Society, Living and the Economy    

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MSM: "Sleep-Deprived Police Endanger Public Safety" [12/31/11] Pg 2 "Nearly half of North American police officers might be suffering from a sleep disorder that could interfere with the safe execution of their duties. A survey of nearly 5,000 officers found that 40.4% of them screened positive for a sleep disorder, most of these undiagnosed. Those officers with a sleep disorder were significantly more likely to commit administrative errors, lose their temper with citizens, and even fall asleep while driving, Shantha M.W. Rajaratnam, Ph.D., and colleagues reported in the Dec. 21 issue of JAMA. [...]"  :

Commentary:  "The Number One Catastrophic Event That Americans Worry About: Economic Collapse" [12/31/11] "Can you guess what the number one catastrophic event that Americans worry about is? There are certainly many to choose from. Many Americans are deathly afraid of a major terrorist attack. Others live in constant fear of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes and hurricanes. Still others are incredibly concerned that a massive pandemic will break out at any time or that World War III will erupt in the Middle East. Yes, there are certainly a lot of potential catastrophic events that one can worry about in the times in which we live, but the number one catastrophic event that Americans worry about is actually "economic collapse". At least that is what a recent survey (PDF) conducted by Leiflin Inc. for the EcoHealth Alliance found. But this goes along with what so many other polls have found over the past few years. Over and over again, opinion polls have found that the number one issue that American voters are concerned about is the economy. The truth is that average Americans are deeply, deeply concerned about unemployment, debt, the housing crash and the steady decline in the standard of living. It has been years since the U.S. economy has operated at a "normal" level, and many Americans are afraid that things could soon get a whole lot worse. [...]" Note: This side of 2013, I don't see this being the case, largely.

Commentary:  "Daily Deals Sites Offering Cheaper Healthcare For Uninsured Americans" [12/31/11] "... Daily deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial are best known for offering limited-time discounts on a variety of discretionary goods and services including restaurant meals, wine tastings, spa visits and hotel stays. The discounts are paid for upfront and then it's up to the customer to book an appointment and redeem a coupon before it expires. Merchants like the deals because it gives them exposure and a pop in business. Customers use them to try something new, to save money on something they already use, or both. The sites are increasingly moving beyond little luxuries like facials and vacations and offering deals that are helping some people fill holes in their health insurance coverage. Visitors to these sites are finding a growing number of markdowns on health care services such as teeth cleanings, eye exams, chiropractic care and even medical checkups. They're also offering deals on elective procedures not commonly covered by health insurers, such as wrinkle-reducing Botox injections and vision-correcting Lasik eye surgery. About one out of every 11 deals offered online is for a health care service, according to data compiled by DealRadar.com, a site that gathers and lists 20,000 deals a day from different websites. [...]" 

MSM: "Struggling US Cities Turn Off The Lights" [12/31/11] "For a number of cities across the US, troubled local economies have led to dark times—literally. From Oregon to Illinois to California, struggling towns have found themselves forced to turn off, and often completely remove, local streetlights. And with winter shortening daylight hours, citizens are none too pleased by the change. "I don’t go out to get gas at night. I don’t run to any stores. I try to do everything in the daytime and to be back before night falls," says a woman in Highland Park, Mich. Just 500 of 1,600 streetlights remain shining in the town, which sits next to Detroit. The result: "It’s just too dark," says a minister. And while other budget cuts may fly under the radar for many, a lack of light is something everyone notices, the New York Times notes. Officials say it can't be helped. "It’s like your own budget at home—we can’t afford this anymore," says an Illinois town's public works chief. Locals are turning to their own outdoor lamps, from porch lights to Christmas lights. "What happened to our streetlights is what happens when politicians lose hope," adds the minister. "All kinds of crazy decisions get made, and citizens lose faith in the process.” [...]" 

MSM: "ID Errors Put Hundreds In County Jail" [12/30/11] "Hundreds of people have been wrongly imprisoned inside the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department jails in recent years, with some spending weeks behind bars before authorities realized those arrested were mistaken for wanted criminals, a Times investigation has found. The wrongful incarcerations occurred more than 1,480 times in the last five years. They were the result of a variety of factors, including officials' overlooking fingerprint evidence and working off incomplete records. The errors are so common that in some years people were jailed because of mistaken identity an average of once a day. Many of those wrongly held inside the county's lockups had the same names as criminals or had their identities stolen -- problems that took days or weeks for authorities to sort out. In one case, a mechanic held for nine days in 1989 on a warrant meant for someone else was detained again 20 years later on the same warrant. He was jailed for more than a month the second time before the error was discovered. In another instance, a Nissan customer service supervisor was hauled by authorities from Tennessee to L.A. County on a local sex-crimes warrant meant for someone with a similar name. In a third case, a former construction worker mistaken for a wanted drug offender said he was assaulted by inmates and ignored by jailers.[...]"  

MSM: "Israel: Pay That Cell Phone Bill Or Else" [12/30/11] "You arrive at the airport ready for a flight, but are abruptly pulled aside and detained. A routine traffic stop by the police leaves you stranded by the side of the road without your driver’s license. You whip out your credit card to pay for a restaurant bill, and the maître d’ quietly rejects and confiscates your card. If you are very lucky, a repo man shows up at your house and impassively delivers an injunction: your bank account has a lean on it. Your life insurance has been cashed out and decimated. What’s going on in Israel, where every month, thousands of surprised citizens face these predicaments? A Knesset law passed in mid-2010 has enabled banks and large companies to access previously classified private information relating to debtors’ lives and to enact draconian measures, often unannounced. [...]" 

Trends: "Petitions With Over 350,000 Signatures To Legalize Marijuana Submitted In Washington State" [12/30/11] [0:25]   Note: December 29, 2011 KING 5 News. It doesn't look like this social issue will ever be resolved. There is too much money being made with the status quo. 

MSM: "Homeland Security Grants To Cities Soon To Suffer More Deep Cuts, Leaving Cities On Their Own" [12/30/11] "... Now, a decade after the Sept. 11 attacks, deep cuts in funding for the Department of Homeland Security's Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) threaten to leave those cities and dozens of other smaller population centers without the money to maintain programs into which the federal government has already sunk millions of tax dollars. It's already happened in Tucson. In October, the city shut down the reverse 911 notification system paid for with UASI funds. Police have advised residents to check for alerts on Twitter -- even though most don't use the social networking site. Advocates for continued funding warn of a not-too-distant future filled with mothballed, broken and outdated equipment; unemployed and expensively trained intelligence analysts; and fewer training exercises for first responders. A recent report by the UASI managers group argued that the federal government has "an equity stake" in improved local and state radio communications, information sharing, hazardous material response and regional planning and that it is not in the interests of taxpayers to see them "wither and eventually evaporate over time." [...]"  Note: This was predictable, and it is a way of withdrawing support from local law enforcement, which will ultimately mean their inability to 'deal with' events, allowing things to spiral out of control more rapidly, providing an excuse for intervention by the military or contracted mercenaries, which will have a punitive impact on the population. All of this while retaining funds in order to protect those running the control establishment, as they flounder, immaturely trying to construct immortality strategies based on external deference.

MSM: "California Earthquake Records Destroyed: State's Seismic Regulators Erase Electronic Information" [12/30/11] "The office that regulates California school construction routinely destroyed key documents that might have shed light on its lax enforcement of earthquake safety standards – despite a binding agreement it has with the State Archives to preserve public records. For the past five years, the Division of the State Architect has erased the entire computer hard drives and copies of records saved on computer servers within a month of an employee's departure. Those records included all e-mail correspondence, directives, meeting notes and minutes, policy documents, and appointment calendars. Such records help explain how enforcement decisions were developed and carried out. The retention agreement between the two offices shows that state regulators were not allowed to destroy correspondence and meeting minutes from its top managers without clearance from the State Archives. The records should have been saved for at least four years and then transferred to the State Archives, according to the retention documents. The destroyed documents take on greater significance now that the state architect's office has come under scrutiny for its lax enforcement and questionable application of seismic safety standards. In reporting about the state's system of oversight, California Watch was able to obtain some of these documents through other sources – before records were destroyed. But there is no way to know how many records have been forever lost. [...]"  

UK: "Sharp Rise In Social Care Fees A Stealth Tax " [12/30/11] "There has been a sharp rise in the cost of council services for elderly and disabled people, Labour has warned. Data obtained from 93 out of 153 councils in England showed fees for meals on wheels has gone up by 13% this year, while transport has risen by 33%. The survey also found huge regional variations in the charges, which Labour says have become a stealth tax. The government said local authorities were responsible for non-residential care and changes should be affordable. [...] More than 500,000 people receive some form of home help from councils. Some of those will be paying for it while those with savings of below £13,000 get it completely free. The data showed charges for home care, such as helping washing and dressing, now stood at £13.49 an hour - a rise of 6% in two years. It means the average person, which is classed as someone getting 10 hours support a week, pays over £7,000 a year if they do not qualify for state help.[...]"  

Commentary: "The Obama Nation: Even More Debt And Even More Store Closings" [12/29/11] "Well, it is time to raise the debt ceiling again. Right now we are about to hit the current limit of $15.194 trillion and the Obama administration is going to ask that it be raised by another 1.2 trillion dollars. Unfortunately, Congress has already promised not to stand in the way, and so soon the debt limit will be raised to a staggering $16.394 trillion. Considering how much debt we have already placed on the backs of future generations, what is another 1.2 trillion dollars? After all, if we are going to sell our children and our grandchildren into debt slavery, we might as well go all the way, right? Such is the thinking in "the Obama Nation". During "the Obama Nation", the federal government has already accumulated more debt than it did from the time that George Washington took office to the time that Bill Clinton took office. Of course the Bush administration was nearly as bad at piling up government debt. Between Bush and Obama (with a big helping hand from the Federal Reserve), they have done a pretty good job of wiping out the financial future of the United States. If there are future generations of Americans, they will look back and curse those that did this to them. It is absolutely immoral to steal trillions of dollars from future generations. Unfortunately, there are very, very few members of Congress that are even objecting to this madness.  [...] In the middle of this "economic recovery" that Obama keeps talking about a staggering number of retail stores are closing up shop. The following is a list of store closings in 2011 that I recently found. The first number represents the total number of stores being closed for each chain....[...]"  

UK: "Pawn Shop Booming In These Hard Economic Times" [12/29/11] "Albemarle & Bond hailed "the age of the pawnbroker" on Tuesday as it unveiled plans to create 300 jobs by opening 25 new stores in 2012. The group, which has 169 stores and 38 gold-buying "pop-up" shops, said it will take advantage of lower high street rents to open the outlets in 2012. Albemarle said it has benefited as banks tightened their lending criteria, "failing to provide people with straightforward and inexpensive ways to borrow".  [...]" 

MSM: "More Unemployed Turn to Social Security Disability" [12/29/11] "The ranks of Americans collecting Social Security Disability Insurance payments have swelled dramatically in recent years, and that may be because more people are turning to the program when they can’t find work, the Wall Street Journal reports. Some 10.6 million Americans are now on the program, compared to 7.2 million in 2002. And one recent study shows that the jobless are much more likely to enter the program after they’ve used up their unemployment benefits. SSDI is supposed to help people who are too injured to work, but the Journal suspects some are using it as secondary unemployment. For example, it spoke to one 62-year-old with hearing aids that had never prevented her from working before who’d turned to it when unable to find a job. The program’s administrator sees the phenomenon as natural. “When employment is good … people with impairments, like everyone else, find it easier to find a job,” he told Congress this month. [...]" 

Interviews: "Archbishop of Canterbury Warns of Imminent Collapse of Great Britain" Press TV [12/29/11] [23:36] Note: Webster Tarpley is interviewed by Press TV. Link Fixed.

Cultural Studies: "Ten Plotlines You’ll Find in Science Fiction — Over and Over Again" [12/28/11] "Science fiction is a genre of limitless possibilities, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few ideas writers keep coming back to as trusty old standbys. Here are ten of science fiction’s most common tropes…and how they’ve evolved. Obviously, no list like this can ever be considered comprehensive, and we could probably do dozens of sequels to this post. But what we want to examine here are some of the most common building blocks of science fiction stories. For each trope, we explain where it came from, what cemented it as an iconic part of science fiction, and some of the things modern storytellers are doing to keep it and interesting. So, let’s take a look… [...]"  

MSM: "Virginity Tests’ On Egypt Protesters Are Illegal, Says Judge" [12/28/11] "Forced “virginity tests” on female detainees were ruled illegal in Egypt on Tuesday, after a court ordered an end to the practice. Hundreds of activists were in the Cairo courtroom to hear the judge, Aly Fekry, say the army could not use the test on women held in military prisons in a case filed by Samira Ibrahim, one of seven women subjected to the test after being arrested in Tahrir Square during a protest on 9 March. Fekry, head of the Cairo administrative court, decreed that what happened to Ibrahim and six other detainees was illegal and any similar occurrence in the future would also be considered illegal. The court is expected to issue a further injunction against such tests and decree that the test was completely illegal, opening the door for financial compensation. [...]"  

RT Interview: "CIA Involved In Occupy Wall Street Crackdown?" [12/28/11]   [7:42] "We have all witnessed the massive police crackdown on the Occupy Wall Street Movement whether it be in Oakland, San Fransisco, or New York City. Many have wondered who was behind these seemingly coordinated, militarized police crackdowns and what motive they would have in stifling the free speech of American citizens. While the Department of Homeland Security was the more obvious culprit,(and still is) it seems that the CIA may have played a larger part than previously known. The CIA’s connection to the NYPD has already been heavily documented which adds even more credence to the possibility that they illegally infiltrated a domestic political movement. The Partnership for Civil Justice recently filed multiple Freedom of Information requests after seeing the massive military style crackdown on the protests. The answer they received from the Central Intelligence Agency made their position startling clear: “They wrote back saying that they would refuse to process the request basically on the grounds that if the CIA had any involvement it would have been illegal for it to have involvement and therefore their record system is not constructed in a way that they could possibly search for their involvement,” said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, executive director of PFCJ. Mara went on to note that they could have easily written back a different request, even one that stated that they did not have any records yet they chose to essentially say that they cannot tell the public if there are records because if there were they would be illegal. The idea that Federal agencies were NOT involved in the clearly coordinated attack on OWS is absurd and the people of America must support legal action against any government agency refusing to turn over their records on the brutal crackdown of a largely peaceful protest movement. [...]"  

MSM: "US Cities Struggle to Control Sewer Overflows" [12/28/11] "But the price of progress is becoming too high for local governments, with the bad economy cutting into tax revenues and residents rebelling against higher water and sewer rates. Responding to pleas for leniency, the Obama administration is promising more flexibility as hard-pressed cities look for less conventional and cheaper ways to reduce overflows. [...]"  

MSM: "Sears Holdings Will Close One Hundred Sears and KMart Stores" [12/28/11] "After a disastrous holiday shopping season, the parent company of Sears and Kmart will close at least 100 stores to raise cash — a move that sparked speculation about whether the 125-year-old retailer can avoid a death spiral fed by declining sales and deteriorating stores. Sears Holdings Corp., a pillar of American retailing that famously began with a mail-order catalog in the 1880s, declared Tuesday that it would no longer prop up “marginally performing” locations. The company pledged to refocus its efforts on stores that make money. Sears’ stock quickly plunged, dropping 27 percent. [...]"  

Commentary:  "Hungarian Government Passes Authoritarian New Laws" [12/28/11] "Just before the Christmas break, the Hungarian parliament passed a number of authoritarian and nationalistic laws. The new laws are unpopular with the population, as well as with international financial institutions. [...] Last Friday, police intervened violently at a demonstration against the government's new laws. The protest involved several thousand participants and took place in front of the parliament building in Budapest. Many opposition figures were arrested, including eleven members of the LMP who chained themselves to the railings of the parliament building. "  [...]   Public and private television is now subject to the government. Balazs Nagy Navarro, the Chairman of the Television and Film Makers Independent Trade Union (TFSZ), and his deputy, Aranka Szavuly, began a hunger strike last week to protest the continuous manipulation of the public news broadcaster MTV. Significant numbers of youth joined the protest. Economic laws were also passed by the parliament. The flat tax which came into effect this year has been enshrined in constitutional law. Thus, the 16-percent tax may in future only be abolished or amended by a two-thirds parliamentary majority. This makes it very difficult for future governments to affect any change. The law was passed against the explicit wish of the European Union. EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso sharply criticized the measure, because it prevents governments from making new budget cuts quickly. There has also been criticism of the fact that Hungary's balanced budget amendment (the “debt brake”) only becomes binding in 2016, instead of 2012. The declared aim of the debt brake is to reduce the country's budget deficit from the current level of 80 percent to less than 50 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). [...]"  

Commentary: "6 Ways Parents, Society and the Educational System Foster Psychopathic Behavior in Kids" [12/27/11] "Each day around this nation, and indeed the world, one can find endless stories of horrific animal cruelty---torture and murder so vile it defies imagination---conceived of and carried out by kids as young as 3 years old. There appears to be a proliferation of fresh-faced psychopaths, spawning faster than the poisonous spores of a Frankenstenian experiment gone awry. Why and how does such evil take root? The problem is pervasive and multifaceted, but the most obvious cause for such blatant disregard for life is a lack of compassion and empathy passed on from parent to child. Generations of individuals perpetuating cruelty toward non-humans based on a multitude of flawed and erroneous notions, including the following: [...]" 

Legal Case: "Judge Hears Arguments on Sheriff Arpaio's Sweeps" [12/27/11] "Arizona. A two-hour hearing in a lawsuit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio began Thursday with a federal judge warning, "This is not a press conference," and with Tim Casey, representing co-defendant Maricopa County, conceding that its Sheriff's Office has "no inherent authority to enforce federal civil immigration law." U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow heard arguments on whether Arpaio's enforcement of immigration and human-smuggling law resulted in racial profiling and unreasonable searches of five Latinos. [...] The five plaintiffs in the 4-year-old lawsuit were detained by sheriff's deputies during "so-called 'crime suppression sweeps'" to enforce the state's human-smuggling law by "using pretextual and unfounded stops, racially motivated questioning, searches and other mistreatment," according to their complaint. The plaintiffs claim these sweeps "resulted in almost no arrests under the human smuggling statute." "Claiming authority under a limited agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that actually prohibits the practices challenged here, defendants have launched a series of massive so-called 'crime suppression sweeps' that show a law enforcement agency operating well beyond the bounds of the law," the complaint states. "During these sweeps, which have shown no signs of abating since defendants began them in September 2007, large numbers of MCSO officers and volunteer 'posse' members under defendants' direction and control have targeted Latino persons for investigation of immigration status, using pretextual and unfounded stops, racially motivated questioning, searches and other mistreatment, and often baseless arrests. [...]"  

Media and Culture: "Subversive" Chinese Writer Gets 9 Years in Prison" [12/26/11] "A Chinese writer has been hit with a nine-year jail sentence for "inciting subversion of state power" after he posted online essays demanding free speech and government reform, reports the BBC. The sentence follows a two-hour, closed-door trial that Chen Wei's wife called "a performance" whose outcome was settled beforehand. Chen was one of hundreds detained following an online movement for Chinese protests echoing the Arab Spring, dubbed the Jasmine Revolution. The sentence, accompanied by an additional two years in which Chen will be stripped of his political rights, is among the toughest faced in connection with the movement, the BBC notes. The writer's wife said he "did criticize the Communist Party, but that's stating the facts. That is not subversion." [...]" 

MSM: "The U.S. Cities That Gained And Lost The Most Jobs" [12/26/11] "Of the five cities that lost the most jobs, only two saw an increase in unemployment. Surprisingly, the sharpest drop in unemployment was in Vancouver, Washington, a city that lost the fifth most jobs as percentage of the total number of workers. Vancouver lost more than 1,500 jobs, but its labor force decreased by nearly 6,000, mostly from those looking for work.  [...]"  

MSM: "UK: Struggling Families Face Astronomical Interest On Loans" [12/25/11] "The queues forming outside credit unions to arrange loans show the extra stress that Christmas is bringing to already hard-pressed workers and their families in the UK. Credit unions are co-operatives controlled by their members and have to have a “common bond”. These used to be for workers from one factory, business or social club, but that remit has now widened. They have seen their customer base increase by over 20 percent in the last year. Members do not get a loan straight away but have to save for a period with the union and then, if agreed, they can have a loan at a low interest rate. The sole benefit of using the co-operative credit unions for many is that they will not face the astronomical interest repayments that some loan firms charge. “Pay Day” loans are the most notorious with interest rates of 5,000 percent if the whole amount is not repaid in one month. The firms involved excuse their rates by claiming that they represent a penalty because the loan was only meant to be short-term, hence its name. However, when faced with repayment difficulties many borrowers are offered “rollovers”, to extend their loan for months at a time, incurring huge costs. One £80 loan escalated into £600 over a couple of months. Research by Consumer Focus last year showed the number of payday loan users rose from 300,000 in 2006 to 1.2 million in 2009. That figure has now doubled to 4 million, according to some recent estimates, as the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government’s austerity measures bite, with rising unemployment, inflation and pay cuts and freezes. [...]" 

Trends: "Mentally Ill Flood ER As States Cut Services" [12/25/11] "Across the country, doctors like Sullivan are facing a spike in psychiatric emergencies - attempted suicide, severe depression, psychosis - as states slash mental health services and the country's worst economic crisis since the Great Depression takes its toll. This trend is taxing emergency rooms already overburdened by uninsured patients who wait until ailments become acute before seeking treatment. "These are people without a previous psychiatric history who are coming in and telling us they've lost their jobs, they've lost sometimes their homes, they can't provide for their families, and they are becoming severely depressed," said Dr. Felicia Smith, director of the acute psychiatric service at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. [...]"  

Commentary:  "Occupy LA Protesters To Avoid Prosecution By Paying $355 For Free Speech Classes" [12/25/11] "The city will not press charges against those who complete a course outlining their rights under the First Amendment. Protesters described the offer as "patronising." They also objected to money paid for the course going to a private contractor. More than 350 people have been arrested since an Occupy camp was set up outside City Hall in Los Angeles in October to protest about corporate greed. The camp has now been removed. The deal to avoid prosecution was offered to those arrested for minor offences including failure to disperse. Lawyers for the city, who have faced severe budget cutbacks, hoped it would save money by allowing them not to pursue large numbers of court cases. [...]"  

Trends:  "Sweden Legalizes And Regulates Cannabis" [12/24/11] "The Swedish Parliament has approved a law which will regulate the growing, usage and trade of cannabis. This is according to the Health and Social Services of Sweden, Jonas Grönhög, who was quoted, "We don't want to make the same mistakes which the USA has done, we do not want to be prohibitionists because the war on drugs has been lost long ago. It is better to prevent marginalization of young people than jail them for soft drugs usage which are comparatively harmless. If we allow the sale of alcohol, there is no reason to ban the soft drugs no longer." [...]" 

Commentary: "Christmas Of Crisis In America" [12/23/11] "America at Christmas 2011 is a society of mass poverty, on the one hand, and vast wealth accumulation, on the other—tens of millions of people are poor and desperate, while a relative handful enjoy riches undreamt of by the Egyptian pharaohs or the aristocracy of Louis XIV. Government agencies and social service groups document the tidal wave of human need in statistics that are increasingly mind-boggling: 50 million Americans live below the official poverty line, while another 100 million live in “near-poverty,” struggling to support themselves on incomes so low that they are one misfortune away from destitution. Some 25 million workers are either unemployed or underemployed, 50 million live without health insurance, one out of every seven Americans receives food stamps. The number of self-employed Americans has fallen by two million over the past five years. Nearly six million of the jobless have been out of work for more than six months. The jobs crisis has steadily worsened, not only year-to-year, but decade after decade. American capitalism continues to generate record corporate profits and wealth for the super-rich, but is less and less able to provide employment for working people. According to a study by the McKinsey consulting firm, it took six months for the US economy to return to pre-recession job levels after the 1982 recession. After the 1991 recession, the recovery in jobs required 15 months. After the 2001 recession, it took 39 months. Some 48 months have already passed since the current slump in the labor market began, and there are six million fewer people employed than in December 2007. McKinsey initially forecast that it would take 60 months before jobs regained the level of 2007, but at the current level of job creation, it would take 78 months to reach the level of 146 million workers employed before the onset of the recession—assuming that there is no further deepening of the economic slump. [...]"  

MSM: "US House Votes Down Extension Of Unemployment Benefits" [12/23/11] "By a vote of 229-193, the US House of Representatives on Tuesday voted down a Senate compromise bill for a two-month extension of federal jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed as well as a payroll tax cut. More than three-and-a-half million people stand to lose unemployment benefits in early 2012 if no agreement is reached. Members of the Senate have already left for their holiday break and the House is not scheduled to reconvene until January 17. Whatever the outcome of the current impasse in Washington, the very fact that the US Congress could vote down—only days before Christmas—minimal relief to millions of people devastated by the worst economic slump since the Great Depression exposes this body for what it is: a hardened enemy of the working class. [...]" 

MSM: "Washington State Deepens Austerity Measures" [12/23/11] "Washington State Democratic Party Governor Christine Gregoire smiled and joked as she signed the first in a series of budget reductions Wednesday. The legislation imposes $480 million in cuts to education, mental health, state parks and other departments. The Governor noted that the millions in reductions she signed on Wednesday is just “a down payment,” and that she expects the state legislators to return in January, “Tan, rested and ready,” to complete the job of cutting an additional $1.5 billion. [...]"  

Media and Culture: "USA Land Of The Free Jails One In 100 American Adults" [12/22/11] [3:36] "America has 2.3 million people in prison -- more than any other country. More than one in 100 adults are in jail. No society in history has imprisoned more of its citizens. 1 in 9 black men aged between 20 and 34 is behind bars. There are more 17-year-old black American males in jail than in college. America has five percent of the world's population but 25% of its prisoners. And prison labour is now a huge industry, producing an enormous range of goods, not least for the US military. It is in effect a revival of the slave trade. Britain can't compete but is no slouch either, locking up more of its population -- 148 per 100,000 -- than any other European country, and more than China, India or Turkey. [...]" Note: Interesting clip.

MSM: "Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio Sued By Undocumented Woman Shackled During Labor " [12/22/11] "... Though both the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have denounced the practice of shackling during childbirth, it's still legal in 36 states, according to Michelle Brané, head of Women's Refugee Commission, who heads a project on shackling legislation. The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the United States Marshal's Service have also eliminated the practice. In 2008 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit found shackling during child birth to constitute cruel and unusual punishment, in violation of the Eighth Amendment. In September "The Colbert Report" drew attention to the practice of shackling women in deportation proceedings during childbirth in a segment called "Labor Chains" after The Huffington Post reported about the topic. [...]"  Note: A lot of barbarism comes from reincarnated retreads who are both immature and sadistic, although minion 'authorities' behave like animals because they are, essentially, in terms of spirit path. No empathy or compassion there. The type of people who gravitate to power over others in a physical way.

UK: "Homeless People In The UK Revealed To Have Life Expectancy Of Just 47" [12/21/11] "... According to government figures highlighted by Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity, there are currently 69,846 children in England living in temporary accommodation such as hostels, bed and breakfasts and refuges. With waiting lists lengthening and the government's cuts to housing benefit, there are worries that swelling numbers living in temporary shelter will become a permanent feature. [...]" 

MSM: "Swedes Arrested For Butter Smuggling" [12/20/11] "Two Swedes have been arrested by Norwegian police for smuggling more than 250kg of butter into the country, offloading one consignment for more than £25 a packet. The two men, from the Northern city of Umea, managed to make their first delivery before a police patrol stopped their van on Saturday evening.  [...]"  Related: "Norway Butter Shortage: Online Sellers Offer 1 Pound For Up To $465" [12/13/11] "An acute butter shortage in Norway, one of the world’s richest countries, has left people worrying how to bake their Christmas goodies with store shelves emptied and prices through the roof. The shortfall, expected to last into January, amounts to between 500 and 1,000 tonnes, said Tine, Norway’s main dairy company, while online sellers have offered 500-gramme packs for up to 350 euros ($465). The dire shortage poses a serious challenge for Norwegians who are trying to finish their traditional Christmas baking — a task which usually requires them to make at least seven different kinds of biscuits. The shortfall has been blamed on a rainy summer that cut into feed production and therefore dairy output, but also the ballooning popularity of a low-carbohydrate, fat-rich diet that has sent demand for butter soaring. “Compared to 2010, demand has grown by as much as 30 percent,” Tine spokesman Lars Galtung told AFP. Last Friday, customs officers stopped a Russian at the Norwegian-Swedish border and seized 90 kilos (198 pounds) of butter stashed in his car. [...]"  

Commentary: "Texas: Growth Of Large Private Water Companies Brings Higher Water Rates" [12/20/11] "When Robert White opened his water bill last month, his jaw dropped: $250 for a month's worth of water and sewer service. The 63-year-old construction contractor, who shares a three-bedroom home with his wife in the bucolic Springbrook Centre subdivision, said he likes to keep his lawn green and expects hefty water bills. "I just don't want to be hijacked," he said.White's water service is provided by a private utility owned by California-based SouthWest Water Co. LLC. Just across the four-lane Pflugerville Parkway, where White's neighbors in the Springbrook Glen subdivision — a nearly identical grid of neatly arranged brick-faced homes — get their water from Pflugerville, rates are on average about 60 percent less. And White's bill for water service may nearly double soon, if SouthWest Water gets the latest rate increase it has requested. "I have never felt so helpless," he said. [...]" 

Commentary: "Christopher Hitchens: One Man's Service In The War Against Delusion" [12/19/11] "... Last October, Christopher Hitchens received the Atheist Alliance of America's Richard Dawkins award. This is an edited version of his acceptance speech [...] "I suppose I should close now because I've said all I wanted to say for myself... In the meantime we have the same job we always had, to say, as thinking people and as humans, that there are no final solutions, there is no absolute truth, there is no supreme leader, there is no totalitarian solution that says that if you will just give up your freedom of inquiry, if you would just give up, if you will simply abandon your critical faculties, a world of idiotic bliss can be yours. We have to begin by repudiating all such claims – grand rabbis, chief ayatollahs, infallible popes, the peddlers of mutant quasi-political worship, the dear leader, great leader, we have no need of any of this. And looking at them and their record I realise it is they who are the grand imposters, and my own imposture this evening was mild by comparison."   Related: Richard Dawkins Christopher Hitchens: Texas Free Thought Conference 2011  [30:06] (Full Event)

MSM: "While Using Excessive Force, Cop Is Caught On Camera Planting Drugs On Citizen" [12/19/11] [2:03] "Cookeville TN Cops get caught on dash cam planting dope on a person pulled over for a domestic charge. [...]"  

UK: "England Riots: Police Operation 'Flawed' Say Mps" [12/19/11] "... Lessons from the disturbances of August 2011 report said flooding the streets with police what what ultimately quelled the disorder. "If numbers could have been increased more rapidly, it is possible that some of the disturbances could have been avoided," it said. "We regret this did not happen and, with the benefit of hindsight, we regard the operation to police the disorder in many towns and cities, and particularly in London as flawed." [...]"  Note: The usual lack of maturity exhibited by those who put themselves 'in control'.

UK: "Former Lovers Of Undercover Officers Sue Police Over Deceit" [12/18/11] "Eight women who say they were duped into forming long-term loving relationships with undercover policemen have started legal action against police chiefs, alleging that they have suffered intense emotional trauma and pain. The women say the men "deliberately and knowingly deceived" them into forming intimate relationships of up to nine years by concealing their real identities. They say the men, who had been sent to infiltrate protest groups, were using them "physically and emotionally" to obtain intelligence about those campaigns. In an unprecedented move, they are now threatening to sue police chiefs as they say that the "deeply degrading" deceit caused them psychiatric and psychological injuries including depression, trauma, anxiety, anger and a difficulty to trust people again. In legal papers sent to police chiefs, the women outline the scale of the alleged deception, saying that the relationships with five named men spanned from 1987 to last year. It is the first time that two of the men have been accused of being police spies. The allegations contradict claims by police chiefs that their undercover officers are not permitted "under any circumstances" to sleep with people they are spying on. Police chiefs claim it is "grossly unprofessional" and "never acceptable" for undercover officers to have sex with people they are targeting. The women were involved in the campaigns being infiltrated or loosely connected to them. [...]"  

MSM: "Feds: 'Excessive Force' By Seattle Cops Must Stop" [12/18/11] "A 10-month investigation by the U.S. Justice Department has found the Seattle Police Department "engages in a pattern of unnecessary and excessive force" in "violation of the Fourth Amendment," federal officials announced Friday. According to the Justice Department report, Seattle police use force in an "unconstitutional manner nearly 20 percent of the time" and "too quickly resort to the use of impact weapons, such as batons and flashlights." U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan announced the findings at a Friday morning press conference. She was joined by Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, who flew to Seattle to publicize the findings. "Our findings should serve as a foundation to reform the police department and to help restore the community's confidence in fair, just and effective law enforcement. The problems within SPD have been present for many years and will take time to fix," Perez said.[...]"  Related: "Department Of Justice Finds Widespread Use Of Excessive Force By Seattle Police"   [1:58]

MSM: "US Poverty-News Analysis" Press TV [12/18/11] [25:34] "Half of the people in the US are either poor or low income: one would guess this to be true of a third world country, but such is the case for Americans in the US, in which nearly 1 in 2 Americans have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earnings that classify them as low income. In this News Analysis, we will discuss how the US, to have had the lead in consumerism, has fallen to this deep low, and whether it has fallen victim to the banksters and corporate greed representing the 1%. [...]"   Related: See "Census Data: Half Of U.S. Poor Or Low Income" [12/16/11] below.

Commentary: "As Banks Start Nosing Around Facebook and Twitter, the Wrong Friends Might Just Sink Your Credit" [12/18/11]   "Let’s take a trip with the Ghost of Christmas Future. The year is 2016, and George Bailey, a former banker, now a part-time consultant, is looking for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage for a co-op in the super-hot neighborhood of Bedford Falls (BeFa). He has never missed a loan payment and has zero credit card debt. He submits his information to the online-only PotterBank.com, but halfway through the application process, the website asks for his Facebook login. Then his Twitter. Then LinkedIn. The cartoon loan officer avatar begins to frown as the algorithm discovers Mr. Bailey’s taxi-driving buddy Ernie was once turned down by PotterBank for a loan; then it starts browsing his daughter Zuzu’s photo album, “Saturday Nite!” And what was this tweet from a few years back: “FML, about to jump off a goddamn bridge”? A new wave of startups is working on algorithms gathering data for banks from the web of associations on the internet known as “the social graph,” in which people are “nodes” connected to each other by “edges.” Banks are already using social media to befriend their customers, and increasingly, their customers’ friends. The specifics are still shaking out, but the gist is that eventually, social media will account for at least the tippy-top of the mountain of data banks keep on their customers. [...]"  

Trends: "Increasingly, Smoking Indoors Is Forbidden At Public Housing" [12/18/11] "In 2004, the Auburn Maine Housing Authority became the first authority in Maine and one of the first in the country to ban smoking in public housing, and it has served as a model. On Jan. 1, Maine will become the first state in the country in which all of its public housing authorities are smoke free, affecting about 12,000 tenants. Similar policies are being adopted with increasing frequency across the country as cities move aggressively to restrict smoking in more public places, from bars and restaurants to parks, beaches and vehicles. Come September, Boston will become the biggest city to ban smoking in its public housing, which serves about 25,000 tenants. Detroit, San Antonio and Portland, Ore., already have similar restrictions in place. The bans are largely a response to the risks posed to nonsmokers by secondhand smoke. In addition, property managers say smokeless apartments are cheaper to clean, especially if there is carpeting, and reduce the risk of fire.  [...]" 

MSM: "Unemployment Drug Tests: Republicans' Unprecedented Pursuit Of Drug Testing The Jobless" [12/17/11]   "During a debate on the floor of the House of Representatives this week, Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) suggested the unemployed can't find jobs because of their own bad decisions.This year more than ever, Republicans have brought up again and again the topic of unemployed people using drugs. Lawmakers in a dozen state legislatures pursued jobless drug testing bills in 2011, according to the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, in an unprecedented flurry of legislative activity on the issue. But a major obstacle to those proposals is that federal law does not allow states to deny unemployment benefits for reasons not related to the circumstances of a person's unemployment -- though 20 states do have laws disqualifying workers from receiving benefits if they're fired for a drug-related reason. The legislation percolating through the states culminated in Congress, where Republicans in the House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday to allow states to do all the drug testing they want. NASWA director Rich Hobbie, who's worked in the unemployment insurance field since 1975, said it's the first time a bill to drug test the unemployed has made it so far. The fate of the provision is currently in the hands of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who has said he finds it ridiculous. [...]"  

MSM: "Illinois Debtors Thrown In Jail" [12/16/11] "Some Illinois residents struggling to pay off their debt have yet another thing to worry about: getting thrown in jail. As WBEZ reports, creditors in the state have figured out ways around laws that prevent them from putting debtors in jail, and the number of people being issued arrest warrants linked to unpaid bills is growing. Collection agencies can reportedly file a lawsuit requiring a court appearance, and if the defendant doesn't show up for their hearing, an arrest warrant can be issued. The practice has been happening more often in a stagnant economy, and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan wants to do something about it. "We can no longer allow debt collectors to pervert the courts," Madigan told the Wall Street Journal, adding that some victims of this practice were thrown in jail without knowing that they were being sued due to misleading or sloppy paperwork submitted to the court by debt collectors.  [...]"  

Trends: "Household Electricity Bills Skyrocket" [12/16/11] "Electric bills have skyrocketed in the last five years, a sharp reversal from a quarter-century when Americans enjoyed stable power bills even as they used more electricity. Greater electricity use at home and higher prices per kilowatt hour are both driving the higher costs, in roughly equal measure: [...]"  

MSM: "Census Data: Half Of U.S. Poor Or Low Income" [12/16/11] "Squeezed by rising living costs, a record number of Americans — nearly 1 in 2 — have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earnings that classify them as low income. The latest census data depict a middle class that's shrinking as unemployment stays high and the government's safety net frays. The new numbers follow years of stagnating wages for the middle class that have hurt millions of workers and families. "Safety net programs such as food stamps and tax credits kept poverty from rising even higher in 2010, but for many low-income families with work-related and medical expenses, they are considered too `rich' to qualify," said Sheldon Danziger, a University of Michigan public policy professor who specializes in poverty. "The reality is that prospects for the poor and the near poor are dismal," he said. "If Congress and the states make further cuts, we can expect the number of poor and low-income families to rise for the next several years." [...]" 

MSM: "Feds: Sheriff Arpaio’s Immigrant Crackdowns Often Illegal" [12/16/11] "Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona have long engaged in the “unconstitutional policing” of Latino communities, the Department of Justice alleged Thursday in a scathing report released after two years of detailed investigation. In a conference call with reporters, Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general for civil rights, said that the agency had conducted over 400 interviews in the course of their investigation, finding a long pattern of abuse, neglect and scorn for people of Mexican descent.  [...]" 

MSM: "There Are No Civil Liberties Left! Most Americans Have Not Focused On This" Current TV [12/16/11] [7:10] Keith Olbermann interviews Robert Reich.

Trends: "Married Couples At A Record Low" [12/15/11] "The proportion of adults who are married has plunged to record lows as more people decide to live together now and wed later, reflecting decades of evolving attitudes about the role of marriage in society. Just 51 percent of all adults who are 18 and older are married, placing them on the brink of becoming a minority, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of census statistics to be released Wednesday. That represents a steep drop from 57 percent who were married in 2000. [...]" 

MSM: "Firearm Sales Way Up During Holiday Season" [12/15/11] "FBI stats show the number of background checks done on Black Friday three years ago pales in comparison to the number done this year — a 32-percent jump. “People are just coming in to protect themselves,” the employee said. “I think there’s just a lot of things going on in the world that are getting people thinking.” More women are buying guns than ever before as criminals get more desperate. [...]" 

MSM: "U.S. Postal Service Puts 5-Month Pause On Closings" [12/14/11] "The U.S. Postal Service has agreed to a five-month moratorium on closures of post offices and processing facilities while lawmakers hammer out legislation to overhaul the cash-strapped mail carrier, a group of U.S. senators said on Tuesday. The Postal Service was studying about 3,700 money-losing post offices for possible closure starting in February 2012, and considering closing hundreds of processing centers in April. The senators said USPS officials agreed to push back the closures to give lawmakers time to pass legislation that would help get the Postal Service back on track before the end of fiscal year 2012, when the mail carrier has said it could shut down. The Postal Service, which does not receive taxpayer money to fund its services, lost more than $5 billion in fiscal year 2011 and says it needs to shed about $20 billion in annual costs by 2015. The Postal Service has argued that facility closures will help it adjust to falling mail volumes as consumers turn to the Internet to communicate and pay bills. The House and the Senate have until May 15 to reach an agreement for postal reform which will bring the Postal Service to a financial status where they can continue and expand operations," said Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois. Several members of the group had been critical of Postal Service plans to close facilities, particularly in rural areas. [...]"  

Commentary:  "Congress Investigates 'Lavish' Executive Pay At For-Profit Colleges" [12/14/11] "Over the past three years, lawmakers on the House Oversight and Government Reform committee have investigated bonuses and executive pay at companies that benefited from billions in taxpayer dollars: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG and others bailed out after the 2008 financial crisis. Now, Democrats on the committee have turned their attention to another industry whose fortunes are closely tied to federal money: for-profit colleges. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the ranking member on the House oversight committee, has requested executive compensation information this week from 13 Wall Street corporations that own for-profit colleges. According to letters he sent to the companies' executives Monday, Cummings is seeking information on how what he termed "lavish" executive pay at college corporations is tied to the quality of education and student performance at such schools. "When compared to public and non-profit schools, for-profit companies spend a smaller percentage of their funds on student education, reserving more for marketing, advertising, recruitment and other non education expenses," Cummings said. "Their student success rates are lower, and their students are more likely to default on loans. But their CEOs consistently make much more than their counterparts at public and non-profit schools." [...]" 

MSM: "Report: Child Homelessness Up 33% In 3 Years" [12/14/11] "One in 45 children in the USA — 1.6 million children — were living on the street, in homeless shelters or motels, or doubled up with other families last year, according to the National Center on Family Homelessness. [...]" 

Commentary: "Taxation by Citation in California" [12/14/11] "... Running a red light is now $425.00. Not signaling; $140.00. Five miles over the speed limit in a school zone sucks you of $530.00 .I listened to the judge on almost 50 cases in that brief time and roughly estimated the state of California took in about $50,000.00 dollars in that one hour. The assessed amount for fines was astronomical. But now you pay not only the fine, they also throw in the court costs. You pay for the cost of the court to collect that fine from you. And these fees have also become absurd. To now settle my $40.00 ticket , I would be charged another $35.00. Which simply says one thing, and one thing only: traffic fines have become an incredible source of revenue for the states.  [...]"  

MSM: "Unannounced Verizon Emergency Alert Causes Panic In New Jersey" [12/13/11] "An unannounced test of a soon to be mandatory emergency alert system caused panic in New Jersey today after Verizon customers received text messages warning them that a “civil emergency” was in progress and to “take shelter,” prompting alarmed citizens to flood 911 lines with anxious calls. However, media reports concerning the alarm completely ignore the fact that Verizon was almost certainly running a test for the federal government’s soon to be mandatory PLAN alert program, which the company has signed up for. “A mass text message warning New Jersey cell phone users of a “civil emergency” was sent out by Verizon Wireless earlier today,” reports the New Jersey Star-Ledger. Verizon Wireless later apologized to its customers for causing alarm. The alert message included the text “U.S. Govern,” suggesting to customers the text had come from the federal government itself, which undoubtedly fueled the panic. [...]" 

Concepts and Practices: "Violence Gene, Brain Science Not Admissible In Court, Say UK Scientists" [12/13/11] "Criminal behaviour can't be blamed on how someone's brain is wired, at least not yet, says a report from British experts who examined how neuroscience is being used in some court cases. "Having a psychotic brain is not a general defence against a criminal charge," said Nicholas Mackintosh, emeritus professor of experimental psychology at the University of Cambridge, who led the group that produced the report. "There's no such thing as a gene for violence. "The scientists said that while some criminals, such as psychopaths, have different brain structures from most people, these differences aren't enough to release them from being legally responsible for their actions. Some experts said it was too simplistic to think brain scans could explain human actions. [...]"  

MSM: "Florida County Will Throw Parents Of Truant Kids In Jail" [12/13/11] "A new truancy court in Palm Beach, Florida aims to cut down on the state's absentee rate for young children by punishing parents who don't take their kids to school. Florida law says parents of children under 16 who let their kids miss 15 days of school within three months can be sent to jail for up to two months as punishment. The Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that Palm Beach prosecutors say the two-month jail sentence will be a last resort, after government and nonprofit workers try to fix whatever problem is keeping parents from getting their kids to school. About a dozen Baltimore parents were sent to prison for their kids' truancy in 2011, the Baltimore Sun reported in April. (In 2010, no Baltimore parents were jailed.) After California adopted a strict anti-truancy bill earlier this year, at least five parents in Orange County were sent to jail for the crime, according to the local CBS affiliate. Judges in Alabama, Texas, and North Carolina and other states have also used truancy laws to send offending parents to jail. Earlier this year, the NAACP sued a Pennsylvania school district for levying what it claimed were illegal fines of thousands of dollars on truant students and their parents. Lenora Hummel, above, was fined $8,000 after her son and daughter stopped going to school because they said they were bullied and harassed by other students. [...]"  

UK: "Forced Marriages In England On The Rise, Says Government" [12/13/11] "There are at least 5,000 to 8,000 cases of forced marriage in England and the number of reported cases is rising every year, the Government has said. The Home Office said the full scale of the problem was not known but published the estimates as it considers making forced marriage a criminal offence. [...]"  

Commentary:  "Federal Agents Demand Customer Lists From Mormon Food Storage Facility" [12/13/11] "Oath Keepers has learned that federal agents recently visited a Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Church food storage cannery in Tennessee, demanding customer lists, wanting to know the identity of Americans who are purchasing food storage from the Mormons. [...] So on the one hand, government agencies both state and federal are urging you to be prepared and even checking up on you to see how prepared you are, and on the other hand, we now have federal agencies that are attempting to gather information on individuals that are following FEMA suggestions. What is the reasoning behind gathering this information? Are American citizens now being “listed” by DHS if they are simply following FEMA guidance and purchasing bulk food and emergency supplies for their families? It appears as so."  Related: "Door-To-Door Questioning About Food Supplies In Tennessee:  Canneries Downplay Initial Reports" "Whether it's flooding or another severe weather event, emergency officials want to make sure Tennesseans are prepared. A community assessment will get underway Thursday across Davidson County.  The Metro Public Health and the Tennessee Department of Health will be using a tool designed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to go door to door and check to see how disaster ready you are. The door to door assessment will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. It will be in 30 neighborhoods in Davidson County that have been randomly selected to be the target of a door to door assessment. [...]"  

MSM: "Florida Bans Gun Controls: County Sues the Governor" [12/12/11] "The Palm Beach County Commission sued Gov. Rick Scott and the Legislature, fighting a new law that allows the governor to remove from office any local officials who enact gun control ordinances. The Gun Law, House Bill 45, passed through the Legislature this year, was signed by the governor on June 2 and took effect Oct. 1. It allows the governor to yank from office any officials who pass gun control laws; allows a court to fine the officials $5,000 for it; and gives a private cause of action to any "persons or organization whose membership is adversely affected" by such a law, who may sue the officials for damages of up to $100,000 and costs, with a "contingency multiplier." [...]"  

MSM: "Americans Leaving Us In Record Numbers" [12/09/11] "Ever dream of leaving it all behind and heading out of America? You’re not the only one. A new study shows that more US citizens than ever before are living outside of the country. According to statistics from the US State Department, around 6.4 million Americans are either working or studying overseas, which Gallup says is the largest number ever for such statistic. The polling organization came across the number after conducting surveys in 135 outside nations and the information behind the numbers reveal that this isn’t exactly a longtime coming either — numbers have skyrocketed only in recent years. In the 24 months before polling began, the number of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 living abroad managed to surge from barely 1 percent to over 5.1 percent. For those under the age span wishing to move overseas, the percentage has jumped in the same amount of time from 15 percent to 40. [...]"  

MSM: "Judge Rules Police Cannot Ban Protesters From Washington State Capital Without Due Process " [12/08/11] [0:53] Protesters granted temporary restraining order. 

MSM: "New Rules For Crossing The U.S. Canadian Border " [12/08/11] [2:04] People will now be registered as leaving one country and entering another.

Trends: "Thousands Protest Money In Politics In Washington, Shutting Down Lobbyist-Lined K Street" [12/07/11] "Thousands of people protesting what they say is corporate greed and the role of money in politics on Wednesday shut down Washington’s K Street, known as the home of lobbying in the nation’s capital. The protesters, inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, came from across the country and gathered under a steady rain. One demonstrator, Teresa Law, 50, of Springfield, Ohio, said she came to protest against corporate America and because jobs that the government promised to create have not been created.  [...]"  Live Stream

MSM: "Alabama: Inmates Can Replace Hispanic Farmhands" [12/07/11] "Alabama farmers frantically looking for workers to replace those that have fled the state in the wake of its tough new immigration law should just stop by their local prison, according to the head of Alabama’s agriculture department. John McMillan, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, told the Montgomery Advertiser on Thursday that inmate labor through the state’s work-release program offers a short-term solution to the sudden labor shortage that has hit Alabama since enforcement of its illegal immigration law kicked in. Some farmers have said the state’s new law has driven away Hispanic migrant farm workers — and without another potential labor source, they say produce may have to be left to rot in the fields. “We are optimistic that by Monday, we will have some help for farmers,” McMillan said. Under the law, employers must use the E-Verify system to check workers’ legality and police can ask for documentation of anyone they stop, detain or arrest. [...]"  Note: Slave labor ... is used to manufacture goods in order to compete with other countries that have cheap labor.

 Internet:  "India To Ban 'Offensive' Internet Material" [12/07/11] "India on Tuesday vowed to ban offensive material from the Internet after Facebook, Google and other major firms told the government they were unable to screen content before it was posted. Communications Minister Kapil Sibal said talks with the Internet giants had failed to come up with a solution following complaints that he had lodged three months ago over "unacceptable" images. "My aim is that insulting material never gets uploaded," Sibal told reporters in New Delhi. "We will evolve guidelines and mechanisms to deal with the issue. [...]"  Note:  I'm sure they will, as most reincarnated retreads often do. Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the whole issue from their perspective has no rational justification. People derive their own meaning from experience.

Commentary: "Israel Behind Much Of Militarized Brutality Of US Police" [12/07/11] "The extreme militarization of American police forces has been brought to public attention by the tactics employed against Occupy protesters, which often appear more appropriate to counter-terrorism operations than to the control of non-violent protest. According to investigative journalist Max Blumenthal, however, the proper term for this ruthless suppression of dissent should be "Israelification." [...] According to Blumenthal, the transformation began after September 11, when American law enforcement officers began to look to the Israelis for counter-terrorism expertise and in response the Israel Lobby "provid[ed] thousands of top cops with all-expenses paid trips to Israel and stateside training sessions with Israeli military and intelligence officials." Many of these trips and training sessions were arranged by JINSA, the stridently pro-Israel organization whose advisors have included such prominent Neocons as Douglas Feith and Richard Perle. The Anti-Defamation League has also provided Israeli-run training senssions to over 700 police officers through its course on Extremist and Terroist Threats and claims to have provided a background in Israeli perspectives to another 45,000 through its Law Enforcement and Society program, which is required training for all new FBI agents. The Israeli influence has been particularly strong in New York City where, Blumenthal writes, "under the leadership of Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, ties between the NYPD and Israel have deepened by the day. Kelly embarked on his first trip to Israel in early 2009 to demonstrate his support for Israel's ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip. Kelly returned to Israel the following year to speak at the Herziliya Conference, an annual gathering of neoconservative security and government officials who obsess over supposed 'demographic threats.' Back in New York, the NYPD set up a secret 'Demographics Unit' designed to spy on and monitor Muslim communities around the city." Not only dissidents but even ordinary criminals may be treated as terrorists under the Israel model, which can also include the routine use of torture. Karen Greenberg, director of Fordham School of Law's Center on National Security, told Blumenthal, "After 9/11 we reached out to the Israelis on many fronts and one of those fronts was torture. The training in Iraq and Afghanistan on torture was Israeli training. There's been a huge downside to taking our cue from the Israelis and now we're going to spread that into the fabric of everyday American life? It's counter-terrorism creep. And it's exactly what you could have predicted would have happened. [...] already, the Israelification of American law enforcement appears to have intensified police hostility towards the civilian population, blurring the lines between protesters, common criminals, and terrorists."   Related: See "SWAT Raids, Stun Guns, And Pepper Spray: Why The Government Is Ramping Up The Use Of Force" [12/06/11] below.

Legal Case: "California Can't Cut Aid for Old & Disabled" [12/06/11] "Finding the governor's plan to cut millions from social services as part of the 2011-12 California budget "raises serious questions of violations of the federal due process clause," a federal judge refused to let the state implement $100 million worth of cuts to the In-Home Supportive Services program [...]"  

MSM: "London Police Listed ‘Occupy’ Protesters As Potential Terrorists" [12/06/11] "The City of London Police listed “Occupy London Stock Exchange” (OLSX) as a domestic terrorist threat in a bulletin sent to businesses, according to The Independent. The protesters have been camped outside St Paul’s Cathedral in London’s financial district since October 15, as part of a global wave of demonstrations against political and economic inequality. The bulletin, “Terrorism/Extremism Update,” listed the protesters along with al Qaeda, the Colombian revolutionary group FARC, and Belorussian terrorists. [...] “It is likely that activists aspire to identify other locations to occupy, especially those they identify with capitalism. City of London Police has received a number of hostile reconnaissance reports concerning individuals who would fit the anti-capitalist profile. All are asked to be vigilant regarding suspected reconnaissance, particularly around empty buildings,” it stated. A spokesman for City of London Police confirmed the document was authentic, but said it was poorly worded and did not intend to label “Occupy London” as a potential terrorist threat." Note: That the City of London perceives the whole dynamic as only revolving around capitalism, they're pretty shallow minded.

MSM: "Ireland: Psychiatrist Calls for Lithium to be Added to Water To Treat Depression" [12/06/11] "A consultant psychiatrist last night called on Government to add lithium salts to the public water supply in a bid to lower the suicide rate and depression among the general population. At a mental health forum on “Depression in Rural Ireland” in Ennistymon, Co Clare, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee said that “there is growing scientific evidence that adding trace amounts of the drug lithium to a water supply can lower rates of suicide and depression”. Lithium is used by doctors as a mood stabiliser in the treatment for depression. Dr Bhamjee said: “A recent article in the British Journal of Psychiatry found the beneficial uses of lithium when it was added to the water supply in parts of Texas.” He said the Government should consider a pilot project for a town in Ireland where lithium salts could be added to the water in very small doses and examine the results.” He said there was already strong precedent for governments intervening in the operation of public water supply for health benefits by adding fluoride. Dr Bhamjee said that a community would not get “hooked” on lithium “because the doses would be so small”. He said: “There are 200,000 people suffering from depression in Ireland and the Government must think of new ways of tackling the problem.” [...]" 

Commentary: "SWAT Raids, Stun Guns, And Pepper Spray: Why The Government Is Ramping Up The Use Of Force" [12/06/11] "... The amount of force the government uses to uphold a given law is no longer determined only by the threat to public safety posed by the suspect. Now, it appears to give an indication of how serious the government is about the law being enforced. The DEA sends SWAT teams barreling into the offices of doctors accused of over-prescribing painkillers not because the doctors pose any real threat of violence, but because prescription drug abuse is a hot issue right now. The feds sent SWAT teams into marijuana dispensaries not because medicinal pot merchants are inherently dangerous people, but because officials believe the dispensaries are openly defying federal law. It is, to put it bluntly, a terror tactic. Sending a couple cops with a clipboard to hand out fines and shut down a dispensary doesn't convey a strong message. Sending a bunch of cops dressed like soldiers to point guns at dispensary owners and their customers certainly does.  [...] Few politicians have the backbone to call for less power, weaponry and authority for law enforcement, because nobody loses an election by being "too tough" on crime. They'll only begin to question these trends when there's a political benefit to doing so -- or political harm for keeping quiet. So long as partisans on both sides only speak up when their own are on the receiving end of excessive government force, there isn't much incentive for policymakers to care."  Related: "Pentagon Is Offering Free Military Hardware To Every Police Department In The US" "The US military has some of the most advanced killing equipment in the world that allows it to invade almost wherever it likes at will. We produce so much military equipment that inventories of military robots, M-16 assault rifles, helicopters, armored vehicles, and grenade launchers eventually start to pile up and it turns a lot of these weapons are going straight to American police forces to be used against US citizens. Benjamin Carlson at The Daily reports on a little known endeavor called the “1033 Program” that gave more than $500 million of military gear to US police in 2011 alone. 1033 was passed by Congress in 1997 to help law-enforcement fight terrorism and drugs, but despite a 40 year low in violent crime, police are snapping up hardware like never before. While this years staggering take topped the charts, next years orders are up 400 percent over the same period. [...] Tim Lynch, director of the Cato Institute’s project on criminal justice told The Daily, “The trend toward militarization was well under way before 9/11, but it’s the federal policy of making surplus military equipment available almost for free that has poured fuel on this fire.” “It’s kind of had a corrupting influence on the culture of policing in America,” Lynch says. “The dynamic is that you have some officer go to the chief and say, people in next county have [military hardware], if we don’t take it some other city will. Then they acquire the equipment, they create a paramilitary unit, and everything seems fine. “But then one or two years pass. They say, look we’ve got this equipment, this training and we haven’t been using it. That’s where it starts to creep into routine policing. [...] "  

MSM: "Rural Suicides Follow Medicaid Cuts" [12/06/11] "Suicide is on the increase in rural America--nowhere so much as in western mountain states like Idaho, Wyoming and New Mexico. Mental health professionals attribute it in part to cutbacks in Medicaid funding, to the recession and to the culture of the rural West. In Idaho, somebody kills himself every 35 hours, according to a 2009 report to Idaho's governor by the state's Council on Suicide Prevention. Their report calls suicide "a major public health issue" having a "devastating effect" on Idaho's families, churches, businesses and even schools: 65 students aged 10 and 18 killed themselves in a recent five-year period. [...]"  

