
<p>People love familiarity, and when you add a new element to an already useful platform, it's unlikely users will go elsewhere. We saw that when Facebook Live stole Periscope's video mojo. Those who are new to video will likely try Instagram Stories before YouTube, Periscope, or yes, Snapchat.</p>
<p>Again, for the job seeker, you want the engagement, the audience size, and for others to share your content.</p>
<p>4. You've Established Trust on Instagram</p>
<p>Credibility trumps bells and whistles during the job search. You don't get engagement if you're not looking for it, but you do get it if your content is compelling and useful. If you've been a reliable resource up to this point, then people will respond accordingly.&#160;Use Instagram Stories to impress people further.</p>
<p>Let's say you attend an industry event&#160;that&#160;many of your colleagues and peers are not going to. You can broadcast live episodic segments to your Instagram account for your audience (again, likely a much larger&#160;audience than you have on Snapchat) and potential recruiters and employers to see.</p>
<p>5. You'll Be More Inspired to Shape Content Around Your Personal Brand</p>
<p>If you&#160;keep in mind that&#160;every social platform can be a&#160;profession builder or a career killer, Instagram Stories will tempt you like a piece of chocolate cake.</p>
<p>All of your content doesn't have to be serious to stay professional. I've always maintained the position that companies cannot train great personalities. Instagram Stories&#160;are a chance to show your personality off&#160;like you haven't ever done before.</p>
<p>–</p>
<p>Don't forget that Instagram also has a&#160;60-second video feature.&#160;There is so much potential for a 60-second video!&#160;And you can&#160;integrate these videos with Facebook to grab more eyes.</p>
<p>No platform will magically make you gain visibility, but people will take notice of a visible personal brand and useful content. Why not show off your brand to&#160;recruiters and companies by using&#160;Instagram Stories?</p>
<p>Mark Anthony Dyson is a career consultant, the host and producer of " <a href="http://thevoiceofjobseekers.com/" type="external">The Voice of Job Seekers Opens a New Window.</a>" podcast, and founder of the blog by the same name.</p> | 5 Reasons Job Seekers Should Use Instagram Stories | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2016/08/18/5-reasons-job-seekers-should-use-instagram-stories.html | 2016-08-23 | 0 |
<p><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/01/news/economy/may-jobs-report/index.htm?hpt=hp_t1" type="external">CNN – May Jobs Report is Dismal</a></p>
<p>Today’s May jobs report was underwhelming because only 69,000 new jobs were added and the national unemployment rate rose to 8.2%.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/05/obama-fundraises-off-trump-124913.html" type="external">POLITICO – Obama Capitalizing on Trump</a></p>
<p>In an email sent by Obama’s campaign calling for donations, POTUS points out that Romney is fundraising with the birthers (Trump).</p>
<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/01/us-iran-nuclear-clinton-idUSBRE85013U20120601" type="external">Reuters – Clinton on Iran: Prove Peaceful Nuclear Program</a></p>
<p>Sec. of State Hillary Clinton called for Iran to show concrete steps toward a peaceful nuclear program in the lead up to a P5+1 meeting in Moscow to discuss Iranian nuclear development.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/06/01/facebook-stock-woes-hurt-market-s-view-of-other-new-tech-companies.html" type="external">The Daily Beast – Facebook IPO is a Warning to All Tech Companies</a></p>
<p>Facebook continues to plummet and its clear that not only are mom and pop traders losing out. Major capitol investment firms and sophisticated traders are losing now that the stock is at 60% of its initial valuation. One analyst states that a fair price for FB is $16-24.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.salon.com/2012/06/01/another_right_wing_drone_skeptic/" type="external">Salon – ACLU Picking up Conservative Support Against Obama Drones</a></p>
<p>Several conservatives and Bush affiliates are supporting the ACLU in their Freedom of Information Act litigation against the Obama administration regarding the legal basis for drones in Pakistan and Yemen.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/01/us-vatican-butler-intrigue-idUSBRE8500WS20120601" type="external">Reuters – Papal Leak is but One Small Scandal on a Long List</a></p>
<p>The usually tight-lipped Holy See had several private papers of the pope’s leaked by a personal butler. Here’s a very short list of other scandals.</p> | Lunch Tips: June 1, 2012 | false | https://ivn.us/2012/06/01/lunch-tips-june-1-2012/ | 2012-06-01 | 2 |
<p>At the twelfth and final public session of the 9/11 commission hearings this week in the NTSB building in Washington, DC, the disappointment was palpable among family members of the 9/11 deceased. A less-than distinguished panel of FBI and CIA agents took turns praising the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Al-Qaeda, and offered little hope that future efforts would be successful in stopping terrorism. But give the CIA and FBI this: they can still recognize a marketing opportunity when they see it.</p>
<p>Apparently unfamiliar with the concept of shame, representatives from two of the agencies whose failures bear clear responsibility for the events of 9/11 saw the morning session as an opportunity to shill for ‘patience’ and, tacitly, more money. One after another, in front of the surviving family members, many of whom clutched pictures of their dead sons, daughters, husbands and wives, the agents fawned over the incredible resourcefulness, commitment and dedication of Al Qaeda operatives (in one notable exchange, Al Qaeda was glowingly described as “innovative,” “creative” and “entrepreneurial”—why not just say you were outsmarted?) The CIA agents referred familiarly to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Osama Bin Laden as ‘KSM’ and ‘UBL’. The uninitiated might have gotten the impression they were speaking of protégés, and not hated enemies. Earlier, in a jaunty tone completely incongruous with the substance of his statement, the CIA’s Dr. Kay told the commission that “(Al-Qaeda) may strike next week, next month or next year, but it will strike.” The agencies took no responsibility for the attacks, and they were not challenged to.</p>
<p>But the nadir of the morning session came when commissioner James Thompson asked all of the panelists how best to combat the new type of stateless enemy Al-Qaeda represents. FBI special agent Mary Deborah Doran answered last. She had already warned the Commission in her introductory remarks that, as a “street agent”, she was removed from the “policy and administrative decision-making processes” that determined the scope of the FBI’s investigation of Al Qaeda, and thus could not speak to them (no one did that day, including Executive Assistant FBI Director John Pistole, seated to her right). Her answer to Thompson’s question was: “I think what we need to do . . at the FBI street-agent level, is to continue what we’ve always done, and that is to pursue all the information that we do get. . . to its logical end. . .”</p>
<p>Here, in classic doublespeak fashion, Doran gives an answer that is a non-answer. She had to be aware that several FBI “street-level” investigations into the activities of the 9/11 terrorists were stymied by higher-ups in the weeks prior to 9/11, each under strange circumstances, and well before the street-level agents felt like they had reached their “logical end”. Consider the following cases, all drawn from mainstream news sources, summarized in David Ray Griffin’s well-researched expose, “The New Pearl Harbor”:</p>
<p>1) Ken Williams of the Phoenix FBI office sent a now-famous July 10, 2001 memo to the counterterrorism division of the FBI suggesting that the organization institute a national program to keep tabs on suspicious flight-school students. This came just a few weeks after the CIA learned that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 plot and a well-known terrorist at that time who the CIA was monitoring, was recruiting jihadists to come to the US to take part in attacks here. Williams, who had previously been transferred to an unrelated arson case despite tracking the hijackers for more than a year, had been back on the case for about a month when he wrote the memo, which also warned of a possible “effort by Osama bin Laden to send students to the US to attend civil aviation universities and colleges” (Fortune, May 22, 2002). His suggestion for a national program was ignored before 9/11;</p>
<p>2) FBI agent Robert Wright of the Chicago field office, who had been investigating a suspected terrorist cell for three years, was informed in January 2001 that the case was being closed. This despite Wright’s contention that his case was growing stronger. His investigation included individuals from the notorious Ptech, a software company which provided product for the White House, Congress, FBI, CIA, IRS, Army, Navy, and FAA and which was raided by federal agents in December 2002.</p>
<p>Three months before September 11, Wright wrote a stinging internal memo charging that the FBI was not interested in thwarting a terrorist attack, but rather “was merely gathering intelligence so they would know who to arrest when a terrorist attack occurred.” (UPI, May 30, 2002, cited in Griffin, p. 83);</p>
<p>3) Legal officer Colleen Rowley worked in the FBI’s Minneapolis field office when agents arrested Zacarias Moussaoui in August of 2001. The commission made repeated mention of the fact that Moussaoui, by that time, was considered a very dangerous person capable of crashing a plane into the World Trade Center. The Minneapolis felt so strongly about the need to detain him that a request was sent to FBI headquarters to search Moussaoui’s laptop computer under the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act.</p>
<p>Approximately 10,000 requests under FISA over the past 20 years had been made without a single request being turned down, but the Minneapolis agency’s request never got out of the FBI. The request had been excised of the critical intelligence that made the case for Moussaoui’s connection to Al Qaeda in Chechnya on its path to FBI headquarters. Excised of that justification, the request was never forwarded for FISA consideration, spurring Rowley to charge that the FBI was “sabotaging” the case, and another agent to charge that headquarters was “setting this up for failure.” (Senate Intelligence Committee, October 17, 2002; Time, July 21 and July 27, 2002 and Sydney Morning Herald July 28, 2002, each cited in Griffin, p. 81);</p>
<p>4) On Aug 28, 2001 the New York FBI office requested opening a criminal investigation in soon-to-be hijacker Khalid Almihdhar based on evidence he had been involved in the USS Cole bombing. The request was turned down, on the basis that, as Griffin puts it, “Almihdhar could not be tied to the Cole investigation without the inclusion of sensitive intelligence information.” This led one frustrated FBI agent to write in an email that “someday someone will die–and. . . the public will not understand why we were not more effective.” (Congressional Intelligence Committee, cited in Griffin, p. 83). Perhaps Doran, a New York FBI agent herself, knew something about this? She was not asked directly.</p>
<p>What these examples make clear is that FBI “street agents” and translators don’t have the power to follow their investigations to their logical ends when they are obstructed by their superiors. In light of these facts, Doran’s breezy recommendation that the FBI street agents “keep doing what we’ve always done” is entirely inadequate, and inspires no confidence. Neither Thompson nor any other commissioner pressed for a better answer. And while the FBI’s “unprecedented transformation” after 9/11 testified to by FBI Executive Assistant Director For Counterterrorism John Pistole on April 14 may sound impressive to some, it does not explain nor address the past obstruction of promising investigations. Factor in the erosion of civil liberties required for its execution, and the “unprecedented transformation” appears to be of dubious value.</p>
<p>There are several other aspects about the FBI’s behavior pre- and post-9/11 that scream out for further investigation. One of the most bizarre cases still unfolding involves the targeting of former FBI translator Sibel Edmonds, who was fired by the agency shortly after reporting a number of complaints to her superiors. According to a June 7, 2004 story in The New Republic, those complaints included the charge that a fellow FBI translator, Can Dickerson, tried to recruit Edmonds into a foreign organization whose documents Dickerson had been translating and which had been under investigation by the FBI. Edmonds then filed a wrongful termination suit and took her grievance to Senators Charles Grassley and Patrick Leahy, as well as the television program “60 Minutes,” which aired an interview with her in 2002.</p>
<p>But the FBI has since gone to extraordinary lengths to silence Edmonds. In May, the Bureau re-classified all of the information it presented to Sens. Grassley and Leahy, nearly two years after it had become public. It even violated its own rules for reclassification in doing so. The reclassification has had the effect of silencing Grassley and Leahy on the matter, too, who had been pressing the Bureau for a fuller account of the matter. Now they were limited to writing classified letters to the FBI.</p>
<p>Edmonds, meanwhile, has seen her wrongful termination suit delayed for two years and most recently was informed by Judge Reggie Walton on June 14 that her hearing was delayed once again (for the fourth time), with no date set for a rescheduling. The delays result from an effort from Attorney General John Ashcroft to invoke the State Secrets Privilege, which can quash lawsuits on the basis that their continuation would damage national security. Judge Walton is still waiting for the government to make its case for the invoking of the States Secrets Privilege. In the meantime, as the New Republic notes, while Edmonds herself is not gagged, she is not permitted to reference any of the now-classified information that could substantiate her claims.</p>
<p>At her June 14 press conference outside the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse in Washington, DC, Edmonds summarized her charges clearly, stating that for more than two years, “John Ashcroft has been relentlessly engaged in actions geared toward covering up my report and investigations into my allegations. His actions. . . .include gagging the United States Congress, blocking court proceedings on my (wrongful termination suit) by invoking the State Secrets Privilege, quashing the subpoena for my deposition on information regarding 9/11, withholding documents requested under the Freedom Of Information Act and preventing the release of the Inspector General’s report of its investigations into my report and allegations.”</p>
<p>She threw down a gauntlet to all citizens, members of Congress and federal officials that so far have not spoken out, saying, “To become an American citizen, I took the citizenship oath. In taking this oath, I pledged I would support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Therefore, not only do I have the right to challenge John Ashcroft’s anti-constitution(al) and un-American actions, but as an American citizen I am required to do so. So are you.”</p>
<p>Edmonds did testify with the 9/11 commission behind closed doors, but a host of disturbing questions still remain before the commission:</p>
<p>• Why weren’t any of the agents mentioned above called to testify in the commission’s public hearings? What legitimate claim to a thorough investigation can be made without their public testimony?</p>
<p>• Were the FBI agents who saw their investigations stymied at least deposed in private sessions?</p>
<p>• Why was Robert Wright’s investigation derailed, and why did the government move to block significant portions of his book in 2002, such that it remains unpublished to this day?</p>
<p>• Why was the information connecting Moussaoui’s connection with rebels in Chechnya excised before it reached the FBI Deputy General?</p>
<p>• And why have lower-level agents been demoted and/or punished for doing their jobs while their superiors, who spiked, obstructed or otherwise compromised their promising investigations been rewarded?</p>
<p>In sum, the day’s hearings played as a commercial for supporting the efforts of the country’s intelligence agencies without additional public scrutiny of them. We’ve seen that show before, and we know how it ends. If the commission’s report fails to adequately address Sibel Edmonds’ charges, and fails to address the obstructed FBI investigations prior to 9/11, the unanswered questions which haunt the 9/11 Inquiry will grow louder and more insistent, and neither the 9/11 families nor the concerned citizens of this country will have the closure they deserve.</p>
<p>BRYAN SACKS is an adjunct instructor of philosophy for Immaculata University. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>Works Referred to:</p>
<p>1.David Ray Griffin, The New Pearl Harbor: Disturbing Questions about the Bush Administration and 9/11. Northampton: Olive Branch Press, copyright 2004.</p>
<p /> | Decision Not to Explore Quashed FBI Investigations Prior to 9/11 Tarnishes Hearings | true | https://counterpunch.org/2004/06/26/decision-not-to-explore-quashed-fbi-investigations-prior-to-9-11-tarnishes-hearings/ | 2004-06-26 | 4 |
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<p>Developers Ken and Deena Joseph want to transform that slice of Santa Fe into a district of its own, complete with work-in condos, an international market, restaurants, a coffee shop and a book store.</p>
<p>The owners are branding it “the Luna District.”</p>
<p>The onetime home of a 1930s Art Deco movie house and Dodge dealership is located at 505 Cerrillos Road. More recent incarnations saw it as the temporary home of Theater Grottesco. The Josephs bought the property from developer Don Wiviott in August 2010, with plans to transform it into 60,000 square feet of space where residents can work from home, shop for groceries and dine within walking distance of the Plaza, the Roundhouse, the new county courthouse and the Railyard. The point is to create a 24-hour life, Ken Joseph said. Construction started about a month ago.</p>
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<p>“This is different,” he said. “This isn’t Santa Fe style. This is unique and authentic. People don’t want to be in a single purpose (building), because they want to take their laptop down to the coffee shop.”</p>
<p>A ground-breaking celebration including merchant exhibits, the music of Boris &amp; the Saltlicks and restaurant tastings, is slated for 4:30-7:30 p.m. May 25. Visitors can drink from a beer garden provided by Santa Fe Brewing and sip wine by Gruet.</p>
<p>“People can live there. People can have their office there,” Joseph continued. “For whatever reason, this project has created a buzz.” About 70 percent of the space already has tenants, he said.</p>
<p>The shops will include a gourmet market, Ohori’s Coffee, a women’s boutique, a first-edition bookstore and an olive oil and vinegar specialty store. The 800-square-foot lofts will sell for about $250,000, Joseph said.</p>
<p>The front curved front side of the building facing Cerrillos Road screams Art Deco. “It’s sort of Johnny Rockets 1930s architecture,” Joseph said. “Our whole aim is to restore it.”</p>
<p>The old car showroom features original “pen tile” made by inmates at the Santa Fe Penitentiary. The wood pine ceiling has been preserved, complete with beams darkened by a fire. In the former movie house, rectangular second-floor windows date from its use as a projection room. There’s even a “crying room” with a window so that parents were able to remove noisy children and watch the movie. The lobby — once a clothing store — features both vigas and a fireplace that echo both Art Deco and Santa Fe style. The curved brick facade will be restored with brick salvaged from poet Carl Sandburg’s Illinois home, Joseph said.</p>
<p>“I’ve bought enough of it for the whole project,” he added.</p>
<p>Joseph is no stranger to Santa Fe development. His projects include the Old Pecos Trail offices across from the Elks Lodge, the Office Court at St. Michael’s Drive near Botulph Road and 4001 Office Court south of Santa Fe Place Mall.</p>
<p>Raised in a log cabin on Upper Canyon Road at the age of 12, Joseph started in the business in 1988 during his senior year at the University of Pennsylvania. Construction courses through his bloodlines; his father was a Chicago developer. When the Luna project is completed, it will have cost between $18-20 million, he said. The retail part of the project is slated to be finished this fall. LEED certification for energy efficiency is pending.</p>
<p>Joseph also has a personal link to what he calls the Luna District.</p>
<p>“I saw (singer/songwriter) Michael Hedges” at Club Luna, he said. “It was one of my first dates with my wife.”</p> | Condos Planned for Old Club Luna | false | https://abqjournal.com/106034/condos-planned-for-old-club-luna.html | 2012-05-11 | 2 |
<p>Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen will speak at the central bank's annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyo., next week, the Fed announced Thursday.</p>
<p>Ms. Yellen is scheduled to speak Aug. 25 at the high-profile conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, according to a schedule released by the central bank. Her remarks will focus on financial stability.</p>
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<p>This could be Ms. Yellen's last appearance at Jackson Hole as Fed chairwoman: Her four-year leadership term expires in February. President Donald Trump has said Ms. Yellen is under consideration for a second term as chairwoman, but several other candidates are in the running as well, including top White House economic adviser Gary Cohn.</p>
<p>Ms. Yellen will return to the conference with three more rate increases under her belt since the symposium last year, and a plan to begin shrinking the Fed's massive balance sheet in the coming months.</p>
<p>The Jackson Hole conference typically is attended by the Fed chief and other top central bankers. Ms. Yellen attended last year and in 2014, several months after taking over as chairwoman, but skipped it in 2015. Last year's conference also featured Bank of England Deputy Gov. Minouche Shafik, European Central Bank Executive Board members Benoît Coeuré and Yves Mersch, and Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda, as well as top Fed officials including Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer.</p>
<p>Write to Kate Davidson at [email protected]</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
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<p>August 17, 2017 17:24 ET (21:24 GMT)</p> | Yellen to Speak on Financial Stability at Jackson Hole Next Week | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2017/08/17/yellen-to-speak-on-financial-stability-at-jackson-hole-next-week.html | 2017-08-17 | 0 |
<p>The headlines that reported on August’s Celtic–Hapoel Ber’er Sheva football&#160;match didn’t cover the importance of the game — although it was a qualifier for the Champions League — nor the quality of the play, despite it being an entertaining encounter that Celtic won by five goals to two.</p>
<p>Instead, it was the Celtic fans who grabbed everyone’s attention.</p>
<p>They had been warned that if they raised the Palestinian flag inside the stadium, the Union of European Football Association (UEFA), which prohibits political messages at matches, would fine the club. There had even been rumors that police would <a href="http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/celtic-fans-could-be-arrested-if-they-wave-palestine-flags-1-4204614" type="external">arrest</a> those carrying the flag.</p>
<p>But Celtic supporters ignored both of these threats and unfurled hundreds of flags, showing their solidarity with Palestine and reminding the world that politics has always played a role in football. The Green Brigade — a group of ultra-faithful fans who identify as antiracist and antifascist — led the protest. Their section of the stands was awash with the colors of Palestine. Within minutes, the display was posted on social media and shared worldwide.</p>
<p>The group <a href="http://www.scotzine.com/2016/08/green-brigade-issue-statement-following-pro-palestine-display/" type="external">explained</a>, “From our work with grassroots Palestinian groups in the West Bank and the refugee camps of Bethlehem, we know the positive impact international solidarity has on those living in the open prisons of the Occupied Territories.” They continued, “We also know that their suffering cannot be ignored by the international community and last night’s actions also sought to raise awareness of the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) campaign which seeks to challenge the normalization of the Israeli occupation.”</p>
<p>As expected, UEFA quickly opened disciplinary proceedings against the club, charging them with the “display of an illicit banner.” In response, the Green Brigade launched a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/matchfinepalestine" type="external">fundraiser</a> to match whatever fine the authorities impose on the club. They plan to donate the proceeds to Medical Aid for Palestine and the Aida Refugee Camp’s Lajee Cultural Center.</p>
<p>An initial goal of £15,000 was set which was quickly surpassed and within a week the fund stood at a whopping £160,000 and rising. Part of the funds will go towards providing equipment, uniforms, and travel costs for the camp to enter a team in the Bethlehem Youth League. It will also pay for an annual “Aida Celtic” football tournament between refugee-camp teams from across the West Bank.</p>
<p>Lajee Cultural Center coordinator, Salah Ajarma, has welcomed the initiative and pledged to call the team “Aida Celtic” in recognition of the team’s fans. “It will mean so much to our young people to be part of an official team, to have boots and strips and to represent the camp wearing the colors of our friends,” said Ajarma. “Aida Celtic will be a source of pride for all in Aida.”</p>
<p>The Green Brigade has long supported Palestine. Previously, they brought a team from the West Bank to play in the Anti-Racism World Cup in Belfast. They also paid for a cultural tour for youth from the Lajee Center.</p>
<p>These charitable gestures are in keeping with Celtic’s foundations. The club was established in 1888 to raise funds for the poor of Glasgow’s east end — a densely populated Irish neighborhood full of overcrowded slums.</p>
<p>During the potato famine, the proportion of Irish immigration to the west coast of Scotland was higher than anywhere else in the world. The mostly Catholic immigrants faced discrimination and prejudice in what was then a staunchly Presbyterian Scotland, and the club served as a rallying point for the community. Like Barcelona was a source of pride to the Catalan community under the fascist dictatorship of Franco, Celtic has always been about more than just the football.</p>
<p>In 1952, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) <a href="http://h" type="external">threatened</a> to suspend the club unless it stopped flying the Irish tricolor above the stadium. Celtic resisted the order, and the SFA backed down.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Irish republican songs heard on the terraces of Celtic Park have been met with fierce opposition by elements of Scottish society.</p>
<p>Sir Tom Devine, Scotland’s leading historian and author of the Irish in Scotland, traces the fans’ solidarity with Palestine to this Irish heritage. “It’s to do with the sense that the Irish Catholics in Scotland have of being underdogs over several generations,” he <a href="http://h" type="external">explained to me</a> last week. “There is a strong sense of history among that community, even though it’s now third-, fourth- and fifth-generation Irish.” He continues,</p>
<p>Part of their sense of communal identity is that sense of grievance about what was done in the past. People who are Irish nationalists will always tend to support independence movements that they believe to be based on historical justice.&#160;The situation in Palestine is a classic example of land that is being taken from people who lived there for generations. It chimes in with the course of Irish history.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35282172" type="external">Offensive Behavior at Football</a> <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35282172" type="external">Act</a> — imposed by the Scottish National Party in 2012 — has intensified the tensions between Celtic and the football&#160;authorities. The government described the legislation as an effort to tackle sectarianism and granted police new powers to arrest fans engaged in behavior that could be deemed “offensive.”</p>
<p>Critics have decried the law’s <a href="http://www.scottishlegal.com/2016/05/04/report-slams-offensive-behaviour-legislation/" type="external">subjective</a> nature and argue that certain behaviors — like singing Irish republican songs — are being unfairly deemed sectarian or offensive. “We’ve been arguing all along that you cannot outlaw something as subjective as offensiveness,” says Paul Quigley, spokesperson for the campaign Fans Against Criminalization (FAC), “There’s been so many cases that have fallen apart when tested in court.”</p>
<p>FAC argues that the law effectively criminalizes young working-class fans. “It’s always been a class issue,” explains Quigley. “Football supporters are still viewed as being slum people by some sections of society. You see expressions of politics in other sports go without comment but when working-class fans want to make a political statement it’s cause for moral panic across the nation. At its root this stems from the view that these types of people don’t have a right to express political opinions.”</p>
<p>In 2014, a Celtic fan was questioned by police after wearing a “Free Palestine” t-shirt to an away game. Prior to last week’s match, some feared that the police would attempt to intervene in any show of solidarity. They didn’t, but the display received the usual criticism from the Scottish press.</p>
<p>Tom English, a prominent sports journalist for BBC Scotland, called the action “ <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCTomEnglish/status/766015667522957312" type="external">idiotic</a>.” Even former Celtic player and manager Davie Hay waded into the debate in his regular newspaper column. He wrote that a football match isn’t the place to promote a political agenda while also strangely asserting that the Israel/Palestine conflict had “ <a href="http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/14692512.Davie_Hay__Champions_League_qualifier_not_the_place_for_political_protest/" type="external">raged for 2,000</a> <a href="http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/14692512.Davie_Hay__Champions_League_qualifier_not_the_place_for_political_protest/" type="external">years</a>.”</p>
<p>But the reaction online was altogether different. Celtic fans were praised for taking a stand against injustice. The hashtag #ThanksCelticFans trended on Twitter after Palestinians posted hundreds of messages of appreciation. The crest of Celtic was <a href="https://twitter.com/Liam_O_Hare/status/767014582430773248" type="external">projected</a> onto a wall in the West Bank city of Ramallah, a football&#160;team in the Gaza Strip held up a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GazaTVNews/photos/a.180058232024602.42938.119275738102852/1237224059641342/?type=3&amp;theater" type="external">banner of appreciation</a>, and residents of Aida Camp wore Celtic’s green and white jersey in their recorded <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zdm09DOieHc" type="external">message of thanks</a>.</p>
<p>The action seems to have also inspired fans around the world. A week after Celtic’s display, fans of French team St Etienne <a href="http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/st-etienne-follows-celtic-in-staging-palestine-flag-display-1-4213913" type="external">waved Palestine flags</a> at their Europa League tie against Beitar Jerusalem. Meanwhile fans of Irish side Dundalk are expected to follow suit at their upcoming tie against Maccabi Haifa. The club have previously faced <a href="http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/dundalk-fined-18k-for-palestine-flag-flown-against-hajduk-split-30530506.html" type="external">sanction from UEFA</a> after the support showed solidarity for Palestine at a match in 2014.</p>
<p>Quigley says that this response vindicates their campaign against the Scottish government’s “draconian” legislation.</p>
<p>What happened in the Hapoel game is the heart of what FAC is about. Football doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It can be a force for good if people are able to express their views. You just need to look at the reaction of the Palestinian community and how much a positive effect that one small action has had.</p>
