(Reuters) - A BNSF
train carrying crude oil in North Dakota collided with another train on
Monday, setting off a series of explosions that left at least 10 cars
ablaze, the latest in a string of incidents that have raised alarms over
growing oil-by-rail traffic.
Local residents heard five
powerful explosions just a mile outside of the small town of Casselton
after a westbound train carrying soybeans derailed, and an eastbound
104-car train hauling crude oil ran into it just after 2 p.m. CST (2000
GMT), local officials said. There were no reports of any injuries.
Full Story
Monday, December 30, 2013
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Restaurant That Was The Target of a Union Protest Goes Out of Business
Minimum wage forces business to shut down now people out of work because of it
We need a workers revolution..
We need a workers revolution..
WJ-
Read more at http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=218477#gVSLoOP6wOMC33s0.99
After four straight days of dormancy due to the strike outside, the sandwich shop apparently had great difficulty recovering.
Moving forward, the store’s owners are considering the possible launch of a completely different restaurant next year – apparently without the workers who staged the detrimental walkout.
Moving forward, the store’s owners are considering the possible launch of a completely different restaurant next year – apparently without the workers who staged the detrimental walkout.
…former employees will be able to apply for a position at the new
restaurant. At that point, management will be able to decide whether to
welcome back employees whose unreasonable demands forced the business to
shut down for four days.
The offer was not sufficient for the Worker’s Organizing Committee of Chicago, the union behind this and a number of other area strikes.
Members of the union picketed the now-closed business Monday, seeking severance pay and replacement jobs for the fired employees.
The offer was not sufficient for the Worker’s Organizing Committee of Chicago, the union behind this and a number of other area strikes.
Members of the union picketed the now-closed business Monday, seeking severance pay and replacement jobs for the fired employees.
Read more at http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=218477#gVSLoOP6wOMC33s0.99
WJ-
Read more at http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=218477#gVSLoOP6wOMC33s0.99
After four straight days of dormancy due to the strike outside, the sandwich shop apparently had great difficulty recovering.
Moving forward, the store’s owners are considering the possible launch of a completely different restaurant next year – apparently without the workers who staged the detrimental walkout.
Moving forward, the store’s owners are considering the possible launch of a completely different restaurant next year – apparently without the workers who staged the detrimental walkout.
…former employees will be able to apply for a position at the new
restaurant. At that point, management will be able to decide whether to
welcome back employees whose unreasonable demands forced the business to
shut down for four days.
The offer was not sufficient for the Worker’s Organizing Committee of Chicago, the union behind this and a number of other area strikes.
Members of the union picketed the now-closed business Monday, seeking severance pay and replacement jobs for the fired employees.
Read more The offer was not sufficient for the Worker’s Organizing Committee of Chicago, the union behind this and a number of other area strikes.
Members of the union picketed the now-closed business Monday, seeking severance pay and replacement jobs for the fired employees.
Read more at http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=218477#gVSLoOP6wOMC33s0.99
WJ-
Read more at http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=218477#gVSLoOP6wOMC33s0.99
After four straight days of dormancy due to the strike outside, the sandwich shop apparently had great difficulty recovering.
Moving forward, the store’s owners are considering the possible launch of a completely different restaurant next year – apparently without the workers who staged the detrimental walkout.
Moving forward, the store’s owners are considering the possible launch of a completely different restaurant next year – apparently without the workers who staged the detrimental walkout.
…former employees will be able to apply for a position at the new
restaurant. At that point, management will be able to decide whether to
welcome back employees whose unreasonable demands forced the business to
shut down for four days.
The offer was not sufficient for the Worker’s Organizing Committee of Chicago, the union behind this and a number of other area strikes.
Members of the union picketed the now-closed business Monday, seeking severance pay and replacement jobs for the fired employees.
Read more The offer was not sufficient for the Worker’s Organizing Committee of Chicago, the union behind this and a number of other area strikes.
Members of the union picketed the now-closed business Monday, seeking severance pay and replacement jobs for the fired employees.
Read more at http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=218477#gVSLoOP6wOMC33s0.99
WJ-
Read more at http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=218477#gVSLoOP6wOMC33s0.99
After four straight days of dormancy due to the strike outside, the sandwich shop apparently had great difficulty recovering.
Moving forward, the store’s owners are considering the possible launch of a completely different restaurant next year – apparently without the workers who staged the detrimental walkout.
Moving forward, the store’s owners are considering the possible launch of a completely different restaurant next year – apparently without the workers who staged the detrimental walkout.
…former employees will be able to apply for a position at the new
restaurant. At that point, management will be able to decide whether to
welcome back employees whose unreasonable demands forced the business to
shut down for four days.
The offer was not sufficient for the Worker’s Organizing Committee of Chicago, the union behind this and a number of other area strikes.
Members of the union picketed the now-closed business Monday, seeking severance pay and replacement jobs for the fired employees.
Read more The offer was not sufficient for the Worker’s Organizing Committee of Chicago, the union behind this and a number of other area strikes.
Members of the union picketed the now-closed business Monday, seeking severance pay and replacement jobs for the fired employees.
Read more at http://iowntheworld.com/blog/?p=218477#gVSLoOP6wOMC33s0.99
Monday, December 23, 2013
United Arab Emirates sentences American to 1 year in parody video
Looks like UAE can't take a joke...
DUBAI: An American man detained for months in the United Arab Emirates and seven co-defendants were fined and sentenced to jail Monday after being convicted in connection to a satirical video about youth culture in Dubai.
The case, which has drawn the attention of international human rights advocates, centers around a mockumentary uploaded to the Internet. Officials charged that the film spoofing would-be Dubai "gangstas" ran afoul of a 2012 cybercrimes law that tightened penalties for challenging authorities, according to supporters of one of the filmmakers, Shezanne Cassim.
Cassim, 29, is a U.S. citizen from Woodbury, Minn., who was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Dubai for work after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2006. He became the public face of the defendants after his family launched an effort to publicize his months-long incarceration following his arrest in April.
He was sentenced Monday to a year in prison followed by deportation and a 10,000 dirham ($2,725) fine, according to family spokeswoman Jennifer Gore.
American consular officials have been following the case closely and attended Monday's hearing at the State Security Court in the federal capital, Abu Dhabi.
The U.S. Embassy had no official comment following the verdict. State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf last week said American officials were troubled by Cassim's "prolonged incarceration" and called for "a fair and expedient trial and judgment."
Two Indian defendants received similar sentences, while two Emirati brothers were sentenced to eight months behind bars and received 5,000 dirham fines, according to state-owned newspaper The National. A third brother was pardoned.
The paper said the defendants had been accused of "defaming the UAE society's image abroad."
Three other defendants, a Canadian, Briton and an American, were convicted and sentenced in absentia to the penalties given to their other foreigners. They have never been detained by authorities and so are unlikely to serve their sentences.
The paper identified the defendants only by their initials, which is common in the Emirati media.
Gulf Arab authorities have been cracking down on social media use over the past two years, with dozens of people arrested across the region for Twitter posts deemed offensive to leaders or for social media campaigns urging more political openness.
The video, called "Ultimate Combat System: The Deadly Satwa Gs," is set in the Satwa district of Dubai. It is a documentary style clip that pokes fun at Dubai youth who style themselves "gangstas" but are not particularly thuggish, and shows fictional "combat" training that includes throwing a sandal and using a mobile phone to call for help.
It opens with text saying the video is fictional and is not meant to offend.
Read more: HERE
DUBAI: An American man detained for months in the United Arab Emirates and seven co-defendants were fined and sentenced to jail Monday after being convicted in connection to a satirical video about youth culture in Dubai.
The case, which has drawn the attention of international human rights advocates, centers around a mockumentary uploaded to the Internet. Officials charged that the film spoofing would-be Dubai "gangstas" ran afoul of a 2012 cybercrimes law that tightened penalties for challenging authorities, according to supporters of one of the filmmakers, Shezanne Cassim.
Cassim, 29, is a U.S. citizen from Woodbury, Minn., who was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Dubai for work after graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2006. He became the public face of the defendants after his family launched an effort to publicize his months-long incarceration following his arrest in April.
He was sentenced Monday to a year in prison followed by deportation and a 10,000 dirham ($2,725) fine, according to family spokeswoman Jennifer Gore.
American consular officials have been following the case closely and attended Monday's hearing at the State Security Court in the federal capital, Abu Dhabi.
The U.S. Embassy had no official comment following the verdict. State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf last week said American officials were troubled by Cassim's "prolonged incarceration" and called for "a fair and expedient trial and judgment."
Two Indian defendants received similar sentences, while two Emirati brothers were sentenced to eight months behind bars and received 5,000 dirham fines, according to state-owned newspaper The National. A third brother was pardoned.
The paper said the defendants had been accused of "defaming the UAE society's image abroad."
Three other defendants, a Canadian, Briton and an American, were convicted and sentenced in absentia to the penalties given to their other foreigners. They have never been detained by authorities and so are unlikely to serve their sentences.
