September 21st 2012
World NewsVIDEO: Al Qaeda, ex-Gitmo detainee involved in consulate attack, intelligence sources say Daily Mail - A former al-Qaeda terrorist released from Guantanamo Bay is believed to be the leader of the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, including the US Ambassador, it was revealed on Wednesday. Sufyan Ben Qumu, who was reportedly once Osama bin Laden's driver, was let out of the US military detention center in Cuba in 2007 and turned over to the government of Muammar Gaddafi on the condition he be kept behind bars.
White H
ouse Says Benghazi Consulate a 'Terrorist Attack' (abc news) - For the first time, White House press secretary Jay Carney publicly characterized the deadly assault on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, as a "terrorist attack."
Embassies close in fear of more protests
(CNN) - Several diplomatic facilities were shuttered Friday as many brace for intensified protests over the anti-Islam movie "Innocence of Muslims," as well as recently published cartoons in a French publication of a figure resembling the Prophet Mohammed.
VIDEO: Air strike on Syrian gas station kills at least 30
RT - An air strike in the Syrian province of Raqqa hit a gas station, killing and injuring at least 100 people, according to reports.... This latest escalation of violence in the 18-month uprising came as the Dutch Foreign Minister hosted a "Friends of Syria" meeting in The Hague to refine sanctions against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Israeli strike on Iran may wreck Arab treaties: U.S. officials
Raw Story - Egypt and Jordan could annul their peace treaties with Israel if it carries out a preemptive strike against Iran, US officials have warned the Jewish state, an Israeli newspaper reported Thursday. Quoting a high-level Israeli official, Yediot Aharonot said Washington had warned the Jewish state that Arab leaders would not be able to control an angry public backlash if Israel were to mount an attack on Iran.
Last of 33000 surge troops leave Afghanistan
Press TV - The last of the 33,000 U.S. soldiers that President Barack Obama sent to Afghanistan nearly three years ago as part of a military surge have left the country, U.S. defense officials said. The withdrawal, which began in July, follows an unprecedented number of NATO soldiers being shot dead by their Afghan colleagues -- 51 so far this year -- and comes as anti-Western protests sweep Muslim countries.
Despite What Obama Said - The Two Ex-Navy SEALs Were Not Part of Libyan Ambassador's Security Detail (Gateway Pundit) - The two ex-Navy SEALs were not part of the Libyan Ambassador's security detail. The two heroes, Tyrone Woods, 41, and Glen Doherty, 42, were not employed by the State Department diplomatic security office but took up arms in an attempt to rescue the ambassador during the terrorist attack.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
PRESENTING: The Most Corrupt Members Of Congress Business Insider - Every year, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) releases a list of the most corrupt members of Congress. The list, which has come under fire from conservatives for being too left-leaning, is based on a combination campaign finance violations, flagrant rules violations, credible allegations of corruption and other factors.Judge Napolitano Resigns From the Cato Board
(Lew Rockwell) - Could it be because of the neocon-like warmongering and Republican establishment politics? Or that all board members and top execs are personally liable under DC law if the shenanigans, on which the kibosh has definitely not been put, continue?
Senate Committee Hypes Iranian Quds Force Threat to America Kurt Nimmo - Citing a widely debunked "terror plot" against the Saudi ambassador to the United States, officials claim Iran's "extremist militias and their proxies" pose a "threat beyond the immediate [Middle East] region," including the U.S. homeland, the Washington Times reports.
Senate Committee Hypes Iranian Quds Force Threat to America
Kurt Nimmo - Citing a widely debunked "terror plot" against the Saudi ambassador to the United States, officials claim Iran's "extremist militias and their proxies" pose a "threat beyond the immediate [Middle East] region," including the U.S. homeland, the Washington Times reports.
DOJ-Funded Training Manual Lists Bumper Stickers as Terrorism Paul Joseph Watson - A leaked training manual used in the State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training (SLATT) program for law enforcement and funded by the Department of Justice lists political bumper stickers expressing opposition to the United Nations and support for the bill of rights as indications of terrorist activity.
2012 Election News
Pawlenty quits as Romney campaign co-chair
yahoo.com - Tim Pawlenty quit as co-chair of Mitt Romney's presidential campaign on Thursday to become one of Wall Street's top lobbyists in Washington. Pawlenty, a former governor of Minnesota, will lead the Financial Services Roundtable. The move came with Romney's campaign struggling to find its stride with just seven weeks left before Election Day.
Obama store sells Obamerican flagAmerican Thinker - I am shocked that the Obama store would sell a version of the American flag with the fifty stars replaced by the campaign's iconic [light blue] O with flowing [orange] stripes across the bottom. But for 35 bucks you can get a "Screen print designed by Ross Bruggink and Dan Olson of Studio MPLS.
Health
Levels of Arsenic in Rice Skyrocket, FDA Urged to Set Standards
Natural Society - A year after consumer groups pressured the Food and Drug Administration to define standards for arsenic in apple juice, they are now forming a similar push for rice. A new study shows unsettlingly high levels of arsenic-a carcinogenic element that appears in inorganic and organic form-in rice grown in southern states, but the FDA is discouraging panic. Still, arsenic in rice is scaring consumers everywhere.
YouTube: Experts Discuss the Findings of the Roundup/GM Cancer Trial The Grocer Channel - The world's best-selling weedkiller, and a genetically modified maize resistant to it, can cause tumours, multiple organ damage and lead to premature death, a new study has revealed. Its results are published in The Food & Chemical Toxicology Journal in New York. Here, experts discuss the significance of the findings.VIDEO: Scientists Find Cannabis Compound Stops Metastasis In Aggressive Cancers Huffington Post - A pair of scientists at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco has found that a compound derived from marijuana could stop metastasis in many kinds of aggressive cancer, potentially altering the fatality of the disease forever. "It took us about 20 years of research to figure this out, but we are very excited," said Pierre Desprez, one of the scientists behind the discovery, to The Huffington Post. "We want to get started with trials as soon as possible."
New Diet Drug Trades Brain Damage for Minimal Loss Gaia Health - The latest entry into the prescription weight-loss drug market, Qsymia®, is a combination of two dangerous drugs, one of which, topiramate (Topamax brand name), is known to cause brain damage.A Close Look at Your Bills' 'Fine Print'
Americans are paying high prices for poor-quality Internet speeds -- speeds that are now slower than in other countries, according to author David Cay Johnston. He says the U.S. ranks 29th in speed worldwide. Johnston says that telephone and cable companies worked the regulatory process and the legislatures and Congress to get the rules written for their benefit.
No Commissioners Slated for FCC LightSquared Oversight Hearing
FCC International Bureau Chief Mindel De La Torre and Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Julius Knapp are the only two witnesses slated for a House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on the FCC's handling of the conditional waiver to LightSquared, according to the committee website.
FCC Suspends Deregulation Rule
The FCC suspended a rule that allows telecom companies to request deregulation of special access markets, saying it needs a better method to gauge competitiveness in those markets.
CU Students Probe Denver Ad Buy Records
Students from the University of Colorado are among the first journalists in this state to mine data from the political advertising contracts that many stations must now post online under an FCC mandate issued earlier this year.
Political Robocalls Could Prove Costly
Political campaigns that robocall iPhones and Androids may be in for a shock: They could be fined $16,000 per call. Campaigns need a mobile phone user’s permission before routing a text or robocall to a wireless device, according to the FCC.
The New York Times Bans Quote Approval
Public Editor Margaret Sullivan got her wish: The New York Times has a clear policy on quote approval. The paper will no longer allow sources to change quotes after an interview.
James Murdoch to Expand Role in News Corp.'s U.S. TV Operations
James Murdoch, the youngest son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, is poised to take over much of News Corp.'s U.S.-based television operations despite his tarnished reputation for his handling of the phone-hacking scandal in Britain, according to people familiar with the plans.
Google News at 10: How the Algorithm Won Over the News Industry
There is an incredibly simple explanation for the shift in news organizations' attitude toward Google: clicks. Google News was founded 10 years ago -- Sept. 22, 2002 -- and has since functioned not merely as an aggregator of news, but also as a source of traffic to news sites.
Twitter Puts Together 'Best Practices' for Journalists
Twitter has put together a set of “best practices” for journalists and newsrooms. Twitter says it analyzed thousands of tweets from over 150 news brands and individual reporters around the world to come up with the list.
Not so long ago, magazine and newspaper editors knew exactly what they were looking for when hiring young journalists. Certain jobs called for certain skills: Reporters had to report, researchers had to research, designers had to design. These days, things are more complicated. Most of the new jobs in journalism are on the digital side, where a broader and somewhat different set of skills is required than we print hires possessed a generation or two ago. What editors need now is a new breed of journalist.
In Other News..
What's Wrong With This Picture?
Judge Refuses to Order YouTube to Remove Anti-Islam Film
Cyberwar on Iran More Widespread Than First Thought
Senate Panel Unanimously Opposes Giving U.N. More Internet Control
Apple Mapocalypse Sends iOS 6 Users Into a Tizzy, Riverbank
Cellphones Skew Political Polls: Did Landlines Do the Same Thing in 1936?
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September 20th 2012
World News
Israel Launches Deadly Air Strikes On Gaza
Liberty Crier - GAZA (Reuters) - An Israeli air strike on a vehicle killed three Palestinian security officials in theHamas-Islamist ruled Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Palestinian medics and Hamas said. The Israeli military confirmed it had launched an air strike in Gaza but had no further comment.
Syrian forces kill 100 Afghan insurgents in Aleppo
Press TV - On Thursday, the Syrian forces also arrested about 100 armed men near the capital, Damascus. Many insurgents were killed during clashes with the Syrian troops in Aleppo's Maysaloon district on Wednesday. The Syrian army also seized large amounts of weapons and ammunition, including Israel-made bombs.
Brazil Angered By QE3: 'Financial Tsunami Is Start Of New Currency War'
Liberty Crier - PARIS, Sept 19 (BERNAMA-NNN-MERCOPRESS) - The latest round of United States quantitative easing will create many problems for emerging countries and Brazil will take action to keep its currency Real from rising in value, Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said on Tuesday.
Kurt Nimmo - Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, an influential Muslim scholar and a professor at King Abdul Aziz University in Saudi Arabia, has called for the United Nations to end free speech. The UN Human Rights Committee has declared the right to free speech and expression may be subjected to restrictions that are "strictly necessary and proportionate."
New Video Shows Obama-Backed Syrian Rebels Burning U.S. Flag
Paul Joseph Watson - Why is the White House funding extremists who hate America? The video again serves to illustrate the disconnect between the Obama administration's decision to send millions in taxpayer money to help extremists who hate America in their bid to overthrow President Bashar Al-Assad.
VIDEO: Lagarde: IMF Considering 'Extension' For Greece Bailout
Daily Bail - The International Monetary Fund's Christine Lagarde said Greece may get more time to make the cuts demanded of it in return for bailouts: "The review process is underway and just began a week ago, so I think it's really premature to already pass judgement on the timing issue. Greece has already produced a huge effort, but will have to continue to do so. There are various ways to adjust - time is one that needs to be considered as an option."
Fire Tornadoes Ripped Through Australia's Outback Last Week
yahoo.com - Just 300 metres away was a 30-metre high fire swirl which "sounded like a fighter jet", despite there being no wind in the area. A fire tornado, also know as a fire devil, is caused when a column of warm, rising air comes into contact - or causes - a fire on the ground. These fire whirls are known to last for around two minutes on the very rare occasions they take place.... In 1923, a fire whirl emerged during Japan's Great Kanto Earthquake and killed 38,000 people in just 15 minutes.
France Launches Major Investigation Into GMOs Following Tumor Study
Natural Society - Following the release of a peer-reviewed piece of research linking the consumption of Monsanto's Roundup-containing GMO crops to tumors and organ damage, the French government is now calling for a health agency investigation.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
VIDEO: This will blow your mind!! Outrageous Government Spending!
Patriot Action Network - UNBELIEVABLE! This will blow your mind. Boy do we need some real oversight and reform. Watch this .50 second video and please share!! Obama and admin need to go! Rep. Chaffetz hears the testimony of John F. Sopko, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction at the hearing "SIGAR Report: Document Destruction and Millions of Dollars Unaccounted for at the Department of Defense. Part II."
CIA sued over drone killings
RT - The American Civil Liberties Union is taking the CIA to court for the agency's refusal to comply with a FOIA request to hand over documents about the Obama administration's "targeted killing" drone program. The CIA claims its drone program is "secret," even though President Obama, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and senior government officials have publicly spoken about the program.
VIDEO: No Recession Here! - U.S. Arms Sales Set Global Record
Daily Bail - New record of $66.3 billion. The U.S. war machine rolls on. On a global basis, U.S. companies are responsible for 80% of all arms sales. Fear is good business, especially for the war machine. According to a recent Congressional Research Service report, within the last year the U.S. has tripled weapons sales to $66.3 billion, more than half of which went to allied Gulf states.
DHS Purchases 200 Million More Rounds of Ammunition
Paul Joseph Watson - Following controversy over its purchase of around 1.2 billion bullets in the last six months alone, the Department of Homeland Security has put out a new solicitation for over 200 million more rounds of ammunition, some of which are designated to be used by snipers.
YouTube: Reality Check: Afghan Attacks on U.S. Soldiers "trending" in the Wrong Direction Ben Swann Reality Check takes a look at how the situation in Afghanistan is trending in the wrong direction and what President Obama says about these so called "Green on Blue" attacks.
Fast and Furious report: Justice Department at fault in gun-trafficking operation Press TV - The U.S. Justice Department's internal watchdog on Wednesday referred 14 employees, including senior official Lanny Breuer, for possible internal discipline in connection with a botched gun probe in Arizona.
Ex-Military Leaders Call Junk Food "National Security Threat"
Paul Joseph Watson - With one in four military age males in the United States deemed too fat to join the Army, retired generals and admirals are coming together under the banner of Mission: Readiness, a "nonpartisan national security organization" run by the Council for a Strong America, which recently received half a million dollars in funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
VIDEO: UC Professor Eyes Permanent Sterilant To Cull US Population
Jurriaan Maessen - During a speech earlier this year given by University of California-Riverside professor Richard Cardullo, the cottonseed derivative Gossypol is being proposed as an adequate sterilant to bring down the birthrate in the United States. Stating that the substance's permanent sterilization effects on males is already being considered for widespread use in China and many third world countries, Cardullo calls it "an option" for use within the United States.
2012 Election News
VIDEO: 'Israel lobby plays major role in US elections'
Press TV - The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has issued an official statement of "thanks" to President Obama and the Congressional leadership, praising them for "unshakeable" commitment to Israel.
Libertarian candidate calls for withdrawing from Middle East
LA Times - Little-known presidential candidate Gary Johnson gave an answer that would create a media firestorm if delivered by Barack Obama or Mitt Romney: the United States should get out of the Middle East. Johnson, a Libertarian who is on 47 state ballots and fighting petition challenges in the other three, including Pennsylvania, suggested that the U.S. presence in the Middle East is abetting unrest in the region.
Economy
YouTube: Judge Napolitano Exposes Secrets of the Fed on Fox
Judge Napolitano agrees with George Will that the Fed has become the 4th branch of government, unelected and no oversight over incredible powers. Arguing that it is neither federal nor a reserve, the Judge noted that the job of the Fed is to make the president - no matter who the president may be - look good.
YouTube: Reality Check: What is QE3? And What It Means For The U.S. Economy Ben Swann Reality Check explains QE3 and what it means for you.
Paul Subcommittee to Examine Federal Reserve Interest Rate Policy - Friday, 9/21
Daily Paul - Congressman Ron Paul, Chairman of the Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology Subcommittee, announced today that the subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine the effects of the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy on the American people. The hearing, entitled "The Price of Money: Consequences of the Federal Reserve's Zero Interest Rate Policy," will be held on Friday, September 21st, at 9:30 a.m. in room 2128 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
VIDEO: The Bubble: Who Caused it. Who Called it. What's Next - Official Trailer thebubblefilm.com - Coming in Fall 2012, The Bubble asks the experts who predicted the current recession, "What happened and why?" Diving deep into the true causes of the financial crisis, renowned economists, investors and business leaders explain what America is facing if we don't learn from our past mistakes. The film poses the question: "Is the economy really improving or are we just blowing up another Bubble?"
VIDEO: George Will: 'Bernanke Is Becoming The 4th Branch Of Government' Daily Bail - From Sunday, George Will on QE3, Bernanke and the Fed: "Quantitative easing is the government printing money. It's part of not mission creep, but mission gallop on part of the Fed, which is on its way to becoming the fourth branch of government, accountable to no one and restrained by nothing, as far as I can tell, in fiscal and monetary policy."
Tax penalty to hit nearly 6M uninsured people
The earlier estimate found 4 million people would be affected in 2016, when the penalty is fully in effect. The difference - 2 million people- represents a 50 percent increase.
House passes new Buffett Rule
Washington Times - The House on Wednesday passed Republicans' own version of the Buffett Rule, which allows wealthy Americans to voluntarily pony up to reduce the deficit.... "If Warren Buffett and others like him truly feel they're not paying enough in taxes, they can use the Buffett Rule Act to put their money where their mouth is and voluntarily send in more to pay down the national debt, rather than changing the entire tax code to inflict more job-killing tax hikes on hard-working Americans," said Rep. Steve Scalise, the Louisiana Republican who wrote the bill.
Tungsten-Filled 10 Oz Gold Bar Found In The Middle Of Manhattan's Jewelry District Zero Hedge - Myfoxny reported that a 10-ounce gold bar costing nearly $18,000 turned out to be a counterfeit. The discovery was made by the dealer Ibrahim Fadl, who bought the PAMP bar in question from a merchant who has sold him real gold before. "But he heard counterfeit gold bars were going around, so he drilled into several of his gold bars worth $100,000 and saw gray tungsten -- not gold. The bar was filled with tungsten, which weighs nearly the same as gold but costs just over a dollar an ounce."
Veteran News
VA, DOD to Fund $100 Million PTSD and TBI Study
WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2012 - The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense today announced they are investing more than $100 million in research to improve diagnosis and treatment of mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
Veterans jobs bill killed in Senate
Press TV - Senate Republicans blocked legislation Wednesday that would have established a $1 billion jobs program putting veterans back to work tending to the country's federal lands and bolstering local police and fire departments. Republicans said the spending authorized in the bill violated limits that Congress agreed to last year. Democrats fell two votes shy of the 60-vote majority needed to waive the objection, forcing the legislation back to committee.
Occupy Wall Street
VIDEO/ PHOTOS: Violent Arrests And Police Attacks On Photographers At Occupy Anniversary Daily Bail -Thousands of protesters took to the streets of New York to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement. In this clip a photo journalist attempting to document the arrest of two protesters in New York is shoved to the ground by members of the NYPD.
Dear Bankers: Thanks for Wrecking Our Lives ...
NY Times - Called Occupy the Boardroom, the site invited people across the country to write detailed letters to the executives and directors of banks. The site's developers promised to deliver them as e-mail and in person. The more than 8,000 letters that resulted (to Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley) supply some insight into the way different Americans experienced the financial crisis and recession since 2007.
Housing Market
Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley faulted for $73 billion residential mortgage-backed securities servicing Bloomberg - A law firm that won an $8.5 billion settlement from Bank of America Corp. (BAC) tied to faulty mortgage bonds said Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC) and Morgan Stanley (MS) failed to service $73 billion of similar securities, creating a default.
Spring Hill man pleads guilty to fabricating thousands of foreclosure inspection reports Tampa Bay Times - Counce's Brooksville company contracted with lenders to regularly inspect properties in foreclosure throughout the state. By 2009, Counce was sending as many as 100,000 inspection reports each month to Bank of America, receiving about $6.50 for each.
Majority Of U.S. Homeowners Paying At Least 5% Interest On Mortgages
Consumerist - While interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages have been hovering around the 4% mark for around a year -- and 15-year fixed loans have dipped below 3% in recent months -- nearly 7 out of 10 American homeowners are still paying at least 5% interest on their home loans.
Energy & Environment
Information For Chemtrail Skeptics
Dan Bidondi - I would like anyone, believer or non-believer, to download this PDF file called HR 2977 The Space & Preservation Act of 2001. In this document the United States Government openly admits the existence of Chemtrails and weather control weapons; also, to boot, Mass Mind Control Weapons and Techtronic Laser Weapons. Please download this Bill and print out for your records.
Health
Sufficient sleep is essential to fuel weight loss efforts
(NaturalNews) Canadian researchers publishing the Canadian Medical Association Journal have released the result of a study showing that adequate sleep is an important part of a weight loss plan and should be added to the recommended mix of diet and exercise.
Infographic: Carbs Are Killing You: Eating Fat Doesn't Make You Fat
massivehealth.com - A few conclusions: Eating fat doesn't actually make us fat. It's the insulin cycle, triggered by eating carbohydrates. The easily-digestible carbs like refined flour, soda, and potatoes are the worst offenders. For weight-loss, a low-carb diet is a lot more effective than a low-fat, high-carb one.
The most common lifestyle habits that create disease
(NaturalNews) Are you influenced by cultural bias and (unhealthy) modern lifestyle habits? For example, why do women wear bras? Are we lying "too flat" in our beds at night? Medical researchers suggest that these habits have the ability to promote sickness and disease. But, as we accept responsibility for our own health, and shift away from unhealthy behaviors - we can enjoy life disease-free.
How to make fool-proof, healthy mayonnaise
(NaturalNews) If you've made the switch to a natural foods lifestyle, chances are you've experienced a few failed attempts at making your own homemade mayonnaise. Mayo is a challenging recipe to master because standard recipes are based upon the delicate process of emulsifying raw eggs with oil.
** Try Wilderness Family Naturals mayonnaise from the Power Mall.]
New GMO study: Rats fed lifetime of GM corn grow tumors, 70% of females die early
(NaturalNews) Eating genetically modified corn (GM corn) and consuming trace levels of Monsanto's Roundup chemical fertilizer caused rats to develop horrifying tumors, widespread organ damage, and premature death.
The Evidence-Based Healing Properties of 13 Common Fruits
Green Med Info - Fruits elicit not only joy in the eating of them -- incidentally, the word fruit stems from the Latin word frui, meaning "to enjoy, use" -- but they also nourish and protect the body with powerful, built-in medicinal activity. Fruits are, of course, by design a "perfect food," intended to entice animals to consume them in order to help disseminate their seed.
Science & Technology
Supreme Court to rule on legality of wiretapping through FISA RT - The fight to stop the government's sweeping surveillance of emails and phone calls will go all the way to the Supreme Court. The ACLU has filed a lawsuit challenging the warrantless wiretapping provisions included under the FISA Amendment Acts.
Gardening, Farming & Homesteading
"Lettuce Bot" Rolls Through Crops, Terminates Weeds It Visually Identifies singularityhub.com - Lettuce Bot is a robotic terminator, targeting and selectively killing weeds on sight with 98 percent accuracy. It works by first differentiating weed from lettuce through its vision algorithms and then a trailing component either slices the weed down, injects a minimal dose of herbicide, or hits it with potent fertilizer.
Pet News
FDA: We Can't Prove Chinese Jerky Killed Hundreds Of Dogs, But Maybe Avoid It Anyway Consumerist - "Imported Chinese jerky?" you might be saying. "Who would buy their pet any food from a country whose safety standards would shock Upton Sinclair?" Lots of well-meaning Americans are feeding their dogs and cats imported treats.
Living on the Dark Side of the Digital Divide
While the rest of the state zips around the Web, a few remote areas of Washington lag years behind, crawling slowly but inevitably into the Internet Age.
The Sleeper Campaign Issue: Net Neutrality
You've barely heard about it during the 2012 campaign, but Net Neutrality is another important issue where the presidential candidates disagree.
Van Schewick's 'Internet Architecture and Innovation'
Barbara van Schewick has impeccable timing. Her seminal book on Network Neutrality, Internet Architecture and Innovation, has just come out in paperback and Kindle in the midst of the D.C. Circuit litigation about the FCC’s Open Internet rules and the same exact week that Free Press, New America Foundation and Public Knowledge announced they would file the first open-Internet complaint against AT&T for its treatment of FaceTime.
History, as Recorded on Twitter, Is Vanishing from the Web
Almost 30 percent of recorded history, shared over social media such as Twitter, has disapeared, according to a new study of the Egyptian uprising and other significant events.
Staples, Paper Jams and Security in Miami
Security is no joke at Miami’s local TV stations. All six stations I visited were behind tall fences with a gauntlet of security guards and call boxes. After my third or fourth attempt to explain to a security guard what the political files were, why I wanted to look at them and why I did not need an appointment to do so, I got to thinking about all the hoops I have had to jump through and bizarre conversations I have had in my political ad sleuth travels.
Online Political Advertising Gets Personal
Political advertising is taking over television airwaves in battleground states, but complementary online advertising is also ubiquitous and being used by campaigns more than ever before.
Tired of Political Robocalls? Join the Club
Robocalls are nothing new, but this form of computerized mass marketing is a favorite low cost way of engaging, and maybe enraging, the potential voter. Political operatives say they use them because they work, even if they risk backlash. It's not just the national campaigns, local candidates are doing it too
Newspaper Jobs Shrink 40 Percent in 10 Years
While plenty of industries have shrunk over the last couple of years, few have been hit as badly as newspaper publishing, which was already contracting before the economic downturn began. Since then, economic woes have simply reinforced the long-term trend.
State Ethics Czar to Scale Back Proposed Disclosure Rules on Blogs
A proposal to require campaigns in California to report when they pay bloggers for favorable mention will be scaled back to exclude instances when campaign workers informally blog or tweet their own views on the side, the head of the state ethics agency says.
Investors Fight Early Dismissal of Suit Against News Corp. Board
Shareholders of News Corp. will made their case in a U.S. court for holding its board responsible for phone hacking scandals that cost the company a major newspaper and a deal for full control of the BSkyB satellite business.
Ukraine Opposition Says Libel Law 'Death of Journalism'
Ukrainian opposition parties sounded the alarm over a move by President Viktor Yanukovich’s allies in parliament to reinstate defamation as a crime, saying it was aimed at further curbing the free press ahead of an election next month.
In Other News..
Google Reevaluates Lobbying Contracts
Why Are Five Million Kids on Facebook If It Doesn't Want Them?
The Internet and Things: How Manufacturing Could Get Better with a Dose of Networked Data
Why Your In-Flight Wi-Fi Is Slow and Expensive: It's All About the Pipe
How Much Tech Can One City Take?
International Newsworthy
Iran Makes a Move, Oil Slides
Western Sanctions,-Pressure Cannot Harm Iran: DM
Western Report – Iran Ships Arms-Personnel to Syria via Iraq
Iran Denies Military Presence in Syria
Iran Says Six Powers to Meet before more Nuclear Talks
US-NATO Under Siege in Afghanistan
Taliban Outflank U.S. War Strategy with Insider Attacks
China Donates 100 Ambulances to Afghanistan
Pakistan Army Kills 29 Taliban near Afghan Border
Pakistani Protesters Tear-Gassed & Beaten in Clashes with Police
Army Called to Protect Islamabad’s Diplomatic Enclave
Balochistan Restricts NGOs in Flood-Hit Areas
SC Orders Weekly Report on Balochistan Law & Order Situation
Syrian Forces Kill 100 Afghan Insurgents
Army Operation against Rebel Militia to Achieve Concrete Results in Month: Syrian Minister
Syrian Rebels Seize Crossing on Turkish Border
Damascus Talks Split Already Divided Opposition
Syria Rejects UN Report on ‘Child Torture’
Diplomats Discuss Sanctions against Syria in the Netherlands
Abbawi Denies Reports That Iraq Seeks to Sever Its Relations with Turkey
Iraqi Kurds Count on Turkey as Energy Hub Amid Friction
Yemen Claims Arrest of ‘Mossad Agent’
Yemen to Investigate Abuses during Anti-Saleh Uprising
Israeli Airstrike Kills Three Security Officials in Gaza
El Al, Israel’s National Airline, Plans To Suspend Cairo Route
Libyan Preacher Urges Followers to ‘Detonate Wrath’ Against West for Anti-Islam Film
Egypt: Militants Call Army Raid ‘Barbaric’
Massive Blast Hits Security Camp in Sinai
Jordan’s Muslim Brothers Push for Constitutional Monarchy
Mali: Al Qaeda Threatens to Kill French Hostages
Tension High in Northern Kenya over Fleeing Al- Shabaab
Additional Ugandan & S. Sudanese Troops Join Anti-LRA Force
Russia Sees Lack of Progress in Missile Talks with NATO
Russia Says US Aid Mission Sought to Sway Elections
Kazakhstan-Russia Sign Agreement on Oil & Petroleum Product Supply
Kazakhstan Energy Profile: Second Largest Oil Reserves among Former Soviet Republics – Analysis
‘President Saakashvili’s Enemies Tortured in Tbilisi Jail’
Bishkek Hands Putin Kyrgyz Independence
Tajik Leader Rules Out Talks with Rebels after Clashes
Italy: Court Upholds “Rendition” Convictions on ex-CIA Agents
Belarus Denies U.S. Accusations of Trying to Sell Weapons to Syria
Eight Kurds Arrested in Denmark on Charges of Funding PKK
France Bans Protest over Anti-Islam Movie
National Newsworthy
Warrantless Wiretapping Was Far More Involved Than Previously Known
DHS Enlists Citizen Spies via New Smartphone App
TSA Propaganda: Sex, Lies, and Video Clips
Using Executive Privilege, Obama Hides Fast & Furious Files
Appeals Court Approves Secrecy for TV Political Ad Donors
Fortress America: How the US Designs Its Embassies
Sen. Paul Bill to End Aid to Pakistan-Egypt-Libya
Islamic Hackers Threaten Bank of America & NY Stock Exchange
Halliburton Loses Radioactive Rod in West Texas Desert
Richest Americans’ Net Worth Reaches $1.7 Trillion, Up 13% – Forbes
Hospitals Grab at least $1 Billion in Extra Fees for Emergency Room Visits
Cryptome: DoD 2012 PA Guide for Political Activity FOUO
Netanyahu Ad to Debut in Florida
Meet the Donors Who Likely Attended Romney’s Florida Fundraiser
Noteworthy Editorials
Stephen Lendman: Hypocrisy not Democracy in America
Glenn Greenwald: Unlike Afghan Leaders, Obama Fights for Power of Indefinite Military Detention
David Swanson: One Place to Cut Spending: Kidnapping and Torture
Jeff Thomas: The Tide of Power
Tony Cartalucci: West Attempts to Trigger Clash of Civilizations
Philip Weiss: ‘NYT’ puts East Jerusalem in Israel
M K Bhadrakumar: The Alawites too Have a Story to Tell
A Militarist Foreign Policy Means More Death & Destruction
False Targets & the Rise of Fascism
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September 19th 2012
World News
VIDEO: Anti-US protests rage on, Clinton pledges 'aggressive steps' to protect embassies RT - Palestinians and Pakistanis voiced their fury in the latest wave of violent protests against an infamous anti-Muslim film. In response to the rising tensions Hillary Clinton promised aggressive steps to ensure the safety of US embassies.
France to close embassies in fear of cartoon backlash
france24.com - France announced Wednesday it will close 20 embassies across the Muslim world on Friday after French weekly Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed naked, amid growing unrest over an anti-Islamic film that has left dozens dead.
Chinese General: Prepare for Combat with Japan
freebeacon.com - China's most powerful military leader, in an unusual public statement, last week ordered military forces to prepare for combat, as Chinese warships deployed to waters near disputed islands and anti-Japan protests throughout the country turned violent.
Russia Closes USAID Office
The Moscow Times - The United States will close the Russia office of the U.S. Agency for International Development at the request of the Russian government, the U.S. State Department said Tuesday, sparking fears from some aid recipients that they won't survive. But U.S. officials insisted that they would find new ways to promote democracy and civil society without a USAID office here.
Growing gulf: Iran deploys Russian made sub as tensions rise
RT - Days after the US and 30 other nations began naval exercises in the Persian Gulf; Tehran has announced it is sending a Russian submarine to bolster its forces in the area.
VIDEO: U.S. Embassy in Beirut Destroys Classified Documents, Prepares for Protests Kurt Nimmo - Diplomats are under orders to destroy classified documents at the U.S. embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, according to a State Department status report made public on Monday. The move signals that the State Department is concerned that protesters will breach security at the embassy in Lebanon like they did in Libya where diplomat Chris Stevens and other embassy staff were killed.
Syrian Army Spotted Testing Chemical Arms Firing Units, Magazine Reports Jerusalem Post - The Syrian military is understood to have late last month test-fired a number of chemical weapon delivery munitions, witnesses told Der Spiegel for a Monday report.
Syrian Activist Arrested By Secret Police Merely For Having Livestreaming App Installed On His Phone techdirt.com - Police and security forces around the world -- and that includes in the West -- hate being recorded when they're overstepping the mark in the execution of their duties, since it allows the public to challenge official accounts, and even to use videos to seek redress.
US halts aid to Egypt over protests
Press TV - Anti-American protests that started in Cairo and spread across the Muslim world have stalled negotiations to provide crucial U.S. economic assistance to Egypt, U.S. officials said Monday.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
Chicago teachers end strike
Press TV - Chicago school teachers voted Tuesday to end a high-profile strike that affected hundreds of thousands of children and sparked an acrimonious stand-off with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, officials said.
37 reasons why California's Prop. 37 MUST pass
(NaturalNews) In fewer than two months, Californians will have the unique opportunity to vote YES on Proposition 37, a ballot measure that will require retail food items made with or containing genetically-modified (GM) ingredients to be labeled as such.
