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You want a tax on your fries with that? How to make taxes more fair
OK smarty pants, you say, you’ve been whining about economic inequality, and you’ve tossed out some ideas on Social Security and tax shelters, but let’s see you solve the whole freakin’ problem. OK, if you insist. For purposes of our discussion, you’ll need to refer to the accompanying chart. Before we get to the specifics of the proposal, let’s consider some interesting facts. With total US consu
All politics is local, and I think I need an anesthetic
Maybe it’s our neighborhood. Lots of old folks around, and they (I guess I’m getting to the age where I should say we) tend to vote. Plus, the area’s pretty white, pretty conservative, so I guess if I’m in charge of sending canvassers out to collect signatures to get Republicans on the ballot, I’d send them here, too. But they are starting to irk me. They must be running some kind of right-wing, c
Some thoughts on Occupy Wall Street and class warfare part three: Gimme Shelters
Everybody’s heard of tax shelters, but few U.S. citizens could tell you what they are, how they operate or what they cost the U.S. every year in lost tax revenue. Which is curious. Current U.S. Treasury Department estimates place lost tax revenue from individual tax payers due to foreign tax shelters at $70 billion a year. By comparison, the Department of Defense spent about $80 billion last ye
Some thoughts on Occupy Wall Street and class warfare part two: Fixing Social Security
Pointing out structural inequities in the US economic system, which I did in a recent blog post, is one thing. Proposing actual solutions is another. So I’m going to take a shot. First up? Social Security. You all know the problem. At current projected rates, the Social Security Trust Fund starts running out of money sometime around 2037 – the surplus in the fund would be gone, and taxes comin
GOP War on Democracy Update: FL School Teachers Facing Charges for Registering Legal Voters to Vote
Meanwhile, the Republican War on Democracy continues apace. Happily, Rachel Maddow brings us up to date on the latest in the GOP's out-and-out assault on voting and voting rights in states all over the country. The new laws passed by GOP-controlled legislatures in the wake of their 2010 electoral victories, are expected to have a wildly disproportionate disenfranchising affect on voters who tend t
Amory Lovins at Greenbuild
Last month Amory Lovins, author of Reinventing Fire: Bold Business Solutions for the New Energy Era, spoke to a fascinated crowd at the US Green Building Council’s conference, Greenbuild. Greenbuild is the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. Thousands of building professionals from all over the world come together at Greenbuild [...]
How Occupy Wall Street's Moral Vision Can Beat the Disastrous Conservative Worldview
OWS has a progressive moral vision. They're protesting the disastrous effects that have come from operating with a conservative moral, economic, and political worldview. October 20, 2011 | I was asked weeks ago by some in the Occupy Wall Street movement to make suggestions for how to frame the movement. I have hesitated so far, because I think the movement should be framing itself. It
Join us at the Weston A. Price Foundation Conference!
Since 1999 the Weston A. Price Foundation has advocated on behalf of traditional foods–especially those containing animal fats. Dr. Price’s research demonstrated that humans achieve perfect physical form and perfect health generation after generation only when they consume nutrient-dense whole foods and the vital fat-soluble activators found exclusively in animal fats. Their annual [...]
