DECEMBER 2010
Today In
History Friday December 31, 2010
1775 - The British repulsed an attack by Continental Army generals
Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold at Quebec. Montgomery was killed
in the battle.
1841 - The State of Alabama enacted the first dental legislation in the
U.S.
1857 - Britain's Queen Victoria decided to make Ottawa the capital of
Canada.
1862 - U.S. President Lincoln signed an act admitting West Virginia to
the Union.
1877 - U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes became the first U.S.
President to celebrate his silver (25th) wedding anniversary in the
White House.
1891 - New York's new Immigration Depot was opened at Ellis Island, to
provide improved facilities for the massive numbers of arrivals.
1897 - Brooklyn, NY, spent its last day as a separate entity before
becoming part of New York City.
1923 - In London, the BBC first broadcast the chimes of Big Ben.
1929 - Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians played "Auld Lang Syne" as a
New Year's Eve song for the first time.
1946 - U.S. President Truman officially proclaimed the end of
hostilities in World War II.
1955 - General Motors became the first U.S. corporation to earn more
than one billion dollars in a single year.
1960 - The farthing coin, which had been in use in Great Britain since
the 13th century, ceased to be legal tender.
1961 - In the U.S., the Marshall Plan expired after distributing more
than $12 billion in foreign aid.
1974 - Private U.S. citizens were allowed to buy and own gold for the
first time in more than 40 years.
1978 - Taiwanese diplomats struck their colors for the final time from
the embassy flagpole in Washington, DC. The event marked the end of
diplomatic relations with the U.S.
1979 - At year end oil prices were 88% higher than at the start of 1979.
1997 - Michael Kennedy, 39-year-old son of the late U.S. Sen. Robert F.
Kennedy, was killed in a skiing accident on Aspen Mountain in Colorado.
1999 - Russian President Boris Yeltsin resigned. Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin was designated acting president.
1999 - Five hijackers left the airport where they had been holding 150
hostages on an Indian Airlines plane. They left with two Islamic clerics
that they had demanded be freed from an Indian prison. The plane had
been hijacked during a flight from Katmandu, Nepal to New Dehli on
December 24.
1999 - Sarah Knauss died at the age of 119 years. She was the world's
oldest person. She was born September 24, 1880.
Child cancer cluster confounds tiny Ohio town
Mysterious tumors have sickened dozens of kids in recent years in Clyde,
Ohio. After three years of exhaustive investigation, no cause is known.
Investigators have tested wells and public drinking water, sampled
groundwater and air near factories and checked homes, schools and
industries for radiation. They also set up a network of air monitors
across eastern Sandusky County, finding cleaner air than in most places
around Ohio, the health department said. Nothing unusual was detected.
Not even a hint. Read More...
Blizzard delays $1 billion in retail spending
The blizzard that swept through the Northeast on Sunday and Monday
delayed $1 billion in retail spending, according to research firm
ShopperTrak, but won't derail a holiday shopping season expected to be
the best since 2007.
Meat, poultry to have nutrition labels by 2012
Nutritional labels will be mandatory on 40 popular cuts of meat and
poultry products beginning in 2012, a measure the U.S. Department of
Agriculture said on Wednesday will make it easier for consumers to
understand the content of the foods they buy.
$8 Million Worth Of Equipment 'Lost Or Misplaced' By The U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
The report was released this week by the inspector general for the
Department of Health and Human Services, the parent agency of the CDC.
In 2007, the auditors checked on 200 randomly sampled items and found 15
were lost or not inventoried, including a $1.8 million hard disk drive
and a $978,000 video conferencing system.
16 U.S. cities that could face bankruptcy in 2011
2011 will be the year of the municipal default. At least that's what
analysts like Meredith Whitney predict, as do bond investors that have
been fleeing the muni market.There are many reasons to be worried.
First, the expiration of Build America Bonds will make it harder for
cities to raise funds.
Second, city revenues are crashing and keep getting worse. Property
taxes haven't reflected the total damage from the housing crash. High
joblessness is cutting into city revenues, while increasing costs for
services.
Shanghai Pushing Gold to $1,600 Thwarts Fight to Shut Mines
China displaced South Africa as the world’s biggest gold producer in
2007, the same year Li was diagnosed. Its imports through October also
rose almost fivefold from the total shipped in last year, surprising
analysts including Yuichi Ikemizu, the head of commodity trading at
Standard Bank Plc in Tokyo. “China is the biggest bullish factor in the
gold market,” says Ikemizu, who forecasts gold may hit $1,600 an ounce
next year. The price hit a record $1,431.25 an ounce on Dec. 7. “Gold
doesn’t have much room to go down.”
The Lull Before the Storm
This week—what with Christmas on one end and the new year’s celebration
on the other, and everthing in between covered in snow—nothing much is
gonna happen: It’s a week that’s about as dead as Dillinger. So I
figured I should take stock of where we are—and more importantly, where
we’re going.
'No Refusal' DUI Checkpoints Could Be Coming to Tampa
Tampa, Florida-- With New Year's Eve only days away, the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration expects this to be one of the
deadliest weeks of the year on the roads.
Report From Iron
Mountain; Using Fear to Make People Subservient to Government
The substance of these stratagems [for the weakening of the United
States so it can be more easily merged into a global government based on
the model of collectivism] can be traced to a think-tank study released
in 1966 called the Report from Iron Mountain.
Jobless Claims: Hairy Hissmas And A Crappy New Year (12/30)
Yeah, ok. Amusing number, really - the DOL invented 133,000 seasonal
adjustment jobs! That is, the unadjusted, actual number was 521,834.
That's up 24,879 from the previous week. This is particularly
troublesome to me for a number of reasons - with the week shortened by
Christmas Eve (offices closed to a large degree) we should have seen
fewer unadjusted claims and the adjustment should have been upward, not
downward, to account for the holiday closures.
American Eagle Silver Coin Sales are Temporarily Suspended
Production of United States Mint American Eagle Silver Uncirculated
Coins continues to be temporarily suspended because of unprecedented
demand for American Eagle Silver Bullion Coins.
Initial Claims Print at 388K, Far Lower Than Expectations of 418K, Non-
Seasonally Adjusted Claims Jump to 521K
And the year end seasonal divergence starts: while seasonally adjusted
claims came at 388,000, a 34,000 drop from the prior week, and 30k below
consensus, it is the Non-Seasonally adjusted number which probably
provides a far better indication of what is happening: and at 521,834 it
was a 24,879 increase from last week's 497k.
South Korea; North Korea Builds Up Special Forces
SEOUL, South Korea—North Korea has faster, more powerful tanks prowling
the world's most heavily armed border and 200,000 special forces poised
to carry out assassinations and cause havoc in South Korea, a major
military review said Thursday.
Palestine
Today: A Reality of Justice Denied
"Israeli military kills 20-year old Gazan for herding animals too close
to buffer zone.
Experts: Food and Fuel Shortages Imminent as New Ice Age Dawns
With an Ice Age comes abrupt change, and with change comes
death—sometimes death on a massive scale.
Nigeria's Deal to Drop Cheney Charges Called Illegal
Lawyers and media pundits in Nigeria are accusing the government of
acting illegally by agreeing to settle criminal bribery charges against
Dick Cheney out of court.
Terrorist Watch List: One Tip Now Enough to Put Name in Database,
Officials Say
A year after a Nigerian man allegedly tried to blow up a Detroit-bound
airliner, officials say they have made it easier to add individuals'
names to a terrorist watch list and improved the government's ability to
thwart an attack in the United States.
UK Winter May Be Coldest in 1000 Years
BRITAIN’S winter is the coldest since 1683 and close to being the
chilliest in nearly 1,000 years.
Sanitation Workers Selfishly Slowed Down the Clean-Up
Selfish Sanitation Department bosses from the snow-slammed outer
boroughs ordered their drivers to snarl the blizzard cleanup to protest
budget cuts -- a disastrous move that turned streets into a minefield
for emergency-services vehicles, The Post has learned.
Rare Hurricane-Strength Winds Batter LA Area; More Snow and Ice On Way
A rare blast of hurricane-strength winds was topped by a 94 mph gust
measured by the National Weather Service at 3:57 a.m. Thursday at
Whitaker Peak.
President and Family on Multi-Million Dollar Christmas Vacation in
Hawaii ( And we pay for this! Where is our vacation?)
President Obama and his family are enjoying a delightful Christmas
vacation with friends and family in the chief executive's home state of
Hawaii.
Internet Groups Fear UN Could Threaten Cyberspace
Autocratic governments like China and Iran attended the meeting, as did
several democratic ones. Despite protests by Portugal and the United
States, they voted to staff a working group on the future of the
Internet Governance Forum -- an important theatre of discussion on
matters of cyberspace -- by governments alone.
Oil Could Push to $110
It's "certainly possible" that the price of a barrel of oil will push
above $100 a barrel, Daryl Guppy, CEO of
Guppytraders.com,
told CNBC Thursday.
3.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits North Central Indiana
An earthquake about 5 miles below the ground hit north central Indiana
shortly before sunrise today.
China Preparing for Armed Conflict 'In Every Direction'
China is preparing for conflict 'in every direction', the defence
minister said on Wednesday in remarks that threaten to overshadow a
visit to Beijing by his US counterpart next month.
Gold Hits Three-Week on Weak Dollar
Weakness in the US dollar and a year-end flurry of investment in
commodities pushed gold to its highest in three weeks on Thursday, while
palladium hit fresh nine-year highs after having almost doubled in price
this year.
Hundreds of Herbal Products to Be Outlawed Against Across EU in Early
2011
The global effort to outlaw herbs, vitamins and supplements is well
under way, and in just four months, hundreds of herbal products will be
criminalized in the UK and across the EU. It's all part of an EU
directive passed in 2004 which erects "disproportionate" barriers
against herbal remedies by requiring them to be "licensed" before they
can be sold.
Human Exposure to BPA Grossly Underestimated
People in the United States are probably exposed to levels of the
hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) at levels far higher than
previously believed, according to a study conducted by researchers from
the University of Missouri and published in the journal Environmental
Health Perspectives.
Today In
History Thursday December 30, 2010
1853 - The United States bought about 45,000 square miles of land from
Mexico in a deal known as the Gadsden Purchase.
1887 - A petition to Queen Victoria with over one million names of women
appealing for public houses to be closed on Sundays was handed to the
home secretary.
1903 - About 600 people died when fire broke out at the Iroquois Theater
in Chicago, IL.
1911 - Sun Yat-sen was elected the first president of the Republic of
China.
1919 - Lincoln's Inn, in London, admitted the first female bar student.
1922 - The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was formed.
1924 - Edwin Hubble announced the existence of other galactic systems.
1927 - The first subway in the Orient was dedicated in Tokyo, Japan.
1935 - Italian bombers destroyed a Swedish Red Cross unit in Ethiopia.
1936 - The United Auto Workers union staged its first sit-down strike,
at the Fisher Body Plant in Flint, MI.
1940 - California's first freeway was officially opened. It was the
Arroyo Seco Parkway connecting Los Angeles and Pasadena.
1944 - King George II of Greece proclaimed a regency to rule his
country, virtually renouncing the throne.
1947 - King Michael of Romania abdicated in favor of a Communist
Republic. He claimed he was forced from his throne.
1953 - The first color TV sets went on sale for about $1,175.
1972 - The United States halted its heavy bombing of North Vietnam.
1980 - "The Wonderful World of Disney" was cancelled by NBC after more
than 25 years on the TV. It was the longest-running series in prime-time
television history.
1993 - Israel and the Vatican established diplomatic relations.
1996 - About 250,000 striking workers shut down vital services across
Israel in protests against budget cuts proposed by Prime Minister
Netanyahu.
1997 - More than 400 people were massacred in four villages in the
single worst incident during Algeria's insurgency.
US
Foreclosures Jump in Third Quarter
U.S. home foreclosures jumped in the third quarter and banks' efforts to
keep borrowers in their homes dropped as the housing market continues to
struggle, U.S. bank regulators said on Wednesday.
Oil Juggernaut Unleashed
The prevalence of crude is undeniable. You might dabble in green-think
cultism or you might drive an obnoxious monolith of a Hummer (what I
like to call an “overcompensation-mobile”), but neither philosophy of
consumption dares to contradict that this world runs on oil.
Consumer Confidence Falls Yet Retail Sales Rise as Christmas Miracles
Continue
The market continues to putter along in the last trading week of a year
that has thoroughly confused Money McBags like the subprime meltdown
confused Ben Stein, the cosmological constant confused Einstein, or a
grocery store freezer confused Carrie Harkness.
Pentagon's Revolving Door Guarantees Conflicts of Interest
When a general-turned-businessman arrives at the Pentagon, he is often
treated with extraordinary deference — as if still in uniform — which
can greatly increase his effectiveness as a rainmaker for industry. The
military even has name for it — the “bobblehead effect.’’
If Housing Prices Keep Falling This Fast, the Economy is Screwed
Housing guru Robert Shiller says the decline in October's Case-Shiller
house-price index was much worse than expected (over 10% annualized).
New Research Reveals Your Hand Soap Could Kill You
Death by hand soap? It's no joke and worried researchers are trying to
get the word out to the public about this latest health risk.
Petro Fracking Booms NAFTA Oil Resources
Why this is really interesting is that it is not just petroleum
byproducts, but liquefied propane. That is something that we know will
happily come back up the well in the gas portion of the product stream.
Iraqi Prime Minister Says US Forces Must Leave On Time
BAGHDAD—Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ruled out the presence of any
U.S. troops in Iraq after the end of 2011, saying his new government and
the country's security forces were capable of confronting any remaining
threats to Iraq's security, sovereignty and unity.
Pope to Issue New Finance Rules
The Vatican will issue new rules Thursday designed to make its financial
transactions more transparent after a money laundering probe resulted in
the seizure of €23 million ($30.2 million) from a Vatican account.
Yen's Gain Worsens Government Woes
Japan's finance minister described the yen's recent rises as "one-sided"
and threatened to intervene again in the currency market to curb its
strength, as the yen marked three-week highs against the dollar—a cause
for nervousness among Japanese exporters.
US Drone Strikes Kill 25 in North Waziristan
A pair of US drone strikes in the Mir Ali village of North Waziristan
have left at least 25 people dead. The drones targeted a pair of
vehicles but also appear to have killed a number of people around those
vehicles as well.
Stranded Fliers Might Not Get Home Until Thursday
The nightmare continued Tuesday for travelers trying to fly to or from
the Northeast. Airports opened but there were plenty of delays, even
more lines and fears that delays could stretch on for days.
Rain, Possible Mudslides for Los Angeles, San Diego Areas
Rain spreading over Los Angeles and San Diego today could trigger new
mudslides and flooding problems as many residents are still cleaning up
from last week's barrage of storms.
White House Plans to Push Global Warming Policy, GOP Vows Fight
After failing to get climate-change legislation through Congress, the
Obama administration plans on pushing through its environmental policies
through other means, and Republicans are ready to put up a fight.
Forecasters Keep Eye on Looming 'Solar Max'
The coming year will be an important one for space weather as the Sun
pulls out of a trough of low activity and heads into a long-awaited and
possibly destructive period of turbulence.
Are You Prepared for the Inevitable?
Well, we’ve almost reached the end of another year. Much has been
written and published by a host of commentators about the ominous signs
ahead for our country’s government, economy, health and spirituality.
Food Safety Bill Invokes Codex Harmonization and Grant FDA Authority to
Police Food Safety of Foreign Nations
Of all the talk about S.510, virtually no one has actually read the
language in the bill -- especially not those lawmakers who voted for it.
Pomegranate Juice Components Block Cancer Cell Migration
One of the most dreaded consequences of cancer is when the disease
metastasizes -- meaning it spreads from the primary site where it
started to other parts of the body.
Obscene, Threatening Comments Posted at Anti-TSA Website Traced to
Homeland Security Servers
Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seem to
now be going on the offensive against those who oppose its new invasive
and unconstitutional airport security protocols being carried out by
agents of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Vitamin D Levels Found to be Extremely Low in Women With Breast Cancer
Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the development of breast cancer,
according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of
South Carolina and presented at the Third American Association for
Cancer Research Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities
in Miami.
Today In
History Wednesday December 29, 2010
1812 - The USS Constitution won a battle with the British ship HMS Java
about 30 miles off the coast of Brazil. Before Commodore William
Bainbridge ordered the sinking of the Java he
had her wheel removed to replace the one the Constitution had lost
during the battle.
1813 - The British burned Buffalo, NY, during the War of 1812.
1837 - Canadian militiamen destroyed the Caroline, a U.S. steamboat
docked at Buffalo, NY.
1845 - U.S. President James Polk and signed legislation making Texas the
28th state of the United States.
1848 - U.S. President James Polk turned on the first gas light at the
White House.
1860 - The HMS Warrior, Britain's first seagoing first iron-hulled
warship, was launched.
1888 - The first Performance of Macbeth took place at the Lyceum
Theatre.
1890 - The U.S. Seventh Cavalry massacred over 400 men, women and
children at Wounded Knee Creek, SD. This was the last major conflict
between Indians and U.S. troops.
1934 - The first regular-season, college basketball game was played at
Madison Square Garden in New York City. New York University defeated
Notre Dame 25-18.
1934 - Japan renounced the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 and the
London Naval Treaty of 1930.
1940 - During World War II, Germany began dropping incendiary bombs on
London.
1945 - Sheb Wooley recorded the first commercial record made in
Nashville, TN.
1949 - KC2XAK of Bridgeport, Connecticut became the first ultrahigh
frequency (UHF) television station to begin operating on a regular daily
schedule.
1952 - The first transistorized hearing aid was offered for sale by
Sonotone Corporation.
1975 - A bomb exploded in the main terminal of New York's LaGuardia
Airport. 11 people were killed.
1985 - Phil Donahue and a Soviet radio commentator hosted the "Citizens’
Summit" via satellite TV.
1989 - Following Hong Kong's decision to forcibly repatriate some
Vietnamese refugees, thousands of Vietnamese 'boat people' battled with
riot police.
1996 - The Guatemalan government and leaders of the leftist Guatemalan
National Revolutionary Union signed a peace accord in Guatemala City,
ending a civil war that had lasted 36 years.
1997 - Hong Kong began killing 1.25 million chickens, the entire
population, for fear of the spread of 'bird flu'.
1998 - Khmer Rouge leaders apologized for the 1970s genocide in Cambodia
that claimed 1 million lives.
More than 25% of Kids and Teens in the U.S. Take Prescriptions on a
Regular Basis
Children and teens are also taking a wide variety of other medications
once considered only to be for adults, from statins to diabetes pills
and sleep drugs, according to figures provided to The Wall Street
Journal by IMS Health, a research firm. Prescriptions for
antihypertensives in people age 19 and younger could hit 5.5 million
this year if the trend though September continues, according to IMS.
That would be up 17% from 2007, the earliest year available.
VIDEO:
Ron Paul Competing Currencies Can 'End the Fed' Softly
The distinguished gentleman from Texas Ron Paul explaining why freedom
in currencies is the best way to have wealth for the American citizen.
Half of the Emergency Federal Reserve Credit Facility Funds Went to
Foreign Banks
File under: The raping of U.S. taxpayers in an effort to bailout foreign
banks.
Housing Starts Seen Rising to 3-Year High With Boost for Jobs
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke may be about to get help in his
attempt to boost the economy, from an industry at rock-bottom: housing.
The US Government Can't Account for Billions Spent in Afghanistan
KANDAHAR CITY -- In its bid to win the hearts and minds of Afghanistan’s
teeming population, the United States has spent more than $55 billion to
rebuild and bolster the war-ravaged country.
"People affiliated with our organization have already been
assassinated," Assange Claims
Assange may have been referring to two WikiLeaks writers that were
assassinated in Kenya last year.
The Subway Sheeple Freeze
This is incredible. Over 400 people, last night, spent over 9 hours
stuck on a NYC subway, on an elevated track, in freezing conditions.
Counter-Terror 'Expert' Tells Cops: Kill Militant Muslims, Including
Children
A counter-terrorism consultant told a meeting of law enforcement
officials that the way to combat militant Muslims is to "kill them ...
including the children," says a news report.
$5 For a Gallon of Gasoline in 2012
The former president of Shell Oil, John Hofmeister, says Americans could
be paying $5 for a gallon of gasoline by 2012.
Unemployment Rate - To Set New Post Great Depression Record
A week ago I posted some questions for next year: Ten Economic Questions
for 2011. I'm working through the questions and trying to add some
predictions, or at least some thoughts for each question before the end
of year.
Some Bailed-Out Banks May Fail Anyway
OK, so the bailout cost taxpayers trillions of dollars, and the economy
is still struggling -- but at least the banks themselves are back on
their feet, right?
Illegal Steroid Use Among Police Officers a 'Big Problem'
The badge and a steroid-filled syringe -- it's not the typical image
most have for the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs.
New Hawaii Governor Wants to Put Obama Birther Debate 'To Rest'
Enough is enough. Hawaii's new governor, Neil Abercrombie, wants to put
to rest the so-called birther controversy, possibly by releasing
additional information to confirm that President Obama was indeed born
in the 50th state on Aug. 4, 1961.
Conservative Chorus Calling for States' Right to Declare Bankruptcy
A chorus of conservative pundits are calling for bankruptcy laws to be
changed so that all 50 US state governments might have the chance to
restructure their debts, an ability currently limited to corporations,
municipal entities, and private citizens.
Baby Boomers Near 65 With Retirements in Jeopardy
Through a combination of procrastination and bad timing, many baby
boomers are facing a personal finance disaster just as they're hoping to
retire.
Biometric Security Coming to Android
Mobile application developer, BluePlanet Apps, has announced it is
developing a biometric security application for the Android mobile
operating system, according to an Android Headlines article.
Need to See Some ID, Please?
Proving my identity in the States only requires my driver's license and
social security number. Now that I'm ping-ponging across the
U.S./Canadian border, I have a slew of identity documents.
WikiLeaks Set to Reveal US_UFO War In Southern Ocean
A new report circulating in the Kremlin today prepared for President
Medvedev by Russian Space Forces (VKS) 45th Division of Space Control
says that an upcoming WikiLeaks release of secret US cables details that
the Americans have been “engaged” since 2004 in a “war” against UFO’s
based on or near the Continent of Antarctica, particularly the Southern
Ocean.
Nations's Poorest State Spent Over $500,000 on Governor's Travel
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's use of the state's pricey jet plan has
mixed state business with pleasure and national politics, according to a
Politico review of the jet's flight log.
North American Integration Back on the Front Burner
President Obama has continued and expanded the Merida Initiative. The
U.S. and Mexico have further broadened and deepened their cooperation.
Prescription Drug Use in Children and Teens
Gage Martindale, who is 8 years old, has been taking a blood-pressure
drug since he was a toddler. "I want to be healthy, and I don't want
things in my heart to go wrong," he says.
Almost Everything is a Crime in America
Doesn't it seem like almost everything is becoming a crime in America
now?
China Has Carrier-Killer Missile, US Admiral Says
China's military is deploying a new anti-ship ballistic missile that can
sink U.S. aircraft carriers, a weapon that specialists say gives Beijing
new power-projection capabilities that will affect U.S. support for its
Pacific allies.
N Korean Troop's New Uniform Alarms S Korea
Some North Korean troops stationed along the border have donned a
camouflage uniform similar to that worn by South Koreans, apparently to
practise intrusion drills, a defence ministry official said Tuesday.
Lack of Moisture Threatens Winter Wheat Crop
That’s why many will shrug off this year’s bad start to the winter wheat
crop, still resting on the little bits of hope for moisture they keep
alive.
Price Tag for 2010 Disasters: $222B
The global economic losses from natural catastrophes and man-made
disasters equaled $222 billion in 2010, more than triple the $63 billion
lost in 2009, according to reinsurance company Swiss Re.
With Food Safety Bill, US Government Will Spend Nearly $1 Million Per
Person to Prevent Food-Borne Illness Deaths
The recently-passed Food Safety Modernization Act, which was passed in
order to prevent food-borne illness deaths in the USA, will cost $1.4
billion over the first five years.
Junk Science Alert: Researchers Declare Alternative Therapies Dangerous
to Children Based on Scant Evidence
The headline emblazoned across a new British Medical Journal (BMJ) press
release proclaims this alarming warning: Complementary medicines can be
dangerous for children!
Patients Injected With Flu Vaccine Even If They Don't Want It
Even those who deliberately chose to forego vaccination against the H1N1
swine flu last year will have to receive the shot if they want
protection against the seasonal flu.
Feds Target Airline Pilot for Exposing TSA Security Sham on Youtube
A Sacramento-based airline pilot is the subject of a federal
investigation for exposing what he says are serious flaws in the U.S.
Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) airport security
protocols.
Swine Flu Pandemic Outleak Sweeping Through Britain Even Though 70
Percent Were Vaccinated Last Year
A swine flu pandemic is sweeping through Britain despite the fact that
70 percent of Britain's over-65 population was vaccinated against swine
flu last year.
Former TSA Agent Gets Probation, Not Jail Time, For Stealing Passengers'
Computers
Americans might want to exercise more caution when dealing with the
potential terrorists operating the security lines at the airport than
those allegedly trying to get through them and onto planes.