YouTube: The Conspiracy - Official Movie Trailer
Plot: A documentary about conspiracy theories takes a horrific turn after the filmmakers uncover an ancient and dangerous secret society.
FEMA Concentration Camp in Hawaii?
Intel Hub - I received an email awhile back from an acquaintance who works for the State of Hawaii on Oahu.... The email stated that the photo shows a FEMA concentration camp and that I should watch the documentary "Camp FEMA" and I would see.
Federal Judge Reinstates Unconstitutional NDAA
Kurt Nimmo - Late Monday night a federal judge in New York, Raymond Lohier, granted the Obama administration an "emergency" stay that temporarily blocks a ruling by U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest last week blocking the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act).
Congress to cut 9/11 first responders' benefits
RT - Only days after a national health care act was expanded to provide coverage to September 11 first responders that have been diagnosed with cancer in the wake of the terrorist attacks, the future of the federal plan is now up in the air.
Pentagon slams F-35 manufacturer
peaking at the Air Force Association's annual conference outside of Washington, DC on Monday, Maj. Gen. Christopher Bogdan had harsh words to describe the bond between the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin Corp, the DoD contractor that continues to encounter one roadblock after another as it works towards developing the military's most advanced fighter jet ever.
2012 Election News
VIDEO: Ron Paul for Texas Governor?
Infowars.com - Here is an idea - Let's draft Ron Paul for Texas Governor. Texas is almost its own country anyway. David Ortiz hits the streets of Austin to find out what its citizens think of Governor Paul.
Economy
The Federal Reserve Is Destroying Social Security And The Retirement Plans Of Millions Of Americans Activist Post - By law, the Social Security trust fund must be invested in U.S. government securities. But thanks to the low interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve, the average interest rate on those securities just keeps dropping and dropping.
Billionaires Dumping Stocks, Economist Knows Why
moneynews.com - Despite the 6.5% stock market rally over the last three months, a handful of billionaires are quietly dumping their American stocks.
Food Prices + Hunger Index = Riots, Civil Wars and Revolutions financialsense.com - For every 10 percent increase in global food prices there is a 100 percent increase in anti-government protests, according to a recent report from the International Monetary Fund. Looking at recent price increases in global ag commodities - up about 20 percent so far this year - it's no wonder there are Arab Fall flare ups (this time directed at America) breaking out across the globe. According to the IMF, a 20 percent increase in foodstuffs should triple the levels of unrest, and that seems to be precisely what's happening.
VIDEO: Judge Napolitano Takes On The Fed on Fox and Friends: 'Not Federal, Not A Reserve,' And Designed To 'Make Pres. Look Good'
Daily Paul - The Judge is on Fox and Friends of all places talking about none other than the federal reserve! They let him say everything he believes about the bank and the hosts sat there and agreed with him! I believe we are having a MAJOR influence on this country that we are just starting to see.
The Federal Reserve Has Been Given Police Powers, Glock 22s and Patrol Cars Alternet.org - By mid morning on Monday, September 17, as Occupy Wall Street protesters marched around the perimeter of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, all signs that an FRPD (Federal Reserve Police Department) existed had disappeared. The FRPD patrol cars and law enforcement officers had been replaced by NYPD patrol cars and officers. That decision may have been made to keep from drawing attention to a mushrooming new domestic police force that most Americans do not know exists.
Fed's 'QE-Infinity' Will Push Gold Up to $2,400: Pro
CNBC News - In one of the most bullish gold calls since the Federal Reserve announced a new round of easing last week, one strategist sees a 36 percent jump in the metal's price, to $2,400 an ounce, by the end of 2014.
Feds ignore rules and use stimulus cash to buy Chinese solar panels
Washington Times - Government officials blame unfair competition from China for the collapse of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra, but such concerns didn't stop the federal government from breaking stimulus program rules to use Chinese solar panels atop a federal building housing the offices of a senator, congressman and several agencies.
American Airlines to lay off 11k employees
Press TV - American Airlines is sending layoff warning notices to more than 11,000 employees, although a spokesman says the company expects job losses to be closer to 4,400.
Housing Market
The Fed Now Owns Your Foreclosed Property Under QE3 Purchases of Toxic Assets Intel Hub - n ABC's "This Week", George Will, columnist for the propaganda news outlet Washington Post, spoke out against Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke and his decision to instill QE3 which is essentially, "the government printing money."
Energy & Environment
Find out how chemtrails adversely affect your health
(NaturalNews) When the denial of chemtrails is resolved, concerns of their content and their effects are raised. Two metals are consistently discovered worldwide in chemtrail analyses: barium and aluminum. They're formed as nanoparticles easily breathed in by mammals and absorbed by plant life.
VIDEO: Bayou Corne residents still evacuated around sink hole wafb.com - Work at the site of a giant sink hole in southeast Louisiana has once again come to a halt. This time the stoppage was caused by tremors in the area.
Health
Eat berries to prevent age-related memory loss
(NaturalNews) Recent research published in Annals of Neurology and lead by Elizabeth Devore and her team of researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston showed that women who eat more berries have a slower rate of age-related memory loss than those who do not.
10 More Amazing Things About Our Bodies
Dr. Mercola - Your body truly is amazing, and we've only scratched the surface as far as discovering all of the mysteries of its extremely complex capabilities and inner workings. The featured article highlighted 10 particularly noteworthy facts you may not be aware of, but which are utterly fascinating about your body.
VIDEO: Makes You a Sitting Duck for a Heart Attack, But Millions Unknowingly Suffer Dr. Mercola - When a heart attack hits, it does so suddenly and without warning. But it's often preceded by this condition the CDC refers to as the second greatest public health risk. The problem is 14 million people in the U.S. don't know they suffer from it... do you?
Dental Composites for Kids: Even Worse Than Mercury Amalgam?
Activist Post - Research published in the journal Pediatrics indicates that some dental composites -- long promoted as overall safer than mercury-based amalgams -- are having a significant negative impact on the psychosocial functioning of children.
Chemical Widely Used in Antibacterial Hand Soaps May Impair Muscle Function worldtruth.tv - Triclosan, an antibacterial chemical widely used in hand soaps and other personal-care products, hinders muscle contractions at a cellular level, slows swimming in fish and reduces muscular strength in mice, according to researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the University of Colorado.
New pooping medication approved by the FDA
(NaturalNews) For most lazy Americans it is easier to pop a pooping pill than to change the diet or exercise. They would rather pay to poop now and manage the side-effects later than change harmful lifestyle habits.
Natural solutions for people with candida
(NaturalHealth365) Friendly bacteria are absolutely essential for control of the bacteria, yeast and other parasites that populate the intestinal track. In healthy intestines, there are approximately two to three pounds of friendly flora residing in the gut.
Ulcerative colitis patients threatened by a new drug
(NaturalHealth365) The possible risk to taking Humira will likely outweigh the benefits. Humira is a Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) blocker, which can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. TNF promotes the inflammatory response, which is associated with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, crohn's disease and psoriasis.
Vitamin D Shown to be Helpful in Treatment of TB
Natural Society - Tuberculosis (TB) isn't a disease of the past-it's very much present today. In 2010, it killed an estimated 1.4 million people worldwide, and infected 8.8 million. But promising research shows that sunlight may play an important role in fighting the infectious disease and help in the treatment of TB.
VIDEO: Fluoride sold as pesticide; Chinese factories export to U.S. cities for water fluoridation tv.naturalnews.com - Fluoride warning! Much of the fluoride dumped into U.S. water is imported from chemical factories in China. Those factories warn that fluoride is TOXIC to human health. Fluoride is sold as a PESTICIDE, a nuclear industry chemical and more. SCARY information!
Gardening, Farming & Homesteading
4 Ways to Stop a Monarch Butterfly Collapse
Organic Gardening - The majestic monarch butterfly is in desperate need of your help. Once a common sighting in backyard gardens, the orange-and-black butterfly known for its long migration to its overwintering grounds in Mexico is now on the brink of collapse. Chemical farming practices, overdevelopment, climate change, and illegal logging are all blamed for the demise of the milkweed-dependent butterfly. Luckily, there's a lot you can do to help.
* Related Article: Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing in ancient Greek mythology
Pet News
Relieve Stress by Spending Time with Animals
Organic Gardening - A pet prescription can remedy all sorts of problems, says animal expert Arden Moore. Spending time around animals, such as going bird watching, enjoying the company of a therapy dog, or even playing with your pet spider can be beneficial to your well-being.
Net Neutrality Groups Challenge AT&T FaceTime Blocking
The he-said, she-said banter about whether AT&T is breaching so-called Net Neutrality rules by restricting the use of iPhone’s FaceTime video calling app may end soon. Online rights groups said they are asking the FCC to weigh in on the matter.
Consumer Groups to Fight AT&T FaceTime Restrictions
Three public interest groups plan to file a formal complaint accusing AT&T of violating U.S. Internet rules if the wireless service provider goes ahead with a plan to limit use of Apple's FaceTime application to certain customers.
AT&T May Have to Let All iPhone Users Video Chat
Three groups sent a letter to AT&T warning that if it goes ahead with plans to limit the use of Apple's FaceTime video chat app, they are going to file a formal complaint with the FCC about it.
Political Files Under Lock and Key in Miami
I recently returned from a mission to collect political ad files from TV stations in Miami. These files document who's buying political ads -- and how much they're paying to influence your vote. At the station housing both CBS4 and MyTV33, I ran into a few logistical problems, due primarily to over-the-top security.
Appeals Court Overturns Political Donor Disclosure Ruling
Conservative groups pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into the 2012 campaign won a reprieve when the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington overturned a decision requiring organizations that run election-related television ads to reveal their donors. In an unsigned decision, a three-judge panel said a lower court erred in finding that Congress intended to require such disclosure.
Preparing for the Political Ad Push
Between now and Nov. 6, there will be nowhere to hide from the onslaught of political advertising on TV. Behind the scenes at TV stations, traffic managers are juggling buys from presidential, House, Senate and gubernatorial campaigns, not to mention those put forth by various Super PACs. With so much demand on inventory, not every spot placed will make it on air; some campaigns may find their ads running when no one is watching.
Senator Presses on Cybersecurity
Heads of major U.S. companies could be in for some interesting mail. Frustrated by the congressional failure to pass a cybersecurity bill, a top lawmaker is sending letters to the chief executives of every Fortune 500 company, asking them to describe their company's handling of computer security. Companies won't be required legally to respond to the letters, but it shows how lawmakers continue to press companies to step up cybersecurity measures.
Undercover Police Used Smartphones to Keep Tabs on Protests in Tampa
A network that allowed undercover police to use smartphones and tablets to monitor and communicate during protests at the Republican National Convention is giving new meaning to having "eyes on the ground."
Are Google’s Fiber Optic Plans a Threat to Cable Companies?
As Google prepares to roll out its ultra-fast fiber optic-based Internet and pay-TV service, the question that will be of interest to existing cable companies is what is Google’s end game?
ACLU: Public-Safety Network Raises Police-Surveillance Concerns
The American Civil Liberties Union is questioning whether a long-awaited national public safety broadband network could become a tool for a domestic secret police force.
Facebook, Google, Amazon Join Forces in D.C. Lobby
Internet titans Facebook, Google, Amazon and Yahoo will launch a new lobbying association to counter efforts by federal regulators to strap new rules to their industry.
Comcast Launches Uncapped 305 Mbps Service in Northeast, but Caps Tucson
Comcast is bringing its 305 Mbps service to more places in the Northeast. But in the Southwest it launched its second trial of new caps -- one that gives users up to 600 GB per month on the fastest tiers and sticks slower users with 300 GB.
In Other News..
The Structural Weakness of Internet Speech
A Co-op Model for News? The Hawaii Independent Makes It Profitable
Happy 30th Birthday, Emoticons! *<:)
Saucy or Stale? Alton Brown Defies Twitter with Weird Post-it Notes
Everyone Shoots First: Reality in the Age of Instagram
State Tries to Ban Online Teacher Torment
No-Name Company Sues Internet, Misunderstands GitHub
What Does iPhone Have to Do with Robots?
Mobile App Helps Cyclists Compile Key Facts in the Event of a Crash
FTC Shines Light On Food Ads, Kids
Current News
9/19, Carrie Johnson, NPR, ACLU Pushes For Answers On Drone Strikes
9/18, Charlie Savage, New York Times, U.S. Appeals Judge Grants Stay of Ruling on Detention Law
9/18, Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post, U.S. official says cyberattacks can trigger self-defense rule
9/18, Jennifer Martinez, The Hill, Dem senators Coons, Blumenthal call on White House to issue cyber order
9/17, Josh Smith, National Journal, Undercover Police Used Smartphones to Keep Tabs on Protests in Tampa
9/14, Baher Azmy, New York Times, The Face of Indefinite Detention
International Newsworthy
EU- Iran Agree to Hold New Round of Nuclear Talks
Facebook Blocks Press TV Advertisements
Kurdish Activist Sentenced to Death in Iran
Iran Prepares Launch of National Internet
Afghanistan: Taliban Infiltration Worse Than Estimated
Afghanistan: Spinning Failure as Success
White House Says Suspended Ops Won’t Derail Afghan Timeline
Taliban Torch 13 NATO Oil Tankers
Bomb Blast Kills 10 in Northwest Pakistan
Pakistan Govt Declares Holiday to Protest Anti-Islam Film
Major Gas Field Discovered in Pakistan
Obama Stands at a Syrian Crossroads
US officials: Securing Syria’s Chemical Weapons could Take Thousands of Troops
Syria Army Kills Insurgents in Aleppo
Turkish Polls Show Waning Support for Ankara’s Syria Policy
Iraq Reopens Border to Syria Refugees, Excludes Young Men
Five Killed in Separate Attacks in Iraq
Yemen NGO Launches Campaign against US Airstrikes
Surprise Drill: IDF Gets Ready for War
Abbas Moots Cancelling Oslo Accords
Clinton to Lobby Lawmakers on Egypt Aid Amid Unrest
Militia Rule in Libya
Feds Hired British Security Firm to Protect Benghazi Consulate
Jordan’s Islamists Call for Electoral Reform Talks
Tunisia’s Shiites Hunker Down Against Rising Discrimination
Nigeria: JTF Takes over Boko Haram’s Command Centre
Advancing AU Forces Call on Fleeing Fighters in Kismayo “to Lay Down Arm”
Al-Shabaab Flee Port City Ahead of Military Advance
Russia Demands US End Support of Democracy Groups
Russia Reveals Mega-Merger for Hypersonic Weapons Production
Five Militants Slain in Russia’s Caucasus
Georgia Rocked by Prison Abuse Scandal
CSTO Exercises Tiptoe Around Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
UK Man on Trial For Anti-War Facebook Comment
Belarus Police Detain Journalists, Protesters at Demonstration
Belgian Intelligence Chief Says Brussels is World’s Spy Capital
National Newsworthy
Obama Administration Wins Stay of Detention Law Rejection
2 US Supreme Court Justices Warn of Dictatorship
CIA Sued over Drone Killings
Mapping Drone Proliferation: UAVs in 76 Countries
DEA Told To Back Off From the Brother Of Afghan President Hamid Karzai
Nuclear Smugglers to Get Reduced Prison Sentences ‘for helping CIA’
Pentagon Slams F-35 Manufacturer
AIPAC Thanks Obama for ‘Steadfast Support’
Obama’s Foreign Policy Approval Rating Drops After Mideast Turmoil
Bernanke Colludes with Obama to Keep their Jobs
Government Subsidies to Sugar Industry Add More Than $2 Billion a Year to Food Prices
Frequent Flyers Rate the TSA: Epic Fail
Internet Giants Unite to Lobby Congress
Google Spans Entire Planet With GPS-Powered Database
Noteworthy Editorials
Pepe Escobar: USS Romney Goes Titanic
Doug Bandow: Washington’s Mideast Follies
Paul Pillar: Points of Ignorance on the Middle East
Waging War: A US Monopoly
Reps Who Reauthorized Warrantless Wiretapping Bill Don’t Understand What It Does
The Unholy Spirit of Presidential Activism
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September 18th 2012
World News
VIDEO: U.S. military suspends joint patrols with Afghans
CBS News - The strategy for getting U.S. forces out of Afghanistan depends on training Afghan soldiers and police to protect the country themselves, but on Monday the U.S. military suspended most joint field operations with Afghan forces because so many Americans are being killed by the men they are training.
China, Japan heading towards war, says US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta theaustralian.com - Speaking to reporters before arriving in Tokyo on a trip to Asia, Mr Panetta appealed for restraint amid mounting tensions over territorial rights in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. "I am concerned that when these countries engage in provocations of one kind or another over these various islands, that it raises the possibility that a misjudgment on one side or the other could result in violence, and could result in conflict," Mr Panetta said, when asked about a clash between Japan and China. "And that conflict would then have the potential of expanding."
Iran on brink of nuclear bomb in six-seven months: Netanyahu
(Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday that Iran was just six to seven months away from the brink of being able to build a nuclear bomb, adding urgency to his demand that President Barack Obama set a "red line" for Tehran in what could deepen the worst U.S.-Israeli rift in decades.
Netanyahu in 1992: Iran close to having nuclear bomb
JuanCole.com - Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is trapped in reflection theory.... 1992: Israeli member of parliament Binyamin Netanyahu predicts that Iran was "3 to 5 years" from having a nuclear weapon. 1992: Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres predicts an Iranian nuclear warhead by 1999 to French TV. 1995: The New York Times quotes US and Israeli officials saying that Iran would have the bomb by 2000. 1998: Donald Rumsfeld tells Congress that Iran could have an intercontinental ballistic missile that could hit the US by 2003.
Turkey Allows al-Qaeda to Move Over Border into Syria
Kurt Nimmo - U.S. NATO, and the Gulf State despots actively funding al-Qaeda in Syria. Syria's Foreign Ministry has written a letter to the U.N. Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon accusing neighboring Turkey of allowing thousands of al-Qaeda and "Takfiri and Wahhabi terrorists" to cross the border to "kill innocent Syrians, blow up their properties and spread chaos and destruction."
Syria army clears Aleppo strategic district of al-Midan of insurgents
Damascus says the army has managed to clear Aleppo's strategic district of al-Midan of armed groups fighting against the government. There are reports of clashes between government troops and insurgents in several other Aleppo districts.
US to close Bangkok embassy
Press TV - The United States said Monday it would close its embassy in Bangkok in response to a planned protest by "several hundred people" over an anti-Islam film. The consulate, on a main road in the business district at the heart of the Thai capital, will close at noon Tuesday and "non-essential personnel will be sent home," according to a statement posted on the embassy website.
Ex-envoy to Israel: US will go to war with Iran in 2013
YNet News - Former US Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk predicts that the United States will go to war with Iran as early as 2013. "I'm afraid that 2013 is going to be a year in which we're going to have a military confrontation with Iran," he said in an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation." During the interview, Indyk pointed out that the time has not come, yet, for the US to take military action. "Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapon. While there's still time, there's not a lot of time," he said.
A World On The Verge Of War?
Zero Hedge - Here is a summary of where the world stands.
France Maintains Key Ban on Monsanto's GMO Maize Crops
Natural Society - In another massive victory against Monsanto and the spread of genetically modified crops, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayraul has announced that the nation will be maintaining a key ban on the only remaining GMO currently allowed in Europe.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
YouTube: Brian Lilley: The MSM is lying about the Muslim riots
An impassioned Brian Lilley tells us what we already know: that the mainstream media is lying when they report that the mohammadan riots are a response to the film "The Innocence of muslims."
'Innocence of Muslims' filmmaker was a federal informant
RT - A court transcript obtained by the Smoking Gun shows that, as recently as 2010, Mr. Nakoula was identified as a federal informant, a title that his attorneys hoped would help in his case when he went before sentencing that year over an earlier conviction for check fraud.
White House demands military prisons for Americans under NDAA
RT - The White House has asked the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals to place an emergency stay on a ruling made last week by a federal judge so that the president's power to indefinitely detain Americans without charge is reaffirmed immediately. On Wednesday, September 12... Judge Forrest ruled that a clause that gives the government the power to arrest US citizens suspected of maintaining alliances with terrorists and hold them without due process violated the Constitution and that the White House would be stripped of that ability immediately.
Is DHS Preparing for False Flag Attack on American Shopping Malls?
Susanne Posel - In Virginia and Indiana, Simon Property, owner of 393 properties worldwide, including the Town Center at Aurora (the shopping mall located near the Century 16 Theater in Colorado where the Batman shooting took place) will partner with DHS and Janet Napolitano to participate in the See Something, Say Something campaign which turns average American citizens into Stasi.
SHADE the Motion Picture - Trailer 2 (Official Version)
Activist Post - SHADE the Motion Picture is a groundbreaking high quality documentary project that will fully expose the global depopulation agenda. The film will include numerous interviews from experts and victims as well as 100% exclusive and NEW information proving the agenda. Needless to say, this is not simply another "truther" documentary.
US to lodge WTO charges against China
Press TV - One of the administration's complaints accuses China of putting U.S. manufacturers at a disadvantage by illegally subsidizing exports of automobiles and automobile parts, a senior administration official said. The other advances a WTO complaint the administration launched in July that accuses China of imposing unfair duties on some $3 billion in U.S. auto exports. That Obama will highlight Monday's action during a campaign trip to Ohio is a carefully crafted White House decision. The notion of unfair Chinese trade practices has particular resonance in the industrial Midwest, a region where Obama and Romney are battling for votes.
US, Japan to expand shared missile system
Press TV - U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Monday that U.S. and Japanese officials have agreed to put a second missile system in Japan. The exact location of the installation has not yet been determined. It will be in the south, officials said, but not in Okinawa. Officials stressed that the radar system is aimed at protecting the region against the threat from North Korea missiles and is not directed at China.
YouTube: US arms sales spike to record levels, Gulf leading buyer
RT - The world may be terrified of a potential war with Iran, but for arms producers - tensions fear is good business. So it is for the Unites States. According to a recent Congressional Research Service report, within just one year the US has tripled its arms sales and half of what US sold last year went to Gulf states.
VIDEO: 18 Year Old Charged With Attempting To Use Weapon Of Mass Destruction! Supplied By The FBI September 15, 2012 KING 5 News.
New Hampshire Jury Nullifies its First Felony Marijuana Case
yahoo.com - A major victory is scored for jury nullification with the acquittal of felony marijuana charges - and it's all thanks to a "straight-laced little old lady" juror and participant of the Free State Project.
Messengers for Liberty - Brand New Film on the Liberty Movement Sweeping the Nation - Ron Paul Revolution Rolls On! Underground Documentaries - "Messengers for Liberty" is a six hour documentary series about the grassroots liberty movement growing in America today. Learn why these grassroots patriots are speaking out and why liberty has transformed their lives. Join us on this documentary journey to explore these founding principles that once made America free and prosperous. Episode 1 chronicles the rise of the Ron Paul Revolution and it's role in taking back America from the police state, socialist, inflationist, war-mongering political establishment that has controlled America for many decades.
2012 Election News
VIDEO: Ron Paul At Liberty Political Action Conference
Daily Paul Ron Paul's speech at the Liberty Political Action Conference 9/14/12.
YouTube: Tom Woods Unloads on Jesse Benton and John Tate
Tom Woods unloads how he feels about Jesse Benton & John Tate - interviewed by Mark Edge of Free Talk Live.
YouTube: Jesse Ventura on The View 9/17/2012
Aired on 09/17/12 - Jesse Ventura, author of Democrips and Rebloodlicans, talks to the ladies about voting for the third party!
YouTube: Ron Paul's Texas Straight Talk 9/17/12: Unintended Consequences of Bad Foreign Policy The attack on the US consulate in Libya and the killing of the US Ambassador and several aides is another tragic example of how our interventionist foreign policy undermines our national security. The more the US tries to control the rest of the world, either by democracy promotion, aid to foreign governments, or by bombs, the more events spin out of control into chaos, unintended consequences, and blowback.
Tuesday, 9/18: Gary Johnson Rally with Judge Napolitano and Jesse Ventura Daily Paul - Gary Johnson Rally sponsored by the New York University Libertarians coming up Tuesday, September 18, 2012 - 12:00pm until 2:00pm EDT. Speaking along with Gary Johnson will be Jesse Ventura Judge Andrew Napolitano and others.
October surprise to Carterize Obama
Webster Tarpley - The film in question was obviously designed as a provocation and nothing else.... Persuasive evidence suggests... we are dealing with an ambitious international intelligence operation aimed at creating an October Surprise (a few weeks early) to shock world and US public opinion for the purpose of discrediting and "Carterizing" the current tenant of the White House, and installing Netanyahu's friend Mitt Romney in his place.
Economy
How QE3 Will Make The Wealthy Even Wealthier While Causing Living Standards To Fall For The Rest Of Us Economic Collapse - This time the Federal Reserve is focused on buying mortgage-backed securities. Yes, the same financial garbage that helped cause the last crisis. The Fed plans to gobble up tens of billions of dollars of that trash every month from now on.... So this is going to be a huge windfall for some people, and that does not include us. Not a single penny of this 40 billion dollars a month will go directly into our hands. The theory is that it will "filter down" to us eventually.
In Prosecutors, Debt Collectors Find a Partner. Government Allow Creditors to Use Their Stationary NY Times - [The letters] bear the seal and signature of the local district attorney's office. But there is a catch: the letters are from debt-collection companies, which the prosecutors allow to use their letterhead. In return, the companies try to collect not only the unpaid check, but also high fees from debtors for a class on budgeting and financial responsibility, some of which goes back to the district attorneys' offices.
Occupy Wall Street Protest
VIDEO: New faces join OWS in second phase'
Press TV - "There are a lot of old faces that are coming back and a lot of new faces, people that have never been on the streets before", said Amin Hussain in a phone interview with the U.S. Desk on Sunday.... On Sunday, the Daily Mail reported that at least 51 protesters were arrested in New York as hundreds of protesters clashed with the NYPD marching through Lower Manhattan, the birthplace of the movement. According to occupyarrests.com, at least 7,435 protesters have been arrested in 120 different cities around the U.S. as of September 15, 2012.
* Related Article: NY police seize 35 OWS marchers
Energy & Environment
U.S.A. Privatizes National Forests
Courthouse News - The U.S. Forest Service lets private companies charge people for using undeveloped public lands, in violation of federal law, an Oregon nonprofit claims in Federal Court. Lead plaintiff BARK clams the Forest Service's grants to concessionaires violates the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act.
Health
Even Slightly Elevated Blood Sugar Decreases Brain Size
Natural Society - New research published in this month's issues of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, finds that people with elevated blood sugar levels that fall even on the higher end of the normal range are at a greater risk for brain shrinkage related to diseases like dementia.
TSA naked body scanners could prove extra harmful to women with BRCA gene (NaturalNews) According to the fresh data, women with BRCA who are exposed to diagnostic scans that emit ionizing radiation -- this includes naked body scanners at the airport -- have a significantly heightened risk of developing cancer. Dr. Flora E. van Leeuwen, Ph.D., from the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NCI) in Amsterdam and her colleagues evaluated a series of data on cancer rates with respect to diagnostic scans like mammograms that blast women's chests with ionizing radiation, and found that any diagnostic use of radiation before age 30 increases breast cancer risk by 90 percent among carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.
Plant phytonutrients shown to alter genes that halt cancer metastasis
(NaturalNews) A research team from Washington State University has published the result of a study in the journal, Cancer and Metastasis Reviews to explain how more than 40 plant-based compounds have been identified that can turn on genes known to slow the spread of cancer. This is an especially significant finding because the spread of cancer is most often what makes the disease fatal. The authors note that this study reinforces a rapidly growing body of research showing that diet, nutrients and plant-based chemicals are opening many new avenues of attack against this dreaded killer disease.
Omega-3 fats from dietary sources lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (NaturalNews) Researchers from the Columbia University Medical Center in New York have published the result of their work demonstrating the close relationship between Omega-3 fats, blood saturation levels of amyloid proteins and risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in the prestigious journal, Neurology. The study confirms that lower blood levels of a protein related to Alzheimer's disease (amyloid-beta plaque) can protect against memory problems, mild cognitive decline, and progression to Alzheimer's disease in many cases.
Powerful Healing Properties of 5 Common Household Organic Spices
Natural Society - It's a wonder people spend billions of dollars on woefully ineffective and even harmful pharmaceuticals when our own spice racks contain so much natural healing power. And now, many recent studies back the millennia-old claims that spices have powerful healing properties. Here are 5 organic spices possessing amazing healing properties to bolster your well-being and protect you from illness and disease.
Acrylamide Increases Women's Breast Cancer Risk
Green Med Info - Researchers from the Danish Cancer Society Research Center in Copenhagen have determined that acrylamide consumption - found with higher amounts in fried and grilled foods - significantly increases the risk of breast cancer among women.
Science & Technology
US accused of creating three more computer super-viruses
RT - Two independent teams of researchers studying the Flame computer virus believe that the maker of the malware - all but certain to be the United States - has architected three additional programs to conduct clandestine cyberwar or espionage. Both Symantec Corp of the United States and Kaspersky Lab of Russia acknowledged on Monday that their research of Flame has led them to believe that whoever had a role in creating that virus has also put their efforts behind three other similar programs.
White House doesn't address privacy concerns in cybersecurity executive order draft RT - A copy of the cybersecurity executive order currently being written by the Obama administration has been leaked to the Web, and the contents do little to calm the fears of those who suspected their privacy concerns wouldn't be considered.
Miscellaneous
Defining Normal
Grid News - Being different is difficult. People look at you, judge you, and question your motives and actions. They may ridicule you and never be able to understand some of the choices you make. Some people are so afraid of being different that they continually focus on ways to blend in and be 'normal'. But, who defines normal? And how do we know that their definition of normal is the right one?
Humor & Satire
NYT publishes cartoon video depicting Obamney
The Gregory Brothers present a video game-inspired musical mash-up of President Obama and Mitt Romney's speeches from the recent nominating conventions.
Open Internet Groups Slap AT&T in the FaceTime
AT&T dismissed what it called knee-jerk reactions to its plan to limit Apple's FaceTime to its Mobile Share data plan users, but several groups are taking their complaints all the way to the FCC. Free Press, Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute have now officially warned the wireless operator that they plan to file a formal complaint with the FCC in the coming weeks.
AT&T Will Be Slapped with Net Neutrality Complaint Over FaceTime Blocking
Free Press, Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute have informed AT&T that they intend to file a complaint with the FCC against the wireless carrier for violating Network Neutrality rules. The complaint will address AT&T's plan to keep certain subscribers from using Apple’s FaceTime video calling app on the AT&T cellular network. The move was expected, but the timing on the FCC's response is unclear.
Groups Prepare to Fight AT&T Over FaceTime Restrictions
A group of public interest organizations said that they would soon file complaints against AT&T, alleging that the carrier was violating government rules by restricting the way customers can use FaceTime, Apple’s video-conferencing tool, which is built into iPhones and iPads.
AT&T Faces Complaint Over iPhone FaceTime Blocking
Public interest groups said they will file a complaint against AT&T for blocking certain customers from using Apple’s FaceTime video app over the mobile network, a practice that may violate rules on Internet access.
Free Press, Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute notified AT&T of their intent to file a formal complaint against the company. In the complaint, the three organizations will assert that AT&T is violating Net Neutrality by blocking the popular video-conferencing application FaceTime.
AT&T's FaceTime Blocking: There's a Complaint for That
There’s a ton wrong with AT&T’s intent to block mobile FaceTime for iPhone and iPad users. But legally speaking, the biggest problem is that AT&T’s action violates the Net Neutrality rules the FCC passed in 2010. That’s why Free Press joined with Public Knowledge and the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute to notify AT&T of our intent to file a formal complaint against the company.
Declaration of Internet Freedom
The Internet is essential to life in the 21st century. The way we do business, communicate and live our lives now largely depends on being able to get online. Ensuring the freedom to access and use the Internet has become a bipartisan priority.
Reps. Eshoo and Issa Agree: Protect the Internet
“The Internet is essential to life in the 21st century,” write Reps. Anna Eshoo and Darrell Issa, two U.S. House representatives from California -- and from opposite sides of the aisle -- who have found common ground on the need to protect Internet freedom.
Why Monopolistic Telecoms Threaten Internet Equality
The telecom market has been deregulated to the point where real competition no longer exists. With fewer service provider options, prices might go up, but the quality of service doesn’t necessarily do the same. That’s because there is no incentive for Internet providers to innovate and improve.
Pakistan Blocks YouTube Over Anti-Islam Film
Pakistan blocked access to YouTube after the video-sharing website failed to take down an anti-Islam film that has sparked furious protests across the Muslim world.
Journalists Arrested During Occupy Wall Street Anniversary Protests
Journalists were among the scores arrested in New York City as the Occupy Wall Street movement marked its one-year anniversary.
One Year of Occupy. One Year of Journalist Arrests.
Josh Stearns has been tracking "press suppression and journalist arrests," which have become a regular occurrence since the start of Occupy Wall Street on Sept. 17, 2011. "As press, protesters and police converge in New York City for the one-year anniversary, we'll be tracking press suppression here," Stearns wrote on Storify. Sadly, the list has been updated on the one-year #OWS anniversary with the familiar names of quite a few bloggers, artists and journalists.
Journalists Arrested at Occupy Anniversary Protests
Josh Stearns rounded up reports of journalists getting arrested at the anniversary protests for Occupy Wall Street. Photographer Julia Reinhart and artist Molly Crabapple were among the people who got to check out the inside of police vans.
Why Do Women Still Lag in Journalism?
