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Thursday, September 17, 2015
GOP Debate shows Crazy is the New Normal for the GOP
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/gop-debate-shows-party-where-crazy-new-normal?akid=13482.294211.QHXd0d&rd=1&src=newsletter1042527&t=2
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
An Evangelical responds to Bernie Sanders after Liberty University
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/16/1421659/-An-Evangelical-responds-to-Sanders-speech-at-Liberty-U?detail=facebook
He was convicting the Christian leaders and the religious leaders in that university, and calling us out for being complicit in the abandonment of those who suffer, the least of these, and siding with the powerful and rich, the masters of this world. And he was convicting us and calling us out, and we scorned him, and we stared him down; and, with sour faces, we thought, "Who is this wacko, and why do all these people seem to follow him, seem to like him – this wild-haired Jew, crying out from the wilderness of the political left, in his hoarse voice?"
He was convicting the Christian leaders and the religious leaders in that university, and calling us out for being complicit in the abandonment of those who suffer, the least of these, and siding with the powerful and rich, the masters of this world. And he was convicting us and calling us out, and we scorned him, and we stared him down; and, with sour faces, we thought, "Who is this wacko, and why do all these people seem to follow him, seem to like him – this wild-haired Jew, crying out from the wilderness of the political left, in his hoarse voice?"
I was talking to a man who lived in a sod hut back in the 60's.
I talked to a man who grew up in the old village. He lived in a sod hut with whale bone walls. He said they had caribou mattresses to sleep on and at the end they had electricity from 3 PM to 9 PM. Sometimes, they had no electricity - it went out pretty often.
He is now working in the school's shop class and helping kids to make masks. He told me the story behind the masks. It was of a whale or a walrus and what it meant to the people of the village.
He also has a good knowledge of the history of the village, now and many years ago. He worked with the archeologists who excavated in years past.
It was quite interesting.
He is now working in the school's shop class and helping kids to make masks. He told me the story behind the masks. It was of a whale or a walrus and what it meant to the people of the village.
He also has a good knowledge of the history of the village, now and many years ago. He worked with the archeologists who excavated in years past.
It was quite interesting.
Arctic Thaw: Old, Giant viruses could be unleashed as the arctic thaws.
http://www.alternet.org/environment/arctic-melt-could-unleash-giant-viruses?akid=13479.294211.dCS0uW&rd=1&src=newsletter1042471&t=8
Maybe we should have taken Global Warming seriously 30 years ago.
Maybe we should have taken Global Warming seriously 30 years ago.
Sounds Like Sci-Fi Horror, but It's Frighteningly Real: Giant Viruses May Be Unleashed by Arctic Thaw
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Climate Change: How the GOP made this the most divisive issue we face today
http://www.alternet.org/environment/climate-change-more-divisive-abortion-blame-republicans?akid=13476.294211._zJOxK&rd=1&src=newsletter1042399&t=2
If we get it wrong - our kids and grandkids will pay a severe price.
If we get it wrong - our kids and grandkids will pay a severe price.
How Republicans Made Climate Change America's Most Divisive Political Issue
18 CEO's called out for Taking Billions in Bailouts, evading taxes and outsourcing jobs then blaming the middle class.
http://www.trueactivist.com/18-ceos-called-out-by-bernie-sanders-for-taking-trillions-in-bailouts-evading-taxes-and-outsourcing-jobs/
Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/18-ceos-called-out-by-bernie-sanders-for-taking-trillions-in-bailouts-evading-taxes-and-outsourcing-jobs/
1) Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan
Amount of federal income taxes paid in 2010? Zero. $1.9 billion tax refund.
Taxpayer Bailout from the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department? Over $1.3 trillion.
Amount of federal income taxes Bank of America would have owed if offshore tax havens were eliminated? $2.6 billion.
2) Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein
Amount of federal income taxes paid in 2008? Zero. $278 million tax refund.
Taxpayer Bailout from the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department? $824 billion.
Amount of federal income taxes Goldman Sachs would have owed if offshore tax havens were eliminated? $2.7 billion
3) JP Morgan Chase CEO James Dimon
Taxpayer Bailout from the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department? $416 billion.
Amount of federal income taxes JP Morgan Chase would have owed if offshore tax havens were eliminated? $4.9 billion.
Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/18-ceos-called-out-by-bernie-sanders-for-taking-trillions-in-bailouts-evading-taxes-and-outsourcing-jobs/
Monday, September 14, 2015
Sunny and No wind in the village this weekend. Beautiful. Saw a Momma and Baby Whale.
We had amazing weather this weekend. It was sunny and not windy. We have had a constant cold wind the last 2 weeks.
I was stuck in a class all Saturday which was a pain. (I must say that the time with other staff members was very helpful. We talked about how we are to deal with students who we have behavioral and academic concerns about. A lot was accomplished)
Sunday I went for a couple of walks (5 blocks) to the Chukchi Sea and the first time saw the 3 barges unloading diesel into the big tanks here. The second time a few hours later, I saw the barges but also a baby whale jumping out of the water. The baby also had a momma whale who could stay underwater longer.
This place is pretty amazing on a sunny day.
I was stuck in a class all Saturday which was a pain. (I must say that the time with other staff members was very helpful. We talked about how we are to deal with students who we have behavioral and academic concerns about. A lot was accomplished)
Sunday I went for a couple of walks (5 blocks) to the Chukchi Sea and the first time saw the 3 barges unloading diesel into the big tanks here. The second time a few hours later, I saw the barges but also a baby whale jumping out of the water. The baby also had a momma whale who could stay underwater longer.
This place is pretty amazing on a sunny day.
Secret: Half a Billion wasted on Charter Schools - (Don't tell anyone)
http://act.alternet.org/go/64082?t=12&akid=13472.294211.FeB7Lu
The U.S. Department of Education is poised to spend half a billion dollars to help create new charter schools, while the public is being kept in the dark about which states have applied for the lucrative grants, and what their actual track records are when it comes to preventing fraud and misuse.
Already the federal government has spent $3.3 billion in American tax dollars under the Charter Schools Program (CSP), as tallied by the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD).
But the government has done so without requiring any accountability from the states and schools that receive the money, as CMD revealed earlier this year.
Are You a Repressed Christian? 7 Ways to tell, a quiz
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/09/13/are-you-a-christian-feeling-repressed-here-are-7-ways-to-tell-if-you-are-really-being-persecuted/
Are you allowed to go to a religious service of your own choosing? If you are, then you are not being persecuted. If you still think you are being persecuted even though you can meet with others of your faith wherever you wish, think again. In other countries, such as North Korea, Christians cannot meet with other Christians. If they do and are found out, they may be tortured or executed. Maybe you should meet with your prayer group to discuss.
Are you allowed to pray in the privacy of your own home? Lucky you! In many Islamic countries, praying — even at home — can be punished. Maybe send up a prayer of thanks that you can pray whenever you like in your own home. Without worrying about being arrested
Billionaires looking to buy the Presidency: Who will they Choose?
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/09/sheldon-adelson-is-ready-to-buy-the-presidency.html#
The Koch Brothers have 900+ Million for the one they back.
The Koch Brothers have 900+ Million for the one they back.
Sheldon AdelsonIs Ready to Buy the Presidency
He just hasn’t decided which Republican candidate to back. Care to make a pitch
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Eskimo Music and Dancing - Pamyua is the group
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbs9rfCaXQo&list=RDQbs9rfCaXQo#t=0
Uploaded on Jun 8, 2009
Pamyua live at 2009 Gathering of Nations Stage 49 4/24/09. Full clip athttp://www.gatheringofnations.com/pow...
Jim Pepper - Slow War Dance, a song which I find interesting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COmxW7cgrsU&feature=youtu.be
Since i am living in a village with drumming (and native dancing) being a big thing, I find this very interesting.
Since i am living in a village with drumming (and native dancing) being a big thing, I find this very interesting.
