Winning Hearts & Minds

Egyptian protesters set fire to Muslim Brotherhood headquarters

"Egyptian protesters on Friday set fire to the Muslim Brotherhood party headquarters in the canal city of Ismailiya. Black smoke could be seen coming out of the windows of the apartment housing the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) offices, as Egyptians staged nationwide rallies against President Mohamed Morsi on the second anniversary of the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak and brought Islamists to power. The Muslim Brotherhood said protesters also attempted to storm one of its offices in the Cairo district of Tawfikiya." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgyptian protesters set fire to Muslim Brotherhood headquarters

Antiwar protester thrown out of Kerry confirmation hearing

"A protester interrupted Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) on Thursday during his confirmation hearings. The woman shouted that the United States was killing thousands of people in the Middle East who were not a threat. Security officers quickly escorted her out of the room." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAntiwar protester thrown out of Kerry confirmation hearing

‘Rise of the Drones’ Is Mostly a PBS Infomercial for the Military Defense Industry

"The widely-acclaimed PBS program, NOVA, premiered a documentary on unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. The documentary, 'Rise of the Drones,' was produced to explore how the technology is revolutionizing warfare and creating the next generation of cutting-edge surveillance. It was created to provide a glimpse at how the technology has advanced and how innovations might progress in the future. Before the documentary began, PBS noted the program had received funding from the David H. Koch Foundation for Science. It also received 'additional funding' from Lockheed Martin." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Rise of the Drones’ Is Mostly a PBS Infomercial for the Military Defense Industry

Rare trees turned into firewood as Syrian civilians struggle for warmth

"Beset by a freezing winter and stifling fuel and electricity shortages, Syrian civilians desperate to stay warm in a northern forest have no choice but to cut down trees for firewood. Once a tourist destination for Syrians and other Arabs across the Middle East, the formerly pristine national park to the north and west of the city of Idlib is being systematically stripped bare. Bald, muddy swathes of fresh-cut land now stretch in many directions, with men using chainsaws to bring trees down and dozens of pick-up trucks coming and going for loads of lumber." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRare trees turned into firewood as Syrian civilians struggle for warmth

Owner wins court battle against feds trying to seize his Tewksbury motel

"Caswell has been battling the government since September 2009 to save the motel his father built in 1955. The government sought to seize the motel using a civil asset forfeiture law that allows the government to seize property linked to drug crimes. The government introduced information about 15 specific drug-related incidents at the motel from 1994 to 2008, a period of time, the judge noted, when the motel had rented out 196,000 rooms. But Caswell has never been charged with — or even accused of — any criminal wrongdoing, the Globe reported in November." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOwner wins court battle against feds trying to seize his Tewksbury motel

“FEMA Won’t Let Us Rebuild Our Home”

"The Taylor family lives in the Natomas community in Sacramento, California. On August 24, 2012, Brad and Jennifer were driving home with their two young children when they saw smoke in their neighborhood. As they got closer to home, they realized that their house was on fire. Though shaken, both Brad and Jennifer were relieved that no one had been hurt. 'It's just a fire,' Brad said. 'It can all be replaced.' Little did they know that, thanks to regulations created by the Federal Emergency Managment Agency in the wake of Hurricane Katrina -- which hit land thousands of miles away from Sacramento -- their rebuilding nightmare was just beginning." Continue reading →

Continue Reading“FEMA Won’t Let Us Rebuild Our Home”

Spain: Unemployment For Under 25s Over 55%

"Overall, Spain's unemployment rate has risen to its highest level since measurements began in the 1970s, as a prolonged recession and deep spending cuts have left almost six million people out of work at the end of last year. The nationwide jobless total rose 1% to 26.02% in the fourth quarter of 2012, or 5.97 million people, according to the National Statistics Institute. More than 2,000 Spaniards a day joined the dole queue in the last three months of 2012. The results mean in Q4 there were 8.33 million Spanish households in which every potential worker was unemployed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSpain: Unemployment For Under 25s Over 55%

65% See Gun Rights As Protection Against Tyranny

"The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 65% of American Adults think the purpose of the Second Amendment is to make sure that people are able to protect themselves from tyranny. Only 17% disagree, while another 18% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.) Not surprisingly, 72% of those with a gun in their family regard the Second Amendment as a protection against tyranny. However, even a majority (57%) of those without a gun in their home hold that view." Continue reading →

Continue Reading65% See Gun Rights As Protection Against Tyranny

Police Shoot, Kill Dog When Going To A Home By Mistake

"Jeff Fisher said deputies went to his house by mistake. He said when they forced their way through the door his dog Ziggy ran outside and an Adams County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed him. '(He went to the door) to see who it was and the police officer shot him three times,' Fisher said. 'They killed my dog for no reason.' Fisher said he wants that deputy to be held accountable. 'I’m on the ground crying hysterically and the police officer says, ‘You need to calm down, you can get a new dog,'' said Fisher." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice Shoot, Kill Dog When Going To A Home By Mistake

Rich Taiwanese give up U.S. passports over FATCA

"A number of Taiwan residents with dual nationalities have chosen to renounce their American citizenship to avoid taxes under FATCA, formally known as Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, according to local media reports. Ruling Kuomintang Legislator Lai Shyh-bao was quoted as saying that scores of owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises and management executives have begun proceedings to relinquish their U.S. citizenship." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRich Taiwanese give up U.S. passports over FATCA