<p>With UEFA not expected to decide on a sanction until late September, the debate around the match will rage on for some time yet. The authorities will be keen to make an example of the Celtic supporters to warn them — and fans of other teams — against taking similar action, urging a strict separation between politics and football.</p>
<p>But Palestinian players don’t have that option. When their national stadium is bombed or the association’s headquarters raided, when they attempt to get a visa to play international matches, they cannot take the politics out of sports.</p>
<p>Palestinian footballers Jawhar Nasser Jawhar and Adam Abd al-Raouf Halabiya faced that reality when Israeli soldiers <a href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/palestinian-teenagers-shot-feet-by-israeli-soldiers-after-playing-football-calls-fifa-israel-ban-1439183" type="external">shot</a> them repeatedly in the feet at a West Bank checkpoint. International player Mahmoud Sarsak couldn’t opt out of politics when he was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/10/palestinian-footballer-mahmoud-sarsak-freed" type="external">jailed</a> for years without charges before holding a ninety-seven-day hunger strike to secure his freedom.</p>
<p>Therein lies the contradiction at the heart of UEFA’s stance. For Palestinians, politics is already in football: the authorities just choose to ignore it. Last week Celtic fans chose to highlight it. In doing so, they sent a message of solidarity that has echoed around the world.</p>
<p>As one message I received from a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon read: “The Celtic fans did not just raise a flag, they raised their voices, they raised awareness and most importantly they raised hope.”</p> | Solidarity at the Stadium | true | https://jacobinmag.com/2016/09/celtic-palestine-football-ultras-ireland-israel/ | 2018-10-06 | 4 |
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<p>President-elect Donald Trump may have found an ally in his rejection of the CIA assessment that Russian cyber attacks were orchestrated with the end goal of helping him win the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and this support comes from no less than the overseers of America's intelligence community.</p>
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<p>Trump has dismissed the CIA assessment as ridiculous, while the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) does not use such colorful description, it has instead said that it has not endorsed the said assessment because of lack of conclusive evidence that Moscow indeed intended to boost the candidacy of Trump over his rival Democrat Hillary Clinton.</p>
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<p>ODNI oversees 17 agency-strong U.S. intelligence community. Reuters scored an exclusive interview with three officials of ODNI who requested anonymity due to the sensitive matter and their disclosures.</p>
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<p>ODNI's separate and contradicting assessment with the CIA follows the same opposite findings of the FBI from that of CIA's. The FBI also found there was no conclusive evidence that could stand up in court that can prove of Russia's intent to help Trump win the U.S. election.</p>
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<p>The ODNI officials interviewed by Reuters said that the CIA apparently arrived at its conclusion on the basis only of the fact that Russian entities hacked both Democrats and Republicans but only the information from the Democrats was leaked. The officials think it was a thin reed upon which to base an analytical judgment.</p>
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<p>The ODNI was established after the September 11 attacks in 2001 to improve coordination among U.S. intelligence agencies. It is headed by James Clapper. Clapper in November testified that intelligence agencies lacked strong evidence linking Russian cyber attacks to WikiLeaks disclosures.</p> | U.S. Intelligence Overseers Reject CIA Findings, Side With FBI & Trump Opinions | true | http://thegoldwater.com/news/752-U-S-Intelligence-Overseers-Reject-CIA-Findings-Side-With-FBI-and-Trump-Opinions | 2016-12-13 | 0 |
<p>Editor:</p>
<p>DISSENT has recently carried three contributions dealing with Israel. Two, by Irving Howe and Michael Walzer, give critical support to the Israeli government; a third, by the Jerusalem professor J. L. Talmon, is a moving appeal to reason and reconciliation, implicitly critical not only of the Israeli government but of the attitudes which most Israelis display vis-h-vis their Arab neighbors and the prospects of peaceful coexistence with them. However, if Professor Talmon's article was meant to balance the one-sided views of Irving Howe and Michael Walzer, it does so only in the very narrow sense in which Walzer reports (with an audible sigh of relief) that "the distances are small between so-called doves and hawks?. there are virtually no disagreements about the requirements of a final settlement, nor about the need for military strength?."</p>
<p>As though to confirm this statement, Professor Talmon, speaking as a so-called dove, spells out his conditions for peace: "Unity for Jerusalem (with some autonomous status for the Arab community in it); the Golan Heights?. strongpoints such as Sharm-el-Sheik; demilitarization of Sinai and the West Bank; a U.N. force under auspices of the Security Council; freedom of passage through the straits." This is the government's minimum program; Professor Talmon's only distinction is that he announces it now, instead of holding on to other points for bargaining purposes. The first three of his six points are unacceptable to the Arabs.</p>
<p /> | Letters | true | https://dissentmagazine.org/article/letters-43 | 1971-02-01 | 4 |
<p>On Sunday, progressives around the world exhaled a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/french-election-redeems-pollsters-after-misfires-on-brexit-trump-1494334983" type="external">sigh of relief</a> as French voters resoundingly rejected xenophobic nationalist “populism” by nearly a <a href="" type="internal">2-to-1 margin</a>. One of the stakes in France’s runoff election was far-rightwing Marine Le Pen’s vision about what is often called the “ <a href="" type="internal">migrant crisis</a>.”</p>
<p>Until French citizens voted for global businessman Emmanuel Macron, a newcomer to politics, a rightward tide seemed to cross the Atlantic, crashing into Europe. British PM Theresa May <a href="" type="internal">called for snap elections</a> to consolidate her party’s mandate to negotiate “ <a href="http://www.economist.com/brexit" type="external">Brexit</a>.”</p>
<p>Macron’s win marks a <a href="" type="internal">small victory for the left and anti-populist movements</a>, especially for the millions of forced migrants seeking refuge in Europe. Macron ran on an <a href="" type="internal">immigration platform</a> that commended German chancellor Angela Merkel’s <a href="" type="internal">generous refugee policy</a> and promised to <a href="" type="internal">prioritize asylum issues</a> in his first six months in office.</p>
<p>But not all are sighing in relief. 4,000 miles to the southeast of Paris in Nairobi, Ifrah, a Somali refugee, waits for news on her pending resettlement case. She has been waiting for seven years already and is becoming less and less hopeful that she will ever be resettled.</p>
<p>“There is no hope for us anymore,” Ifrah explained. “We knew it after Trump got elected, and then we knew surely after he banned Somalis. And Europe, there is too many Syrians so they are not accepting from Kenya. I think maybe Australia is the only place left.”</p>
<p>Indeed, the situation in Europe is disjointed.</p>
<p>Some particular EU member states, which represent the eastern flank of “fortress Europe,” have seen what anthropologist <a href="http://cnu.edu/academics/departments/sswa/people/andriatimmer/" type="external">Andria Timmer</a> calls “Trumpism before Trump.”</p>
<p>Targeting Syrian migrants, on October 16, 2015, Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán <a href="" type="internal">sealed the border</a>, erecting barbed wire. Timmer analyzes a <a href="" type="internal">public billboard campaign</a>, arguing that Orbán successfully controls the narrative, pushing out humanitarian goals in favor of security. His public statements and policies foreshadowed Trump’s so-called “ <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/muslim-ban-muslim-ban-aclu-argued-court" type="external">Muslim Ban</a>,” like his U.S. homologue using fear as his trump card.</p>
<p>Across the border, in a Catholic majority country, Croatia rose to the challenges of processing refugees passing through, at least during the “humanitarian corridor” from September 2015 to March 2016. And then the situation changed, according to sociologist Laura Heideman.&#160; “Humanitarian principles started to erode as the borders within Europe started closing, and in the past few months, there have been reports of asylum seekers being <a href="" type="internal">forcibly returned to Serbia</a>.”</p>
<p>Heideman explains: “It’s a lot easier to provide short-term humanitarian aid to people only passing through than integrating people long term.”</p>
<p>Europe’s patchwork response is what anthropologist <a href="" type="internal">Heath Cabot</a>, author of <a href="" type="internal">On the Doorstep of Europe</a>, qualifies as a “return to the bad status quo.”</p>
<p>Heideman takes issue with the dominant discourse: “This is not a crisis of resources. This is a crisis of political will.” She points out that European countries are far from their immigration capacity, which is far different from, say, Lebanon where <a href="" type="internal">183 of 1000 people is a refugee</a>.</p>
<p>Anthropologist <a href="" type="internal">Linda Rabben</a>, author of <a href="" type="internal">Sanctuary and Aslyum</a>, also questions the exceptionalism behind the word “crisis.” Rabben pointed out that following the Second World War, between 20-30 million people were assimilated into Western European nations, a process that took five to fifteen years to resolve.</p>
<p>One key difference between then and now is the “desirability” of refugees. More specifically, racial, ethnic, and religious differences and stereotypes about today’s migrants mark Syrians and those fleeing from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Horn of Africa regions as “Other” and potentially “terrorist.” Right-wing nationalist governments exploit stereotypes of “dangerous refugees” to justify their restrictive immigration policies.</p>
<p>Many, like Ifrah, have a different understanding of the “crisis.”</p>
<p>Many countries in the Global South have been managing massive and abrupt flows of refugees with far fewer resources for far longer than Europe. And even with the current wave of people fleeing Syria, more than 90% of refugees reside in the Global South. And that percentage has grown.</p>
<p>In January 2011, just before the <a href="http://syrianrefugees.eu/timeline/" type="external">current European migration</a>, UNHCR reported <a href="http://www.unhcr.org/4fc5ceca9.pdf" type="external">33.92 million persons of concern</a>, with roughly 3 million residing in Europe – just under 9%. As of June 2016, UNHCR counted <a href="http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html" type="external">65.3 million persons of concern</a>, with about 4 million residing in Europe, representing just 6% – compared to Africa’s 29% and the MENA region’s 39%.</p>
<p>European nations’ restrictive asylum policies have not gone unnoticed by those who have hosted the bulk of refugees. To many, Europe and the US are shirking their “burden-sharing” responsibilities outlined in the <a href="" type="internal">1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees</a>.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Citing this double standard</a>, on May 6, 2016 Kenya, the <a href="" type="internal">7th largest refugee hosting country</a>, announced its intent to <a href="" type="internal">close its camps and phase out refugee hosting</a>, due to “economic, security and environmental&#160;burdens,” going so far as to disband its Department of Refugee Affairs.</p>
<p>Karanja Kibicho, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for the Interior argued, “international obligations in Africa should not be done on the cheap; the world continues to learn the ruinous effect of these persistent double standards.”</p>
<p>Kenya’s scaling down refugee assistance comes at an inopportune time. Somalia, the third largest refugee producing country, is still gripped with <a href="" type="internal">armed conflict and now faces a severe drought and famine</a>.</p>
<p>Merkel’s open stance does not treat refugees as a “burden” but as a necessary workforce to care for Germany’s aging population and to keep German factories running. However, as activist anthropologist Andrea Steinke notes, Merkel put up a fierce resistance, clamping down on activism and rejecting rights-based language.</p>
<p>The French election – and the German model that prevailed Sunday – as market-based justifications, are fragile and unstable. As anyone living in the U.S. “Rust Belt” knows all too well, markets change, and so a generation of workers found themselves “downsized.”</p>
<p>And couched in market logic, they send mixed signals to peoples at the short end of the stick, not powerful enough to reverse this domino effect as Kenyan and other leaders reject postcolonial hypocrisy.</p>
<p>It could also simply be racism, <a href="" type="internal">still alive after France’s election</a>.</p>
<p>And so Ifrah, like tens of thousands of others, are treated as a number, dehumanized, scraping by at the margins of the market, fearful of an uncertain fate that rests in the hands of voting citizens in the Global North.</p>
<p>Ifrah and others deserve more than economic calculation, but full acknowledgement of her humanity, and the rights that this entails. Empathy, not self-interest, can be the bridge that brings us together.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | French Election a Step for Justice for Refugees, But Entrenched Inequalities Remain | true | https://counterpunch.org/2017/05/12/french-election-a-step-for-justice-for-refugees-but-entrenched-inequalities-remain/ | 2017-05-12 | 4 |
<p>Junior Seau on Wednesday became the latest ex-NFL player to commit suicide, leaving some to question whether these cases may be related to brain injuries the men suffered during their playing careers.</p>
<p>“As both a football fan and a researcher in this area, the news comes with great sadness first of all for such a great player. But I think we have to add him to the list of those that we worry about who could have effects of chronic, repetitive brain trauma,” said Julian Bailes, chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the NorthShore University HealthSystem in Chicago and a longtime researcher of brain damage stemming from concussions. He added: “We don’t have any strong evidence (yet about Seau), and we know that people commit suicide for other reasons. But to me it’s also concerning due to the fact that he had such a long playing history.”</p>
<p>Ray Easterling, who played for the Atlanta Falcons in the 1970s, died last month of a self-inflicted gunshot. Former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson killed himself last year. Seau was 43.</p>
<p>USA Today:</p>
<p />
<p>Bailes, formerly affiliated with West Virginia University, works in conjunction with neuropathologist Bennet Omalu. In the past decade they have identified brain damage – Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) – in the autopsied brains of former NFL players such as Mike Webster, Terry Long and Justin Strzelczyk of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Andre Waters of the Philadelphia Eagles and Chris Henry of the Cincinnati Bengals.</p>
<p>Their findings have been cited in some of the concussion-related lawsuits filed against the league by former players, who allege the NFL knowingly failed to inform players about long-term effects of concussions. According to NFLConcussionLitigation.com, 67 such suits have been filed by more than 1,600 former players.</p>
<p><a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/thehuddle/post/2012/05/neurosurgeon-junior-seaus-death-fuels-concussion-concerns/1#.T6HAxDtbz4M" type="external">Read more</a></p>
<p>The New York Times:</p>
<p>Seau is the second retired N.F.L player to commit suicide in the past few weeks. Ray Easterling, a safety for the Atlanta Falcons in the 1970s and a plaintiff in a high-profile lawsuit against the N.F.L. over its handling of concussion-related injuries, died last month of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.</p>
<p>The circumstances of Seau’s death raised comparisons to the former Chicago Bears star Dave Duerson. In February 2011, Duerson shot himself in the chest, saying in a note that he wanted his brain donated to the study of football head injuries.</p>
<p>Though remembered as a hard-hitting, inspirational linebacker, Seau did not have a documented history of concussions. He missed several games in his career with leg and chest injuries.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/03/sports/football/junior-seau-famed-nfl-linebacker-dies-at-43-in-apparent-suicide.html" type="external">Read more</a></p>
<p>The issue of player safety was already in the news before Seau’s death, since it happened on the same day that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell handed out lengthy suspensions to several members of the New Orleans Saints for their involvement in the team’s program to pay players for injuring their opponents. — TEB</p>
<p>Forbes:</p>
<p>Should Seau be found to have had any sort of brain damage linked to football, we may look back on this as a seminal day in the NFL’s history, a day when the commissioner took bold steps in the name of player safety and we were reminded, perhaps, that the game itself is inherently unsafe.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/monteburke/2012/05/02/junior-seau-dies-in-suspected-suicide/" type="external">Read more</a></p>
<p>[&lt;a href="http://storify.com/Truthdig/junior-seau-dead-reaction-from-nfl-players-fans-me" target="_blank"&gt;View the story &amp;#8220;Junior Seau Dead: Reaction From NFL Players, Fans, Media and More&amp;#8221; on Storify&lt;/a&gt;]</p> | Junior Seau Death Latest in String of NFL Suicides | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/junior-seau-death-latest-in-string-of-nfl-suicides/ | 2012-05-03 | 4 |
<p>Sometimes the labyrinthine paths of movie deal making offer more intrigue than the movie itself. How did a fact-based 1980s story of a battle for American mental patients’ rights become directed by a Swedish veteran, shot primarily in Germany, produced by that nation and Belgium as a vehicle for two star English-language actresses? Let alone written by a man whose last screen credit was 1977’s “Chatterbox,” a drive-in farce about a woman with a talking vajay-jay?</p>
<p>The answer might well be a story less worthy but more surprising than that told by “55 Steps.” What emerges a competent but uninspired case-pleading meller fails to elicit memorable work from any of its principal collaborators. The kind of award-bait social issue drama that — when as routinely handled as here — won’t likely attract actual awards, <a href="http://variety.com/t/bille-august/" type="external">Bille August</a>’s film might do better for leads Helena Bonham Carter and <a href="http://variety.com/t/hilary-swank/" type="external">Hilary Swank</a> if it bypasses tepid big-screen prospects in favor of a small-screen debut.</p>
<p>We first encounter Bonham Carter’s Eleanor Riese in full histrionic distress, being dragged by psychiatric ward attendants at a 1985 hospital into an isolation room. There, she is sedated against her will, then left unattended to soil herself and suffer seizures. The next morning she promptly calls an advocacy organization to demand legal representation, intent on suing the San Francisco hospital for mistreatment.</p>
<p>Diagnosed with “chronic paranoid schizophrenia and slight mental retardation,” Eleanor knows she needs medication as well as treatment. But she’s also well aware that the doses she’s administered have actually exacerbated, or even created, some of her worst symptoms. Unfortunately, the law is such that mental patients do not have the right to informed consent; the doctor’s judgment is always right, overruling their own.</p>
<p>This makes her a perfect test case to overturn those laws, attracting the eager attention of Colette Hughes (Swank), a psychiatric nurse turned patients’ rights lawyer, and her constitutional lawyer mentor Morton Cohen (Jeffrey Tambor). The latter at first advises the former not to take on what is sure to be a drawn-out and taxing pursuit — the workaholic Hughes is already stretched thin. Still, she won’t be deterred, even on realizing the impulsive, insistent, filter-free Eleanor will demand even more of her time and attention than imagined.</p>
<p>If Colette is frequently taken aback by Eleanor’s behavior, we certainly aren’t, as Mark Bruce Rosin’s on-the-nose screenplay (his first produced in 40 years) lays out a predictable dynamic of dedicated professional slowly warming toward her incorrigible “wise fool” client, whose eccentricities never get in the way of a pithy observation when needed. Bonham Carter chews scenery in a mostly comic performance that is lively but very broad, making the film’s rote inspirational beats even harder to take seriously. Meanwhile Swank operates in a monotonous range of humorless, self-sacrificing do-gooderism. Operating well below their formidable bests, these actresses don’t achieve the chemistry needed; nor is there any between Swank and Johan Heldenbergh as the loyal boyfriend Colette neglects.</p>
<p>August, whose English-language films have seldom compared well to his distinguished Scandinavian ones, can’t elevate this material much above the flat, pat TV-movie earnestness it seems content to aim for. The film (which was largely shot in Germany) has a washed-out, gauzy look that is as professionally mediocre as every other tech/design element here. “55 Steps” (named after Eleanor’s phobic compulsion to count stairs) tells an important story but manages to turn fact into wan dramatic formula.</p>
<p>Reviewed in Toronto Film Festival (Gala), Sept. 7, 2017. Running time: 114 MIN.</p>
<p>(Germany/Belgium) An Elsani Film production in coproduction with Potemkino Port, MMC Movies Koln and BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance, and in association with Mass Hysteria Entertainment, Aloe Entertainment and Chickflicks. (Int’l sales: Atlas International Film, Munich.) Producers: Anita Elsani, Sara Risher, Mark Bruce Rosin, Lesley Neary, Laurie Shearing. Executive producers: Helena Bonham Carter, Hilary Swank, Daniel Grodnik, Mary Aloe, Nicola van Gelder, Jurgen Grethler, Stuart Berton, Rolf Schubel, Iris Dugow, Ger Wiersma. Co-producers: Pewter De Maegd, Tom Hameeuw, Bastie Griese, Philip Borbely.</p>
<p>Director: Bille August. Screenplay: Mark Bruce Rosin. Camera (color, widescreen, HD): Filip Zumbrunn. Editor: Hansjorg Weissbrich. Music: Annette Focks.</p>
<p>Hilary Swank, Helena Bonham Carter, Jeffrey Tambor, Johan Heldenbergh, Cynthia Hoppenfield, Edward Bennett, Vincent Riotta, Doreen Mantle, Florence Bell, Nathan Oswood, Simon Chandler, Jonathan Kerrigan. (English dialogue)</p> | Toronto Film Review: ‘55 Steps’ | false | https://newsline.com/toronto-film-review-55-steps/ | 2017-09-09 | 1 |
<p>“The question is: was a woman who preached virtue in suffering rather than trying to alleviate it and took money from dictators really that saintly at all?”</p>
<p>— Douglas Robertson, The Independent, Sep 5, 2016</p>
<p>In looking at the antics surrounding saintliness, George Orwell’s remarks about the important presumption of sinning is all important. It is axiomatic that all saints be presumed sinners. The greater they are in achievement, heavy in the miracles department and achievement, the less likely they are to be the purest of pure.</p>
<p>The story of Mother Teresa of Kolkata is a story of how a modern saint is cultivated and made. The Catholic Church, for all its ceremonial weight and stuffy ritual, has always been, in one sense, modern. Modern to corporate practice; modern to innovative methods of generating wealth; and novel for creating cohorts of public relations promoters known as saints.</p>
<p>The latest addition comes in the form of Mother Teresa, who was canonised on September 4. On being beatified, thereby being given the title of Blessed, the pathway to sainthood was assured. In doing so, the Church succumbed, according to the late Christopher Hitchens, “to the forces of showbiz, superstition, and populism.” <a href="#_ftn1" type="external">[1]</a></p>
<p>Ever wishing to give a sense of incorporating even dissenters, the Church went so far as to ask Hitchens to play Devil’s Advocate. Naturally, the role of advocatus diaboli was itself pure show, necessary procedural pomp for an assured outcome. The MT train was chuffing inexorably to final canonisation.</p>
<p>The congenial, even admiring throngs of the notable and unknown have added voices over the years to the Mother Teresa cult. Much of it began with the grovelling tribute of a previously sharp man of letters Malcolm Muggeridge, who found in the Kolkata figure a creature of unquestioned virtue.</p>
<p>In <a href="" type="internal">Something Beautiful for God</a> (1971), Muggers gushingly suggested that, “the wholly dedicated like Mother Teresa do not have biographies. Biographically speaking, nothing happens to them. To live for, and in, others, as she and the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity do is to eliminate happenings, which are a factor of the ego and the will.”</p>
<p>While admitting to not being “enamoured with the idea of sainthood,” former volunteer Mari Marcel Thekaekara would still say that she “took dying people off the Kolkata streets. No one else does that.” <a href="#_ftn2" type="external">[2]</a> True, if only for a grander purpose in mind, all ego, and all will.</p>
<p>Thekaekara provides some insight, being one of the Catholic children who volunteered at the orphanage Shishu Bhavan. Mother Teresa the autocrat permanently loomed; respect for elders instilled; religious fervour upheld. Controls were decreed everywhere, from the frequency of nuns writing home, to the consumption of juice in the stifling heat.</p>
<p>There was anger at her techniques, her Christian apologias about poverty, her infuriating straightjacket tyranny. For all that, people were still brought “off filthy pavements” and allowed to “die in dignity.”</p>
<p>Hitchens famously thought otherwise. This “lying, thieving Albanian dwarf” wangled her way into the corridors of power, be they hypocritical evangelicals in the United States or Third World dictators. It did not matter where the money came from.</p>
<p>As Douglas Robertson explained in The Independent (Sep 5), Mother Teresa “was a celebrity, with a very well managed brand.” It was a brand that took the most reactionary views of the Church out of the doctrinaire closet and onto the streets, coupled with an unmatched capacity for fund raising through the Missionaries of Charity.</p>
<p>She damned contraception as wounding to husband and wife, an act of selfishness that retarded the natural processes of procreation. Shagging had to lead to having. “This turns to self and so destroys the gift of love in him or her.” She condemned abortion: “If a mother can kill her own child, then what is left of the West to be destroyed?”</p>
<p>Shaming leaders with sanctimonious authority, she would use poverty as her own whip of justification, her own alibi for existence. It mattered that people were poor because this provided some sense of grace – and naturally, a vital role for religious instruction. They were to suffer “like Christ’s passion.” Truly, a sadist in faith’s true employ.</p>
<p>Bone racking, debilitating suffering was solid gold to Mother Teresa, and could only ever be the logical outcome of a faith that insists on suffering in order to be saved. Naturally, she thrived in an environment where misery and poverty were of such levels, and of such depth. Jesus was truly overspending his time kissing everybody.</p>
<p>The cult of sainthood; Jesus lending his lips in repeated acts of generosity; the machine of publicity best seen in the cult of saints. Mother Teresa can now count herself in that company, with her biography well and truly crafted, ego and will acknowledged.</p>
<p>Notes.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="#_ftnref1" type="external">[1]</a> <a href="" type="internal">http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/fighting_words/2003/10/mommie_dearest.html</a></p>
<p><a href="#_ftnref2" type="external">[2]</a> <a href="" type="internal">https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/04/mother-teresa-admiration-sainthood-dying-kolkata</a></p> | Canonising Mother Teresa: the Selling of the Catholic Church | true | https://counterpunch.org/2016/09/08/canonising-mother-teresa-the-selling-of-the-catholic-church/ | 2016-09-08 | 4 |
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdynzruivVs#t=125" type="external">YouTube</a></p>
<p>Los Angeles-based rapper Nipsey Hussle has released his new album, “Mailbox Money,” online for free. So what’s in it for him?</p>
<p>The way Hussle plans on rustling up income from the album is by offering 100 physical copies for $1,000 each, a tactic similar to how he marketed his first album, “Crenshaw,” in 2013, making 1,000 hard copies available for $100 a pop.</p>
<p>The music industry has been in a downward spiral for many years when it comes to making money from record releases. Digital-savvy listeners increasingly tend to stream albums on platforms such as Spotify or illegally download them. Hussle came up with his new strategy after leaving Epic Records and has already sold 60 copies of the pricey version of “Mailbox Money.” <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jan/20/nipsey-hussle-rapper-mailbox-money-1000-dollars" type="external">The Guardian</a> checked in on his progress:</p>
<p />
<p>And what has he learnt about that psychology? Who are these people spending a good portion of a month’s rent on an album?</p>
<p>Hussle doesn’t hesitate before answering. Not even for a second. “The highest human act is to inspire,” he says. “Money is a tool – it’s the means, not the end. [Inspiration is] the metric that dictates whether or not a project is a success. It’s more realistic than trying to aim for radio play, or trying to satisfy an A&amp;R, or the other gatekeepers on these platforms. I don’t even know how to create with those things in mind. But if you tell me the goal is to inspire? That makes my job a lot easier.”</p>
<p>For the record, Hussle insists that he will always build a free component into his release plans, telling The Guardian that charging for “ubiquitous” digital music “would be like charging for air.” Lucky for him, at least 60 people are still willing to pay for it in a more solid state.</p>
<p>— Posted by <a href="" type="internal">Donald Kaufman.</a></p> | Rapper Nipsey Hussle Tries New Way to Sell Albums in Shifting Industry | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/rapper-nipsey-hussle-tries-new-way-to-sell-albums-in-shifting-industry/ | 2015-01-21 | 4 |
<p><a href="http://1648o73kablq2rveyn64glm1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/3479206647_9d92bcdbf5_z.jpg" type="external" />For the past two weeks, my wife and I have been on maternity leave. To help pass the time, we signed up for a free, one-month subscription to Netflix and started watching (of all things) Battlestar Galactica. If you were a follower back in 2004, you know why we love it. If you’ve never heard of it, don’t start watching it unless you have nothing pressing in your life – it’s addicting.</p>
<p>The show is set in outer space. Humans are displaced after a world war attack by human-created robots known as Cylons.&#160; The show is full of rich, biblical parallels, questions surrounding one’s theological anthropology and scenes dedicated to explaining God’s relationship to creation. &#160;And I can’t help but see the connections from this show to our faith. The brightest and most obvious to me is God’s relationship to our understanding of both time and space.</p>
<p>In the show, time is of the essence. As Cylons attempt to eradicate the human race, key leaders are forced to use “faster than light” technology to travel from galaxy to galaxy.&#160; With hair-pinning twists and turns, humans come within seconds of death (almost daily). Time matters because the humans are running out of it; and, inevitably, God seems to step in and intervene when all hope appears lost. These moments stand as load-bearing pillars for the humans, for their faith is renewed each time God steps in and saves.</p>
<p>Space matters too (and not just for the fact that the show is set in outer space).&#160; Space is a commodity. When a planet is destroyed and 50,000 refugees take to roughly 10 star ships to conduct life, it’s easy to see why space becomes such an issue. In cramped, decaying quarters, the humans must find resolve and hope in an ancient, canonized prophecy that speaks of a promised land called Earth. They suffer insurmountable odds holding on to the hope of a better tomorrow.&#160; With this renewed faith, seemingly insignificant spaces become launching pads for holy encounters.</p>
