Men having a baby; Simulated: 10 things lawmakers should have to do BEFORE voting on anti-choice bills.

1. Go through simulated labor. It’s already been done, more than once. In the video below, two men from Michigan decided to prove their wives were exaggerating the pain of childbirth. They agreed to have electrodes that simulated labor attached to their abdomens. To their dismay and the wives’ delight, they found out just how wrong they were. Watch if you dare.

Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/31/10-thing-lawmakers-should-have-to-do-before-voting-on-anti-choice-bills-videos/#ixzz2ah2J9Beg

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/31/10-thing-lawmakers-should-have-to-do-before-voting-on-anti-choice-bills-videos/

Bank stole household of belongings and won't pay for the items. (The bank was foreclosing on the house next door)

If you needed an exhibit of just how above the law banks have become, this is it. First National Bank broke into Katie Barnett's house and stole all her things, and not only are we not talking about someone going to jail, but the bank is being allowed to quibble over whether it will pay her back for the full value of what it stole.
Sign our petition to Eric Emmert, president and CEO of First National Bank of Wellston, demanding that they reimburse a minimum of $18,000 to Katie Barnett.


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/29/1227453/-Ohio-bank-still-refusing-to-pay-for-stealing-everything-from-woman-s-home

Idiot Police Chief who shot ASSAULT WEAPON while swearing: Suspended without pay for 30 days!

Penn Live reporter John Luciew attended a Gilberton meeting this evening on what to do with their new, unfortunate celebrity; the meeting was attended by a slew of gun-toting "bodyguards" who surrounded Kessler and took up positions around the meeting place. Luciew's Twitter feed includes numerous pictures of that group. Luciew reports that the Gilberton council voted 5-1 to suspend Kessler for a period of 30 days without pay for "using Boro property without permission."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/31/1228044/-Open-thread-for-night-owls-Now-infamous-police-chief-suspended-for-30-days-without-pay?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dailykos%2Findex+%28Daily+Kos%29

Ted Cruz’s logic twisting machine has got it floored in neutral and pumping propane. Juanita Jean

 It’s Ted in Wonderland.  You could have one eye tied behind your back and still see that this man is nuts.  Ted Cruz is the Crazy Republican from Texas and he is nutty to say the least.

http://juanitajean.com/2013/07/31/cruzing-to-crazy-isle/

MONTANA NHS HEALTHCARE - It is working!! No Charges to State Employees

Yup, nobody is forced to visit this publicly-financed clinic run by a private operator. If they wish, they can take their big-profit, private health insurance and head to any doctor they want, but folks are recognizing that this, err... public option, provides better care. And, when patients do make this choice, both the state and patients save money.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/31/1227946/-Montana-Experiment-Brings-NHS-Style-Health-Care-to-USA-Saves-State-Millions-Patients-Delighted#

White Men Crime is covered up! If Blacks rioted in Southern CA, it would have been big news?

Whites rioted in Huntington Beach, CA this past weekend but you and I heard nothing about it.  If it had been Blacks rioting in Southern CA, it would have been a major news story.  BTW  There are a lot of big gathering of people in state houses where WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND VOTING RIGHTS ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY!  There is a news blackout of coverage of these protests - Why?

It is ironic that just after Bill O’Reilly and Don Lemon generalized and castigated the black community for violence and bad behavior without the proper socioeconomic narrative that a riot erupted in Huntington Beach California. What is more ironic is that THE Taiwanese Animators behind the infamous Tiger Woods animation, caricatured the riot as a ‘white riot’.  Within the animation they had the statement “A wave of violence hit Huntington Beach Sunday night at the end of the Vans U.S. Open Surfing reminding us that whites can riot too.” The not too subtle message from foreigner’s looking in is evident.
Don Bon, a commenter on the YouTube video had an interesting tidbit. He said, “I like how there’s no racial slurs when it’s whites rioting. If itwas black rioters, the comments would be full of them.” Many believe a double standard in coverage and in persecution of bad acts skews both perception and statistics that have provided cover for Bill O’Reilly and Don Lemon to provide a certain level of skewed truths with a flawed narrative.

http://egbertowillies.com/2013/07/31/what-if-white-violence-was-covered-like-minority-violence-video/

COURT CLERK FIRED for getting DNA that found a man innocent!

An innocent man needs DNA to prove his innocence and when a person in the court provides it, THE COURT CLERK IS FIRED.  This just does not feel right.

COURT CLERK FIRED for getting DNA that found a man innocent!

Scary: School staff with guns in school

A teacher takes out a gun and shoots at a suspected shooter but there are kids who could get hit.  Scary.
This whole concept scares the crap out of me and I teach.  I imagine kids getting shot much more than a bad guy with a gun gets shot.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/07/30/arkansas_school_arming_teachers_with_concealed_hand_guns.html

HOMESCHOOLER SAYS: I wanted to go to School and got hurt by not being allowed to go!

This student in Virginia had to get remedial classes in reading, writing and math which probably would not have happened had he been allowed to go to a public school as he wanted.

THERE IS NO TESTING REQUIREMENT FOR HOMESCHOOLERS?  That is crazy!!
Public Schools test, test and test some more - Homeschoolers should test at least once a year on reading, writing and mathematics.

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/virginia-home-school-student-speaks-out.html

Republicans and Teaparty meet to coordinate conspiracies against President Obama

A secret audio tape of a May 8th meeting of the conservative group “Groundswell” (a total nightmare amalgamation of creatures mostly bearing Southern drawls, birther conspiracy beliefs and a reliable paranoia of being persecuted) shows the group using their collective power (media, sleeping with SCOTUS, money, evangelical base/money, GOP Congressional aides) to pressure elected Republicans into making something out of the now debunked Benhazi scandal.
They want a special committee or else.
If they don’t get it, they warned Speaker Boehner (R-OH) and Obama fake scandal manufacturer Darrell Issa (R-CA), the two could face a loss of support and financial backing.


http://www.politicususa.com/2013/07/30/wife-conservative-supreme-court-judge-conservative-activists-blogs-conspire-force-benghazi-scandal-gop.html

TX Republican Governor Perry COULD NOT find the vagina on the dummy at a medical school

“I’m not stupid.  Those are the vagina right there,” said Perry, pointing at but not touching the labi majora, the visible protruding edges leading in to the vagina.
As CNN reported, the room went quiet for a very brief second before erupting in “loud, loud laughter and what-the-f’s.”  Over the noise, Senator Davis could be heard repeating over and over, “Are you kidding me?  Are you kidding me?”


http://thelapine.ca/gov-perry-unable-to-find-vagina-on-anatomical-doll/

Rush Holt: How to save Social Security

We should just not have a cap and have the rich pay at the same rate as us poor folks.  That would save Social Security FOREVER!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRzgeySuFZQ

No one killed in the Florida Propane Explosion

TAVARES, Fla. — After hearing two explosions, maintenance worker Gene Williams looked outside to see a 20-by-20 foot fireball rising above an outdoor storage area at the Blue Rhino propane plant.
Moments later, a forklift worker stumbled into the building with flesh hanging off his hands. His legs and face were burned. Exploding 20-pound canisters of propane began raining down around them during the series of explosions late Monday night.

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/07/29/2998241/report-workers-missing-after-fla.html#emlnl=Afternoon_Newsletter#storylink=cpy

http://www.adn.com/2013/07/29/2998241/report-workers-missing-after-fla.html#emlnl=Afternoon_Newsletter

THE THREE HATEFUL AMIGOS - GOP latino outreach film. VERY GOOD

Three Hateful Amigos in a 3 minute video.  Very Good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f46qmRSN4u0

Crazy Republicans - Morning Joe, good discussion - finally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE3ARaMVn9I

BLAME THE VICTIM laws being passed - Great Commentary

To raise yourself from the bottom of the barrel is harder now than it used to be. If someone is unemployed, it must be his fault, right? I mean, “Get a job, loser!” Oh, sorry, the factory you worked in just moved to India? Can you say, “Welcome to Walmart?” Great. Now fill out the paperwork for food stamps because your new job is part-time, you’ll qualify and you’ll most likely be hungry at some point.
Legislation is being passed across the country to punish victims of rape and incest. Texas just voted down an amendment to exempt women impregnated as the result of crime from their abortion prohibition. Really? I’m afraid so.