Commentary: "No, America's Unemployment Rate Is Not 8.6 Percent" [12/06/11] "November’s figure, 8.6 percent, is actually the proportion of Americans unemployed, “as a percent of the civilian labor force,” as per the official definition from the Labor Department (a figure it refers to as “U-3,” the official unemployment rate). When considering those that fit that definition as well as discouraged workers (U-4), those marginally attached to the work labor force (U-5) and those that are employed part-time and seeking full-time employment but can’t find it, the Labor Department has another statistic, which it refers to as U-6; for the month of November, that figure is at 15.6 percent. Even taking into account the Labor Department’s definition of what counts as employed, 20 of the 50 states in America (plus the District of Columbia) saw jobless figures exceeding 9.0 percent for the month of November. In California and Washington DC, numbers were at or above 11 percent; in Nevada: 13.4 percent. [...]"  

Canada: "Omnibus Crime Bill On Verge Of Passing " [12/06/11] "The Safe Streets and Communities Act" passed the report stage last week, amid some controversy because the government shortened debate on the bill and also tried, and failed, to amend it at the last minute. The Conservatives had rejected proposed amendments made at the committee by opposition MPs and then days later tried to introduce virtually the same ones, measures related to the bill's anti-terrorism provisions. Speaker Andrew Scheer rejected the government's attempts to amend the bill, ruling that the amendments should have been pitched at the committee. The government may now try to amend the bill once it gets to the Senate. Opposition MPs say the government's attempts to change the bill prove their argument that it has been rushed through Parliament without enough careful consideration. Bill C-10 combines nine previous bills that did pass in previous Parliaments and makes major changes to several exisiting laws. Some aspects of the bill are supported by the opposition parties, such as tougher sentences for sexual crimes committed against children, but MPs have raised particular concerns about the introduction of mandatory minimum sentences for certain drug crimes and changes to young offender laws. Key measures are: [...]" 

MSM: "U.S. Postal Service Faces Bankruptcy, Plans Cuts To Slow Delivery Of First Class Mail " [12/05/11] " Facing bankruptcy, the U.S. Postal Service is pushing ahead with unprecedented cuts to first-class mail next spring that will slow delivery and, for the first time in 40 years, eliminate the chance for stamped letters to arrive the next day. The estimated $3 billion in reductions, to be announced in broader detail on Monday, are part of a wide-ranging effort by the cash-strapped Postal Service to quickly trim costs, seeing no immediate help from Congress. The cuts, now being finalized, would close roughly 250 of the nearly 500 mail processing centers across the country as early as next March. Because the consolidations typically would lengthen the distance mail travels from post office to processing center, the agency also would lower delivery standards for first-class mail that have been in place since 1971. Currently, first-class mail is supposed to be delivered to homes and businesses within the continental U.S. in one day to three days. That will lengthen to two days to three days, meaning mailers no longer could expect next-day delivery in surrounding communities. Periodicals could take between two days and nine days. The consolidation of mail processing centers is in addition to the planned closing of about 3,700 local post offices. In all, roughly 100,000 postal employees could be cut as a result of the various closures, resulting in savings of up to $6.5 billion a year. [...]" 

UK: "Claims Of Police Communication Breakdown During Riots Rejected " [12/05/11] "Allegations that the police were forced to use personal mobile phones during the summer riots after their multi-billion pound radio system failed have been branded as "completely inaccurate". A review into August's unrest from the Police Federation leaked to The Observer details failings which purport to explain why the police were constantly playing catch-up as events unfolded. The report claims that some forces were even unsure of how many officers were on duty after the collapse of the official Airwave communication system. The newspaper also said: "The Airwave network was supposed to improve the way emergency services in London responded to a crisis after damning criticism for communication failures following the 7 July bombings in 2005." The internal review also reveals that after the trouble erupted, "forces often did not know how may officers they had on or off shift" and senior officers took charge in some places "often without the local knowledge of the areas", making it easier to be outmanoeuvred by rioters. [...]" 

MSM: "China To Prepare For Social Unrest As The Economy Takes A Slide" [12/05/11] "Beijing has underlined its concern that an economic slowdown could lead to social unrest in China, with the country’s security chief urging local officials to do more to prepare for the “negative effects of the market economy”. Zhou Yongkang, a member of the politburo, told provincial officials that they needed to find better methods of “social management” – a euphemism which can include everything from better internet censorship and strategic policing of violent unrest, to a better social safety net. “It is an urgent task for us to think how to establish a social management system with Chinese characteristics to suit our socialist market economy,” he told a seminar on “social management innovation”. “Especially when facing the negative effects of the market economy, we still have not formed a complete mechanism for social management,” he said. Mr Zhou also urged officials to limit spending on wasteful “vanity” projects that trigger public anger. His comments are the clearest sign yet that Beijing is worried that the global economic crisis could lead to serious domestic social unrest. Mr Zhou’s remarks, published by the state-run Xinhua news agency on Saturday, came at the end of a week which saw evidence of a slowdown in Chinese manufacturing, an easing in credit policy to avert a sharper slowdown, and two outbreaks of violence. Recent months have seen a rise in unrest – apparently linked to economic grievances, including workers’ fears about the economic dislocation caused by Beijing’s long-term plan to move away from low-value manufacturing to more creative and innovative industries. [...]"  

MSM: "How Unemployment Is Tearing America Apart" [12/05/11] "With 25 million out of work or underemployed, the U.S. is in the grips of a jobs depression Eight months ago, Deborah Burnley, an administrative assistant in Baltimore, suddenly found herself among America's growing army of unemployed. Losing her job at a cash-strapped non-profit was a demoralizing and debilitating experience, she says, and to keep her spirits from crashing she's sought solace in, of all things, the bleak arithmetic of her job hunt: 226 positions applied for, six temp agencies engaged, and countless miles traveled across the region for interviews. "I try to think of it as a numbers game, that each day is basically one more step closer to being employed," says Burnley, 52. In other words, if she applies for enough positions, and meets enough prospective employers, some day - eventually - she's bound to find work. But even as she clings to that hope, Burnley acknowledges she and her husband, who also lost his job as a facilities manager six weeks ago, have depleted their savings and almost maxed out their credit cards. "It can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel." Two-and-a-half years after the Great Recession was deemed officially over, that light has never seemed dimmer for the close to 25 million Americans who are either out of work or underemployed today. Like a gaping wound at the heart of the economy, the U.S. job crisis has cast a vast swath of the population into a state of semi-permanent unemployment. At the same time, America's housing market is in a shambles and poverty is on the rise. Even if economists weren't already once again warning of another global recession, a realization is slowly setting in: the United States is suffering from an outright economic depression, and it threatens to leave a deep scar on the American psyche for decades to come. As Robert Reich, a professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley and a former secretary of labour, put it recently: "America's ongoing jobs depression, which is what it deserves to be called, is the worst economic calamity to hit this nation since the Great Depression." [...]"  

MSM: "Chicago's Citizen Surveillance The Most Extensive & Integrated In US" [12/04/11] "One legacy of Rahm Emanuel is digitally clear. Security cameras will follow us like a bad credit rating. The Missile’s bravura early performance includes a drastic increase in cameras to protect us from bad guys and to keep us from breaking laws, notably speeding, even while surely accelerating a loss of individual privacy. The city’s traditional lack of transparency on the extent of cameras, and a legacy of illegal surveillance dating to Mayor Richard J. Daley, are woeful. But the public is more interested in Jay Cutler’s thumb than in potential abuses of zoom technology, facial recognition, biometrics, the ability to track somebody from one camera to another and then combining or sharing databases. Last week the mayor stood with Police Chief Garry McCarthy, and Forrest Claypool, the head of the Chicago Transit Authority, as they rightly praised rapid installation of another 1,700 C.T.A security cameras. But now add several thousand more cameras planned near schools and parks — meant to catch speeders endangering children — and you’ve got a hefty increase in what was already the most “extensive and integrated” surveillance system in the United States, according to Michael Chertoff, the former homeland security secretary. A February report by the American Civil Liberties Union estimated that Chicago had 10,000 surveillance cameras. Let’s now figure on another 4,000 or so. [...]"  

Society and Culture:  "Regrets of the Dying" [12/04/11] "For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives. People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them. When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five: #1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. [...]"  

Commentary: "The Secret Revolution in North Dakota" [12/04/11] "North Dakota citizens may abolish property taxes, allowing them more control over government spending. Nearly 30,000 signatures were collected to place the people's initiative on the ballot in June, 2012 that would constitutionally abolish all property taxes in North Dakota. This landmark measure supports property rights, small government and freedom advocates around the country. If the initiative is successful, North Dakota will be the first state to abolish all property taxes, both state and local, and will provide a model for the other states to do the same. North Dakota may be the first state to kick off the property rights revolution! Since 1978 the state legislature has amended, altered or "reformed" property tax 134 times. This tells us that the tax cannot be fixed. [...]" 

MSM: "Woman Who Exposed Robo-Signing Scandal Found Dead" [12/04/11] "Tracy Lawrence, a 43-year-old notary who blew the whistle on the immense robo-signing scandal was found dead in her home on Monday morning after failing to appear in court. Lawrence had plead guilty to one count of notary fraud last Monday after coming forward earlier this month and confessing to notarizing roughly 25,000 documents in a fraudulent foreclosure scheme... [...]"  

MSM: "Cops Fired for Opposing War on Drugs" [12/04/11] "... Arizona probation officer Joe Miler, for instance, was dismissed after signing a letter supporting the decriminalization of Marijuana from the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. “More and more members of the law enforcement community are speaking out against failed drug policies,” says the Arizona ACLU, which has filed a lawsuit for Miller. “They don’t give up their right to share their insight … simply because they receive government paychecks.” There’s reason to believe the lawsuit will succeed; a Washington police sergeant fired in 2005 for supporting decriminalization was awarded an $815,000 settlement. [...]"  

MSM: "Black Friday Best-Seller: Guns" [12/03/11] "Americans were big spenders on Black Friday–especially on guns. Numbers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation show an all-time one-day high for background check requests from gun buyers last Friday. There were 129,166 requests to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)–a third more than the previous record of 97,848 on Black Friday 2008, FBI spokesman Stephen Fischer said. On Black Friday last year, there were 87,061 requests. The numbers, first reported in USA Today, reflect the experience of gun-sellers on the ground. “It was the biggest rush we ever had. Some of the people at the gate sent their kid running to the gun counter to get in line,” said Tom Ritzer, store manager at MC Sports in Springfield, Mo., which opened its doors at 5 a.m. on Black Friday. Gun buyers had to wait until NICS opened at 7 before they could leave with their purchases, he said. [...]"  

Trends: "17% of American Workers Are Caregivers" [12/03/11] " ... Many people might be surprised that an estimated 17% of American workers are caregivers, or about one in six. But what may surprise them more is that 46% of those caregivers are men. Gallup's analysis indicates that 20% of all female and 16% of all male workers in the U.S. are caregivers. And at least 13% of full-time workers in every major socioeconomic and demographic group are caregivers; this includes 17% of whites, 21% of blacks, and 20% of Hispanics. About one in five (22%) middle-aged American workers report being caregivers -- the highest percentage of any group. The lowest percentage across the various groups who report being caregivers is 18- to 29-year-olds, at 13%. Though the percentage of caregivers tends to decrease somewhat as education and income increase, 15% of working Americans with a college degree or who make at least $90,000 per year are caregivers. [...]" 

MSM: "Netanyahu Cancels Controversial Ad Campaign To Bring Back Israeli Expats From U.S." [12/03/11] "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to discontinue a controversial Immigration and Absorption Ministry campaign in the United States aimed at convincing expatriate Israelis to return, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported on Friday. The campaign, which warns Israelis that if they continue to live in the United States, they or their children are likely to become assimilated, has raised the ire of American Jewish groups. [...]"  Related: Israeli Ads Implore Jews To Not Marry Americans" [12/02/11] "The Israel government is sponsoring ads in the US warning young Jews here against marrying Americans and begging them to bid the States adieu. The Israel government has given the go-ahead to an ad campaign in the United States that, through a series of billboards and online video clips, is urging Jews to come back to Israel and cut ties with Americans, lest they want to be stripped of their identity and insult their religion. Steven I. Weiss of the Jewish Channel recently broke the story and believes that Israel government-comped campaign cost the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption office a price of around $1 million. In one video clip, Dafna, an Israeli girl, is observing Israel’s memorial day while her clueless boyfriend, Josh, becomes perplexed and confused. “They will always remain Israelis,” voices a narrator in Hebrew. “Their partners won’t always understand what this means.” [...]"

MSM: "LAPD Desecrates American Flag At Occupy LA" [12/03/11] [0:55] "In the early morning of November 30, LAPD officers storm out of City Hall and start evicting the Occupy LA protesters. While they are destroying the occupiers personal belongings, a LA cop rips the American flag. [...]" Guaranteed to piss some people off.

Commentary: "Egypt: ElBaradei Outed by Own Movement as Western Stooge" [12/03/11] "Mamdouh Hamza collaborated with Mohamed ElBaradei in executing the premeditated, US- engineered destabilization of Egypt in January 2011. Most likely to remove ElBaradei's terminally infected public image, he has finally outed ElBaradei as a member of George Soros' International Crisis Group and accused him of having "strong ties to Zionism." Hamza himself, however, is just as compromised as ElBaradei, perhaps more so. [...]"  

Legal Case: "As NYPD Searches Hit Record, Stop-and-Frisk Case Gains Speed" [12/01/11] "Days after a federal judge reinstated claims that New York City police illegally searched a black man as part of a stop-and-frisk policy, the New York Civil Liberties Union released a report that police recently reached their four millionth street stop in seven years. "Entire neighborhoods in New York City are turning into Constitution-free zones," NYCLU executive director Donna Lieberman said in a statement. "A walk to the subway or corner deli should not carry the assumption that you will be confronted by police, but that is the disturbing reality for many New Yorkers. Racially biased policing undermines trust between residents and police, harming public safety. It's time to hold the NYPD accountable for its unlawful and destructive stop-and-frisk practices." U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin is presiding over a class action that calls for this practice's end. She described the decades-long history of so-called "preemptive policing" in an earlier decision on the case. "Since the mid-1990s, New York City has experienced a precipitous decline in crime rates," that 86-page decision said. "The reasons for this decline are not clear. Some claim that it results from innovative policing policies influenced by the 'broken windows' theory of crime control, beginning under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Police Commissioner William Bratton, and continuing under current Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. Others argue that the drop in crime must be due to economic or other factors, as crime rates declined in cities nationwide during the same period, irrespective of variations in policing policies. "In either case, it is clear that the policing policies that the city has implemented over the past decade and a half have led to a dramatic increase in the number of pedestrian stops, to the point of now reaching 'almost 600,000 a year,'" Scheindlin wrote. In the few months since that Aug. 31 order, Scheindlin has revised the estimate up to 720,000 a year. [...]"  

Media and Culture: "Gay Hoover Movie Enrages FBI's Old Guard" [12/01/11] " Hundreds of former FBI agents are hopping mad about Clint Eastwood's biopic of J. Edgar Hoover, which strongly hints that the first FBI director was a repressed homosexual in love with aide Claude Tolson. In J. Edgar—which stars Leonardo DiCaprio—Hoover is portrayed as an individual "who had homosexual tendencies and was a tyrannical monster,” complains one former agent who joined the FBI in 1972, the year Hoover died at the age of 77. “That is simply not true." A closed email list for retired agents has been swamped with complaints about the movie, but agents younger than 70 or so don't seem to understand the reverence for Hoover,  [...]" 

MSM: "Los Angeles: Police  Arrest 200 Occupy LA Demonstrators" [12/01/11] [3:37] "1,400 police officers arrested 200 Occupy LA demonstrators during an early morning raid. City work crews have torn down and cleaned the encampment at Los Angeles City Hall, which has been the scene of anti-corporate protests for past two months. [...]" 

Commentary:  "Prosecutors Fighting The Use Of DNA Evidence In Order To Save Face" [12/01/11] "Since DNA testing became available two decades ago, about 280 convicted felons in the United States have been exonerated of their crimes. In the process, serious flaws in the legal system have become exposed, including misconduct by law enforcement and prosecutors. Today, despite the fact that genetic testing has proven itself to be a reliable means of determining innocence, some prosecutors continue to fight off attempts to free those wrongly convicted. In some cases district attorneys “have spun creative theories” to keep convictions from being overturned. “They are attached to their convictions,” Brandon Garrett, a law professor at the University of Virginia, told The New York Times, “and they don’t want to see their work called into question.” [...]" Related: Flashback: "Prosecutors Block Access to DNA Testing for Inmates " [05/17/09]  

UK: "Day Of Strikes As Millions Heed Unions' Call To Fight Pension Cuts" [11/30/11] "The UK is experiencing the worst disruption to services in decades on Wednesday as more than 2 million public sector workers stage a nationwide strike, closing schools and bringing councils and hospitals to a virtual standstill. The strike by more than 30 unions over cuts to public sector pensions started at midnight, leading to the closure of most state schools; cancellation of refuse collections; rail service and tunnel closures; the postponement of thousands of non-emergency hospital operations; and "horrific" delays at airports and ferry terminals. The TUC said it was the biggest stoppage in more than 30 years and was comparable to the last mass strike by 1.5 million workers in 1979. Hundreds of marches and rallies are due to take place in cities and towns across the country. Pickets began to form before dawn at many hospitals, Whitehall departments, ports and colleges. The strikes have been called over government plans to overhaul pensions for all public sector workers, by cutting employer contributions, increasing personal contributions and, it emerged on Tuesday, increasing the state retirement age to 67 in 2026, eight years earlier than originally planned. [...]"  

MSM: "Minors Life Sentences Must End" [11/30/11] "Amnesty International calls on the US to stop jailing minors for life without parole, and ratify a UN convention on the issue. Amnesty International has called for the US to stop sentencing juveniles to life in prison without parole. More than 2,500 adults are in US jails for crimes committed as a child - under current rules they will never be freed. In its new report, Amnesty says the practice is incompatible with the basic principles of juvenile justice. The US and Somalia are the only two countries not to have ratified a UN convention that bans life in jail without parole for under-18 year olds. [...]"  

Cultural Studies: "British Library Puts Historical Newspapers Online" [11/30/11] "More than four million pages of newspapers from the 18th and 19th centuries are available online from today in The British Newspaper Archive. Ed King, head of newspapers at the library, calls "a digital Aladdin's Cave" for researchers. Workers at the library's North London base have been scanning 8,000 pages a day from the library's vast archive to assemble the digital collection. The scanners have been working for over a year and there are plans to digitise 40 million more pages over the next decade. That's 13 years work at a start. Highlights of the archive include the Tempus Prognosticator – a leech-powered tool for predicting approaching storms, which went on display at the great exhibition at Crystal Palace. [...]"  

MSM: "Hard Times Generation: Families Living In Cars" CBS [11/30/11] [14:10] "Scott Pelley brings "60 Minutes" cameras back to central Florida to document another form of family homelessness: kids and their parents forced to live in cars. [...]"  

Commentary: "Anarchy Has Become Israel's Rule Of Law" [11/30/11] "The current government lexicon, which defines mediation as unconditional surrender, and functioning state- supported public medicine as anarchy, is horrifying. When the government speaks against anarchy it is opposing itself.  [...] Unfortunately, the main contribution to anarchy here actually comes from the government. Anarchy is when a resident is required to work long shifts without sleep, to treat dozens of patients when his eyes are about to close. Anarchy is when patients suffering from chronic pain are forced to wait for almost an entire year before receiving treatment. Anarchy is when the government tries to turn the Supreme Court into its satellite, a group of yes-men who won't intervene in its scandalous decisions. Anarchy is when public systems here are falling apart for lack of government support. Anarchy is when the state evades its responsibility for its citizens in a variety of areas such as health, education, housing and security, and abandons them to their bitter fate. Anarchy is when longstanding laws, such as the law mandating compulsory education from age three, are not even implemented. Anarchy is when the rules of the democratic regime are practiced under unrestrained attack and are no longer self-evident. " 

Commentary:  "Pepper Spray Is Harmful, Torturously Painful, And Can Be Deadly" [11/30/11] "To sum up: the burning from so-called “pepper spray” is ten times more intense than that of the hottest peppers in existence, it can cause permanent respiratory, nerve, and eye damage, and in the mid-1990s was linked by the Justice Department to 70 deaths.  [...]"  

MSM: "Ex-Seattle Chief: 'Occupy' Police Use 'Failed' Tactics" [11/29/11] "Police across the US have been criticised for their actions in clashes with Occupy Wall Street protesters. The man who led the police response to the Battle in Seattle protests at the 1999 WTO meeting blames the post-9/11 militarisation of American policing. "Law enforcement across the country is pursuing the same tactics that failed so miserably in Seattle," Norm Stamper tells BBC World Service's Witness programme. "There's a lack of patience, there's a lack of imagination and there are clear over-reactions to the challenges the police perceive. It is all so disheartening."  In November 1999, Chief Stamper was one of the main officials charged with managing the huge numbers of demonstrators who brought the city to a standstill in protests against the launch of a new round of global trade talks. [...] After a great deal of soul searching and reflection, he gradually came to the conclusion that tear gas should never have been used against non-violent protestors. "The cop in me had made that decision not to step in and stop it," he says. "But as police chief, I should have done precisely that, and I will regret forever that I didn't do it." Chief Stamper says he has learnt his lesson but that other US police forces have not. He blames what he calls the militarisation of the police in America. In the years following 9/11, the federal government provided military equipment to police forces across the country and instilled in them a military mindset, all in the name of homeland security, the former police chief says. "The intentions are easily understood but it was a hopelessly misguided policy," he says. "What we see now is even the tiniest rural police department dressed out in battle fatigues and Swat uniforms, sometimes driving armoured personal vehicles and making every marijuana bust a military operation." One of the main tactics to which Chief Stamper objects is the use of chemical agents ... "We should recognise that we are a tool of community in the advancement of public safety and good. Police today have lost sight of their purpose."  

Trends:  "America's Largest Nomadic Tribe" [11/29/11] [4:33]  "In America, there is a hidden population of people who live on the country's roads, railways and open spaces, on their own or in groups. There are about three million in the largest group of nomads, who roam the country in motorhomes or recreational vehicles (RVs) - and 90% of these RV-ers are over 55.  [...]" 

MSM: "Human Rights Watch Urges Action On 'Homophobic' Russian Legislation" [11/29/11]   "Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for authorities in the Russian city of St Petersburg to stop the passage of a bill that would prevent the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from publicly expressing their sexuality. The bill, which is going through its second reading on Wednesday, would impose fines of up to 5,000 (£103) rubles on individuals and up to 50,000 (£1030) rubles on organisations who publicly "promote sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality or transsexuality". The language of the bill is so vague as to make even those using the rainbow flag vulnerable to censure, HRW said. “This bill is a blatant attack on freedom of expression and a thinly disguised attempt to silence Russia’s LGBT community,” Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at HRW, said. “The effort to have this law adopted in St. Petersburg, known as Russia’s northern capital, is a test case for those who want to entrench discrimination against the LGBT community throughout the country.” [...]" Related: "Gay Softball Group Settles With Banned Players " "Seattle, WA — A gay softball organization has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to three players who were disqualified from its 2008 Gay Softball World Series because of their perceived heterosexuality. And as part of the settlement announced Monday, their team will be awarded the second-place trophy it was denied at the time. The men – Stephen Apilado, Laron Charles and John Russ – filed the federal lawsuit against the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance last year, claiming they had been discriminated against because they were bisexual, not gay. They had played for years on a San Francisco-based team called D2. Rumors had persisted that the team was stacked with straight ringers, and when they made it all the way to the finals of the 2008 tournament in the Seattle area, others filed a protest, accusing D2 of exceeding the limit of two heterosexual players per team. [...]" | "Wanted: Orthodox Rabbis to Sign Anti-Gay Declaration " "Like all communities, the Orthodox Jewish one is comprised of many layers. In July 2010, Modern Orthodox rabbis around the country signed a groundbreaking Statement of Principles in "regard to the place of Jews with a homosexual orientation" in their community. While clearly stating that the parameters of Halacha (Jewish Law) prohibit same-sex sexual intercourse, the Principles still offered a message of compassion, empathy and inclusiveness of gay and lesbian Jews within the Orthodox community. It was a huge step forward for the Jewish community. However, many ultra-Orthodox leaders felt that these Principles were too affirming of homosexuality. So this Declaration currently making rounds will serve as their official response in regards to guiding individuals with same-sex attractions. The endorser, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, urges all rabbis and mental health professionals to sign this Declaration, which offers modification and healing through reparative therapy as the sole option. The full text of this secret Declaration, which has not been released to the public -- until now -- is posted below. [...]" 

UK: "Thousands Of Pensioners Will End Days In 'Pauper's Graves' Warns Charity " [11/29/11] "Around 40,000 people each year have a state-funded burial or cremation when they die "penniless", a charity has said. The figure includes 21,000 people aged over 65 who "end their days alone, penniless and in pauper's graves", the older people's charity Anchor said. Broadcaster Esther Rantzen and charity officials plan to visit 10 Downing Street today to lobby the Government to appoint a Minister for Older People to tackle issues affecting the elderly. [...]"  

MSM: "Occupy Wall Street And Homelessness: Millions Spent To Evict Camps, While Cutting Shelter Funds " [11/28/11] "As cities around the country have swept Occupy Wall Street camps from their plazas and parks in recent weeks, a number of mayors and city officials have argued that by providing shelter to the homeless, the camps are endangering the public and even the homeless themselves. Yet in many of those cities, services for the homeless are severely underfunded. The cities have spent millions of dollars to police and evict the protesters, but they've been shutting down shelters and enacting laws to prohibit homeless from sleeping overnight in public.  [...]" 

UK: "The Debt Trap Time Bomb" [11/28/11] "The United Kingdom’s ballooning personal debt stands at £1.5 trillion, a little more than the country’s annual GDP, our national output. This figure is neither the budget deficit (forecast to be £122 billion in 2011-12] nor the national debt, which, despite so-called “savage” public-spending cuts, is on course to hit £1 trillion by the end of the financial year. No, £1,500,000,000,000 is the amount owed by individuals in the form of mortgages, overdrafts, loans and on credit cards. It is perilously high, but indicates only where we are, not the direction of travel. The full horror of what is happening to household borrowing can be found tucked away on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s website. The numbers are shocking – they point to another looming crisis – which, perhaps, explains why no one at Westminster is willing to highlight them.  [...]" 

MSM: "UK Troops To Man Airports During ‘General Strike’" [11/28/11] "Ministers are preparing to use troops at border controls when public sector workers stage a massive strike this week, which will also hit working parents hard.  [...]"  

UK: "100,000 Further Public Sector Job Cuts Forecast " [11/28/11] "An additional 100,000 public sector job cuts are expected to be predicted by the independent tax and spending watchdog, according to a key forecasting group, in another blow to the UK labour market. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will up its March forecast of 400,000 job losses to 500,000 when it delivers its Economic and Fiscal Outlook report on Tuesday, the Ernst & Young ITEM Club said. The OBR had forecast that only 20,000 general government jobs would be lost in 2011/12, Ernst & Young said, but just one quarter into the new financial year, the number of job losses already stands at 147,000. [...]" 

MSM: "Driven By Drug War Incentives, Cops Target Pot Smokers, Brush Off Victims Of Violent Crime " [11/28/11] "Arresting people for assaults, beatings and robberies doesn't bring money back to police departments, but drug cases do in a couple of ways. First, police departments across the country compete for a pool of federal anti-drug grants. The more arrests and drug seizures a department can claim, the stronger its application for those grants. "The availability of huge federal anti-drug grants incentivizes departments to pay for SWAT team armor and weapons, and leads our police officers to abandon real crime victims in our communities in favor of ratcheting up their drug arrest stats," said former Los Angeles Deputy Chief of Police Stephen Downing. Downing is now a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, an advocacy group of cops and prosecutors who are calling for an end to the drug war. "When our cops are focused on executing large-scale, constitutionally questionable raids at the slightest hint that a small-time pot dealer is at work, real police work preventing and investigating crimes like robberies and rapes falls by the wayside," Downing said. And this problem is on the rise all over the country. Last year, police in New York City arrested around 50,000 people for marijuana possession. Pot has been decriminalized in New York since 1977, but displaying the drug in public is still a crime. So police officers stop people who look "suspicious," frisk them, ask them to empty their pockets, then arrest them if they pull out a joint or a small amount of marijuana. They're tricked into breaking the law. According to a report from Queens College sociologist Harry Levine, there were 33,775 such arrests from 1981 to 1995. Between 1996 and 2010 there were 536,322. [...]"  

Canada: "Bountiful Child-Bride Probe: RCMP Officers Follow The Trail To Texas " [11/28/11] "RCMP officers from British Columbia are heading to Texas next month to dig deeper into allegations of child trafficking. The investigation was launched after U.S. police found documents that described how leaders of a breakaway Mormon sect shuttled children over the border to be married to much older men. Three years ago, Texas police said they discovered a hidden vault of records when they raided a compound belonging to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There were hundreds of boxes that included the dictated diaries of the church's self-proclaimed prophet, Warren Jeffs, and meticulously kept marriage records. Jeffs is serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison for sexually assaulting two of his child brides, aged 12 and 15. A former FLDS member who fled the church and now lives in Washington, Kathleen Mackert, alleges that child trafficking did occur. "Child brides have been trafficked to Canada for my entire life and before then. As long as I've known, it's been going on," Mackert told CBC News in a telephone interview Friday.[...]"  

Commentary: "The Shocking Truth About The Crackdown On Occupy" [11/27/11] "The violent police assaults across the US are no coincidence. Occupy has touched the third rail of our political class's venality. US citizens of all political persuasions are still reeling from images of unparallelled police brutality in a coordinated crackdown against peaceful OWS protesters in cities across the nation this past week. An elderly woman was pepper-sprayed in the face; the scene of unresisting, supine students at UC Davis being pepper-sprayed by phalanxes of riot police went viral online; images proliferated of young women – targeted seemingly for their gender – screaming, dragged by the hair by police in riot gear; and the pictures of a young man, stunned and bleeding profusely from the head, emerged in the record of the middle-of-the-night clearing of Zuccotti Park. But just when Americans thought we had the picture – was this crazy police and mayoral overkill, on a municipal level, in many different cities? – the picture darkened. The National Union of Journalists and the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a Freedom of Information Act request to investigate possible federal involvement with law enforcement practices that appeared to target journalists. The New York Times reported that "New York cops have arrested, punched, whacked, shoved to the ground and tossed a barrier at reporters and photographers" covering protests. Reporters were asked by NYPD to raise their hands to prove they had credentials: when many dutifully did so, they were taken, upon threat of arrest, away from the story they were covering, and penned far from the site in which the news was unfolding. Other reporters wearing press passes were arrested and roughed up by cops, after being – falsely – informed by police that "It is illegal to take pictures on the sidewalk."  In New York, a state supreme court justice and a New York City council member were beaten up; in Berkeley, California, one of our greatest national poets, Robert Hass, was beaten with batons. The picture darkened still further when Wonkette and Washingtonsblog.com reported that the Mayor of Oakland acknowledged that the Department of Homeland Security had participated in an 18-city mayor conference call advising mayors on "how to suppress" Occupy protests. To Europeans, the enormity of this breach may not be obvious at first. Our system of government prohibits the creation of a federalised police force, and forbids federal or militarised involvement in municipal peacekeeping.  [...]"   Related: MSM: "FBI Claims It Has No Documents On Occupy Wall Street" "The Department of Homeland Security says it is processing a separate FOIA request Truthout files with the agency in October for documents pertaining to Occupy Wall Street. FBI headquarters in Washington, DC claims it can’t find any internal documents the agency may have on the protest movement known as Occupy Wall Street, according to a letter the agency sent to Truthout in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Truthout filed a FOIA request with the FBI on October 31, seeking a wide-range of documents, including “emails, memos, audio/video, transcripts, reports, threat assessments,” in which Occupy Wall Street was discussed internally by agency officers and/or senior officials and/or any correspondence the agency had about the protest movement with local law enforcement and/or with local government officials. [...]"  

UK: "Double Jeopardy Principle Amended" [11/27/11] "Legislation that could allow suspects who have escaped punishment to face a retrial comes into force on Monday. Scotland's double jeopardy rule which stops an acquitted suspect being tried again will be enshrined in law, but exceptions will be permitted. A suspect could face retrial for a very serious crime if "compelling new evidence" has emerged. A retrial could also be ordered where the original trial was tainted or a suspect has admitted the offence. [...]"  

MSM: "Egyptian Military Using Very Powerful Incapacitating Agents On Tahrir Square Protesters" [11/27/11] "Egyptian security forces are believed to be using a powerful incapacitating gas against civilian protesters in Tahrir Square following multiple cases of unconsciousness and epileptic-like convulsions among those exposed. The Guardian has collected video footage as well as witness accounts from doctors and victims who have offered strong evidence that at least two other crowd control gases have been used on demonstrators in addition to CS gas. Suspicion has fallen on two other agents: CN gas, which was the crowd control gas used by the US before CS was brought into use; and CR gas. Some protesters report having seen canisters marked with the letters “CR” – although the Guardian has not been able to confirm this independently. Both gases can be more dangerous than CS and can cause unconsciousness and seizures in certain circumstances. Concern began to emerge over the use of more powerful incapacitating agents after reports of gassed protesters falling unconscious and having attacks of jerking spasms. Those who have experienced the more powerful gas have described it as smelling different and causing an unusual burning sensation on the skin. Others have complained of rashes. [...]"  

MSM: "Tampa Police Prepare For Anarchist Attacks At Summer 2012 Republican National Convention" [11/26/11] "Up to 15,000 protesters are expected to descend on Tampa next summer for the Republican National Convention ... Anarchists will likely disguise themselves as lawful demonstrators.[...]"  Note: The writer is either naive or deliberately writes her article to avoid the issue of the police AS the anarchists, which is what really happens ... and happens repeatedly in large crowds at every large gathering of significance. When this event happens, let's count the agents provocateurs working for the police department dressed in black, initiating mayhem, there to help justify the militarization of the police department under national security mandates, when this event occurs. More security theatre and terrorizing of society for political purposes. See if the 'anarchists' are wearing the same boots as the police ... they've overlooked that before, at the G20 in Toronto, recently. Now, astrologically this time period really sucks in terms of the dissolving cohesiveness of what is here, as you will see.

UK: "Border Agency's Middle Managers Take Revenge Over Passport Checks" [11/26/11] "Border officials refuse to cover for checks during public sector pension strike, wrecking government's contingency plans. An internal UK Border Agency revolt combined with an 11th-hour breakdown in contingency plans lie behind the government's desperate appeal for Whitehall volunteers to staff Britain's borders during next week's strike, the Guardian has learned. A significant proportion of the 800 UKBA staff, many middle managers who have been trained to take over border checks during Wednesday's public sector pension strike, are believed to have decided to walk out instead. Whitehall sources say they feel let down by the Home Office's treatment of three senior UKBA managers, including Brodie Clark, the former head of the UK Border Force, over the passport checks row. The breakdown in the Home Office's contingency arrangements has been compounded by a last-minute decision by the home secretary, Theresa May, in the immediate aftermath of the border checks row, to cancel plans to suspend some passport checks on Wednesday and insist that all passengers are fully checked. Former Border Agency staff are being offered up to £450 to work a single shift if they are willing to walk across picket lines and check passengers' passports – more than four times the daily rate earned by most passport officials. Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS public services union, said: "It's a disgrace that they're trying to bribe people who, only very recently, they were saying they no longer need." The UKBA said: "The security of the UK border remains our top priority and it is absolutely right we explore all options to ensure we minimise any disruption caused by planned union action." It has advised airlines that it expects "significant disruption" at Britain's airports and ports, with staffing levels at Heathrow's passport control 50% below normal. Queues will be "significantly longer" at Heathrow, queues will "remain under significant pressure throughout the day", and "there is a strong likelihood that arrivals halls will reach capacity and stay like that throughout the day", the agency has told airline executives. [...]" Related: "Passengers To Be Held For 12 Hours On Planes At Heathrow When Immigration Officers Strike Next Week" Note: How many lemmings will run over the cliff, being thoroughly briefed about the upcoming clusterfuck, beforehand? Let us wait and see ...

UK: "Criminals And 'Cyber Bullies' To Be Banned From The Web" [11/26/11] "Criminals who commit offences online and cyber bullies will be banned from the internet as part of the Government’s new cyber security strategy, announced today.  It calls for police and courts to make more use of existing “cyber sanctions” to restrict access to the social networks and instant messaging services in cases of hacking, fraud and online bullying. Sex offenders and those convicted of harrassment or anti-social behaviour also face more internet restrictions under the new strategy. Officials are now looking into whether "cyber tag" technology could be used to monitor offenders and report to authorities if break their bail or sentence conditions by using the internet. "The Ministry of Justice and the Home Office will consider and scope the development of a new way of enforcing these orders, using ‘cyber-tags’ which are triggered by the offender breaching the conditions that have been put on their internet use, and which will automatically inform the police or probation service," cyber security strategy said. It added that if the regime is a success restrictions on internet use could be imposed on "a wider group of offenders" [...]  The four-year strategy is also designed to address cyber espionage and attacks from states such as China and Russia and "patriotic" hackers. Terrorists are not believed to yet have the ability to launch damaging cyber attacks against critical infrastructure such as water and power stations, but they are thought to have discussed such operations. "  Note: People have discussed the concept of a society free of government goons, too, but that hasn't happened either.

UK: "Figures Suggest Britain's Economy Will Slip Back Into Recession At The Start Of Next Year" [11/26/11] "The Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) is predicting that the economy will shrink, the Government was warned on Thursday ... The OECD forecast is understood to predict that the second recession will be very mild, before the economy begins to recover again in the summer. [...]"  Note: That they think that they can suggest there will be a recovery in summer 2012 shows how delusional and hopeless these people are, even within their own paradigm.

MSM: "Social Crisis In America: Thanksgiving 2011" [11/25/11] "Millions of Americans face extraordinarily grim living conditions this Thanksgiving: hunger, homelessness, joblessness, ever deeper and more pervasive poverty, and lack of heat, all compounded by devastating budget cuts and the destruction of the social safety net. Virtually every measure of social health bears evidence of a significant rise in economic distress. The poverty rate has soared over the past several years. Officially, 49 million people, more than 16 percent of the population, are living in poverty—set at little more than $22,000 for a family of four. The federal government, compelled to acknowledge that its income threshold is unrealistically low, recently estimated that 98 million Americans were living at or just above the poverty line in 2010. Young families have especially suffered from the many consequences of the economic crisis, and above all the worst job market since the Great Depression. The lack of job prospects, poor wages, high housing costs, lack of medical insurance, crushing debt burdens, discriminatory credit rating practices, and inflation in basic necessities including food and fuel compound the difficulties facing working class families. [...]"  

Commentary: "These Essential Things Cost More To Get Rid Of Than To Keep" [11/25/11] [4:00] "Many people are understandably looking for ways to cut expenses and stretch their dollars. There are lots of ways to do that, but some seemingly logical ideas actually end up more expensive in the long run. And let’s face it: Things may still look this grim for many months to come. In the video below, Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson offers a few examples of being “penny wise, pound foolish,” along with a few suggestions for smarter savings.  [...]"  

MSM: "Cameroon Jails Men Over Gay Sex" [11/25/11] "Three men in Cameroon have been sentenced to five years in prison for homosexual acts, which are illegal in the central African nation. Two of the accused were in court in the capital, Yaounde, but a third man was sentenced in absentia as he had jumped bail. "This is really an embarrassment for Cameroon," said Ms Nkom who also runs Cameroon's Association for the Defence of Homosexuals. At the start of the trial, she told the BBC the case was a "crime of fashion, not homosexuality". The BBC's Randy Joe Sa'ah in Yaounde says homophobia is widespread in Cameroon, as in most African countries. Amnesty International considers these men to be prisoners of conscience who are being punished solely because of their perceived sexual orientation," Amnesty's Central Africa campaigner Jean-Eric Nkurikiye told the BBC in a statement. "The use of criminal law to punish private sexual activity between consenting adults contravenes international human rights laws that Cameroon has signed and ratified. Homosexual acts are banned in most African countries. In neighbouring Nigeria, MPs are currently debating proposed legislation to tighten homosexuality laws, including a ban on same-sex marriages. [...]"

Commentary: "Trickle-Down Tyranny - Why Ordinary People In Positions Of Local Power Are Adopting Tactics Of Tyrants" [11/25/11] "When I read a story yesterday about an 89-year-old woman being water-boarded by nursing home staff over an argument about ice cream, I knew something terrible was amiss across the American landscape. Spontaneous acts of tyranny have been cropping up lately like cancer tumors: a food tyrant in Nevada raids a farm picnic and orders everyone to destroy their food; student protesters in California get pepper-sprayed by thuggish cops who clearly enjoy causing pain and suffering; and now nursing home staffers torture their own resident using techniques borrowed from Guantanamo Bay. I watched all this with a sense of sadness and disgrace for the human race. And then a realization hit me like a sledgehammer... People are only following by example [...]"

MSM: "Oregon Governor Declares Moratorium On Death Penalty" [11/24/11]   "Saying he "simply cannot participate in something I believe to be morally wrong," Gov. John Kitzhaber on Tuesday declared a moratorium on the death penalty in Oregon, granting a temporary reprieve for an inmate who has battled in the courts to hasten his own execution. "The death penalty as practiced in Oregon is neither fair nor just, and it is not swift or certain. It is not applied equally to all," said Kitzhaber, a Democrat who came back after a hiatus to a third term as governor in 2010. "It is time for Oregon to consider a different approach. I refuse to be a part of this compromised and inequitable system any longer, and I will not allow further executions while I am governor," Kitzhaber said, reading from a statement at an emotional news conference. [...]" 

MSM: "Crisis-Hit Greeks Leave The Cities For Rural Life" [11/24/11] "Uprooted by a national debt crisis and a deepening recession that has eaten up their jobs, incomes and pensions, many Greeks are now returning to their families’ rural past in search of a future. Just as young graduates are moving abroad rather than risk joining the 18 percent of Greeks who are out of work, families struggling to maintain their living standards are looking for a simpler life away from the city. [...]" 

MSM: "UK Justice Secretary Pushes Prison Industry Labor Plan" [11/24/11]   "A call by justice secretary Kenneth Clarke to get prisoners to work 40 hour weeks has received the backing of one of the country's largest security companies, G4S, which said that re-offending rates could be cut significantly by introducing productive employment in jails. [...]"

MSM: "California Law Expressly Prohibits Spraying Protestors Except in Cases of Self-Defense" [11/23/11]   "(g) Any person who uses tear gas or tear gas weapons except in self-defense is guilty of a public offense and is punishable by imprisonment in a state prison for 16 months, or two or three years or in a county jail not to exceed one year or by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both the fine and imprisonment [...]"  Related: "UC Davis Physicists to Chancellor Katehi" "With a heavy heart and substantial deliberation, we the undersigned faculty of the UC Davis physics department send you this letter expressing our lack of confidence in your leadership and calling for your prompt resignation in the wake of the outrageous, unnecessary, and brutal pepper spraying episode on campus Friday, Nov. 18.The reasons for this are as follows. [...]"  

Commentary: "U.S., Europe Hold Fundamentally Different Visions For Society" [11/22/11] "More than an ocean divides the United States and Western Europe. Americans are significantly less supportive of a social safety net than Western Europeans, and they are more likely to say that success is determined by one's own hard work rather than outside forces, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center. In fact, 58 percent of surveyed Americans said it is most important for people to have the freedom to pursue life's goals, much more than the 35 percent who said it is more important to make sure no one else is in need. In contrast, at least six in ten people in Germany, Spain, and France said it was more important to make sure that no one else is left in need. The difference in views may be partially explained by Europeans being more accustomed to a wider-reaching safety net than Americans. The social safety net in many western European countries includes universal healthcare, cheaper university education, and generous unemployment checks, according to MSNBC. Western Europe also provides more job protection, making it harder for companies to lay off full-time employees, according to The New York Times. As a result, Western Europeans pay more in taxes than Americans: total tax revenue as a percentage of GDP is 36 percent in Germany, in contrast to 28 percent in the United States, according to OECD data cited by MSNBC. Western Europeans may also place more value on a social safety net simply because fewer of them have jobs. Employment has been consistently lower in western Europe than in the United States in recent decades; the average gap between employment in the U.S. and western Europe has been 10 percentage points between 1980 and 2007, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited by The New York Times. [...]" 

MSM: "Infestation Nation: Britain Is Being Overrun By Pests" [11/22/11] "There's something nasty and it is no longer just lurking in the woodpile. A "perfect storm" of public-sector cuts, falling living standards, the growth in the rental sector and the unseasonally warm weather is prompting an explosion in infestations in British homes. The soaring numbers of rats and mice, wasps, fleas, cockroaches and other general nasties could lead to a serious threat to public health as cash-strapped councils cut free extermination services, it was warned yesterday. Meanwhile, balmy autumn weather has resulted in large populations of wasps remaining active into winter and midges in Scotland biting in November for the first time since monitoring began seven years ago, while the unusually dry conditions have encouraged rats and mice to burrow under patios. Graham Jukes, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said the "golden age of public protection" was now over. [...]"  Note: Never mind the rats in government.

MSM: "30,000 Greek Protestors March On U.S. Embassy In Athens, Clashes Ensue" [11/21/11] "Some 30,000 people took to the streets in Athens in commemoration of the 38th anniversary of the ultra-right junta of the "Black Colonels" on Thursday, police said. Several demonstrations in Athens poured together and joined one mass peaceful demonstration against Greece's government decisions on austerity measures to receive loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. The protestors were marching toward the U.S. Embassy because the ultra-left organization blames the United States for supporting the "Black Colonels" in their suppressing a university students' uprising on November 17, 1973. During the uprising in 1973, several youth were killed and thousands were injured. Most of the protestors on Thursday were made up of communists who demand Greece secede from the Euro zone and that communism be reinstated in the country. Several hundred protestors attempted to storm the U.S. Embassy but were stopped by police, after which tensions grew between the two opposing sides and involved Molotov cocktails from the protestors and tear gas from the police. The protestors then blocked the main street with burning garbage bins. Police detained 89 individuals and arrested 11 of them. Four police officers were injured in the incident. Up to 15,000 protestors also gathered in Thessaloniki. The "Black Colonels" outlawed all political parties, introduced widespread censorship, dissolved dozens of democratic organizations and apprehended their property. Worker strikes were also deemed illegal. [...]" 

MSM: "Occupy Wall Street Demonstrates Near Bloomberg's Mansion" [11/21/11] "Occupy Wall Street protesters, fresh off a national "Day of Action" that saw thousands march through the city and hundreds arrested in clashes with police, staged a protest near Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Upper East Side mansion Sunday afternoon. [...]" 

MSM: "Unions Join Occupy Activists In Mass Protest Marches Across America" [11/21/11] "The Occupy Wall Street movement — looking to show staying power after losing prime real estate in various cities — got a boost of support across the country Thursday from labor and progressive organizations in what union organizers said is the most visible sign that they’re working with the activists to press for change ... Unions that already have offered legal help, food and shower facilities in some cities coordinated events in more than a dozen cities Thursday with Occupy activists, calling on big banks to pay up to boost the slumping economy.  [...]"  

Commentary: "Older, Suburban and Struggling, ‘Near Poor’ Startle the U.S. Census" [11/21/11] "They drive cars, but seldom new ones. They earn paychecks, but not big ones. Many own homes. Most pay taxes. Half are married, and nearly half live in the suburbs. None are poor, but many describe themselves as barely scraping by.  Down but not quite out, these Americans form a diverse group sometimes called “near poor” and sometimes simply overlooked — and a new count suggests they are far more numerous than previously understood. When the Census Bureau this month released a new measure of poverty, meant to better count disposable income, it began altering the portrait of national need. Perhaps the most startling differences between the old measure and the new involves data the government has not yet published, showing 51 million people with incomes less than 50 percent above the poverty line. That number of Americans is 76 percent higher than the official account, published in September. All told, that places 100 million people — one in three Americans — either in poverty or in the fretful zone just above it. [...]"  

MSM: "UC Davis Police Officers Suspended After Pepper Spray Incident" [11/21/11] "Two UC Davis police officers have been placed on administrative leave following their use of pepper spray in Friday’s arrest of 10 protesters on campus. “I spoke with students this weekend, and I feel their outrage,” said UC Davis Chancellor Linda P. B. Katehi. “I have also heard from an overwhelming number of students, faculty, staff and alumni from around the country. I am deeply saddened that this happened on our campus, and as chancellor, I take full responsibility for the incident. However, I pledge to take the actions needed to ensure that this does not happen again. I feel very sorry for the harm our students were subjected to and I vow to work tirelessly to make the campus a more welcoming and safe place.” [...]"  Note:  Related: UC Davis To Investigate Pepper Spray Incident Caught On Camera" [11/20/11] "The University of California, Davis announced it is launching an investigation after a disturbing videotape surfaced showing a police officer in riot gear heavily pepper-spraying a group of student protesters who were seated on the ground on campus. In a statement posted on her website on Saturday afternoon, chancellor Linda Katehi wrote she would be forming a task force of faculty, students and staff to review the incident. [...]" 

Trends: "Detroit Mayor Plans To Lay Off 1,000 City Employees" [11/20/11] "Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, who outlined an emergency plan two days ago, isn't wasting any time taking action" in tackling his city's financial crisis, our colleague Micki Maynard at the Changing Gears project reports. "Today, Bing said the city will lay off 1,000 employees, or about 9 percent of the city's payroll, by Feb. 25." Bing (D), writes the Detroit Free Press, said in a statement that the layoffs "will be strategic. We will limit the impact on residents, protecting core services like police and fire protection as much as we can." [...]" 

Cultural Studies: "Living Alone Can Kill You" [11/20/11] " Upside to living alone: Your leftover pizza won't go missing. Downside: You have a greater risk of dying, or so says a four-year study of 45,000 people from 29 countries. Researchers found that those living solo under age 65 had a 21% greater chance of dying; in their study, 9.3% of those who had a roommate died within the four years, compared to 11.4% of those who had none. The researchers believe the main reason for the bump may simply be that being alone means there is no one around to help when something goes wrong, notes the Orlando Sentinel. Paradoxically, though, living alone reduces the risk of dying as you get older. From ages 65 to 80, researchers observed no difference in death rates. And for people past their 80th birthday, living alone actually lowered the risk of dying, by about 14%. "More research needs to be done," says one researcher, "but the hunch is if you make it to 80 and are independent, you're doing pretty well." [...]" Note: One still can't die 'before ones time", regardless.

RT Interview:  "US Government To Impose Martial Law?" [11/20/11]   [5:41] "With growing discontent among Americans over US domestic policy the situation might get out of control, argues George Hemminger of Survive and Thrive TV. While the American people are forced to face high prices, unemployment and the challenge of feeding their families, Wall Street continues to profit, Main Street USA is likely to rise up! What is the government going to do about it? That's unknown says Hemminger, but it looks like they are preparing for martial law.  [...]"  

Commentary: "Israel’s Plan to Destroy Iran’s Civilian Infrastructure" [11/20/11] "Israel plans not only to attack Iran’s fledgling nuclear program, but also its civilian infrastructure. Eli Lake, writing for The Daily Beast, cites current and former U.S. intelligence officials who say Israel’s target list includes Iran’s electric grid, internet, cellphone network, and emergency frequencies for firemen and police officers. Officials say Israel has developed a weapon that simulates a maintenance cellphone signal commanding cell networks to “sleep” and stopping transmissions. It also has electronic jammers that can interrupt emergency frequencies for first responders and police. [...] Iran, despite its fledgling nuclear program, does not threaten either Israel or the United States. The problem, according to the international bankers and the globalists, is that Iran is not a vassal state mired in poverty and misery like many of its neighbors. It does not take orders from Wall Street and the City of London. Even the IMF is obliged to note that Iran’s economy grew by 3.2 percent this year on the strength of greater agriculture production and higher oil prices. It is not indebted to the bankers and refuses to kowtow to Israel’s insatiable hegemonic drive, so it has to be reduced to rubble. "    Note: More genocidal thought patterns by psychopaths.

MSM: "PA Ret Police Captain: Corporate America Is Using the Police Departments As Hired Thugs" [11/20/11] [12:52]  

MSM: "Egypt Elections: Protesters In Cairo's Tahrir Square Clash With Security Forces " [11/20/11] "Security officers from the Egyptian Interior Ministry attempted to clear a few remaining protesters from Tahrir Square on Saturday morning, setting off a cavalcade of clashes that have left several people badly wounded and strike a deeply unsettling note for the country's first democratic elections, just nine days away. The police officers, dressed in black and bearing shields and riot gear, moved in on a small encampment of protesters left over from a massive demonstration on Friday, which had brought liberal revolutionaries together with Salafist Muslims to object to continuing repression by the temporary military council now ruling this country. [...]" Video clip  [2:59] 

MSM: "California's Welfare Families Paid Banks Millions In Fees For Public Assistance" [11/19/11] "Rodney Robinson, a single father in Los Angeles, needs government help to pay his rent. But getting that help from the state of California involves sharing the money with some of the nation’s largest banks or check cashing services. The state distributes public assistance through so-called EBT cards, which look and work much like debit cards. But Robinson's neighborhood in South Los Angeles has only three places that allow him to use that card to withdraw enough cash to cover his monthly rent free of charge. He can visit any bank ATM, but that entails charges of as much as four dollars per transaction. A local check cashing chain charges $1.75. Grocery stores will let him withdraw cash, but only after a purchase. "Those are your options, in this neighborhood anyway," said Robinson, 43, who has resigned himself to surrendering part of his $317-per-month check for lack of other options. "I can either pay the fee, or go buy several packs of gum to get the money and suck up a different kind of waste." Across much of the nation, administering relief programs such as unemployment benefits and emergency rental assistance has become an increasingly substantial profit center for banks and other financial services firms, according to analysts. Like California, many states have contracted with private companies to distribute these funds. While the contracts have saved states millions of dollars in costs previously incurred for printing and mailing out checks, the agreements often give companies the ability to extract fees from recipients -- some of the nation’s most vulnerable families. [...]"  

MSM: "Polish Protesters Send Up ‘Robokopter’ Drone To Spy On Police" [11/19/11] [2:41] "The video below showing a civilian operated drone chopper filming riots in Warsaw, Poland last Friday is a great example of the democratization of what was until very recently, military-grade tech. This is a straight up ISR drone that’s flying high above the streets of a major city taking camera footage that was once the exclusive domain of high-priced news choppers and government helos.  [...]" 

MSM: "Activists Slamming Russian Anti-Homosexuality Bill" [11/18/11] "Russia's top gay rights activist on Thursday condemned a bill passed in the country's second largest city that prohibits "propaganda of homosexuality" to minors, warning it could be used to ban gay protest rallies. Nikolai Alexeyev of the GayRussia.ru group described the legislation tentatively approved by lawmakers in St. Petersburg as a "disgrace." The bill was proposed by the dominant United Russia party and passed Wednesday by a 27 to 1 vote, with one abstention, in the first of three required readings. It calls for a fine of up to $1,600 for "public actions aimed at propaganda of pederasty, lesbianism, bisexuality, and transgenderism among minors." Alexeyev said the bill could become "the main legal reason to deny any public actions by the LGBT community." "It theoretically allows the ban of anything anywhere where kids could be present," he told The Associated Press. [...]"  

MSM: "Italians Rage As Bankers Take Over" [11/18/11] "Italian protesters clashed with police Thursday as thousands took to the streets around the country in anger at budget cuts and the Brussels-backed “bankers’ government.” ­The student-led demos came just hours before new Prime Minister Mario Monti, whose government was sworn in on Wednesday, revealed his anti-crisis measures in his first address to parliament. He is expected to face a confidence vote before the upper house on Thursday night. As protesters in Rome hoped to march on the Senate while Monti delivered his speech, students in Italy’s financial capital Milan battled with baton-wielding police as they headed for Bocconi University, which is chaired by the prime minister. Demonstrators in Palermo and Sicily were reported to have thrown stones at police, while others hurled eggs and smoke bombs at a local bank. Violence was also reported in Turin, when protesters met police head on as they came up on the city headquarters of the Bank of Italy. Coinciding with the demonstrations were a series of walkouts and strikes across the country by transport unions demanding better contracts. James Waltson, professor of international relations at the American University of Rome, told RT that further protests are almost inevitable, as Monti’s success depends on economic revival. “He cannot succeed unless he manages to get the Italian economy going again, he can’t just cut,” he said. [...]"  