Fact Check Site shows that President Obama has been good for the US
http://www.forwardprogressives.com/fact-checking-site-proves-just-good-president-obama-america/
When he said our deficits have been cut by two-thirds, he was also factual about that as well. That statement received a “Mostly True” rating. The main “issue” being that it’s true if you base it off 2009 numbers when deficits were extraordinarily high and some are projecting deficits to eventually increase within the next few years, mainly due to the lack of revenue increases (such as tax hikes) and entitlement reform. But even when you go beyond just his SOTU speech to a few other comments they’ve fact-checked of his leading up to his speech: U.S. auto industry has created 500k new jobs in the last five years: True More factories are opening their doors today than two decades ago: Mostly True We’ve doubled our production of clean energy since 2009: Mostly True Since negotiating with Iran, we’ve seen the first year and a half that they haven’t made advancements in their nuclear program: Mostly True
Read more at: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/fact-checking-site-proves-just-good-president-obama-america/
When he said our deficits have been cut by two-thirds, he was also factual about that as well. That statement received a “Mostly True” rating. The main “issue” being that it’s true if you base it off 2009 numbers when deficits were extraordinarily high and some are projecting deficits to eventually increase within the next few years, mainly due to the lack of revenue increases (such as tax hikes) and entitlement reform. But even when you go beyond just his SOTU speech to a few other comments they’ve fact-checked of his leading up to his speech: U.S. auto industry has created 500k new jobs in the last five years: True More factories are opening their doors today than two decades ago: Mostly True We’ve doubled our production of clean energy since 2009: Mostly True Since negotiating with Iran, we’ve seen the first year and a half that they haven’t made advancements in their nuclear program: Mostly True
Read more at: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/fact-checking-site-proves-just-good-president-obama-america/
5 Right Wing Crazy Moments of note this week.
http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/5-right-wing-doozies-week-carson-and-huckabee-reach-nutty-new-heights?akid=13471.294211.SnpRVS&rd=1&src=newsletter1042320&t=2
5 Right-wing Doozies this Week: Carson Reaches Nutty New Heights
Black Lives Matter: The newest Right Wingers Target to spread fear and lies.
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/vicious-conservative-bashing-black-lives-matter-dangerous-proposition?akid=13471.294211.SnpRVS&rd=1&src=newsletter1042320&t=14
Black People speaking up for Unarmed Blacks being shot and killed by Police suddenly the Right Wing wants to call them a Hate Group - weird.
Black People speaking up for Unarmed Blacks being shot and killed by Police suddenly the Right Wing wants to call them a Hate Group - weird.
Vicious Conservative Bashing of Black Lives Matter Is a Dangerous Proposition
The Not So Dry Village. Internet,
I am at school on Sunday morning at 8 AM. There were 2 empty whiskey bottles behind the school. Staff People get fired here if they get caught picking up alcohol at the Post Office.
Internet: It costs about 100 per month for internet here for the slowest. You get charged tons if you go over what you paid for. The slow does not allow much streaming type stuff. You also have a 100 dollar hook up fee. I am using the school internet instead of getting my own, which would be 150 to 170 a month.
A lot of other people also use the schools internet. We have 6 outside doors and porches to the school. In the evening, you see people on the porches and at the outside of the school property with their smart phones getting free internet. It is the only place in town where you can get free internet. I could sell a lot of coffee here and make it into an internet cafe.
Whiskey - There seems to be a lot more drinking than I thought. At my last village, some of the native folks said there was a lot of drinking going on as well.
Internet: It costs about 100 per month for internet here for the slowest. You get charged tons if you go over what you paid for. The slow does not allow much streaming type stuff. You also have a 100 dollar hook up fee. I am using the school internet instead of getting my own, which would be 150 to 170 a month.
A lot of other people also use the schools internet. We have 6 outside doors and porches to the school. In the evening, you see people on the porches and at the outside of the school property with their smart phones getting free internet. It is the only place in town where you can get free internet. I could sell a lot of coffee here and make it into an internet cafe.
Whiskey - There seems to be a lot more drinking than I thought. At my last village, some of the native folks said there was a lot of drinking going on as well.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
More Bill Maher
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/09/12/bill-maher-skewers-sarah-palin-donald-trumps-ignorant-racism.html
Bill Maher pointed out on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher that America has a long history of hating somebody, and then “blame them for all our problems,” beginning, he said, with his people, the Irish in the mid-19th century.
He pointed out it was then “the Chinese, the Italians, the Mexicans, the Jews, the Swedes, the Japanese, the Russians, and now the Mexicans again.”