It's a funny thing about journalism. The public has this idea that the media world is run by bleeding-heart liberals more focused on homeless shelters than tax shelters. You know, progressive thinkers looking to change the world. But it's a business like most others, run largely by men who push back at serious threats to their authority.
A colleague from a TV news network was telling me the other day that its informal slogan was now "Never wrong for long." News goes on air as it emerges in a furious competitive scramble, and then if it proves inaccurate it is supplanted rather than corrected.
All the TV News Since 2009, on One Website
Inspired by a pillar of antiquity, the Library of Alexandria, Brewster Kahle has a grand vision for the Internet Archive, the giant aggregator and digitizer of data, which he founded and leads. The archive’s online collection will include every morsel of news produced in the last three years by 20 different channels, encompassing more than 1,000 news series that have generated more than 350,000 separate programs devoted to news.
In Other News..
FCC Says Cable Operators Can Buy Local Phone Carriers
LightSquared/FCC Hearing Set for Sept. 21
White House Confirms Cybersecurity Order in the Works
Comcast Introduces 600 GB Caps in Tucson
Oh, Snap: Google Acquires Apple’s Favorite iPad App
Critical Zero-Day Bug in Internet Explorer Under Active Attack
Current News
9/18, Glenn Greenwald, Guardian (UK), Unlike Afghan leaders, Obama fights for power of indefinite military detention
9/18, Sarah Chayes, Los Angeles Times, Does 'Innocence of Muslims' meet the free-speech test?
9/17, Wall Street Journal, Feds ask NY court to block anti-terrorism ruling
9/17, Brendan Sasso, The Hill, White House confirms cybersecurity order in the works
9/15, Paul Jay and Michael Ratner, TruthOut, Pressure Put on Manning to Implicate Assange
International Newsworthy
“U.S. will go to war with Iran in 2013”- Ex-U.S. Ambassador to Israel
Iran Launches Destroyer-Submarine
Iran Nuclear Chief Harshly Criticizes Atomic Agency
Iran’s Currency Faces Pressures Beyond the US-Led Sanctions
UK Minister Axed over Opposition to Possible Strike on Iran
3 Reasons the US and Israel are Lying About Iran
NATO Announces Arrest over Major Base Attack
Suicide Attack Rocks Afghan Eastern Town
Pakistan Blocks YouTube Over Anti-Islam Film
Fresh Protests Erupt over Anti-Islam Film in Pakistan
UN Panel Spotlights Disappearances in Balochistan
Pakistan to ‘Reopen Zardari Fraud Cases’
Militants Slaughter Shias in Pakistan
America’s New Cyber Attacks on Middle East
Syria Rebels Offer Bounty for Assad
Saudi Arabia Stays Away from Egypt-Iran-Turkey Talks on Syria
UN Panel: Foreigners Making Syrian Rebels Radical
If Assad is Ousted, Radical Islamists will Take Over Syria – Russian MP
Tehran Denies Revolutionary Guards in Syria
Yemen Foreign Minister Calls Iranian Spy Ring ‘Worrisome’
Lebanon: Diplomats at US Embassy in Beirut Destroying Classified Documents
Iraqi Border Town on Edge of Syria Storm
Saudi Arabia Blocks Syrians from Hajj
Israeli Police Clash with Anti-US Protesters in al-Quds
Egyptian Forces Clash With Militants in Sinai Security Sweep
Wave of Ethiopian Jews Joins Elite Israeli Paratroopers Squad
Nigerian Troops Kill Boko Haram Spokesman: Source
West Africa Leader Urges Mali Intervention
Sudan: JEM to End Use of Child Soldiers
China Files Trade Case against Washington
Russia Denies Role of “Transit Hub” in Eurasian Drug Trafficking
Russia’s ‘Big Bang’ in Central Asia
Russia’s Caucasus War Games
Uzbekistan & the Road to War
Salafists Challenge Kazakh Future
Tajikistan: President to Head East as Battle for Badakhshan Control Continues
In U.S.-Uzbekistan Military Relations, How Big A Factor Is Money?
Georgia is Preparing Seriously for a War – President of South Ossetia
Europe Bans TSA-Style ‘Naked’ Body Scanners
Bosnia: Showdown With Organized Crime
Belgian Intelligence Chief Says Brussels is World’s Spy Capital
National Newsworthy
Police State: White House Demands Military Prisons for Americans under NDAA
Police State: Is the NYPD Watching You?
The Federal Reserve has Been Given Police Powers with Glock 22s & Patrol Cars
US Accused of Creating 3 more Computer Super-Viruses
Emails Reveal DOJ Regularly Enlists Media Matters to Spin Press
NY Times Spins New Video of Ambassador Stevens
Mortgage Cops Taking Tough Stance
Justice Dept. Defends Not Prosecuting Corporate Leaders for White-Collar Crime
Taxpayers to Fund Hollywood ObamaCare Propaganda
JPMorgan, BofA Face New Federal Money Laundering Probe
Overbilling by Doctors & Hospitals Costs Medicare a Billion Dollars a Year
Census Shows Middle Class is in Trouble
Noteworthy Editorials
Paul Pillar: Why are the Neocons Still Around?
Stephen Lendman: Netanyahu at It Again
William Grigg: Foreign Aid Is a Tool of US Imperialism
Andrew Bacevich: What the Arab Movie Riots Mean for U.S. Foreign Policy
The Chilean 9/11: A Forgotten Tale
Washington’s Double Standard
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September 17th 2012
VIDEO: Video Purports To Show US Ambassador Dragged From Benghazi ConsulateBreitbart - Various tipsters have offered differing interpretations of what they hear and witness on this video.... The validity of the video and the accuracy of the description of the events it depicts are still under investigation, but through Twitter and Facebook the video has already taken a life of its own.
Porn director pegged as man who shot now-infamous anti-Islam film
RT - According to the cast and crew of "The Innocence of Muslims," the man previously thought to have directed it - Nakoula Basseley Nakoula - was just the producer. The moviemaker, it turns out, is known for his work in soft-core porn.
* Related Article: Alleged creator of infamous anti-Muslim film questioned...
4 US soldiers die in weekend 'insider' attacks in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan police officer turned his gun on NATO troops at a remote checkpoint in the south of the country before dawn Sunday, killing four American troops, according to Afghan and international officials. It was the third attack by Afghan forces or insurgents disguised in military uniforms against international forces in as many days, killing eight troops in all.
There is no U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or any U.S. Representative of any sort in Benghazi Libya (WARNING: Explicit language) Jim Stone - Here is the link to the Department of State web site, with a complete list of All U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions world wide. http://www.usembassy.gov There is one in Libya, obviously in Tripoli. And I will state right now that I have that Embassy page saved and captured, in case someone decides to bury this by faking Benghazi in for a while.
Armada of British naval power massing in the Gulf as Israel prepares an Iran strike London Telegraph - An armada of US and British naval power is massing in the Persian Gulf in the belief that Israel is considering a pre-emptive strike against Iran's covert nuclear weapons programme. Battleships, aircraft carriers, minesweepers and submarines from 25 nations are converging on the strategically important Strait of Hormuz in an unprecedented show of force as Israel and Iran move towards the brink of war.... The exercise is being showcased as the biggest air defence war game in the Islamic Republic's history, and will be its most visible response yet to the prospect of an Israeli military strike.
Afghanistan: Nato air strike 'kills eight women' in Laghman
At least eight women have died in a Nato air strike in Afghanistan's eastern province of Laghman, local officials say.
VIDEO: Australian police tear gas anti-US demonstrators in Sydney
RT - Hundreds of demonstrators threw projectiles at officers outside the US consulate in Sydney, shouting "Down, down USA," AFP reported. Protesters waved banners calling for the beheading of those who insulted the Prophet Mohammed, news outlet the Australian reported.
There is no U.S. Embassy, Consulate, or any U.S. Representative of any sort in Benghazi Libya (WARNING: Explicit language) Jim Stone - Here is the link to the Department of State web site, with a complete list of All U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions world wide.www.usembassy.gov There is one in Libya, obviously in Tripoli. And I will state right now that I have that Embassy page saved and captured, in case someone decides to bury this by faking Benghazi in for a while.
Japan's ambassador to China dies amid rising anti-Japanese protests
RT- The Japanese ambassador to China died in a Tokyo hospital after being admitted three days earlier. His death coincides with an escalation in anti-Japanese protests across China over a territorial dispute.
Taliban Attack Afghanistan US-British Base, Kill 2 US Marines; Prince Harry Safe Taliban fighters today launched a complex and sustained attack on the large U.S.-British military base in Southern Afghanistan where Britain's Prince Harry is based, killing two U.S. Marines and injuring several others.
Reports: Marines Not Permitted Live Ammo
Pentagon denies reports on Marine blogs that U.S. embassy did not authorize service members to carry ammo.
On Web, a Fine Line on Free Speech Across the Globe
For Google last week, the decision was clear. An anti-Islamic video that provoked violence worldwide was not hate speech under its rules because it did not specifically incite violence against Muslims, even if it mocked their faith. The White House was not so sure, and it asked Google to reconsider the determination, a request the company rebuffed. Although the administration’s request was unusual, for Google, it represented the kind of delicate balancing act that Internet companies confront every day.
Google Decides to Leave Video on YouTube
Google will leave a controversial video clip about the Islamic prophet Muhammad on YouTube despite a White House request that the company review it under its own policies, the company said.
Big-Money Politics at Miami's Spanish-Language TV Stations
On day one in Miami, I was focused on collecting political ad files from Spanish-language stations. These stations, along with many others across the country, are not required to upload their files to the FCC's new online database until 2014. Given that Florida is a swing state, and given the important role Spanish-language media play in Miami, I expected to find some interesting data.
Political TV Ad Spending in Denver Nears $20M
Coloradans troubled by a sense that political advertising on TV truly is unremitting this late summer may take some comfort in knowing their concerns have merit. In fact, there’s almost $20 million worth of merit to those concerns. That’s the total spent by 21 groups on an astonishing 18,956 political ads. And that’s only for political spots at the four largest Denver stations.
Political Ads Will Fuel TV Acquisitions, Debt Reduction and Investor Payments
TV stations and their investors are already the big winners from this year’s elections. Political campaigns and groups will funnel a record $2.8B to local broadcasters, according to a new report.
This week’s iPhone announcement and last week’s release of the new Kindle Fire, Windows 8/Nokia Phone and Droid RAZR offer the latest evidence that, over the past few years, the U.S. has regained global leadership in key areas of communications technology. These high-powered devices, and the demands they place on our broadband networks, underscore a critical challenge. To ensure the U.S. is at the forefront of the next wave of Internet innovation, we need to drive continued improvements in our wired and wireless broadband infrastructure.
FCC to Make Spectrum Sharing Reality, Whether Carriers Want It or Not
Two months ago, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology unveiled a bold plan to share 1,000MHz of federal spectrum with cellular providers. It wasn’t exactly what carriers were looking for. They’d prefer exclusive licenses to use spectrum whenever and wherever they need it. But the FCC has decided to adopt the plan, or at least its first steps.
Political Robocalls Could Prove Costly
Political campaigns that robocall iPhones and Androids may be in for a shock: They could be fined $16,000 per call. Unlike making prerecorded automatic calls to landline phones, campaigns need a mobile phone user’s permission before routing a text or robocall to a wireless device, according to the FCC.
Google Fiber Issues Public Challenge: Get Up to Speed!
Google’s goal, by building the fastest city-wide broadband network in the country, is not to compete with the giant national cable and telecom firms. Rather, it’s to shame these legacy giants, including Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, AT&T and others into improving U.S. Internet performance.
Mobile Device Privacy Act, Meant to Stop Carrier IQ-Style Data Collection, Introduced in Congress
After asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Carrier IQ's controversial tracking practices, Rep. Edward Markey has sponsored legislation to prevent it or other companies from collecting data without informing customers.
W. Va. Broadband Council's Grant Fails to Attract Applicants
West Virginia's Broadband Deployment Council said that while it has $4 million in funds to distribute to telecom service providers and other nonprofit groups to use, it has not been able to attract any interest.
In Other News..
The Puppetry of Quotation Approval
Internet's Tax-Free Days Are Over in California
Facebook's Fake-Name Resistance Grows as Users Skirt the Rules
Twitter Reluctantly Coughs Up Occupy Protester's Data
I’m Going to Spend the Next Month Using My Smartphone as a Wallet
Most Americans Want Wi-Fi on Planes but Don't Want to Pay Much
iPhone 5 Pre-Orders Crack Two Million in First 24 Hours
=============================================================================
September 14th 2012
World News
Revealed: inside story of US envoy's assassination
(The Independent) The killings of the US ambassador to Libya and three of his staff were likely to have been the result of a serious and continuing security breach, The Independent can reveal.
Law enforcement confirms convicted fraudster behind anti-Muslim movie
(RT) The Associated Press reported early Thursday that Nakoula, 55, is responsible for the "Innocence of Muslims," the film that was said to ridicule the prophet Muhammad and, in turn, prompt violent assaults on US land overseas, including missions in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and the US Embassy in Yemen.
US terror drone attack kills 4 Afghans
Press TV - At least four people have been killed in a fresh US assassination drone attack in the eastern Afghanistan province of Laghman. Washington claims that its terror drone strikes target militants, but local sources say civilians have been the main victims of the attacks. The United Nations has called the attacks targeted killings that flout international law.
Pakistanis stage three protests against anti-Islam film
Press TV - Reports indicate that at least three demonstrations are currently underway in Pakistan, protesting against a blasphemous US-made anti-Islam movie. The American film in which the prophet of Islam Mohammad (PBUH) has been insulted, sparked outrage throughout the Muslim World from Africa all the way to the Far East. Muslims have become infuriated at the United States for allowing the production of the sacrilegious video. The film is blatantly intended to depict Islam as an oppressive religion.
US Taxpayers Spend More on Israeli Defense Than Israeli Taxpayers, Says Former IDF Official - antiwar.com - In an apparent reference to the public spat between the United States and Israel, former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi told the Calcalist conference on Tuesday that preserving strong ties with the United States is an Israeli security necessity. "We must preserve ties with the United States. I believe this is a security necessity," he said. In the past three years, he noted, US taxpayers have contributed more to the Israeli defense budget than Israeli taxpayers.
Big Brother or Peeping Tom? UK Installs CCTV in School Bathrooms, changing rooms RT - Over 200 UK state schools have installed cameras in bathrooms and changing rooms to monitor students, a recent surveillance survey reported. British parents will likely be shocked by the study's findings.... A total of 825 cameras were installed in the bathrooms and changing rooms of 207 different schools across England, Scotland and Wales, according to data provided by more than 2,000 schools. It remains unclear where in the bathrooms and changing rooms the cameras are located, who watches the footage and whether any pupils were recorded while changing.US and China Caught Secretly Testing GMO Rice on Children
Anthony Gucciardi - Instead of putting genetically modified foods through proper trials as consumers have been demanding for years, it appears the United States Department of Agriculture in alliance with the Chinese government have instead chosen to secretly test their latest GMO rice on young Chinese children. What's particularly interesting is the fact that the agencies decided they even needed to test the rice, after claiming that GMO rice and all other GM creations are virtually identical to natural foods
U.S. News, Politics & Government
New York City officially limits super-sized sodas
Raw Story - The New York City Health Board on Thursday imposed a limited ban on super-sized soda drinks that Mayor Michael Bloomberg blames for fueling an obesity crisis. The ban, hotly opposed by soft drinks manufacturers but hailed by health campaigners, was first proposed by Bloomberg and Thursday's formal approval was not considered a surprise.
House Votes to Kill Fourth AmendmentKurt Nimmo - On Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to extend amendments added in 2008 to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act's Amendments Act (FAA) in essence reduces the Fourth Amendment to a nullity. The unconstitutional extension passed by a vote of 301 to 118. 111 Democrats and seven Republicans voted no. The amendments allow the government to electronically intercept domestic phone calls, emails and other communications without going to a court and obtaining a search warrant.
Texas 4th graders forced to draw 9/11 attacks
Press TV - According to KDBC, the fourth graders were told specifically to "draw the boom clouds, the planes hitting the towers, and people jumping out of windows." That's something that kids should get in trouble for drawing," parent Ivie Gremillion told KFOX-TV. "That's people being murdered, committing suicide." Student drawings portrayed the heart-wrenching images, some with speech bubbles saying, "help," "I love you" and "one way ticket to heaven." Gremillion tells KFOX-TV that the classroom teacher also told her students that "the Afghans did this because they hate all of us and want to kill all of us."
Economy
- Economic Collapse - In the coming months, hundreds of billions of dollars that the Federal Reserve has zapped into existence out of nothing will be injected into our financial system.
Veteran News
Are experimental vaccines for soldiers causing premature aging?
(NaturalNews) The research is preliminary and the results inconclusive, but scientists believe several factors are related to repeated exposure to combat conditions could be causing premature aging among many of our nation's veterans, though some believe the cause could be much more sinister.
Science & Technology
RT - By the time you switch on your fresh-out-of-the-box laptop for the first time, it may already be infected with dangerous malware that can either harm you or turn your computer into a pawn in a criminal cyberwar. This accidental discovery was made by Microsoft's digital crimes unit during an investigation into Chinese computer manufacturers, many of whom are illegally installing its Windows operating system onto their hardware.
Health
Spinach could help beat dementia
(The Telegraph) Researchers have discovered a link between low vitamin C, beta-carotene levels and dementia, meaning antioxidant rich fruit and veg - such as spinach, carrots and apricots - could help fight the disease's devastating symptoms.
Antibiotics for Strep Throat Completely Worthless for at Least 70% of Cases Natural Society - Antibiotics, however, do not target viruses, which cause the majority of sore throats. What we're finding is that antibiotics for strep throat are worthless majority of the time, and this is only from a mainstream medical perspective.... Rather than relying on harmful antibiotics for strep throat, consider natural remedies for sore throat or strep throat treatment. People have been using solutions like garlic, vitamin C, cayenne pepper, and honey for generations to prevent and treat strep throat. Perhaps the most effective home remedy for strep is apple cider vinegar.
Marijuana Compound Found Superior To Drugs For Alzheimer's
Green Med Info - Could the active ingredient in marijuana, responsible for its characteristic "high," help turn the tide against the accelerating Alzheimer's epidemic? A remarkable study published in the journal Molecular Pharmacology in 2006, found that this long vilified plant may contain a compound with not one, but two therapeutic properties ideal for addressing both the surface symptom (memory problems) and root cause (brain plaque) of Alzheimer's disease.
Hep B Vaccine Causes Liver Disease: Science Shows Green Med Info - The science is definitive: The Hepatitis B vaccine is not only associated with liver disease, it causes it. The specific harm done is known, clearly documented. Low doses of the hepatitis B vaccine with aluminum adjuvant results in loss of mitochondrial integrity, cell death, and apoptosis, particularly in liver cells.Current News
9/14, Bob Van Voris, Bloomberg, U.S. Asks to Delay ‘Unprecedented’ Military Detention Ruling
9/14, Julia Preston, New York Times, U.S. Cites Fast Pace on Reprieves for Young Illegal Immigrants
9/14, Adam Serwer, Mother Jones, Members of Congress Who Reauthorized Warrantless Wiretapping Bill Don't Understand What It Does
9/14, Mike Masnick, TechDirt, House Approves Bill To Spy On Americans By Misrepresenting Or Lying About What's In The Bill
9/14, Rod Boshart, Gazette (MD), U.S. drone attacks amount to human rights violations, Carter says
9/14, Associated Press, Sacramento (CA) Bee, ACLU says FBI was watching Occupy Oakland
9/14, Editorial, Los Angeles Times, Closing the book on CIA torture
9/13, Chris Mitchell, Opposing Views, Attorney Richard Thompson Warns About Future Government Spying via Drones
FCC Defends Net Neutrality, Says Verizon Is No Internet Editor
Telephone and cable companies keep dreaming up new ways to close down your access to the Internet. This week, the court case over the FCC rules designed to prevent that kind of behavior moved to its next phase.
Will the Program Access Rules Expire on Oct. 5?
Back in March, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on whether to extend the "program access rules" for another five years, either as they exist now or in some modified form. At this point, it remains unclear whether the FCC will make the Oct. 5 deadline, whether or not a majority of the commissioners favor extending the rule, and if so what form an extended rule would take.
Should Google Be Censoring Videos Just Because They Are Linked to Violence?
Google says it blocked viewers in Egypt and Libya from seeing a controversial video clip on YouTube, after the video was allegedly linked to violence in both of those countries. But should Google be censoring content without even a request from a government or court?
As Violence Spreads in Arab World, Google Blocks Access to Inflammatory Video
As violence spread in the Arab world over a video on YouTube ridiculing the Prophet Muhammad, Google, the owner of YouTube, blocked access to it in two of the countries in turmoil, Egypt and Libya, but did not remove the video from its website.
The Internet tools of the Arab Spring have become the weapons of a new Arabian nightmare playing out at American diplomatic missions across North Africa and the Middle East. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube that spread an obscure movie trailer depicting the Muslim prophet Muhammad in offensive ways are facing a clamp-down from governments and even Internet companies in some cases.
How Your Wireless Carrier Gets Your Data Usage Wrong
When your wireless carrier charges you for the amount of data you used on your cell phone in a given month, how do you know the bill is accurate? It very well might not be, according to a new study.
Most people use public Wi-Fi in coffee shops and hotels for email and Web surfing without giving security a thought. Anyone trying to sniff or steal our data would surely be breaking the law, right? Well, that depends.
In Other News..
Clicks + Calls = Real-World Progress
More Coverage of U.S. Muslims Is Needed
Can a School Get Your Kid's Facebook Password? Judge Says No
The Shape of the Internet Has Changed: It Now Lives Life on the Edge
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September 13th 2012
World News
PHOTOS: The Libyans loved him!!! - Suspicious death of Stevens?
US deploying warships to Libyan coast
RT - American officials have said that the Pentagon is sending two warships toward the coast of Libya, the Associated Press reports. Earlier, the US announced it was sending 50 Marines to Libya to reinforce security at American diplomatic facilities. The move comes in the aftermath of an attack on US the consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi that killed the US ambassador to Libya and three members of his staff. The USS Laboon moved to a position off the coast Wednesday, and the USS McFaul is en route to arrive to its destination within days.
Officials believe embassy attack in Libya was coordinated
wtop.com - Intelligence experts and U.S. government officials are starting to view the attack in Libya that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others in Benghazi as a coordinated attack.... Several developments seem to support the possibility. The incident does not appear to be a random mob scene, but rather an opportunity that militants seized, sources say. The attackers used a rocket-propelled grenade, a weapon not traditionally carried by protesters, but commonly used by terrorists.
VIDEO: Marines Sent to Libya After Murder of Ambassador
Fox News - A team of about 50 Marines has been dispatched to Libya and two Navy guided missile destroyers are being deployed off the cost, after attacks Tuesday on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi left four Americans dead, including the U.S. ambassador, military officials told Fox News. Officials said a Marine "fast team" is being sent from the U.S. Naval base in Rota, Spain. They are expected to go to Tripoli. According to a U.S. official, there are no U.S. personnel left at the consulate in Benghazi which was attacked.
YouTube refuses to take down video that caused murder of US ambassador in Libya RT - Even after the killing of an American ambassador in Libya, YouTube refused to take down the video that enraged Muslims around the world. Instead it blocked access to the 14-minute clip in the two countries where American embassies were attacked. Due to an executive decision by YouTube, Internet users in Egypt and Libya will be unable to access the video that sparked public outrage in those countries over claims that it insulted the prophet Muhammad, AP reports.
New clashes outside US Embassy in Cairo
RT - Egyptian security forces have used tear gas on a raging crowd of demonstrators near the US Embassy in Cairo. Several dozen people have reportedly been injured as the police dispersed the stone-throwing demonstrators. Riot police have managed to push a group of several hundred protesters back in Cairo's side streets near the embassy.
U.S. New, Politics & Government
VIDEO: Federal Judge Issues Permanant Injunction Against NDAA
iroots.org 9/12/12 - Today, Judge Forrest permanently enjoined (prevented) enforcement of a portion of the National Defense Authorization Act, stating that the law "impermissibly impinges on guaranteed First Amendment rights and lacks sufficient definitional structure and protections to meet the requirements of due process."
Secret body scanners with 50 times more radiation than airport x-ray scanners to be rolled out (NaturalNews) A growing number of Americans are already outraged over the government's use of high-powered, ultra-revealing and potentially dangerous backscatter x-ray machines at a growing number of the nation's airports, and as bad as that problem is, it's about to get a whole lot worse unless Congress intervenes to stop the madness.
Economy
Federal Reserve expected to announce QE3 Thursday
RT - Following months of persistent rumors, economy experts across America predict that the US Federal Reserve will finally announce plans for a third round of quantitative easing, or QE3, on Thursday.
Energy & Environment
Deadly PECO smart meter burns up side of a house - And it's not the first
(NaturalNews) The fire reported from an overheating smart meter was one of several reported in Pennsylvania. This last one would have burned the house down if the owner hadn't been alerted by his smoke alarm in time to call the fire department. And there have been several more serious and minor smart meter fires reported from other states, Canada, and Australia. A former AMI engineer in Alabama was fired because he wouldn't keep quiet about smart meters that weren't properly tested. They were deficient and tended to overheat. Instead, the temperature readings of 200 degrees Fahrenheit signaled to computers were dismissed as faulty readings.
Gas prices hit $8 in NJ, Pa. in Lukoil protest
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J. - More than 50 Lukoil gas stations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania jacked up prices to more than $8 a gallon today to protest what they say are unfair pricing practices by Lukoil North America that leave them at a competitive disadvantage.
Health
GMO alert: Eating GM wheat may destroy your liver, warn scientists
(NaturalNews) [Jack] Heinemann [of the University of Canterbury in Australia.] has published an eye-opening report that details this warning and calls for rigorous scientific testing on animals before this crop is ever consumed by humans. The enzyme suppressor in the wheat, he says, might also attack a human enzyme that produces glycogen. Consumers who eat genetically modified wheat would end up contaminating their bodies with this enzyme-destroying wheat, causing their own livers to be unable to produce glycogen, a hormone molecule that helps the body regulate blood sugar metabolism. This, in turn, would lead to liver failure.
Aspartame: Safety Approved In 90 Nations, But Damages Brain
Green Med Info - As far back as 1996, folks were writing about the potential link between aspartame and increasing brain tumor rates. Indeed, its intrinsic neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity has been confirmed in the biomedical literature. And yet, aspartame has been approved for use in thousands of consumer products in over 90 countries, and is still being consumed by millions worldwide on a daily basis - despite the fact that over 40 adverse health effects of aspartame have been documented.
Scientists discover green tea boosts brain cell production, aids memory
(NaturalNews) If you think drinking green tea seems to make your thinking more clear, you probably aren't imagining it. Research just published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research reveals natural properties of green tea actually affect the generation of new brain cells linked to improved memory and spatial learning. This adds to the growing list of documented green tea benefits which include building stronger bones and potentially fighting prostate cancer.
6 Super-Foods that Fight Cancer and Prevent Cancer
Natural Society - Prevention is key with natural health solutions, although we firmly believe that anyone can beat cancer with nutrition. It is said that at least half of all cancer cases can be prevented through lifestyle changes such as diet, which also just so happens to be one of the best methods to protect.
Miscellaneous
91 ways to inner peace in the next minute
NaturalNews) This week's episode of Mental Heath Exposed is a discussion about a recent blog post I wrote that lists 91 ways to get to inner peace quickly. Here are some examples from the complete list of how to get inner peace in the next minute.
16 Clever Uses for Binder Clips
Tree Hugger - I've always believed that one could fix just about anything with duct tape, olive oil, safety pins, and a Sharpie. Add binder clips to the mix and the emergency hack kit is pretty much complete.
On Tuesday, the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, NBC -- alone among the major networks -- abstained from showing the moment of silence observed at Ground Zero in New York City and the White House. And for that, NBC exposed itself to a public flogging. One Twitterer even said the decision was enough to make one “doubt humanity.” But hey, let’s give the network of Seacrest and Leno a break. Surely there was a reason for the Today show's decision.
On Nonprofits Becoming the Media
Human Rights Watch is beginning to bypass the middle man (i.e., the press) in favor of making its own approachable content.
Verizon Will Allow Free FaceTime Over Cellular for All Data Plans
AT&T may be playing hardball with Apple’s FaceTime video chat feature on its network, but Verizon Wireless is opening up all of its data plans to the feature for free, according to reports. That includes customers grandfathered into Verizon’s unlimited data plans (which are no longer available to new subscribers). In comparison, AT&T is bending Net Neutrality rules to force its subscribers into data-share plans to use FaceTime over cellular.
Verizon Enables Cellular FaceTime Use Regardless of Data Plan
So the iPhone 5 was announced with a Sept. 21 rollout for most carriers, and it did sound a little bit underwhelming by Apple’s standards. Verizon will be one of the carriers offering the iPhone 5, and it also mentioned that iPhone 5 owners on Verizon Wireless will be able to take advantage of FaceTime calls over a cellular connection -- without the use of Wi-Fi -- regardless of the data plan they have.
FCC Defends Its 'Trojan Horse' Approach to Net Neutrality
Almost two years ago, the FCC adopted a lite version of Network Neutrality in its "Open Internet" order. That order is now under legal attack from Verizon, which argues that it exceeds the agency's authority. Congress has never explicitly given the FCC the authority to enforce Network Neutrality, but the FCC contends that the power to mandate Internet openness is implicit in other powers Congress has granted to the agency.
More Nicks in Net Neutrality's Death by a Thousand Cuts
This week, at long last, the FCC explained in court why telco criticisms of its Net Neutrality regulations are "baseless." Nonetheless, it has become crystal clear that the FCC's rules against online discrimination -- perhaps the signature technology policy move of Barack Obama's presidency -- are in the industry's crosshairs.
Lawmaker Pushes Mobile Privacy Legislation
A new bill in the U.S. Congress would require mobile phone makers, network providers and application developers to disclose to customers any monitoring software installed on their mobile devices.
Lawmaker Proposes New Privacy Safeguards for Mobile Users
A new privacy bill unveiled by Rep. Ed Markey would require wireless phone manufacturers, carriers and app developers to inform consumers about monitoring software installed on their devices.
Cops Might Finally Need a Warrant to Read Your Gmail
Right now, if the cops want to read my email, it's pretty easy for them to do so. All they have to do is ask my online email provider. But a new bill set to be introduced in the Senate Judiciary Committee by its chair, Sen. Patrick Leahy, seems to stand the best chance of finally changing that situation and giving email stored on remote servers the same privacy protections as email stored on one's home computer.
Google Fiber Announces Qualified Areas Tomorrow, Snags ABC Channels Including ESPN, Disney
The official list of the first "fiberhoods" Google's Gigabit Internet + TV service will be available in is already looking like an even more attractive option thanks to a few newly announced channel additions.
Did You Hear That? A Billion Smartphones Shipping by 2016
Mobile phone makers collectively will ship a whopping billion smartphones a year by 2016, according to new data.
In Other News..
The iPhone 5 Is Completely Amazing and Utterly Boring
The Facebook-Addicted Judge and the Little Blue Bird
GoDaddy Apologizes for Outage, Gives Customers One-Month Credits
Bell Canada Announces Online Video Service to Challenge Netflix
International Newsworthy
UN Nuclear Agency Board Set to Rebuke Iran: Diplomats
Iran Strike Must be Bigger than Afghan/Iraqi Ops Combined – Report
Netanyahu Risks Overplaying Hand over Iran
Taliban ‘using Facebook to lure Australian soldiers’
Pakistan: Tribals Blame Haqqani Offshoot for Blast
India Sees Espionage Behind Chinese Cash Payments to Indian Pilots
Syria: Christians Take Up Arms for First Time
New UN-AL Envoy Arrives in Syria
Saudis, Iran Tentatively Engage in Trying to Resolve Syrian Crisis
Hariri Urges More Assertive French Role in Syria Crisis
Iraq Stops Registering Turkish Firms amid Row over Hashemi
Iraq, Kurdistan End oil Dispute- Exports Continue
Yemen Protesters Attempt to Storm US Embassy
Lebanese Mufti Urges Unity against US
Perfect Storm Over Libya
US Drones to Fly over Libya Amid Tensions
US Deploying Warships To Libyan Coast
California Man Confirms Role in Anti-Islam Film
30 Injured in Clashes in Front of U.S. Embassy in Egypt
Russia, Central Asian States to Hold Air Defense Drills
Russia Warns US on Consequences of Regime Change
Tajikistan, Russia Reportedly Agree On Base Extension
Azerbaijan: Shah Deniz to Choose Between TAP & Nabucco West
Uzbekistan Begins Supplying Gas to China through Pipeline
Turkey Does U-Turn on Trans-Caspian Pipeline
Central Asian Alliances Vital in Regional Stability
MI6 Chief Paid ‘Extremely Rare’ Secret Visit to Israel
German High Court Approves Step toward European Dictatorship
Europe Offers Path for a Nuclear Asia
EADS & BAE Propose EU-Based Merger to Rival US Defense Giants
National Newsworthy
House Approves Sweeping, Warrantless Electronic Spy Powers
Guantanamo Judge: No TV Broadcast of Cole Trial
NY Judge Blocks Law Permitting Indefinite Detention
Poll: 46% of Americans Want a Third Party
Jobless Claims in U.S. Rise to Highest in Two Months
More Americans Opting Out of Banking System
‘Fast & Furious’ Guns Ended Up in Colombia
The Trans-Pacific Partnership’s “Global Economic Coup”: Secret Negotiations Behind Closed Doors
NY House Race Hit by Super PAC
YouTube Refuses to Take Down Video that Caused Murder of US Ambassador in Libya
Noteworthy Editorials
Pepe Escobar: Mr. Blowback rising
William Engdahl: Dagestan- Syria comes to the Russian Caucasus
Paul Craig Roberts: The Revolution from Above
Andrew Napolitano: What If November Changes Nothing?