Today In
History Tuesday December 28, 2010
1832 - John C. Calhoun became the first vice president of the United
States to resign, stepping down over differences with President Jackson.
1836 - Mexico's independence was recognized by Spain.
1846 - Iowa became the 29th state to be admitted to the Union.
1869 - William E. Semple, of Mt. Vernon, OH, patented an acceptable
chewing gum.
1877 - John Stevens applied for a patent for his flour-rolling mill,
which boosted production by 70%.
1879 - In Dundee, Scotland the central portion of the Tay Bridge
collapsed as a train was passing over it. 75 people were killed.
1902 - The first professional indoor football game was played at Madison
Square Garden in New York City.
Syracuse defeated the
Philadelphia Nationals 6-0.
1908 - An earthquake killed over 75,000 at Messina in Sicily.
1912 - The first municipally-owned street cars were used on the streets
of San Francisco, CA.
1937 - The Irish Free State became the Republic of Ireland when a new
constitution established the country as a sovereign state under the name
of Eire.
1945 - The U.S. Congress officially recognized the "Pledge of
Allegiance."
1950 - The Peak District became Britain's first designated National
Park.
1981 - Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the first American test-tube baby, was
born in Norfolk, VA.
1991 - Nine people died in a rush to get into a basketball game at City
College in New York.
2000 - U.S. District Court Judge Matsch held a hearing to ensure that
confessed Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh understood that he was
dropping his appeals. McVeigh said that he wanted an execution date, set
but wanted to reserve the right to seek presidential clemency.
Former GOP Congressman Predicts New Sedition Act
Desire to stop secrets outlet WikiLeaks from disclosing more US
documents could lead to a new Sedition Act, according to former Rep. Bob
Barr (R-GA).
Obama to
Give Manhatten Back to Native Americans
President Obama is voicing support for a U.N. resolution that could
accomplish something as radical as relinquishing some U.S. sovereignty
and opening a path for the return of ancient tribal lands to American
Indians, including even parts of Manhattan.
98 TARP Recipients Close to Failure
The Wall Street Journal reports 98 shaky TARP recipients are on the
verge of failure as bad loans pile up. Please consider Bailed-Out Banks
Slip Toward Failure.
ONDCP Specifically Exempted From Scientific Integrity Policy
If the science says that legalization is even a viable option, the Drug
Czar is required by law to ignore, obfuscate, lie, or whatever else is
necessary to oppose any attempts to legalize.
ACLU Placed on Tennessee Terror Map for Letter to Schools
The ACLU of Tennessee says it ended up on a map of potential terrorist
threats after it sent a letter to school superintendents asking them to
be "inclusive" in their holiday celebration
'Homeland' Security Coming to Hotels, Malls
The United States is stepping up security at "soft targets" like hotels
and shopping malls, as well as trains and ports, as it counters the
evolving Al-Qaeda threat, a top official said Sunday.
Home Prices Probably Fell, Baring Weak Link in Accelerating US Recovery
Home prices probably dropped in October, a sign housing will remain a
weak link as the U.S. recovery accelerates into the new year, economists
said before reports this week.
License Plate Readers Help Catch Suspects But Worry Privacy Advocates
The high-tech cameras can scan 1,800 plates a minute and run them
through crime databases. Some fear the government will use the
technology to track innocent people.
Ceiling Lights in Minnesota Send Coded Internet Data
Flickering ceiling lights are usually a nuisance, but in city offices in
St. Cloud, they will actually be a pathway to the Internet.
US Threatens China With WTO Case on Rare Earth Exports
US trade officials Thursday threatened trade action against China over
exports of rare earth materials, one day after embarking on a separate
case before the World Trade Organization (WTO) against wind power
subsidies.
Swine Flu Pandemic Outbreak Sweeping Through Britain Even Though 70
Percent Were Vaccinated Last Year
A swine flu pandemic is sweeping through Britain despite the fact that
70 percent of Britain's over-65 population was vaccinated against swine
flu last year.
Blizzard Paralyzes New York City, Boston
A powerful winter storm slammed the I-95 corridor from Philadelphia to
Boston on Sunday.
Snow Strands Subway Passengers In 'A' Train for Nearly 11 Hours In
Queens
For many New Yorkers, getting stuck on a subway train for more than a
couple of extra minutes can be a serious annoyance – and the thought of
being stuck for hours is a nightmare.
Storms Strands Buses, Planes, Trains on East Coast
A powerful East Coast blizzard marooned thousands of would-be air, rail
and road travelers Monday, shutting down major airports and rail lines
for a second day, stranding buses on buried highways, and forcing New
York City subway riders to spend a cold night in unheated trains.
Terror in Rome: Multiple Embassies Report Suspected Bombs Days After
Previous Explosions
A package bomb has been found at the Greek Embassy in Rome, three days
after mail bombs exploded at two other embassies injuring two people.
Ancient Human Remains Found in Israel
Israeli archaeologists said Monday they may have found the earliest
evidence yet for the existence of modern man, and if so, it could upset
theories of the origin of humans.
New Global Banking Rules Proposed on Banker's Pay
New banking rules are being proposed by an influential global regulatory
panel that would give investors a better idea of when CEOs and other
high-paid executives get bonuses even when their companies are lagging.
Return of the Death Panel
The New York Times ran a fascinating Christmas Day story online, to
appear in today's print edition, about the return of the “death panels”
for ObamaCare. The term comes from a famous Sarah Palin Facebook post
from 2009, in which she said:
Iron, Folic Acid Supplementation During Pregnancy Results in Children
With Better Motor Skills
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
highlights the importance of getting plenty of the right vitamins,
minerals and nutrients during pregnancy.
Today In
History Monday December 27, 2010
1703 - The Methuen Treaty was
signed between Portugal and England, giving preference to the import of
Portuguese wines into England.
1845 - Dr. Crawford Williamson Long used anesthesia for childbirth for
the first time. The event was the delivery of his own child in
Jefferson, GA.
1927 - Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Communist Party.
1945 - The World Bank was created with an agreement signed by 28
nations.
1947 - The children's television program "Howdy Doody," hosted by Bob
Smith, made its debut on NBC.
1951 - In Cincinnati, OH, a Crosley automobile, with a steering wheel on
the right side, became the first vehicle of its kind to be placed in
service for mail delivery.
1965 - The BP oil rig Sea Gem capsized in the North Sea, with the loss
of 13 lives.
1978 - Spain adopted a new constitution and became a democracy after 40
years of dictatorship.
1979 - Soviet forces seized control of Afghanistan. Babrak Karmal
succeeded President Hafizullah Amin, who was overthrown and executed.
1985 - Dian Fossey, an American naturalist, was found murdered at a
research station in Rawanda.
1992 - The U.S. shot down an Iraqi fighter jet during what the Pentagon
described as a confrontation between a pair of Iraqi warplanes and U.S.
F-16 jets in U.N.-restricted airspace over southern Iraq.
1996 - Muslim fundamentalist Taliban forces retook the strategic air
base of Bagram, solidifying their buffer zone around Kabul, the
Afghanistan capital.
1997 - In Northern Ireland, Billy Wright was assassinated. He was
imprisoned as a Protestant paramilitary leader.
2001 - U.S. President George W. Bush granted China permanent normal
trade status with the United States.
2002 - North Korea ordered U.N. nuclear inspectors to leave the country
and said that it would restart a laboratory capable of producing
plutonium for nuclear weapons.
2002 - Clonaid announced the birth of the first cloned human baby. The
baby had been born December 26.
2002 - In Chechnya, at least 40 people were killed when suicide bombers
attacked the administration of Grozny.
The Bosian Experience
When the things started to go bad, we were under impression that we
would be okay; since we are on the farm and that we can just live there
until everything was over.
The US Defends Permits for Iran Deals in Sanctioned Nations
The Treasury Department on Thursday defended its issuance of special
licenses for American companies to do business with Iran and other
blacklisted nations, in response to a New York Times report on deals
made despite sanctions and trade embargoes.
Rahm Emanuel Gets Green Light to Run for Chicago Mayor
Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel got a victory in his run
for Chicago mayor on Thursday, with a decision by an election board that
he meets the residency requirement to be on the February ballot.
Those on DHS 'Terror Watch Lists' Disqualified From 9/11 First Responder
Help
Congress finally passed the 9/11 first responders bill, officially
called the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, H.R.
847, on December 22nd.
TSA to Give Drink Containers Closer Look at Airports
U.S. authorities are warning air travelers to expect greater scrutiny of
thermoses and other insulated drink containers at security checkpoints
after intelligence suggested they could be used to hide explosives.
Sacramento-Area Pilot Punished for Youtube Video
An airline pilot is being disciplined by the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) for posting video on YouTube pointing out what he
believes are serious flaws in airport security.
The Explosion
in Sudden-Loan Debt
“I know I have to pay ‘em. I-- I-- I know and I will,” McCarthy said,
sobbing. “I just-- I-- I never said I wouldn’t, you know?”
Fresh Humiliation for Euro Zone as China Says It Will Bail Out
Debt-Ridden Nations
China has said it is willing to bail out debt-ridden countries in the
euro zone using its $2.7trillion overseas investment fund.
Bombs Explode at Switzerland and Chile Embassies in Italy
Two people were seriously hurt yesterday in postal bomb attacks on
diplomatic missions in Rome.
France's Sarkozy Says Time to Consider SDR Role
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Monday that his G20 agenda to
reform the international monetary system would look at widening the role
of the IMF's Special Drawing Rights and tackling international capital
flows.
I-95 Blizzard From New Jersey to Maine
A northward-moving strengthening storm will unleash a paralyzing
blizzard along a vast swath of the I-95 Northeast corridor into Monday.
Snow Storm Bears Down on Mid-Atlantic, Northeast
A band of frigid weather snaking its way up the East Coast on Sunday
threatened to bring blizzards and a foot of snow to New York City and
New England, while several states made emergency declarations as the
storm caused crashes on slick roads.
Cables Show DEA's Global Reach
The Drug Enforcement Administration has been transformed into a global
intelligence organization with a reach that extends far beyond
narcotics, and an eavesdropping operation so expansive it has to fend
off foreign politicians who want to use it against their political
enemies, according to secret diplomatic cable
Naploitano: Get Used to Airport Pat-Downs
The use of full-body scanners and invasive pat-downs at airports around
the U.S. will not change for the "foreseeable future," Homeland Security
Secretary Janet Napolitano said in an interview broadcast Sunday.
This Is By Far the Most Important Financial Development of 2010
Since November 1, long-term U.S. Treasury bonds have fallen 7% in value.
That's not supposed to happen. But it's happening.
Swine Flu Epidemic Fear as Hospital Admissions Soar by 250 Percent In a
Week
The Department of Health figures reveal the extent of the worsening
crisis and show that the number of critical care beds being used by flu
patients has risen by more than half in three days.
Federal Reserve Bank Orders Oklahoma Bank to Remove All Symbols of
Christian Faith
What right does a privately owned bank. Not a government agency have the
jurisdiction to tell another privet owned bank to remove all vestiges of
Christianity from this bank
After Nearly Two Years of Searching, TrimTabs Still Can't Figure Out Who
Is Buying Stocks
A year after Charles Biderman's provocative post first appeared on Zero
Hedge, in which he asked just who is doing all the buying of stocks as
the money was obviously not coming from retail investors (and came up
with one very notable suggestion), today Maria Bartiromo invited the
TrimTabs head once again (conveniently in CNBC's lowest rated show,
during Christmas Eve eve, at a time when perhaps 5 people would be
watching) in an interview which disclosed that after more than a year of
searching, Biderman still has no idea who actually buying.
Sheriff Babeu Authorizes Lethal Force Against Cartels, Bandits
Sheriff Paul Babeu has announced he plans to use deadly force, if
necessary, to drive smugglers and border bandits out of his part of the
desert.
Crops Absorb Pharmaceuticals From Sewage Sludge Spread on Farmlands
Agricultural crops can absorb pharmaceuticals found in the water used to
irrigate them or the sewage sludge used to fertilize them, according to
a study conducted by researchers from the University of Toledo-Ohio and
published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
The Amazing Benefits of Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil
Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil is cold pressed from the rind of the
grapefruit. This beneficial essential oil is not only a cleansing and
revitalizing oil, but its bright aroma energizes and uplifts the spirit.
Oil Of Oregano Fights Harmful Bacteria, Cancer
A new report out of the University of Arizona (UofA) says that oil of
oregano is a powerful nutrient for fighting harmful bacteria and
preventing cancer.
Grocery Stores Erect Fake 'Farmers Markets' in Parking Lots to Trick
Shoppers
Grocery stores across the country have begun appropriating the term
"farmer's market" as a way to appeal to more environmentally and
socially conscious consumers.
Vermont Drafts Food Sovereignty Resolution to Protect Health, Food
Freedom
In response to the recent passage of "food safety" bills S. 510 and
corresponding H.R. 2751, the Vermont Coalition for Food Sovereignty has
drafted its own resolution called "The Vermont Resolution for Food
Sovereignty."
Hershey's Brings Non-GMO Confections to Europe, But Not US
The Hershey Company is expanding its confectionery market to Europe.
Diabetes Drug May Promote Bladder Cancer
The FDA has begun investigations into whether the widely used diabetes
drug pioglitazone (marketed as Actos) may increase the risk of bladder
cancer.
US Surgeon General Lies by Omission: Smoking One Cigarette Can Kill You?
Seriously?
In what can only be called a bizarre leap of pseudoscience, U.S. Surgeon
General Dr Regina M. Benjamin recently announced that smoking one
cigarette can kill you.
Fluoridated Water Causes Brain Damage in Children
A new study pre-published in the journal Environmental Health
Perspectives confirms that fluoridated water causes brain damage in
children.
Today In
History Thursday December 23, 2010
1783 - George Washington returned home to Mount Vernon, after the
disbanding of his army following the Revolutionary War.
1788 - Maryland voted to cede a 100-square-mile area for the seat of the
national government. About two-thirds of the area became the District of
Columbia.
1823 - The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore (" 'Twas
the night before Christmas...") was published.
1852 - The Theatre of Celestial John opened on Telegraph Hill in San
Francisco, CA. It was the first Chinese theatre in the U.S.
1880 - Thomas Edison incorporated the Edison Electric Light Company of
Europe.
1888 - Following a quarrel with Paul Gauguin, Dutch painter Vincent Van
Gogh cut off part of his own earlobe.
1913 - The Federal Reserve Bill was signed into law by U.S. President
Woodrow Wilson. The act established 12 Federal Reserve Banks.
1919 - The first ship designed to be used as an ambulance for the
transport patients was launched. The hospital ship was named USS Relief
and had 515 beds.
1922 - The British Broadcasting Corporation began daily news broadcasts.
1941 - During World War II, American forces on Wake Island surrendered
to the Japanese.
1942 - Bob Hope agreed to entertain U.S. airmen in Alaska. It was the
first of the traditional Christmas shows.
1953 - Soviet secret police chief Lavrenti Beria and six of his
associates were shot for treason following a secret trial.
1957 - Dan Blocker made his acting debut on television in the "Restless
Gun."
1968 - Eighty-two crewmembers of the U.S. intelligence ship Pueblo were
released by North Korea, 11 months after they had been captured.
1981 - NASA approved a plan to continue the Voyager II spacecraft on a
trajectory that would take it within 66,000 miles of Uranus on July 24,
1986.
1986 - The experimental airplane Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and
Jeana Yeager, completed the first non-stop, around-the-world flight
without refueling as it landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base in
California.
1987 - Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, serving a life sentence for the
attempted assassination of U.S. President Ford in 1975, escaped from the
Alderson Federal Prison for Women in West Virginia. She was recaptured
two days later.
1995 - A fire in Dabwali, India, killed 540 people, including 170
children, during a year-end party being held near the children's school.
1997 - Terry Nichols was convicted by a Denver jury on charges of
conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter in the 1995 federal building
bombing in Oklahoma City. The bomb killed 168 people.
1998 - Guerrillas in south Lebanon fired dozens of rockets at northern
Israel.
News Blackout in DC: Pay No Attention to Those Veterans Chained to the
White House Fence
There was a black-out and a white-out Thursday and Friday as over a
hundred US veterans opposed to US wars in Afghanistan and elsewhere
around the world, and their civilian supporters, chained and tied
themselves to the White House fence during an early snowstorm to say
enough is enough.
**
Related Article: US arrests over 135 anti-war protesters
ATF's New Border Long-Gun Rules Unconstitutional
A new proposed rule will, for the first time, establish the precedent
that licensed firearms dealers will be required (by administrative fiat)
to report to the government the sale of two or more semi-automatic
rifles that are .22 caliber or greater, can accept a detachable
magazine, and are purchased by the same person within five business
days.
Obama Prepares Executive Order For Indefinite Detention
First president Obama becomes Bush in all but name with respect to his
predecessor's economic policies, and now he follows by espousing Bush's
interpretation of "civil rights" as well. According to Pro Publica, the
White House is preparing an Executive Order for indefinite detention.
US Announces Yet More Iran Sanctions
With Iran expressing a more conciliatory attitude and Turkey making a
serious effort to negotiate a serious third party enrichment deal that
will satisfy all those involved, the Obama Administration has responded,
as so often before, with a new round of sanctions.
Time-Lapse Video: Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse
Lunar eclipses, like pretty much all readily visible astronomical
events, are indisputably awesome.
Government to Control the Net - Good Luck With That!
Should the government interfere with the Internet?
White House Drafts Executive Order for Indefinite Detention
But the order establishes indefinite detention as a long-term Obama
administration policy and makes clear that the White House alone will
manage a review process for those it chooses to hold without charge or
trial.
EPA and Bayer's Recklessness
Bayer’s clothianidin is thoroughly implicated as the causation of colony
collapse disorder (CCD) and I said so then.
No Congress Since 60's Makes as Much Law Affecting Most Americans as
111th
However history judges the 535 men and women in the U.S. House of
Representatives and Senate the past two years, one thing is certain: The
111th Congress made more law affecting more Americans since the “Great
Society” legislation of the 1960s.
US Teen Birth Rate at All-Time Low, Economy Cited
The U.S. teen birth rate in 2009 fell to its lowest point in 70 years of
record-keeping — a decline that stunned experts who believe it's partly
due to the recession.
Travel-Trained: Americans Take Security With a Sigh
Explosive snow globes? You've got to be kidding, Robyn Burford thought
when security inspectors at the Portland, Ore., airport demanded she
hand over her two glitter-filled souvenirs.
Fast Growth in States With No Income Tax
For those of us who are demographic buffs, Christmas came four days
early when Census Bureau director Robert Groves announced on Tuesday the
first results of the 2010 census and the reapportionment of House seats
(and therefore electoral votes) among the states.
The
Army: Be All That You Can't Know
Nearly one-fourth of the students who try to join the U.S. Army fail its
entrance exam, painting a grim picture of an education system that
produces graduates who can’t answer basic math, science and reading
questions, according to a new study released Tuesday.
Defend Food Sovereignty In Your State
WHEREAS The basis of human sustenance rests on the ability of every
natural person to save seed, grow, process, consume and exchange food
and farm products; and....Read More....
WikiLeaks Next Target is BofA
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Tuesday the Swedish women who have
accused him of sexual assault had got into a "tizzy" about the
possibility they had caught a sexually transmitted disease from him.
Skype Goes Down, Millions Impacted, Skype Responds
Updated with response from Skype: If you are one of Skype’s many users
who use the service to make a living or to talk to your remote users,
then you may be straight out of luck.
Banks Accused of Illegally Looting Homes
When Mimi Ash arrived at her mountain chalet here for a weekend ski
trip, she discovered that someone had broken into the home and changed
the locks.
VIDEO: California Storms Prompt Rescues, Evacuations
California Rain Storms: State of Emergency Declared as Rains Spark
Mudslides and Flood Roads
California is bracing for another monster storm tonight after days of
relentless rainfall forced officials to evacuate hundreds of homes in
America's so-called Golden State.
Obama Signs 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal
President Barack Obama signed a new law Wednesday that will allow gays
for the first time in history to serve openly in America's military. And
he urged those kicked out under the old law to re-enlist.
Why It's Cold Here But Warm Over Greenland: Diverted Jet Stream Letting
Icy Blast in From the Artic
The freezing conditions that have blasted Britain are being blamed on a
series of weather patterns that are bringing Arctic temperatures to much
of western Europe, California and even Australia.
Senate Ratifies New US Russia Nuclear Weapons Treaty
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved a new nuclear arms-reduction
treaty with Russia, the broadest such pact between the former Cold War
foes in nearly two decades.
Government Liabilities Rose $2 Trillion in FY 2010
The U.S. government fell deeper into the red in fiscal 2010 with net
liabilities swelling more than $2 trillion as commitments on government
debt and federal benefits rose, a U.S. Treasury report showed on
Tuesday.
Italian Students March Against Education Law
Thousands of Italian students marched in protest against a university
reform law on Wednesday but police prevented a repetition of last week's
violent clashes in Rome by blocking off parts of the city centre.
Oil Rises Above $90 Amid US Crude Supply Drop
Oil prices rose above $90 a barrel Wednesday in Asia after a report
showed U.S. crude supplies dropped more than expected for a second week,
which suggests demand is improving.
China Bars English Words In All Publications
Chinese newspapers, books and websites will no longer be allowed to use
English words and phrases, the country's publishing body has announced,
saying the "purity" of the Chinese language is in peril.
South Korea Military: South Korea Begins Massive New Military Drills
In a move that many fear will provoke an already testy North Korea,
Seoul officials Wednesday announced the start of massive new live-fire
drills involving troops, tanks, fighter jets and anti-aircraft guns — as
well as six naval ships and Lynx anti-submarine helicopters.
Heathrow Nightmare Just Gets Worse and Worse
Another 100,000 passengers contemplated Christmases ruined and holidays
wrecked by the partial closure of Heathrow, as snow and ice kept its
second, southerly runway closed until 5.30pm yesterday.
Senate Passes Revised 9/11 Responders Health Bill
The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to pay for the health care of
first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks after reaching a
bipartisan agreement to slash the price tag.
Counterterror Officials: Terror Chatter on the Rise During Holiday
Travel Season
With the busy holiday travel season already in motion, the nation's top
counterterror officials are seeking to assure the public of their
efforts to safeguard the homeland even as they acknowledge real dangers.
Problems Continue at the Silver Comex/JP Morgan Finds Allies to Hide the
Silver Shorts
Gold closed today up by $2.70 to $1388. 20. Silver finished the day up
by 2 cents to $29.37.
PIMCO Says 'Untenable' Policies Will Lead to Eurozone Break-Up
Pimco, the world's largest bond fund, has called on Greece, Ireland and
Portugal to step outside the eurozone temporarily and restructure their
debts unless the currency bloc agrees to a radical change of course.
Scientists Cite 'Atmospheric River' for New Continuous Rain
It's the rain that just won't stop -- day after day. It's almost as
continuous as the flow of a river, tropical moisture funneled into
California by what scientists have come to call an "atmospheric river."
There's A Mini Ice Age Coming, Says Man Who Beats Weather Experts
Well, folks, it's tea-time on Sunday and for anyone involved in keeping
people moving it has been a hell of a weekend.
Terrorist May Poison the Food Supply (But the Food Companies Already
Have)
Always on the terror streak, the mainstream media is now warning
Americans that terrorists may strike the food supply by dumping poison
into restaurant salad bars and buffets, for example.
Canada Passes Codex Food Law That Permits Police to Trespass, Seize
Private Property Without Warrant
The Canadian Parliament recently passed its own form of legislation S.
510, the draconian U.S. "food safety" bill that threatens to eliminate
the freedom to grow, sell and buy clean food. Bill C-36, deceitfully
branded by the Canadian mainstream media as a "consumer protection" law,
is actually part of the larger CODEX Alimentarius food tyranny plan.
Congress Sticks It To US Farmers With Passage of Food Safety Bill That
Will Actually Cause Fresh Produce to be More Dangerous
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2751 yesterday with a 216
to 144 vote (yes, many members of the House did not even vote). The
so-called Food Safety Modernization Act now heads to the President to be
signed into law.
WikiLeaks Exposes Pope as Supporter of GMO's
Though the Vatican refuses to issue a public stance on
genetically-modified organisms (GMO), several leaked cables have
revealed that Pope Benedict XVI secretly favors GMOs and believes more
should be done to encourage their spread around the world.
Simple Manure Replacing Toxic Chemicals as Fertilizer of Choice
Long the standard used in supposed "science-based" agriculture, chemical
fertilizers have largely become the norm in modern farming.
Magnesium prevents diabetes according to study
Eating a diet high in magnesium may significantly lower your risk of
developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a study conducted by
researchers from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and
published in the journal Diabetes Care.
Today In
History Wednesday December 22, 2010
1775 - A Continental naval fleet was organized in the rebellious
American colonies under the command of Ezek Hopkins.
1807 - The U.S. Congress passed the Embargo Act, designed to force peace
between Britain and France by cutting off all trade with Europe.
1864 - During the American Civil War, Union Gen. William T. Sherman sent
a message to U.S. President Lincoln from Georgia. The message read, "I
beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah."
1894 - The United States Golf Association was formed in New York City.