I guarantee you this kind of nonsense would be over in a New York minute if men could get pregnant. “Oh, I made a mistake — like getting drunk, or raped — so now the government should force me to give birth …”
Yeah, I can see a lot of men lining up for that program.
I’m telling you, these guys are our homegrown Taliban. This is misogyny in the guise of religious principle. It’s really about blaming women for human nature.



http://shannynmoore.wordpress.com/2013/07/28/states-pass-laws-to-blame-the-victim/

Propane Explostions in Florida - yesterday

This is raw footage of the Propane Plant Explosion in Florida yesterday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXL9UQvSCts

Michele Backmann supports President Obama - It is true

To keep wiretapping by the government legal.  She is for it and so is the President.  "Mr President, If Ms Bachmann is for it, you might want to change your mind about it.    That lady is nuts.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/oliver-mr-president-when-michele-bachmann

Water in the SouthWest is drying up!

Every drop of the Colorado River is taken and THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TO GO AROUND.  The water shortage in the South West his huge and expected to get worse.

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175730/tomgram%3A_william_debuys%2C_goodbye_to_all_that_%28water%29/#more

KKK starting neighborhood watch programs

After the Zimmerman verdict, this makes perfect sense.  My guess is that their groups will carry guns.

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/now-that-george-zimmerman-has-shown-way.html

NO Evidence White House drove Improper IRS Targeting

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said Sunday the Internal Revenue Service exhibited "equal opportunity bad judgment" in the improper targeting of political groups, and there was no evidence of political pressure.
Just days after President Obama accused Washington of focusing attention on "phony scandals," Lew said on "Fox News Sunday" mistakes were made in the IRS, but there is no evidence the White House or political officials drove the improper targeting.


http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/lew-no-evidence-white-house-drove-improper

Limbaugh and Hannity dropped by Cumulus Media

n a major shakeup for the radio industry, Cumulus Media, the second-biggest broadcaster in the country, is planning to drop both Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity from its stations at the end of the year, an industry source told POLITICO on Sunday.

http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/cumulus-will-drop-limbaugh-hannity-en

Walmart - So nice you pay twice

John Fugelsang obliterates Wal-Mart in a humorous, yet factually accurate, rant. 
“Chinese-made products, the money you spend doesn’t stay in the community and the staff is so poor your taxes subsidize their health care. The Dow is at record highs and minimum wage buying power at a forty year low. Walmart – prices so nice, you pay for’em twice.” — John Fugelsang

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/john-fugelsang-obliterates-wal-mart-in.html

Integrate Solar into the building of a home.

I am thinking of putting solar into a light remodel of the outside of a house.  Very Interesting idea.

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/27/tennessee-cemetery-keeps-racism-alive-even-after-death-desecrates-ngger-graves-to-bury-white-clients/

Racism after Death: Dig up 'N***er' graves to make it a white only cemetary

The plan was to dig up graves where blacks were buried and then sell them to whites, making it a white only cemetary.  The grave diggers said no and were fired.  A law suit has been filed about being fired for an unjust reason.

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/27/tennessee-cemetery-keeps-racism-alive-even-after-death-desecrates-ngger-graves-to-bury-white-clients/

Ordinary Citizen gets gun - shoots and kills 6, just another NRA day

NRA insisting everyone get a gun is killing people.  Of course - Florida

only in the US do violent people with actual criminal records have gun rights groups working to keep them armed! Florida NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer has defended the rights of apparent felons to conceal and carry guns, saying we can't deny them their arms just because we don't "like" them. What?

Meanwhile, gun rights activists have fought successfully to allow men to keep their guns even when they are under orders of protection--yes you read that correctly--even  though nearly half the women killed every year are murdered by intimate partners, most with a firearm. Thank you NRA. 

http://www.alternet.org/speakeasy/martharosenberg/florida-shooter-was-previously-law-abiding-citizen

What Republicans say about Climate Change

These Climate Change Deniers are on the committee that controls the US Environmental policy.  As the forest fires explode, major hurricanes and tornados destroy more and more every year,  a lake forms on the North Pole and massive Methane is released because of melting ice and permafrost these fools are able to cut funding for research


http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/ridiculous-pseudo-science-garbage-meet-gops-environment-leaders?akid=10740.294211.efoSH0&rd=1&src=newsletter874970&t=9

ARCTIC MELTING COST: 60 TRILLION

The methane released by the shrinking of the arctic has a high cost to our environment and our lives.  We will pay with our pocketbooks and health.


Billions upon billions of tons of methane remain stored in the permafrost throughout the Arctic regions, but specific concern has been placed on the enormous reserves that sit locked beneath the East Siberian Arctic Shelf. Scientists have repeatedly warned that if these deposits—many frozen in the form of methane hydrates—were released, they would trigger massive feedback loops and dramatically increase the rate of global warming.
The new study confirms these established fears, but also looks at the potential social and economic costs that would follow.


http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/07/24

Sen Ron Wyden, Dem, The spying on Citizens is as bad as Snowden said.

We must take this window of opportunity to deal with it or regret it later.

http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/sen-ron-wyden-nsa-spying-its-bad-snowden-says?paging=off

8 political sex scandals - scored for how much they matter

Interesting

http://www.alternet.org/sex-amp-relationships/eight-political-sex-scandals-scored-how-much-they-matter?page=0%2C1&akid=10739.294211.eZGqEN&rd=1&src=newsletter874719&t=7

This Preacher has some great comments about Trayvon Martin

It is short and direct but it makes so much sense.

http://www.upworthy.com/watch-a-preacher-succinctly-explain-what-everyone-missed-about-the-trayvon-martin-case-9?c=to2

CARBON TAX has Positive Impact on economy! (Where one has been implemented.)

The positive economic impact of a carbon tax in, uh, hang on … 10 charts  There is no federal carbon tax coming to the U.S. any time soon, not as long as a revanchist, reactionary bunch of fruitbats runs the Republican Party and gerrymanders itself a decade-long House majority. (Ahem.) But just as an intellectual exercise, if nothing else, let’s take note of the fact that warnings about the calamitous effects of a carbon tax are nonsense.  Two new data points on this.      

http://grist.org/climate-energy/the-positive-economic-impact-of-a-carbon-tax-in-uh-hang-on-10-charts/?utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&sub_email=r.brisco@gmail.com

27 crazy things that could only happen in Alaska

45 degrees below zero and wearing swim suits - yep.  I have seen people wearing flip flops and summer wear at zero with ice everywhere.  It was not windy so zero felt warm, we had been at 20 and 30 below.

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/buzzfeed-presents-27-crazy-things-that.html

Secrets for 50 years The new stupid Congress Idea on budgeting. Don't let the public know.

  Is this what it's come to in the Congress?  Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont) and his Republican counterpart, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) have promised their committee colleagues that their tax code suggestions will be kept under lock and key for the next fifty years, allowing them to offer policy without being under the watchful eyes of the voting public.  They're hoping to get more input from the rest of the boys club if they promise to hide the identities of those making the policy suggestions.

          Hoo-boy...

http://www.squatlo-rant.blogspot.ca/2013/07/senators-propose-50-years-of-guaranteed.html

Republican Mitch Mcconnell has a race in Kentucky!! I think Alison will win too.

This lady is so impressive.  It is past time for Mitch to go.

http://www.politicususa.com/2013/07/25/alison-grimes-warning-shot-kicks-sen-mitch-mcconnell-hard-gut.htmls

PANIC BUTTON for TX Election Workers, 3+ Million Dollars, TAXPAYERS CAN-T VOTE!

In Texas, Many WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO VOTE because of the change in election laws leaving no way to vote.  Of course this occurs where there are poor people and Democrats.