<p>And it’s here that I can’t seem to shake the similarities of this show to our faith. &#160;Our load-bearing pillars, that which holds up and stabilizes our faith, are bound up in meeting God at holy times and in sacred spaces.</p>
<p>Ancient Israelites helped us here by creating what they understood to be Sabbath and then the Temple.&#160; We too build our lives on the foundation that God shows up in both prepared times and spaces. Think about it; we mark our most religious experiences with both (i.e. Christmas, Easter, Retreat Centers, Pentecost, Sunday worship, Church Camp, Sanctuaries, Prayer Labyrinths, Homecomings, etc.).</p>
<p>Without these load-bearing times and spaces, we’d fail to appreciate, understand or acknowledge God’s living presence. Thankfully, we are people who hold tight to the belief that God makes our time holy and our spaces sacred. We are people who continually prepare both in a way that is set to receive. We are people who await God in the here and now.</p>
<p>And it should be this way, for the moment we stop looking for and expecting God’s abiding presence in both real time and space is the moment our faith ceases to bear anything of great substance, and it becomes something that functions a lot like a robot.</p> | What Battlestar Galactica taught me about faith | false | https://baptistnews.com/article/what-battlestar-galactica-taught-me-about-faith/ | 3 |
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<p>The 21-year-old white man suspected of having gunned down nine people at a historic black church in South Carolina, was back in Charleston Thursday after a sweeping manhunt that spanned two states.</p>
<p>Dylann Roof was caught after 11 a.m. ET following Wednesday night's massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was arrested about 245 miles north in Shelby, North Carolina, during a traffic stop, Charleston Police Chief Gregory Mullen said at a news conference.</p>
<p>Shelby police received a tip about a suspicious car in the area and arrested Roof without incident, Mullen added.</p>
<p>"I am so pleased that we were able to resolve this case quickly ... so that nobody else is harmed by this individual who obviously committed a tragic, heinous crime in the city of Charleston," Mullen said.</p>
<p>RELATED: <a href="" type="internal">Tributes Paid to 'Kind-Hearted' Victims</a></p>
<p>Local and state police, joined by federal agents, moved quickly to identify the suspect and track him down.</p>
<p>"In America, we don't let bad people like this get away with these dastardly deeds," Charleston Mayor Joe Riley Jr. told reporters.</p>
<p>South Carolina authorities went to North Carolina to bring Roof, who waived extradition in his initial court appearance, back to Charleston to face charges. By Thursday evening he was in transit and he was in the Charleston County Detention Center at 7:45 p.m., officials said.</p>
<p>Before Roof's capture, chilling details emerged about the attack. The gunman went to the church and asked for the pastor, the <a href="" type="internal">Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney</a>, and sat among congregants during a Bible study meeting, a survivor later told one of Pinckney's cousins.</p>
<p>He then opened fire on the gathering.</p>
<p>"At the conclusion of the Bible study, from what I understand, they just start hearing loud noises ringing out," cousin Sylvia Johnson told <a href="http://www.wistv.com/" type="external">NBC station WIS of Columbia</a>, "and he had already wounded — the suspect already wounded a couple of individuals."</p>
<p>She said one of those people was Pinckney, a 41-year-old married father of two and Democratic member of the state Senate.</p>
<p>The female survivor told Johnson that the gunman reloaded five different times and that her son was trying to "talk him out of doing the act of killing people."</p>
<p>But he wouldn't listen, she said.</p>
<p>"You rape our women, and you're taking over our country. And you have to go," the shooter told the group, according to the survivor's account to Johnson.</p>
<p>PHOTOS: <a href="" type="internal">South Carolina in Shock After Worshippers Shot Dead at Historic Church</a></p>
<p>Charleston police received the first 911 calls about 9:05 p.m. ET. Authorities say three people survived the massacre, while six women and three men were killed. Sources told NBC News that Pinckney was among the dead.</p>
<p>The county coroner identified the other victims as:</p>
<p>Early Thursday, authorities released images of Roof, who had fled in a black sedan, and vowed to apprehend him while a rattled community tried to understand why someone would open fire at Emanuel AME. The church is one of the nation's oldest African-American houses of worship, organized in 1816.</p>
<p>"We woke up today and the heart and soul of South Carolina is broken," a choked-up Gov. Nikki Haley said after Roof's arrest. "So we have some grieving to do, and we have some pain we have to go through. Parents are having to explain to their kids that they can go to church and feel safe — and that's not something we've had to deal with."</p>
<p>RELATED: <a href="" type="internal">All You Need to Know About Hate in America</a></p>
<p>Police records in Columbia, the state capital, show that <a href="" type="internal">Roof also faces charges of narcotics possession</a> in neighboring Lexington County after he was arrested in a Feb. 28 incident at a mall. An incident report said he had unprescribed suboxone, a Schedule 3 narcotic used to treat opiate addictions.</p>
<p>Roof was banned from the mall for a year, but in April, he was charged with trespassing after he was found in the same mall's parking lot, Columbia police said. He was banned from the mall for three more years.</p>
<p>Charleston officials said the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were helping with the investigation, which is being categorized as a hate crime. The Justice Department is also opening a parallel hate crime review into the case.</p>
<p>"Even as we struggle to comprehend this heartbreaking event, I want everyone in Charleston and everyone affected by this tragedy that we will do everything in our power to heal this community and make it whole again," U.S. Attorney Gen. Loretta Lynch told reporters.</p>
<p>Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., one of Congress' prominent black politicians, denounced the attack in his home state.</p>
<p>"I am distraught that this kind of hate still exists in our country," he said in a statement, adding, "We must take these horrific crimes that are happening across our states and teach our neighbors that hate is not the answer."</p>
<p>RELATED: <a href="" type="internal">Obama: Church Shooting 'Raises Questions About a Dark Part of Our History'</a></p>
<p>Officials in Charleston said the community takes pride in the historic houses of worship and the nickname of "The Holy City" — for the numerous church spires that make up the skyline.</p>
<p>"In Charleston, to have a horrible, hateful person go into a church and kill people there to pray and worship with each other is something that is beyond incomprehensible and is not explained," Mayor Riley said.</p>
<p>Anton Gunn, a former state representative who was friends with Pinckney, told NBC News on Thursday that was "afraid to go outside" while the gunman remained on the loose.</p>
<p>"Is he targeting other black people?" Gunn asked.</p>
<p>RELATED: <a href="" type="internal">Charleston Church Shooting: Social Media Reaction to Attack</a></p>
<p>Pastor John Paul Brown of the city's Mount Zion AME Church, who prayed with the Pinckney family Wednesday, remembered the slain pastor as a youth leader who began helping with Sunday school when he was only 7 or 8.</p>
<p>He wanted the suspect brought to justice alive.</p>
<p>"He needs to be dealt with. We need answers and people need closure," Brown said. "And if he was deranged, we need to know what was he doing with a gun."</p>
<p>Tory Fields, an associate minister at the Charleston County Ministers Conference, said the community desperately wants to know why someone would use a gun on a group of people armed with nothing more than Bibles.</p>
<p>"What we hear now is that there was a Caucasian white man who walked into an African-American church and opened fire while people were praying, having Bible study," Fields said. "That's unacceptable. That's unacceptable.</p>
<p>"We've been praying for a long time, we've been on our knees for a long time," Fields added. "But now it's time to stand up."</p>
<p /> | Charleston Church Shooting: Suspect Dylann Roof Captured in North Carolina | false | http://nbcnews.com/storyline/charleston-church-shooting/charleston-church-shooting-suspect-dylann-roof-captured-north-carolina-n377546 | 2015-06-19 | 3 |
<p />
<p>Rudy Giuliani, who took incoming from Romney in the debate last night on immigration and then slimed back with all his might, doing neither of them any good, methinks. Trouble is, Rudy’s record is staring him in the face and starting to bite him on the arse. Here’s the bed he’s made for himself as presented last week by chambermaid David Brooks: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/opinion/23brooks.html?_r=2&amp;oref=slogin&amp;oref=slogin" type="external">THE REAL RUDY</a>. And the heck of it is, this Rudy you can almost. . .like!</p>
<p /> | Brodner’s Person of the Day: Rudy Giuliani | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2007/11/brodners-person-day-rudy-giuliani-2/ | 2007-11-29 | 4 |
<p>Hard to believe much of the U.S. media is letting Donald Trump get away with the supposedly “Statesman-like” speech he gave in Warsaw. There he was, like some modern-day Churchill, there was Donald Trump, questioning whether or not the Western Civilization has the “will to survive”</p>
<p>“Do we have the confidence in our values to defend them at any cost” he gravely intoned….Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it.”</p>
<p>What an incredible joke—coming from Donald Trump, the man who incarnates the real threat that Western Civilization faces today. Not Isis, not terrorist-trained migrants, not “government bureaucracy” but the destruction of what were once considered the West’s—and America’s–basic values—respect for Freedom, Liberty, for the Press, for democratic institutions, like the courts and the office of the president itself. There was also once the idea that America was, somehow, a beacon to the rest of the world. But there he was, in Warsaw, spouting his hypocritical garbage even as he praised Poland’s would-be dictator President Andrzej Duda. &#160;Trump is also the same man, it can’t too often be noted, who—on his own say–has the power to launch a nuclear war</p>
<p>There he was, preaching to the rest of the world, the man who would pull out of the Paris accords and slam the door on immigrants, at the same time as he works to cripple programs aimed at countering the flood of destitute from the most poverty stricken regions of the globe.</p>
<p>There he was, the man who recently strutted proudly aboard the new, incredibly sophisticated American aircraft carrier, the Gerald Ford, which cost more than $13 billion dollars and is only part of the huge new military build up that Trump has ordered. (A lot of good that bristling floating behemoth will do against enemies like ISIS and the North Korea.)</p>
<p>Ironic though—that $13 billion price tag—is more than the amount the U.S. decided it could NOT afford to build another rail tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan. Indeed, not just the tunnels and Penn Station, but much of America’s antiquated infrastructure has sunk to Third World status.</p>
<p>But the ultimate irony of Trump’s Warsaw address is that it should have been directed to Americans—not Europeans. Those in the best position to defend basic Western values right now are the leaders of the Republican party.&#160; Until they are ready to publicly admit what they all privately understand—that their country is being led by a dangerously incompetent psychopath—until they are ready to admit and act on that knowledge, then not just Western values—but global civilization will continue at risk.</p> | Trump in Warsaw | true | https://counterpunch.org/2017/07/07/trump-in-warsaw/ | 2017-07-07 | 4 |
<p />
<p />
<p />
<p /> STEPHEN JANIS, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, TRNN: The streets of Baltimore are ostensibly calm, a peace that appears to be the result of a swift indictment of six officers in the death of Freddie Gray, who died a week after his arrest from a severed spine. But simmering beneath the surface is a discontent over who is responsible for the civic malaise and failed policies to put the city's blighted neighborhoods and aggressive policing under intense international media scrutiny.
<p />
<p />Part of the concern is over what happens next to the police department. Today the Mayor asked the Justice Department to do a full civil rights investigation, a step up from the current probe which could not compel change from its findings. But as more federal involvement appears to be in the offing, many say the community is wary and tense over fears that a police department used to operating unfettered will be hard to hold accountable without any real community oversight.
<p />
<p />TAWANDA JONES, SISTER OF TYRONE WEST: I just feel like I wish they would have listened, and I'm praying now that they listen. It's still not too late to listen.
<p />
<p />JANIS: Some of that tension boiled over earlier this week as protesters disrupted a council meeting to call attention to the suspension of rules that allowed protesters to be held for up to 48 hours without receiving a bail review.
<p />
<p />Coupled with the Mayor's refusal to answer questions at a Friday afternoon press conference while the city was still under lockdown and in the throes of crisis, the mood among activists is decidedly skeptical.
<p />
<p />JONES: Tyrone West, Anthony Anderson, George Booker Wells. Freddie Gray is just [incompr.] practice.
<p />
<p />JANIS: And it wasn't just City Hall under fire. A hastily-organized workgroup in Annapolis will be convened in June to reconsider failed efforts to reform how police are disciplined in Maryland. A body that excluded one of the key advocates for change in the past, state delegate Jill Carter.
<p />
<p />JILL CARTER, MARYLAND STATE DELEGATE (D-41): What's really important is that--I worked with a lot of the organizers and advocates and--more than 300 throughout the course of session came down to Annapolis to testify of their own, tell their personal stories, and then also to protest. And so the way that--what's really going on is, to silence me and to take me off of this workgroup is to silence them.
<p />
<p />JANIS: All of this occurred against a backdrop of a prospect of more federal oversight of the city's beleaguered police department amid a curious move by the city to augment officer training. On Tuesday, Attorney General Loretta Lynch visited Baltimore to speak with activists, community leaders, and police about the death of Gray.
<p />
<p />ATTORNEY GENERAL LORETTA LYNCH: But like all of us in law enforcement, I know that all of you know what you're getting into. We think that we do.
<p />
<p />JANIS: Her visit coincided with news that the city is hiring University of Baltimore law professor Byron Warnken to teach police how to make legal stops.
<p />
<p />BYRON WARNKEN, MARYLAND ATTORNEY AND LAW PROFESSOR: I think that the last two weeks is just a demonstration that we constantly need to make sure that police officers are trained and in fact are doing what they were trained to do.
<p />
<p />JANIS: But even with more federal intervention in the offing, advocates for change are wary. Dayvon Love, policy director for the Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, says federal intervention won't help unless community, not just the government, has their own tools to hold police accountable.
<p />
<p />DAYVON LOVE, POLICY DIRECTOR, LEADERS OF A BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE: I mean, ultimately like I've always said, it's about independent black institution building, developing our fortitude to force law enforcement and political establishment to act in the way that is in our best interests.
<p />
<p />JANIS: Reporting from Baltimore, Stephen Janis for The Real News Network.
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<p />End
<p />
<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | Activists Say Feds Alone Won't Fix Police Department | true | http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D31%26Itemid%3D74%26jumival%3D13819 | 2015-05-07 | 4 |
<p>The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) obtained two leaked emails from former military prosecutors at Guantanamo Bay over the weekend. The emails both claim that the military committees set up to try detainees at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba are “rigged, fraudulent, and thin on evidence against the accused.”</p>
<p>In the first email obtained by the Australian news organization, Gitmo prosecutor, Major Robert Preston, wrote to his supervisor that the trial process at Guantanamo was perpetrating a fraud on the American public. Preston also wrote that the cases being tried were insignificant at best.</p>
<p>“I consider the insistence on pressing ahead with cases that would be marginal even if properly prepared to be a severe threat to the reputation of the military justice system and even a fraud on the American people,” Preston wrote. “Surely they don’t expect that this fairly half-arsed effort is all that we have been able to put together after all this time … I lie awake worrying about this every night,” he wrote.</p>
<p>“I find it almost impossible to focus on my part of mission … After all, writing a motion saying that the process will be full and fair when you don’t really believe it is kind of hard, particularly when you want to call yourself an officer and lawyer.”</p>
<p>Shortly after Preston sent these emails to his superior he was transferred from his post.</p>
<p>In the second email obtained by the ABC, Captain John Carr, who also left his position after his email claimed that the commissions at the prison appeared to be rigged, wrote, “When I volunteered to assist with this process and was assigned to this office, I expected there would at least be a minimal effort to establish a fair process and diligently prepare cases against significant accused. Instead, I find a half-hearted and disorganized effort by a skeleton group of relatively inexperienced attorneys to prosecute fairly low-level accused in a process that appears to be rigged.”</p>
<p>Carr also wrote that Gitmo prosecutors were continually told by the chief prosecutor that the panel set up to try detainees was specially selected in order to guarantee convictions.</p>
<p>“You have repeatedly said to the office that the military panel will be handpicked and will not acquit these detainees and that we only needed to worry about building a record for the review panel,” Carr wrote.</p>
<p>I’m sure most readers of these pages aren’t the least bit surprised by these two former military prosecutors allegations. As we already know, justice isn’t being dished out at Gitmo. It’s being choked out. The actions of the US military in Guantanamo’s court are in defiance of the Supreme Court’s order in the Hamdi v Rumsfeld case in which Justice O’Connor, writing the majority opinion, argued that Guantanamo detainees must be given “a meaningful opportunity to contest the factual basis for that detention before a neutral decision maker.”</p>
<p>Alas, fairness isn’t the issue here. As the aforementioned case guaranteed, despite the detainees “meaningful opportunity to contest” their detentions, they are still not allowed any meaningful legal retaliatory rights.</p>
<p>Writing for CounterPunch on June 29 of 2003, Elaine Cassel explained, “On this one (the Hamdi case), a 6-3 majority ruled that those poor bastards in Guantanamo, those men that have been there for going on three years and, we now presume, subject to all kinds of physical torture and mental and sexual abuse, can file a petition for writ of habeas corpus challenging their detention, but, so what? The court was silent on what trial courts will do with the petitions. Presumably, let them file their papers then promptly toss them out.”</p>
<p>So there you have it: first the trials at Gitmo are rigged, then the unjustly convicted are not allowed to challenge their incarcerations. All ethical considerations aside – what we have here is a constitutional crisis of epic proportions.</p>
<p>Joshua Frank is the author of the brand new book, Left Out!: How Liberals Helped Reelect George W. Bush, which has just been published by Common Courage Press. You can order a copy at a discounted rate at <a href="http://www.brickburner.org/" type="external">www.brickburner.org</a>. Joshua can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | Gitmo’s Kangaroo Court | true | https://counterpunch.org/2005/08/01/gitmo-s-kangaroo-court/ | 2005-08-01 | 4 |
<p>On Thursday, Missouri state Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal (D) posted the following comment in a Facebook thread: “I hope Trump is assassinated!”</p>
<p>Shortly after the Facebook post, the Secret Service noted they were “looking into” the remark. Additionally, politicians from both parties are not only condemning Chappelle-Nadal, but asking that she resign.</p>
<p>Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) released an official <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/missouri-s-top-democrats-call-for-senator-to-resign-for/article_406059d6-1aa4-52fc-89ee-2a6a69baaf2e.html" type="external">statement</a> on Thursday, which reads: “I condemn it. It's outrageous. And she should resign.”</p>
<p>Rep. William Lacy Clay <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/missouri-s-top-democrats-call-for-senator-to-resign-for/article_406059d6-1aa4-52fc-89ee-2a6a69baaf2e.html" type="external">echoed</a> McCaskill: “[Calling] for the assassination of the President is a federal crime.” He added that Chappelle-Nadal is “an embarrassment to our state" and "she should resign immediately.”</p>
<p>Other Democrats have made similar statements.</p>
<p>Now, the Republican governor of the state, Eric Greitens, is also <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/missouri-s-top-democrats-call-for-senator-to-resign-for/article_406059d6-1aa4-52fc-89ee-2a6a69baaf2e.html" type="external">calling</a> for Chappelle-Nadal’s resignation, noting that while “we can have differences in our country … no one should encourage political violence.”</p>
<p>Chappelle-Nadal, however, is defiant.</p>
<p>Although she admitted to <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article167755572.html" type="external">The Kansas City Star</a> that her assassination comment “was wrong,” she claims she didn't mean it, and that she is simply “frustrated” because President Trump is “causing hate.”</p>
<p>Despite her controversial remark, Chappelle-Nadal says she will not resign:</p>
<p>In response to the state senator’s refusal to resign, Governor Eric Greitens is calling on her colleagues to vote for her expulsion:</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/missouri-gov-eric-greitens-demands-removal-state-senator/story?id=49305931" type="external">ABC News</a>, Lt. Governor Mike Parson, also a Republican, “said he will ask senators to remove Chappelle-Nadal from office if she does not resign by the time lawmakers convene September 13 to consider veto overrides.”</p> | State Sen. Refuses To Resign After 'I Hope Trump Is Assassinated' Facebook Post | true | https://dailywire.com/news/19961/state-sen-refuses-resign-after-i-hope-trump-frank-camp | 2017-08-20 | 0 |
<p>Millions of football fans must have felt grateful to President Trump for provoking the entire National Football League into a goal line stand last month. The sight of hundreds of players on the sidelines, arms linked with coaches and owners during the playing of the national anthem, not only soothed fears that a disrupted season lay in the NFL’s future, but gave those fans tacit permission to keep on enjoying the games without being&#160;too disturbed about brain trauma on the field, collusion in the front office, or demands for racial justice.</p>
<p>Once again, Trump had made it all about Trump, then quickly blitzed on to fresh outrages.</p>
<p>Had anything&#160;really&#160;happened?</p>
<p>Maybe.</p>
<p />
<p>One long-time national sports conscience, Richard Lapchick, director of the&#160; <a href="http://www.tidesport.org/" type="external">Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports</a>, declared that Sunday, September 24th, was “the most important sports day since [Muhammad] Ali decided not to fight in Vietnam.”&#160; From it, he foresaw the possibility of a civic conversation emerging that would create “unity in our communities.”</p>
<p>On the other hand, could that Sunday of Accord have actually been no more than a Hail Mary pass designed to briefly shore up a vulnerable sport? Could that show of NFL unity have helped to block growing concerns that, amid a blizzard of negative news and views, pro football was beginning to fade as America’s most popular spectator sport?</p>
<p>In other words, could Donald Trump have saved professional football?&#160; Give him credit for this: he certainly spun a mild demonstration against racism into a flagrant case of disrespect for the flag, the military, our wars, patriotism, the nation, and above all else, of course, Donald J. Trump. With his usual skill, he then reshaped that sizzling package into yet another set of presidential pep rallies for his own fans, that much-invoked “base.” In the process, he also helped highlight the Jock Spring that had stirred last year when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first refused to stand for the anthem.&#160; Though it seemed to fade after the initial blast of publicity, it was revitalized last month when the president&#160; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/22/donald-trump-nfl-national-anthem-protests" type="external">labeled</a>&#160;any football player who knelt or sat or stayed in the locker room during the playing of the pre-game anthem a “son of a bitch,” the same term he used last year to&#160; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxOkxECKy-8" type="external">describe</a>&#160;the killer in the Orlando nightclub massacre.</p>
<p>Trump’s slur clearly resonated with the resentment many everyday white male sports fans often seem to have when it comes to bigger, younger, better-paid African-Americans who don’t appear grateful enough for the chance to live out their daydreams. Keep in mind that the NFL, like the National Basketball Association, is a predominately black league. Major League Baseball, on the other hand, has a relatively small percentage of African-American players, although many Hispanics and Asians. ( <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/oakland-catcher-bruce-maxwell-breaks-baseballs-politics-line/" type="external">Only one</a>&#160;active baseball player, Oakland’s Bruce Maxwell, an African American, has taken a knee.)</p>
<p>The Coming of the Jock Spring When it comes to racism and professional sports, the arc from Muhammad Ali’s refusal to be inducted into the Army on April 28, 1967, to Lapchick’s next most important sports day is a distinctly interrupted story. In that long-gone year, the Olympic Project for Human Rights, led by a San Jose State sociology professor, Harry Edwards, staged protests against racism.&#160; Among their demands was that Ali, the heavyweight champion, be allowed to fight again, since every American boxing commission had by then refused to license him and his passport had been taken away. Those protests culminated in an&#160; <a href="https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=Smith+and+Carlos+in+Mexico+City&amp;fr=yhs-avg-fh_lsonsw&amp;hspart=avg&amp;hsimp=yhs-fh_lsonsw&amp;imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fassets.rollingstone.com%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Flist%2F167d492ce7ab0a7655b674a95a7ff38f57d3a931.jpg#id=0&amp;iurl=http%3A%2F%2Fassets.rollingstone.com%2Fassets%2Fimages%2Flist%2F167d492ce7ab0a7655b674a95a7ff38f57d3a931.jpg&amp;action=click" type="external">enduring image of resistance</a>: African-American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos thrusting black-gloved fists into the air from the medal stand of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.</p>
<p>The Empire immediately struck back (as it would do 50 years later to Colin Kaepernick). Smith and Carlos were thrown off the U.S. team and hustled out of Mexico. They spent years as jobless heroes.&#160; Ali himself would not be allowed to return to the ring for another three years. The boundaries of the power of athletes to express themselves politically were now set. The O.J. Simpson and Michael Jordan generations of black sports stars would remain determinedly apolitical, concentrated on pleasing the white men who controlled their endorsement contracts. The most revolutionary movement in sports in those years came from women tennis players, led by Billie Jean King, who fought for equal economic rights and an end to the tyranny and corruption of what passed for amateurism (still widely practiced in college sports today).</p>
<p>The Jedi returned in 2016 when, after a week of Black Lives Matter demonstrations and a lone gunman’s attack that left five Dallas police officers dead, basketball stars Carmello Anthony, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Paul exhorted their fellow athletes at an ESPN awards gala to&#160; <a href="http://people.com/celebrity/lebron-james-dwyane-wade-carmelo-anthony-and-chris-paul-speak-at-espys/" type="external">speak up</a>, oppose racial profiling, and use their influence to renounce all violence.&#160; As James said at the time, “The four of us we cannot ignore the realities of the current state of America. The events of the past week have put a spotlight on the injustice, distrust, and anger that plague so many of us. The system is broken. But the problems are not new, the violence is not new, and the racial divide definitely is not new. But the urgency for change is at an all time high.”</p>
<p>It briefly seemed as if a Jock Spring might indeed be stirring and it seemed fitting as well that it would start in basketball, where international stars with guaranteed contracts in a relatively liberal league had some clout. But there would be no meaningful follow-up until, on August 26, 2016, in a more conservative and controlled sport, Kaepernick sat down during the national anthem before a pre-season game. It was the single most vivid image of American resistance to racism since Smith and Carlos. He was Rosa Parks with a helmet. At some point, someone&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176237/tomgram%3A_robert_lipsyte%2C_donald_trump%2C_colin_kaepernick%2C_and_me_on_super_bowl_sunday/" type="external">finally noted</a>&#160;the link that connected Kaepernick to Smith and Carlos: Harry Edwards, the now-retired Berkeley sociology professor, was a 49ers team adviser.</p>
<p>As the season progressed, Kaepernick regularly dropped to his right knee because, he said, he refused “to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” He later referred specifically to the shooting deaths of unarmed black men by white police officers.</p>
<p>Then-candidate Trump’s&#160; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/aug/29/donald-trump-colin-kaepernick-national-anthem-protest" type="external">immediate response</a>&#160;was: “I think it’s a terrible thing, and you know, maybe he should find a country that works better for him. Let him try — it won’t happen.”</p>
<p>It took the rest of the season, but another link between 1968 and 2016 became apparent: Kaepernick would be shoved out of the game and left a jobless hero to some (and an ungrateful turncoat to others).&#160; By season’s end, he had become a free agent and Trump, of course, had become president. In a move that could only please the new president, the NFL owners apparently colluded in informally banning Kaepernick from the game. A healthy, 29-year-old with Super Bowl experience, he hasn’t been hired since, not even as a backup quarterback. The rationales have included claims that he’s lost his skills or doesn’t fit into existing offensive schemes. They&#160; <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2017/05/16/colin-kaepernick-is-statistically-superior-to-half-of-the-nfls-backups-and-deserves-a-job/?utm_term=.2d8479af1e24" type="external">ring hollow</a>&#160;when you compare his supposedly degraded abilities to those of some of the lesser talents who take the field every week.</p>