The paper identified the defendants only by their initials, which is common in the Emirati media.
Gulf Arab authorities have been cracking down on social media use over the past two years, with dozens of people arrested across the region for Twitter posts deemed offensive to leaders or for social media campaigns urging more political openness.
The video, called "Ultimate Combat System: The Deadly Satwa Gs," is set in the Satwa district of Dubai. It is a documentary style clip that pokes fun at Dubai youth who style themselves "gangstas" but are not particularly thuggish, and shows fictional "combat" training that includes throwing a sandal and using a mobile phone to call for help.
It opens with text saying the video is fictional and is not meant to offend.
Read more: HERE
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Spain: Cops nab paedophile after tip-off from thief
thelocalspain - Spanish police said on Thursday they had arrested a suspected
paedophile football coach after a thief tipped them off to
incriminating videotapes stolen from the man's home.
Prompted by an anonymous tip, presumably from the burglar, police
found three videotapes of sexual abuse against children aged about 10.
The tapes had been placed beneath a brown car parked in the
south-central city of Jaén, along with a note giving them the address
of the suspect, police said in a statement.
"I have had the misfortune to have these tapes fall into my hands and
feel obliged to submit them so you can do your work and put this ... in
jail for life," the anonymous note read.
The alleged aggressor was identified from the content of the videotapes
and arrested after a search of his home and the indoor football club
where he worked, police said.
Officers said they had so far traced four victims, including a 16-year-old boy who had been abused since he was 10.
The suspect had reported a burglary at his home nine days earlier,
listing several appliances as stolen but making no mention of his
missing video camera and tapes, police said.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Washington D.C. raises its minimum wage
(msnbc.com) - The Washington, D.C. city council voted unanimously Tuesday to raise its minimum wage from $8.25 to $11.50 per hour by 2016. Although Democratic Mayor Vincent Gray had previously opposed the measure, unanimous approval from the city council makes it unlikely he would be able to successfully veto it.
Other cities and states to raise their minimum wage in recent months include New Jersey, California, and SeaTac, Wash. Of those three, only SeaTac approved a higher minimum wage than the nation’s capital, setting the city’s minimum wage at $15 per hour.
The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Recent polling shows strong support for raising it to at least $9 per hour. The Obama administration recently declared its support for a proposed law which would raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10, higher than the president’s original proposal of $9. Had the federal minimum wage kept up with inflation since 1968, it would now be worth nearly $11.
Full Story
Other cities and states to raise their minimum wage in recent months include New Jersey, California, and SeaTac, Wash. Of those three, only SeaTac approved a higher minimum wage than the nation’s capital, setting the city’s minimum wage at $15 per hour.
The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Recent polling shows strong support for raising it to at least $9 per hour. The Obama administration recently declared its support for a proposed law which would raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10, higher than the president’s original proposal of $9. Had the federal minimum wage kept up with inflation since 1968, it would now be worth nearly $11.
Full Story
Friday, December 13, 2013
Man arrested for suspected suicide plot to blow up Kansas airport
(Reuters) - Authorities said Friday they foiled a suicide bombing plot to blow up the Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita, Kansas, arresting a man who proclaimed himself Muslim and had talked of committing "violent jihad on behalf of al Qaeda."
Terry Loewen, a 58-year-old aviation technician from Wichita, was taken into custody early Friday morning as he attempted to enter the airport tarmac with a vehicle loaded with what authorities said he believed were explosives. He planned to trigger the explosives and die in the explosion, they said.
Full Story
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
Rashida Jones Slams Today's Pop Divas: '2013 Was the Year of the Very Visible Vagina'
(newsbusters) - Here's something you don't see every day: a popular actress slamming popular culture.
On Friday, Parks and Recreaction star Rashida Jones took to Glamour magazine to call out pop divas such as Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and Rihanna for their crude public displays that in her view made 2013 "The Year of the Very Visible Vagina"
Read more: HERE
Sunday, December 8, 2013
16 People Who Tweeted Themselves Into Unemployment (& ruined their chances at life because of it)
Twitter may limit you to 140 characters or less, but that's actually more than enough room to stick your foot in your mouth. These people know first hand.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Monday, December 2, 2013
Former Yugoslav Republic of Croatia outlaws same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriages will not happen in Croatia, following a national
referendum. Two-thirds of voters backed a proposal to constitutionally
define marriage as between heterosexuals.
(dw.de) - Results show more than 65 percent voted in support of an amendment to Croatia's constitution that would define marriage as a "union between a man and a woman". The referendum is the result of a campaign led by the Roman Catholic Church, but did not have support of the center-left government led by Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic.
A total of 65.76 percent of voters were in favor of the change being made, with ballots counted from almost 99 percent of polling stations.
Until the vote, the country's constitution did not define marriage. The vote does not require a majority voter turnout to be valid.
The move has been branded discriminatory by gay rights groups.
Campaigners collected more than 700,000 signatures to initiate Sunday's referendum, using the title "In the Name of the Family."
In July, Croatia joined the 28-member EU bloc, which as a whole treats same-sex marriage as a sovereign issue for individual nations to decide.
The nation of 4.4 million is seen as socially conservative, with some 90 percent of people claiming to be Roman Catholic.
Full Story
(dw.de) - Results show more than 65 percent voted in support of an amendment to Croatia's constitution that would define marriage as a "union between a man and a woman". The referendum is the result of a campaign led by the Roman Catholic Church, but did not have support of the center-left government led by Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic.
A total of 65.76 percent of voters were in favor of the change being made, with ballots counted from almost 99 percent of polling stations.
Until the vote, the country's constitution did not define marriage. The vote does not require a majority voter turnout to be valid.
The move has been branded discriminatory by gay rights groups.
Campaigners collected more than 700,000 signatures to initiate Sunday's referendum, using the title "In the Name of the Family."
In July, Croatia joined the 28-member EU bloc, which as a whole treats same-sex marriage as a sovereign issue for individual nations to decide.
The nation of 4.4 million is seen as socially conservative, with some 90 percent of people claiming to be Roman Catholic.
Full Story
'Fast & Furious' star Paul Walker killed in car crash
We need a motor vehicle registry.
(CNN) Santa Clarita, California (CNN) -- Actor Paul Walker, who shot to fame as star of the high-octane street racing franchise "Fast & Furious," died in a fiery car crash in Southern California on Saturday. He was 40.
Walker was in the passenger seat of a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, driven by a racing team partner, that slammed into a light pole and burst into flames in an office park in the community of Valencia in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles north of Hollywood.
Full Story
(CNN) Santa Clarita, California (CNN) -- Actor Paul Walker, who shot to fame as star of the high-octane street racing franchise "Fast & Furious," died in a fiery car crash in Southern California on Saturday. He was 40.
Walker was in the passenger seat of a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, driven by a racing team partner, that slammed into a light pole and burst into flames in an office park in the community of Valencia in Santa Clarita, about 30 miles north of Hollywood.
Full Story
Hong Kong confirms first human case of bird flu
(Reuters) - Hong Kong confirmed its first case of deadly H7N9 bird flu on Monday in a further sign that the virus is continuing to spread beyond mainland China's borders.
The case coincides with the 10th anniversary of the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which killed nearly 300 people in Hong Kong and had a significant impact on the city's travel and retail industry.
A 36-year-old Indonesian domestic helper with a history of contact with poultry and travel to Shenzhen in mainland China just north of Hong Kong has been confirmed infected by H7N9 and has been hospitalized in critical condition, Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man told reporters late on Monday.
Source
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
North Dakota Named Best-Run State Two Years in a Row
(nd.gov) - An annual survey conducted by 24/7 Wall St. ranks North Dakota the
best-run state in the nation for the second consecutive year. The
national survey evaluates hundreds of data sets including statistics on
financial health, standard of living and government services to
determine how well each state is managed. The top five best-run states
were: North Dakota, Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska and Utah.
"This study recognizes that North Dakota's sound fiscal policies are working," Gov. Jack Dalrymple said. "We are in a strong position to provide tax relief, maintain a healthy reserve while also investing in statewide infrastructure improvements, education, enhancements to our quality of life and other priorities."
The study determines how well states are run by looking at fiscal management, taxes, exports, and GDP growth by sectors, as well as, quality of life components such as poverty, income, unemployment, high school graduation, crime and foreclosure rates. The best-run states had certain characteristics in common, including well-managed budgets, high-living standards and low-unemployment. High-ranking states also demonstrated stable fiscal management and have earned high credit ratings.
In the survey, 24/7 Wall St. noted that North Dakota's GDP grew by 13.4 percent last year, fueling the nation's strongest state economy. North Dakota's economy has outpaced all other states for the past three years, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports. Since 2000, North Dakota's per capita personal income has increased by more than $29,000 while the nation's average per-capita personal income has increased by $13,400.