Contrary Brin • 5 days ago Suzie-Q 8
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UK and U.S. ‘draw up joint plan to attack Iran’: Evidence of nuclear programme raises tension in Middle East
Whitehall figures say Iran is ‘newly aggressive – and we are not sure why’ Iran ‘has enough enriched uranium for four nuclear weapons’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushing for invasion Tel Aviv test-fires rockets capable of carrying nuclear warheads into Iran Report reveals China continues to supply Tehran with missiles and other conventional weapons Obama says nuclear programme rema
Muammar Gaddafi Killed, Captured In Sirte:
AP/The Huffington Post First Posted: 10/20/11 08:00 AM ET Updated: 10/20/11 06:28 PM ET Longtime dictator of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, has been killed following the capture of his hometown of Sirte. [CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES] There were confusing reports of Gaddafi’s capture and death, and questions remained over exactly how he was killed. Arab broadcasters showed graphic images of the balding,
Cornel West Arrested at Supreme Court
The Root By: Sheryl Huggins Salomon | Posted: October 16, 2011 Cornel West arrested (NCFTV)Update on Monday, October 17 at 3:25 p.m.: A spokesperson for Dr. Cornel West told The Root that following a court appearance this afternoon he was released from jail. Update: According to a message retweeted on Cornel West’s Twitter page, “Dr. Cornel West will be spending the night behind bars and is orde
Occupy Boston Under Attack~ 100′s Arrested
Occupied Boston Live is currently offline, but there is a message at the bottom. The following is a link from Twitter by Keith Olberman Boston police move in on protesters on Greenway, scores arrested boston.com Oct. 10, 2011 By John M. Guilfoil and Derek J. Anderson, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent Boston police moved in and began arresting scores of Occupy Boston protesters who refused to l
Occupy Wall Street the Media is the Message 
Suzie-Q • 26 days ago
Suzie-Q • 26 days ago The Beginning Is Near… Suzie-Q • 28 days ago
Suzie-Q • 28 days ago Occupy The Polls – Register And Vote!! Suzie-Q • 28 days ago
Suzie-Q • 28 days ago 
Of People and a website; Pakistan’s Social Media scene
Social media needs to introduction; it is so intrinsically sewed into today’s marketing and technology DNA as furniture is to a home. For something so infant, it has grown rather rapidly. To say it has matured would perhaps be incorrect, as the innovation and evolution is still underway. Perhaps we can all agree that while internet provided the world with a connected global village, social media f
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P@SHA social innovation fund announces first round winners
P@SHA today announced winners of first round of Social innovation fund. Following are the winners of first round. There will be another round soon, details of which along with other information about the fund and how it operates can be found here 1. Alif Laila – Sabah Rehman A Program which plans to equip atleast 10 Government Schools with Laptops connected to internet through EvDO devices. It als
Dr Umar Saif selected to lead Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) as Chairman
This comes as great news, Dr Umar Saif who recently was being ackonowledge recently for his great research projiect like poor man’s broadband and startup ventures like bumpin, smsall coming out of his Incubator (Saif Center of Innovation) has been appointed as Chairman of Punjab Information Technology Board. Timing could not have been more perfect for our industry with Imran Zia at the helm of PS
Update to Job area of Green White 
Green & White • 29 days ago
Amused Cynicism 8 unread articles 
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Democracy is tolerated until it threatens the 1%
From Charles Hugh Smith (my emphasis): Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou’s call for a citizens’ referendum to decide the future of Greece is direct participatory democracy in action. Yet the European leadership and the Elites who need global markets to remain in nosebleed territory are outraged by this unscripted emergence of democracy. The absurdly hostile reaction to democracy in action rev
Why I’m not a Tory
The pay of directors of top companies rose by 50% last year, compared with averages rises in private sector pay of just 2.6%. Commenting on the injustice of this, Tim Montgomery says: Earlier today a report from Income Data Services noted that pay for the directors of Britain’s top businesses rose by 49% over the last year once salary, benefits and bonuses were counted. These increases were much g
Should Britain have a referendum on withdrawal from the EU?
So, should we? In the general case, the people should have a referendum on whatever policies they want to. These will typically be ones that the people conside important and where the government is perceived to be thwarting the will of the majority. The way to decide if that’s true of a particular question would be to use a revamped version of the government’s epetition websites. If the number of
Should Occupy Join Forces with Pirate Parties?
Max Keiser says that Occupy should team up with Pirate Parties.
Similarities between the Occupy movement and the Pirate movement
Adrianne Jeffries of Betabeat, regarding Occupy Wall Street, says: Occupy Wall Street is nothing if not tech-savvy. (One of the earliest criticisms was the preponderence of Macbooks among the protesters.) The protest has had a near-constant Livestream from the headquarters at Zuccotti Park, which has also broadcast from Times Square and during the now-infamous mass arrests on the Brooklyn Bridge.
