Animal Farm

Newly Hired Detroit Emergency Manager Has Some Financial Issues Of His Own

"Records show that the new Detroit emergency financial manager, Kevyn Orr, has some unpaid taxes and two liens on his Maryland home. Orr has apparently not paid $16,000 in unemployment taxes. A spokesman for Governor Rick Snyder, who recommended Orr for the job, tells the Detroit News that there was an oversight by an accountant hired to file taxes for Orr. The spokesman says Orr has researched the issue and will pay in full as soon as possible. Some opponents of the EFM say it’s interesting that Orr believes he can manage Detroit when he’s having trouble handling his own affairs. Orr was part of the legal team that worked on Chrysler’s bankruptcy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNewly Hired Detroit Emergency Manager Has Some Financial Issues Of His Own

U.S. complains about ‘excessive’ business class travel by UN staff

"The United States is taking aim at 'excessive' business class air travel by UN staff as it presses a campaign to restrain the global body’s multi-billion dollar budget. The United Nations spent at least $769 million of its general budget of more than $5 billion in 2010-11 on moving officials and staff around the world, according to UN figures. The peacekeeping department, which has its own budget, spent another $200 million. Some $54 million of the $74 million of air tickets bought at the main headquarters in New York and Geneva were business class. Diplomats say the figure is probably much higher as no clear figures have been given." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. complains about ‘excessive’ business class travel by UN staff

NYPD faces class-action lawsuit over controversial stop-and-frisk policy

"A landmark trial challenging the New York police department’s controversial stop-and-frisk policy began in a lower Manhattan court on Monday. The class action suit accuses the NYPD of violating the constitutional rights of hundreds of thousands of innocent New Yorkers on a widespread and systemic basis. New York city police officers stopped 685,724 citizens in 2011, continuing an upward trend that began when Michael Bloomberg became mayor. Nearly nine out of 10 of those stopped in 2011 had committed no crime. The vast majority were black or Latino." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNYPD faces class-action lawsuit over controversial stop-and-frisk policy

Video shows Pittsburgh cop yelling at bystanders before allegedly tazing man outside bar

"A Pittsburgh police detective with a history of accusations on his record was filmed during another apparent outburst on Sunday, yelling at bystanders and allegedly tazing a man who was trying to leave a local bar. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette posted video early Monday morning of Detective Frank Rende yelling, 'Mind your own freakin’ business' at bystanders before taking out his taser and waving Mark Keyser Jr. away from the bar on Saturday. The newspaper reported that Rende has been accused of conduct unbecoming an officer more than a dozen times during his career." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVideo shows Pittsburgh cop yelling at bystanders before allegedly tazing man outside bar

Video shows Pittsburgh cop yelling at bystanders before allegedly tazing man outside bar

"A Pittsburgh police detective with a history of accusations on his record was filmed during another apparent outburst on Sunday, yelling at bystanders and allegedly tazing a man who was trying to leave a local bar. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette posted video early Monday morning of Detective Frank Rende yelling, 'Mind your own freakin’ business' at bystanders before taking out his taser and waving Mark Keyser Jr. away from the bar on Saturday. The newspaper reported that Rende has been accused of conduct unbecoming an officer more than a dozen times during his career." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVideo shows Pittsburgh cop yelling at bystanders before allegedly tazing man outside bar

Cop Fractures Woman’s Face, Says “I’m Going to Push Your Nose Through Your Brain”

"Chicago police appeared at Rita King’s door after a domestic disturbance complaint. King was approached by a police officer with a taser, arrested and then taken to the police station. She remained handcuffed to a table while she was questioned. Then, allegedly, she refused to be fingerprinted until someone explained why she was under arrest. In entered police commander Glenn Evans who pressed his fist into King’s nose for three to five minutes, repeatedly saying, 'I’m going to push your nose through your brain.' King bled profusely, was fingerprinted and was finally released from the station. She attempted to walk home, but lost consciousness after one block." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCop Fractures Woman’s Face, Says “I’m Going to Push Your Nose Through Your Brain”

Conspiracy Theories vs. the Religion of Democracy

"The proponents of any conspiracy view of historical events are pariahs in academia. That is because these theories get close to the truth, namely, that mass democracy has not prevented special-interest messianic groups from seeking political power and wealth as ways to re-shape mankind. These groups exercise power behind many thrones. They are not pro-democracy. They are not pro-free market. They are men in search of ways to achieve what they want: a new humanity. They will use money and politics to attain this goal. The best way to overcome a conspiracy is to take away its leverage: political power in defense of the existing distribution of wealth." Continue reading →

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Sell a gun to someone who smokes a joint, get 20 years in jail

"The bill would impose a 20-year prison term if you planned ('conspired') to purchase a firearm in order to give or raffle it to a person who, unbeknownst to you, is a 'prohibited person.' Who is a prohibited person? Well, there are the 150,000 law-abiding veterans who are 'prohibited persons' –- for no other reason than that a psychiatrist appointed a fiduciary to oversee their financial affairs. But probably the biggest category of 'prohibited persons' is persons who smoke marijuana. Under 18 U.S.C. 922(d)(3) and (g)(3), you cannot possess a firearm in America if you are 'an unlawful user of ... any controlled substance...'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSell a gun to someone who smokes a joint, get 20 years in jail

Did You Smoke a Joint a Month Ago?

"In nine states you can be jailed and your driver's license suspended for 'DUI' even if you were not in the least bit high. THC is the chemical compound in marijuana that makes you high, but there are others as well that have no such effect. These latter chemicals can remain in your bloodstream for a month or so after smoking a single joint. Nine states now have laws that if such chemicals are detected by the police, then you can be jailed and fined and have your driver's license suspended, even if you are not accused of driving 'under the influence' of alcohol or any other substance. Call it revenge of the drug warriors over the inevitable national legalization of pot." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDid You Smoke a Joint a Month Ago?

Lawmakers Set To Debate ‘Policing For Profit’ Reforms

"Tennessee lawmakers are prepared to consider a major overhaul of laws that allow police to take cash off of drivers to fund their agencies. Rep. Barrett Rich's bill would completely outlaw the practice known as civil asset forfeiture. That practice allows police to take people's cash or property without charging them with a crime. A New Jersey man had $22,000 cash taken from him during a traffic stop. An officer took George Reby's money based on his suspicion that it might be drug money. The Monterey police officer had a judge to sign off on the seizure in a secret hearing, but he never told the judge about Reby's side of the story." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLawmakers Set To Debate ‘Policing For Profit’ Reforms