So, A Texas County spends 3 Million on Panic Buttons to press at election offices when citizens go into the offices upset because they have been denied the legal right to vote.

http://juanitajean.com/2013/07/24/the-panic-button/

15 Republicans: SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT They signed the shut down pledge

With all Republican Presidents they JUST SIGN ON TO THE FUNDING OF GOVERNMENT WITH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION but with President Obama they will SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT!  These people are ruining our economy with the uncertainty and need to be thrown out of office.

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/15-republicans-who-are-threatening-to.html

Female Health Care Decisions: The woman and her politician should decide? Really?

Very interesting:  Woman and her Gynopolitician have an exam.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/david-cross-and-amber-tamblyn-have-questio

KXL Pipeline will RAISE THE COST OF GAS IN THE US!

The KXL Pipeline will raise the cost of gas and the oil leaks will ruin our environment - It is time to say NO to the KXL Pipeline, like British Columbia did.

http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/study-kxl-pipeline-would-raise-us-gas-

If my Chief of Police did this, I WOULD WORK TO GET HIM FIRED!

He starts with a sorry, takes a break and starts swearing and shooting.  He should not be a Police Chief.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQakPtOQCJo

Juror: Zimmerman Got Away With Murder!

"George Zimmerman got away with murder, but you can't get away from God. And at the end of the day, he's going to have a lot of questions and answers he has to deal with," Maddy said.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/25/1226518/-New-Juror-Zimmerman-got-away-with-murder#

2 Million Per Day Spent to do nothing: The House Of Representative Republicans

It costs an estimated $2 Million per day to operate the House 

The House has only passed 15 bills that have become law this session 

The House only passed 23 bills that became law last session 

The House effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) has been ‘in progress’ since Jan. 19, 2011 and has received 37 votes votes so far, with votes #38 and #39 expected Wednesday. 

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/listed-under-things-that-should-make.html

NORTH POLE NOW A LAKE!! Global Warming. This is a FIRST!

The north pole, that great bastion of eternal cold and barren ice, is now a lake.
It’s a shallow lake, about a foot deep. It’s a cold lake. But it is, actually, a lake.
According to the North Pole Environmental Observatory, the summer ice is melting away at unprecedented rates. The sea of snow is now meltwater.


http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/report-north-pole-now-lake#sthash.spMKPnqC.dpbs

The OINK BRIGADE - Juanita Jean

Texas Congressmen who voted to give financial incentive to states to kick people off the SNAP program, which feeds hungry children are fittingly the biggest damn hogs in the state.
The ones who took farm subsidies.
Blake Farenthold, who has a net worth of between $10 – $40 million and represents Nueces County, where 19% of the population gets help from the SNAP program.

http://juanitajean.com/2013/07/24/the-oink-brigade/

WALMART: A MAJOR WELFARE RECIPIENT IN THE USA!

Following President Obama's speech this Wednesday, where he was once again pushing for the minimum wage to be increased, Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke to All In's Chris Hayes about some of the obstacles he's facing -- including one of the biggest welfare recipients in the nation -- Walmart.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/sen-bernie-sanders-walmart-family-major-we

Spain: High Speed Train crashes - at least 77 dead, speed a factor

A high-speed passenger train that was reportedly traveling at more than double the speed limit derailed just a few miles from a station in northwest Spain on Wednesday evening, with at least 56 of those on board feared dead, according to local news reports.

http://crooksandliars.com/breaking-news/high-speed-train-derails-spain-least

Old Lady SHOOTS CAR with a family in it because they turned around in her drive way

Just another responsible(?) gun owner shooting up a family lost and turning around.  As the NRA says, GIVE EVERYONE A GUN!  Maybe the folks in the car should have shot back because they were afraid.

I drove for Meals On Wheels today and had to turn around in a strangers driveway.  As I was doing that I briefly thought, what if the owner started shooting at me?  Nothing happened, Thankfully.

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/24/responsible-gun-owner-opens-fire-on-car-full-of-kids-because-dad-tried-to-turn-around-in-her-driveway/

North Carolina: NO DEMOCRATIC VOTING ALLOWED!

Not Even Pretending Anymore

Posted by Zandar

North Carolina Republicans, apparently sick of this "nonsense where Democrats are allowed to vote" and all, have decided that removing hurdles to vote just won't work, and if "those people" want to vote, well then they can just be massively inconvenienced like everybody else.  Here's what the NC voter suppression bill will do:

http://zandarvts.blogspot.com/2013/07/not-even-pretending-anymore.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ZVTS+%28Zandar+Versus+The+Stupid%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Wall Street transaction tax can bring our economy back! WHY ARE WE WAITING?

5 reasons to make a WALL STREET TRANSACTION TAX happen now.
-- 1. Financial industry speculation devastated middle-class homeowner wealth.
-- 2. U.S. investors pay zero tax on their speculative transactions.
-- 3. The tax is easy to implement, and is very successful in other countries
-  4.  Why should the rest of us pay up to 10% on the necessities of life while risky derivative purchases aren't taxed at all? 
-- 5 Why should kids  around the country lose their arts programs while trillions of dollars flow, untaxed, to Wall Street?
http://www.alternet.org/economy/5-reasons-its-just-absurd-america-doesnt-tax-wall-sts-transactions

TURN AMERICA INTO DETROIT! The Republicans are fine with that actually.

While Speaker Boehner may be content with being at the helm of the worst Congress in history, and with the fact that surveys show  more Americans prefer lice and colonoscopies over their elected lawmakers in Washington, the results, or lack thereof, speak for themselves.
Thanks to the record-breaking inaction and gridlock in Washington, the entire country is following in the path of Detroit, and that’s a very dangerous and devastating path to be on.
We the people deserve an economy that keeps jobs in America, roads that don’t crumble, schools that our children can excel in, and neighborhoods that we can live safely in.


http://www.alternet.org/economy/america-path-turn-detroit-and-thats-just-how-republicans-are-cool?page=0%2C1&akid=10724.294211.sBgjt7&rd=1&src=newsletter872869&t=3

Stand Your Ground Laws: An opinion -

How the media handle, and often mishandle, the touchy topics of race and ethnicity. One minute, they are tiptoeing around the subject because they don't want to inflame tensions; the next, they are all thumbs, slapping inaccurate labels on people and framing stories in what is now an antiquated black-and-white paradigm.

Why an individual who was not a trained law enforcement officer but instead a volunteer monitoring his surroundings for what he considered suspicious activity, either on his own or as part of an official neighborhood program, was carrying a loaded weapon and felt justified in using lethal force.

Fine. Let's talk about those laws. But we can multitask. And there are other urgent issues to deal with -- the sort that are bubbling just under the surface as a result of the controversial outcome of the Zimmerman verdict.

In the final analysis, it may well be that "stand your ground" laws are too loosely written and need to be changed. But as you well know if you paid attention to this heart-wrenching trial and its troubling aftermath, that's not all that needs changing in our society.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/22/opinion/navarrette-zimmerman-verdict-issues/index.html?iid=article_sidebar

Stephen Colbert on Trayvon Martin - Color Blind

It is interesting to see the manipulation of numbers by the right wing news brought out by Colbert.  COLOR BLIND IS THE BEST CLIP TO CHECK OUT.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/24/1226120/-MUST-SEE-Stephen-Colbert-on-Obama-s-Trayvon-speech

Another OIL RIG EXPLODES IN THE GULF - it is on fire.

44 workers got off the rig before the fire started.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/07/24/2346861/july-24-news-offshore-natural-gas-rig-ablaze-after-blowout-in-gulf-of-mexico/

Republicans Shutting Down the Government in October?

Maybe.  Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) declared on Monday that he and other congressional Republicans would be willing to shut down the federal government in order to block further implementation of President Barack Obama's health care reform law.

http://zandarvts.blogspot.com/2013/07/last-call-for-next-gop-shutdown.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ZVTS+%28Zandar+Versus+The+Stupid%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

Global Warming and Arctic Boreal Forest Fires - EXTREME CARBON INCREASES are the result

The western U.S. has made headlines this summer for its intense wildfires, but it’s not the only region of the world that’s burning. A new study has found that the boreal forests just south of the Arctic Circle are experiencing a higher frequency of wildfires today than at any point in the last 10,000 years, a discovery that spells an uncertain future for these vast stores of carbon.
Researchers for the study, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used charcoal samples from 14 lakes in Yukon Flats, AK, and found that the fire frequency in the area is twice as high as it was 500 to 1,000 years ago — about 20,000 wildfires per 1,000 years compared to 10,000 fires per 1,000 years.