What the Occupy movement should demand 
Amused Cynicism • 15 days ago
Amused Cynicism • 15 days ago Retoxification Amused Cynicism • 28 days ago
Amused Cynicism • 28 days ago Greens adopt Pirate policies Amused Cynicism • 28 days ago
Amused Cynicism • 28 days ago Syria Comment 8 unread articles mark these articles as read
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Arab League Peace Plan? Syrian Opposition Shoots Back. Turkey Hardens Stand on Syria
Syria agrees to an Arab League peace plan set to be disclosed today, Foreign Policy writes: In reports released by Syrian state television, President Bashar al-Assad’s government has accepted a roadmap presented by the Arab League on Sunday to end violence. However, the Arab League has yet to receive an official response to the proposal, saying Syrian officials have claimed they are waiting for a
Arab League in Damas; Pro-Assad Demos, Strike in Homs, Killings, Ambassadorial tit for tat
Tens of thousands of Syrians rally in support of Assad ahead of Arab 2011-10-26 DAMASCUS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) — Tens of thousands of Syrians rallied Wednesday in support for President Bashar al-Assad hours before the arrival of an Arab League (AL) ministerial delegation that aimed at finding ways to end the months-long crisis in the country. The Umayyad Square in the capital of Damascus and nearby s
Qaddafi’s Death, Mazoot Prices, Opposition
Posted by Joshua Landis The Syrian opposition has been given renewed vigor following the killing of Qaddafi. Senator John McCain said Sunday that military action to protect civilians in Syria might be considered now that NATO’s air campaign in Libya is ending. Mohammad Habash, a member of Syria’s outgoing parliament, said such military action “will only bring catastrophes, wars and blood and this
An interview with Syrian opposition activist Louay Hussein
An interview with Syrian opposition activist Louay Hussein by Camille Otrakji for Syria Comment Louay Hussein is a Syrian writer and a long time opposition activist. He was first arrested in 1984 while finishing his fourth year of philosophy studies at Damascus University. He was released from jail in 1991. Earlier this year he successfully organized the first opposition conference to be held in D
Homs: The Capital of Syrian Uprising
Homs: The Capital of Syrian Uprising By a Syrian expat originally from Homs for Syria Comment Posted by Camille Otrakji. This article is an attempt to provide a brief synopsis of the history and the socio-economic fabric of the city. This will help explain why Homs is the center of anti-government demonstrations and potentially the future site of intense sectarian violence. Homs before the 1900s
altmuslim 6 unread articles mark these articles as read
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Afghan women: Pawns of war and peace
On November 18, 2001, in a radio address to the nation, then-First Lady Barbara Bush condemned the degrading treatment imposed on Afghan women by the Taliban regime. Thus the story of the US invasion of Afghanistan began with women: the promises of liberating them, the efforts to gain their trust and to feed their malnourished babies and bring security to their war-ravaged country. In the words of
Assessing the ummah: What we can learn from Gilad Shalit
As Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier captured by Hamas more than five years ago, was finally released in a vast prisoner exchange, it made me think about the relentless pursuit of his release by Israel. Such a pursuit by one's family is both natural and understandable. Yet, not only was his family behind him, but the entire nation of Israel was behind him. So many times, Israelis - from government
TV portrayals: Cheering a Muslim as we do a murderer
Last weekend, millions of Americans (and I) tuned in to watch the premiere of the sixth season of Showtime's Dexter. The show's protagonist is a serial killer who follows a personal code of harming only those who have harmed others. Fans of the show identify with him, wondering who his next victim will be and hoping he doesn't get caught by the police. It doesn't matter that Dexter is a lying mur
Headcoverings in France: The burden of bans
As September gasped its last, something unprecedented happened in the French town of Meaux, located about 25km from the heart of Paris. In this town, whose previous claim to renown had been its cheese and a special variety of mustard, the first fine was imposed on two women who had been found wearing the niqab, or the full-face veil, in public. The women, Hind Ahmas and Najate Nait Ali, were order
I Got Your Book: Signal Boosts
I’m still reading — and enjoying Moondancer Drake’s Ancestral Magic. Until I get the chance to do an actual review, here’s a couple of fabulous signal boosts. :) Ahem! Delux_Vivens linked to Inside the Favelas Linda Addison has a new collection out, entitled How to Recognize a Demon Has Become Your Friend Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop continues to wow Nisi Shawl gets interviewed Amal El-Mohtar ha
I GOT YOUR BOOK: Post the First
This here is a new series designed to boost the profile of SF authors of color. First up, we have a few signal boosts: Tobias Buckell is looking for help to fund Apocalypse Ocean, a Sly Mongoose novel. Ephemere is nearly done with Kandila An excerpt from the horror collection Let’s Play White A series of SF short films Lisa Suhair Majaj has been featured on Split This Rock Next time? We’ll
After the High School Reunion