<p>Even if there was a billionaire team owner whose politics were sympathetic, it seems clear that Kaepernick was simply not considered worth the trouble in Donald Trump’s America. Owners of sports teams are dependent not only on fan support but on media and political complicity to sell tickets and to strong-arm cities into financing their stadiums. Being perceived as soft on “unpatriotic” black athletes could damage their relationships with their own mostly conservative base.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the blooming of a Jock Spring looked even more likely this season as other athletes stepped up and dropped down. Kaepernick was unsigned but stars like Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett, Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, and Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins kept the protest alive.&#160; One of Jenkins’ teammates, Chris Long, who is white, even&#160; <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/eagles-chris-long-backs-teammate-national-anthem-protest-article-1.3421338" type="external">stood beside him</a>, a hand supportively on his shoulder.&#160; After the game, he told reporters, “I think it’s a good time for people that look like me to be here for people that are fighting for equality.”</p>
<p>There even seemed to be a spring awakening in the grandstands and living rooms of America. Some fans questioned the morality of finding pleasure in the deadly head-banging of black guys killing themselves for the entertainment of white guys, even as others began to complain, in a Trumpian fashion, about the intrusion of social issues into what had been considered their sanctuary from real life. There was concern, too, that politics, which they had been told has no place in sports, would upset the personal dynamics within their favorite teams. Coaches have always emphasized the need for “unit cohesion” — the same catchphrase the military used in the past when it was still trying to keep either blacks, women, or gays out of the line-up.</p>
<p>Trump Takes the Field And then, of course, President Trump strode onto the field. Not only did he put those uppity black “son of a bitch” players in their place, but he impugned their manhood by&#160; <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/trump-violence-nfl-davante-adams-bce62aac0d27/" type="external">saying</a>&#160;that there wasn’t enough violence in the game. He similarly dissed the owners and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, daring them to fire any player who refused to stand for the anthem and later tried to go&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/us/politics/trump-nfl-jemele-hill.html" type="external">after them</a>&#160;where it hurts,&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/917694644481413120" type="external">tweeting</a>, “Why is the NFL getting massive tax breaks while at the same time disrespecting our Anthem, Flag and Country? Change tax law!” (This was, however, a ludicrous claim, since only the NFL’s headquarters, a non-profit corporation,&#160;qualified for such exemptions and the league had waived that right several years ago for public relations reasons.)</p>
<p>As a result, pro football’s arm-linking response seemed, at the time, like an attempt to redeem itself to its fandom.&#160; It would, however, turn out to be a gesture that signified nothing more than a hollow pageant of pragmatic unity. To survive, in other words, the league reacted not with a show of force, but with a photo op that they thought might be reassuring to fans and advertisers alike.</p>
<p>That Sunday of Accord was kicked off by Pakistani-born Shahid Khan of the Jacksonville Jaguars, the league’s first non-white majority owner and one of at least six owners who had&#160; <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2017/09/24/shahid-khan-the-jaguars-owner-who-stood-with-his-team-has-long-espoused-the-american-dream/?utm_term=.1db64c54397f" type="external">donated</a>&#160;a million dollars or more to Trump’s campaign. His team was playing the Baltimore Ravens in London as part of a plan to bolster pro football by globalizing it and it was there, thanks to the time difference, that he became the first owner to stand entwined with his players.</p>
<p>The NFL is, in fact, moving toward the end of a 10-year collective bargaining agreement with those same players.&#160; It ends after the 2020 season, already sure to be a politically charged year. This will be the first agreement since the full impact of the league’s betrayal of those same players — its willingness to ignore the widespread brain damage the sport causes participants — became well documented in the&#160; <a href="http://nytexplorer.com/search?q=%22Alan+Schwarz%22&amp;commit=Search" type="external">groundbreaking reporting</a>&#160;of the&#160;New York Times’s Alan Schwarz and then the book and the film&#160; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0770437567/ref=nosim/?tag=tomdispatch-20" type="external">League of Denial</a>.</p>
<p>The&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/sports/football/nfl-cte.html" type="external">latest revelations</a>&#160;of the link between playing pro football and brain damage put the NFL in the same league with those other classic civic criminals, the&#160; <a href="http://www.merchantsofdoubt.org/" type="external">tobacco companies</a>&#160;and the&#160; <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/scientific-study-concludes-exxon-mobil-misled-climate-change/" type="external">Big Oil</a>&#160;promoters of climate change denial, not to mention a sycophantic media that offered years of cover for all the deniers by creating a false balance in its reporting and claiming a lack of definitive scientific evidence.</p>
<p>Still, the NFL’s biggest concern is undoubtedly the potential drying up of its player and fan pipelines, which has already begun (and to which the president has been lending a distinctly helping hand when, at least, it comes to his base and the league’s fan base). Despite attempts to create safer practice models and tackling techniques for the sport, there has been a distinct drop in youth football participation in recent years as&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/19/sports/football/tackle-football-brain-youth.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&amp;smid=nytcore-iphone-share" type="external">evidence mounts</a>&#160;that early play leads to harm.</p>
<p>Prominent players and former players have&#160; <a href="http://www.thesportster.com/football/top-12-nfl-players-who-wouldnt-let-their-kids-play-football/" type="external">even declared</a>&#160;that they would not allow their sons to play or recommend the sport to other children.&#160; As former Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback and&#160;Fox NFL Sunday&#160;broadcaster Terry Bradshaw put it, “If I had a son today, and I would say this to all our audience and our viewers out there, I would not let him play football.” After 20 years at ESPN, former player Ed Cunningham even quit broadcasting because of his concerns about traumatic brain injuries. “I can no longer be in that cheerleader’s spot,” he&#160; <a href="https://deadspin.com/espn-college-football-analyst-quits-over-concerns-for-p-1798631953" type="external">said</a>.</p>
<p>The Sundays since that day of linked arms have offered anything but conclusive evidence as to who’s really winning the hearts and minds of football fans and Americans more generally, but if a guess had to be made, so far the embattled Donald Trump has proven to be the provisional winner. He’s used it to rally his base (and&#160; <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/29/politics/national-anthem-nfl-cnn-poll/index.html" type="external">Republicans</a>&#160;more generally), while the protests have continued, but at a diminished level, and the owners have begun slipping away from the sidelines and returning to their luxury boxes. Having had their moment of symbolism with their players, they now seem to be preparing for another kind of symbolism entirely.&#160; In their fashion, they are reportedly getting ready to lock arms with Donald Trump by threatening either to&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/sports/football/nfl-goodell-anthem-kneeling.html" type="external">bench</a>&#160;any players who kneel for the anthem or possibly change league rules to make standing&#160; <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/10/10/national-anthem-nfl-owners-rule-change-players-stand-update" type="external">mandatory</a>.</p>
<p>And yet, as far as we can tell, the fans have&#160; <a href="http://thebiglead.com/2017/09/23/donald-trump-on-nfl-protesters-fans-should-change-the-channel-or-leave-the-stadium/" type="external">not been heeding</a>&#160;Trump’s directive to “leave the stadium. I guarantee things will stop. Things will stop. Just pick up and leave. Pick up and leave. Not the same game anymore, anyway.”</p>
<p>Oh wait, one fan actually did.</p>
<p>On Sunday, October 8th, Vice President Pence&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/08/us/politics/pence-anthem-colts.html" type="external">walked out</a>&#160;of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis after about 20 members of the San Francisco 49ers took a knee during the anthem.&#160; Supposedly there for a ceremony honoring retired Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, he had flown in (and would fly out) at taxpayer’s expense (chalk up a quick&#160; <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/08/politics/pence-indianapolis-flights-cost/index.html" type="external">$242,500</a>) and, reportedly at the&#160; <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2017/10/08/vice-president-pence-walks-out-of-colts-game-over-49ers-national-anthem-protests/" type="external">president’s bidding</a>, he was clearly planning to walk out as soon as a knee hit the ground.&#160; (A protest was, of course, guaranteed since it was Kaepernick’s former team on the field.)&#160; The VP was, it seems,&#160; <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2017/10/08/vice-president-pence-walks-out-of-colts-game-over-49ers-national-anthem-protests/" type="external">running a play</a>&#160;for the Coach-in-Chief.</p>
<p>Soon after, in a&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/sports/football/nfl-goodell-anthem-kneeling.html" type="external">letter</a>&#160;to owners, Commissioner Goodell supported standing for the anthem, while one of the most powerful owners, Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, threatened to bench any player who did not do so.</p>
<p>The players had yet to come together in any meaningful way either as free men or as mercenary gladiators.&#160; A journeyman veteran, DeAngelo Hall of the Washington Redskins,&#160; <a href="https://theundefeated.com/features/nfl-washington-redskins-deangelo-hall-tough-decisions-facing-players-over-anthem-protests/?ex_cid=TUemail" type="external">spoke openly</a>&#160;about his concerns for personal financial security, while Russell Okun of the Los Angeles Chargers published an&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/sports/russell-okung-nfl-anthem-protests-trump.html" type="external">open letter</a>&#160;calling on the players to address inequality together.</p>
<p>Then, a seeming turnover.&#160; Kaepernick&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2017/10/16/sports/football/16reuters-football-nfl-kaepernick.html" type="external">filed</a>&#160;a grievance against the NFL, charging own collusion against his employment.&#160; A few days later, the owners&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/17/sports/football/nfl-anthem-protests-trump.html" type="external">voted</a>, at least for the moment, not to penalize players who refused to stand for the anthem, prompting a protesting tweet — “Total disrespect for our great country!” — from Trump.</p>
<p>So even as the Sunday of Accord became a distant dream, the reality of a Jock Spring was still spiraling in the air. Would it lead to a score by progressive players, would it be intercepted by Trump?&#160; Would America — sports fans and a-sportuals alike — come to understand that the issue was more than a political football? Would they grasp that it was a locker-room lesson in how kneeling for principle could be a man’s way of finally standing up?</p>
<p>Robert Lipsyte, author of the memoir&#160; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0061769142/ref=nosim/?tag=tomdispatch-20" type="external">An Accidental Sportswriter</a>, is the&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176315/tomgram%3A_robert_lipsyte%2C_hail_to_the_duffer_in_chief/" type="external">jock culture correspondent</a>&#160;for&#160;TomDispatch.</p> | Trump’s Game Plan | true | https://truthdig.com/articles/trumps-game-plan/ | 2017-10-21 | 4 |
<p>It’s time for the 9/11 truth movement to resolve its Pentagon debate by applying the scientific method. Doing so points conclusively to large plane impact.</p>
<p>For over fifteen years the 9/11 truth movement and some of its most visible leaders have debated this question: Did a large plane, matching a Boeing 757 in general and Flight AA 77 in particular, hit the Pentagon on September 11, 2001? In the last several years a group of scientists and engineers have presented a number of scientific papers that answer both of these questions with a resounding “Yes.” A number of these scientists and engineers are affiliated with the organization <a href="http://www.scientistsfor911truth.org/" type="external">Scientists for 9/11 Truth</a>, which also fully supports the hypothesis that the impacts and resulting fires from the Boeing 767s crashing into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers (WTC1 and WTC2) on 9/11 could not account for the destruction of these buildings. Building 7 (WTC7) was destroyed without being impacted by any plane. The evidence is clear that all three of these buildings were destroyed by some form of controlled demolition. While the 9/11 truth movement generally agrees on what happened in New York City, thus far there has been no closure on the Pentagon debate.</p>
<p>As an organization, Scientists for 9/11 Truth has stood virtually alone in maintaining large plane impact at the Pentagon together with controlled demolition of the buildings in New York City. With the publication of three new works, cited below, there are now indications that the 9/11 truth movement may be ready to adopt this position also. See, for example, <a href="https://www.911tap.org/557-news-releases/615-the-pentagon-plane-puzzle%20." type="external">this article</a> on the Truth Action Project website.</p>
<p>The Pentagon question has divided the 9/11 truth movement, impeding its thrust toward truth and public credibility. Despite hundreds of eyewitnesses who saw a large plane fly towards the Pentagon and impact it, critics continue to claim otherwise, mainly because the crash scene was unlike those for other plane crashes. Few critics considered that for this unique event—a high-speed impact of a large plane with a building—preconceived expectations of the observed outcome are of little value. The plane largely penetrated the building, leaving many small fragments outside but relatively few large pieces. In a recent conversation with a “no plane impact” advocate, the advocate stated “We will only know for sure what hit the Pentagon when the people who know the answers come forward.” In fact, these “people” came forward a long time ago in video and audio recordings and in written statements, starting on 9/11 itself. Regrettably, the 9/11 truth movement at large either does not know about these hundreds of witnesses, or else has refused to listen to or believe them.</p>
<p>Eyewitnesses affirm large plane impact, and the damage trail establishes the plane path before and after impact with a high degree of precision. The plane flew low from the southwest straight toward the Pentagon on a path making a 52-degree angle with the Pentagon’s west wall. It clipped a tree; downed five light poles; struck a fence, a generator-trailer, and a low concrete wall; and impacted the building at the first and second floors, creating an 18-foot wide hole atop a 96-foot gash in the façade. Outside, plane debris was strewn to the north near the Heliport because of the speed and angle of impact. The light poles’ separation gives a plane wingspan in the range 100 to 130 feet (a Boeing 757 wingspan is 124 feet 10 inches), while the low concrete wall and generator-trailer damage separation indicates an engine separation of approximately 43 feet (Boeing 757 engine separation is 42.5 feet). See Figure 1.</p>
<p>Inside the Pentagon, the plane was increasingly fragmented by the steel and concrete columns, creating a fluid-like flow of solid debris. This flow of material destroyed or damaged many internal columns, defining a continuation of the outside path, and ultimately created an exit hole in the C ring wall.&#160;Debris, including plane parts, spilled into the AE Drive in the direction of the original plane path. Internal columns were bowed and abraded in the flight path direction and much of the first floor suddenly filled with debris. The first floor ceiling beyond the collapsed portion of the building remained intact.</p>
<p>These elements all confirm a flight path that is supported by eyewitness accounts, the radar data and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data, which was released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). There are over 62 documented eyewitnesses who saw the plane impact. Fourteen (14) witnesses saw one or more of the light poles struck. Four witnesses saw the right engine/wing hit the generator-trailer, while one witness saw the left engine hit the low concrete wall and break apart. Multiple witnesses traced the passage of the plane as it flew from the Sheraton Hotel (last radar reading) to impact at the Pentagon. There were some initial problems reading the last frame of the FDR data, but the properly decoded FDR data traces the plane’s path all the way from take-off at Dulles Airport to impact at the Pentagon.</p>
<p>Such a confluence of physical, eyewitness, and other evidence provides an overwhelming case for a large plane—a Boeing 757 and specifically Flight AA 77—impacting and penetrating the Pentagon on 9/11. The initial hypothesis of large plane impact, when examined for its consequences as shown by the eyewitness testimony, physical damage, and other supporting evidence, survives the scientific method test and becomes a theory that explains virtually all the observations. No other hypothesis, such as impact by a missile or pre-planted bombs, has even ventured to explain all this evidence.</p>
<p>This illustrates the difference between a hypothesis and a theory, and the application of the scientific method in solving physical problems. Those who deny large plane impact offer only criticisms or alternative hypotheses, not a theory. A complete theory examines the consequences of a hypothesis, compares these consequences with the evidence, and discards the hypothesis if it leads to results that do not match the evidence. Figure 2 illustrates the flow of analysis using the scientific method.</p>
<p>Let’s begin with the topmost oval in Figure 2 and ask a question: What caused the damage and deaths at the Pentagon on the morning of 9/11?</p>
<p>To answer this question, we first do some background research.</p>
<p>Eyewitnesses: According to eyewitnesses, a large plane flew (in about six seconds according to FDR data) from the vicinity of the Sheraton Hotel at the west end of the Navy Annex and impacted the Pentagon west wall. It flew above Columbia Pike, crossed the clover-leaf intersection of Columbia Pike with S. Washington Boulevard (Route 27), clipped a tree and impacted five light poles, a fence and a generator-trailer and a low concrete wall, all before hitting the Pentagon façade and then largely disappeared inside the building. Plane parts rained down on the Pentagon lawn and the highway that runs parallel to the west wall. Those who observed this fleeting event from outside the Pentagon, from the standstill traffic on route 27, from the vicinity of Arlington Cemetery, and from nearby buildings, are in substantial agreement that impact by a large plane occurred. Some witnesses identified the plane from its silver color and red and blue markings as an American Airlines plane, a Boeing 757, or both.</p>
<p>Witnesses to the aftermath of plane impact who did not see the plane hit, saw many small pieces of plane “confetti” as well as some large pieces of silver fuselage. Some witnesses did not see any large plane parts, and did not recognize the confetti for what it was. Critics have seized upon these latter accounts to try to prove that there was no plane. These accounts cannot negate the many positive observations of others as well as the abundance of photographic evidence. There are also photographs and a significant number of witnesses who described seeing plane parts in the interior of the building and in the AE Drive.</p>
<p>Photographs and Videos: Photographs taken outside and inside the Pentagon show many small pieces of silver fuselage with AA colored markings, plane and engine parts, landing gear and a tire. Abraded and bent interior columns show the direction of flow of fragmented plane parts, aligning with the known outside path to within a few degrees. Much of the first floor area under the non-collapsed ceiling suddenly filled with debris. Outside the C ring hole, debris and plane parts were strewn in the AE Drive in alignment with the flight path.</p>
<p>Radar and FDR Data: Figures 3 and 4 show the plane’s path from takeoff at Dulles Airport to a point close to the Sheraton Hotel (radar data) and to impact at the Pentagon (FDR data).</p>
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<p>Pentagon Security Videos: Recent work on the video from two Pentagon security cameras shows that they captured images of the approaching, low-flying plane. In his paper “ <a href="http://www.9-11tv.org/the-pentagon-plane-puzzle/85-pentagon-area-surveillance-cameras" type="external">The 85 Pentagon Area Surveillance Cameras</a>,” Ken Jenkins explains the images, how the date error came about, and the likely origins for the trailing white smoke. There is no evidence at this time that the government is withholding other images of the event captured by the surveillance cameras.</p>
<p>Ken Jenkins and David Chandler also recently took pairs of sequential images from the Pentagon surveillance video cameras, putting them together as you would see them in what is called a blink comparator. In this way, the image of the plane “pops out.” If you watch the image cycle a few times, the details of the plane are clearly visible. You can find the <a href="http://911speakout.org/wp-content/uploads/BlinkedPentagonPlane.html" type="external">blink comparisons</a> on David Chandler’s website, <a href="http://911speakout.org/" type="external">911SpeakOut.org</a>.</p>
<p>Based on the above background research, we propose and test the hypothesis that the Pentagon was struck by a large plane matching a Boeing 757 and most probably Flight AA 77.</p>
<p>Many physical hypotheses can be tested by experiment in a laboratory using relatively simple equipment. In the case of the Pentagon 9/11 event, costs to test and/or reproduce some features of the event would be prohibitive. Fortunately, there are prior relevant tests, airplane incidents and other evidence that are pertinent to the event and that support the large plane impact hypothesis.</p>
<p>The F4 Experiment: In the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVz5vhNvskk" type="external">F4 Phantom jet experiment</a>, a plane was propelled at high speed on a rocket sled into a massive and impenetrable concrete wall. The plane was completely fragmented into small pieces. This experiment supports the fragmentation of the Boeing 757 plane parts that did not enter the building.</p>
<p>Ground Effect: Because of what is known as ground effect, it is claimed by critics that the plane could not have flown closer to the ground than 56 feet, so it would have impacted at the fourth and fifth floor levels. Some experienced pilots have supported this objection. The physical evidence, such as the five downed light poles, confirms that a large plane did fly low. In addition, many witnesses actually reported that they saw a large commercial jetliner, identified as a Boeing 757, fly low and close to the ground. Actual experience confirms this behavior. For example, at an air show in Portugal, Evora 2007 (Figure 5), an Airbus A310, similar in size to a Boeing 757, repeatedly flew low, sometimes with the gear down and full flaps but with at least one pass at a relatively high speed, with no concern about any ground effect. The height of the plane above the runway was little more than the diameter of the fuselage.</p>
<p>Engineers and scientists working in the aerospace field feature an article which explains that, because of the high speed and low angle of attack, ground effect is not a relevant factor, particularly with an aircraft that is under automatic control, as was likely the case for Flight AA 77 at the end. According to Jeff Scott, “ground effect would have been quite small on Flight 77 given its high rate of speed and small angle of attack.” See <a href="http://www.aerospaceweb.org/" type="external">Aerospaceweb.org</a> and the answer by Jeff Scott, “ <a href="http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/conspiracy/q0274.shtml" type="external">Pentagon &amp; Boeing 757 Ground Effect</a>.”</p>
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<p>Clipped Tree: One witness described the plane as “picking off trees and light poles.” Photographs show that the starboard (right) engine of the plane did clip a tree. Jon Cole has shown experimentally that it is possible for the leading edge of an engine to cut the tree. Cole compared this action with similar-looking ragged branches cut with a heavy brush cutter with heavy, thick dull blades rotating at a lesser speed than the airplane that cut the woody branches of the Pentagon tree (See Figure 6). Branches ingested by the right engine can explain the smoke trail from the right engine from that point on, as seen in the security camera videos and in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVDdjLQkUV8" type="external">this simulation</a>.</p>
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<p>Rotated Generator-Trailer: Several witnesses saw the right plane engine and/or wing strike one end of a very heavy generator-trailer. The trailer was found to have rotated about the other end toward the building. In addition to the damaged end, there was a gash in the trailer top corresponding to the position of the first flap “canoe” beyond the right engine of a Boeing 757. The location and direction of the gash was consistent with the canoe’s position on the wing and the plane’s flight path.</p>
<p>Gouge in Low Concrete Wall: One witness saw the left engine hit a low concrete wall and break apart. The wall shows a curved gouge consistent with impact by an engine. The distance between the wall and the struck end of the generator-trailer is approximately 43 feet, matching the engines’ separation of a Boeing 757 of 42.5 feet. When the left engine hit the wall it was a few inches above ground level at that point. The wall sits on a high point, and this explains why the engine did not gouge the surrounding lawn as it traveled over the lawn. Some nearby, upright wooden spools were not struck as they were positioned between the plane fuselage and the low-slung left engine.</p>
<p>Debris by the Heliport Area: There was a noticeable amount of plane debris, mostly small pieces, at the Heliport area north of the impact hole. This is in accord with the plane’s path which made a 52-degree angle with the Pentagon west wall as it approached from the southwest. This distribution of debris is entirely to be expected since, after fragmentation, debris that remained outside the building would have a significant velocity component causing it to travel in a northerly direction.</p>
<p>The Impact Hole and Façade Damage: Many claims have been made that the impact hole was too small for a plane the size of a Boeing 757 to have entered the building. None of these claims have merit. The fuselage of a Boeing 757 is 12.33 feet wide and 13.5 feet high and the corresponding hole was about 18 feet wide. Early photographs were obscured by spray from fire hoses and hid a long gash of about 96 feet in the first floor façade. There were many missing outer support columns. Thus the plane’s fuselage, both engines, and the heavier, inner parts of the wings had sufficient room to penetrate the building.</p>
<p>According to witnesses and the FDR data, the plane had rolled about 5 degrees counterclockwise when it hit the wall. Façade markings, such as a long gash made by a wing, confirm these observations. Critics frequently point to the absence of a clear vertical gash that they contend should have been made by the vertical portion of the tail. There are, as shown by Jim Hoffman, markings in the area where the tail might have hit. It is possible that the tail was blown off and fragmented, and did not reach the wall intact. One witness described seeing the fuel explosion while the tail was still visible. Many witnesses saw the tail, and this criticism cannot overturn the other evidence of plane approach and impact.</p>
<p>Internal Column Damage: Figure 7 taken from The Pentagon Building Performance Report depicts internal column damage. At the top, red and blue squares depict missing and severely damaged columns. Green and yellow squares show columns with less damage. The width of the damage at the west wall (top) is about 100 feet, which is consistent with the impact of the fuselage, engines, and the heavy parts of the wings of a Boeing 757. As the fuselage moved into the building, it was shredded and scattered to the sides along its path, but a cone of decreasing width of material maintained enough focus to break through and make a hole in the C ring wall. The dark shaded area of the figure is where the building collapsed about 30 minutes after impact. The first floor area with damage but no collapse filled up with debris without the first floor ceiling collapsing. All these observations support the impact with the façade and passage of a large plane through the building primarily at the first floor level.</p>
<p>It is noteworthy that April Gallop, who has been extensively interviewed and quoted as an important witness, had an office in wedge 2 over 150 feet from the impact hole. Gallop’s office structure did collapse and the lights went out but Gallop was too far away to smell jet fuel. She, with her child and others, exited through a window near the Heliport. Once outside, Gallop collapsed, was apparently unconscious, and was moved to the outer lawn area, and then to a hospital. Gallop had no opportunity to see aircraft debris inside or outside the building.</p>
<p>C Ring Exit Hole: The C ring exit hole can be understood as resulting from the impact of many pieces of plane debris. This process and the false assertion that workers created the hole as a way to access the building interior are fully discussed in the papers listed below. The exit hole lines up with the plane path that made a 52-degree angle with the Pentagon west wall. This fact in itself points to the hole’s origin since the exact plane path was not known until some days or weeks after the event. There is no evidence that any part of the crash scene was staged to imply a non-existent plane crash. All the physical and eyewitness evidence points to actual large plane impact.</p>
<p>Debris in the AE Drive: Debris strewn outside the C ring exit hole was in line with the direction of the plane’s motion and included a plane tire and a wheel rim consistent with a Boeing 757. See Figure 8.</p>
<p>Figure 8 shows a large remnant of a tire outside the C Ring Hole (2). Also shown is a wheel rim (1). The debris angle (3) is also clearly visible. A single doorway lies in the direction pointed to by (4).</p>
<p>Both the background information that includes the eyewitnesses and the detailed examination of the plane path and damage presented above support the large plane impact hypothesis. The conclusion drawn is that a large plane matching a Boeing 757 and most probably Flight AA 77 struck the Pentagon on 9/11.</p>
<p>The hypothesis of impact by a large plane matching a Boeing 757 and Flight AA 77 is true. The next step in the scientific method is to report the results.</p>
<p>Among the first to report the results of a scientific analysis of the Pentagon 9/11 event were Jim Hoffman and Victoria Ashley. Subsequently, scientists affiliated with Scientists for 9/11 Truth, with additional authors such as engineers and computer scientists participating, produced a substantial number of papers. These papers, all listed in the Additional Reading section below, include the three new works mentioned above and listed here, together with a new article:</p>
<p>(a) “ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmoqojtdMD0&amp;feature=youtu.be" type="external">The Pentagon Plane Puzzle</a>”, a video by Ken Jenkins on the Pentagon eyewitnesses,</p>
<p>(b) “ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmoqojtdMD0&amp;feature=youtu.be" type="external">Going Beyond Speculation: A Scientific Look at the Pentagon Evidence</a>” a talk by David Chandler.</p>
<p>(c) “ <a href="http://www.scientificmethod911.org/docs/Honegger_Hypothesis_042916.pdf" type="external">The Pentagon Event: The Honegger Hypothesis Refuted</a>” a paper by Victoria Ashley, David Chandler, Jonathan H. Cole, Jim Hoffman, Ken Jenkins, Frank Legge, and John D. Wyndham.</p>
<p>Except for Victoria Ashley and Jonathan H. Cole ( <a href="http://stj911.org/index.html" type="external">Scholars for 9/11 Truth and Justice</a>), all of the foregoing individuals are members of <a href="http://www.scientistsfor911truth.org/index.html" type="external">Scientists for 9/11 Truth</a>.</p>