Full Story
"This study recognizes that North Dakota's sound fiscal policies are working," Gov. Jack Dalrymple said. "We are in a strong position to provide tax relief, maintain a healthy reserve while also investing in statewide infrastructure improvements, education, enhancements to our quality of life and other priorities."
The study determines how well states are run by looking at fiscal management, taxes, exports, and GDP growth by sectors, as well as, quality of life components such as poverty, income, unemployment, high school graduation, crime and foreclosure rates. The best-run states had certain characteristics in common, including well-managed budgets, high-living standards and low-unemployment. High-ranking states also demonstrated stable fiscal management and have earned high credit ratings.
In the survey, 24/7 Wall St. noted that North Dakota's GDP grew by 13.4 percent last year, fueling the nation's strongest state economy. North Dakota's economy has outpaced all other states for the past three years, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports. Since 2000, North Dakota's per capita personal income has increased by more than $29,000 while the nation's average per-capita personal income has increased by $13,400.
Full Story
Saturday, November 23, 2013
World Famous Psychic Sylvia Browne Dead at 77
(yahoonews) - Browne was 77 when she died Wednesday at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose the cause of death was not disclosed.
One of the most well known psychics of her generation Browne often appeared on "The Montel Williams Show" & in interviews with Larry King. She wrote dozens of books including several best sellers, and she sometimes offered her services to the FBI & police services.
Over the years she said she mingled with angles & ghosts, twice traveled through the tunnel of light during near death experiences, & came face-to-face with extra terrestrials.
Read the rest here
One of the most well known psychics of her generation Browne often appeared on "The Montel Williams Show" & in interviews with Larry King. She wrote dozens of books including several best sellers, and she sometimes offered her services to the FBI & police services.
Over the years she said she mingled with angles & ghosts, twice traveled through the tunnel of light during near death experiences, & came face-to-face with extra terrestrials.
Read the rest here
Friday, November 22, 2013
Your Brain on Crack Cocaine
What exactly is Crack Cocaine? Is it really as wack as it is portrayed to be?
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
25 Most Insane Rulers In History
It seems to be a recurring theme. People in power are crazy. From King George to Caligula These are the 25 most insane rulers in history
Monday, November 18, 2013
Gurl Power? Lily Allen's new music video pays homage to new age Feminism
Feminism aint what it used to be. For Lily Allen it is not doing anybody any favors as her new single puts it.
The song "Hard out Here" released 17 November 2013 which was written by British singer Lily Allen for her forthcoming third album.
Wikipedia further states: The overall message of the song, as well as several individual lyrics have been interpreted as a response to Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" & Miley Cyrus' performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.
See for yourself:
The song "Hard out Here" released 17 November 2013 which was written by British singer Lily Allen for her forthcoming third album.
Wikipedia further states: The overall message of the song, as well as several individual lyrics have been interpreted as a response to Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" & Miley Cyrus' performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.
See for yourself:
Cancer Researchers: ‘Don’t Get Cancer’
theonion:
PHILADELPHIA—Calling the contraction of the disease “not good,” and saying that not having the illness is highly preferable to having it, oncologists representing the American Association for Cancer Research urged the U.S. populace Monday not to get cancer.
The panel, which consisted of medical experts at the top of their respective fields in cancer research, education, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, addressed the media for 45 minutes, saying that people’s best hope in terms of living a long, cancer-free life is to never develop cancerous cells in any part of the body, ever.
“After years of closely studying this illness and learning about how it grows and arbitrarily attacks vital organs throughout the body at an uncontrollable rate until one eventually dies, we have concluded that not having cancer is the best way to go,” said Dr. Robert Bertino, who specializes in molecular biology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. “If you are going to contract a harmful illness, get diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, meningitis, or even Type 2 diabetes. Anything but cancer. Cancer is just the worst.”
Full Story
PHILADELPHIA—Calling the contraction of the disease “not good,” and saying that not having the illness is highly preferable to having it, oncologists representing the American Association for Cancer Research urged the U.S. populace Monday not to get cancer.
The panel, which consisted of medical experts at the top of their respective fields in cancer research, education, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, addressed the media for 45 minutes, saying that people’s best hope in terms of living a long, cancer-free life is to never develop cancerous cells in any part of the body, ever.
“After years of closely studying this illness and learning about how it grows and arbitrarily attacks vital organs throughout the body at an uncontrollable rate until one eventually dies, we have concluded that not having cancer is the best way to go,” said Dr. Robert Bertino, who specializes in molecular biology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. “If you are going to contract a harmful illness, get diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, meningitis, or even Type 2 diabetes. Anything but cancer. Cancer is just the worst.”
Full Story
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Why the Day After Thanksgiving is Called "Black Friday"
Via "TodayIFoundOut"
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
China to Philippines: Here, Have a Measly $100,000 in Aid
The world's second largest economy off-loads insultingly small change on a storm-battered Philippines
world.time.com
- The U.S. has promised $20 million in aid for victims of Supertyphoon Haiyan in the Philippines and has mobilized an aircraft carrier for the relief effort. Britain is also sending a warship and has pledged $16 million. The Vatican is dispatching $4 million, Japan $10 million and New Zealand $1.7 million. And China, the world’s most populous nation and second largest economy?
- The U.S. has promised $20 million in aid for victims of Supertyphoon Haiyan in the Philippines and has mobilized an aircraft carrier for the relief effort. Britain is also sending a warship and has pledged $16 million. The Vatican is dispatching $4 million, Japan $10 million and New Zealand $1.7 million. And China, the world’s most populous nation and second largest economy?
It’s handing over $100,000.
China’s relations with the
Philippines have frayed over the past year, as tensions rise over bits of rocks
in the South China Sea that both nations have declared their own. While
disputes in the resource-rich waterway have simmered for decades and involve
other regional neighbors, China has, in recent months, more assertively staked
its maritime claims and last year blocked Filipino fishermen from contested
waters.
Forget The 50 States; The U.S. Is Really 11 Nations
(Before It's News)
By Susan Duclos
Author Colin Woodard does not believe America is made up of 50 states nor that it is united. His belief is that the American is really made up of 11 regions which is separated out in his “map” which will be shown below.
He says that this is evidenced by voting patterns, demographics and public opinion polls going back to the days of the first settlers.
“Yankeedom” in the Northeast and industrial Midwest was founded by Puritans and residents there have always been comfortable with a government that regulates and moderates. The communities of the Deep South in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and other states were founded by former West Indian plantation owners who wanted to recreate the society they were used to: government based on the sacrosanct rights of a few wealthy elite. “Greater Appalachia,” extending from West Virginia in a wide band to the northern half of Texas, was settled by people from Northern Ireland, England and Scotland. Those people were openly antagonistic to the so-called “ruling oligarchies” and upper classes, so they opposed the slave plantation economy, but they also distrust government.
The full transcript of the NPR interview can be found here.
Monday, November 11, 2013
In Mexico, Coca-Cola is more available than water
Lapoliticaeslapolitica
- According to Coneval, Mexico’s federal agency for social and political development, 10% of Mexicans lack access to potable water, the majority of them in remote, rural areas.
It could be argued that the reason for this lack of access is the fact that poor Mexicans do not have the purchasing power to create local markets. That is clearly part of the challenge, but doesn’t explain why so many of Mexico's poor lack access to clean drinking water, yet Coke and other commercial “refreshments” are available everywhere – even in the dustiest little town.
Clearly, the global beverage company knows how to distribute products and get a population hooked. Despite its poverty, Mexico is the largest per-capita consumer of Coca-Cola in the world, with the average Mexican drinking more Coke products than the average American, British, Indian, and Chinese person combined. There is even the “Mexican Coke” phenomenon in the United States, where the drink is prized because it is sweetened with cane sugar and not high-fructose corn syrup.
So, why not hire a Coke executive to solve the food distribution problem?
Mexico already tried that. In 2000 it elected Vicente Fox, a former president of Coca-Cola Mexico, to be president of the republic. Fox started at Coca-Cola in 1964, and when he was at the helm of the company he turned it into Mexico’s best-selling soft drink, increasing sales by almost 50%.
His term as president of the republic ended over six years ago.
And here we are.
Coke is everywhere. Mexicans spend $14.3 billion annually on soft drinks. Diabetes kills more people in Mexico than any other disease. Mexico is one of the “fattest” countries in the world, with about two-thirds of the population thought to be overweight.
Yet as many people die here every year from malnutrition as from the drug war, and in some parts it is harder to find a glass of water than a fizzy drink.
Full Story
- According to Coneval, Mexico’s federal agency for social and political development, 10% of Mexicans lack access to potable water, the majority of them in remote, rural areas.
It could be argued that the reason for this lack of access is the fact that poor Mexicans do not have the purchasing power to create local markets. That is clearly part of the challenge, but doesn’t explain why so many of Mexico's poor lack access to clean drinking water, yet Coke and other commercial “refreshments” are available everywhere – even in the dustiest little town.