THE HUGE AMOUNT OF CARBON IN THE PERMAFROST THAT IS RELEASED WITH THE MELTING OF PERMAFROST AND FIRES IS A BIG, BIG PROBLEM!  The report also says that humans are the reason for the warming which is causing the melting.


http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/07/23/2343641/increased-wildfires-boreal-forests/

North Carolina is pushing VOTER SUPRESSION at the end of the legislative session.

With hours to go in the legislative session, The REPUBLICANS put in quite a few VOTER SUPRESSION rules and laws into a bill which will pass this eliminating the ability for many low income and democratic folks to vote in the next election.  Last minute Republican trickery is back.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/north-carolina-republicans-push-extreme-vot

Elizabeth Warren - A fighter

Here is a great article about Elizabeth Warren.  Just a good read.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/22/1225722/-Elizabeth-Warren-rises-the-Village-strikes-nbsp-back?detail=email#

Military Robot Prototypes

Interesting critters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHEHmosfuhw

Nuclear plant leaks into ocean: Japan

The information is slowly getting out.  It is worse than Chernobyl but they do not want to say it.

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/tepco-admits-fukushima-radiation-leak

Mellissa Harris-Perry on Hannity's Crazy Comments re: President Obama

Melissa talks about Hannitty and Cuccinelli in Virginia too.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/melissa-harris-perry-slams-professional-tr

Morning Joe has a good discussion about Trevon Martin

He had Pot in his system so he deserved to be shot?  Really Shawn?

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/3036789/ns/msnbc-morning_joe/vp/52541063#52541063

Dem Donna Edwards Schools Rep Ben Carson regarding race and issues of color

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) explained to retired conservative neurosurgeon Ben Carson on Sunday that he was making a mistake by refusing to talk about race because there are "deep systemic problems that really impact African-Americans."

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/donna-edwards-schools-ben-carson-ignoring-sy

Juanita Jean: Ted Cruz of Texas is running for President 2016

Now we have commie counting Ted Cruz dragging his tent to Iowa, leaving us in Texas hoping that they have poisonous snakes in Iowa campgrounds.

Some local Republicans went all goofy, saying that we damn liberal don’t respect personal property.

You mean personal property like vaginas and uterus?

http://juanitajean.com/2013/07/21/he-thinks-hes-going-to-be-president-isnt-that-adorable/

Evangelical Scientists call for Climate Change Legislation

Finally!  Last week, 200 evangelicals who are also scientists sent a letter to Congress asking them to pass climate change legislation.

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/25055

Any Black Boy who smokes Pot and has a picture holding a gun is a Thug! Interesting.

GW Bush did those things and he became President instead of being stalked, shot and killed.  Everyone is talking about Zimmerman being afraid so he had the right to shoot to kill.  How about Trayvon's being afraid and being able to go after the fellow who was stalking him.  (PS: At that age, I would not have taken a stalker to my home either, I would have done what Trayvon did.  I am white so I probably would not have been stalked by Zimmerman though.)

(Honestly - That was me when I was 17 and 18. But I was white so maybe it is not the same.)

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/piers-morgan-brings-wingnut-rev-jesse-lee-peters

Fukishima Nuclear Plant LEAKING RADIATION INTO OCEAN FOR TWO YEARS!

There is uncontrolled water going into the plants and it has been going into the ocean since the accident.  The company did not want anyone to know and kept it quiet.

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/fukushima-plant-leaking-radiation-dir

Free Trade Deals DO NOT CREATE JOBS IN THE US! Someone finally says it!

Although we're being told the three pending trade agreements with Panama, South Korea and Colombia will result in jobs for Americans, that's not true. And Dylan Ratigan really let Little Luke Russert have it when he spouted that line.

http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/dylan-ratigan-knocks-down-little-luke

Zimmerman gets offers for new (Free) Assault weapon

Zimmerman proved:  A person can stalk someone (scaring the crap out of the followed person) and when the other person hides and attacks the stalker, THE STALKER CAN SHOOT AND KILL the Stalked person.  (If the stalked person is black - may not be the same if the stalked person were white.)

Under current law in Florida, Zimmerman could buy an assault rifle, go to a rally, incite the crowd, be in fear for his life, and open fire on the crowd of demonstrators, killing hundreds, and then claim self defense. Under the Florida law of self defense he could be the original aggressor, and still be found innocent. He could then become the poster child for concealed hand guns, assault weapons, and racism in America.

http://malialitman.wordpress.com/2013/07/20/george-zimmerman-the-asshole-that-got-away-will-be-taking-a-new-gun-with-him/

Jury Tampering in the Zimmerman Trial? May well have happened.

THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT!!!
And, it turns out, there is evidence to find that jury tampering did happen, as Juror B37 discussed in her aborted book deal:

The potential book was always intended to be a respectful observation of the trial from my and my husband’s perspectives…

Her husband holding a perspective strong enough to write a book on the subject, given unsupervised access during the trial to his wife on the jury. Juror B37 has also admitted that the decision was reached with information not presented at the trial itself.
This is a siren bell warning of jury tampering. And this is but one juror, how much was discussed with the other jurors. The failure to supervise has now resulted in a potential legal nightmare for the state of Florida, which can be held liable for failing to properly ensure an untampered jury. Add to it the money that juror B37 could anticipate from such a book deal, which would be worth far more if given a not-guilty verdict than otherwise, and we are looking at a potential post-trial jury payoff negotiated through the husband.

We find a juror with their own agenda, who managed to sneak her way onto the jury, with unsupervised access to an element harboring their own viewpoint and opinion, and who aimed to profit off of a non-guilty verdict. She had the means, by having access to her husband unsupervised. She had the motive, by profiting off of a book deal. And she had the opportunity by being on the jury in the first place.
Jury tampering is a third degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to five years in prison. But with a man who would cover up a tuberculosis outbreak in charge of ensuring the judicial process is followed, it is highly doubtful a real investigation into jury tampering will happen in Florida.

Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/20/new-accusations-against-zimmerman-jurors-as-sheriffs-office-admits-it-allowed-unsupervised-access/#ixzz2Zd28bjlz

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/07/20/new-accusations-against-zimmerman-jurors-as-sheriffs-office-admits-it-allowed-unsupervised-access/

KOCH BROTHERS: Buying up votes and influence.

So far this year, just 4 percent of the $12.4 million spent by political groups or party entities on congressional races came from groups based within the state where they’re doing their spending, the Center analysis shows.
Such spending by outside groups has become a pivotal element in elections thanks to the Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which allowed super PACs, unions and certain nonprofits to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against political candidates.


The analysis found:

• From 2007 through 2011, Koch private foundations gave $41.2 million to 89 nonprofit organizations and an annual libertarian conference.
• Koch Industries and Charles and David Koch contributed $8.7 million to candidates and the Republican Party in the three election cycles between 2007 through 2012.
• In addition, Koch private foundations contributed $30.5 million to 221 U.S. colleges and universities and $46.3 million to the arts and other more traditionally charitable purposes during this period.

And while Koch Industries’ lobbyists were spending $53.9 million to further the giant corporation’s federal and state policy agenda, the nonprofits it funded were simultaneously “educating” the public and lawmakers about energy, the environment and other issues in public testimony on Capitol Hill.
The sheer magnitude of the amount of special interest money being spent in the nation is laid bare in each of these investigative reports. In other countries we might say this is evidence of corruption, but here it is business as usual.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/07/18/12981/outside-money-dc-groups-koch-brothers-gushes-local-politics?utm_source=email&utm_campaign=watchdog&utm_medium=publici-email

Zimmerman Trial: Directions from Judge to Jury ALTERED DRASTICALLY because of STAND YOUR GROUND LAW!! This needs to change.