Corporations running away with Workers Money. (Getting worse and worse)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/11/1420414/-Corporations-are-putting-a-535-billion-squeeze-on-workers-share-of-the-pie?detail=facebook
Between 2000 and the second quarter of 2015, the share of income generated by corporations that went to workers’ wages (instead of going to capital incomes like profits) declined from 82.3 percent to 75.5 percent, as the figure shows. This 6.8 percentage-point decline in labor’s share of corporate income might not seem like a lot, but if labor’s share had not fallen this much, employees in the corporate sector would have $535 billion more in their paychecks today. If this amount was spread over the entire labor force (not just corporate sector employees) this would translate into a $3,770 raise for each worker.And by the way, American corporations were doing just fine back when they weren't squeezing quite so hard.
Bill Maher: New Rules: Kim Davis is discussed
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/bill-maher-when-kim-davis-uses-gods-rule-book-to-deny-same-sex-marriage-its-the-same-as-sharia-law/
During a lively discussion about Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, HBO’s Real Time host Bill Maher said there is no difference between what the anti-gay government worker is doing —using the Bible instead of settled law to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples — and extremist Sharia law.
“If you say, as Kim Davis and her ilk, and Ted Cruz and all those people say that actually ‘I can ignore the rule of man because the rule book of God said’ — then you are Iran. Then you are Saudi Arabia. Then you are Sharia law,” Maher explained.
Friday, September 11, 2015
NO WAR WITH IRAN: President Obama wins again.
http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2015/09/despite-aggressive-partisan-opposition.html
Despite aggressive partisan opposition, and a ridiculously hyperbolic rally against it, Obama's Iran nuclear deal becomes yet another victory for our "lame duck" President.
Broken politics: Kim Davis is the perfect representation
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/why-kim-davis-perfectly-reflects-americas-broken-politics?akid=13464.294211.BT-erR&rd=1&src=newsletter1042225&t=8
The Constitution is amazing in that it is a straightforward document, yet it’s open for interpretation and amendment. It sets down the core of our republic, our democracy and the basis for all law. Nowhere in our founding document does the word “God” appear. Not even once.
Fast forward to Tuesday afternoon, when Kim Davis, right-wing Evangelical poster child of the moment, was released from jail. The Kentucky county clerk was held on contempt charges for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because it violated her Christian beliefs. Just how fleeting her Christian celebrity will be is in the hands of Mike Huckabee and other religio-political zealots, who currently find her ridiculous act of civil disobedience useful to fundraising and campaigning.
Instead of her husband pulling the car around to unceremoniously take her home after her six-day ordeal, former Arkansas Governor, preacher, author, musician and Republican presidential candidate Huckabee set the stage. Literally. Davis walked out of the jail to the stirring 1980’s Survivor classic Eye of The Tiger and into the warm embrace of a tearful Huckabee; the whole scene was witnessed by an adoring crowd holding up bibles and crosses affixed to sticks, in ecstasy over her release.
The Constitution is amazing in that it is a straightforward document, yet it’s open for interpretation and amendment. It sets down the core of our republic, our democracy and the basis for all law. Nowhere in our founding document does the word “God” appear. Not even once.
Fast forward to Tuesday afternoon, when Kim Davis, right-wing Evangelical poster child of the moment, was released from jail. The Kentucky county clerk was held on contempt charges for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because it violated her Christian beliefs. Just how fleeting her Christian celebrity will be is in the hands of Mike Huckabee and other religio-political zealots, who currently find her ridiculous act of civil disobedience useful to fundraising and campaigning.
Instead of her husband pulling the car around to unceremoniously take her home after her six-day ordeal, former Arkansas Governor, preacher, author, musician and Republican presidential candidate Huckabee set the stage. Literally. Davis walked out of the jail to the stirring 1980’s Survivor classic Eye of The Tiger and into the warm embrace of a tearful Huckabee; the whole scene was witnessed by an adoring crowd holding up bibles and crosses affixed to sticks, in ecstasy over her release.
Americans are screwed economically: Richest over Middle Class while Europe has people over the Rich
http://www.alternet.org/economy/robert-reich-why-americans-are-screwed-and-europeans-are-not?sc=fb
American corporations distribute a smaller share of their earnings to their workers than do European or Canadian-based corporations.
And top U.S. corporate executives make far more money than their counterparts in other wealthy countries.
The typical American worker puts in more hours than Canadians and Europeans, and gets little or no paid vacation or paid family leave. In Europe, the norm is five weeks paid vacation per year and more than three months paid family leave.