Clearly, the global beverage company knows how to distribute products and get a population hooked. Despite its poverty, Mexico is the largest per-capita consumer of Coca-Cola in the world, with the average Mexican drinking more Coke products than the average American, British, Indian, and Chinese person combined. There is even the “Mexican Coke” phenomenon in the United States, where the drink is prized because it is sweetened with cane sugar and not high-fructose corn syrup.
So, why not hire a Coke executive to solve the food distribution problem?
Mexico already tried that. In 2000 it elected Vicente Fox, a former president of Coca-Cola Mexico, to be president of the republic. Fox started at Coca-Cola in 1964, and when he was at the helm of the company he turned it into Mexico’s best-selling soft drink, increasing sales by almost 50%.
His term as president of the republic ended over six years ago.
And here we are.
Coke is everywhere. Mexicans spend $14.3 billion annually on soft drinks. Diabetes kills more people in Mexico than any other disease. Mexico is one of the “fattest” countries in the world, with about two-thirds of the population thought to be overweight.
Yet as many people die here every year from malnutrition as from the drug war, and in some parts it is harder to find a glass of water than a fizzy drink.
Full Story
Women aren’t as good at comedy as men because they are too caring
Says professional female comedian:
- Bussman, who has worked on South Park and Smack the Pony, said: ‘Women are raised to care that you haven’t upset people and you don’t look awful. And, by and large, the two things that are good for comedy, are looking awful, and upsetting people.’
She added that the team-writing process often favours men, too, saying: ‘In a writers’ room, you need clanking great balls just to speak up. Blokes are raised to be heard. Women are raised to be nice.’
Bussmann (…) is performing her ‘parody lecture on Britain and Africa, Bono & Geldof are C*nts, at the Soho Theatre later this month…
Via fivefeetoffury
- Bussman, who has worked on South Park and Smack the Pony, said: ‘Women are raised to care that you haven’t upset people and you don’t look awful. And, by and large, the two things that are good for comedy, are looking awful, and upsetting people.’
She added that the team-writing process often favours men, too, saying: ‘In a writers’ room, you need clanking great balls just to speak up. Blokes are raised to be heard. Women are raised to be nice.’
Bussmann (…) is performing her ‘parody lecture on Britain and Africa, Bono & Geldof are C*nts, at the Soho Theatre later this month…
Via fivefeetoffury
How to Behave Politely In 12 Countries
mentalfloss
- When you travel abroad, you always want to mind your manners. Here’s an easy guide to behaving brilliantly around the world.
- When you travel abroad, you always want to mind your manners. Here’s an easy guide to behaving brilliantly around the world.
Norway
Remember how careful you were during your driver’s license test? Good. Hold the wheel as if your driving instructor is still sitting next to you. Drive passively and don’t honk unless you absolutely have to.
Russia
Don’t smile unless you mean it. To some Russians, a polite smile to a passing stranger or a store clerk is rude and meaningless. Don’t be a phony!Japan
Avoid disagreeing in public and watch your grammar. Politeness is such a big deal in Japan that there are different grammar rules for expressing degrees of politeness.Italy
Whenever you receive a present, unleash your inner child and tear it open right away. Leaving gifts unopened is an insult. Of course, if you’re going to give them flowers in return, avoid chrysanthemums—they’re for funerals only.France
When you’re stuck in the elevator with a stranger, don’t start a staring contest with the door. Make small talk. Actually, try making small talk with anyone you run into—especially shop owners. (It could land you a free baguette!)Germany
When you visit a beer hall, it’s okay to grab a seat at a table with strangers. Just don’t sit anywhere marked with the word “Stammtisch.” That’s where a regular sits.Argentina
Hankering for some gum or a cigarette? Make sure you’ve got enough for everybody in the room—you’re expected to share.Chile
Forget what your mother told you about staring. Go ahead and look all you want—attracting a wandering eye is considered flattering. Catcalls are common, too, but they’re becoming less welcome. Use at your own risk.Colombia
If you’re having dinner with friends, don’t pack up when the plates are taken away. You’re expected to stick around a little longer. The tip is also included in the bill, but you don’t need to pay it.Croatia
Avoid raising your thumb, index, and middle fingers all at once—you’ll be mistaken for a Serbian nationalist. And when you’re talking to someone, don’t beat around the bush. Get to the point!Iceland
Almost all the cafes in Iceland are mom-and-pop shops with nary a chain store in sight. So don’t drink your mocha latte on the go; it’s supposed to be savored inside.Mongolia
If something is “so-so,” it’s perfectly acceptable to give someone the middle finger. (Now that’s a sentence you don’t read often!)Barilla to Appease Militant Gays by Advancing Their Agenda
moonbattery
- Prepare to cover your children’s eyes when Barilla commercials come on TV. The company took a short-lived stand for decency when Chairman Guido Barilla said he would not use homosexual parodies of families in advertisements because of the company’s wholesome reputation. But he caved immediately when militant sodomites reacted with rage. Watch Barilla crawl:
Read the rest
- Prepare to cover your children’s eyes when Barilla commercials come on TV. The company took a short-lived stand for decency when Chairman Guido Barilla said he would not use homosexual parodies of families in advertisements because of the company’s wholesome reputation. But he caved immediately when militant sodomites reacted with rage. Watch Barilla crawl:
Chairman Barilla, the 55-year-old great grandson of the company’s founder, has since held at least eight meetings with gay organizations and activists both in Italy and in the United States, a market where it is counting on for growth outside its crisis-hit home market.The capitulation won’t stop at showcasing overt homosexuals in Barilla advertising.
“Italy is a very insular country, and in cities like Parma it’s even more so,” company spokesman Luca Virginio told Reuters, saying the firm had been shocked by the global backlash.
“The meetings have helped open our eyes and ears to the evolution taking place in the world outside Parma.”
He said the shock could lead to a shift in focus from rosy depictions of traditional Italian family life that have always been the staple of Barilla advertising campaigns.
“We are already working on new advertising concept that will be much more open and much more inclusive,” he said, without elaborating.
The pasta maker plans to introduce an advisory board that includes American gay activist David Mixner to improve “diversity and equality in the company’s workforce and culture”, according to a statement posted on its website.That is, to promote anyone claiming to be a homosexual at the expense of everyone else.
Read the rest
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Introducing the world's first anti-rape pants
This is wrong on so many levels
Telegraph
- Take a look at them here, via indiegogo.com, the crowdfunding website which enables entrepreneurs to appeal to the world for funding for their big ideas. Two New York women called Ruth and Yuval – who only go by their first names, but don't let's judge – have formed a company called AR Wear (AR for Anti-Rape), which aims to produce "confidence and protection that can be worn".
These items of underwear, feature cut-resistant fabrics, a "reinforced skeletal structure" around the crotch, and combination locks around the thighs and waist which are intended to allow women to "feel safer" whether "on a first date", "clubbing", or "out for an evening run".
In their sales pitch, Ruth and Yuval are quick to point out that "rape is about as wrong as it gets" (thanks for that), and that "the only one responsible for a rape is the rapist". But, they argue, a woman will feel safer if she is wearing pants that are "very difficult for someone else to remove by either force or stealth (in situations where the victim cannot resist because she has had too much to drink, was drugged, or is asleep)".
The bizarre fundraising video – which looks like a cutesy Apple advert combined with, well, pants that are impossible to remove – includes shots of women smiling and having a boogie alongside footage of a man trying unsuccessfully to cut through the pants with a dagger. There's even a bit where a group of white women in mini-skirts walk confidently past a black man. But I'm going to gloss over that.
According to indiegogo, AR Wear has raised almost $35,000 so far, from about 1,700 individually funders. They have more than two weeks left, and seem certain to meet their goal of $50,000, which will see these pants become a reality. So not everybody thinks this the epitome of absurdity, then.
Read the rest
Telegraph
- Take a look at them here, via indiegogo.com, the crowdfunding website which enables entrepreneurs to appeal to the world for funding for their big ideas. Two New York women called Ruth and Yuval – who only go by their first names, but don't let's judge – have formed a company called AR Wear (AR for Anti-Rape), which aims to produce "confidence and protection that can be worn".
These items of underwear, feature cut-resistant fabrics, a "reinforced skeletal structure" around the crotch, and combination locks around the thighs and waist which are intended to allow women to "feel safer" whether "on a first date", "clubbing", or "out for an evening run".
In their sales pitch, Ruth and Yuval are quick to point out that "rape is about as wrong as it gets" (thanks for that), and that "the only one responsible for a rape is the rapist". But, they argue, a woman will feel safer if she is wearing pants that are "very difficult for someone else to remove by either force or stealth (in situations where the victim cannot resist because she has had too much to drink, was drugged, or is asleep)".
The bizarre fundraising video – which looks like a cutesy Apple advert combined with, well, pants that are impossible to remove – includes shots of women smiling and having a boogie alongside footage of a man trying unsuccessfully to cut through the pants with a dagger. There's even a bit where a group of white women in mini-skirts walk confidently past a black man. But I'm going to gloss over that.