1894 - French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason in a
court-martial that triggered worldwide charges of anti-Semitism. Dreyfus
was eventually vindicated.
1895 - German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen made the first X-ray, of his
wife's hand.
1910 - U.S. Postal savings stamps were issued for the first time. They
were discontinued in 1914.
1943 - Sporting goods manufacturers received permission to use synthetic
rubber for the core of baseballs.
1941 - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived in Washington
for a wartime conference with U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt.
1956 - The last British and French forces evacuated Egypt.
1961 - James Davis became the first U.S. soldier to die in Vietnam,
while U.S. involvement was still limited to the provision of military
advisers.
1989 - Romania's hard-line Communist ruler, Nicolae Ceausescu, was
overthrown in a popular uprising.
1990 - Lech Walesa was sworn in as Poland's first popularly elected
president.
1991 - The body of Lt. Col. William R. Higgins, an American hostage
murdered by his captors, was found along a highway in Lebanon.
1996 - A car bomb exploded in Belfast, injuring a known IRA supporter.
Police suspected that Protestant loyalists were responsible for the
attack.
2001 - Thirty Afghans, including two women, were sworn in as part of the
new interim government in Afghanistan. Hamid Karzai was the head of the
post-Taliban government.
Magnesium prevents diabetes according to study
Eating a diet high in magnesium may significantly lower your risk of
developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a study conducted by
researchers from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and
published in the journal Diabetes Care.
Congressman Higgins Announces Passage of Food Safety Bill
Today, Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) joined the House of
Representatives in approving H.R. 2751, the FDA Food Safety
Modernization Act. The bipartisan bill, providing sweeping protections
to the nation's food supply, will now move to the President's desk for
his signature.
Feds Force Okla. Bank To Remove Crosses, Bible Verse
Federal Reserve examiners come every four years to make sure banks are
complying with a long list of regulations. The examiners came to Perkins
last week. And the team from Kansas City deemed a Bible verse of the
day, crosses on the teller’s counter and buttons that say "Merry
Christmas, God With Us." were inappropriate. The Bible verse of the day
on the bank's Internet site also had to be taken down.
US Threatened 'Retaliation' to Bully EU Into Accepting Biotech Crops,
Cable Shows
Reacting to a French pledge to represent the "common interest" in
considering biotech foods, a former US ambassador recommended publishing
a "retaliation list" of European locations where genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) were being grown in hopes that activists would destroy
them and "cause some pain" for officials, a leaked diplomatic cable
shows.
START Treaty: RINO Republicans are Surrendering Our National Security
Like the Cowards They Are!
What the hell are our elected Senators doing? Why are they rushing
forward with the START treaty without a full debate on the ramifications
of this treaty and the threat to our national security from communist
Russia that it poses.
VIDEO: Dog In Germany Gives Birth To 17 Puppies
VIDEO: Iraq's New Government Approved
After nearly a year fraught with political infighting, Iraq finally has
a new government.
Japan Bio-Scientists Produce 'Singing Mouse'
Japanese scientists said Tuesday they had produced a mouse that tweets
like a bird in a genetically engineered "evolution" which they hope will
shed light on the origins of human language.
Is the End Game of WikiLeaks Internet Censorship?
One of F. William Engdahl’s latest articles is titled “Wikileaks, a Big
Dangerous US Government Con Job”.
Snowed In: A Photo Journey Across a Paralyzed Europe
Traveling to Europe? Not so fast. Most airports in western and central
Europe are at best open on an intermittent basis, and at worst
completely shut down, with the UK taking the brunt of the storm.
Foreclosures in Most US States Bypass Judges, Easing Way for Evictions
Two years before dementia forced her to move into a nursing care
facility, Dorothy Halstien obtained a $73,000 loan from Washington
Mutual Inc. secured by her house on Whidbey Island, north of Seattle.
Euro Declines Versus Dollar as Debt Ratings Reviews May Hinder Borrowing
The euro dropped against most of its major counterparts as more possible
downgrades to the region’s debt boosted concern about some countries’
ability to tap the international bond market.
Government Announces Deadline for Phasing Out Paper Benefit Checks
Including Social Security
Before too long, the government check will no longer be in the mail.
Lunar Eclipse/Winter Solstice Photos/Video
The extremely-rare lunar eclipse which coincided with 2010's winter
solstice for the first time in over 400 years happened just a few hours
ago.
Monitoring America
Nine years after the terrorist attacks of 2001, the United States is
assembling a vast domestic intelligence apparatus to collect information
about Americans, using the FBI, local police, state homeland security
offices and military criminal investigators.
Is JP Morgan Shifting Its Silver and Gold Shorts to Non-Us Domiciled,
and Thus Unregulatable Banks?
Going through recent bullion bank shorting information, Adrian Douglas
has stumbled across a nugget that may explain the sudden willingness of
JPM to admit to the FT, via proxies as obviously the bank would never
expose itself to even remote market manipulation claims, that it has
collapsed its silver short.
FCC Approves Net Neutrality Regulations
In a highly controversial vote, the Federal Communications Commission on
Tuesday approved new regulations for Internet access designed to prevent
large telecommunications companies from squashing competitors.
Attorney General Eric Holder's Blunt Warning Terror Attacks
Attorney General Eric Holder has an urgent message for Americans: While
he is confident that the United States will continue to thwart attacks,
"the terrorists only have to be successful once."
FCC Gives Government Power to Regulate Web Traffic
Federal telecommunications regulators approved new rules Tuesday that
would for the first time give the federal government formal authority to
regulate Internet traffic, although how much or for how long remained
unclear.
Man on Facebook Is Not the 'Kensington Strangler'
Philadelphia police say someone posted false information on Facebook
identifying a city man as the Kensington Strangler. Now, police want to
get the word out to protect the man from vigilante justice.
WikiLeaks Boss Julian Assange Turns On Everyone
JULIAN Assange, the man behind WikiLeaks, today launched a wide ranging
series of attacks on both his enemies and allies as he defended his
public and private conduct.
So This Is Christmas
National embarrassment deepened to abject humiliation last night as more
than half a million Christmas travelers remained stranded in the UK.
Snow Flurries and Heavy Rain in Hawaii?
It's not just congressional action that is likely to put a damper on the
first family's Christmas vacation - bad weather in Hawaii may also get
President Obama's vacation off to a less than ideal start.
Dramatic Satellite Image Shows Huge Storms Heading Toward LA
A satellite image of the Pacific Ocean offers a dramatic preview of the
storms that are expected to batter Southern California on Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday.
Wintry Weather Brings Snow to Australia in Midsummer
Australia normally experiences temperatures of 86F (30C) at this time of
year, but the chances of a rare white Christmas have increased after
plunging temperatures and snow swept across the east of the country.
China's State Grid Signs $1 Billion Deal for 7 Brazil Power Firms
State Grid Corp. of China has agreed a deal worth nearly $1 billion to
buy seven Brazilian power distributors, the latest in a series of big
bets by Chinese companies that rapid economic growth in South America
will ignite energy demand.
Feds Order Farmer to Destroy His Own Wheat Crops: The Shocking
Revelations of Wickard vs Filburn
In arguing for S.501, the "Food Safety Modernization Act," there are all
sorts of attorneys, legislators and internet commentators who keep
claiming, "The government won't try to control the food production of
small farms." They say, "Your backyard garden is safe" and that the feds
won't come knocking on your door to control your seeds or foods.
Warning for Future Generations - Pre-Natal BPA Exposure May Cause Female
Infertility
The U.S. government is so concerned with health safety and hell-bent on
supposedly protecting people from consuming certain natural foods (like
raw milk), you can rest assured that Americans are not being exposed to
well-documented chemical dangers in the food supply, right? Wrong.
People Often Mistake Sugary Sports Drinks as Healthy
Manufacturers of sports drinks appear to have successfully deceived
children and their parents into believing that their products are
healthy, according to a study conducted by researchers from the
University of Texas Health Science Center and published in the journal
Pediatrics.
More Teens Now Turning to Weight Loss Surgery While Still Eating Junk
Foods
Weight loss surgery is becoming increasingly popular among teenagers,
according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, raising
concerns about potentially unknown side effects in this younger
population.
Today In
History Tuesday December 21, 2010
1898 - Scientists Pierre and Marie Curie discovered the radioactive
element radium.
1909 - McKinley and Washington schools of Berkeley, CA, became the first
authorized, junior-high schools in the U.S.
1913 - The "New York World" Sunday edition included a crossword puzzle.
It was the first crossword puzzle to be published.
1937 - Walt Disney debuted the first, full-length, animated feature in
Hollywood, CA. The movie was "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
1944 - Horse racing was banned in the United States until after the end
of World War II.
1945 - U.S. Gen. George S. Patton died in Heidelberg, Germany, of
injuries from a car accident.
1948 - The state of Eire (formerly the Irish Free State) declared its
independence.
1951 - Joe DiMaggio announced his retirement from major league baseball.
1958 - Charles de Gaulle was elected to a seven-year term as the first
president of the Fifth Republic of France.
1968 - Apollo 8 was launched on a mission to orbit the moon. The craft
landed safely in the Pacific Ocean on December 27.
1978 - Police in Des Plaines, IL, arrested John W. Gacy Jr. and began
unearthing the remains of 33 men and boys that Gacy was later convicted
of killing.
1988 - 270 people were killed when Pan Am Boeing 747 exploded over
Lockerbie, Scotland, due to a terrorist attack.
1990 - In a German television interview, Saddam Hussein declared that he
would not withdraw from Kuwait by the UN deadline.
1991 - Eleven of the 12 former Soviet republics proclaimed the birth of
the Commonwealth of Independent States.
1995 - The city of Bethlehem passed from Israeli to Palestinian control.
1996 - After two years of denials, U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich
admitted violating House ethics rules.
1998 - The first vaccine for Lyme disease was approved.
2001 - The Islamic militant group Hamas released a statement that said
it was suspending suicide bombings and mortar attacks in Israel.
2002 - Larry Mayes was released after spending 21 years in prison for a
rape that maintained that he never committed. He was the 100th person in
the U.S. to be released after DNA tests were performed.
$24.5 Trillion In US National Debt, $144 Trillion In Unfunded
Liabilities In...2015
By now everyone has seen and played with the US debt clock via
usdebtclock.org whereby anyone who so wishes, can find every little
detail about America's current sad fiscal state.
Sheriff: Evidence Indicates Banker Killed Himself
All evidence still indicates that bank CEO David Widlak shot and killed
himself. That’s according to Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackle, who
spent about an hour, Monday afternoon, explaining to reporters just how
investigators reached the conclusion that the missing banker
self-inflicted the gunshot wound found at the base of his neck. However,
the case remains open. “We still can’t say with certainty — because I
don’t know that any one of us… no one was a witness to it. None of us
can actually say, definitively, that he actually committed suicide,”
Hackle said.
Attorney General's Blunt Warning on Terror Attacks
Attorney General Eric Holder has an urgent message for Americans: While
he is confident that the United States will continue to thwart attacks,
"the terrorists only have to be successful once." "What I am trying to
do in this interview is to make people aware of the fact that the threat
is real, the threat is different, the threat is constant," he said.
Food Safety Sneak
Attack! Passed By Unanimous Consent
How many times does Congress have to stick it to us before we realize
that this body politic has no other function than to obey its corporate
masters?
Related Article:
Food-safety measure passes Senate in Sunday surprise
Amendment Sought to Empower States to Repeal Federal Law
The same people driving the lawsuits that seek to dismantle the Obama
administration’s health care overhaul have set their sights on an even
bigger target: a constitutional amendment that would allow a vote of the
states to overturn any act of Congress.
Tests show probable carcinogens in drinking water of 31 U.S. cities
Cancer-causing chemical found in 89 percent of cities sampled by
Environmental Working Group (EWG).
According to the National Toxicology Program, chromium-6 in drinking
water has clear evidence of carcinogenic activity in laboratory animals,
which increases the risk of gastrointestinal tumors
Coldest December since records began as temperatures plummet to minus
10C bringing travel chaos across Britain
And tonight the nation was braced for another 10in of snow and yet more
sub-zero temperatures - with no let-up in the bitterly cold weather for
at least a month, forecasters have warned.
Los Angeles Public Schools Open Doors to 'Corporate Brand Identity'
This algebraic equation, brought to you by Coca-Cola?
NYPD Implements
Iris Scan Technology
The NYPD has begun to implement iris scanners to create a bio-metric
database of criminal suspects as they are processed through central
booking.
Riots Erupt In Bangladesh After Stock Market Plunges 6.7%
For what may be the best look at the future of the world's most recent
Banana republic entrant (the U.S.S. of A. for the confused) has to look
forward to, we need to merely shift our attention at another one, which
has had the privilege of experimenting with its Banana status for far
longer: Bangladesh.
IMF Director Says IMF 'Forces Coordination' and There's 'No Other
Solution' to Greek-Style Austerity
Speaking to Triple Crown Charlie (CFR and Trilateral Commission member
and Bilderberg attendee) Rose on December 16, 2010, IMF Director
Dominique Strauss-Kahn ran cover for failed Euro and IMF interventionist
policies.
Bank of America Sued By Arizona, Nevada Over Fraud In Mortgage
Modification Program
Legal actions against Bank of America are piling up, this time from
Attorneys General in Nevada and Arizona, housing bubble ground zero.
Gold, silver could go ballistic by year-end
Latest Terror Threat in US Aimed to Poison Food
In this exclusive story, CBS News chief investigative correspondent
Armen Keteyian reports the latest terror attack to America involves the
possible use of poisons - simultaneous attacks targeting hotels and
restaurants at many locations over a single weekend.
Massive Selling of US Currency Lies Ahead
“The earlier all-time high of $850.00 of January 21, 1980 would be
$2,391 per troy ounce, based on November 2010 CPI-U-adjusted dollars,
and would be $7,840 per troy ounce in terms of SGS-Alternate-CPI-adjusted
dollars. In like manner, the all-time high price for silver in January
1980 of $49.45 per troy ounce has not been hit since, including in terms
of inflation-adjusted dollars. Based on November 2010 CPI-U inflation,
the 1980 silver price peak would be $139 per troy ounce and would be
$456 per troy ounce in terms of SGS-Alternate-CPI-adjusted dollars.
Video: Why People Don't Buy Gold
Intel to Introduce Processor With Remote Kill Switch
Intel is preparing to launch its Sandy Bridge processors at the Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) in January. The most interesting thing about
these new processors is the kill switches that are built into them.
No free lunch: States seek ways to repay jobless benefits
As U.S. employers brace for higher state unemployment insurance taxes
next year, business groups are urging Congress to delay interest
penalties on $42 billion states have borrowed to continue paying jobless
benefits during the recession. Thirty states and the Virgin Islands have
exhausted their unemployment insurance trust fund reserves and are using
U.S. treasury funds to maintain benefit checks for millions of workers
who lost jobs through no fault of their own.
California Greenlights Cap and Trade Emission Rules
California's regulators Thursday voted in favor of the first
cap-and-trade rules in the United States to tame greenhouse gas
emissions.
The FCC's Threat to Internet Freedom
Tomorrow morning the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will mark
the winter solstice by taking an unprecedented step to expand
government's reach into the Internet by attempting to regulate its inner
workings. In doing so, the agency will circumvent Congress and disregard
a recent court ruling.
Feds Want Reporting for High-Powered Rifle Sales
The federal agency that monitors gun sales wants weapons dealers near
the Mexican border to start reporting multiple sales of high-powered
rifles, according to a notice published in the Federal Register.
Napolitano Says DHS to Begin Battling Climate Change as Homeland
Security Issue
At an all-day White House conference on "environmental justice,"
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that her
department is creating a new task force to battle the effects of climate
change on domestic security operations.
$2tn Debt Threatens to Bring Down 100 US Cities
More than 100 American cities could go bust next year as the debt crisis
that has taken down banks and countries threatens next to spark a
municipal meltdown, a leading analyst has warned.
French AAA Grade at Risk as Downgrades Sweep Europe
France risks losing its top AAA grade as Europe’s debt crisis prompts a
wave of downgrades that threatens to engulf the region’s highest-rated
borrowers, with Belgium also facing a possible cut.
Probable Carcinogen Hexavalent Chromium Found in Drinking Water of 31 US
Cities
An environmental group that analyzed the drinking water in 35 cities
across the United States, including Bethesda and Washington, found that
most contained hexavalent chromium, a probable carcinogen that was made
famous by the film "Erin Brockovich."
Bitter Summer Freeze Bites Eastern States as Summer Gives Way to Snow
and Cold
THONGS and board shorts gave way to beanies and scarves yesterday as
summer gave way to a wintry blast of snow and icy temperatures in the
country's southeast.
Chinese Endure Power Shortages as Coal Runs Short
Communities in central and northern China are facing power cuts and
rationing as winter coal supplies fall short of surging demand.
Early Signs That America's Gloom is Lifting
US business leaders are feeling more cheerful lately, and with reason.
Last week’s tax deal is a fillip – not because it provides stimulus on
the scale its proponents and critics say, but because it avoids an
inadvertent tightening of policy that could have strangled the economy
just as it was starting to revive. Other economic news has been good
too.
More Record Shattering Rain in Store for California
Torrential rain soaked the West Coast over the weekend, and little will
change for Californians today.
Mammoth California Snow: 162 Inches, 164 MPH Winds
13.5 feet (162 inches) of snow has fallen at Mammoth Mountain, helping
set a new record for snowiest December, and 74" has piled up at
Aspendell. Here's a photo of Mammoth's "sun deck" early this morning:
Temperatures Set to Hit Low of -26C
Millions of Christmas travelers face further chaos today with an extra
eight inches of snow expected to fall.
Fraudulent Herbal Immune Supplement Fails to Reduce Flu Symptoms for 99
Percent of People
In an independent review published in a peer-reviewed medical journal
(see below), a popular herbal immune supplement called "ImmunoFlu
Remedy" was found to fraudulently marketed as a "flu prevention
supplement."
Former TSA Workers Arrested on Child Pornography Charges
The very same U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents
that grope and naked body scan you and your children when you fly may
also be illegally accessing and sharing child pornography.
UN Considers Establishing Global Internet Police Force to Regulate the
Web
The internet truly is the last bastion of free speech that has yet to be
taken over by corporate or political forces and censored, at least in
the U.S.
Vitamin D Found to Protect Against Obesity-Induced Cancer
Higher levels of vitamin D appear to protect women against
obesity-related cancer of the uterus, according to a study conducted by
researchers from the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and
published in the journal Comprehensive Cancer Research.
Today In
History Monday December 20, 2010
1790 - The first successful cotton mill in the United States began
operating at Pawtucket, RI.
1803 - The United States Senate ratified a treaty that included the
Louisiana Territories from France for $15 million. The transfer was
completed with formal ceremonies in New Orleans.
1820 - The state of Missouri enacted legislation to tax bachelors
between the ages of 21-50 for being unmarried. The tax was $1 a year.
1860 - South Carolina became the first state to secede from the American
Union.
1864 - Confederate forces evacuated Savannah, GA as Union Gen. William
T. Sherman continued his "March to the Sea."
1879 - Thomas A. Edison privately demonstrated his incandescent light at
Menlo Park, NJ.
1928 - Mail delivery by dog sled began in Lewiston, ME.
1946 - In Indochina (Vietnam), full-scale guerrilla warfare between
Vietnam partisans and French troops began.
1963 - The Berlin Wall was opened for the first time to West Berliners.
It was only for the holiday season. It closed again on January 6, 1964.
1989 - General Noriega, Panama's former dictator, was overthrown by a
United States invasion force invited by the new civilian government. The
project was known as Operation Just Cause.
1995 - An American Airlines Boeing 757 en route to Cali, Colombia,
crashed into a mountain, killing all but four of the 163 people aboard.
1996 - Doctors reported that a Cypriot woman who had taken fertility
drugs was carrying about 11 embryos.
1998 - In Houston, TX, a 27-year-old woman gave birth to the only known
living set of octuplets.
1999 - Sovereignty over the colony of Macao was transferred from
Portugal to China.
2001 - The U.S. Congress passed a $20 billion package to finance the war
against terrorism taking place in Afghanistan.
2001 - Argentina's President Fernando De la Rua resigned after two years
in power.
2001 - The first British peacekeepers arrived in Afghanistan to help the
nation heal after decades of war.
US Drone Strikes Kill Around 60 People in Khyber Within 24 Hours
A series of US drone attacks killed around 60 alleged militants in a
span of 24 hours in Khyber tribal district, according to officials.
FBI Agents Train Garbage Collectors to Report Suspicious Activity
Former FBI agents are helping local authorities train thousands of
garbage collectors across the country as a nationwide internal spy force
to report "suspicious activity" to police in yet another example of how
America is turning into an East German-style informant society as the
country decays from within.
Holiday Terror Warning Cites Car Bomb and Small Arms Attack
Federal law enforcement terror bulletins have become as much a part of
the holiday season in the past decade as egg nog and department store
Santas.
Silver at $40 Will Be Best 2011 Metals Bet
Silver, the leading performer in metals this year, is likely to repeat
its success in 2011, reaching $40 an ounce on new applications and
industry demand, said the head of commodity trading in Japan at Standard
Bank Plc. Read More...
S 773: Cybersecurity Act of 2009
Wal-Mart Raising Prices on Toys, Squeezing More Out of Holidays
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, raised prices on
hundreds of toys this month, squeezing more out of sales during the
biggest shopping period of the year. Wal-Mart managers in the U.S.
received instructions to mark up an average of 1,800 types of toys per
store, according to a company e-mail dated Nov. 30 obtained by Bloomberg
News. The e- mail didn’t disclose specific increases. The prices were
changed “to better enable your store and the company to have a
successful financial month,” according to the e-mail.
Ron Paul rides again
The Revolution is here! Searching for leadership, congressional
Republicans have finally turned to Ron Paul. Well, to chair the House
subcommittee on domestic monetary policy, at least. But that does put
Congress's leading critic of the Federal Reserve in charge of the panel
that oversees the central bank.
Food Safety on Life Support
Someone asked if he knew a Republican co-sponsor was saying it was dead,
and Durbin said: "I would have said the same thing an hour ago."
Payrolls Drop in 28 US States, Joblessness Rises in 21 in Labor Setback
Payrolls decreased in 28 U.S. states and the unemployment rate climbed
in 21, showing most parts of the world’s largest economy took part in
the November labor- market setback.
Time
for Christians to Shred Their Bibles
Many of us grew up in Sunday School and church. We have heard the great
Bible stories over and over.
Conservation Easements (CE's): Read the Fine Print Before You Sign
A basic Constitutional tenet of private property ownership in America is
the landowner’s right to determine the use and disposition of his or her
land.
US News
Poll: 96% Believe the TSA is Going too Far With Security Measures
US News has an unofficial poll for its readers on a point-counterpoint
article about TSA treachery.
DC Scanners and the Bankster and Global Elite
Washington D.C. metro police are about to launch random bag checks on
the D.C. metro system. A prominent D.C. blogger, who serves on the
Riders' Advisory Council, calls it "security theatre" that wastes money
without stopping terrorists.
Nightmare On
1st Street - The Dream Act That Died
The DREAM nightmare didn’t survive another cloture vote – meaning that
it could easily have been filibustered and Harry knew it wasn’t time to
push it forward.
Northern Hemisphere Freezes
In case you have missed it, the entire Northern Hemisphere is getting
whacked with severe early winter conditions.
Napolitano Says DHS to Begin Battling Climate Change as Homeland
Security Issue
At an all-day White House conference on "environmental justice,"
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that her
department is creating a new task force to battle the effects of climate
change on domestic security operations.
VIDEO: 9/11 Joe Lieberman - WTC 7 Did Not Occur...I Do Not Support a New
Investigation
Banksters Give German Chancellor Her Marching Orders
The debt crisis in Europe that is impacting many countries is now being
used by banksters to (surprise) put banksters in even more control of
European affairs.
Federal Government Cuts Off Recession Relief Money to States
Despite soaring unemployment and the 19 million Americans currently
living in "deep poverty," federal funds for the Temporary Assistance For
Needy Families (TANF) program have entirely dried up for the first time
since 1996, leaving states with an average of 15 percent less federal
funding for the coming year to help an ever-increasing number of needy
families.
Senate Votes to End Ban on Openly Gay Troops
In a historic vote for gay rights, the Senate agreed on Saturday to do
away with the military's 17-year ban on openly gay troops and sent
President Barack Obama legislation to overturn the Clinton-era policy
known as "don't ask, don't tell."
13M Get Unexpected Tax Bill From Obama Tax Credit
"This provision was specifically intended to help taxpayers through the
severe economic downturn by putting more money into their hands right
away, in each paycheck," wrote Richard Byrd, commissioner of the
agency's wage and investment division.
US House Votes to Extend Gov't Funding
The House of Representatives voted on Friday to extend government
funding through Dec. 21 to avoid a shutdown after lawmakers failed to
agree on a long-term solution.
2010's World Gone Wild: Quakes, Floods, Blizzards
Earthquakes, heat waves, floods, volcanoes, super typhoons, blizzards,
landslides and droughts killed at least a quarter million people in 2010
- the deadliest year in more than a generation.