<p>See also the article “ <a href="http://www.scientistsfor911truth.org/docs/Why_Not_Use_a_Plane_v12_011616.pdf" type="external">Why Not Use a Plane?</a>” by Frank Legge and Ken Jenkins on the Scientists for 9/11 Truth <a href="http://www.scientistsfor911truth.org/index.html" type="external">website</a>.</p>
<p>Since the Pentagon 9/11 event, many individuals have tried to prove that a large plane did not impact the Pentagon. These individuals often point to testimonies by witnesses who did not see the plane impact. For example, an aftermath witness might not see recognizable plane parts and claim or imply that there was no plane involved. Some Pentagon workers inside the building inferred a bomb, since to them whatever happened sounded like a bomb. But an expert witness with military experience, who also saw the plane tail just before impact and following fireball, stated that it sounded like a “2000 lb” bomb. While many witnesses reported that they smelled the odor of jet fuel, a smaller number thought they smelled cordite, an explosive that has not been in use since WWII. Although at least 14 witnesses saw the plane hit the light poles one second or less before impact, some critics claim this could not have happened without the wings being visibly damaged or destroyed.</p>
<p>Even though the event occurred in broad daylight and was viewed by hundreds of people, scores of whom were stuck in traffic on route 27 with a clear view, critics have dismissed witness accounts by claiming these to be fraudulent. However, there is not a single case where a Pentagon witness has been shown to have deliberately lied. On the contrary, there has been an attempt by some to manipulate witnesses years later and lead them to a different conclusion about what they saw at the Pentagon. This is the case with those who postulate the “North path” approach in which the physical damage could not have been done by the plane. While the advocates of a “North path” approach claim the plane flew over the Pentagon, there is not a single, unequivocal witness to this scenario, and many of the very few North path witnesses affirm that the plane impacted the building.</p>
<p>Based on these criticisms, a number of alternative hypotheses have been proposed. Although often termed theories, these hypotheses do not rise to the level of theories because they have not been subjected to the discipline of the scientific method. It is instructive to subject these alternative hypotheses to analysis according to the scientific method steps of Figure 2.</p>
<p>Those who hypothesize that there was no plane impact attribute all damage and deaths to pre-planted explosives or bombs. These researchers include Barbara Honegger in her “ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtFXYJlj61s" type="external">Behind the Smoke Curtain</a>” presentation and the <a href="http://www.citizeninvestigationteam.com/videos/national-security-alert" type="external">Citizen Investigation Team</a> (CIT). Their assumption is that the approaching plane seen by many flew over the Pentagon. Honegger has modified her hypothesis in the last several years to postulate that a white plane was destroyed with some sort of explosives outside the Pentagon near the Heliport area without any debris hitting the Pentagon wall. For these “no plane impact” hypotheses, the next step in the scientific method, Test with an Experiment, raises immediate problems.</p>
<p>The first major problem is the scores of eyewitnesses who saw the plane impact the Pentagon west wall. To solve this problem, many critics simply ignore or attempt to discredit the witnesses, claiming they are lying, incoherent, or manipulated by insiders to tell a false story. These criticisms fail for lack of proof. The witnesses cannot be explained away in any credible fashion.</p>
<p>The second major problem is how to explain the plane debris seen by witnesses and in photographs. No credible explanation has been offered as to how the large volume of plane debris was planted and distributed outside the Pentagon, inside the Pentagon, and in the AE Drive, except by a plane crash. Honegger’s “white plane destroyed” hypothesis appears to be an attempt to explain the plane debris near the Heliport, but it does not explain the plane debris found inside the Pentagon building or in the AE Drive.</p>
<p>The third major problem is a failure to explain, using bombs, the observed damage. This damage includes the clipped tree, the five downed light poles, the generator-trailer that was damaged and rotated toward the Pentagon, the gouge in the low concrete wall, the shape and nature of the façade damage, the internal bowed and abraded columns, the sudden appearance of internal plane debris, the C ring hole and the debris strewn in the AE Drive.</p>
<p>There is no credible evidence for Honegger’s “white plane.” The plane’s supposed destruction without its fragmented parts hitting the Pentagon west wall violates laws of physics, specifically the law of the conservation of momentum. The center of gravity of the combined fragments would still be moving toward the wall at the plane’s pre-explosion speed. There is nowhere near enough plane debris outside the wall near the heliport to account for an entire plane.</p>
<p>The bombs-only hypothesis fails the test of the scientific method in major ways, and the analysis shows the hypothesis is false. However, although the evidence is scant or nonexistent, it is still possible that there were some internal bombs timed to explode at the same time as large plane impact.</p>
<p>Some investigators claim that a small plane hit the Pentagon on 9/11. These include Massimo Mazzucco in part 2 of his film <a href="http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36585.htm" type="external">September 11 – The New Pearl Harbor</a>, and David Ray Griffin, author of <a href="http://www.911truth.org/911-ten-years-later-when-state-crimes-against-democracy-succeed/" type="external">many books</a> on the events of 9/11. Griffin has publicly endorsed Mazzucco’s work, including that on the Pentagon. This hypothesis immediately encounters major problems.</p>
<p>The great majority of over 180 eyewitnesses to the approach of the plane and its impact with the Pentagon west wall described a large plane. Only a very small number ( <a href="http://www.scientistsfor911truth.org/docs/Mazzucco_letter_Oct2013.pdf" type="external">six or less</a>) of witnesses described a small plane, and most of these viewed the plane at a great distance, making size judgments difficult and unreliable. Of the large plane witnesses, many described it as a silver American Airlines plane, a Boeing 737 or 757. One knowledgeable witness, Tim Timmerman, an airlines’ pilot, recognized it unequivocally as a Boeing 757.</p>
<p>Secondly, a small plane could not have created the observed physical damage. The downed light poles require a minimum wingspan of 100 feet, while the generator-trailer and low concrete wall separation gives the separation of the engines as about 43 feet, closely matching the actual separation of Boeing 757 engines at 42.5 feet. Given that wingtips of a plane are very light and might easily break off, a small plane would be unlikely to create a 96-foot gash in the first floor.</p>
<p>The small plane hypothesis fails the test of the scientific method and the analysis shows the hypothesis is false.</p>
<p>The missile hypothesis cannot explain the spatial characteristics of the physical damage. The light poles were effectively 100 feet apart, and the generator-trailer and low concrete wall were effectively 43 feet apart. These objects could not all have been impacted by a missile. The shape and size of the impact hole precludes a missile, the damaged internal columns were spaced apart over a wide area, and the bowed and abraded columns could not have been rendered in such a condition by a missile. A missile could possibly have created the C ring hole, but only plane parts were found in the debris in the AE Drive.</p>
<p>Donald Rumsfeld alluded to a missile, and eyewitness Mike Walter spoke of a missile, but in the metaphorical sense of a plane acting as a missile. These comments fueled the missile hypothesis. But no witnesses claimed to have seen a missile. Witnesses overwhelmingly described a large plane. The missile hypothesis fails the test of the scientific method and the analysis shows the hypothesis is false.</p>
<p>Despite the clear evidence and its analysis using the scientific method of large plane impact, a substantial portion of the 9/11 truth movement, including accepted leaders and those involved in major organizations, continues to publicly endorse, adhere to, or promulgate talks, writings and films on false Pentagon hypotheses. Some simply offer criticisms and reject or ignore evidence that would bring closure to the argument. There is clear evidence by way of disintegrating truth groups that these endorsements and communications are injurious to the movement. Public feedback shows that the false Pentagon hypotheses undermine public acceptance of other highly credible scientific findings, such as the demolitions of the Twin Towers and Building 7 (WTC7) in New York City.</p>
<p>Most rank and file members of the 9/11 truth movement take their cues on the Pentagon from well-known speakers, writers, and acknowledged leaders of the movement. The quickest way to end the ongoing damage to the movement’s credibility and bring closure would be for these prominent individuals to publicly repudiate their former endorsements, views, and statements on the Pentagon event and acknowledge the scientific method and its conclusion of large plane impact. In the absence of public repudiations, the damage caused by false Pentagon hypotheses is likely to continue indefinitely, even if those who fueled their spread cease to promote them. Consequently, the surest way to end the debate and enhance the credibility of the movement is for each individual to study, without bias or prejudice, the evidence for themselves.</p>
<p>The recent papers by scientists, engineers and others showing large plane impact at the Pentagon have been collected together on a website that invites feedback and discussion. Comments can be sent to the <a href="http://www.scientificmethod911.org/" type="external">Scientific Method 9/11</a> website which specifically invites feedback on many of the papers listed below.</p>
<p>[Editor’s note: Read the author’s responses to critical feedback at&#160; <a href="http://www.scientificmethod911.org/reviewpages/wyndham_debate.html" type="external">ScientificMethod911.org</a>. Read his most recent peer-reviewed paper, “ <a href="http://www.mdpi.com/2304-6775/5/2/16" type="external">Peer Review in Controversial Topics–A Case Study of 9/11</a>” (published in the journal&#160;Publications&#160;June 2017).]</p>
<p>This article is based on the research and writings of the following authors: Victoria Ashley, David Chandler, Jonathan H. Cole, Jim Hoffman, Ken Jenkins, Frank Legge, Warren Stutt and John D. Wyndham. These writings point to many other researchers, such as Adam Larson, Russell Pickering, John Farmer and Arabesque, who have contributed to an understanding of the Pentagon evidence.</p>
<p>The author of this article would like to thank David Chandler, Jonathan H. Cole, and Ken Jenkins for reading the manuscript and offering useful comments and suggestions.</p>
<p><a href="http://911research.wtc7.net/essays/pentagon/" type="external">The Pentagon Attack: What the Physical Evidence Shows</a> – Jim Hoffman</p>
<p><a href="http://911review.com/errors/pentagon/index.html" type="external">Pentagon Attack Errors</a> – Jim Hoffman</p>
<p><a href="http://stj911.org/evidence/pentagon.html" type="external">Evidence: The Pentagon Attack</a> – Victoria Ashley</p>
<p><a href="http://www.9-11tv.org/the-pentagon-plane-puzzle/85-pentagon-area-surveillance-cameras" type="external">The 85 Pentagon Area Surveillance Cameras</a> – Ken Jenkins</p>
<p><a href="http://911speakout.org/?page_id=219" type="external">The Pentagon – A joint statement</a> – David Chandler and Jonathan H. Cole</p>
<p><a href="http://scienceof911.com.au/pentagon/" type="external">The Science of 9/11, Pentagon</a> – Frank Legge</p>
<p><a href="http://warrenstutt.com/" type="external">Warren Stutt’s Home Page</a> – Warren Stutt</p>
<p><a href="http://www.scientistsfor911truth.org/papers.html#papers_pentagon" type="external">Papers on the Pentagon</a> – Scientists for 9/11 Truth, various scientists</p>
<p><a href="http://www.scientificmethod911.org/pentagon.html" type="external">Papers on the Pentagon</a> – Scientific Method 9/11, John D. Wyndham</p>
<p>Frank Legge, “ <a href="http://www.journalof911studies.com/volume/2009/WhatHitPentagonDrLeggeAug.pdf" type="external">What Hit the Pentagon? Misinformation and its Effect on the Credibility of 9/11 Truth</a>,” Journal of 9/11 Studies, July, 2009.</p>
<p>David Chandler (based on Ken Jenkins), “ <a href="http://911speakout.org/wp-content/uploads/BlinkedPentagonPlane.html" type="external">Blink Comparator Views of the Plane at the Pentagon</a>,” 911Speakout.org, 2016.</p>
<p>Frank Legge, and Warren Stutt, “ <a href="http://www.journalof911studies.com/volume/2010/Calibration%20of%20altimeter_92.pdf" type="external">Flight AA77 on 9/11: New FDR Analysis Supports the Official Flight Path…</a>“,&#160;Journal of 9/11 Studies, January, 2011.</p>
<p>Frank Legge and David Chandler, “ <a href="http://stj911.org/legge/Legge_Chandler_NOC_Refutation.html" type="external">The Pentagon Attack on 9/11: A Refutation of the Pentagon Flyover Hypothesis Based on Analysis of the Flight Path</a>,” STJ911.org, September, 2011 and its <a href="" type="internal">Addendum</a>, Foreign Policy Journal, December, 2011.</p>
<p>John D. Wyndham, “ <a href="http://www.journalof911studies.com/volume/2010/Wyndham1.pdf" type="external">The Pentagon Attack: Problems with Theories Alternative to Large Plane Impact</a>,” Journal of 9/11 Studies, November, 2011. Revised <a href="http://www.scientistsfor911truth.org/docs/Theories_Alternative_April_2016.pdf" type="external">version (3)</a>, ScientificMethod9/11.org, April, 2016.</p>
<p>Frank Legge, “ <a href="http://www.journalof911studies.com/resources/Legge-Letter-June.pdf" type="external">The 9/11 Attack on the Pentagon: the Search for Consensus</a>,” Journal of 9/11 Studies, June, 2012.</p>
<p>John D. Wyndham, “ <a href="http://www.scientistsfor911truth.org/docs/Pentagon_Event_Time_Mar19_2013.pdf" type="external">The Pentagon Attack: The Event Time Revisited</a>,” ScientificMethod9/11.org, March, 2013.</p>
<p>John D. Wyndham, “ <a href="http://www.scientistsfor911truth.org/docs/Eyewitnesses_DebrisFlow_FandE_Mar4_2016.pdf" type="external">The Pentagon Attack: Eyewitnesses, Debris Flow and Other Issues – A Reply to Fletcher and Eastman</a>,” ScientificMethod9/11.org, April, 2013.</p>
<p>Victoria Ashley et al., “ <a href="http://www.scientificmethod911.org/docs/Honegger_Hypothesis_042916.pdf" type="external">The Pentagon Event: The Honegger Hypothesis Refuted</a>,” ScientificMethod9/11.org, April, 2016.</p>
<p>Jim Hoffman, “ <a href="http://911review.com/articles/stjarna/eximpactdamage.html" type="external">Pentagon – Exterior Impact Damage</a>,” 911Review.com, February, 2003.</p>
<p>Jim Hoffman, “ <a href="http://911research.wtc7.net/essays/pentagontrap.html" type="external">The Pentagon No-757-Crash Theory: Booby Trap for 9/11 Skeptics</a>,” 911Research.WTC7.net, November, 2004.</p>
<p>Victoria Ashley, “ <a href="http://www.911review.com/articles/ashley/pentacon_con.html" type="external">To Con a Movement: Exposing CIT’s PentaCon ‘Magic Show’</a>,” 911Review.com, July, 2009.</p>
<p>Jim Hoffman, “ <a href="http://911research.wtc7.net/essays/pentacon/index.html" type="external">Google Earth Exposes Pentagon Flyover Farce</a>,” 911Research.WTC7.net, July, 2009.</p>
<p>Frank Legge, “ <a href="http://www.scientistsfor911truth.org/docs/Legge_Pentagon_Letter.pdf" type="external">Science, Activism, and the Pentagon Debate</a>,” Scientistsfor911Truth.org, April, 2014.</p>
<p>Ken Jenkins and David Chandler: “ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmoqojtdMD0&amp;feature=youtu.be" type="external">Pentagon Plane Puzzle + David Chandler: Going Beyond Speculation</a>,” YouTube, September, 2015.</p>
<p>Frank Legge and Ken Jenkins, “ <a href="http://www.scientistsfor911truth.org/docs/Why_Not_Use_a_Plane_v12_011616.pdf" type="external">Why Not Use a Plane?</a>,” Scientistsfor911Truth.org, January, 2016.</p> | Bringing Closure to the 9/11 Pentagon Debate | false | https://foreignpolicyjournal.com/2016/10/07/bringing-closure-to-the-911-pentagon-debate/ | 2016-10-07 | 1 |
<p>During the final presidential debate, the candidates got into a heated exchange about the use of nuclear weapons, in which Hillary Clinton trotted out her talking point that Donald Trump is unfit to have his finger on the button because of his lack of self-control. What made the internet go nuts, however, was when she added one specific detail to her argument that some are saying is a violation of operational security, a routine she knows well.</p>
<p>In the clip, after calling out Trump for being "casual about the use of nuclear weapons," Hillary then casually pops off the exact response time our government would have during an attack.</p>
<p>"Here's the deal," Hillary tells Chris Wallace and the entire planet watching live, "The bottom line on nuclear weapons is that when the president gives the order it must be followed. There's about four minutes between the order being given and the people responsible for launching nuclear weapons to do so."</p>
<p>No one caught that Crooked Hillary stated on LIVE TV what our NUKE RESPONSE TIME IS 4 MIN?? <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews" type="external">@FoxNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DRUDGE" type="external">@DRUDGE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/debatenight?src=hash" type="external">#debatenight</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChrisWallace?src=hash" type="external">#ChrisWallace</a> <a href="https://t.co/QBbbmGkmeL" type="external">pic.twitter.com/QBbbmGkmeL</a></p>
<p>Many in the Twittersefere were not pleased with Crooked Hillary's admission, seeing it as a blatant violation of operational security (OPSEC):</p>
<p>Did Hillary just leak TS information on national TV regarding nuclear response time? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/debatenight?src=hash" type="external">#debatenight</a></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DebateNight?src=hash" type="external">#DebateNight</a> Did Hillary just tell the entire world what our nuclear response time is? WHAT THE ACTUAL F**K!?!?!?</p>
<p>Hillary dropped, on live <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/debatenight?src=hash" type="external">#debatenight</a>, Response time between presidential order and nuclear missile launch. Info isis classified TS/NC2.</p>
<p>Hillary disclosed classified information tonight. HIGHLY classified information. Our nuclear response time is top secret.</p>
<p>Good thing Hillary told everyone about our nuclear response time. Yet another military strategy given to everyone</p>
<p>Why did hillary give away nuclear response time on international television? Let me guess "she didn't know it was classified" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DebateNight?src=hash" type="external">#DebateNight</a></p>
<p>Hillary tweeted the info out earlier but with slightly different wording, specifically the phrase "can take" rather than an implying a more exact time of four minutes. Many of her defenders use that wiggle room wording, and an <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/graphics/2016-nuclear-weapon-launch/" type="external">article from Bloomberg</a> back in September that suggests launches can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, as evidence that she wasn't giving any information away.</p>
<p>When the president gives the order to launch a nuclear weapon, that’s it. The officer has to launch. It can take as little as four minutes.</p>
<p>But, as <a href="http://ijr.com/wildfire/2016/10/717925-wtf-moment-at-3rd-presidential-debate-hillary-gives-away-time-it-takes-for-nuclear-response/" type="external">Politico</a> points out:</p>
<p>This four minute figure may be “out there,” but it's certainly alarming how casually Hillary Clinton talks about sensitive matters of national security.</p>
<p>Almost as sloppy as hosting a private server without government security and transmitting classified and sensitive material via email.</p>
<p>You may also remember last month when speaking at a Hillary rally, Vice President Biden, in the middle of ranting about Trump's unfitness to be in charge of the nuclear codes, casually pointed out his military aid who at that moment was carrying the briefcase with the codes known as the nuclear football:</p>
<p>My grandfather reacted to the first incident with a ''Biden's not all there.'' Can't wait for his reaction now. <a href="https://t.co/xufRaNguz6" type="external">https://t.co/xufRaNguz6</a></p>
<p>Crooked Hillary, of course, has also demonstrated a complete lack of care for national security:</p>
<p>'How is that not classified?': Apparently Hillary Clinton had emails to President Obama on her private server <a href="https://t.co/QJsMe8TJWC" type="external">https://t.co/QJsMe8TJWC</a></p>
<p>But then again:</p>
<p />
<p>The full debate exchange about nuclear weapons below:</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/debatenight" type="external">#DebateNight</a></p> | Hillary Reveals America's Nuclear Response Time During The Debate | true | https://dailywire.com/news/10086/watch-hillary-reveals-americas-nuclear-response-chase-stephens | 2016-10-20 | 0 |
<p>In 1998, an eight-month Washington Post investigation found that the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department had shot and killed more people per resident in the 1990s than any other large municipal police force in the country. According to the investigation, 85 people were shot and killed by the D.C. police between 1990 and November 1998.</p>
<p>The problem, one of the Pulitzer Prize-winning articles noted, was “a pattern of reckless and indiscriminate gunplay by officers sent into the streets with inadequate training and little oversight.”</p>
<p>But today the number of fatal police shootings has declined sharply, from 16 in 1995 to two in 2006.</p>
<p />
<p>The D.C. police officials say the decline is due to a number of dramatic changes that were implemented following publication of the Post’s investigation by then-chief Charles H. Ramsey.</p>
<p>In 2001, the D.C. police signed a memorandum with the U.S. Department of Justice agreeing to cooperate with a review of police shooting cases throughout the 1990s.</p>
<p>According to Matthew Klein, the current director of internal affairs for the D.C. police, a number of new policies were also created to clarify when the use of force is appropriate and how to document it.</p>
<p>“The problem that we had was officers, supervisors and managers within their own chain were investigating these uses of force,” Klein said.“We created an independent unit that specialized in just investigating force. We took away their ability to justify shooting that weren’t necessarily justifiable.”’</p>
<p>This unit, named the Force Investigation Team, was similar to an internal affairs unit, except that it focused exclusively on issues of force, said Klein, who commanded the team from 2002 until he took on his current position in 2004. Since its inception, the unit’s scope has expanded beyond officer-involved shootings. It now investigates the department’s canine bite policy and the deaths of suspects in police custody.</p>
<p>This is a far cry from the department’s old system. The Post investigation found that nine out of every 10 shootings in the 1990s were ruled justified by “department officials who read the reports filed by investigating officers but generally hear no witnesses.”</p>
<p>But the investigation of police shootings was only half the problem, Klein said. According to the Post investigation, the District added 1,500 officers— 35 percent of the force—in 18 months beginning in the summer of 1989 in a crash hiring program mandated by the U.S. Congress. These officers were inadequately screened, trained and supervised, the police department told the Post. Especially lacking, it said, was training on the department’s new standard- issue firearm, the Glock 9mm, intended to combat the increased firepower wielded by drug dealers.</p>
<p>“In ’98, really no one could account for how many officers received firearms training, and the training itself was just lacking,” he said. “You showed up at the range, you fired your gun and you left.”</p>
<p>To correct this gap, Chief Ramsey ordered new firearms training for all 3,500 members of the force. Training was expanded to cover not only how and when to shoot, but also how not and when not to shoot, Klein said. A roleplaying component was also added.</p>
<p>The number of police shooting fatalities declined from 12 in 1998 to one in 2000, leveling out to between two and five in the years following.</p>
<p>Ramsey stepped down in January 2007, handing the reigns over to Cathy Lanier. Klein said that Lanier has continued pushing the importance of complying with the department’s agreement with the Justice Department. In addition, the D.C. police is now negotiating an amiable close to the agreement with the Justice Department.</p>
<p>“Overall, since we implemented these policies, the number of [officerinvolved] shootings has gone down proportionally,” Klein said. “They leveled off from the really high numbers of the late ’90s.We’ve probably plateaued.”</p>
<p>In Chicago, Gerald Frazier, president of police watchdog group Citizens Alert, said the city’s problems are different from the District’s and require a different solution. “As much as you hate to, you have to play the cultural card, you have to play the race card and you have to play the lack of discipline card,” Frazier said. “Those three…make for bad and unprofessional policing.”</p>
<p>Frazier said police shootings and issues of police brutality could be quelled with a new recruiting philosophy and more consistent discipline after complaints of police abuse.</p>
<p>Placing officers in communities that they are already familiar with could lead to a more understanding and cooperative relationship between police and the community, Frazier said.“There’s a huge lack of understanding between cultures,” he said. “[We need] people who are going to take a stake in the community that they serve.”</p> | Accountability and training in Washington D.C. help cut the number of shootings drastically | false | http://chicagoreporter.com/accountability-and-training-in-washington-d-c-help-cut-the-number-of-shootings-drastically/ | 2007-11-01 | 3 |
<p>Treasury yields, dollar around highest since July</p>
<p>-- Hong Kong stocks post best day in more than a year</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>-- Wall Street set for new records</p>
<p>U.S. stocks extended gains Tuesday as upbeat car-sales data and a rise in airline stocks helped lift major indexes to fresh records.</p>
<p>Large auto makers posted solid sales increases in September, a boost to the industry after months of declining results and the latest upbeat data on the U.S. economy.</p>
<p>General Motors shares rose $1.30, or 3.1%, to $43.45 and Ford Motor stock climbed 25 cents, or 2.1%, to 12.34 after both companies reported sharply higher sales of pickup trucks and SUVs, their most profitable products.</p>
<p>Separately, Delta Air Lines updated its third-quarter outlook, including the impact from Hurricane Irma, which resulted in 2,200 flight cancellations. Aside from that, the pricing environment for Delta "appears to be stabilizing, which should be viewed favorably," according to an analyst note from Cowen &amp; Co. Shares rose 3.18, or 6.6%, to 51.25, while competitors American Airlines Group rose 2.78, or 5.8%, to 50.51 and United Continental Holdings added 3.71, or 6.1%, to 64.14.</p>
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<p>The gains helped lift broader indexes. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 84.07 points, or 0.4%, to 22641.67, its 44th record close of the year. The S&amp;P 500 added 5.46 points, or 0.2%, to 2534.58 and the Nasdaq Composite gained 15.00 points, or 0.2%, to 6531.71 -- fresh highs for both.</p>
<p>Tuesday's rise built on Monday's records, which came as data showed that a gauge of U.S. manufacturing activity reached a 13-year high in September, exceeding expectations. That followed solid readings in China and Japan earlier in the week.</p>
<p>"We have another round of data that shows the U.S. economy and international global economy is doing quite well right now," said Willie Delwiche, investment strategist at Robert W. Baird &amp; Co.</p>
<p>"That's being fairly well received by stocks," he added, though he cautioned the market may have gotten slightly ahead of itself in the short term with investor sentiment quite optimistic.</p>
<p>The Stoxx Europe 600 rose 0.2% in its ninth straight session of gains, its longest winning streak since July 2015.</p>
<p>The euro stabilized Tuesday after falling Monday, and was recently up 0.1% at $1.1750.</p>
<p>Earlier, Hong Kong led a climb in Asian markets, with the Hang Seng Index jumping 2.2% in its best session of the year. Shares of car maker Geely surged after Morgan Stanley upgraded its rating, while Chinese bank stocks moved higher after the nation's central bank over the weekend reduced the reserves select banks are required to keep with it.</p>
<p>Japan's Nikkei Stock Average rose 1%, building on a two-year high as a weaker yen helped shares of exporters who translate revenue overseas.</p>
<p>Markets in mainland China and South Korea were closed for the week.</p>
<p>Write to Riva Gold at [email protected] and Corrie Driebusch at [email protected]</p>
<p>(END) Dow Jones Newswires</p>
<p>October 03, 2017 16:56 ET (20:56 GMT)</p> | U.S. Stocks Extend Gains on Strong Car Sales | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2017/10/03/u-s-stocks-extend-gains-on-strong-car-sales2.html | 2017-10-03 | 0 |
<p>By Kit Rees</p>
<p>LONDON (Reuters) – Spanish stocks outperformed a lackluster European market on Wednesday as Catalonia’s leader stopped short of declaring formal independence from Spain, allaying fears over a constitutional crisis in the region and boosting shares in banks.</p>
<p>The pan-European index was flat in percentage terms by 0828 GMT, while Spain’s benchmark IBEX was the standout regional performer with a gain of 1.5 percent.</p>
<p>Spanish equities have lagged their European peers in October, having shed more than 1 percent so far this month, as concerns rose over tensions in the region following Catalonia’s independence referendum on Oct. 1.</p>
<p>Worries eased after Catalonia’s leader Carles Puigdemont made only a symbolic declaration on Tuesday, claiming a mandate to launch secession but suspending any formal steps to that end.</p>
<p>“There is a perception in the market that, while this is a difficult political time for Spain, that actually it will somehow muddle through,” Laith Khalaf, senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown (LON:), said.</p>
<p>“There has been some market reaction but it has been quite limited on the basis that I don’t think the market expects Catalonia to ultimately separate, or at least not in a disruptive way,” Khalaf added.</p>
<p>Spain’s IBEX is still up more than 10 percent so far this year, compared with an 8 percent rise for the STOXX 600.</p>
<p>Shares in Spanish banks Sabadell and Caixabank, which have moved their legal bases from Catalonia to other parts of Spain, rose 2.6 percent and 2.1 percent respectively, while peers BBVA (MC:) and Santander (MC:) gained 2 percent and 1.6 percent.</p>
<p>Spanish lenders led the euro zone banking index, which advanced 0.5 percent.</p>
<p>“This episode could serve as a deterrent for other independence movements in Spain and Europe rather than lead to a rise in break-up risks. Markets rightly maintain their calm,” David A. Meier, economist at Julius Baer, said in a note, referring to the events in Catalonia.</p>
<p>Falls among mining stocks and oil and gas firms weighed on the broader European market, as investors awaited U.S. fuel inventory data.</p>
<p>Elsewhere some early results were in focus, with shares in Mondi (LON:) dropping 8.7 percent to the bottom of the STOXX after the paper and packaging manufacturer cut its full-year guidance.</p>
<p>Estimates point to European third-quarter earnings growing 5.3 percent from the same period last year, which would be an increase of 2.3 percent excluding the energy sector, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S data.</p>
<p>Shares in German food-processing machinery firm GEA Group were the top gainers, however, surging 6.3 percent after hedge fund Elliott revealed a stake in the company.</p>
<p>Investors were also looking ahead to the release of minutes from the U.S. Federal Reserve’s September policy meeting for any clues as to the timing of future rate hikes.</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> | Spanish stocks jump as Catalonia makes no formal independence declaration | false | https://newsline.com/spanish-stocks-jump-as-catalonia-makes-no-formal-independence-declaration/ | 2017-10-11 | 1 |