MSM: "NYPD Overwhelmed By Occupy Wall Street Protesters, Motorcycle Cops Retreat" [11/18/11] [6:00] "Protesters march on New York Stock Exchange on two-month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street. Outnumbered police are surrounded. Motorcycle cops retreat with nowhere else to go. [...]" Related: "Updates From The OWS Encampments" "All hell is breaking loose in lower Manhattan. Police have put barriers all over the financial district and thousands of demonstrators are climbing over them and pushing past the police. Wall St. has been infiltrated. As this is being reported the radio station is playing Paul Robeson singing “Joe Hill”. The NYPD must have miscalculated – they’re probably going to bring in more police, maybe from the boroughs, and they’ll probably get more vicious. They’ve learned tactics from the “crowd control” at the big world financial meetings. The crowds are chanting, “This is what democracy looks like” and “The banks got bailed out and we got sold out” and “This is a non-violent protest.” Lots of pushing and shoving from police in riot gear trying to get better control of the situation."

Canada: "Air Security Agency Collects Too Much Information About Travelers: Report" [11/18/11] "Canada's privacy czar says the national air security agency is collecting too much information about travelers, and sometimes breaches the law when it tells police about the cash they take on trips. In a newly released audit, Jennifer Stoddart says the agency is not always safeguarding the sensitive information properly either. A second report issued by the privacy commissioner Thursday reveals a key RCMP database continues to hold information about people who have received a criminal pardon or who were wrongfully convicted. Both special audits were released as Stoddart tabled her annual report on federal privacy practices in Parliament. The review of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority concluded the agency was reaching beyond its mandate by filing reports on incidents unrelated to air security. Stoddart's office looked at a random sample of 150 of the agency's 10,400 incident reports on file. "Over half of the reports, approximately 57 per cent, concerned matters unrelated to aviation security, including the discovery of narcotics, tobacco and large sums of money," says the audit. In a response, the air security agency agreed with Stoddart's recommendation to limit collection of personal information to aviation security incidents. The air security agency violated the Privacy Act by sometimes informing police when a large sum of money was discovered in the baggage of passengers about to board a domestic flight, the audit says. "It is not an offence to travel domestically with a large sum of money." [...]" 

MSM: "Middle-Class Areas Shrinking in U.S." [11/18/11] "The number of middle-income neighborhoods in the United States has dwindled significantly over the past 40 years, as the rich-poor divide deepens across the country, a study released Wednesday showed. In 2007, nearly a third of American families — 31 percent — lived in either an affluent neighborhood or a mainly low-income one, up from just 15 percent in 1970, according to the study conducted by Stanford University, and released in partnership with the Russell Sage Foundation and Brown University. Meanwhile, 44 percent of American families lived in middle-class neighborhoods in 2007, down from 65 percent in 1970. “Mixed income neighborhoods have grown rarer, while affluent and poor neighborhoods have grown much more common,” the study said. [...]"  

UK: "Young Jobseekers Told To Work Without Pay Or Lose Unemployment Benefits" [11/17/11] "Britain's young unemployed are being sent to work for supermarkets and budget stores for up to two months for no pay and no guarantee of a job, the Guardian can reveal. Under the government's work experience programme young jobseekers are exempted from national minimum wage laws for up to eight weeks and are being offered placements in Tesco, Poundland, Argos, Sainsbury's and a multitude of other big name businesses. [...]" 

MSM: "Retired Police Capt Slams NYPD Conduct - "Disgusting," "Totally Uncalled For" [11/17/11] [6:52]     

MSM: "Post Office Near Default? Losses Mount To $5.1B" [11/17/11] "The U.S. Postal Service said Tuesday it has lost $5.1 billion in the past year, pushing it closer to imminent default on a multibillion-dollar payment and to future bankruptcy as the weak economy and increased Internet use drive down mail volume. The financial losses for the year ended Sept. 30 came despite deep cuts of more than 130,000 jobs in recent years and the closing of some smaller local post offices. [...]"  

MSM: "Public School Policy For 'Bullies' Now Extend to Teachers"  NBC Philadelphia [11/17/11] [3:44] "One local teacher is accused of bullying his special needs student. NBC10 Investigative reporter Harry Hairston steps in to get answers, tonight at 11 on NBC10 News. [...]"   

MSM: "Japan: Radioactive Contamination In Soil Will Severely Impair Food Production" [11/16/11] "Farmland in parts of Japan is no longer safe because of high levels of radiation in the soil, scientists have warned, as the country struggles to recover from the Fukushima atomic disaster. A team of international researchers said food production would likely be “severely impaired” by the elevated levels of caesium found in soil samples across eastern Fukushima in the wake of meltdowns at the tsunami-hit plant. The study looked at caesium-137, which has a half-life of 30 years and therefore affects the environment for decades. [...]" 

MSM: "Occupy Evictions Were Systematically Plotted By The Nations Mayors" [11/16/11] "Conspiracy theorists are going to love this one. In an interview with the BBC, Mayor Quan admitted that she discussed dismantling Occupy Oakland with Mayors from 18 other cities. That explains why the crackdown on Occupations seems to have happened all at once — in Oakland, in Portland, and in NYC, to name a few. You can listen to the clip around 5:30 here, on The Takeaway (they have a partnership with the BBC). Or you can just read what Quan said: [...]"   Related: "Did Police Raids Against Occupy Oakland Break The Law?"   "It has not been a good time to be an Oakland police officer, or the city's top official. After initially praising the police for their morning raid on the encampment, Mayor Jean Quan then went into damage-control mode amid the ensuing marches and candlelight vigils for Olsen, visiting the 24-year-old at his Highland Hospital room. A similar incident in April 2003 at the Oakland port. Cops fired bean bags and wooden bullets at hundreds of anti-war protesters, leading to condemnation by the United Nations, millions in settlements and the department agreeing to a court-ordered, wide-ranging overhaul of its crowd-control policy. It was a substantial victory for activists that promised at least a respectful detente between them and the cops. The rules of engagement stemming from the 2003 incident prohibit such police escalations like the one that led to Olsen's injury. Stinger grenades containing rubber pellets as well as any weapon meant to be fired at the ground are banned. Less-than-lethal weapons, such as rubber bullets, bean bags and flash-bang devices, can't be used for crowd control. Tear gas can only be used as a last resort, and only after warnings are given and "reasonable" time has been given for citizens to disperse. "Crowd control chemical agents shall only be used if other techniques, such as encirclement and multiple simultaneous arrest or police formations, have failed or will not accomplish the policing goal," the policy stipulates. The policy went a step further in addressing who the police can target for arrest. "The mere failure to obtain a permit, such as a parade permit or sound permit is not a sufficient basis to declare an unlawful assembly," the policy states. Dan Siegel, Quan's former legal adviser who resigned Monday from his post, told The Huffington Post that the recent incidents at the Occupy camp clearly broke the policy. "There were agreements made about tear gas use and so-called non-lethal weapons that were just egregiously violated," he said. The mayor's office did not return a request seeking comment.[...]" 

MSM: "Defiant NYC Mayor Bloomberg To Occupy Protestors: "No Right Is Absolute"" [11/16/11] "Bloomberg told reporters at an 8:00 AM press conference: “No right is absolute and with every right comes responsibilities. The First Amendment gives every New Yorker the right to speak out – but it does not give anyone the right to sleep in a park or otherwise take it over to the exclusion of others–nor does it permit anyone in our society to live outside the law. There is no ambiguity in the law here – the First Amendment protects speech – it does not protect the use of tents and sleeping bags to take over a public space.” “From the beginning, I have said that the City had two principal goals: guaranteeing public health and safety, and guaranteeing the protestors’ First Amendment rights.” “But when those two goals clash, the health and safety of the public and our first responders must be the priority.” [...] Bill de Blasio, the Public Advocate of New York City assailed the Mayor’s overnight actions. “Protecting public safety and quality of life for downtown residents, and guaranteeing free expression are not exclusive of one another. Mayor Bloomberg made a needlessly provocative and legally questionable decision to clear Zuccotti Park in the dead of night. That some media and observers were prevented from monitoring the action is deeply troubling." 

Commentary: "The Crackdown On Occupy Protests And The Criminalization Of Dissent" [11/15/11] "Throughout the United States, city administrations are moving to break up encampments of the Occupy protests, trampling underfoot the constitutionally protected right of assembly. [...] Many of the raids have been carried out by police in riot gear, in some cases using rubber bullets and tear gas cases, as in last month’s attack on Occupy Oakland. Those arrested have been subjected to arbitrary and punitive measures, including high bail and trumped-up charges. [...]This assault on democratic rights has been justified on the grounds of the “war on terror.” [...] Its real target was the emergence of any opposition to the reactionary policies of the financial aristocracy that controls the political system. The Occupy protests are only an initial expression of the opposition and anger felt by hundreds of millions of people throughout the United States—and billions throughout the world—to the growth of social inequality and the domination of the financial aristocracy. Yet the public expression of these mass sentiments is criminalized in a country whose government routinely uses democratic pretenses to bomb and invade sovereign states. "  

UK: "CCTV Plans For Oxford Taxis Condemned For 'Staggering Invasion Of Privacy'" [11/15/11] "Plans to record all conversations in taxis licensed by a city council are a "staggering invasion of privacy" which show a "total disregard for civil liberties", campaigners have said. Oxford City Council plans to ensure all of its 600-plus cabs are fitted with at least one CCTV camera to record all conversations between passengers. The civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch said it will complain to the Information Commissioner over the scheme, which will record all conversations from once the engine is running until 30 minutes after the ignition is switched off. Nick Pickles, the campaign group's director, said: "This is a staggering invasion of privacy, being done with no evidence, no consultation and a total disregard for civil liberties. "Big Brother now has big ears, and they are eavesdropping on your conversations with absolutely no justification. Given that one rail route to Witney is through Oxford, we'll be letting the Prime Minister know that his staff might want to avoid using Oxford cabs." A spokeswoman for Oxford City Council said the new CCTV rules for taxis "would mean that video and audio would run all the time within the vehicle".  [...]"  

Commentary: "Social Reality In New York" [11/15/11] "New York remains the most vivid exhibit of the misery created by twenty-first century capitalism alongside levels of parasitism that recall pre-revolutionary France or Russia. A look at the news pages of the New York Times, the voice of what passes for liberalism within today’s ruling class, makes for some startling juxtapositions that illustrate the yawning gap between the ruling elite and the vast majority. This is not merely the divide between the top 1 percent and the rest of the population, revealing as that may be. The gulf between the top one tenth or even one hundredth of 1 percent and the actual living conditions of millions of New Yorkers—those who live in the city’s poorer neighborhoods, or who have been forced into homelessness and must seek refuge in the city’s notorious emergency shelter system—is even more dramatic. [...]"  

MSM: "Officials Report Diesel Supplies Short In Nebraska" [11/15/11] "Gasoline and diesel shortages at fuel terminals in the Upper Midwest have forced fuel truck drivers to sit in line for hours, waiting for fuel to arrive via pipeline. [...]"  

Flashback: "UK: Adding Lithium To The Taps 'Could Lower Suicide Rates'" [11/15/11] "Lithium has been heralded by some experts as the next potential flouride, after scientists found suicide rates were lower in areas where the drinking water had higher concentrations of the element. Researchers from the Medical University of Vienna compared the suicide rates in different regions of Austria with the natural lithium concentrations in the drinking water. [...]" 

MSM: "Anonymous Threatens Cyber Attack On City Of Toronto" [11/14/11] [1:30] " A hacker group is standing up for Occupy Toronto protesters, threatening to unleash a cyber attack on the city if it interferes with the month-long demonstration. In a video released on YouTube, the group Anonymous said Toronto will be "removed from the Internet" unless the city promises to leave the protesters alone. [...]"  

MSM: "Massive Crop Failure In Afghanistan Leaves Millions At Risk From Severe Drought" [11/14/11] "Officials in ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development expressed concerns over drought affects which threatens more than 7 million Afghans across the country. Meanwhile, the parliamentarian commission for natural resources and environmental habitance also said, more than 90% of the Afghan agriculture was affected by drought this year. Members of the commission for state emergency while speaking among the members of the parliament said, the country will face migration, regional conflict, animal deaths, and disease if the government does not step up actions to fight the natural disaster which threatens more than 7 million Afghans. Jarullah Mansoori, Minister for Rural Rehabilitation and Development said urged the international community and donors to assist 7.3% of Afghan population who are facing serious hunger and starvation threats. Head of the Parliament’s natural resources committee, Obaidullah Ramin confirming the issue warned that this coming winter will be a difficult one for those suffering drought. [...]"  

MSM: "Now Is an Awful Time to Be a Young Man in America" [11/13/11] "Few Americans were immune to the recession, but the plight of young men continues to be particularly dire. The unemployment rate for male high-school grads ages 25 to 34 is 14.4%, far above the 9% national average; the figure also marks a huge jump from the 6.1% jobless rate they faced before the downturn, the Wall Street Journal reports. Even worse off are high-school educated men ages 20 to 24, who suffer a whopping 22.5% jobless rate. Meanwhile, some 18.6% of men 25 to 34 are living with their parents, the highest rate since 1960. “We're at risk of having a generation of young males who aren't well-connected to the labor market and who don't feel strong ownership of community or society because they haven't benefited from it,” says a public health professor. The Journal follows the story of two 25-year-old men who went from comfortable construction jobs and up-and-coming lifestyles to sporadic, lesser-paid jobs and living with multiple roommates or mom and dad. “I wasn't living, I was surviving,” says one. [...]"  

MSM: "UK Prison Population Hits Record Numbers" [11/13/11] "The prison population in England and Wales has increased by almost 200 in a week, taking it to a new all-time high of 87,945, figures have shown. The total is 1,310 short of the usable operational capacity and 196 higher than last week's record of 87,749, said the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The rise in the number of people behind bars is being fuelled by the summer's riots, but the Government has insisted there will be enough prison places for anyone jailed over the looting and violence. [...]"  Related: UK: "Cops Arrest 179 for Planned Occupy Attack" "London police stopped an apparent right-wing attack on Occupy protesters mere hours before fists were going to fly, the Guardian reports. Officers corralled 179 members of the English Defense League, a street protest movement, for allegedly planning an "imminent" attack on Occupiers outside St. Paul's Cathedral. How did cops know about it? EDL members made it pretty clear on Facebook, threatening to burn down Occupy tents if they remained on Armistice Day.  [...]" 

UK: "Big Brother Alert Over Surge In 'Citizen Spies' As Thousands More Volunteer To Snoop On Neighbours" [11/13/11]   "Councils across the country have recruited thousands of ‘citizen snoopers’ to report ‘environmental crime’. They target dog foulers, litter louts and neighbours who fail to sort their rubbish properly. The volunteers act as the ‘eyes and ears’ of their neighbourhoods and are encouraged to take photos of ‘environmental crime’ and send them in with location details for a rapid response. They are given hand-held GPS computers for the task or phone cards to cover the cost of using their own devices. Evidence gathered this way is sometimes used in criminal prosecutions. There are already 9,831 snoopers signed up – a 17 per cent increase on the number two years ago – and a further 1,310 are set to be recruited and trained as part of schemes run by 18 councils.  [...]"  Note: Sequentials, reincarnated retreads from the Nazi and Soviet Era, love this shit.

Flashback: "Short Film On Greece - Here's What Happens When Your Country Goes Broke" [11/13/11] [10:35] "With Max Keiser and directed by Stacy Herbert. It happens all over the world, but it's been a long, long time since a European country has had the experience. Default. National bankruptcy. Here's what happens when a country goes broke. [...]" 

MSM: "Right to Rent: The Foreclosure Crisis Solution Banks Love to Hate" [11/12/11] "Brad Meyer occupies the real estate equivalent of the twilight zone. He lives in Milwaukee with his wife and children in the three-bedroom ranch house they purchased a decade ago. Except today, they rent it through American Homeowner Preservation, a small, Ohio-based company that purchases distressed properties and leases them back to the previous homeowner. The rental program -- the brainchild of Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research -- is part of a broader effort to identify alternatives to traditional foreclosure. Instead of having to give up their homes, delinquent borrowers are able to remain under their roofs, albeit as tenants.  [...] Five years into the national housing crisis, policymakers and mortgage industry officials are increasingly engaged in the pursuit of pragmatic alternatives to foreclosure, which has displaced millions of families and left properties vacant. Programs that allow homeowners to continue to rent the same properties they used to own have emerged as one potential fix. Economists generally agree that a glut of foreclosed properties sitting on the market must be turned into productive homes for ordinary people. Vacant homes blight communities and devalue neighboring properties. Excess real estate inventory presses down on home prices in many communities, adding to the drag on the broader economy. Turning delinquent borrowers into rent-paying tenants presents one way to address these challenges.[...]" 

MSM: "L.A. County Jails May Be Out Of Room Next Month" [11/11/11] "Los Angeles County's jails could run out of space as early as next month because of an influx of state prisoners, prompting officials to consider releasing potentially thousands of inmates awaiting trial. The state's new prison law, which establishes a practice known as realignment, is expected to send as many as 8,000 offenders who would normally go to state prisons into the L.A. County Jail system in the next year. Currently, defendants awaiting trial account for 70% of the jail population, but Sheriff Lee Baca said that might need to drop to 50%. The department is studying a major expansion of its electronic monitoring and home detention programs to keep track of inmates who are released. [...]"  

MSM: "China “Black Jails” Prompt Fears Of Wider Security Crackdown" [11/11/11] " China’s campaign to stifle dissenters like artist Ai Weiwei through secret detentions could come cloaked in a thicker veneer of legality if proposed crime law changes go through, a prominent rights advocacy group said on Thursday. China has clamped down hard on dozens of prominent critics and dissidents including human rights lawyers, bloggers and civil activists by locking them up incommunicado for weeks and even months at a time in undisclosed locations. China’s moves to amend criminal laws next year to effectively legitimize extra-judicial detentions of people for up to six months could see a hardening of the nation’s security crackdown in the run-up to a change in leadership, Human Rights Watch said. “We believe this is indicative of a much larger scope that’s being given to the domestic security authorities that will in the future be extremely difficult to rein in.” [...]"  Note: The US and other governments are promoting the same crackdown on their own people.

MSM: "Video Of Troopers Speeding Shows Growing Inter-Agency War" [11/10/11] "Recently released amateur video of two Florida Highway Patrol troopers apparently speeding down a highway appears to be the latest jab thrown at FHP. CBS4 News partners Univision say the video was shot by an unidentified police officer, allegedly last Thursday on the Florida Turnpike and given to the press. It appears to be a direct response to the video leaked last month of FHP Trooper Donna Watts pulling over and briefly detaining Miami Police officer Fausto Lopez at gunpoint for reckless driving while he sped to an off-duty job. [...]" 

MSM: "Arrested Occupy Protesters Told By Police: Penal Code Outstrips US Constitution" [11/09/11] "Protesters at a public park in Fresno were harassed and arrested by police for a third consecutive evening Monday as officers told them that local penal code allowed them to ignore First Amendment rights and break up protests. The protest group, calling itself “Occupy Fresno”, has refused to move out of the park and onto a sidewalk, asserting that it is their constitutional right to remain where they are. Over the weekend, more than 20 of the protesters were arrested and led away by police citing a county ordinance that defines the protesters as trespassers. Officers in riot gear approached the remaining protesters Monday night, once again asking them to comply with police orders to leave or face arrest. Fresno County Sheriffs Lt. Andriatti and Officer Neil Dadian were filmed informing protesters that local penal code outstrips the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. “Does the penal code here and ordinances that you’ve said that we’re violating, trump the constitutional First Amendment to peaceably assemble and protest the government?” a protester asked the officers. “In this instance here, that is what we are enforcing. That penal code…” Andriatti replied. When asked to explain the law further, the officers refused. [...]"  

Commentary: "49 Million Americans In Poverty, Census Study Finds" [11/09/11] "New measurements from the US Census found that poverty is far more prevalent among older Americans than previously reported, and that government programs now on the chopping block have kept millions out of destitution. [...] This report is only the latest in a series of disastrous figures released in recent months. Earlier this month, a study by the Brookings Institution found that Americans living in high-poverty neighborhoods increased by one third over the past 10 years, including drastic increases in poverty for youth and the elderly."  

MSM: "Ohio Voters Reject Controversial Anti-Union Law" [11/09/11] "Ohioans overturned a divisive anti-union law on Tuesday, delivering a significant defeat to Republican Gov. John Kasich and a victory to labor unions. Ohio voters rejected Issue 2, a ballot referendum on Senate Bill 5, a measure that restricts collective bargaining rights for more than 360,000 public employees, among other provisions. Opposition to the legislation inspired large protests from residents around the state this year. [...]"  

MSM: "10 Million American Families Sliding Toward Foreclosure" [11/09/11] "Of the 55-million families with mortgages, 10.4-million of them “are sliding toward failure and foreclosure”---a tragedy that will depress the U.S. housing market for years to come, a result of too many houses for sale and too few buyers. That’s the blunt conclusion of distinguished economics journalist William Greider, to be published in an article in the November 14th issue of The Nation magazine. [...]  Forgiving the debtors is the right thing to do, Greider continues, “because the bankers have already been forgiven. The largest banks were in effect relieved of any guilt for their crimes of systemic fraud or for causing the financial breakdown---when the government bailed them out, no questions asked.” Far from a show of gratitude, Greider notes the response of the banks has been ugly. “Right now, these trillion-dollar institutions are methodically harvesting the last possible pound of flesh from millions of homeowners before kicking these failing debtors out of their homes---the story known as the ‘foreclosure crisis.’” The largest and most powerful banks are standing in the way of the solution and the Obama administration “is standing with them,” Greider adds, “because bankers and other creditors would have to take a big hit if they were forced to write down the debt owed by borrowers. The banks would have to report reduced capital and their revenue would decline if homeowners were allowed to make smaller monthly payments.” President Obama, he says, “seems to be playing a sly double game---protecting banks from sharing the pain while proclaiming sympathy for embattled homeowners.” Greider adds, “The government, in effect, has been sheltering banks from facing the hard truth about their condition.” Banks may be valuing mortgages or mortgage bonds at 85 cents on the dollar when their true market value is closer to 30 cents. “That strengthens the case for a general and orderly write-down now: if many of these loans aren’t ever going to be rapid, then the assets now claimed by the banks are imaginary.”" Related: "Over 50% Of U.S. Homeowners Are Underwater"  

MSM: "Mississippi Rejects 'Personhood' Amendment" [11/09/11] " Voters rejected a "personhood" ballot initiative declaring that life begins at conception, reports the AP. It would have effectively banned all abortions in the state, including those caused by rape and incest, and possibly led to a legal challenge of Roe v. Wade. Final results aren't in, but more than 55% of voters had rejected the measure.  [...]"  

MSM: "Property Prices Collapse in China" [11/08/11] "... What started slowly in September turned into a rout by the middle of last month—normally a good period for sales—when Shanghai developers started to slash asking prices. Analysts then expected falling property values to move Premier Wen Jiabao to relax tightening measures, such as increases in mortgage rates and prohibitions on second-home purchases, intended to cool the market. They were wrong. After a State Council meeting on October 29, Mr. Wen affirmed his policy, stating that local authorities should continue to “strictly implement the central government’s real estate policies in the coming months to let citizens see the results of the curbs.” Then, the selling began in earnest as “desperate” developers competed among themselves to unload inventory. One builder even said it would sell flats in Huizhou at its development cost. [...]"  Related: " 5,000 Chinese Students Protest Rising Food Prices" [5:46] 

MSM: "Israel's Economy To Be Paralyzed If General Strike Opens As Planned" [11/07/11] "Israel's main labor union is planning a strike that would shut airports, ports, banks and the stock market starting on Monday, after talks with the government failed to produce an agreement over the status of workers employed through labor contractors. The Histadrut Labour Federation, the umbrella organization for hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, said the strike would begin at 6 A.M. on Monday and would also include trains, buses, universities, government ministries and municipalities. Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv will close at 8:00 A.M. local time. The strike would last indefinitely.  [...]" 

MSM: "Most Of The Unemployed No Longer Receive Benefits" [11/06/11] "The jobs crisis has left so many people out of work for so long that most of America's unemployed are no longer receiving unemployment benefits. Early last year, 75 percent were receiving checks. The figure is now 48 percent – a shift that points to a growing crisis of long-term unemployment. Nearly one-third of America's 14 million unemployed have had no job for a year or more. Congress is expected to decide by year's end whether to continue providing emergency unemployment benefits for up to 99 weeks in the hardest-hit states. If the emergency benefits expire, the proportion of the unemployed receiving aid would fall further. The ranks of the poor would also rise. [...]"  

Documentary: "Life in a Day" [11/05/11] [90:00] "Director Kevin Macdonald and producer Ridley Scott team up to offer this candid snapshot of a single day on planet Earth. Compiled from over 80,000 YouTube submissions by contributors in 192 countries, Life in a Day presents a microcosmic view of our daily experiences as a global society. From the mundane to the profound, everything has its place as we spend 90 minutes gaining greater insight into the lives of people who may be more like us than we ever suspected, despite the fact that we’re separated by incredible distances. Clips are not labeled with locations – some are nevertheless easy to figure out, but others leave few clues. Obviously this is intentional on Macdonald’s part, as you occasionally find yourself distracted by trying to figure out where the hell the various videos come from. [...]"  

MSM: "Winter is Coming: 15 Tips to Keep you Comfortable During a Power Outage" [11/05/11] "Yes, winter is coming. And with winter comes the wind, the snow, the ice and the extreme cold. And, more likely than not, winter will also bring the occasional power outage. Have you asked yourself what you would do if the power went out for a day or two, or for even a week? What would you do? Could you fend for yourself? Could you keep yourself warm in the winter and cool in the summer? What about food? Would your refrigerated and frozen items spoil? And yikes! What would you do about money if credit cards and ATMs no longer worked? Did I mention that in all likelihood you would not have Internet access either? Today I would like to provide 15 tips for getting through short-term power outages. [...]"  

MSM: "Canada Unemployment: Economy Sheds 54,000 Jobs In October" [11/05/11] "Canada's jobs market suffered its biggest loss in 2 1/2 years last month, driving the unemployment rate up two notches to 7.3 per cent as the economy shed a massive 54,000 jobs overall, most of them in manufacturing and construction. It was the biggest one-month job loss since March 2009, in the midst of a the worst recession in decades, and came amid persistent fears that Europe's debt crisis, the weak U.S. recovery and slower Asian growth will hit Canada. The employment report from Statistics Canada was even more disturbing in the details, as all the losses and more were in the full-time category and in the goods producing sector. In all 71,700 full-time jobs vanished during the month — Ontario alone shed 75,400 — as part-time employment rose slightly, making the headline number appear more palatable. The Canadian dollar fell sharply on the news to 98.13 US, down about a full cent. [...]"  

MSM: "BofA Threatens Foreclosure Over Missing $1 From Already-Sold Home" [11/05/11] [1:13] "... Bank of America claimed the family owed months of missed mortgage payments, before realizing a $1 coding error had held up the Curtises' title transfer. While BofA has taken months to resolving the issue, the Curtises' credit report has taken a beating since then. The episode is far from the first foreclosure mishap BofA has dealt with in recent months, and not even the smallest dollar amount related to foreclosure threats. In June, BofA tried to foreclose on a man living in Massachusetts over a missed mortgage payment totaling $0.00. [...]"  

MSM: "South Park: 1%" [11/04/11] [21:31] "Last night, South Park put in its 2-cents about the Occupy Wall Street movement. Our story begins with all of South Park Elementary at an assembly in their auditorium. There we learn that the kids have taken the Presidential Fitness Exam, and that because of one incredibly unhealthy child, the entire school's average has plummeted to the bottom of the nation. And since no child can be singled out, the entire school has to be punished. Obviously, that sad child is none other than Eric Cartman. [...]" 

Legal Case: "Being Black Is Not "Probable Cause" [11/04/11] "A constable claims Harris County fired him for objecting to orders that "any blacks in the neighborhood should be stopped and that probable cause was their race." Robert Wilson, who is black himself, says his sergeant "instructed him other officers to target any black people driving, walking or riding a bicycle in the community." [...]" 

Legal Case: "Court Says Recording Officer Was Not Illegal" [11/04/11] "A Cottage Grove man who secretly recorded his interaction with a Eugene police officer on his cell phone during a 2008 traffic stop did not act illegally, the Oregon Court of Appeals has ruled, highlighting the ongoing controversy over how and when residents may record the actions of law enforcement officers. [...]"  Related:"Florida Man Arrested for Recording Police in Public" "Despite court rulings stating it is legal under the Fist Amendment to record police, it is a crime under the two-party consent law in Florida to intercept or record a “wire, oral, or electronic communication” in Florida, unless all parties to the communication consent. Earlier this year the First Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision following a number of incidents where individuals have videotaped police officers and were arrested. “The filming of government officials engaged in their duties in a public place, including police officers performing their responsibilities, fits comfortably within these principles [of protected First Amendment activity],” the court ruled. “Gathering information about government officials in a form that can readily be disseminated to others serves a cardinal First Amendment interest in protecting and promoting the free discussion of governmental affairs.”  [...]" 

MSM: "ACORN Officials Scramble, Firing Workers and Shredding Documents, After Exposed as Players Behind Occupy Wall Street Protests" [11/04/11] "Officials with the revamped ACORN office in New York -- operating as New York Communities for Change -- have fired staff, shredded reams of documents and told workers to blame disgruntled ex-employees for leaking information in an effort to explain away a FoxNews.com report last week on the group’s involvement in Occupy Wall Street protests, according to sources. NYCC also is installing surveillance cameras and recording devices at its Brooklyn offices, removing or packing away supplies bearing the name ACORN and handing out photos of Fox News staff with a stern warning not to talk to the media, the sources said. [...]"  

MSM: "19 Sad Facts About The Deindustrialization Of America" [11/03/11] "The United States is rapidly becoming the very first "post-industrial" nation on the globe. All great economic empires eventually become fat and lazy and squander the great wealth that their forefathers have left them, but the pace at which America is accomplishing this is absolutely amazing. It was America that was at the forefront of the industrial revolution. It was America that showed the world how to mass produce everything from automobiles to televisions to airplanes. It was the great American manufacturing base that crushed Germany and Japan in World War II. But now we are witnessing the deindustrialization of America. Tens of thousands of factories have left the United States in the past decade alone. Millions upon millions of manufacturing jobs have been lost in the same time period. The United States has become a nation that consumes everything in sight and yet produces increasingly little. Do you know what our biggest export is today? Waste paper. Yes, trash is the number one thing that we ship out to the rest of the world as we voraciously blow our money on whatever the rest of the world wants to sell to us. [...]"  

MSM: "Increase In Extreme Poverty Leaves Millions Stranded" [11/03/11] The number of Americans living in communities of extreme poverty -- neighborhoods in which at least 40 percent of the population is poor -- soared by one-third between 2000 and the latter half of the decade, according to a new study from the Brookings Institution. [...] The gains that we made in the 1990s, with targeted policies and a booming economy, a lot of those have been erased over the 2000s," said Elizabeth Kneebone, a senior research associate at Brookings' Metropolitan Policy Program, and the study's lead author. "Places that used to be solidly working class in the '90s have fallen behind after two recessions. ... The study found particularly prominent increases in concentrated poverty in the industrial Midwest, where the loss of manufacturing jobs has eliminated a crucial source of livelihood for lesser-educated workers. [...]"   

UK: "Divorced Fathers Will Not Get Legal Right To Access" [11/03/11] "Fathers who have gone through divorce or separation will not be granted a legal right to guarantee that their child has "a meaningful relationship with both parents", according to a long-awaited report on family law. [...]"  

MSM: "Budget Cuts Are Creating A New Class Of American 'Untouchables'" [11/03/11] "As cash-strapped states relentlessly slash spending on relief for people who fall outside the federal social safety net, a new group of “untouchables” is fast emerging, experts warn. For years, hundreds of thousands of people in dire straits – mentally or physically disabled, homeless and unemployed, ineligible for federal welfare, disability, or food subsidies – could generally count on state or local government largesse for modest handouts of cash to help scrape by. Under the rubric of “General Assistance,” these down-and-out Americans received modest payments – often no more than a few hundred dollars a month – to help defray the cost of necessities including rent, food, clothing, toilet paper, aspirin, phone cards, and bus tickets. But in the midst of the worst recession of modern times and changing attitudes about the poor, many states have been gradually chipping away at general assistance programs or eliminating them altogether.  [...]" 

MSM: "The Inevitable Has Happened: Occupy Foreclosures" [11/03/11] "Last night Occupy Oakland's General Assembly did something that is likely to catch on with occupations across the country. They voted to encourage the occupation of foreclosed properties across their city. After all, the bursting of the property bubble is part of why they're on the streets right now. There is a movement similar to this under the overall Occupy umbrella, It's called Occupy Vacant Properties, and it has been most visible in San Francisco, where families are even reclaiming their old homes post-foreclosures. [...] Considering all the attention focused on Occupy Oakland right now, it wouldn't be surprising if this caught on like wildfire. Plus, in northern cities during the winter months, this could provide spots to house protesters and maintain the occupations. And according to Raw Story, there is at least on member of Congress supporting this move. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) has been calling for families to squat in their foreclosed homes since the beginning of the crises. While what Occupy Oakland is suggesting isn't exactly the same thing (as the protesters will probably stay in homes they never bought), Kaptur likes the idea all the same."  

MSM: "Massive Protests Have Basically Shut Down The Port Of Oakland -- The Fifth Busiest Port In America" [11/03/11] "There are now 4,500 people marching on the Port of Oakland. So far there have been no arrests, and no one has been hurt. At least, that's what the Oakland Police Chief Jordan said in a press conference that just ended a moment ago. The Mayor is describing the protest as "largely peaceful", despite the fact that the port has effectively been shut down and public employees have been allowed to leave work. The police are also targeting 60-70 people who are causing all of the problems (like, the vandalism around the city, for example). Officials have described them as wearing black with scarves or masks covering their faces — sounds like anarchists. [...]"  Note: or agents provocateurs.

MSM: "ILO Report Warns Of Sharp Employment Downturn, Social Unrest" [11/02/11] "The International Labour Organization, an agency of the United Nations, released a report Monday pointing to a disastrous global jobs situation and a “vicious cycle” sending the world economy into a new downturn. “The next few months will be crucial for avoiding a dramatic downturn in employment and a further significant aggravation of social unrest,” warns the opening editorial to the World of Work report, released ahead of a G20 meeting later this week. In addition to documenting the employment situation, affecting both advanced and “developing” countries, the reports presents a damning portrait of contemporary world capitalism: growing financialization, declining taxes on the wealthy and corporations, and a collapse in the share of income going to the working class. [...]"  Related: MSM: "Big Sis To Monitor Twitter For Signs Of Social Unrest" "The wave of civil unrest that has swept the globe over the past year has prompted the Department of Homeland Security to step up its monitoring of Twitter and other social networks in a bid to pre-empt any sign of social dislocation within the United States. [...] Although it’s somewhat naive to think that Homeland Security wasn’t already scanning the likes of Facebook and Twitter for social trends and signs of civil unrest, the fact that its now being announced publicly illustrates the increasing concern that riots which have hit the Middle East and Europe over the last 18 months will soon manifest themselves inside the United States.[...] In preparation for potential riots inside the United States, the U.S. Army War College’s Strategic Institute issued a report in November 2008 entitled Known Unknowns: Unconventional Strategic Shocks in Defense Strategy Development. The report lays out the strategy for how authorities would respond to “purposeful domestic resistance,” wherein U.S. troops would be deployed domestically to counter civil unrest. The report was issued weeks after the onset of the 2008 financial crisis, and included a potential “economic collapse” as one of the scenarios under which troops would be used inside the U.S. to restore order. [...]"  

MSM: "DC's Homeless To Be Left In The Cold This Winter" [11/02/11] "Earlier this month, David A Berns of DC’s Committee on Human Services told those in attendance at a roundtable hearing that the recession had ravaged economic conditions for DC residents. Although the District boasts the highest average annual income in the country, the official tally of homeless persons on the streets of the city is at 6,546. With more and more people unable to make ends meet, they are leaving their homes and hitting the sidewalks and parks of Pennsylvania Avenue and the shelters that pepper the city’s turf. Those same dire economic circumstances has caused a cut in funding as well, and as more Washingtonians are forced onto the streets and rely on the aid of others, that helping hand is shriveling up as the city goes broke itself. [...]"

MSM "Anti-G20 Protestors Rally In France" [11/02/11]   "Thousands of anti-capitalist protesters have poured into the streets in the southern French town of Nice ahead of an upcoming G20 summit in nearby Cannes. Protesters were gathering on the French Riviera on Tuesday to voice their demands, ranging from eliminating tax havens to boosting money for development, the Associated Press reported. Activist groups from across Europe and beyond are expected to stage protests in Nice throughout the week, as Cannes itself will be locked down during the summit. The two-day G20 meeting, scheduled for November 3-4, will see world leaders discuss ways to save Greece from defaulting and help the Eurozone overcome its debt crises. Anti-capitalist protests have been holding mass demos in more than 80 countries in recent weeks to protest what they call an irresponsible financial system as well as economic inequality. [...]"  Background: MSM: "G20 Meets In Paris: Three Weeks To Save Eurozone" [10/16/11] [2:00]

MSM: "New Record For Food Stamp Usage In U.S." [11/02/11] "As the European news flow overflow continues, it is useful to occasionally look at how America's own economy is doing. After all remember that the latest paradigm is that the US will decouple from everyone (as is always foolishly and erroneously assumed whenever the ROW turns lower) and carry the weight of the global economy on its own shoulders. So here is this month's refresh from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which informs us that in August, a new all time record number of Americans, or 45.8 million, relied on food stamps for sustenance. So for those who are looking for those up and coming states where the population has decided that slowly but surely work of any kind is an anachronism we suggest you move to Alabama, Delaware, Utah, or Washington: all states that have seen at least a 3% sequential increase in food stamp usage. And, tangentially, confirming that this country's economy is headed straight to hell and won't pass go is the latest news from LPS according to which nearly 40% of loans in foreclosure have not made a payment in two years, and 72% have not made a payment in the past 12 months.  [...]"  

MSM: "Manufacturing Drops 'Like A Stone'" [11/02/11] "Double dip recession fears were fuelled today after a key measure of the health of manufacturing sector "dropped like a stone" to a 28-month low. A closely watched survey by Markit/CIPS, in which a score of under 50 represents contraction, dropped to 47.4 in October, down from 50.8 the previous month, and its lowest level since June 2009. The report's authors said the most worrying aspect of the survey was that new orders declined at the quickest pace since March 2009. [...]" 

MSM: "US Home Prices Heading For Triple-Dip" [11/02/11] "The besieged housing market has even further to fall before home prices really hit rock bottom ... home values are expected to fall another 3.6% by next June, pushing them to a new low of 35% below the peak reached in early 2006 and marking a triple dip in prices. The first post-bubble bottom was hit in 2009, when prices fell to 31% below peak. The First-Time Homebuyer Credit helped perk prices up by mid-2010, but by the time the credit expired, prices fell again. Earlier this month, RealtyTrac reported the first quarterly increase in foreclosure filings in three quarters. Even more discouraging: new default notices were up 14%. 

MSM: "6 Ways To Make It Hard For Airlines To Lose Your Luggage" [11/02/11] "When it comes to their passengers, airlines have an exceptional safety record. When it comes to handling checked bags, their record is lousy. Although it is not an issue of safety, lost and damaged luggage is one of the more terrifying possibilities we face when traveling. Although the Unclaimed Baggage Center claims that “Only about ½ of 1 percent of checked bags fail to show up at the baggage carousel,” it certainly feels like it happens more often than that. Nevertheless, keep in mind that there are several steps you can take to manage these risks… [...]"  

MSM: "Boomtown: Jobs Await In North Dakota Town" [11/01/11] "NBC’s Harry Smith travels to Williston, N.D., where an oil boom has created thousands of available jobs, both in the field and out. Everywhere you look in town, companies are hiring -- from fast food workers to truck drivers to construction help. (Nightly News) [...]" 

MSM: "Wall Street Protests Echo In Tokyo" [11/01/11] "Inspired by the ongoing Occupy Wall Street demonstrations in the United States, thousands of Japanese youth and workers, dissatisfied with growing unemployment and harsh working conditions in the world's third largest economy, have taken to the streets to demand stable jobs and government reforms. [...]" 

Commentary:  "Officials Increasingly Refusing Unlawful Orders to Arrest “Occupy” Protesters" [11/01/11] "A Baltimore police union and two firefighters unions have written to Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (who wants to shut down Occupy Baltimore) asking that the protests be allowed to continue. And city employees from Irvine, California to Providence, Rhode Island have correctly said that – whether or not they agree with the protesters’ views – the protesters’ have the right of free speech and free assembly under the Constitution. [...]" Related: "Official Refuses Tennessee Governor’s Orders To Break Up ‘Occupy Nashville’" "Just one week after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) saw his order to push an “Occupy” protest out of a public park at night rebuked by a local official, Tennessee’s governor is experiencing a similar problem. Gov. Bill Haslam (R) has twice given the order to crackdown on protesters at “Occupy Nashville,” only to see it denied by judicial commissioner Tom Nelson. In Tennessee, a judicial commissioner has the authority to determine whether crimes have been committed. “The magistrate’s position is sort of a safety valve to prevent overzealous officers from putting people in jail for no reason,” Nashville attorney Jim Todd said to the Associated Press. Nelson ordered the release of 29 protesters arrested last Thursday because “the state had not given the protesters adequate notice that it was changing the rules.” [...]"  

NY: "Pepper Spray Cop Tony Bologna Punished With More Work" [11/01/11] As punishment for pepper-spraying two penned-in Occupy Wall Street protesters without provocation, Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna will... pick up some extra shifts. The Internal Affairs Bureau reviewed the infamous incident (which was caught on video and eventually spawned a Daily Show parody cop show, The Vigilogna) and determined that Bologna violated NYPD rules. As punishment for spraying a couple of women in the eyes and walking away, he loses ten vacation days! But he already had his hotel booked for next year's Chile Pepper Fest in Bowers, PA! In case you're wondering exactly how Bologna went wrong, the NY Times reports that the department’s patrol guide says pepper spray "should be used primarily to control a suspect who is resisting arrest, or for protection; it does allow for its use in 'disorder control,' but only by officers with special training." The head of the Captains Endowment Association tells the paper that "Deputy Inspector Bologna is disappointed at the results of the department investigation. His actions prevented further injury and escalation of tumultuous conduct. To date, this conduct has not been portrayed in its true context." Bologna, a 29-year veteran makes $154,300 a year, could contest the ruling, but then he risks an even stiffer penalty. And he could still face criminal charges. No, really! Yesterday, attorney Ron Kuby, who is representing one of the victims, met with investigators at Manhattan DA Cy Vance's office to press for assault charges against Bologna. Kuby tells reporters he's not satisfied with the Internal Affairs punishment. "The problem is, Deputy Inspector Bologna went berserk while on duty in a crowded public place and attacked a group of women who were not breaking the law," Kuby tells the Post. "That's not simply mishandling pepper spray, which makes it sound like he over-seasoned his salad." [...]" 

Commentary:  "42 USC 1983: Learn It, Live It OWS" [11/01/11] "... Every person who, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State or Territory or the District of Columbia, subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress, except that in any action brought against a judicial officer for an act or omission taken in such officer’s judicial capacity, injunctive relief shall not be granted unless a declaratory decree was violated or declaratory relief was unavailable. For the purposes of this section, any Act of Congress applicable exclusively to the District of Columbia shall be considered to be a statute of the District of Columbia [...]"  Related: "Cop Identified Who Shot Marine Vet Scott Olsen At Occupy Oakland" [6:21]  

Commentary:  "Let Them Eat Cake: 10 Examples Of How The Elite Are Savagely Mocking The Poor" [11/01/11] "There is absolutely nothing wrong with working hard and making a lot of money, but there is something wrong with being completely arrogant and smug about it. Today, many among the elite are savagely mocking the poor, and that is a huge mistake. You shouldn’t kick people when they are down. There are tens of millions of Americans that are deeply frustrated about losing their homes, losing their jobs or barely being able to survive in this economy. These frustrations have been one of the primary reasons for the rise of the Tea Party movement and the rise of the Occupy Wall Street movement. What these movements have in common is that people in both movements are sick and tired of the status quo and they want something to be done about our broken system. [...]"  

MSM: "Jobless US Vets Say Military Experience Not Valued" [11/01/11] "Many U.S. companies, and sometimes veterans themselves, do not know how to translate military experience into civilian skills. There is a disconnect between companies demanding a college degree and veterans giving confusing descriptions of their military experience to civilian employers. That disconnect has contributed to veterans having an unemployment rate 2.6 percent higher than the general population, according to September's Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment report. [...]"  

MSM: "Armed Citizen Militia Group Shows Up At Occupy Phoenix" [10/31/11] "Armed citizen militia group US Border Guard is making its presence felt at the Occupy Phoenix demonstration to protect free speech rights, arguing that the second amendment prevents the state from abusing the first amendment. The group has been labeled “neo-nazis” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is usually a demonization tactic, but the individual shown in the clip, “JT Ready” has attended neo-nazi rallies and is closely affiliated with the fringe National Socialist Party. The group has also operated as a “Minutemen on steroids” outfit, organizing armed patrols of the US border with Mexico. [...]"  

MSM: "A Vicious Cycle In The Used-Car Business" [10/31/11]   "Sign, drive, default, repossess and resell — that's the game at Buy Here Pay Here dealerships. Buy Here Pay Here lots sold nearly 2.4 million cars nationwide last year, up from 1.3 million a decade ago, according to CNW Marketing Research. CNW estimates that there are more than 33,000 such lots nationwide, compared with about 20,000 dealerships selling new cars. Buy Here Pay Here dealers make $80 billion in loans every year, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. [...]" 

MSM: "One-Third Of North Americans Say They Have ‘No Spare Cash’" [10/31/11] "Global consumer confidence remained weak in the third quarter with more than 60 percent of consumers saying it was not a good time to spend, and one-in-three North Americans saying they have no spare cash, a survey showed on Sunday. The economic outlook, followed by job security, became consumers’ biggest concern in the third quarter, overtaking worries about rising inflation, according to the quarterly survey by global analytics and information company Nielsen. [...]"  

Concepts and Practices: "UK Met Chief Says Officers’ Use Of Fake Identities In Court Was Not Illegal" [10/30/11] "Britain’s most senior police officer has defended the practice of undercover officers using fake identities in court, claiming there is no specific law forbidding it. Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, made the comments as he announced that Scotland Yard has begun two new inquiries. It brings the number of inquiries into infiltration of political groups to 11, prompting a call from Lord Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions, for one overarching public inquiry. Macdonald said Hogan-Howe’s defence was “stunning and worrying”. Hogan-Howe appeared before the Metropolitan Police Authority on Thursday facing increasing pressure over allegations that two police spies used their false identities as political activists when they were prosecuted in court. He told the authority: “There’s no law that says it can’t happen. The fact that someone has concealed their identity doesn’t mean the crime didn’t happen. In absolute terms, the criminal law does not make a crime of it. If you are dealing with more serious crimes, we have to seek all options.” [...]" 

Historical Analysis: "Riots During the Great Depression" [10/30/11]   [8:22]   Note: America in the 1930's.

MSM: "Massive Rally To Swamp Tel Aviv" [10/30/11] "Following an eight-week break, a massive protest for economic justice is expected to take place Saturday in Tel Aviv. The protest’s organizers are demanding that the Knesset rewrite the 2012 budget "taking into account the demands of the people." ­Organizers predict the protest, which is scheduled for 9 p.m. local time in Tel Aviv, will be the largest since the protest movement began in mid-July, Agence France-Presse reported. The last rally took place on September 3, when nearly half a million Israelis took part in demonstrations across the country against the soaring cost of living and house prices. Israeli journalist Bradley Burston says that the protesters are questioning resource allocation and sacred cows like the defense budget and settlements. [...]"  

MSM: "NYPD Threatens To Sue Wall Street Protesters" [10/30/11] "Deeply concerned" police sergeants are coming out swinging today against obnoxious Wall Street protesters, saying they plan to "pursue legal action" against demonstrators who injure any of its members. Ed Mullins, president of the NYPD's Sergeant’s Benevolent Association, said his group plans to pursue legal claims against Occupy Wall Street protesters should they cause injury to any of its 5,000 members. [...]" 

Concepts and Practices: "Curfew Ban On Peaceful Assembly Was Struck Down By Federal Court In Cleveland" [10/30/11] "Last Friday night, members of the group Occupy Cleveland, which have been demonstrating on Public Square in downtown Cleveland since early October, were told that they must vacate the premises as the permit they had been granted by the city expired at 10pm. Without a permit, city law prohibits camping out between the hours of 10pm and 5am. Several arrests were made, all while the demonstrators peacefully explained that they were expressing their 1st amendment rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. On Wednesday, the group scored huge victory when a federal judge issued an injunction that would allow them to occupy the Tom Johnson quadrant of Public Square at all hours of the day for an indefinite period of time. [...]"  Note: "The success of the Occupy Cleveland participants in establishing their right to freely assemble and speak may serve as an example for groups facing similar situations in cities across the United States that are also participating in the global Occupy Wall Street movement - Oakland, Cincinnati, and Atlanta, to name a few."

MSM: "Even Debt Collectors Are Struggling In This Economy" [10/30/11] "You won’t likely shed any tears over this: Being a debt collector is harder than ever. While most Americans want to get out of debt using a debt management plan or debt consolidation, many can’t afford the payments right now. This complicates the debt collection process. Debt collectors aren’t dealing with deadbeats ducking obligations–they’re trying to get blood from a stone at a time of record debt. Originally reported by the Associated Press, debt collectors have more work than ever. They also have fewer opportunities to actually collect. Some firms are satisfied with a debt management plan including payments as low as $5 or $10 per month. While this might allow the collection agency to report payments, it does little to help Americans get out of debt. Further, Americans are less capable than ever of getting out of debt. With unemployment high and salaries low, the old “I don’t have the money” line isn’t an excuse–it’s a hard reality for millions of Americans. Debt consolidation and a debt management plan won’t do any good if the debtor simply doesn’t have any spare cash. For the growing debt collection industry, this is a case of “water, water everywhere / but not a drop to drink.” Perhaps most striking is the change in types of debt collected. In times past, debt collectors called either from the original debtor or from a single third-party collection agency. Now there’s a booming industry dedicated to acquiring debt third- or fourth-hand for pennies on the dollar, often after the customer’s legal obligation to repay the debt has long since lapsed. [...]"  Note: Bottom feeders. Also reviewed: Changes in the Debt Collection Process, Common Consumer Complaints Against Debt Collectors, and How to Handle Debt Collector Calls.

MSM: "Gerald Celente: Social Revolution in the United States" [10/30/11] [5:46] " [...]"  Note: Video advanced to 2:25.

MSM: "Top US Foreclosure Law Firm Threw Halloween Party Where Staff Dressed As Homeless, Foreclosed-Upon Americans" [10/30/11] "On Friday, the law firm of Steven J. Baum threw a Halloween party. The firm, which is located near Buffalo, is what is commonly referred to as a “foreclosure mill” firm, meaning it represents banks and mortgage servicers as they attempt to foreclose on homeowners and evict them from their homes. Steven J. Baum is, in fact, the largest such firm in New York; it represents virtually all the giant mortgage lenders, including Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.  [...]" Related: "Nevada Makes Illegal Foreclosures A Felony" "Responding to homeowner complaints, Nevada has become the first state in the nation to make illegally repossessing a home a felony, and may send bankers to jail for doing such. The new law was enacted after tens of thousands of homeowners complained to lawmakers about their homes being foreclosed without proof of ownership. [...]"  Max Keiser: "A Foreclosure Mill Mocks The Homeless" [10/30/11]   [5:12 "Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert talk about Steven J. Baum foreclosure mill's Halloween party mocking the homeless. Stacy tries to get people to follow her on twitter rather than Max . 

MSM: "Many Cities Leaving Occupy Protesters Alone" [10/29/11] "While more U.S. cities are resorting to force to break up the Wall Street protests, many others - Philadelphia, New York, Minneapolis and Portland, Ore., among them - are content to let the demonstrations go on for now. In the span of three days this week, police broke up protest encampments in Oakland, Calif., Atlanta and, early Friday, San Diego and Nashville, Tenn.[...]" 

MSM: "Greeks Abandon Cash In Favor Of Organized Barter Systems" [10/29/11]   [3:24] "Due to the money crisis in Greece many people have resorted to bartering. The Time Bank is the name of the service swapping that has been growing. Will more Greeks adopt this practice? Sara Firth tells us more. [...]"  

UK: "Senior Police Chiefs Authorised Undercover Police Officers To Give False Evidence In Court To Protect Their Cover As Environmental Protesters" [10/29/11] "The claims led to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary delaying a report into undercover police tactics at the last minute. It had been due to be published today and was thought to be critical of the police. Lawyers for a convicted protester claim a Metropolitan Police officer called Jim Boyling, posing as an activist, was prosecuted alongside their client and lied under oath to conceal his true identity. Solicitors from the law firm Bindmans claim Boyling pretended to be Jim Sutton between 1995 and 2000 and joined the non-violent organisation Reclaim the Streets, the Guardian newspaper reported. [...]"  

MSM: "Self-Reported Gun Ownership In U.S. Is Highest Since 1993" [10/29/11] "Forty-seven percent of American adults currently report that they have a gun in their home or elsewhere on their property. This is up from 41% a year ago and is the highest Gallup has recorded since 1993, albeit marginally above the 44% and 45% highs seen during that period. [...]"  

California: "Major Network's Fake 'Technical Difficulty' to Avoid Recording Oakland Police Violence" [10/29/11] "In more on the mainstream media’s bizarre coverage of Tuesday night’s police brutality in Oakland, a number of blogs have commented on this — both ABC and CBS local affiliates had helicopters providing live feeds as events unfolded in front of Oakland’s City Hall. Allegedly, both television channels cut their transmissions when the police began attacking protesters, and both said it was due to their helicopters’ needing refueling. That’s right — both the ABC and CBS helicopters ran out of fuel at the same moment. The moment when the newsworthy events began to occur. One can only say, wow.  [...]"  Related: "Oakland Police Shoot Protester Helping Someone To Safety, In Violation Of Geneva Convention" [0:48] "A protester shows his wound after the police shot him with a rubber bullet while he helped carry Scott Olsen. The bullet had to be removed from his body. The Oakland police violated their own rules, and violated the Geneva Convention against targeting wounded combatants or those attempting to render medical aid. [...]"  Note: Raw video coverage of the Oakland protest tonight 10/26. He is referring to the night before when protestors and police clashed in Oakland.

Legal Case: "Joe Biden's Son Sues Mortgage Registry Over Deceptive Practices" [10/28/11] "Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden sued a private national mortgage registry on Thursday, citing a slew of deceptive trade practices that prevent homeowners from effectively fighting off foreclosure. The lawsuit in state court alleges that Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. deceived borrowers by knowingly obscuring important information, acting as an agent of the true owners of mortgage loans without authority, and failing to properly oversee the registry or enforce its own rules for foreclosure proceedings. Major mortgage industry players -- including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- formed MERS in 1995 to bypass county records offices and facilitate the then-booming mortgage-backed securities market. That market's collapse helped bring about the 2008 Wall Street meltdown that sparked the Great Recession. In a statement outlining the lawsuit, Biden's office said that MERS "engaged and continues to engage in deceptive trade practices that sow confusion among homeowners, investors, and other stakeholders in the mortgage finance system, seriously damaging the integrity of the land records that are central to Delaware's real property system, and leading to improper foreclosure practices." [...]" 

MSM: "NYPD Monitors Everyone in City Who Changes Their Name" [10/28/11] "For generations, immigrants have shed their ancestral identities and taken new, Americanized names as they found their place in the melting pot. For Muslims in New York, that rite of assimilation is now seen by police as a possible red flag in the hunt for terrorists.  [...]"  

Commentary: "OWS Co-Founder Warns Against ‘Totalitarian Nightmare’" [10/27/11]   [4:24] "The question Occupy Wall Street activists should be asking is not what concrete results they want to achieve, but what the result will be if they don’t do anything, says Alexa O’Brien, who helped organize the first OWS protests. ­Instead of thinking of what the OWS movement could achieve in the long run, the main issue is what happens to the country if it remains indifferent, O’Brien believes. Though Occupy has become a worldwide protest, most reports of police brutality have come from the US, and O’Brien has a theory for why that is the case. [...] “The defense contractors have realized that they can sell weapons and machinery and armory to civil forces in the US, and the heightened sort of culture of the war on terror has created a great excuse for the law enforcement to increase their budgets,” she claimed. “This is an example of how bought by hard and soft dollars, disloyal, incompetent and wasteful special interests have usurped our nation’s military power and have spawned a host of threats to liberty and to our national security.” [...]"  