According to indiegogo, AR Wear has raised almost $35,000 so far, from about 1,700 individually funders. They have more than two weeks left, and seem certain to meet their goal of $50,000, which will see these pants become a reality. So not everybody thinks this the epitome of absurdity, then.
Read the rest
Kurds protest against wall along Turkey's border with Syria
(Reuters)
- Thousands of Kurds protested on Thursday against Turkish plans to build a wall along the Syrian border, calling it a move to stop Kurdish communities strengthening cross-frontier ties as Syria splinters from civil war.
The rally underscored the sectarian strains spilling over from Syria's war, which grew out of a 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad and has fragmented into a patchwork of antagonistic ethnic and sectarian pockets that risk destabilizing neighboring Middle Eastern countries.
Riot police tolerated the protests, organized by Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), for much of the day but fired tear gas to disperse groups of demonstrators as a sit-down protest began following the main speeches.
Crowds of mostly young men, many waving red, yellow and green Kurdish flags, gathered in the Turkish town of Nusaybin, separated from the Syrian town of Qamishli by a strip of no-man's land and barbed wire fencing.
Officials said last month that Turkey would build a two-meter high wall to stop people bypassing checkpoints and prevent smuggling near Qamishli, where Kurdish fighters, Syrian rebel units and Arab tribes have regularly clashed.
Full Story
- Thousands of Kurds protested on Thursday against Turkish plans to build a wall along the Syrian border, calling it a move to stop Kurdish communities strengthening cross-frontier ties as Syria splinters from civil war.
The rally underscored the sectarian strains spilling over from Syria's war, which grew out of a 2011 uprising against President Bashar al-Assad and has fragmented into a patchwork of antagonistic ethnic and sectarian pockets that risk destabilizing neighboring Middle Eastern countries.
Riot police tolerated the protests, organized by Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), for much of the day but fired tear gas to disperse groups of demonstrators as a sit-down protest began following the main speeches.
Crowds of mostly young men, many waving red, yellow and green Kurdish flags, gathered in the Turkish town of Nusaybin, separated from the Syrian town of Qamishli by a strip of no-man's land and barbed wire fencing.
Officials said last month that Turkey would build a two-meter high wall to stop people bypassing checkpoints and prevent smuggling near Qamishli, where Kurdish fighters, Syrian rebel units and Arab tribes have regularly clashed.
Full Story
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Nebraska ranks among worst states for policies that encourage energy conservation
And daylight saving time was the least of their problems...
(omaha.com) - LINCOLN — Nebraska ranks among the worst states for state and utility policies that encourage energy conservation, according to a national organization dedicated to energy efficiency.
Nebraska ranked 44th, down from 42nd a year ago, according to the seventh annual survey of states by the Washington, D.C.-based American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). By contrast, Iowa ranked No. 12, down from 11th a year ago.
The group rates states based on six categories, with utility policies and spending on programs to encourage energy efficiency counting for 20 of the 50 points awarded to each state.
Nebraska's public utilities earned only 1 of 20 points for their policies and benefit programs, compared with 12 of 20 for Iowa's utilities.
Full Story
(omaha.com) - LINCOLN — Nebraska ranks among the worst states for state and utility policies that encourage energy conservation, according to a national organization dedicated to energy efficiency.
Nebraska ranked 44th, down from 42nd a year ago, according to the seventh annual survey of states by the Washington, D.C.-based American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). By contrast, Iowa ranked No. 12, down from 11th a year ago.
The group rates states based on six categories, with utility policies and spending on programs to encourage energy efficiency counting for 20 of the 50 points awarded to each state.
Nebraska's public utilities earned only 1 of 20 points for their policies and benefit programs, compared with 12 of 20 for Iowa's utilities.
Full Story
Sources: Alleged LAX gunman had 'new world order' conspiracy theory tract
HAHAHAHAHAHA
(NBCNews)
- The man who allegedly killed a TSA worker and wounded three others at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday had anti-government literature in his possession outlining an alleged conspiracy to create a single global government, law enforcement sources tell NBC News.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the material recovered from Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, after the shootout at LAX appeared to have been prepared by a group called “New World Order.” One source said it also expressed animus toward racial minorities.
There is no record of a radical group by that name and the term “New World Order” is often used by conspiracy-minded groups and individuals to describe an alleged secret plot to establish an autonomous world government that would replace sovereign nations and put an end to international power struggles.
Full Story
(NBCNews)
- The man who allegedly killed a TSA worker and wounded three others at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday had anti-government literature in his possession outlining an alleged conspiracy to create a single global government, law enforcement sources tell NBC News.
The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the material recovered from Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, after the shootout at LAX appeared to have been prepared by a group called “New World Order.” One source said it also expressed animus toward racial minorities.
There is no record of a radical group by that name and the term “New World Order” is often used by conspiracy-minded groups and individuals to describe an alleged secret plot to establish an autonomous world government that would replace sovereign nations and put an end to international power struggles.
Full Story
4 Things the Internet Needs to Calm Down About
Via Cracked
- Here's a fun experiment. Post a statement about food on a public Internet forum. It doesn't matter where -- your blog, your favorite discussion haunt, anywhere you like. The only rule is that you need to express an opinion. Then sit back and see how many minutes it will take before the first Holy Crusader of Differing Opinion posts to put you in place.
Honestly we need to censor the internet from trolls..
- Here's a fun experiment. Post a statement about food on a public Internet forum. It doesn't matter where -- your blog, your favorite discussion haunt, anywhere you like. The only rule is that you need to express an opinion. Then sit back and see how many minutes it will take before the first Holy Crusader of Differing Opinion posts to put you in place.
Honestly we need to censor the internet from trolls..
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Bleeding Kansas: Behind the Legend
In the public mind bleeding Kansas is the states most romanticized period. A time of bloodshed & chaos, patriotism & rebirth. In reality it was one of the worst conflicts in American history.
"First world" countries with "third world" problems.
Like - Did you know slavery is still practiced in Russia?
Listverse
- Slavery is one of those things we associate with the distant past and dirt-poor countries on the fringes of civilization. We know it’s bad and we’re instinctively against it, but it couldn’t happen in any modern, wealthy nation, right?
Try telling that to Russia. In a recent report, the US State Department ranked the country as one of the worst for slavery in the entire world. According to advocacy group Humanity United, there are currently around one million Russians being kept in forced-labor conditions, including some 50,000 children working involuntarily as prostitutes. And that’s before we get on to the abuse of migrant workers.
Also the modern moderate state of Israel has 2 entries compared to the rest.
Listverse
- Slavery is one of those things we associate with the distant past and dirt-poor countries on the fringes of civilization. We know it’s bad and we’re instinctively against it, but it couldn’t happen in any modern, wealthy nation, right?
Try telling that to Russia. In a recent report, the US State Department ranked the country as one of the worst for slavery in the entire world. According to advocacy group Humanity United, there are currently around one million Russians being kept in forced-labor conditions, including some 50,000 children working involuntarily as prostitutes. And that’s before we get on to the abuse of migrant workers.
Also the modern moderate state of Israel has 2 entries compared to the rest.
Another Canadian freight train derails in Alberta, no injuries
TORONTO (Reuters)
- A Canadian National Railway Co train carrying lumber and sulfur dioxide derailed in the Western Canadian province of Alberta on Sunday, but there were no injuries or spills of dangerous goods, a spokesman for the railway said.
Rail safety has become a central issue in Canada since a runaway Montreal, Maine and Atlantic train carrying crude oil exploded in the center of the Quebec town of Lac-Megantic in July, killing 47 people.
And Sunday's derailment comes just two weeks after another Canadian National Railway train carrying crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas derailed and caught fire in Alberta. That crash caused no casualties.
The train that derailed on Sunday was traveling eastbound near the hamlet of Peers, Alberta, which is about 110 miles from the provincial capital of Edmonton, when 13 freight cars went off the tracks at about 1 a.m. local time.
Full Story
- A Canadian National Railway Co train carrying lumber and sulfur dioxide derailed in the Western Canadian province of Alberta on Sunday, but there were no injuries or spills of dangerous goods, a spokesman for the railway said.
Rail safety has become a central issue in Canada since a runaway Montreal, Maine and Atlantic train carrying crude oil exploded in the center of the Quebec town of Lac-Megantic in July, killing 47 people.
And Sunday's derailment comes just two weeks after another Canadian National Railway train carrying crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas derailed and caught fire in Alberta. That crash caused no casualties.
The train that derailed on Sunday was traveling eastbound near the hamlet of Peers, Alberta, which is about 110 miles from the provincial capital of Edmonton, when 13 freight cars went off the tracks at about 1 a.m. local time.
Full Story
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Why is Saudi Arabia getting so bold?
via thetrumpet
- Saudi Arabia is troubled. Baffled. Angry. It finds America’s current Middle East policy under the Obama administration incomprehensible—and deadly dangerous.