It was wonderful to see everyone at the 1981 Surry Central High 30th Year Reunion last night and I love the fact that we are still just as loud, obnoxious, fun, irreverent, honorable and hilarious as we used to be as teenagers. After I got tossed out of the homecoming dance by certain Dr. Ratledge (I wasn’t even drinking this time), four of us found one of the only open bars in the county and sta
Dangerous Knowledge
Very interesting documentary… (Although I keep in mind that BBC produced it…)
‘Gaddafi murder – international crime’ 
WORLD TRUTH TODAY • 13 days ago
Reparatii masini de spalat
Automatic Wash Service asigura reparatii masini de spalat cu tehnicieni calificati pentru a asigura service de calitate la orice masina de spalat. Firma autorizata sa efectueze reparatii masini de spalat Reparam orice model de masina de spalat marca AristonAsiguram service pentru masini de spalat automate in Bucuresti si Ilfov Firma noastra dispune de cinci autoutilitare si tot atatea echipe. Inte
How to Reconcile For top Locksmith in Denver colorado For The Needs
You can find very many locksmiths which are you can purchase that make discovering and choosing the most appropriate each overwhelming expertise. This means that and discover the very best locksmith in Colorado you need to possess the correct ideas and suggestions that will assist you with your venture. To start with you will have to execute a very good investigation for the numerous Denver color
Where To Find Free Legal Advice – And What It’s Worth
In the Internet Age, there are actually thousands of places to get free legal advice ‘ and some websites can even walk you through the process of dealing with legal issues for which there is no need for a lawyer, such as creating a corporation, drawing up certain types of contracts, etc. There are also companies that offer “legal plans,” which are similar to an insurance policy. For a monthly fee
Man Robs Bank With Nasty Note
Holding up a bank has become really easy. These days all you need is a nasty note. The FBI has dubbed the guy in the security camera shot as the “Wedding Band Bandit”; because he’s wearing a wedding band would be my guess. Armed with his threatening hand written note, according to the FBI press release, He approached one of the tellers presenting his note in a threatening manner. The teller forke
Pumpkin Carnage on Detroit Freeway!
Road workers found themselves plowing pulp after a truck dumped a load of pumpkins on a Detroit-area freeway during this morning’s commute. Hundreds of pumpkins were scattered Wednesday across several lanes of traffic this morning. Many of the pumpkins were pulverized as drivers passed through. Snow plows had to be used to clear what remained of pumpkins from the roadway. Video from a traffic cam
Exactly why the particular Moncler can be the well-known star’ very best enjoy
Multi-colored Moncler electric outlet Doudoune art print ensure it is hard to ignore it’s lifestyle. The emblem had been started through the French nobility Mr.Pucci In the beginning he simply want to create themself and the lover to design an attractive skiing apparel, did not expect to attend the particular media press captured along with released in vogue mags. Doudoune moncler jackets possess
“Killing and treatment of Gaddafi blow to NTC” by Nkwazi Mhango Although former Libya strongman Muammar Gaddaffi was almost hated by everybody except those who were closer to him, what the new regime did to display his remains for public to ridicule was unreasonable. There might be three reasons as to why Gaddafi was killed and publicly displayed. One, it is either the order came from above to have Gaddafi killed or it shows how disorganized National Transitio
Although former Libya strongman Muammar Gaddaffi was almost hated by everybody except those who were closer to him, what the new regime did to display his remains for public to ridicule was unreasonable. There might be three reasons as to why Gaddafi was killed and publicly displayed. One, it is either the order came from above to have Gaddafi killed or it shows how disorganized National Transitio
Restaveks: Child Slaves in Haiti
Al Jazeera: Slavery: A 21st Century Evil Part 4: Child Slaves (click on image)
MLK: Made in China
A few years ago when I learned about the Martin Luther King Jr. monument that was to be constructed in our nation’s capital, I got excited. When I learned that the artist assigned to produce the sculpture of perhaps the most notable Negro in American history was a Negro himself, I got even more excited. Not too long after hearing this news, I learned that the project leaders decided to go with an
Slavery: A 21st Century Evil 
(title unknown) • 14 days ago
Visit Galveston,Texas—Galveston Business People Are Part Of The 99%
Last weekend I was fortunate enough to spend the day in Galveston, Texas. Above is a picture of the sunset in Galveston last Saturday. Galveston is a great spot to see the ocean and to look around at all the history. I’ve visited Galveston roughly every 6 weeks for the 13 years I’ve lived in Houston. Here is the Galveston tourism website. Be certain to support the local business people in Galvest
If You Value Somebody, You Should Contact Them Now
Three people I knew and valued in Cincinnati have died this year. My father in March, a friend named Tim Hustmyer last month, and my friend Curtis Calhoun a few days ago. Curtis is on the front right of this picture. In the case of my dad and Tim, I told them I valued them before they died. As for Curtis, I did not know he was having a hard time and I did not contact him despite being in Cincinn
Pictures From November 2nd Occupy Houston March In Downtown Houston