RT Interview: "Job Growth In The US: Nonexistent?" [10/26/11]   [2:37] "There have been some startling new numbers released about the job figures in America. According to The New York Times, if an American were to lose their job today, there is a 70 percent chance they would not find a job the following month. Many say these new numbers reaffirm the actions of the Occupy Wall Street movement. David Swanson, author and activist, gives us some insight on the matter. [...]" 

MSM: "5 NYPD Officers Arrested In Gun-Smuggling Sting" [10/26/11] "Five New York Police Department officers smuggled firearms and slot machines they thought were stolen and some even used bolt cutters to pilfer hundreds of boxes of cigarettes from tractor-trailers as part of a 12-person theft ring that was under federal surveillance the entire time, authorities said Tuesday. Three retired NYPD officers and a New Jersey correction officer are among the other defendants named in a federal criminal complaint alleging an undercover agent paid them more than $100,000 to moonlight as gun runners while under FBI surveillance. Three current officers also participated in a brazen theft of cigarettes they were told were worth $500,000, the complaint says. [...]"  Related: "Feds: Current, Former NYPD Officers Among 12 Charged In Criminal Conspiracy"   "Five active and three retired officers of the New York Police Department are among 12 people charged Tuesday with conspiring to transport and distribute firearms and stolen goods, according to federal authorities. [...]"

MSM: "US Food Prices Are Projected To Increase" [10/26/11]   "The U.S. government said food prices are expected to climb 3.5%-4.5% in 2011, an increase of one-half of a percentage point from its prior forecast, as higher commodity costs continue to filter down to consumers. Food commodity and energy price increases over the past year, combined with a weak U.S. dollar, have caused most of the grocery store price increases observed in 2011. [...]" 

MSM: "US Social Security Benefits To Rise 3.6 Percent" [10/25/11] "Social Security retirement benefits for about 55 million people will go up by 3.6 percent next year, the first cost-of-living increase since 2009, the U.S. Social Security Administration said on Wednesday. [...]"  

MSM: "US States Are Facing Total Debt of Over $4 Trillion " [10/25/11]   "The total of U.S. state debt, including pension liabilities, could surpass $4 trillion, with California owing the most and Vermont owing the least, a new analysis says. The nonprofit State Budget Solutions combined states' major debt and future liabilities, primarily for pensions and employee healthcare, unemployment insurance loans, outstanding bonds and projected fiscal 2011 budget gaps. It found that in total, states are in debt for $4.2 trillion. The group, which follows state fiscal conditions and advocates for limited spending and taxes, said the deficit calculations that states make "do not offer a full picture of the states' liabilities and can rely on budget gimmicks and accounting games to hide the extent of the deficit. ... California is in the biggest financial hole — with total debt of more than $612 billion. New York follows with $305 billion of debt, and then Texas, with total debt of $283 billion. Vermont has the lowest amount of total debt at just over $6 billion. "  [...]"  

Commentary:  "Schizo-Affective Disorder Hits High Powered Execs" [10/25/11] "Keris Myrick is one of the few people diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder who will talk about it because "it's just embarrassing," as the psychosis director at UCLA told the NYTimes. Luckily for us (because it's fascinating), she did, with the New York Times. The interesting thing about schizo-affective disorder is, even though it's similar to schizophrenia, a debilitating disease, the high-profiled exec in your office could have it and not only perform their job well, they could excel in their job. In fact, excelling at their job is part of their treatment for dealing with the disease. Ms. Myrick, for example, "learned that she needed a high-profile position, not a low-key one, to face down her spells of paranoia and despair," according to the NYTimes - "Her mind runs on high and without fuel -- without work -- it seems to want to feed on itself." [...]"   Related: "It is important to be a bit institutionally paranoid, especially when things are going well." Lloyd Blankfein | "How To Spot Psychopaths: Speech Patterns Give Them Away"   | "Beware The Sociopaths" "I have been frustrated with people who seem to believe that human suffering is something to be increased rather than alleviated or eliminated. I have searched in vain for ways to resolve conflicts between people. I have deeply pondered why some people “just don't get it.” It seems that I am the one who “just didn't get it.” Many of these people are sociopaths. They can't experience some basic human feelings that I assumed everyone felt. [...]"  Note:  Most of these people are reincarnated retreads, prone to mental illness.   

MSM: "Australia's Occupy Protesters Refuse To Give Up" [10/25/11] "Australia's Occupy protests started last week as part of the worldwide movement which began in New York against what protesters describe as corporate greed. Despite the arrests and forced evictions of scores of Occupy protesters at the weekend, anti-capitalist demonstrators across the country are refusing to give up what they say is their fight against corporate greed. About 80 people from the Occupy Sydney movement were removed from Martin Place yesterday when about 100 police swooped on the square during dawn raids, ending a week-long protest. On Friday, violence erupted during the Occupy Melbourne protests when about 400 police evicted demonstrators who had been camping in the city square for nearly a week. And activists in Perth now say they are nervous ahead of similar protests planned for the centre of the city to coincide with the CHOGM meeting on Friday, which Prime Minister Julia Gillard will attend. [...]"   Related: "Occupy Australia Gets Violent In Melbourne" [10/25/11] [1:37]  "Some footage from weekend clashes at Occupy Melbourne. The protests are still growing. The anger is not dissipating. It's going to be a long Winter of discontent across the globe. Victoria's Police Minister was forced to defend the behaviour of officers after demonstrators called for the state's ombudsman to investigate 43 alleged cases of police violence on Friday, including eye-gouging, punching and the use of pepper spray on children. [...]"  Map of Melbourne   | More

MSM: "20 European Countries With The Biggest Retail Theft" [10/25/11] "According to the annually published Global Retail Theft Barometer, Europe has seen an increase in theft of 7.8 percent over the past year. The survey, derived from questioning shop owners in each respective country, calculates the "shrinkage" within the retail industry. Shrinkage in this case, refers to the monetary value of goods that are stolen from or lost by retailers through a variety of avenues. Shrinkage is caused by two main factors: shoplifting and dishonest employees. Internal administrative errors and fraud on the part of suppliers also play their part.  Interestingly, one conclusion that the study made was that while dishonest employees were the main cause of shrinkage in North and South America, the main source of shrinkage in Europe was shoplifting.  Overall, India has the top shrinkage value in the world. The top European nation is in second place globally.  [...]"  

MSM: "Florida Welfare Drug Test Blocked" [10/25/11]   "A US judge has temporarily blocked a Florida law that prevents individuals from receiving welfare benefits if they fail a drug test. The judge ruled that the law was unconstitutional and infringes a ban on unreasonable searches and seizures. Since the law was introduced in July, nearly 1,600 people have refused to take the test, according to reports. Under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families scheme those who pass receive $180 (£113) a month, while a family of four receives $364 a month. While 32 people have failed the test, some 7,000 have passed since the testing began in mid-July, the Associated Press reports. [...]" 

UK: "Alarm At Police Operating Beyond The Law" [10/24/11] "Hundreds of privately contracted police officers are working for forces across the country despite being unaccountable to the watchdog responsible for investigating deaths in custody, public complaints and allegations of wrongdoing, an investigation by The Independent has found. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has no automatic power to discipline privately contracted staff even if individual failures or misconduct contribute to the death or serious injury of a detainee. The Government has failed to close this regulatory loophole despite warnings dating back several years. The IPCC has investigated a number of cases in which privately contracted staff were found to be working alongside police officers when a detainee suffered serious harm or death. Chief constables can currently choose to designate private custody and transport officers as working within the watchdog's jurisdiction, but this does not happen consistently, according to the IPCC. [...] Keith Vaz MP, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, confirmed last night that the loophole would be investigated in the committee's forthcoming inquiry into the IPCC. "With 16,000 police officers due to be axed over the next four years, the use of private contractors to undertake the work of detectives, control-room call handlers and custody officers is set to increase," he said. "I will be writing to the Home Secretary to ask why no action has been taken to close this gap in jurisdiction... We must ensure those who undertake these crucial positions are accountable to the public they serve."  [...] "  

Commentary: "The New American Standard of Living" [10/24/11] "In 2005, few people on the planet could afford Americans’ standard of living. Not even Americans. But now the wheel has turned. The US is facing financial reality. And yesterday, we gave you our most audacious forecast ever: the popolo minuto are headed for the barricades. Yes, dear reader, prepare for revolution, repression, and ruin. Buy stocks in companies that make police batons and pepper gas...prisons and window glass...drones and bandages. The average individual now has $1,315 less in disposable income than he or she did three years ago at the onset of the Great Recession — even though the recession ended, technically speaking, in mid-2009. That means less money to spend at the spa or the movies, less for vacations, new carpeting for the house, or dinner at a restaurant.[...]" 

MSM: "Drivers Face Drug Checkpoints On Highways Near Flint" [10/24/11] "Motorists driving on expressways around Flint are getting surprised by a stunning tactic that the Genesee County sheriff has been using to fight the flow of illegal drugs -- one that legal experts said will not withstand a court challenge. At least seven times this month, including Tuesday, motorists have said they have seen a pickup towing a large sign on I-69 or U.S.-23 that depicts the sheriff's badge and warns: "Sheriff narcotics check point, 1 mile ahead -- drug dog in use." The checkpoints are part of a broad sweep for drugs that Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell and his self-titled Sheriff's Posse said are needed, calling Flint a crossroads of drug dealing because nearly a half-dozen major roads and expressways pass in and around the city. Pickell said he decided to try checkpoints when he learned that drug shipments might be passing through Flint in tractor-trailers with false compartments. [...]"  

MSM: "Biggest Challenge for Occupy Wall Street Will Be to Prevent Police Infiltrators From Provoking Violence" [10/23/11] "A recent article in the New York Observer highlights the ongoing challenge Occupy Wall Street faces in preventing the New York Police Department (NYPD) and perhaps FBI infiltrators from creating acts of violence that will turn the nation against the movement. Mayor Bloomberg and the FBI know that nothing will change the mood of support for Occupy Wall Street faster than having them portrayed as a "violent mob." So, there have been ongoing incidents of what appear to be provocations by the police or infiltrators to create an image of an unruly group of lawbreakers. (Just remember the Brooklyn Bridge incident for one.) [...]"  

Commentary: "Majority In US Earn Near-Poverty Wages" [10/22/11] "According to figures published by the Social Security Administration Thursday, the median income for American workers in 2010 was $26,364, just slightly above the official poverty level of $22,025 for a family of four. Median income is the point at which half of all workers make less and half make more. The 50 percent of all workers who earn less than the median income are either living in poverty or escaping it only by virtue of having two or more full-time workers in the household—meaning that a layoff that reduces the family to a single income puts them perilously close to impoverishment. [...] Nine of the ten cities with the highest poverty rates were in the south and southwest: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas had the highest poverty rate, at 33.4 percent, followed by Fresno, California, at 26.8 percent. The other worst metropolitan areas included Bakersfield, Modesto and Stockton, California; Augusta, Georgia; Memphis, Tennessee; and Durham and Greensboro, North Carolina. The numbers of people relying on food stamps, Medicaid and other forms of public assistance reached a new high in 2010, breaking the previous record set in 2009.[...] "  

MSM: "1M Americans Attempt Suicide a Year: CDC" [10/22/11] "An estimated 8 million adults in the United States contemplated suicide over the course of one year, while 2 million formed plans to take their own lives and 1 million actually made the attempt, according to a new federal study. The most likely groups to consider suicide were women, Caucasians, and people under 30. The survey was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention using data from 2008-2009. One in 15 adults in Utah reported suicidal thoughts, the highest in the nation, while one in 50 reported suicidal thoughts in Georgia, the lowest. "We are trying to find out where the most vulnerable populations are," explains a CDC epidemiologist. Every year, around 35,000 Americans kill themselves, according to Reuters, meaning the vast majority of attempts are unsuccessful. [...]"  

Commentary: "The $1 Trillion Student Loan Rip-Off: How an Entire Generation Was Tricked into Taking on Crushing Debt That Just Enriches Banks" [10/22/11] "...Thanks to the horrific 2005 bankruptcy bill, one of the most nakedly venal modern examples of Congress serving the interests of the rentiers and creditors over the vast majority, debtors cannot discharge student loans through bankruptcy. The government is shielded from the risk, and creditors are licensed to collect by almost any means they deem necessary, giving no one in charge any real incentive (beyond basic human decency) to fix the situation. [...] The impossibility of escaping student loan debt is why an industry sprang up to foist useless, overpriced degrees on vulnerable people. It’s a scam, but a profitable one, and respectable enough for major establishment players to feel comfortable making a killing on it."  

MSM: "Naomi Wolf Explains The Constitutional Right To Peacefully Assemble" [10/22/11] [8:26] Note: October 21, 2011 CURRENT TV Keith Olbermann.

Commentary: "Army Of TSA Agents Conduct Random Searches Throughout Tennessee" [10/21/11]   "The full scale Department of Homeland Security takeover of America shifted into high gear Tuesday with an army of TSA agents conducting illegal, 4th amendment killing, random searches throughout Tennessee. The Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) program was put into motion at 2 public bus stations as well as at 5 weigh stations throughout the state. The program is billed as a must have anti terrorism measure when in reality no terrorists have ever been arrested by TSA and all the supposed terrorists who have been arrested in America since 9/11 have literally been run by the FBI. [...]"  

MSM: "Decaying National Infrastructure: 215 D.C. Area Bridges Rated Structurally Deficient" [10/21/11] "Two hundred fifteen bridges in the Washington region are structurally deficient, including three of the five major bridges that cross the Potomac River into Washington, according to a report released Wednesday. [...]" 

PressTV: "Huge Protests Grow Violent Over Austerity In Greece" [10/21/11] [2:14]  "Global and regional capitalism has reached a dead-end road and recession is now fully fledged. Greek police using gas reserved for war zones against Greek citizens. [...]" Related: "Athens Night Clashes As Greece Fights Austerity" [1:46]

MSM: "Nearly 1,000 Mexican Police Officers Fired For Corruption" [10/21/11] "Mexican authorities have fired nearly 1,000 police officers to weed out corruption from the violence-ravaged Gulf coast state of Veracruz. Veracruz police chief Arturo Bermudez says 980 state agents have been dismissed in the past couple of weeks after failing lie detector and other tests. Only 27 percent in the 6,000-member force have taken the tests. [...]"  

MSM: "Massachusetts Supreme Court Rules That Most Foreclosure Sales From Previous 5 Years Are Null & Void" [10/21/11] "In essence, the ruling upheld that those who had purchased foreclosure properties that had been illegally foreclosed upon (which is virtually all foreclosure sales in the last five years), did not in fact have title to those properties. Given the fact that more than two-thirds of all real estate transactions in the last five years have also been foreclosed properties, this creates a small problem. The Massachusetts SJC is one of the most respected high courts in the country, other supreme courts look to these decisions for guidance, and would find it difficult to rule any other way in their own states. [...]" 

Cultural Studies: "Who Owes Whom? Rampant Inequality In The American Economy And Unemployment, Corporate Profits, Wages, Income, Wealth, Executive Compensation, Average Hourly Earnings, Social Mobility" [10/21/11] "As a political centrist, favoring neither the GOP or the Dems, and without any allegiance to ANY political party, we continue to be appalled by the current imbalance in the U.S. economy and the inability of extremist political elements and candidates of Republican and Democratic parties in U.S. politics to recognize the obvious problems and their equally obvious, if painful solutions. [...]"  

MSM: "Unpaid Student Loans Top $1 Trillion" [10/21/11] "This whole student loan apocalypse is another confetti currency bubble scam. There are many parallels to the housing bubble, except, of course, that people can’t live inside those useless degrees obtained with borrowed money that can never be repaid. The availability of the loans is driving ludicrous tuition increases, just like the funny money mortgages [... [...]"  Note: All student loans should be canceled. Related:  "The Fraud At The Heart Of Student Lending Exposed" [10/19/11] "A key reason why a preponderance of the population is fascinated with the student loan market is that as USA Today reported in a landmark piece last year, it is now bigger than ever the credit card market. And as the monthly consumer debt update from the Fed reminds us, the primary source of funding is none other than the US government. To many, this market has become the biggest credit bubble in America. Why do we make a big deal out of this? Because as Bloomberg reported last night, we now have prima facie evidence that the student loan market is not only an epic bubble, but it is also the next subprime! To wit: "Vince Sampson, president, Education Finance Council, said during a panel at the IMN ABS East Conference in Miami Monday that lenders are no longer pushing loans to people who can’t afford them." Yes: just like before lenders were "pushing loans to people who can't afford them" which became the reason for the subprime bubble which has since spread to prime, but was missing the actual confirmation from authorities of just this action, this time around we have actual confirmation that student loans are being actually peddled to people who can not afford them. And with the government a primary source of lending, we will be lucky if tears is all this ends in. [...] To be sure, when the implications of the $850+ billion student loan bubble blowing up spread through the financial markets, it will make subprime seem like a tame walk in the park. Of course, nobody will care about it until it is too late. Just like every other time because this time is never different.[...] "  

Commentary: "Centuries Of Open Justice In UK Threatened By Secret Courts After Lobbying By CIA" [10/20/11] "Secret justice looks set to be a regular feature of British courts and tribunals when the intelligence services want to protect their sources of information. Civil courts, immigration panels and even coroner's inquests would go into secret session if the Government rules that hearing evidence in public could be a threat to national security. The proposals, which run counter to a centuries-old British tradition of open justice, were introduced to a sparsely attended House of Commons yesterday by the Justice Secretary, Ken Clarke – and met almost no opposition. The planned changes to the British justice system follow lobbying of the Government by the CIA. Civil rights groups warned a serious potential threat to individual liberty lurked behind the all-party consensus. Mr Clarke is seeking to protect the Government from a repeat of a fiasco which has cost tens of millions of pounds and led to a breakdown in co-operation between British intelligence and an enraged CIA. The best-known case involved Binyam Mohamed, a British resident who was held in Guantanamo Bay for five years, and started a claim for damages from the UK Government, which he accused of complicity in torture.The Court of Appeal released a summary of CIA intelligence which supported Mr Mohamed's claim that British intelligence officers knew about the torture of suspected terrorists.[...]"  

Legal Case: "Cops on the Hook for Pointing Guns at Kids " [10/19/11] "A group of Chicago police officers armed with weapons and a warrant violated the Constitution and may face sanctions for barging into the wrong house and threatening to shoot a mother and her kids, a federal judge ruled. [...]" 

MSM: "Greece Inches Closer To The Abyss: Austerity Measures May Be Final ‘Death-Spiral’" [10/19/11] "Greece risks sliding into a “death spiral” if the government continues to slash salaries and lay off workers instead of cracking down on tax evasion and raising money from the rich, the head of the biggest public sector union said Tuesday. Speaking ahead of a 48-hour general strike called to protest tough new austerity measures, due to be approved this week, Costas Tsikrikas, head of the 500,000-strong ADEDY union, accused Prime Minister George Papandreou’s Socialist government of blindly pursuing austerity measures that would plunge Greece deeper into recession. “This will exacerbate recession, unemployment and state revenues will continue to fall, creating a death spiral. It must not continue,” Tsikrikas told Reuters in an interview and urged lawmakers to reject the package when it is voted in parliament Wednesday and Thursday. Tsikrikas said the latest measures, which include tax hikes and pay and pensions cuts, would wipe out any hope of growth for the stricken Greek economy, crushed by debt and now in its third year of recession. “All we’re doing every time is waiting for the troika to release the next tranche,” he said, referring to inspectors from the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund which visit Athens every three months to assess whether Greece deserves new bailout loans. “The government has to call on the rich to contribute. Workers look more like squeezed lemons now, they can’t take it anymore,” he said. “The state must take the money from those who have the income to pay the taxes. The rich, the big companies that use the workforce of this country,” Tsikrikas said. “Don’t they owe the country and its people something?” He also urged more action on endemic tax evasion, particularly rife among professions such as doctors and lawyers, where under-the-table cash payments — known in Greece as fakelaki or “little envelopes” — are standard practice to avoid declaring income. “People are right to want justice, the burden equally shared, a just tax system and a crackdown on tax evasion,” he said. Tsikrikas rejected any suggestion that Greece should leave the euro zone and return to the drachma, which would allow its currency to devaluate and become more competitive. He said Greece’s European partners needed to continue supporting it in the interests of the bloc. “It is the EU’s duty to help, because this is how it also helps Europe as a whole and the common currency,” he said. The general strike, called by ADEDY and the main private sector union GSEE, is expected to  [...]" 

MSM: "Occupy Wall Street: Second Senior NYPD Officers Faces Investigation" [10/18/11] "A second senior New York police officer is being formally investigated over allegations that he assaulted an Occupy Wall Street protester, raising fresh questions over the NYPD's deployment of supervisors on the front line in volatile public order situations. The officer, who has been named in news reports as deputy inspector Johnny Cardona, was filmed on Friday grabbing the protester from behind, spinning him round and appearing to punch him in the face so hard that he fell to the ground. The New York Civilian Complaint Review Board, an independent mayoral agency that deals with allegations of excessive or unnecessary force against police, is now investigating the incident, along with a number of other complaints over policing of the protests. This is the second inquiry the board has launched in the last month into an alleged assault by a senior NYPD officer on Occupy Wall Street protesters. It is also investigating the use of pepper spray on peaceful female protesters by another deputy inspector, Anthony Bologna, who is also the subject of an internal NYPD inquiry. [...]"  

Commentary: "Meet the Guy Who Snitched on Occupy Wall Street to the FBI and NYPD" [10/17/11] "The Occupy Wall Street protests have been going on for a month. And it seems the FBI and NYPD have had help tracking protesters' moves thanks to a conservative computer security expert who gained access to one of the group's internal mailing lists, and then handed over information on the group's plans to authorities and corporations targeted by protesters. Since the Occupy Wall Street protest began on September 17, New York security consultant Thomas Ryan has been waging a campaign to infiltrate and discredit the movement. Ryan says he's done contract work for the U.S. Army and he brags on his blog that he leads "a team called Black Cell, a team of the most-highly trained and capable physical, threat and cyber security professionals in the world." But over the past few weeks, he and his computer security buddies have been spending time covertly attending Occupy Wall Street meetings, monitoring organizers' social media accounts, and hanging out with protesters in Lower Manhattan. [...]"  

Commentary: "12 Most Absurd Laws Used to Stifle the Occupy Wall St. Movement " Rania Khalek [10/17/11] "As Occupy Wall Street protests spring up in cities across the country, authorities are thinking up creative ways to contain this peaceful and inspiring uprising. Although laws and municipal ordinances vary from city to city, there is a consistency in the tactics being used to stifle the movement. More importantly, as demonstrated by the protesters at Zuccotti Park who kept strong in the face of a looming eviction that never came to fruition, these maneuvers are not working.  Still, there is no shortage of justifications and rationales behind the constantly evolving schemes being implemented to destroy the spirit of Occupy Wall Street. Here are 12 desperate and unsuccessful measures the authorities are using to discourage, deter and crack down on peaceful protests. [...]" 

MSM: "BBC Documentary: Catholic Church Stole 300,000 Babies From Mothers to Sell to Adoptive Parents in Spain" [10/17/11] "Up to 300,000 Spanish babies were stolen from their parents and sold for adoption over a period of five decades, a new investigation reveals. The children were trafficked by a secret network of doctors, nurses, priests and nuns in a widespread practice that began during General Franco’s dictatorship and continued until the early Nineties. Hundreds of families who had babies taken from Spanish hospitals are now battling for an official government investigation into the scandal. Several mothers say they were told their first-born children had died during or soon after they gave birth.  [...] There are men and women across Spain whose lives have been turned upside-down by discovering the people they thought were their parents actually bought them for cash. There are also many mothers who have maintained for years that their babies did not die – and were labelled “hysterical” – but are now discovering that their child has probably been alive and brought up by somebody else all this time.’ " Note: Sounds like a proto-slave trade ... selling kidnapped people for a profit.

MSM: "US Congress In Jitters Over OWS" [10/17/11] [2:37] "The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) protest movement has reached a critical point, greatly disturbing the Democrat and Republican members of the US Congress alike, a political analysts tells Press TV's US desk.  [...]"  

MSM: "Banks Demolishing And Trying To Give Wrecked, Looted Homes Away" [10/16/11] "Cleveland — The sight of excavators tearing down vacant buildings has become common in this foreclosure-ravaged city, where the housing crisis hit early and hard. But the story behind the recent wave of demolitions is novel — and cities around the country are taking notice. A handful of the nation’s largest banks have begun giving away scores of properties that are abandoned or otherwise at risk of languishing indefinitely and further dragging down already depressed neighborhoods. The banks have even been footing the bill for the demolitions — as much as $7,500 a pop. Four years into the housing crisis, the ongoing expense of upkeep and taxes, along with costly code violations and the price of marketing the properties, has saddled banks with a heavy burden. It often has become cheaper to knock down decaying homes no one wants. The demolitions in some cases have paved the way for community gardens, church additions and parking lots. Even when the result is an empty lot, it can be one less pockmark. While some widespread demolitions could risk hollowing out the urban core of struggling cities such as Cleveland, advocates say that the homes being targeted are already unsalvageable and that the bulldozers are merely “burying the dead.” [...]"  

MSM: "UK Facing Biggest Income Drop in 35 Years" [10/16/11] "In the next two years, the U.K. faces the largest drop in income in the last 35 years, according to a report by the economic think tank Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Median income is expected to fall by around 7 percent, in the period between 2009–2010 and 2012–2013, as absolute poverty is forecast to rise by 1.4 million. Around 600,000 children are expected to have dropped below the poverty line by the end of the current three-year period, according to the IFS report—the highest child poverty rates for over 10 years. [...]"  

MSM: "Thousands Protest Banks, Corporate Greed In U.S. Marches" [10/16/11] "Inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, protests on Saturday started in Asia and rippled through Europe back to the United States and Canada. Protesters fed up with economic inequality took to the streets in cities from Washington, Boston and Chicago to Los Angeles, Miami and Toronto. After weeks of intense media coverage, the size of the U.S. protests on Saturday have been smaller than G20 meetings or political conventions have yielded in recent years. Such events often draw tens of thousands of demonstrators. [...]"  

Concepts and Practices: "China’s ‘Education Centers’ Places of Torture and Death" Epoch Times [10/16/11] "A Sichuan woman in her fifties was forcibly admitted by Chinese authorities to a so-called Legal Education Center for brainwashing. Ten days later, she was dead, her body black and blue from beatings. Ms. Wang Mingrong, a head nurse at Chengdu Rehabilitation Hospital, who practiced Falun Gong, was abducted on Sept. 7 by personnel from the notorious ‘610’ Office, which is in charge of eradicating Falun Gong in China, and by officers from the local police and street neighborhood committee, a sort of spy agency that keeps track of what everyone in the neighborhood is doing. Wang was taken to the Chengdu City Legal Education Center (LEC), a facility, which is used for detaining and brainwashing Falun Gong practitioners. [...]" 

MSM: "First Video Of 'Occupy Rome' Rally Turning Violent" [10/15/11] [3:15] "Protesters wearing masks and helmets threw rocks, bottles and other objects at police in riot gear. Some wielded clubs, while others were armed with hammers. The demonstration against the government’s economic policy, with a crowd estimated at 200,000, descended into violent chaos when groups of angry protesters set cars on fire, smashed windows and attacked shops. Protesters also attacked the Defense Ministry and set a wing of the building on fire. [...]"  Related:"Violence Erupts in Rome; 200,000 Hit the Streets; Protesters Clash with Riot Police" "... Witnesses said the violence was caused by several dozen hooded radicals known as “black blocs”, who wear black clothing to hide their identities and have been involved in the organising process of protests since early in the movement. [...]"  Note:  Agents provocateur ... police or elements of the state who have to hide their identity, creating more violence in order to 'require' a large clampdown response.

MSM: "Indignant" Protests To Sweep Across World" [10/15/11] "... street protests will be held October 15 in 719 cities across 71 countries in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and Africa. The protests first took hold in Spain, with a jobless rate of 20.89 percent, rising to 46.1 percent for 16-24 year olds, where activists built ramshackle camps in city squares including Puerta del Sol. Then they spread to Europe, finding strong backing in crisis-hit countries like Greece, and then worldwide — last month reaching the centre of global capitalism in Wall Street. [...]"  

MSM: "UK Company Accused Of Sacking Workers 'Because They Were British'" [10/15/11] "A UK-based cleaning company has been accused of sacking two workers because they are British. Conservative MP Henry Smith used parliamentary privilege to claim Jani-King, based in Kingston-upon-Thames in Surrey, fired the duo simply because they were from Britain. [...]" 

MSM: "EU Considering Massive Cuts To Food Aid For Poor" [10/15/11] "The European Union is considering a roughly 75 percent cut in funding for a program that helps feed 18 million of its poorest citizens. [...]"  Note: Zero ethics left, with the leaders of the EU.

Commentary: "Grim Reality Of Life Under Alabama's Brutal Immigration Law" [10/15/11] "Under the new law, police have to check the immigration papers of anyone "suspicious" they stop for a routine traffic violation – a missing brake light, perhaps, or parking on the wrong spot. [...] thousands of Hispanic families in Alabama are trapped in a sort of half-life while they wait to see what will happen in the courts to the new law, HB56. Both the US department of justice and a coalition of local groups are challenging the clampdown at the 11th circuit appeals court in Atlanta, Georgia. The court must decide whether to allow the new law to stand or to block it pending higher judgment by the US supreme court; its ruling is expected by the end of this week. ... Undocumented immigrants are also forbidden from entering into a transaction with the state, which has already led some town halls to demand residents produce their papers or risk losing water supply. Schools have been instructed to check the immigration status of new pupils as young as four. .... Across the state this week, poultry and meat processing plants, including the giant Tyson, have been closed or put on limited production schedules because of an unofficial walkout by Hispanic workers. In the north of the state, the pungent smell of rotting tomatoes hangs in the air across huge tranches of land that has been virtually abandoned by workers who, through fear or anger, are no longer turning up to gather the harvest. Just how long this standoff will continue, and what happens to the thousands of families caught in limbo, will depend largely on what the 11th circuit appeals court rules, and ultimately on the final say of the US supreme court. [...]" 

Exposé: "Former NYPD Detective Testifies: "We Fabricated Drug Charges Against Innocent People To Meet Arrest Quotas" [10/14/11] "A former NYPD narcotics detective snared in a corruption scandal testified it was common practice to fabricate drug charges against innocent people to meet arrest quotas. The bombshell testimony from Stephen Anderson is the first public account of the twisted culture behind the false arrests in the Brooklyn South and Queens narc squads, which led to the arrests of eight cops and a massive shakeup. Anderson, testifying under a cooperation agreement with prosecutors, was busted for planting cocaine, a practice known as "flaking," on four men in a Queens bar in 2008 to help out fellow cop Henry Tavarez, whose buy-and-bust activity had been low. [...] A federal judge presiding over the suit said the NYPD's plagued by "widespread falsification" by arresting officers.[...]"  

Legal Case: "EU Court Calls For Way To ID Cops, Even In Masks" [10/14/11]   "Masked Bulgarian officers who threatened a family in their home should have at least worn anonymous identification, Europe's human rights court said. Wearing masks and bearing guns, police burst into Aleksandar Histrov's Burgas, Bulgaria, apartment in February 2004. The officers apparently beat him and pointed a gun at his 5-year-old daughter and the child's mother, Histrov's wife, telling her to make the child stop screaming. [...] Regarding allegations of intimidation and threats, however, the court stated that it had "serious reservations about using masked and armed police officers," especially in the familial setting of the Histrovi's apartment. The court noted serious shortcomings both in the investigation of police abuse and Bulgarian law. In particular, the family should have been interviewed - which it never was, the court said. It also found that the criminal law system had allowed the psychological suffering of a child "to escape accountability." The court determined that the officers who carried out the raid should at least have displayed an anonymous means of identification, such as a badge number. The court ordered Bulgaria to pay about $20,000 to the family. Under the European Union legal framework, member countries are not required to enforce a uniform police-identification policy. " 

MSM: "German Officials Admit Using Spyware On Citizens, As Big Brother Scandal Grows" [10/13/11] "A government surveillance software scandal that erupted in Germany this weekend has spread beyond that nation's borders, raising questions about how far government officials around the globe might go to monitor citizens through spyware. On Saturday, as reported on MSNBC.com, the German-based Chaos Computer Club announced it had examined a Trojan horse program allegedly spread by government officials to secretly spy on citizens' Internet travels, e-mail, chat and more. The software, originally intended only to help officials intercept Internet phone calls through legal wiretaps, went far beyond those permissible purposes, the hacker group alleged. The group called the government's use of the software outrageous and demanded it be destroyed immediately. Since Saturday, new details have emerged which largely confirm suspicions raised by the hacker group. That has German officials calling for an investigation. "Clearly the limits set by the Federal Constitutional Court have been massively violated," said Claudia Roth, co-leader of the Green Party, according to Der Spiegel's online edition [...]"  

Alex Jones Interviews: "Lord Mockton: End of Democracy in England" [10/13/11] [15:18] Part 2 [9:52] Part 3 [12:13]| Note: Lord Monckton discusses the tyrannical over reach of the EU. 

Commentary: "Webster Tarpley: "Occupy Wall Street" Is On Its Way To Being Co-Opted" [10/12/11] Tarpley on Wall Street Protests Press TV [24:25] "Media spokesmen for the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations claimed that their operation is totally transparent, with everything subject to democratic discussion in a general assembly of all comers. But eyewitness reports from experienced observers on the ground in lower Manhattan indicate a much different reality behind these bland assurances. Forces appeared to be at work behind the scenes to manipulate the protest movement into a posture of supporting the presidential candidacy of Wall Street puppet Obama. Eyewitness observers suggest that the deliberations of the general assembly are largely a diversion, and that real power is being increasingly concentrated in the hands of about 20 mysterious and anonymous individuals who appear to make up a kind of covert steering committee that pulls the strings on the general assembly, or else goes around it completely. The secret leadership is made up of people ranging in age from 25 to over 40, with the older ones occupying the key posts. Many of them appear to be active duty or recently retired military. Two individuals who appear to belong to the higher levels of the pecking order in Zuccotti Park are pictured above. [...]"  Note: These guys look like intel stooges or agent provocateurs. 

MSM: "6 Million in U.S. Could Lose Unemployment Benefits In 2012" [10/12/11] "Millions of unemployed Americans are waiting for Congress to do something other than trade barbs over their job creation plans. If lawmakers don't act soon, the jobless see their unemployment checks start to disappear come January. More than 6 million Americans are set to lose federal unemployment benefits in 2012, with 1.8 million running out in January alone, according to new figures from the National Employment Law Project. President Obama's $447 billion American Jobs Act would extend the deadline to file for federal unemployment benefits for another year. Though the Senate is expected to take up the controversial jobs bill on Tuesday, it's unlikely to get very far. While many Washington observers say the administration's jobs bill is dead in the water, it's possible the unemployment extension could be separated and sent through on its own, or as part of another bill before year's end. The extension is estimated to cost $44 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Extending unemployment insurance is one of the few areas that has some bipartisan support. While some Republicans and conservative experts feel that jobless benefits dissuade people from taking new jobs, many lawmakers are hesitant to cut off the checks when unemployment remains at a stubbornly high 9.1%. [...]"  

MSM: "Fed Judge's OK Of Ban On Ads Critical Of Israel To Be Appealed" [10/12/11] "The ACLU plans to challenge a federal ruling that approved a county decision to pull bus ads critical of Israel's policies. Opponents of the ads had threatened, "You want war against the Jewish people? You got it." [...]"  

UK: "Top Medics Condemn Health Reforms" [10/11/11] "More than 60 leading medical professionals have demanded that the Government's "unpopular and undemocratic" health reforms, which return to Westminster today, be either scrapped or heavily rewritten. Their call, in a letter to The Independent, increases the pressure on Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, who faces widespread opposition in the House of Lords to the planned overhaul. Signatories include consultants, surgeons, psychiatrists and paediatricians, as well as midwives and family doctors. They have joined forces with public figures including the actors Julie Christie and David Morrissey, the comedian Russell Brand and the fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood to demand a halt to the reforms. They say that, despite a series of amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill, Mr Lansley's plans still do not have the support of the public or the profession. [...]"  

MSM: "US Food Supply Threatened: Foreign Insects, Diseases Got Into US Post 9/11" [10/11/11] "Dozens of foreign insects and plant diseases slipped undetected into the United States in the years after 9/11, when authorities were so focused on preventing another attack that they overlooked a pest explosion that threatened the quality of the nation's food supply. At the time, hundreds of agricultural scientists responsible for stopping invasive species at the border were reassigned to anti-terrorism duties in the newly formed Homeland Security Department — a move that scientists say cost billions of dollars in crop damage and eradication efforts from California vineyards to Florida citrus groves. The consequences come home to consumers in the form of higher grocery prices, substandard produce and the risk of environmental damage from chemicals needed to combat the pests. An Associated Press analysis of inspection records found that border-protection officials were so engrossed in stopping terrorists that they all but ignored the country's exposure to destructive new insects and infections — a quietly growing menace that has been attacking fruits and vegetables and even prized forests ever since. [...]" 

Commentary:  "Mainstream Media Ignores Occupy Wall Street" [10/10/11]   [2:52]  "The purpose of the media to is to inform its viewers of the important issues that are occurring in the world around them. Why does the MSM refuse to give Occupy Wall Street the coverage it deserves? Should the new iphone, Amanda Knox and Chris Christie be dominating the headlines? Kristine Frazao shares some thoughts. [...]" 

MSM: "Cain Calls Occupy Wall Street Protesters Anti-American" [10/10/11] "Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain claimed Sunday that the Occupy Wall Street protests going on in New York City and across the country were a conspiracy designed to help Barack Obama. “The proof is quite simply the bankers and the people on Wall Street didn’t write these failed policies of the Obama administration,” Cain told CBS’ Bob Schieffer. “So it’s a distraction. So many people won’t focus on the failed policies of this administration.” [...]"  Note: What part of the rejection of the futility of ceaseless accumulation of capital and degradation of society does this flunkie not understand? Related: "Is a ‘Cain Mutiny’ Underway In The GOP?"  "Herman Cain is the latest “big thing” for a frustrated Republican Party searching frantically for a contender — any contender — to unseat President Barack Obama. Meanwhile, former flavor of the month Rick Perry is plummeting in the polls.  [...]"  Note: Yeah, the plan is to face Obama off against wackier people and get him elected again, infuriating at least the whole country. No provision is made in the American system for running actually viable candidates. With no real choice, it becomes an open fabrication, repeated time and time again, for the benefit of the stupid, who allow it.

MSM: "GOP Rep Peter King: "We Can’t Allow More Coverage Of Occupy Wall Street, Or They Will Win" [10/10/11] [1:22] "It’s really important for us not to give any legitimacy to these people in the streets,” said King on Laura Ingraham’s radio show Friday evening. “I remember what happened in the 1960s when the left-wing took to the streets and somehow the media glorified them and it ended up shaping policy. We can’t allow that to happen.” [...]"  Note: Rabid attack dog Congressman Peter King (R-NY), chief of the Homeland Security Committee, with Laura Ingraham - Oct. 7, 2011. King behaves like a psychopathic idiot ... another brainless minion cog in the wheel of manipulative stupidity. Ingraham is no better, going on about 'union thuggery' ...

MSM: "High School's New Rules Give Failing Kids Credits Toward Graduation" [10/10/11]   "A low-performing Manhattan high school that was granted up to $6 million in extra funds to undergo a “transformation” has found the secret formula for success: Dumb down the requirements for students to pass. [...]"  

Commentary: "The Truth About Expiration Dates” by Dr. Bones of Doom & Bloom" [10/10/11] "... Expiration dates have been mandated for medications since 1979. This is what they mean: The expiration date is the last date that the pharmaceutical company will guarantee that the drug is at 100% full potency. There is nothing, except in very rare cases, that suggests that there is anything harmful about that medication if used after that date. They don’t magically become poisonous or cause you to grow a third eye in the middle of your forehead. Now that you know that, the question is whether the drug loses its beneficial effects and how fast it does so. FEMA has seen massive stores of medication expire, and so a study was commissioned to find out how effective these expired medications still were. This study is known as the Shelf Life Extension Program (SLEP). This program has evaluated at least 100 medications that were expired for at least 2 to 10 years at the time they were evaluated. This includes many commonly used antibiotics and other medications that could mean the difference between life and death in a collapse situation. “After extensive study, the vast majority of these medications were found to be effective for their intended use, including some that were 10 years beyond their expiration date. ... “Liquid medications are different, such as insulin or liquid pediatric antibiotics; their formulation causes them to degrade too quickly. A sign of this is a change in the color of the liquid, among other things. Try not to accumulate drugs in liquid form, if at all possible. “Planning ahead, we all must consider all alternatives in the effort to stay healthy in hard times. Don’t ignore any option that can help you achieve that goal.” [...]"  Note: This is useful to know if you happen to use these substances. If your quality of life depends on something, while you're here, logically, you might as well not run out of what you need.

MSM: "US Protests Spread To 1,000 Cities" [10/09/11] "Anti-corruption protests in the US, which started from the Wall Street in New York, have now spread to 1,000 cities across the country, US activists report. The "Occupy Wall Street" movement started its demonstrations about four weeks ago and it has continued gatherings until now. As of Friday morning, the website "Occupy Together," a hub for nationwide events in solidarity with "Occupy Wall Street" reported gatherings in 1,000 cities, Democracy Now reported. On Thursday, activists kicked off the "October 2011" protest by occupying Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC. Demonstrators protest against corporatism, unemployment, poverty and social inequality among other things. They blame Wall Street practices and corporate influence on White House policies for the deepening US economic crisis. "We need to stop investing in privatization. We need to start worrying about the 99 percent of the population. We need to start investing our money into social welfare programs,” one protester said. The members of the Occupy Wall Street movement have vowed to stay out through winter.  [...]"  Note:  Notice how the DHS is not yet directly involved with this, as yet ... a ruse is due.

UK: "Scotland Yard: Almost 3,000 People Arrested Following London Riots" [10/09/11] "Almost 3,000 people suspected of offences in London during the August riots have been arrested, according to new figures. One of the Metropolitan Police officers leading the inquiry - which has now been in place for two months - described the investigation as "a marathon". Detective chief superintendent Christopher Greany said Operation Withern consisted of "a strong robust team" looking for anyone involved in the riots and looting which spread across the capital, before affecting other areas of England. [...]"  

RT Interview: "OWS: Beginning Of A Revolution In The US?" [10/09/11]   [7:51] "The Occupy Wall Street movement is gaining momentum nation-wide. It originated in New York but has spread to Los Angeles and smaller cities across the country, including Portland, Orlando and elsewhere, Arun Gupta of the Indypendent newspaper joins RT's Lauren Lyster from New York to talk more about the phenomena. [...]"  

Webster Tarpley: "How 'Occupy Wall Street' Can Create a General Strike to Dump Obama"  Press TV[10/09/11]   [24:25]    

Commentary: "A Philosophical Comment on the 'Manifesto' and Focus of the US Protesters" [10/08/11] [28:57]  "Canadian Philosopher Stefan Molyneux addresses/analyses the supposed ' manifesto' of Occupy Wall Street. Although it may be an over simplification of the situation that we face, Molyneux makes many worthwhile points that the State is ultimately the enforcement arm of corporations; therefore, the people should focus on reigning in the power of State.[...]" 

Interview: "Rob Cohen: How America's Middle Class Was Destroyed" [10/08/11] [14:56] Part 2 [14:35]| Part 3 [14:53]| Part 4 [15:00] "Turning the US into a Third World Country ... Planned Demolition of the US Economy was No Accident [...]"  

Commentary: "To Serve and Protect: America’s Institutional Fallacy" [10/08/11] "... We see it emblazoned on police cruisers, and politicians and judges swear oaths to it : To Serve and Protect is more than a catch phrase, it is a promise to those who put them in their place of power and pay out of their own hard work the labor entailed in its performance. It seems of late, though, that the same people who only have power because We have given it to them, are abusing and misusing their posts to bring about a new structure of governing contradictory to the very essence of this great nation. ... If truth be told though, they are just an arm of our government, acting under their jurisdiction, direction and empowerment of the laws and codes of their legislative (mis)conduct. [...]"  

Commentary: "National Police Misconduct News Feed Daily Recap" [10/07/11] "Here are the 23 reports of police misconduct tracked in our National Police Misconduct News Feed for this Wednesday, October 5, 2011: [...]" 

Trends: "Feds Order All Calif. Medical-Marijuana Outlets To Close" [10/07/11] "Federal prosecutors have launched a crackdown on pot dispensaries in California, warning the stores that they must shut down in 45 days or face criminal charges and confiscation of their property even if they are operating legally under the state's 15-year-old medical marijuana law. In an escalation of the ongoing conflict between the U.S. government and the nation's burgeoning medical marijuana industry, at least 16 pot shops or their landlords received letters this week stating they are violating federal drug laws, even though medical marijuana is legal in California. The state's four U.S. attorneys were scheduled Friday to announce a broader coordinated crackdown. [...]"  Related: Obama Administration Curbs Medical Marijuana On Multiple Fronts And Through Multiple Agencies" | "IRS Threatens To Crush The Whole Medical Marijuana Industry"  

US Politics: "'Anyone' Can See Economy's Improving, DNC Chair Insists" [10/06/11] "DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz insisted to CNSNews.com yesterday that “anyone’ can see that the economy is improving and sought to interpret what Pres. Obama really meant when he admitted Monday that Americans were not better off today than four years ago. “Well, what President Obama said was that certainly since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, that Americans are not better off,” Wasserman Schultz told CNSNews.com. “That was specifically the president’s comment. I thought. And I think anyone who looks at the economy knows we have come a long way. “We are certainly no longer dropping like a rock like we were in the months leading up to President Obama taking office,” Wasserman Schultz continued. “And now we’ve begun to turn the corner.” [...]"  Note: Sequential reincarnated retread Schultz is either delusional, on some serious drugs, or both, considering her propagandizing.

Exposé: " Business School Grads Real Education Suspect" [10/06/11]   "The most difficult thing about attending Wharton Business School? Getting in. After that, you're golden. A recent paper by two Wharton professors reveals that, thanks to a non-disclosure agreement preventing grades from ever being revealed, students often don't read their assignments or prepare for class, Dealbreaker reports. Voted on by the students themselves in the early 1990s, the policy takes advantage of Wharton's name-brand recognition and selectivity. According to the study, the amount of time spent on academics fell by 22% in the first four years after grade non-disclosure was implemented. While students at a less-selective MBA program might benefit from the individualization of class ranks or higher grades, the two Wharton professors say that those enrolled at an elite school profit enough from the prestige.  After all, the median starting salary for a Wharton grad is around $145,000 (not including signing bonuses). According to the Wharton graduate association website, " non-disclosure exists to "promote cooperative spirit and emphasize long-term learning."  But statistically, it's only students at elite schools who seem to feel this way. Currently 7 of the top 10 business schools have a grade non-disclosure policy. This differs from the situation of law and medical students, who face the prospect of important tests post-graduation no matter what. For them, studying is made worthwhile regardless of whether grades are declared. [...]"  

MSM: "Judge Halts Welfare Cuts For 41,000 Michigan Residents" [10/05/11] "A federal judge today accused the state of "sleight of hand," and halted plans to end welfare benefits to nearly 41,000 Michigan residents. U.S. District Judge Paul Borman determined after a hearing today that the state failed to give proper notice to those it planned to cut off, and although the issue was brought to the federal court in a lawsuit filed by just three plaintiffs, the judge also granted class status to include everyone affected by the state's decision. Lawyers for the government declined to discuss after the hearing how the state will respond. The judge's order requires the state to send new notices to all those affected — and this time the state must include a copy of a new policy that dictates the changes. Borman said it was unfair that the new policy wasn't made public until Oct. 1, long after those effected were required to file protests. The recipients of federal funds distributed by the state received notice of the cuts on Sept. 11, saying they had 90 days to request a hearing to protest. But, the actual time to ask for a hearing, without suffering benefit cutoffs was just nine days. The payments for some were set to end tomorrow (Oct. 5). A lawyer who represented the three plaintiffs said the order will give the thousands affected by the cuts a better understanding of what to do and how to protest. It also gives those opposed to the cuts more time to suggest alternatives and to mount a continuing legal battle.
"The court recognized the important rights at issue here and was willing to take action to protect all these families and children," said Jackie Doig, with the Saginaw-based Center of Civil Justice. [...]" 

Legal Case: "California: Appeals Court Approves Cell Phone Search During Traffic Stop" [10/05/11] "The California Court of Appeal on September 26 approved a police officer's rifling through the cell phone belonging to someone who had just been pulled over for a traffic violation. [...]" 

MSM: "Wall Street Protest Movement Spreads To Cities Across US, Canada And Europe" [10/05/11] "...The core group, Occupy Wall Street (OWS), claims people will take part in demonstrations in as many as 147 US cities this month, while the website occupytogether.org lists 47 US states as being involved. Around the world, protests in Canada, the UK, Germany and Sweden are also planned, they say. The speed of the leaderless movement's growth has taken many by surprise. The website,   one of several sites associated with the protest, has had to be rebuilt to accommodate the traffic. OWS media spokesman Patrick Bruner said: "We have on our board right now 147 US cities. I don't know whether they are occupied or they are planning on being occupied. My guess would be over 30 cities are occupied." The original call by the Canadian magazine Adbusters to occupy Wall Street drew hundreds of protesters on 17 September and 2,000 attended a march the following Saturday. But the movement, which organisers say has its roots in the Arab spring and in Madrid's Puerta del Sol protests, has been galvanised by recent media attention. [...]"  

MSM: "Four States To Raise Minimum Wage" [10/04/11] "Four states have announced that they will be raising their minimum wage rates for 2012, led by Washington state, which will become the first in the country with a minimum wage over $9 per hour. The 37-cent bump in Washington will hike the wage to $9.04, or $1.79 per hour more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. The raise will mean an additional $770 annually for a full-time minimum-wage worker in the state. Workers will also see a modest hike of between 28 and 30 cents in Colorado, Ohio and Montana, as well as in Oregon, which announced a wage raise on Sept. 15. In those states as well as in Washington, the higher rates trump the federal rate. The new raises are all due to cost-of-living adjustments written into state wage laws. Similar hikes are expected to be announced next month in Arizona, Florida and Vermont. [...]"  Note: This will simply increase unemployment.

MSM: "Britain: Sharp Rise in Demand for Food Handouts from Poverty-Stricken Families" [10/04/11] "Britain has seen a sharp increase in the number of people unable to afford to feed themselves at the most basic level, thanks to the worsening economic climate and changes to the benefit system, according to a survey by a leading food charity. In the past year FareShare, which redistributes waste food from major food manufacturers and supermarkets to social care charities, has seen a 20% rise in the number of people it is feeding – from 29,500 a year to 35,000. And many of those, blighted by rising unemployment and business failures, are coming from the sorts of stable family backgrounds once considered immune to the worst effects of recession. [...]" 

Legal Case: "California Culinary Arts Faces Harrowing Suit" [10/03/11] "The companies that run a for-profit culinary college in California run the school like a used-car lot, preying on vulnerable students who dream of becoming celebrity chefs, saddling them with loans they cannot pay back, and working the admissions staff to the bone, 21 recruiters claim in Los Angeles Superior Court. [...]"  

UK: "Home Secretary Theresa May Wants End To Human Rights Act " [10/03/11] "Home Secretary Theresa May has risked angering Liberal Democrat Cabinet colleagues by throwing her weight behind calls for the Human Rights Act to be scrapped. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, she said she would "personally" like to see it go because of the problems it has presented the Home Office. Her comments, on the eve of the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, will endear her to many Tories infuriated by its use by foreign criminals to avoid deportation. [...] Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights organisation Liberty, said: "Modern Conservatives should think again about human rights values that were truly Churchill's legacy. Only a pretty 'nasty party' would promote human rights in the Middle East whilst scrapping them at home. [...] "  

MSM: "‘White Shirts’ of Police Dept. Take On Enforcer Role" [10/03/11] "New York police commanders have been observed grabbing protesters or initiating arrests at Wall Street protests.  [...]"  

MSM: "Some 'Occupy Wall Street' 'Protesters' Call For Totalitarian Government, Re-Election Of Obama" [10/03/11] "Despite their honest intentions, many of the Occupy Wall Street protesters are being suckered into a trap and calling for the very “solutions” that are part of the financial elite’s agenda to torpedo the American middle class – higher taxes and more big government. Watch the clip below in which journalist Adam Kokesh talks to Occupy Wall Street protesters. The ignorance displayed in these interviews knows no bounds. The protesters just don’t get it. They are calling for the government to use force to impose their ideas, all in the name of bringing down corporations who they don’t realize have completely bought off government regulators. Corporations and government enjoy a mutually beneficial relationship – getting one to regulate the other is asinine and only hurts smaller businesses who are legitimately trying to compete in a free market economy that barely exists. The zeal for totalitarian government amongst some of the “protesters” is shocking. One sign being carried around read, “A government is an entity which holds the monopolistic right to initiate force,” which seems a little ironic when protesters complain about being physically assaulted by police in the same breath. One woman interviewed by Kokesh also announces her intention to help Obama to capture a second term. How can a self-proclaimed Occupy Wall Street protester simultaneously support the man whose 2008 campaign was bankrolled by Wall Street, whose 2012 campaign is reliant on Wall Street to an even greater extent, and whose cabinet was filled with Wall Street operatives? Something is very wrong with this picture. The usual suspects, mega-rich foundations and elitists, behind the young radicals have also started to emerge – George Soros, The Ruckus Society, the Tides Foundation and the Ford Foundation. [...]" Included: Watch Alex Jones’ special broadcast in which he breaks down how the Occupy Wall Street protests are being run by the elite to distract Americans from the real source of the problem – the Federal Reserve. Jones has announced a nationwide Occupy the Fed rally and will personally be protesting Federal Reserve locations in Dallas, San Antonio and Houston this coming week.  Related: "Kokesh Educates 'Occupy' DC Protesters Who Want Obama Re-elected" [10/02/11] [10:00]  Note: Totally unaware and asleep people.

MSM: "Economic And Ethnic Tensions Spark Wave Of Protests Across The Globe" [10/03/11] "Greece was expected to unveil its plan on Sunday to begin laying off state workers, the most contentious part of a reform package demanded by the EU and IMF to free up loans and stave off bankruptcy. Without the release of an 8 billion euro ($10.7 billion)tranche of an EU bailout, massively indebted Greece could run out of money to pay state wage bills within weeks. [...] New York - Police reopened the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday evening after more than 700 anti-Wall Street protesters were arrested for blocking traffic lanes and attempting an unauthorized march across the span. The arrests took place when a large group of marchers, participating in a second week of protests by the Occupy Wall Street movement, broke off from others on the bridge’s pedestrian walkway and headed across the Brooklyn-bound lanes.[...] Portugal - Thousands demonstrated in Portugal Saturday against the government’s austerity measures amid projections that the economic situation is far worse than expected. Government and private sector workers rallied in Lisbon and Porto, following a call by the country’s largest trade union federation to speak out against policies it says have devastated “jobs, workers, pensions and social rights.  [...]  Bulgaria – The Bulgarian president says the National Security Council is holding an emergency meeting to discuss rising ethnic tensions as nationalist groups stage anti-Roma rallies across the country. According to a statement from Georgi Parvanov’s office on Saturday, the council is scheduled to shape “emergency measures to guarantee law and order in the country and prevent and counter ethnic tensions.”  [...] Israel - Approximately 2,000 Israeli Arabs, including members of Knesset and other top officials, participated in marches in the northern town of Sakhnin on Saturday to commemorate the October 2000 riots. The demonstrators waved Palestinian flags, chanted slogans decrying Israel, and held up photos of the 13 Israeli Arab protesters who were killed in clashes with Israeli police forces 11 years ago, at the start of the Second Intifada. Saturday’s demonstrators also called for the indictment of the policemen whom they claim were responsible for the killings.  [...]  Bolivia — Bolivian natives angry over plans to build a highway through an Amazon nature preserve resumed their protest march Saturday after a violent police crackdown a week ago, a top demo leader said. The march began at daybreak in the town of Quiquibey, some 300 kilometers (186 miles) northeast of La Paz, protest leader Rafael Quispe told AFP. Quispe said that the hundreds of protesters were moving toward the capital at a speed of around 20 kilometers (12 miles) a day. [...]  

MSM: "NJ Police Kill A Man Then Stifle First Amendment – Unleash Riot Police On Crowd Including Children" [10/03/11] [3:56]  "In response to last week’s killing of Barry Deloatch at the hands of 2 New Brunswick police officers, demonstrators rallied at the site he was shot dead. One of the rally’s organizers and an innocent bystander on her bicycle were arrested by an army of New Brunswick police officers in riot gear… for no good reason. The investigating authorities still have not said why the officers killed Deloatch shortly after midnight on September 22, nor have they released the officers’ names. Video shot by Sean Monahan of New Brunswick. [...]"

