Albany police: SWAT used poor black neighborhood for training because it’s ‘realistic’

"The chief of police in Albany, New York says that his department just wanted a 'realistic' setting when it frightened residents in a poor, predominately African-American neighborhood with SWAT training exercises that included firing blank ammunition and exploding flash grenades. On Thursday, Albany’s SWAT team shocked nearby residents when it stormed a public housing complex that was scheduled to be demolished, according to the Times Union. Photos circulated on Facebook over the weekend showed police in tactical gear, spent shell casings and fake blood." Continue reading

Continue ReadingAlbany police: SWAT used poor black neighborhood for training because it’s ‘realistic’

New report says there are still no federal safety standards for nation’s bioterror defense labs

"US labs that research bioterror germs such as anthrax are at risk for accidents because they do not have uniform building and operation standards, a Congressional investigative group said on Monday. A lack of oversight has persisted despite a 2009 report by the Government Accountability Office on the same topic, leaving no single agency in charge of safety or research goals at bioterror labs, the GAO said in its report. US labs that research ways to protect against bioterror germs and disease outbreaks have been on the rise since the September 11, 2001 attacks." Continue reading

Continue ReadingNew report says there are still no federal safety standards for nation’s bioterror defense labs

Vial of easily weaponized virus goes missing in Texas

"A virus that authorities worry could easily be weaponized as an aerosol went missing from a medical research facility in south Texas, an official at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston said Saturday. About a quarter of a teaspoon of frozen viral material went missing last Wednesday, UTMB President David L. Callender explained in prepared text. The virus is an exotic strain from south America called Guanarito, which can cause a life-threatening condition that includes fever, convulsions and hemmhoraging." Continue reading

Continue ReadingVial of easily weaponized virus goes missing in Texas

Calling All Of Freedom’s Friends to NY State

"You'll recall that Mr. Wassell is the first victim the People's Democratic Republic of New York has persecuted under its anti-Constitutional SAFE Act. Let's be sure that Mr. Wassell doesn't confront the totalitarians all alone: make plans to attend this upcoming stage of his trial if at all possible -- more for your sake than his. The heroic Kurt Hofmann offers an excellent summary of this kangaroo-case in today's column. I appreciate his tactic of embarrassing New York's rulers by emphasizing Mr. Wassell's status as a wounded Marine -- something those of you spreading the word about Mr. Wassell may want to stress as well." Continue reading

Continue ReadingCalling All Of Freedom’s Friends to NY State

3D Printed Guns (Documentary)

"This is a story about the rapid evolution of a technology that has forced the American legal system to play catch up. Cody Wilson, a 24 year old University of Texas Law student, is an advocate for the open source production of firearms using 3D printing technology. This makes him a highly controversial figure on both sides of the gun control issue. MOTHERBOARD sat down with Cody in Austin, Texas to talk about the constitution, the legal system, and to watch him make and test-fire a 3D-printed gun." Continue reading

Continue Reading3D Printed Guns (Documentary)

Psychopathic Kyriarchy – Our Rulers Really Are Unempathic Predators

"Psychopaths are drawn to and uniquely capable within politics. They are charismatic, show no remorse, crave power and rise to the top. Leading psychologists have built the literature on the corporate form, but statist psychopathy bears investigation. It requires a certain mindset to want to rule others. This person believes they are qualified to and morally justified in making life-changing decisions for millions at the point of a gun (state law). Desire to rule is one thing, but the qualities that enable one to rise in the political hierarchy are perhaps rarer and more pernicious. Psychopaths are manipulative, charming, narcissistic and excellent liars." Continue reading

Continue ReadingPsychopathic Kyriarchy – Our Rulers Really Are Unempathic Predators

Psychopathic Kyriarchy – Our Rulers Really Are Unempathic Predators

"Psychopaths are drawn to and uniquely capable within politics. They are charismatic, show no remorse, crave power and rise to the top. Leading psychologists have built the literature on the corporate form, but statist psychopathy bears investigation. It requires a certain mindset to want to rule others. This person believes they are qualified to and morally justified in making life-changing decisions for millions at the point of a gun (state law). Desire to rule is one thing, but the qualities that enable one to rise in the political hierarchy are perhaps rarer and more pernicious. Psychopaths are manipulative, charming, narcissistic and excellent liars." Continue reading

Continue ReadingPsychopathic Kyriarchy – Our Rulers Really Are Unempathic Predators

Iraq War Anniversary: Birth Defects And Cancer Rates At Devastating High In Basra And Fallujah

"Ten years after the start of the U.S. invasion in Iraq, doctors in some of the Middle Eastern nation's cities are witnessing an abnormally high number of cases of cancer and birth defects. Scientists suspect the rise is tied to the use of depleted uranium and white phosphorus in military assaults. Dr. Jamail says that the current rate of birth defects for the city of Fallujah has surpassed those of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the nuclear attacks at the end of World War II. A September 2012 study recorded a devastating number of birth defects in the past decade. The study also indicated that childhood leukemia and other types of cancers are on the rise." Continue reading

Continue ReadingIraq War Anniversary: Birth Defects And Cancer Rates At Devastating High In Basra And Fallujah

Ron Paul: Neo-Con War Addiction Threatens Our Future

"The neo-con ideology promotes endless war, but neo-cons fight their battles with the blood of others. From the comfortable, subsidized offices of magazines like the Weekly Standard, the neo-conservatives urge endless war – to be fought by the victims of the 'poverty draft' from states where there are few jobs. Ironically, these young people cannot find more productive work because the Federal Reserve’s endless money printing to keep the war machine turning has destroyed our economy. The six trillion dollars that will be spent on the Iraq war are merely pieces of printed paper that further erode the dollar’s purchasing power now and well into the future." Continue reading

Continue ReadingRon Paul: Neo-Con War Addiction Threatens Our Future

Retired EPA attorney leads the opposition to ‘smart meters’ in Maryland

"Tea partiers and Green Partiers, liberal Californians and conservative Texans have argued that the meters can cause health problems, or can be hacked, or give utilities too much information about customers' daily lives, or can overheat and cause fires, or underdeliver on financial benefits. The attorneys general of Connecticut, Illinois and Michigan have said in the past few years that smart-meter plans in their states do not clearly benefit consumers, given the multimillion-dollar installation costs. BGE, which began installing smart meters last year and expects to finish in 2014, will have to ask for reimbursement of the $282 million not covered by a federal grant." Continue reading

Continue ReadingRetired EPA attorney leads the opposition to ‘smart meters’ in Maryland