THE STANDARDS FOR TRAYVON MARTIN WERE TOTALLY DIFFERENT (and unfair) THAN THE STANDARDS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR GEORGE ZIMMERMAN!!

Remember, nobody ever seriously suggested, in the trial or in the media, that Trayvon Martin had a right to stand his ground. Instead, everybody wanted to know why he didn’t run.

And remember that over and over again the media, George Zimmerman’s lawyers, and Judge Nelson herself explicitly said that George Zimmerman had the legal right to stand his ground and use deadly force if he even felt threatened. While Trayvon should have run, Zimmerman didn’t have to run.

Remember the actual instructions that Judge Nelson read to the jury about the standard to which George Zimmerman should be judged:

“George Zimmerman... had no duty to retreat and had the right to stand his ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he reasonably believed that it was necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or another…”

Why were George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin judged by different standards? Why was Trayvon Martin judged according to pre-Koch brothers Florida law, while George Zimmerman was judged according to post-Koch brothers Florida law?  And, perhaps more importantly, why is nobody in the media pointing this out? 

http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/evil-new-stand-your-ground-law-made-killing-trayvon-martin-permissible?akid=10714.294211.TnBHbT&rd=1&src=newsletter871529&t=3

Doctor Responds to KOCH Funded Ad against Obamacare

In the misleading ad, the gal asks for answers and this wonderful Doctor provided the answers.  (The answer is not what the Kochs and their organization asked for but I am so glad to see them.)

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/actual-doctor-responds-to-misleading.html

SELLING GUNS TO TERRORISTS: REPUBLICANS SAY YES!! (People on Terrorist watch List can buy guns because of the vote)

A proposal to ban the sale of firearms to individuals on the FBI’s terrorist watch list was defeated by House Republicans on Wednesday. 

Reps. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and David Price (D-NC) offered an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill that would have given the U.S. Department of Justice authority to block suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms and explosives. 

“Terrorists are knowingly exploiting our laws,” Lowey said, citing American-born al Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn. 

The amendment was defeated in the House Appropriations Committee by a 19-29 vote.

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/conservatives-reject-bill-banning-gun.html

Tavis Smiley on Bill OReilly - Give all blacks a gun

"PBS host Tavis Smiley joined Bill O'Reilly to react to O'Reilly's assertions about the lack of media coverage over black-on-black crime in the United States. Smiley told O'Reilly that institutionally there is a contempt for black men in the United States that has to be addressed. O'Reilly pushed back, while Smiley brought up gun laws and suggested that every black person in the United States should have a gun just to see how the NRA responds."*

Billo thought giving guns to all blacks is extreme.  He and his right wing buddies push guns for all whites but he backs off allowing the same thing for blacks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsY_XXCg3bk

Koch Brothers: California checking out ELECTION MONEY LAUNDERING!

Here's an update on the investigation into how right-wing groups laundered $11 million to funnel it into California ballot initiatives that involved taxes and unions. In a nutshell, Koch-fueled nonprofits moved $11 million through a few different 501(c)(4) organizations into California in order to defeat a tax increase Governor Brown put on the ballot, and to weaken unions in the state.
California officials were not amused, and as they dug deeper into the money trail, the Attorney General decided a Grand Jury investigation was warranted. Via the Daily Beast:


http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/california-digging-deeper-election-money-la

STAND YOUR GROUND LAWS should be against the law! Innocent People are killed because of them.

 "To presume from the outset, as Florida's law arguably does, that a deadly response in these situations (like a fist fight) is justified would be at best irresponsible; at worst, that assumption could create a new protected set of behaviors that might otherwise be considered hate crimes or vigilantism."
But legislators across the country nevertheless ignored objections from law enforcement. Indeed, Stand Your Ground gives armed civilians rights that even cops don't enjoy: "Society hesitates to grant blanket immunity to police officers, who are well-trained in the use of deadly force and require yearly testing of their qualifications to carry a firearm," Jansen has written. "Yet the expansion of the Castle Doctrine has given such immunity to citizens.


http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/06/nra-alec-stand-your-ground?page=2

Republican Issa's witnesses DENY ANY POLITICAL motivations for checking into IRS forms for Teaparty Tax-exempt status..

It is not a good day for Republican Darrell Issa.  His lies and distortions are crashing down around him.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) was told by his own witnesses on Thursday that there was no political motivation behind the scrutiny of tea party groups applying for tax exempt status.
In a USA Today op-ed on Wednesday, the California Republican sought to revive the so-called scandal by suggesting that the targeting of tea party groups could have been "directed from the White House or somewhere else outside the IRS."


http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/issas-own-irs-witnesses-deny-political-motiv

The Zimmerman mindset needs to be found guilty OR MORE BLACK YOUTH WILL DIE NEEDLESSLY!

"It is the Zimmerman mindset that must be found guilty—far more than the man himself. It is a mindset that views black men and boys as nothing but a threat, good for nothing, up to no good no matter who they are or what they are doing. It is the Zimmerman mindset that has birthed a penal system unprecedented in world history, and relegated millions to a permanent undercaste."

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/trayvon-martins-unpunished-shooting-death-among-100-extrajudicial-killings-unarmed?akid=10706.294211.29CAW5&rd=1&src=newsletter870398&t=9

Republican Issa is under the scope now! He intentionally left out IMPORTATN information - why?

Republican Darrell Issa hates President Obama and has used his committee to probe and probe and probe but never finds a smoking gun.  Now we find out he cherry picks the information the committee can hear.  THE INFORMATION WHICH HE DID NOT ALLOW IS SIGNIFICANT AND MAKES HIS IRS CASE SEEM LIKE A SILLY WITCH HUNT!  I wish I could sit in on this hearing.

http://www.salon.com/2013/07/18/issa_on_the_hot_seat/

Republican Ken Cuccinelli, Virginia: VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS! NO, That was BEFORE Republican Crazies took over.

The Republican and Cuccinelli law prohibits most gay and straight sex. and while it is at it, it prohibits sex with ‘any brute animal.’ In fact, the only sex act that remains legal is heterosexual vaginal intercourse, and don’t think you can enter marriage, it does not include an exception for married couples. So the republican candidate for governor in Virginia is running on a platform that wants to continue to make it illegal in Virginia for married couples to have oral sex. Or for any couples of any gender to have any form of oral sex.

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/watch-lawrence-odonnell-wants-you-to-ask-ken-cuccinelli-if-hes-had-oral-sex/politics/2013/07/18/71257

Economics: A small part of the equation There is much more!

              Economists think they have it all figured out, with their pretty equations where everything balances perfectly. But what about the factors that are simply left out of the equation? Turns out, those may be the most important of all. 

http://www.upworthy.com/forget-everything-you-learned-in-economics-you-were-totally-lied-to?c=cp1

The Michael Jackson Five

This is just good.  Some Michael Jackson stuff.  I read where Michael Jackson would have made AT LEAST a Billion Dollars if he had been able to do one last round of shows before he died.

http://theperilsofpalins.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/the-michael-jackson-five/

Lewis Black takes on Gov Rick Perry and Texas

This is quite good.  Lewis Black stands up for Texas.

Juanita Jean saw the Lewis Black Clip too:  http://juanitajean.com/2013/07/18/momma-do-not-look-at-this/


http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/lewis-black-responds-rick-perrys-pro-texas

Are the Rich Above the Law? Seems so, when you look at the facts.

Matt Yglesias wrote a brilliant article, What if George Zimmerman Had a Public Defender? His conclusion is that in that case, Zimmerman wouldn't have even gone to trial. He would have done as 94% of all those with state charges have done: he would have pleaded down and taken a manslaughter charge. His point is not that justice would have been done in that case or even that it was done with his good defense. No, his point is more general about the state of our justice system.

Yglesias asks the question, "Why has no one been indicted for the financial crisis?" And the answer is basically: because those guys won't plead. If you thought the defense that Zimmerman bought for $300,000 was good, you ought to see the kind of defense that $10 million would buy. And the truth is that our "justice" system is not set up to deal with defendants who can mount a vigorous defense. On the federal level it is even worse: 97% of the cases are pleaded.

http://franklycurious.com/index.php?itemid=5652

10 Most Absurd things Texas Conservatives have said about SEX during the abortion battles.

 The Texas WAR ON WOMEN has been ramped up considerably this last month.  The crazy on the Right Wing Republican Side seem to be having a contest on who can be the most outlandish.