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<p>Image source: Getty Images.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>What: Just when investors thought it was safe to go back into the waters of the oil market, building inventories of refined product and crude sent oil prices plunging today and taking exploration and production stocks with them. As of 3 p.m. EDT, WPX Energy (NYSE: WPX), Cobalt International Energy (NYSE: CIE), EP Energy (NYSE: EPE), Oasis Petroleum (NYSE: OAS) and Baytex Energy (NYSE: BTE) had all traded down as much as 10% today, and all of them are shaping up to see close to, or more than, double-digit declines by the end of the day.</p>
<p>So What: Whenever oil prices drop precipitously in a single day, it's almost a given that you will see these stocks on a list of stocks that move 10% that day. There are a couple reasons for that.</p>
<p>For Cobalt and EP Energy, the two companies are carrying larger-than-normal debt levels. These companies are at some credit risk if oil prices remain low for long.</p>
<p>For others such as Oasis and Baytex, the majority of their production comes from places where the crude they sell is in geographically disadvantaged areas, which get price realizations even lower than the spot market. In the last quarter, Oasis' average realized price for a barrel of oil was only $28, compared to the $40-$50 per barrel range we saw for spot prices in much of the second quarter. As inventories of oil build, places with disadvantaged crude will see the spread between the spot price and their realized price widen.</p>
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<p>Data source: S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence. Chart by author.</p>
<p>Then there is the simple fact that all of these companies are wholly dependent on oil prices to make a profit. A couple still have some futures contracts in place to protect oil prices, but most of those are drying up fast. If oil were to drop below $40 a barrel and stay there a while, it would be extremely hard for any of these companies to keep the lights on.</p>
<p>Now What: Commodity markets rarely move in a linear fashion, and this recent dip back to $40 a barrel is proof of that. This recent dip doesn't change the longer-term thesis of oil prices. Even though some companies are trying to hold or take market share, too many others are losing money at today's prices for prices to last at this level forever. At the same time, though, these fits and starts in the oil recovery can last longer than some would expect or hope, so investors looking to benefit from the long-term recovery need to be ready to handle these temporary blips.</p>
<p>For the individual stocks here, the biggest question is how well suited they are to handle another lull in oil prices.</p>
<p>A secret billion-dollar stock opportunity The world's biggest tech company forgot to show you something, but a few Wall Street analysts and the Fool didn't miss a beat: There's a small company that's powering their brand-new gadgets and the coming revolution in technology. And we think its stock price has nearly unlimited room to run for early in-the-know investors! To be one of them, <a href="http://www.fool.com/mms/mark/ecap-foolcom-apple-wearable?aid=6965&amp;source=irbeditxt0000017&amp;ftm_cam=rb-wearable-d&amp;ftm_pit=2692&amp;ftm_veh=article_pitch&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">just click here Opens a New Window.</a>.</p>
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<p>The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that <a href="http://wiki.fool.com/Motley" 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" type="external">disclosure policy Opens a New Window.</a>.</p> | Oil Inventory Build Sent These Oil Stocks Plummeting Today (WPX, CIE, EPE, OAS, BTE) | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/08/01/oil-inventory-build-sent-these-oil-stocks-plummeting-today-wpx-cie-epe-oas-bte.html | 2016-08-02 | 0 |
<p>GLENDALE, Ariz. — The <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Seattle-Seahawks/" type="external">Seattle Seahawks</a> lost defensive tackle Jarran Reed to a hamstring injury in the first quarter of their Thursday night game against the <a href="https://www.upi.com/topic/Arizona-Cardinals/" type="external">Arizona Cardinals</a>.</p>
<p>Reed was injured during Arizona’s second possession of the game, and the Seahawks announced that he would not return.</p>
<p>Entering play Thursday, Reed had 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass defensed this season.</p> | Seattle Seahawks DT Jarran Reed leaves with hamstring injury vs. Arizona Cardinals | false | https://newsline.com/seattle-seahawks-dt-jarran-reed-leaves-with-hamstring-injury-vs-arizona-cardinals/ | 2017-11-09 | 1 |
<p>Running the Dallas Cowboys isn’t a 9-to-5 job – especially if you are Charlotte Jones Anderson, daughter of owner Jerry Jones. “His office is just down the hall from mine, so I see him every day and every week. For us, business happens a lot on the weekend, too, so I pretty much see him 24/7 – which is unusual and unique, but also very great,” says Jones Anderson of working with her father. In addition to her work with the Cowboys, where she oversees the team’s brand, Jones Anderson also serves as the chair of the Salvation Army, trying to harness the Cowboys’ following to do good in the world. Ahead of Father’s Day, Jones Anderson shared with FOXBusiness.com the top business lessons she’s learned from her father Jerry – and a few personal lessons, too.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p> | Dallas Cowboys’ Daughter-Dad Dynamic | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/slideshow/2013/06/14/dallas-cowboys-daughter-dad-dynamic.html | 2016-04-08 | 0 |
<p>MONROE, La. (AP) — Louisiana State Police say a sheriff’s deputy has shot a 36-year-old man accused of trying to kill the deputy.</p>
<p>Trooper Michael Reichardt says a Ouachita (WASH-ih-tah) Parish sheriff’s deputy stopped to help a stalled vehicle about 2 a.m. Wednesday near Monroe, there was gunfire, and the driver was hit.</p>
<p>The driver has been identified as Dusty Sanders of Bastrop, about 22 miles (36 kilometers) north-northeast of Monroe. Reichardt says in a news release that Sanders remained hospitalized Thursday.</p>
<p>Because an officer was involved, state police are investigating.</p>
<p>Reichardt said in an email that police have a warrant for Sanders’ arrest on a charge of attempted murder of a police officer.</p>
<p>Asked why shooting started and whether Sanders fired first, Reichardt said the incident is still being investigated.</p>
<p>The races of the deputy and the suspect have not been released.</p>
<p>MONROE, La. (AP) — Louisiana State Police say a sheriff’s deputy has shot a 36-year-old man accused of trying to kill the deputy.</p>
<p>Trooper Michael Reichardt says a Ouachita (WASH-ih-tah) Parish sheriff’s deputy stopped to help a stalled vehicle about 2 a.m. Wednesday near Monroe, there was gunfire, and the driver was hit.</p>
<p>The driver has been identified as Dusty Sanders of Bastrop, about 22 miles (36 kilometers) north-northeast of Monroe. Reichardt says in a news release that Sanders remained hospitalized Thursday.</p>
<p>Because an officer was involved, state police are investigating.</p>
<p>Reichardt said in an email that police have a warrant for Sanders’ arrest on a charge of attempted murder of a police officer.</p>
<p>Asked why shooting started and whether Sanders fired first, Reichardt said the incident is still being investigated.</p>
<p>The races of the deputy and the suspect have not been released.</p> | Police: Louisiana man shot by a sheriff’s deputy | false | https://apnews.com/5bc254de167d45f6a497e658366bb578 | 2017-12-28 | 2 |
<p>LONDON - We stood with all the other tourists this morning with our two youngest kids high on our shoulders to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.</p>
<p>And then we walked along the Thames past the jugglers and the clowns and the mimes and musicians and made our way to Shakespeare's Globe Theater where we had the cheap standing tickets for the matinee of "?Much Ado About Nothing."?</p>
<p>Our four boys enjoyed the comedy and didn't seem to mind the rain trickling down in the open-air theater. A great London day.</p>
<p>But by far the best drama in this town was unfolding all afternoon in Westminster at the parliamentary committee hearings that brought "King" Rupert and "Prince" James Murdoch and their "Lady" Rebekah Brooks all up for questioning.</p>
<p>"Murdoch" the play, with all its plot twists and turns and its characters falling so precipitously from power is certainly worthy of the The Bard himself William Shakespeare. It beats all the royal choreography of the palace and the entertainment value of the street acts. It has all the bawdy dialogue of "Much Ado" and the pathos of "Macbeth."</p>
<p>But hard to say whether the stage version of "Murdoch" is a tragedy or a comedy.</p>
<p>The hacking of a murdered young girl's phone messages is so dark and fiendish that it could only be written into a tragedy. The death of the whistleblower, still under investigation, is certainly tragic. The seriousness of its impact in forcing the resignation of the Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, and the damage the pay-for-information scandal has taken on New Scotland Yard is the stuff of tragedy as well.</p>
<p>But hearing Brooks, chief executive of News International and former editor of The Sun, say with a straight face that "a newsroom is always about trust" was certainly laughable. You just couldn't help snickering as she flicked her wild mane of red hair and told the committee, "We have a very robust and diverse press in this country and I think that freedom should endure."</p>
<p>Murdoch's Sun and News of the World have shredded the standards of journalism that we hold high in America and created a tabloid culture that the British press has over many decades come to tolerate as just part of the British climate, like the rain and the fog.</p>
<p>To read the remainder of this dispatch, please <a href="http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/united-kingdom/110719/murdoch-and-the-bard" type="external">click here</a>.&#160;</p> | Murdoch and The Bard | false | https://pri.org/stories/2011-07-20/murdoch-and-bard | 2011-07-20 | 3 |
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<p>Over at TPM, Josh Marshall <a href="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/014036.php" type="external">thinks they’ve identified</a> a ninth U.S. Attorney pushed out for being ideologically out of step with Alberto Gonzalez’s Justice Department. His name is Todd Graves and he was formerly a U.S. Attorney in Missouri. Graves was on the DOJ firing lists shortly before resigning, and while he hasn’t said outright that he was purged for political reasons, he has given quotes to the media like, “When I first interviewed (with the Department)…I was asked to give the panel one attribute that describes me. I said independent. Apparently, that was the wrong attribute.”</p>
<p>Further fueling speculation is evidence of nefarious meddling by Republican Senator Kit Bond and the fact that Graves’ replacement, Bradley Schlozman, has a history that matches the <a href="/mojoblog/archives/2007/05/4338_the_real_doj_sc.html" type="external">priorities of the Gonzales DOJ</a>. According to Josh, Schlozman’s “entire tenure at DOJ has been dedicated to turning back the clock on minority voting rights in the United States and more broadly to suppressing Democratic vote turnout.”</p>
<p>Gonzales and Scholzman are being brought before Congress to explain the situation later this month.</p>
<p /> | Ninth Purged U.S. Attorney Found | true | https://motherjones.com/politics/2007/05/ninth-purged-us-attorney-found/ | 2007-05-09 | 4 |
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<p>The latest evidence of the challenges facing Mayer emerged Tuesday with the release of Yahoo's second-quarter earnings report. Yahoo's posted a loss of nearly $22 million, while its net revenue remained unchanged from the previous year at $1.04 billion.</p>
<p>If not for the costs of employee stock compensation and one-time accounting items, Yahoo said it would have earned 16 cents per share - 2 cents per share below the average estimate among analysts polled by Zacks.</p>
<p>Yahoo's stock fell 73 cents, or nearly 2 percent, to $39 in extended trading after the numbers came out.</p>
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<p>The lack of net revenue growth is telling because it points to a financial malaise that has been dogging Yahoo for most of the past three years.</p>
<p>Even though the volume of Internet advertising has been steadily rising during that stretch, Yahoo's revenue has been backpedaling while rivals such as Google Inc. and Facebook Inc. have been sprinting further ahead in the race for Web surfers' attention and marketing dollars.</p>
<p>Mayer has been promising to engineer a turnaround since Yahoo Inc. hired her away from Google, but only has made grudging progress so far. Yahoo's net revenue now has decreased or been unchanged from the previous year in eight of the previous 10 quarters.</p>
<p>Despite that funk, Yahoo's stock has more than doubled under Mayer's leadership, though the gain has had little to do with her strategy. Investors latch on to Yahoo primarily because it has owned a large stake in one of China's hottest Internet companies, e-commerce specialist, Alibaba Group.</p>
<p>Pressured by shareholders, Yahoo earlier this year filed plans to spin off its remaining 384 million Alibaba shares into a separate company that will be called Aabaco. Yahoo is still awaiting approval from the Internal Revenue Service to do the split on a tax-free basis, something that the Sunnyvale, California, company expects to receive before the end of the year.</p>
<p>Yahoo's Alibaba stake is currently worth nearly $32 billion, representing most of Yahoo's market value.</p>
<p>Without the Alibaba stock in its investment portfolio, Yahoo will probably have to start boosting its revenue or Mayer may face more shareholder unrest.</p>
<p>The nagging doubts about Yahoo's growth prospects have led to its stock dropping by more than 20 percent this year.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights ( <a href="http://automatedinsights.com/ap)" type="external">http://automatedinsights.com/ap)</a> using data from Zacks Investment Research.</p> | Yahoo suffers 2Q loss as revenue growth eludes company | false | https://abqjournal.com/616011/yahoo-suffers-2q-loss-as-revenue-growth-eludes-company.html | 2 |
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<p>When empires begin to die, their public acts–in sharp contrast to the ponderous, stately sobriety of their behavior while ascendant–tend to be marked by queer and pathetic eruptions of idiocy, bathos, and mania.</p>
<p>Though it can’t be known when our last Imperial Clown will douse the last lights of The Exceptional Empire and drop the keys in the mailbox for the last failed bank–America is showing clear signs of approaching meltdown.</p>
<p>In Rome, one dingy Caesar burlesqued as a gladiator, then went on stage in drag to warble of nymphs and fauns, and made his horse a senator.</p>
<p>At Tsarist Russia’s end, the Imperials ran their bloody circus on the whims of a drunken, deranged sociopath repeatedly arrested for public indecency.</p>
<p>Hitler egomaniacally wasted his mighty wehrmacht against Russian winter, then as his Reich exploded and burnt around him, had his gofer shoot him.</p>
<p>The American Empire, enmeshed and floundering in a smothering net of contradictions, deceptions, and disastrous choices, is now playing out a pathetic absurdist farce before a fascinated and astonished world.</p>
<p>The essence of it is this.&#160; Due to prolonged betrayal of working people by the Democratic Party over many decades, the blatantly falsity and obvious deception it peddled so hard and so long to keep them in thrall have at last lost their grip.&#160; The result was loss of the Presidential election in 2016.</p>
<p>Stunned and unable to swallow the undeniable reason for it, the desperate party leadership concocted a preposterous, threadbare fantasy narrative to deny responsibility and direct shame, blame and disgrace away from itself.</p>
<p>The obvious best target was Trump, since so many good people detest him for so many good reasons.&#160; It would not suffice, though, to attack him as a legitimate opponent because that would mean the electorate, left to itself, had made this awful choice.&#160; Unthinkable, even for the half of it Hillary had deplored.&#160; No, there had to be a nefarious agent that hoodwinked naive voters and diabolically stage-managed this vile and treasonous outcome.</p>
<p>Since the entrenched, master apparatus of America–the Deep State–has, as its main object, the care and feeding of its Militarist, Imperialist agenda, and since the Democratic Party has become its official voice, it was clear long before the election that Russia and Putin were the enemy of choice.</p>
<p>When Wikileaks released communications proving collusion of the DNC and Clinton campaign to torpedo Sanders, it was immediately and loudly proclaimed to be the work of Russian hackers bent&#160;not&#160;on exposing the DNC’s dirt to the public, but on wickedly subverting American democracy.</p>
<p>Putting aside the fact that America&#160;has&#160;no democracy, and never&#160;has&#160;had, the DNC honchos finessed their treachery while raging at their putative hijacking by enemies of America.&#160; In other words, the crime was not the&#160;fact&#160;of gross DNC misfeasance, but the&#160;horror&#160;that it was exposed by evildoers.</p>
<p>Once an executive decision was made by the Democratic Politburo that Russia and demonized Putin were behind this “hack”–subsequently proven technically impossible; only doable in-house by physically copying the files–a giant cloud of disinformation had to be generated to support the lie.</p>
<p>It was done.&#160; Yet, for all the intemperate rhetoric grounded in supposition, inference, and innuendo, supercharged with Pearl Harbor comparisons and amplified endlessly by the establishment press their effort has not, in over a year, produced a scintilla of evidence of Trump/Russia collusion for political ends, and has failed utterly to crucify him as Putin’s crony, pawn and agent.</p>
<p>Financial corruption?&#160; Why, yes, plenty, by Trump unsavories, but that was never the issue.&#160; The Dems rap was treasonous collusion and that, we are asked to believe, was to be accomplished by a bumbling gaggle of half-assed, amateur, cheapo, free-lancing Russian troll shops who bought some squirelly ads on Facebook.&#160; This was the great Trump/Putin plan to subvert our state?&#160; God help us!&#160; And yet it’s the basis of the Mueller indictments that James Kunstler called “13 Russians and a Ham Sandwich”.</p>
<p>The lunacy of this futile and fatuous greased pig chase is only equaled by the determination of the Democratic Party to continue to inflict it on itself.</p> | When Empires Die | true | https://counterpunch.org/2018/02/27/when-empires-die/ | 2018-02-27 | 4 |
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<p>MEXICO CITY — A 12-year-old girl is dead after an assailant attacked her and raped her two young sisters in their home in the northern Mexico border city of Ciudad Juarez.</p>
<p>The prosecutor’s office in Chihuahua state says girl died of strangulation. The office did not give the younger girls’ ages, but local news media said they were 10 and 11.</p>
<p>The office said Friday the assailant is being sought, but did not say if he had been identified. The attack occurred Wednesday in a low-income neighborhood on the city’s west side, near a desert area where the bodies of numerous young women were found dumped in the 1990s.</p>
<p>Human rights officials in Mexico say number of women and girls killed in the country since then has almost doubled.</p>
<p>Luis Raul Gonzalez Perez, president of Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission, said Friday that the number of women killed per year in Mexico has risen from 1,519 in 1990 to 2,813 in 2016.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | 2 girls raped, 12-year-old sister killed in northern Mexico | false | https://abqjournal.com/1097223/2-girls-raped-12-year-old-sister-killed-in-northern-mexico.html | 2017-11-24 | 2 |
<p>Anchorage is taking court action to stop ride-sharing company Uber from operating in the city.</p>
<p>The city requested an injunction and a temporary restraining order against Uber Technologies Inc. in civil superior court on Friday, KTUU (http://bit.ly/1pPqb62) reported.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Uber provides a smartphone app that allows people to order rides in privately driven cars instead of taxis.</p>
<p>The entry into the transportation marketplace by companies like Uber and Lyft has left legislators and local officials struggling to catch up with emerging technology that competes with traditional taxis and limos, but with less overhead. The drivers of the new companies, for example, use their personal cars and often do it for extra cash to supplement their income at other jobs.</p>
<p>A handful of state legislatures this year have tried and failed to pass bills to provide oversight for the so-called ridesharing companies. Taxi and limo companies have objected, arguing the web-based businesses have an unfair advantage and light regulation. Several municipalities nationwide are also grappling with the issue.</p>
<p>The service launched in Anchorage just over two weeks ago.</p>
<p>Uber didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about Anchorage's action that was made through its website on Saturday.</p>
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<p>The city declined to comment on the municipality's filing. But Alaska Yellow Dispatch CEO Sloane Unwin said the local cab company plans to add its name to the request for an injunction.</p>
<p>The city did exactly what it should do to uphold its laws, Unwin said.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Information from: KTUU-TV, http://www.ktuu.com</p> | Anchorage seeks injunction to stop ride-sharing company Uber from operating in the city | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2014/10/04/anchorage-seeks-injunction-to-stop-ride-sharing-company-uber-from-operating-in.html | 2016-03-05 | 0 |
<p>Gerald Epstein is codirector of the <a href="http://www.peri.umass.edu" type="external">Political Economy Research Institute (PERI)</a> and Professor of Economics. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University. He has published widely on a variety of progressive economic policy issues, especially in the areas of central banking and international finance, and is the editor or co-editor of six volumes.</p>
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<p /> PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Paul Jay in Washington. And in Washington, Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, talked about S&amp;P's downgrading alert, warning that maybe in two years they'll downgrade the AAA rating of US sovereign debt. Here's a little bit of what Mr. Bernanke had to say.
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<p />BEN BERNANKE, CHAIR, FEDERAL RESERVE: In one sense, S&amp;P's action didn't really tell us anything, because everybody who reads the newspaper knows that the United States has a very serious long-term fiscal problem. That being said, I'm hopeful that this event will provide at least one more incentive for Congress and the administration to address this problem.
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<p />JAY: Most of the analysts and pundits that have looked at this S&amp;P downgrading what I think if some objectivity find it a bit hard to understand the odds of the United States government defaulting on its sovereign debt are rather slim [sic], and if it did, you would have to downgrade everything there is in terms of US currency around the globe, and in fact you would really talk about an unraveling of the global financial system, which would--one would think would create a little more alarm than what S&amp;P is suggesting. But when you dig into the S&amp;P report, there is a piece of it that is alarming but isn't getting very much attention in the media or by Mr. Bernanke and others in his circles, and that goes like this. Here's a quote from S&amp;P. The potential for further extraordinary official assistance to large players in the US financial sector poses a negative risk to the government's credit rating. Because of the increased risk, S&amp;P forecast a potential initial cost to taxpayers for the next crisis to approach 34 percent of gross domestic product. S&amp;P puts that into cash numbers. It may be as much as $5 trillion if there's another meltdown of the American and global finance sector. So that really then begs the question: if the real threat here is not sovereign debt default because of the size of the American deficit, but if it's really the threat of another collapse of the finance sector, then why isn't Mr. Bernanke and everybody else talking about Dodd-Frank financial regulation and how to make some actual enforceable rules that might prevent or mitigate such a meltdown? Now joining us to talk about all of this is Gerry Epstein. He's the codirector of the PERI institute in Amherst, Massachusetts. Thanks for joining us, Gerry.
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<p />GERALD EPSTEIN, PERI CODIRECTOR, PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS: Thank you, Paul.
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<p />JAY: So where are we? Well, first, what's your take on the S&amp;P? I mean, S&amp;P has had such a stellar role in the crisis themselves.
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<p />EPSTEIN: They're very credible, aren't they? They rated all the CDOs AAA, and then the CDOs crashed. So they shouldn't have any credibility at all. It's all part of an ideological battle to bring austerity to the United States and cut the size of government. It really should not have--be any basis for investors' decisions.
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<p />JAY: So let's talk about, then, what S&amp;P says. As I say [incompr.] read the actual full report of S&amp;P, this piece about the possible meltdown of the finance sector and what that might cost the American economy is buried way down in the report. But that really seems to be the most significant thing they had to say. So what is going on on the question of regulation?
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<p />EPSTEIN: Well, you're absolutely right about this, about the point about the possible continuing meltdown of the financial sector. There are so many vulnerabilities facing large financial institutions like Bank of America, Citicorp, and so forth that simply have not been resolved. At the moment, some of these banks are showing good profits, but partly it's because of accounting tricks. They've shifted some of their income from their loan loss reserves, which are supposed to be held in case credit card debt and other things go south, and they've put it into their profits so they can pay themselves high bonuses. But the housing market is still very weak. The US economy is not growing, creating jobs and sustainable investment. So these banks are still extremely vulnerable. So I think S&amp;P is right about that.
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<p />JAY: So the fight is taking place mostly on how to implement Dodd-Frank, what was supposed to be the regulatory reform bill for the finance sector. Now, that bill is, if I understand it correctly, 875 pages. There's 243 separate rules called for. They've called for 67 separate studies to decide how to write and then execute those rules. And three's a real battle taking place, Wall Street lobbyists on one side and reformers on the other side. So talk a little bit about how--what's happening in that.
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<p />EPSTEIN: Right. Well, it's interesting that Bernanke, as you said, didn't say much about this, because in fact the institution that is really most in charge of implementing a lot of these rules, especially with respect to the large financial institutions, is the Federal Reserve. It's not well known, but part of the Dodd-Frank bill, towards the very end, the Federal Reserve was given a third mandate. It already has two--high employment and stable prices--but Dodd-Frank gave the Federal Reserve the mandate of maintaining financial stability. And Ben Bernanke should have been talking about, you know, what is the Federal Reserve going to do to maintain financial stability. And one of the things that it has to do is get these large banks cut down to size so they can't threaten the system and, as Standard &amp; Poor's warned, cost taxpayers up to $5 trillion. So there are a lot of places inside the Dodd-Frank bill that, if it were implemented strictly and properly, it could go some distance--not all the way that's needed, but it could go some distance to reducing the chances of another big bailout by the government and by the taxpayers. One of them is the so-called Volcker rule.
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<p />JAY: So talk a bit about that. This is this issue of proprietary trading. If I understand that's--correctly, this is when big banks like Goldman Sachs or Citibank and others take their own money and do very risky plays, make direct investments either into future markets or derivatives, commodities. And tell me the--what--how big a piece of their business was that, prior to the crash?
<p />
<p />EPSTEIN: Well, that's a very good question. You know, when the Volcker rule first came out, a lot of these banks would tell newspaper reporters, look, you know, this really isn't very important to us. Maybe we earn 5 to 10 percent of our earnings from proprietary trading. And so--and also, proprietary trading didn't cause the crisis. So why are you bothering with this? But in fact, what--neither of those things was true. My colleague Jim Crotty and I and former graduate student [incompr.] looked at this, and what we found was that for some of the largest investment banks--Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and so forth--this kind of trading was anywhere from 45 to--at the height of the--right before the crisis hit in 2008, up to 60 or 70 percent of their profits. It's very difficult to measure, in fact, so these are rough estimates. We don't have direct measures of proprietary trading because they don't reveal these data. But our measures suggest that it was very important to their bottom line.
<p />
<p />JAY: Why was this a systemic threat? Why did this contribute to the crisis?
<p />
<p />EPSTEIN: Well, it contributed in several ways. First of all, proprietary trading is at the heart of how these investment banks and former investment banks--now they're either bankrupt or, like Goldman Sachs, have been turned into commercial banks. This is at the heart of how they made a lot of their profits. What they would do is make bets on, say, the housing market and use complicated derivatives and other kinds of instruments to make complicated bets on this. This would create a demand for these assets and would push up the price of these assets, and that led to--contributed to the bubble, the housing bubble being as high as it was. And then they'd borrow very short-term--sometimes 80 percent of their borrowing was overnight borrowing in the repo market and other wholesale borrowing--and then they'd invest more in these assets, driving up their prices even more. So this proprietary trading was one of the main drivers of both the housing bubble and the accumulation of debt structures and complex bets all around the housing bubble. So when it crashed, it not only brought down the housing market, but that's why it brought down these banks, 'cause they had engaged in so much proprietary trading. And it was bringing down these banks that was really at the center of why the crisis was so serious.
<p />
<p />JAY: And the other part of this proprietary trading is you could be trading absolute crap in terms of long-term effects on the economy, but if you make a short-term turnover, the way the compensation schemes were worked out, you would make a fortune as senior management of one of these banks. Let me get into a little bit of the detail of this, because I think it's important for people to understand the kind of lobbying battle that's taking place in the specific wording of how regulations are going to be enacted. And here's a little piece from Dodd-Frank. No transaction, class of transactions, or activity may be deemed permitted if--and here's the direct quote--one, would involve or result in a material conflict of interest--and then it goes on--two, would result directly or indirectly in material exposure by the banking entity to high-risk assets or high-risk trading strategies, and then in three, would pose a threat to the safety and soundness of such banking entity, or four, would pose a threat to the financial stability of the United States. This is the section you were talking about earlier, Gerry. So the question is: what is material conflict of interest? What is high-risk trading strategy? So if I understand this right, correctly, Gerry, the fight is: what meat do you put on the bones of these words? And then what regulation comes out of that?
