*Yawn*
- Ever since the creation of democratic nations – where public opinion somewhat matters – the political class is faced with a dilemma: War is needed to gain power, riches, and control, but the general public has a tendency to be against it. What to do? The answer was found decades ago and is still used successfully today: Create an enemy so terrifying that the masses will beg their government to go to war.
This is why ISIS exists. This is why the beheading videos are so “well-produced” and publicized worldwide through mainstream media. This is why news sources regularly come up with alarmist headlines about ISIS. They are used to serve the best interests of the world elite. The current objectives are: Sway public opinion to favor the invasion of countries in the Middle East, provide a pretext for “coalition” intervention across the world, and manufacture a domestic threat that will be used to take away rights and increase surveillance. In short, ISIS is yet another instance of the age-old tactic of creating a terrifying enemy to scare the masses.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Man in New York beheads mother, kicks severed head across road, then jumps in front of train
(straitstimes.com) - A 35-year-old man beheaded his mother and kicked her head across the road, before jumping in front of a train in New York on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning Singapore time).
Derek Ward allegedly decapitated his 66-year-old mother, Patricia Ward at her apartment building in Long Island, and dragged her out into the street where he kicked her severed head, reported the New York Post.
Police said that her body was discovered outside the building at about 8pm on Tuesday, with her head 6m away across the road. The victim, a professor who taught language arts at Farmingdale State College, was wearing only a bra and a pair of pants.
Derek Ward, who was psychologically disturbed and lived with his mother, later killed himself by jumping in front of a Long Island Rail Road train. His body was found about 1.6km from the murder scene.
Detective Lieutenant John Azzata from Nassau County police told the New York Post that he had a psychiatric history dating back about 10 years. He also had a criminal record that included gun charges.
Neighbour Nick Gordon told the Daily News that there was also blood within the apartment building.
"When I came out the door, I saw the blood on the tile. It was all over, as if someone could've been pulling a body. You could see the smears going down the stairs," he said.
Some neighbours initially thought that the gruesome scene was hoax for Halloween, which falls on Friday.
- See more: HERE
Derek Ward allegedly decapitated his 66-year-old mother, Patricia Ward at her apartment building in Long Island, and dragged her out into the street where he kicked her severed head, reported the New York Post.
Police said that her body was discovered outside the building at about 8pm on Tuesday, with her head 6m away across the road. The victim, a professor who taught language arts at Farmingdale State College, was wearing only a bra and a pair of pants.
Derek Ward, who was psychologically disturbed and lived with his mother, later killed himself by jumping in front of a Long Island Rail Road train. His body was found about 1.6km from the murder scene.
Detective Lieutenant John Azzata from Nassau County police told the New York Post that he had a psychiatric history dating back about 10 years. He also had a criminal record that included gun charges.
Neighbour Nick Gordon told the Daily News that there was also blood within the apartment building.
"When I came out the door, I saw the blood on the tile. It was all over, as if someone could've been pulling a body. You could see the smears going down the stairs," he said.
Some neighbours initially thought that the gruesome scene was hoax for Halloween, which falls on Friday.
- See more: HERE
Overweight crash test dummies being developed in response to US obesity trends
(abcnews) - One company is taking note of America's obesity issue by manufacturing "overweight" crash test dummies.
Humanetics is a Plymouth, Michigan-based company that has been developing crash test dummies since the 1950s. But the image and model of a crash test dummy hasn't changed much throughout those decades, so now Humanetics is developing a heftier crash test dummy to better represent growing obesity trends in the U.S.
"Obese people are 78 percent more likely to die in a crash," Humanetics CEO Chris O' Connor told CNN. "The reason is the way we get fat. We get fat in our middle range. And we get out of position in a typical seat."
Humanetics' obese dummy will weigh in at 273 pounds with a body mass index of 35. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute classifies obesity as those with a body mass index of 30. According to the CDC, over one-third of Americans are obese.
Full Story
Humanetics is a Plymouth, Michigan-based company that has been developing crash test dummies since the 1950s. But the image and model of a crash test dummy hasn't changed much throughout those decades, so now Humanetics is developing a heftier crash test dummy to better represent growing obesity trends in the U.S.
"Obese people are 78 percent more likely to die in a crash," Humanetics CEO Chris O' Connor told CNN. "The reason is the way we get fat. We get fat in our middle range. And we get out of position in a typical seat."
Humanetics' obese dummy will weigh in at 273 pounds with a body mass index of 35. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute classifies obesity as those with a body mass index of 30. According to the CDC, over one-third of Americans are obese.
Costco: Employees 'deserve' Thanksgiving off
Because nobody should have to work on American Thanksgiving..
(cnnmoney) - At Costco, the Black Friday deals won't begin until, well, Friday.
The warehouse retail chain will again stay closed on Thanksgiving this year, bucking the trend of retailers opening their doors earlier and earlier.
"Our employees work especially hard during the holiday season and we simply believe that they deserve the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their families," a Costco(COST) spokesman told the website Think Progress.
"Nothing more complicated than that," the spokesman added.
It said the same thing last year.
(cnnmoney) - At Costco, the Black Friday deals won't begin until, well, Friday.
The warehouse retail chain will again stay closed on Thanksgiving this year, bucking the trend of retailers opening their doors earlier and earlier.