 

 http://www.alternet.org/sex-amp-relationships/10-most-absurd-things-conservatives-have-said-about-sex-around-texas-abortion?page=0%2C2&akid=10706.294211.29CAW5&rd=1&src=newsletter870398&t=11

Racial Profiling is real -- watch this

A White Thief is not confronted but a Black Thief is confronted immediately - this is Racial Profiling.  The White guy got an hour to steal the bike without being bothered but the black fellow was confronted in seconds.

http://www.upworthy.com/know-anyone-that-thinks-racial-profiling-is-exaggerated-watch-this-and-tell-me-when-your-jaw-drops-2

Brutal but Honest cartoon

A picture is worth a thousand words.

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/sometimes-brutal-truth-is-best.html

17 Black Boy killed - Trial in Sept. He and friends had the music too loud so he was shot and killed.

One of the things that privilege does is insulate one from legitimate fear.

Most very privileged men—white, straight, cis, able-bodied, middle- or upper-class men—spend their lives without knowing sustained fear. Every person knows individual moments of fear—the sort of fear that grips a human moments before a car accident one can see coming but cannot avoid, or in the moment one begins to choke on a bit of lunch while eating alone, when one isn't sure if a cough will dislodge the intruder. Privilege doesn't insulate any of us from that kind of fear.

But the sustained fear of being hurt, being victimized, being exploited—unexpectedly, at any moment, and most frequently by people one trusts—is something that the very privileged do not know intimately, the way the rest of us do.

Privileged men's lives and the lives of marginalized people are very different in that way—and that difference underlines privileged men asserting that they have a right to feel safe. And law enforcement, and the courts, agreeing with them.

http://www.shakesville.com/2013/07/michael-dunns-trial-begins-in-september.html

Rick Perry Texas Governor: THE WORST GOVERNOR - He got an aweird! (award)

I am pleased to announce that Texas Governor Rick Perry has won an award. Even I have to admit it’s a well deserved one.
The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington have named him one of the worst Governors in America … And most anyplace else.
You can read the report right here.
The above is from Juanita Jean


http://juanitajean.com/2013/07/17/and-how-proud-we-are/

Elizabeth Warren on Glass-Steagall, She is so wonderful

Elizabeth Warren is a fighter, I am so very impressed!  We have a chance.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/karoli/elizabeth-warren-takes-her-fight-glass-stea

Zimmerman Case: Shoot First to be innocent. The Canard of self-defense.

An addendum comes from Ryan Grim on Huffington Post, who pretty well sums up the series of bad decisions in play -- and the seventh, stated ironically, which pretty much sums up how Florida law treated Zimmerman and Martin differently. Martin, Grim says, "could have chosen to not defend himself."

It's important to note that the jury's verdict sends a message to anyone confronted or pursued by another man: If you engage the confrontation, even an act of self defense could be used as justification to shoot and kill you. What led up to the confrontation in the Martin-Zimmerman case was ruled irrelevant; only Zimmerman's state of mind at the time he shot him was to be taken into account by the jury. That doesn't leave someone being followed through their neighborhood many options other than fighting back. 

http://channel-surfing.blogspot.com/2013/07/racial-bias-and-canard-of-self-defense.html

Black 13 year old shot by old, white neighbor: 'I thought he took my shotgun'

The court case is just starting.  I am curious how this one will end.  13 year old boy with black skin is dead.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/video-shows-white-milwaukee-man-shooting-bla

3 to 4 BILLION Cost (to you and I) for Gas if Keystone XL pipeline is APPROVED! Wrong approach guys!

According to a new report from Consumer Watchdog, that is likely to happen. In particular, drivers in the Midwest would see increases at the pump ranging from 25 to 40 cents per gallon. This dovetails with another report by Public Citizen earlier this year.

http://www.nationofchange.org/approving-keystone-pipeline-could-cost-us-consumers-3-4-billion-year-higher-gas-prices-1374036193

Other Jurors in Zimmerman case distance themselves from the one on National News Shows.

A juror identified only by her anonymous court ID of B37 and her face and body hidden in deep shadow said Monday on Anderson Cooper's CNN show, "AC360," that she believes Zimmerman's "heart was in the right place" when he became suspicious of Martin and that the teenager probably threw the first punch. 

Four other jurors, identified only by their court numbers -- B-51, B-76, E-6, and E-40 -- tonight released a statement through the Florida Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court, distancing themselves from B37's remarks. 

"We, the undersigned jurors, understand there is a great deal of interest in this case. But we ask you to remember that we are not public officials and we did not invite this type of attention into our lives," they said. "We also wish to point out that the opinions of Juror B-37, expressed on the Anderson Cooper show were her own, and not in any way representative of the jurors listed below." 

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/other-zimmerman-jurors-issue-statement.html

Zimmerman Trial: It was the law! Forget Justice and What about killing another human?

The most important thing about the Zimmerman verdict is that it's a clear demonstration of how the American legal system is only about law. It is not about justice. It is not even about the consequences of killing another person. 


In the US of Zimmerman the law allows people to hunt each other.
In the US of Zimmerman you can be a self-appointed volunteer vigilante, and you have permission to decide a person is up to no good based solely on the color of his skin, and maybe the time of day and your own bigotry.


http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/united-states-zimmerman?akid=10700.294211.0tIG_I&rd=1&src=newsletter869802&t=3

OBAMACARE: NY Individual Insurance rates drop by 50% because of Obamacare

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced Wednesday that prices for individual health insurance policies are on the brink of plunging 50 percent or more thanks to provisions in the Affordable Care Act.
A spokesperson for the governor’s office told The New York Times that the new rates mean that individuals with health policies currently running over $1,000 a month will soon be facing bills up to just $308, and even less after a subsidy from what critics have dubbed “Obamacare.”
The change comes thanks to New York’s online insurance exchange, a key provision of the Affordable Care Act that forces insurers to compete with one another. The 2014 rates were approved for the marketplace by New York’s insurance regulator on Wednesday, and should be in effect by October. The news can only sound like relief to the 18 percent of New Yorkers who are either uninsured or pay for an individual policy — a pool of just over 2.6 million people, the Times estimated.

For people living in 24 states like Texas, Oklahoma, Florida or Wisconsin, where Republican governors are refusing to set up the federally-mandated health insurance exchanges, hold on tight: the Obama administration is setting up exchanges that supersede the states, and Americans should be able to buy discounted health insurance by this time next year.


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/07/17/obamacare-to-slash-individual-new-yorkers-health-insurance-rates-by-50-percent/

If GOD came back

If God came back:  Louis CK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=LOojbp8ptWI

The Daily Show returns: Zimmerman Trial - good stuff

As John Oliver reminded the audience, what makes this case so horrid is not that the system broke down, but that it worked exactly the way it was meant to given Florida's laws that seem "cut and pasted from 1881 Tombstone.”

OLIVER: Because, let's be clear here. According to current Florida law, you can get a gun, follow an unarmed minor, call the police, have them explicitly tell you to stop following them, then choose to ignore that, keep following the minor, get into a confrontation with them. and if at any point during that process, you get scared, you can shoot the minor to death, and the state of Florida will say, "Well, look, you did what you could."

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/john-oliver-officially-names-florida-worst

Shoiuld yoiung Black men get concealed weapons for protection?

Should Treyvon have had a gun for self protection from a guy following him?

Ask yourself: Is there something more terrifying than a black kid in a hoodie in your neighborhood? Even more terrifying than a riot in a black neighborhood that’s nowhere near you?
I think there is. Let me explain.
If the jury says that Zimmerman is innocent, here’s the lesson that young black men will learn:

• Any time some creepy white guy hassles you, shoot him. SHOOT HIM DEAD!
• This is justified because you should be scared that he’ll kill you even though he picked the fight.
• The courts don’t care who started it, or who ignored orders of the police to stay in their car. Nope. The courts only care about who’s alive at the end, and they can tell any cockamamie story they want and claim self-defense.