MSM: "Brutal Crackdown On Brooklyn Bridge, 700 Protesters Arrested" [10/02/11] [3:37] Note: Two things about this came to mind, today. The first thing is that, in reality, protests can also be seen as  "victimhood parades". Any instance in the history of this civilization where direct action has made a difference only came about when the people responsible for social disorder were themselves eliminated from the picture. So, group 'protests' are always without much effect. The second thing is that for years, now, the powers that be wanted protests to happen, so that they could justify an authoritarian response that would validate their 'war on terror and disorder', and all the billions that have been put into creating the security hierarchy. BUT, that protesting, in large part, WAS NOT happening, and THEY were frustrated ... so .. who is to say that the government can't arrange for a little display using patsies, in order to fill the gap? Now, in the larger sense, the people 'in control' are sequential reincarnated retreads, not simultaneous incarnations, and if you examine their astrological charts, they delineate lives in which they are NOT taken to task for what they do. In the end, things are the way the game is designed to be, for experiential purposes. THEY sink even deeper into their predispositions, and have to incarnate on another world and play in the game again. See how 'slow' the sequential path is ... yet of course those of us who are leaving the galaxy game started where they are, and would not be where we are now without that experience. Quite a test of 'allowance', across the board, on many levels, and from many perspectives, being here. Related: "MSNBC on NYPD Police Brutality during Occupy Wall Street" [9:34]  See how the NY Times altered their reporting of the situation on the Brooklyn Bridge.  JP Morgan also invested $400 million in Twitter stock, opting to control social networking ... and 'induce' incidents, etc., just the way the system likes to do. "J.P. Morgan Chase "Donates" $4.6 Million To NYPD"   See Banking and Finance panel, above, for details. | "Police Use Dirty Tricks To Round Up Hundreds Of Peaceful Occupy Wall Street Protesters As Wall Street Criminals Bribe NYPD" "... A 56-year-old psychotherapist from Brooklyn, Etan Ben-Ami, pointed out that police apparently consciously allowed protesters to claim the road before arresting them. Ben-Ami told the NYT, “They weren’t pushed back. It seemed that they moved at the same time.” Ben-Ami left the Brooklyn Bridge’s walkway to join the demonstrators on the road because, “It seemed completely permitted. There wasn’t a single policeman saying ‘don’t do this’.” He reveals why so many people were lulled into a false sense of security by police before the roundup occurred, “We thought they were escorting us because they wanted us to be safe.” [...]" |"Internet Firms Such As Google, Twitter And Facebook Co-opted For Surveillance"  | "The Video The Arrested Protesters Don't Want You To See" [0:48] " the protesters were warned by the cops, right up front, that entrance onto the bridge would get them arrested. We're sure the vast majority did not hear the cop, but still [...]" 

Update: "Webster Tarpley - World Crisis Radio" [10/02/11] Autoplay 6 Video clips [60:00] Note: broadcast on October 1st 2011.

MSM: "Gerald Celente: US Economy Is Going To Get Much Worse" [10/02/11]   [8:34] "A recent report reveals that the US created zero new jobs last month. The last time this happened was in 1945. The unemployment rate is still at 9.1% and projected numbers for the next year show the average unemployment rate at about 9%. With these numbers, many Americans question if President Obama's jobs creation plan, due to be unveiled next week, will have any effect on the economy. Gerald Celente, director at Trends Research Institute, helps us peer into the future. [...]"  

MSM: "US State Dept Bans Free Speech" [10/02/11]   [14:24] "Peter Van Buren has become one of the newest targets of the US Department of State. What did he do? He blogged. Van Buren posted a link to a publically available WikiLeaks diplomatic cable, but even after nearly a quarter of a century with the US government, they are opening up an investigation on him. Following the release of a new book from Van Buren, he talks to Lauren Lyster about what you can and can't say in the land of the free. [...]"  

MSM: "As NYPD Probes Footage Of Police Brutality, Recording The Cops Still A Felony In Illinois" [10/02/11] "People around the country are rightly outraged at NYPD Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna after multiple recordings of him indiscriminately pepper-spraying unarmed Occupy Wall Street protesters surfaced. If not for those recordings, Bologna would likely have never been identified and held accountable for his ruthless behavior. Meanwhile, in the state of Illinois residents are regularly arrested for recording on-duty police in public, regardless of the circumstances, thanks to a draconian eavesdropping law, which I wrote about extensively. Illinois is one of a handful of all-party consent states, where it is illegal to record a conversation unless everyone involved has given permission to do so. But the law is most restrictive in Illinois, where it is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison to record on-duty police officers.  [...]  It is widely recognized across the country that recording in public, where there is no expectation of privacy is guaranteed by the First Amendment, which is why the ACLU of Illinois is currently challenging the law. Judge Richard Posner of the 7th Circuit, who is on the panel hearing the case, was quoted by the Chicago Sun-Times as saying the following: A senior appeals court judge said Tuesday that if Illinois' eavesdropping law were expanded, gang bangers and "snooping" reporters would run rampant, secretly recording conversations unchecked. "If you permit the audio recordings, they'll be a lot more eavesdropping. … There's going to be a lot of this snooping around by reporters and bloggers," U.S. 7th Circuit Judge Richard Posner said. "Yes, it's a bad thing. There is such a thing as privacy." Given the brutality being dished out at peaceful protesters in Zuccotti Park, Judge Posner is clearly on the side of officers like Bologna and those who prefer to shield authority figures from any degree of accountability. "  

Study: "206 Million Europeans Suffer From Mental Illness" [10/02/11] "Europeans are plagued by mental and neurological illnesses, with almost 165 million people or 38 percent of the population suffering each year from a brain disorder such as depression, anxiety, insomnia or dementia, according to a large new study. [...]"    Note: More than likely, most of them are sequential reincarnates ...

MSM: "Denmark Introduces World's First Food Fat Tax" [10/02/11] "Denmark has introduced what is believed to be the world's first fat tax - a surcharge on foods that are high in saturated fat. Butter, milk, cheese, pizza, meat, oil and processed food are now subject to the tax if they contain more than 2.3% saturated fat. Some consumers began hoarding to beat the price rise, while some producers call the tax a bureaucratic nightmare. Others suggest that many Danes will simply start shopping abroad. Danish officials say they hope the new tax will help limit the population's intake of fatty foods. However, some scientists think saturated fat may be the wrong target. They say salt, sugar and refined carbohydrates are more detrimental to health and should be tackled instead. [...]"  

Commentary: "Rage Against Wall Street Crooks" [010/01/11] "Angry New Yorkers organized an initiative called "Occupy Wall Street." Beginning September 17, they called for "tak(ing) the bull by the horns," referring to the familiar New York financial district symbol. Its web site statement said: "The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%." [...]"  Related: Unions Join Occupy Wall Street" "The Occupy Wall Street movement is getting a whole lot bigger. A coalition of New York’s established unions is jumping on board, including the local branches of the United Federation of Teachers, Workers United, and the Transport Workers Union (200,000 people), Crain’s New York Business reports. This evening, many will join the protesters as they march on One Police Plaza to protest the headline-grabbing police brutality that has plagued the protests, WNYC reports. Many more will participate in a march from City Hall to Zuccotti Park next week. “It’s a responsibility for the progressive organizations in town to show their support,” the head of New York Communities for Change explained. But that’s not all; the movement is also expanding beyond New York. “Occupy” branded protests have been announced for this weekend in Washington DC, Boston, and LA among other places. [...]" | Planned OccupyDC Protest Hopes To Follow Wall Street Example" "In solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street protest in New York City, a related group, OccupyDC, is gathering support for an occupation of its own at McPherson Square in downtown Washington on Saturday morning. Saturday's first "General Assembly" of the D.C.-based movement will follow in the footsteps of recent protests by similar Occupy groups from Boston to New York to San Francisco. The original Wall Street-based demonstrations -- which have received nationwide attention due in part to celebrity endorsements and allegations of excessive police force against the protesters -- seek to raise awareness about corporate America's influence on domestic politics. Following this assembly, the D.C. group will join forces with the larger October 2011/Stop the Machine movement on Oct. 6 in Washington's Freedom Plaza, where the D.C. organizer said thousands are expected to gather in support. [...]" | "Occupy America - Cumulative List of Worldwide “Occupy” Events" 

MSM: "Unions And Liberal Groups To Join ‘Occupy Wall Street’" [09/30/11] "Labor unions and liberal activist groups plan to throw their weight behind the "Occupy Wall Street" protest in New York City that has now lasted 13 straight days, according to Crain's New York. A diverse coalition of people have pledged to occupy Wall Street until something is done about corporate greed and the financial system's undemocratic influence on the U.S. government. The protesters have been camped out in New York’s old Liberty Plaza, now called Zuccotti Park, since September 17. Among unions, the United Federation of Teachers, 32BJ SEIU, 1199 SEIU, Workers United and Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 have said they will participate in the protest next Wednesday.  [...]"  Related: "Multiple Campaigns, Same Goal: Ending Washington’s Addiction To Money" "The "Occupy Wall Street" protest, "Get Money Out" campaign and a planned protest by The Coffee Party all hope to stop the government from pandering to the wealthiest Americans. As corporations enjoy near record profits and Americans face staggering unemployment, protesters have pledged to occupy Wall Street in lower Manhattan until something is done about corporate greed and the influence of the wealthy on American politics. The protesters have been camped out in New York’s old Liberty Plaza, now called Zuccotti Park, since September 17. [...]" |

Legal Case: "Florida Judge Calls Prison Outsourcing Unconstitutional" [10/01/11] "A state judge ruled Friday that the Legislature violated the law and Florida’s Constitution by using budget language to order prisons to be privatized in 18 South Florida counties, and demanded that the project be stopped immediately. “Actions taken to date are declared illegal without authority in violation of law,” Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford wrote in a strongly-worded, six-page decision that faulted lawmakers for a lack of transparency. [...]" 

Concepts and Practices: "The Myth of American Freedom" Andrew P. Napolitano [10/01/11] "Does the government work for us or do we work for the government? Is freedom in America a myth or a reality?  [...]"  Note:  Judge Napolitano's closing argument yesterday on his Freedom Watch program.

MSM: "Canada: Internet Hate Speech Censorship Code Could Face Repeal" [10/01/11] "A Tory MP plans to introduce legislation as early as Friday calling for the repeal of a section in the federal human rights code banning hate speech over the Internet... [...]" 

MSM: "Obama Administration in Massive Crackdown on Criminal Illegal Immigrants " [10/01/11] "The Obama administration is continuing its pursuit of illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds, arresting nearly 3,000 individuals recently as part of a nationwide hunt involving federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. [...]"  

UK: "A Quarter Of Britons Have No (Need For) Religion'" [10/01/11] "The number of British people who have no religions or hold no religious beliefs is steadily rising across the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS carried out a survey of more than 400,000 people, a quarter of whom said they had no religion at all, The Daily Mail reported.  [...]"  Note:  All those people who are blessed by not having the need to defer externally to a fabricated belief system as an existential immortality strategy.

Commentary:  "Police Torture Claims Rocket" [10/01/11] "Though fewer suspects died in police custody this year than last, the number of reported incidents of torture is on the increase, according to police watchdog figures released. During the 2010-2011 financial year, 797 suspects lost their lives in police custody - 63 fewer than in the previous year. But the number of reports of torture rose from five to 41 cases. [...]" 

UK: "Councils To Be Offered Cash To Restore Weekly Bin Rounds" [10/01/11] "Councils are to be offered financial support to restore weekly rubbish collections, the Government has announced. A new quarter of a billion pound fund is being set up to help local authorities in England switch from fortnightly to weekly bin rounds. The policy is being seen by Conservatives as delivering on a pledge the party made in Opposition. The Government came under fire in June following its Waste Review when it was revealed that councils would not have to bring back weekly bin collections and householders would not be penalised for "minor mistakes" when putting out their bins. Labour then accused the Government of breaking its pre-election promise to abandon fortnightly bin collections, branding it a "huge missed opportunity". Unveiling the move ahead of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said he believed every household in England had "a basic right" to have their rubbish collected every week. [...]"  

UK: "Ministers Plan Big Rise In Use Of Electronic Tags On Offenders" [10/01/11] "Ministers are preparing for a massive expansion in electronic tagging of offenders, with private security companies being invited to bid for more than £1billion worth of contracts next month. The use of electronic tagging has grown rapidly since it was first used in 1999 by courts in England and Wales to enforce curfews. Now more than 20,000 offenders are monitored by private security firms on any given day. The current eight-year contracts, which are held by G4S and Serco electronic monitoring services, are due to end shortly. The Ministry of Justice says more than 30 companies have expressed an interest in competing for the new contracts when bids are invited this October. Fewer than 3,500 electronic tagging orders were made in 1999, a figure that rose to cover more than 70,000 people last year. It is estimated that more than 450,000 people in England and Wales have spent time electronically tagged over the past decade. [...]" 

Trends:  "UK: Forty And Flat Sharing In London" [09/30/11] "The consequence is that an additional 23,350 Londoners have been forced onto the flatshare market over the past year, bringing the total who can't afford to rent alone to 653,000. Flatsharing can cut costs by as much as a half and further savings can be made on utilities and council tax. Demand is now so strong that a third of rooms are being let within two weeks of being advertised. In a poll of 1,057 sharers conducted by website Easyroommate.co.uk, one in three said they couldn't foresee being able to even rent alone in the next five years, let alone consider buying. [...]"  

UK: "Students' Mental Health 'At Risk', Psychiatrists Warn" [09/30/11] "Doctors are warning that the current generation of students has a greater risk of anxiety and depression than previous ones. The Royal College of Psychiatrists says there are now many more students from less privileged backgrounds who are less prepared for university life. Students also face rising debt and uncertain job prospects, the RCP warns. [...] The report warns that despite the growing demands, there are concerns for the future of some welfare services, with reports of some universities in England already freezing posts as a result of the financial pressures on higher education.The RCP says this is a crucial time in the lives of young people, whether for temporary support, or early diagnosis of major mental illnesses. [...]" 

MSM: "Military to Collaborate with Wyoming Cops in Drunk Driving Crackdown" [09/30/11] "In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, F.E. Warren Air Force Base will collaborate with state and local governments and law enforcement to cut down on underage and irresponsible drinking, officials announced Tuesday. The $300,000-per-year program, funded with federal dollars, will step up education and enforcement efforts to combat alcohol use among minors and abuse among adults, Gov. Matt Mead said at a State Capitol press conference alongside Cheyenne Police Chief Brian Kozak and Col. Christopher Coffelt, commander of the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren. [...]" 

Commentary: "$4.5 Million Awarded in Custody Death " [09/30/11]   "Eureka Police Officers used excessive force in subduing a man who later died in custody, according to a federal jury, the Eureka Times-Standard reported. Officers Adam Laird and Justin Winkle were found to have used excessive force against Martin Frederick Cotton II, a few hours before he died in a holding cell in 2007; Also, they, and fellow officer Gary Whitmer, were found to have been "deliberately indifferent" to Cotton's medical needs when they did not get him medical treatment before booking him, the paper reported. Cotton had been held in Humboldt County jail for seven days, on an outstanding warrant. After his release on Aug. 8, 2007, he was in fights at the Eureka Rescue Mission, to which the police were called. The police had said Cotton was combative and on a high dose of LSD when they tried to take him into custody, according to the newspaper's report. Cotton was found breathing shallowly in his holding cell within hours of being booked. He died shortly thereafter, of blunt force trauma, according to the coroner, the Times-Standard reported. The jury awarded $4 million to Cotton's daughter, and $500,000 to his father, and found Laird and Winkle to be personally liable for $30,000 each, and Whitmer, for $15,000, said the paper. The jury also found that the city had not adequately trained its police officers to make sure that arrestees who had had force used against them receive medical care before being booked, the paper reported. The Eureka Policy Department instituted a policy requiring medical care prior to booking, after the incident.  [...]"  

MSM: "FBI Official "LA Prisons Guards Worst Case Of Institutionalized Violence I've Ever Seen" [09/30/11] [5:32]    

Trends: "The Growing Intolerance Toward Free Speech" [09/29/11]   [3:45] "In America, anyone has the right to speak their mind – but those opinions can sometimes carry a high price. At least that’s been the experience of some high profile figures who’ve lost their jobs, or their reputations, after voicing their views. Especially when it comes to some hot-button issues, as RT’s Gayane Chichakyan reports from Washington.  [...]"  

MSM: "MSNBC Reporter SLAMS NYC Police Brutality" [09/29/11] [9:12] Related: "Anonymous Leaks Personal Details of Cop Who Pepper-Sprayed Wall Street Protesters"  "Anonymous is on the hunt for the cop featured in a video pepper-spraying Occupy Wall Street protesters for no apparent reason. They say they've found him, and are circulating a document with his and his family's personal information. This could get ugly. According to a document posted on Pastebin.com, the cop who blasted young women in the face with pepper spray in the now-iconic video above is NYPD Captain Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna. Bologna was identified as the pepper-sprayer by a photographer who witnessed the incident and posted a blown-up image of his badge to his blog. The Pastebin document, which has about 7,000 views at this writing contains Bologna's name and possible phone numbers and addresses, along with a list of potential family member names. It reads:  [...]"  

Commentary: "People Lose Faith In The Concept of "Voting" for Change: Protests Mount Around The World" [09/29/11]   "Complaints range from corruption to lack of affordable housing and joblessness, common grievances the world over. But from South Asia to the heartland of Europe and now even to Wall Street, these protesters share something else: wariness, even contempt, toward traditional politicians and the democratic political process they preside over. They are taking to the streets, in part, because they have little faith in the ballot box.  [...]"  

Concepts and Practices: "UK: Brain-Damaged Woman Denied Right To Die" [09/29/11] "A High Court judge has ruled that a brain-damaged, minimally conscious woman should not be allowed to die in a decision described as "very important" by lawyers. Mr Justice Baker said an English court had never before been asked to consider whether life- supporting treatment should be withdrawn from a patient who was not in a persistent vegetative state but was minimally conscious. The judge, who heard legal argument during a Court of Protection hearing in London in July, had described the case as unique and said it raised "very important issues of principle". Relatives wanted life-supporting treatment withdrawn and said the woman, who turned 52 earlier this month and lives in a care home in the north of England, would not want to live "a life dependent on others". But a lawyer appointed by the High Court to represent the woman, referred to as M in court, opposed the relatives' application for nutrition to be withdrawn, arguing that she was "otherwise clinically stable". The local health authority responsible for commissioning her care also opposed the relatives' application and said the woman's life was "not without positive elements". Mr Justice Baker said: "The factor which does carry substantial weight, in my judgment, is the preservation of life. He added: "I find that she does have some positive experiences and importantly that there is a reasonable prospect that those experiences can be extended by a planned programme of increased stimulation." The judge said all parties agreed that an existing "do not resuscitate" order should continue."[...]"  Note: The problem is that the people who are caring for this individual's body have a PROFIT motive, which in all honesty invalidates their position to determine anything like this, as well as a court's involvement issues they don't even really comprehend.

Commentary: "Chicago Anti-Panhandling Policy May Be Unconstitutional" [09/28/11]   "Cook County must face a suit from a man who claims that it maintains an unconstitutional policy against panhandling in downtown Chicago's Daley Plaza, a federal judge ruled. [...]" 

Commentary: "Wyoming Sheriffs Told Federal BATF & IRS Agents To Abide By The Constitution Or Face Immediate Arrest" [09/28/11] "Here’s one the mainstream media isn’t going to tell you: County sheriffs in Wyoming are demanding that federal agents actually abide by the Constitution, or face arrest. Even better, a U.S. Federal District Court agreed. [...]" 

MSM: "16 Countries With Serious Youth Employment Problems" [09/27/11] "Youth unemployment is at an all time high as job growth hasn't kept pace with population growth. In developed countries the situation worsened with the onset of the recession. And earlier this year, it helped spark the Arab spring across the Middle East and North Africa. The OECD recently released its latest data on youth unemployment. We put together a list of 16 countries that have a youth unemployment rate higher than America's 18.4%. [...]"  

Trends: "More US Supermarkets Ditching Do-It-Yourself Checkout Lanes In Favor Of Customer Service" [09/27/11] "A growing number of supermarket chains are bagging their self-serve checkout lanes, saying they can offer better customer service when clerks help shoppers directly. Big Y Foods has more than 60 southern New England locations and is one of the latest to announce it's phasing out its self-serve checkouts. Some other national and regional chains are also reducing or removing unstaffed lanes and adding more clerks to traditional lanes. It's disappointing news to some shoppers, who say they like the convenience of quickly ringing up their own goods and heading on their way. But studies find they're in the minority. [...]" 

MSM: "North Miami Beach: Threatening Blog Post Traced To Police Computer" [09/27/11] "North Miami Beach police are investigating a threatening submission to a resident’s blog that was posted using a city-issued computer. The anonymous post invited criminals to pay a visit to two outspoken city activists. [...]"  

MSM: "UK Marching Banned: Police Call The Tune" [09/26/11]   [4:00] "People in Britain have long been able to march in protest - but those voices are being silenced in parts of London - for an entire month. The government's letting police slap a blanket ban on public gatherings in the capital. [...]"  

MSM: "Massive Blackout In Chile Affects 9 Million People" [09/26/11] "A massive power blackout paralyzed crucial copper mines in Chile on Saturday and darkened vast swaths of the country including the capital Santiago before energy was largely restored, officials said. The outage acutely exposed the fragility of the energy grid in the world’s top copper producer, which was devastated by a powerful earthquake in 2010. Critics have blamed Chilean President Sebastian Pinera for under-investment in infrastructure and his popularity ratings have dropped since taking office last year. Prior to the power failure, he was already struggling with massive protests by university students demanding deep educational reforms. Scrambling engineers were able to fully restore power generation and get distribution up to 90 percent of normal, the government said after the blackout, which lasted a couple of hours in most places. “We’ve regained power in various regions of the country,” said Chilean Energy Minister Rodrigo Alvarez. At an earlier briefing, Alvarez said the cause of the outage was unknown but that computers that help run the energy grid had also malfunctioned. The blackout primarily hit the centre of the country, where nearly 10 million of Chile’s 16 million people live. [...]"  

Commentary:  "Activists Charge US Police With Abuse" [09/26/11] [1:47] "American activists have accused New York police of unleashing a violent crackdown on demonstrators protesting against Wall Street firms and US government's financial policies, Press TV reports. The demonstrators, protesting against the widening gap between the super rich and those struggling in the aftermath of the US financial crisis, took to the streets Saturday during the “Occupy Wall Street” protest and gathered near the New York Stock Exchange. The demonstrators, whose protest efforts have entered the second week, have charged that police officers have resorted to excessive force against them and detained at least 80 protesters so far. Protesters also complain that police have liberally used pepper spray, images of which have surfaced on the Internet. The police forces have also tried to corral the demonstrators using orange plastic nets at Manhattan's Union Square. The demonstrators are trying to keep their campaign alive by posting videos and images to make up for what they call a virtual media blackout on the anti-government demonstrations. They are mainly against what they describe as corporate greed on Wall Street, stressing that the US financial system only benefits the companies and the superrich at the expense of working and middle classes of the American society. [...]" 

Commentary: "FBI Probing Reports Of Beatings In L.A. County Jails" [09/26/11] "Federal authorities are investigating allegations of inmate beatings and other misconduct by deputies in Los Angeles County jails, with FBI agents going so far as to sneak a cellphone to an inmate to get reports from inside, according to law enforcement sources. The inquiries include allegations that deputies broke an inmate's jaw and other facial bones and beat another man for two minutes while he was unconscious. [...]"  

Commentary: "Israel's Demographic Time Bomb Is Still Ticking Away" [09/26/11] "Secular Israelis work, pay taxes, and serve in the army. Ultra-orthodox, or Haredi Jews, don't. Secular Israelis are prepared to die for their country in battle, but have to travel outside it to get married in a civil ceremony. Not surprisingly, it's a pretty sore point. Especially as the demographic balance is shifting fast. Secular couples have, on average, around two children per couple. Haredi couples have closer to eight or nine. And it's changing the very identity of Israel – away from the secular, socialist civil society it was created as in 1948 – to something quite different.... In religious schools, children don't learn mathematics, science, or English; only the Bible. All day, every day. And Haredi men are expected to - and do - continue that Bible study for the rest of their lives. It's all funded by the taxpayers. And the taxpayers are... secular Israelis. What does it mean? Well, if the figures are to be believed, in less than 30 years, Israel will have a population where the majority either can't, or won't join the workforce – putting an increasing, and impossible burden on the secular minority to pay the taxes and serve in the army. This, in the 'Startup Nation' - the country that prides itself on its hi-tech sector. Israel has the ideas, the inventors, and the entrepreneurs - but already, it has to import workers from overseas, because there aren't enough educated Israelis in the job market. It's not sustainable. Israelis know about it, and sometimes talk about it, but Israel's government does nothing. It's just too hard – especially as the political power of the ultra-religious is growing. It's almost impossible to form a government in Israel today without them. Opposition - and resentment - is growing. Middle-class, taxpaying, secular Israelis are already so angry about the mere cost of living – and that their children cannot afford to buy or rent a home – that they have taken to the streets in huge numbers. But it's hard to see how any government – however brave – is going to be able to turn the ship around without committing political suicide. [...]"  

MSM: "NYPD Ordered to Stop Marijuana Possession Arrests" [09/26/11] "New York City may soon shed its infamous reputation as the pot bust capital of the world. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly Monday issued an internal order to the NYPD telling officers they can no longer arrest people for marijuana possession in public view if the marijuana was not in public view before officers either searched the person and produced it or the person produced it after an officer's demand that he empty his pockets... [...]" 

Commentary: "Inside the Trillion-Dollar Underground Economy Keeping Many Americans (Barely) Afloat in Desperate Times" [09/23/11] "The underground economy isn't just drugs and sex work.  The United States continues to suffer from mass unemployment. People have had to adjust their lifestyles to the new reality—fewer jobs, lower wages, mortgages to pay that are now more than their homes are worth. Millions have dropped out of the job hunt and are trying to find other ways to sustain their families. That's where the underground economy comes in. Also called the shadow or informal economy, it's not just illegal activity like selling drugs or doing sex work. It's all sorts of work that doesn't get regulated by the government or reported to the IRS, and it's a far bigger part of the economy than most of us are aware—in 2009, economics professor Friedrich Schneider estimated that it was nearly 8 percent of the US GDP, somewhere around $1 trillion. (That makes the shadow GDP bigger than the entire GDP of Turkey or Austria.) Schneider doesn’t include illegal activities in his count-- he studies legal production of goods and services that are outside of tax and labor laws. And that shadow economy is growing as regular jobs continue to be hard to come by—Schneider estimated 5 percent in '09 alone. The Young Women's Empowerment Project [PDF] describes the “street economy” as “... any way that girls make cash money without paying taxes or having to show identification. Sometimes this means the sex trade. But other times it means braiding hair, babysitting, selling CDs/DVDs, drugs or other skills like sewing and laundry. “This underground economy goes beyond the homeless collecting aluminum cans or clogging day labor halls. It includes the working poor getting cash for all forms of recycling: giving plasma, selling homemade tamales outside shopping plazas, holding yard sales, doing under-the-table work for friends and family, selling stuff at pawnshops, CD, book and used clothing stores, and even getting tips from restaurants and bars--to name a few.” That means nearly all of us have participated in some way in the underground economy. Yet little is known or discussed about this area of our lives, even though it touches many of us as we try to make ends meet.”[...]  Without solutions coming from Washington or local governments, it continues to be up to working people to find a way to negotiate the rough economy. Price argued, “People shouldn't have to give up fundamental human rights like access to income in retirement or safety on the job because they need work. But in a society like ours, which tolerates high levels of unemployment, the underground economy is often the next best alternative to starving.” While some have been able to flourish working underground, it's important to remember that most workers are not off the books to dodge paying taxes or because they prefer it that way. As we see more and more people dropping out of the formal labor market in despair, the informal economy will remain a destination of last resort—and will keep growing. [...]"  

Documentary (UK): "Homeless: On The Streets" [09/23/11] 6 Parts "Filmmaker Penny Woolcock spent eight months in a parallel world, the world of the homeless, befriending people and finding out where they eat, sleep and socialise. While making her film, Woolcock realised that the very real problems of homeless people have very little to do with the lack of a roof over their heads or a bed to sleep in. Their problems come from their past lives - and are less easy to remedy. Despite the efforts of different charities to move people into homes, the streets are often where they feel safe and what they know best. In this moving documentary, Woolcock gives the seen-but-unheard residents of London's streets a voice [...]" 

MSM: "Renton Washington Cops Caught Shredding Reports On Police Misconduct" [09/23/11] [5:46] Note: September 21, 2011 KIRO 7 News.

Commentary: "A Generation 'Stuck In Quicksand’" [09/23/11] "William Frey, a demographer at Brookings Institute, discusses the high unemployment rate in young adults. (Nightly News)" Related: "Bad Economy Hits The Young Hardest" "Almost 6 million Americans aged 25 to 34 are living with their parents, which is 25 percent more than before the recession. New census figures show young people are the biggest losers of the economic recession. NBC’s Janet Shamlian has more. (Nightly News) [...]"  "Young Adults: America’s Lost Generation" [09/22/11] "In record-setting numbers, young adults struggling to find work are shunning long-distance moves to live with Mom and Dad, delaying marriage and buying fewer homes, often raising kids out of wedlock. They suffer from the highest unemployment since World War II and risk living in poverty more than others — nearly 1 in 5. New 2010 census data released Thursday show the wrenching impact of a recession that officially ended in mid-2009. It highlights the missed opportunities and dim prospects for a generation of mostly 20-somethings and 30-somethings coming of age in a prolonged slump with high unemployment. “We have a monster jobs problem, and young people are the biggest losers,” said Andrew Sum, an economist and director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University. He noted that for recent college grads now getting by with waitressing, bartending and odd jobs, they will have to compete with new graduates for entry-level career positions when the job market eventually does improve. “Their really high levels of underemployment and unemployment will haunt young people for at least another decade,” Sum said. Richard Freeman, an economist at Harvard University, added, “These people will be scarred, and they will be called the ‘lost generation’ — in that their careers would not be the same way if we had avoided this economic disaster.” [...]"  Note: Well, in reality, from a larger perspective which incorporates accurate knowledge, it is also true that the real life span of these incarnations is really short (with full intention for it to be that way by their higher selves, and also it is evident in their astrological charts that those incarnations would only have certain type of experiences), and that they have already done all they really wish to accomplish, in essence, and that it's ok .... because all of us age-less and time-less individuals will be out of here, soon, and continuing our experiences, and all of this will be an experiential memory to be contemplated or shared, later, with others, together with all else we have experienced. There really is no 'loss', but only gained experiences.

Concepts and Practices: "12 Things Happy People Do Differently" [09/22/11] "I’d always believed that a life of quality, enjoyment, and wisdom were my human birthright and would be automatically bestowed upon me as time passed. I never suspected that I would have to learn how to live - that there were specific disciplines and ways of seeing the world I had to master before I could awaken to a simple, happy, uncomplicated life.” Studies conducted by positivity psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky point to 12 things happy people do differently to increase their levels of happiness. These are things that we can start doing today to feel the effects of more happiness in our lives.  [...]"    Note: Well, there are many ways to look at things ... and we do have the option of picking our 'battles' in life ... 

Commentary: "Prison Industrial Complex Profiteering Goes Into Overdrive In Canada" [09/22/11] [6:29] 

MSM: "Atlanta Increases Surveillance Of City With The Opening Of A State-Of-The-Art Video Monitoring Center" [09/21/11]   "Plans to put Atlanta’s public spaces under camera surveillance will move forward this week with the opening of a state-of-the-art video monitoring center. Whether it’s good that Atlanta is joining other big cities in the video surveillance race depends on your comfort level with being watched more often by police. The downtown “Video Integration Center,” funded by a mix of private donations and public money, has already given Atlanta police links to more than 100 public and private security cameras. Talks are underway to link up with more cameras at CNN Center, Georgia State University, the Georgia World Congress Center and MARTA, along with cameras in Buckhead. Officials say hundreds or thousands more private-sector cameras will eventually feed into the center. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution toured the center last week, as live footage of a traffic stop and archived video of a DragonCon parade played on a 15-foot screen. Officers can watch up to 128 views at once. “This is just the beginning,” said Dave Wilkinson, president of the Atlanta Police Foundation, which helped raise money for the center. “This is going to grow by leaps and bounds over the years. The goal, of course, is to have the entire city blanketed.” With enough cameras, it might be possible to never lose sight of a suspect after a crime occurs, advocates say. And camera backers say signs warning of constant surveillance help prevent crime, although they acknowledge it is difficult to know how much. [...]" 

Overview: "Analysis of Financial Terrorism in America" [09/20/11]   "The American public has sustained intensive economic attacks across broad segments of the population. While the attacks have been increasingly severe in scale over the past four years, they have been implemented with technocratic precision. They have been incrementally applied thus far, successfully keeping the population passive and avoiding any large-scale civilian unrest, while effectively reducing living standards for the majority of the population. As you will see in this report, the 55 million Americans that have been hit the hardest have thus far acquiesced due to temporary financial assistance, such as food stamps and extended unemployment benefits. The global Economic Elite have been much more strategic in handling the American public, as they are potentially the greatest threat to their continued consolidation of wealth, resources and power. National populations that are not as powerful, and on the periphery of the Economic Elite’s global empire, have been dealt with in much harsher fashion. In many smaller and less powerful countries the dramatic rise in food prices and costs of living have led to all-out revolt — Tunisia, Algeria, Albania and Egypt were among the first to rebel. While the contagion of rebellion has rapidly spread throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East, it is also spreading in a decentralized manner throughout most of the world, now threatening popular rebellion throughout Europe. Like the US population, the geographically clustered European nations represent a potentially powerful countervailing force to the Economic Elite’s continued domination. Within the United States, the technocratic suppression of the population has been extensive. Increasingly severe economic and governmental policies have systematically eroded civilian wealth, power and rights. Intensive propaganda has effectively distracted, confused, isolated, marginalized and divided the US population. Despite the success of these efforts thus far, given the severe, prolonged, unsustainable and escalating level of economic suffering, outbreaks of civil unrest are inevitable. The US population, if a critical mass is reached, represents the greatest threat to the Economic Elite. In this regard, the American people are their primary adversary. In writing this report, I will clearly demonstrate the severity and scale of the deliberate systemic economic attacks against the US population, in hope that we can urgently build a critical mass of aware and engaged citizens. [...]" 

Overview: "Middle Class Death Watch" [09/20/11]   "This is our first Middle Class Death Watch roundup. Building off of our extensive report on the financial destruction of the United States, this will be a regular feature moving forward. Here we present a collection of news reports from the past two weeks detailing the collapse of the middle class. [...]"  

Legal Case: "AFSC Sues Arizona Over Private Prisons" [09/18/11] "The American Friends Service Committee asked a Superior Court judge to block Arizona from awarding private prisons any contracts to house 5,000 inmates. The Quaker group says that "private prison operators have not been maintaining adequate security standards for years," and the state has failed to supervise them. The state authorized sending a request for proposals for 5,000 private prison beds and Gov. Jan Brewer signed the bill on Sept. 3, 2009. The offer was withdrawn "after the Kingman escapes," when three men - two of them convicted murderers - escaped from a private prison. All were eventually recaptured - one after a shootout with police. Two of the men are suspected of killing two campers, Gary and Linda Haas, both 61, after they escaped. The AFSC and parents whose son is in prison in Arizona say the state has failed to "monitor contractors who are engaged in the inherently dangerous work of building, operating, and maintaining private prison facilities in the state of Arizona." They cite an Arizona Department of Corrections Security Assessment of the state's private prisons, of Aug. 22, 2010, which found shortcomings in the "installation and maintenance of security devices, separation and control of inmates and visitors, accessibility of controls, violation of escape prevention methods, inventory and control of weapons, searches of both staff and inmates, temperature control, sanitation, and unsafe conditions."[...]"  

Legal Case: "Workers Challenge Ohio's Sale of Prisons" [09/18/11] "Seven state prison workers and ProgressOhio.org asked a state judge to stop Ohio from enforcing a law that "purports to authorize the sale of state-owned prisons to private contractors."  Lead plaintiff ProgressOhio claims Gov. John Kasich's attempted sale of five state prisons is "a radical departure from the status quo" and the House Bill 153, which authorized it, is unconstitutional. In its complaint in Franklin County Court, ProgressOhio.org describes itself as a 501(c)(4) organization that "seeks to inform and educate the public about progressive ideals, values and politics in order to provide a more just and democratic society." It claims HB 153 violates the Ohio Constitution's single-subject rule, and will violate the section of the state constitution that prohibits "joining public and private property rights." "H.B. No. 153 includes numerous provisions that attempt to create, embellish or accomplish an extraordinary number of unrelated substantive programs and new policy goals for the state," the complaint states. Among these many goals is the sale of Ohio prisons to private businesses. [...]"  

Trends: "Praying Banned in Paris Streets" [09/18/11] Note: Stopping in the middle of the street to pay deference to an external deity is out, in Paris.

Commentary: "US Corporations Sacrifice People; No US Government Action Can Save Economy" [09/17/11] [3:41] "A prominent analyst says the US administration cannot save the American economy even with a 450 billion dollars plan to invest in jobs. Press TV talks with Dr. Paul Craig Roberts, the former assistant secretary of US Treasury, about the unemployment worries in the US, the country's flat housing market, and the announcement by President Barack Obama to throw 450 billion dollars at job creation. Following is a transcript of the interview.  [...]"  Note: with transcript. US Corporations have been arbitraging labor, shipping jobs overseas in order to add the savings into their profit column, for the last 15 years. 

Commentary: "Not Hiring: The Untold Story of Small Business in America" [09/17/11]   "Small business isn’t hiring, and the reasons are invisible to those without any real-world small business experience. [...]"  

MSM: "Bloomberg Warns High Unemployment Rate Could Lead To Widespread Rioting" [09/17/11] "Sounding alarm bells about the nation's high unemployment rate, Mayor Bloomberg warned this morning that there could be widespread mayhem in the streets if Washington lawmakers don't start creating jobs for millions of Americans who are out of work. "We have a lot of kids graduating college, can't find jobs," Bloomberg said on his weekly WOR radio show. "That's what happened in Cairo. That's what happened in Madrid. You don't want those kinds of riots here." Bloomberg also said the damage may be done -- especially to recent college grads -- as the nation's unemployment rate hovers around 9 percent. [...]" 

MSM: "30,000 Children Face Destitution From Welfare Cut In Michigan" [09/17/11] "An estimated 12,600 families, including 11,188 adults and 29,707 children, will lose an average of $515 a month in welfare benefits beginning on October 1. [...]"

Commentary:  "Representative Calls on Congress to Prevent Unnecessary Post Office Closures" [09/17/11] "Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today called on Congress to allow the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to fund its employee pension system the same way as every other government agency, putting the Service back onto positive financial footing and preventing the potential closure of thousands of post offices and processing centers nationwide. Congress in 2006 mandated that USPS “pre-fund” 100 percent of its anticipated retirement pension and retiree health care costs, a unique requirement among federal agencies and entities. Typically, agencies will set aside 60 to 80 percent of anticipated pension costs without running any risks of missing payments. If the arbitrary USPS funding requirement – part of the Postal Act of 2006 – were removed, USPS has said it could meet its financial obligations and avoid closures. [...]" 

MSM: "Denmark Elects First Female Prime Minister" [09/17/11] "Denmark has elected its first female prime minister, ousting the right-wing government from power after 10 years of pro-market reforms and ever-stricter controls on immigration. Near complete official results showed yesterday that a left-leaning bloc led by Social Democrat Helle Thorning-Schmidt would gain a narrow majority in the 179-seat Parliament. "We did it. Make no mistake: We have written history," the 44-year-old opposition leader told jubilant supporters in Copenhagen. "Today there's a change of guards in Denmark." Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen conceded defeat. The result means the country of 5.5 million residents will get a new government that could roll back some of the austerity measures introduced by Loekke Rasmussen amid Europe's debt crisis. [...]"  Related: "Danes Set to Elect Welfare Government" [09/16/11] "Danes are today set to elect a government promising more welfare benefits as voters reject the ruling coalition’s warning that failure to curb spending during a debt crisis will hurt the economy. The Social Democrat opposition is expected to win 51.2 percent of the vote, ending the decade- long rule of Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen’s Liberal- Conservative bloc (hmmmm, that sounds familiar). The Social Democrats have lured crisis-weary voters with promises of spending about 21 billion kroner ($3.9 billion) more a year on welfare services such as schooling and healthcare. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, opposition leader, has assured voters her economic plans won’t hurt Denmark’s fiscal stability, and argues that jump- starting household demand is the best way to safeguard growth and welfare. [...]"  Note: A good example of a society of sequential reincarnates .... they'd be happy on any planet in the galaxy where the society took care of them from cradle to grave ... a slow, culturally entrenched existence

MSM: "Billions in Unemployment Benefits Paid in Error" [09/16/11] "Nearly $19 billion in state unemployment benefits were paid in error during the three years that ended in June, new Labor Department data show. The amount represents more than 10% of the $180 billion in jobless benefits paid nationwide during the period. (See a sortable chart of each states’ overpayments) The tally covers state programs, which offer benefits for up to 26 weeks, from July 2008 to June 2011. Layers of federal programs that help provide benefits for up to 99 weeks weren’t included. Improper payments most often occur when recipients claim benefits even though they have returned to work; employers or their administrators don’t submit timely or accurate information about worker separations; or recipients don’t correctly register with a state’s employment-service organization. The Labor Department launched a plan to crack down on the improper payments, targeting Virginia, Indiana, Colorado, Washington, Louisiana and Arizona in particular for their high error rates. Those states will undergo additional monitoring and technical assistance until their error rates dip below 10% and remain there for at least six months, according to the Labor Department.[...]" 

Trends:  "U.S. Credit Card Debt Grows Despite Desire To Control Personal Finances" [09/15/11] "... even as consumers have become more debt-averse, they have plunged more into debt to pay for essentials. Indeed, credit card debt has been growing at an increasingly higher rate. The rate of increase for credit card debt has risen two-thirds compared to the same period last year, and it has increased 368 percent since two years ago. Earlier in 2011, Americans started to climb out of the vicious cycle of borrowing and spending, as credit card debt stopped increasing after two consecutive years, but they seem to be falling back into more credit card debt, even as they seem to want to borrow and spend less. [...] Since spending fuels 70 percent of the economy, economists are worried about a negative feedback loop in which less consumer spending and stock market plunges continue to reinforce each other. [...] While 28 percent of Americans in 2009 said that their income did not cover their spending, now only 13 percent of Americans said that their spending exceeded their earnings, according to the Absolute Strategy Research report. Similarly, 51 percent of Americans now said they were making ends meet, compared to 35 percent in 2009, and a third of Americans said that their income exceeded their spending.[...]" 

Commentary: "Lawless America: 20 Examples Of Desperate People Doing Desperate Things" [09/15/11] "All over America today, desperate people are doing desperate things. As the economy continues to crumble, the American people are starting to become very frustrated. Millions have lost their homes and millions have lost their jobs. As hopelessness and despair rise, an increasing number of Americans are turning to crime or are lashing out in unpredictable ways. Many parts of America are rapidly turning into lawless hellholes. In some of the areas that have been the hardest hit by the declining economy, police forces are being severely cut back and desperate criminals are being given a lot of freedom to roam. In fact, in some major cities (such as Oakland, California), the police have announced that there are certain types of crime that they will not even respond to any more. For a couple of decades, crime had been steadily declining in the United States, but now we are seeing very disturbing reports from all over the nation of desperate people doing desperate things as they scramble to survive or as they vent their frustrations. If the examples that you are about to read are any indication, then America is headed down a very dark path. Today, there are a whole lot of young people that feel as though all hope is gone. Less than 30 percent of all teens had a job this summer. Only 14 percent of Americans that are 28 or 29 years old are optimistic about their financial futures. As Gerald Celente always says, when people lose everything that they have, they tend to lose it. The very fabric of American society is starting to come apart, and it is frightening to even think about what is going to happen if the economy gets even worse. The following are 20 examples of desperate people doing desperate things in America.... [...]"  

UK: "Food Sell-By Dates To Be Scrapped" [09/15/11] "Ministers are to scrap sell-by dates on packaging, saying they are confusing and contribute to the £12bn-worth of groceries wasted each year. [...]"  

Trends: "China’s Ghost Cities: The Paradox Of Inflating Another Massive Bubble In A Growing Homeless World" [09/14/11] [14:38] "A couple of months ago, a lot of people were passing around the news about China’s plan to create a megacity that would be home to 42 million people, the so-called “Turn the Pearl Delta Into One” idea. The reporting was generally favorable, painting a picture of economic growth and opportunity — the narrative of a prosperous China, with a growing middle class, that has become commonplace in recent years. Unfortunately, the view of China’s urban planning strategies from the ground is less shiny. A riveting report from Dateline, an Australian TV show, reveals a disturbing pattern of development for development’s sake — the construction of gigantic infrastructure projects with no regard for human needs. Take the New South China Mall, in Dongguan. The Dateline crew took a tour of the place, which has been 99 percent vacant since it opened in 2005, and the result is one of the most depressing things I have ever watched. Six years after its creation, what is touted as the largest mall in the world sits almost empty. One of the very few stores that’s in business is a toy shop, where the wistful owner spends his days dusting children’s bikes that no child will ever ride. He is lucky if he makes one sale a day. [...] and it’s not just that mall that sits empty. There are rows of massive empty skyscraper apartment buildings and central business districts in new cities around the country. This is at least part of the reality behind the megacities the Chinese are creating. “All the shops in this mall are empty,” says reporter Adrian Brown, walking down an immaculate but deserted street in one of the new cities, this one in north-central China. “Not that that worries the government, because they’re simply more concerned with maintaining economic growth, and one way of achieving that is building cities like this one.” According to Hong Kong-based real estate analyst Gillem Tulloch, who is interviewed in the piece, the housing units are priced well above what an average Chinese person can afford. The result, he says, is a housing bubble that is terrifying in size, “a property bubble like which I don’t think we’ve ever seen,” he says. “It will make the United States pale in comparison. It’s said that there’s around 64 million empty apartments…. It’s essentially the modern equivalent of building pyramids. It doesn’t add to the betterment of people’s lives, all it does is it promotes GDP.” [...]" 

Legal Case: "Supreme Court To Rule On Age Of "Big Brother" Surveillance" [09/14/11] "This November the Supreme Court is gearing up to hear a landmark case which will decide how far law enforcement agencies can pry into an individual’s private life. In recent years GPS enabled phones and devices have proven to be a treasure trove of personal data, beaming constant round the clock updates on an individual’s activity. With the increasing ubiquity of these devices, their legality has become the center of a hot debate that has divided the nation’s lower courts. In several recent rulings, judges have called the devices “Orwellian” or Big Brother-esque and worried that they violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure. For instance in April, Judge Diane P. Wood of the federal appeals court in Chicago wrote that using GPS surveillance would “make the system that George Orwell depicted in his famous novel, ‘1984,’ seem clumsy.” [...]"  

MSM: "Census: U.S. poverty rate hit 52-year high in 2010" [09/14/11] "Continued high unemployment drove the number of Americans living in poverty to a 52-year high in 2010 and pushed the nation’s median household income down for the third straight year since the Great Recession first cast its ominous cloud over the nation’s economy.
More than a year after the economic recovery officially began in June 2009, 46.2 million people were earning below the poverty level in 2010, up from 43.6 million in 2009, according to new U.S. Census Bureau figures released on Tuesday. [...]" 

UK: "Pensioners 'Could Lose 75 Per Cent' Of Savings" [09/13/11] "Millions of pensioners could be far worse off in their retirement than they should be due to "unscrupulous" pension providers, according to a new study. A report from the think-tank Civitas published on Monday warns retirement incomes could be be stripped of between 20 per cent and 75 per cent of their value due to anti-consumer practices. The report, You're on Your Own, argues that despite conscientiously saving during their working years, millions of Britons are being ripped off by pension providers not being upfront about costs. It claims providers exploit a "common blind-spot" among consumers who often miss exponential increases in costs. This means that pension fund managers can charge what looks like a small fee by defining it as the percentage of a growing pension pot. The authors give the example of a typical 1.5 per cent management charge that costs just £15 in the year a pension scheme is opened, but £3,000 in its 40th year. [...]"  Related: "Spending Cuts To Hit Living Standards 'Harder Than Before'"   "The impact of public spending cuts and tax rises on UK household incomes will be felt for up to 10 years, an economic study has warned, as the worst effects of the recession are yet to be felt. [...] The Chancellor's deficit reduction plans have been challenged by business leaders, economists and opposition politicians in recent months as the economic outlook for the UK deteriorates. [...]" 

Trends: "Unable To Pay Child Support, Poor Parents Land Behind Bars" [09/13/11] "Thousands of so-called “deadbeat” parents are jailed each year in the U.S. after failing to pay court-ordered child support — the vast majority of them for withholding or hiding money out of spite or a feeling that they’ve been unfairly gouged by the courts. But in what might seem like an un-American plot twist from a Charles Dickens’ novel, advocates for the poor say, some parents are wrongly being locked away without any regard for their ability to pay — sometimes without the benefit of legal representation.  [...]"  

UK: "Crimes Against The Disabled "Ignored By Police And Courts" Leaving Them Living In Fear Of Harassment" [09/12/11] "Disabled people are suffering harassment and abuse because of the systemic failure of public bodies to prevent such attacks, according a watchdog's inquiry published today. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found many people with disabilities accepted abuse as inevitable but often did not report it for fear of repercussions or not being believed. The conclusions of the Britain-wide inquiry followed a detailed examination of ten of the most serious cases, including the torture and murder of Laura Milne, a 19-year-old with learning disabilities, in Aberdeen in 2007. It also looked at the case of a 30-year-old woman with learning difficulties who suffered physical and sexual abuse in the Borders by her carer and two other men, who were jailed nine years ago. The report, Hidden in Plain Sight, said Scotland had made significant progress in adult protection law and policy since devolution in 1999, but public authorities had still to understand the problem and act effectively. Kaliani Lyle, commissioner for the EHRC in Scotland, said: "The issue is 'hiding in plain sight' because, as a society, we have failed to recognise the nature and scale of the problem. "Authorities must address this as a matter of urgency." [...]"  

Commentary: "The Hospital Gestapo: You May Never See Home Again" [09/12/11] "American hospitals have devised a scheme to guarantee they never get stuck with an unpaid bill. It’s called guardianship.  Thinking of checking into a hospital? Think again. You may never see home again. * Ginger Franklin, Hendersonville, Tennessee, fell down the stairs in her condo and suffered a bump on her head. She was declared “temporarily mentally incapacitated” and a guardian was appointed through the courts. Within six weeks, the guardian had soldFranklin’s home, car, furniture, and drained her bank account. Today,Franklin has her freedom back, but she is having to start all over.  [...] How It Commences: Joseph Niedesky (not his real name) was air lifted to a hospital in Orlando from Ocalaby helicopter after he was the victim of a motorcycle crash. But something went terribly wrong during Niedesky’s surgery and he aspirated on his own vomit, causing some brain injury. That’s when a corporate guardian was contacted by the hospital and appointed by the court as Niedesky’s full plenary, permanent guardian. What Happens Next: The corporate guardian who petitioned the court stated in the court papers that Niedesky had no family. In reality, Niedesky had been married for more than 20 years and had four teenage children. It took more than two months for Niedesky’s wife to discover what had happened to her husband and where he was located. [...]"   Related: "Elderly couple kidnapped by Texas Adult Protective Services " [6:17]  See related videos on page.

Commentary: "Illinois To Close Mental Health Facilities, Lay Off 1,900" [09/11/11]   "Democratic Governor Pat Quinn announced September 8 that Illinois would close three mental health facilities, two centers for the developmentally disabled, and other crucial social services. [...]"  Note: Quinn should be run out of town on a rail.

Commentary: "Detroit Residents Protest Plans To Close Local Library" [09/11/11] The announcement of the closure of six branches of the Detroit Public Library was answered by a protest of local residents outside the Chase branch. [...]"  

Review: "Spying on First Amendment Activity - State-by-State" ACLU [09/11/11] "United States law enforcement agencies, from the FBI to local police, have a long history of spying on American citizens and infiltrating or otherwise obstructing political activist groups. Political spying was rampant during the Cold War under the FBI's COINTELPRO, the CIA's Operation Chaos, and other program.  The following is a state-by-state compilation of examples of these behaviors in recent years. [...]"  

Trends: "Wal-Mart Dusts Off Layaway Plan As The Recession Rolls On" [09/09/11] "Wal-Mart will reintroduce its layaway plan just in time for the holidays, the AP reports.  From Oct. 7 through Dec. 16, cash-strapped shoppers can make interest-free payments on their purchases over time and then pick them up when they're paid in full, something they haven't been able to do since the world's largest retailer discontinued the service in September 2006. "We're always looking for ways to ease the budget strain for our customers, and we know this holiday season brings with it additional financial pressure," Duncan MacNoughton, chief merchandising officer at Wal-Mart's U.S. division told the AP. This is on one hand a show of generosity toward Walmart's low-income consumers, but it also has to do with nine straight quarters of declines at its namesake stores. Wal-Mart will do whatever it can to retain its shoppers, even if that means changing its tune about a service it once deemed too costly and under-valued by its customers to continue. [...]" 

Commentary:  "Bush Era Legislation Forced Post Office to Come Up With $5 Billion Every Year for Retirement of Employees Not Yet Born" [09/08/11] [7:05]  "The United States Post Office is on the verge of shutting down. According to the New York Times - the Post Office is quickly running out of cash and may be forced to shut down this winter. While the media story line is that the Post Office is dealing with the problem of trying to remain profitable in a world of decreasing paper mail - the real cause is actually something much, much different. Consider that this year - like every year since 2006 - the Post Office is legally required to make a $5 billion annual contribution to a retirement account to pay for future retirees who aren't even born yet. For more on this Thom Hartmann is joined by Chuck Zlatkin - Legislative and Political Director of the New York Metro Area Postal Union. [...]"  Related: MSM: "Postal Service Is Nearing Default as Losses Mount" [09/05/11] "The United States Postal Service has long lived on the financial edge, but it has never been as close to the precipice as it is today: the agency is so low on cash that it will not be able to make a $5.5 billion payment due this month and may have to shut down entirely this winter unless Congress takes emergency action to stabilize its finances. Our situation is extremely serious,” the postmaster general, Patrick R. Donahoe, said in an interview. “If Congress doesn’t act, we will default.” ...  The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on the agency’s predicament on Tuesday. So far, feuding Democrats and Republicans in Congress, still smarting from the brawl over the federal debt ceiling, have failed to agree on any solutions. It doesn’t help that many of the options for saving the postal service are politically unpalatable. [...] Missing the $5.5 billion payment due on Sept. 30, intended to finance retirees’ future health care, won’t cause immediate disaster. But sometime early next year, the agency will run out of money to pay its employees and gas up its trucks, officials warn, forcing it to stop delivering the roughly three billion pieces of mail it handles weekly. [...] Congress is considering numerous emergency proposals — most notably, allowing the post office to recover billions of dollars that management says it overpaid to its employees’ pension funds. That fix would help the agency get through the short-term crisis, but would delay the day of reckoning on bigger issues. Postal service officials say one reason for their high costs is that they are legally required to provide universal service, making deliveries to 150 million addresses nationwide each week. They add that a major factor for the post office’s $20 billion in losses over the past four years is a 2006 law requiring the postal service to pay an average of $5.5 billion annually for 10 years to finance retiree health costs for the next 75 years.[...]"  

Legal Case: "Teen Says Predatory Cops Get a Pass" [09/08/11] "KANSAS CITY, Mo.- A teenage girl says a Jackson County police officer forced her to give him oral sex in his squad car after he found her and some friends in a park after curfew. And she says that assault is just the tip of the iceberg of a pattern of sexual deviancy by Jackson County police officers. [...]"  

Legal Case: "Baby-Seizing Nightmare Can Go to Trial" [09/08/11] "Social workers must stand trial for seizing a newborn baby without finding out whether a poppy-seed bagel could have caused the child's mother to test positive for a trace amount of opiates, a federal judge ruled. Social workers must stand trial for seizing a newborn baby without finding out whether a poppy-seed bagel could have caused the child's mother to test positive for a trace amount of opiates, a federal judge ruled. "Elizabeth Mort never imagined that the last thing she ate before giving birth to her daughter - a poppy-seed bagel - would lead to the loss of her newborn," according to a suit filed in October 2010. But that's precisely what happened, she and the baby's father claimed. The couple was barred from seeing their week-old baby for four days, and they could not take the child home for another six days. Lawrence County, Lawrence County Children and Youth Services, a caseworker and the hospital where the baby was born moved to dismiss the complaint, but U.S. District Judge David Cercone refused last week. [...]"  

MSM: "DHS: We Lost Our Own Explosives During Live Drill In Phoenix" [09/07/11] [2:18] "DHS has misplaced their own bomb used in a live drill at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. For the past few days the Department of Homeland Security and other officials have been hunting for live explosives that have “gone missing” from a drill conducted late last week. The fact that the agency that is supposed to " protect Americans from terror" is now possibly " aiding terrorists" by losing track of deadly explosive compounds that could be " used or blamed in future events" to further " control the populace" shows just how corrupt and inept most government officials are. [...]"  Note: Live drills can turn into false flag attacks in a second. Who planted the live bomb in the airport for the drill? That person can be cut loose and turned into a patsy.

