Yearly Archives: 2013

Young, Old, Democrat and Republican Agree: The Federal Government Sucks

"The Gallup organization polled Americans across the partisan divide, and ranging in age from pimply and arrogant to wrinkly and bitter, about their opinions of various sectors of American society. When it comes to the federal government, it's probably no surprise that starry-eyed youth and White House-haunting Democrats had the most affectionate sentiments. What is surprising is that the sort of affection they show is less akin to a passionate embrace and more like, 'it's not you, really, it's me. We're just not working out.' That's right, even among the young and the Democratic, warm feelings for the federal government are hard to find." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingYoung, Old, Democrat and Republican Agree: The Federal Government Sucks

Young, Old, Democrat and Republican Agree: The Federal Government Sucks

"The Gallup organization polled Americans across the partisan divide, and ranging in age from pimply and arrogant to wrinkly and bitter, about their opinions of various sectors of American society. When it comes to the federal government, it's probably no surprise that starry-eyed youth and White House-haunting Democrats had the most affectionate sentiments. What is surprising is that the sort of affection they show is less akin to a passionate embrace and more like, 'it's not you, really, it's me. We're just not working out.' That's right, even among the young and the Democratic, warm feelings for the federal government are hard to find." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingYoung, Old, Democrat and Republican Agree: The Federal Government Sucks

A Long List of What We Know Thanks to Private Manning

"The debate in the media, and in political circles over Edward Snowden—Right or Wrong—often doubles back on references to Pfc. Manning, who was sentenced to thirty-five years in prison on Wednesday. Too often (that is, most of the time), the value and import of the Manning/WikiLeaks disclosures are ignored or dismissed, just as Snowden’s NSA scoops are often derided as 'nothing new.' So for those who either suffer from memory loss or ignorance on this particular score, here is a partial accounting of some of the important revelations in the Manning leak, drawn from my book—with Kevin Gosztola—on the Manning case, Truth and Consequences." Continue reading →

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Obama Encourages Rabble Rouser Sharpton

"Do you know what Obama said about not circulating the photo of the dead Obama bin Laden? This: 'It is important to make sure that very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence or as a propaganda tool.' It’s sad, very sad, to find Trayvon Martin being made an issue and symbol in the 50th anniversary March on Washington. [..] King was investigated and surveilled by the FBI. Where was there even a single mention of the surveillance state? A key feature of King’s preaching was his anti-war views. Where was there an echo of this in this anniversary celebration? Where was there some anti-Drug War sentiment?" Continue reading →

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Chicago ‘Safe Passage’ routes put to test amid more shootings

"Six hundred newly hired Safe Passage workers in yellow vests fanned out early Monday along 53 new routes marked with bright yellow 'Safe Passage' signs. The new routes are an expansion of an already existing program that Emanuel has touted as a success. The routes, released less than three weeks ago, are meant to offset any hazards that could arise as children walk unfamiliar sidewalks and, many parents worry, cross gang boundaries to get to their new schools. The program has garnered negative news coverage for what critics say is an ill-thought-out plan that was hatched at the last minute. CPS approved in June the closure of 49 elementary schools and a high school program." Continue reading →

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Missouri Democrat busted for marijuana possession

"A Missouri Democrat was arrested on Sunday after police officers discovered marijuana and drug paraphernalia in his car. State Rep. Jeremy LaFaver (D-Kansas City) was pulled over by police for failing to respond to a previous charge that he had driven with an expired license tag and without insurance. The lawmaker was booked into the Boone County jail and released after posting bond. The Missouri Republican Party has called on LaFaver to resign, citing his 'open disrespect for the law.' But he told local media networks that he has no plans to quit. Unlike other lawmakers arrested for marijuana, LaFaver supported legislation that would have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana." Continue reading →

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‘The U.S. effect’: Researchers encouraged to report exaggerated or eye-catching results

"Scientists who study human behaviour are more likely than average to report exaggerated or eye-catching results if they are based in the United States, according to an analysis of more than 1,000 research papers in psychiatry and genetics. This bias could be due to the research culture in the US, authors of the analysis said, which tends to preferentially reward scientists for the novelty and immediate impact of a piece of work over the quality or its long-term contribution to the field. One of the authors said that there was intense competition in the US for research funds and, subsequently, pressure to report novel findings in prestigious, high-impact scientific journals." Continue reading →

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Great Moments In Drug War Propaganda

"Yes, so America and its allies may have failed in the 100-year war on (some) drugs. We may have spent well over a trillion dollars, imprisoned tens of thousands of nonviolent offenders, caused who knows how much violence and who knows how many deaths in collateral damage, and wreaked havoc on the Bill of Rights. But at least the drug war has provided us with some great entertainment. Here, a retrospective on some of the greatest (or perhaps most ignominious) moments in drug war propaganda." Continue reading →

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Air Force Bans Greek Yogurt With Hemp Seeds Over Anti-Drug Policy Concerns

"The Air Force warned personnel over the weekend to steer clear of a specific flavor of Chobani Greek yogurt that includes hemp seeds. Hemp contains trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive ingredient also found in marijuana, classified alongside heroin and LSD as a Schedule I drug under federal law. The Air Force, as part of its anti-drug policy, added hemp seed oil products and hemp seed to a list of forbidden substances in 1999, over concerns that they could confuse the results of drug tests regularly given to service members. Chobani's Blueberry Power Flip is the latest victim of that prohibition. The Air Force made clear that yogurt flavors without hemp were still fine to eat." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAir Force Bans Greek Yogurt With Hemp Seeds Over Anti-Drug Policy Concerns

New Google Glass app will read other people’s emotions

"The Glass app is also being heralded as a step forward in 'machine-human relationships.' With recognition services like Google Now and Siri, when computers and human users talk to each other, the computers will be able to respond not only to the content of the user’s words, but also to his tone, his feelings. This should be a real marvel. As you’ve no doubt already realized, the emotion-recognition tool is all about reduction. It shrinks human feelings to simplistic labels. Therefore, what machines say back to humans will be something to behold." Continue reading →

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