Its bold response is hastening an extraordinary change in the Middle East, one that causes a specific biblical prophecy to leap into focus.
On October 17, Saudi Arabia was offered a highly coveted seat on the United Nations Security Council for the first time in its history. This was viewed as a major victory for the Arab state.
Until the next day, that is—when it rejected the offer. This dramatic move stunned the UN and diplomats worldwide. It was widely viewed as a slap at the United States, considered one of its strongest Western allies.
What was Saudi Arabia so upset about—and why was it suddenly so bold? There must be a compelling reason.
The rise of Iran is Saudi Arabia’s most pressing concern. The Saudis have watched anxiously as Iran, a bitter enemy, has evaded punishment even while continuing to forge its nuclear program, fund terrorism and aggressively expand its influence throughout the region.
Now, they fear the United States is giving its blessing to the whole appalling process.
Disturbing signs were building: signs of America’s weakening resolve, of its declining interest in the Middle East, of its fading sense of responsibility to protect Israel. There was the American press’s collective swoon over Iran’s new president this past summer.
Then came the stunning collapse of President Obama’s pledge to intervene in Syria, and his shirking responsibility by turning the situation over to Vladimir Putin. This seemed to guarantee the survival of the Assad regime, providing a huge boost to Iran.
Read More HERE
- Saudi Arabia is troubled. Baffled. Angry. It finds America’s current Middle East policy under the Obama administration incomprehensible—and deadly dangerous.
Its bold response is hastening an extraordinary change in the Middle East, one that causes a specific biblical prophecy to leap into focus.
On October 17, Saudi Arabia was offered a highly coveted seat on the United Nations Security Council for the first time in its history. This was viewed as a major victory for the Arab state.
Until the next day, that is—when it rejected the offer. This dramatic move stunned the UN and diplomats worldwide. It was widely viewed as a slap at the United States, considered one of its strongest Western allies.
What was Saudi Arabia so upset about—and why was it suddenly so bold? There must be a compelling reason.
The rise of Iran is Saudi Arabia’s most pressing concern. The Saudis have watched anxiously as Iran, a bitter enemy, has evaded punishment even while continuing to forge its nuclear program, fund terrorism and aggressively expand its influence throughout the region.
Now, they fear the United States is giving its blessing to the whole appalling process.
Disturbing signs were building: signs of America’s weakening resolve, of its declining interest in the Middle East, of its fading sense of responsibility to protect Israel. There was the American press’s collective swoon over Iran’s new president this past summer.
Then came the stunning collapse of President Obama’s pledge to intervene in Syria, and his shirking responsibility by turning the situation over to Vladimir Putin. This seemed to guarantee the survival of the Assad regime, providing a huge boost to Iran.
Read More HERE
Thursday, October 31, 2013
North Dakota woman plans to give obese kids letters on Halloween
FAT SHAMMING!
(Reuters) - A North Dakota woman told a local radio station that on Halloween she will give children she considers obese a sternly-worded letter for their parents along with candy.
The woman, who gave her name only as "Cheryl," said she would still hand out candy but planned to give some trick-or-treaters a sealed envelope with a letter for their parents, she said Tuesday in a call to a radio station in Fargo.
"I am not denying any of the kids candy," she said. "I am just hoping the parents are going to read this and think about it while they watch their kids get into bigger and bigger sizes of clothes," according to a recording of the radio show.
"As far as we know Cheryl is a local Fargo woman that thinks it is her mission to watch out for the overweight children of Fargo," radio host Corey Schaffer said Wednesday.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has said the percentage of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years in the United States who were obese in 2010 was 17 percent.
Schaffer, who goes by Zero as a host of the Y94 show, said the woman exchanged emails with the station for a couple of days and was scheduled in advance to call in Tuesday.
Schaffer said Cheryl's Halloween plan has sparked some "nasty, nasty responses."
Among the responses was "Ready, Eggs, FIRE." Others suggested she pass out healthier treats or not answer her door.
Full Story
(Reuters) - A North Dakota woman told a local radio station that on Halloween she will give children she considers obese a sternly-worded letter for their parents along with candy.
The woman, who gave her name only as "Cheryl," said she would still hand out candy but planned to give some trick-or-treaters a sealed envelope with a letter for their parents, she said Tuesday in a call to a radio station in Fargo.
"I am not denying any of the kids candy," she said. "I am just hoping the parents are going to read this and think about it while they watch their kids get into bigger and bigger sizes of clothes," according to a recording of the radio show.
"As far as we know Cheryl is a local Fargo woman that thinks it is her mission to watch out for the overweight children of Fargo," radio host Corey Schaffer said Wednesday.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has said the percentage of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years in the United States who were obese in 2010 was 17 percent.
Schaffer, who goes by Zero as a host of the Y94 show, said the woman exchanged emails with the station for a couple of days and was scheduled in advance to call in Tuesday.
Schaffer said Cheryl's Halloween plan has sparked some "nasty, nasty responses."
Among the responses was "Ready, Eggs, FIRE." Others suggested she pass out healthier treats or not answer her door.
Full Story
Saturday, October 26, 2013
High times as majority in U.S. now want pot legalized
Via Yahoonews
- According to the latest Gallup survey, 58 percent of Americans favor legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Gallup says the poll culminates a year of “unprecedented success” for marijuana advocates and is almost certainly the harbinger of future legalization efforts. Support for legalization has climbed more than 10 percent in the past year alone.
“Whatever the reasons for Americans' greater acceptance of marijuana, it is likely that this momentum will spur further legalization efforts across the United States,” Gallup says in its analysis of the poll.
And as Gallup points out, the 58 percent support for legalization is a stark contrast to the group's first legalization poll in 1969, in which only 12 percent of respondents said they favored making marijuana legal.
Gallup also found that 38 percent of respondents said they had personally tried marijuana at some point.
The largest area of growth has been among independent voters, 62 percent of whom now say they support legalization. Sixty-five percent of self-identified Democrats say they also support legalization. Republicans remain the only significant voting block opposed to legalization with just 35 percent support such an effort.
Full Story
- According to the latest Gallup survey, 58 percent of Americans favor legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Gallup says the poll culminates a year of “unprecedented success” for marijuana advocates and is almost certainly the harbinger of future legalization efforts. Support for legalization has climbed more than 10 percent in the past year alone.
“Whatever the reasons for Americans' greater acceptance of marijuana, it is likely that this momentum will spur further legalization efforts across the United States,” Gallup says in its analysis of the poll.
And as Gallup points out, the 58 percent support for legalization is a stark contrast to the group's first legalization poll in 1969, in which only 12 percent of respondents said they favored making marijuana legal.
Gallup also found that 38 percent of respondents said they had personally tried marijuana at some point.
The largest area of growth has been among independent voters, 62 percent of whom now say they support legalization. Sixty-five percent of self-identified Democrats say they also support legalization. Republicans remain the only significant voting block opposed to legalization with just 35 percent support such an effort.
Full Story
Protesters march in Washington against NSA spying
Controlled opposition
(Reuters) - Protesters marched on Capitol Hill in Washington on Saturday to protest the U.S. government's online surveillance programs, whose vast scope was revealed this year by former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden.
People carried signs reading: "Stop Mass Spying," "Thank you, Edward Snowden" and "Unplug Big Brother" as they gathered at the foot of the Capitol to demonstrate against the online surveillance by the National Security Agency.
Estimates varied on the size of the march, with organizers saying more than 2,000 attended. U.S. Capitol Police said they do not typically provide estimates on the size of demonstrations.
The march attracted protesters from both ends of the political spectrum as liberal privacy advocates walked alongside members of the conservative Tea Party movement in opposition to what they say is unlawful government spying on Americans.
Full Story
(Reuters) - Protesters marched on Capitol Hill in Washington on Saturday to protest the U.S. government's online surveillance programs, whose vast scope was revealed this year by former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden.
People carried signs reading: "Stop Mass Spying," "Thank you, Edward Snowden" and "Unplug Big Brother" as they gathered at the foot of the Capitol to demonstrate against the online surveillance by the National Security Agency.
Estimates varied on the size of the march, with organizers saying more than 2,000 attended. U.S. Capitol Police said they do not typically provide estimates on the size of demonstrations.
The march attracted protesters from both ends of the political spectrum as liberal privacy advocates walked alongside members of the conservative Tea Party movement in opposition to what they say is unlawful government spying on Americans.
Full Story
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Saudi Arabia Rejects Seat on UN Security Council
(blazingcatfur) - Saudi Arabia is rejecting its seat on the U.N. Security Council and says the 15-member body is incapable of resolving world conflicts.
Womyn Blows Gasket Over Feminine Costume
(Moonbattery) - It doesn’t take much to set a feminist to frothing at the mouth like a hydrophobic dog. This Halloween costume was enough:
A moonbat at Jezebel barks:
Here’s a much scarier Halloween costume concept sure to meet with the approval of feminists. Why not send your young daughter out trick-or-treating dressed as Rosie O’Donnell?