America Is in Search of a New Enemy
Point of No Return in the South China Sea
Who’s Got the Nukes?
===============================================================================================
September 12th 2012
World News
US Ambassador, 3 Others Killed in Libya
The U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were killed after protesters angry over a film that ridiculed Islam's Prophet Muhammad stormed the U.S. consulate in the eastern city of Benghazi.
Cairo protesters scale U.S. Embassy wall, remove flag USA Today - Egyptian demonstrators climbed the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo today and pulled down the American flag to protest a film they say is insulting to the prophet Mohammad.
Netanyahu denied meeting with Obama after lashing out at US
RT - The White House has shot-down a request from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with US President Barack Obama later this month, a rejection that comes right after an unusually hostile statement directed towards the United States.
US envoy killed in Libya consulate attack
Press TV - The US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans have been killed in an attack on the US consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. A Libyan official has confirmed that the US envoy has been killed. The attack occurred on Tuesday night after a group of people held a demonstration to protest against an anti-Islam movie made in the United States. Witnesses said the protesters attacked and set fire to the consulate building while gunmen and security forces clashed. Rocket-propelled grenades were also fired at the US consulate.
GM mosquito trial results in Cayman prove ineffective in tackling dengue
Activist Post - "This poor quality paper pours cold water on the idea that Oxitec's GM mosquitoes will be an effective way to tackle dengue" said Dr Helen Wallace, Director of GeneWatch UK. "Staff would be better employed using the well-established public health approach of removing mosquito breeding sites rather than in placing GM mosquito pupae at intervals across a site.... It is hard to see how Oxitec can justify commercial releases of its GM mosquitoes based on such poor data."
Dead Gitmo detainee was cleared for release in 2009
NBC News - The Guantanamo detainee found dead in his prison cell last weekend had been cleared for release three years ago by an Obama administration task force that concluded that his detention was no longer necessary, NBC News has learned.
French president proposes strategic food stockpile
Press TV - French President Francois Hollande has proposed the creation of strategic stockpiles of agricultural produce in an attempt to stave off drastic price hikes on international markets.
Financial alert: Germany's Constitutional Court decision either means a rapid Eurozone financial collapse, or inevitable hyperinflation
(NaturalNews) The financial collapse of the Eurozone may be upon us. This Wednesday, September 12, the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany must decide whether it is legal for Germany to participate in the financial bailouts of other nations in the Eurozone.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
VIDEO: Flashback: Four Star General Wesley Clark: America's Foreign Policy Coup After 9/11 - Destroy 7 Countries in 5 years - Retired four-star general Wesley Clark analyzes the course of U.S. foreign policy in the wake of September 11, 2001.
Gun Grab: Obama Justice Department Ends Due Process
Washington Times - In a final rule published last week, the Justice Department granted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) authority to "seize and administratively forfeit property involved in controlled-substance abuses."
Congressman took family on $30k trip to Scotland to attend a wedding - and billed it to his campaign - Daily Mail - U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-1st Dist. from New Jersey) splashed out more than $30,000 to attend the wedding of an unnamed donor - an expense that was vetted by his wife who serves as a volunteer compliance officer for the politician. The House Committee on Ethics ruled in early September there is 'substantial reason to believe' Andrews inappropriately used campaign funds for the family trip and the Committee will extend their investigation to fully review the matter.
VIDEO: Reality Check: Why are we fighting Al Qaeda and supporting them at the same time? - On this anniversary of September 11th, we don't just look back at what took place 11 years ago today but what the last decade has meant for the United States, including our on-going war with Afghanistan.
2012 Election News
VIDEO: 16-Year-Old Questioned by FBI Over Pro-Ron Paul
Paul Joseph Watson - In another shocking example of how the federal government is repositioning itself as a secret police force to target political dissidents, a 16-year-old boy was questioned by FBI agents over a You Tube video he created for a school project which highlighted how America was slipping into a police state.
Ron Pauls Political Director Jesse Benton Quits Campaign for Liberty
reason.com - Benton said this in his public resignation letter to Campaign for Liberty president, and Paul 2012's official campaign manager, John Tate. After much soul searching, I have decided that my passion lies in direct electoral politics, and I plan to work on campaigns rather than resume my work in grassroots advocacy.
Economy
Jailed Banker Who Helped Crack UBS Gets $104 Million Payout
CNBC News - Attorneys for jailed former Swiss banker Bradley Birkenfeld announced Tuesday that the IRS will pay him $104 million as a whistleblower reward for information he turned over to the US government.
Veteran News
Sebelius Touts New Strategy to Prevent Suicide
Adan Salazar - Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the launch of a new initiative intended to tackle the growing problem of suicides among Americans and the widely muffled rate of army suicides.
Health
Vitamin C lowers blood pressure, improves vascular function to lower heart attack and stroke risk - (NaturalNews) Increased blood pressure, even before clinically diagnosed as hypertension, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Elevations of just 3 to 5 millimeters of mercury can dramatically raise the risk of a fatal heart attack or cerebrovascular event. Nearly 30 percent of US adults have high blood pressure or hypertension that places them at much higher risk for disease progression.
The Common Cold Treated as Fearful: Vaccine Is Coming
Gaia Health - It's obviously madness to consider yet another vaccine for anyone, let alone newborns. Yet, that's precisely what's in the works: a vaccination for the common cold, which is being treated as a devastating disease and the cause of asthma.
Are your body care products safe enough to "eat"?
(NaturalNews) You are what you eat... either through your mouth or your skin. The average person is exposed to over 126 toxic chemicals per day through their body care products alone. There are over 10,000 chemicals used in the personal care products and only 13 percent of these have been tested for safety.
Natural pain relievers beat Big Pharma drugs
(NaturalNews) Dutch researchers found the same recovery rate of drug takers versus placebos. It is the water that you drink that does the job. Not the liver-toxic-internal bleeding-hearing loss-impotence-problems-Tylenol. Drinking water and staying hydrated alleviates pain time and time again as dehydration causes histamines to react in areas of pain in the body. One of Big Pharma's biggest dirty secrets is that most medications are in fact, antihistamines that treat the localized symptoms of pain - but not the cause.
Current News
9/12, Pete Yost, Washington Examiner, Administration urges terror surveillance renewal
9/12, Elisabeth Meinecke, Townhall.com, Domestic Drones and Spying
9/12, David Perera, FierceGovernmentIT.com, No amendments for FISA Amendments Act reauthorization
9/12, Associated Press, CBS News, First immigrants OK'd for deportation deferral program
9/12, Editorial, Reuters, U.S. spies press for renewal of broad electronic surveillance law
9/12, Shahid Buttar, Fire Dog Lake, Uncle Sam is watching you
9/11, Lewis Kamb, Carol Smith, InvestigateWest.com, Detention center houses few serious criminals
If You Need One More Reason to Be Annoyed with AT&T for Blocking FaceTime Over 3G, Here It Is
We've offered plenty of reasons for why AT&T's blocking of FaceTime over cellular connections is ridiculous, but Brendan Gramer brings us one more -- it hurts the deaf community.
AT&T Blocking iPhone FaceTime on Its Network Is a Big Blow to Deaf People
Brendan Gramer, who is deaf, wrote about how AT&T's recent announcement that it will block FaceTime on its networks affects deaf people, who use FaceTime to converse in sign language.
#AskJulius Chat Turns into No Chat Pro Tip: Use the Hashtag
The FCC chairman's first foray into social media bombed as Julius Genachowski -- set to take questions via a Twitter chat for a half hour -- failed to show for the first 20 minutes. Apparently Genachowski wasn't tagging his answers with the #askjulius hashtag that participants were using to send him questions.
FCC Chairman: I'm Concerned About Data Caps
The FCC chairman is concerned about data caps, but that may not mean he’s ready to take any action. At a recent event in Silicon Valley, the chairman of the regulatory agency said he viewed anything that would depress broadband usage as a concern.
Parents, Teachers Believe Broadband Boosts Performance: Survey
It looks like an apple for the teacher just doesn't cut it anymore, unless it can access the Net. According to a poll from the Leading Education by Advancing Digital Commission, teachers and parents say schools should be doing more to improve access to technology in education, with Internet acces high on the list.
Google Set to Offer Fastest U.S. Internet Service in Kansas City
Google will move a step closer to offering the fastest citywide Internet service in the U.S. tomorrow when it picks the first neighborhoods in Kansas City to get hooked into a new fiber-optic network.
'Six Strikes' Internet Warning System Will Come to U.S. This Year
Even as France looks set to scrap its three-strikes antipiracy scheme known as HADOPI, U.S. Internet providers are inching forward with their milder "six strikes" program. But the head of that effort says the system is about education, and it is coming by the end of the year.
Two Iranian journalists, Shiva Nazar Ahari and Jila Bani Yaghoob, have been arrested to serve previously imposed jail sentences. Their detention brings to five the number of women journalists in jail in Iran.
Photographer Captures Attack in Syria, Lives
Tracey Shelton, a senior correspondent for Global Post, was embedded with a group of rebel fighters in Aleppo, Syria, last week when they were hit by an unexpected attack. Seven images from the video she was shooting show the instant of the explosion.
USA Today Is Turning 30, in Danger of 'Marking 30'
As it approaches its 30th birthday, USA Today is in danger of "marking 30," a journalistic term for coming to an end, or dying.
In Other News..
Swing-State Ads Bill: $575M -- So Far
Amazon, Forced to Collect a Tax, Is Adding Roots
Appeals Court Sides with RIAA; Jammie Thomas Owes $222,000
International Newsworthy
Russia and China to Back Iran Resolution
Demand for Iranian Oil Increases: IEA
Iran Slams Foreign Military Presence in Middle East
Tehran to Host Meeting of ECO Privatization Agencies’ Heads
Afghanistan: U.S. Turns over Notorious Prison to Afghans…But Not Completely
Afghanistan Withdrawal: The Pros and Cons of Using the Northern Distribution Network
Afghanistan Bans YouTube over Anti-Islam Film: ministry
Afghanistan’s Natural Resources Could Spark Civil War
Pakistan: Abbottabad Commission Given 30 Days to Submit report
Bin Laden Raid Doctor Says He Was Unaware of Raid
African Militants Killed in Syria Fighting Alongside al-Qaeda
Liberated Town Turns to Islamic Law Until End of Syria Chaos
Iraq Opens Controversial Iranian Refugee Camp to Diplomats
Multiple Attacks Leave 6 Dead in Iraq
Turkish Iraqi Ties Sour
Saudi Arabia Says High Oil Price Not Justified
Reform Activists Arrested As Protests Sweep Jordan
US-Backed Terrorists Murder US’ Own Ambassador in Libya
Libyans Kill US Envoy & 3 Others at US Embassy
After Israeli Lobbying, Germany Pledges to Reassess Sub Deal With Egypt
US Embassy Guards Attack Cairo Protest
Congo: Rwandan Army Withdrawal A Farce
Twin Suicide Bombers Hit New President’s Hotel in Mogadishu
Kenyan Parliament Passes Motion to Deploy Soldiers in Clash-Hit Area
Russia: Putin Signs Decree Protecting Gas Giant from EU Probe
Turkmen Navy Backs Eastward Stance
Kazakhstan Supports Iran Nuclear Right
Kazakh Forces Kill 5 Gunmen after Siege in Oil Region
Five Years on, EU ‘Again’ Calls for States to Disclose CIA Black Sites in Europe
UK: Government Ramps Up Controls on FinSpy Surveillance Software
German Court Approves European Bailout Fund
National Newsworthy
Police State: Administration Urges Terror Surveillance Renewal
Panel Urges Return to Bush Missile Defense
Navy Launching Its First Drone Copter Squadron
Pentagon unveils DARPA-made mule-drone (VIDEO)
TSA under Microscope on Sept. 11 Anniversary
Twitter Told to Produce Protester’s Posts or Face Fine
Poll Shows Overwhelming Opposition to the Idea of Attacking Iran
Hill Ignores Fiscal Cliff Warnings
Health Care Waste Costs more than Pentagon Budget
Florida Essentially Gives Up on Voter Purge Efforts
Cryptome: Dogs of War Growl in Secret
Noteworthy Editorials
Ron Paul: A Republic- Not a Democracy
Jonathan Turley: Outrage at U.S. Torture Dwindles
Glenn Greenwald: Another Guantánamo Prisoner Death Highlights Democrats’ Hypocrisy
Paul Pillar: Public Opinion, Foreign Policy & the Election
Bob Parry: The Neocons & 9/11
9/11 & Its Legacy of Fear
The Gold Standard Goes Mainstream
==============================================================================================
September 11th 2012
World NewsAnother Al Qaeda Boogie Man Brought Back From The Dead And Killed Off Again Steve Watson - At yet another politically expedient juncture for the White House, a top Al Qaeda commander is said to have been killed in Yemen by a missile fired from a drone. Just a few days after news broke that yet another US drone strike had killed 13 Yemeni civilians, including three women, we now learn that, according to senior Yemeni Defense Ministry officials, al Qaeda's "No. 2 leader" in Yemen, Saeed al-Shihri, has been slain. "A senior official at the Yemeni president's office confirmed the attack, but said DNA tests have yet to establish al-Shihri's identity." reports the AP.
GRAPHIC VIDEO: 20 Syrian soldiers executed in Aleppo RT - Two amateur videos were posted on YouTube on Monday showing what appear to be images of 20 dead Syrian soldiers, blindfolded and handcuffed. They were reportedly executed by rebel fighters in the northern city of Aleppo.... It was not possible to verify the authenticity of the video.US hands over control of Bagram prison to Afghan government
Press TV - Afghan President Hamid Karzai hailed the move in a ceremony on Monday, but there are still unresolved issues as the US still wants to have control over some of the prisoners in the detention center. The measure comes six months after Washington and Kabul signed a deal in which the US consented to give control of the Bagram Detention Center in the northeastern province of Parwan to Afghan forces. The transfer of more than 600 detainees, still in custody of the US forces, is among the unsettled issues. * Related Article: US warned over Afghan sovereignty
US loses $450 mln worth of fuel in AfghanistanRT - The US-led NATO command, which trains the Afghan army, is under investigation for shredding records of fuel purchases for the Afghans totaling nearly $475 million. The training command does not know whether the fuel it delivers to the Afghans is used or stored, Reuters reports. Some officials are concerned that some of the fuel could have been lost, stolen or diverted to the insurgency. Accountability for the fuel is especially important, since the $1.1 billion program supplying fuel to the Afghan army will be taken over by the Kabul government in less than four months.
Drone strikes help Qaeda recruit more
Press TV - A CNN report on a U.S. drone strike last week in Yemen quoted an activist as saying that the anti-U.S. sentiment in the Asian country would cause more people to join militant groups. "I would not be surprised if a hundred tribesmen joined the lines of al Qaeda as a result of the latest drone mistake," said Nasr Abdullah, an activist in the district of the attack. "This part of Yemen takes revenge very seriously."
VIDEO: President of Italy's Supreme Court to Refer 9/11 Crimes To International Criminal Court Washington's Blog - Judge Imposimato announced that he is going to recommend that the International Criminal Court hold a criminal trial into 9/11. Imposimato noted that the International Criminal Court was set up to protect the world from criminal acts of war, and that it is the perfect judicial body to hear such a case.UN Propaganda Asset Angelina Jolie Treks to Syrian Refugee Camp
Kurt Nimmo - CFR member, United Nations propaganda asset and "special envoy" Angelina Jolie has been sent to Jordan to bring attention to the squalid conditions at the Zaatari refugee camp. "UNHCR spokesman Ali Bebe says the Hollywood star arrived Monday and is to visit Jordan's first tent city for Syrian refugees on Tuesday morning," the Associated Press reports.
US-led night raid kills 1, inures child in AfghanistanPress TV - At least one Afghan civilian has been killed and a child injured in a night raid carried out by US-led troops in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar Province.
Greece submits new austerity package
Press TV - "We have submitted the 11.5-billion (package) to the troika. A discussion and an evaluation are taking place," Stournaras said in Athens on Monday, AFP reported. The package reportedly includes slashing pensions by 3.5 billion euros, health cuts worth 1.47 billion euros as well as a 517-million-euro reduction in defence spending.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
Patience tested as Chicago teachers strike drags into second day
(Reuters) - Parents and thousands of Chicago children faced a second day of closed public schools on Tuesday as striking teachers and the nation's third-largest school district argued over details of education reforms sought by Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Federal government may finally recognize 9/11 cancer link, say attorneys of survivors NJ.com -The report cited two attorneys - Michael Barasch and Noah Kushlefsky - who represent thousands of first responders and residents. The attorneys said legislative aides involved in drafting the new regulations and Victim Compensation Fund staffers told them that about 50 cancers would be included. "There's new scientific evidence," Barasch told the Post, "that dust is what is now linked to not only the respiratory illnesses, but all these cancers." The new regulations would finally allow cancer victims to be compensated, the Post reports.
Worst Congress ever back to Washington to avoid government shutdown RT - As US lawmakers return to work on Monday after a five-week recess, they will push aside big issues to once again try to avert a government shutdown before Sept. 30, thereby holding off on issues that could trigger another recession. This Congress is one of the most unpopular and unproductive in modern history, reaching an all-time low approval rating of 10 percent, Gallup found. Few tasks will get done between now and the November 6 election as lawmakers return to their home districts to campaign for their seats, Reuters reports.
Economy
JP Morgan and Citigroup reconsider executive bonuses
RT - JP Morgan Chase & Co may pay smaller bonuses for its top management while Citigroup is also rethinking executive pay structure in a bid to please investors after several tactical blunders this year. JP Morgan, the biggest US bank, has lost at least $5.8 billion in failed derivative trades. It may cut 2012 bonuses including for its CEO James Dimon, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people close to the institution.
US debt collectors cash in on $1 trillion in student loans RT - Most US college students hope to land a good job with a high salary after graduation. But for some the reality is very different. Many find themselves faced with insurmountable debt - and a loan industry that's happy to cash in on their misfortune.... Around 5.9 million people nationwide have fallen at least 12 months behind in their payments. This number has grown by a third in the last five years, according to a State Higher Education Finance survey.
Number of children in NY City's homeless shelters hits 19,000
NY Daily News - "Not since the grim days of the Great Depression has New York City had 20,000 children sleeping homeless each night," said Patrick Markee, senior policy analyst with the Coalition for the Homeless.
Insight: GM's Volt: The ugly math of low sales, high costs
Reuters - Nearly two years after the introduction of the path-breaking plug-in hybrid, GM is still losing as much as $49,000 on each Volt it builds, according to estimates provided to Reuters by industry analysts and manufacturing experts. Cheap Volt lease offers meant to drive more customers to Chevy showrooms this summer may have pushed that loss even higher. There are some Americans paying just $5,050 to drive around for two years in a vehicle that cost as much as $89,000 to produce.
2012 Election News
Will Defecting from the GOP Help Ron Paul's Supporters Take It Over?
Robin Koerner's blog - I recently polled the 13,000-strong community of Blue Republicans, all Ron Paul supporters, to find out for whom they intended to vote for President. An overwhelming 66% said they would be voting for Gary Johnson - the Libertarian candidate who shall be the only candidate other than Obama and Romney on the ballot in every state (absent yet more GOP mafia tactics). Sixteen (16) percent will be writing in Ron Paul, even though most don't expect their vote to be counted, and Romney will attract the votes of a negligible 6%. (Margin of error +/-4%.)
Science & Technology
VIDEO: Millions of GoDaddy sites taken offline by hackers
RT - GoDaddy.com, the largest domain name registrar on the Web, has been taken offline, and a self-proclaimed member of the Anonymous hacktivism collective is taking responsibility.
Health
Alzheimer's Is Diabetes of the Brain: Diet & Vaccination Connections
Gaia Health - The now-traditional belief that Alzheimer's disease is caused by a buildup of plaques on the brain has always been deficient for one simple reason: It completely ignores why those plaques build up. We now have good information that documents the reason for it. Alzheimer's shares its genesis with diabetes. It's a derangement of the body's ability to process or produce insulin. Alzheimer's is a third type of diabetes: type 3.
Magnify the Nutritional Potency of Greens by Eating Microgreens!
Natural Society - A recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry suggests that as good as vegetables are for you, very young vegetables-referred to as microgreens-are even better. Researchers say that these greens are extremely potent and beneficial for your health, containing all the goodness of a grown veggie in as little as one bite-full.
Bombshell: 18 people died of the flu, not 36,000 as claimed by the CDC
Jon Rappoport - In December of 2005, the British Medical Journal (online) published a shocking report by Peter Doshi, which spelled out the delusion and created tremors throughout the halls of the CDC.
Daily fasting and timing of meals can prevent diabetes and obesity
(NaturalNews) Ancient wisdom posits that calories in equal calories out when trying to lose weight and prevent disease. There is a wealth of new scientific research to suggest that all calories are not the same when metabolized through digestion, and more importantly the timing of meals as well as the time between each meal may hold the key to obesity and the incidence of diabetes.
Five steps to boosting your thyroid function almost immediately
(NaturalNews) The thyroid is considered the master gland for regulating the endocrine (hormones) system by most health practitioners. If it is not producing enough of its hormone to influence other areas the condition is hypothyroidism. Too much thyroid production creates hyperthyroidism.
True history: The AMA (American Medical Association) was built on racketeering and the pocketing of 'non-profit' profits (NaturalNews) The year is 1847. Physicians in America are not enjoying competing with inexpensive, natural remedies, which are offered by Indians and skilled midwives. These are remedies which are very effective but are not profitable, nor patentable, so the physicians get together to form an alliance called the AMA, the American Medical Association. Only "regulars" were allowed to join this new, prestigious organization, which strictly excluded herbalists, homeopaths and Indian doctors.
Current News
9/11, Brendan Sasso, The Hill, Congressional report warns drones could track faces, never leave sky
9/11, Michelle Richardson, ACLU, House to Vote on FISA Amendments Act Wednesday
9/11, David Kravets, Wired, Former CIA Chief: Obama’s War on Terror Same as Bush’s, But With More Killing
9/10, Jonathan Masters, Council on Foreign Relations, The Post-9/11 Civil Liberties Debate
9/10, BBC News, CIA rendition debate
AT&T's FaceTime Blocking Puts the Screws to Its Deaf Customers
AT&T's FaceTime blocking is especially frustrating to me. I am profoundly deaf. For me and my family, mobile FaceTime offers the promise of a seamless, one-touch communications solution that will allow me to communicate in my natural language, American Sign Language
'Internet Freedom'? AT&T's Verbal Jujitsu to Close Down Telecom in America
AT&T has created verbal jujitsu and has been able to trick America into thinking that night is day, opaque is transparent or, in this case, the term "Internet freedom" when it's really about making people believe it's about "freedom" when it is really about the destruction of America's entire telecom ecosystem.
Google Fiber Will Hit 89 Percent of Neighborhoods; Some Poor Areas Miss Out
Signing up for Google Fiber isn't simply a matter of scheduling an installation appointment. Google divided up the two Kansas Cities (Missouri and Kansas) into 202 "fiberhoods" of about 800 homes each and asked residents to preregister and plunk down a $10 fee to express their interest. To qualify, neighborhoods had to have anywhere between 5 percent and 25 percent of residents signing up. Google announced that it has closed preregistration, with 180 out of the 202 fiberhoods meeting their goals. Affluent areas signed up much more quickly than poor ones.
Most of Kansas City Now Set to Get Wired with Google Fiber
A last-minute push by Google and Kansas City community groups has qualified most neighborhoods to get wired up as part of the company’s effort to blanket the city with ultra-high-speed Internet connections.
Small and Medium-Sized Carriers Join Forces to Combat AT&T and Verizon
The Rural Cellular Association is now the Competitive Carriers Association. The name change acknowledges the new reality that not all nationwide mobile carriers are created equal -- T-Mobile and Sprint have more in common with tiny regional operators than with the country's two wireless superpowers.
Cosmo, the Hacker 'God' Who Fell to Earth
Cosmo is huge -- 6 foot 7 and 220 pounds the last time he was weighed, at a detention facility in Long Beach, Calif., on June 26. And yet he’s getting bigger, because Cosmo -- also known as Cosmo the God, the social-engineering mastermind who weaseled his way past security systems at Amazon, Apple, AT&T, PayPal, AOL, Netflix, Network Solutions and Microsoft -- is just 15 years old.
How Social Media Would Have Changed New York on 9/11
As gruesome as the resulting imagery might have been, the benefits of having social media on that day could have been profound. What would have come out of the tragedy could have provided more substantial evidence for engineers investigating the collapse. Detailed accounts could have given disaster officials untold insight that could be used to better improve fire safety codes in tall buildings.
FCC Urges Court to Uphold Net Neutrality Rules
The FCC urged a federal appeals court to uphold its Net Neutrality order, one of the signature achievements of Chairman Julius Genachowski's tenure.
Spectrum Rags to Riches for AT&T
After portraying herself as a spectrum-starved pauper, Ma Bell looks poised to be crowned queen of the wireless airwaves.
Cable Industry Needs to Stop Its Noise Over Law on Loud TV Ads
The cable industry is trying to exclude station promos from a new law that says TV commercials can be no louder than the programs they accompany.
We're Not Spying on You, Defense Assures Journos
The Pentagon issued an official response to defense reporters' concerns that their phone calls and emails might be tapped in order to close leaks: "The Department of Defense does not conduct electronic or physical surveillance of journalists," Pentagon press secretary George Little wrote in a letter to the Pentagon Press Association.
How to Cover the 11th Anniversary of 9/11?
The pain, the outrage, the loss -- these never fade. The amount of journalism, however, must. This is the 11th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001 -- that infamous date in the history of New York, the nation and the world. Last year, on the 10th anniversary, the Times produced a huge special treatment. This year, coverage in the Times will be far more muted, largely confined to news stories, like Sunday's front-page story about the infighting among politicians over the future of ground zero, and coverage of the reading of names.
Newspaper Carriers' Job Turns 179 Years Old
A reflection on how the newspaper industry has changed since Sept. 10, 1833, when the very first newspaper carrier was hired.
In Other News..
CPB Report to Capitol Hill Countering 'Continued and Pervasive' Opposition to Federal Funding
FTC Pick Blasted Antitrust Scrutiny of Google
What the DoJ Settlement Means for ebook Prices Now
Sometimes One Little Phone Can Have a Big Impact on the Economy
Amid Outage, GoDaddy Moves DNS to Competitor VeriSign
Wireless Charging -- Has Its Time Finally Arrived?
International Newsworthy
Iran Sets China Trade Target of $100bn
Israel Sticks to its Guns on Iran
IAEA ‘Frustrated’ over Iran Access Delays
Iran Sets Conditions for IAEA Modality
Afghanistan Overdoses on Military Bases
Rockets Hit NATO’s Bagram Airbase , Killing Three Afghan staff
4 Bullet-Riddled Bodies Found in Balochistan
Chinese PM Meets PM Ashraf, Assures Pakistan of Support
India’s Eurasia Strategy Leverages Iranian Port
Syria Rebels Execute 20+ Soldiers in Aleppo
Secret” Syria Strike Helps Israel Signal Resolve on Iran
Prominent Syrian Defector Thanks “French Intelligence” for Help
Russia Vows to Call a Conference of Syrians
Who Supplies Anti-Aircraft Missiles to Syrian Rebels?
Syria Disinformation Campaign: Social Media Circulates Fake Documents
Yemeni Defense Minister Injured by Suicide Car Bombs, 10 killed
Yemeni Cleric Urges US Envoy Expulsion
Iraq: DNO to Develop Benenan Iraq Kurdistan Oil Discovery
Turkey Tries Dozens of Kurdish Journalists
Israel to Annex 80 Hectares in West Bank
Analysis: What Does Gaddafi’s Ex-Spy Chief Know about Lockerbie?
Sudan: Rebels Fly to Washington for Talks with U.S. Officials
‘M23 Committing War Crimes in Congo’
More Deaths Feared After Kenya Imposes Curfew in Clash Area
Protests demand Islamic Govt. in Somalia
Russia’s Pivot to Asia?
Gazprom: EU Using Political Pressure to Angle for Fuel Price Cuts
Silk Road Nears an Historic Opening
Insight: If Caucasus Erupts, War Could Spread
U.S. Declares Readiness to ‘Assist’ Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline Project
Uzbekistan: Karimov Threatens War-Bids for Peace
Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek Reviews Russian Military Lease
National Newsworthy
‘NAFTA on Steroids’: Secret Agreements to Censor the Internet
Napolitano Calls for Cybersecurity Intelligence Information Sharing
Obama to Issue Executive Order on Cybersecurity
Former CIA Chief: Obama’s War on Terror Same as Bush’s- But with More Killing
The Laws Obama is Breaking in his Drone War
Army Wants Tiny Suicidal Drone to Kill From 6 Miles Away
Guantanamo Detainee Found Dead in his Cell
U.S. Army-Led NATO Command Shredded 4 Years of Records of Afghan Army Fuel Purchases
Democrats Flout Constitution, Go on the Warpath
Worst Congress Ever Back to Washington to Avoid Government Shutdown
Wall Street scammer ducks prison by working for CIA
CBO: $1.17 Trillion Deficit for First 11 Months in 2012
Percentage of Americans with Jobs Hits 31-Year Low
Unemployment Still High- But Not for Government Workers Cryptome: CIA Recruitment of Agents/Sources Inside the US
Noteworthy Editorials
Pepe Escobar: Ground Zero Redux
James Corbett: The Unanswered Questions of 9/11
Paul Craig Roberts: the 11th Anniversary of 9/11
David Swanson: The Method to the Post 9/11 Madness
Stephen Lendman: State Terror- Official Israeli Policy
David Bromwich: Is There No Plan B on Iran?
How We Became Israel
================================================================================
September 10th 2012
World News
Nuclear Strike On Iran Needed To Take Out Facilities: Report
Alexander Higgins - Yesterday Business Insider alerted us to a detailed researched report released by Washington D.C. foreign policy think tank the Center For Strategic & International Studies. The report examines the various military strike scenarios for taking out Iran's civilian nuclear power program. The report addresses 3 scenarios in detail: an Israeli airstrike, an Israeli nuclear strike and a US military strike launched in cooperation with Gulf States.
VIDEO: Synchronized Drone Swarm Takes Flight in Austrian Sky
Activist Post - The largest swarm of synchronized drones to date was organized by Ars Electronica Futurelab to take flight in the evening skies of Linz, Austria. The fleet of 49 quadrocopters demonstrated a pixel presentation of changing lights and formations.... Do you think that the demonstration video below is "creative and beautiful," as noted by one technology writer? Or do you think it is a creepy indication of a near-future of autonomous drone swarms with deadly intentions of a military nature?
VIDEO: Synchronized Drone Swarm Takes Flight in Austrian Sky
Activist Post - The largest swarm of synchronized drones to date was organized by Ars Electronica Futurelab to take flight in the evening skies of Linz, Austria. The fleet of 49 quadrocopters demonstrated a pixel presentation of changing lights and formations.
China probes 'gutter oil in medicine' claims
BBC - Chinese officials have told pharmaceutical firms to check their suppliers after claims that some have used "gutter oil" to make antibiotics, state-run media report. Officials are looking into firms that reportedly use the cheaper gutter oil rather than the more expensive soy bean oil in the production process. Gutter oil is reprocessed kitchen waste dredged from restaurant drains. It has been part of a series of recent food safety scandals in China.
VIDEO: Nicaragua volcano awakens, 3,000 to be evacuated
RT - "This activity could affect some 500 families totaling 3,000 people, so we decided to evacuate them," said Guillermo Gonzalez, executive director of the government's disaster agency. Nicaragua's geological institute confirmed it had detected "strong activity" coming from the epicenter.
Bomb targets Assad forces, 27 killed
RT - A bomb rocked the flashpoint Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday, killing up to 27 people and leaving dozens wounded. A rebel group claimed responsibly for the attack, saying it was targeting government troops. The state-run SANA news agency reported that a "terrorist bombing" hit al-Malab neighborhood in Aleppo, killing 27 civilians and injuring 64. The attack took place near the local al-Hayat Hospital, according to the regional governor.
'Foreign Islamists seek to turn Syria into Sharia state'
RT - The co-founder of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, Jacques Beres, discovered some interesting information while treating Syrian rebels in the besieged city of Aleppo. According to Beres, 60 per cent of his patients during his two week service in Syria were rebels- and about half of those were foreign. He says the fighters aren't focused on the fall of the Assad regime. Instead, they have their eyes on a different kind of prize - implementing Sharia law throughout the country.
'US sends troops, jet fighters to Yemen'
Press TV - According to some Yemeni media, about 4,000 American troops, a number of F-16 jet fighters, Lockheed C-5 Galaxy military transport aircraft and Apache helicopters have been stationed in al-Anad Air Base in Lahij province. The deployment of the American forces and military hardware to Yemen has changed the Arab country to one of the biggest US military bases in the Middle East, the reports say.
Bomb explosion kills 10 in NW Pakistan
Press TV - At least 10 people, mostly Shia Muslims, have been killed after a powerful bomb explosion in Pakistan's northwestern Parachinar town close to the Afghan border. Parachinar is the main town in Kurram tribal region, which is considered a main base for the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan. Pakistan's pro-Taliban militants have launched a violent campaign against the Shia Muslims over the past years.
