Mainstream News

911 Dispatcher Tells Sexual Assault Victim No Cops Will Help Her Due To Budget Cuts

"An Oregon woman was told by a 911 dispatcher that authorities wouldn’t be able be able to help her as her ex-boyfriend broke into her place because of budget cuts. Her call was forwarded to Oregon State Police because of lay-offs at the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office only allows the department to be open Monday through Friday. The sheriff’s department had to cut 23 deputies and the entire major crimes unit after it lost a multi-million dollar federal subsidy, according to Oregon Public Radio. The sheriff’s department even put out a press release warning domestic violence victims to 'consider relocating to an area with adequate law enforcement services.'" Continue reading →

Continue Reading911 Dispatcher Tells Sexual Assault Victim No Cops Will Help Her Due To Budget Cuts

The Dark Side of Liberation: Rape By American Soldiers In WWII France

"The soldiers who landed in Normandy on D-Day were greeted as liberators, but by the time American G.I.’s were headed back home in late 1945, many French citizens viewed them in a very different light. In the port city of Le Havre, the mayor was bombarded with letters from angry residents complaining about drunkenness, jeep accidents, sexual assault — 'a regime of terror,' as one put it, 'imposed by bandits in uniform.' Ms. Roberts also found a desperate letter from the mayor in August 1945 urging American commanders to set up brothels outside the city, to halt the 'scenes contrary to decency' that overran the streets, day and night." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Dark Side of Liberation: Rape By American Soldiers In WWII France

Texas votes to abolish taxation of gold

"The Texas Senate on Wednesday night passed H.B. 78, a bill that eliminates the sales tax on precious metal coins and bullion. It now goes to Governor Rick Perry’s desk for his signature into law. Existing Texas statute applies the 6.25% sales tax to purchases of gold and silver under $1,000. 'This sends a powerful message to other states that taxing gold makes no sense because gold is money,' said Rich Danker. 'What is particularly right about this bill is that it removes a tax that affected middle and lower income people who wanted to acquire gold. These are the people losing the most from the long-term erosion in the dollar’s value and need this sound money option.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas votes to abolish taxation of gold

Texas votes to abolish taxation of gold

"The Texas Senate on Wednesday night passed H.B. 78, a bill that eliminates the sales tax on precious metal coins and bullion. It now goes to Governor Rick Perry’s desk for his signature into law. Existing Texas statute applies the 6.25% sales tax to purchases of gold and silver under $1,000. 'This sends a powerful message to other states that taxing gold makes no sense because gold is money,' said Rich Danker. 'What is particularly right about this bill is that it removes a tax that affected middle and lower income people who wanted to acquire gold. These are the people losing the most from the long-term erosion in the dollar’s value and need this sound money option.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas votes to abolish taxation of gold

‘The Rendition Project’ sheds new light on U.S. global kidnap and secret detention program

"A groundbreaking research project has mapped the US government’s global kidnap and secret detention programme, shedding unprecedented light on one of the most controversial secret operations of recent years. The interactive online project – by two British universities and a legal charity – has uncovered new details of the way in which the so-called extraordinary rendition programme operated for years in the wake of the September 11 attacks, and the techniques used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to avoid detection in the face of growing public concern." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘The Rendition Project’ sheds new light on U.S. global kidnap and secret detention program

The Top 10 Companies With The Best Business Outlook According To Employees

"Following Google’s I/O conference and its share price breakthrough this week, it looks like techies and shareholders may not be the only ones feeling the energy around the company’s business. We look at the Top 10 Companies with the Best Business Outlook, according to employees, and Google stands out at number one – 86% of employees believe the company’s business outlook will improve in the next six months. The online company review survey that employees voluntarily and anonymously complete includes the question: 'Do you believe your company’s business outlook will get better, stay the same or get worse in the next six months?'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Top 10 Companies With The Best Business Outlook According To Employees

Bitcoin more powerful than fastest supercomputers

"The power of all the computers networked together to maintain the digital currency's system far exceeds the combined processing strength of the top 500 most powerful supercomputers. Easily. The matchup isn't even close. At any given moment, Bitcoin's peer-to-peer network contains thousands of computers linked together to generate more than 1,000 petaflops of raw computing power. To put that in perspective, the world's fastest supercomputer, Titan, runs at less than 18 petaflops. The Bitcoin network is sucking down nearly $200,000 a day in electricity costs. That's stunning for an 'economy' that sprang into being just four years ago." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBitcoin more powerful than fastest supercomputers

West Point sergeant accused of filming naked female cadets without their consent

"A West Point sergeant in charge of teaching cadets has been accused of videotaping a dozen female officers without their consent, including times when they were in the shower, according to military officials. The Army confirmed reports Wednesday it had filed charges against Sgt. 1st Class Michael McClendon under four articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice for cruelty and maltreatment, indecent acts, dereliction in the performance of duty and actions prejudicial to good order and discipline. The charges, filed May 14, come at a time when the U.S. military has come under intense scrutiny for the way it handles sexual harassment and abuse cases." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWest Point sergeant accused of filming naked female cadets without their consent

The reality is Americans aren’t that concerned about drones

"Support for the drone program varies across demographic and political groups about like you’d expect. Across pretty much all polling, Republicans, by about 10pts, are more likely to support drone use in general than Democrats, though majorities of both parties support it. Men are more likely to favor it than women, by anywhere from 7pts to 20pts. Again, however, more women favor the drone program in general than oppose it. Why are Democrats and women more likely to oppose drone usage? It’s not because of the program’s murky legality. Americans’ number one worry is that the program endangers civilian lives." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe reality is Americans aren’t that concerned about drones

IRS head Lois Lerner invokes 5th Amendment but may be compelled to testify anyway

"The woman at the center of the IRS scandal refused to testify to Congress on Wednesday, but House Republicans said Lois Lerner botched her attempt to invoke her right against self-incrimination and said they likely will force her to come back and explain why the agency targeted conservative political groups. Ms. Lerner’s refusal to testify shifted attention to her onetime boss, former Commissioner Douglas H. Shulman, who apologized to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee but refused to take responsibility, leaving furious lawmakers warning that the Internal Revenue Service could end up facing a special prosecutor." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIRS head Lois Lerner invokes 5th Amendment but may be compelled to testify anyway