I took part in an Occupy Houston march this afternoon in Downtown Houston. A purpose of the march was to offer support for Iraq veteran and Occupy protestor Scott Olsen. Mr. Olsen was seriously wounded by police in Oakland at an Occupy Oakland demonstration. This peaceful march in Downtown Houston during the lunch hour also had the salutary effect of showing the flag for Occupy Houston and Occupy
Liberal & Progressive Options For 2011 Houston City Council—Eric Dick Tells You Who He Is
I early voted a few hours ago in our Houston 2011 city elections. Above are campaign signs that were across the street from the polling place. The man with the dark hair on the other side of that Eric Dick sign near the center of the picture is none other than Council postion #2 candidate Eric Dick. It is not very good picture of Eric–But it is him. I’ve met Eric twice and have had nice conversa
Sean Hubbard Saying Some Of The Right Things As He Campaigns For Texas Democratic U.S. Senate Nomination—We’ll See If He Means Any Of It
Democratic Texas U.S Senate candidate Sean Hubbard will be in Galveston and Houston this upcoming Friday and Saturday. While I realize it could all be a scam to draw support in the Texas Democratic primary, I have noticed that Mr. Hubbard on his Facebook page has offered some backing for Occupy Wall Street type efforts in Texas. Here is Mr. Hubbard’s website. Above is a picture from Mr. Hubbard’
Next Occupy Galveston Protest Is Saturday, November 5th At 28th & Seawall
Above is the poster for the next Occupy Galveston protest. The poster also has information about how to contact, follow, and, if you wish, provide leadership for Occupy Galveston. Even in smaller towns and cities in our great nation, Occupy Wall Street has inspired people. Here is the Occupy Wall Street website.
Scotland’s Gay Conservative Leader
The Scottish Conservatives have elected an openly gay leader. Good on them. It is also a shrewd political move. There are certainly more gays in Scotland than Conservatives.
Burnes Programme
I have just returned from recording a very long interview for Radio Scotland for a programme they are doing on Alexander Burnes in their series on great explorers. Just a few snippets of mine will be used in a half hour programme, but I have enormously enjoyed working with the BBC’s extremely knowledgable producer and research historian on this and I think the programme will explain why I am so e
Euro Blackmail
Watching the international blackmail of Papandreou and Greece to cancel his referendum plan has been pretty ugly – I imagine the diplomatic style and atmosphere of the Munich conference was similar. The joy in the financial markets at the cancellation of the referndum may be foolish. The Greeks have effectively given up all effective sovereignity over their economy. To do that without having vot
Assange and Sweden
There may be a ruling today on Julian Assange’s proposed extradition to Sweden to face some ridiculously flimsy accusations of “minor rape”. The threat to Assange, that the Swedish authorities will simply hand him over to the United States on espionage charges, is very real. Sweden was one of the tiny minority of 14 – the US and US vassal states – who on Monday voted against Palestinian membersh
Tent City University
I am giving a talk at Occupy London’s Tent City University by St Paul’s at noon tomorrow. Many thanks to all who responded to my request to help the logistics of this. I am going to donate some copies of Murder in Samarkand and The Catholic Orangemen of Togo for people to read on the occupation. I shall also be giving a talk at the Chapter Theatre, Cardiff on 13th November at 2.30pm, for Freedom
Palestine Can Now Join the International Criminal Court
Palestine is now a state. Membership of the United Nations is not in international law a pre-condition of statehood, and indeed is not compulsory for states. The existence of states not members of the UN is recognised in international law, not least by the UN itself. Palestine has just joined UNESCO for example under a provision which allows states which are not members of the United Nations to
BBC Shame 
Craig Murray • 5 days ago
Callous and Twisted Craig Murray • 5 days ago
Occupy London Craig Murray • 5 days ago
We’re planning to disrupt Anjem Choudhary’s Remembrance day demo
Extremist Muslim group Muslims Against Crusades are planning their annual Remembrance Day stunt again, on 11th November. The Daily Mail, which always reports on their actions in advance, says the demo, which will mock the charity for injured soldiers Help for Heroes, is due to take place outside the Royal Albert Hall, the same location where a poppy was burned last year. The Muslims Against Crusad
New report into the EDL shows most political overlap with the BNP
The think-tank Demos have published a report into the English Defence League. There report is here. They say: While leaders of the EDL claim they are a pluralistic, liberal movement that is fighting Islamic extremism, chants heard at demonstrations and the vitriol frequently posted on the EDL’s chat forums suggest otherwise. It is in this context that we have undertaken the first ever large-scale
Happy Diwali
Pickled Politics would like to wish our Sikh and Hindu readers a very Happy Diwali. Hindus around the world celebrate Diwali (the “festival of lights”) for a range of reasons, most popularly to commemorate the return of the victorious Hindu deity Rama to the city of Ayodhya, as described in the Ramayana. The inhabitants of the city decorated it with lamps to celebrate Rama’s return. The festival
Crowd-sourcing info-graphics on UK inequality – get involved!
