Winning Hearts & Minds

Ex-Marine Arrested for Wearing Wrong T-Shirt at Supreme Court

"Police had probable cause to arrest a Marine Corps veteran in the Supreme Court building for wearing a jacket that said 'Occupy Everywhere,' a federal judge ruled. Deputy Chief Timothy Dolan approached him and told Scott that he could not wear the jacket in the building because it was comparable to a sign or demonstration. Dolan told Scott he must either take off the jacket or leave the building. When Scott refused to do either, Dolan instructed another officer to place Scott under arrest for unlawful entry. Scott was released the same day, and charges against him were later dropped." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEx-Marine Arrested for Wearing Wrong T-Shirt at Supreme Court

US Egypt Policies Don’t Pass the Laugh Test

"Let’s review US policy toward Egypt to see the foolish hypocrisy of the government’s interventionism: First the US props up the unelected Hosni Mubarak for decades, spending tens of billions of dollars to keep him in power. Then the US provides assistance to those who in 2011 successfully overthrew Mubarak. Then the US demands an election. The Egyptians held an election that was deemed free and fair and shortly afterward the US-funded military overthrows the elected president. Then the US government warns the military that it needs to restore democracy – the very democracy that was destroyed by military coup! All this they do with a straight face.." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS Egypt Policies Don’t Pass the Laugh Test

Catholic Priest Allegedly Beheaded in Syria by Al-Qaeda-Linked Rebels Who Take Pictures and Cheer

"The Catholic news service quotes local sources who report that the radical Al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, or Al-Nusra Front, was behind the savage killing. Dozens of men and boys are seen cheering on as three men are seated on the ground awaiting their grisly fate. The men are methodically beheaded one at a time by men holding what appears to be a simple kitchen knife after which the heads are placed on top of the bodies. A frenzy ensues, with dozens drawing out their smartphones to capture the bloody scene. Catholic Online is raising alarm that western nations are providing support to the rebels who have shown a proclivity toward persecuting Christians." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCatholic Priest Allegedly Beheaded in Syria by Al-Qaeda-Linked Rebels Who Take Pictures and Cheer

When is a coup not a coup?

"Republicans also voiced strong support for Egypt’s military, whose close ties to Washington stretch back to the 1979 Israeli-Egypt peace accords. 'The Egyptian military has long been a key partner of the United States and a stabilizing force in the region, and is perhaps the only trusted national institution in Egypt today,' said U.S. Representative Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House. 'Democracy is about more than elections,' he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhen is a coup not a coup?

Bolivia’s President Evo Morales threatens to close U.S. embassy

"Bolivia’s president threatened to close the US embassy as leftist Latin American leaders joined him in blasting Europe and the United States after his plane was rerouted amid suspicions US fugitive Edward Snowden was aboard. President Evo Morales, who has suggested the United States pressured European nations to deny him their airspace, warned he would 'study, if necessary, closing the US embassy in Bolivia.' 'We don’t need a US embassy in Bolivia,' he said. 'My hand would not shake to close the US embassy. We have dignity, sovereignty. Without the United States, we are better politically, democratically.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBolivia’s President Evo Morales threatens to close U.S. embassy

European Union ministers back ban on menthol cigarettes

"European Union health ministers on Friday approved plans to ban menthol and other flavoured cigarettes as part of a crackdown on youth smoking. The proposed legislation must now be voted on by the European parliament. Irish Health Minister James Reilly, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, said it was a 'a huge step forward in the fight against tobacco use'. EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg, himself a former smoker, said he believed the ban could be in place within three years. They also agreed to force tobacco companies to cover 65 percent of cigarette packets with health warnings and gruesome pictures." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEuropean Union ministers back ban on menthol cigarettes

“Miracle” Cannabis Oil May Treat Cancer, But Money and the Law Stand in the Way of Finding Out

"All 26 of Finley's referrals had stage 4 cancers — brain tumors, colon cancers, lung cancers — which means the malignant growths had metastasized to other organs. Most had prognoses of a few months to live, some had less than six weeks. All complemented modern Western medicine treatments such as chemotherapy with the concentrated oil — and all but one have survived, she says. A patient's prognosis can very widely depending on the type of cancer, but the disease is a reliable killer at stage 4, meaning Finley's patients' 96 percent survival rate is unheard-of. Most maddening to some is the fact that none of this is new." Continue reading →

Continue Reading“Miracle” Cannabis Oil May Treat Cancer, But Money and the Law Stand in the Way of Finding Out

Activists converge on Rahm Emanuel’s home for Fourth of July protest

"As of Thursday afternoon, over 400 people had indicated on a Facebook event page that they would be attending the 'Block Party to Fight Austerity at Rahm’s House.' 'Let’s gather at Chase Park (Ashland and Leland) at noon, then march over to Rahm Emanuel’s house for a street dance party to celebrate citywide resistance to budget cuts and other austerity measures that hurt poor and working people in order to make the super-rich even richer,' the organizers wrote. 'At a time when working people are already struggling to make ends meet, Mayor Emanuel is eliminating thousands of jobs across the city every year,' organizer Greg Goodman explained to the station." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingActivists converge on Rahm Emanuel’s home for Fourth of July protest

More Texas women sue police over ‘unconstitutional’ roadside body cavity search

"The Houston Chronicle reported that the suit names Trooper Nathaniel Turner, who claimed he smelled marijuana in the car and called a female trooper even though a 'search and seizure was highly unreasonable.' The suit also names the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, responding officer Brazoria County Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Kindred and the Brazoria County sheriff. In dashcam footage, Hamilton can be heard saying 'Do you know how violated I feel?' to Trooper Jennie Bui as she was searched. Randle said that the she only had one glove that was used to search both of them." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMore Texas women sue police over ‘unconstitutional’ roadside body cavity search