And because of the overwhelming clout of American firms on U.S. politics, Americans don’t get nearly as good a deal from their governments as do Canadians and Europeans.
Governments there impose higher taxes on the wealthy and redistribute more of the wealth to middle- and lower-income households. Most of their citizens receive essentially free healthcare and more generous unemployment benefits than do Americans.
So it shouldn’t be surprising that even though U.S. economy is doing better, most Americans are not.
The U.S. middle class is no longer the world’s richest. After considering taxes and transfer payments, middle-class incomes in Canada and much of Western Europe are higher than in the U.S. The poor in Western Europe earn more than do poor Americans.
American corporations distribute a smaller share of their earnings to their workers than do European or Canadian-based corporations.
And top U.S. corporate executives make far more money than their counterparts in other wealthy countries.
The typical American worker puts in more hours than Canadians and Europeans, and gets little or no paid vacation or paid family leave. In Europe, the norm is five weeks paid vacation per year and more than three months paid family leave.
And because of the overwhelming clout of American firms on U.S. politics, Americans don’t get nearly as good a deal from their governments as do Canadians and Europeans.
Governments there impose higher taxes on the wealthy and redistribute more of the wealth to middle- and lower-income households. Most of their citizens receive essentially free healthcare and more generous unemployment benefits than do Americans.
So it shouldn’t be surprising that even though U.S. economy is doing better, most Americans are not.
The U.S. middle class is no longer the world’s richest. After considering taxes and transfer payments, middle-class incomes in Canada and much of Western Europe are higher than in the U.S. The poor in Western Europe earn more than do poor Americans.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Sharia Law and the GOP War On Women - same thing
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/09/sharia-law-republican-war-women/
Someone took the time to create a meme listing the tenets of Sharia Law, so I’m posting it here. Are you able see a difference between the Republican agenda and Sharia law? Granted, Republicans are not trying to take away our drivers licenses – yet. But for how much longer?
You can read more about Sharia Law HERE.
Someone took the time to create a meme listing the tenets of Sharia Law, so I’m posting it here. Are you able see a difference between the Republican agenda and Sharia law? Granted, Republicans are not trying to take away our drivers licenses – yet. But for how much longer?
You can read more about Sharia Law HERE.
An Open Letter to Kim Davis
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-g-bird/an-open-letter-to-kim-davis_b_8102402.html
I understand that the Bible is central in your life and that you are committed to upholding what you read there. Thinking about how we read the Bible is just as important, it seems to me. It was those same convictions that led me to seek education about the Bible. That education, in turn, led to me teaching many courses on the Bible, and to writing a book that presents important basic information about the Bible on topics such as this one.
Nowhere in the Bible does God say that two men or two women who love each other are going to hell for it. Nowhere. What the Bible does say about marriage and sex is at times rather startling. I think it would be in your own best interest to be fully informed on them, given your stance regarding marriage licenses.
I understand that the Bible is central in your life and that you are committed to upholding what you read there. Thinking about how we read the Bible is just as important, it seems to me. It was those same convictions that led me to seek education about the Bible. That education, in turn, led to me teaching many courses on the Bible, and to writing a book that presents important basic information about the Bible on topics such as this one.
Nowhere in the Bible does God say that two men or two women who love each other are going to hell for it. Nowhere. What the Bible does say about marriage and sex is at times rather startling. I think it would be in your own best interest to be fully informed on them, given your stance regarding marriage licenses.
Palin WRONG on Glaciers and Global Warming - Fact Check time.
http://www.factcheck.org/2015/09/palin-off-on-glaciers-and-global-warming/
Palin may not blame climate change on humans, but science does; we have covered before how scientists say it’s extremely likely that most of the observed temperature rise has been caused by human emissions. Her claim that some glaciers are growing in Alaska is true, but this isn’t a reason to question human-caused climate change. Regional variations in precipitation patterns may cause some glaciers to grow, but most glaciers around the world are losing ice as the climate warms.
Palin may not blame climate change on humans, but science does; we have covered before how scientists say it’s extremely likely that most of the observed temperature rise has been caused by human emissions. Her claim that some glaciers are growing in Alaska is true, but this isn’t a reason to question human-caused climate change. Regional variations in precipitation patterns may cause some glaciers to grow, but most glaciers around the world are losing ice as the climate warms.
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