(Source)
Are you the parent of a little girl who loves Spider-Man? Are you also a limited [EXPLETIVE DELETED] with narrow views on gender identity? If you answered yes to both questions then do I ever have the child halloween costume for you!So certain they are that in the future their depraved delusions (e.g., that there is no difference between boys and girls) will be universally imposed.
Tumblr user Ami Angelwings was recently browsing the Halloween section at Walmart when she stumbled upon this saucy and horrifying little Spider-Girl number.
[… Yap yap yap! Bow wow wow! Arf! Arf!] And on a related note, can we please fast-forward to a time when there no longer has to be a designated girl version and boy version for everything? That [EXPLETIVE DELETED] is long past tired.
Here’s a much scarier Halloween costume concept sure to meet with the approval of feminists. Why not send your young daughter out trick-or-treating dressed as Rosie O’Donnell?
(Source)
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
We like fracking and We like to frack
With the recent anti fracking protests by eco terrorists & their allies in eastern Canada, I thought this would be appropriate to post in light of the events.
(thespoof) - Another day another punning newspaper headline about shale gas extraction. The industry has been a godsend for copywriters everywhere. Said one fleet street hack, "the great thing about Fracking is that it's possible to replace the word 'fuck', with the word 'Frack' for comic effect. Obviously, if we could think of a way making something like wind power funny we would, but sadly, there's nothing amusing about inappropriate wind."
Many environmental pressure groups have already got in on the act. Most people are familiar with bandwagon jumpers "Frack Off" but lately a number of new pressure groups have joined the scene. One such group is, "Frack Me Where the Sun Don't Shine", who describe themselves as a pro-fracking anti-solar power group. Roderick Smythley Wittington founder of FMWSDS, is highly critical of solar power - "When I was a lad we used to have these solar power calculators and digital watches - They were rubbish! Do we really want our energy needs to be reliant on solar powered calculators. I think not! We at Frack Me where the Sun Don't Shine say, Frack me Silly! We love Fracking and we like to Frack!'"
In response to public concerns about the dangers of Fracking, the government have set up a new industry watchdog. OffFrack will be responsible for regulating the shale gas extraction industry. Said a spokesdrone for the Department of the Environment, "We just couldn't miss out on an opportunity to set up an industry watchdog, which sounds a lot like the insult, 'Fuck Off', except with the words swapped around. I mean why should the hacks and the environmentalists have all the fun?"
(thespoof) - Another day another punning newspaper headline about shale gas extraction. The industry has been a godsend for copywriters everywhere. Said one fleet street hack, "the great thing about Fracking is that it's possible to replace the word 'fuck', with the word 'Frack' for comic effect. Obviously, if we could think of a way making something like wind power funny we would, but sadly, there's nothing amusing about inappropriate wind."
Many environmental pressure groups have already got in on the act. Most people are familiar with bandwagon jumpers "Frack Off" but lately a number of new pressure groups have joined the scene. One such group is, "Frack Me Where the Sun Don't Shine", who describe themselves as a pro-fracking anti-solar power group. Roderick Smythley Wittington founder of FMWSDS, is highly critical of solar power - "When I was a lad we used to have these solar power calculators and digital watches - They were rubbish! Do we really want our energy needs to be reliant on solar powered calculators. I think not! We at Frack Me where the Sun Don't Shine say, Frack me Silly! We love Fracking and we like to Frack!'"
In response to public concerns about the dangers of Fracking, the government have set up a new industry watchdog. OffFrack will be responsible for regulating the shale gas extraction industry. Said a spokesdrone for the Department of the Environment, "We just couldn't miss out on an opportunity to set up an industry watchdog, which sounds a lot like the insult, 'Fuck Off', except with the words swapped around. I mean why should the hacks and the environmentalists have all the fun?"
(source)
Monday, October 14, 2013
Why the US drinking age is 21
mentalfloss - In short, we ended up with a national minimum age of 21 because of the
National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. This law basically told
states that they had to enact a minimum drinking age of 21 or lose up to
ten percent of their federal highway funding. Since that's serious
coin, the states jumped into line fairly quickly. Interestingly, this
law doesn't prohibit drinking per se; it merely cajoles states to outlaw
purchase and public possession by people under 21. Exceptions include
possession (and presumably drinking) for religious practices, while in
the company of parents, spouses, or guardians who are over 21, medical
uses, and during the course of legal employment.
Boy, 15, Kills Himself After 'Facing Expulsion and Being Put on Sex Offender Registry' for Streaking at High School Football Game
I'm shocked!
- A popular 15-year-old student has committed suicide after he reportedly faced expulsion and being placed on the sex offenders’ register simply for streaking at a high school football game.
Christian Adamek, from Huntsville, Alabama, hanged himself on October 2, a week after he was arrested for running naked across the Sparkman High football field during a game.
The teenager died two days later from his injuries and on Wednesday, friends and family gathered at a memorial service as they struggled to comprehend the beloved student’s death.
Via (Americanpowerblog)
- A popular 15-year-old student has committed suicide after he reportedly faced expulsion and being placed on the sex offenders’ register simply for streaking at a high school football game.
Christian Adamek, from Huntsville, Alabama, hanged himself on October 2, a week after he was arrested for running naked across the Sparkman High football field during a game.
The teenager died two days later from his injuries and on Wednesday, friends and family gathered at a memorial service as they struggled to comprehend the beloved student’s death.
Via (Americanpowerblog)
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Seventeen-Year-Old Faces Felony Weapons Charge Over Fishing Knives in Tackle Box
(moonbattery) - One of the many reasons no sane person would want to be ruled by
liberals is their terrifyingly irrational doctrine of zero tolerance for
anything they don’t like, which prominently includes objects they
regard as weapons. An example from Georgia:
Young Cody could get as much as 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, despite having done nothing whatsoever wrong. His hopes of serving his country by enlisting in the Air Force apparently have been dashed. But at least his school is safe from rogue fishing knives that might somehow find their way out of the tackle box, out of his car, and into the school.
Full Story
A Cobb County high school senior was charged with the felony of bringing weapons into a school zone after police found fishing knives in a tackle box in his car. Cody Chitwood, a 17-year-old student at Lassiter High School and avid fisherman, turned himself in and was released on $1,000 bond.Now I get why the Founding Fathers wrote the Fourth Amendment.
Police were performing a random sweep, and drug-sniffing dogs detected black powder in Chitwood’s car. The powder was residue from a firecracker that had been in the car since Fourth of July, but it was enough to a warrant a full search that turned up the fishing-related weaponry.
Young Cody could get as much as 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, despite having done nothing whatsoever wrong. His hopes of serving his country by enlisting in the Air Force apparently have been dashed. But at least his school is safe from rogue fishing knives that might somehow find their way out of the tackle box, out of his car, and into the school.
Full Story
India says Pakistan pushing fighters into Kashmir before 2014
(Reuters) - India's army said on Tuesday that Pakistani troops had helped a group of 30 to 40 insurgents stage the biggest incursion in Kashmir in years, linking it to a plan to push fighters into the region as foreign forces withdraw from neighboring Afghanistan.
Army chief General Bikram Singh's remarks were the first direct allegation against Pakistan since the heavily-armed fighters crossed the Line of Control in Kashmir last month in a setback for a government already seen as soft and indecisive.
The men were holed up in an abandoned village in the Keran sector for nearly a fortnight, an Indian army source earlier told Reuters. That prompted comparisons with the Kargil conflict further north in 1999, when hundreds of Pakistan-backed irregular troops occupied bunkers along a vast swath of the frontier.
"With the eyeball-to-eyeball deployment along the Line of Control, it is well-nigh impossible for the terrorists to do any activity without the knowledge of the Pakistani army," Singh told the Times Now television.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir. The two armies frequently exchanged artillery fire across the Himalayan region for years until a 2003 ceasefire that has been fraying in recent months.
Full Story
Army chief General Bikram Singh's remarks were the first direct allegation against Pakistan since the heavily-armed fighters crossed the Line of Control in Kashmir last month in a setback for a government already seen as soft and indecisive.
The men were holed up in an abandoned village in the Keran sector for nearly a fortnight, an Indian army source earlier told Reuters. That prompted comparisons with the Kargil conflict further north in 1999, when hundreds of Pakistan-backed irregular troops occupied bunkers along a vast swath of the frontier.
"With the eyeball-to-eyeball deployment along the Line of Control, it is well-nigh impossible for the terrorists to do any activity without the knowledge of the Pakistani army," Singh told the Times Now television.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir. The two armies frequently exchanged artillery fire across the Himalayan region for years until a 2003 ceasefire that has been fraying in recent months.
Full Story
Friday, October 4, 2013
Canada won't fund abortions in cases of war rape, child marriage
(cbc.ca) - International Development Minister Christian Paradis says the government will not fund overseas projects that allow war rape victims and child brides to obtain an abortion.