Graphs like this from the New York Times and this from Business Insider have been circulating all over Facebook, along with lots of other charts and info on how bad inequality has gotten in the United States. I literally cannot log info Facebook without being hit with another graph that backs up the arguments made by the Occupy Wall Street movement. But 99% of these graphs relate to the United Sta
Faibian society elections: my choices
The Fabian Society election ballots have to be returned by post before 5pm on Friday 21 October. So today’s like the last chance you have, unless you deliver it by hand! And voting at Fabian exec ballots is usually quite low (colleagues tell me) so voting is VERY important! Anyway, here are the people I’m definitely voting for and would recommend (in alphabetical order) Asato, Jessica Ibrahim, Sar
The political dilemma on immigration and welfare
This is more a quick note and thought than an extensive analysis (which I’ll write up later). Anthony Browne at ConHome writes that immigration is ‘cooling’ as an issue. I’m entirely unsurprised by this, and it illustrates how these issues change in importance on the left and right. Voters generally assume that Tories will be harder on issues such as immigration, ‘welfare cheats’ and reducing govt
EDL thugs attacks bookstall run by Muslims 
Pickled Politics • 19 days ago
Jagjit Singh – a tribute Pickled Politics • 20 days ago
It’s A New Dawn
So yesterday my old-time companero, Man Mountain Mike, told me the tale of how he sat witness, as a dearly beloved passed from out of the corporeal container, and into the great wide open. None of the details he experienced and related need concern us here. Except the final ones. When he perceived that there had occurred from this man an exhale, that had seemingly not been followed by an inhale. A
Play It Full
Nice piece by David Dobbs in Wired. Inspired by Steve Silberman’s homage to good teachers on his blog NeuroTribes. Dobbs’ offering is “What Malone Said.” It recounts what happened when, after studying the violin for some five years, Dobbs had placed before him, by Malone, Bach’s D minor partita. Dobbs practiced the piece at home for a week, then returned to Malone, to play for him about half the f
Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee
Not long ago I wrote on this blog that “Rick Perry looks more like a farm animal than a human being. He appears to be the result of an experiment that sought to cross a man with a steer. I’d say the experiment failed. For an obvious side-effect of this Island of Dr. Moreau monkeying with nature is that Perry was born without a brain. He is like that episode of Star Trek where Spock’s brain was lif
Reagan Robs Florida Man
A Bradenton, Florida man was robbed Tuesday night by Ronald Reagan, who appeared from out of the darkness, dressed in black, accosting the man with a black semi-automatic pistol, demanding he hand over his cash. The man, one Anthony Williams, did so—surrendering to the ex-president some $65—and then Reagan shuffled into the night. Manatee County Sheriff’s Office officials are searching for a “man
Mistakes Were Made
“When I started the Table, it was to stop anarchy. It was a channel for brute force, so that the people who had to use force could be made to do it in a useful way. But the whole thing was a mistake. No, don’t interrupt me. It was a mistake because the Table itself was founded on force. Right must be established by right: it can’t be established by Force Majeur. But that is what I have been trying
Life As A Man
He considered tucking his shirt into his pants, decided the President probably wouldn’t be stopping by that day, and shuffled out into the kitchen in his sock feet. The bright sunlight coming in the east windows made him squint. —Stephen King, The Stand Filed under: Oddbins, Wyrds
By Any Other Name 
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A single cell is not a person: the problem of twins
by Doctor Science As I hope you all know, Mississippians are going to be voting on a "Fetal Personhood Amendment" on Tuesday. The amendment states: The term 'person' or 'persons' shall include every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.Now, the American Family Association (among others) saysthe inclusion of the word cloning in the proposed Ame
Your Herpetology Friday open post
by liberal japonicus My wife and I were marveling at this A Burmese python slithering through the Everglades proved that her eyes weren't bigger than her stomach, swallowing intact a 76-pound deer. At 15.65 feet, the python isn't the largest on record. But the size of her prey both impresses and concerns state and federal wildlife scientists and land managers trying to control the non-nat
Who watches the watchers lose their tempers?