Trends: "Working-Age Poor Population Highest Since ’60s" [09/07/11]   "Currently, the ranks of the working-age poor are at the highest level since the 1960s when the war on poverty was launched. When new census figures for 2010 are released next week, analysts expect a continued increase in the overall poverty rate due to persistently high unemployment last year. If that holds true, it will mark the fourth year in a row of increases in the U.S. poverty rate, which now stands at 14.3 percent, or 43.6 million people. “There is a lot of discussion about what the aging of the baby boom should mean for spending on Social Security and Medicare. But there is not much discussion about how the wages of workers, especially those with no more than a high school degree, are not rising,” said Sheldon Danziger, a University of Michigan public policy professor who specializes in poverty. “The reality is there are going to be a lot of working poor for the foreseeable future,” he said, citing high unemployment and congressional resistance to raising the minimum wage. [...]"  

Trends: "Baby Boomers Blowing Through Kids' Inheritance" [09/07/11]   "You might not be able to take it with you when you go, but many baby boomers aren't about to leave anything behind, either. Just 49% of millionaire boomers say it's important to leave money to their children when they die, reports the LA Times. The study by a US investment firm shows that many boomers are more interested in living a plush life in their golden years than leaving scads of cash behind for their loved ones. "We were like 'wow,'" said the president of the company behind the study. One in four boomers said they were worried that their money might make their children lazy, and one in five said they feared their children would just waste it. Others think that, given the high costs of education and raising kids today, that they have already spent enough. "I do not see my baby boomer clients giving up a vacation or wine or dinners out so that they can leave more money to their children, because they feel like they've already done it for their kids," said one financial advisor. "I've given them a terrific foundation in life," says one boomer of her kids. "I've helped launch them with their education and their careers. I've done my job. Now I'm going to enjoy life." [...]"  

Legal Case: "Tenant-Protection Law Survives Legal Challenge" [09/07/11] "San Francisco landlords cannot fight a voter initiative that makes it illegal to force out tenants with cash and threats, the 9th Circuit ruled Tuesday. [...]"  

MSM: "Food Stamps Become Lucrative Biz" [09/07/11] "A government entitlement program heavily promoted by the Obama Administration to eradicate “food insecure households” is doling out so much money that a growing number of private businesses are competing for a piece of the lucrative pie. At stake are nearly $65 billion distributed annually to food-stamp recipients by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The number has skyrocketed in the last few years (from $28.5 billion in 2005 to $64.7 billion in 2010) in part because the Obama Administration has spent millions of dollars to recruit more participants and reduce the “stigma” associated with food stamps, even as the number surged without taxpayer-funded publicity campaigns. [...]"  

MSM: "Ohio: State Prison Sold to Private Company" [09/06/11] "Corrections Corporation of America, the nation’s largest prison operator, takes control of the facility, in Conneaut, on Dec. 31, pending the outcome of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the move. The company, based in Nashville, will operate the prison, which cost $41 million to build, at 8 percent less than it cost the state. The facility plans to add 304 beds. Chris Mabe, president of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, said the union expects deterioration in salary, benefits and working conditions for those prison staff members who move to the private sector from the public sector. He said staffing was the main way they cut costs. [...]"  

UK: "1,000 Police Deployed In London To Protect Students From Theft " [09/06/11] "Around 1,000 police officers in London are being deployed at the start of school term to help protect students from theft on their way to and from school. The initiative is part of an awareness campaign launched on Monday to help reduce street crime, particularly among vulnerable young people. From 5 September until half-term on 21 October around 1,000 police officers and community support officers will be deployed each day specifically to protect pupils as they make their way home from school, the Metropolitan Police said. They will be a prominent presence outside schools and public transport hubs. Despite a reduction in the overall crime rate in the capital there has been a worrying increase in street robbery, the police service said. Smart phones and digital media players, as well as gold jewellery, are the most common items to be stolen on the street.  [...]" 

MSM: "Nearly 40 Percent Of Europeans Suffer Mental Illness" [09/06/11] "Europeans are plagued by mental and neurological illnesses, with almost 165 million people or 38 percent of the population suffering each year from a brain disorder such as depression, anxiety, insomnia or dementia, according to a large new study. [...]" 

UK: "German Company Involved In Talks To Take Over NHS Hospitals" [09/06/11] "A German company has been in talks to take over NHS hospitals, the first tangible evidence that foreign multinationals will be able to run state-owned acute services, a market worth £8bn, the Guardian can reveal. On the eve of the last Commons vote on the government's bill before it heads to the Lords this week, freedom of information requests reveal a series of meetings focused on "potential opportunities in London" between officials from the Department of Health, the NHS, the management consultant McKinsey and one of the largest German private hospital chains, Helios. [...]"  

Commentary: "The Counterfeit Culture - Useful Observations For Understanding Why Collapse Is Inevitable" [09/05/11] "Through a devolving web of greed, self-serving power and a departure from fundamental ethics, Western culture has, over the last hundred years, become the counterfeit culture. Nothing is real anymore -- not the food, not the money, and certainly not the evening news. And because it's not real, it's not sustainable. That's why it's headed for collapse, which is all too real, as many people are about to find out. [...] And yet, things that are REAL are called fake "  Note:  Creative commentary about the sequential circus takeover of the planet. 

Commentary:  "USDA Backs Off Mandatory National Animal Identification Registration" [09/05/11] "In this time of deflationary pressure on all agricultural products, farmers and ranchers got a token boost at the end of December when the USDA`s Animal and Plant Health Inspection-Veterinary Service officially cancelled its Mandatory Premise Registration Directive. The action is seen as confirming the USDA outstripped its authority when in September, under the cover of all the hoopla about the election it changed the status of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) from voluntary to mandatory. Since the program`s inception, registration had been voluntary. [...] R-CALF viewed the USDA as caught in an unlawful act of trying to convert what had been promised to be a voluntary animal identification system into a mandatory NAIS. When confronted, the agency backed down, at least for now. According to the chairman of R-CALF`s animal identification committee quoted on the nonais website, the action by USDA confirms what they have been saying all along, that the USDA does not have the authority to implement NAIS and it is using underhanded and unlawful methods to coerce independent cattle producers into giving up their rights to their property."  Note:  Enlightening article about the sequential plans for owning all property on Earth via the Orion banking scam (the lending of thin air while assigning real property as collateral to be confiscated upon such said time as the loan is "defaulted on.") The ruse, according to this article, is that "property" will be called "PREMISES" in order to circumvent the Constitutional provisions regarding PROPERTY rights. See the difference in semantics? "Premises" implies tenancy, as in "you're renting this land."

MSM: "Inmate Visits Now Carry Added Cost in Arizona" [09/05/11] "New legislation allows the department to impose a $25 fee on adults who wish to visit inmates at any of the 15 prison complexes that house state prisoners. The one-time “background check fee” for visitors, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, has angered prisoner advocacy groups and family members of inmates, who in many cases already shoulder the expense of traveling long distances to the remote areas where many prisons are located.  [...] In a lawsuit filed last month against the Corrections Department, Middle Ground said the fee was simply a pretext for raising money “for general public purposes” and as such was unconstitutional because it amounted to a special tax on a single group. Middle Ground has also filed suit over another provision of the law, which imposes a 1 percent charge on deposits made to a prisoner’s spending account. Donna Leone Hamm, executive director of Middle Ground, said she thought that state legislators created the background check fee “out of sheer financial desperation” at a time when the state faces huge budget shortfalls. “This was a scheme — in my mind, a harebrained scheme — to try to come up with the money,” she said. Wendy Baldo, chief of staff for the Arizona Senate, confirmed that the fees were intended to help make up the $1.6 billion deficit the state faced at the beginning of the year." 

MSM: "Capital of Scrap: Dying Detroit Looting Itself" [09/05/11]   [3:46] "US car manufacturers received bailout money and are now reporting profits, but the financial recovery of America's car makers is not filtering down to the streets of the country's once-booming automotive capital. Detroit increasingly looks like a ghost town with its residents literally surviving on scraps, while once it was a city that symbolized America's innovation and manufacturing might. [...]"  

MSM: "'British Unrest Justice Too Strong'" [09/05/11] "Director of Public Prosecutions has warned about the toughness of the unrest justice, insisting that those arrested during unrest in England should not be treated as a “separate category.” Keir Starmer stressed that the people convicted of being involved in the country's unrest should not be seen differently from other offenders, as some judges have argued. He said that the Crown Prosecution Service and the legal officials “need to keep our feet on the ground” and “remind ourselves that we are dealing with ordinary criminal cases. In other areas, such as big terrorism cases, we have resisted the temptation to call for special measures. With disorder cases, we should adopt the same approach.” Surveys have demonstrated that the British courts have passed sentences to those convicted of violence during four-day unrest in the English cities that are a quarter longer than normal. Some people have been imprisoned for months over stealing invaluable items. His remarks revealed his opposition to the tough line taken by several politicians, including Prime Minister David Cameron. “We should not treat these cases as a separate category. We should treat them as we do any other case,” Starmer said. He rejected the idea that human rights laws were one of the causes of last month's unrest. “I don't think human rights could be listed as one of the causes,” adding the condemnation of the Human Rights Act is based on “misrepresentations and myths.”  [...]"  

MSM: "Child Abusers Paradise: UK" [09/05/11] "A recently published survey reveals an almost 60 percent increase in the number of convictions for sexual offences on minors in the past 6 years. A Freedom of Information request made by the BBC to the Ministry of Justice found that the number of sex offenders increased from 1,363 in 2005 to 2,135 in 2010, the Independent reported. The rise in the number of convictions is as a result of better detection and raised awareness, said the report. However, child protection groups complain that sex offences on children remains an under-reported crime and that the declared number is relatively small. "It's difficult to tell if these figures indicate an increase in the number of sex offences being committed against children”, said Lisa Harker the head of strategy and development at the children's charity the NSPCC. "It may be that more people - adults and children - are becoming aware of abuse and so are reporting cases to the police and other authorities”, she added. "Nevertheless it's still a relatively small number of convictions considering child sex abuse is a big problem," said the charity official. Meanwhile, the chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop), Peter Davies, said: "It is good news as it's a good indicator that police services and others are getting their act together." He said authorities did not use conviction numbers as a primary measure of success because it was an under-reported crime and hard to prosecute where there tended to be few witnesses.  [...]"  

  MSM: "Israel Uprising: Record 400,000 Hit Streets In Social Rage Rally" [09/05/11]   [6:44] "Hundreds of thousands of anti-government protesters have taken to the streets of Israeli cities demanding "social justice." The rally has already been called the largest in the history of the Jewish state. ­According to local media, more than 400,000 Israelis took to the streets in cities across the country on Saturday night. More than 300,000 are said to be protesting in Tel Aviv near the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence, and more than 100,000 demonstrated elsewhere, particularly in Haifa and Jerusalem. Gershon Baskin, Israeli-Palestinian conflict analyst, says the social unrest amongst Israel's middle class is a strong sign that the country is heading in the wrong direction. Instead of financing settlements in the occupied territories to the tune of billions of dollars, Israel should be spending the cash on domestic construction and social programs. [...]"  Related: "Israeli Cities Rocked By Mass Demonstrations" [09/04/11] "Large crowds of Israeli protesters have swarmed into the streets in three large cities for what the organizers have dubbed a million-man march. [...]"  

World Politics: "The Real Face of the European Union - Full Length" [09/04/11]   [43:10]   UK production that was delivered to millions of households in England to explain the problems, and history, of 'one size fits all' mind set in Europe. 

Trends: "Congressmen Skip Out On Town Halls After Facing Voter Opposition" [09/04/11] "Facing organized, often raucous confrontations at political events, some members of Congress this summer abandoned the long-time tradition of open meetings with the folks back home. It was goodbye to one of the few remaining opportunities for voters and lawmakers to talk face to face. Whatever the explanation, the dearth of meetings sparked criticism that lawmakers were dodging their constituents when Congress is held in such low regard. A recent Associated Press-GFK poll showed 87 percent of Americans disapprove of lawmakers' job performance. [...]"  Note: Cowards. Of course, this was predictable.

MSM: "Recession Breeds Homelessness In UK" [09/04/11] "The umbrella group Homeless Link said that of 200 homeless organisations surveyed, 66 percent reported a rise in the number of rough sleepers in their area across the UK, Channel 4 News reported. Peter Mansfield Clark, manager of a direct access hostel in Crawley, said those figures are no surprise. "In the last 12 months, we've had to turn away just over 1,900 people, and out of 1,900, almost 500 were women," he said. "And we are having to say to people, 'Sorry. We're full and you've got to stay on the street.' It's a horrendous figure", added the hostel's boss. Mansfield said he too was witnessing a new, unexpected breed of homeless people looking for help. "We're getting people who, if you like, are slightly higher up the social scale, who have been working for most of their lives. And things have gone wrong with them since the recession", he said. A young Briton looks bewildered as he recalls the past six months, during which he went from full-time work and a nice flat, to walking the streets looking for somewhere to stay. "The work just didn't come through," he says. "It got less and less, so I still had a job but there just wasn't the hours or the amount of days. Not enough to keep me going properly and keep things sweet at home." When the coalition first came to power it changed the way rough sleeper figures were collated, arguing that it gave a more accurate figure than in the past. So the 2011 official figure for rough sleepers across the country stands at 1,768, the report said. But, according to Channel 4 News, of 80 frontline homeless organisations two-thirds of them believe that the figures "significantly underestimate" the numbers of people sleeping rough. It said that 189,000 people were put into temporary accommodation, such as B&Bs, in 2010 to prevent them becoming homeless, up 14 percent on the previous year. The report also said that last year, 44,160 people were accepted as homeless by councils and put into social housing, up 10 percent on previous year. Charities are warning that the situation can only get worse - with (deliberate) changes to the benefit system seeing (letting) some safety nets slip away.  [...]" 

Trends: "More And More Americans Are Calling Long-Stay Motels Home" [09/03/11] "A long way down the US housing ladder, beneath the grisly 'projects' of The Wire and the trailer parks hymned by Eminem, beneath the slums of New Orleans and the ghettos of Detroit, you'll find the long-stay hotel. Cheap, not very cheerful, and pretty much a last resort, these institutions provide four walls and a roof, for a few hundred bucks a month. It's some of the cheapest accommodation you'll find anywhere in the US, aside from a cardboard box. Long-stay hotels can be found in almost every major American city. They offer none of the privacy of trailer parks, and even less of the permanency. Guests make do with postage stamp-sized rooms, paper-thin walls, and nylon sheets. You'll rarely find them listed in tourist guides, even the section of a Lonely Planet devoted to 'rock-bottom dives'. Staying in one isn't exactly what you might call a holiday. It is, however, an experience. So says Kalpesh Lathigra, whose compelling photo-essay on the Wilmington Hotel in Long Beach, Southern California, is published on these pages. A British documentary photographer, he stumbled upon the place while looking up relatives during a family holiday to Los Angeles (it is owned by his uncle, Bachu), and has since re-visited for extended periods, building close relationships with its most colourful and well-established residents. [...]" 

Legal Case: "Cops May Be Liable for Trumped-Up Charges" [09/03/11] "A firefighter can sue the detectives who falsely accused him of creating two child- pornography websites, the 9th Circuit ruled, finding that the investigators had manufactured probable cause in the absence of real evidence. The federal appeals court in Seattle found that Washington State Police officers Rachel Gardner and John Sager had shown a "reckless disregard for the truth" when they arrested Spokane firefighter Todd Chism in 2008. The detectives never found any child pornography on Chism's computer and could not charge him, but they searched his house and office and detained him briefly based on a trumped-up affidavit, according to the court. [...]"  

Trends: "U.S. Newborn Death Rate Higher Than In 40 Other Nations" [09/03/11]   "Published on Tuesday in the journal PLoS Medicine, the study shows that babies under 4 weeks old account for 41 percent of child deaths worldwide. Lawn said the United Nations and other international organizations must pay closer attention to the newborn mortality rates in order to save more children's lives. The U.N. reports annually on deaths of children under ages 5 and 1, but estimates for newborn deaths are released only sporadically. [...]"  

Legal Case: "Contempt" For Not Standing On A Broken Leg" [09/02/11] "A man who was eating a taco at a Raleigh bus stop says a cop swept-kicked him to the ground, broke his leg and arrested him, then hauled him before a judge who sentenced him to 30 days in jail for contempt, because he could not stand on his broken leg. Lynwood Earl Artis sued Raleigh police Officer James Rollins, Wake County and its sheriff, and others, in Federal Court.  Artis said that after buying his dinner at the Armadillo Grill, he "quietly began to eat his taco, waiting for the bus," when Rollins "approached Artis on foot ... and asked if a beer was his." "Artis leaned forward and saw what appeared to be a discarded can of beer that had been concealed from his view" by a newspaper rack. He says he told Rollins, "'Why, Officer, if that beer were mine, I would be enjoying it with my meal.'" And he resumed eating his taco. He says Rollins asked him for ID, then "Without either warning or being told he was under arrest, Rollins grabbed Artis by his still taco-laden arm, and spun Artis around with great force, which pivoted Artis on his left leg and sent the hapless taco flying. "Rollins twisted Artis' arm behind his back and then swept-kicked Artis' legs from the side and threw him to the ground, breaking his leg [...] Officer Rollins refused to testify at the trial and all charges were dropped, "with a note in the file stating that 'Rollins said he will not testify b/c he does not recall incident.'" (which is either a lie, or because he does this all the time with everyone, he can't recall the specific leg-breaking among all the other legs broken by him) Artis seeks punitive damages for false arrest, false imprisonment, battery, malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress. " 

Legal Case: "Cops May Be Liable for Activist's Death in Jail" [09/02/11] "The 7th Circuit revived claims that Chicago police officers caused the death of a prominent civil rights activist by refusing to provide her with medication when she was under arrest. [...]"  

Legal Case: "Woman Cleared After Trying to Prevent Forcible Drugging of Her Child" [09/02/11] [4:01] Detroit mother Maryanne Godbaldo is cleared of criminal charges related to her effort to prevent Child Services from physically taking her child and injecting psychoactive drugs without real cause. Related: The Story: "Maryanne Godboldo Released from Jail" "Maryanne Godboldo, the Detroit mother who found herself in standoff against "helicopters, armored cars, SWAT teams and all kinds of police," was released from jail yesterday, after 36th District Judge Paula Humphries reduced her bail to a personal recognizance bond of $200,000. Humphries said she doesn't consider Godboldo a public a risk. [...] That this particular gang was hiding behind a mask of state authority doesn't change the facts. State-issued costumes and arbitrary dictates don't levitate certain people above the law, nor excuse them from human morality. Either the government and it's agents are on equal footing with the rest of society, or we live under a lawless totalitarian regime. Which one do you choose? [...]" 

Legal Case: "First Circuit Court of Appeals Rules that Citizens Can Videotape Police" [09/01/11] "On Friday, August 26, 2011, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, which is New England's highest federal court just below the U.S. Supreme Court, ruled that citizens are allowed to videotape law officials while they conduct official duties. [...] The First Circuit Court of Appeals reached a crucial decision last Friday allowing the public to videotape police officers while they're on the clock. The decision comes after a string of incidents where individuals have videotaped police officers and were arrested. Police officers across the United States believed citizens didn't have the right to videotape them as they conducted official duties, but issues like police brutality put the issue up for debate. [...] The filming of government officials engaged in their duties in a public place, including police officers performing their responsibilities, fits comfortably within these principles [of protected First Amendment activity].," said the Court. "Gathering information about government officials in a form that can readily be disseminated to others serves a cardinal First Amendment interest in protecting and promoting the free discussion of governmental affairs." The Court added that the police officers should have understood this all along, and that videotaping public officials is not limited to the press. "Moreover, changes in technology and society have made the lines between private citizen and journalist exceedingly difficult to draw," the Court continued. "The proliferation of electronic devices with video-recording capability means that many of our images of current events come from bystanders with a ready cell phone or digital camera rather than a traditional film crew, and news stories are now just as likely to be broken by a blogger at her computer as a reporter at a major newspaper. Such developments make clear why the news-gathering protections of the First Amendment cannot turn on professional credentials or status." The Court concluded that police officers are to expect to deal with certain "burdens" as citizens practice First Amendment rights, but that there needs to be a healthy balance between police officers being videotaped while acting irresponsibly and the harassment of officers with recording devices while they're conducting their duties responsibly. [...]" Related: "Man Faces Life In Jail For Recording Police" [08/30/11] Video clip  [14:16] "41-year-old Illinois mechanic Michael Allison faces life in jail for recording police officers after authorities hit him with eavesdropping charges based on the hoax that it is illegal to film cops, a misnomer that has been disproved by every other case against people filming police officers being thrown out of court. [...] The state of Illinois is trying to charge Allison with five counts of wiretapping, each punishable by four to 15 years in prison. Allison refused a plea deal which would have seen him serve no jail time but would reinforce the hoax that it is illegal to film police officers, as well as acting as a chilling effect to prevent other Americans from filming cases of police brutality. Allison has chosen to reject the plea bargain and fight to clear his name via a jury trial, arguing, “If we don’t fight for our freedoms here at home we’re all going to lose them.” A judge is expected to rule on when the case will go to trial over the next two weeks. [...]"  

MSM: "In Florida, Unmarried People Living Together Are Breaking The Law" [09/01/11] "You may not know it, but if you’re an unmarried Florida couple currently living together, you’re breaking the law. Such cohabitation is a second-degree misdemeanor, and it could cost you up to $500 or 60 days in jail. The law, which dates back to the 1800s, is in the news more than a century later because now a state lawmaker is looking to repeal it. Rep. Ritch Workman is attempting to do the same for other seemingly outdated laws as well, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. Those laws include one that requires all bike riders to keep a hand on their handlebars, and another that makes cheating on your husband or wife a misdemeanor (if you’re a member of an opposite-sex married couple, that is). Though rarely enforced, the latter was used in 2006 by a scorned woman who got her hubby arrested for cheating. But Workman’s attempts may be in vain: a Republican state representative notes, "I'm not ready to give up on monogamy and a cultural statement that marriage still matters." [...]"  

Trends: "Minorities Become Majority In 22 Of The Country’s 100-Biggest Urban Areas." [09/01/11]   "Washington is among eight big-city metropolitan regions in which minorities became a majority in the past decade, according to a new analysis of census data showing white population declines in many of the largest metro areas. Along with Washington, the regions surrounding New York, San Diego, Las Vegas and Memphis have become majority-minority since 2000. Non-Hispanic whites are a minority in 22 of the country’s 100-biggest urban areas. [...]" 

Commentary:  "All Charges Dropped Against Detroit Mom Who Refused To Drug Her Child" [09/01/11] "All charges have been dropped against Detroit mom Maryanne Godboldo, the woman who was SWAT team raided when Child Protective Services attempted to kidnap her daughter because Maryanne refused to "treat" her with psychiatric medications. An armed standoff ensued, and Maryanne ultimately walked out of her house and was charged with multiple felony counts. Listen to my interview with Maryanne about the incident, here .  I also called Maryanne Godboldo, who is African American, a Civil Rights hero for standing up to government thugs who tried to kidnap her daughter. Hear my audio commentary on the situation. In court proceedings yesterday, all charges were dropped against Maryanne. After the decision was rendered, she said, "I was very pleased with what happened today and I'm pleased Judge Giles ruled in the way that he did because justice prevailed." [...]" 

Documentary: "Bin Wars" UK [08/31/11] [47:47] "Dispatches investigates whether the nation’s anger over fortnightly collections is justified, examining why the changes have been brought about and why they have resulted in a level of protest reminiscent of the petrol crisis of 2001. Dispatches travels across the country to meet residents who are so incensed by the reduction in collections and the policing of their rubbish disposal that they are staging a variety of protests, including refusing to pay their council tax. The film will examine the wider issues surrounding the disposal of rubbish including what happens to recyclable waste recycling rates in the UK and the reliance on landfill sites to deal with domestic rubbish. " 

UK: "Dementia Expert For The Department Of Health: Give Patients 'Choice' Of When They Die" [08/30/11] "Martin Green, a dementia expert for the Department of Health, said patients who were too frail to take their own lives were being denied “choice” and “autonomy” because assisted suicide is illegal in the UK. In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he urged ministers to review the law and suggested that a referendum or a free vote in Parliament should be called to settle policy on the issue. “If you’re going to give people ‘choice’, it should extend to whether or not they want to die,” he said. “If people have got the capacity to make an informed choice then it is my view that they should be allowed to make the informed choice.”[...]"  

MSM: "Inflammatory Art’ Meets Stupid Cops and Stupid Citizens Lacking Capacity For Critical Thought:" [08/29/11] "A graduate of Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design, Alex Schaefer usually paints portraits, cityscapes and lush landscapes. He acknowledges that the bank series has overt political overtones. He is actually doing a series of paintings depicting banks ablaze, he said. His first one two months ago featured a Burbank Chase branch, and he has a Bank of America painting in progress, he said. He will feature other large banks’ branches as well; he does his own banking at a small community bank, Schaefer said. He explained that the artwork was intended to be a visual metaphor for the havoc that banking practices have caused to the economy. The finished paintings will be displayed in a show called “Disaster Capitalism,” scheduled for February at Inglewood’s Beacon Arts Building, he said. [...] Standing before an easel on a Van Nuys sidewalk, Alex Schaefer dabbed paint onto a canvas. “There you have it,” he said. “Inflammatory art.” The 22-by-28-inch en plein air oil painting is certainly hot enough to inflame Los Angeles police. Twice they’ve come to investigate why the 41-year-old Eagle Rock artist is painting an image of a bank building going up in flames. Schaefer had barely added the orange-and-yellow depiction of fire shooting from the roof of a Chase Bank branch when police rolled up to the corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Sylvan Street on July 30. “They told me that "somebody had called and said they felt threatened" by my painting,” Schaefer said." “They said they had to find out my intention. They asked if I was a terrorist and was I going to follow through and do what I was painting.” A terrorist certainly would not spend hours on a public sidewalk creating an oil painting of his intended target, he told the officers. On Tuesday, two more officers showed up at Schaefer’s home. This time they were plainclothes detectives. “One of them asked me, ‘Do you hate banks? Do you plan to do that to the bank?’ ” Schaefer again explained what his painting symbolizes.  [...]Although police elsewhere have occasionally challenged photographers taking pictures of things like refineries and governmental buildings in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, questioning an artist slowly creating an oil painting “is a horribly Orwellian act,” said Andrew McGregor, a photographer who sometimes displays his work alongside Schaefer’s. A graduate of Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design, Schaefer usually paints portraits, cityscapes and lush landscapes. [...]"  Note: Well, since anyone could be threatened by anything, even the very system promulgating this fiasco, this is not a legitimate and ethical process, as it abandons critical thought and common sense and permits fascist control and manipulation processes. It is a system that cultivates sadistic people, stupid people and fools, on its face. Infantile. One may wonder why they don't just arrest themselves and get it over with, because in that type of social system, virtually every individual is 'expendable' anyway. Since it's no way to live and of limited use to anyone on a higher level, it is why we only see this close to the end of a major dynamic, in this case, the civilization itself. We have less than 16 months left, which is only a big deal to those who do not know the accurate context of their own existence .... and reincarnated retreads who hawk copies of M5 on Amazon at $500 apiece, and we know who that is.

Trends: "Notes On The Social Crisis In America" [08/29/11] "Homeless Epidemic In Camden, New Jersey: The economically devastated city of Camden, New Jersey, has confronted a rise in copper thefts from its lighting system, resulting in dark and more crime-prone blocks. City officials have blamed drug-addicted homeless residents who may be desperate enough to risk their lives to get a few dollars in cash from scrapyards. Once a vibrant manufacturing center, Camden is now mired in an unemployment crisis and poverty. More than half of residents live in poverty; per capita income stands at less than $12,000. The city now has the highest rate of violent crime in the nation. In January, half of the municipal police force was cut. Camden has long had a large homeless population living under bridges and in wooded areas. One in every 24 residents of the city are homeless—over 3,000—a rate far higher than nearby Philadelphia and among the highest ratios in the nation. In May 2010, the city fenced off public land where a large tent city, known as Transitional Park, had developed, forcing residents to relocate. Although dwellings consisted of little more than tarps and plywood scraps, the encampment had a long waiting list of people waiting to get an open tent. Homeless residents have built several other camps around Camden since then. Business and civic leaders are calling for their eviction from city limits to boost Camden’s $125,000 campaign advertising the area as a good place for businesses to relocate. If the evictions go forward, many of the homeless will likely risk living in some of the many badly deteriorated buildings standing empty throughout the city. Others may be given one-way bus tickets to cities where shelters could take them in. [...] Other reports: Thousands Of Jobseekers Line Up In Atlanta, Georgia; Nevada Poor Impacted By Budget Cuts; Rural South Dakota Schools Move To Four-Day Week; Illinois Prison Conditions Deteriorate"   Related: "More Notes On The Social Crisis in America" [11 Aug]   Thousands Line Up For Medical Care In South Carolina ; Chicago Ending Overnight Homeless Services ; Youth Unemployment At 49 Percent In DC ; Philadelphia Imposes Youth Curfew To Prevent “Flash Mobs”

Legal Case: "Cops May Be Liable for Trumped-Up Charges" [08/29/11] "A firefighter can sue the detectives who falsely accused him of creating two child-pornography websites, the 9th Circuit ruled, finding that the investigators had manufactured probable cause in the absence of real evidence. [...]" 

 Legal Case: "Class Action Claims Credit Reporter Misidentified 'Hundreds or Thousands' as Sex Offenders" [08/29/11] "A federal class action claims that consumer credit agency Infotrack Information Services falsely identified "hundreds or thousands of consumers as sex offenders in consumer reports provided to employers." [...]"  

UK: "The British Descent Into Total Tyranny Takes Another Step Forward" [08/28/11]   "After the riots in London and throughout the UK I was quick to report on the full spectrum push against democracy and freedom from all sectors of the British government, including Prime Minister David Cameron. It started with calls to shut down social media in times of government-declared emergency and even resulted in the imprisonment of two young men for four years because they failed to incite a riot on Facebook. These moves seem tame to what has now emerged in Britain: a blanket ban on all demonstrations, marches, protests and other gatherings in several areas of London for a whopping 30 days starting September 2nd. [...]" 

Commentary:  "Empty Shelves: Hurricanes, Disasters and Civil Unrest – a Contingency Plan" Kevin Hayden [08/28/11] "If you think that you’ll be able to simply drive to Wal-Mart or the grocery store and load up on food, water and supplies during an actual emergency, you are living in a fantasy world. We now experience freak weather on a regular basis. Oklahoma has experienced a record-breaking 53 days of 100+ temperatures, a massive hurricane is nearing Washington, DC and the New York City area, and NASA continues to amplify their warnings regarding solar storms disrupting our way of life. [...] An important issue that needs to be understood before disaster sets in is that you will not be able to buy your way out of it. During a hurricane or similar short-term event, perhaps. But after a few days, you’ll quickly realize that your dollar bills either don’t go nearly far enough or people will flat out refuse them. A fiat currency has no value in post-disaster realms. During Hurricane Katrina, I was a police officer in New Orleans and it showed me that particular side of the economy and humanity. It taught me a lot of lessons. Not many people in America can truly understand the mentality and atmosphere during a total societal collapse like that experienced in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. [...]"" Note: "Kevin Hayden is a former New Orleans police officer-turned-political activist. He endured Hurricane Katrina’s chaos and societal collapse in the days following and after 5 years in New Orleans, he moved to Oklahoma. Kevin currently runs www.TruthisTreason.net and works on local politics and education about our monetary, food and foreign policies while building an off-grid homestead and helping people become prepared." 

UK: "Recall Of Ibuprofen, Sabotaged With Antipsychotic Meds" [08/28/11] "A Scotland Yard investigation was under way to determine who was behind the plot to put tablets of the prescription medicine Seroquel XL in the packets of the headache pills. Strips of Seroquel, used for treating schizophrenia, had been deliberately cut to fit inside the packets of the painkiller tablet. [...]"  

Trends: "North Carolina Governor Declares Every Concealed Carry Permit in eastern NC Invalid Due to Hurricane Irene" [08/27/11] "Thanks to a brain-dead state law foisted upon us by a Democratic state legislature (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-288.7), every time the governor—in this instance, Democrat Beverly Perdue—declares a state of emergency, it is illegal from that moment onward to carry a concealed weapon until the state of emergency has been declared over. [...]We've dealt with this bit of Democrat-generated stupidity before. Governor Purdue made this declaration while the state was at work, meaning everyone who has a carry permit and lives east of Interstate 95 who was away from home instantly became a criminal by proclamation. If we look at Google Maps, that means that a carry permit holder in Wilson dining at the Cracker Barrel is perfectly legal, but the permit holder a block to the east filling up on gas at the Kangaroo Express is now a criminal. "  Note: This kind of thing exists in other states, as well. See the comments.

Legal Case: "Court Says State Law Used To Ban Recording Of Police Officers In Public Is Unconstitutional" [08/27/11] "The First Amendment issue here is, as the parties frame it, fairly narrow: is there a constitutionally protected right to videotape police carrying out their duties in public? Basic First Amendment principles, along with case law from this and other circuits, answer that question unambiguously in the affirmative. It is firmly established that the First Amendment's aegis extends further than the text's proscription on laws "abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press," and encompasses a range of conduct related to the gathering and dissemination of information. As the Supreme Court has observed, "the First Amendment goes beyond protection of the press and the self-expression of individuals to prohibit government from limiting the stock of information from which members of the public may draw." ...  [...]"  

MSM: "A British Version Of Human Rights" [08/27/11] "Around 62% of those arrested over involvement in Britain's recent unrest have been imprisoned while only 10% of them allegedly have committed serious offences. The rest of the arrested people who have not committed any serious offences are to be kept behind bars for an unknown period of time. Human rights organizations have announced that the British government has decided to keep all arrested people in custody until trial. The British Police have ordered Britain's courts to refuse to bail the arrested even after they have been charged. The arrested people are to stay behind bars for a longer time as the British government has taken such an “iron fist” approach. However, as the arrested people's solicitors have asserted, 62% of the arrested have been imprisoned while they have not been arraigned. What has caused great concern among human rights activists is that only 10% of these people have been charged with serious offences and the rest can be released either on bail or without having to pay bail. Nonetheless, the British government has refused to free them. Moreover, the British Police have supported the government's “iron fist” policy describing it as an initiative that would prevent the spread of unrest across Britain in the future. [...]"  

Commentary: "Fear Sets In, Panic Begins, Ruin Perceived" Jim Willie  [08/27/11] "Something big is going on in the United States in a sentiment change, an altered state of psychology, a growing sense of panic. My opinion is that the nation has entered the early stage of comprehension among the population of systemic failure. The most immediate measures are the rash of heavy selling down days in the US Stock market, the strong purchases in Gold, as well as the reactions to constant news of sovereign debt in trouble, and the big banks teetering. Several other softer measures have been noted, made overwhelming by their sheer numbers. A perception wave has taken hold of a toxic US Economy, a toxic US financial sector, a toxic US housing sector, a toxic economic brain trust in the US towers. A sense of doom is creeping into the nation's living rooms and board rooms, that the nation is in deterioration. Worse, they are realizing how US Federal Reserve is toothless, unable to address or treat the problems.  [...] The citizenry is not adept or gifted enough to conclude that the problem is national insolvency, whose errant prescription has been a flood of liquidity. But they sense something is horribly wrong, and worse, that no current treatment will fix anything. They detect the backfire of the blunt banker solution and the misfired futility of the federal government solution. Witness the rooted perception and horrifying awareness that the United States is moving gradually and unavoidably into a systemic failure. [...]"  

Trends: "Kentucky Food Bank Faces Rising Social Need, Deep Budget Cuts" [08/26/11] "The primary food bank serving eastern and central Kentucky has reported a staggering level of hunger and emergency food requests. As need rises, federal funding for emergency food assistance programs is being targeted for deep cuts or outright elimination. God’s Pantry Food Bank, headquartered in Lexington, recently released findings of a survey conducted in the metro-area’s Fayette County. More than 450 clients visiting the six pantry locations in the county were interviewed March 21-23. The survey collected data on Fayette County emergency food box recipients. Those who qualify for services receive four packages of meat, 12 cans of vegetables, fruit and soup, eight units of pasta, rice, cereal and other staple food items. Recipients say their food box lasts an average of 11 days. The food bank serves 50 counties in Kentucky, helping approximately 211,000 people a year. In Fayette County alone, 161,000 pounds of food are needed each month to stock the five pantries servicing the area. Statistics on the average yearly and monthly household income for clients give a sense of the deep social crisis gripping the state. Food recipients subsist on a yearly household income averaging $8,760. From month to month, families must survive on an income averaging only $730. The survey found that “the typical person visiting a pantry is a white female in her 40s with a family of three. She may have finished high school and if she is working is likely earning minimum wage. She doesn’t own a car so she must walk, ride a bus or arrange for a ride to the pantry with family or friends.” Working clients constitute 23 percent of emergency food box recipients in Fayette County. Forty percent of all those served are children. [...]"  

MSM: "Federal Asset Seizures Rise, Netting Innocent With Guilty" [08/26/11] "Last year, forfeiture programs confiscated homes, cars, boats and cash in more than 15,000 cases. The total take topped $2.5 billion, more than doubling in five years, Justice Department statistics show. The expansion of forfeiture powers is part of a broader growth in recent decades of the federal justice system that has seen hundreds of new criminal laws passed. Some critics have dubbed the pattern as the overcriminalization of American life. The forfeiture system has opponents across the political spectrum, including representatives of groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union on the left and the Heritage Foundation on the right. They argue it represents a widening threat to innocent people. [...]"  

MSM: "With CIA Help, NYPD Moves Covertly In Muslim Areas" [08/24/11] "Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the NYPD has become one of the country's most aggressive domestic intelligence agencies. A months-long investigation by The Associated Press has revealed that the NYPD operates far outside its borders and targets ethnic communities in ways that would run afoul of civil liberties rules if practiced by the federal government. And it does so with unprecedented help from the CIA in a partnership that has blurred the bright line between foreign and domestic spying. Neither the city council, which finances the department, nor the federal government, which contributes hundreds of millions of dollars each year, is told exactly what's going on. [...]"    Note: Extensive article.

Commentary:  "The Cause Of Riots And The Price of Food" [08/24/11] "What causes riots? That's not a question you would expect to have a simple answer. But today, Marco Lagi and buddies at the New England Complex Systems Institute in Cambridge, say they've found a single factor that seems to trigger riots around the world. This single factor is the price of food. Lagi and co say that when it rises above a certain threshold, social unrest sweeps the planet. The evidence comes from two sources. The first is data gathered by the United Nations that plots the price of food against time, the so-called food price index of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN.  [...] On 13 December last year, the group wrote to the US government pointing out that global food prices were about to cross the threshold they had identified. Four days later, Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in Tunisia in protest at government policies, an event that triggered a wave of social unrest that continues to spread throughout the middle east today. That leads to an obvious thought. If high food prices condition the world for social unrest, then reducing the prices should stabilise the planet. But what can be done to reverse the increases. Lagi and co say that two main factors have driven the increase in the food price index. The first is traders speculating on the price of food, a problem that has been exacerbated in recent years by the deregulation of the commodities markets and the removal of trading limits for buyers and sellers. The second is the conversion of corn into ethanol, a practice directly encouraged by subsidies. Those are both factors that the western world and the US in particular could change. Today, the food price index remains above the threshold but the long term trend is still below. But it is rising. Lagi and co say that if the trend continues, the index is likely to cross the threshold in August 2013. "  Note:  In other words the dynamic would be attenuated while we're here, because we would not be here in August 2013.

Legal Case: "New York City Claims No-Show Janitors Bilked Schools for 'Hundreds of Thousands'" [08/24/11] "Custodians at two Bronx high schools bilked the city of "hundreds of thousands of dollars" by paying themselves and others for no-show jobs, New York City and its School Board say in a racketeering complaint. Trifon Radef and Nicanor "Nick" Fernandez hired and assigned cleaners, custodial firemen, food servers and other staff at Roosevelt High School and Truman High School, respectively, according to the federal complaint. For several years, they put their co-defendant employees Morris Hampton, Frank Chambers, James Coppola and Michael Cunningham Sr. on the Department of Education payroll, though these employees "rarely, if ever, were present at these locations, much less ever performed any work there," the complaint states. The School Board claims Radef also spent more than $15,000 of school district money to spruce up his house in Queens. "In addition, using DOE custodial payroll funds, Trifon Radef paid custodial employees for work they performed at Radef's personal properties, for which they used DOE materials and supplies," the complaint states. Investigators said they investigated Radef and caught him in 2010. "Investigators of the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District ('SCI') conducted regular surveillance of Radef between March and June 2010, and frequently observed Radef at locations other than Truman HS during regularly scheduled work hours, for which Radef sought and received payment," the complaint states. The city says Radef was spotted on five work days at a restaurant and social club in Queens, and that E-Z Pass records show that he crossed bridges to Queens more than 550 other days when he should have been in the Bronx. "A calculation of the hours elapsed between the time that Radef's vehicle passed through the Whitestone or Throgs Neck tolls from the Bronx to Queens and the end of his scheduled shift at Truman HS establishes that Radef was paid for more than 3,000 hours of work at Truman HS when he was not there. Between December 2007 to January 2010 alone, at Radef's base wage as a stationary engineer, he was paid approximately $70,000 for time that he was not present at Truman HS," the complaint states. According to the complaint, custodial fireman Hampton admitted to investigators that he was a no-show employee, and named "senior lunch helper" Chambers as a co-conspirator. [...]"  

Trends: "America's Serious Crime Rate Is Plunging" [08/23/11] "There are a score of explanations offered by sociologists for collapsing crime figures, from theories that it is tied to legalisation of abortion or reduction of lead in fuel to the closing of mental institutions. One theory has it that better and swifter medical treatment has reduced the number of murders by saving the lives of assault victims who would otherwise have died. But that doesn't explain why overall violent crime is also down. Anti- gun activists note that the cities with two of the sharpest falls in murder rates, New York and Washington, have enacted strict gun control laws by US standards. Yet Houston in Texas, where some regard it as criminal not to own a gun, has also seen a sharp drop in homicides. One of the most widely accepted explanations is also one of the most politically and socially sensitive – that the imposition of sharply stiffer prison sentences since the early 1980s, which has resulted in the US having the highest rate of incarceration in the developed world, has kept large numbers of criminals off the streets. The US imprisons 2.3 million of its citizens, a number that has risen dramatically since the 80s when state legislatures began greatly increasing prison sentences out of fear of the surging crime rate. "We now incarcerate four times as many people as we did 20 years ago," said John Roman, director of the District of Columbia Crime Policy Institute, who has spent years studying crime trends in the city and the US. "Just by sheer size you've removed a lot of potential offenders from the street. I don't think that's very popular in many circles but it's very hard to argue with." [...]"  

Bottom Line: "Social Security Disability To Be OK Until '2017'; Retirement Fund OK Until '2037'" [08/23/11] "Laid-off workers and aging baby boomers are flooding Social Security's disability program with benefit claims, pushing the financially strapped system toward the brink of insolvency. Applications are up nearly 50 percent over a decade ago as people with disabilities lose their jobs and can't find new ones in an economy that has shed nearly 7 million jobs. The stampede for benefits is adding to a growing backlog of applicants — many wait two years or more before their cases are resolved — and worsening the financial problems of a program that's been running in the red for years. New congressional estimates say the trust fund that supports Social Security disability will run out of money by 2017, leaving the program unable to pay full benefits, unless Congress acts. About two decades later, Social Security's much larger retirement fund is projected to run dry, too, leaving it unable to pay full benefits as well [...]"  Note: Since We Have Less Than 16 Months, It's Forever for Both.

MSM: "No Surprise for Bisexual Men: Report Indicates They Exist" [08/23/11] "... “It’s great that they’ve come out with affirmation that bisexuality exists,” he said. “Having said that, they’re proving what we in the community already know. It’s insulting. I think it’s unfortunate that anyone doubts an individual who says, ‘This is what I am and who I am.’ ”  [...]"  Note: Duh.

Trends: "US Emerging As 'Food-Stamp Country'" [08/23/11] "The United States has gradually become a food-stamp nation as high costs and lower wages make the lives of average citizens more challenging. According to a recent report published by Reuters on Monday, there are over 46 million people in the US living on food stamps, which means that about 15 percent of the country's population can only afford their living expenses through government handouts. The figure indicates a 74-percent rise in the number of food stamp recipients since 2007, just before the financial crisis and a deep recession hit the US, leading to mass job losses. About 40 percent of American recipients of supplemental nutrition assistance are those households that have at least one wage earner but could still hardly afford monthly rent and utility payments. The maximum amount a family-of-four can receive in monthly food stamps is $668, which can only be used to purchase food. In May 2011, a third of all the people in the state of Alabama were put on food coupons. Many of them were those that were hit by a series of devastating tornadoes. The United States Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a program that provides assistance to low- and no-income people and families living in the US.  [...]"  

Trends: "US July Jobless Rate Up In 28 States" [08/22/11] "New figures indicate that the US unemployment rate increased in more than half of the country's 50 states last month as the nation is gripped by economic crisis. [...]" 

MSM: "Copper Theft Left Thousands Without Power in Florida" [08/22/11] "Power outages rarely get the attention of detectives. But a power outage on August 4th in Hudson is now under investigation by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. The outage lasted nearly two hours, leaving 6,000 people without electricity. At least 200 feet of copper wire was stolen from a substation owned by Withlacoochee River Electric. Three people were captured on surveillance cameras stealing the copper. It may not be the first substation hit by the same group. "It looks like they have targeted these substations. They've hit at least two," according to sheriff's spokesman Kevin Doll. "We're all sitting here having breakfast, I'm working on my computer and all of a sudden all the lights went out," Sue Cowan recalled. Cowan manages the Gulf Coast Resort. Luckily, it was only breakfast that was interrupted. It could have been worse. "We have two folks that are on oxygen 24/7, so that creates a problem in their breathing," she said. [...]"  Note: Gee, do you think?

Commentary: "Dylan Ratigan: Foreclosure Fraud & $45 Trillion Dollars" [08/21/11] [14:10] Note: Good presentation.

Commentary: "EU Diabetes Diktat: One Million Drivers Face Losing Their Licence" [08/21/11] "Up to one million people with diabetes could lose their driving licences because of harsh new European rules classifying them as unfit to drive. Experts claim the ‘unnecessarily strict’ changes will affect hundreds of thousands who have been driving for decades without problems. They say the rules amount to a blanket ban on diabetics taking insulin who occasionally have ‘hypos’ – episodes of hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar, which may cause blackouts if not countered with a sugary snack. [...]"  

MSM: "Cops Using Math to ' Predict' Crime" [08/21/11] "Didn't anyone pay attention to how things went for Tom Cruise in Minority Report? Cops in Santa Cruz, California, are using a computer math algorithm to anticipate when and where crimes are most likely to be committed, reports ABC News. Based on earthquake prediction technology, the system uses years of crime data to come up with daily "hot spots" that officers should patrol and what times an offense is likely to occur. "As we continue budget cuts, as we are facing less and less police officers on the streets, we need to leverage technology to become more effective and efficient," says a department spokesman. By some measures, it seems to be working: The program launched in July, and burglaries were down 27% over the previous July. [...]" 

UK: "Government Considers 'Curfew Powers' Following Riots" [08/20/11] "In the aftermath of last week’s riots, the Conservative/Liberal government is actively planning the imposition of curfew powers covering wide geographical areas. Home Secretary Theresa May announced that giving the police further powers to clear streets and establish “no-go” areas are under discussion. Under existing laws, there is no power to impose a general curfew in a particular area”, she said. While individuals can be subject to curfew conditions, “there are only limited powers to impose them on somebody under the age of 16. These are the sort of powers we are considering.” She added, “I think we need to make sure the police have just got all the powers available to be able to use them as and when they are necessary.” Since the 1973 repeal of the 18th-century Riot Act, there have been no specific powers available to a British government to impose a curfew on the public in a specific geographical area. The powers proposed by May are in addition to the draconian Civil Contingencies Act 2004, which authorises curfews and bans on travel and assembly. Such police state measures are being proposed as police forces continue to hunt down anyone accused of involvement in the disturbances. Nationally, more than 3,000 people have been arrested. In London, the Metropolitan Police have made 1,802 arrests with 1,032 people charged. Many have been sent to prison, often for the pettiest of offences. Despite the government’s official denial, it has emerged that a directive has been handed down to the judiciary to mete out the harshest possible sentences in riot-related cases. To this end, the rule book governing sentencing has been thrown out. Even those not involved in any disturbances have been sent to prison for years. Jordan Blackshaw, 20, and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, were given four years imprisonment each this week on the basis that they made Facebook postings, encouraging rioting. In Manchester, Thomas Downey was imprisoned for 16 months for taking a box of doughnuts from a shop looted earlier by others. [...]  Comparisons have been made in the media between this month’s disturbances and the riots in Brixton, London in 1981. In both instances, they were sparked by police brutality. In 1981, Cherry Groce was shot in a raid by police hunting for her son. The recent riots were triggered by the police killing of a 29-year-old father of four, Mark Duggan, in Tottenham, north London.In the case of the Brixton riots, however, 82 arrests were made. Today, more than 20 times that number have been arrested in the capital alone, with estimates that this will rise to 3,000 people .... The Guardian has published a breakdown of 1,000 riot-related cases that have come before the courts so far. The research, based on access to national court records, establishes that those convicted are being given sentences that are on average 25 percent longer than normal. [...]"  

UK: "Critical Thinking A-Level Loses Appeal" [08/19/11] "Critical Thinking is the A-level subject which has shown the sharpest fall in popularity in the past year. [...]"  

LaRouche: "Is Netanyahu Pushing War To Crush the Mass Strike?" [08/19/11] "After a series of escalating protests against high rents and costs of living had brought more than 300,000 Israelis into the streets on Aug. 6, equivalent to a mass protest of an incredible 12.5 million Americans, it was widely anticipated that Netanyahu would unleash warfare, even war with Iran, to try to shut them down. [...]"  

Max Keiser: "The Latest Brutal Report Indicates That Home Buying Demand Is Likely Falling To Even Lower Levels" [08/19/11]   "So what we’re seeing here is a sort of tragic cycle. The nation isn’t seeing the unemployment rate decline, because consumers aren’t comfortable spending freely. But one of the chief reasons that they aren’t comfortable spending freely is because unemployment is so high. As long as consumers see a huge number of Americans out of work, they won’t feel that the nation’s economy is completely stable. That’s why we have been seeing such sluggish job growth, even when the unemployment rate appeared to be declining a little. [...]" 

Commentary: "20 Signs That The World Could Be Headed For An Economic Apocalypse In 2012" [08/19/11] "If you thought that 2011 was a bad year for the world economy, just wait until you see what happens in 2012. The U.S. and Europe are both dealing with unprecedented debt problems, the financial markets are flailing about wildly, austerity programs are being implemented all over the globe, prices on basics such as food are soaring and a lot of consumers are flat out scared right now. Many analysts now fear that a “perfect storm” could be brewing and that we could actually be headed for an economic apocalypse in 2012. Hopefully that will not happen. Hopefully our leaders can keep the global economy from completely falling apart. But right now, things don’t look good. After a period of relative stability, things are starting to become unglued once again. The next major financial panic could literally happen at any time. Sadly, if we do see an economic apocalypse in 2012, it won’t be the wealthy that suffer the most. It will be the poor, the unemployed, the homeless and the hungry that feel the most pain. The following are 20 signs that we could be headed for an economic apocalypse in 2012…. [...]"  

UK: "Duped Out Of Their Pensions: Millions Are Warned To Beware Of Cash Offers To Ditch Final Salary Schemes" [08/18/11] "Millions of workers could be duped into ditching their generous final salary pensions for cash bribes. A report by leading accountants KPMG reveals that one in four employees has been lured by offers of payments worth thousands of pounds to abandon their gold-plated pensions.  Instead, their money is being moved into risky alternatives which are at the mercy of the stock market. To sweeten the deal, workers and former employees are being offered extra payments – either as cash up-front or in the form of sums injected into their new stock market pensions. But many do not realise that they are exchanging a lucrative long-term benefit for a short-term perk that will leave them facing a far poorer retirement.  Half of all firms giving final salary pensions are believed to be considering offering cash payments to 2.5million workers and former employees. Pensions Minister Steve Webb warned earlier this year that workers being offered ‘superficially attractive’ deals could be the next mis-selling scandal – and called for tougher rules to help clamp down on the practice.  Danny Cox, pensions expert from advisers Hargreaves Lansdown, said: ‘We’ve nicknamed these “plasma TV incentives”. What they encourage workers to do is think about the short term and what they could buy today with the cash in hand – such as get a plasma screen TV, or a fancy holiday – rather than all the benefits they would miss out on in the future. People just do not realise the benefits they would be missing out on.’"  Note: Knowing where reality in the larger sense is going ... I can say that taking the cash is a smart move, because they will never see reason, much less their pension, and since we're out of here in less than 16 months anyway, as a civilization, so .. they should try and enjoy themselves now. So, these people are not 'victims' at all, but people who are thoughtful and using common sense.

UK: "Bosses Condemn 'Useless' Degrees Which Leave Graduates Unemployable Because They Lack Basic Skills" [08/18/11] "There may be a course in underwater basket weaving, but that does not mean anybody will actually want to employ you at the end of it'  [...] Millions of school leavers and graduates with 'fairly useless' degrees are unemployable because they lack basic skills, a major business lobby group will warn today. The devastating report, from the British Chambers of Commerce, reveals small businesses are frustrated at the quality of applicants, who they say can barely concentrate or add up. Nearly half of the 2,000 firms surveyed said they would be 'fairly or very nervous' about hiring someone who has just finished their A-levels. The report warns: 'Too many people [are] coming out with fairly useless degrees in non-serious subjects.' "  

Explorations: "What Lies Beneath In The Catacombs Of Paris" [08/18/11] [2:40]  "Underneath the streets of most cities is a complex web of tunnels, cables and pipes carrying everything from water to trains, but under the feet of people in Paris exists one of the most complex system of tunnels ever seen. The BBC's Christian Fraser has been finding out what lies beneath. [...]"  

UK: "Part-Time Britain Hits Record High As Unemployment Soars" [08/18/11] "Britain's economic recovery hopes were dashed today as official figures showed unemployment rose by 38,000 in the three months to June to 2.49m and the number of people working part-time because they could not find full-time jobs surged to a new record high.  [...] John Salt, director at job site Totaljobs, said: “Following the recent decline in output in the UK manufacturing industry, the rise in unemployment, unfortunately, does not come as a major surprise. This is worrying for young people considering there is another wave of graduates and school leavers entering the jobs market at this time of year." [...] "  

Trends: "Sticker Shock: Food Prices Soaring" [08/18/11] [2:17] "Food prices are rising, and are expected to keep rising over the coming months as farmers struggle with bad weather, bad harvests, and strong demand. NBC’s Tom Costello reports. (Nightly News) [...]" 

MSM: "Social Security Wrongly Declares 14,000 People Dead Each Year" [08/18/11] "The Social Security Administration is killing off thousands of Americans every year, at least temporarily. About one in 200 deaths typed into the agency's Death Master File carries a misprint that officially terminates a living person, cutting off credit, bank accounts, and government assistance for the newly "dead," the Chicago Tribune reports. The risk of identity theft also spikes for victims of death-by-bureaucracy when their personal information is released. “It was one of those surreal things, like seeing a UFO,“ says Laura Brooks, a Virginia woman told by her bank that she had died. Only after visiting a Social Security office was she "revived," but it took months, and her lost disability checks were never reimbursed. What to do if the government kills you by mistake? Show your death certificate to the office that first reported your demise, fill out the proper forms, and prove your existence (with photo ID) to Social Security, banks, and credit bureaus. [...]"  

Trends: " Walmart Has Ninth Straight Quarterly Decline in Sales" [08/17/11] "As if the lowest consumer sentiment in three decades wasn’t enough, the largest retailer in the world provides yet more evidence that the consumer in the United States is being unabatedly destroyed: …company comments about consumer spending showed the split between upper-income consumers who have jobs and are little affected by rising costs for food and other essentials, and lower-income shoppers who are struggling with stubbornly high unemployment and rising costs. “This is exactly what we continue to see quarter after quarter. There’s just significant bifurcation here,” Edward Jones retail analyst Matt Arnold said. Wal-Mart said same-store sales at its U.S. discount stores, by far its largest business, fell 0.9 percent in the second quarter, the ninth straight quarterly decline at domestic stores open at least a year. “They’re trading down to stretch their budgets, buying a lower-priced brand of detergent, moving from branded canned goods to private label, and purchasing half gallons of milk instead of gallons,” Wal-Mart Chief Executive Mike Duke said in a recorded message. Also, more shoppers are relying on government aid to help pay for food and other necessities, Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon said on the call. [...] When the retailer selling the cheapest goods in the world manufactured by slave labor can’t boost sales growth, then you know there’s a problem. If anything, consumers should be shopping at Walmart in droves, putting competitors out of business. Even if consumers wanted to buy more (non-essential) goods, they couldn’t. Millions of jobs lost. Millions more left to lose. Credit for everything except college tuition is almost nonexistent. Wages and benefits are deteriorating. 401(k)’s and savings accounts have been tapped. The value of homes, the leading investment product of America’s middle class, have been wiped out. The country’s gross domestic product, the key measure of economic growth, has collapsed. We are on the brink of the next phase of this crisis, when the last of the easy money (for Main Street) runs out, is going to be nothing short of financial Armageddon, because the government will have no ammunition to counteract the next market collapse. [...]"  

