Yearly Archives: 2013

Labour joins Tories in blocking UK Independence Party members from debates

"Labour leader Ed Miliband wants to block the UK Independence Party from having a role in the TV leader's debates, it emerged today. The Tories were already opposed to the idea of giving UKIP leader Nigel Farage equal status ahead of the 2015 general election. Labour had thought UKIP would only damage the Tories' election hopes. But strategists now fear UKIP's 'brand of anti-politics could damage all three main parties in unpredictable ways,' The Guardian reported." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLabour joins Tories in blocking UK Independence Party members from debates

Who Are the Monarchs of Money?

"Quietly, without much public fuss or discussion, a new ruling class has risen in the richer nations. These men and women are unelected and tend to shun the publicity hogged by the politicians with whom they co-exist. They are the world's central bankers. Every six weeks or so, they gather in Basel, Switzerland, for secret discussions and, to an extent at least, they act in concert. The decisions that emerge from those meetings affect the entire world. And yet the broad public has a dim understanding, if any, of the job they do. In fact, these individuals now wield at least as much influence over the lives of ordinary citizens as prime ministers and presidents." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWho Are the Monarchs of Money?

4 Things to Buy Before Congress Passes the Sales-Tax Law

"Last week, Congress cleared the way for a May vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act, which requires online retailers to collect sales tax on all purchases. Under current law, states can only require online sellers to collect sales tax if they have a physical presence in that state. E-books are exempt. Marketwatch says these 4 things should be bought before the bill becomes law: 1. Electronics; 2. Jewelry; 3. Designer clothes and accessories; 4. Furniture and fixtures." Continue reading →

Continue Reading4 Things to Buy Before Congress Passes the Sales-Tax Law

Did the Southern Poverty Law Center Instigate an Attempted Murder?

"The man arrested for shooting a security guard at the Family Research Council headquarters in Washington, D.C. has said in court that he got the idea by reading the Southern Poverty Law Center's 'Hate Map.' Interestingly, every time there's a multiple shooting the Southern Poverty Law Center is the first to spread the (baseless) rumor in the media that the shooter is 'thought to have links to right-wing hate groups.' There is no group of individuals more devoted to spreading hate and intolerance than the Southern Poverty Law Center. Their schtick is to label anyone who disagrees with their left-wing extremism as a 'hate group' or 'linked to' a hate group." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDid the Southern Poverty Law Center Instigate an Attempted Murder?

Washington lawmakers quietly approve bill to re-criminalize some marijuana possession

"Lawmakers in the Washington House and Senate quietly passed a bill over the weekend that will re-criminalize some marijuana possession, reacting to warnings from the state’s crime lab that the current law could make it impossible to prosecute large-quantity possession charges or large-scale marijuana growing operations. The Senate passed the measure unanimously on Saturday, according to The Associated Press. The governor was expected to sign the bill as soon as Monday, but had not yet by early afternoon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWashington lawmakers quietly approve bill to re-criminalize some marijuana possession

SWAT team sent to home of CNN’s Wolf Blitzer

"A message sent to police in Montgomery County, Virginia on Saturday caused a SWAT team to descend upon a home owned by CNN host Wolf Blitzer, under the impression that someone at the residence had just been shot. The report turned out to not be true, and Blitzer was not home at the time. Police were already suspicious of the message when they arrived on the scene, the Post noted, having received a text message sent through a phone provider’s emergency relay service. The case is yet another instance of the growing trend known as 'swatting,' where authorities are called to someone’s home under false pretenses." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSWAT team sent to home of CNN’s Wolf Blitzer

NYPD stop-and-frisk whistleblowers facing retribution

"Cops who testified against the New York City Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy have faced retribution from higher-ups and officers who subscribe to the idea that the controversial tactic, deemed unconstitutional by major courts, is fair and legal. NYPD officer Pedro Serrano told the Associated Press that, along with finding a sticker of a rat pasted to his locker, he says he's been micromanaged - including transferral to a different precinct to work an overnight shift. He also claimed that he was refused overtime hours amid an otherwise erratic schedule." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNYPD stop-and-frisk whistleblowers facing retribution

Sapulpa man, cleared by DNA evidence, plans to sue for wrongful arrest

"A Sapulpa man who was held in jail for 84 days before DNA evidence cleared him in the brutal rape of his then-girlfriend's 4-year-old daughter plans to sue the Creek County Sheriff's Office for wrongful arrest. Tommy Braden's attorney, Don Smolen, of Tulsa, sent notice earlier this month that they plan to take legal action for wrongful arrest and detention, which they allege was the result of the Sheriff's Office negligence. 'From day one he's begging them to do a DNA test,' Smolen said. 'They said they weren't going to do that because it was a waste of taxpayers' dollars.' Braden was released when a judge approved a DNA test which cleared him on July 3." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSapulpa man, cleared by DNA evidence, plans to sue for wrongful arrest

Judge Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for “Selling” Kids to Private Prisons

"Accused of perpetrating a 'profound evil,' former Pennsylvania judge Mark Ciavarella Jr. has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for illegally accepting money from a juvenile-prison developer while he spent years incarcerating thousands of young people. Prosecutors said Ciavarella sent juveniles to jail as part of a 'kids for cash' scheme involving Robert Mericle, builder of the PA and Western PA Child Care juvenile detention centers. The ex-judge was convicted in February of 12 counts that included racketeering, money laundering, mail fraud and tax evasion. In addition to his prison sentence, Ciavarella was ordered to pay nearly $1.2 million in restitution." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJudge Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison for “Selling” Kids to Private Prisons

Cops Barge Into Home, Take Baby After Parents Seek 2nd Medical Opinion

"The next day police showed up at the Nikolayev’s home with representatives from Child Protective Services (CPS). Alex went outside to meet them, where he says he was 'pushed against the building.' When he asked if he was being placed under arrest, he said they 'smacked me down onto the ground [and] yelled out, ‘I think I got the keys to the house.’' Seeing the scene outside, Anna set up a camera in front of her door. Video shows police letting themselves in without a warrant, and taking the baby. 'I’m going to grab your baby, and don’t resist, and don’t fight me okay?' one officer can be heard telling the mother in the video." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCops Barge Into Home, Take Baby After Parents Seek 2nd Medical Opinion