'US doesn't need UN to oust Assad' - Clinton
RT - Hillary Clinton threatens the US and "like-minded states" might pursue regime change in Syria in circumvention of the UN if the new resolution on Syria is "toothless". Russia's Foreign Minister believes the conflict is still solvable diplomatically. Having conducted talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has acknowledged that the Russian position is steadfast: foreign intervention in Syria is intolerable.
Controversial British plan to 'divide and rule' Afghanistan
RT - A Tory MP proposes hacking up Afghanistan into separate "kingdoms", each ruled by a foreign power, and to include members of the Taliban. The plan is the brainchild of conservative MP and Foreign Office aide Tobias Ellwood, a former army captain in the Royal Green Jackets, and is already under discussion in London and Washington, according to a report which was seen by the British newspaper The Independent on Sunday.
Series of Earthquakes Jolt SW China, Killing at Least 64, Damaging 30,000 Homes Washington Post - Twin earthquakes and a spate of aftershocks struck southwestern China on Friday, toppling thousands of houses and sending boulders cascading across roads. At least 67 people were killed and hundreds injured in the remote mountainous area, and more than 100,000 residents were evacuated.
China probes 'gutter oil in medicine' claims
BBC - Chinese officials have told pharmaceutical firms to check their suppliers after claims that some have used "gutter oil" to make antibiotics, state-run media report. Officials are looking into firms that reportedly use the cheaper gutter oil rather than the more expensive soy bean oil in the production process. Gutter oil is reprocessed kitchen waste dredged from restaurant drains. It has been part of a series of recent food safety scandals in China.
VIDEO: 'Something Really Wrong': Tens of Thousands of Dead Fish Wash Up on Lake Erie Shore Common Dreams - "There was a significant number of fish, tens of thousands," Kate Jordan of Ontario's environment ministry told the Toronto Star. The Toronto Star adds that the 25-mile are of the dead fish along the lake's Ontario shore extends "from west of the fishing village of Port Stanley in Elgin County to the village of Morpeth in Chatham-Kent or just east of Rondeau.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
FBI and DHS Preparing False Flag Attack Claim Domestic Terrorists Building IEDs Activist Post - On September 27th, in Springfield, Illinois, the Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will conduct a presentation on improvised explosive devices (IEDs). This demonstration is an extension of the FBI's National Improvised Explosive Familiarization (NIEF) initiative "designed to raise awareness of the use of common chemicals to produce IEDs."
New York Police Department Opens Offices Internationally
End the Lie - In what just might be one of the strangest recent news stories, Israeli news outlets are reporting that the New York Police Department (NYPD) is opening a branch in Kfar Saba, a city in the Sharon region of the Central District of Israel.
* Related RT Video: NYPD Opens Offices Internationally...
FBI Launches $1 Billion Face Recognition Project
New Scientist - The Next Generation Identification programme will include a nationwide database of criminal faces and other biometrics.
Obama Lists His Five Criteria for Death by Drone
New American - From his interview with Ben Swann, host of Fox 19's Reality Check, to his sit-down with CNN's chief White House correspondent Jessica Yellin, the kill-list compiler-in-chief is gradually exposing details of the principles he purportedly follows before targeting someone for assassination.
VIDEO: 37 people who protest at Hancock Air Base near Syracuse against the use of drones are arrested Friday syracuse.com - The arrests followed a rally outside the air base where more than 150 people had gathered to protest the MQ-9 Reaper drones, and U.S. military involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. Friday's rally culminated a week of walks, talks and dinners that brought people from around New York State and the U.S., organized by the Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars.
VIDEO: POLICE STATE: Man Investigated for Buying Ammunition
offgridsurvival.com - Brian Loftus, a commercial fisherman and Oathkeeper, went to a local gun store to purchase a few boxes of ammunition for the range. Later that evening he got a phone call from the State Police. They wanted to talk to him because of his "large purchase amount of ammunition." Loftus, told the State Police that he had no criminal record and no reason to be suspected of anything.
Major teacher strike in Chicago: Thousands to hit streets
RT - Twenty-nine thousand teachers and staff in Chicago will strike for the first time in 25 years on Monday. As some 350,000 students are left behind, parents worry over their children's safety without proper supervision in potentially dangerous areas.
VIDEO: The Scariest Thing about Living in the United States
Economic Policy Journal - It is not the Federal Reserve and high price inflation----though that is very serious. It is the growing capability of the U.S. government to monitor all our activities and record them for future reference. As the country gets more totalitarian, more and more people will get caught in the web. Brandon Raub was an early example. Down the road there may not be a Rutherford Institute to leap to the defense of others---and, indeed, a defense might even be ignored.
Economy
After disastrous US job report, QE3 expected next week
RT - The percentage of able-bodied Americans searching for jobs has hit a 30-year-low, and Wall Street now expects the US Federal Reserve to announce a new round of quantitative easing as early as next week. The US Labor Department released their workforce statistics for August 2012 on Friday, and the figures are far from what economists had expected.
Gold Jumps 3.1% on Week as Silver Soars 7.1%, US Bullion Coins Solid
CoinNews.net - Gold rallied to a more than six-month high at above $1,740 an ounce after Friday's disappointing U.S. jobs report fueled Fed stimulus bets. Jumping 2.0% on the day, gold prices spurred ahead 3.1% on the week. "Gold is going through the roof because this negative data makes QE3 more likely now," Reuters quoted Daniel Briesemann, commodities analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt.
Update On $80 Million in Seized Gold Coins: Judge Rules They "Belong to the U.S. Government" Mac Slavo - Last week, Judge Legrome Davis of the Eastern District Court of Pennsylvania, affirmed that decision, saying "the coins in question were not lawfully removed from the United States Mint." Barry Berke, an attorney for the Langbords, told ABCNews.com, "This is a case that raises many novel legal questions, including the limits on the government's power to confiscate property. The Langbord family will be filing an appeal and looks forward to addressing these important issues before the 3rd Circuit."
2012 Election News
YouTube: Reality Check: DNC Runs Over Delegates With Scripted Platform Vote Ben Swann Reality Check looks at how the DNC scripted a vote to change the party's platform one week after the Republican leadership did the same thing at the RNC.
Obama campaign in debt after DNC goes $15 million over budget
RT - The Democratic National Convention went US$15 million over its budget, being forced to borrow money. The miscalculation could hinder President Obama's re-election bid, as his campaign may have to pick up the bill.
DNC Video: "The Government Is The Only Thing We All Belong To"
Video that played during the DNC includes the line "The Government Is The Only Thing We All Belong To" (September 4, 2012).
Housing Market
VIDEO: WELLS FARGO Loses All Of Retired Couple's Possessions After Mistakenly Foreclosing Home CBS News - The owners of a modest home near Twentynine Palms lost their cherished possessions after a bank mistakenly foreclosed their residence. A crew broke into Alvin and Pat Tjosaas' desert home and took everything after being directed by Wells Fargo to secure the structure. The couple, however, didn't have a mortgage on the home. Alvin said the deputy sheriff said, "Good news, we know who took (your possessions).
Pet News
New Purina Be Happy Pet Food - Maybe not so happy
Susan Thixton - This new pet food - Be Happy - is a product of Purina Pet Foods. The Be Happy website states "For us, pets are the true happiness heroes. When we watch a dog chase his tail or a cat soak up the sun, we remember that there's more good in the world than not, if you just know where to sniff it out! That's why we created new Be Happy pet food to spread our pets' instinctual happiness.
Health
Seven ways that taking ginger can spice up your health
(NaturalNews) Cultivated and used medicinally for thousands of years all around the world, ginger root is a powerful medicinal herb that offers a variety of unique health benefits. When taken regularly in therapeutic doses, ginger root can effectively cure nausea; promote healthy digestion; boost immunity; treat asthma; improve cardiovascular function and heart health; relieve pain; and even prevent and cure chronic disease by quelling inflammation.
Solutions for gout
(NaturalNews) NaturalNews) Gout is a very painful form of arthritis that usually attacks the big toe and can spread to the insteps, ankles, heels, knees, wrists, fingers or elbows. Gout occurs when an excessive buildup of uric acid in the body forms painful crystals in the joints. These uric acid crystals deposit in the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues causing inflammation. Uric acid deposits can form under the skin (called tophi) and even some kidney stones are formed from uric acid crystals.
290% Increased Risk of Brain Tumor After 10 Years of Cellphone Use
Natural Society - In a newly-released study conducted at the Örebro Hospita in Sweden, it was revealed that 10 years of cellphone use resulted in an average 290% increased risk of brain tumor development.
Trick or treat? Eating pumpkin is a treat for everything from your eyeballs to your weekly weigh-in
(NaturalNews) An indigenous vegetable native to North America, pumpkins not only play a roll as jack-o-lanterns on Halloween and fillings for Thanksgiving pies -- they also provide a wide range of healthy benefits, making them a perfect food to incorporate into your daily diet.
AT&T's FaceTime Blocking Hurts the Deaf
It's disappointing that AT&T is standing in the way of innovation that addresses the needs of its deaf and hard-of-hearing customers. Sometimes it takes a while (and some prodding) for technology and technology companies to catch up to and embrace accessibility. In this case the technology is there, but it's AT&T that's throwing up the barrier.
In One City, Signing Up for Internet Becomes a Civic Cause
With Google's promise last year to wire homes, schools, libraries and other public institutions in Kansas City with the nation's fastest Internet connection, community leaders on the long forlorn, predominantly black east side were excited, seeing a potentially uplifting force. They anticipated new educational opportunities for their children and an incentive for developers to build in their communities.
Google to Blanket Kansas City with Superfast Internet: 180 Neighborhoods Register for Fiber
At least 180 Kansas City neighborhoods on both sides of the Kansas/Missouri state line have pre-registered for Google's superfast fiber optic Internet service since the company's announcement back in July. According to a post on the official Google Fiber blog, the signups account for more than 89 percent of eligible neighborhoods -- referred to by Google as "fiberhoods" -- with the service set to be rolled out on a priority basis in order of registration.
Got Broadband? Access Now Extends to 94 Percent of Americans
Every year, Internet access via broadband becomes available to millions more Americans, up from 92 percent last year to 94 percent, a recent report shows. Rural and tribal areas are the outliers.
FCC Backpedals from Internet Tax
The FCC is rapidly backpedalling from a proposal to tax broadband Internet service after a public outcry over the issue. Democrats and Republicans at the agency are now blaming each other for pushing the idea in the first place.
FCC Kickstarts Auction Plan, but Airwaves Won't Hit Your Smartphone for Years
The FCC kicked off its much-anticipated plans to auction broadcast television spectrum for mobile wireless networks. But it will be years before your iPhone or Galaxy feels the difference, analysts said. That’s because of the long regulatory process ahead at the FCC to get the auction up and running and then make those airwaves available to winners.
Press Harassment at the Political Conventions
The close of the Democratic National Convention brought to an end two long weeks of political punditry, public protest and an enormous police presence that engulfed Tampa and Charlotte. However, even with a reported 15,000 journalists on hand at both conventions and a huge and complicated security force filling the streets, there were relatively few cases of press suppression.
On Campus, an Experiment to Save Local News
From the rattling cicadas at twilight to the willow trees bending in the late summer heat, the lush campus of Mercer University seems like the last place to find one of the nation's boldest journalism experiments.
Star Tribune vs. Oregonian: Whose Bet Will Win?
The Oregonian, in Portland, is one of the nation's top regional newspapers. In size, ambition and statewide influence, it very much resembles the Star Tribune. But the resemblance ends with the news and business strategies currently playing out at the two papers. Right now, the Oregonian and the Strib are betting their businesses on decidedly different visions of the future.
News Corp. Makes Offer for Consolidated Media
News Corp. bid 1.94 billion Australian dollars for Australia's Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd., as the media company sought to boost its presence in the nation's pay-television market.
Five Lessons Learned: Improving Civic Engagement Through a Local News Site
Four years ago, a team of communication scholars, researchers and journalists set out to create a community news website that would increase civic engagement and cross ethnic barriers in a predominantly Asian and Latino immigrant city. Since Alhambra Source launched in 2010, it has grown to more than 60 community contributors who speak 10 languages and range in age from high school students to retirees. Their stories have helped shape local policy and contributed to a more engaged citizenry within a diverse community. Here are five lessons we've learned about creating a community news website that fosters civic engagement.
Al-Jazeera News Network Hacked Again, This Time By Syrian Gov't Supporters
News network Al-Jazeera has fallen victim to a cyber attack for the second time in less than a week. Hackers claiming to support the Syrian government have been sending false news updates to subscribers of the Arabic media giant's mobile update service.
In Other News..
Public Television Requires Strong Foundation of Public Funding
Amazon to Allow Kindle Fire Users to Pay to Block Ads
Google Struggles to Unseat Amazon as the Web's Most Popular Mall
Do Our Gadgets Really Threaten Planes?
International Newsworthy
Iran oil minister downplays sanctions
Canada appeases Israel on Iran
Iran to continue supporting Syria
PM: Israel Discussing Red Lines for Iran with US
Iran Discovers & Confiscates 1500 Kilos of Narcotics at its Borders
Controversial British plan to ‘divide and rule’ Afghanistan
U.S. hands over key prison to Afghanistan
Detention powers in flux in Afghanistan
Pakistan: Bomb Attack Kills 15+ Shia Muslims in Northwest
France to Fund/Arm Al Qaeda in Syria
Simultaneous Bombs Hit Army Compounds in Aleppo
Syrian Jets Bomb Aleppo District After Rebels Seize Base
Clinton Slams Russia’s Syria Peace Plan
Turkey Fighter Jets Attack PKK Targets Inside Iraq-Kill 25
Hashemi Rejects Sentence from Iraqi Court with Turkey Saying Not to Turn him Over
Explosions Kill 80 in Iraq; French Consulate Hit
New Fleet of US Drones for Yemen
OPEC to cut crude oil exports next month
Egypt to reopen Rafah crossing: Reports
Mali Troops ‘Kill 16 Civilians’
Ethiopia Starts Peace Talks With Separatist Rebels
Regional Leaders to Deploy Forces in Congo
British Trust Fund Accused of Financing Boko Haram
Kenyan Women Forcibly Sterilized for Having HIV
Bribery Allegations Blight Somalia Election
Russia wary as Georgia cozies up to NATO
Gazprom suspends buying gas from independents
China to Accelerate China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Project
US risks chaos on ‘new Silk Road’
Georgia: Tbilisi Pols Looking to Washington to Influence Election Outcome?
Uzbekistan Leader Warns of Water Wars in Central Asia
Europe to open skies to drones by 2016 says Commission document
President of Italy’s Supreme Court To Refer 9/11 Crimes To International Criminal Court
Tony Blair Gets $1 Million for Brokering Deal
National Newsworthy
A Picture of War: the CIA’s Drone Strikes in Pakistan
CIA Declassifies Internal Review on Iraq ‘Intelligence Failure’
Obama lists his five criteria for death by drone
FBI Arrests Trenton Mayor
DOD Assures Journos: We are not Spying on You!
Police State: Even Congress can’t stop the TSA from assaulting passengers
9/11 Lawsuit against Airlines for Negligence to Go to Trial
Blacklist: 4 Israel Critics have now been Purged from Democratic Party-Linked Orgs
The Real Unemployment Numbers Are Worse Than You Are Being Told
HP Says Expands Job Cuts From Reorganizing to 29,000
Wall Street Executives Unlikely to Face Criminal Charges
Bipartisan Bill Would Make Independent Regulatory Agencies Less Independent
Obama Aids Egypt as it Tries to Buy U-boats
Cryptome: NSA Recruits Academics for Spying Exercise
Noteworthy Editorials
Paul Craig Roberts: The Declining West-Tragedy or Comedy?
Paul Pillar: Tenacious Sanctions
Andrew Gavin Marshall: Bill Clinton, Barack Obama & the Politics of Public Relations
Russ Baker: The Real Reason for the Afghan War
9/11: Eleven Years On And Still many Questions Remain
The President as Planetary Policeman
==========================================================================================
September 7th 2012
World News
Syria insurgents shell Palestinian refugee camp in DamascusPress TV - Syrian insurgents have shelled a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria's capital city, Damascus, as the foreign-sponsored unrest continues in the Arab country. Many people, including large numbers of security forces, have been killed in the turmoil that began in Syria in March 2011. Damascus says outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorists are the driving force behind the unrest and deadly violence, but the opposition accuses the security forces of being behind the killings.
VIDEO: Syrian rebels claim to have blown up hospital in Homs
Telegraph - Amateur video purported to be filmed in Homs shows a huge explosion which Syrian fighters say was at a hospital that was being used by government forces. The rebel in the video can be heard saying: "Al Frouq brigade blew up the National hospital, which used to be for people, but now is being used by Assad's forces." The video cannot be independently verified because of foreign reporting restrictions in Syria.
US and Israel Use Propaganda and Proxy War in Syria to Pave Path Toward Iran Activist Post - Mohammed Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood member and current president of Egypt, warned Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down "before it's too late". At a meeting of the Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, Egypt, Morsi stated that he would not tolerate non-Arab influence in his country. He had harsh words for the "non-aligned movement" that he claims has taken over in Iran and gave his full support of the CIA-sponsored terrorist group, the Free Syrian Army, who are waging a proxy war in Syria on behalf of the US and Israel.Syrian Army swoops on insurgents in Homs, Hama
Press TV - The Syrian Army has swooped on foreign-backed insurgents in the western flashpoint cities of Homs and Hama, killing a large number of militants holed up there... On Thursday, Syrian government troops also rendered ineffective large supplies of arms, ammunition, and explosives, held by the insurgents in their hideouts.
Tehran NAM Summit dealt humiliating blow to enemies: LeaderPress TV - "With their stupidity, the enemies of the Iranian nation turned this summit into a diplomatic war against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in humiliating defeat for them," Ayatollah Khamenei said in an address to the members of the Assembly of Experts on Thursday. The Leader added that the "successful" hosting of the NAM Summit in Tehran is an example of the favorable intellectual system which Iran has offered to the world.
Gaza town mourns after Israel shelling
Press TV - Palestinians massively take to the streets of the Beit Hanoun town in the besieged Gaza Strip in funeral processions for three people, killed in Israeli shelling. The trio was killed after an Israeli tank fired a Flechette shell at a group of Palestinians in the town on Thursday. Several others were also injured in the attack, which was confirmed by the Tel Aviv regime.
Human Rights Watch: CIA torture cover-up in Libya revealedRT - Human Rights Watch (HRW) has revealed new evidence of a US torture cover-up... The new report uses as sources documents seized after the fall of Gaddafi's regime at the Libyan intelligence headquarters. They reveal previously-unknown instances of waterboarding by the CIA that took place nine years ago in Afghanistan. Original documents and correspondence are attached to the report and show organized cooperation between the US, UK and other Western countries with Gaddafi's regime.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
VIDEO: Sleeping With the Devil: How U.S. and Saudi Backing of Al Qaeda Led to 9/11 Washington's Blog - If you assume that this is ancient history, remember that: The U.S. supported the opposition which overthrew Libya's Gadaffi was mainly Al Qaeda ... and they now appear to be in control of Libya (and are instrumental in fighting in Syria). The U.S. and Saudi Arabia are currently supporting Al Qaeda terrorists in Syria.
Delusional reality: Everything peddled by politicians, media, banks and television is a fiction (NaturalNews) The "War on Terror" is a complete fabrication. There is no terrorism other than what the government creates in order to sell its agenda of a police state takeover.... The CDC's war on West Nile virus is also a complete fabrication. There is no real West Nile virus threat. (Read article here) The odds of being killed by West Nile are, much like with "terrorism," even lower than the odds of being killed by a bee sting. The "economic recovery" of America is a fairy tale. Over the last few days, the federal debt reached a jaw-dropping $16 trillion...VIDEO: Pentagon Robot Can Run Faster Than Usain Bolt
Steve Watson - In its ongoing quest to develop a robot that can chase down human prey, The Department of Defense now has a robot that can run faster than the fastest human on the planet. The quadruped robot, dubbed the CHEETAH, by developers Boston Dynamics Inc, recently set a new record as the fastest moving robot in the world by running at a speed of 28.3 miles per hour.
Government Hypes Airport Hoax After TSA Liquid Testing Video Goes Viral
Kurt Nimmo - A few days after a video revealing the latest TSA outrage went viral on the internet - agents testing drinks after passengers had gone through intrusive pat-downs and porno scanning - a sensationalistic event mysteriously unfolded: the TSA reported a "suspicious item" on a plane in Philadelphia that required a "law enforcement situation" and hysterical news coverage.
Business is Booming for Smith & Wesson
Kurt Nimmo - Zero Hedge posted the chart below. It shows a steady increase in firearms sales, especially after the election of Obama. This is good news for the Second Amendment and bad news for all the gun-grabbers like Michael Bloomberg, Chuckie Schumer, and supposed "conservative" Bill Kristol. "I think there is more support for some moderate forms of gun control," Kristol said in July. "Good luck with that, Bill," another panelist more in tune with reality responded.
VIDEO: Comcast Balks At Refunding $6,300 To Customer Who Forgot Decimal Point Consumerist -The customer, who happens to be 86 years old and a 25-year customer of Comcast, says that when he went online to pay his bill of $64.53, he accidentally omitted the decimal point and entered $6453.
* Related Article: Cable Company Promises $6K Refund after News 5 Report
2012 Election News
Doug Wead says Ron Paul could STILL run in 2016
Daily Paul - Seriously, he's not being facetious: Is Ron Paul too old? Not for me. Konrad Andenauer , Germanys greatest leader of the last two centuries was in power at age 87. Michelangelo began painting the Sistine Chapel at age 71, he was still at it when he died at age 89. The Biblical account of Moses has him beginning his long journey, leading the Israelis from slavery, at age 80. Let Ron Paul lead us out of slavery at age 80. Here's a toast to Ron Paul, 2016. Doug Weed: Post Ron Paul: Where do we go now?
Health
US warns of possible worldwide epidemic triggered by deadly Yosemite virus RT - The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a health alert after a lung disease caused by the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome killed two American males and sickened four others. Health officials believe that an outbreak spread by mice at Yosemite Park outside of San Francisco is the culprit and that as many as 10,000 people around the world are thought be at risk of developing symptoms, which include headache, fever, muscle aches, shortness of breath and coughing, as well as, in some cases, death.
Current News
9/7, Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post, White House drafting standards to guard U.S. against cyberattack, officials say
9/7, Barrie Barber, Springfield News-Sun, Anti-war drone tour to make local stops
9/6, Kevin Kennedy, NBC Latino, AZ Latinos react to SB1070 being upheld
9/6, John Rudolf, Huffington Post, NYPD Report Says 96 Percent Of Shooting Victims Are Black or Latino
9/6, Dan Froomkin, Huffington Post, More Information On Government Surveillance Of Americans Needed, Group Says
9/6, Mark Rockwell, Government Security News, Justice Department needs to adjust terror data reporting, says IG
9/6, Del Quentin Wilber, Washington Post, Federal judge blocks restriction of lawyer access to Guantanamo detainees
9/5, Deborah Dupre, Examiner.com, Drone use expands to TV stations, undermines public safety, privacy
Oy Vey: More Public Media Cuts
The executive director of West Virginia Public Broadcasting has proposed $200,000 in budget cuts -- and warned that additional cuts might be necessary. The president of Louisiana Public Broadcasting can relate: LPB has seen a 37 percent decline in state support since 2008. What congressional public media foes often forget in their zeal to cut budgets is the far-reaching impact of NPR and PBS stations.
Protecting Student Journalists
Students doing more journalism in the "teaching hospital" model is a win for journalism education. But if universities want more from their student journalists, they should do more for them. That means legally protecting them even when the community and police don’t. Nationwide, universities are rightfully touting the benefits of the teaching hospital model. Yet students are missing from this debate.
Newspaper Restructuring -- Think Steel, Cars and Airlines
The Journal Register newspaper chain has filed for bankruptcy for a second time, which some say means its “digital first” vision is flawed. But all it really means is that the kind of transformation required for the newspaper business will be measured in decades.
LGBT Coverage Worth a Shout-Out
Every week in Minority Reports, I’ve pointed out coverage of social minorities that was done badly or could have been done better. But the fact is, a lot of coverage is very, very good. And I thought that deserved a mention. Nowhere is this more evident than in the coverage of LGBT issues. Such coverage was in its infancy when I began my career and has now flowered into full, mature adulthood.
Jimmy Wales Threatens to Encrypt Wikipedia If U.K. Passes Snooping Bill
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has joined the opposition to the Communications Data Bill that was proposed by the U.K. government earlier this year. Civil rights groups have raised the alarm about provisions that could require British ISPs to keep records of every website their customers visit for 12 months. Now Wales is threatening to enable encryption on Wikipedia for U.K. Web users to protect their privacy.
Reps. Praise Democratic Platform's Internet Pledge
A quartet of Democratic reps whose constituents include major Silicon Valley players issued a joint statement praising the "robust" Internet freedom language in the Democratic Party's just-adopted platform.
Need Spectrum? FCC Plans TV Incentive Auction for 2014
The FCC is moving forward with a controversial plan to entice broadcasters to give up their airwaves so they can later be auctioned off to carriers that need more spectrum to deliver mobile broadband. FCC officials expect the auction in 2014.
FCC Moves to Auction Airwaves by 2014
The FCC is moving aggressively to auction television stations' airwave licenses to cellular service providers by 2014.
FCC OKs Journal Request for Green Bay Duopoly Waiver
The FCC has granted Journal Broadcasting a failing-station waiver of its duopoly rule so the broadcasters can buy Appleton, Wis.'s independent WACY-TV, which is licensed to the same market as Journal's WGBA.
How Kansas City Taxpayers Support Google Fiber
Closer examination of the Google Fiber project reveals a more complex story. It's true that the Google Fiber project hasn't developed the way many liberal groups wanted it to. But it's important not to gloss over the fact that Kansas City's support for Google's network went well beyond deregulation to outright corporate welfare. It's hardly an example of the free market in action.
White House Circulating Draft of Executive Order on Cybersecurity
The White House is circulating a draft of an executive order aimed at protecting the country from cyberattacks. The draft proposal, which has been sent to relevant federal agencies for feedback, is a clear sign that the administration is resolved to take action on cybersecurity even as Congress remains gridlocked on legislation that would address the threat.
FBI vs. Google: The Legal Fight to Unlock Phones
A legal battle is brewing between technology companies and the U.S. government over whether law-enforcement agents have the right to obtain passwords to crack into smartphones of suspects.
Wow! Internet Capacity Has Doubled to 77 Tbps in Two Years
In the last two years, global Internet capacity has roughly doubled to reach 77 terabits per second, but the rate of capacity growth is now slowing. That doesn’t mean investment in broadband networks will stop anytime soon, but maybe network operators can catch their breaths.
Mobile Carriers and Consumers Are All Pirates in South Africa
South Africa's government has been urged to get tough with ISPs that refuse to pay royalties and to introduce graduated-response piracy measures against freeloaders, by a report that decries a dysfunctional digital content market.
2012 Olympics and Its Impact on Internet Traffic
The U.K. Internet has survived the major events of London 2012 contrary to some newspaper headlines that appeared in the run-up to the Olympics and Paralympics. A large part of this is due to the unprecedented level of coverage on the multitude of broadcast TV platforms.
In Other News..
FEC Lets Donors Max Out on Text Donations
Judge Approves e-Book Price-Fixing Settlement in Surprise Ruling
Why e-Readers Evolved a Lot Today: Kindle Paperwhite and Kobo Glo
iPhone Owners Can't Sue Apple Over Broken Glass, Court Rules
Social-Media Insights Inspired By Barack Obama, America's First Truly Social President
Photographs of Families Held Together by Love, Skype
Apple Seeks to Create Pandora Rival
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September 6th 2012
World News
VIDEO: Three Tons of Food Looted From Grocery Stores In Spain As Millions Struggle
Mac Slavo - Social safety nets across the continent are visibly under stress and breaking down, so much so that unemployed Spaniards have begun raiding supermarkets in order to put food on the table. As recently as last month the people of Cadiz and Sevilla, which have a reported unemployment rate of 32%, joined together to loot local grocery stores of three tons of food - some of which was distributed to local food banks.
VIDEO: INTERPOL: Judge Orders Extradition And Arrest Of Former U.S. Treasury Undersecretary David Mulford Daily Bail - A judge in Argentina has ordered the arrest of Credit Suisse executive and former U.S. Treasury Undersecretary David Mulford because he failed to testify over a 2001 Argentine debt swap, the state news agency reported on Monday. Federal Judge Marcelo Martinez de Giorgi will ask Interpol to issue an international arrest warrant seeking Mulford's extradition for questioning over the bond exchange carried out by the government in an unsuccessful bid to avoid default.
West must change Syria stance: Putin
Press TV - Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Western governments to "reassess" their position on Syria, criticizing them for relying on terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda to overthrow the Syrian government.
France providing aid to rebel-held areas of Syria - reports
RT - France has started providing direct aid and money to rebel-controlled areas of Syria and is even considering supplying anti-aircraft weapons to the opposition, a diplomatic source has said. The aid began being supplied last Friday, to five local authorities in so called "liberated zones" located in three provinces - Deir al-Zor, Aleppo and Idlib, the source said on condition of anonymity. Last week, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius promised that such aid was in the pipeline.
Iran, Egypt call each other 'strategic allies'
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Egyptian counterpart, Mohamed Morsi, have described the two key Middle Eastern countries as "strategic allies."
Powerful quake hits Costa Rica, two dead
Reuters - A powerful earthquake rocked Costa Rica on Wednesday, killing at least two people, sparking landslides, knocking down buildings, and briefly triggering a tsunami warning.... The Red Cross said two people died in Guanacaste, the northwestern province at the epicenter of the 7.6 magnitude quake, which split open tarmac roads, cracked gravestones and sent books tumbling off library shelves.
Fertility fears for hundreds of women after removable contraceptive implants go 'missing' inside their bodies Daily Mail - Hundreds of women have had their fertility put in jeopardy after a popular contraceptive implant was apparently 'lost' in their bodies. The problem with the Implanon device could also force hundreds more to delay their dreams of motherhood. The implant, which is used by hundreds of thousands of women in the UK, is the size of a matchstick and is inserted under the skin of the upper arm, in a procedure that needs to be carried out by a trained doctor.
U.S. News, Politics & Governments
TV stations to start using military drones
RT - The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to have guidelines for domestic drone use set in stone by 2015, and by the end of the decade some agencies say that as many as 30,000 UAVs will be up in the air at any time. On the heels of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies, though, the news gathering industry - professional journalists - are examining what benefits they could reap by watching breaking events unfold from the sky without risking life and limb for the sake of a story, or that one phenomenal photo.
American, United Face Trial Over 9-11 Towers Destruction
Business Week - AMR Corp.'s American Airlines and United Continental Holdings Inc. lost a bid to avoid a federal trial over negligence claims tied to the hijacking of jetliners used in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed about 3,000 people in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
American Airlines Disallows Boarding of 16-year-old with Down Syndrome Adan Salazar - On Sunday, the Vanderhorst family arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey where they tried to board an American Airlines flight to Los Angeles. Their trip was brought to an abrupt halt after the pilot declared their son a "security threat."
2012 Election News
Democrats change platform to add God, Jerusalem
AP - The embarrassing reversal was compounded by chaos and uncertainty on the convention floor, requiring three votes before a ruling that the amendments had been approved. Many in the audience booed the decision. The episode exposed tensions on Israel within the party, put Democrats on the defensive and created a public relations spectacle as Obama arrived in the convention city to claim his party's nomination for a second term.
Energy & Environment
Cost of Chemtrail Program Put At $5 Billion a Year
Paul Joseph Watson - U.S. scientists writing in the journal Environmental Research Letters concluded that "Planes or airships could carry sun-dimming materials high into the atmosphere for an affordable price tag of below $5 billion a year as a way to slow climate change," reports Reuters, a process characterized as "both feasible and affordable."
Science & Technology
Law-enforcement Agencies Eager for Web-surveillance Tools
Homeland Security Newswire - Private technology firms are pitching software capable of analyzing large swaths of the Internet to local law enforcement looking for ways to stop the next mass shooting or domestic terrorist event before it happens; police departments hope the software will help them detect online information from terrorists, traffickers, pedophiles, and rioters.
Health
White Fruits and Vegetables May Lower Stroke Risk
Green Med Info - Apples of course have a reputation for keeping the doctor away and now research finds that both apples and pears may keep strokes away. How do they do it? A Dutch study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association found that the white flesh of fruits and vegetables may protect against stroke. Previous studies had linked high consumption of fruits and vegetables in general with lower stroke risk. But this was the first time researchers looked at the color of fruits and vegetables. And it seems to matter.
Vaccination Causes Diabetes
Gaia Health - The research on vaccinations and diabetes leaves little room to doubt that vaccinations are a major factor behind the massive epidemic of diabetes in children and adults. Parents must ask if they want their children at risk of shortened lives full of bad health. Dr. JB (Bart) Classen has done serious research into the association between vaccinations and diabetes. He has found a clear link between vaccinations and types 1 and 2 diabetes, along with evidence demonstrating that the two types of diabetes tend to result in different populations.
Reverse diabetes in 21 days or less - naturally
(NaturalNews) If your doctor says "you're diabetic" and "you can eat anything you want - as long as you take your insulin" - then it's time to find another doctor. Why? Because any physician that ignores the opportunity to help patients change their lifestyle - as a way of overcoming disease - is (only) a sick care provider. What you really need is a health care provider that teaches you about the underlying causes of diabetes.