Concepts and Practices: "Senator Nancy Schaefer (GA) Discusses Abuses by Child Protective Services - Part 1" CPS Predators/Corruption [08/16/11] [6:32]  "..to receive the adoption incentives, or bonuses, local CPS must have more children, they must have more merchandise, to sell. Funding is available when a child is placed in a foster home with strangers, or placed in a mental health facility and medicated, usually against the parents wishes. Parents are victimized by the system that makes a profit for holding children longer and bonuses for not returning children to their parents. This is abusive power. It is lack of accountability. And it is a growing criminal-political phenomenon spreading around the globe. There is a huge bureaucracy made up of judges, court appointed attorneys, Guardian ad Litems, social workers, state employees, court investigators, therapists, psychologists. psychiatrists, foster parents, adoptive parents, on and on who are looking to the children instate care for their job security. [...]"  Note:  Part 2 [6:26] Schaefer lost her Georgia Senate seat because of her report on this issue. This is what happens when someone with normal principles comes up against the abnormal freaks entrenched in political racketeering, committing human rights crimes against helpless people for profit, expanding the sadistic vein in the system.

MSM: "Brits Given 4 Years In Prison For 'Attempting To Incite' Riots On Facebook" [08/16/11] "Jordan Blackshaw, 20, and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, 22, have been given 4 years in prison for attempts to incite riots on Facebook during recent disorder in the UK, according to Cheshire Police. The Guardian reports that Blackshaw had set up an event called "Smash Down in Northwich Town". When he turned up to the arranged meeting place (a McDonald's) he was arrested by police. Sutcliffe-Keenan had set up a webpage using Facebook (exactly how isn't clear) called The Warrington Riots. He deleted it in the morning, explaining it was a joke, but the court was told it had created a wave of panic over the town. Neither incident actually resulted in any rioting. The sentences are already being denounced as too harsh. "Some instances are completely out of all proportion," Sally Ireland, policy director of the law reform organization Justice, told the Guardian. "There will be a flurry of appeals although, by the time they have been heard, those sentences may already have been served." [...]" 

Commentary:  "Criminalizing Poverty: During Economic Crisis, New Laws Crack Down On America's Poor, Homeless" [08/16/11]   "The number of laws criminalizing poverty increased during the recession as the housing and homelessness crisis in America worsened. Since 2006, there's been a 7 percent increase in laws prohibiting camping out in public places, an 11 percent increase in laws prohibiting loitering, a 6 percent increase in laws prohibiting begging and a 5 percent increase in laws prohibiting aggressive panhandling, according to a recent report by The National Coalition for the Homeless. [...]"  

Society and Culture: "United States Code: List of Positive Law Titles" PDF [08/16/11] " If it isn't on the list, it cannot be codified into public law and is a  "Non-positive" Code or Title, which means that there is no underlying Constitutional authority for the federal government to enter into these areas and therefore, these “codes” cannot be codified into public law and carry no force of law except as it applies to the District of Columbia, insular possessions and territories. These are the ONLY places the federal government has absolute authority. Commerce and trade cannot be codified into public law as there is no underlying Constitutional authority for the federal government to enter into commerce or trade other than as a contracting party or, in the treaty process. The government may enter into trade disputes between the states as an arbitrator when there is a state-to-state dispute although, depending upon the political leanings of SCOTUS at any given time, the twisting and contorting of this provision can change dramatically. The federal government has no authority to unlawfully cede to or, empower any federal agency with powers and authority the federal government does not possess and never did.  [...]"  Note:  Ref

Legal Case: "St. Louis: Cops Steal, Plant Drugs, Arrest Falsely and Go To Prison - Now The Lawsuit" [08/16/11] "A man claims corrupt cops stole his casino winnings - twice - then had him falsely convicted and sent to prison for 7 years on bogus drug charges. Eddie Johnson claims St. Louis cops stole a total of $8,100 in his casino winnings during two traffic stops in 2001. [...] On or about September 9, 2001, as Mr. Johnson was standing on the porch of a house ... defendant Garrett and defendant [Leo] Liston approached him and pulled him from the porch. They told him that he 'was going to wish he had not gone to the Internal Affairs Division,' or words to that effect. They told him they would 'see to it that he did 20 years hard federal time,' or words to that effect." Johnson claims Garrett and Liston then planted cocaine in his truck and arrested him for possession of cocaine base with intent to sell. Johnson says he pleaded guilty rather than face 20 years in federal prison if found guilty at trial. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, was released after 7 years and is still on probation." [...] Johnson says the officers' true intent was revealed later. "Defendant Carr has since admitted that he and defendant Garrett planted evidence, namely drugs, on persons for the purpose of charging them with drug-related offenses and seized money from citizens and split it between themselves," the complaint states. "Defendants Garrett, Liston and Carr are serving time in federal prison for said offenses." Johnson claims the St. Louis Police Department knew of Garrett's, Carr's and Liston's illegal actions before his unjust arrest; that the department knew or should have known of their illegal conduct; and that it delayed investigating their conduct. Johnson seeks damages for civil rights violations, false arrest, malicious prosecution, abuse of process and false imprisonment. His wife seeks damages for loss of consortium. Named as defendants are the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, individual members of the Board of Police Commissioners of the City of St. Louis, and Bobby Lee Garrett, Vincent T. Carr and Leo Liston.  Related: (St. Louis) Legal Case: "Class Action Sues St. Louis Area Transit Agency" [08/16/11]   "A class action claims that Metro, St. Louis' public transportation agency, exposes customers to identity theft by printing credit cards' expiration dates on receipts, along with the cards' final four numbers. [...]"  

Legal Case: "War of Lawsuits Continues in Maricopa County, AZ" [08/16/11]   "Sheriff Joe Arpaio's former chief deputy and a former Maricopa County deputy attorney claim county officials destroyed their reputations "in an attempt to influence the public by the misuse of their positions of power and misuse of the truth." [...]" 

Commentary: "Man Shoots Dead Police Officer Who Refused To Leave Property Without Warrant" [08/16/11] "A Freemansburg, PA police officer Robert Lasso was shot dead by a man who ordered the officer to leave his property without a warrant. The officer disregard the man’s order and entered the property anyway and the man’s dogs went after the officer. The officer was then ordered by his Sergeant to shoot the dogs. The man responded by shooting the officer with his shotgun to protect his dogs. The U.S corporate media reports, such as the report from the local Lehigh Valley Live newspaper, makes no mention of the man telling the officer not to enter the property without a warrant or that the officer was attempting to shoot the man’s dog. [...]"  

MSM: "12 Days in Jail Over a Faulty 'Drug Test': Canadian Case Prompts Questions on Reliability Of Equipment and Border Guards" [08/15/11] "Janet Goodin, 66, of Warroad, Minn., was wrongly accused of smuggling drugs into Canada. In April, Janet Goodin of Warroad, Minn., was crossing into Canada for an evening of bingo with her daughters when an officer with the Canadian Border Service conducted a routine search of her van. The officer found an old bottle of motor oil, did a field test and told her that it contained heroin. "I can't even describe the feeling of amazement," Goodin, 66, said in an interview. "I said, 'That's not possible, it's leftover oil.'" The bottle was re-tested, and agents said it again revealed the presence of heroin. Goodin was arrested, handcuffed and taken to jail, where she was strip-searched. The motor oil was sent to a Canadian federal laboratory, which eventually determined there was no heroin in it. After 12 days behind bars, Goodin was released. Goodin's case has been seized upon by critics who question the reliability of field drug-test kits, which are used widely by law enforcement. [...]"  Note: and also those who "do" the tests, who need to have a quota to make themselves look efficient and justify their job. Third party independent tests results should be sought in order to keep dishonest border guards from exercising their sadistic bent on people.

Documentary: "Perfect Storm: The England Riots" [08/15/11] [29:12] "A documentary looking at the wider context surrounding the recent England Riots. [...]"  

Commentary:  "25 Ordinary Citizens Write Iceland’s New Constitution With Help From Social Media" [08/15/11] "After Iceland’s economic collapse in 2008, the island nation decided it was time to write a new constitution, this one not based on its parent country of Denmark but rather made from the original ideas of its citizens. Iceland’s small population of 320,000 elected 25 assembly members from 522 ordinary candidates (including lawyers, political science professors, journalists, and many other professions), who in turn opened their process up to the public in an unprecedented fashion. The Constitutional Council was highly active on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr, where they solicited comments and suggestions for the new government. On Friday July 29th, 2011, the Iceland parliament officially received the new constitution, comprised of 114 articles divided into 9 chapters. Set to be reviewed, and then put before vote for ratification by October 1st, the internet-assisted document marks a possible paradigm shift in governing.  [...]"  Related: "Iceland's Constitution"  

Commentary: "Britain’s Riots: Thuggery, Looting, Lawlessness… By the Ruling Class " [08/15/11] "After a conflagration of arson attacks, riots and looting in several British cities, including the capital, London, there is a sense of order having been restored from a massive mobilisation of police forces. There now follows the tracking down and prosecution of individuals involved in the mayhem. Conservative Prime Minister is leading “the fight back” to punish anyone who has inflicted damage and destruction to Britain’s society. The events have visibly shocked the political establishment of all parties, police chiefs and the mainstream media. But what should be more shocking is the myopic and incredibly banal commentary that is being offered to “explain” the outburst of street disturbances and violence. As pundits sit in comfy television studios trading inane insights about the “evils” of individual immorality, criminality, dysfunctional families, gang culture – in the background, so to speak, are the glaring signs scrolling across the screens of the cause of this societal breakdown. And yet the preponderant signs escape the mental radar of pundits and politicians alike. The fact that the capitalist economic system is in worldwide meltdown is not even registered in the mainstream commentary. This is the system that the mainstream political parties have facilitated and fawned over, whether Labour, Conservative or Liberal, and which has resulted in social devastation across Britain while the corporate and financial elite has ransacked economic resources. This system of legalised looting has been going on for decades, but certainly took on a precipitous dynamic starting with Cameron’s Conservative predecessor Margaret Thatcher in the early 1980s. Labour’s Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were merely purveyors of the same dynamic. In surveying today’s Britain, Karl Marx words are so right: “An accumulation of wealth at one pole of society indicates an accumulation of misery and overwork at the other”. That is the hallmark of capitalism in today’s Britain, the US and Europe. All other problems are largely secondary in causation. Crime, racist policing, disorder, the lack of police budgets to restore order (so ironic), alienation and self-destruction, and so many other ills including the mobilisation of resources to fund illegal wars – most of our present day problems flow from the tap root of dysfunction that is the capitalist economy.  [...]"  Related: "Cameron: Riot-Hit UK Must Reverse `Moral Collapse'"    "After a conflagration of arson attacks, riots and looting in several British cities, including the capital, London, there is a sense of order having been restored from a massive mobilisation of police forces. There now follows the tracking down and prosecution of individuals involved in the mayhem. Conservative Prime Minister is leading “the fight back” to punish anyone who has inflicted damage and destruction to Britain’s society. The events have visibly shocked the political establishment of all parties, police chiefs and the mainstream media. But what should be more shocking is the myopic and incredibly banal commentary that is being offered to “explain” the outburst of street disturbances and violence. [...]" |"UK Detains 3,000 People In Unrest"   "Latest reports indicate that the British security forces have detained nearly 3,000 people since an unprecedented wave of unrest hit the United Kingdom. [...]"

Trends: "Wave Of Nationwide Social Protests Hits Israel" [08/14/11]   [0:39] "Tens of thousands people have gathered across Israel for fresh protests for a “welfare state” on Saturday night. The organizers picked 18 smaller cities, setting Tel Aviv aside this time, “to let the rest of the voices speak.” ­Police estimate that between 50,000 and 70,000 people flooded onto the streets of Israeli cities and towns on Saturday, chanting “we demand social justice.” The nationwide demonstration, which started at 10pm local time (1900GMT), mobilized people from the northern city of Nahariya on the Lebanese border to the southern port of Eilat. [...]"  Note: Interestingly, this dynamic is the result of the dependency of Israel (Is Not Real) on the US for money to fund society, rather than becoming an independent entity capable of self-support, like most real countries. US candidate Ron Paul mentioned this problem during the 'debates'.

Trends: "Gas Shortages Hit Parts Of Canada" [08/14/11] "Drivers looking to fuel up at Toronto gas stations Tuesday found the pumps dry — a phenomenon that some experts say will become more familiar in the future. Shell stations across the GTA displayed “No Gas” signs after a delay at their refinery in Sarnia caused supply shortages. “Customers are getting mad,” said Damodar Madhi, an employee at the Shell station near Lake Shore Blvd. and Third St. in Etobicoke, after his station ran out of gas Tuesday morning. His station hadn’t received a delivery since the weekend, and he had no idea when their next shipment was coming.[...]" 

Commentary: "The Moral Decay Of Our Society Is As Bad At The Top As The Bottom" UK [08/14/11] "David Cameron, Ed Miliband and the entire British political class came together yesterday to denounce the rioters. They were of course right to say that the actions of these looters, arsonists and muggers were abhorrent and criminal, and that the police should be given more support. But there was also something very phony and hypocritical about all the shock and outrage expressed in parliament. MPs spoke about the week’s dreadful events as if they were nothing to do with them. I cannot accept that this is the case. Indeed, I believe that the criminality in our streets cannot be dissociated from the moral disintegration in the highest ranks of modern British society. The last two decades have seen a terrifying decline in standards among the British governing elite. It has become acceptable for our politicians to lie and to cheat. An almost universal culture of selfishness and greed has grown up. [...]" 

Trend Update: "New Scrap-Metal Sale Permit Law Might Dent Copper Thefts" South Carolina [08/14/11] "Most folks use air conditioners to beat the sizzling summer heat. But some thieves use them as a means to cold, hard cash. A new state law is designed to stop them in their tracks. Beginning Wednesday, anyone who buys or sells copper -- abundant in the inner workings of air conditioners -- or other high-value scrap metals such as aluminum must get a permit from the local sheriff's office. The law, passed last legislative session, is designed to thwart metal thieves, who do things like gut air conditioners and sell the metal to recyclers or salvage yards. "The law is a great step in the right direction in trying to reduce copper thefts," Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner said. "If it works like it's intended to, the salvage companies will turn those who don't have a permit away." The Sheriff's Office has recorded 45 thefts of non-ferrous metals since January 2009. That count doesn't include thefts of items such as catalytic converters and air-conditioning units, which are most often targeted for the metals inside, according to Sgt. Robin McIntosh, a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman. Other hot spots for copper thieves are church air-conditioning units since the buildings are often unoccupied for most of the week, Tanner said.  [...]"  Related: "German Rail to Use Chemical Markers to Combat Metal Theft" [07/15/11] "...Germany is not the only country facing an increase in railway metal theft -- and it's not the first to turn to chemical coding as a means of protecting its rail system from metal-snatchers. The British rail operator Network Rail is already seeing positive results from a similar initiative it launched last year in partnership with a forensic marking product called SmartWater. SmartWater is invisible to the naked eye and can only be seen under ultraviolet light, making it nearly impossible for thieves to tell if the metals they are stealing are marked or not. It is available in more than one billion different combinations of chemical codes and is extremely difficult to remove. Criminals who do try to remove it often end up transferring traces of the incriminating marker onto their hands and clothing, according to the company.  [...]" "States Pass New Laws In Face Of Copper Thefts" [07/13/11]  ".... This was a huge communitywide problem," Minority Leader Harry L. Ott Jr. of the South Carolina House of Representatives said of the law that takes effect in August. His own district had suffered from irrigation and air-conditioning damages. The new law prohibits recyclers from paying cash for copper, with the aim to make copper less attractive to drug addicts trying to make a quick dollar. "We wanted to take the incentive to steal out of the equation," Ott said. Copper's historic price rise this year has been powered by strong global demand. [...]" PA: "‘Gutter Grabbers’ Target Main Line Homes For Copper" " A rash of copper thefts in Montgomery county has residents on alert. They may not seem like your typical targets, but thieves in Montgomery County are looking for copper. Gutters and downspouts made of the precious metal are being stolen from people’s homes along the Main Line. Lower Merion Township Police have reported a significant increase in the thefts of copper downspouts and gutters being taken from homes throughout the area. [...]" |"Thieves Make Off With Vineyard’s Irrigation System"   

Commentary: "Austerity Measures Spell Social Catastrophe In Greece" [08/14/11] "A few weeks ago a new emergency loan package for Greece was agreed at a summit of European leaders. Whether described as “aid credits” or a “rescue package”, these measures provide neither aid nor rescue for the people of Greece. On the contrary, they involve a new round of drastic cuts that will completely overshadow the current austerity measures. The spending cuts introduced following Greece’s first auxiliary credit of more than €110 billion just over a year ago have already led to extreme poverty. Experts warn that the living standards of workers and pensioners will decline by 40 percent by 2015, compared to 2008. The German media immediately blamed the “corrupt” and “lazy” Greeks for the plight of the country. The Greek press complains about the brutality of the EU, while local politicians and Greek business wash their hands of it. [...]"  

MSM: "Crop Failure Compounds Drought Crisis In Afghanistan" [08/14/11] PDF "Ongoing drought in northern, northeastern and western Afghanistan is likely to push 1.5-2 million more people into food insecurity this autumn, according to the UN World Food Programme (WFP). This is in addition to the seven million country-wide already facing food shortages. The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) is reporting a failure of the rain-fed wheat crop, which accounts for about 55 percent of the total domestic wheat yield.  [...]" 

Flashback: "Most Americans Can't Afford A $1,000 Emergency Expense" [08/14/11] "When the unexpected strikes, most Americans aren't prepared to pay for it. A majority, or 64%, of Americans don't have enough cash on hand to handle a $1,000 emergency expense, according to a survey by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, or NFCC, released on Wednesday. Only 36% said they would tap their rainy day funds for an emergency. The rest of the 2,700 people polled said that they would have to go to other extremes to cover an unexpected expense, such as borrowing money or taking out a cash advance on a credit card. "It's alarming," said Gail Cunningham, a spokeswoman for the Washington, DC-based non-profit. "For consumers who live paycheck to paycheck -- having spent tomorrow's money -- an unplanned expense can truly put them in financial distress," she noted. [...] Many respondents, 17%, said they would borrow money from friends or family. Another 17% said they would neglect other financial obligations -- like a credit card bill or mortgage payment -- in order to free up some funds. Alternatively, 12% of the respondents said they would have to sell or pawn some assets to come up with $1,000 and 9% said they would need to take out a loan. Another 9% said they would get a cash advance from a credit card, according to the NFCC. Cunningham finds that particularly troubling. Neglecting other debt obligations -- or worse piling on more debt -- "really exacerbates the problem," she said. An earlier study by the same organization found that 30% of Americans have zero dollars in non-retirement savings. A separate study by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that 50% of Americans would struggle to come up with $2,000 in a pinch."  

Commentary: "NYPD Creates Social Media Unit As British PM Pushes For Social Network Blackouts" [08/13/11]   "Social media has become a platform for so-called revolutions, for which it is praised, as well as a way for rioters to coordinate with each other in England, for which it is criticized. The Internet, and social media in particular, has become the new front in large scale warfare along with new territory for police to monitor for criminal activities and even advertised house parties. The NYPD has already been utilizing social media platforms in criminal investigations which have assisted in the arrest and conviction of multiple criminals. Now the New York Police Department has decided to form a new unit with the explicit purpose of monitoring Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and other social networks in an attempt to track down suspects. The unit will be a part of the Community Affairs Bureau and will extend beyond the Internet into community outreach programs. Assistant Commissioner Kevin O’Connor will run the unit who will trawl social media networks trying to uncover chatter about crimes ranging from the seemingly insignificant house party to “gang showdowns and other potential mayhem,” according to NY Daily News.  [...] In the UK,  British Prime Minister David Cameron is taking a wildly different approach to social media. Due to his belief (belief being the operative word) that Facebook and Twitter contributed to the violence and chaos of the London riots, Cameron is attempting to eradicate free speech with the help of the aforementioned two social media behemoths. Instead of just monitoring and collating data like the new NYPD unit, Cameron and others in the British parliament are advocating the complete shutdown of social media during times of civil unrest. Cameron claims that social media helped organize the riots and stated, “Free flow of information can be used for good, but it can also be used for ill. So we are working with the police, the intelligence services and industry whether it will be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services.” Cameron is now unabashedly advocating the exact same control exerted over the Web by corrupt leaders in Egypt and elsewhere. When this happens in a non-Western nation, the media and governments go into overdrive, taking every possible opportunity to point to the Internet controls as evidence of a non-democratic, evil regime.  [...]" Related: "San Francisco Transit Blocks Cellphones To Hinder Protest " "Transit officials blocked cell phone reception in San Francisco train stations for three hours to disrupt planned demonstrations over a police shooting. Officials with the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, better known as BART, said Friday that they turned off electricity to cellular towers in four stations from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. The move was made after BART learned that protesters planned to use mobile devices to coordinate a demonstration on train platforms. The tactic drew comparisons to those used by the former president of Egypt to squelch protests demanding an end to his authoritarian rule. Authorities there cut Internet and cell phone services in the country for days earlier this year. “BART officials are showing themselves to be of a mind with the former president of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak,” the Electronic Frontier Foundation said on its website. The American Civil Liberties Union criticized the tactic, saying on its blog that it was the “wrong response to political protests.” [...]" 

Israel: "Guillotine Display Stuns Rothschild's 'Tent City'" [08/13/11] "French Revolution symbol becomes main attraction at Tel Aviv's protest center, as rallies continue to spread across country. Protest leaders say Beersheba to hold next mass rally. A guillotine, the symbol of the French Revolution, has been placed Wednesday in the center of Tel Aviv's "tent city," turning into one of the biggest attractions in this ongoing social protest. The surprising display arrived in Rothschild Boulevard following another long night of protests across the country, this time focusing on contractor conditions. Demonstrators in five different cities participated in rallies Wednesday night against working conditions, wearing white masks and chanting: "Contractor companies are organized crime." In Beersheba protesters organized a 'bathing suit march' to exemplify how the social protest "has taken off." In Bat Yam hundreds of residents marched to protest against the high costs of living and housing shortage, clashing with the police's Special Patrol Unit. [...]"  

 Legal Case: "Health Care Requirement Unconstitutional" [08/13/11] [0:20] "A federal appeals court panel on Friday struck down the requirement in President Barack Obama's health care overhaul package that virtually all Americans must carry health insurance or face penalties. Brian Williams reports. (Nightly News) [...]"  

Analysis: "America Might Not Be Far From Having Riots Of Its Own" [08/12/11] "A story that involved Scott Walker getting his just deserts, even if it didn’t quite work out that way, was infinitely more interesting to our national press than a deeply disturbing gaze into the fragile nature of our social peace. A look at this analysis in the Financial Times of the sources of the UK violence shows why Americans have cause for concern: [...] This analysis fits many American inner cities and runs parallel to the arguments I’ve been making for some time that the poor urban Black community is in a deepening crisis of social dislocation and economic marginalization and that while the national conversation has moved past the issues of the inner city, those problems are becoming more dangerous. [...] "  Note: Well done. 

Society and Culture:  "60 Year War in Burma/Myanmar Involves 'Master Race" and "Slave" Underpinnings" [08/12/11] [25:02] "For more than 60 years, Karen rebels have been fighting a civil war against the government of Myanmar/Burma [...]"  Note: An exploration of conflict and the human toll. This conflict has been going since 1949. Some of the policies of the faction in control mirror some of the perspectives of the current US/UK administrations. All everyone sees are 'insurgents' ... except in the case of the western governments, it's all a state sponsored fabrication given the public, state-sponsored social terrorism, which is used as the rationale to maintain the military industrial intelligence congressional complex (MICC) and all the pathological drive to conquer, destroy and profit, without regard to the civilization itself.

Trends: "USA: Economic Woes Lead to Proliferation of Tent Cities Nationwide" [08/12/11] "While millions of Americans hold their collective breath as Wall Street wreaks havoc with their life savings and retirements, residents of Tent City, a tiny makeshift community about 70 miles south of New York City, have more immediate concerns: finding their next hot meal. For this collective of homeless and unemployed former landscapers, service industry workers and military veterans, the mention of "tarp" is sure to start a conversation about temporary rooftops, rather than a debate over President Obama's $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program. [...] It seems like a scene straight from "The Grapes of Wrath," but this is no Great Depression novel. This story takes place in 2011, and this New Jersey tent city is one of an untold number of such encampments across the United States, where unemployment has reached 9.3 percent and approximately 3.5 million people are likely to be homeless in a given year, according to the most recent estimates by the National Coalition for the Homeless. [...] Joe Giammona, 31, has been homeless for nearly four months, after moving from Florida following a relationship that "just didn't work out," he said. He briefly stayed at a rooming house in Asbury Park, N.J., but the accompanying drugs and violence chased him away. A former landscaper and general contractor, Giammona lost his job when his boss had to slash payroll. "Ever since then, it's been impossible to find a job," he said. "They're just not hiring at this time. I've been everywhere." Clad in a "Cape Cod" T-shirt, black sweatpants and filthy white sneakers, Giammona said he has relatives throughout New Jersey but refuses to "accept help" from anyone. "I try to make the best of it," he said, while turning a hot dog on an outdoor grill. "I hope for hope." Despite the optimistic outlook, Giammona, who looks for employment daily at nearby industrial parks or for any odd job as a day laborer, said life outside is no picnic. "You're either rich or you're poor," he said. "There's no in-between anymore.[...] The Rev. Steven Brigham of the Lakewood Outreach Community Service Ministry established this tent city five years ago for Ocean County, N.J.'s unemployed and disenfranchised residents, many of whom had previously lived paycheck to paycheck. Whether by loss of a job, the death of a loved one or a failed marriage, the American Dream has turned into a waking nightmare for the camp's inhabitants. [...]"  

Social Politics: "Britain's Liberal Intelligentsia Has Smashed Virtually Every Social Value" [08/12/11] "So now the chickens have well and truly come home terrifyingly to roost. The violent anarchy that has taken hold of British cities is the all-too-predictable outcome of a three-decade liberal experiment which tore up virtually every basic social value. The married two-parent family, educational meritocracy, punishment of criminals, national identity, enforcement of the drugs laws and many more fundamental conventions were all smashed by a liberal intelligentsia hell-bent on a revolutionary transformation of society. Those of us who warned over the years that they were playing with fire were sneered at and smeared as Right-wing nutters who wanted to turn the clock back to some mythical golden age. Now we can see what they have brought about in the unprecedented and horrific scenes of mob violence, with homes and businesses going up in flames, and epidemic looting. Clearly, there is some as yet unidentified direction and co-ordination behind the anarchy. But what is so notable and distressing is that, after the first day when adults were clearly involved, this mayhem has been carried out in the main by teenagers and children, some as young as eight. [...]" 

Trends: "U.S. Postal Service Wants To Lay Off 120,000 Workers And End Its Pension Plan: 11 Things You Should Know Before It Goes Bankrupt " [08/12/11] "Hovering on the brink of insolvency, the U.S. Postal Service wants to break its union contracts to cut 20% of its workforce and withdraw its employees from federal worker healthcare and pension plans, according to a Washington Post report published this afternoon. Without a major financial restructuring, the USPS will be broke by next month, the Post reports. The agency is now seeking Congressional approval to break its labor contracts, which prevent layoffs, and create it's own benefit plan for postal workers. USPS has taken drastic steps to slow its financial hemorrhaging, cutting more than 100,000 positions over the past four years. Last month, the agency announced plans to close more than 3,000 post offices across the country. The Post Master General has also called for halting Saturday delivery. But declining mail volume and rising pension costs have bled USPS dry. The agency's financial proposals will doubtlessly face intense opposition from federal worker unions. If Congress does approve allow USPS to unilaterally restructure its collective bargaining agreements, the decision could have a widespread ripple effect for federal employees and public-sector workers across the country. [...]"  

Legal Case: "Students Sue NY Law School For $200 Million" [08/11/11] "A $200 million class action claims the New York Law School misrepresents post-graduate opportunities for lawyers and subjects "the overwhelming majority" of its graduates to "years of indentured servitude" after "saddling them with tens of thousands of dollars in crushing, non-dischargeable debt that will take literally decades to pay off." [...]"  Note: Since this pattern and dynamic has been going on for at least 8-10 years ... I guess they didn't do their observational due diligence. Regardless, this is the plight of MOST graduates from 'higher institutions'.

Trends: "Judge Napolitano: Chaos Is Coming America" [08/11/11]   [4:51]  Judge Napolitano weighs in about the trends happening in society.

Concepts and Practices: "Due to 1886 Law, UK Police to Foot Bill for Riot Damage" [08/11/11] "As the dust settles from days of rioting in London and other English cities, it turns out that police finances may have suffered the heaviest damage of all. An 1886 law specifies that police authorities are required to compensate victims when damage is caused by people "riotously and tumultuously assembled" and insurance companies have made it clear that they plan to make the maximum possible claims against the police, the Guardian reports. Insurance companies believe that their customers' damage claims will top $160 million, while claims from uninsured families and businesses could cost police authorities another $160 million, reports the Daily Mail. "The theory is that the police are responsible for keeping law and order and, if they fail, they pay for the damage, " an analyst tells Reuters, noting that, unsurprisingly, that "when the police are under financial strain themselves, there are bound to be calls to revisit this whole area of the law." London police, funded by taxpayers, currently have some $115 million in reserves. [...]" 

Commentary: "Monsters in Tel Aviv: Israelis Rejecting Institutional Repression" Roy Tov [08/10/11] " [...] The last protests are not an isolated event. Some time ago, I reported on wild protests following a sharp rise in the price of cottage cheese - a key ingredient in local cuisine – where I claimed the social protests would deteriorate to the extent of endangering the Israeli Administration. It seemed a bit exaggerated at the time, but less than two months later, we see the current tsunami of protests. Fukushima looks suddenly an appealing event to Netanyahu. Reality is simple: once the mental barrier forbidding protests against the government was broken, nothing could stop the tsunami. The comical cheese protests caused just that. The current wave of protests is not related to cheese, but to housing. This is a painful topic in Israel, where tiny apartments cost lifelong mortgages that transform their takers into state-slaves. The protests were spurred following a Knesset vote approving the National Housing Committees Law, which places the authority for approving building projects in the hands of regional committees. The committees would be in the hands of the state and the large construction companies. This means no houses for the poor. In Israel roughly 80% of the people earn less than the average salary (this is possible due to the large difference between the highest and lowest salaries). An average salary is not enough for paying an average mortgage while eating on a daily basis. In such a way, disguised slavery was introduced into the state through a back door. For the first time in their history, Israeli citizens are saying in mass “no” to institutional oppression. [...]"   Note: Things are not stable in the land of Is (not) real.  Related: MSM: "300,000 Join Israeli Housing Protests" [08/07/11] "About 300,000 people around Israel joined protests Saturday against the government's housing policy and the high cost of living in the country. The turnout was about twice what it was July 30, The Jerusalem Post reported. The biggest rally was in Tel Aviv, where the crowd was estimated at 280,000. [...]" Video clip  [1:36] [BBC]

Legal Case: "Collecting DNA From Arrestees Is Unconstitutional, California Court Says" [08/10/11] "A California appeals court is striking down a voter-approved measure requiring every adult arrested on a felony charge to submit a DNA sample. The 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco said Proposition 69 amounted to unconstitutional, warrantless searches of arrestees. More than 1.6 million samples have been taken following the law’s 2009 implementation. “What the DNA Act authorizes is the warrantless and suspicionless search of individuals, before a judicial determination of probable cause to believe they have committed a crime, for evidence of crime unrelated to that for which they have been arrested,” (.pdf) the court wrote. “The United States Supreme Court has never permitted suspicionless searches aimed at uncovering evidence of crime outside the context of convicted offenders.” [...]"  

Interview: "Banks, Oil Companies & Financial Institutions Creating Riots In London And Around The World " [08/10/11]   [7:22] "For 5 days now hordes of people have been looting and rioting in protest of the killing of an unarmed man, Mark Duggan. Many are concerned about the security of London and fear that the local authorities won't be able to control these mobs. Now the London riots have sparked other riots in other parts of the country. According to some reports the murder of Duggan was just a catalyst to a culture of other underlying issues. Michael Ruppert, founder of the Collapse Network, gives us his insight on what's going on in London. [...]" 

Exposé: "London Riots Investigation Confirms Police Planted Bullet and Lied, Murdered “Man Did Not Open Fire”" [08/10/11] "An independent investigation into the cause of the London riots reveals police planted a bullet and lied about the murder the man that sparked protests that turned into rioting across England. Police officers said the man who was inside of a cab was shot to death in a gun fight with police officers after the man opened fire but the investigation into the incident reveals the police lied and the man never opened fire. Adding to the scandal, the police pointed to a bullet that was lodged into a police radiation that officers reported barely missed a police officer. Ballistic analysis now confirms that the bullet found in the radio was actually fired from a police issued firearms which means that the police shot their own radio to plant evidence to support their story to cover up their brutal execution of the man. The incident is also a black eye to the corporate media which has ignored numerous reports about the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. Instead they have repeatedly acted as a stenographer for the government reporting the man’s death was a result of a gun fight with the police.[...]"  Related: Commentary: "There Is A Context To London's Riots That Can't Be Ignored" "Those condemning the events in north London and elsewhere would do well to take a step back and consider the bigger picture. Since the coalition came to power just over a year ago, the country has seen multiple student protests, occupations of dozens of universities, several strikes, a half-a-million-strong trade union march and now unrest on the streets of the capital (preceded by clashes with Bristol police in Stokes Croft earlier in the year). Each of these events was sparked by a different cause, yet all take place against a backdrop of brutal cuts and enforced austerity measures. The government knows very well that it is taking a gamble, and that its policies run the risk of sparking mass unrest on a scale we haven't seen since the early 1980s. With people taking to the streets of Tottenham, Edmonton, Brixton and elsewhere over the past few nights, we could be about to see the government enter a sustained and serious losing streak. [...]" "Darcus Howe On Police Brutality and Corruption" [4:24] "Darcus Howe, a West Indian Writer and Broadcaster, explains why the police brutality and corruption have led to the massive uprising and riots that have spread across London. [...]"

Trends: "Food Riot Fears Strike Japan" [08/10/11] "Fears of food riots strike Japan after rice trading is halted due to a 40% price spike triggered by massive hoarding of the remaining radiation free rice supply. Consumers are beginning to hoard last year’s rice as their dietary staple over concerns that freshly harvested rice may be contaminated with radioactive materials released from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, retailers said Friday. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry is working to establish a system for ensuring the safety of rice ahead of the harvest season in autumn, with plans to inspect the crop in two stages. The buying spree, however, indicates deep public distrust of the government’s handling of food safety issues in the wake of the nuclear crisis following a scare over contaminated beef. A rice seller in Tokyo’s Nerima Ward said regular customers began asking it to keep rice on stock just around the time the ministry disclosed its rice inspection plans on Wednesday. A supermarket in Koto Ward, also Tokyo, said rice is selling at twice the normal pace at the outlet, while various rice brands were mostly sold out at a nearby shopping center.[...]"  

Trends: "U.S. Home Ownership Falls To Lowest Level Since 1965" [08/10/11]   "As the foreclosure crisis continues to wreak havoc on the housing market, a source of national pride has taken a sour turn. Home ownership is on the decline and, according to a recent Morgan Stanley report, the United States is fast becoming a nation of renters. Last Friday, the Census Bureau reported that the percentage of people who owned a home had dropped to 65.9% during the second quarter -- its lowest level since the first quarter of 1998 and a far cry from the high of 69.2% reached in late 2004. Yet, in a research paper issued a week earlier, Morgan Stanley (MS, Fortune 500) analysts Oliver Chang, Vishwanath Tirupattur and James Egan argued that the home ownership rate is even lower than the Census Bureau statistics say. [...]"  

Trends: "Philly Cracks Down on Teen Mobs" [08/10/11] " Philadelphia is trying to put an end to teenage flash mobs following a series of violent attacks in the city. The city is setting weekend curfews in key areas and putting more police on the streets, the Philadelphia Daily News reports. “If you assault a fellow Philadelphian, a visitor or anyone else in this city, you are going to jail,” says Mayor Michael Nutter. The DA says parents will be held responsible for their kids' actions and could face misdemeanor charges for repeated curfew violations. Many of the assailants have been black teens, and Nutter spoke at his own church this weekend, castigating neglectful parents and telling youths, "You have damaged your own race," notes the Philadelphia Inquirer. Asked about the comments yesterday, the mayor said, “I do not care what your economic status is in life—you do not have a right to beat somebody's ass on the street!" [...]" 

MSM: "Egypt's Pharmaceutical Shortage Is Now A Crisis" [08/09/11] "Pharmaceutical companies in post-revolutionary Egypt are having trouble importing medicines and the materials necessary to produce them, causing a severe shortfall that threatens hundreds of thousands of Egyptians with paralysis or death, according to a United Nations report. Domestic medicine production is down as much as 50%, according to Makram Mahana, chairman of the Pharmaceutical Industry Section of the Federation of Egyptian Industries. Artificial government pricing and "security deterioration" have led two-thirds of the Egyptians companies that once produced medicines to shut down in recent months, Mahana says. [...]" Related: "U.S. Drug Shortages Hit Record Level" "There are now three times more medications on the Food and Drug Administration's drug shortage list than there were five years ago, and patients are suffering. The list includes treatments for cancer, heart attacks, pain, even drugs used for anesthesia. NBC’s Dr. Nancy Snyderman reports. (Nightly News) [...]"  Note: One wonders whether all these substances have been deliberately withdrawn and stockpiled for 'future use' in dystopian society by more warped people who are in it for short-term gain as part of some twisted 'immortality' strategy.

Film Clip: "Rioters Overpower Police In London" [08/09/11] [2:00] "Eye witness report from Woolwich of police clashing with rioters. [...]" 

Trends: " 82% of Cocaine in U.S. Contaminated by Veterinary De-worming Drug" [08/09/11] "In April 2011, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported up to 82 percent of all cocaine seized in the United States contained levamisole, a veterinary drug used to de-worm livestock. Law enforcement and public health officials in the United States are warning of serious public [ [...]"  Note: Nobody likes them. Nobody loves them .... another group of wormless wonders.

Trends: "America's Racial Inequalities Spark Renewed Violence In U.S. Cities" [08/09/11] "For some time now, residents of some US cities have noted occasional incidents of seemingly random, racially motivated violence in which young Black males are involved. The hot weather and bad economy seem to be combining to generate a small but possibly significant uptick this year. The national media are doing their best to avoid looking too closely at this disturbing phenomenon, and perhaps for good reason.  What the United States doesn’t need is a media firestorm that triggers copycat violence. Nevertheless, some attention should be paid. Journalist Eugene Kane has the bare bones in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: [...]"  

Commentary: "In September 2010 The British Government Said "People Would Not Riot After Austerity Cuts" [08/09/11] "In September of last year, the British Home Secretary Theresa May refused to accept claims by the British police that austerity cuts would affect their ability to contain civil unrest (h/t George Monbiot). A look at an article from the Guardian reveals May's belief that British people simply did not riot: [...]"  Note: They were wrong. Again, out of touch with reality. See below.

Commentary: "8 Reasons Young Americans Don't Fight Back: How the US Crushed Youth Resistance " [08/08/11] "The ruling elite has created social institutions that have subdued young Americans and broken their spirit of resistance. Traditionally, young people have energized democratic movements. So it is a major coup for the ruling elite to have created societal institutions that have subdued young Americans and broken their spirit of resistance to domination. Young Americans—even more so than older Americans—appear to have acquiesced to the idea that the corporatocracy can completely screw them and that they are helpless to do anything about it. A 2010 Gallup poll asked Americans “Do you think the Social Security system will be able to pay you a benefit when you retire?” Among 18- to 34-years-olds, 76 percent of them said no. Yet despite their lack of confidence in the availability of Social Security for them, few have demanded it be shored up by more fairly payroll-taxing the wealthy; most appear resigned to having more money deducted from their paychecks for Social Security, even though they don’t believe it will be around to benefit them. How exactly has American society subdued young Americans?  [...]"  Related: "No More Federally Subsidized Loans For Grad Students"  

MSM: "Crisis: Civil Unrest And Protests Shakes Syria, Israel, And London" [08/08/11] "UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad to “immediately end” the use of troops against civilian protesters. In a telephone call to the Syrian leader, Mr Ban also said the use of mass arrests against protesters must be stopped, the UN said. It was the first contact between the two men since April. President Assad is facing increasing international condemnation for using troops and tanks to quell protests. Meanwhile, a leading activist said on Sunday that Syrian talks had launched a pre-dawn attack on the eastern city of Deir al-Zour. Rami Abdel Rahman, of the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP news agency that shelling was reported from at least three suburbs. The report cannot be verified. Activists say about 1,650 civilians have been killed and tens of thousands arrested across Syria since the anti-government demonstrations began in March. The UN Security Council recently issued a statement condemning the crackdown.  [...]"  Related: "Syrian Protests Leave at Least 100 Dead" "King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally in the Middle East, recalled the kingdom’s ambassador to Syria today, saying the violence in that country is unacceptable. King Abdullah said Syria has “two options, either wisdom or chaos.” His written statement was read on Al Arabiya television.  [...]"  

MSM:"Police Beating Girl, 16, Sparked London Riot Violence That Spreads Into 2nd Night" [08/08/11] "The riots in London have spread into neighbor suburbs tonight as reports emerge that peaceful protests turned violent after Police started beating a 16 year girl. Evidence has also emerged that police lied about the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of the man which sparked the initial protests. [...]" Related: See below.

MSM: "London In Flames As Peaceful Protests Turn Into Riots Over A Fatal Police Shooting" [08/07/11] "Two police cars, a bus and ­several shops were attacked and set ablaze in north London on Saturday night as violence erupted following a protest demanding “justice” over a fatal police shooting. Officers on horseback and others in riot gear clashed with hundreds of ­rioters armed with makeshift missiles in the centre of Tottenham after Mark Duggan, 29, a father of four, was killed on Thursday. At one point, rioters broke through police ranks and attempted to storm Tottenham’s police station, pelting officers with bricks, bottles and eggs. As a police helicopter flew over Tottenham High Road, youths in masks and hoods added combustible material to two burned out police cars, included a bundle of documents and an awning ripped down from one of the shops. Some attempted to persuade the rioters to disperse, one young man shouting: “Go home now people.” But others filled bottles with petrol to throw at the police lines. Many lined up with makeshift weapons including metal bars and baseball bats to confront the line of police, but others seemed more interested in looting. At one stage a safe was dragged out of a book­makers, while others were seen with a television set and an electric guitar. Several arrived with shopping trollies to take away what they had stolen. “It wasn’t like this before,” said one woman standing close to one of the two burned-out police cars. “It started out as a peaceful demonstration. The police shot a guy here last week and they lied about what happened. They said he pulled a gun but he wouldn’t have done that with armed police. They shot him so badly that his mother could not recognise him.” [...]"  Related: "Tottenham Riots, London | 6th August 2011 | Sky News " [6:00] 

Trends: "Rise Of The Mob: Wisconsin Fairgoers Attacked, Violently Beaten" [08/06/11] Video clip  [2:06] "You head out in the minivan for a fun-filled day with the family at your local mall or the fair. The next thing you know all hell breaks loose and hundreds of individuals are attacking shop keepers, stealing, and violently attacking patrons. The police, as is typically the case during such incidents, are nowhere to be found until it’s too late. This is exactly what happened in Milwaukee at the Wisconsin State Fair when hundreds of individuals attacked patrons and passersby: [...] Earlier this year Tess Pennington wrote Teenage Mobs: A Rising Epidemic, in which she discussed mob mentality and future trends. Within a week flash mobs became front page news as loosely tied large groups of individuals coordinating via text messages and social networks began robbing pharmacies, convenience stores, jewelry stores, and other businesses. As the success of these types of “mob” attacks becomes more apparent to teens, gangs, and would-be criminals, Pennington says that their frequency is likely to increase: It is a fact that when people’s basic needs are not met, they will act out. Therefore, it is only a matter of time before these senseless acts of violence will not be limited to only misguided youth, but reach out to others who feel they need to take their own desperation into their hands. Due to the recent increase in unemployment, and an under stimulated economy there will be an increase in crime, and violent mob attacks are sure to increase, as well." Note:  This is the so-called 'Flash Mob' phenomenon ... basically large groups of parasitic losers and minions raised by wolves who are minimally aware and animalistic in their tendencies, who threaten people, steal goods and cause mayhem.   

Commentary: "California: Public Guardian to Expand Powers to Seize Assets" [08/06/11] "AB 1288, which is now in front of the California Legislature, would expand the timeframe in which the Public Guardian’s office could take control of an elder’s assets, prior to filing for conservatorship over that individual. Well, the law authorizing this is already on the books, as Probate Code 2900, which allows the PG to seize assets based on “intent” to file for guardianship. AB 1288 would just give the Public Guardian a bit more time to hit the bank. As written into law, PC 2900 allows the PG’s office fifteen days to mosey over to the savings and loan and take all of Grandma’s hard earned cash, based on “intent” and without an official determination of incapacity by any court of law. AB 1288 would give the PG an extra chunk of time to do exactly the same thing and would include the option to kick out family or friends living with the proposed conservatee. [...]"  

Commentary: "Federal Officials Circulate Civil Rights Video To All 18,000 U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies" [08/05/11]   "Federal officials are circulating to all 18,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies a short video explaining that police officers are responsible for protecting citizens’ privacy, civil rights and civil liberties. Thomas O’Reilly of the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance says the video was developed after incidents of excesses by some police departments. In 2008, for example, it emerged that the Maryland State Police had classified 53 nonviolent activists as terrorists and entered information on them into state and federal databases that track terrorism suspects. O’Reilly, who oversees a national Suspicious Activity Reporting program, says that police should be recording specific behavior that may be a precursor to terrorism, not listing people as suspicious based on their personal backgrounds. The new video is being distributed by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. The video says it provides “positive and negative examples of privacy, civil rights and civil liberties-protection encounters with law enforcement officers.” [...]"  Note: Video clip     Related: "Chicago Police Brutality On The Rise" "Chicago police officers have killed more people this year to date than the total number killed in 2010. According to the Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) there have been 43 police-involved shootings in Chicago so far this year. [...]" 

Trends: "Vermont’s Hidden Homeless Camps" [08/04/11] [3:44] "You might never know it but when you drive along the Williston Road interchange there are homeless camps all around you. That's where we found Artie Hill-- a former diesel mechanic who now is on disability. Reporter Gina Bullard: So what are you doing out here? Artie Hill: I'm having a drink and smoking my whatever but I'm not homeless. Hill was homeless for years until an advocate helped him find housing. He now comes back out to where he once lived and reflects. "For one thing it's my church," he said. "But I come back here because I love nature and it reminds me of what I went through." He was the only one in this patch of woods in South Burlington, but in a camp just across the street it's a whole different world. There are driveways and paths leading to tents and even more advanced structures with windows. They even have their own landfill. "People are prepared for winters. They have tents, heat and depending on how bad the winter is people can survive it pretty well," said Matt Young, an advocate for the homeless. [...]"  Related: "Homeless Forced From Popular Camp In South Burlington" | "South Burlington Police Crack Down On Panhandlers"

Trends: " 25% Of Drivers Can't Afford A Major Repair" [08/04/11] "Just in case you need proof that most Americans are suffering in this stagnant economy, try this experiment: next time you’re at shopping mall or discount store, take a look at the cars around you. Expect to see bald tires, in some cases tires that are worn down to the radial belts. You’ll find scored brake rotors aplenty, too, evidence that a front brake job simply isn’t in the budget, no matter how dangerous driving with worn-out brake pads might be. If you could look in on drivers starting their cars (not something we’d recommend, by the way), we’re sure you’d see quite a few “Check Engine” lights glowing on instrument panels, too. [...]"  

Commentary: "The Ruling Psychopaths Among Us" [08/03/11] "To understand what animal a psychopath is, Lobaczewiski in Political Ponerology: A Science of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes says: “Imagine - if you can - not having a conscience, none at all, no feelings of guilt or remorse no matter what you do, no limiting sense of concern for the well-being of strangers, friends, or even family members. “Imagine no struggles with shame, not a single one in your whole life, no matter what kind of selfish, lazy, harmful, or immoral action you had taken. “And pretend that the concept of responsibility is unknown to you, except as a burden others seem to accept without question, like gullible fools. “Now add to this strange fantasy the ability to conceal from other people that your psychological make-up is radically different from theirs. Since everyone simply assumes that conscience is universal among human beings, hiding the fact that you are conscience-free is nearly effortless. “You are not held back from any of your desires by guilt or shame, and you are never confronted by others for your cold-bloodedness. “The ice water in your veins is so bizarre, so completely outside of their personal experience that they seldom even guess at your condition. “In other words, you are completely free of internal restraints, and your unhampered liberty to do just as you please, with no pangs of conscience, is conveniently invisible to the world.  [...]" Related: "Psychopaths: The Perfect Academic Word For US Political, Economic "Leadership" "Psychopaths are viciously destructive in action. They obfuscate with lies and charm. They persist only when their actions are unrecognized; 95% of the population reject such criminal destruction (here and here). US political and economic "leadership" are psychopaths because their central policies are viciously destructive, as the following links explain, document, and prove. "Leadership" obfuscate with lies, charm, and US corporate media complicity. Calling this behavior psychopathic is perfect because it neither understates nor overstates the facts. Use this academic term at your command. I also suggest Princeton professor Frankfurt's academic term for the type of lies that "leadership" uses: bullshit. [...]"  

UK: "Public Jury Campaign Launched To Take Power Away From UK’s ‘Feral’ Elite" [08/02/11] "... Only we, the public, can hold power truly to account by testing whether what happens is in the public interest. To work out how to do it we call for a new Public Jury for the British public interest to propose reforms of banking, politics, media and the police. The Jury would be made up of 1,000 citizens drawn as a random sample of the electorate. It will be a jury of our peers. We do not need yet another inquiry in which one elite asks another elite to tell them what cannot be done. The Jury will be funded out of the public purse, with a paid secretariat with the resources to commission research and call witnesses. It will have the power to require attendance where persons will be asked by the public to explain themselves. [...]"  Note:  Well ... just because the civilization is dying and the dynamic is what it is, that does not preclude 'little victories' borne through people who have had enough and who have become emboldened.

Commentary: "The Lost Grads: Born Into The Wrong Generation" [08/02/11] "When Kelsey Pullar graduated from Colorado College in 2009 after studying sociology and Spanish, she figured her language skills would help her get a job at a nonprofit. But after months of fruitless searching, she tapped into her savings, went to Madrid and got certified to teach English as a foreign language. After returning in 2010, she landed a temporary position with a community health outreach program, interviewing Hispanic clients. The job lasted four months. Eventually, she applied to AmeriCorps, the national organization that channels volunteers to local nonprofits, and headed to work at a youth-development program in New York. But as her year of service winds down, she’s bracing for another brutal job hunt. “I was not prepared for the difficulty in finding a job after graduating in 2009,” she says. “I now understand exactly what the ‘economic downturn’ means in terms of finding meaningful, challenging employment.” For Pullar and many of the other 4.8 million undergraduates who received bachelors’ degrees during the toughest years of the downturn—2008, 2009 and 2010—it’s likely to mean unemployment, underemployment and depressed wages for years to come. The job market has remained stubbornly weak, and even as it recovers, experts say those who received their degrees a few years ago will have a hard time competing with grads that come after them. [...]"  Note: They should have titled the story "Lost Grads: Born With Stupid Parents" who are totally blind to trends that have been going on for a decade before they signed their kids up for college, including problems paying off student loans, the economic downturn since 2001, etc. Now their kids, as long as they stay in that dynamic, are pretty much screwed ... unless they want to look for sugar daddies or pimp themselves to pay for their loans.  Related: Trends: "U.S. College Students Using 'Sugar Daddies' To Pay Off Loan Debt " [08/01/11] "...Saddled with piles of student debt and a job-scarce, lackluster economy, current college students and recent graduates are selling themselves to pursue a diploma or pay down their loans. An increasing number, according to the the owners of websites that broker such hook-ups, have taken to the web in search of online suitors or wealthy benefactors who, in exchange for sex, companionship, or both, might help with the bills.  [...]"  

Trends: "Criminal Checks Present Hiring Barrier For Minorities" [08/02/11]   "At the request of a leftwing civil rights group, the government agency that enforces employment discrimination is considering outlawing criminal background checks as a tool to screen job applicants because it presents a hiring barrier for minorities. It marks the latest collusion between the Obama Administration and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has been deeply involved in dictating immigration policy. A few months ago Homeland Security officials suspended the scheduled deportation of an illegal immigrant at the ACLU’s request. Earlier in the year Judicial Watch uncovered Justice Department records that show the agency worked hand-in-hand with the ACLU in mounting their respective legal challenges to Arizona’s immigration control law. Now the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or employee based on race, color, religion or sex, is considering changing a major policy at the ACLU’s request. It involves criminal background checks on job applicants, a growing practice among employers with security concerns.  [...]"  

Life and Living: "20 Ways To Get A Good Night's Sleep Tonight" [08/01/11] "One third of the UK population suffers from insomnia and a staggering 12 million prescriptions for sleeping tablets are written in the UK every year. But before you reach for the bottle in a bid to get some shut-eye, check out these natural ways to reset your own sleep patterns and enjoy a sound night's sleep. [...]"  Note: Click on the photo to start the slide show. 

Concepts and Practices: "Ministers Protest Florida's Quest for Mandatory Funding of Religion" [08/01/11] "Florida's Legislature has put a deceptively named "Religious Freedom" constitutional amendment on the 2012 ballot, which would "require funding of religious individuals or entities under many circumstances," by rewriting, and perverting, the Religious Freedom section of the Florida Constitution, six religious leaders of varying faiths and three school leaders say.  [...]" 

Commentary: "How Eavesdropping Laws Are Taking Away Our Best Defense Against Police Brutality" [08/01/11]   "Police brutality takes many forms around the country on a regular basis, particularly in poor and minority neighborhoods. Sometimes, the only method of accountability is a victim’s word (if they are still alive) against that of an officer. Unsurprisingly, the police officer’s version of the story is often adequate for a judge to dismiss allegations of wrongdoing, unless there is hard evidence of misconduct, such as a video or audio recording, which can be useful to unravel conflicting versions of police-citizen encounters. One would think the fear of videographers on every block would be a powerful deterrent to police misconduct. However, legislatures are not taking this newfound power against police abuse lightly. In at least three states, it is illegal to record any on-duty police officer, even if the encounter involves you and may be necessary to your defense, and even if the recording is on a public street where no expectation of privacy exists. The legal justification is usually based on the warped interpretation of existing wiretapping or eavesdropping laws with statutes against obstructing law enforcement sometimes cited. Illinois, Massachusetts and Maryland are among the 12 states where all parties must consent for a recording to be legal. Since the police do not consent, the camera-wielder can be arrested and charged with a felony. Most all-party consent states (except Illinois and Massachusetts) include a "privacy provision" that says a violation occurs only when the offended party has a reasonable expectation that the conversation is private. This is meant to protect TV news crews and people who record public meetings — where it is obvious to all that recording is underway — from accidentally committing a felony. Massachusetts and Illinois are the only states that do not recognize an expectation-to-privacy provision to their all-party consent laws. While courts in Massachusetts have generally held that secretly recording police is illegal, recording them openly is not. Illinois, on the other hand, is the only state where the legislature specifically amended the state's wiretapping law to make it illegal to record on-duty police officers without their consent, even in public. [...]"  Related: "The War on Cameras"  

UK: "Police Forces Come Together To Create New Regional Surveillance Units" [08/01/11] "Britain's police forces are forming regional surveillance units with the power to carry out covert and intrusive investigations. Detectives believe the groups will make it easier for the authorities to bug computers, break into properties and interfere with wireless internet networks as part of countersurveillance operations, according to documents seen by the Guardian. Until recently, covert investigations were carried out by individual forces in co-operation with the Serious Organised Crime Agency, which is being disbanded. The disclosures have concerned civil liberties campaigners who fear that it will lead to an increase in covert operations. They want to know how the new regional police groups will be controlled and monitored. Documents obtained by the Guardian reveal that earlier this month five forces – Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire – formed the East Midlands Technical Surveillance Unit (Emtsu) after a series of internal consultations that took place behind closed doors in March. Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Waterfield of Nottinghamshire police wrote in an internal paper that the new £2m-a-year organisation would improve access to hi-tech surveillance as well as the planting of bugs. [...]"  Related: "Strange Police Priorities In A Time Of Austerity" [08/01/11] "Burglary, sexual assault, heroin dealing, mugging, smoking cannabis, vehicle theft, assault. Which should be the highest priority for police? Too difficult to pick just one? OK, pick three. When researchers asked this question to over 1,600 people a few years ago, less than half of 1% said cannabis use should be in the top three. [...]" "One In Three Crimes Not Investigated By Police, Investigation Claims "   "An investigation by The Times showed for around half of the police forces in England and Wales, about 32% of crimes are dropped from further investigation. London's Met Police confirmed the figure is higher in the capital - with nearly 44% of crimes "screened out" of further investigation. Of a total of 824,495 crimes for 2010, 463,315 were "screened in", while 361,180 were "screened out". According to The Times' report, almost 650,000 out of just over two million crimes were screened out in the past year in 21 of England and Wales' 43 forces. [...]"  