<p />
<p />EPSTEIN: That's right. The quote that you just read is really central to what we say is the best way to interpret the Volcker rule, this ban on proprietary trading. The way it worked was there was a basic ban on proprietary trading by these banks, with the idea that if they're going to engage in this kind of risky gambling, then they shouldn't have--be guaranteed by the taxpayer, they shouldn't have access to the discount window from the Federal Reserve or other kinds of bailouts from the government; let them do this gambling on their own. So anybody that has access to this kind of bailout from the government shouldn't engage in this kind of proprietary trading, period. But they were able to get written into the law all kinds of exceptions and all kinds of vague language that in fact would allow them to engage in proprietary trading. So the quotes that you just read was what we call a backstop legislation, which says, even if you are able to get through a loophole and do some proprietary trading, if the regulators can show that it involves a material conflict of interest or will be risky for the bank or will be risky for the United States as a whole, even if according to the letter of the law you can do it, you can't do it, period. And this is very important. So what's a material conflict of interest? Well, it's the kind of thing that Goldman Sachs did when they got together with the hedge fund operator Paulson to put together a CDO, a package of mortgages that the--Goldman Sachs knew was going to fail. Then they sold those mortgages to their customers without telling them that they had been put together to fail. And then Goldman Sachs shorted those, so that they would make a killing when they failed, and took a big fee from Paulson. That would be outlawed by the Volcker rule. Now, in the Volcker rule, it says, well, okay, the banks aren't supposed to do this kind of proprietary trading, but they can do it if it's to meet the short-term demands of their customers. Well, there's a huge loophole, because if they're holding securities to meet the short-term demand of their customers, that means they're actually holding these securities for some period of time. That means that they can take proprietary bets on that. That can create risks for these banks. And so they can hide a lot of their own proprietary trading within that kind of exception. So this backstop legislation is very important to try to prevent that. Now, we've talked to regulators about this backstop language that you just read, and most of the regulators that we've talked to--we talked to the Fed, we talked to the SEC, we talked to the FDIC--most of them don't want to touch this backstop legislation. They just want to interpret the letter of the strict rules and the exceptions. And we're afraid that if they do it that way, then the banks are going to be able to hide a lot of proprietary trading inside the exceptions.
<p />
<p />JAY: So if people are talking to their congresspeople or senators, what should they be telling them about this?
<p />
<p />EPSTEIN: What they should tell them is that they want to restrict all proprietary trading that's dangerous for the banks or that's dangerous for the government or the taxpayer, and no exceptions or loopholes should be accepted which could lead to another bailout of these banks, period.
<p />
<p />JAY: So, in other words, as Standard &amp; Poor's said, if you don't take a position on this--and I'm talking to us, the viewers and the makers of this--we could be risking another $5 trillion of public money again.
<p />
<p />EPSTEIN: Absolutely. It's even worse than that, because what's happening now is Ben Bernanke at the Federal Reserve, they're trying to restore the health of these banks by keeping short-term interest rates really low, allowing the banks to take that money and engage in proprietary trading, and make a lot of money. And the Fed is hoping that that's going to restore the balance sheets and the health of the banks, and so that we won't have a financial crisis. But in fact what they're doing is facilitating precisely the kinds of behavior that led to the last financial crisis.
<p />
<p />JAY: Well, we'll dig into this more in further segments. As Standard &amp; Poor's says, we're talking about a 34 percent of gross domestic product that could be on the line here.
<p />
<p />EPSTEIN: That's real money.
<p />
<p />JAY: Real money not getting talked about. And of course what that really means for most of us: more or increasing the high unemployment, and a much deeper recession. Thanks very much for joining us, Gerry.
<p />
<p />EPSTEIN: Thanks, Paul.
<p />
<p />JAY: And thank you for joining us on The Real News Network.
<p />
<p />End of Transcript
<p />
<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | S&P Warns of Potential Finance Meltdown | true | http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D31%26Itemid%3D74%26jumival%3D6731 | 2011-05-06 | 4 |
<p>Splitting the bill at a restaurant or settling road trip expenses can be as simple as tapping two phones together to transfer the funds.</p>
<p>Bump Pay is a new app for person-to-person mobile payments developed by Bump, the makers of the app of the same name that allows the instant transfer of contact information and photos.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>"You type in the amount you want to send, you bump your phones together and you'll be immediately taken to the PayPal confirmation page," explained David Lieb, the co-founder and CEO of Bump.</p>
<p>With over 85 million downloads in the past three years of the original Bump app, the company is expanding its focus to other areas using their design philosophy, which is to minimize the friction involved in exchanging information and data between people.</p>
<p>And they're starting with the mobile payments space.</p>
<p>"The pain point we found ourselves saying is ‘I don't have any cash on me and I don't know how to give you money for those concert tickets yesterday'" said Lieb.</p>
<p>Rather than focusing on the retail mobile payments space, an area already crowded with products like Square, PayPal Here and Intuit's GoPayment, Lieb said that the company is concentrating exclusively on person-to-person payments.</p>
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<p>"Right now we're focused on this problem of making it easier for friends and colleagues to pay each other. Certainly that could lead into other things we could do, but that was the area we found the most pain points in," he explained.</p>
<p>The service only works with PayPal but Lieb said the company is open to exploring other payment options in the future.</p>
<p>The app was initially created as an internal experiment as part of their Bump Labs initiative, which is experimenting with a variety of projects.</p>
<p>"They're all related to this core idea of simplifying and speeding up a lot of the interactions that are maybe more difficult than they should be," said Lieb.</p>
<p>A similar app called Venmo allows users to exchange money using their bank and credit card accounts. PayPal also has an app for person-to-person mobile payments, which up until March 15th, integrated Bump's technology. Some banks, such as ING Direct, also incorporate Bump's technology into its apps.</p>
<p>Bump Pay relies on the physical contact of phones, so it can only be done in person. It is available for iOS devices on the U.S. app store.</p> | New App Transfers Money With the Tap of a Phone | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2012/04/09/new-app-transfers-money-with-tap-phone.html | 2016-03-03 | 0 |
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<p>7:45 p.m.</p>
<p>FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — A 33-mile stretch of Interstate 40 east of Flagstaff in northern Arizona was closed in both directions for nearly 11 hours because of strong winds and reduced visibility.</p>
<p>The Department of Transportation says I-40 between Winslow and Twin Arrows was closed from about 7 a.m. Tuesday until about 6:15 p.m.</p>
<p>Authorities say gusts of up to 60 mph were recorded Tuesday in the Winslow area and sustained winds were in the 20 mph range most of the day.</p>
<p>The closure of I-40 was from Seligman in northwestern Arizona eastward to the Arizona-New Mexico line.</p>
<p>It resulted in a 12-mile backup before traffic could be diverted.</p>
<p>ADVERTISEMENT</p> | Updated: I-40 east of Flagstaff reopened | false | https://abqjournal.com/189307/high-winds-close-interstate-40-east-of-flagstaff.html | 2013-04-16 | 2 |
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<p />
<p>The parade came on the 55th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against China.</p>
<p>State Cultural Affairs Secretary Veronica Gonzales, at the Capital Rotunda, read a proclamation from Gov. Susana Martinez proclaiming March 10 Tibet Day.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | Tibetans march in Santa Fe against Chinese rule | false | https://abqjournal.com/366001/tibetans-march-in-santa-fe-against-chinese-rule.html | 2 |
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<p>by Greg Mitchell</p>
<p>The author has written extensively on propaganda related to the bomb. What follows is a story stemming from his previous research.</p>
<p>With Vladimir Putin’s Russia putting boots on the ground in Crimea and the Obama administration responding with rhetoric reminiscent of Cold War posturing, the past few days provided chilling reminders of the dangerous and costly nuclear arms race that gripped the two superpowers for nearly half a century. How far the U.S. and Russia will go in rattling their still enormous nuclear arsenals this time remains to be seen.</p>
<p>You might wonder why most Americans, after Hiroshima, accepted the new nuclear dangers so readily, even as atomic bombs led to hydrogen bombs and the world’s stockpile of warheads mounted on intercontinental ballistic missiles expanded from mere dozens to thousands.</p>
<p>An important factor was the active suppression of vital information about radiation effects and other nuclear dangers by the Pentagon and other U.S. agencies. I have documented this in two books, “Hiroshima in America” (with Robert Jay Lifton) and “Atomic Cover-up.” This cover-up extended even to Hollywood.</p>
<p>This is a cautionary tale, one that has been buried for decades, on the official censorship—by the Truman White House—of a major Hollywood film on the bombing of Hiroshima. And the tale goes beyond censorship: it involves the outright falsification of major historical facts.</p>
<p>A Propaganda Film is Born</p>
<p>The MGM drama, The Beginning or the End emerged in 1947, after many revisions, as a Hollywood version of America’s official nuclear narrative: The bomb was clearly necessary to end the war with Japan and save American lives—and we needed to build new and bigger weapons to protect us from the Soviets.</p>
<p>Just weeks after the Hiroshima attack in August 1945, Sam Marx, a producer at MGM, received a call from agent Tony Owen, who said his wife, actress Donna Reed, had received some fascinating letters from her high school chemistry teacher. That teacher, Dr. Edward Tomkins, who was then at the Oak Ridge nuclear site, wrote to ask if Hollywood had a feature on the atomic bomb in the works, one that would warn the world about the dangers of a nuclear arms race. He was surprised to learn they did not. But this would soon change.</p>
<p>Tompkins’ letter set in motion what MGM boss Louis B. Mayer, a conservative Republican, called “the most important story” he would ever film. MGM hired Norman Taurog to direct the film, and Hume Cronyn to star as physicist Robert Oppenheimer, who headed the scientific effort to create the bomb.</p>
<p>President Truman himself provided the title, The Beginning or the End. Within weeks, as I learned through archival research, MGM writers were meeting with the atomic scientists at Oak Ridge and elsewhere.</p>
<p>Read the rest of the story <a href="http://whowhatwhy.com/2014/03/09/bombing-hiroshima-got-hollywood-makeover/" type="external">here at WhoWhatWhy.com</a>.</p> | How The Bombing Of Hiroshima Got A Hollywood Makeover | true | http://crooksandliars.com/2014/03/how-bombing-hiroshima-got-hollywood | 2014-03-10 | 4 |
<p />
<p>It looks like the fiercely-contested 2016 U.S. presidential election has not only resulted into the death of the once illustrious political career of Democrat Hillary Clinton with her crushing defeat to Republican Donald Trump, but has also pushed the Clinton Foundation on the brink of death itself. That is, if it is not dead yet with strong signs that its New York office could be practically closing down with the announcement that it is laying off workers.</p>
<p />
<p>The Clinton Foundation has filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification or WARN as mandated by the Department of Labor. The organization has informed the New York Labor Board of a "plant layoff" where 22 employees will be affected. The lay off date will be in effect on April 15 this year, with a specification that the affected workers are not represented by a union. The reason stated for the dislocation is the discontinuation of the Clinton Global Initiative. Veronika Shiroka is named as the contact person. She is listed as the Director of Employee Relations at the Clinton Foundation, a separate research reveals.</p>
<p />
<p>It remains unclear if the layoff of the 22 workers from the Clinton Foundation will result to more layoffs of the organization's once 200-strong staff or if the foundation would just move its operations from its New York office to a new location, or if it would entirely fold up soon. After all, the Clinton family-run foundation classified as " social advocacy organization" continues to wrestle with grave challenges and difficulties.</p>
<p />
<p>For one, the FBI is continuing its probe of corruption charges against the foundation emanating from conflict of interest and pay-to-play allegations during Hillary's tenure as secretary of state. It was reported in November after the victory of President-elect Donald Trump that 10 FBI officers are working full time on the Clinton Foundation probe. The organization jointly run by the father and daughter tandem of former president Bill and ex first daughter Chelsea Clinton was also reported to have received massive donations from foreign dictators and despots</p>
<p>from countries with dubious human rights violations and criminal records who desperately wanted to buy access to Hillary Clinton during her term as secretary of state through the foundation.</p>
<p />
<p>The Clinton Foundation practically allowed itself to serve as money laundering operation which permitted the entry of unlimited foreign money into the American political process and sold American government interests to the highest political bidder. Such was the extent of the corruption and treason of the foundation.</p>
<p />
<p>Its major donors have also recently totally pulled out or adversely cut its past generous contributions making it a challenge, if not nearly impossible, for the foundation to continue its operations. Australia for one entirely cut its donations to the foundation while the previously benevolent Norway slashed its contributions by 87%.</p>
<p />
<p>Happy days are certainly over for the Clintons and the foundation. Now, it's payback time as the wheels of justice rolls and runs after them.</p> | Clinton Foundation Layoffs Workers On The Brink Of Closing Down | true | http://thegoldwater.com/news/1047-Clinton-Foundation-Layoffs-Workers-On-The-Brink-Of-Closing-Down | 2017-01-15 | 0 |
<p>A federal judge in Alabama issued a temporary restraining order Thursday against auto parts manufacturer Lear Corp. after the Labor Department accused the company of illegally harassing its workers and obstructing a federal safety investigation.</p>
<p>The Labor Department on Wednesday asked a federal district court to issue the restraining order against Lear that would force it to drop a <a href="" type="internal">lawsuit against a worker</a> it fired after she made public statements about unsafe workplace conditions at the company.</p>
<p>“It appears employees spoke openly about the health and safety conditions where they worked, and [Lear] subsequently transferred or terminated them for doing so,” wrote Judge Callie V. S. Granade, for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama.</p>
<p>Lear, a multinational auto parts manufacturer, has come under scrutiny in recent months over claims about worker safety in its Selma, Alabama, Renosol plant. The plant employs more than 80 workers on an assembly line that makes car-seat and headrest foam cushions exclusively for Hyundai vehicles.</p>
<p>The federal suit came the same day that a former Lear employee, Kimberly King, 50, appeared in a Montgomery County, Alabama court over a separate lawsuit Lear filed against her last month. The company had fired King and sued her after she complained publicly about unsafe conditions in the plant. A judge had slapped her with a restraining order banning her from discussing the case publicly.</p>
<p>The Labor Department suit asked the court to intervene and to force the company to drop its lawsuit against King, re-hire her, and desist from otherwise intimidating workers.</p>
<p>“The litigation commenced by [Lear] against former employee Kimberly King is meritless and designed with the intent to create a chilling effect within [Lear’s] employee ranks,” the Labor Department wrote.</p>
<p>The Department asked the federal court to stop Lear from “terminating, suspending, harassing, suing, threatening, intimidating, or taking any other discriminatory/retaliatory action against any current and/or former employee” who engages with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or speaks publicly about workplace concerns.</p>
<p>A hearing is scheduled for April 29 when the court will decide whether to impose an injunction on Lear. Until then, the court has issued a temporary restraining order.</p>
<p>King was one of the subjects of a July <a href="" type="internal">NBC News investigation</a> about workers who said they’d become sick from exposure to a chemical called TDI used to make foam for car interiors. A Yale University clinic tested worker blood samples and concluded that King and others had been sensitized to TDI, which can lead to permanent respiratory illness.</p>
<p>In previous comments, Lear told NBC that it had not seen the Yale doctor's tests.</p>
<p>In November, OSHA cited and fined the company for failing to adequately protect workers from exposure to the chemicals. OSHA says that its examination of worker medical records shows that employees were likely made sick from chemical exposure.</p>
<p>Lear said as recently as last week that there is no evidence of unsafe conditions. Lear fired and sued King after she refused to sign a statement admitting to lying about conditions at the plant. The company had also temporarily suspended another worker. A Montgomery County, Alabama judge issued a temporary restraining order against King, which effectively barred her from speaking publicly about Lear.</p>
<p>"We deny all the allegations by the DOL (Department of Labor) -- they simply are not true,” wrote Lear vice president Mel Stephens in response to NBC News’ questions about the suit. “We look forward to presenting our side of the facts in this matter in court."</p>
<p>King appeared in court yesterday in the earlier case, which is ongoing. But the Labor Department’s federal lawsuit, filed Wednesday, asked a federal judge to, in effect, override Lear’s suit against King.</p>
<p>Lear’s “entire goal in seeking a [Temporary Restraining Order] is to silence Ms. King from continuing to speak out, in other words, to stop her from engaging in protected activities,” the Labor Department wrote in a memorandum attached to the suit.</p>
<p>The Department said the Lear suit exposes a “disparity in power” between the Fortune 500 Company and King, who earned $12.20 an hour.</p>
<p>OSHA has been engaged for months in a federal whistleblower investigation over concerns that the company has retaliated against workers who speak to the press or to federal health and safety authorities. The federal complaint filed yesterday alleges that the company has intimated workers, which OSHA says obstructs the agency’s ability to investigate worker safety.</p>
<p>In the federal court order issued Thursday Judge Granade wrote that Lear is prohibited from “dissuading and attempting to prevent employees from initiating discussions with the Secretary of Labor and others about their work environment. This chilling effect also limits [Labor Department’s] ability to investigate related claims.”</p>
<p>In filings, OSHA also said that during the health and safety investigation that it conducted last year, which Lear attempted to halt through legal action, the company filmed workers who participated in TDI tests. The government suit also asks that the company be barred from any efforts to interfere further with the OSHA investigations.</p> | Alabama Auto Parts Plant Slapped with Federal Restraining Order | false | http://nbcnews.com/feature/in-plain-sight/alabama-auto-parts-plant-slapped-federal-restraining-order-n342891 | 2015-04-16 | 3 |
<p />
<p>If every person has their own story, every business has at least a hundred. Just as the Internet empowers entrepreneurs to launch new ventures and expand their existing services, the digital revolution has created novel opportunities for businesses to reach audiences with effective, powerful digital publishing.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Even 10 years ago, publishing a book was a complicated process that required a contract with a publisher, and most still didn’t find an audience. An author could self-publish, but despite the success stories (the Joy of Cooking was originally self-published, as was A Time to Kill), few self-publishers could get their titles in front of an audience. The digital book retailers — particularly Amazon — have radically expanded the reach of self-publishing by allowing content holders to distribute into their stores and potentially reach millions of readers.</p>
<p>The success of 50 Shades of Grey has made self-publishing a hot topic, but most of the focus has been on fiction. A large opportunity exists for businesses to use eBooks as marketing vehicles. With an emphasis on audience engagement over hitting the best-seller lists, a small business entrepreneur can succeed in ways the competition hasn’t yet pursued.</p>
<p>Five Ways eBooks Can Help Your Business</p>
<p>Share your expertise and assert your excellence: eBooks are a great way to demonstrate your domain knowledge in an easy-to-read and enjoyable format. Providing your audience more value through an eBook will make them more likely to trust you.</p>
<p>Tell your story: With an eBook, you can connect powerfully with your audience and shape your brand’s story.</p>
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<p>Share your victories: Nothing makes a better story than happy customers and partners. Sharing those anecdotes and case studies in an eBook can be a powerful argument for what you do.</p>
<p>Bookify everything: Company histories, product guideBooks, competitive studies, white papers, informative pamphlets, quarterly reports — all can be rendered as an eBook and made accessible to the large audiences of Amazon, Apple, Barnes &amp; Noble, Google, and others.</p>
<p>Reward your audience: Giving free eBooks to your audience is a great way to expand the premium products you can use as subscriber or customer rewards.</p>
<p>More AllBusiness.com:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.allbusiness.com/top-25-home-based-businesses/16659292-1.html" type="external">The Top 25 Home-Based Business Ideas</a> <a href="http://experts.allbusiness.com/slideshows/10-websites-where-you-should-have-your-company-profile-listed/" type="external">10 Websites Where You Should Have Your Company Profile Listed</a> <a href="http://experts.allbusiness.com/25-frequently-asked-questions-on-starting-a-business/8225/" type="external">25 Frequently Asked Questions on Starting a Business</a> <a href="http://experts.allbusiness.com/50-inspirational-quotes-for-entrepreneurs-startups/" type="external">50 Inspirational Quotes for Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups</a></p>
<p>The Great Flexibility of EBooks</p>
<p>Your eBook can be 50 pages or 1,000 pages — whatever works best for you.</p>
<p>Your eBook can include multi-media elements like videos, audio clips, images, and charts.</p>
<p>Once your book content is finished, a professional services company — such as Vook and others — can have your eBook ready to publish in 1-3 days. Once your eBook is in the marketplace, it’s relatively easy to update the content and release new versions in the future.</p>
<p>If you see success and interest, you can produce a print-on-demand version for readers to purchase singly or that you can buy and distribute in bulk.</p>
<p>You’ll keep all copyright and other rights associated with the book — unlike the deals required by traditional book publishers. And with new technology, you can monitor how well your book is performing on a daily basis.</p>
<p>The Top Three Rules of EBook Strategies for Businesses</p>
<p>Make your eBook free: Think of your eBook as free advertising that engages your audience. You can’t self-publish free books through Amazon’s Kindle Direct service, but you can work with author services companies to release an eBook for free in multiple channels. Free eBooks can drive thousands of downloads and connect you to new potential customers.</p>
<p>Publish multiple books: McKinsey regularly publishes eBooks; it’s a great way for them to extend their thought leadership. Don’t just do one book — make a digital publishing calendar part of your regular marketing strategy.</p>
<p>Write what you know: You might be better at sales than writing, but someone on your team can capture your message, even if it’s in the form of a transcribed interview worked into a narrative or guideBook. Just stay focused on what keeps you motivated in your business every day when you consider your first book.</p>
<p>Incorporating the art of publishing into your portfolio will expand your entire business and bring your story into new marketplaces, in a new way.</p>
<p>Matthew Cavnar is a co-founder at Vook ( <a href="http://www.vook.com/" type="external">www.vook.com</a>), where he extends Vook’s eBook technology platforms to content holders everywhere, including such companies as the&#160;New York Times, Fast Company, Forbes and McKinsey. Vook is the industry leader in providing companies with digital book publishing solutions. At Vook, Matthew has produced the award-winning&#160;JFK: 50 Days&#160;enhanced eBook with NBC and Perseus,&#160;Unleashing the Super IdeaVirus&#160;with Seth Godin,&#160;Winning the Zero Moment of Truth&#160;with Google, as well as a variety of eBook projects for Simon &amp; Schuster, Penguin, Harvard Business Review, and others.</p> | How to Use eBooks to Drive Your Business | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2014/03/06/how-to-use-ebooks-to-drive-your-business.html | 2016-04-07 | 0 |
<p>___</p>
<p>As royal wedding nears, brands benefit from 'Meghan effect'</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>LONDON (AP) — Meghan Markle's marriage to Prince Harry isn't just a trans-Atlantic love story linking the House of Windsor to Hollywood. Their Mary 19 wedding is a boon for florists, bakers and tiara makers but also a bonanza for the broader British economy. A firm that reports annually on the monarchy estimates the glamorous bride-to-be alone will inject 150 million pounds ($210 million) into the U.K. economy as consumers try to mimic Markle's style.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>IRS head sees huge task ahead to administer new tax law</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The acting head of the IRS says the current tax-filing season has gone well, while acknowledging the tough challenge the cash-strapped agency faces of administering the new tax law that will affect 2019 returns. Acting IRS Commissioner David Kautter tells Congress that some 79 million refunds totaling about $226 billion have been issued so far, averaging $2,900 — up $13 from last year.</p>
<p>___</p>
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<p>China denies Xi comments aimed at settling US dispute</p>
<p>BEIJING (AP) — China says President Xi Jinping's pledges to cut import tariffs on cars and open China's markets wider were not meant as an overture for settling a tariff dispute with Washington. State media on Thursday cited a commerce ministry spokesman as saying negotiations were impossible under 'unilateral coercion' by President Donald Trump's government.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Lawmakers say Trump exploring rejoining Pacific trade talks</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has asked trade officials to explore the possibility of the United States rejoining negotiations on the Pacific Rim agreement. He pulled the U.S. out last year as part of his "America first" agenda. Farm-state lawmakers say that at a White House meeting with Trump, he gave that assignment to his trade representative and his new chief economic adviser. The Trans-Pacific Partnership would open more overseas markets for American farmers.</p>
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<p>Volkswagen replaces CEO Mueller, announces new structure</p>
<p>FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Volkswagen replaced CEO Matthias Mueller with core brand head Herbert Diess on Thursday and said it is creating a new management structure to enable faster decision-making as autonomous and electric cars transform the industry. The German automaker said in a statement that it would reorganize its management into six broad business areas plus China. It said the new structure would streamline decision-making in the individual operating units.</p>
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<p>US long-term mortgage rates flat to higher; 30-year 4.42 pct</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Long-term U.S. mortgage rates were flat to slightly higher this week with the spring home buying season well underway. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages edged up to 4.42 percent from 4.40 percent last week. The average rate on 15-year, fixed-rate loans held steady this week at 3.87 percent.</p>
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<p>US publishers worry about pricier newsprint with new tariffs</p>
<p>MILWAUKEE (AP) — Recently imposed tariffs on Canadian newsprint are causing anxiety among U.S. publishers who say they'll be forced to shut down or make further cuts in an industry already depleted by years of declining revenue. The tariffs are a response to complaint to the U.S. Department of Commerce from a hedge-fund owned paper producer in Washington state. That company is arguing its Canadian competitors have an unfair advantage with government subsidies. The tariffs could be finalized by September.</p>
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<p>Former coal lobbyist confirmed as No. 2 official at EPA</p>
<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday confirmed a former coal industry lobbyist as the second-highest official at the Environmental Protection Agency, putting him next in line to run the agency if embattled administrator Scott Pruitt is forced out or resigns. Senators approved Andrew Wheeler as the agency's deputy administrator despite complaints from Democrats that Wheeler helped lead a fight by the coal industry to block regulations that protect Americans' health and begin to address climate change.</p>
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<p>Panel tackles lack of high-speed internet in Indian Country</p>
<p>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Two western senators are proposing to expand access to a $4 billion federal program that has enabled public schools and libraries throughout the U.S. to obtain high-speed internet at affordable rates as one way to close the digital divide that persists across American Indian communities and other rural areas. Librarians, policymakers and other experts gathered Thursday in Washington, D.C., for a panel discussion on the legislation and the needs of tribal communities.</p>
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<p>Facebook to stop spending against California privacy effort</p>
<p>SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Facebook says it will stop spending money to fight a proposed California ballot initiative aimed at increasing data privacy. The company has contributed $200,000 in February to a committee opposing the "California Consumer Privacy Act." It made the announcement Wednesday as chief executive Mark Zuckerberg underwent questioning from Congress about the handling of user data.</p>
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<p>Technology, industrials and banks lead rally as stocks rise</p>
<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Banks and technology and industrial companies help US stocks add to their gains from earlier in the week. Banks rise along with interest rates and big technology companies like Apple and Microsoft shake off some of their recent struggles. Delta Air Lines and BlackRock rise after solid quarterly reports while Bed, Bath &amp; Beyond sinks after a weak annual forecast.</p>
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<p>The Standard &amp; Poor's 500 index gained 21.80 points, or 0.8 percent, to 2,663.99. The Dow Jones industrial average added 293.60 points, or 1.2 percent, to 24,483.05. The Nasdaq composite climbed 71.22 points, or 1 percent, to 7,140.25. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks advanced 10.52 points, or 0.7 percent, to 1,557.33.</p>
<p>Benchmark U.S. crude rose 0.4 percent to $67.07 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, used to price international oils, shed 0.1 percent to $72.02 a barrel in London. Wholesale gasoline lost 0.6 percent to $2.05 a gallon. Heating oil dipped 0.4 percent to $2.08 a gallon. Natural gas rose 0.4 percent to $2.69 per 1,000 cubic feet.</p> | Business Highlights | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2017/08/17/business-highlights.html | 2018-04-12 | 0 |
<p>WASHINGTON — Former House Speaker John Boehner says that aside from international affairs and foreign policy, President Donald Trump’s time in office has so far been a “complete disaster.”</p>
<p>Speaking at an energy conference Thursday in Houston, Boehner praised Trump for his approach abroad and his aggressiveness in fighting Islamic State militants, according to the energy publication Rigzone.</p>