Omega-3 Fats, Antioxidants, and More for a Macular Degeneration Diet (AMD) Natural Society - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in older adults. To-date, there is no revealed treatment that can reverse the damage done by this disease, but certain dietary tips can help to reduce or delay the chances of serious vision loss.
**EFA's available at The Powermall: PUREOMEGA, PolarPower Capsules 90caps, EFA 180 tabs, Essential Fatty Acids Complex, Norwegian Cod Liver Oil Soft Gel Capsules,
Liquid Cod Liver Oil Regular & Lemon Flavor. Follow the links to purchase or call 877-817-9829 today! Also get your copy of Seeing is believing CD by Dr. Wallach.
95 percent of American parents sacrifice their young children to the vaccine industry (NaturalNews) According to a new report issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 93.2 percent of all incoming kindergarteners for the 2011-12 school year were vaccinated with the recommended two doses of chickenpox vaccine, while more than 95 percent were vaccinated for diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, polio, hepatitis B, and the combination measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the latter of which is implicated in causing autism.
Mandatory Chemotherapy for Children with Cancer?
Natural Society - Most people have some second or even first-hand experience with cancer. Fortunately, if diagnosed with cancer, we all get a say in how our illness is treated. Right? That's what the one family of an 8-year old girl thought as doctors tried to force chemotherapy on their young and vibrant child. They were wrong.
Current News
9/6, Chelsea J. Carter and Joe Sterling, CNN, Report: Libyans claim waterboarding, other CIA abuses
9/6, Siobhan Gorman, Wall Street Journal, Rights Group's Report Reopens CIA Torture Allegations
9/6, Uprising Radio, Four Years Makes a Difference: The Democratic Party on Civil Liberties
9/6, Kevin Johnson, USA Today, Police chiefs urge limits on use of drones
9/5, Samantha Henry, Associated Press, NJ AG: NYPD unit has stopped spying on NJ Muslims
9/5, David Kravets, Wired, Feds Say Mobile-Phone Location Data Not ‘Constitutionally Protected’
AT&T's FaceTime Plans Bode Ill for Consumers
From electricity to earmuffs, once you buy a product or service from a company, it shouldn’t be any of its business how you choose to use it. Your power company doesn’t say you can’t use the energy-saving features on your new refrigerator unless you buy more electricity. And your grocer doesn’t make you buy an extra loaf of bread if you stop purchasing potato chips. Then there’s the upside-down world of AT&T -- where the company sees nothing wrong with making you buy more of something you don’t want just to use something you do.
The high cost of phone calls to and from state prisons makes it increasingly difficult for families and prisoners to maintain contact. These high costs are the result of a commission system whereby state prisons negotiate a contract for services with prison phone companies.
Eshoo: CALM Act Meant to Apply to Promos
CALM Act author Rep. Anna Eshoo wrote the FCC to say that her congressional intent was for promos to be included in the Act's restrictions on commercial loudness.
Sweden Is Best in the World When It Comes to Internet Usage
According to a new report from the World Wide Web Foundation, the people and government of Sweden are the best in the world at optimizing the Web.
Feds Say Mobile-Phone Location Data Not 'Constitutionally Protected'
The Obama administration told a federal court that the public has no "reasonable expectation of privacy" in cellphone location data, and hence the authorities may obtain documents detailing a person’s movements from wireless carriers without a probable-cause warrant.
Police Seizure of Text Messages Violated Fourth Amendment, Judge Rules
Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Justice Judith Savage's decision in State of Rhode Island v. Michael Patino is a bold and interesting one because the status of text messages in criminal investigations remains unsettled in the U.S.
The Algorithmic Copyright Cops: Streaming Video’s Robotic Overlords
As live-streaming video surges in popularity, so are copyright "bots" -- automated systems that match content against a database of reference files of copyrighted material. These systems can block streaming video in real time, while it is still being broadcast, leading to potentially worrying implications for freedom of speech.
The once-mighty triangle of publisher-audience-advertiser, long the basis for success in the media business, is now shaky. So let’s consider transformation.
Journal Register Co. Files for Chapter 11 -- Again
Sometimes one bankruptcy just isn’t enough: The Journal Register Co., which publishes the New Haven Register and the Trentonian, among other newspapers, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with an eye to selling the company in the near future, according to owner Digital First Media.
Newspaper Revenues Slide Again, Online Remains Sluggish
Judging by the second quarter of the year, which saw yet another round of dismal returns, there will be no reprieve for the newspaper industry in 2012.
Want to Be a Reporter? Learn to Code
Journalism schools have to do a much better job of teaching prospective reporters about the programming skills needed to tell data-driven, visual stories on Web pages, not front pages, says the executive director of Northwestern University’s Knight News Innovation Lab.
In Other News..
Apple: We Didn't Give FBI Any Device IDs
To Small Carriers the iPhone Is About Prestige, Not Activations
Three Ways to Deal with Digital Media When You Die
Online Sharing, Information Overload Is Worldwide Problem
In-Flight Cellphone Use Studied, but Not Taking Flight
Californians Spend Freely on Amazon.com Before Sales Tax Deadline
Lady Gaga to Release Next Album, 'Artpop,' as iPad and iPhone App
Cellphones' Role in Crashes Doubted
Five Technology Skills Every Student Should Learn
=============================================================================================
September 5th 2012
World News
Two US-led soldiers killed in helicopter crash in eastern Afghanistan
Press TV - At least two US-led NATO soldiers have been killed after their helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan, military officials say. The United States invaded Afghanistan in 2001 under the pretext of combating terrorism. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but years into the invasion, insecurity continue to rise across the country despite the presence of thousands of foreign troops in the war-weary nation.
US downgrades anti-missile drills with Israel; sends CIA's Petraeus instead to ease tensions RT - Only days after the United States announced that it will be scaling down its role in a joint-missile exercise with Israel scheduled for later this year, the US has sent CIA Director David Petraeus overseas to handle damage control. Petraeus, the 59-year-old former commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, arrived in Israel on Monday to deal with what the Jewish state's Debka news agency calls the "flames of discord" that have been fanned feverishly in recent days thanks to the latest news on a missile drill slated for next month.
Iran plans to deploy warships off US coast
RT - Iran says it will counter US presence in its waters by sending ships to the international waters off the US coast, says Iranian Navy chief Admiral Sayyari. No specifics were mentioned, but during an interview broadcast on state TV, Sayyari said the plans were aimed for "the next few years."
Drone strike kills 13 civilians
RT - Members of the Yemeni government tells reporters that an unmanned aerial vehicle operated remotely by the United States military executed more than a dozen civilians, including three women, near the town of Rada in al-Baitha province on Sunday. "This was one of the very few times when our target was completely missed. It was a mistake, but we hope it will not hurt our anti-terror efforts in the region," a senior Yemeni Defense Ministry official says to CNN this week on condition of anonymity.
Fears Rising, Spaniards Pull Out Their Cash and Get Out of Spain
CNBC News - The continued exodus of money and people from Spain could be a warning to European policy makers that bailing out the country - a step now widely expected - may not stem the panic as long as the Spanish economy remains in a funk. It was a lesson learned in Greece, where despite successive European bailouts, about a third of deposits have been withdrawn from its banks since 2009, as the public worried that Athens might have to return to the drachma.
18 Indications That Europe Has Become An Economic Black Hole
Economic Collapse - When the U.S. financial system started coming apart at the seams it sparked a devastating worldwide recession which was felt in every corner of the globe. If the European financial system implodes, the consequences could be even worse.
Russia 'Attacks' Clouds to Clear Sky for City Day Celebration
Adan Salazar - According to Pravda, the city carried out an airborne "attack" on bothersome clouds with 10 aircraft specially equipped to deliver CO2 (in the form of dry ice), liquid nitrogen and a powdered cement reagent called "cement m-500." In what is being reported as a "meteorological defense," the Russian government spent 64 million rubles ($20 million) to "dissipate" clouds in Moscow in preparation for Moscow's "birthday" celebration.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
10 Signs That You're Fully Awake
Activist Post - Isn't it obvious that there is a significant global awakening happening? Just as the Mayans predicted so many years ago, the apocalypse would become apparent in 2012. But many misinterpret the apocalypse to be the end of the world, when in fact it actually means an "un-covering, a revelation of something hidden."
Pentagon threatens legal action against Bin Laden assassination book author RT - The US Defense Department is threatening to pursue "all remedies legally available" against the author of a forthcoming book about the killing of Osama bin Laden. The Pentagon says the former Navy SEAL breached nondisclosure agreements.... The book divulges details of the operation in which US Navy SEALS killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden at his compound in Pakistan on May 4, 2011. A number of facts presented contradict the official version of the mission, according to a copy obtained by the AP.
VIDEO: Reality Check: 1 on 1 With President Obama, How Does He Justify A Kill List?
Ben Swann Reality Check talks one on one with President Obama and asks about the so called Presidential Kill List.
Economy
Three Times As Many Americans Enter Poverty As Find Jobs
Zero Hedge - Indicatively, the 173,600 increase in Food stamps recipients in June was three times greater than Americans finding jobs (64,000, most of which part-time) according to the BLS. Finally, a new record was also breached for American households on food stamps, which now hit 22.4 million, an increase of 106,298 households. The average benefit per household decline once more, this time to $276.5. Not an all time low, but just above it.
2012 Election News
Democrats set to move Obama's big speech from 74,000-seater outdoor stadium to 20,000-seater indoor arena
Daily Mail - Democrats are poised to avoid the danger of President Barack Obama accepting his party's nomination before a partially-empty stadium by shifting his speech to an indoor arena and citing 'severe weather'.
VIDEO: Ron Paul On Jay Leno: 'Time To Prepare For 2016'
Sep 4, 2012.
Veteran News
VIDEO: 92-Year-Old WWII Vet Exercises His Rights to Bear Arms to Defend His Property The Blaze - A 92-year-old World War II veteran shot and killed a suspected robber who attempted to break into his Kentucky home Monday morning. Two other men believed to be involved in the botched home invasion are lucky to have escaped with their lives and are now behind bars, WLWT reports.
Housing Market
US mortgage rates down
Press TV - Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year loan declined to 3.59 percent, down from 3.66 percent last week, according to AP. Five weeks ago, the rate fell to 3.49 percent, the lowest since long-term mortgages began in the 1950s.
Energy & Environment
UPDATE: Assumption Parish Sinkhole
Assumptionla - Three new bubbling spots have been identified and confirmed; in Bayou Corne, Grand Bayou, and Triche Canal. DEQ will pull samples to investigate and the spots will be monitored. Once lab results are available, they will be posted.
Science & Technology
Homeland Security's domain seizures worries Congress
CNET - In a letter (pdf) sent last week to Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary Janet Napolitano, three members of the House Judiciary Committee aired their unease. "We are concerned about your Departments' seizure of domain names under Operation In Our Sites, launched in November 2010," the letter said. "Our concern centers on your Department's methods, and the process given, when seizing the domain names of websites whose actions and content are presumed to be lawful, protected speech."
Anonymous FBI laptop hack nets 12 million Apple iOS users' data
RT - "During the second week of March 2012, a Dell Vostro notebook, used by Supervisor Special Agent Christopher K. Stangl from FBI Regional Cyber Action Team and New York FBI Office Evidence Response Team was breached using the AtomicReferenceArray vulnerability on Java," boasts the hacking group. AntiSec's archive lists 1,000,001 profiles including user names, devices names, cell phone numbers and addresses. The data was originally picked from Apple iOS devices, namely iPhones, iPads and iPods.
Apple Granted Patent To Disable Cameras According To Location
Steve Watson - Apple was granted a patent [U.S. Patent No. 8,254,902] last week that will enable it to wirelessly disable the camera on iphones in certain locations, sparking fears that such techniques could be used to prevent citizens from communicating with each other or taking video during protests or events such as political conventions and gatherings.
Gardening, Farming & Homesteading
Thomas Jefferson, 'Founding Foodie'
NY Times - In 1811, Jefferson wrote of the garden to a friend: "I have often thought that if heaven had given me choice of my position, it should have been on a rich spot on earth, well watered, and near a good market for the productions of a garden. No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of a garden."
USDA Offers the Biotech Industry Blanket Immunity for Contaminating Organic Crops Alliance for Natural Health - USDA calls it "coexistence," but it's just a way for GMO farmers to harm whomever they like-without consequence.... The AC21 [USDA's Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture] is currently working on a draft report for discussion. The recommendation the committee seems to be heading toward is an insurance program that non-GE farmers have to buy into that would compensate them in case their crops were contaminated by GE materials. This proposal, concocted solely to let GMO producers off the hook, is troubling for many reasons.
Pet News
Allergies Genetic or Induced?
truthaboutpetfood.com - Lets start with Glutens. Dogs and cats are carnivores. They lack the digestive enzyme amylase required to break down glutens. These components are found in grains including rice, corn, oats, and wheat. When undigested food enters the digestive track, it can trigger an inflammatory response in the gut lining. You need to consider the fact that seventy percent of your pets immunity begins with the state of the digestive system.
The #1 Reason Cats are Surrendered to Shelters
Dr. Becker - The technical name for this behavior problem is Feline Inappropriate Elimination. Learn what is often behind a change in kitty's bathroom habits.
Health
Vitamin B3 may be the cure for drug-resistant superbug infections
(NaturalNews) While the pharmaceutical industry is busy trying to conjure up new drugs to tackle the antibiotic-resistant "superbug" epidemic, a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation explains how simple vitamin B3, also known as nicotinamide (NAM), taken in high doses may effectively thwart staph and other potentially life-threatening infections without the need for drugs.
VIDEO: Debunked: Ridiculous Study Claims Organic Same as Conventional Natural Society - The latest study to demonize foods free of GMO ingredients and mercury-containing high-fructose corn syrup ultimately once again fails to accurately address key aspects of the conventional verses organic debate and even falls short of properly addressing the limited scope of concerns it does attempt to analyze. You can see even from the comments on many of the mainstream reports that readers quickly saw through the eroneous 'organic is the same as conventional' headlines and began highlighting the many inaccuracies of the research.
Achieving Simple Weight Loss with Oregano Oil
Natural Society - Looking to lose weight? New research shows that oregano oil could be a promising solution to help reduce the chances of obesity and weight gain. According to Wellness Resources, the study involved feeding mice a high fat diet to induce obesity. But, the mice who were also given oregano oil saw a smaller weight gain than those who weren't.
Miscellaneous
YouTube: This Heartwarming Video Will Restore Your Faith in Humanity!
An inspirational Video.
Election 2012: The Year of the Man
A new report from the nonpartisan 4th Estate project shows that men have written three-quarters of the articles on the presidential race. During the GOP primary period, men wrote 76 percent of the articles, and from April 16–Aug. 25, men wrote 72 percent of the articles.
Political Advertising to Boost TV Coffers by 23 Percent
With just 61 days to go before Election Day, Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker is raising her estimates for political ad spending from $4.9 to $5.2 billion. She upped her forecast based on TV spending in August, which surged 77 percent on local TV to more than $171 million, compared to July.
FCC to Begin Testing and Reporting on Mobile Broadband Performance
Just like the FCC is looking to the public to help define modern broadband, it's similarly planning to arm citizens with more accurate information on mobile broadband speeds.
The World Wide Web, by the Numbers
Tim Berners-Lee's vision for the World Wide Web was predicated on two core ideas: universality and connectivity. But now that the Web has been around for a generation -- and, you know, changed the world, revolutionized information, etc., etc. -- how has it actually been adopted? Is the Web, its obvious success notwithstanding, ultimately living up to its vision and its potential? Berners-Lee has now answered those questions -- and he's done so with, appropriately, troves of data.
Estonia's Plan to Get Six-Year-Olds Coding Is a Stroke of Genius
When should children learn to code? Estonia's Tiger Leap Foundation wants children as young as six to be enrolled in coding classes -- all part of a national program that has already turned this tiny country into a technological powerhouse.
What's Changed, and What Hasn't, Since the Women of Newsweek Sued Their Bosses
Female journalists still have plenty to discuss in the bathroom (or more likely, in the speedily minimized Gchat window). Women's representation in newsrooms has improved, but writing and editing gigs are hardly a 50/50 split.
Speeding Up the Factcheck Cycle
The response to Paul Ryan's misleading speech was swift and stern -- except in the next morning’s front-page stories. Can journalists change that?
Journalists in Need of a Safety Net
More and more independent journalists and citizens are putting themselves on the front lines to cover city halls and city streets, politics and protests — and they’re doing so without the support or protection afforded staff at established newsrooms.
Reporters Without Borders Creates Mirror Sites to Fight Censorship
Filtering, denial-of-service attacks, withdrawal of content ... censors use many different methods to silence news websites. In addition to drawing attention to these acts of censorship and providing the victims with legal, material and financial help, Reporters Without Borders has now decided to provide them with technical assistance as well.
What Newspapers and Other Media Could Learn from Reddit
Reddit has grown to become one of the most high-profile online communities, one that has even played a journalistic role in some recent cases. Among the things that newspapers and other media entities could learn from reddit are the benefits of a strong and engaged community.
In Other News..
Do You Own Your Digital Content?
It's a Long, Hard Road to Retrans Reform
Infrared-Camera Algorithm Could Scan for Drunks in Public
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September 4th 2012
World News
Moody's cuts EU outlook to 'negative'
RT - "The negative outlook on the EU's long-term ratings reflects the negative outlook on the Aaa ratings of the member states with large contributions to the EU budget: Germany, France, the UK and the Netherlands, which together account for around 45 per cent of the EU's budget revenue," Moody's said in a statement on Monday.
US rattles saber against Iran in attempt to stall Israeli strike
RT - The US announced it will take further indirect action against Iran in an effort to delay a possible Israeli strike against the country. Washington's plans to halt Iran's embattled nuclear program include military exercises in the Persian Gulf. In addition to increasing US naval activity in the region, Washington is also preparing to intensify economic sanctions against Iran's oil industry, the New York Times reported.
France warns of 'massive' response if Syria uses chemical weapons
RT - The West will retaliate harshly if the Syrian army deploys chemical weapons, France's foreign minister said Monday. Damascus vowed not to use its chemical arsenal against its own people, but left the option open in the event of a foreign invasion. The Syrian army is believed to possess stockpiles of nerve agents and mustard gas, and the Scud missiles capable of delivering them. If Damascus chose to use their biological or chemical weapons, "our response ... would be massive and blistering," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Monday during an interview with RMC radio.
Official: Iran would take action if US attacked Syria
ynetnews.com - Iran would take action if the United States were to carry out an act of "stupidity" and attack Syria, an Iranian military official was quoted as saying on Saturday, but the comments later disappeared from the state-linked agency website. Iran has steadfastly supported Syrian President Bashar Assad in his bid to suppress an uprising which both Tehran and Damascus see as a proxy war by Israel and Western states to extend their influence in the Middle East.
Al-Qaeda Leader Strikes Deal With U.S., Saudis To Send 5,000 Fighters to Syria Paul Joseph Watson - Tariq al-Fadhli, jihadist leader of the Southern Yemen insurgency and a man personally trained by Bin Laden, has successfully negotiated with U.S. and Saudi officials to send 5,000 jihadist fighters via Turkey to aid Syrian rebels in the attempted overthrow of President Bashar Al-Assad, reports AlAlam. The report was also picked up by AdenAlghad.net.
'Iran must steer clear of US interests in Gulf'
ynetnews.com - The United States has indirectly informed Iran, via two European nations, that it would not back an Israeli strike against the country's nuclear facilities, as long as Tehran refrains from attacking American interests in the Persian Gulf, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Monday.
VIDEO: Hands off Syria! Frankfurt protests against military intervention
RT - The UN Security Council's push for a human corridor in Syria, which critics say could bring military intervention, has sparked protests in Germany. About 1,000 people gathered in Frankfurt demanding an end to foreign meddling in the Syrian conflict.... "We are here to expose the lies about Syria that are being shown to the rest of the world," one of the protesters told RT. "The dead that are being shown were killed by terrorists and blamed on Assad. They are sponsored by NATO, the US, Turkey and Qatar."
Food prices and availability have long been considered the ultimate barometer of political stability. When people cannot afford food or when there is a famine, either revolution or draconian oppression has often ensued. So when the World Bank announced that food prices had jumped by 10 percent in July, there is reason for concern. The price of corn and wheat leaped by a whopping 25 percent, and soybeans - an important food source in much of the Orient - rose 17 percent. The price of rice declined by four percent, offsetting somewhat the rise in other staple crops. ** For all Shelf Reliance Foods, please contact at 702-543-1828 or by email: contact@simplyyourfood.com Make sure to mention you are a Power Hour Team member when ordering (for the website you can leave a comment when ordering) Website: simplyyourfood.shelfreliance.com
US Sends 200 Marines To Guatemala To Fight Drug War
Business Insider - A team of 200 U.S. Marines have begun patrolling Guatemala's western coast in an unprecedented operation to combat drug trafficking in Central America, the AP reports.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
FEMA Needs Another 1 Million MRE's Today, Over 19 Million Ordered in Last Month Intel Hub - Due to Hurricane Isaac's landfall and subsequent stalling, the Department of Homeland Security finds that they need 1,100,000 low sodium MRE's to cope with the sudden demand. And they literally need them TODAY! The shipment date is set for 1 September 2012.... However, in the past 30 days, FEMA has already requested MRE's three times, for a total of 19,123,704 meals. Solicitation Numbers HSFE70-12-R-0019, HSFE70-12-R-0060, HSFE70-12-R-0081.
Where's the Evidence Proving TSA's Backscatter Scanners are Safe?
Dr. Mercola - At the end of last year, the EU banned all scanning that expose the public to ionizing radiation, even if the exposure is miniscule. No verifiable, independent scientific testing of the safety of the backscatter scanners has been made, and some scientists believe the high quality images produced cannot possibly be obtained with the low levels of radiation described, and that the actual level may be 45 times higher than what the manufacture is claiming.
Self-Driving Cars Approved by California Legislature
CNBC News - If signed by Governor Jerry Brown, Padilla's bill would legally allow autonomous vehicles on the road and charge the state's Department of Motor Vehicles with determining the standards for self-driving cars, rules which current do not exist under the present vehicle code.... Despite the bill's widespread political support, some quarters have voiced reservations, particularly over what happens if driverless cars crash and lawsuits are filed. "This does not protect adequately the manufacturers for liability concerns," Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers spokesman Dan Gage told the Mercury News.
2012 Election News
YouTube: Doug Wead: Romney Threatened Ron Paul With PR A-Bomb
Ron Paul's Senior 2012 Campaign Adviser Doug Wead gives WeAreChange an exclusive interview about the Ron Paul RNC delegate controversy, criticism of Jesse Benton, and the real reason Ron Paul didn't attack Mitt Romney during the campaign.
Ron Paul on Jay Leno 9/4/12
Daily Paul - So Ron Paul didn't lose the Republican nomination, it was stolen. Ron Paul never conceded his delegates or endorsed Romney, and as the media presses his "loss" of the Republican nomination, he will appear in front of millions on September 4th, 2012 [show link]. He is getting more attention for his steadfastness to principles than he ever has in his life at this moment... UPDATE: Big Event to show Ron Paul in person your support for him to keep up the fight - today (Tuesday) 1 PM - Outside the Jay Leno Show Studio
Economy
When the price of shedding student debt is hopelessness
NY Times - It isn't easy to stand up in an open courtroom and bear witness to the abject wretchedness of your financial situation, but by the time Doug Wallace Jr. was 31 years old, he didn't have much left to lose by trying. Diabetes had rendered him legally blind and unemployed just a few years after graduating from Eastern Kentucky University. He filed for bankruptcy protection and quickly got rid of thousands of dollars of medical and other debt. But his $89,000 in student loans were another story.
VIDEO: First Audit Results In The Federal Reserve's Nearly 100 Year History Were Posted Today, They Are Startling! 12160.info - From the period between December 2007 and June 2010, the Federal Reserve had secretly bailed out many of the world's banks, corporations, and governments. The Federal Reserve likes to refer to these secret bailouts as an all-inclusive loan program, but virtually none of the money has been returned and it was loaned out at 0% interest.
Energy & Environment
VIDEO: Isaac kills seven, cities still underwater after storm hits US
RT - The number of fatalities caused by Isaac between Louisiana and Mississippi has risen to seven. Victims include a man killed in a restaurant fire, two killed in traffic accidents, a woman whose car got smashed by a falling tree, and a man who fell from a tree, AP reported. A man and woman from Braithwaite, south of New Orleans, were also found dead after being unable to leave their home during immense flooding. Dozens of residents had to be rescued as heavy rains soaked the surrounding area, putting many towns under water.
US insurance firms unlikely to cover $1 billion in home damage after record-breaking drought RT - Thousands of US homes are in critical disrepair as the country continues to suffer from this summer's record-breaking drought. And the damages are unlikely to be paid by insurance companies. As moisture is sucked away from the ground, houses are shifting, cracking and racking up huge repair bills for surprised homeowners - bills that insurance companies rarely ever cover. Some repairs have topped $100,000, causing some homeowners to plunge into financial catastrophe as they try to make ends meet.
Health
Mental Disabilities in Children Double After Just One General Anesthesia
Gaia Health - Children who are given general anesthesia just one time before the age of three are nearly 2-1/2 times more likely to suffer from verbal disability and 1-3/4 times more likely to be deficient in intelligence.
VIDEO: The Truth About Most Vitamins and Supplements
Natural Society - Synthetic vitamins like artificial vitamin A have actually been linked to birth defects, while food-based vitamin A is a beneficial substance at the right levels. Peer-reviewed medical research has also linked synthetic vitamin E to 8 associated diseases including cancer and DNA damage. But what about the natural form? Mainstream sources like CNN dishonestly reported that 'vitamin E' is causing cancer without actually specifying that it was the synthetic version studied. As a result, certain vitamins have been demonized incorrectly by these misleading studies.
EPA changes rules to allow more toxic cleaning chemicals in mainstream food (NaturalNews) Recently, the EPA made a ruling on the use of a chemical that's used for a variety of products, including sanitizing cleaners for facilities of food industry providers and restaurants. The chemical will show up in processed foods.... An August 22, 2012 Courthouse News edition contained a short article entitled "More Ammonia Now Allowed in Processed Food." It was a reference to the EPA's latest revision for limits using Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium in the carbonate or bicarbonate form (DDACB). Focus on ammonia.
Health Basics - What exactly is a raw food diet?
(NaturalNews) Most Americans have "hot meals" two out of every three sit downs per day, and usually that food itself has already been cooked, maybe at very high temperatures, and then processed, and finally loaded with preservatives and artificial ingredients. Even organic food which is cooked at over 118 degrees will most likely kill the nutrients, but there are some exceptions.
Just how beneficial is a gluten-free diet for those without celiac disease?
(NaturalNews) Wheat has been genetically morphed into a high glycemic index (GI) food that spikes your blood sugar as bad as or worse than sugar. This morphing was done over decades of cross breeding compatible plants, not by laboratory GMO freaks. Even worse than its high GI is the fact that those wheat kernels and other grains contain a type of protein called gluten. It's a sticky sort of protein that's useful for binding. According to naturopath Glen Depke, it appears that the old wheat was three percent gluten, and now it is 50 percent. This hybrid was created to make better textured breads and pastries and produce a higher crop yield.
Coconut oil can combat tooth decay, study suggests
CBC News - Researchers at the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland have found that digested coconut oil inhibits the growth of common bacteria that cause tooth decay and could be an effective alternative to chemical additives in dental hygiene products.
Related Article: 13 Evidence-Based Medicinal Properties of Coconut Oil
Activist Post - While coconut oil has dragged itself out of the muck of vast misrepresentation over the past few years, it still rarely gets the appreciation it truly deserves. Not just a "good" saturated fat, coconut oil is an exceptional healing agent as well, with loads of useful health applications.
**Get your Virgin Coconut Oil from The Power Mall today by calling 877-817-9829.
Science & Technology
Bionic eyes about to become reality: Installation of high-tech eyeball to cost $115,000 (NaturalNews) After years of theorizing, delays and non-human trials, a type of bionic eye implant is set to hit the market, first in Europe but then, hopefully soon, in the United States. The implants are said to be capable of completely restoring sight to blind patients, but only if their blindness was caused by a faulty retina, as in macular degeneration (suffered by millions of elderly people), diabetic retinopathy or any other degenerative eye disease.
Current News
9/4, Gerry Smith, Huffington Post, Apple UDIDs Purportedly Stolen By Hackers Claiming To Breach FBI Laptop
9/4, Josh Gerstein, Politico, Democratic platform again seeks Guantanamo closure
9/4, Marjorie Cohn, Huffington Post, No Accountability for Torturers
9/4, G.W. Schulz, Huffington Post, Web Surveillance Through Social Media Sites A Powerful Tool For Local Law Enforcement
9/2, David Stringer, USA Today, Tutu: Bush, Blair should face trial at the Hague
8/31, Glenn Greenwald, Guardian (UK), Obama's justice department grants final immunity to Bush's CIA torturers
8/31, Amy Taxin, San Francisco Chronicle, Immigration bill divides California sheriffs
8/30, Hayley Tsukayama, Washington Post, Apple rejects Drones+, app to track U.S. drone strikes
'Twas the Summer of Internet Freedom
The summer of 2012 started with a bang when the Declaration of Internet Freedom, a document drafted by Internet advocates of all political stripes, launched right before Independence Day. For many, this enthusiasm continued offline. The Declaration gave birth to more than a few Internet BBQs, dinners, movie viewings and happy hours where people got together to discuss what Internet freedom means to them -- and what they could do to protect it.
Honeytrap Reveals Mass Monitoring of Downloaders
Anyone who has downloaded pirated music, video or ebooks using a BitTorrent client has probably had their IP address logged by copyright-enforcement authorities within three hours of doing so. So say computer scientists who placed a fake pirate server online -- and very quickly found monitoring systems checking out who was taking what from the servers.
Troost Is Where East/West Divide Trips Up Google
Google is poised to stumble into Kansas City's racial past, entangled in the historic boundary between black and white that is Troost Avenue. Sept. 10 is the day of reckoning. That's the day after Google's deadline for people to pre-register for its ultra-fast Internet service. Predictions of a backlash that Google neither fathomed nor intended are being voiced this week in community meetings with company representatives.
Everybody hates the cable company. The big cable carriers constantly score among the lowest in customer satisfaction among all industries. Yet the cable operators continue to thrive largely because they operate as natural monopolies. The satellite services don’t fare much better in terms of consumer love, and they too enjoy similar barriers to entry (satellites!). But get ready for a sea change. Even if you’re tied to a subscription television service today, there’s a great chance you’ll become a cord cutter in short order.
Why I’m Cutting the Cord, and How Cable Can Get Me Back
Like electricity and hot water, pay TV has become a vital source of comfort in my home. But unlike the basic utilities, pay TV has become incredibly expensive. So while it’ll take a radical change in how I consume media, pay TV has got to go.
Killing TV to Punish Comcast? It’s the Networks That Take the Hit
So you finally decided to get back at that evil, treacherous cable company that’s been sucking you dry for so many years. You’re going to cut the cord and watch all your TV online. Of course, you’ll still be paying for broadband. But there’s no way those cable fat cats will get that extra $1,000 per year it costs you to add TV channels to your Internet service. Go ahead and stick it to the man -- it feels good. But the truth is, you’re not worth as much to the cable company as you might think.
Broadcasters Defeat TV Streaming Service
A federal appeals court is dealing a death blow to an upstart service that streams broadcast television over the Internet, ruling that ivi Inc. is not a cable system and therefore is not protected by the Copyright Act.
Why Media Neutrality Over the U.S. Presidential Election Is Fueling Lies
The reluctance of American journalists to tackle the substantive issues raised by politicians, lobbyists, pressure groups and others for fear of being seen as "biased" forms part of a culture of "neutrality" that is essentially driven by economic forces but which is presented as an ethical touchstone.
Fact-Checking Renegade: Los Angeles Times
A few years back, the Los Angeles Times considered joining a runaway industry trend. Everywhere you clicked on the political web, it seemed, someone was putting the drywall and paint on a stand-alone, cleverly branded fact-checking machine, or at least some sort of discrete truth-outing posts. Everyone’s in on this page-view-promoting gimmick or accountability tool or page-view scam or proud model of explanatory journalism. The Los Angeles Times, however, passed up the temptation.
Why, Exactly, Are 15,000 Journalists in Charlotte?
In attracting a huge media contingent, the national conventions are exceeded only by the Olympic Games. It's too much ado about little, says a covey of media critics.
Anonymous Leaks Secret New York Times Correspondences That Reveal Reporters' Shocking Competence
Anonymous declared war on the New York Times this week, launching "OpNYT." Unlike most actions by the crippled hacktivist collective these days, its attack on the Times doesn't just consist of writing boring, unreadable manifestos (though there is a lot of that). Anonymous has leaked "secret" correspondences between New York Times reporters and Anonymous members that are meant to expose the Times' "incompetence." Unfortunately for Anonymous, the documents reveal the exact opposite.
Should Freedom of the Press Shield WikiLeaks?
Glenn Greenwald, the ne plus ultra of critics of what he calls the "surveillance state" -- and of the Obama administration's anti-terror tactics -- is accusing Sen. Dianne Feinstein of being hostile to "basic press freedoms." Greenwald's evidence consists of Feinstein's statement to an Australian newspaper that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be prosecuted under the Espionage Act.
Why Can't We Just Admit That Journalists Are Human?