"Our employees work especially hard during the holiday season and we simply believe that they deserve the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their families," a Costco(COST) spokesman told the website Think Progress.
"Nothing more complicated than that," the spokesman added.
It said the same thing last year.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Michigan: Gov. Rick Snyder signs 'anti-Tesla' bill into law
(mlive.com) DETROIT, MI - Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday signed a bill his office described as bipartisan legislation that simply strengthens existing law as it pertains to automobile dealership sales in Michigan.
But electric car maker Tesla Motors says the legislation is a direct effort at shutting the California company and its unique, direct-to-consumer sales model out of Michigan.
HB 5606 was approved 38-0 in the Senate and 106-1 in the House of Representatives after being presented to state legislators as aimed at prohibiting car dealerships in the state from dictating fees they charge customers. With the legislation, dealerships can decide whether or not to charge certain transaction fees.
"This bill does not, as some have claimed, prevent auto manufacturers from selling automobiles directly to consumers at retail in Michigan – because this is already prohibited under Michigan law," Snyder said in a letter to lawmakers that accompanies the signed bill.
Todd Maron, general counsel for Tesla, said that not only does it further ensure that company cannot sell directly to consumers in the state, it goes so far as to prohibit Tesla from displaying its cars to and communicating with potential customers in Michigan.
"These changes were put in at the last minute with nobody vetting them," Maron said, adding, "It looks like what they were trying to do is completely shut us out of Michigan."
In a blog on the company's website, Tesla derides the legislation as "A Raw Deal in Michigan."
Officials want South Florida to break off into its own state
Why not a country?
(orlandosentinel.com) Officials in the City of South Miami have passed a resolution in favor of splitting the state in half so South Florida would become the 51st state.
Vice Mayor Walter Harris proposed the resolution and it passed with a 3-2 vote at the city commission meeting on Oct. 7.
Harris told the commission that Tallahassee isn't providing South Florida with proper representation or addressing its concerns when it comes to sea-level rising.
"We have to be able to deal directly with this environmental concern and we can’t really get it done in Tallahassee," Harris said. "I don’t care what people think -- it’s not a matter of electing the right people."
Mayor Philip Stoddard agreed with Harris' reasoning, saying he's advocated for secession for the past 15 years but never penned a resolution.
“It’s very apparent that the attitude of the northern part of the state is that they would just love to saw the state in half and just let us float off into the Caribbean," Stoddard said. "They’ve made that abundantly clear every possible opportunity and I would love to give them the opportunity to do that.”
(orlandosentinel.com) Officials in the City of South Miami have passed a resolution in favor of splitting the state in half so South Florida would become the 51st state.
Vice Mayor Walter Harris proposed the resolution and it passed with a 3-2 vote at the city commission meeting on Oct. 7.
Harris told the commission that Tallahassee isn't providing South Florida with proper representation or addressing its concerns when it comes to sea-level rising.
Mayor Philip Stoddard agreed with Harris' reasoning, saying he's advocated for secession for the past 15 years but never penned a resolution.
“It’s very apparent that the attitude of the northern part of the state is that they would just love to saw the state in half and just let us float off into the Caribbean," Stoddard said. "They’ve made that abundantly clear every possible opportunity and I would love to give them the opportunity to do that.”
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Walmart Is Planning To Abandon The Minimum Wage
(HuffingtonPost) - The latest sign that the tide is turning in favour of better pay for low-wage workers: Walmart's CEO on Wednesday announced the company's intention eventually to abandon the minimum wage.
Walmart chief executive Douglas McMillon told reporters after an investor conference that the company plans to pay all of its workers at a rate higher than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. He did not say how much more.
"It is our intention over time that we will be in a situation where we don't pay minimum wage at all," McMillon said, according to multiple sources. The move to pay all Walmart employees more than the minimum wage would be largely symbolic: McMillon said less than 1 percent of Walmart's U.S. employees currently make the minimum wage.
Such an intention is particularly notable coming from the CEO of Walmart, which is the union's largest private employer, and one that is often accused of paying its workers low wages.
Walmart has disputed such claims, saying its average hourly pay is $12.92, which is significantly higher than the federal minimum. That calculation, however, does not include the wages of its part-time workers.
The announcement came as hundreds of Walmart workers and other low-wage retail and fast-food employees protested on Wednesday and Thursday in four cities, demanding full-time jobs and a minimum wage of $15 an hour. Full Story
Walmart chief executive Douglas McMillon told reporters after an investor conference that the company plans to pay all of its workers at a rate higher than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. He did not say how much more.
"It is our intention over time that we will be in a situation where we don't pay minimum wage at all," McMillon said, according to multiple sources. The move to pay all Walmart employees more than the minimum wage would be largely symbolic: McMillon said less than 1 percent of Walmart's U.S. employees currently make the minimum wage.
Such an intention is particularly notable coming from the CEO of Walmart, which is the union's largest private employer, and one that is often accused of paying its workers low wages.
Walmart has disputed such claims, saying its average hourly pay is $12.92, which is significantly higher than the federal minimum. That calculation, however, does not include the wages of its part-time workers.
The announcement came as hundreds of Walmart workers and other low-wage retail and fast-food employees protested on Wednesday and Thursday in four cities, demanding full-time jobs and a minimum wage of $15 an hour. Full Story
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)