UK: "Record £161m Loot Recovered From Britain's Criminals In 2010-11" [08/01/11] "A record £161m worth of assets, including sports cars, watches, diamond earrings, designer clothing and fine china was recovered from criminals in Britain last year. The Home Office disclosed the figure, the highest since the introduction of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as ministers prepared to publish their new strategy to tackle organised crime. They said a further £49m of assets was returned to victims, while £831m of cash and ill-gotten gains such as seized illicit drugs were denied to criminals during 2010-11. It is officially estimated that there are 38,000 organised criminals active in Britain working in 6,000 groups involved in the drugs trade, human trafficking, child exploitation and cybercrime as well as more traditional areas such as armed robbery and organised vehicle theft. Ministers have complained that too many of them regard themselves as "untouchables". [...]" 

Trends: "New Effort Aimed At Ending Unemployment Discrimination" [07/30/11] "A Washington-based advocacy organization launched an online petition campaign aimed at companies that refuse to consider hiring unemployed workers, a perverse form of discrimination in today's economy when long-term unemployment remains persistently high. The campaign comes after the National Employment Law Project (NELP) released a report showing that employers of all sizes, staffing agencies and online job posting firms are using recruitment and hiring policies that expressly deny employment to the unemployed -– simply because they are not working. [...]" 

MSM: "US Economy Grinds To Near-Stall" [07/30/11] "The US economy stagnated in the first half of 2011, official data showed Friday, raising new recession alarms as political gridlock over deficits leads the country to the brink of a debt default. Consumer spending, which accounts for the majority of US output, stalled in the second quarter, amid high unemployment and inflation-eroded incomes. [...]"  

Infowars:  "ATF Intimidates Gun Owners With Home Visits" [07/30/11] "Even as it finds itself embroiled in a scandal that saw weapons being deliberately sent to criminal gangs in Mexico, the ATF has issued a letter ordering firearms dealers in border states to report sales of two or more semi-automatic rifles, and is following it up by harassing gun owners with intimidating home visits as well as threatening gun dealers to spy on their customers. [...]"  

Canada: "Transit Passenger Beaten By Police Over Cell Phone Ringtone" [07/29/11] "Nobody likes being forced to listen to someone else's annoying ringtone, but resorting to violence may be a little extreme. According to a lawsuit filed by attorney John Burris, this is precisely what happened to BART rider Jason Wong when his phone went off at the wrong time. Wong alleges that on the evening of June 9, he was sitting at the West Oakland BART station listening to a "musical ringtone" on his phone. Officer W. Sanchez came over to Wong and asked him to turn down the volume, and Wong complied. Sanchez then asked Wong to turn off the music completely, and Wong also complied. Wong then exited the station with Sanchez following close behind. Outside, Sanchez took out her baton and started beating Wong with it. Wong attempted to flee but was detained and arrested. Wong was taken to jail where he was held for two days. The Oakland District Attorney declined to file any charges against Wong; however, while at the station, Wong received a ticket for playing his music too loud. "By no means is playing music from your cell phone is a reason for violence against anybody," said Adante Pointer, an attorney at Burris's firm who is working on the case. "You have to wonder," asked SF Weekly in their coverage of the suit, "how annoying was that ringtone?" [...]"  

Trends: "Rural US Disappearing? Population Share Hits Low" [07/29/11] "The latest 2010 census numbers hint at an emerging America where, by midcentury, city boundaries become indistinct and rural areas grow ever less relevant. Many communities could shrink to virtual ghost towns as they shutter businesses and close down schools, demographers say. [...]"  

UK: "Ministry Of Defence Plans 7,000 Civilian Job Cuts" [07/29/11] "Thousands of civil servants are to lose their jobs at the Ministry of Defence, in addition to some 25,000 posts that were already set to be cut. The Guardian has seen a letter, being sent out by the department's top civil servant, which says a further 7,000 civilian jobs are to be cut in a bid to bring its budget under control. [...]"  

Report: " Climate Change Brings Water Woes To U.S. Cities" [07/28/11] "You might say that the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) had good timing with their Tuesday release of a new report on water-related impacts of climate change in U.S. cities. Extreme heat had just scorched much of the country, and the South remained under extreme drought. ....On top of more droughts, floods and rising seas, the NRDC uncovered a range of other water issues -- from the disappearance of storm-buffering wetlands in New Orleans to widespread degradation of water quality [...]"  

MSM: "Ohio Cop Suspended After Cursing Out A Card-Carrying Gun Holder" [07/27/11] "A Canton, Ohio, police officer remains on administrative leave this week as video of the officer yelling, cursing and threatening a citizen during a routine traffic stop goes viral online. "The video shows, frankly, a bad cop combined with bad law," Doug Deeken, a coordinator for the organization Ohioans for Concealed Carry, told The Huffington Post. The controversy centers on a dash cam video that was obtained by OCC through a public records request. The video, which is about 18 minutes long, shows patrolman Daniel Harless, 45, berating William E. Bartlett, 52, of Brewster. [...] Canton's police chief Dean McKimm issued his own a statement last week about the incident. "The behavior demonstrated on the video is wholly unacceptable and it violates many rules, regulations and standards we demand of our officers." Harless has been on paid administrative leave since June 20. According to Deeken, the city of Canton Prosecutor's Office has offered Bartlett a deal. "The prosecutor in Canton is using a rather distasteful tactic," Deeken said. "They are trying to get the driver to sign a waiver that he won’t sue the city, which he certainly ought to do. In exchange, they will drop the criminal charges they trumped up against him.[...]" 

Society and Culture: "USA: Long-Term Unemployment, By State" [07/27/11] "More than one in three jobless Americans were out of work for at least a year in a handful of U.S. states that appear to be disproportionately caught up in the nation’s long-term unemployment problem. Lasting spells of unemployment have been problematic in the wake of the most recent downturn and in seven states the situation was particularly dire. In New Jersey, Georgia, Michigan, South Carolina, North Carolina, Illinois and Florida more than a third of unemployed residents had been out of work for at least a year in 2010, according to Labor Department data that is expected to be released later this month [...]" Related: [Click For Full Interactive Graphic]

Commentary: "China Hands Out Life Sentences For Selling Chemically-Enhanced Pork" [07/27/11] "A man was sentenced a suspended death penalty on Monday for his role in China's latest tainted pork scandal, Reuters reported. Four other people were convicted of "endangering public security by using dangerous means" and issued sentences from nine years to life imprisonment. The country has enforced harsher penalties against food-safety violators since the melamine-laced milk powder episode in 2008 when six babies died and 300,000 became sick. In March, the state media reported that Shuanghui Group -- China's largest meat processor -- was producing and selling clenbuterol-tainted pork by feeding the chemical to pigs in order to eliminate fat and produce muscle. The meat is then sold as a premium product in the marketplace. If consumed by humans, the banned "lean meat powder" causes nausea, dizziness and heart palpitations. In February 2009, at least 70 people became ill after consuming tainted pork in China. In 2006, two people were sentenced to death after more than 300 people became sick in a similar pork episode. [...]" 

 Legal Case: "Texas City Sued For Arresting Unruly Day Laborers" [07/26/11] "A small Texas city is being sued for discrimination by dozens of Latino day laborers who claim that police are unconstitutionally targeting their free-speech right to express their availability for employment in public areas, even though a state law has long prohibited it. Collectively known as Jornaleros de Las Palmas, or the Day Laborers of Palmas, the men are represented by a powerful open-borders group (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund or MALDEF) that specializes in discrimination lawsuits on behalf of Latinos and illegal immigrants. In this case MALDEF accuses police in League City, located southeast of Houston, of targeting Latino day laborers by unconstitutionally arresting them for criminal trespassing when they are looking for work on public sidewalks. The Texas Transportation Code prohibits anyone from seeking work in public areas so League City Police is simply enforcing the law after looking the other way for years. MALDEF wants a permanent injunction prohibiting the city from enforcing the section of the statute that bans any resident—legal or illegal—from seeking work in public areas. To accomplish this, the race card has conveniently been deployed. In their complaint the day laborers accuse police of harassing and intimidating them with extensive patrol units and surveillance and threats of citations and arrests because they are Latino. This has unlawfully subjected the day laborers to harsh fines and imprisonment and violated their First and Fourteenth amendment rights under the United States Constitution, according to the complaint. It has also caused them to suffer “economic harm.”  [...]"  

MSM: "Whistleblower Cop Breaks Silence On Corrupt Police Chief In Quartzsite Arizona" [07/26/11] [10:40]      

Society and Culture: "Predictive Programming: Movie Scripts Attack On Norway Before It Happens?" [07/25/11] "We have seen it before… Movies, and pop culture eerily “predicting” world events BEFORE they actually happen. This is generally regarded with a wary eye, and chalked up as “coincidence” – BUT what if something more sinister were occurring? Predictive programming is a subtle form of psychological conditioning provided by the media to acquaint the public with planned societal changes to be implemented by TPTB. If and when these changes are put through, the public will already be familiarized with them and will accept them as ‘natural progressions’, thus lessening any possible public resistance and commotion. Predictive programming therefore may be considered as a veiled form of preemptive mass manipulation or mind control, [...]"  

MSM: "Obama To Add 20,000 Troops To US Streets In The Event Of Civil Unrest" [07/24/11]   [2:16] "According to RT America, the pentagon is planning on adding 20,000 troops to patrol US streets to protect the people in the event of a terror attack or during civil unrest. Now that it is 2011, we are seeing our police forces acting more and more like the military. At almost every protest now, riot police in masks, head to toe cover, and machine guns show up. They do not identify themselves and they act like robots arresting anyone they can grab. How much longer will we allow this to continue? They are preparing for something. [...]" 

Trends: "Mass Strike Hits Israel" [07/24/11] "Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in central Tel Aviv on July 23 as part of a large-scale protest movement against the housing shortage and high rents. This is clearly part of the mass strike process hitting Israel, and a direct reaction to the corruption of the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which clings to its right-wing anti-peace agenda on the one hand, and the corruption of its financial base which are the real estate interests. These interests have been building expensive condos which are sold to rich Diaspora Jews, and remain empty for most of the year. More deeply-felt is the fact that income among the lower 80% of the population continues to collapse, while the government continues to build houses in the highly-subsidized settlements in the Occupied Territories. Protesters included a full cross-section of society from young to middle aged, and even Holocaust survivors, many of whom are among the poorest Israelis. It also included the Arab sector. The demo is part of a Facebook movement that began with the erecting of tent cities through Israel. Slogans shouted by demonstrators included "proper housing, legitimate prices," "the power is with the citizen," and "this generation demands housing." Some of the marchers called for Netanyahu's resignation.  [...]"  

"Fungus Threatens To Wipe Out World's Banana Crop" [07/23/11] "You just love eating bananas from the supermarket, right? Well, you better get your fill because a fungal infection is threatening to wipe out the yellow fruit that we all take for granted. Most of the world's banana crop is the Cavendish variety of the fruit, which replaced the previous type, Gros Michel, after that strain was wiped out by Panama disease, a fungal infection that infests banana trees. Now the Cavendish variety is succumbing to the same malady, which has decimated banana trees in Asia and Australia. It has yet to spread to South America, where most of the bananas sold in the U.S. are grown, but plant biologists say it's inevitable. However, the disease does make the tree sprout purple stripes, which sounds like it might be an attractive—if deadly—addition to your garden. [...]"  

MSM: "Ghana Minister Orders Arrest Of All Homosexuals" [07/22/11] "The Western Region Minister Paul Evans Aidoo has ordered the immediate arrest of all homosexuals in the region. He has tasked the Bureau of National Investigations and all security agencies to smoke out persons suspected to be engaging in same sex. He also enlisted the services of landlords and tenants to provide reliable information which will lead to the arrest of homosexuals. His directive follows months of campaigns against the practice of homosexuality in the country. Only yesterday, the Christian Council of Ghana capped months of protestations against the practice of homosexuality with a strongly worded message against the practice and courting Ghanaians not to vote for any politician who believes in the rights of homosexuals. [...]" 

MSM: "Scientists Warn U.S. Cities Of Attack Of The Urban Mosquitoes" [07/22/11] "The latest scourge crossing the country has a taste for the big city. The Asian tiger mosquito, named for its distinctive black-and-white striped body, is a relatively new species to the U.S. that is more vicious, harder to kill and, unlike most native mosquitoes, bites during the daytime. It also prefers large cities over rural or marshy areas—thus earning the nickname among entomologists as “the urban mosquito.” “Part of the reason it is called ‘tiger’ is also because it is very aggressive,” says Dina Fonseca, an associate professor of entomology at Rutgers University. “You can try and swat it all you want, but once it’s on you, it doesn’t let go. Even if it goes away, it will be back for a bite.” Dr. Fonseca is leading a U.S. Department of Agriculture effort to develop a cost-effective method to control the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) population. The university is currently focusing on using larvacides, which render larvae incapable of growing into adults. Since urban areas tend to be warmer—often by 5 to 10 degrees—than rural areas, cities are seeing tiger mosquitoes earlier and sticking around longer, often into October. “The Asian tiger mosquito arrived this year in June—three months earlier than last year,” says Wayne Andrews, superintendent of the Bristol County Mosquito Control Project in Taunton, Mass. The species has been traced to 1985, when a ship arrived in Texas loaded with used truck tires, perhaps from Japan, which is a major used-tire exporter, according to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The eggs hatched when they were exposed to water. Since then, the species has made its way from Texas to Florida and up the East Coast, says Gary G. Clark, a research leader with the Agriculture Department. “Now, more than half of the states have this aggressive species,” he says. [...]"  

MSM: "UK Government To Cut 34,000 Police Jobs" [07/22/11] "Some 34,000 personnel, including thousands of officers, are to be axed from the UK police force by 2015 as a part of the British coalition government's planned cuts. [...] The UK police forces have been facing the biggest financial challenge in a generation, as the number of officers is to stand at its lowest level since 2001/02. "   

"What Are The Physiological Differences Between 5 And 7 Hours Of Sleep?" [07/21/11] "Q: What are the physiological differences between someone who gets by on 5 hours vs. 7 hours of sleep a night? I’ve heard that some people are “just fine” on only 5 hours. Sleep research has found significant health issues related to differences in sleep duration. Mortality studies suggest that those who get less than seven hours have a shorter life span, as well as an elevated risk of coronary artery disease, stroke and hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. On the cognitive side, those who sleep five hours or less have shorter attention spans, more negative emotions and less memory recall. [...]" 

MSM: "Anger At Government Highest In 19 Years: Poll" [07/21/11] "Dissatisfaction and anger with the federal government are at a nearly 20-year high, according to the results of a new ABC News/Washington Post poll released Wednesday. When asked how they felt about the federal government, 80 percent of poll respondents said that they felt dissatisfied or even angry about the work the government is doing. The last time such a peak of ill will was felt was during 1992's economic slump, under President George Bush's leadership. The public's slumping opinion of the country's political class can be actively attributed to the negotiations surrounding the debt ceiling: The dissatisfaction numbers rocketed up 11 points between this month and last. Indeed, congressional Republicans are facing the fire of poor public opinion. The ABC News/ Washington Post poll shows a 28 percent approval rating for them, with 77 percent of participants saying the Republican leadership is unwilling to negotiate, further slowing debt talks. A CBS poll released earlier this week is even darker for the Republicans — they garnered only a 21 percent approval rating in that poll. President Barack Obama and the Federal Reserve have declared a rapidly approaching August 2 deadline for a solution to the nation's debt.  [...]"  

Trends: "Say Goodbye To Saturday Mail Delivery, U.S. Postmaster Says" [07/21/11] "The U.S. Postal Service will soon cut off Saturday mail delivery, and will probably go to a three-day-a-week schedule by 2025, Postmaster General Patrick Donahue told the USA TODAY editorial board yesterday. The United States Postal Service, with sharply reduced usage in the age of Facebook, Twitter and e-mail, has struggled to make ends meet in recent years. It faces an estimated $8.3 billion deficit this year, and, most pressingly, has a $5.5 billion payment due September 30, to cover its retirees' health benefits. "On September 20th, I won't be able to pay my bills," Donahue told USA Today. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) has introduced legislation that would allow the Postal Service to scrap Saturday delivery, which Donahue estimates would save move than $3 billion every year. [...]"  

MSM: "First Openly Gay Man Quietly Confirmed as US Judge" [07/20/11] "The US got its first openly gay male federal judge last night. J. Paul Oetken, a former lawyer for the Clinton administration, was confirmed by the Senate on an 80-13 vote and could take his Manhattan seat this week, the New York Times reports. "The old barriers that existed in society are crumbling. That’s what this will say," declares Sen. Charles Schumer, who recommended Oetken's appointment to President Obama last year. Dana Milbank agrees: "The remarkable thing about what happened on the Senate floor Monday night was that it was utterly unremarkable," he writes in the Washington Post, noting that Oetken's confirmation included not a single word of objection, even from "ardent social conservatives"—nor any reaction when the "lopsided vote tally" was read. "It would be premature to believe that Oetken’s easy confirmation heralds some new post-sexual era in American politics," he continues. "But it was a signal moment nonetheless." [...]" 

Commentary: "US: The Death Of The American Nuclear Family" [07/20/11] "According to Chris Porter, manager at John Burns Real Estate Consulting, back in the 1960s, there were 23.5 million households made up of parents and children. In 2010, that number was 23.6 million. In that same 50 year span, according to the Census Bureau, the total number of households rose from 53 million to 116.7 million. The total number of households has more than doubled—but the number of households made up of parents and children hasn’t changed in 50 years. Traditional family units aren’t the majority of our households anymore. What is driving this huge change in household demographics? According to the John Burns group, the answer is a combination of evolving social norms and the lingering effects of the Great Recession. In 1960, married couples comprised a full 75 percent of total American households. By last year, that number had fallen precipitously to 48 percent, or less than half. The decrease corresponds to a similar rise in non-family households: single people, roommates and unmarried, co-habitating couples. “People are increasingly choosing to not get married or to delay their marriages. If you look at the Census over the last couple decades, people are delaying unions much longer,” explains Porter. This new relationship paradigm is more socially acceptable in the 21st century than it was 50 years ago, which partially accounts for the wildly divergent household makeup. But we can’t let the economy off the hook either. “We’re also seeing a number of young people still living at home with mom and dad because of the state of the economy. There are 1.5 million more young adults between the ages 25 and 34 living at home with their parents than there was 10 years ago,” Porter adds. [...]"   Note: The relative stability of the nuclear family was an important factor for many people during its heyday.

"Nine Steps to Effective Problem Solving" [07/20/11] "...Thus it behooves all of us work on mastering the discipline of problem solving. Here is a formula from Brian Tracy, in his book “The Power of Self-Discipline”  [...]"  

NJ: "Newark Cop: “I Can Do Whatever the Hell I Want”" [07/20/11] [2:35] "While the consequences of his actions were not as horrific as those of the San Francisco police department over the weekend, this Newark, New Jersey police officer provides us a glimpse into the culture that seems to be pervading police departments across the United States. While there are no doubt great officers out there – those who understand what the Constitution stands for and the importance of ensuring that the Rule of Law is protected – it is the bad apples, who act not as servants of the people, but rather, agents of tyranny, that have lead the majority of Americans to distrust law enforcement in general. [...]"  

Trends: "Minnesota Budget Agreement Slashes Social Spending" [07/19/11] "Minnesota appears to be ending its two-week-old government shutdown with a tentative agreement that will impose huge reductions in social spending. Abandoning all of his pledges to resolve the state’s $5 billion budget deficit by raising taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans, Democratic-Farmer-Labor Governor Mark Dayton announced July 14 that he will accept the proposal made on June 30 by Republican legislative leaders. The agreement will defer $700 million in payments to schools and borrow another $700 million from future tobacco settlement payments. The budget includes billions in spending cuts in a state that has repeatedly cut spending in recent years. Dayton called a special session scheduled for early this week to work out the final details. Prior negotiations indicate that cuts of the following approximate nature can be expected: * $1 billion to health and human services * $530 million to property tax aids and credits * $351 million to higher education * $94 million to state government * $56 million to environment and commerce * $55 million to transportation * $14 million to economic development. The reductions to health and human services will strike at the state’s most vulnerable residents and will include reductions in mental health services for children and adults, community-based services for the disabled and elderly, child care assistance, and emergency assistance for families facing homelessness. [...]"  

Trends: "Borders Books Liquidates: 10,700 Jobs Lost" [07/19/11] "Borders Group will liquidate its remaining assets after efforts to find a buyer fell through, the bookstore chain announced Monday. The nation's second largest book seller, which filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, currently operates 399 stores and employs approximately 10,700 workers. [...]"  Related:"Cisco To Lay Off 11,500 Workers, 15 Percent Workforce And Sell Factory"  

MSM: "75,000 US Veterans Face Homelessness" [07/17/11] [1:44] "According to data published by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the number of US veterans, homeless on any given night as of June this year, stands at a staggering 75,700, a Press TV correspondent reported Friday. "It's a critical time; we have veterans that are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan that are potentially becoming homeless in higher numbers than they have in the past," said Anne Oliva, director of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's homeless office. Formerly deployed in military missions overseas, the veterans are finding it more difficult to find employment at home. The unemployment rate among American young veterans stood at nearly 21 percent last year according to the US Labor Department. "It's a national disgrace, the situation of returning soldiers and veterans. And it reflects the overall situation of the US economy, which is in a state of collapse and it's only going to get worse with all the budget cuts," said Edward Spannaus, Legal Affairs Editor. "Young men and women join the army these days precisely because it's the only job they can get. The people tend to come from the poor layers of the society and overwhelmingly from the poor states in the country," he added. Meanwhile, the detrimental psychological effects of war upon the combatants coupled with economy-driven plights have sounded alarms concerning the veterans' mental health. A recent study has revealed that 300,000 American veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Critics say the US government has failed in its duty to ease the transition of the military lives of its war veterans into civilian lives.  [...]"  

Trends: "Michigan Welfare Benefits Cut To 48 Months" [07/17/11] "The Michigan state Senate approved a bill that would establish a lifetime limit of 48 months for receiving welfare benefits. It is estimated that 12,600 families in the state will be affected immediately. Republican Governor Rick Snyder is expected to sign the bill into law as soon as it arrives on his desk. The 48-month limit will be applied retroactively, meaning affected families will lose an average of $515 a month beginning on October 1. The bill in its rough form was previously passed by the lower house and will be presented to Snyder after some “technical” edits. It will then go to the House for approval when the session opens on July 27. A spokesperson for Republican House Speaker Jase Bolger said that approval will be just a formality. “This has been a priority of our caucus since day one,” he said. The signing of the bill into law will make Michigan one of the US states with the most draconian conditions for families hardest hit by the economy. In an interview on a Michigan talk radio station, Judy Putnam of the Michigan League for Human Services said that the state will have the harshest welfare time limits in the Midwest. “A lot of these folks are working,” she said. “They just don’t make enough money to even leave the cash assistance rolls.” [...]"  Note: Heartless acts abound.  

Trends: "Bread and Circuses: Poor and Broke Camp Out Overnight, Rush the Gates for Gov Rental Assistance" [07/15/11] [6:08] "The video clip is reminiscent of the annual American version of the Running of the Bulls on the Friday following Thanksgiving Day. But on this particular day, people aren’t looking for deals on flat screen TV’s and video game systems. Having maxed out their credit cards to “save” money on must have technology items in November of 2010, many residents of the U.S. are finding it increasingly difficult to put food on the table and pay the rent. This has led to increased government assistance all over the country. The latest giveaway in the growing trend of housing and rental entitlement expenditures comes to us from Dallas, TX, where broke and hungry residents, many of whom camped out overnight, rushed the gates of the Jesse Owens Memorial Complex in an effort to get their piece of the entitlement pie. [...]"  

Trends: "Missouri to Begin Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients" [07/15/11] "Some federal welfare recipients will be subjected to drug testing or face losing their benefits in Missouri. Gov. Jay Nixon signed the bill into law Tuesday. Under the new law, if there is reasonable suspicion that someone receiving benefits from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program is using illegal drugs then a drug test can be ordered. If the test comes back positive, or if the person refuses to take the test, they could lose benefits for 3 years... The person may receive benefits if he or she enrolls in a drug treatment program and does not test positive for 6 months. The person's dependents could receive benefits. Opponents say the law unfairly targets a small group of people who get federal aid. Supporters say it ensures that government money is being used as intended and not for drugs. Missouri is not alone in drug testing welfare recipients. Florida began mandatory drug testing of welfare recipients on July 1. [...]"  

MSM: "Lock Up Your Profits: Major Prison Corporations" [07/15/11]   "According to the report, private prison populations have increased faster than the entire incarcerated population. During the last decade, the total prison population grew by 16%. Simultaneously, the number of federal prisoners in private facilities grew by 120%, while the number of state prisoners in private facilities grew by 33%.[...] 1. Corrections Corporation of America (CXW): Property Management industry with a market cap of $2.4B. Revenue $ 1.669 billion. Total assets $ 2.905 billion.  It specializes in owning, operating, and managing prisons and other correctional facilities and providing inmate residential and prisoner transportation services for governmental agencies. Damon Hininger, CEO Salary: $600,000. Total Comp: $3,266,387 [...] 2. The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO): Security & Protection Services industry with a market cap of $1.45B. Revenue $ 1.043 billion (2008).  Total assets $ 1.288 billion (2008). George Zoley, CEO Salary: $1,040,920 Total Comp: $3,484,807  [...]" 

MSM: "Moscow Doubles Size Of City In Desperate Bid To End Traffic Jams" [07/15/11] Related: "Video Essay: Moscow's Traffic Mess " [2:28] " Driving the streets of Russia's capital is anything but easy. Mike Eckel of the Associated Press shows us that unexpected surprises that greet drivers in Moscow. [...]"  

MSM: "Orszag: This Economy Is Much Weaker Than It Appears" [07/14/11] "Former White House budget man Peter Orszag argues that nobody has even yet begun to understand how frail the American economy is, and how long it will take to get back on solid footing. Orszag notes that official government economic predictions—from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), for instance, which he headed until 2008—tend to crunch numbers based on the letter of the law, rather than on likely real-world scenarios. Thus, "official" economic forecasts are often overly optimistic, and fail to adequately describe the "hard slog" ahead. More accurate forecasts show an economy unlikely to improve anytime soon—which is really to be expected following a massive financial collapse, Orszag argues: "If an extended period of slow growth is more likely than the official projections suggest, we’re in for a much nastier mix of high unemployment in the near term and large budget gaps over the medium term. This is only more evidence that the right policy response is a combination of more aggressive action to bolster the job market now and much more deficit reduction enacted now to take effect in a few years. On both strategies, we should be as bold as we can." [...]" 

Internet: "Job-Threatening Facebook Photos Are Part Of Your Job Application" [07/14/11] "...The Federal Trade Commission gave a stamp of approval to a background check company that screens job applicants based on their Internet photos and postings. The FTC determined that Social Intelligence Corp. was in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This means a search of what you’ve said or posted to Facebook/Twitter/Flickr/blogs and the Internet in general may become a standard part of background checks when you apply for a job. No big deal, right? You already knew that employers were Googling you. I argued this was actually better, because Social Intelligence has to make sure its clients inform job applicants if they took adverse action based on something found on the Internet. That way you can delete and change privacy settings accordingly. But there’s a wrinkle. If something job-threatening pops up on Facebook or Flickr or Craigslist in a search of you, Social Intelligence puts it into your file — and it stays there for seven years. [...]"  Note: Interesting comments on the page under the article.

Social Priorities: "As Unemployment Insurance Expires, Another $37 Billion Blow To The Economy Is Coming" [07/13/11] "Moody's estimates that $37 billion will simply vanish from our economy when unemployment benefits expire. So what will lawmakers do when they run out? More than 14 million Americans use those benefits to buy the basics like clothes and food. If you recall, last time unemployment benefits expired, Democrats managed to push an extension through by extending the Bush tax cuts for Republicans. But unemployment benefits add to the deficit, which Republicans have decided to take an extra hard stance on (in case you haven't noticed) so they may not be up for negotiating this time. [...]" Related: "How Globalism Has Destroyed U.S. Jobs, Businesses And National Wealth In 10 Easy Steps"   "Why so many good jobs have left the United States and why they aren't coming back. [...]" | "No Extended Benefits For People Laid Off From Now On" | "Social Outcasts: Tens of Millions Sleeping In Cars, In Tent Cities Or On The Streets" "Economic despair is beginning to spread rapidly in America. As you read this, there are millions of American families that are just barely hanging on by their fingernails. For a growing number of Americans, it has become an all-out battle just to be able to afford to sleep under a roof and put a little bit of food on the table. Sadly, there are more people than ever that are losing that battle. Tonight, tens of thousands of formerly middle class Americans will be sleeping in their cars, even though that is illegal in many U.S. cities. Tens of thousands of others will be sleeping in tent cities or on the streets. Meanwhile, communities all over America are passing measures that are meant to push tent cities and homeless people out of their areas. It turns out that once you lose your job and your home in this country you become something of an outcast. Sadly, the number of “outcasts” is going to continue to grow as the U.S. economy continues to collapse. Most Americans that end up living in their cars on in tent cities never thought that it would happen to them. [...]" 

Absurdities: "Juries Vote For Life In Prison, But Alabama Judges Impose Death" [07/13/11] "Last November, jurors in Lee County, Ala., found Courtney Lockhart, a 26-year-old Iraq War veteran, guilty of the 2008 murder of Lauren Burk, an 18-year-old college student. During sentencing, all 12 members of the jury recommended that Lockhart serve life in prison without the possibility of parole for her crime. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, but the defense argued for lenience, presenting evidence that Lockhart had suffered psychological damage during a bloody 16-month combat tour in Iraq. The jurors' unanimous decision to spare the Lockhart's life was not the final word, however. On March 3, 2011, Judge Jacob Walker, who presided over the trial, nullified the jury's recommendation of life without parole and sentenced Lockhart to death by lethal injection. [...] In virtually all 35 states that allow the death penalty, juries are the supreme arbiter of whether capital defendants live or die. But not in Alabama. Since 1976, when the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty after a four-year ban, Alabama judges have held the power to overturn the sentencing recommendations of juries in capital cases. Since then, state judges have overturned 107 jury decisions in capital cases, and in 92 percent of those cases, jury recommendations of life imprisonment were rejected in favor of death sentences, according to a new report by the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-profit law firm based in Montgomery, Ala. The group's report is strongly critical of the practice, calling it arbitrary and lacking meaningful standards or oversight.[...]"  

Report: "Employers Still Ruling Out Jobless Applicants" [07/13/11] "Employers are still discriminating against unemployed people in their online job ads despite an increase of scrutiny on hiring practices, a new report by the National Employment Law Project has found. HuffPost reported back in June 2010 that a number of job postings on sites such as Craigslist, Monster.com and Indeed.com explicitly ruled out jobless applicants using the language "must be currently employed," or "no unemployed candidates will be considered." According to the new NELP survey of a number of "heavily-trafficked job posting websites," employers have continued to screen out applicants solely because they are unemployed. "This pernicious practice adds a tremendous burden for unemployed workers as they look for jobs," said Christine Owens, executive director of NELP. "For the millions of jobless Americans struggling to climb out of the deepest job hole in many decades, nothing can be more demoralizing than the double-whammy of losing a job and then learning they will not be considered for new positions because they are not currently working."  [...]"  Note: Absurd.

Commentary: "Children Now Make Up Smallest-Ever Percentage Of U.S. Population " [07/13/11] "Children now make up less of America's population than ever before, even with a boost from immigrant families. And when this generation grows up, it will become a shrinking work force that will have to support the nation's expanding elderly population – even as the government strains to cut spending for health care, pensions and much else. The latest 2010 census data show that children of immigrants make up one in four people under 18, and are now the fastest-growing segment of the nation's youth, an indication that both legal and illegal immigrants as well as minority births are lifting the nation's population. Currently, the share of children in the U.S. is 24 percent, falling below the previous low of 26 percent of 1990. The share is projected to slip further, to 23 percent by 2050, even as the percentage of people 65 and older is expected to jump from 13 percent today to roughly 20 percent by 2050 due to the aging of baby boomers and beyond. [...]"  Note: The whole rationale for incarnating into a body is to gather experiences. It doesn't take much to realize that the time of greatest cultural variation and novel experiences is over, in this civilization. Less experiential potential means that most children born these days would be earth spirit in bodies like 75+% of the planet's population. No higher self would come in .. there is not enough time  ...

UK: "Middle Classes Are Britain's New Homeless: State Safety Nets Are Gone" [07/11/11] "Britain faces an "unprecedented and escalating" housing crisis, charities warned yesterday, with middle-class families at greater risk of homelessness than at any point in the past century. Geoff Hawkins, chief executive of the housing charity Chapter 1, said the problem was no longer confined to the stereotype of rough sleepers rehabilitating from lifelong addictions, but now includes victims of recession who do not qualify for appropriate help. The housing charity Shelter, meanwhile, accused the Government of dismantling the housing safety net that helps so many people to stay in their homes. The number of people requesting council housing in the first quarter of 2011 jumped to 26,400, an increase of 23 per cent on the previous year, according to official figures. Home repossessions are also up, rising 17 per cent in the first three months of 2011, to 9,613. The Government has pledged 150,000 affordable homes over the next four years. But it has also reduced state subsidy for building new homes by 60 per cent and is looking to housing associations to fund these by charging higher rents – up to 80 per cent of market values. This weekend's warning about the burgeoning problem of middle-class homelessness came after a letter to the Prime Minister was leaked warning that 40,000 people risked being made homeless as a result of a cap on housing benefits. A report by the Local Government Ombudsman last week criticised councils across Britain for "consistent failings" in dealing with those at risk of homelessness. [...]"  

UK: "Cash-Strapped Retailers Face Collapse Over Cost Of Christmas Stock " [07/11/11] "The cost of stocking the shelves for Christmas may force the collapse of several more high street retailers, a leading accountancy firm has warned. Ernst & Young said retailers who had been "hanging on in there" since the 2008-09 recession might not be able to build up enough cash to pay for extra stock for the crucial festive season as well as the rent due at the next quarter-day in September. "We will continue to see a shakeout of those struggling with rising costs, wage inflation and falling consumer spending," said Adam Hudson, Ernst & Young's head of restructuring. "[They] will find it very hard to make enough cash to invest in Christmas. If retailers can't get the inventory, they won't make money," he said. "Some of them only really make money at Christmas." Hudson added that suppliers, spooked by the recent spate of retail failures, might cut back their lines of credit to struggling retailers. Research published last week showed retail chains were closing stores at a rate of about 20 a day. Discount clothing chain TJ Hughes, Focus DIY, Habitat and fashion chain Jane Norman are among the chains to have failed over the past two months. [...]"  

Commentary: "Civil Unrest Spreads To Malaysia- 1400 Arrested By Police" [07/10/11] "Malaysian police fired repeated rounds of tear gas and detained over 1,400 people in the capital on Saturday as thousands of activists evaded roadblocks and barbed wire to hold a street protest against Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government. At least a dozen people were hurt in the demonstration for electoral reform in downtown Kuala Lumpur. There were no reports of serious injuries but some analysts said the police action was excessive and would dent Najib’s image. “We are not criminals, we are just asking for free and fair elections,” opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, told reporters after her father was knocked down and hurt in a melee when he and his supporters were tear gassed. “Many innocent people were injured. We condemn this act of cruelty by UMNO and Barisan Nasional,” she said, referring to Najib’s party and the ruling coalition. Street protests are rare in this Southeast Asian nation, but foreign investors are worried that any groundswell of anti-government sentiment could delay economic reforms seen as essential to draw investment. Polls are not due until 2013 but analysts have said Najib could seek an early mandate after economic growth accelerated to a 10-year high in 2010. “From Najib’s perspective, holding elections anytime soon would be a mistake because of the damage that has been done today,” said Bridget Welsh, Malaysia specialist at Singapore Management University. “The fact that such a large crowd turned up despite a crackdown shows that voter anger is deep and this is going to push a lot of people who are in the middle toward the opposition.” Reuters witnesses saw tear gas shells lobbed repeatedly at groups of protesters in downtown Kuala Lumpur as the crowds chanted “Long Live the People” and “Reformasi, reformasi,” the Malay word for reform. Several people were seen bleeding after the tear gas was fired, but police gave no details of any injuries. Crowds around the city’s main bus station were also sprayed with water cannon. Malaysia’s inspector-general of police, Ismail Omar, said 1,401 people were taken into custody, but many will be released after questioning. At least three senior opposition leaders were among those detained, other officials said. [...]" 

Commentary: "US Teen Unemployment Rate At 24.5%" [07/10/11] "Teen unemployment rates witness a 0.3 percent hike in June to reach an all-time high of 24.5 percent, giving rise to concerns about the future of the adult workforce in the US. [...]"   Related:    Trends: "35% Of California Teens Can't Find Work This Summer" [07/09/11] "It used to be you could get a job as a high school drop out. Or you could hold a job while staying in school. And you could definitely find work over the summer. Not anymore. 34.6 percent of California teens who are looking for work can't find it, according to the Employment Policy Institute. Teen unemployment is equally high in Georgia; followed by Nevada at 34.3 percent; Washington at 33.2 percent; North Carolina at 32.1 percent; Idaho at 31.8 percent; and West Virginia at 30.2%. The District of Columbia is even higher at 49% teen unemployment. The national average rose from 24.2 to 24.5 percent in June.  [...]"  

Commentary: "US Needs 90,000 Jobs Per Month Just To Keep Pace With The Growth Of The Population" [07/09/11]   "In an article on the June employment report the NYT told readers that the economy needs 150,000 jobs per month to keep pace with the growth in the population. Actually, the Congressional Budget Office projects that the underlying rate of labor force growth is now just 0.7 percent annually. This comes to roughly 1,050,000 a year or just under 90,000 a month. This is fortunate since the economy has created less than 1.8 million jobs in the 16 months since it first began adding jobs again in February of 2010. If we needed to create 150,000 jobs a month then we would have needed 2.4 million jobs to keep even with the growth of the labor force, so we would be considerable further behind where we were in February 2010. As it stands, we are roughly treading water with job growth that has been pretty much even with the growth of the population over this period. [...]"  See "Devastating US Unemployment Numbers"   [13:24] 

MSM: "US Job Market Slows To A Standstill, Unemployment Rate Rises" [07/09/11] "... "Today companies are producing more goods and services than ever before," he said. "The GDP now is bigger than it ever has been before. And the economy is able to do that with 7 million fewer workers. If we can do so much with so much less, where is the incentive to hire?" [...]"  

Trends: "UK: Fuel Sales Fall By A Billion Litres" [07/09/11] "The Treasury is facing a £637 million deficit after fuel sales dropped by one billion litres this year, the AA revealed. Service stations in the UK sold 835 million fewer litres of petrol and 247 million fewer litres of diesel in January to March 2011 compared to the same period three years earlier. The 15 per cent dip in petrol sales and the 6 per cent fall in diesel sales were caused by higher fuel costs and consumers tightening their belts.  [...]"  Related: "Get Ready For The North American Gas Shock" "... The shale gas bubble is a perfect example of the irrationality of markets, the power of perverse short-term incentives, the driving force of momentum- chasing, the dominance of perception over reality in determining prices, and the determination for a herd to stampede over a cliff all at once. The perception of a gas glut has driven prices so low that none of the participants are making money (at least not by producing gas) or creating value. We see a familiar story of excessive debt, and the hollowing out of productive companies dead set on pursuing a mirage. [...]" 

Trends: "Black Communities Struggle With Mass Joblessness " [07/09/11]   [0:00] " [...]"  Note:  Related:

Absurdities: "After Passing Strict Immigration Laws, Alabama Lacks Cheap Workers To Clean Up After The Tornadoes" [07/09/11] "Alabama needs lots of cheap labor to rebuild over 7,200 buildings that were destroyed during the severe tornado season. Unfortunately thousands of immigrants are fleeing the state in the face of the state's new 'immigration law', which allows detainment of illegal workers and arrest of their employers. [...] The "Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act" passed in Alabama is among the strictest immigration reform in the nation."  Note: Nice move, stupid people, and they're too stupid to repeal it.

Commentary: "Prison Inmates Replace Unionized Workers In Racine, Wisconsin" [07/09/11] "Prison inmates have replaced union workers in Racine County, Wisconsin, thanks to the changes to the states collective bargaining laws that went into effect at the end of June. The Journal Times reported prison inmates will now be able to do tasks such as landscaping, painting, and shoveling sidewalks in the winter that were previously performed by unionized employees. [...]" 

  Absurdities: "Police Issue Tresspass Warnings and Arrest for "Intent to Feed", Over 30 People Now Arrested" [07/09/11] [13:08] "The organization known as Food Not Bombs continued to share food in Orlando's Lake Eola Park in spite of over 30 of their members or supporters having already been arrested for it.. [...]" 

Philippines: "Backyard Gardening Urged For Security" [07/09/11]   "Optimistic in steadily reducing malnutrition prevalence, an official from the Region 7 office of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) is encouraging households to venture into backyard gardening especially those having malnourished children. “We urge parents especially those having malnourished children to have backyard gardens where they can plant nutritious vegetables for their kids. This will also benefit them economically,” said Parolita Mission, executive director of NNC7. Mission stressed that having backyard gardens do not necessarily need huge spaces as there are vegetable plants that survives in pot like tomatoes, cucumber among others. She added that even in urban areas backyard gardening is very possible which will also make every family food secured. The NNC7 top official explained that if only each family has backyard gardens, food security and crisis will no longer be a big problem as food is readily available. It can be recalled that the NNC has also partnered with the Department of Agriculture for an urban backyard gardening program where the latter will provide seeds to interested families. [...]"  Related: Michigan: "Woman Faces 93-Days in Jail For Planting Vegetable Garden In Her Front Yard"   "The price of organic food is kind of through the roof,” said Julie Bass. So, why not grow your own? However, Bass’ garden is a little unique because it’s in her front yard. “We thought it’d be really cool to do it 'so the neighbors could see'. The kids love it. The kids from the neighborhood all come and help,” she said. Bass’ cool garden has landed her in hot water with the City of Oak Park. Code enforcement gave her a warning, then a ticket and now she’s been charged with a misdemeanor. [...]"  Note: One can't just 'decide,' for everyone else, 'what would be cool', especially if you aren't in the social power hierarchy, says the town.

Commentary: "Secure Communities: Backdoor Big Brother Biometric Surveillance Operation Underway" [07/09/11]   "Border control operations have long been a convenient cover for introducing policies and technologies that provide a staging ground for incremental rollout of more surveillance across the United States. The Secure Communities program (S-Comm) is no exception. ICE announced in February that it would begin using biometric identification as a key component of an information sharing nexus with 58 California counties meant to identify aliens who are booked for crimes by local police. However, a recent Freedom of Information Act request by several justice organizations reveals a program involving extensive Homeland Security coordination to expand the Secure Communities biometrics program to include even law abiding American citizens. Rather than a specific initiative to deport known criminals, this is looking more and more like a sweeping move toward a Big Brother total surveillance grid. A pattern of deception by the federal government is emerging in the wake of a failed attempt to push a national ID card. ICE is already under investigation for misrepresenting its intentions, and the wider role of the FBI only furthers the suspicion that this latest move has ulterior motives.  According to Bridget Kessler of the Cardozo Law School Immigration Justice Clinic, one of the organizations that applied through FOIA: "These documents provide a fascinating glimpse into the FBI’s role in forcing S-Comm on states and localities. The FBI’s desire to pave the way for the rest of the NGI project seems to have been a driving force in the policy decision to make S-Comm mandatory. But the documents also confirm that, both technologically and legally, S-Comm could have been voluntary." (Source) The "NGI project" to which she refers is the Next Generation Identification which will be used to enhance the current database of fingerprints (IAFIS).  [...]" 

MSM: Gerald Celente - RTTV 07 July 2011" [07/08/11]   [5:46]   Related: Brzezinski: Middle Class Unrest To Hit U.S." [11:38] "Zbigniew Brzezinski, who forty years ago wrote of a highly controlled future society where the population would be subjugated by a technocratic elite, appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe yesterday to predict that middle class unrest caused by economic disenfranchisement would soon hit America. “I don’t want to be a prophet of doom — and I don’t think we are approaching doom — but I think we’re going to slide into intensified social conflicts, social hostility, some forms of radicalism, there is just going to be a sense that this is not a just society,” Brzezinski said, adding that civil unrest would begin when the lower middle class becomes severely affected by the economic fallout and rising unemployment. The former National Security Advisor predicted “really serious international turmoil” as a result of the United States, Europe and Japan, the three traditional pillars of global economic strength, struggling with deep financial crises. CFR member Brzezinski’s so-called concern about “disparity” and a “fair society,” as the rich get richer and the middle class becomes poorer, is completely hypocritical given the fact that he wrote books four decades ago virtually advocating precisely that system, where a tiny elite ruthlessly control and dominate the rest of humanity. However, this is certainly not the first time that Brzezinski has expressed concerns that a growing rage caused by economic and social disenfranchisement could threaten the existing power structure. [...]"  "Preparing For Civil Unrest Or Not..." [01/15/10] "Now everybody's talking about the ongoing catastrophe (even if we are in a momentarily sunny mood). But almost nobody is talking about the logical—maybe even inevitable—consequences of cynical or desperate politicians abusing an already fed-up populace: civil unrest. I mean people taking to the streets. Or mass resistance. Or crackdowns because the government fears we might do something to upset its apple cart. It's going to happen. Somewhere. At some time. It's going to. One of the few VIPs to mention the matter openly was Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor and the ultimate insider's insider. He commented on the millions of unemployed or soon-to-be-unemployed and the "...public awareness of this extraordinary wealth that was transferred to a few individuals at levels without historical precedent in America." He told "Morning Joe" Scarborough, "Hell, there could be even riots." I'd say that's an understatement. [...]" "Video Clip" Note:  So Zbigniew Brzezinski was on the same show, the Joe Scarborough show, in Jan 2010 and July 2011, saying the same thing.

"Suicide Rates In Europe 'Linked' To Financial Crisis" [07/08/11] "The financial crisis "almost certainly" led to an increase in suicides across Europe, health experts say. The analysis by US and UK researchers found a rise in suicides was recorded among working age people from 2007 to 2009 in nine of the 10 nations studied. The increases varied between 5% and 17% for under 65s after a period of falling suicide rates, The Lancet reported. Researchers said investment in welfare systems was the key to keeping rates down. [...] The report comes after a BBC investigation earlier this year found there had been a rise in anti-depressant prescribing during the financial crisis. Prescriptions for drugs such as Prozac rose by more than 40% over the past four years with GPs saying more and more people were coming to them with money worries. [...]"  

  Video Short: "What's the Biggest Threat to Free Speech?" [07/08/11] [3:37] "What's the biggest threat to free speech? Reason.tv asks a cavalcade of politicians, journalists, filmmakers and content creators ranging from former Gov. Gary Johnson (R-N.M.) to Fox News' Greg Gutfeld to The Atlantic's Megan McArdle to adult filmmaker John Stagliano to new media magnate Andrew Breitbart to call their shot. [...]"  

Commentary: "The World's Highest Quality Of Life Is Still In Europe" [07/07/11]   "Every year Monocle Magazine calculates the best cities in the world to live in, and the 2011 results are in. The editors of the lifestyle magazine seek to recognize the world's best cities, ranking them based on economic and social factors in addition to hipper things like "24 hour metabolism" where cities were given extra points for not shutting down at 10 PM. Other factors involved in Monocle's ranking system included whether the cities had well-tended bars, the amount of green space in cities, how the city used architectural planning and urban ambition. We've listed the rankings and added information about the best cities in the world, and it appears that despite economic woes, European cities are still the most attractive places to live... [...]"  

UK: "30,000 Jobs Gap" After Shake-Up" Wales [07/05/11] "Welfare changes will see 60,000 people in Wales moved off incapacity benefits, with half of those leaving the benefits system with no jobs to go to, says a new report. ... The UK government's Department for Work and Pensions said it would not leave anyone "trapped on benefits". [...]"  Note: Heartless droids strike again.

MSM: "$11 Billion Found Beneath Temple In India" [07/05/11] "A court-ordered search of vaults beneath a temple in India has turned up a treasure worth at least $11 billion, according to reports from the Indian state of Kerala. An inventory of what lies beneath the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, as reported on the website Business-Standard.com and others, reads like a prop list from an "Indiana Jones" movie:The wealth was amassed in at least six vaults, some of which had not been opened in 150 years, according to media reports. India's Supreme Court ordered an inventory of the vaults after hearing a private complaint seeking "more transparency and trustworthiness in the temple administration," according to a report on the news website daijiworld.com. [...]"  

  MSM: "India's Health Minister: "Homosexuality Is A "Disease" Which Is "Spreading Fast" In The Country" [07/05/11] "Ghulam Nabi Azad also told a meeting that gay sex was "unnatural". Activists said his comments were "unfortunate". India's Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex in the country in a landmark judgement in 2009. The ruling was widely welcomed by India's gay community, which said the order would help protect them from harassment and persecution. Mr Azad told a meeting on HIV/Aids in Delhi on Monday that gay sex "which was found more in the developed world, has now unfortunately come to our country and there is a substantial number of such people in India". "Even through it [homosexuality] is unnatural, it exists in our country and is now fast spreading, making it tough to detect it," he said. [...]"  Note: The Health Minister is behaving idiotically. It is true, however, that the Indian population is composed largely of 'minions' (nature spirit in bodies) and not Higher Self incarnations, and minions are largely bi-sexual, so as a result you would notice the presence of same-sex relationships much more in that area, so same-sex relationships ARE NATURAL. You see that in nature all the time. As the individual who is the 'planetary spirit' becomes more stressed out as the graduation of that spirit away from the planet approaches, all of nature becomes rattled as the nature spirit connection with bodies begins to shift toward total withdrawal, within the coming year. I'd wager Azad is a maladjusted closet gay. He doth protest too loudly!

Commentary: "The Assault On Public Education In America" [07/04/11]   "The ruling class in the United States is intensifying its campaign to dismantle public education. With the new fiscal year that began yesterday, states throughout the country are slashing education funding, leading to the layoff of tens of thousands of teachers and the closure of hundreds of schools. Both the Democratic and Republican parties are using the fiscal crisis—the outcome of decades of tax cuts to the rich, the bailout of the banks, and an economic crash caused by rampant speculation—as an opportunity to undermine and eliminate public education. In 2010 alone, 151,000 state and local education workers were laid off. In the coming school year, a further 227,000 layoffs are planned, according to a recent survey by the American Association of School Administrators. This is the elimination, in just one year, of 2.2 percent of the 10.3 million state and local education workers in the US. [...]"  

MSM: "Australian Retail Sales Fall Unexpectedly In May" [07/04/11]   "Australian sales of retail goods, such as clothes and shoes, fell unexpectedly in May suffering the biggest drop in seven months. The Australian dollar weakened in early trade after the figures were released.[...]"  

Japan: "Toshiso Kosako: Come the Harvest Season in the Fall, There Will Be Chaos" [07/02/11] "You probably know that rice has semi religious significance throughout Asia, but you may not know that Japanese are particularly weird about their rice. To Japanese, it’s not really rice unless it’s rice from Japan. In order to avoid international trade sanctions, Japan imports rice, but the rice is generally not consumed in Japan. Most of the foreign rice is stored in vast warehouses in Tokyo. Some is exported as foreign aid. Some is used to make alcohol products and livestock feed. The rest is kept for emergencies. [...] A former nuclear adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan blasted the government’s handling of the crisis, and predicted more revelations of radiation threats to the public in the coming months. In his first media interview since resigning his post in protest in April, Toshiso Kosako, one of the country’s leading experts on radiation safety, said Mr. Kan’s government has been slow to test for dangers in the sea and to fish, and has understated certain radiation threats to minimize clean-up costs. In his post, Mr. Kosako’s role was to advise the prime minister on radiation safety. And while there have been scattered reports of food contamination—of tea leaves and spinach, for example—Mr. Kosako predicted there will be broader discoveries later this year, especially as rice, Japan’s staple, is harvested. “Come the harvest season in the fall, there will be a chaos,” Mr. Kosako said. “Among the rice harvested, there will certainly be some radiation contamination—though I don’t know at what levels—setting off a scandal. If people stop buying rice from Tohoku … we’ll have a tricky problem.” Mr. Kosako also said that the way the government has handled the Fukushima Daiichi situation since the March 11 tsunami crippled the reactors has exposed basic flaws in Japanese policy making." 

Commentary: "Why Monogamy "Destroys More Lives Than it Saves" [07/02/11]   "Monogamy, the belief in marriage between only two individuals at a time, is the basis for nearly all unions here in the United States (and in most localities across the globe) ... the unrealistic expectations that monogamy thrusts upon married couples have the potential to do some real damage. In fact, he claims that this element “destroys more families than it saves.” [...]"  

Trends: "U.S: No Extended Benefits For People Laid Off From Now On" [07/02/11] "After this week, workers laid off through no fault of their own will not be eligible for any of the generous extended unemployment benefits layoff victims have received from the federal government since 2008. States typically provide the first 26 weeks of unemployment insurance and Congress has provided extensions during every recession since the 1950s. But the current extensions, which give the unemployed an unprecedented 73 additional weeks of aid in some states, are set to expire at the beginning of January. "There's a real potential cliff coming for unemployed people," emailed Judy Conti, a lobbyist for the National Employment Law Project, a worker advocacy group. "The federal unemployment programs all expire at the end of this year. This means that anyone who is laid off on July 1st or later, will ONLY receive state benefits unless Congress acts to keep these needed programs up and running." Huffington Post  [...]"  

MSM: "India Offers Free Cars In Return For Sterilization" [07/02/11] " Health officials in the Indian state of Rajasthan are launching a new campaign to try reduce the high population growth in the area. They are encouraging men and women to volunteer for sterilisation, and in return are offering a car and other prizes for those who come forward. Among the rewards on offer is the Indian-made Tata Nano – the world’s cheapest car. Many in the government are worried about the size of India’s population. [...]"  

MSM: "Minnesota Shutdown Takes Toll On State Workers, Local Residents" [07/02/11] "... For many of the 23,000 state workers already living paycheck to paycheck, Friday's layoffs and somber start to a historic state government shutdown filled them with frustration, fear and fury at politicians unable to resolve bitter differences over a $5 billion state budget deficit. As many struggled to come to grips with the layoff, shutdown effects rippled across the state, affecting everybody from history buffs and horse racing fans to zoogoers, campers and rush-hour commuters. [...] Construction workers in Minnesota are scrambling to find work as the Minnesota government shutdown moves into day two. Contractors call it sickening. Some are owed major money by the state for the work they already started.We spoke with one Fargo contractor who does work in the state of Minnesota. Luckily for him, he has North Dakota projects to rely on. But for those in the heart of Minnesota, that is not the case. [...] "  Note:  Related: "Minnesota Braces For Government Shutdown Over Taxes" [07/01/11] "In an echo of the debate unfolding in Washington, Minnesota hurtled toward a midnight government shutdown Thursday in a dispute over taxes and spending that could force thousands of layoffs, bring road projects to a standstill and close state parks just ahead of the Fourth of July weekend. [...]" 

Trends: "Hard Times Generation: Homeless Kids" [07/01/11] Video clip [14:04] "Unemployment continues to hover around nine percent and job creation is so slow, it'll be years before we get back the seven and a half million jobs lost in the Great Recession. American families have been falling out of the middle class in record numbers. The combination of lost jobs and millions of foreclosures means a lot of folks are homeless and hungry for the first time in their lives. One of the consequences of the recession that you don't hear much about is the record number of children descending into poverty. The government considers a family of four to be impoverished if they take in less than $22,000 a year. Based on that standard, and the government projections of unemployment, it is estimated that the poverty rate for kids in this country will soon hit 25 percent. As we first reported last march, those children would be the largest American generation to be raised in hard times since the Great Depression." Note: Sigh. Very sad ...

MSM:"UK Enters Strike Chaos: 750,000 Public Workers Walk Out" [07/01/11]   [3:32] "Well, it's not only Greece that's seeing mass civil unrest. In the UK around three quarters of a million public sector workers are set to protest against government plans to change their pensions, and freeze pay. Many schools will be closed, and transport is likely to be severely affected, as workers embark on a one day strike. RT's Laura Emmett listened to the voices of frustration. [...]"  

Trends: "France, UAE: Speed Cameras Disabled" [07/01/11] "Vigilantes yesterday disabled a speed camera in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, Emirates 24/7 reported. The device had been issuing tickets on Rams-Shaam road. Officials have no idea who might be responsible. In Monteils, France vigilantes used red spraypaint on a speed camera on departmental road 926 early Friday. The device had just been installed in March, according to La Depeche. On June 18, four speed cameras in Toulouse were disabled during anti-radar protests. One automated ticketing machine was covered by a trash bag, duct tape, and a sign reading "2012: Think." In the previous week, cameras had been spraypainted white and red, La Depeche reported. On June 17, a speed camera in Marmagne on departmental 23 was completely destroyed by fire. The device had been installed two weeks earlier and was not set to be activated until July 1, according to Le Post. Police have identified five people aged 17 to 21 that they believe were responsible. [...]" 

  Commentary:  "5 Percent of People Account for Half of U.S. Health Care Spending" [07/01/11]   "About 5 percent of the population is responsible for almost half of all health care spending in the United States and for rising premium rates, according to a new report from the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation. [...]"