Yahoo fired its former Washington bureau chief for a joking comment he made during a video broadcast from the Republican convention. Isn't it about time we admitted that journalists have emotions and opinions?
In Other News..
Time Warner Cable Puts Its News Channels Behind TV Everywhere Pay Wall
North Country Community Radio Gears Up for Its Debut
How Copyright-Enforcement Robots Killed the Hugo Awards
One Million Apple Device IDs Reportedly Dumped After Alleged FBI Breach
Twitter's Free Speech Defender
Why I Have a Love-Hate Relationship with Twitter
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September 3rd 2012
World News
We will not support possible unilateral Israeli attack on Iran: US
(PressTV) Amid Israel's war rhetoric against Iran, the United States has sent a message to the Islamic Republic, stating that Washington would not support Tel Aviv in case of any possible unilateral strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Iran developing advanced defense system to surpass Russian S-300
(Press TV) A senior Iranian commander says the Islamic Republic has started to produce an air defense system that will be more advanced than the Russian S-300.
Damascus open to plans to resolve unrest if sovereignty respected
(Press TV) The Syrian government says it welcomes any initiative to end the months-long violence in the country, as long as the country's sovereignty is respected.
Israel threatens to demolish 'illegal' Bedouin school
(RT) Israel has threatened to demolish a Bedouin encampment in the West Bank that contains a school, claiming that the community was built without appropriate permits and was hindering the development of new Israeli settlements.
Mass killer's messages: Breivik's correspondences hit Norwegian book stores
(RT) A book containing over 7,000 emails sent and received by Anders Breivik was released Monday by a Norwegian publisher. The correspondences show how the extremist prepared for his July 2011 attacks, which left 77 people dead.
Russian missile chief claims shield-penetrating ICBM ready by 2018
(RT)Russia will begin production six years from now of a new heavy ICBM that can better penetrate the US missile defense system in Europe, the head of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces said.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
Pentagon threats won't delay Bin Laden kill mission book's release
(RT) The publisher of a book purporting to chronicle an insider account of the Navy SEAL operation to raid Osama Bin Laden's Pakistan compound will begin sales on Tuesday, ignoring the Pentagon's legal threats against the author.
How to Break the Back of Corporate "Intellectual" Domination
(Activist Post) Boycott corporations monopolizing, misguiding, and destroying human civilization.
Movies, music, and TV created by huge monopolizing media cartels like Disney, Sony, Warner Brothers, Fox, Paramount, as well as software companies like Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Autodesk, and many others, belong to a consortium of corporate-financier interests driving the "intellectual property" crusade and many of its unpopular creations, including SOPA, ACTA, and a campaign of jailing grannies and college kids for simply sharing information deemed "property" of these corporations.
FEMA requests even more emergency food
(Activist Post) On the 31st of August, 2012, FEMA requested 1.1 Million low sodium MRE's to help with the demands from Hurricane Isaac. They needed to be shipped on September 1st. On September 1st, at 10:18 PM ET, FEMA transmitted another solicitation for MRE's. This time, the standard "Commercial Meal" MRE for those not on a restricted diet.
10 Signs That You're Fully Awake
(Activist Post) Isn't it obvious that there is a significant global awakening happening? Just as the Mayans predicted so many years ago, the apocalypse would become apparent in 2012. But many misinterpret the apocalypse to be the end of the world, when in fact it actually means an "un-covering, a revelation of something hidden."
Corrupt USDA conspired to funnel hundreds of millions in taxpayer money to beef industry lobbyists
(NaturalNews) It may be hard to associate "corruption" with a U.S. government agency (insert dripping sarcasm here), but it's true: Sometimes those stewards of our tax dollars don't spend them very wisely.
2012 Electon News
DNC security rules raise fears of unconstitutional police tactics
(RT) As the Democratic National Convention nears, people in Charlotte could face arrest for carrying water bottles, socks, markers, and other seemingly unthreatening items, triggering worries over free speech violations and warrantless searches.
Video: New! Ron Paul Delegates speak out against RNC Corruption
From The Daily Paul
Mass GOP Lawyer Vincent DeVito Assaults Woman at RNC
(Daily Paul) Last Tuesday August 28, 2012, MassGOP Legal Counsel Vincent DeVito assaulted a woman during the Rules Committee Meeting at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida.
GOP is Trying to Quash Grassroots Movement, Ron Paul Supporters Fear
(Daily Paul) The Republican National Convention may be over, but Minnesota's delegates sure left an impression. So much so, in fact, that some of those delegates are deeply concerned-in the wake of their continued support of Ron Paul as a nominee, instead of Mitt Romney-that the Republican Party is quietly working to render powerless all future delegates who express independence from the party line.
Occupy Wall Street Protest
OWS march rolls through Charlotte ahead of Democratic convention (VIDEO, PHOTOS)
(RT) Hundreds of people have taken part in the March on Wall Street South event in Charlotte, carrying banners, banging drums and chanting slogans against corporate greed. The protest ahead of the Democratic National Convention proceeded peacefully.
Health
5 Meat-Free Recipes for Labor Day
(Care2) Not only is Labor Day a national holiday synonymous with cookouts, it also marks the second biggest diet day of the year. There's one way for you to stick to your New Year's Resolution, or avoid the necessity of a fall weight loss resolution, if you mind your plate this weekend. Be smart about what you serve or eat and your waistline will come away from the weekend unscathed. The easiest way to do that? Go vegetarian! That's right, on one of the biggest burger weekends of the year we're saying go green with your diet. You can make one heck of a delicious cookout affair with vegetarian recipes just as satisfying as any piece of meat ever wanted to be. We can help you get started with our favorite vegetarian cookout recipes!
Mandatory Chemotherapy for Children with Cancer?
Most people have some second or even first-hand experience with cancer. Whether you've watched a loved one struggle, or if you are a survivor yourself, you know how difficult the battle can be.
Are stress and high cortisol depleting your vitamin D?
(Natural News) According to recent studies reported by the Body Ecology website, cortisol, the flight or fight hormone, can disrupt your body's vitamin D3 uptake.
Baby boomers - Why detoxifying toxins from your early years could save your life
(Natural News) Prescription drug abuse is currently on the rise among all age groups, but particularly among the aging "baby boomer" generation born between 1946 and 1964. Millions of people from this generation who are now in their 50s and 60s are beginning to suffer the health consequences...
Obesity accelerates cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease progression
(Natural News) As obesity rates continue to soar among all age groups in the U.S. and most other countries, the incidence of chronic diseases spawned by excess abdominal fat follows on a parallel course. Medical scientists have repeatedly confirmed that risk for heart disease, diabetes...
Pets
10 Warning Signs of Diabetes in Dogs & Cats
A growing epidemic amongst our pets, recognizing and spreading awareness about diabetes in dogs and cats is vital to helping pet owners spot and treat the disorder early.
All-Around Non-Toxic Flea Control
Let's face it. Fleas are the WORST, but applying pesticides to our pampered pooches doesn't make us howl with excitement either. In an attempt to find non-toxic flea control remedies, Care2 staff stumbled upon this amazing technique that kills fleas fast without toxic chemicals. While citrus peel extract (d-limonene) works well for dogs, cats can't tolerate it, so this is an especially great choice.
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August 31st 2012
World NewsSyrian group with close ties to FSA terrorists openly arms rebels with help of U.S. Activist Post - The recently established Syrian Support Group (SSG), a United States-based pro-Free Syrian Army (FSA) group housed just three blocks away from the White House, is openly showing their support for the terrorist FSA like never before. The SSG was just established this April as a non-profit and thanks to a special license from the Treasury Department, they can now openly provide the Syrian opposition with funding to purchase heavy weaponry which, according to The New York Times, includes "antiaircraft and antitank missiles."
NATO secretly authorizes Syrian attackPress TV - On Monday, August 27, 2012, in a meeting in Brussels, NATO military leaders in consultation with "telephonic liaison" with officers of military forces in several former Soviet Republics, major African states, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states came to a combined decision to act against Syria.... No announcement was made, no plans or timetable published, simply a vote on authorization of force which passed unanimously by member and included non-member states unanimously.
Iran, Egypt call each other 'strategic allies'
Press TV - At a Thursday meeting with Morsi in the Iranian capital, Tehran, Ahmadinejad referred to Egypt as "Iran's strategic ally" and expressed the interest of the Iranian nation and government in enhancing cooperation and friendly relations with the Egyptian government and nation.
VIDEO: Leader's inaugural speech at NAM SummitPress TV - The following is the full text of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei's inaugural address delivered at the 16th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Tehran on August 30, 2012.
China, Egypt back Palestine's statehood
xinhuanet.com - China and Egypt have reaffirmed their support for an independent State of Palestine, according to a joint press communique issued here on Thursday. The independent state should have full sovereignty established on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, said the communique, which also backed Palestine's participation in the United Nations and other international organizations. The document was released after Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's three-day state visit to China concluded early on Thursday morning.
Palestinian farmers ordered to leave landsaljazeera.com - Israeli authorities have given Palestinian farmers living in Jericho, in the occupied West Bank, an order to uproot palm trees they have grown and leave agricultural lands within 45 days. The orders came in the form of letters sent to the farmers in an area known as "Area C" and gave the farmers an October 7 deadline to vacate their lands. Shawkat Housheyeh, a farmer who received an official warning letter to uproot his palm trees told Reuters news agency that the measure threatened the livelihood of thousands of farm workers in the Jericho area.
Nicolas Sarkozy is contemplating a £200,000-an-hour job with a bank that already employs his old friend Tony Blair If the former French president accepts the job with Morgan Stanley he will be following in the highly lucrative footsteps of the ex-Prime Minister. But critics on the other side of the Channel have already expressed disgust at once elected politicians effectively using their reputations to enrich themselves to the tune of millions.
South African miners charged with murder of 34 colleagues killed by police South African workers arrested after a shooting at a platinum mine have been charged with killing 34 of their colleagues, despite confirmation that police committed the murders. The officers, who did not deny using guns, face no charges. The Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana, in the country's North West province, made headlines on August 16, when protesters, who demanded their wages be raised to over $1,000 a month, clashed with police. The crackdown claimed the lives of 36 people - miners and two policemen, and left 78 injured.U.S. News, Politics & Government
Justice Department sued for hiding secret NSA surveillance program
RT - The EFF charges that the DoJ violated the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, by failing to expedite previous requests filed with the government for documents relating to a 2008 amendment included in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Under that year's update to FISA, feds were awarded legal wiggle room to collect and comb through any communication originating in the United States that is sent abroad through email or phone, all under the guise of national security.
U.N.-backed Agenda 21 development rules anger many in Texas
kens5.com - A Lubbock County judge's comments last week that President Obama might cede U.S. sovereignty to the United Nations and spark a civil war have been widely ridiculed. But concerns about U.N. overreach are gaining ground, with the attacks mostly focused on a 20-year-old nonbinding U.N. resolution called Agenda 21.
2012 Election News
YouTube: Reality Check: Did RNC "Scripted" Rules Change Start A Civil War In The Republican Party? Ben Swann Reality Check takes a look at how the most controversial rule change in party history was not legitimately passed.RNC Protesters Vastly Out Numbered by Cops
Kurt Nimmo - It looks like the $50 million in tax payer money Congress doled out for security during the Republican National Convention has paid off. According to ABC News and Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor, so far this week three protesters have been arrested.
Economy
Morgan Stanley is Insolvent - Only a Matter of Time Before Total Financial Collapse Activist Post - According to Rick Wiles: "I'm hearing rumors that another major financial house is going to implode. In fact, the name I've been given is Morgan Stanley.16 Facts That Show How Members Of Congress And Federal Workers Are Living The High Life At Your Expense Activist Post - Today, the federal government is the place to go if you want a cushy, high-paying job with tons of benefits. It is incredibly hard to be fired from a federal job, and if you stick around long enough you will be guaranteed a huge pension for the rest of your life.
Health
Use EFAs to reduce inflammation and support your adrenals(NaturalNews) Omega-3 fatty acids help create cell walls that are fluid and elastic, yet strong enough to hold things together. The ALA offspring of EPA and DHA are vital to brain and eye health. Lately, a lot of research has been done on essential fatty acids, especially omega-3s. The health benefits include: Increased energy, heightened and stabilized moods, and better brain functioning with less brain fog. Hormone production is better regulated. Adrenal glands stabilized. Less body fat is maintained. Joints and muscles become pain-free. Lower blood sugar counts are generated. EFAs help prevent dementia, strokes, and inhibit tumors.
Combat cancer with the top cancer-fighting foods
(NaturalNews) (NaturalNews) An estimated one-third of cancer deaths could be related to diet, according to the National Cancer Institute. Eating processed, sugary foods with harmful additives like chemicals or even animal products with hormones is the norm for many people in developed nations. What people eat can truly kill them.
27 Easy, Fresh Tomato RecipesA perfect late summer tomato, bursting at the seams with fragrant juice with the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, plucked fresh from the vine the morning you eat it is one of life's greatest pleasures.
Infographic: Harmful Effects of Soda on Your Body
Sure, there's nothing quite like soda to go along with that burger and fries you've decided to have for lunch. Not unless you care about what you put in your body and what long-term effects it is going to have on your well-being. If you do care about your health and your body, however, take a look at the harmful effects of soda consumption over time.
PROOF: Chinese industrial fluoride suppliers openly list sodium fluoride as 'insecticide' and 'adhesive preservative' in addition to water treatment chemical (NaturalNews) Fluoride-pushing doctors and dentists who try to contaminate your water supply with fluoride are promoting their deadly agenda with a clever lie... a lie you will see obediently repeated in every fluoride push.... Here are the five false deceptions...Medical imaging radiation causes DNA damage and cancer; doctors prescribe more! (NaturalNews) The health risks associated with radiation exposure, whether it comes from cancer treatments or medical imaging scans, are much more significant than most people probably think. The latest published data on radiation exposure suggests that roughly 25,000 Americans develop cancer every year as a result of medical radiation exposure, and many more experience DNA damage that could eventually lead to the development of cancer and other health problems in the long term.
Doctors discover terrifying new tick-borne virusRT - Researchers have diagnosed two farmers from separate towns in the American Midwest with the first ever identified cases of the Heartland virus, a just-discovered tick-borne infection that landed both men in the hospital with symptoms that include fever, fatigue and nausea.
Goji Berries: Worthy of the Name "Superfood"
care2.com - These small fruits, no bigger than the size of raisins, contain ample amounts of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and phytonutrients. With 18 amino acids, they are considered complete proteins. Pound for pound, they contain more vitamin C than any other fruit on the planet (sorry, oranges), and they have more iron than spinach (something for Popeye to contemplate). In all, they have 21 key trace minerals our bodies need to function and be healthy, including vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin B-complex, vitamin E, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, selenium, calcium, iron, copper, etc
Current News
8/31, San Francisco Chronicle, Why S.F. arrest numbers matter to citizens
8/31, Jeff Blagdon, The Verge, EFF sues DOJ for information on legality of warrantless wiretaps
8/31, Michael Ostrolenk and Pete Sepp, North County (CA) Times, FORUM: Rep. Issa, defend the federal whistleblowers
8/30, Jason Gilbert, Huffington Post, TaserDrone: Hackers Attach A Taser To Drone Helicopter, Chase People, Tase Them (VIDEO)
8/30, Hayley Tsukayama, Washington Post, Apple rejects Drones+, app to track U.S. drone strikes
FCC to Review Mobile Spectrum Ownership
The FCC will be re-entering the snakepit and investigating just how much spectrum -- the radio frequencies used to transmit signals in wireless devices -- one company should be able to control. According to FCC officials, the investigation will lead to a proposal setting new rules for the sale of spectrum rights by one company to another.
AT&T on $2.6 Billion Spending Spree to Buy Airwaves
AT&T is cobbling together about $2.6 billion in deals for airwaves to catch up with Verizon Wireless, which has vaulted ahead in the race to stockpile the industry’s most precious asset.
Comcast Said Near U.S. Approval to Encrypt Basic-Cable Signals
Cable companies led by Comcast are close to winning U.S. permission to start encrypting basic-tier signals, two regulatory officials said, in a move to fight theft and reduce service calls.
People Now Spend More Time Watching Their Phones Than Watching TV
Could this be the moment that television officially lost its spot as America's favorite medium? A recent survey by mobile ad company InMobi asked 1,055 people how much time they spend interacting with all forms of media. Users responded that they watched TV for 141 minutes a day. But they spent 144 minutes a day -- 26 percent of the nine hours they used various media -- with their phones.
Why Johnny Can't Stream: How Video Copyright Went Insane
This is the story of Cablevision, the companies that followed in its wake, and how we got to the strange place where wasting resources on thousands of tiny antennas made you legal -- but where using one antenna broke the law.
Turn Off the Phone (and the Tension)
Relearning the beauty of living in the moment, devoid of any digital link, may seem silly to people who are less attached to their devices. But for many people, smartphones and social networks have become lifelines -- appendages that they are rarely without. As such, they can sway our moods, decisions and feelings.
In Search of the Living, Purring, Singing Heart of the Online Cat-Industrial Complex
If one has set out to say something definitive about the relationship between cats and the Internet, it’s important not to be delayed indefinitely by Internet cats.
Meeting With Rep. Eshoo's Office Yields Big Rewards
Last week I joined three other Free Press activists in a meeting with Patty Kim, the deputy chief of staff to Rep. Anna Eshoo, at the congresswoman’s office in Palo Alto, Calif. We were there to discuss what an open Internet means to us. We asked Kim if Rep. Eshoo would join three fellow members of Congress -- and more than 2,000 organizations and companies -- in signing the Declaration of Internet Freedom. She said she’d get back to us. Then I received an email informing me that Rep. Eshoo had decided to support the Declaration of Internet Freedom.
Apple Moves One Step Closer Toward Location-Based Camera Disabling
In June of last year, it was reported that an unsettling patent filed by Apple would allow certain infrared signals to remotely disable the camera on iPhones. It showed the potential downsides of bringing cameras into the world of wireless connectivity, which appears to be the next big thing in the camera industry. Now, a newly published patent is rekindling the fears of those who don’t want “Big Brother” controlling their devices.
Facts Take a Beating in Acceptance Speeches
The growing number of misrepresentations in the presidential election campaigns appear to reflect a calculation in both parties that shame is overrated, and that no independent arbiters command the stature or the platform to hold the campaigns to account in the increasingly polarized and balkanized media firmament. Any unmasking of the lies or distortions, the thinking goes, rarely seeps into the public consciousness.
Fact-Checking Politics: Why We Need 'Open Journalism' More Than Ever
There has been a rush of fact-checking of recent comments made by Republican vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan, but does this mean the traditional media's obsession with objectivity and the "view from nowhere" has changed? Not really -- which is why more alternative sources are necessary.
Tumblr, in a small but not insignificant way, is now behaving like a news organization.
In Other News..
The Campaign for Prison Phone Justice Visits Rep. Barbara Lee of California
Samsung, Carriers to Modify Infringing Devices
Study Tells Why We Can't Resist Facebook Games
HBO Cuts the Cord, Brings Streaming-Only Service to Europe
Own e-Books? Publishers to Pay Back Millions Over Price-Fixing Charges
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August 30th 2012
World NewsEurocrisis: 4 Reasons Spain May Need a Dreaded Bailout
Spain, whose economy is the fourth-largest in the euro zone, may be seeking a bailout soon, a step its government has been seeking to avoid.
Press TV - Israel has become infuriated by a fresh initiative of Arab member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which seeks to launch a global campaign to slam Israel's possession of nuclear stockpile.
UK physiotherapy sells out to Big Pharma. Is chiropractic next?
(NaturalNews) Today, physiotherapy is defined as "the treatment of disease by physical exercise, massage etc., not drugs." This definition; however, will need to be amended to indicate a recent victory gained by Big Pharma. Last month, a landmark decision was awarded to UK physiotherapists to give them the world's first prescribing rights.
Leader denounces UN Security Council's 'flagrant dictatorship'Press TV - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the US and its allies abuse the "illogical, unjust and completely undemocratic" structure of the UN Security Council to impose their bullying on the world. "This is a flagrant form of dictatorship, which is antiquated and obsolete and whose expiry date has passed," Ayatollah Khamenei said during an inaugural speech to the 16th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran on Thursday.
YouTube: NATO-backed Rebels Bomb Funeral in Syria
(Warning graphic content) Addounia TV Aug 28, 2012 - [Addounia TV is a Syrian channel broadcasting from Damascus] English Subtitles: The explosion of the car, which was parked near a cemetery in Jaramana killed 12 citizens and injured 48 others, some in critical condition, in addition to damaging some of the surrounding buildings.
U.S. intelligence community draft report says dump Israel!jeff-goodall.com - According to an article by Franklin Lamb appearing on the Foreign Policy Journal's website today, the Israel lobby is preparing to trash a draft report prepared by the U.S. intelligence community that suggests the U.S. needs to drastically reduce its commitment to Israel for a number of increasingly urgent reasons.
Afghan President Arrives in Tehran
farsnews.com - Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Tehran on Wednesday afternoon to attend the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit meeting and confer with Iranian officials on different regional and international issues.
Russia Orders System To Manipulate Mass Audiences Across Blogs, Social Networks Alexander Higgins - In an attempt catch up with US capabilities, Russian Intelligence has ordered three systems to monitor and manipulate information line. Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service ordered a three-layered software system it that will monitor use to manipulate information on the internet using social networks and the blogosphere.1.6 million Zimbabweans to need food aid
UN.org - In response to the deteriorating food situation, the UN agency announced it was scaling up operations in conjunction with the Government and other stakeholders to provide a combination of food distribution and cash transfers to those in need. The WFP further noted that it would require approximately $119 million to complete its operations in Zimbabwe until the end of March 2013, though it said that almost three-quarters of the funding has not yet been accounted for.
"Market Shock" Coming This Fall: UK Telegraph Sourcesetfdailynews.com - Dominique de Kevelioc de Bailleul: "I think we are heading for a market shock in September or October that will match anything we have ever seen before," an unnamed source at a major European bank told the U.K Telegraph, Friday.... "A more severe crash than the one triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers could be on the way," according to the Telegraph journalists, Harry Wilson and Philip Aldrick.
U.S. News, Politics & government
New edition of 9/11 coloring book includes terrorist trading cards
SFGate.com - A St. Louis-based publisher released an updated version of its controversial 9/11 graphic coloring book that now comes with a complete set of terrorist trading cards.
DHS Inside Source Claims Obama White House Set to Stage Major False Flag, "It's Going Hot" Intel Hub - In a startling article published on the Northeast Intelligence Network, Douglas J. Hagmann is reporting that an inside source from the Department of Homeland Security has revealed to him that a false flag attack, planned by the White House, is set to go hot. "According to my well-placed source within the DHS apparatus, what amounts to a final authorization was reportedly given to DHS directly from the White House. A "go signal" if you will," wrote Hagmann. Hagmann then went on to directly quote the apparent well placed source with DHS itself.DHS Amassing Arms for Secret Forces to be Used Against American Citizens? Intel Hub - Major General Jerry Curry, who is a decorated combat veteran, Army Aviator, paratrooper, and Ranger, has asked the question: "Who does the government intend to shoot?"... Curry states: "No one has yet said what the purpose of these purchases is, though we are led to believe that they will be used only in an emergency to counteract and control civil unrest. Those against whom the hollow point bullets are to be used - those causing the civil unrest - must be American citizens; since the SSA has never been used overseas to help foreign countries maintain control of their citizens."
NYPD Civil Rights Cases: City Shells Out $22 Million To Settle Lawsuits Against NYC's Finest Huffington Post - Two Colombian brothers received $1.2 million after spending a combined 17 years in prison for armed robbery convictions that were eventually thrown out. A 12-year-old Forest Hills girl collected $115,000 after her arrest for doodling on her junior high school desk with a green erasable marker. And a small-time thief banked $150,000 after accusing cops of smashing his head through the windshield of a car while he was in handcuffs.Hand-gun fired: Nebraska school says deaf toddler's name sign violates weapons policy RT - A Nebraska public school is barring a deaf three-year-old boy from using sign language to sign his name because, it claims, the gesture resembles a gun. The school's policies have prompted outrage from parents, rights groups and ordinary citizens. Hunter Spanjer's parents were informed by the Grand Island Public School that the way their child signed his name was a violation of the school's weapons policy.
Energy & Environment
VIDEO: Isaac Surge Overtops 18 Miles of La. LeveeSlow-moving Isaac was downgraded to a tropical storm on Wednesday but left devastation in its wake, flooding homes to their attics when the sea breached a levee outside New Orleans. Inside New Orleans, levees and pumps protected the city from widespread flooding, but Isaac had cut power to a third of Louisiana's households and was expected to lash the state with heavy rain and winds into Friday.
Hurricane Isaac could cause up to $2.5 billion in losses
Press TV - Business interruptions and damage to residential and commercial property on land could cost insurance companies up to $1.5 billion, the company said in an emailed statement. Offshore, economic losses to energy production operations could total up to $1 billion. These preliminary figures do not include uninsured losses Isaac may have caused on land.
Hurricane Isaac Exploited to Acclimate Citizens to Federal Military Role in Natural Disasters Kurt Nimmo - Gov. Bobby Jindal's office said Tuesday it has asked the Defense Department to pay for up to 8,000 troops for 180 days. Moreover, the National Guard Bureau indicated another 35,000 troops and almost 100 aircraft are available for mobilization to Gulf Coast states, according to Paul Purpura of The Times-Picayune. Veteran & Military News
Ex-Marine to sue over detention for Facebook posts
times247.com - Mr. Raub won his freedom on Aug. 23 when Circuit Court Judge Allan Sharrett found his forced detention "so devoid of any factual allegations that it could not be reasonably expected to give rise to a case or controversy." The suit Mr. Raub is now filing is a civil complaint targeting all the government officials involved in both his arrest and detention, according to a written statement from the Rutherford Institute.
2012 Election News
HOT: Ron Paul Left Tampa on TuesdayLRC Blog - At the little airport in Clearwater, 8 TSA agents descended on them and ordered them not to board their private plane.
Illinois Write-in Campaign For Dr. Paul/need Signatures Turned Into Your County Clerk's Office By September 6th! Daily Paul - I just spoke with my county clerk's office and was told that we CAN have Dr Paul as a write-in candidate (if he is not on the ballot)if we gather 100 signatures from each county, and have them turned into our county clerk's office no later than September 6, 2012.
VIDEO: Hot Mic Catches Republican Praising Censorship of Ron PaulPaul Joseph Watson - "Well done! Whoever controlled the microphone did a great job. During a roll call of states at the Republican National Convention yesterday, an attendee was caught on a hot mic praising the moment where Ron Paul's delegate result was accidentally censored as a result of an audio failure.
Health
The last antibiotic: Drug companies run out of weapons against the very same superbugs they helped create (NaturalNews) The industry is down to one last-ditch chemical: colistin, a toxic bug-killing chemical discovered in 1949. It kills superbugs, but it also causes kidney damage. So if you're infected with a superbug in a hospital, you can choose to either die from an infection, or die from the cure.
The importance of probiotics after antibiotics(NaturalNews) Antibiotics are great at what they do; they kill bacteria. Unfortunately, they are unable to discriminate between good bacteria and bad bacteria. There are over 100 trillion good bacteria in our bodies that play a vital role in our overall health and well-being, particularly to immune function and digestion. Many of these bacteria are destroyed by antibiotic treatments and therefore must be quickly replenished. The best way to do this is by consuming probiotics, which contain live bacteria that will repopulate the gut.
Lack of sleep found to be a new risk factor for aggressive breast cancers
eurekalert.org - Lack of sleep is linked to more aggressive breast cancers, according to new findings published in the August issue of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.
World's hottest (and healthiest) pepper unveiled in south carolina(NaturalNews) Even though it has been praised for its health benefits for years, scientists have struggled to confirm capsaicin's individual health benefits.
Gates Foundation Funds Surveillance of Anti-Vaccine Groups
Green Med Info - $100K grant was recently disbursed to Seth C. Kalichman, professor at the Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, for "Establishing an Anti-Vaccine Surveillance and Alert System," which intends to "establish an internet-based global monitoring and rapid alert system for finding, analyzing, and counteracting misinformation communication campaigns regarding vaccines to support global immunization efforts."
Miscellaneous
YouTube: 4 Year Old Boy Plays Piano Better Than Any Master4 year old boy playing a piano like a superb master! Awesome!!
Current News
8/30, David Dayen, Fire Dog Lake, Justice Department Ends Investigation Into Bush-Era Torture, With No Charges
8/30, Editorial, Newsday, Editorial: End NYPD's dubious spying on Muslims
8/30, Grant Gross, PC World, EFF Lawsuit Seeks Details of NSA Email, Phone Surveillance
8/30, David Kravets, Wired, Threat Level politics National Security Follow Threat Level Twitter Facebook RSS Warrantless Wiretap Victims Ask Court to Reconsider Letting Feds Spy Illegally
8/29, Ken LaRive, Examiner.com, PANDA's fight to end NDAA once and for all
Taxing Broadband -- an Idea Whose Time Has Not Come
Don't like the thought of sending even more of your hard-earned money to the government for corporate welfare? Then take notice: The FCC is considering a bipartisan proposal that would tax your Internet connections and fill the pockets of our nation's phone companies, even the ones that earn billions in profits while getting their own tax rebate checks from Uncle Sam.
'Digital Divide' Overlooked as Party Conventions Embrace the Web
With a steady stream of blog posts, tweets, Facebook posts and YouTube videos, the presidential campaigns have increasingly embraced the Web as a way to speak directly to voters. And this week is no different. The Republican National Convention in Tampa, which is calling itself the "Convention Without Walls," is live-streaming the convention on YouTube, releasing a mobile app and encouraging Facebook users to share their photos and videos. The upcoming Democratic National Convention in Charlotte has planned similar digital outreach. Yet millions of Americans won't be able to participate.
Rojadirecta: The Government Reverses Course and Returns Domains Without Explanation -- Again
The government has decided to return two domain names it improperly seized and held in its possession for well over a year, without so much as an explanation. This time, it was Rojadirecta.com and Rojadirecta.org, Puerto 80's popular sports-streaming sites, which the government seized back in February 2011.
Obama to 'Fight Hard' for Internet Freedom
President Obama promised to "fight hard" to protect Internet freedom and said the Democratic Party will include the position in its 2012 platform. Obama made the comment while answering questions on social-media site reddit, which was one of the leading organizers against controversial online piracy legislation earlier this year.
Republican Platform Opposes Net Neutrality by Supporting 'Internet Freedom'
American voters want to know where their country's two parties stand on issues surrounding the Internet, and the Republican Party revealed a new Internet freedom plank as part of its policy platform. Predictably, though, "free" isn't a synonym for "neutral" -- as the Washington Post points out, the document is talking about freedom of tech businesses from government regulation. The addition comes as the politics of the Internet continue to command a higher share of the public's attention.
Presidential Debate Commission Turns Blind Eye Toward Race
Race has always been a central issue in our nation’s politics, too often reflected throughout our history in news coverage that gave credibility to racist government policies. Issues regarding race remain a central issue in this year’s presidential election so it is hard to comprehend why the Commission on Presidential Debates failed to select a journalist of color to moderate at least one of the upcoming debates.
The Rise of Ad-Hoc Journalist Support Networks
Journalistic collaboration isn't just something that happens between newsrooms. Increasingly, journalists working outside of traditional news organizations are coming together to support each other in a range of ways, from offering safety advice when covering protests to sharing news tips, local resource recommendations and more.
Reddit as Journalism: Crowdsourcing an Interview with the President
Reddit landed a personal appearance by the president of the United States when Barack Obama stopped by for one of the site's "Ask Me Anything" interviews -- an event that further adds to the Web community's reputation as an alternative source of journalism.
In Florida, Convention Coverage Ranges from Abundant to Absent
The Tampa papers go all in, while the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel goes missing in its coverage of the Republican National Convention.
Phone Hacking: Tom Crone, Former News of the World Legal Manager, Is Arrested
Tom Crone, the former legal manager of the News of the World, has been arrested by police investigating the phone-hacking scandal.
Twitter's Relationship with the Media: It's Complicated
As Twitter continues to expand its control over the content that runs through its network, even as it forms partnerships with large TV networks like NBC, media entities of all kinds are going to have to ask whether their reliance on the service is wise.
In Other News..
Apple-Samsung Patent Fight: Fuzzy Math
By 2013, It Will Be a Smartphone-Majority World
Average Household Has Five Connected Devices, While Some Have 15-Plus
Cloud Computing for the Poorest Countries
The $1.3 Trillion Price of Not Tweeting at Work
Gamestop Considering an Online Store for Vintage Cartridges and Discs
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August 29th 2012
World News
Military Muppet: TV character urges Israelis to prepare for strike on Iran
RT - A new emergency pamphlet in Israel instructs residents to prepare for the worst if Tel Aviv conducts a military strike on Iran. But the face on the brochure isn't the country's President or Prime Minister - it's a Muppet. The cover of the 15-page leaflet pictures a smiling Moishe Oofnik, the Israeli Muppet version of Oscar the Grouch. He's the resident pessimist on Rechov Sumsum, Israel's co-production of the long-running American children's program 'Sesame Street.'
VIDEO: Syrian opposition announces roadmap for post-Assad Syria
RT - Syrian opposition activists announced they have drafted a political roadmap for the country's development in the event of the ouster of President Assad. The project, initiated by US and German think tanks, is currently being presented in Berlin. Developed by the US Institute of Peace and German Institute for International and Security Affairs as early as in January, the group put together a document titled, "The Day After Project: Supporting a Democratic Transition in Syria."
