"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
NSA spied on journalists, other Americans 24/7 | Capitol Hill Blue
Topic: Civil Liberties
2:54 am EST, Jan 30, 2009
I saw the MSNBC interviews and was like...WOW. But no one else really picked up the ball? It was like, OK, here's the bomb! Then, hey, what are you doing for the superbowl? WTF
Owner of Dubai Landmarks Eyes Float (Artificial island resort needs a bail out)
Topic: Business
4:06 am EST, Jan 4, 2009
"The company behind some of Dubai's best-known landmarks is considering a stock market listing to raise as much as $15bn (£10.3bn) to reinforce its finances.
Nakheel, which owns the Palm Jumeirah, the world's biggest artificial island, and Nakheel tower, the world's tallest building at 1km high, is in talks with investment bankers about plans for a flotation in 2009.
Bankers at JP Morgan have been working on various ideas, including a dual-listing for Nakheel on its home exchange, Nasdaq Dubai, and also in London, although the timing of the move has not yet been decided. "
Hmmm, I wonder how much of our bail out $$ is actually going to end up on this vulgar display of financial inequity? Have you ever 'been' to Dubai via Google earth? Man, there's a LOT of money there...and just absolute poverty a few 'inches' over.
"SALINAS, Calif. -- A man who was mistaken for a robber and ended up with a face broken in six places filed a lawsuit against the city and two officers on Thursday.
Ryan Favila said that on Oct. 18, 2007 he was mistaken for a car thief, thrown to the ground and then kicked in the face by Salinas police officer Michael Cupak.
Favila sustained a fractured nose and bones in his face broke in six places."
The problem, IMO, - what will cause great trouble soon, I think - is that the police almost always clear each other of brutality charges. It leaves people feeling there is no justice?
Riots break out in Augusta Georgia after 23 year old shot multiple times
Topic: Crime
4:38 am EST, Dec 20, 2008
"The shooting caused chaos throughout the housing project. Multiple fires were set in trash dumpsters, angry neighbors threw rocks and bottles at media and officers the night of the shooting."
Another article here: http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20081217014935732
"Richmond County Sheriffs shot and killed 23 year old Justin Elmore on Monday in the Cherry Tree Crossing Housing Projects. The Cops, claiming that Justin had stolen the SUV, surrounded him and opened fire. Bullets flew everywhere. Local apartments had windows shot out and a little boy was almost shot in the Head. On Tuesday, the community held a vigil in response to the shooting. After an occupying force of 90 police descended on the neighborhood the people fought back. Locals threw rocks and bottles at both the Police and the Corporate Media. People also set fires to dumpsters and at least one car. Corporate media reports at least 30 shots had been fired during the riot." ---------------------
WOW - and I've not heard crap about it here on the news!
Social Worker really oversteps her bounds - ALL homeschoolers have psychosocial evaluations
Topic: Civil Liberties
12:31 am EST, Nov 12, 2008
Please let them file a civil suit. PLEASE. All this b/c of an anonymous tip. :(
[quote]After being threatened to this extreme, the family felt they had no choice but to let the social worker into their home to interview the children, who were now crying and wailing. During the interview, the social worker would not let the witness the family provided be present. She also proceeded to lift the shirts and clothing of each child, even those whom the allegations did not concern.
The social worker found nothing—but said still she wanted the family to “undergo a formal psycho-social assessment.”
When the Smiths asked “Why?” the social worker replied, “This is done in all investigations with homeschooled children!”
Needless to say, the Smiths declined the assessments, and relied on HSLDA to take care of the rest.
Klicka sent the social worker a letter outlining all the ways in which she had broken the law:
1. By entering the home and interviewing the children through intimidation; 2. By not letting them know the allegations at the initial visit; and 3. By interviewing children whom the allegations did not concern.
Klicka explained that the case should be closed immediately, as there was no evidence against the family. He also explained that the daughter’s issues with depression were being handled adequately by medical experts and psychologists familiar with the situation.
The family has not been hassled by this social worker since, and the case is closed. HSLDA is considering a civil rights suit.[/quote]
This one is more for the ladies, I think. :) There's definitely some love in these pictures of our new first family's wedding and afterwards. I love the picture outside after the wedding.
It is going to be wonderful to watch them grow in their new role. They are a beautiful coupon and a beautiful family.
Be careful if you get the 'drive by' check letter from State Farm
Topic: Home and Garden
4:33 pm EST, Nov 6, 2008
A few weeks ago we got a letter from State Farm that they were going to be driving by our home and taking pictures, not to worry, it was just a standard check.
So we didn't worry. Well, I suppose we should have worried, because there is no way their drive-by could have been JUST a drive by. See, we live up on a hill, and most of our yard is fenced in.
Today, we got a letter that they were dropping our coverage if we did not do certain things. One was that we are to remove all personal property from our yard and porches. The second, was that we are going to have to remove the ladder from our pool.
Our pool is behind the fence, and has been covered for 2 months now. The offensive ladder goes from the deck down into the pool and cannot be seen unless you get behind our fence, go to our pool, remove our pool cover, and look.
I was upset. I complained to a friend. She said that her son had got a similiar letter because he had a single loose piece of fleishing(sp?) on his roof, and that she knew someone that just had their policy terminated and got a refund of their premium because they found a trampoline in their yard.
I've never heard of such. We've had this home for 16 years now and have, in all that time, never filed a single auto or home insurance claim. Never. We are so private that I doubt we ever WOULD unless we had very serious property destruction.
So just...thought I'd warn folks that a 'drive-by' letter obviously means they are coming to snoop around and get in your stuff.
"These monkeys taste for alcohol matches our own. In line with the human population, most monkeys drink in moderation. Unlike us, monkeys that are heavy drinkers make better leaders."
"Air Force Research Laboratory officials here recently completed an extensive bioeffects research program for an invisible, counter personnel, directed-energy weapon known as the Active Denial System.
Data showed that millimeter waves do not promote cancer or cause reproductive problems, and researchers also defined skin and eye exposure thresholds, as well as levels at which effective repel occurs.
Results demonstrate that the Denial System, or ADS, can be used operationally while maintaining a significant safety margin, thus making the device a landmark nonlethal weapon."
Tazed, blinded, and burnt, the people no longer even tried to protest....