by Doctor Science I'm not *completely* crazy, so I'm not doing NaNoWriMo, but I am going to try WriSoMiFu. The specific variant I am choosing: write a blog post per day, spending no more than one hour on the writing part. For me this will be practically Twitter-like, real high-speed stream-of-consciousness stuff. The first second[1] thing to bob to the surface in the primordial soup that is my b
Niallism
by Eric Martin There have been two recent reviews of Niall Ferguson's most recent book that are very worth reading. The first, by Pankaj Mishra, is a methodical survey of Ferguson's recent works, with a concise accounting of the many glaring gaps in knowledge and sloppy methodology that afflict Ferguson's pseudo-scholarship (including, of course, in his latest offering). While Mishra
CPT Thomas J. Casey's Bronze Star
by Gary Farber Published this morning in the Valencia County News-Bulletin of New Mexico: John Casey will tell you the story of his son. He will tell you Thomas J. Casey was always polite and well behaved as a child — had a great attitude, competitive and a team player. Casey will tell you Tom made it through the rigors of the Albuquerque Academy and graduated cum laude in 1997 from the Univer
Your migrating dinosaur Friday open thread
by liberal japonicus Though I may be assuming that my foibles are shared by everyone my age, I think that American kids of a certain age, had a fascination with dinosaurs. So if that's the case, this, from the Guardian, discusses recent evidence for dinosaur migrations. What is the evidence? Fricke's team attempted to reconstruct camarasaur migrations by measuring oxygen isotopes (variant
The future of Libya open thread 
Obsidian Wings • 15 days ago
Your DIY Friday open thread Obsidian Wings • 15 days ago
Flat tax and pulling your own weight Obsidian Wings • 16 days ago
Occupy Oakland, Occupy Food
On Wednesday, PAN joined the ever-growing Occupy movement in Oakland and the supermajority of Americans frustrated with corporate control of finances, homes and yes — food. PAN and partners — including Californians for Pesticide Reform and Food & Water Watch — carved out a space among the thousands of concerned people gathered in Downtown Oakland to discuss the challenges posed by our corp
Rivers & fish win policy battle — for now
As of this week, it looks like our rivers, streams and lakes — and the critters who live in them — will be a little more protected from pesticides. Unless, that is, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and others representing agribusiness interests manage to undo EPA’s court-ordered efforts to better protect the nation’s waterways from pesticide pollution. Roberts and company are pursuing every legislative
No more secret atrazine science
For over a year, PAN has been watching EPA’s long-overdue review of atrazine, a common herbicide and potent endocrine disruptor. From the outset we've called for reliance on science not funded by industry – and we've been disappointed. Of the roughly 25 health-related studies submitted for the review's final session, 10 were not available to the public and exempt from the rigors of p
Crazy, secret Food & Farm Bill
Things are moving fast, furiously and secretively in Washington, DC with the entirely undemocratic development of the 2012 Food and Farm Bill — an approximately $300 billion, tax dollar-funded set of programs covering everything from farm support programs and renewable energy research to food stamps and conservation initiatives. It is expected that the 12-member congressional Super Committee w
What’s your beef (and why’s it coming from Tanzania?)
What do an American businessman, Iowa State University and 162,000 refugees in Tanzania have in common? Answer: they are all either directly involved in or soon-to-be impacted by a small group of U.S. investors’ plans to acquire 800,000 acres (1,250 square miles) of land in Tanzania and transform it into large-scale industrial crop, beef and agrofuel production. They plan to use genetically en
Pink ribbons for prevention: It's time.