Oops!

http://teapartycat.com/post/55277264210/that-awkward-moment-when-conservatives-cheer-for-george

Zimmerman Trial; The slave patrol is live and well in Florida.

Thom Hartmann
George Zimmerman kept close watch over his neighborhood.

When Black men walked or even drove through the area, he alerted the police, over and over and over again.
Finally, exasperated that “they always” got away, he went out on a rainy night armed with a loaded gun and the Stand Your Ground law, looking for anybody who should not be in his largely White neighborhood.
The South has a long history of this sort of thing. Today they’re called Neighborhood Watches. They used to be called Slave Patrols.
Prior to the Civil War and Reconstruction, the main way Southern states maintained the institution of slavery was through local and statewide militias, also known as “Slave Patrols.”  These Patrols were, in many states, required monthly duty for southern white men between the ages of 17 and 47, be they slave-owners or not.

Slave patrollers traveled, usually on horseback [the modern equivalent would be in a car], through the countryside looking for African-Americans who were “not where they belong.” When the patrollers found Black people in places where they “did not belong,” punishment ranged from beatings, to repatriation to their slave owners, to death by being whipped, hung or shot.

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/17573-zimmerman-verdict-the-slave-patrol-is-alive-and-well-in-florida

Trevon Martin's Parents: Martin Bashir

Trevon's parents suffered a lot with the killing, the trial and the verdict.  How terrible it would be to lose a child in a similar situation.

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/martin-bashir/52483125#52483125

Death by Falling Cow: It really happened

Check it out.  Few people die in their sleep.  Fewer die in their sleep as a result of internal injuries suffered as a result of being crushed by a falling cow!  It’s true!  It happened to a man in Brazil!  The decedent’s mother expressed her outrage by saying
““I didn’t bring my son up to be killed by a falling cow,“

http://malialitman.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/death-by-falling-cow-truth-is-stranger-than-fiction/

Here is the original story about the fellow dying in his sleep by a falling cow.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/15/19479766-reports-cow-crashes-through-roof-kills-sleeping-brazilian

NBA DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR TRAYVON MARTIN (National Bar Association)

National Bar Association

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC, July 14, 2013 - We are extremely disappointed by the verdict in the case of State of Florida v. George Zimmerman. As lawyers we respect the rule of law, but in this instance the Zimmerman verdict sadly highlights the continued injustices Black Americans face in the U.S. legal system.

"The verdict," stated NBA President John E. Page "says an unarmed college-bound Black teen can be profiled, stalked, confronted and killed by an armed neighborhood watchman with hollow tip point bullets. We express our heartfelt condolences to Trayvon Martin's family on this tragic verdict. We also say 'Enough is Enough - It is NOT OK to kill our youth'."

We urge all lawyers to act. Join us in Miami, Florida on Saturday, July 27 and Monday, July 29 in a CALL TO ACTION to collectively address the affront to and devaluing of civil rights of all men and women regardless of race who have been unfairly served by the justice system. We must not allow anyone to succumb to violence at the hands of vigilantes who ferment the devaluing of human life. It is now time to stand up.  

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/NBA-Issues-Statement-After-Jury-Acquits-George-Zimmerman.html?soid=1103956636517&aid=cShmmia_6mM

AMERICA IS IN FULL RETREAT!

Has America – and the American Dream itself – gone into retreat? Once the largest, most prosperous in the world, the American middle class is faltering, crumbling like our nation’s schools and bridges.
Flag-pin-wearing American exceptionalists tell crowds this is the greatest nation on Earth, and then repeat “we’re broke.” They hope to dismantle safety net programs, telling Americans working harder than ever – at jobs and looking for jobs – that they don’t have enough “skin in the game.” Wake up and smell the austerity. America can no longer afford Americans.
Some of us remember a time when America’s dreams were boundless.


http://crooksandliars.com/tom-sullivan/america-retreat

Who was Trevon Martin - The REAL TREVON.

A comparison of Trevon to a noted person in the US.  The facts really to matter in this case.  The Character assassination of Trevon Martin is shameful.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151774324452329

Chasing and killing black youth now legal in US

The Zimmerman Ruling changed the rules for black boys.  Whites live by different rules and laws than black skinned colored folks must live by.

Let it be noted that on this day, Saturday 13 July 2013, it was still deemed legal in the US to chase and then shoot dead an unarmed young black man on his way home from the store because you didn't like the look of him.

The GD Socialist Kenyan is ruining our economy AGAIN!!

Apparently the sneaky jerk knew when he helped orchestrate the end of the Bush Tax Cuts on the wealthy of our nation (The Job Creators and Protectors of All Things Freedom) that it would increase our tax revenues. And apparently the B-Hole-in-Chief also had figured out that despite the rhetoric from true, American patriots like Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan and that other white guy in a suit, he had slashed quite a bit of government spending already. So those two things, slashed government spending and higher tax revenues resulted in the highest budget surplus in June in our nation’s history. - See more at: http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/obama-still-ruining-our-economy-us-has-massive-budget-surplus-in-june/#sthash.wZZhr7Jv.dpufApparently the sneaky jerk knew when he helped orchestrate the end of the Bush Tax Cuts on the wealthy of our nation (The Job Creators and Protectors of All Things Freedom) that it would increase our tax revenues. And apparently the B-Hole-in-Chief also had figured out that despite the rhetoric from true, American patriots like Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan and that other white guy in a suit, he had slashed quite a bit of government spending already. So those two things, slashed government spending and higher tax revenues resulted in the highest budget surplus in June in our nation’s history. - See more at: http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/obama-still-ruining-our-economy-us-has-massive-budget-surplus-in-june/#sthash.wZZhr7Jv.dpuf

That goddamned socialist Kenyan is at again! As if over three years of positive jobs growth, more than doubling the Dow, and saving an economy that was tanking into oblivion and shedding almost a million jobs a month weren’t enough, now he’s gone and given this country a gigantic budget surplus in June! Is there anything this man won’t do to ruin our economy? Next thing you know, he’ll be creating tons of new jobs in green energy, or signing a huge comprehensive immigration bill that will add trillions to our economy over ten years. Well, actually he can’t do either of those last parts because thank God the Republicans are in town to stop his aggressive agenda of ruining America’s economy through jobs growth and gargantuan budget surpluses. - See more at: http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/obama-still-ruining-our-economy-us-has-massive-budget-surplus-in-june/#sthash.wZZhr7Jv.dpuf

Apparently the sneaky jerk knew when he helped orchestrate the end of the Bush Tax Cuts on the wealthy of our nation (The Job Creators and Protectors of All Things Freedom) that it would increase our tax revenues. And apparently the B-Hole-in-Chief also had figured out that despite the rhetoric from true, American patriots like Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan and that other white guy in a suit, he had slashed quite a bit of government spending already. So those two things, slashed government spending and higher tax revenues resulted in the highest budget surplus in June in our nation’s history. - See more at: http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/obama-still-ruining-our-economy-us-has-massive-budget-surplus-in-june/#sthash.wZZhr7Jv.dpufApparently the sneaky jerk knew when he helped orchestrate the end of the Bush Tax Cuts on the wealthy of our nation (The Job Creators and Protectors of All Things Freedom) that it would increase our tax revenues. And apparently the B-Hole-in-Chief also had figured out that despite the rhetoric from true, American patriots like Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan and that other white guy in a suit, he had slashed quite a bit of government spending already. So those two things, slashed government spending and higher tax revenues resulted in the highest budget surplus in June in our nation’s history. - See more at: http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/obama-still-ruining-our-economy-us-has-massive-budget-surplus-in-june/#sthash.wZZhr7Jv.dpuf

Apparently the sneaky jerk knew when he helped orchestrate the end of the Bush Tax Cuts on the wealthy of our nation (The Job Creators and Protectors of All Things Freedom) that it would increase our tax revenues. And apparently the B-Hole-in-Chief also had figured out that despite the rhetoric from true, American patriots like Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan and that other white guy in a suit, he had slashed quite a bit of government spending already. So those two things, slashed government spending and higher tax revenues resulted in the highest budget surplus in June in our nation’s history. - See more at: http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/obama-still-ruining-our-economy-us-has-massive-budget-surplus-in-june/#sthash.wZZhr7Jv.dpuf

