Yearly Archives: 2013

Government Continues Its Attack On The Fifth And Sixth Amendments

"The courts have already found that simply not answering questions post-arrest can be used as evidence of guilt. But what happens when you ask for legal representation before the police have arrested or detained you? The prosecution argued that Okatan's request for a lawyer was itself an admission of guilt. While we all supposedly have a right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, the government (meaning law enforcement and prosecutors -- both operatives of the state) have been poking and prodding at the amendments' weak spots over the years, turning these 'rights' into privileges that have to be asserted loudly, unwaveringly and timed correctly. What a joke." Continue reading →

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J. Cole and TLC Take Down the War on Drugs in ‘Crooked Smile’

"J. Cole takes on the war on drugs in his new video for the Born Sinner track 'Crooked Smile,' featuring TLC. Cole plays a family man who cares deeply for his daughter, juxtaposing this against a white DEA agent who is also a single father. But though Cole slings baggies of marijuana, he's far from a violent criminal, inviting his parents over for his daughter's birthday and making a cake especially for her. Both sides collide tragically when DEA agents raid the house and Cole's daughter is shot, rattling everyone involved in the takedown. The rapper has a direct message with the video: he is honoring deceased seven-year-old Aiyana Stanley-Jones, who was killed during a 2010 police raid in Detroit." Continue reading →

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NYPD urging people to upgrade Apple devices to iOS7 because it is ‘safer’

"New York police officers were handing out flyers to people around New York City on Saturday urging them to upgrade their devices to Apple's new iOS7 operating system. NYPD's Public Awareness Notice promotes the software as giving 'added security to your devices'. The NYPD notice also urges people to register their devices with their 'Operation Identification Program'. One of those given a flyer was Michael Hoffman, who posted a picture on his Twitter account showing the paper from the police that was given to him at his subway stop. His tweet says: 'Four uniformed NYPD officers were at my subway stop tonight asking me to upgrade to iOS 7. Not a joke!'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNYPD urging people to upgrade Apple devices to iOS7 because it is ‘safer’

Charges dropped against parent arrested for speaking against Common Core

"The Baltimore County state's attorney's office dropped assault charges Monday against Robert Small, who had been led out of the Thursday night meeting in Towson by an off-duty police officer. Small interrupted education officials, complaining that new standards were aimed at sending children to community colleges. 'It was clear that Mr. Small violated the rules of the meeting and disrupted the meeting. It was also clear that the officer acted appropriately and did have probable cause to make an arrest on both charges,' the state's attorney's office said in a statement. A YouTube video of him being escorted out of the room by the police officer has been viewed more than 500,000 times." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCharges dropped against parent arrested for speaking against Common Core

Common Core: A Lesson Plan for Raising Up Compliant, Non-Thinking Citizens

"When viewed in light of the government’s ongoing attempts to amass power at great cost to Americans—in terms of free speech rights, privacy, due process, etc.—the debate over Common Core State Standards, which would transform and nationalize school curriculum from kindergarten through 12th grade, becomes that much more critical. Essentially, these standards, which were developed through a partnership between big government and corporations, are being rolled out in 45 states and D.C., and will create a generation of test-takers capable of little else, molded and shaped by the federal government and its corporate allies into what it considers to be ideal citizens." Continue reading →

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‘Biometric Classroom’ Monitors Students’ Eye Movements And Conversations

"A report from Yahoo News Tuesday detailed a group of New York engineers who are developing a 'biometric classroom' monitoring program that will track students' every move. Sean Montgomery, co-founder and engineer for SensorStar Labs, says tracking students’ eye movements, conversations and smiles with 'EngageSense' cameras will help teachers improve classroom learning. Algorithms in the program will crunch the raw visual and audio data to give teachers detailed information on students’ actions. Teachers will then be advised on how to better engage students." Continue reading →

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Slave Dollars: State Guarantee Private Prisons 96% Occupancy

"If the governments don’t maintain the specified number of people behind bars, they have to pay penalties to the companies that operate private prisons. The state of Colorado paid $2 million to companies because the rate of crime and the number of convicts in the state fell by a third in the last 10 years. The profit driven prisons put pressure on law enforcement and prosecutors to try to charge and convict individuals of more serious crimes just to fill prison beds. It also encourages authorities to send prisoners to private penitentiaries rather than state facilities even if they are cheaper. The number of prisoners in private verses public prisons has increased by 1,664% over the last 19 years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSlave Dollars: State Guarantee Private Prisons 96% Occupancy

Woman sues for false arrest for complaint about officer’s trooper brother

"City police stand accused in a federal lawsuit of falsely arresting a local woman after she tried to lodge a complaint against an off-duty state trooper whose brother is a Saratoga Springs police officer. Alicia Garafalo claims her constitutional rights were violated by city police after she was arrested on the charges of second-degree harassment and second-degree obstructing governmental administration. She claims the police lodged the charges against her after she tried to file a complaint against Kenneth Ahigian, an off-duty trooper who engaged in a fracas with her friends inside and outside the City Tavern on Caroline Street nearly four years ago." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWoman sues for false arrest for complaint about officer’s trooper brother

Houston police chief suspended for one day for hitting pedestrian

"Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland has been suspended for one day without pay for accidentally striking a pedestrian earlier this month. The punishment was handed down by Mayor Annise Parker. McClelland said he would also take defensive driving. The chief was on his way to work on September 4th when he stopped at Clay and Travis in downtown Houston. 'I made a left turn on Clay, from Clay onto Travis. I had a green light and he had a green light to walk across the street. For whatever reason, I didn’t see him,' Chief McClelland explained the day of the accident. When the pedestrian stepped off the curb, the chief’s car struck him." Continue reading →

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