We've come through yet another pink-ribboned October. It's hard to miss the symbol of breast cancer awareness, it's on everything from perfume packaging to baby bottles to fast food takeout cups. The thing is, I'm pretty sure we don't need reminding that breast cancer's a problem. If you haven't gone through the battle yourself, odds are you've supported someone
American LeftistA Misguided Action at Occupy Oakland? UPDATE 2: Rumors of a imminent shutdown of Occupy Wall Street, too.UPDATE 1: A an open letter by a medic on indybay: My concern was with the ill-conceived tactics used to occupy the building, in that it looked like an anarchist glamorshot instead of a committed and revolutionary act to actually acquire and hold that space. I am tired of direct actions being done in a way that turns them into photo
UPDATE 2: Rumors of a imminent shutdown of Occupy Wall Street, too.UPDATE 1: A an open letter by a medic on indybay: My concern was with the ill-conceived tactics used to occupy the building, in that it looked like an anarchist glamorshot instead of a committed and revolutionary act to actually acquire and hold that space. I am tired of direct actions being done in a way that turns them into photo
A Misguided Action at Occupy Oakland?
UPDATE: Go here for a statement from some of the participants in the Traveler's Aid Society squat referenced below and an insightful array of responses to it. Many of those posting comments expressed the opinion that the seizure of the building was poorly planned in light of the predictable police response and put the occupation at risk.INITIAL POST: In most instances, a direct action for the pur
Occupy Oakland Closes the Port of Oakland
UPDATE 2: A late night squat of an abandoned building that had housed a provider of services to the homeless was apparently a bridge too far: UPDATE 1: Bank closures were a prominent feature of protests during the day: In addition to the port, where an average of $8.5 million in business is done each day, banks were a particular focus of Wednesday's action — and of its vandals. City officials said
Oakland General Strike Updates
Indybay coverage has been excellent. For updates, go here (see the Twitter feed on the right side of the page) and here and here and here.
Oakland Rises by Standing as One
I believe that people are going to shocked at the turnout for tomorrow's announced general strike in Oakland. Of course, most people will work, and most businesses will remain open. But the extent of public participation is going to be amazing. It is an intensification of a wave of direct action protest that has emerged in the East Bay in recent years.First, there was rioting in downtown Oakland
Police Infiltrate Occupy Oakland
Another instance of the police engaging in the surveillance of the Occupy Together effort. Note that the 2003 comments of the current interim chief, Howard Jordan, at the start of the video most likely took place after the antiwar protests at the Port of Oakland that I mentioned on Saturday.Hat tip to spocko at firedoglake.
The War at Home 
American Leftist • 6 days ago
American Leftist • 6 days ago The War at Home American Leftist • 6 days ago
American Leftist • 6 days ago Occupy Sacramento Meltdown American Leftist • 13 days ago
American Leftist • 13 days ago Small steps on climate finance in Cannes will require giant leaps in Durban
Cannes, France – Global leaders need to look well beyond “band-aid and bail-out” short-term interventions designed to fix urgent economic crises – to create the long-term, green solutions the world so desperately needs. “However, we have been encouraged that the G20 French Presidency made a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) one of its highest priorities leading into the summit,” said Elise Buckle,
Invest in the future of the Coral Triangle
Jakarta, Indonesia - The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has launched a new regional campaign that encourages individuals to buy virtual property across the Coral Triangle, the world’s center of marine life. The innovative online MyCoralTriangle campaign will make ample use of social media, a series of print advertisements, and a 30-second television commercial that will lead online audiences t
Rhino horn demand leads to record poaching
South Africa – More rhinos have been killed in South Africa in the past 10 months than were killed in all of 2010, new poaching numbers reveal. Statistics from South Africa National Parks show that 341 animals have been lost to poaching so far in 2011, compared to a record total of 333 last year. South Africa’s grim milestone comes on the heels of an announcement by WWF last week that rhinos h
WWF film on poaching crisis in Malaysia wins top award
Selangor, Malaysia - On Borrowed Time, a documentary highlighting the poaching crisis in the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex produced by WWF-Malaysia and TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, has won the top prize at Malaysia’s Eco Film Festival. Filmed by the award-winning documentary maker Novista, the story depicts the tremendous threats faced by the wildlife in northern Peninsular Malaysia and was named Best
Development under threat from environmental damage and social inequity
Gland, Switzerland: WWF has welcomed a major new UN report warning that the trend to rising living standards is coming under threat from accumulating environmental damage and rising social inequity. According to the UN Development Program 2011 Human Development Report "Sustainability and Equity: A better future for all", sustainability is “not exclusively or even primarily an environmental issue”
Working together to build climate resilience
By Seth Jackson Whilst efforts to reach a global consensus on combating climate change continue, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh will hammer-out a regional climate resilience roadmap at the upcoming Climate Summit for a Living Himalayas in November 2011. For the 4 nations involved this is an absolute necessity - the time for action is running out. Nowhere is this more evident than the mid-hil
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