That goddamned socialist Kenyan is at again! As if over three years of positive jobs growth, more than doubling the Dow, and saving an economy that was tanking into oblivion and shedding almost a million jobs a month weren’t enough, now he’s gone and given this country a gigantic budget surplus in June! Is there anything this man won’t do to ruin our economy? Next thing you know, he’ll be creating tons of new jobs in green energy, or signing a huge comprehensive immigration bill that will add trillions to our economy over ten years. Well, actually he can’t do either of those last parts because thank God the Republicans are in town to stop his aggressive agenda of ruining America’s economy through jobs growth and gargantuan budget surpluses. - See more at: http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/obama-still-ruining-our-economy-us-has-massive-budget-surplus-in-june/#sthash.wZZhr7Jv.dpuf

Apparently the sneaky jerk knew when he helped orchestrate the end of the Bush Tax Cuts on the wealthy of our nation (The Job Creators and Protectors of All Things Freedom) that it would increase our tax revenues. And apparently the B-Hole-in-Chief also had figured out that despite the rhetoric from true, American patriots like Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan and that other white guy in a suit, he had slashed quite a bit of government spending already. So those two things, slashed government spending and higher tax revenues resulted in the highest budget surplus in June in our nation’s history. - See more at: http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/obama-still-ruining-our-economy-us-has-massive-budget-surplus-in-june/#sthash.wZZhr7Jv.dpuf

A bit of satire is always good.  That rotten Obama raises taxes on the wealthiest and makes cuts AND WE END UP WITH THE LARGEST SURPLUS IN ONE MONTH!  Imagine.  Those poor rich fellows have to pay a little bit more and it helps our economy!  What is this world coming too?

http://www.politicalgarbagechute.com/obama-still-ruining-our-economy-us-has-massive-budget-surplus-in-june/

Skin Color and the Rule of Law in the US

Clearly, if you have black skin, you can be shot legally and/or jailed if you are the shooter compared to similar situations with white skinned folks.  Florida is showing some cases where skin color does make a serious difference with how people are treated in court.


And since we can’t know “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” his argument ends tacitly, we should accept the verdict because … well … “the rule of law” is better than the alternatives.
Except the rule of law was not better than the alternatives for Trayvon Martin, just as it wasn’t for too many young, black men in the U.S. Far too often, if you’re a young, black male and you walk too fast, or too slow, or in the wrong place, or at the wrong time, or just happen to “look suspicious” … “the rule of law” is to beg for mercy and hope you live to see the next day.
And if you don’t beg quickly enough or in quite the right way and the other person decides to kill you, then far too often “the rule of law” is that your parents get to bury you, your killer gets to walk away, and a white person gets to write a hand-wringing article about how the justice system is imperfect but it’s better than the alternatives.
And it is … if you’re white.
Part of white privilege is not realizing that, for young black men, “the rule of law” is not much protection at all. Claims of self-defense are far more likely to be accepted if the victim is black, so if you’re a young black man and you defend yourself from a white attacker, “the rule of law” may well stomp on you anyway.


http://www.politicususa.com/2013/07/15/white-privilege-responding-zimmerman-verdict-paean-rule-law.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+politicususa%2FfJAl+%28Politicus+USA+%29

The judge screwed up in the Zimmerman Case. (instructions to Jury the were terrible,)

The prosecution approached the case as a Murder in the 2nd case. This charge satisfied those in the public who were outraged by the notion that a young black teen was profiled. It was anticipated that the “Stand your ground” law would be asserted by Zimmerman. However Mark O’Mara surprised everyone by relying on a simple self defense argument. Having studied the Stand Your Ground Law, his decision to abandon that defense was strategic. Stand Your Ground is not a defense available if the Defendant was determined to be the aggressor. Because Zimmerman got out of the car and followed Trayvon Martin he was clearly the aggressor, at least initially. Instead O’Mara relied on simple self defense.
The jury wasn’t asked if it was wrong for Zimmerman to follow Martin, or to shoot him. They were asked if there was any “reasonable doubt” that Zimmerman acted in self defense.


http://malialitman.wordpress.com/2013/07/14/there-was-no-reasonable-doubt-that-zimmerman-was-a-creepy-ass-cracker/

Justice Denied: The George Zimmerman Trial.

As I read about the Zimmerman verdict, this one most closely resembles my thoughts.

I have been busy painting a house this past week.  We got the first coat done, just need the trim colors now.

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-george-zimmerman-verdict-justice.html

Here is a second essay on the Zimmerman trial.  Juanita Jean  She looks at the what to do now?

http://juanitajean.com/2013/07/14/my-thoughts/

Build a tiny castle! Who needs rent?

Living in a small place sounds interesting.  7 food by 10 foot house.

http://www.upworthy.com/sick-of-paying-rent-just-build-your-own-tiny-palace-like-these-guys-did?c=ufb1

White - innocent, Black- guilty or dead

Recent Court Ruling show being black is very harsh legally.

http://samuel-warde.com/2013/07/2-florida-white-men-kill-and-go-free-marissa-alexander-fires-warning-shot-gets-20-years-video-petition/

NEW RULES - The real one. Immigratiion. Very Good.

MAHER: And finally, New Rule, that the only plan we have for immigration reform is a military style surge, that wastes $46 billion for weapons, walls, prison camps and forty thousand armed guards in the desert, it's not a plan. It's a war. A war, to replace the wars that are ending overseas.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/maher-only-plan-republicans-have-immigrati

REAL TIME: Teaparty Porn. Stupidity is amazing

Maher “read” from tea partier Jaxine Bubis’ book Beantown Heat, “He took off his Obama equals Hitler t-shirt revealing the chiseled six pack of a young Glenn Beck. He leaned over and whispered, I want to get you off…welfare. The seat of her Rascal scooter was wetter than John Boehner’s cheek after they play God Bless America. Who’s your daddy he demanded, and where’s your birth certificate. Unlike global warming, the passion she was feeling was undeniable. He was an Adonis. The body of Chris Christie, and a c**k that stiffer than Mitt Romney. And it was a tiny penis that let her know, oh yeah, a gun owner…”

http://www.politicususa.com/2013/07/13/bill-maher-takes-teabagger-mocking-high-tea-party-porn.html

Mediicine today: Have and have nots. People Die from lack of care

I talked to a Doctor and she was telling me about a patient.  The patient was about 40 and worked two jobs but had no health insurance.  She did not feel well.  The Doc did some tests and the patient questioned how she could pay for the visit, medicine and tests with her limited income.  

The doc got the results back and thought, she does not have to worry about paying for much of anything.  She was riddled with cancer.  She ate well, went to church and had a caring family.  She had to pass on seeing a Doctor early on because of no health insurance.  She had only weeks to live when she saw the Doctor.

I am for Obamacare and think we should pay for HEALTH CARE over Wars.  If we want to fight a war - start a new war tax to pay for it.  This lady did not need to die at such a young age because she could not have access to health care,

Tampons don't Kill People: Republicans do! Margaret and Helen

If Rick Perry, a C minus college student, can be trusted with making his own healthcare decisions, why the hell can’t my A+ college graduate daughter do the same? Pro-life my ass. Perry is about as pro-life as any governor who has presided over hundreds of executions. Which is to say Perry is about 250 executions short of being pro-life. And for the record, pro-choice does not mean pro-abortion. Being pro-choice means you trust women to make the right decisions for themselves and their families when it comes to healthcare.
And Rick Perry might not be running for governor again, but those two morons Abbott and Costello… I mean Abbott and Dewhurst are and they make Perry look almost sane. So this fight isn’t over. I’m in this for the long run. Are you with me Wendy?
Texas women might have lost the battle but we sure as hell plan to win the war. And they can pry the tampon from my cold, dead hands. I mean it. Really.


http://margaretandhelen.com/2013/07/13/tampons-dont-kill-people-republicans-do/