Big Lie

Japan’s nuclear crisis deepens, China expresses ‘shock’

"The U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday it viewed the situation at Fukushima 'seriously' and was ready to help if called upon, while nearby China said it was 'shocked' to hear contaminated water was still leaking from the plant, and urged Japanto provide information 'in a timely, thorough and accurate way'. The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co, or Tepco, has been criticized for its failure to prepare for the disaster and has since been accused of covering up the extent of the problems at the plant. After months of denial, Tepco recently admitted the plant was leaking contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJapan’s nuclear crisis deepens, China expresses ‘shock’

Bernanke’s Bust: Median Household Income Is Lower Today Than in 2009

"Median household income is a good test of a household’s economic well-being. Half of households earn more. Half earn less. With mean average income, the incomes of the rich skew the figure upward. Not with median income. After four years of the Federal Reserve’s tripling of the monetary base, Americans are worse off today. What’s that? Worse than in the supposed bottom of the recession? Yes. This report tells the story. Household income is down 4.4%." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBernanke’s Bust: Median Household Income Is Lower Today Than in 2009

Bernanke’s Bust: Median Household Income Is Lower Today Than in 2009

"Median household income is a good test of a household’s economic well-being. Half of households earn more. Half earn less. With mean average income, the incomes of the rich skew the figure upward. Not with median income. After four years of the Federal Reserve’s tripling of the monetary base, Americans are worse off today. What’s that? Worse than in the supposed bottom of the recession? Yes. This report tells the story. Household income is down 4.4%." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBernanke’s Bust: Median Household Income Is Lower Today Than in 2009

White House: ‘Difficult to imagine’ authorities demanding destruction of hard drives

"Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian editor, said that two GCHQ security experts oversaw the destruction of hard drives on 20 July in what he described as a 'peculiarly pointless piece of symbolism'. Rusbridger had told the authorities that the action would not prevent the Guardian reporting on the leaked US documents because Glenn Greenwald, the reporter who first broke the story, had a copy in Brazil, and a further copy was held in the US. White House spokesman, Josh Earnest, said: 'That’s very difficult to imagine a scenario in which that would be appropriate.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhite House: ‘Difficult to imagine’ authorities demanding destruction of hard drives

The price Gina Gray paid for whistleblowing through ‘proper internal channels’

"Gray is the Defense Department whistleblower whose case I have been following for five years. She was the Army civilian worker who, before and after her employment, exposed much of the wrongdoing at Arlington National Cemetery— misplaced graves, mishandled remains and financial mismanagement — and she attempted to do it through the proper internal channels. Pentagon sources have confirmed to me her crucial role in bringing the scandal to light. For her troubles, Gray was fired. Gray, who worked in Iraq as an Army contractor and Army public affairs specialist, is now unemployed and living in North Carolina." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe price Gina Gray paid for whistleblowing through ‘proper internal channels’

Peter Schiff: The GDP Distractor

"Over eons, small creeks can carve large canyons through solid rock. The same phenomenon may be at work in our economy. A minor, but persistent under bias in the inflation gauge used in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) may have created a wildly distorted picture of our economic health." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPeter Schiff: The GDP Distractor

Federal Drug Agency Denies Marijuana Is Less Toxic Than Alcohol

"The National Institute on Drug Abuse released an eyebrow-raising statement to PolitiFact on Monday, denying that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol. 'Claiming that marijuana is less toxic than alcohol cannot be substantiated since each possess their own unique set of risks and consequences for a given individual,' wrote the institute. NIDA, part of the National Institutes of Health, funds government-backed scientific research and has a stated mission 'to lead the nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFederal Drug Agency Denies Marijuana Is Less Toxic Than Alcohol

U.S. survey data casts doubt on classification of psychedelics as ‘dangerous’

"The study, published online Tuesday in PLoS One, used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health survey to investigate psychedelic drug use and mental health problems. The survey is administered annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The researchers found psychedelic use was not associated with a higher rate of mental health problems. In fact, the use of psychedelic drugs appeared to reduce the risk of mental illness, though only slightly." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. survey data casts doubt on classification of psychedelics as ‘dangerous’

White House dodges question on Sanjay Gupta’s marijuana reversal

"The White House refused to comment Tuesday on Sanjay Gupta’s vocal support of medical marijuana, continuing a pattern of ignoring the issue. During a press briefing, CQ-Roll Call reporter Steve Dennis asked White House spokesman Josh Earnest if President Barack Obama had any reaction to Gupta’s recent advocacy in favor of medical marijuana. Dennis noted that Obama had once considered appointing Gupta as surgeon general of the United States. 'I have to confess, I did not see the Sanjay Gupta column that you’re referring to, so it is hard for me to comment on it at this point,' Earnest responded." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhite House dodges question on Sanjay Gupta’s marijuana reversal