<p>“Everything else he’s done (in office) has been a complete disaster,” the Ohio Republican said, according to the publication. “He’s still learning how to be president.”</p>
<p>Boehner said he’s been friends with Trump for 15 years, but still has a hard time envisioning him as president. He also said Trump shouldn’t be allowed to Tweet overnight.</p>
<p>David Schnittger, a spokesman for Boehner, confirmed the comments on Friday.</p>
<p>According to Rigzone, Boehner said that the Republican tax reform effort “is just a bunch of happy talk” and that the border adjustment tax — a major priority for Boehner’s successor, Speaker Paul Ryan — is “deader than a doornail.” He said he was more optimistic about tax reform earlier in the year, but “now my odds are 60/40.”</p>
<p>Earlier this year, Boehner said he was pessimistic about another congressional Republican priority — repealing and replacing former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.</p>
<p>Boehner said that while Republicans would fix some problems of Obama’s law, repeal and replacement is “not going to happen.”</p>
<p>He added, “Republicans never ever agree on health care.”</p>
<p>The GOP-led House narrowly passed a bill earlier this month. The Senate has struggled to produce legislation that all in the GOP can back.</p>
<p>On investigations into Russia, Boehner told the Texas forum that “they need to get to the bottom of this” but said Democratic talk of impeachment is the best way to rile up Trump supporters.</p>
<p>Boehner made it clear he’s happier now that he’s left Capitol Hill.</p>
<p>“I wake up every day, drink my morning coffee and say, ‘Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,’” he said, according to Rigzone.</p>
<p>And unsurprisingly, Boehner said he doesn’t want to be president.</p>
<p>“I drink red wine. I smoke cigarettes. I golf. I cut my own grass. I iron my own clothes. And I’m not willing to give all that up to be president,” he said.</p> | Trump a ‘complete disaster’ so far, John Boehner says | false | https://reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/trump-a-complete-disaster-so-far-john-boehner-says/ | 2017-05-26 | 1 |
<p>Our government is in a financial crisis. They are on the precipice of maxing out their $16.699 trillion credit limit and they can’t agree on or pass a spending bill. With the inability of your elected leaders to be fiscally responsible with the taxes you’ve already paid, why would you want to hand over more of your hard earned dollars to them? That’s what you’re setting yourself up to do with an IRA. In this defining moment you need to know that your money will never be worth more than it is today due to inflation; and this may be the lowest tax bracket you will be in for the rest of your life.</p>
<p>You’ve been told that contributing to an IRA is a great way to save for retirement, but the fact of the matter is the unpaid tax (aka: deduction) in the year you contribute is like a loan from the government. On the day you withdraw money from your IRA savings, you must begin repaying that loan, most likely at a higher tax rate than when you contributed. Deferring taxes may seem like a benefit, but it’s not. Why then are 95% of financial advisors pointing you in the exact opposite direction of where you want to go by telling you to put as much money as you can as far into the future when you know it will be worth less and taxed more? &#160;Whose future are you funding, yours or the government’s? As Judge Learned Hand said, “Anyone may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the Treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes.”</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Is it possible to reverse the course of your IRA so that it doesn’t become an IOU to the IRS? Is there a way to make your family and favorite charities the largest recipients of your IRA instead of Uncle Sam? With proper planning and a team of qualified advisors, YES! If you own an IRA and you love someone, you need to have a plan for your IRA and other assets, otherwise the state will and they don’t have you or your family’s best interests at heart. When you die, your money will go to three places: your heirs, charity or Uncle Sam. The law states that with proper planning, you can eliminate one of the three. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to cross Uncle Sam off my list.</p>
<p>Consider this tale of two IRAs--one with a plan and one without. Robert had a self-directed IRA. He left it alone for as long as he could to delay paying taxes. At age 70 ½, he began taking out his RMDs as required by law and began paying taxes. Upon his death, his wife, Melinda, inherited the IRA and continued to take out RMDs. Upon her death, her children were beneficiaries of the $100,000 IRA and also the nearly $40,000 (40%) tax bill that was due on the money. Unfortunately, Robert’s advisor either didn’t know how or didn’t have time to help Robert create a plan to mitigate these taxes.</p>
<p>Kandace also had an IRA. Before she had to begin RMDs, she met with a team of advisors including her financial and insurance advisor, a CPA and an attorney to create a plan that would cause her family and favorite charities to be the biggest beneficiaries of her IRA. Her plan included gifting her highly appreciated IRA asset to her favorite charity and taking a charitable deduction of the value of her IRA, which minimized her current tax liability. She used the revenue from the gifted IRA to purchase life insurance, which doubled and almost tripled the amount that she gave to her children upon her death. Kandace’s IRA was no longer an IOU to the IRS. Instead, her charity and family were the benefactors of a much larger sum of money than if she had not created a plan.</p>
<p>By not taking the time to create a plan for your IRA, you are voluntarily giving your money away to the government. In my research, when retirees are asked if they had the choice to leave their RMD inside their IRA, 70% or more said yes! Why? Because their IRA is infected with taxes and they usually don’t need the money.</p>
<p>Robert was a casualty of traditional thinking and negotiating with a premise and concepts that were flawed from the very beginning. Kandace gained knowledge from a qualified team of professionals who helped put a solid plan in place for her IRA. Don’t be that person who does nothing and leaves the bulk of their IRA to the government’s coffers. Take action now. Have a conversation with your financial and insurance advisor to design a plan that will create a true legacy for your family and cherished causes.</p> | Is Your IRA an IOU to the IRS? | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2013/10/30/is-your-ira-iou-to-irs.html | 2016-01-26 | 0 |
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<p>Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG) announced plans to shell out $10 million dollars to help local growers provide their stores with produce and meats that meet their new food safety protocols.</p>
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<p>“This money will be used to provide food safety support and education that is necessary to meet our standards. And to help offset the costs of enhanced testing and food-safety practices for some smaller farmers,” Steve Ells, founder, Co-CEO, and Chairman of Chipotle told his employees during the nationwide employee meeting.</p>
<p>The Mexican fast food chain closed all of its 1,900 stores in order to hold an employee meeting to address food safety practices. More than 50,000 employees attended the meeting by gathering in hotel conference rooms and movie theaters to hear co-founders Ells and Monty Moran apologize and provide the next steps forward for the struggling company.</p>
<p>“We called this meeting today so that we could share with you what we’ve learned from the outbreaks,” adds Ells.</p>
<p>In 2015, the burrito giant had four incidents relating to food outbreaks.</p>
<p>“We know the cause of three of them,” says Moran. “The salmonella outbreak in Minnesota and Wisconsin was linked to tomatoes. That’s one of the reasons why we no longer dice tomatoes in our restaurants.”</p>
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<p>Moran says the two norovirus outbreaks were likely caused by a mistake: specifically, employees coming to work while sick. The CDC officially closed their investigation regarding the other E.coli outbreak (the fourth incident) last Monday.</p>
<p>“We still do not know for sure what it was, and we probably never will know,” adds Moran. “The events of 2015 have shown us that our recipe was out of balance.”</p>
<p>The company now has a new plan in place that includes testing ingredients on farms and in its central kitchens and implementing techniques like blanching raw vegetables to kill germs.</p>
<p>“We have also changed the way we marinate the steak and chicken, because steak and chicken can harbor dangerous germs like E.coli and salmonella before they are cooked,” Moran outlined during the presentation.</p>
<p>Chipotle has been in crisis mode for months since the illnesses were traced to its restaurants in October last year. The company has since recorded a 37% decline in same-store sales, for the month ending December 2015, and January’s comps showed no signs of improving.</p>
<p>While the federal investigation into the E.coli outbreak was officially closed last week by the CDC, the fast-food chain is still under a criminal investigation for a norovirus incident at a California restaurant in August.</p>
<p>“When I opened the first Chipotle almost 23 years ago, I was focused on creating an extraordinary dining experience. This came out of my passion as a chef,” says Ells. “Our customers should never have to question whether their food is safe.”</p> | Chipotle Shells Out $10M to Local Farmers to Meet Safety Goals | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2016/02/08/chipotle-shells-out-10m-to-local-farmers-to-meet-safety-goals.html | 2016-03-05 | 0 |
<p><a href="" type="external" /> Henry Davis' reaction to Trump being elected president PRICELESS!</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">Obamas ask Americans to help 'Obama Foundation'</a>January 22, 2017In "News"</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">The beginnings of this "rolling coup" happened in broad daylight in the taking d...</a>March 5, 2017In "News"</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Many seem bewildered by the anti-Trump riots and demonstrations. And many keep t...</a>November 24, 2016In "Conservative Blogs"</p> | Henry Davis' reaction to Trump being elected president PRICELESS! | true | http://libertyfederation.org/henry-davis-reaction-to-trump-being-elected-presidentpriceless/ | 2016-12-21 | 0 |
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<p>Image source: Francesca's.</p>
<p>Continue Reading Below</p>
<p>Shares ofFrancesca's Holdings(NASDAQ: FRAN) were skyrocketing today after the specialty retailer turned in a blockbuster third-quarter earnings report. As of 1:23 p.m. EST, the stock was up 25.2%.</p>
<p>Francesca's said same-store sales jumped 7% and overall revenue increased 15% to $119.5 million, well ahead of the consensus at $116.1 million. On the bottom line, earnings per share improved 63% from a year ago to $0.26, flying past estimates at $0.18.</p>
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<p>CEO Steve Lawrence said, "We had a good start to the quarter with a successful back-to-school season and the strong trends continued in September and October as our merchandise and boutique experience resonated well with our guests." E-commerce sales jumped 47% to $5.7 million, and gross margin and operating margin expanded by 120 and 250 basis points, respectively.</p>
<p>To round out the outstanding quarter, Francesca's also raised its full-year guidance, calling for EPS of $1.03-$1.07, up from a prior range of $0.96-$1.03.</p>
<p>Guidance for the current quarter was more modest as its sees comparable sales around flat, following a 11% jump last year, and expects EPS of $0.33-$0.37. Still, that could be a conservative forecast for the mall-based retailer that sells a mix of apparel, jewelry, and gifts. The holiday quarter is normally a strong one for Francesca's, and there's reason to expect the momentum from the third quarter to carry into the fourth.</p>
<p>Investors seem to be expecting the good times to continue, which explains the stock's 25% jump today.</p>
<p>10 stocks we like better than Francesca's Holdings When 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>
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<p>*Stock Advisor returns as of Nov. 7, 2016</p>
<p><a href="http://my.fool.com/profile/TMFHobo/info.aspx" type="external">Jeremy Bowman Opens a New Window.</a> has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services <a href="http://www.fool.com/shop/newsletters/index.aspx?source=isiedilnk018048&amp;utm_campaign=article&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_source=foxbusiness" type="external">free for 30 days Opens a New Window.</a>. 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 Francesca's Holdings Corp. Stock Soared Today | true | http://foxbusiness.com/markets/2016/12/06/why-francesca-holdings-corp-stock-soared-today.html | 2016-12-06 | 0 |
<p>Leave it to John McCain to pick the site of a horrific atomic meltdown to symbolize his push for nuke power.</p>
<p>McCain says he wants at least 45 more US reactors as part of his “do everything” campaign for American energy independence. Apparently that strategy does not include inflating car tires, long known as one of the easiest, cheapest and most reliable ways to significantly improve auto gas mileage. McCain had only ridicule for Barack Obama’s ideas to fight waste in our energy economy.</p>
<p>Indeed, the term “efficiency” has no apparent place in the McBush lexicon. The “drill drill drill” mantra speaks only of production, a “supply side” Reaganomic approach to a problem whose fastest solution is to cut back on demand. As if turning off lights in empty rooms or making cars run cleaner is somehow an affront to American manhood, more production is the one and only idea in McCain’s energy plan.</p>
<p>Thus it was fitting he chose Monroe, Michigan for a nuke-powered energy push. The town’s central square hosts a statue honoring General George Armstrong Custer, wiped out by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse at the Little Big Horn in the summer of 1876.</p>
<p>More important was the melt-down at Monroe’s Fermi Unit I on October 5, ninety years later.</p>
<p>Fermi I was a sodium-cooled fast-breeder. Its promise was not only electricity “too cheap to meter,” but a fuel system that would magically generate more than it used. This astonishing fantasy was part of a government sponsored “Peaceful Atom” push to paste a happy face on the nuclear weapons industry.</p>
<p>Fermi I was key in a number of ways. Detroit Edison’s legendary boss, Walker Sisler, told the feds he would be a prime nuke booster. But like the rest of the nation’s utility execs, he demanded protection against the monstrous liability that could come with a major melt-down.</p>
<p>So in 1957, before the “inherently safe” Fermi I was built, Congress passed the Price-Anderson Act, shielding reactor owners from the billions in lawsuits that would follow a catastrophe. Since they believed it would be a short time before private insurers stepped in, the bill was only good for 15 years. Since then, it has been constantly renewed. Today the prospective builders of new reactors demand this same federal insurance protection. So the “temporary” acknowledgement that private insurers won’t touch atomic reactors is now a permanent shield for this “safe” technology.</p>
<p>Fermi I was subjected to the first major legal challenge to reactor construction by the United Auto Workers legendary lawyer Leo Goodman. The UAW took Edison all the way to the Supreme Court, where it lost 7-2. In a benchmark minority decision, Justices William O. Douglas and Hugo Black warned that nuclear power involved “a lighthearted approach to the most awesome, the most deadly, the most dangerous process that man has ever conceived.”</p>
<p>In 1966 a blockage occurred in the $100 million plant’s cooling system. Because it carried highly volatile liquid sodium, which can explode when exposed to air, all of southeastern Michigan stood at the brink of an unthinkable catastrophe. Police officials seriously debated evacuating Detroit, just forty miles north.</p>
<p>But an explosion at Fermi would have permanently irradiated the Great Lakes and a gigantic area of land stretching hundreds of miles in all directions. Countless thousands of people would have died from both short-term and long-term radiation sickness. One actual victim from the releases that did occur may have been then-Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who spoke in Monroe the day after the accident, and later died of cancer.</p>
<p>The public was kept totally in the dark. That day I served as Editorial Director of the University of Michigan Daily, where we were tapped in to the core of the nation’s major news sources. Though I was the Time Magazine and United Press International correspondent for Ann Arbor, just forty miles west, I never heard a word about this accident until I stumbled upon John G. Fuller’s legendary WE ALMOST LOST DETROIT in 1974. Writing for the Readers Digest Press, Fuller’s astonishing tale still sends chills down the spines of a whole generation that lived in the neighborhood and never suspected the danger we were in.</p>
<p>So Monroe is indeed a fitting global symbol for nuclear power. In mere moments, a $100 million asset became a multi-billion-dollar liability, and millions of people and square miles were put at unconscionable—and uninsured—risk.</p>
<p>But for John McCain, none of this seems to matter. His fellow nuke backers argue that the Fermi-style fast breeder is no longer on the table.</p>
<p>In response, we suggest that the next time he’s overseas pumping his global creds, he can lead a “more nukes” rally at Chernobyl. And when he comes home, MCain can complete the trifecta at Three Mile Island.</p>
<p>HARVEY WASSERMAN, a co-founder of Musicians United for Safe Energy, is editing the <a href="http://www.nukefree.org/" type="external">nukefree.org</a> web site. He is the author of <a href="" type="internal">SOLARTOPIA! Our Green-Powered Earth, A.D. 2030,</a> is at <a href="http://www.solartopia.org/" type="external">www.solartopia.org</a>. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
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<p>By Jonathan Stempel</p>
<p>NEW YORK (Reuters) – Nielsen Holdings Plc (N:) filed a lawsuit on Friday to stop comScore Inc (PK:) from using its technology to launch a competing service for measuring television audiences.</p>
<p>In a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, Nielsen is seeking an injunction to stop the launch of comScore’s Extended TV service, which it said would incorporate its proprietary Portable People Meter data.</p>
<p>ComScore declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying the matter was being addressed through binding arbitration.</p>
<p>The dispute arose from Nielsen’s 2013 purchase of Arbitron Inc, which was completed after those companies promised federal regulators to preserve competition for “cross-platform” services measuring both television and online viewership.</p>
<p>Nielsen, based in New York, said it contracted in 2014 to let its Reston, Virginia-based rival use Portable People Meter data to measure both TV and online audiences.</p>
<p>But it said that contract forbade using the data for “individual, stand-alone services,” which it said include Extended TV.</p>
<p>Nielsen said it has several large contracts up for renewal, and would suffer “irreparable harm to its business through () loss of important customers and decreased market share” if comScore launched Extended TV, perhaps by the end of 2017.</p>
<p>According to the complaint, Nielsen has filed for arbitration as required by the contract to establish comScore’s alleged breach, but is entitled to seek a court-ordered injunction before the arbitration is resolved.</p>
<p>In an Aug. 8 letter attached to the complaint, a lawyer for comScore said Extended TV qualifies as a “cross-platform” service, and is “not limited to linear TV estimates as it measures content across multiple platforms, including but not limited to television, online, mobile, tablets, etc.”</p>
<p>The case is Nielsen Holdings Plc v comScore Inc, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 17-07235.</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> | Nielsen sues comScore to block new TV ratings service | false | https://newsline.com/nielsen-sues-comscore-to-block-new-tv-ratings-service/ | 2017-09-22 | 1 |
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<p>“When I came into office, I think he had roughly 13 lawsuits against the EPA,” Pruitt told the audience. “I’m trying to catch up – we only have, I think, six or seven.”</p>
<p>Pruitt indeed spent much of his tenure as state attorney general attacking the federal agency he now is nominated to head, going so far as to describe himself as “a leading advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda.” Along the way, he spearheaded a coalition of state attorneys general in their legal challenge to EPA’s Clean Power Plan, Obama’s key policy aimed at reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector. He also sued over the EPA’s attempts to curtail the emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas, from the oil and gas sector.</p>
<p>But should the 48-year-old lawyer end up at the helm of the EPA, he is likely to find himself on the receiving end of a cascade of litigation from environmental and public health groups intent on protecting Obama-era antipollution measures and ensuring that the agency lives up to its mission of safeguarding the air Americans breathe and the water they drink.</p>
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<p>“We definitely plan to fight any rollback or any attacks on our bedrock environmental laws. We think that the courts will be the last line of defense if advocacy doesn’t work,” said Lisa Garcia, vice president of litigation for Earthjustice, which employs more than 100 lawyers across the country.</p>
<p>Though President-elect Donald Trump and Pruitt are intent on pulling back the EPA’s authority and putting more power in the hands of states, Garcia noted that key environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act were passed with bipartisan support and require the agency to enforce violations that put Americans at risk.</p>
<p>“We’re ready to make sure these laws are adhered to and that the EPA follows its obligations and its mission,” she said. “We’re ready for that fight.”</p>
<p>Pruitt himself seems prepared for just such a fight.</p>
<p>“The greatest opportunity that we have heading into this new administration. . .is to provide certainty to business industries across this country,” he said in an interview last month with radio host John Catsimatidis. “When you look at the EPA, and the role that it’s played over the last several years, there’s going to be substantial change in that agency. There’s going to be a regulatory rollback.”</p>
<p>When it comes to reversing the Obama administration’s environmental policies and substantially altering the EPA’s reach, Pruitt “can do a fair amount,” said Tom McGarity, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin who focuses on environmental and regulatory law. “He will be moving against institutional inertia, no question about that, but the civil servants in EPA are going to try to do what the boss tells them to do.”</p>
<p>A key factor will be whether Pruitt appoints high-level staff who know the agency well and are able to get his mandates carried out. But, McGarity added, he will be less successful if he fails to change the institution from within and merely attacks it – as he has done during his tenure in Oklahoma. A case in point: Ronald Reagan’s controversial EPA administrator during his first term.</p>
<p>“The last time we had somebody who really came in with a mandate to turn things around was . . . Anne Gorsuch, and she really wasn’t able to do it because she was fairly arrogant about it,” McGarity said. “She made some very bad appointments and, ultimately, wound up in a lot of scandal.”</p>
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<p>David Doniger, a lawyer at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said that while Pruitt’s appointment puts the environmental community very much on the defensive, the detailed nature of the process that the EPA must follow to create new regulations, or reverse existing ones, makes it difficult to roll back much of what the Obama administration has done. It also provides opportunities for green groups to resist in the courts.</p>
<p>“We are going to be vigilant about making sure that every step in the administrative process is respected, and if they try to shortcut things – by suspending regulations, suspending public health safeguards without due process – we will take them to court right away,” Doniger said.</p>
<p>Before Pruitt can set about the work of scaling back both the EPA and Obama environmental regulations that he has called harmful to U.S. businesses, he first has to get through the Senate confirmation process. While the Republican majority in the Senate probably will assure his confirmation, he’s certain to face criticism and harsh questioning from Democratic lawmakers, who have denounced him as a mouthpiece of the fossil fuel industry and yet another potential Trump cabinet member who has questioned the scientific consensus around climate change.</p>
<p>“This is a full-fledged environmental emergency,” Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said on a call with reporters Thursday. Schatz pledged a pitched confirmation fight and promised that colleagues who support Pruitt will have to explain themselves when it comes to the science of climate change. “This is going to be a litmus test for every member of the Senate who claims not to be a denier.”</p>
<p>Of course, those who share Pruitt’s long-held views about federal government overreach have welcomed his appointment.</p>
<p>Sen. James Inhofe, the Oklahoma Republican who has long cast doubt on climate-change science, wrote on Facebook that Pruitt “has demonstrated that he is an expert on environmental laws and a champion of states’ roles in implementing those laws.” Greg Abbott, a former Texas attorney general who’s now governor, tweeted that “Pruitt is excellent choice for EPA. He &amp; I teamed up on many lawsuits against the EPA. He’ll bring needed change.”</p>
<p>On that spring day in 2014, Pruitt himself made no secret of his disdain for the EPA’s approach to regulation.</p>
<p>“This dictatorial attitude, that says so long as you agree with us then everything is kosher and everything is okay, is exactly the opposite of what Congress has said repeatedly in the role of the states,” he said. “The states have a meaningful role. It’s not an administrative role. The states are not a vessel to carry out the desires of EPA. The states are actually there to make important decisions, balancing factors between industry and consumers and meeting the obligations of air and water quality in their respective states.”</p>
<p>—</p>
<p>VIDEO:</p>
<p>President-elect Donald Trump is nominating Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt for administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Here’s what you need to know about him.</p>
<p>–URL: <a href="http://wapo.st/2gbY2NV" type="external">http://wapo.st/2gbY2NV</a></p>
<p>–Embed code:</p>
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<p>epa</p> | Pruitt, Trump’s EPA pick, has both sides of climate divide girding for a major fight | false | https://abqjournal.com/905367/pruitt-trumps-epa-pick-has-both-sides-of-climate-divide-girding-for-a-major-fight.html | 2 |
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<p>An investigation of Google Inc. has found it systematically pays female employees less than their male counterparts, U.S. Department of Labor officials said, a claim that adds to allegations of gender bias in Silicon Valley.</p>
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<p>The Labor Department found the gender-pay gap during a routine probe into whether Google, a federal contractor, is complying with laws that prohibit contractors from discriminating against applicants or employees.</p>
<p>The department is suing Google to compel the company to disclose more compensation data for its investigation. At a procedural hearing before a federal administrative law judge in San Francisco on Friday, Labor Department Regional Director Janette Wipper said the agency "found systemic compensation disparities against women pretty much across the entire workforce" at Google, according to the Guardian newspaper, which attended the hearing.</p>
<p>A Labor Department spokesman confirmed the testimony.</p>
<p>Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc., said in a statement that "we vehemently disagree with Ms. Wipper's claim," which it said it heard Friday for the first time. The company said the Labor Department hadn't shared the data or methodology it used, and Google's internal pay analysis found no gender gap.</p>
<p>The Labor Department's claims don't amount to formal charges, and Janet Herold, the department's regional solicitor, said its investigation is ongoing.</p>
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<p>But, in an interview with the Guardian, Ms. Herold also said the department has received "compelling evidence of very significant discrimination against women in the most common positions at Google headquarters." The government's analysis indicates discrimination against women at Google "is quite extreme, even in this industry," the newspaper quoted her as saying.</p>
<p>The tech industry has been under fire for years over the large percentage of white and Asian male employees and executives. Tech firms have started initiatives to try to combat the trend, but few have shown much progress.</p>
<p>The industry is now under scrutiny from the Labor Department for the issue. The department sued software giant Oracle Corp. earlier this year for allegedly paying white male workers more than other employees. Oracle said at the time of the suit that the complaint was politically motivated, based on false allegations, and without merit.</p> | Google Pays Female Workers Less Than Male Counterparts, Labor Department Says | true | http://foxbusiness.com/features/2017/04/08/google-pays-female-workers-less-than-male-counterparts-labor-department-says.html | 2017-04-08 | 0 |
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<p>Bernalillo High principal Keith Cowan cuts the ribbon to his new school. On his right is New Mexico education chief Hanna Skandera. Pictured far left is Bernalillo Public Schools Superintendent Allan Tapia. (Jim Thompson/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>More than 100 parents, tribal leaders, city officials and even the state's secretary of education came out to celebrate the town of Bernalillo's new high school Friday morning.</p>
<p>Staged outside the school's new all-glass front entrance, the event signified the end of the 1950s-era campus and the start of more modern times for Bernalillo High School.</p>
<p>The 76,000-square-foot building is two-stories high and each classroom features the latest technology. The school has motion-sensor lights and 70-inch Mondopads in every classroom. The touchscreen pads look like flat-screen televisions and perform the same functions as a personal computer, but can double as a whiteboard.</p>
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<p>In addition, each of the school's incoming 220 freshman were assigned an electronic notebook they will use all four years. The notebooks replace traditional textbooks. Each subsequent incoming freshman class will get new notebooks until every student in the school has one.</p>
<p>The district has demolished the old campus buildings, some of which were built in the 1950s. Before the new building was erected, Bernalillo High School was spread out over a large area with separate buildings. The new structure includes most of the classrooms, the administrative offices and the library.</p>
<p>Bernalillo High School principal Keith Cowan tries to engage Bernalillo High students at the celebration for their new school. (Jim Thompson/Albuquerque Journal)</p>
<p>"We were long overdue for a new school - not just any school, but this state-of-the-art school," Superintendent Allan Tapia told the crowd. "But the most important thing about this building is the knowledge that will be obtained in these walls."</p>
<p>The $34 million project is the first phase of renovating the campus that is home to approximately 930 students. Phase two of the project has started, and includes a new cafeteria, black box and new building for the school's career and technical programs, including culinary arts, welding and auto shop. Only the gymnasium will remain intact when the second phase is done next August.</p>
<p>New Mexico Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera attended the event and wished the students good luck. She called Bernalillo a unique community.</p>
<p>"I was excited to celebrate with them," she said after the event. "I've never seen a community turn out like this."</p>
<p>Even school board president Gilbert Lucero seemed surprised by the size of the gathering.</p>
<p>"I didn't know it was going to be this big of an event," he said. "A half hour ago, I was irrigating my field. Mr. Tapia told me to put on a tie, so I did."</p>
<p>Cowan told the attendees the project could not have been done without the help of the entire community, and spent about 30 minutes thanking district, tribal and town officials, right down to the district's food services manager and school resource officer, Scott Calcutt, who received the largest applause of the day. Students who were sitting at the back of the crowd on the steps to the gymnasium began screaming and cheering when his name was mentioned.</p>
<p>Student body president Sara Perez was the last speaker before the symbolic cutting of the ribbon. She said the new school building has bolstered school spirit.</p>
<p>"There is so much enthusiasm from the student body," she said. "A fresh start is good for everyone - . I see students taking pride in their school."</p>
<p /> | New, state-of-the-art Bernalillo High opens | false | https://abqjournal.com/632571/a-new-school-for-a-new-year.html | 2 |
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