The Conservative government's position on the matter was unclear last week after it backed initiatives to tackle sexual violence and forced marriages at the United Nations.
But Paradis says the government's policy would follow the same logic as that behind Canada's $3-billion G8 funding commitment for maternal and child health — no money should go towards abortion services.
At the time, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said none of the those dollars would go toward abortion services because there were enough other worthy initiatives to support.
"We've been clear in Muskoka, so you can think the same logic will apply here," Paradis told reporters after a speech Friday.
"There are plenty of measures that can be taken and Muskoka demonstrated that and we'll follow it in a consistent way with Muskoka."
That's a change from comments made by the president of the Canadian International Development Agency in 2010. While Canada has never directly funded abortions, Margaret Biggs told a committee that the agency would continue to fund aid groups who might provide referrals for abortion services.
Full Story
The Conservative government's position on the matter was unclear last week after it backed initiatives to tackle sexual violence and forced marriages at the United Nations.
But Paradis says the government's policy would follow the same logic as that behind Canada's $3-billion G8 funding commitment for maternal and child health — no money should go towards abortion services.
At the time, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said none of the those dollars would go toward abortion services because there were enough other worthy initiatives to support.
"We've been clear in Muskoka, so you can think the same logic will apply here," Paradis told reporters after a speech Friday.
"There are plenty of measures that can be taken and Muskoka demonstrated that and we'll follow it in a consistent way with Muskoka."
That's a change from comments made by the president of the Canadian International Development Agency in 2010. While Canada has never directly funded abortions, Margaret Biggs told a committee that the agency would continue to fund aid groups who might provide referrals for abortion services.
Full Story
Witness films Tesla car caught ablaze in latest smear campaign against the electric vehicle
Well something like that did happened in Washington as this video illustrates -
The Gambia cuts ties with British Commonwealth
(express.co.uk) - GAMBIAN despot Yahya Jammeh provoked “regret” from British officials yesterday after he took his country out of the Commonwealth.
It was not clear what triggered the decision. But President Jammeh – who likes to be called His Excellency Sheikh Professor Doctor President – apparently made it on a whim.
The leader of the tiny West African nation said the 54-member institution headed by the Queen was “neo-colonial”.
He is the first to leave the Commonwealth unilaterally since Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe 10 years ago.
Mr Jammeh has been criticised by Britain for human rights abuses. In August last year, he executed nine death-row inmates by firing squad.
The Royal Commonwealth Society said his announcement was unexpected and appeared to be undemocratic.
Full Story
It was not clear what triggered the decision. But President Jammeh – who likes to be called His Excellency Sheikh Professor Doctor President – apparently made it on a whim.
The leader of the tiny West African nation said the 54-member institution headed by the Queen was “neo-colonial”.
He is the first to leave the Commonwealth unilaterally since Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe 10 years ago.
Mr Jammeh has been criticised by Britain for human rights abuses. In August last year, he executed nine death-row inmates by firing squad.
The Royal Commonwealth Society said his announcement was unexpected and appeared to be undemocratic.
Full Story
Friday, September 27, 2013
Lawsuit filed in Kansas to block climate change, evolution curriculum
(foxnews) - TOPEKA, Kan. – An anti-evolution group filed a federal lawsuit Thursday to block Kansas from using new, multistate science standards in its public schools, arguing the guidelines promote atheism and violate students' and parents' religious freedom.
The group, Citizens for Objective Public Education, had criticized the standards developed by Kansas, 25 other states and the National Research Council for treating both evolution and climate change as key scientific concepts to be taught from kindergarten through 12th grade. The Kansas State Board of Education adopted them in June to replace evolution-friendly standards that had been in place since 2007.
The new standards, like the ones they replaced, reflect the mainstream scientific view that evolution is well-established. Most board members believed the guidelines will improve science education by shifting the emphasis in science classes to doing hands-on projects and experiments.
The nonprofit organization based in the small community of Peck, south of Wichita, was joined in its lawsuit by 15 parents from across the state with a total of 18 children -- most of them in public schools -- and two taxpayers from the Kansas City-area community of Lake Quivira. The parents say they're Christians who want to instill a belief in their children that "life is a creation made for a purpose."
Full Story
The group, Citizens for Objective Public Education, had criticized the standards developed by Kansas, 25 other states and the National Research Council for treating both evolution and climate change as key scientific concepts to be taught from kindergarten through 12th grade. The Kansas State Board of Education adopted them in June to replace evolution-friendly standards that had been in place since 2007.
The new standards, like the ones they replaced, reflect the mainstream scientific view that evolution is well-established. Most board members believed the guidelines will improve science education by shifting the emphasis in science classes to doing hands-on projects and experiments.
The nonprofit organization based in the small community of Peck, south of Wichita, was joined in its lawsuit by 15 parents from across the state with a total of 18 children -- most of them in public schools -- and two taxpayers from the Kansas City-area community of Lake Quivira. The parents say they're Christians who want to instill a belief in their children that "life is a creation made for a purpose."
Full Story
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Claifornia to raise minimum wage to $10 an hour by 2016
(Reuters) - California has become the first state in the union to commit to raising the minimum wage to $10 per hour, with the increase to take place gradually through the start of 2016, under a bill Democratic Governor Jerry Brown signed into law on Wednesday.
The law raises minimum pay in the most populous U.S. state from its current rate of $8 per hour to $9 by July 2014, and $10 by January 2016, well above the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
Read More
Related - Minimum Wage (Pros & Cons, Arguments For & Against, Advantages & Disadvantages)
The law raises minimum pay in the most populous U.S. state from its current rate of $8 per hour to $9 by July 2014, and $10 by January 2016, well above the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.
Read More
Related - Minimum Wage (Pros & Cons, Arguments For & Against, Advantages & Disadvantages)
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Kenya: Gunman storm Nairobi Mall, at least 25 killed
(Reuters) - Militant gunmen stormed a shopping mall in Nairobi on Saturday killing 25 people, including children, and sending scores fleeing in panic from shops and restaurants onto the streets, according to witnesses and the Red Cross.
Shooting continued hours after the initial assault as troops surrounded the Westgate mall and police and soldiers combed the building, hunting down the attackers shop by shop. A police officer inside the building said the gunmen were barricaded inside the Nakumatt supermarket, one of Kenya's biggest chains.
"We got three bodies from this shop," he said, standing a dozen metres from the supermarket entrance and pointing to a children's shoe shop where blood lay in pools.
Full Story
Shooting continued hours after the initial assault as troops surrounded the Westgate mall and police and soldiers combed the building, hunting down the attackers shop by shop. A police officer inside the building said the gunmen were barricaded inside the Nakumatt supermarket, one of Kenya's biggest chains.
"We got three bodies from this shop," he said, standing a dozen metres from the supermarket entrance and pointing to a children's shoe shop where blood lay in pools.
Full Story
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Obama Meets With Nation’s Schizophrenic Voices To Urge Less Violence
(theonion) - WASHINGTON—With the nation still reeling from Monday’s mass shooting inside the Washington Navy Yard, President Barack Obama held a bilateral meeting with the country’s schizophrenic voices earlier today, urging the disembodied auditory hallucinations to join him in helping to reduce violence.
The special summit, which was open to reporters, began at 9 a.m. in the White House’s East Room, where the president and over 2.5 million schizophrenic voices of various degrees of intensity from all across America engaged in an open dialogue covering issues as varied as violence in America, mental health care, the incessant wriggling of worms, gun control, the tearing of the flesh, and the passage of meaningful legislation.
Read the rest HERE
The special summit, which was open to reporters, began at 9 a.m. in the White House’s East Room, where the president and over 2.5 million schizophrenic voices of various degrees of intensity from all across America engaged in an open dialogue covering issues as varied as violence in America, mental health care, the incessant wriggling of worms, gun control, the tearing of the flesh, and the passage of meaningful legislation.
Read the rest HERE
High gun ownership makes countries less safe, US study finds
(theguardian) Guns do not make a nation safer, say US doctors who have compared the rate of firearms-related deaths in countries where many people own guns with the death rate in countries where gun ownership is rare.
Their findings, published Wednesday in the prestigious American Journal of Medicine, debunk the historic belief among many people in the United States that guns make a country safer, they say. On the contrary, the US, with the most guns per head in the world, has the highest rate of deaths from firearms, while Japan, which has the lowest rate of gun ownership, has the least.
The journal has fast-tracked publication of the study because of the shootings at the Washington navy yard. It was originally scheduled for later this week.
Full Story
Their findings, published Wednesday in the prestigious American Journal of Medicine, debunk the historic belief among many people in the United States that guns make a country safer, they say. On the contrary, the US, with the most guns per head in the world, has the highest rate of deaths from firearms, while Japan, which has the lowest rate of gun ownership, has the least.
The journal has fast-tracked publication of the study because of the shootings at the Washington navy yard. It was originally scheduled for later this week.
Full Story
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