Temperatures Plummet to -10c Bringing Travel Chaos Across Britain
Swathes of Britain skidded to a halt today as the big freeze returned -
grounding flights, closing rail links and leaving traffic at a
standstill.
Solstice Lunar Eclipse
The luster will be a bit "off" on Dec. 21st, the first day of northern
winter, when the full Moon passes almost dead-center through Earth's
shadow. For 72 minutes of eerie totality, an amber light will play
across the snows of North America, throwing landscapes into an unusual
state of ruddy shadow.
Solstice-Eclipse Overlap in 456 Years
This year's winter solstice — an event that will occur next Tuesday —
will coincide with a full lunar eclipse in a union that hasn't been seen
in 456 years.
Regulators Close Banks in Ga, Fla, Ark, and Minn
Regulators on Friday shuttered three small banks in Georgia and one each
in Florida, Arkansas and Minnesota, raising to 157 the number of U.S.
banks brought down this year by the struggling economy and soured loans.
North Korea Threatens More Attacks on South
North Korea warned Friday that it would attack South Korea more
violently than it did last month if Seoul proceeds with plans to
test-fire artillery from the island Pyongyang shelled.
N Korea Says War With South Would Go Nuclear
North Korea warned that another war with South Korea would involve
nuclear weapons, as diplomatic efforts continued Friday to ease high
tensions over its atomic ambitions and deadly artillery attack.
VIDEO: Julian Assange Calls ABC News Reporter 'Tabloid Schmuck'
DHS Implementing No Work List: Citizens Must Get Government Approval to
Work in Private Sector Jobs
You’ve heard of no fly and no buy lists – get ready for no work lists.
Millions of workers now must apply to the DHS and prove they are not
terrorists in order to be granted permission by the government to work.
Trusted Traveler Program Lets Mexicans Skip Airport Security
As violent drug cartels take over Mexico and expand their criminal
enterprises north, the United States has signed a “trusted traveler”
agreement that allows pre-screened Mexican airline passengers to bypass
lengthy airport security checkpoints.
22 Arrested in LA Foreclosure Protest at Chase
Police arrested 22 demonstrators who blocked entry to a downtown Chase
bank branch Thursday to protest what they said were unfair home
foreclosures.
TSA Screenings Miss Loaded Handguns, Bombs, Says Report
Getting through the airport security line with dangerous weapons is far
easier than most people might think, according to a recent ABC News
report.
Beet Juice Provides Incredible Cardiovascular Benefits That Improve
Active Function
Beetroots, also known as beets, are packed with blood pressure-reducing,
heart disease-preventing nutrients that help maintain healthy active
function and boost overall endurance levels in those that consume them.
Vision Breakthrough: Eye Exercises Improve Elder's Vision in Two Days to
See As Well As College Kids
For decades, some natural health advocates have claimed you could
actually enhance and improve vision (and sometimes get rid of your
glasses) by "training" your eyes to see better.
More Than a Million Europeans Sign Petition to Stop GMO Approvals
The European Union (EU) has typically been far slower than the U.S. to
approve the plantings and use of genetically-modified organisms (GMO).
Teens Who Play Sports Feel Significantly Healthier and Happier About
Life
Playing team sports is good for teenagers' mental as well as physical
health, according to a study conducted by researchers from West Virginia
University and published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of
Life.
Warning: Christmas Colored Chips, Cookies and Treats May Be Poisoning
Your Children
Those Christmas-colored snack chips and store-bought cookies may look
festive, but watch out: Eating them may cause side effects such as
hyperactivity, especially in children.
Drink Your Sleep Troubles Away: Tart Cherry Juice Helps Beat Insomnia
Millions of Americans have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep,
resulting in excessive fatigue and even more serious consequences.
Seaweed Extract Found to Prevent H1N1 Infection
New research published in the journal PLoS ONE has found that a red
seaweed-based compound known as Carrageenan is an effective treatment
against the common cold, viruses and even H1N1 influenza.
C-Section Birth Rate Skyrockets in USA as Mothers Surrender to
Convenience of Doctors
The c-section rate in the United States continues to climb, a phenomenon
increasingly attributed to impatience on the part of women and doctors.
Today In
History Friday December 17, 2010
1777 - France recognized American independence.
1895 - George L. Brownell received a patent for his paper-twine machine.
1903 - The first successful gasoline-powered airplane flight took place
near Kitty Hawk, NC. Orville and Wilbur Wright made the flight.
1944 - The U.S. Army announced the end of its policy of excluding
Japanese-Americans from the West Coast which ensured that
Japanese-Americans were released from detention camps.
1953 - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decided to approve
RCA’s color television specifications.
1957 - The United States successfully test-fired the Atlas
intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time.
1969 - Television history was made when Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki Budinger
were married on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.
1973 - Thirty-one people were killed at Rome airport when Arab guerillas
hijacked a German airliner.
1975 - Lynette Fromme was sentenced to life in prison for her attempt on
the life of U.S. President Ford.
1978 - OPEC decided to raise oil prices by 14.5% by the end of 1979.
1986 - Davina Thompson became the world's first recipient of a heart,
lungs, and liver transplant.
1992 - U.S. President H.W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
and Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari signed the North
American Free Trade Agreement.
1996 - The Red Cross pulled all but a few of its western staff out of
Chechnya after six foreign aid workers were killed by masked gunmen.
1997 - U.S. President Clinton signed the No Electronic Theft Act. The
act removed protection from individuals who claimed that they took no
direct financial gains from stealing copyrighted works and downloading
them from the Internet.
2002 - U.S. President George W. Bush ordered the Pentagon to have ready
for use within two years a system for protecting American territory,
troops and allies from ballistic missile attacks.
2002 - The insurance and finance company Conseco Inc. filed for Chapter
11 protection. It was the third-largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.
2004 - U.S. President George W. Bush signed into law the largest
overhaul of U.S. intelligence gathering in 50 years. The bill aimed to
tighten borders and aviation security. It also created a federal
counterterrorism center and a new intelligence director.
Tax Cut Bill Passes Senate On 81-19 Vote
The Senate Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a sweeping tax package that
would save millions of Americans thousands of dollars in higher taxes
while also reducing their Social Security taxes and extending jobless
benefits.
Man boards plane at IAH with loaded gun in carry-on & never was detected
Houston businessman Farid Seif says it was a startling discovery. He
didn't intend to bring a loaded gun on a flight out of Houston and can't
understand how TSA screeners didn't catch it. TSA screeners at Bush
Intercontinental Airport somehow missed a loaded pistol, one that was
tucked away inside a carry-on computer bag. "I mean, this is not a small
gun," Seif said. "It's a .40 caliber gun." Seif says it was an accident
which he didn't realize until he arrived at his destination.
ECB Boosts Captial as EU Leaders Set Crisis Fund
The ECB, in charge of monetary policy in the 16-nation euro area, said
it would almost double its capital to 10.76 billion euros (9.2 billion
pounds) to cope with bigger credit risk and market volatility.
IMF Approves Ireland Loan But Open to Re-Negotiation
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 22.5 billion euros (19
billion pound) loan for Ireland on Thursday and said it was open to
re-negotiating parts of the bailout package with a new government
provided its overall targets were adhered to.
START Clears Senate Hurdle
The Senate will take up debate of START on Thursday morning, after eight
Republicans crossed the aisle in an initial vote Wednesday.
Justice Department Sues BP
President Obama is not getting any more popular with oil companies.
Ron Paul: Fed 'Monopoly' Could Be Broken If Americans Use Gold, Silver
as Currency
As the incoming chairman of the House monetary policy subcommittee, Rep.
Ron Paul (R-TX) will hold the bully pulpit when it comes to the nation's
money woes.
In Praise of Junk Silver by Ol' Remus
It's doomsday plus a few weeks. Say you need to bribe the border guards
at the state line but they seem to have all the wristwatches and free
range eggs they can use.
CNN's Morgan Freeman death blunder: The actor is very much alive
CNN: Breaking News: actor Morgan Freeman has passed away in his Burbank
home." NOT!!! Twitter death hoaxes are about as common these days as
Justin Bieber related hashtags, but they're rarely started by respected,
trusted news sources... until today. CNN's official twitter posted the
above update on Thursday, Dec. 16 -- prompting fans and admirers to
begin to post a flurry of quotes from the actor and an onslaught of
R.I.P. tweets. One problem? Morgan Freeman was - and is - very much
alive. CNN subsequently deleted their tweet, but nothing is ever truly
erased from the internet and the damage was already done.
Approval of Internet Traffic Rules Likely - Analysts
Contentious Internet traffic rules facing a vote next week are likely to
be adopted without radically veering from a proposal unveiled earlier in
the month, telecommunications policy analysts said on Wednesday.
After Dozens of Deaths, Drop-Side Cribs Outlawed
It's the end of the traditional crib that has cradled millions of babies
for generations.
IRS Audits Jump By 11%; Wealthiest Targeted
The Internal Revenue Service is making it a bit riskier to cheat on your
taxes.
As Mortgage Rates Go Parabolic, Home Prices Will Soon Be Latest Shoe to
Re-Drop
The negative convexity loop in mortgages is starting to see casualties
left and right.
Claims: Around the Merry-Go-Round
Remember folks, claims is a "fuzzy" number. It tells you who claimed but
it doesn't tell you who found jobs. Well, now we know. And now we also
know where the unemployment stats for November, where we lost an actual
500,000 jobs on the household survey, came from.
CFTC Admits Will Miss Deadline on Position Limits
The futures regulator acknowledged on Wednesday it will miss the January
target for issuing a final rule on limiting the amount of contracts a
trader can control in agricultural, energy and metals markets.
Totally Busted: The Truth About Goldman's Bailout by the Fed
Eric Fry has put together the pieces, searched the articles and has done
the timeline that show's how the Fed shoveled money into the coffers of
Goldman Sachs. Even to help Goldman pay off its TARP debt.
Canadian Government Advances Codex Alimentarius with New Laws
'This evening, December 13, 2010, a piece of draconian legislation was
passed into law by the Canadian senate.
The US Is Free Falling Into Bankruptcy
And never in the history of the world have so many assets created so
little cash flow.
Science of Man-Made Life Can Proceed
The White House on Thursday said the controversial field of synthetic
biology, or manipulating the DNA of organisms to forge new life forms,
poses limited risks and should be allowed to proceed.
Bank of America in Mortgage Settlement Talks
Bank of America Corp., after vowing to fight requests that it repurchase
certain loans, has begun potential settlement discussions with some of
its largest mortgage investors.
'No Body Scanners at ABIA'
Austin's Airport Advisory Commission approved a resolution on Tuesday
night advising the city council to oppose airport body scanners and
invasive body searches.
Pelosi Scrambles to Save Obama Tax Package After Scrapped Vote
Democratic leaders are scrambling to save President Obama’s tax proposal
after a liberal insurrection forced House leaders to postpone a planned
vote on the measure Thursday.
TSA Choir Has Holiday Spirit Down Pat at LAX
Travelers passing through Los Angeles International Airport are finding
that security officers have more than a scan or pat-down for them this
holiday season. They're offering musical entertainment, too.
GOP Will Paralyze Senate Floor With Reading of 1,924 Page Spending Bill
Republicans will paralyze the Senate floor for 50 hours by forcing
clerks to read every single paragraph of the 1,924-page, $1.1 trillion
omnibus spending bill.
Food Prices Rise Sharply - and There's More to Come
For the first time since 2008, inflation is hitting consumers in the
stomach.
Missile Defence Failure: Long-Range Ballistic Program Test Fails for
Second Time This Year
America's long-range missile defence system has failed for the second
time this year in a test over the Pacific.
Shocker: North Korea's Got Way More Secret Nuke Sites
When an American scientist returned from Pyongyang to report that North
Korea had started a uranium-based path to nuclear weapons at its
Yongbyon nuclear complex, experts immediately assumed that the North
must be working elsewhere to enrich uranium as well.
Chinese Take-Out of the US Economy, Debt Crisis Triggering Reserves
Conversion Into Gold and Silver
The Chinese really must think the American strategy and behavior to be
brain dead and self-destructive.
Cinnamon May Be a Treasure of Green Nanotechnology
Gold nanoparticles, so incredibly tiny they can't be seen by the naked
eye, are used in electronics, healthcare products and as pharmaceuticals
in some cancer treatments.
NYC To Start Billing Residents When Ambulances Show Up to Treat Your
Injuries
The City of New York is considering a new proposal that would directly
charge its residents for using emergency services like ambulances and
fire trucks that respond to vehicle accidents.
Drug Recalls Surge as Big Pharma's Dangerous Medications are
Increasingly Exposed
The number of drug recalls in the United States has surged in recent
years, raising concerns about the overall safety of pharmaceutical
products.
Introducing Google Body: The new 3D medical browser that will make us
all doctors
Called Google Body Browser, the hi-tech 3D application has been hailed
as a breakthrough in the study of anatomy that could revolutionise our
understanding of the human body and even fast-track medical research.
The gadget, yet to be officially released, lets you explore the human
body in much the same way you can navigate the world on Google Earth.
Today In
History Thursday December 16, 2010
1773 - Nearly 350 chests of tea were dumped into Boston Harbor off of
British ships by Colonial patriots. The patriots were disguised as
Indians. The act was to protest taxation without representation and the
monopoly the government granted to the East India Company.
1835 - In New York, 530 buildings were destroyed by fire.
1850 - The first immigrant ship, the Charlotte Jane, arrived at
Lyttleton, New Zealand.
1901 - "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," by Beatrix Potter, was printed for
the first time.
1912 - The first postage stamp to depict an airplane was issued was a
20-cent parcel-post stamp.
1944 - During World War II, the Battle of the Bulge began in Belgium. It
was the final major German counteroffensive in the war.
1950 - U.S. President Truman proclaimed a national state of emergency in
order to fight "Communist imperialism."
1960 - A United Air Lines DC-8 and a TWA Super Constellation collided
over New York City, killing 134 people.
1981 - The U.S. Congress restored the $122 minimum monthly social
security benefit for current recipients.
1991 - The U.N. General Assembly rescinded its 1975 resolution equating
Zionism with racism by a vote of 111-25.
1993 - The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling
for negotiations on a comprehensive test ban.
1995 - Many U.S. government functions were again closed as a temporary
finance provision expired and the budget dispute between President
Clinton and Republicans in Congress continued.
1995 - NATO launched a military operation in support of the Bosnia peace
agreement.
1996 - Britain's agriculture minister announced the slaughter of an
additional 100,000 cows thought to be at risk of contracting BSE in an
effort to persuade the EU to lift its ban on Britain.
1998 - The U.S. and Britain fired hundreds of missiles on Iraq in
response to Saddam Hussein's refusal to comply with U.N. weapons
inspectors.
2000 - Researchers announced that information from NASA's Galileo
spacecraft indicated that Ganymede appeared to have a liquid saltwater
ocean beneath a surface of solid ice. Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter, is
the solar system's largest moon. The discovery is considered important
since water is a key ingredient for life.
2000 - U.S. President-elect G.W. Bush selected Colin Powell to be the
first African-American secretary of state. Powell was sworn in January
20, 2001.
2001 - In Tora Bora, Afghanistan, tribal fighters announced that they
had taken the last al-Quaida positions. More than 200 fighters were
killed and 25 captured. They also announced that they had found no sign
of Osama bin Laden.
2001 - Cuba received the first commercial food shipment from the United
States in nearly 40 years. The shipment was sent to help Cuba after
Hurrican Michelle hit Cuba on November 4, 2001.
2001 - A British newspaper, The Observer, reported that a notebook had
been found at an al-Quaida training camp in southern Afghanistan. The
notebook contained a "blue print" for an bomb attack on London's
financial district.
2002 - Canada ratified the Kyoto Protocol. The 1997 treaty was aimed a
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
2009 - Astronomers discovered GJ1214b. It was the first-known exoplanet
on which water could exist.
Chavez Seeks Power to Rule by Decree
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday asked congress to grant him
special powers to enact laws by decree for one year, just before a new
legislature takes office with a
larger contingent of opposition lawmakers.
Economic Crisis in America Mounting Household Debts, Threat to Pension
Funds and Social Security by Bob Chapman
The experts’ keep telling us how great shopping is this Christmas Season
when only 17% of shoppers are using credit cards. That is a drop of 50%
from last year, and the lowest usage in 27 years. We guess buyers have
unloaded the cookie jar and pulled their savings from under the
mattress. The consumer sentiment index has risen 2.6, but we will wait
to see if attitudes turn into sales. Home buying intentions continue to
fall as interest rates hit 4.66% for a 30-year fixed mortgage this past
week, putting a further damper on future sales. Read More...
TSA song by local artist Steve Vaus goes viral
The tune, titled “Help You Make it to Your Flight,” was recorded Nov. 18
at a sound studio in Escondido and posted on YouTube soon afterward,
along with a slide show.
Elected Tea Partier Allen West Calls for Mass Censorship of US Media
The government should censor news agencies that report on US documents
leaked by websites like WikiLeaks,
$1 million approved for ID scanners in child care facilities
Children or their guardians would need to scan their fingers when they
arrive at and leave child care facilities, a move that is meant to give
the state assurance that it is paying only for children who actually
attend day care.
Chinese rush to gold as inflation fears bite
Indications from China suggest that the surge in gold buying, which has
already led to the country's imports rising dramatically, is turning
into a rush.
Chinese Official: Mentally Ill Workers were Enslaved
A Chinese official said Tuesday that authorities were on their way to
rescue a group of mentally ill workers who state media reports said were
enslaved in a factory and given dog food to eat. State media reports
have said 11 workers, including eight mentally ill people, were sold to
a building materials factory in Xinjiang to work without pay. The
reports cited authorities as saying the workers were given no protective
gear and ate the same food as the factory leader's dogs.
China Sells Long-Term Bonds in October
The October TIC Data is out (although courtesy of the total and
ridiculous redesign of the Treasury's website, is a complete nightmare
to navigate).
When Americans Lose Everything, They Start to Lose It
As Gerald Celente has often warned, when Americans lose everything, they
will start to lose it, and nowhere was that more apparent than in the
case of Clay Duke, the 56-year-old gunman who opened fire on school
board members in protest against his wife being fired and his
unemployment benefits running out.
Yuan-Ruble Trading Starts on Moscow's Micex as Russia, China Shun Dollar
Moscow’s Micex exchange started trading the yuan against the ruble for
the first time today, as Russia and China seek to reduce the use of
dollars in trade.
Assange's UK Lawyer Says Half of Bail Cash Raised
A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Wednesday his
backers had raised around half of the 200,000 pounds ($317,400) cash he
needs to secure bail after he was accused of sex crimes in Sweden.
Fed Policy on Buying Treasury Bonds Stays on Track
Interest rates are marching upward, making it more expensive to take out
a mortgage or get a loan to expand a business, and diluting efforts by
Congress and the Federal Reserve to strengthen the economy.
Bloodbath in Muni Bond Funds; Reasons for the Muni Sell Off; Will It
Continue?
However, now that the government guarantee is gone, yields are poised to
rise, especially with increased default risk rising.
Republican Members if FCIC to Promote Crisis Urban Legends, Shift Blame
From Banks
The New York Times reports that the Republican members of the Financial
Crisis Inquiry Commission are going to pre-empt the report (due in
mid-January) and issue their own 13 page screed later today focusing
blame for the crisis on…Fannie and Freddie, and no doubt the CRA too.
Senate to Vote on Tax Cut Deal; House Dems Weigh Amending Estate Tax
The Senate prepared Wednesday to push through a sweeping tax package
negotiated by the White House and congressional Republicans, and House
leaders - who were looking to amend the measure in a way that would
satisfy liberals without unraveling the deal altogether - said a House
vote could follow as soon as Wednesday evening.
10 Signs That Confidence In US Treasury Is Dying and Financial
Armageddon Approaches
The financial community is concerned the tax deal Barack Obama is
pushing will dramatically increase U.S. government budget deficits over
the next two years.
Senate Spending Bill Contains Thousands of Earmarks
Weeks after swearing off earmarks, many senators stand to gain tens of
millions of dollars for pet projects in a massive spending bill that
could be their last chance at the money before a more conservative
Congress begins next month.
Man With HIV Cured (Stem Cell Transplant, First of It's Kind)
An HIV-positive man who underwent a stem cell transplant in 2007 has
been cured as a result of the procedure.
Deadly New Chili Pepper: One Bite May Kill You
The Naga Viper, now officially rated as the world's hottest chili pepper
is so hot it could kill you with one bite.
Lies, Lies, Lies: The New Foundation of the Financial System
The days are dwindling down fast now. There are only a precious few left
in 2010. The Dow rose 40 points on Friday. Gold fell off $7.
Warrant Needed to Snoop on Your Emails, Court Finally Rules
After many years of legal uncertainty, a federal appeals court has
finally declared that emails have the same Fourth Amendment protections
as regular mail and telephone calls.
Congress' Job Approval Rating Worst in Gallup History
Americans' assessment of Congress has hit a new low, with 13% saying
they approve of the way Congress is handling its job. The 83%
disapproval rating is also the worst Gallup has measured in more than 30
years of tracking congressional job performance.
'Perverse' Carbon Payments Send Flood of Money to China
In order to offset their own greenhouse gases, companies and utilities
in Europe that are subject to the emission limits of the Kyoto Protocol
have been paying vastly inflated prices to Chinese companies to destroy
hfc 23, and in the process have been providing the Chinese government
with hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue to compete against
Europe’s own “green” industries.
US Air Force Blocks NY Times, Guardian Over WikiLeaks
The U.S. Air Force has blocked access for computers on its network to
The New York Times (NYT.N), the Guardian, and at least 23 other websites
carrying WikiLeaks documents, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
Democrats' Budget Bill: $1.1 Trillion; 1,900 Pages
Defying the political odds, Senate Democrats rolled out a year-end,
governmentwide spending bill Tuesday that cuts more than $26 billion
from President Barack Obama’s 2011 requests even as it holds firm to
thousands of the appropriations earmarks so adamantly opposed by critics
of Congress.
Obama Tax Deal
Clears a Hurdle by Passing Senate
A deal struck by President Barack Obama and Republicans to extend
expiring tax cuts for millions of Americans and stimulate the sluggish
U.S. economy got the needed majority of votes for passage in the Senate
on Wednesday.
Reeling From Riots, Italy Faces Uncertainty
Italians voiced shock on Wednesday after violent protests set off by
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's narrow victory in a vote in
parliament that leaves his government hanging by a thread.
Greek Police Clash With Anti-Austerity Protesters
Greek protesters clashed with police and set fire to cars and a hotel in
central Athens on Wednesday as tens of thousands marched against
austerity measures aimed at pulling the country out of a debt crisis.
Obama Plans 2011 Staff Makeover
President Barack Obama has delayed the most significant staff shuffle of
his presidency until after New Year’s — but the changes may be more
sweeping than anticipated and could include the hiring of high-profile
Democrats defeated in the midterms.
Mountain House Confirms Freeze Dried Food Shortage
Oregon based Mountain House, a division of Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc., has
confirmed reports of shortages in their freeze dried food product line.
Ex-US Intel Chief Foresees S Korea Military Action
The former chief of US intelligence has warned that South Korea has lost
its patience with provocations by North Korea and "will be taking
military action."
Lakin Guilty on 3 Counts
Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin, the officer who raised questions about Barack
Obama's eligibility to be president only to be struck down by a military
court's banishment of evidence about his concerns, was convicted
yesterday by Judge Denise Lind on three counts of disobeying orders
during the first day of hiscourt martial.
**
Military court determines all orders must be obeyed, legal or not
Lakin: 'I chose the wrong path' - Army doctor questioning Obama's
eligibility convicted on all counts
Obama quietly erasing borders
Acting quietly, below the radar of U.S. public opinion and without
congressional approval, the Obama administration is implementing a key
policy objective of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North
America, or SPP, to erase the border with Mexico and Canada.
US-China Tensions Mount Amid Widening War Exercises
A late night Sunday telephone call between US President Barack Obama and
his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao underscored the mounting tensions
between the two countries in the wake of last month’s military clash
between North and South Korea.
Omega-3s Are Incredibly Potent Anti-Inflammatory Supplements
Omega-3 fatty acids are "incredibly potent" anti-inflammatories, which
may explain why they have been linked with lowered rates of diabetes and
heart disease, according to a study conducted by researchers from the
University of California-San Diego and published in the journal Cell.
TIME Magazine Asks Is the FDA on Drugs?
Reflecting on the undue influence that drug giant GlaxoSmithKline
appears to have exhibited over the FDA's decision-making process
regarding the diabetes blockbuster Avandia, Time magazine author Massimo
Calabresi asks, "Does the FDA have a drug problem?"
Germany Bans Cultivation of GM Corn
The German government has banned the cultivation of genetically modified
(GM) corn, calling it "a danger to the environment."
Why Gold-Backed Currencies Help Prevent Wars
Contrary to the 19th century, the 20th century was a century of
inflation, hyperinflation, trade and currency wars, waves of
speculation, military conflicts, two
world wars, hundreds if not thousands of local wars, hundreds of
millions dead, annihilation of entire nations, mass migrations, economic
ruin, and, finally, the decline of civilization. Read More...
