Mainstream News

‘Safe’ sugar levels in humans are toxic to mice

"Sugar is toxic for mice in dosages that in humans would equal a 'safe' diet that includes three cans of soda per day, scientists said Tuesday. Mice fed a diet in which sugar contributed a quarter of their daily calories did not become obese or ill, yet died younger and had fewer babies than animals on a healthy diet, said the team — raising red flags about 'added sugar' levels some consider safe for humans. 'Added sugar' is a term used for the refined stuff that is added to sweet drinks, baked goods and candy rather than the natural sugars found in fruit, vegetables and milk products. Sugar consumption in the American diet had increased by 50 percent since the 1970s." Continue reading →

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Footage of distressed cows stir questions about growth drugs

"Tyson Foods Inc declared it would no longer accept cattle that had been fed the most popular brand of the feed additive, called Zilmax, a powerful and fast-selling product from pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. The debate over Zilmax follows a similar dispute over ractopamine. China and Russia have banned the import of meat from ractopamine-fed animals, and the U.S.-based pork giant Smithfield Foods in May announced it will stop feeding ractopamine to half its pig herd, a move seen as an effort to recapture the lucrative China market. The FDA has deemed beta-agonists safe both for farm animals and for human health." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFootage of distressed cows stir questions about growth drugs

Hospital technician pleads guilty to leaving dirty needles after feeding his painkiller addiction

"A former hospital technician in New Hampshire who caused patients as old as 80 to become infected with hepatitis pleaded guilty to leaving dirty syringes for hospital use after he injected himself with stolen painkiller. The technician, David Kwiatkowski, had previously admitted to knowing that he was infected with hepatitis C. He pleaded guilty to 14 criminal counts related to seven cases in which he caused infections in patients ranging in age from about 40 to more than 80. He was working at Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire in early 2012 when he began stealing syringes of the powerful pain medication Fentanyl." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHospital technician pleads guilty to leaving dirty needles after feeding his painkiller addiction

School boards searching for Obamacare loopholes to avoid paying some benefits

"Hit by years of budget cuts, some U.S. public school boards are looking to avoid providing health benefits to substitute teachers and supporting staff under President Barack Obama’s reform law, education officials say. According to the law, employers will have to offer health coverage to all full-time employees, defined as those who work an average of 30 or more hours per week each month, or else pay a fine starting in 2015. The need to find creative solutions, or risk cutting back staff hours further, will increase as they finalize their budgets, they say." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSchool boards searching for Obamacare loopholes to avoid paying some benefits

Ron Paul blasts establishment in Ron Paul Channel debut

"Yesterday, Ron Paul launched his new internet media outlet. The fireworks began during the opening tease, with Paul claiming that President Obama 'perpetuates terror while he claims to prevent it' through his use of drone strikes to combat terrorism. The former Congressman and Republican presidential candidate also blasted the war on drugs and the Federal Reserve. That was all in the first minute. The highlight of the show was even more controversial: Paul’s exclusive interview with Glenn Greenwald. Greenwald has published the series of stories on Edward Snowden’s disclosures about the domestic surveillance activities of the NSA." Continue reading →

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Topless activist Phoenix Feeley goes on hunger strike in New Jersey jail

"Phoenix Feeley, a New York resident, is serving the sentence in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution for refusing to pay $816 in fines in connection with her 2008 arrest at a beach in Spring Lake where she was sunbathing topless in violation of a town ordinance in an act of civil disobedience. Feeley is a member of GoTopless, an organization that is campaigning for the right of women to go topless in public on the basis of gender equality. New Jersey is one of about a dozen states in the country with ambiguous topless laws. Three states – Indiana, Utah and Tennessee – have outright bans on women going shirtless in public." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTopless activist Phoenix Feeley goes on hunger strike in New Jersey jail

9 things you should know about Bitcoins

"There are a number of places where you can spend Bitcoins. If you're a user of Wordpress or popular websites like Reddit, 4Chan, The Pirate Bay, EZTV and The Internet Archive, you can use Bitcoins to make donations. If you're into online storage, you can upgrade the 50GB free storage that Kim Dotcom's Mega.co.nz offers with Bitcoins. If you like trying your luck, you can try Bitcoin gambling at places like www.satoshibet.com and www.bc-casino. com. And just a little bit of digging will even throw up shopping websites like www.somethinggeeky.com that accept Bitcoin payments." Continue reading →

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Reserve Bank of India won’t regulate virtual currency Bitcoin, yet

"India's central bank is 'watching' Bitcoin, the virtual currency that is gaining popularity among Net users, but has no intention of regulating it right now. The Reserve Bank of India, which has its hands full trying to arrest the slump in the value of the rupee, will first seek to understand Bitcoins before seeking to bring it under its purview. 'As of now we are watching and learning about the developments in Bitcoins but are not regulating it,' an RBI spokeswoman wrote in an e-mailed response. In a note published in June, the central bank acknowledged that virtual currencies 'pose challenges in the form of regulatory, legal and operational risks.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingReserve Bank of India won’t regulate virtual currency Bitcoin, yet

NPR: Lawmakers, Banking Regulators Take On Bitcoin

"CORNISH: How significant is New York's move to launch an investigation, to issue these subpoenas? BRITO: So it's interesting, people hear the word subpoena and they think something bad, right? But all the word subpoena means is that it is a request for information, right? And you're compelled to, you know, produce, you know, you're asked questions and you have to answer them. And I think that's very good. [..] So when I see New York issuing these subpoenas, being very transparent about the fact that they're going to be looking at this and asking for input, you know, I think that's very good." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNPR: Lawmakers, Banking Regulators Take On Bitcoin

U.S. Sentencing Commission expected to recommend lower sentences for drug dealing

"Prison terms for all federal drug dealing offences could be cut under a sweeping sentencing review expected to be announced on Thursday that may go much further than the tentative steps toward ending America’s 'war on drugs', begun this week by attorney general Eric Holder. The US Sentencing Commission, the independent government agency responsible for setting guidelines for judges, will meet in Washington to consider amending the 'drug quantity table' – the grid that determines prison lengths for dozens of different categories of offence. The impetus for the new push to cut sentences appears to have been driven primarily by a need to cut soaring government costs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Sentencing Commission expected to recommend lower sentences for drug dealing