Russia not to end military presence in Syria: army chief
Press TV - Chief of Staff General Nikolai Makarov on Tuesday rejected the reports that Moscow was in the process of evacuating its naval base in Syria and pulling out its high ranking military personnel.
France Ready to Recognize al-Qaeda as Syria's Legitimate Government
Kurt Nimmo - France's recently elected socialist president and Bilderberg stooge François Hollande has told Syria's CIA and MI6 run opposition to form a provisional government. Hollande said France would then officially recognize it as Syria's legitimate government.
US uses contractors to bypass international humanitarian laws
RT - The use of private contractors allows the US to evade responsibility for violations of international humanitarian legislation, a top Russian diplomat for human rights and democracy said. The comment came from Foreign Ministry Commissioner Konstantin Dolgov as the US Justice Department halted an investigation into the attempted bribing of Iraqi police officials by employees of the Blackwater security company (re-branded as 'Academi' in late 2011).
Syrian Rebels Claim to Take Over Chemical Weapons
israelnationalnews.com - The Supreme Military Council of the Syrian rebels released on a statement on Tuesday which said that the rebel forces took control of an army missile base in Damascus, in which ten ready-to-launch missiles were found. Some of the missiles, according to the statement, were converted to carry non-conventional warheads
U.S. News, Politics & Government
NYT alters article to remove mention of CIA funneling weapons to Syrian rebel groups NaturalNews Buzz - This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on August 27, 2012 15:54 (UTC). The next check for changes will be August 28, 2012 17:30 You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com. The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available. To see the changed article, click here.
Big Sis Begins Releasing Biological Agents Into Boston Subway
Steve Watson - The Department of Homeland Security will begin releasing a dead bacteria into the Boston subway tomorrow in an operation it says will test sensors designed to detect biological agents that could be released as part of a terrorist attack. Little is known about what exactly the bacteria consists of, and the DHS has not been very forthcoming with information, saying only that it is a "non-infectious" material that has been "approved as a food supplement".
Gun ID legislation may trigger exodus of gunmakers Remington, Colt
Fox News - Two venerable American gun manufacturers - Remington and Colt - could head for the West their weapons helped win if New York and Connecticut force them to implement microstamping technology. Microstamping, or ballistic imprinting, is a patented process that uses laser technology to engrave a tiny marking of the make, model and serial number on the tip of a gun's firing pin to allow an imprint of that information on spent cartridge cases.
Economy
VIDEO: New gold rush: Where's the ceiling?
RT - Gold is nearing its highest price in four months as investors await a weekend meeting of central bankers that could shed light on the likely course of US monetary policy. Gold has gained 3.1% so far in August, and is heading for another record high since January. Central bankers and finance ministers from around the world are to meet at Jackson Hole, Wyoming on August 31 and September 1. Investors will be looking for hints from Fed chairman Ben Bernanke on measures the central bank might take, and specifically whether they will buy bonds to grease the wheels of the financial system.
2012 Election News
VIDEO: Ron Paul's Maine Delegates Erupt After Getting Barred from Republican Convention
Daily Paul - What a complete fraud. Hopefully all of you will now see that there is a conspiracy happening and it is very very massive. And it hates true liberty. RON PAUL. Related Video: Compilation of votes cast for Ron Paul...
Energy & Environment
Isaac: Not a Katrina, Tracking Farther West
accuweather.com - Isaac made landfall as a hurricane in Louisiana Tuesday night and continued to wobble west-northwestward along the southern coast of Louisiana during the early morning hours Wednesday. Isaac made a second landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana and will continue to bring storm surge flooding, flooding rainfall, damaging wind, beach erosion and the potential for tornadoes to much of the central Gulf Coast area.
Gardening, Farming & Homesteading
David v. Goliath: Raw milk producer calls settlement with the state a win
Current News
8/29, Editorial, Seattle Times, ACLU lawsuit against Border Patrol moving forward
8/29, Aliya Sternstein, NextGov, Compliance with wiretap law is transparent, NSA says
8/28, Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, Police panel OKs guidelines on reporting possible terrorism
8/28, Ivan Moreno, Huffington Post, Scott Gessler, Colorado Secretary Of State, Has Questioned At Least 25 Legal Voters, ACLU Says
8/28, Kim Chandler, All Alabama, Report details complaints of profiling in wake of new Alabama immigration law
8/27, Peter Scheer, Huffington Post, Most Wanted Secret Doc: Justice Dept Memo Analyzing Drone Strikes Against Suspected Terrorists
You'd Need Six Months to Watch Every Presidential Campaign Ad
At 30 seconds a spot, and sometimes 60, it would take more than six months to watch all 526,633 presidential election ads that have run on television since the general election began in earnest in early April.
Have Super PACs Ruined the Election?
We've all seen the numbers; we know Super PAC politics are a slow-motion disaster unfolding before our eyes, and that a handful of rich people have the ability to dramatically swing elections. But beyond influencing individual races and shifting the way national campaigns must be run, Super PACs and the messages they are promoting may have a dramatic long-term effect on how we as a society view our government.
Most Negative Political Ads of 2012 So Far
According to a study by the Wesleyan Media Project, 70 percent of campaign ads run so far this election cycle have been negative, compared with 9 percent over the same period of time in the 2008 presidential campaign.
Political Advertising on TV -- the Inside Scoop
Experts anticipate that this year the presidential campaign alone will churn out almost $2 billion in spending on advertising. This figure increases every campaign cycle, and is driven this year, in large part, by the increased amount of funding by unaccountable secret Super PACs. The question of openness in campaign financing is a moral one -- and one that has roots in ancient biblical injunctions about justice as well as the earliest days of the United Church of Christ.
Hey Hollywood, Forget SOPA, ACTA and TPP. Embrace Netflix Instead
Here's a novel idea for Hollywood: Instead of forcing other countries to adopt ever tougher copyright laws, help services like Netflix and Hulu to launch operations overseas. And forcing U.S. consumers to authenticate before they can watch TV online might not be the smartest idea either.
Eshoo Signs Declaration of Internet Freedom
Add the signature of Rep. Anna Eshoo to those who have signed the Declaration of Internet Freedom, which was launched July 2 by a host of Internet freedom backers, from ACLU and Free Press to Mozilla and reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian.
The Pacific Free Trade Deal That's Anything but Free
The draft TPP deal may grant new patent privileges and restrict Net freedom, but it's secret -- unless you're a multinational CEO.
Big Brother on a Budget: How Internet Surveillance Got So Cheap
Many governments have invested heavily in packet inspection and related technologies, which allow them to build a picture of what passes through their networks and what comes in from beyond their borders. The tools secure networks from attack -- and help keep tabs on citizens.
Google Fiber Could Widen the Digital Divide
Many of the schools, libraries and poorest neighborhoods given first shot at drawing Google's ultra-fast Internet service look in danger of missing out on Kansas City's digital revolution. Despite an offer by the tech giant's Google Fiber operation to virtually give away some Internet service to customers, the areas most lacking in online connections also appear the most likely to be left behind in Kansas City's leap ahead on a light-speed network.
How One Man Is Bringing VoIP, Net Access Where Telecoms Fear to Tread
When he started getting complaints from relatives back home in Puerto Rico about the lack of reliable phone or Internet service in the mountainous center of the island, Jose Soto took things into his own hands and built his own wireless service -- with a little help from his cousins. And with a little elbow grease, a few dollars, and a willing broadband provider, you could do the same.
The Lowdown on Getting Locked Up
It's no secret that journalists covering political conventions may get arrested. More than 40 journalists were arrested in Minnesota while covering the Republican National Convention the last time around, and there is legitimate concern that this summer's convention will not be any different.
How the Media Adapt When News Is Scarce
Media organizations have turned the political parties' quadrennial gatherings this year into laboratories of innovation and experimentation, straying from their traditional areas of expertise as they search for new ways to engage readers and audiences. So far, it seems, the new media has decided that it wants to be the old media, and the old media has decided that it wants to be the new media.
Why Newspapers Need to Get to Know Their Readers Better
Although the ad-driven business model behind Facebook looks similar to that of a newspaper, the crucial difference is that the social network knows a lot more about its users. The more focus that newspapers put on doing the same, the better off they will be.
In Other News..
Cats, Cookie Monster and Campaigns
Apple vs. Samsung: Infringing by Design
After Apple Verdict, a Rush to Unload Samsung Phones?
Judge Koh Sets Dec. 6 Hearing on Apple’s Request to Ban Several Samsung Phones
Making Free Calls That Aren't All That Free
Half of All Mobile Phones Will Be Smartphones by 2013, Two Years Earlier Than Forecast
Feinstein Calls for Obama to Act on Cybersecurity
Court Allows Challenge to FTC's $22.5M Google Settlement
ESPN Goes Deep, Connecting on $5.6 Billion, MLB Renewal
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August 28th 2012
World News
Israeli court acquits Israel of 2003 killing of US pro-Palestinian activist Rachel Corrie RT - An Israeli judge has exonerated a military investigation that acquitted the IDF of the killing of a US activist by a bulldozer. The judge reiterated that the death was "an accident," while the victim's family insists she was purposefully run over.
Iran opens nonaligned summit with calls for nuclear arms ban
Washington Post - Iran opened a world gathering of self-described nonaligned nations Sunday with a slap at the U.N. Security Council and an appeal to rid the world of nuclear weapons, even as Tehran faces Western suspicions that it is seeking its own atomic bombs.
VIDEO: Israeli vets confess to 'no mercy' abuse of Palestinian 'terrorist' kids RT - Israeli veterans have spoken out, describing a degrading culture of abuse and harassment of Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza. A report containing 30 veterans' testimonies details numerous cases of violence committed by Israeli soldiers. The report was released to world media on Saturday by Breaking the Silence, an organization made up of Israeli army veterans formed in 2004. They compiled more than 850 accounts from current and former Israeli soldiers describing abuses they committed or witnessed.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
US soldiers 'planned to overthrow govt.'
Press TV - Prosecutors in the U.S. state of Georgia claimed, on Monday, that four Army soldiers arrested for killing a former soldier Michael Roark in December, were planning to assassinate President Obama and overthrow the government, reports the Associated Press.... The FBI believes there has been a re-emergence of anti-government groups and activities in recent years in the United States. The Southern Poverty Law Center estimates that a national anti-government network of related "patriot" and "militia'' groups has swelled dramatically in the U.S.
New Jersey city fires entire police force
RT - The city of Camden has been struggling with a budget deficit for years. In 2011, it was named the poorest city in New Jersey. In an attempt to save millions, its officials decided to get rid of the entire city police force. Instead residents of Camden will have to rely on the new police department, which will be operated by Camden County. And here is the secret for saving money - the new Metro Division of the Camden County police will not have collective bargaining.
2012 Election News
Live Stream: Republican National Convention
Daily Paul - RNC Live Streams: C-Span and USA Today. Convention Schedule - Checking the schedule locally in Tampa is still recommended should there be additional changes.
YouTube: Ben Swann Sits Down with Romney & Ryan
Ben Swann Reality Check was given a few minutes with Governor Mitt Romney and Congressman Paul Ryan. Ben asked Romney about the RNC stripping Maine delegates of their credentials. Did Romney answer honestly?
Republicans reach rules change deal to avert floor fight with Texans, Ron Paul backers chron.com - ...under the compromise, states would still able to select individual delegates under their own laws and party rules. GOP leaders agreed to remove the rule change provision that would have allowed state-party-selected delegates to be disavowed. Spokesmen for the Romney campaign and the Republican National Committee did not respond to requests for comment.... Here is the message describing the compromise... * Related Article: Texas Delegates Planning Floor Mutiny...
Republicans work to remove Gary Johnson from Iowa ballot
Examiner - Jay Kramer, a Mitt Romney campaign supporter from Washington, D.C., filed a challenge on Friday to keep Libertarian candidate for President, Gov. Gary Johnson, from appearing on the Iowa ballot in November. The Romney campaign hired the Des Moines-based Nyemaster Goode PC for the challenge, which will be heard by Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz on Monday at 3 p.m.
Veteran News
Aluminum adjuvant linked to Gulf War illness induces motor neuron death in mice. Gulf War illness (GWI) affects a significant percentage of veterans of the 1991 conflict, but its origin remains unknown. Associated with some cases of GWI are increased incidences of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurological disorders. Whereas many environmental factors have been linked to GWI, the role of the anthrax vaccine has come under increasing scrutiny.
Economy
Bank of America: 'CODE RED ... RISK OF SELL-OFF IS HIGH'
Business Insider - Economist Michael Hanson points out an interesting circular relationship between the stock market and Fed policy. There are some who believe the Fed will not launch QE3 so long as stock prices remain high, yet the stock market is high because it anticipates QE3. Should the Fed disappoint at the September 12-13 FOMC meeting, the risk of a stock sell-off is high. S&P 500 support on a correction is in the 1360-1325 area. Additional support is at 1300-1250. Attention will be on the Jackson Hole symposium next week to get a feel for the Fed's tone.
Health
Mushroom found on birch tree holds promise as a potent anti-cancer tonic (NaturalNews) A little known mushroom is establishing a solid reputation in medical circles as a powerful defense against cancer. Although relatively unheard of in mainstream media, the chaga mushroom has been used in folk medicine for generations. Research has shown chaga to be extremely effective in protecting cellular DNA from damaging free radicals. It also has anti-tumor and immune stimulating benefits.
Bentonite clay to remove toxic heavy metals, clear diaper rashes, stop stinky feet and more (NaturalNews) Bentonite clay has a very strong negative ionic charge. This negative ionic charge attracts things that have a positive charge, such as heavy metals, toxins, harmful bacteria, pesticides, and other pathogens. By divine design, bentonite clay does not attach to anything beneficial in the body. The clumping action of clay binds to heavy metals and pathogens to prevent them from passing through the intestines to the bloodstream. The clay binds with these toxins and then makes an exit via the colon and the kidneys.
Shock discovery: Bacteria found in public water comes from the treatment filters, not from the water source (NaturalNews) When you think of contaminants in water, if you believed they simply came from the source, you'd be mistaken; new data from researchers at the University of Michigan shows that most bacteria found in drinking water actually comes from the filters of water treatment plants. The study, unique in its own right, took a broad look at the water supply in Ann Arbor, from source to tap. What researchers found is that most of the bacteria in water coming out of the tap did not come from the aquifers or rivers where it originated, but from filters at treatment plants designed to remove such bacteria.
Food Cravings and Vitamin/Mineral Deficiencies
If you crave these products...What you really might need is....read more!
10 Foods that Fight Inflammation and Pain
Some of the best healing remedies to overcome inflammation also taste fabulous which can't really be stated about prescription medications. Moreover, foods won't cause the nasty side effects common to most pain medications. Here are ten amazing foods that fight inflammation and pain.
Confirmed: India's Polio Eradication Campaign in 2011 Caused 47,500 Cases of Vaccine-Induced Polio Paralysis If you listen to mainstream media news, you'll be told that polio has now been eradicated in India - an accomplishment the Polio Global Eradication Initiative (PGEI), founded in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are attributing to the intense polio vaccination campaign.
Aluminum adjuvant linked to Gulf War illness induces motor neuron death in mice. Gulf War illness (GWI) affects a significant percentage of veterans of the 1991 conflict, but its origin remains unknown. Associated with some cases of GWI are increased incidences of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurological disorders. Whereas many environmental factors have been linked to GWI, the role of the anthrax vaccine has come under increasing scrutiny.
Science & Technology
Is McDonald's stalking children online?
(NaturalNews) Some 20 children's advocacy, public interest and health groups have jointly filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission charging that some online marketing by McDonald's and four other popular companies targeting children violates a federal statute that protects their privacy.
Gardening, Farming & Homesteading
Gardeners using coffee granules to deter slugs breaking EU law - RHS
Gardeners struggling to keep slugs at bay this summer by sprinkling coffee granules around the veg patch may be breaking EU laws, the Royal Horticultural Society has warned.
Miscellaneous
VIDEO: How to separate an egg yolk from the white - Chinese style
Watch the simple and effective method of separating an egg yolk from the white. It is a simple and straight forward application of hydraulics.
Current News
8/28, David A. Patten, NewsMax.com, Unprecedented Security in Place for GOP Delegates
8/28, Brock Parker, Boston.com, Homeland Security tests to begin at T stops in Cambridge, Somerville
8/28, Fern Sidman, IsrealNationalNews.com, Muslims Plan 3-Day Jumah Event to Pressure Democratic Convention
8/28, Robert Gearty, Daily News (NY), NYPD stop-and-frisk race case set for 2013 trial date
8/27, Aden Fine, ACLU, Twitter Appeals Ruling in Battle Over Occupy Wall Street Protester's Information
8/27, Len Levitt, Huffington Post, The NYPD'S Intelligence Division: It's Gone Rogue
More than 15,000 journalists have descended on Tampa for the Republican National Convention. Journalists planning to cover political conventions and the associated protests need to be careful about the gear they bring -- especially in light of new local laws.
Three-Quarters of Newspapers' Presidential Coverage Is Written by Men
In the post-primary period of election coverage, most of the newspaper stories were written by men, according to new survey data released by the Women’s Media Center and compiled by the 4th Estate Project.
Convention Coverage Is a No-Win Situation for Broadcasters
Every four years the broadcast networks -- ABC, CBS and NBC -- try to present a bare minimum of coverage without getting criticized too much by media watchdogs for failing to serve the public interest, which is a requirement of holding FCC broadcast licenses. There was a time when the broadcast networks provided nonstop prime-time coverage of the conventions. Now, an hour a night is about all the networks can stomach.
Pasadena Publisher Launches a System for Outsourcing Local News
A publisher in Pasadena, Calif., who said he received death threats when he started hiring workers in India to write local stories five years ago, nevertheless has launched a business to help other local publishers start outsourcing.
Is Twitter Good or Bad for Political Journalism?
The rise of social media tools like blogs and Twitter have changed the political landscape, in part by speeding up the news cycle and broadening the range of sources that are available. But are these developments good or bad for the practice of political journalism?
Groups Want Two Major U.S. Parties to Support Internet 'Freedom'
The Republican and Democratic parties in the U.S. should take a stand for Internet "freedom" during their upcoming national conventions, a group of Internet activists urged.
Don't Let Them Trade Away Our Internet Freedoms
The Trans-Pacific Partnership endangers the Internet and digital freedoms on par with ACTA, SOPA and PIPA, and it does so in two significant ways: First, its intellectual property chapter would have extensive negative ramifications for users' freedoms and innovation, and second, the entire process has shut out multi-stakeholder participation and is shrouded in secrecy. The TPP is a major threat because it will rewrite global rules on IP enforcement and restrict the public domain.
Blame a Dysfunctional Patent System for Apple vs. Samsung Verdict
The nonsensical verdict in the Apple vs. Samsung case shows that the patent process has become a competitive weapon, which was not the original idea at all.
Apple Patent-Case Win Could Point to New Digital Age for Smartphones
If the swipe is the essential gesture of the smartphone revolution, the pinch is a close second. Many of the coolest things that can be done on today’s mobile devices -- from finding an out-of-the-way bar to determining whether a thunderstorm is going to ruin your party -- are made easier by placing fingers on the screen and sliding them.
How Carriers Get Away with 'Locking' the iPhone
The software locks that wireless operators put on devices like the iPhone may violate state and federal antitrust laws, but there isn't much consumers can do about it.
Time Warner Cable Boosts New York Speeds as Google Project Looms
Time Warner Cable will expand fiber-optic lines to businesses in New York, a move that will boost Internet speeds as much as 20 times and provide an East Coast counterpoint to Google's ultra-fast network in Kansas City.
Twitter Files Appeal in Major Social Media Case
A judge ruled earlier this year that users have no privacy rights in their Twitter accounts. Twitter is challenging the rulings and today made new arguments, including that individuals have a Fourth Amendment right in their Twitter account and that deleted tweets are not automatically public.
In Other News..
How Political Ads Became More Valuable Than Gold
Who Is Apple's Most Powerful Woman?
Chart: U.S. Phone Companies Are Losing Their Voice
Twitter Removes Client Sourcing for Tweets on the Web
iPhone 5: Making Sense of the Rumors
Want to Use Your iPad During Takeoff? Tell the FAA
United States of Connectedness: What Works for Internet of Things
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August 27th 2012
World News
Mother who devoted her life to bereaved service families commits suicide over the death of her own soldier son Daily Mail - A mother devastated by the loss of her soldier son in Afghanistan committed suicide after her grief became too much to bear. Gill Atherton, 47, killed herself five years after her son, Guardsman David 'Jaffa' Atherton, 25, died in a battle with the Taliban. She is believed to be the first mother of a UK serviceman killed in recent conflicts to take her own life because she couldn't live with the loss.
British Paper Claims Western Troops are in Syria
Activist Post - The British Daily Star has reported in their article, "SAS HUNT BIO ARMS," that, "nearly 200 elite SAS and SBS troops are in or around Syria hunting for Assad's weapons of mass destruction." The Star also claims that the SAS are accompanied by British MI6, US CIA, and both French and American soldiers. This after US' Barack Obama made comments claiming the US would military intervene if Syria so much as "moves them [unconfirmed WMDs] in a threatening fashion."
Afghan soldier kills two US troops
Press TV - The number of 'green-on-blue' attacks by members of the Afghan police and military on coalition forces has increased sharply, mirroring outrage and frustration with the longest war in American history. Attackers hit international forces, the Afghan army and Afghan civilians in two days of violence that by Monday morning had left 29 people dead - two of them Americans soldiers killed by an Afghan colleague. AP
Syria Targets Israel's Unacknowledged Nukes
Kurt Nimmo - Talk about the shoe being on the other foot. Syria claims it can destroy Israel's nukes - which Israel has not officially acknowledged - with a handful of missiles. "Syria is capable of destroying Israel's nuclear facilities with 20 missiles, Syria's ambassador to Jordan, Bahjat Suleiman, told a visiting delegation on Wednesday, pro-Assad news sources reported," according to the Times of Israel.
China could penetrate US with new huge missile
The Register - News first emerged of the planned 'super missile' from defence industry bible Jane's Defence Weekly last week, according to South China Morning Post. It apparently claimed that a Dongfeng-41 (DF-41) intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), had been fired in testing last month by the PLA's Second Artillery Corps. This third-generation missile, US military sources told Jane's, contain multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs) - effectively multiple warheads - meaning they would be almost impossible for current US defences to take down.
Obama Requests Europe Bail Out His Reelection
Zero Hedge - Color us unsurprised; but the UK's Independent is reporting that American officials are worried that if the Troika decides Greece has not done enough to meet its deficit targets, it will withhold the money - triggering Greece's exit from the eurozone weeks before the presidential election. British government sources have suggested the Obama administration is urging eurozone Governments to hold off from taking any drastic action before then - fearing the resulting market destabilization could damage President Obama's re-election prospects.
Top Economists: Iceland Did It Right ... And Everyone Else Is Doing It Wrong washingtonsblog.com - Nobel prize winning economist Paul Krugman writes: What [Iceland's recovery] demonstrated was the ... case for letting creditors of private banks gone wild eat the losses.... Where everyone else bailed out the bankers and made the public pay the price, Iceland let the banks go bust and actually expanded its social safety net. Where everyone else was fixated on trying to placate international investors, Iceland imposed temporary controls on the movement of capital to give itself room to maneuver.
U.S. News, Politics & Government
DHS To Purchase Another 750 Million Rounds Of Ammo Paul Joseph Watson | Second massive ammunition buy this year fuels fears of civil unrest. A solicitation originally issued by the DHS in April but updated on Friday calls on suppliers to provide a plethora of different types of ammunition, The PDF file for the solicitation lists the different units of ammo required by the thousand, with the total ammo purchase exceeding 750 million rounds.
VIDEO; At Least 2 Killed and 9 Injured in Shooting Outside Empire State Building Activist post - It is now being reported that a disgruntled ex-employee of an apparel company killed a co-worker, then was later shot dead by police in an incident that began at 9 a.m. this morning outside the Empire State Building. In all, 2 women and 7 men have also been injured in the ensuing shootout with police. Mayor Bloomberg has come out to say that this is not an act of terrorism. The shooter has been identified as Jeffrey Johnson, 58, of Manhattan.
* Related Article: Wrongly Hyped as 'Mass Shooting' by Media?
United Nations Sponsors Another Gun-grabber Conference in New York
Kurt Nimmo - Following the failure of the United Nations to reach a consensus on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the internationalist gun-grabbers are looking forward to Review Conference 2012 (RevCon 2012), to be held in New York beginning next week, on August 27.
US Forest Service has an immediate need for ammunition
Activist Post - Another US agency has submitted a request for a variety of ammunition. This time it is the US Forest Service in the Pacific Southwest Region of the United States, which is responsible for 20 million acres of National Forest land in California and assists the State and Private forest landowners in California, Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. There are eighteen national forests located in this region.
Military helicopters to conduct training over Twin Cities this week startribune.com - Minneapolis Police say the U.S. Special Operations Command training actually began last Sunday, but it was in locations not easily seen by or open to the public. But police say the urban-environment training will become more visible as helicopters support the training this week. Residents may see or hear low-flying, military transport helicopters, specifically Black Hawks and smaller Hughes 500s, flying in the Minneapolis area between 7 p.m. and midnight.
2012 Election News
RNC reports that the convention is postponed until Tuesday due to Hurricane Isaac Daily Paul - UPDATE: If you are a delegate, you might still want to report on Monday. The RNC may be trying to trick the Paul delegates by telling them that Monday is entirely cancelled.
VIDEO: Full Unedited Ron Paul Speech @ We Are The Future Rally - Tampa Sun Dome Daily Paul August 26, 2012.
* Related article/pictures: Over 10,000 supporters brave Tropical Storm...
Ron Paul Turned Down Offer to Speak at GOP Convention
Activist Post - According to the New York Times, the Romney campaign offered the speaking slot on the condition that the speech was vetted and that Paul fully endorse Romney: Mr. Paul, in an interview, said convention planners had offered him an opportunity to speak under two conditions: that he deliver remarks vetted by the Romney campaign, and that he give a full-fledged endorsement of Mr. Romney. He declined. 'It wouldn't be my speech,' Mr. Paul said. 'That would undo everything I've done in the last 30 years. I don't fully endorse him for president.'
Science & Technology
Jury Awards $1 Billion to Apple in Samsung Patent Case
Energy & Environment
Woman blames smart meter for house fire
khou.com Houston - A southwest Houston woman is blaming a smart meter for a fire that left her home in shambles in July. "It's most devastating. It has taken a toll on me just telling you about it," said Jaclynn Harwood. "This shouldn't happen to anybody." Harwood provided KHOU 11 news with a document that appears to be from the Houston Fire Department.
VIDEO: Source Of Loud Booms In Foothills A Mystery
CBS News - People from all over El Dorado County say they're hearing loud booms several times a week, but there are many theories on what is causing them.... "You can feel it in the ground, no question about it. But no one's been able to figure out why," said Pleasant Valley resident Peter O'Grady. "I tend to hear somewhere between four to six of these things during the weekdays usually between 11 p.m. and 2 p.m.
VIDEO: Tropical Storm Isaac: Hurricane Warnings Issued for Gulf Coast
Good Morning America - As Tropical Storm Isaac grazed the Florida Keys with less force than was feared, hurricane warnings have been issued for the Gulf Coast from Central Louisiana to the Florida panhandle with Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana declaring state of emergencies ahead of the storm's landfall.
A Radioactive Nightmare - As fallout from Fukushima heads our way, the government turns a blind eye
Health
Global Vaccine Institute: Secret Vaccine Database
thinktwice.com - The general public is essentially unaware of the true number of people -- mostly children -- who have been permanently damaged or killed by vaccines. In fact, most parents would be surprised to learn that the government has a secret computer database filled with several thousand names of disabled and dead babies, children who were healthy and alive just prior to receiving the vaccines.
>>TPH Item of Interest: Med Alert Necklace & Bracelet
Is it True that Eggs are as Bad for Your Arteries as Smoking?
Recently, news headlines were ablaze with startling information that eggs are nearly as bad for your arteries as cigarettes. After surveying more than 1,200 seniors, the researchers concluded that eating egg yolks on a regular basis is approximately two-thirds as bad as smoking with regards to the build-up of arterial plaque.
Current News
8/27, Press TV, Ex-FBI agent: US government targets Americans for political views
8/27, NPR Staff, NPR, Obama's Warfare: 'From Power To A Policy'
8/26, Ben Wolfgang, Washington Times, Drone U. rides flight boom
8/25, Agence France-Presse, Raw Story, Guantanamo 9/11 hearings delayed to mid-October
8/25, Chris Lisee, Huffington Post, Religious And Civil Rights Groups Call For Hate Crime Hearings
In the wake of AT&T's announcement that it will be blocking the FaceTime video application, AT&T decided to hit the blogosphere to do a little "damage control." Instead, AT&T managed to kick off a consumer revolt with a blog post that has been thoroughly debunked, drawing even more attention to its violation of Open Internet rules (special acknowledgement to AT&T's public relations department ... great work!). The nearly 250 consumers who stormed the comments section of the blog post managed to upstage AT&T and shame them in the process.
Given the fact that AT&T has a rich and inglorious history of astroturfing public debate, and that it had no problem standing up in public and telling the world that buying T-Mobile would be awesome for everyone, we're guessing that it does not in fact have a corporate shame-based culture. Perhaps it needs one -- or at least one focused relentlessly on the customer. But if that's not going to happen, it had better purchase a few more suits of adamantine armor for its top executives. Those flames are going to keep burning.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in the Verizon-Cable Pact
The FCC voted 5-0 to approve Verizon's purchase of a valuable slice of the public airwaves in exchange for a partnership with a cartel of cable companies. While both the FCC and the Department of Justice -- which signed off on the swap last week -- placed conditions on the deal, it signals dark days ahead for consumers.
Verizon, Cable Companies Now 'Frenemies,' Can Sell Each Other's Products
The FCC approved Verizon Wireless' deal to purchase lots of wireless spectrum from cable companies while imposing limits on a related deal in which Verizon and the cable companies will resell each other's services.
FCC Approves Verizon, Cable Spectrum Deal
The FCC approved Verizon Wireless' $3.6 billion purchase of spectrum from three cable firms, subject to certain conditions.
FCC Eyes Tax on Internet Service
The FCC is eyeing a proposal to tax broadband Internet service. The move would funnel money to the Connect America Fund, a subsidy the agency created last year to expand Internet access.
FCC Votes to Suspend Special Access Trigger
The FCC announced that it will suspend so-called special access rules that govern price flexibility. In a vote split along party lines, the agency said it will suspend the rules while it looks into whether or not the special access market is competitive.
Have an Opinion on Broadband Caps? Speeds? Tell the FCC
The FCC doesn’t seem to realize it’s summer. The regulatory agency has been issuing decisions like crazy. And this week it also released a series of questions that indicate the FCC is thinking about the need for faster broadband speeds and questioning caps.
Checking the Facts in Political Ads
Channel 4 has jumped ahead of other Denver, Colo., TV stations in fact checking political ads so far this election cycle. CBS4 has already aired segments analyzing 20 ads, over twice as many as 9News, its closest competitor among the four stations analyzing ads. The numbers are worth pointing out because Channel 4's early analysis of the ads has undoubtedly been appreciated by regular people who've been trying to sort through all the political spots that have aired so early this election season.
Madison Station Won't Show Ad of Paul Ryan 'Killing' Old Woman
Occasionally a TV or radio program sparks so much controversy that its advertisers flee. It is very rare, however, for a TV or radio station to decline an advertiser. After all, advertising is the way they make money. This week, however, WMTV/Channel 15, an NBC affiliate in Madison, Wis., did just that. Station manager Bob Smith refused to air an ad which depicts a Paul Ryan impersonator pushing an elderly woman off a cliff.
Viewers Don't Want Conventional
The rituals of conventions have their charms but don’t seem relevant given that we’ve already been immersed like so many tea bags in a permanent presidential campaign through dozens of debates and thousands of dispatches on the Web and on cable television. Both parties know they have a problem on their hands -- they are making a television show that networks are reluctant to broadcast and viewers are reluctant to watch -- and they have responded in different ways.
In Other News..
Torching California's Broadband Future: Why Your State Is Next
The Topeka Capital-Journal’s Shameless AT&T Softball Game
Jury Rules Samsung Violated Apple Patents, Owes $1 Billion
Why Arrested Development on Netflix Could Change Everything
Wall Street Journal Provides Free Wi-Fi in NYC and SF
Lessons from the Anternet: What Ants and Computers Have in Common
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August 24th 2012
World News
Pakistan: US drones hit militant hideouts, kill 18
Massive student protests return to streets of Montreal
Norway's Breivik deemed sane, sentenced to prison
AIDS-like disease found in Asians, trigger unknown
U.S. News, Politics & Government
2012 Election News
VIDEO: Reality Check: RNC Pulling Out All Stops To Keep Ron Paul's Name Out Of Nomination Ben Swann Reality Check takes a look at how the RNC is attempting to change the 5 state rule and decredential the entire Maine delegation only 4 days before the Republican National Convention.
VIDEO: DHS and FBI: Anarchists May Use IEDs at Conventions
Kurt Nimmo - The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have issued a bulletin to law enforcement warning that "anarchist extremists" may use IEDs, or Improvised Explosive Devices, at the Republican and Democrat national conventions."FBI and DHS assess with high confidence anarchist extremists will target... infrastructure in Tampa and Charlotte, with potentially significant impacts on public safety and transportation," CNN reports.
Veteran News