Everything Washington Touches by Gerald Celente
While the public was being punished with austerity measures, the "too
big to fail" bankers, hedge fund hustlers, and Wall Street high rollers,
blamed for creating conditions necessitating austerity by making the
biggest, most crooked and worst of financial gambles – were rewarded
with a king’s ransom.
Today In
History Wednesday December 15, 2010 - Bill of Rights Day
1791 - In the U.S., the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known
as the Bill of Rights, went into effect following ratification by the
state of Virginia.
1854 - In Philadelphia, the first street cleaning machine was put into
use.
1877 - Thomas Edison patented the phonograph.
1890 - American Sioux Indian Chief Sitting Bull and 11 other tribe
members were killed in Grand River, SD, during an incident with Indian
police working for the U.S. government.
1925 - The third Madison Square Gardens opened.
1938 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt presided over the
ground-breaking ceremonies for the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC.
1939 - "Gone With the Wind," premiered at Loew's Grand Theater in
Atlanta. The movie starred Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.
1941 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into practice Bill
of Rights Day.
1944 - American forces invaded Mindoro Island in the Philippines.
1961 - Former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann was sentenced to death in
Jerusalem by an Israeli court. He had been tried on charges for
organizing the deportation of Jews to concentration camps.
1961 - The U.N. General Assembly voted against a Soviet proposal to
admit Communist China as a member.
1964 - Canada's House of Commons approved a newly designed flag thereby
dropping the Canadian "Red Ensign" flag.
1965 - Two U.S. manned spacecraft, Gemini 6 and Gemini 7, maneuvered
within 10 feet of each other while in orbit around the Earth.
1973 - J. Paul Getty III was found in southern Italy after being held
captive for five months, during which his right ear was cut off and sent
to a newspaper in Rome.
1978 - U.S. President Carter announced he would grant diplomatic
recognition to Communist China on New Year's Day and sever official
relations with Taiwan.
1979 - In a preliminary ruling, the International Court of Justice
ordered Iran to release all hostages that had been taken at the U.S.
embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979.
1981 - The U.S. Congress passed $200 billion spending bill. At the time
it was the largest in U.S. history.
1983 - The last 80 U.S. combat soldiers in Grenada withdrew. It was just
over seven weeks after the U.S.-led invasion of the Caribbean island.
1992 - El Salvador's government and leftist guerrilla leaders formally
declared the end of the country's 12-year civil war.
1995 - The U.N. Security Council authorized NATO to take over the
peacekeeping operations in Bosnia.
1996 - Boeing Co. announced plans to pay $13.3 billion to acquire rival
aircraft manufacturer McDonnell Douglas Corp.
1999 - Syria reopened peace talks with Israel in Washington, DC, with
the mediation of U.S. President Clinton.
2000 - The Chernobyl atomic power plant in Kiev, Ukraine, was shut down.
Assange Granted Bail, But Sweden Appeals
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted bail Tuesday after a
hearing at Westminster Magistrate's Court in London, but a lawyer
representing Swedish prosecutors immediately filed an appeal.
North Korea -
Heating Up
Is this going to go past a tipping point, or is this just posturing and
positioning in order to cement the new heir’s position?
Pilot Faked His Way as a Prestigious Doctor for 20 Years, Duping AMA and
Receiving Millions in Medical Grants
Dr William Hamman is a prestigious cardiologist with high-ranking posts
at universities and hospitals.
Halliburton Reportedly Agrees to Pay Nigeria $250 Million to Drop
Bribery Charges Against Cheney, Firm
The massive industrial conglomerate Halliburton has reportedly offered
to pay $250 million to settle charges against its former chief
executive, ex-Vice President Dick Cheney, in a multi-million dollar
bribery case.
Michelle Obama on Deciding What Kids Eat: ‘We Can’t Just Leave it Up to
The Parents'
Speaking at Monday's signing ceremony for the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids
Act”-- a law that will subsidize and regulate what children eat before
school, at lunch, after school, and during summer vacations in federally
funded school-based feeding programs -- First Lady Michelle Obama said
of deciding what American children should eat: “We can’t just leave it
up to the parents."
JPMorgan cuts silver short; copper holding eyed
JP Morgan is reducing a large position in U.S. silver futures, the
Financial Times reported on Tuesday, citing a source familiar with the
matter. Two months ago the bank and HSBC Holdings Plc (HSBA.L: Quote)
were sued by investors who accused them of conspiring to drive down
silver prices.
**
Water, Meet Blood - JP Morgan Admits To, Reduces Massive Silver Short
Position, Proves Millions of Conspiracy Theorists Correct
In the latest example that virtually every conspiracy theory is almost
always inevitably proven to be fact, the Financial Times reports that JP
Morgan, the firm targeted by thousands of "tin foil hat" wearing,
conspiratorially-oriented "gold bugs", has cut back on its US silver
futures.
Major Investors and Sovereigns Are Just Starting Their Move Into Gold
Cazenove Capital -- widely assumed to be a broker to the British royal
family -- remains bearish on U.S. stocks and bullish on gold.
Will the Fed be able to survive Ron Paul?
The question should be will Ron Paul survive the Fed!!!
Grocer A&P Files for Bankruptcy
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., once the nation's largest grocer,
filed for bankruptcy protection Sunday after years of struggling with
enormous debt and rising competition from low-priced peers. It said all
its 395 stores, which employ 41,000 people, will remain open. Loyalty
programs and other promotions will continue.
What Ike Got Right
LAST week the National Archives released a trove of drafts and notes
that shed new light on President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s farewell
address, in which he warned America about the “military-industrial
complex.” The release comes just in time for the speech’s 50th
anniversary next month. And so while scholars and historians use these
documents to scrutinize the evolution of the speech’s famous phrase,
it’s worth asking a broader question: does America still have a
military-industrial complex, and should we be as worried about it as
Eisenhower was?
PHOTOS: The Most Amazing Science Images of 2010
What Trips Gold Up? – Answers to Your Letters
Reviewing the comments and Terry’s responses, I remain convinced that
until there is a fundamental shift in how our government operates, the
gold bull market will continue. That’s not to say that there won’t be a
shift – as Terry comments, in time they’ll be forced to it.
Court to Hear Case of Birther Who Wouldn't Deploy
A military court was set to hear the case Tuesday of an Army doctor
charged with refusing to deploy to Afghanistan because he says he doubts
whether President Barack Obama was born in the U.S. and therefore
questions his eligibility to be commander in chief.
Where's the Note? Leads BAC to Ding Credit Score
Let’s imagine the following scenario: You have a Jumbo mortgage with
Bank of America. You are a good customer, do your banking with BofA, and
you have never missed a payment. In fact, you always send your mortgage
in on time.
Chances Are Dimming for Patriot Act Reform
The USA PATRIOT Act is up for renewal in February, but civil
libertarians wanting major changes shouldn't get their hopes up just
yet, says a libertarian think tank.
November Retail Sales and PPI
Truth: Auto sales, building materials and garden supplies, gasoline,
sporting goods and food service places (restaurants) were all down on an
unadjusted basis.
Riots Break Out In Rome
Protesters set fire to cars, threw paint and smoke bombs at the Italian
parliament and clashed with riot police today in Rome's worst violence
for years after prime minister Silvio Berlusconi survived a confidence
vote.
Cap and Trade by Stealth: US States Partner With Foreign Governments
While Americans w ere battling cap-and-trade legislation at the national
and international levels, global-warming alarmists were quietly building
regional systems between state and local governments, private industry,
and even foreign governments that basically achieve the same effect —
higher energy prices for consumers and more money for governments.
Richard Holbrooke Dies: Veteran US Diplomat Brokered Dayton Peace
Accords
Last Words "Stop This War' - Longtime U.S. diplomat Richard C. Holbrooke,
whose relentless prodding and deft maneuvering yielded the 1995 Dayton
peace accords that ended the war in Bosnia - a success he hoped to
repeat as President Obama's chief envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan -
died Monday in Washington of complications from surgery to repair a torn
aorta.
Canadians With More Debt Than US Spark Policy Makers' Warning
Canada’s top economic officials yesterday urged households to be wary of
taking on too much debt after data showed the indebtedness of Canadians
surpassed U.S. levels for the first time in 12 years.
Obama Officials Warn of 'Devastating Consequences' if Mandate Struck
Down
A day after a Virginia judge struck down the healthcare reform law's
individual mandate, Obama administration officials warned in a Tuesday
op-ed that there would be "devastating consequences for everyone with
health insurance" if the ruling is upheld.
UK Weather: Big Freeze Returns Tomorrow and It's Going to Last for a
MONTH
Temperatures will plummet tomorrow and will stay bitterly cold for the
next month, forecasters have warned.
The Bitter Bite of Winter, Food Shortages Coming?
Almost six months ago an Italian physicist was showing satellite photos
of a diminishing Gulf current because of the oil disaster and now below
you will see a video interview of an actual Earl of Sterling talking
extensively about its collapse.
Post Mortem for the World's 'Reserve Currency'
Paul Volcker is worried about the future of the dollar and for good
reason. The Fed has initiated a program (Quantitative Easing) that
presages an end to Bretton Woods 2 and replaces it with different system
altogether.
Father Harassed By CPS for Feeding Kids Organic Food
A father of two was harassed and investigated by Child Protective
Services and police for feeding his daughters organic food, refusing to
make them drink fluoride-poisoned tap water and not having them injected
with mercury-laden vaccines, all of which constitutes “suspicious
activity” in the new Sovietized America, a foretaste of what’s to come
once Big Sis’ Wal-Mart spy campaign gets up and running.
UN & Big Business Call for Global Light Bulb Ban to Save Climate
The United Nations and its corporate allies called for a global ban on
incandescent light bulbs and kerosene lamps Wednesday at the COP16
global-warming summit in Cancun, claiming in a new study that
“energy-efficient” lights would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide
emissions.
Healthy Hips Require Plenty of Vitamin D
Healthy bones cannot be maintained without adequate levels of vitamin D.
Sunscreen Chemicals Absorbed into Body, Found In 85 Percent of Human
Milk Samples
Before you apply creams, lotions, cosmetics and sunscreens to your skin,
it might be a good idea to find out what's really in them.
Ovarian Cancer Screenings are Essentially Useless
A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal of the American
Cancer Society (ACS) Cancer has found that current ovarian cancer
screening technologies do virtually nothing to decrease the overall
death rate from the disease.
Everyone is Suspect at Walmart
This is pretty painful. I actually feel sorry for the people that have
to work under both the TSA and DHS, and for the people who work at
Walmart.
Today In
History Tuesday December 14, 2010
1799 - The first president of the United States, George Washington, died
at the age 67.
1819 - Alabama joined the Union as the 22nd state.
1896 - Gen. James H. Doolittle, who led the first air raid on Japan
during World War II, was born.
1903 - Orville Wright made the first attempt at powered flight. The
engine stalled during take-off and the plane was damaged in the attempt.
Three days later, after repairs were made, the modern aviation age was
born when the plane stayed aloft for 12 seconds and flew 102 feet.
1911 - Norwegian explorer Ronald Amundsen became the first man to reach
the South Pole.
1918 - For the first time in Britain women (over 30) voted in a General
Election.
1939 - The Soviet Union was dropped from the League of Nations.
1945 - Josef Kramer, known as "the beast of Belsen," and 10 others were
executed in Hamelin for the crimes they committed at the Belsen and
Auschwitz Nazi concentration camps.
1946 - The U.N. General Assembly voted to establish the United Nation's
headquarters in New York City.
1983 - The U.S. battleship New Jersey fired on Syrian positions in
Lebanon for the first time after American F-14 reconnaissance flights
were fired on.
1986 - The experimental aircraft Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan and
Jeana Yeager, took off from California on the first non-stop,
non-refueled flight around the world. The trip took nine days to
complete.
1988 - The first transatlantic underwater fiber-optic cable went into
service.
1995 - The presidents of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia signed
the Dayton Accords to end fighting in Bosnia.
1995 - AIDS patient Jeff Getty received the first-ever bone-marrow
transplant from a baboon.
1997 - Cuban President Fidel Castro declared Christmas 1997 an official
holiday to ensure the success of Pope John Paul II's upcoming visit to
Cuba.
1998 - Hundreds of Palestinian leaders renounced a call for the
destruction of Israel.
1999 - U.S. and German negotiators agreed to establish a $5.2 billion
fund for Nazi-era slave and forced laborers.
1999 - Charles M. Schulz announced he was retiring the "Peanuts" comic
strip. The last original "Peanuts" comic strip was published on February
13, 2000.
2000 - It was announced that American businessman Edmond Pope would be
released from a Russian prison for humanitarian reasons. Pope had been
sentenced to 20 years in prison
after his conviction on espionage charges.
2001 - European Union leaders agreed to dispatch 3,000-4,000 troops to
join an international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan.
2001 - The first commercial export, since 1963, of U.S. food to Cuba
began. The 24,000 metric tons for corn were being sent to replenish what
was lost when Hurricane Michelle
struck on November 4.
Ukraine's Hijacked Weapons: A Discreet Deal for the War in Sudan
US dispatches have cleared up one of the most baffling weapons affairs
of the recent past. In 2008, pirates hijacked a ship full of tanks and
other military hardware. Kenya apparently intended to send the materiel
on to Southern Sudan. But they were unprepared for the US reaction.
Sometimes things get so bad they're almost funny. Take, for example,
when criminals hold up arms traffickers, and when politicians
subsequently lie and are abandoned by their supposed friends -- even
though they secretly do the same thing themselves. That's exactly what
happened in the so-called Faina affair, one of the most baffling cases
of weapons smuggling in recent memory -- an affair which has only now
come to light due to the leaked US diplomatic cables.
Til Death Due
Us Tax
Weiner, Hoyer, Pelosi, Clyburn and the rest have proven that no matter
what – you can’t get away from them. Even death do you not part.
Ukraine to Open Chernobyl Area to Tourists in 2011
Want a better understanding of the world's worst nuclear disaster? Come
tour the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
State Wants Illinoisans to Pay Web Taxes
Many Illinois taxpayers are dodging state and local sales taxes by
buying Christmas gifts online, but the state hopes to get them to
eventually pay those taxes in 2011.
Money Laundering Scandal Rocks Vatican Bank
This is no ordinary bank: The ATMs are in Latin. Priests use a private
entrance. A life-size portrait of Pope Benedict XVI hangs on the wall.
Judge in Va. Strikes Down Federal Health Care Law
A federal judge declared the foundation of President Barack Obama's
health care law unconstitutional Monday, ruling that the government
cannot require Americans to purchase insurance. The case is expected to
end up at the Supreme Court.
Italian PM Warns Israel May Nuke Iran
In a meeting with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Italian Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi warned that he believed “no one including Obama” could
stop Israel from launching an attack against Iran once it had made up
its mind.
Former US Spy Chief: South Korea May Attack North
Speaking today on CNN’s “State of the Union,” former Director of
National Intelligence Dennis Blair said he believed South Korea will
probably launch some attacks against North Korea in the near future, but
that it doesn’t necessarily mean a major war will start.
Oil Prices Rally Above 91 Dollars
Crude oil prices jumped above 91 dollars here on Monday as the market
digested OPEC's move over the weekend to maintain the cartel's output
levels.
Record-Breaking Warmth Grips Los Angels, Phoenix
Several records were broken throughout the West on Sunday. The unusually
warm weather will persist in the Southwest today.
New Cold Blast Invading Eastern US Even More Brutal
While not everyone across the eastern half of the country dealt with
snow or a blizzard this past weekend, they will all be facing brutal
cold soon if not already.
Allan Ritter Quits Dems
If Rep. Aaron Pena hoped he was going to be the first rat to jump ship,
tough luck: Rep. Allan Ritter, D-Nederland, had announced he is quitting
the Democratic party and joining the House Republicans, giving them the
supermajority they craved.
India Protests Frisking of Top Diplomats at US Airports
The foreign ministry has protested to Washington after reports two of
New Delhi's diplomats were frisked at US airports, describing the
searches as serious breaches of protocol.
Payroll Tax Cut Worries Social Security Advocates
President Barack Obama's plan to cut payroll taxes for a year would
provide big savings for many workers, but makes Social Security
advocates nervous that it could jeopardize the retirement program's
finances.
The New York Police Department Starts Using Iris Scans on Suspects
In a move questioned by the New York Civil Liberties Union and some of
New York's top lawyers, the New York Police Department is now using
machines to photograph and scan the irises of prisoners as they pass
through New York Central Booking. The department claims that this new
high-tech identification program is part of a failsafe measure meant to
prevent escapes as suspects move through New York's complex and winding
court system
Nine Month Old Twins Die Just Minutes After Measles Vaccination
A pair of nine-month old twin girls died within minutes of being given a
measles vaccine at a private clinic in Ghaziabad, India.
German Troops in France for First Time Since WWII
A battalion of German combat troops was officially stationed in eastern
France on Dec. 10 for the first time since Nazi forces ended their
occupation after World War II.
Canada, US on Verge of North American Trade, Security 'Perimeter'
A landmark deal is at hand between Canada and the United States to form
a trade and security perimeter around the continent with an eye to
easing the flow of goods and people across the border, the National Post
is reporting.
Obama's Tax
and Unemployment Package: Moody's May Cut US Rating on Tax Package
Moody's warned Monday that it could move a step closer to cutting the
U.S. Aaa rating if President Obama's tax and unemployment benefit
package becomes law.
Richard Holbrooke, American Diplomat, Dead at 69
Richard Holbrooke, a forceful presence in American diplomacy for more
than 45 years, died tonight in Washington, D.C. He was 69.
Tax Cut Bill Draws Wide Support in Senate
Democratic opposition to President Barack Obama's plan to avert an
across-the-board income-tax increase Jan. 1 crumbled in the Senate on
Monday, as a large bipartisan majority backed the legislation.
Wall Street Sees Record Revenue in '09-10 Recovery From Government
Bailout
Wall Street’s biggest banks, rebounding after a government bailout, are
set to complete their best two years in investment banking and trading,
buoyed by 2010 results likely to be the second-highest ever.
N Korea Threatens S Korea With Nuclear War
North Korea warned Monday that U.S.-South Korean cooperation could bring
a nuclear war to the region, as the South began artillery drills amid
lingering tension nearly three weeks after the North's deadly shelling
of a South Korean island.
Real-Life Da Vinci Code: Tiny Numbers and Letters Discovered on the Mona
Lisa
But the Mona Lisa was at the centre of a new mystery yesterday after art
detectives took a fresh look at the masterpiece – and noticed something
in her eyes.
Obama's New Tax On...Rainwater?!
Would President Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency really force
Americans to pay a tax on “rainwater runoff” from homes and small
businesses?
Study Verifies That There is No Value in Any Flu Vaccine
A remarkable study published in the Cochrane Library found no evidence
of benefit for influenza vaccinations and also noted that the vast
majority of trials were inadequate.
Researchers Find a Way to Assemble Full Genome of Fetus
The discovery, made using a sample of the mother's blood, could offer a
safer alternative to invasive screening procedures used to detect
genetic problems in fetuses, experts say.
Florida Cold Snap Will Likely Drive Food Prices Even Higher
With an oncoming unstoppable international food shortage already
predicted by the United Nations this year we can lump another frozen
harvest of Florida crops to the mix of shorted food supplies.
General Mills Cuts Sugar Content in Children's Cereals But Still Uses
GMO's
Breakfast cereal giant General Mills recently announced plans to
slightly cut the sugar content in its children's cereals in accordance
with overall pressures on major food producers to fight childhood
obesity and its related diseases by making healthier products.
Treat Depression With Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago have confirmed
that omega-3 fatty acids exhibit powerful antidepressant and brain
boosting benefits that have not received the high level of attention
they deserve.
Memory Loss Is Not a Normal Part of Aging
Memory loss is always a sign of disease or injury, and should never be
attributed to the natural course of aging, according to a study
conducted by researchers from the Rush University Medical Center in
Chicago and published in the journal Neurology.
Julian Assange Wined and Dined at US Embassy
To the United States, Julian Assange may now be Public Enemy Number One.
Some American politicians have even called for his execution.
35,000 Deaths Fear in New Arctic Blizzards - UK
Experts predict a dramatic increase in cold-related fatalities as we
suffer the bitterest winter in a century, causing 12 deaths every hour.
Sand and Snow Cause Chaos in Middle East
Winds, rain, sandstorms and hail battered the southern and eastern
Mediterranean on Sunday, killing at least five people, closing ports and
disrupting traffic in the Suez Canal.
Today In
History Monday December 13, 2010
1769 - Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, received its charter.
1809 - The first abdominal surgical procedure was performed in Danville,
KY, on Jane Todd Crawford. The operation was performed without an
anesthetic.
1862 - In America, an estimated 11,000 Northern soldiers were killed or
wounded when Union forces were defeated by Confederates under General
Robert E. Lee, at the Battle of Fredericksburg.
1883 - The border between Ontario and Manitoba was established.
1884 - Percy Everitt received a patent for the first coin-operated
weighing machine.
1913 - The Federal Reserve System was established as the first U.S.
central bank.
1918 - U.S. President Wilson arrived in France, becoming the first chief
executive to visit a European country while holding office.
1921 - Britain, France, Japan and the United States signed the Pacific
Treaty.
1944 - During World War II, the U.S. cruiser Nashville was badly damaged
in a Japanese kamikaze suicide attack. 138 people were killed in the
attack.
1978 - The Philadelphia Mint began stamping the Susan B. Anthony U.S.
dollar. The coin began circulation the following July.
1981 - Authorities in Poland imposed martial law in an attempt to
crackdown on the Solidarity labor movement. Martial law ended formally
in 1983.
1991 - North Korea and South Korea signed a historic non-aggression
agreement.
1998 - Puerto Rican voters rejected U.S. statehood in a non-binding
referendum.
2000 - U.S. Vice President Al Gore conceded the 2000 Presidential
election to Texas Gov. George W. Bush. The Florida electoral votes were
won by only 537 votes, which decided the election. The election had been
contested up to the U.S. Supreme Court, which said that the Florida
recount (supported by the Florida Supreme Court) was unconstitutional.
2000 - Seven convicts, the "Texas 7," escaped from Connally Unit in
Kenedy, TX, southeast of San Antonio, by overpowering civilian workers
and prison employees. They fled with stolen clothing, pickup truck and
16 guns and ammunition.
2001 - The U.S. government released a video tape that showed Osama bin
Laden and others discussing their knowledge of the terrorist attacks on
the United States on September 11, 2001.
2001 - U.S. President George W. Bush served formal notice to Russia that
the United States was withdrawing from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile
Treaty.
2001 - Israel severed all contact with Yasser Arafat. Israel also
launched air strikes and sent troops into Palestine in response to a bus
ambush that killed 10 Israelis.
Ron Paul, Author of ‘End the Fed,’ to Lead Fed Panel
Representative Ron Paul, Texas Republican and author of “End the Fed,”
will take control of the House subcommittee that oversees the Federal
Reserve. House Financial Services chairman-elect Spencer Bachus, an
Alabama Republican, selected Paul, 75, to lead the panel’s domestic
monetary policy subcommittee when their party takes the House majority
next month, said the committee chairman.
VIDEO: Glenn Beck Warns Of Food Riots, Martial Law & Gun Confiscations
Blizzard Dumps 20 Inches of Snow In Parts of Midwest
A powerful snowstorm socked the upper Midwest on Saturday with as much
as 20 inches of snow, forcing authorities to close roads across five
states as heavy winds made for treacherous driving conditions.
Johnson & Johnson Rolaids recall expands to Canada
The company's McNeil Consumer Healthcare business said it is voluntarily
pulling all Rolaids Ultra Strength Softchews and Rolaids Ultra Strength
Softchews plus Gas Relief off the market because consumers reported
finding metal and wood particles.
GM Accelerates Toward Chinese Business, Plug-Ins
Two years ago, General Motors was on the brink of bankruptcy. But the
U.S. government stepped in and took control. Since then, as part of its
restructuring, GM shed thousands of jobs and billions in debt. And last
month, the company took the first step in shedding its "Government
Motors" image by launching a successful IPO, which raised billions of
dollars and allowed the government to reduce its stake in GM by half.
CFTC Commissioner Bart Chilton Reveals 'One Trader' Controls 40% of
Silver Market, As Silver Holdings of SLV Hit All Time Record
After we reported a week ago that JPMorgan was trying to corner the
copper market, many noted this was not surprising, considering the
bank's comparable approach in manipulating various other precious metal
markets.
Swedish Police: Explosions Were Terrorism
Two blasts that shook a busy shopping street in central Stockholm were
an act of terrorism, officials said Sunday, in what appeared to be a
suicide bombing.
Hackers steal Walgreens e-mail list, attack consumers
Pharmacy giant Walgreens had to swallow some bitter medicine on Friday
when it told customers that a computer criminal had stolen its e-mail
marketing list. The criminal used the list to send out realistic-looking
spam that asked recipients to enter their personal information into a
Web page controlled by hackers.
The 10 Most Depressing Jobs in America
Read the list of people with the saddest jobs!
Something’s Wrong in the Silver Pit: But It’s Much Bigger than J.P.
Morgan
There are a total of 417 Billion notional in Gold derivatives
outstanding – AND THE GOLD / SILVER Price RATIO is 49:1 – then WHY are
outstanding notional silver derivatives 127 Billion???? These BIS
numbers suggest that the proper gold / silver ratio should be roughly
3.3:1 or silver priced TODAY at 1,400 / 3.3 = 424.00 per ounce.
Obama's Evergreen Revolution a Ploy to Push GMO's
The Obama Administration is working towards a second "Green Revolution"
in agriculture known as the "Evergreen Revolution".
Madoff's Eldest Son Hangs Himself in NYC Apartment
Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff's eldest son hanged himself by a dog
leash in his apartment Saturday, exactly two years after his father's
arrest in a multibillion-dollar Ponzi scheme that swindled thousands of
investors of their life savings.
Post-Meltdown, Banks Still Rule Derivatives Trade
On the third Wednesday of every month, the nine members of an elite Wall
Street society gather in Midtown Manhattan.
Fairbanks Militia Leader Schaeffer Cox Questions Alaska Courts Authority
A defiant Schaeffer Cox, facing a misdemeanor weapons charge, told a
judge Friday he will not attend another court hearing until the court
system explains its authority over him.
Tax Cuts Meet
Pork Layoffs
What you have to realize is that some of these people can’t help
themselves.
Head Blast Protection
One of the more poignant tales out of the Second World War reports on a
bitter cold winter’s night in which a Finnish unit was bracing for a
heavy soviet assault coming from over a rise to the front.
Justice Department Prepares for Ominous Expansion of 'Anti-Terrorism'
Law Targeting Activists
In late September, the FBI carried out a series of raids of homes and
antiwar offices of public activists in Minneapolis and Chicago.
Morality is Modified in the Lab
They identified a region of the brain just above and behind the right
ear which appears to control morality.
Building a Communitarian Planned Police State
Community (communitarian) Oriented Policing plays a key role in building
a new world. Community police are in almost every nation now, and they
are directly involved in ALL Local Agenda 21 neighborhood planning
efforts.
Homeland Security Recruiting Neighborhood Busybodies as Informants
There were the infamous Gestapo, Stazi and Red Guard.
Suicide Bomber Kills 6 Troops in Afghanistan
Six U.S. troops were killed Sunday when a man rammed a minivan packed
with explosives into a newly built military installation in Kandahar
Province, U.S. and Afghan officials said.
Democrats Try to Salvage Pride in Lame-Duck Session
Having navigated the thickets of thickly drawn party lines on taxes,
President Obama now must overcome a potent force inside his own
Democratic Party: pride.
Venezuela Acquires 1,800 Antiaircraft Missiles From Russia
Russia delivered at least 1,800 shoulder-fired antiaircraft missiles to
Venezuela in 2009, U.N. arms control data show, despite vigorous U.S.
efforts to stop President Hugo Chavez's stridently anti-American
government from acquiring the weapons.
US Posts $150.4 Billion November Budget Deficit
The U.S. government ran its 26th straight monthly budget deficit in
November amid wrangling over a package that would extend big tax cuts to
Americans trying to recover from recession.
Prisons Cut Costs With Recycled Underwear
Prisons in Washington are issuing inmates with used uniforms, recycled
underwear and shorter socks in an effort to cut costs, the Seattle Times
reported Friday.
Storm Slams Midwest, Cancels Flights, Closes Roads - Minnesota Metrodome
Collapses
A powerful, gusty storm is dumping mounds of snow across the upper
Midwest.
Israel's Leader Does Not Want to Share Jerusalem
Israel's leader on Sunday dismissed a call from a key government partner
to share the holy city of Jerusalem with the Palestinians, a reminder of
the obstacles facing already troubled peacemaking efforts.
Two Bank Failures Bring Year's Tally to 151
One bank failure in Pennsylvania and one in Michigan brought the year's
tally of failures to 151, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corp. Friday.
N Korea 'Will Rely on Nuclear Might for Defense'
Pyongyang will rely on nuclear might to defend itself against the United
States and South Korea, North Korea's Foreign Minister Pak Ui Chun told
Russia's Interfax news agency Friday.
Rahm's Residency Battle Gets a Status Hearing
Election officials have scheduled a status hearing for Rahm Emanuel as
the continue to sort through more than 30 challenges to his mayoral
eligibility.
Social Security Advocates Fear Payroll Tax Cut
President Obama's plan to cut payroll taxes for a year would provide big
savings for many workers but makes Social Security advocates nervous
that it could jeopardize the retirement program's finances.
US Life Expectancy Continues to Plummet, But Not Becauseof Inadequate
Health Care
A new report published in the journal Health Affairs says the U.S. has
dropped to 49th place in overall life expectancy among the nations of
the world.
Drinking Alcohol May Reduce Symptoms of Arthritis
Regular alcohol consumption may reduce the severity of rheumatoid
arthritis, according to a study conducted by researchers from the
University of Sheffield, England.
Principle of Astrology Proven to be Scientific: Planetary Position
Imprints Biological Clocks of Mammals
Mention the word "astrology" and skeptics go into an epileptic fit.
Mainstream Media Agrees That Food Safety Bill Will Do Nothing to Improve
Food Safety
A recent editorial in Forbes magazine online slams the recent U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) "Food Safety Modernization Act" for being
a huge waste of taxpayer money, and an effort that will do absolutely
nothing to actually improve food safety.
Hospitals to Begin Publicly Reporting Preventative Infections, Deaths
They Cause
Millions of preventable infections occur at U.S. hospitals every year,
and hundreds of thousands of patients needlessly die or become severely
diseased from them.
Parents Can't Seem to Figure Out Right Dosage for Their Children
More than 60 percent of all parents give their children the wrong dose
of liquid medicines, potentially placing their health at risk, according
to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney,
Australia, and presented at the International Pharmaceutical Federation
in Lisbon, Portugal.
GMO Canola Contaminates Majority of Land on Organic Farm
Just as many in the natural health community have been saying for years,
a recent report out of Australia explains that genetically-modified
organisms (GMO) are fully capable of spreading to and contaminating
nearby non-GMO and organic crop fields.
Most Women Skip Mammograms, Even When Insurance Will Pay for Them
Millions of U.S. women are apparently ignoring government
recommendations and taking breast health into their own hands.
Grocery Store Chain A&P Files for Bankruptcy
Once the largest U.S. grocer, the owner of about 400 stores under brands
such as A&P, Waldbaum's and Super Fresh filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
in New York with more than $1 billion in assets and more than $1 billion
in debt, according to court documents.
Asian Stocks Rise, Dollar Up On Upbeat US Data
Investors appeared intent on ending the year on a bright note, with Asia
Pacific stocks up some 10 percent so far this year .MIAP00000PUS,
outperforming an 8 percent rise in global equities .MIWD00000PUS.
Even Dem Foes of Tax Cut Plan See It Passing Soon
The White House expressed confidence Sunday that President Barack
Obama's deal with Republicans will pass by year's end, averting a Jan. 1
increase in income taxes for nearly all Americans, even the highest
earners.
Cyber Attacks by WikiLeaks Defenders Hit Online Traders Badly
Online retailers have been reporting worrying shortfalls in their orders
this week after hackers wreaked havoc with credit card systems. In one
of the busiest weeks pre-Christmas, attacks on MasterCard, PayPal and
Amazon, the freezing weather and unrelated issues at the processing
intermediary Sage Pay have left many online merchants far short of
expected sales.
FDA to Reexamine Use of Mercury in Dental Fillings
Prodded by consumer and dental activists, the Food and Drug
Administration is reviewing the scientific evidence underlying its
pronouncement less than 18 months ago that dental fillings containing
mercury do not cause harm to patients.
Formaldehyde in Wrinkle-Free Clothes May Pose Skin Risks
The iron, that relic of households past, is no longer required to look
neat and freshly pressed.
Today In
History Friday December 10, 2010
1817 - Mississippi was admitted to the Union as the 20th American state.
1869 - Women were granted the right to vote in the Wyoming Territory.
1898 - A treaty was signed in Paris that officially ended the
Spanish-American War. Also, Cuba became independent of Spain.
1901 - The first Nobel prizes were awarded.
1941 - Japan invaded the Philippines.
1941 - The Royal Naval battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse were sunk
by Japanese aircraft in the Battle of Malaya.
1948 - The United Nations General Assembly adopted its Universal
Declaration on Human Rights.
1953 - Hugh Hefner published the first "Playboy" magazine with an
investment of $7,600.
1958 - The first domestic passenger jet flight took place in the U.S.
when 111 passengers flew from New York to Miami on a National Airlines
Boeing 707.
1964 - In Oslo, Norway, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. received the Nobel
Peace Prize. He was the youngest person to receive the award.
1990 - The U.S. Food & Drug Administration approved Norplant, a
long-acting contraceptive implant.
1992 - Oregon Senator Bob Packwood apologized for what he called
"unwelcome and offensive" actions toward women. However, he refused to
resign.
1993 - The crew of the space shuttle Endeavor deployed the repaired
Hubble Space Telescope into Earth's orbit.
1994 - Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin received the Nobel
Peace Prize. They pledged to pursue their mission of healing the Middle
East.
1995 - The first U.S. Marines arrived in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo
to join NATO soldiers sent to enforce peace in the former Yugoslavia.
1998 - Six astronauts opened the doors to the new international space
station 250 miles above the Earth's surface.
1999 - After three years under suspicion of being a spy for China,
computer scientist Wen Ho Lee was arrested. He was charged with removing
secrets from the Los Alamos weapons lab. Lee later pled guilty to one
count of downloading restricted data to tape and was freed. The other 58
counts were dropped.
2003 - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld new restrictions on political
advertising in the weeks before an election. The court did strike down
two provisions of the new law that involved a ban on political
contributions from those too young to vote and a limitation on some
party spending. (McConnell v. FEC, 02-1674)
2003 - The U.S. barred firms based in certain countries, opponents of
the Iraq war, from bidding on Iraqi reconstruction projects. The ban did
not prevent companies from winning subcontracts.
2007 - Cristina Fernandez was sworn in as Argentina's first elected
female president.
MUSIC VIDEO: Becky Kelley - Where's the Line to See Jesus
Royal car attacked as student rioters run riot in London
PRINCE Charles and his wife Camilla came under attack and several
government buildings were damaged during violent clashes between
protesters and police after MPs voted narrowly to allow English
universities to increase tuition fees.
FAA Loses Track of 119,000 Aircraft
The Federal Aviation Administration is missing key information on who
owns one-third of the 357,000 private and commercial aircraft in the
U.S. - a gap the agency fears could be exploited by terrorists and drug
traffickers.
You won't
believe what you paid for GM bailout
President Obama will have lost many billions of dollars – the estimates
include figures in the range of $30 billion in cash – of taxpayer funds
by the time the bailout of General Motors is sorted out, paid up and put
on a balance sheet, according to experts who have analyzed the
unprecedented takeover of an American company by a president.
Assange Accuser Flees to Middle East, May Not be Cooperating With Police
One of the two Swedish women who have filed sex complaints against the
founder of WikiLeaks has reportedly left Sweden and may no longer be
cooperating with the criminal investigation.
WikiLeaks' Hackers 'Operation Payback' Cyber War Targets Swedish
Government
Computer hackers have sent two of the world’s biggest credit card
companies into meltdown in revenge for cutting off payments to the
WikiLeaks website.
The Subprime Shakeout: Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh Scores
Important Early Victory in Pennsylvania Lawsuit
In the first substantive decision handed down in any of the five major
lawsuits by the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB) over RMBS losses, the
Hon. Stanton Wettick, Jr. of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny
County, Pennsylvania dealt a blow to JPMorgan Chase, Countrywide and
other securitizers of subprime and Alt-A mortgage loans, while letting
the ratings agencies largely off the hook. In the Order on Defendant's
Motion to Dismiss (full copy available here), Judge Wettick found that
the FHLB's claims for fraud, negligent misrepresentation and Securities
Act violations could proceed against J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc., the
entity that actually offered the mortgage backed securities for sale to
investors and put together the securities' offering documents.
Social Security’s Effect On The Treasury: Why We Are “Effed”
So that’s why we’re screwed. The Social Security system is now a net
negative drain on Treasury. While some accounting statement smoke and
mirrors can make it seem “solvent”, the overall effect is that more
borrowing has to be done to support SS obligations. It is no longer a
self-supporting bureau. And given that it is going to be one of the
major, non-negotiable expenses of the government going into the boomer
retirement era, this is very bad.
Jim Richards: At Least One Swiss Bank Has Started Refusing to Hand Over
Physical Gold to Clients
Jim Rickards of Omnis has an interesting anecdote about global gold
mania.
Q3 Flow of Funds: Household Real Estate Assets Declined $650 Billion in
Q3 2010
The Federal Reserve released the Q3 2010 Flow of Funds report this
morning: Flow of Funds.
Check out Photos of the Insane Student Riots Happening in London
British students are protesting today in central London against
government plans to triple tuition fees.
JP Morgan's Great Silver Caper Could Come Crashing Down
There’s a lot of rumor, buzz, innuendo, chitchat and scuttlebutt about
the precious metals markets these days.
U.S. Home Values to Drop by $1.7 Trillion This Year, Zillow Say
The drop in home values pushed more buyers underwater, meaning they owe
more on their mortgages than their homes are worth, Zillow said. The
percentage of homeowners with mortgages with so-called negative equity
reached 23.2 percent in the third quarter, up from 21.8 percent at the
end of 2009.
Ron Paul, Author of `End the Fed,' to Lead Panel Overseeing Central Bank
Paul, who has introduced legislation to abolish the Fed, became
nationally known during his 2008 presidential campaign. His campaign to
audit the Fed picked up steam as the central bank deployed trillions of
dollars in emergency loans in the midst of the worst financial crisis
since the Great Depression. Paul’s bill gained the support of 320 of 435
members of the House and a portion of the measure ended up in the
Dodd-Frank financial regulatory overhaul enacted this year.
Massive Dark Object 'Lurking on Edge of Solar System Hurtling Comets at
Earth'
A massive dark object may be lurking on the edge of our solar system,
according to scientists.
Democrats Delay Action on Young Immigrants Bill
The Senate moved Thursday to delay a politically charged showdown vote
on legislation carving out a path to legal status for foreign-born
youngsters brought to this country illegally, putting off but probably
not preventing the measure's demise.
Pelosi Pledges to Win Changes as House Dems Reject Tax Deal
The House Democratic Caucus on Thursday rejected the tax deal negotiated
between the White House and Senate Republicans.
Senate Fails on Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Included in Defense
Authorization Bill
The Senate on Thursday dealt a severe blow to the repeal of the “Don’t
ask, don’t tell” law, dimming the chances for the Clinton-era ban to be
scrapped this year.
Jobless
Claims: US Weekly Claims Fall 17,000 Amid Slow Jobs Recovery
Applications for unemployment benefits dropped last week to the
second-lowest level this year, fresh evidence that companies are cutting
fewer jobs.
Final House Race Decided; GOP Net Gain: 63 Seats
It was a roller-coaster ballot-counting process that saw several lead
changes and court hearings over the past 36 days, but Bishop’s ultimate
margin of victory was 263 votes out of more than 194,000 cast in the
Long Island district.
Massive Budget Bill Faces Opposition in Senate
The fate of House legislation to freeze the budgets of most Cabinet
departments and fund the war in Afghanistan for another year is now in
the hands of the Senate, where it faces uncertain prospects.
US Treasurys:
Bond Prices plunge for 2nd Day on Deficit Fears
U.S. Treasurys plunged Wednesday, extending Tuesday's sharp losses and
pushing benchmark yields to a six-month high, after a deal in Washington
to extend tax cuts fueled fears of inflation and a swelling budget
deficit.
Midwest Storm Could Be Winter's Worst
This story has been updated. For the latest information from
AccuWeather.com, click here.
Glastonbury's 2,000-Year Old Holy Thorn Tree Hacked Down by Vandals
Standing proudly on the side of an English hill, its religious roots go
back 2,000 years. But a single night of vandalism has left an ancient
site of pilgrimage in splinters.
China, North Korea Tout 'Consensus' Amid US Anger
North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il and a top Chinese envoy Thursday touted
"consensus" between the communist allies regarding the region's worst
crisis in years, official media reported.
CBOT Corn Review: Climb Higher as Tight Supply Outlooks Underpin
U.S. corn futures ended higher Wednesday, rising on expectations for
tighter supply estimates in Friday's government crop report.
US May Have 'Problem' Meeting Surging Wheat Demand, FAO"S Abbassian Says
The U.S., the world’s largest wheat shipper, may not have the logistical
capacity to meet rising global demand after rains cut the quality of the
harvest in Canada and Australia, the United Nations said.
US
State Governments' Debts Soar
Some of the measures include releasing the prisoners early or laying off
police officers. Some analysts, though, believe the root of the problem
is that government employees have traditionally been overpaid.
Israel Launches Strikes, Warns on Gaza
Israel launched retaliatory air strikes on the Gaza Strip Thursday hours
after its top soldier warned troops to be prepared for possible "wider
action" on the enclave's volatile border.
S 510 Food Safety Bill is Still Alive and May Unleash a New Army of FDA
Agents
The U.S. government wants to know where your greenhouse is.
Study Finds Money Contaminated With BPA
A new test conducted by the Washington Toxics Coalition and Safer
Chemicals, Healthy Families has revealed that the plastics chemical
bisphenol-A (BPA) is most likely lurking in your wallet.
Taking Bone Drugs May Give You Cancer
Osteoporosis drugs, already coming under fire for actually weakening
people's bones rather than strengthening them, may pose another risk:
esophageal cancer.
Purple Foods Ward Off Degenerative Diseases
A new study published in the journal Archives of Toxicology explains how
many degenerative diseases are caused by poorly-bound iron in the body
that reacts with various bodily components to generate toxins.
Senate Republicans Block 9/11 Health Bill
Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a bill that would provide medical
care for firefighters and other responders to the September 11, 2001,
attacks who developed illnesses from breathing toxic, dust-filled air.
Today In
History Thursday December 9, 2010
1783 - The first executions at Newgate Prison took place.
1879 - Thomas Edison organized the Edison Ore Milling Company.
1884 - Levant M. Richardson received a patent for the ball-bearing
roller skate.
1907 - Christmas Seals went on sale for the first time, in the
Wilmington, DE, post office.
1917 - Turkish troops surrendered Jerusalem to British troops led by
Viscount Allenby.
1940 - During World War II, British troops opened their first major
offensive in North Africa.
1940 - The Longines Watch Company signed for the first FM radio
advertising contract with experimental station W2XOR in New York City.
1941 - China declared war on Japan, Germany and Italy.
1958 - In Indianapolis, IN, Robert H.W. Welch Jr. and 11 other men met
to form the anti-Communist John Birch Society.
1975 - U.S. President Gerald R. Ford signed a $2.3 billion seasonal loan
authorization to prevent New York City from having to default.
1984 - Iranian security men seized control of the plane ending a
five-day hijacking of a Kuwaiti jetliner, which was parked at the Tehran
airport.
1990 - The first American hostages to be released by Iraq began arriving
in the U.S.
1992 - U.S. troops arrived in Mogadishu, Somalia, to oversee delivery of
international food aid, in operation 'Restore Hope'.
1993 - The U.S. Air Force destroyed the first of 500 Minuteman II
missile silos that were marked for elimination under an arms control
treaty.
1993 - Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavor completed repairs to
the Hubble Space Telescope.
1994 - Representatives of the Irish Republican Army and the British
government opened peace talks in Northern Ireland.
1994 - U.S. President Clinton fired Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders
after learning that she had told a conference that masturbation should
be discussed in school as a part of human sexuality.
1999 - The U.S. announced that it was expelling a Russian diplomat that
had been caught gathering information with an eavesdropping device at
the U.S. State Department.
2002 - United Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after losing $4
billion in the previous two years. It was the sixth largest bankruptcy
filing.
From Bad to Worse: The Economy Today, and Tomorrow
At first, we were told the American economy was a freight train;
invincible.
US Yields Slip As Selloff Pauses, Dollar Down
U.S. Treasury prices edged up on Thursday as bargain hunters entered the
fray after a violent two-day surge in yields, pulling the dollar lower,
while Asian stocks rose on hopes added fiscal stimulus will help the
U.S. economy in the near term.
GM Offers $60,000 Buyouts to 2,000 Skilled Workers at 14 Plants
General Motors Co., the largest U.S. automaker, said it will offer
early-retirement packages worth $60,000 each to about 2,000
skilled-trades workers at 14 U.S. plants.Eight of the 14 plants are
scheduled to close and two may shut if GM doesn’t need them.
The World Trade Organization panel backs US tariffs on Chinese tires
The WTO has ruled that Washington acted within its rights when it raised
import taxes on Chinese tires to reduce their flow into the United
States.
House Passes Dream Act Immigration Bill
The House of Representatives approved a controversial measure on
Wednesday providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who
came to the United States before age 16.
House Democrats Push Massive Budget Bill
A widely backed food safety bill is hitching a ride on the legislation.
The measure passed the Senate by a 73-25 vote last week but got caught
in a snag because it contained revenue provisions that, under the
Constitution, must originate in the House.
Democrats Attempt to Revive Food Safety Bill
Food safety legislation stalled by a constitutional snag could be
revived as part of a giant year-end budget bill.
Rex Murphy on Cancun
Here is a favorite Canadian commentator taking on the recent global
warming conflab been held at Cancun. It has collapsed to farce and we
have the Japanese formally abandoning the Kyoto Accord and a rewrite
been pushed that will include India and China.
Urbanization in China and India
This work quantizes the scale of urbanization in South East Asia. It
represents a massive capital investment and it will quickly achieve the
GDP per capita of the present developed world which will also be
transforming itself into better lifeways.
The Wall Street Pentagon Papers: Biggest Scam In World History Exposed -
Are The Federal Reserve's Crimes Too Big To Comprehend?
What if the greatest scam ever perpetrated was blatantly exposed, and
the US media didn’t cover it?
You're Paying Your Mortgage....WHY?
Now comes this
lawsuit out of Texas alleging that Bank of America not only tried to
collect on a PAID IN FULL mortgage but refused to listen to the fact
that it had been paid in full and in fact threatened that the owners
were "going to lose their home."
Jim Rogers: 'Bernake has been wrong every time he's opened his mouth'
Jim Rogers has labeled Washington D.C. and Ben Bernanke the biggest
threats to the global economy is comments made at the Reuters Investment
Outlook Summit today.
In Obama Tax Plan, Boost for Job Creation
A year ago, President Obama and the Democrats made the mistake of
assuming that an economic recovery was under way.
NY Agency Sued Over GPS Tracker On Worker's Car
The New York Civil Liberties Union has sued the state on behalf of a
labor department worker who was fired after investigators used a GPS
device to track his car and show he falsified his time sheets.
Armed Services are Urged to Stock Kitchens With Gulf Seafood
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, who doubles as President Barack Obama's point
man on Gulf Coast oil spill recovery, is pressing America's armed
services to consume as much Gulf seafood as possible.
Chinese Government Money is Buying One of USA's Biggest Mines
It seems like there’s not much hope for Mt. Hope in Nevada.
Fingerprint Scanner Use Raises Privacy Concerns in NC
Next month, 13 law enforcement agencies in the region will begin using a
new handheld device that lets an officer scan a person's fingerprints
and seek a match in an electronic database - all without going anywhere.
US Fiscal Health Worse Than Europe's: China Adviser
Li Daokui, an academic member of the central bank's monetary policy
committee, said that U.S. bond prices and the dollar would fall when the
European economic situation stabilized.
Police Arrested Twelve Year Old Boy for Refusing Vaccine at School
A child of twelve was charged with ‘threatening behaviour’ at his school
in Bowmanville, East of Toronto last week.
Euro at Risk of Collapse Say Treasury Watchdog as Economic Crisis Sweeps
Europe
The Euro is at risk of collapse as economic crisis sweeps the continent,
Britain’s independent Treasury watchdog warned last night.
China's Credit Bubble on Borrowed Time as Inflation Bites
The Royal Bank of Scotland has advised clients to take out protection
against the risk of a sovereign default by China as one of its top trade
trades for 2011. This is a new twist.
WikiLeaks: Stop Us? You'll Have to Shut Down the Web
The arrest and detention of Julian Assange Tuesday on charges of rape
and sexual assault was at the least a convenient development for
government leaders who've sought ways to contain the leader of the
controversial website Wikileaks.
The Anger of Barack Obama
President Obama, long criticized by many in his own party for lacking
appropriate passion, delivered a blunt and confrontational message to
his liberal critics during a press conference today.
Republicans Slam DREAM Act for Including Immigrants With Criminal
Records
With both chambers of Congress cruising toward a vote on the DREAM Act
as early as Wednesday afternoon,
Food Stamp Rolls Continue to Rise
More people tapped food stamps to pay for groceries in September as the
recession and lackluster recovery have prompted more Americans to turn
to government safety net programs to make ends meet.
Fed´s QE Ponzi Scheme begins to Backfire
Copper might begin to outpace gold, amid rapidly dwindling stockpiles in
London, and speculation that a large trader is hoarding around
two-thirds of existing supplies. Stockpiles monitored by the London
Metals Exchange have declined 30% this year to 352,200-tons, the lowest
level since October 2009. That small stockpile could be mostly
wiped-out, since global demand for copper is expected to outstrip
production by 250,000-tons next year, and lead to panicked buying from
China. Comment: Start saving those pre-1982 pennies. They could
be like the silver dimes in the coming months.
Jim Rogers: Fed understates inflation
"If the world economy gets better, commodities are going to go up in
price because there are shortages. If the world economy does not get
better, you should own commodities, because (central banks) are going to
print more money," he said. "Real assets are the way to protect
yourself. Rogers also said the price of gold will rise eventually above
$2,000 an ounce. The price of spot gold on Tuesday hit a record high of
$1,430.95 an ounce before falling back to close at $1,409.35.
Half of Americans Say Housing Recovery at Least Two Years Away
Almost six in 10 U.S. adults say a housing recovery is at least two
years away, and more than a third say flawed lender practices are
partially to blame, according to a survey by Trulia Inc. and RealtyTrac
Inc.
Tax Appeals Swamp US Cities, Towns as Property Prices Plunge
A fiscal flood that threatens to swamp local government budgets across
the U.S. overflows from file cabinets in the office of Patty Halm, chair
of the Michigan Tax Tribunal.
President Obama's Scorecard on Promises Kept, Broken
Some Democrats are angry over President Obama's compromise on the
Bush-era tax cuts and the president is suggesting they should cool down
and take a closer look at the promises he's kept as commander-in-chief,
and even since the campaign trail.
Kansas Growers Worry About Wheat Crop, But It's Early
Despite worsening crop conditions in the nation’s leading wheat state,
it’s way too early to count out the 2011 Kansas winter wheat crop.
Authorities Make Arrest in Alleged Plot to Blow Up Military Recruitment
Center
A man was arrested Wednesday for plotting to blow up a military
recruitment center in the Baltimore area, authorities said.
More Than Half of Americans Want Fed Reined In or Abolished
A majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the nation’s independent
central bank, saying the U.S. Federal Reserve should either be brought
under tighter political control or abolished outright, a poll shows.
Massive Dark Object 'Lurking on Edge of Solar System Hurtling Comets at
Earth'
A massive dark object may be lurking on the edge of our solar system,
according to scientists.
American Retirement Funds at Serious Risk of Being Seized
The news of Hungary effectively seizing private pension fund assets to
pay for the debt obligations of the state last week should come as yet
another reminder of the urgent need to get tax-sheltered retirement
savings away from the clutches of the state before it's too late.
US Military Prepares for Economic Collapse
Skeptics who continue to assert that the economic plight of the United
States has been overstated need not look further than the Pentagon to
find out just how wrong they are. CNBC has learned that the Pentagon is
currently playing out “war games” pertinent to an American economic
meltdown.
Antibiotics Largely Pass Through Body Unabsorbed and Pollute Environment
A Virginia Tech researcher and her colleagues recently discovered that
the vast majority of common antibiotic drugs end up passing through the
body without breaking down and metabolizing.
H1N1 Vaccine Linked to 700 Percent Increase in Miscarriages
Recent data presented to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Children's Vaccines has
revealed some shocking information about the effects of the H1N1 / swine
flu vaccine on pregnant women.
TSA Refuses to Release Inspection Reports About X-Ray Machine Safety
Airports have become a minefield of health hazards, and an investigation
into airport safety has revealed that radiation emitted from various
scanning machines is sometimes much higher than intended, putting
workers and passengers at serious risk.
Organic Farms Have Better Soil
Organic farms have healthier soil than farms getting regular inputs of
synthetic fertilizers, according to a study conducted by researchers
from the Center for Ecology and Hydrology in England, and published in
the journal Environmental Microbiology.
Walking Beats Cancer All By Itself (Even Without Pink Ribbon
Fundraisers)
Nearly 10,000 cancers could be prevented in the United Kingdom alone if
people took several brisk walks per week, according to a report from the
World Cancer Research Fund.
Today In
History Wednesday December 8, 2010
1793 - The Louvre Museum, in Paris, opened to the public for the first
time.
1805 - The "Corps of Discovery" reached the Pacific Ocean. The
expedition was lead by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis. The journey
had begun on May 14, 1804, with the goal of exploring the Louisiana
Purchase territory.
1887 - Doc Holliday died at the age of 35. The gun fighting dentist died
from tuberculosis in a sanitarium in Glenwood Springs, CO.
1889 - Montana became the 41st U.S. state.
1895 - Wilhelm Roentgen while experimenting with electricity discovered
the scientific principle involved and took the first X-ray pictures.
1910 - William H. Frost patented the insect exterminator.
1923 - Adolf Hitler made his first attempt at seizing power in Germany
with a failed coup in Munich that came to be known as the "Beer-Hall
Putsch."
1933 - The Civil Works Administration was created by executive order by
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The organization was designed to
create jobs for more than 4 million unemployed people in the U.S.
1942 - The U.S. invaded Morocco and Algeria.
1942 - During World War II, Operation Torch began as U.S. and British
forces landed in French North Africa.
1950 - During the Korean conflict, the first jet-plane battle took place
as U.S. Air Force Lt. Russell J. Brown shot down a North Korean MiG-15.
1956 - After turning down 18,000 names, the Ford Motor Company decided
to name their new car the "Edsel," after Henry Ford's only son.
1966 - Edward W. Brooke of Massachusetts became the first
African-American elected to the U.S. Senate by popular vote.
1966 - Ronald Reagan was elected governor of California.
1979 - U.S. Senators John Warner (R-VA) and Mac Mathias (R-MD)
introduced legislation to provide a site on the National Mall for the
building of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
1980 - Scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California
announced that they had discovered a 15th moon orbiting the planet
Saturn.
1985 - A letter signed by four American hostages in Lebanon was
delivered to The Associated Press in Beirut. The letter, contained pleas
from Terry Anderson, Rev. Lawrence Jenco, David Jacobsen and Thomas
Sutherland to President Reagan to negotiate a release.
1990 - U.S. President H.W. Bush ordered more troop deployments in the
Persian Gulf, adding about 150,000 soldiers to the multi-national force
fighting against Iraq.
1991 - The European Community and Canada imposed economic sanctions on
Yugoslavia in an attempt to stop the Balkan civil war.
2000 - In Florida, a statewide recount began to decide the winner of the
2000 U.S. presidential election.
2000 - Waco special counsel John C. Danforth released his final report
that absolved the government of wrongdoing in the 1993 seige of the
Branch Davidian compound in Texas.
The Unemployed Slaughtered: 13 Month Extension A Complete Lie
This President just stood in front of the nation and told an outright
lie.
Gasparino: Bank of America Is Worried Next WikiLeaks Dump Will Contain
Evidence of Fraudulent Countrywide Loans
Fox Business Network's Charlie Gasparino told Shep Smith today that Bank
of America has set up a "legal swat team" in case the next big WikiLeak
is directed at them.
Defeating Cancer Naturally - Vitamin B17
It is becoming increasingly obvious that just about everyone I know is
either suffering from cancer, has suffered from it, or knows someone who
is, or has suffered from it.
Is JP Morgan Getting Squeezed in Silver 'Market'
It is widely known that J.P. Morgan (JPM) holds a giant short position
in silver. Furthermore, some observers are accusing the bank of acting
as an agent for the Federal Reserve in the market - every tick higher in
the price of silver undermines confidence in the U.S. Dollar.
The Decline and Fall of the American Empire by Tom Engelhardt and Alfred
W. McCoy
But have no doubt: when Washington's global dominion finally ends, there
will be painful daily reminders of what such a loss of power means for
Americans in every walk of life. As the economy cools, political
temperatures rise, often sparking serious domestic unrest.
The Discourse of Involuntary Servitude: A Short Primer on the
Manipulation and Opportunity of Silver and the Campaign to Bankrupt JP
Morgan
It might not be this month, it might not be in the next 6 months BUT
when the scheme is finally overcome by the market (the same way the
London Gold Pool was overcome by the market) the price of gold and
silver will skyrocket and there exists a very, very real possibility
that the dollar will crash as the USD is “re-priced” by the market
against the universal constants of gold and silver. BTW, this has
happened before! Read More...
North Korea On Own
It is clear from this data that China recognizes that North Korea is no
longer advancing any interest of China and that a united Korea under
Seoul control would be beneficial to China, let alone the slaves of
North Korea.
Bank of Ireland and ATM Systems Fail, Customers Unable to Access Cash
Strange. On the day of the big budget vote, ATMs and online banking
systems of the Bank of Ireland are down, according to the BBC.
VIDEO: Julian Assange Arrested: WikiLeaks Founder Taken Into Custody
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested by British police as
part of a Swedish sex-crimes investigation.
What If Your Bank Account Disappeared?
It all started a week ago. National Australia Bank, one of the largest
in the country, had a technical malfunction in its core system.
Hackers Take Down Website of Bank That Froze WikiLeaks Funds
A group of Internet activists calling themselves Operation Payback have
taken credit for shutting down the website of a bank that earlier Monday
froze funds belonging to WikiLeaks.
Euro Collapse 'Possible' Amid Deepening Divisions Over Bail-Out
It is feasible that the euro will not survive the current sovereign debt
crisis sweeping Europe, one of the Treasury's leading independent
forecasters has said.
WikiLeaks: Julian Assange's 2 One-Night Stands Spark a Worldwide Hunt
A winter morning in backwoods Scandinavia and the chime of a church bell
drifts across the snowbound town of Enkoping. Does it also toll for
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange?
More Health Waivers
The Obama Administration has quietly granted even more waivers to one
provision of the new federal health reform law, doubling the number in
just the last three weeks to a new total of 222.
Pelosi Attacks Obama-GOP Tax Plan
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Tuesday there was “no consensus
or agreement reached by House leaders” on the deal Obama negotiated with
the GOP, while Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) criticized GOP provisions
in the agreement.
Spiraling Out of Control: The Risk of a New Korean War
An artillery duel between North and South Korean forces on November 23
has set in motion a series of events which threaten to spiral out of
control.
New Rules: You and the IRS This January
The new ObamaCare1099 rule for reporting of all cash, credit and check
business transactions of $600 or more is scheduled to begin January of
2012.
Net Neutrality, the FCC, WikiLeaks and the Future of Internet Freedom
Regardless of what you think about the Wikileaks release of state
secrets, there's no debating the astonishing fact that the internet made
these leaks possible.
Lack of Vitamin D Makes Kids Fat
Why are American kids so often overweight and even downright fat to the
point many are developing type 2 diabetes, a disease that used to be
unheard of except among middle-aged folks?
US War Veterans Being Killed With High-Dose Psychiatric Drugs
Questions are being raised over whether a widely prescribed
anti-psychotic drug may be contributing to the deaths of traumatized
U.S. war veterans.
Pomegranates Prevent Infections
Pomegranates have been found to be one of the most antioxidant-rich
fruits in the world, and a new Israeli study has demonstrated the
fruit's amazing ability to fight and prevent infection.
TSA: No More Oversees Airmail Package Over One Pound Allowed
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to tighten the
noose of tyranny around the collective neck of America with a recent
announcement from the Japan Post Services Co. (JPSC), the Japanese
postal service, that no more airmail packages over one pound will be
permitted for shipment into the U.S.
Health Care Bankrupting California as Schwarzenegger Declare Fiscal
Emergency
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a fiscal emergency in California
today, then immediately called for $9.9 billion in spending cuts; mostly
from health benefits and health-related services. Gov. Schwarzenegger
has come to realize what NaturalNews has been warning readers for years:
Today In
History Tuesday December 7, 2010
1787 - Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. constitution
becoming the first of the United States.
1796 - John Adams was elected to be the second president of the United
States.
1836 - Martin Van Buren was elected the eighth president of the United
States.
1926 - The gas operated refrigerator was patented by The Electrolux
Servel Corporation.
1941 - Pearl Harbor, located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu was attacked
by nearly 200 Japanese warplanes. The attack resulted in the U.S.
entering into World War II.
1971 - Libya announced the nationalization of British Petroleum's
assets.
1972 - Apollo 17 was launched at Cape Canaveral. It was the last U.S.
moon mission.
1982 - Charlie Brooks Junior, a convicted murderer, became the first
prisoner in the U.S. to be executed by injection, at a prison in
Huntsville, TX.
1987 - Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev set foot on American soil for
the first time. He had come to the U.S. for a Washington summit with
U.S. President Reagan.
1987 - 43 people were killed when a gunman opened fire on a fellow
passenger and the two pilots aboard a Pacific Southwest Airlines
jetliner.
1993 - Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary revealed that the U.S. government
had conducted more than 200 nuclear weapons tests in secret at its
Nevada test site.
1996 - The space shuttle Columbia returned from the longest-ever shuttle
flight of 17 days, 15 hours and 54 minutes.
1998 - U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno declined to seek an independent
counsel investigation of President Clinton over 1996 campaign financing.
2002 - In Mymensingh, Bangladesh, four movies theaters were bombed
within 30 minutes of each other. At least 15 people were killed and over
200 were injured.
2003 - A 12-inch by 26-inch painting of a river landscape and sailing
vessel by Martin Johnson Heade was sold at auction for $1 million. The
painting was found in the attic of a suburban Boston home where it had
been stored for more than 60 years.
Celebrity-branded perfumes loaded with toxic petrochemicals
Even high-end perfumes are made with cocktails of dangerous and untested
chemicals that may produce problems from allergies to hormone
disruption, a study by the Environmental Working Group and the Campaign
for Safe Cosmetics has found.
USPS job cuts barely dent $49B payroll
As the U.S. Postal Service keeps racking up massive losses, top
executives regularly tout their success in cutting employee work hours.
But those cuts so far aren't paying off in cash savings, according to
figures from the agency's latest annual report.
Boeing Receives US Army Contract for Tactical Intelligence Aircraft
ST. LOUIS-Boeing has announced that it has received a two-year
engineering and manufacturing development contract for the Enhanced
Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS) from the
U.S. Army. EMARSS is a manned, airborne intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance system. It will provide a persistent capability to
detect, locate, classify/identify and track surface targets in nearly
all weather conditions, day or night, with a high degree of timeliness
and accuracy.
Mounting Debts by States Stoke Fears of Crisis
While next year could be even worse, there are bigger, longer-term
risks, financial analysts say. Their fear is that even when the economy
recovers, the shortfalls will not disappear, because many state and
local governments have so much debt — several trillion dollars’ worth,
with much of it off the books and largely hidden from view — that it
could overwhelm them in the next few years. “It seems to me that crying
wolf is probably a good thing to do at this point,” said Felix Rohatyn,
the financier who helped save New York City from bankruptcy in the
1970s.
Yields: The Dominant Theme For 2011
When I look around at the current investor makeup of the gold market I
don’t see much evidence that the public is heavily participating in this
bull market. I see well-to-do investors participating but the public
hasn’t really bought into this gold bull run yet. Even silver, which is
the traditional “poor man’s gold,” isn’t exactly a hot commodity with
the small investor (notwithstanding the mini-mania for owning silver
coins a couple of years ago). Until we see broad participation from the
retail crowd, I don’t believe we’ll see gold’s bull market ending
anytime soon.
White House, GOP Lawmakers Near Broad Deal on Tax Cuts
The White House and Republican lawmakers were close to an agreement on a
broad tax package that would extend the Bush-era rate cuts, reduce
worker payroll taxes for one year and give more favorable treatment to
new business investments.
JP Morgan Revealed as Mystery Trader That Bought 1Bn Worht of Copper on
LME
The $1.5bn (£1bn) trade was described in the LME's daily update as
"between 50pc and 80pc" of the 350,000 tonnes in reserves. This pushed
up the price for the immediate delivery of copper to $8,700 – its
highest level since the financial crisis in October 2008.
No, the Big
Banks Have Not 'Paid Back' Government Bailouts and Subsidies
The big banks claim that they have paid back all of the bailout money
they received, and that the taxpayers have actually made money on the
bailouts.
Ted Turner Urges Global One-Child Policy to Save Planet
Climate change and population control can make for a politically
explosive mix, as media mogul Ted Turner demonstrated Sunday when he
urged world leaders to institute a global one-child policy to save the
Earth’s environment.
Cable Reveals US Behind Airstrike That Killed 21 Children in Yemen
A diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks shows that the US military
covered up the killing of dozens of civilians during a cruise missile
strike in south Yemen in December 2009.
Tension Grows Between Calif. Muslims, FBI, After Informant Infiltrates
Mosque
Before the sun rose, the informant donned a white Islamic robe. A tiny
camera was sewn into a button, and a microphone was buried in a device
attached to his keys.
Bernake - More Fed Bond Buys 'Certainly Possible'
The Federal Reserve could end up buying more than the $600 billion in
government bonds it has committed to purchase if the economy fails to
respond or unemployment stays too high, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said.
Schumer
Wants to Outlaw Images Body Scanners Aren't Supposed to be Able to Store
in the First Place
Somebody is going to figure out how to get the images off one of these
scanners and they are going to go public with them. This law will be
used to prosecute the whistleblower, not the rogue TSA agent who
downloaded them for jollies, and not the government themselves who is
probably cataloging all of these images as we speak.
State Department Official Warns Students Against Discussing WikiLeaks on
Facebook, Twitter
A State Department official warned students at Columbia University’s
School of International and Public Affairs this week that discussing
WikiLeaks on Facebook or Twitter could endanger their employment
prospects.
Big Sis
Invades Wal-Mart: 'If You See Something, Say Something'
/Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today
announced the expansion of the Department’s national “If You See
Something, Say Something” campaign to hundreds of Walmart stores across
the country—launching a new partnership between DHS and Walmart to help
the American public play an active role in ensuring the safety and
security of our nation.
Post-Recession Unemployment 'Scariest Ever' Job Chart Show Its Worse
Than WW2
As unemployment in the U.S. nears the dreaded 10 per cent mark, it is a
chart to chill the bones of any job hunter.
Federal Pay Freeze Plan Wouldn't Stop Raises
President Obama spoke of the need for sacrifice last week when he
announced a two-year pay freeze for federal employees.
Senators Unveil Anti-WikiLeaks Bill
Sens. John Ensign (R-Nev.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Scott Brown
(R-Mass.) introduced a bill Thursday aimed at stopping WikiLeaks by
making it illegal to publish the names of military or intelligence
community informants.
US Forced to Shake Up Embassies Around the World After WikiLeaks
Revelations
Battered by a scandal which seems to provide a fresh wave of
embarrassment with each passing day, the US government is being forced
to undertake a major reshuffle of the embassy staff, military personnel
and intelligence operatives whose work has been laid bare by the
whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks.
Motorists Could See $3 Gas at Pumps by Christmas
Barring a steep drop in crude prices, U.S. motorists can expect to see
gas prices exceeding $3 per gallon, if they are not seeing such prices
already, according to a new survey of filling stations.
Britain Is Freezing to Death
MIDDLE class families are among millions of Britons who cannot afford to
heat their homes this winter, as elderly ride on buses all day to stay
in the warm.
WikiLeaks Cables Reveal How US Manipulated Climate Accord
Hidden behind the save-the-world rhetoric of the global climate change
negotiations lies the mucky realpolitik: money and threats buy political
support; spying and cyberwarfare are used to seek out leverage.
Rangel Accused of Misusing Funds on His Defense in Previous Ethics
Investigation
The Federal Election Commission is investigating a complaint that Rep.
Charles Rangel improperly used his National Leadership PAC to fund his
legal defense on ethics charges for which he was censured Thursday, The
Post has learned.
Euro's Worst to Come as Trichet Fails to Calm Crisis, Top Forecasters
Say
The most accurate foreign-exchange strategists say the euro’s worst
annual performance since 2005 will extend into next year as the region’s
sovereign-debt crisis saps economic growth.
US Documents Detail How Arab Allies Fund Terror Groups
Saudi Arabia has made "important progress" in aggressively trying to
curtail the flow of funds to terrorist groups, but the oil rich kingdom
and its Gulf Arab neighbors still remain major sources of financing for
militant movements like Al Qaeda and the Taliban, according to leaked
U.S. government documents.
Global Elites Reveal the Final Plan
“The black bull of power and evil began circling on the field of
conflict generations ago. Its blood red eyes of hate and lust for power
zeroed in on the man sent to slay him and end his rein of terror.
'Twas
the Eve Before Destruction
'Twas the eve before destruction, when all through the land
Not a creature was stirring, under homeland securities hand;
The alarm systems enabled by families with care,
In hopes that the fed's wouldn't come around there;
Celebrity-Branded Perfumes Loaded With Toxic Petrochemicals
Even high-end perfumes are made with cocktails of dangerous and untested
chemicals that may produce problems from allergies to hormone
disruption, a study by the Environmental Working Group and the Campaign
for Safe Cosmetics has found.
Artificial 'Naon-Food' Could Soon Show Up at a Store Near You
The scientific community has once again caught food-tampering fever.
Hormone Gel Could Regrow Teeth Cavities
A new hormone gel that may stimulate teeth to grow back the tissue
destroyed by tooth decay, according to a study conducted by researchers
from the National Institute for Health and Medical Research in Paris and
published in the American Chemical Society's journal ACS Nano.
Over Half of China's Water Polluted Beyond Drinkability
More than half the water in China is so polluted as to be undrinkable,
and nearly a quarter is so toxic that it is unsafe for even industrial
use, according to the latest survey by the country's Ministry of
Environmental Protection.
Today In
History Monday December 6, 2010
1790 - The U.S. Congress moved from New York to Philadelphia.
1865 - The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. The
amendment abolished slavery in the U.S.
1877 - Thomas Edison demonstrated the first gramophone, with a recording
of himself reciting Mary Had a Little Lamb.
1884 - The construction of the Washington Monument was completed by Army
engineers. The project took 34 years.
1889 - Jefferson Davis died in New Orleans. He was the first and only
president of the Confederate States of America.
1917 - More than 1,600 people died when two munitions ships collided in
the harbor at Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1917 - Finland proclaimed independence from Russia.
1923 - U.S. President Calvin Coolidge became the first president to give
a presidential address that was broadcast on radio.
1947 - Everglades National Park in Florida was dedicated by U.S.
President Truman.
1957 - America's first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed
when the satellite blew up on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, FL.
1973 - Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as the vice-president of the United
States after vice-president Spiro Agnew resigned.
1989 - Egon Krenz resigned as leader of East Germany.
1990 - Iraq announced that it would release all its 2,000 foreign
hostages.
1994 - Orange County, CA, filed for bankruptcy protection due to
investment losses of about $2 billion. The county is one of the richest
in the U.S. and became to largest municipality to file for bankruptcy.
1998 - In Venezuela, former Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chavez was elected
president. He had staged a bloody coup attempt against the government
six years earlier.
1998 - Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour connected the first
two building blocks of the international space station in the shuttle
cargo bay.
2002 - Officials released the detailed plans for a $4.7 million memorial
commemorating Princess Diana. The large oval fountain was planned to be
constructed in London's Hyde Park.
Domestic
Operational Law Handbook, 2009 for Judge Advocates - Center for Law and
Military Operations
Sycamore company recalls 72K cans of chicken salad products
72,000 pounds of canned chicken salad products that may contain foreign
materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Sunday. The Suter Company, Inc. is
recalling two canned chicken salad products, both under the Bumble Bee
label, after consumer complaints about finding hard plastic in the
product, a release from the USDA said. The FSIS has not received any
reports of injury at this time. Anyone concerned about an injury from
consumption of this product should contact a physician, the release
said.
Which Banks Got Fed Loans During the Meltdown?
The Fed released detailed data on more than 21,000 loans worth trillions
of dollars made through a dozen emergency programs created during the
financial crisis.
Health officials report a decline in residents receiving flu shots this
season
A major provider of flu shots in southeastern Wisconsin is reporting a
40% decline in vaccinations - at a time when public health officials say
they're confident the shot is a good match to protect against the
strains expected to dominate this year's season.
Is The College Debt Bubble Ready to Explode?
Kelli Space, 23, graduated from Northeastern University in 2009 with a
bachelor's in sociology — and a whopping $200,000 in student loan debt.
Adam Levitin Shreds American Securitization
For readers who have not followed this wee saga, mortgage securitization
abuses are increasingly looking to be a mess of Titanic proportions. The
securitization industry created complex and specific procedures for
getting the loans into the securitization legal vehicle, a trust.
Deadline Looming on Closures of Your Favorite Mountain Getaways
It's your land, and mine, and our neighbor's. But, within months, we
could all be restricted from its beckoning call. The U.S. Forest Service
machine is ratcheting limitations into citizen's free movement within
our National Forests; our beloved Rim Country and White Mountains.
Urban Gardening in Detroit
This is doable, city folks! The first segment shows the community
garden, and the second shows a backyard garden, along with a compost
bin, chicken coop, and start of a greenhouse all made from pallets.
South Korean Trade Deal Signed: Bend Over America
In what would seem a coincidence at the federal level, within days of
S.510 the fake food safety bill sailing through the Senate, an agreement
was finally reached on the South Korean Trade Agreement.
VIDEO: Madison Co. to Evict Man from Camper
BLS to Monkey with Birth/Death Index
One notorious "adjustment" factor the BLS uses in its calculation of
monthly unemployment is the birth/death index, in which the BLS
"estimates" the number of jobs created at small firms that were just
"born", and how many jobs were lost beacuse of the "death" of firms.
Food City Starts Midnight Sales
Samantha Taylor waited for the clock to tick past 12:01 a.m. Wednesday
as she stood next to a cart loaded with groceries in a checkout line at
the Euclid Avenue Food City.
Substance in Cosmetics, Hair Shampoos Can Cause Eczema
What can a hair shampoo do for you besides cleaning, conditioning, and
making your hair smell great?
Documents Reveal One Bank's Plan to Squeeze Customers for More
Overdrafts
In recent months, rules from the Federal Reserve [1] have made it harder
for banks to impose hefty overdraft fees when customers try to make
debit transactions or ATM withdrawals without enough money in their
checking accounts.
Climate Groups Retool Argument for Global Warming
The number of Americans who believe that global warming is a scientific
fact has been dropping, and environmental groups and climate scientists
who say the evidence for warming is clear are scratching their heads
over this reversal and scrambling to find a new strategy.
Rising State Debts Stoke Fears of Crisis
While next year could be even worse, there are bigger, longer-term
risks, financial analysts say.
China is 'Scared' of US Monetary Policy, Rogoff, Rickards Say
Policy makers in China, which holds $883.5 billion in U.S. Treasuries,
are concerned the nation with the world’s biggest economy is debasing
its currency, according to Kenneth S. Rogoff and James Rickards.
Jobless Recovery? 25 Unemployment Statistics That Are Almost too
Depressing to Read
Guess what? Unemployment is up again! That's right - even though Wall
Street is swimming in cash and the Obama administration is declaring
that "the recession is over", the U.S. unemployment rate has gone even
higher.
WikiLeaks Founder Assange Has Encrypted Guantanamo Documents, Will
Release Them If Arrested
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has circulated across the internet an
encrypted “poison pill” cache of uncensored documents suspected to
include files on BP and Guantanamo Bay.
WikiLeaks Cables Reveal How US Manipulated Climate Accord
Hidden behind the save-the-world rhetoric of the global climate change
negotiations lies the mucky realpolitik: money and threats buy political
support; spying and cyberwarfare are used to seek out leverage.
Feds Warrantlessly Tracking Americans' Credit Cards in Real Time
Federal law enforcement agencies have been tracking Americans in
real-time using credit cards, loyalty cards and travel reservations
without getting a court order, a new document released under a
government sunshine request shows.
Ford, BMW, Toyota
Took Secret Government Money
In the depths of the financial collapse, the U.S. Federal Reserve pumped
$3.3 trillion into keeping credit moving through the economy. It
eventually lent $57.9 billion to the auto industry — including $26.8
billion to Ford, Toyota and BMW.
McConnell Says Tax Cuts Will Be Extended
The Senate Republican leader says it's become clear now that taxes will
not be raised for anyone during the current economic downturn.
Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.):
'Recipe' for Tax Compromise is Likely to Include Unemployment Benefits
Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said Sunday that he expected the
"recipe" for a tax-cut compromise to included extensions of unemployment
benefits and Bush-era tax rates for all income brackets.
South Korea Warns North Will Attack Again to Bolster Succession
"There is a high possibility that the North will make another attack,"
Won Sei-hoon, director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service
told a parliamentary committee meeting in Seoul.
Sesame Street Rolls Out Superfood Muppets Sponsored by Merck
Now even Sesame Street is jumping on the superfoods bandwagon by
introducing four new muppets called "the Superfoods."
Industry, Government Push GMO Oranges as Solution to Pest Problems
Problem, reaction, solution: that's the name of the game in the U.S.,
and it's how sweeping changes that would otherwise never happen end up
coming to pass.
CDC and EPA Caught Withholding Truth About Toxic Drinking Water
A recent story from The Washington Post reveals that the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) knowingly dragged their feet on releasing an
important report about the dangers of contaminated drinking water
supplies
It's Amazing! Scottish Doctors Now Warning People to Get More Sunshine
and Vitamin D
The Scottish government has begun distribution information urging people
to get enough vitamin D in an effort to reduce rates of rickets, cancer
and autoimmune diseases.
Swimming in Chlorinated Pools Increases Your Risk of Cancer
Going for a swim may increase your risk of cancer if you use a
chlorinated pool, according to a series of studies conducted by
researchers from the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology
in Barcelona, Spain, and published in the journal Environmental Health
Perspectives.
County Sues Farmer for Growing Too Many Crops
A Georgia farmer is being sued by the county for growing too many
vegetables on his land, in a case local food critics say is indicative
of the backwardness of many local zoning laws.
Professor Who Lost Weight on Twinkies Only Proves That Even Nutrition
Educators Can be Ding Dongs
Over the last month or so, the mainstream media has been making a huge
deal about Kansas State nutrition professor Mark Haub who lost 27 pounds
eating mostly Doritos, Twinkies and other junk food while drinking Diet
Mountain Dew.
Canadian Biotech Company Pushes USDA to Approve GMO Apples
Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF), a British Columbian biotechnology
company, is petitioning the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to
approve a genetically-modified (GM) variety of apple that the company
says does not brown after being sliced.
Consume More Omega-3s to Protect Your Eyesight
A new study published in the journal Ophthalmology confirms that omega-3
fatty acids help to maintain eye health and protect against age-related
eye diseases like macular degeneration.
Eight-Hundred Percent Increase in Weight- Loss Surgeries Since 2003
The number of weight-loss (bariatric) surgeries in the United Kingdom
has increased 800 percent over the course of five years, according to
the National Health Service (NHS) Information Center.
Radiation Scientists Agree TSA Naked Body Scanners Could Cause Breast
Cancer and Sperms Mutations
The news about the potential health dangers of the TSA's naked body
scanners just keeps getting worse. An increasing number of doctors and
scientists are going public with their warnings about the health
implications of subjecting yourself to naked body scanners.
Oh Mylanta! Yet Another Johnson & Johnson Recall
On Wednesday, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced yet another recall of
two more of its over-the-counter (OTC) drug products.
Why Pregnant Women Should Avoid Diet Sodas
Pregnant women who drink artificially sweetened soft drinks are more
likely to give birth prematurely, according to a study conducted by
researchers from researchers from the Statens Serum Institut in
Copenhagen, Denmark, and published in the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition.
Demand for Food is Destroying the Earth
Rising demand for food -- especially meat -- is taking a bigger and
bigger toll on the planet, analysts are warning.
Today In
History Friday December 3, 2010
1818 - Illinois was admitted as the 21st state of the union.
1828 - Andrew Jackson was elected president of the United States.
1833 - Oberlin College in Ohio opened as the first truly coeducational
school of higher education in the United States.
1931 - Alka Seltzer was sold for the first time.
1948 - The "Pumpkin Papers" came to public light. The House Un-American
Activities Committee announced that former Communist spy Whittaker
Chambers had produced microfilm of secret documents hidden inside a
pumpkin on his Maryland farm.
1950 - Paul Harvey began his national radio broadcast.
1967 - In Cape Town, South Africa, a team of surgeons headed by Dr.
Christian Barnard, performed the first human heart transplant on Louis
Washkansky. Washkansky only lived 18 days.
1980 - U.S. Representatives Frank Thompson, Jr. (D-NJ) and John Murphy
(D-NY) were convicted on Abscam charges.
1982 - Doctors at the University of Utah Medical Center removed the
respirator of Barney Clark. The retired dentist had become the world's
first recipient of a permanent artificial heart only one day before.
1991 - After nearly five years, Shiite Muslim radicals in Lebanon
released American hostage Allen Sutten.
1992 - The UN Security Council unanimously approved a U.S.-led military
mission to help starving Somalians.
1992 - The Greek tanker "Aegean Sea" ran aground at La Coruna, Spain and
spilled 21.5 million gallons of crude oil.
1993 - Britain's Princess Diana announced she would be limiting her
public appearances because she was tired of the media's intrusions into
her life.
1994 - Rebel Serbs in Bosnia failed to keep a pledge to release hundreds
of UN peacekeepers.
1997 - In Ottawa, Canada, more than 120 countries were represented to
sign a treaty prohibiting the use and production of anti-personnel land
mines. The United States, China and Russia did not sign the treaty.
1997 - South Korea received $55 billion from the International Monetary
Fund to bailout its economy.
1999 - Tori Murden became the first woman to row across the Atlantic
Ocean alone. It took her 81 days to reach the French Caribbean island of
Guadeloupe from the Canary Islands.
1999 - The World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded a four-day meeting
in Seattle, WA, without setting an agenda for a new round of trade
talks. The meeting was met with fierce protests by various groups.
1999 - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) lost
radio contact with the Mars Polar Lander as it entered Mars' atmosphere.
The spacecraft was unmanned.
Scientist Urges Army to Study 'Smart Drugs' for Soldiers
A prominent neuroscientist is urging the Army to study the effects of
cognitive-enhancing pharmaceuticals -- so-called "smart drugs" -- on
soldiers in the battlefield.
Arlington finds 8 sets of remains in 1 grave
The Army has launched a criminal investigation after Arlington National
Cemetery officials found eight sets of cremated remains buried in a
single grave with a headstone marked "unknown." Read More...
Nigeria to Charge Dick Cheney in Pipeline Bribery Case
Nigeria will file charges against former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney
and officials from five foreign companies including Halliburton Co. over
a $180 million bribery scandal, a prosecutor at the anti-graft agency
said.
Obama White House Pressured Spain to Drop Bush Torture Prosecution,
Leaked Cable Shows
The Obama administration went to the mat to defend its predecessors from
a torture prosecution in Spain last year, a leaked State Department
cable shows.
Delaying Tax Vote Could Crash Stock Market
Failure by Congress to extend the Bush tax cuts, especially locking in
the 15 percent capital gains tax rate, will spark a stock market sell
off starting December 15 as investors move to lock in gains at a lower
rate than the 20 percent it would jump to next year, warn analysts.
Morgan Stanley, China's Hangzhou to launch yuan PE
Morgan Stanley (MS.N) has joined global buyout firms such as Blackstone
Group (BX.N) and Carlyle Group CYL.UL in a rush to tap China's booming
private equity market, partnering with the eastern city of Hangzhou to
launch yuan-denominated funds.
Amazon kicked WikiLeaks off its servers - Glenn Greenwald on Joe
Lieberman's Thuggish, Authoritarian Attack on WikiLeaks
Yesterday, in response to pressure from Joe Lieberman's office, Amazon
kicked WikiLeaks off its servers. In a statement Lieberman pompously
declared "I call on any other company or organization that is hosting
Wikileaks to immediately terminate its relationship with them." Because
Joe Lieberman doesn't actually have control over the entire Internet
though, the site was back up within hours. "WikiLeaks servers at Amazon
ousted. Free speech the land of the free--fine our $ are now spent to
employ people in Europe." WikiLeaks tweeted.
WikiLeak? Or Pre-Planned Scare Tactic
I do not believe for one minute that one low ranking individual somehow
accessed and transferred hundreds of thousands of government documents
without someone detecting this.
Finance And Economics: Dollars to gold ratio
To get back to a ratio of ten, gold has to move up to $4,500, at which
level the dollar is still over-issued on any historic basis. This
assumes no further dollar issuance, does not include off-balance sheet
issuance (such as to finance military and political objectives in Iraq
and Afghanistan), and that the US actually owns the 8,133.4 tonnes it
says it has.
Why Eric Sprott sees silver as the next big investing windfall
Gold has traded at a ratio of 16-to-1 to silver in terms of price, but
today it trades in the range of 50 to 1. I think the gold-to-silver
ratio is going to go back to 16 to 1 given the passage of time, say
three to five years. And I bet you that silver overshoots. The
gold-to-silver ratio may even get down to 10 to 1. I believe that the
price of silver has been suppressed.
Bankrupt Germany Now Plays The Terror (Hoax) Card To Distract From
Homemade Financial Disaster
This post is essential reading for every liberty-loving human who
opposes the trend of increasingly fascist governments that only focus on
a bail-out of banks while completely ignoring that the people in the
streets consider this the last priority in an environment where the once
lauded social peace is in immediate danger to give way to a revolt of
the sovereign in most European countries.
US State Department Tells Employees Not to Read WikiLeaks
The US State Department has directed its staff around the world not to
surf the WikiLeaks website, according to employees.
Death Penalty May Be Ruled Unconstitutional in Texas
At a hearing scheduled for Monday, December 6, a district court in Texas
will decide whether the death penalty is unconstitutional in the state
based on the disproportionately high risk of wrongful convictions in
Texas.
Fed Trying to Make It Harder for Homeowners to Fight Mortgage Fraud by
Gutting Truth in Lending Laws
As reported by the Washington Post, the Fed turned a blind eye for years
and allowed massive fraud in the mortgage market.
Federal Reserve's 'Astounding' Report: We Loaned Banks Trillions
The Federal Reserve has lifted its veil of secrecy regarding special
lending programs during the financial crisis, responding to a mandate
from Congress by revealing the specifics of transactions with firms like
Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.
Trillions In Secret Fed Bailouts For Global Corporations And Foreign
Banks – Has The Federal Reserve Become A Completely Unaccountable Global
Bailout Machine?
In this way, the Federal Reserve is now essentially acting like some
kind of financial god. They decide who survives and who fails. Dozens
and dozens and dozens of small to mid-size U.S. banks are failing, but
the Federal Reserve does not seem to have much compassion for them. It
is only when the "too big to fail" establishment banks are in trouble
that the Federal Reserve starts handing out gigantic sacks of nearly
interest-free cash. Just think about it. Which financial institution do
you think is in a better competitive position - one that must survive on
its own, or one that has a "safety net" of nearly unlimited free loans
from the Federal Reserve?
Soda Ban Gets a Key Backe
Bucking his traditional supporters, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio is
endorsing Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposal to bar recipients of food
stamps from using them to buy soda or other sugar-sweetened drinks. Mr.
de Blasio, a Democrat from Brooklyn who won citywide elective office
last year with the help of liberal voters, sent a letter this week to
the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging approval of Mr. Bloomberg's
proposal for a two-year pilot program excluding sugary drinks from
food-stamp purchases in the five boroughs. Comment: While we would
applaud the health aspect of this, something else is happening here.
This is a baby step in the government telling the people what it can and
cannot eat.
Chinese Gold Imports Surge by 500% Through October
All who thought that China was merely posturing when it announced a few
days back it was creating a fund to allow its domestic investor base to
allocated capital to foreign gold ETF, may wish to reconsider after it
was disclosed late last night that China gold imports jumped by 500% in
the first 10 months compared to all of 2009 on concerns of rising
inflation according to the Shanghai Gold Exchange.
Post Spill Gulf Sickness
I have nothing but respect for those who charge toward danger to help
their community. Where I get annoyed is when those who have
responsibility avoid acknowledging that what is been attempted is
possibly dangerous and actually counter productive.
Federal Reserve May Be 'Central Bank of the World' After UBS, Barclays
Aid
Federal Reserve data showing UBS AG and Barclays Plc ranked among the
top users of $3.3 trillion from emergency programs is stoking debate on
whether U.S. regulators bear responsibility for aiding other nations’
banks.
TSA Frisks Groom Children to Cooperate With Sex Predators, Abuse Expert
Says
An expert in the fight against child sexual abuse is raising the alarm
about a technique the TSA is reportedly using to get children to
co-operate with airport pat-downs: calling it a "game".
New Data Shows Foreign Banks Biggest Recipients of Fed Money
The Federal Reserved released documents Wednesday identifying the
recipients of $3.3 trillion in emergency aid provided at the height of
the financial crisis.
Deficit-Cutting Plan Attracts Support
In a likely symbolic victory for the leaders of President Barack Obama's
deficit commission, a controversial deficit-cutting proposal that would
raise the retirement age and scale back tax deductions appears on track
to win support from a majority of the panel — but fall short of the
votes needed to adopt it.
House Passes Legislation to Extend Only Some Tax Cuts
The House voted 234-188 Thursday to pass legislation that would extend
only some of the expiring Bush-era tax cuts, sending the bill to the
Senate.
Camden City Council Approves Massive Police and Fire Layoffs
Camden City Council, as expected, voted Thursday to lay off almost 400
workers, half of them police officers and firefighters, to bridge a
$26.5 million deficit.
Left Out in the Cold
Today, House Democrats Voted To Raise Taxes On Small Businesses. (H.R.
4853, Roll Call Vote # 604, 12/2/10)
NASA Announcement: Life in Space? No, but Life That Thrives Off of
Arsenic
Scientists at NASA's Astrobiology Institute report they have found
bacteria -- in Mono Lake, Calif., not in space -- that could be made to
live on arsenic. The organism is called GFAJ-1.
40 Believed Killed in Huge Israel Forest Fire
Around 40 people are believed to have been killed in a devastating
forest fire raging out of control near Israel's northern city of Haifa,
the country's ambulance service said on Thursday.
Jaw-Dropping Image of Enormous 'Supercell' Cloud in Glasglow, Montana
The photograph is just one image from the portfolio of electrician Sean
Heavey. The supercell cloud was photographed in July west of Glasgow,
Montana, USA.
Army Investigating 8 Sets of Remains Buried in Single Gravesite at
Arlington
Army criminal investigators are probing how eight sets of cremated
remains came to be buried in a single gravesite at Arlington National
Cemetery, the latest in a series of revelations that have marred the
reputation of the country's most prestigious military burial ground.
New Vitamin D Recommendations Promote Nutritional Deficiency, Protect
Cancer Industry
Earlier this week, the Institute of Medicine finally got around to
reluctantly admitting that people need more vitamin D.
Poor Labeling on Children's Medications Causing Overdoses
Parents who give their children over-the-counter medicines need to be
highly cautious when doing so, say researchers from the New York
University School of Medicine.
TSA Now Setting Up Nazi-Style 'VIPER' Security Checkpoints at Bus
Terminals
Terrorizing innocent travelers at airports is simply not enough for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Green Leafy Vegetables Reduce Risk of Diabetes
A diet high in green leafy vegetables can reduce your risk of Type 2
diabetes, according to a study conducted by researchers from Leicester
University in the United Kingdom, and published in the British Medical
Journal.
Chemical Food Additives Can Be Replaced by Natural Extracts
As NaturalNews has covered previously and extensively, one of the
unhealthiest things you can eat is processed meats.
Broccoli Extracts Prevent Stomach Disorders
Extracts from broccoli and plantain may help boost the stomach's
defenses against infection, according to a study conducted by
researchers from the University of Liverpool in collaboration with
Scottish and Swedish researchers, and published in the journal Gut.
Today In
History Thursday December 2, 2010
1804 - Napoleon was crowned emperor of France at the Cathedral of Notre
Dame in Paris.
1816 - The first savings bank in the U.S., the Philadelphia Savings Fund
Society, opened for business.
1901 - Gillette patented the first disposable razor.
1917 - During World War I, hostilities were suspended on the eastern
front.
1927 - The Ford Motor Company unveiled the Model A automobile. It was
the successor to the Model T.
1954 - The U.S. Senate voted to condemn Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy for what
it called "conduct that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and
disrepute." The censure was related to McCarthy's controversial
investigation of suspected communists in the U.S. government, military
and civilian society.
1961 - Cuban leader Fidel Castro declared in a nationally broadcast
speech that he was a Marxist-Leninist and that he was going to lead Cuba
to communism.
1969 - The Boeing 747 jumbo jet got its first public preview as 191
people flew from Seattle, WA, to New York City, NY. Most of the
passengers were reporters and photographers.
1982 - Doctors at the University of Utah implanted a permanent
artificial heart in the chest of retired dentist Barney Clark. He lived
112 days with the device. The operation was the first of its kind.
1990 - The Midwest section of the U.S. prepared for a massive earthquake
predicted by Iben Browning. Nothing happened.
1991 - American hostage Joseph Cicippio was released by his kidnappers.
He had been held captive in Lebanon for over five years.
1993 - The space shuttle Endeavor blasted off on a mission to fix the
Hubble Space Telescope.
1994 - The U.S. government agreed not to seek a recall of allegedly
fire-prone General Motors pickup trucks. Instead a deal was made with GM
under which the company would spend more than $51 million on safety and
research.
1994 - In Pensacola, FL, Paul Hill was given two life sentences for
murdering a doctor and security guard outside an abortion clinic in July
1994.
1995 - NASA launched a U.S.-European observatory on a $1 billion dollar
mission intended to study the sun.
1997 - U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno declined to seek an independent
counsel investigation of telephone fund-raising by President Clinton and
Vice President Gore. It was concluded that they had not violated
election laws.
1998 - Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates donated $100 million to help
immunize children in developing countries.
1999 - The British government transferred political power over the
province of Northern Ireland to a the Northern Ireland Executive.
2001 - Enron Corp. filed for Chapter 11 reorganization. The filing came
five days after Dynegy walked away from a $8.4 billion buyout. It was
the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.
Half a million contact lenses recalled
Johnson & Johnson, which has been beset by product recalls, on Wednesday
confirmed that it recalled nearly five times as many contact lenses as
the 100,000 boxes it announced in August due to eye stinging. J&J said
that in late October the recall of its 1 Day Acuvue TruEye lenses, which
took place primarily in Japan, was expanded to a total of about 492,000
boxes.
Teacher Bans Students From Bringing Pencils To School
The memo said students would no longer be allowed to bring writing
implements to school. It said pencils would be provided for students in
class and any students caught with pencils or pens after Nov. 15 would
face disciplinary action for having materials 'to build weapons.' This
note was was written without district approval.
US court orders GMO beets destroyed
A federal judge has ordered what is believed to be the first-ever
destruction of a genetically modified crop in the United States, saying
that the altered sugar beets were planted illegally.
Fed's Emergency-Loan Borrowers Ranged From Bank of America to McDonald's
The Federal Reserve’s emergency lending during the financial crisis
spanned the global economy, from the largest U.S. financial firms to
community banks, hedge funds and a fast-food company. The Fed, in
compliance with orders from Congress, today named recipients of $3.3
trillion in emergency aid. Among them were U.S. branches of overseas
banks, including Switzerland’s UBS AG; corporations such as General
Electric Co. and McDonald’s Corp.; and investors like Pacific Investment
Management Co. and computer executive Michael Dell.
China Gold Imports Soar Almost Fivefold on Inflation
China’s gold imports jumped almost fivefold in the first 10 months from
the entire amount shipped in last year as concern about rising inflation
increased its appeal as a store of value, said the Shanghai Gold
Exchange. Imports gained to 209 metric tons compared with 45 tons for
all of 2009, Shen Xiangrong, chairman of the bourse, told a conference
in Shanghai today. China, the world’s largest producer and
second-biggest user, doesn’t regularly publish gold-trade figures and
rarely comments on its reserves.
House May Block Food Safety Bill Over Senate Error
A food safety bill that has burned up precious days of the Senate’s
lame-duck session appears headed back to the chamber because Democrats
violated a constitutional provision requiring that tax provisions
originate in the House.
Sherrie's Blog: Is The Govt. trying to Find out, Who has What
now?
I ask, because - Child Services Interviewed My Child - Wanted to Know if
We Had Solar Panels, Exactly Where We Go Camping and Hiking , If have
Alternative Energy, If Food Stored, Then Came to my House!
D.C. water may still be contaminated
The water in almost 15,000 D.C. homes that were repaired during a
massive effort to remove lead pipes may still be contaminated by
dangerous levels of the metal, according to a report released Wednesday
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Holidays About Survival as Jobless Benefits End
Shawn Slonsky's children know by now not to give him Christmas lists
filled with the latest gizmos.
Fed to Name Recipients of $3.3 Trillion in Aid During Crisis
The Federal Reserve, under orders from Congress, plans today to identify
recipients of $3.3 trillion in emergency aid the central bank provided
as it fought the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The
Fed intends to post the data on its website at midday in Washington to
comply with a provision in July’s Dodd-Frank law overhauling financial
regulation. The information spans six loan programs as well as currency
swaps with other central banks, purchases of mortgage-backed securities
and the rescues of Bear Stearns Cos. and American International Group
Inc.
Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse: The Two Top Beneficiaries of Fed
Mortgage Buying
Thanks to Zerohedge, we know that the banks which were the top
beneficiaries of the Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) Purchase
Program were two foreign-based banks.
US,
Panama Sign New Tax Information Exchange Agreement
In a ceremony at the U.S. Department of the Treasury on Tuesday,
November 30, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Panamanian Vice
President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Juan Carlos Varela signed a
tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) between the United States and
Panama.
Observations In Progress On the Fed Data Dump
As we are going through the excel sheets from the Fed dump, we will
share our key findings. Keep in mind this is very raw data and will need
far more processing before conclusions can be derived.
US Court Orders GMO Beets Destroyed
A federal judge has ordered what is believed to be the first-ever
destruction of a genetically modified crop in the United States, saying
that the altered sugar beets were planted illegally.
S 510: Three
Blind Mice and a Willful Act of Treason
S 510 moved through its Senate processes raising hoopla amongst the
masses, misdirected from arguing the facts pursuant to substantive and
procedural law by countless organizations and their respected attorneys.
Putin: Failure to Ratify START Would Be 'Dumb'
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is warning that his country will
find it necessary to build up its nuclear forces, if the United State's
doesn't ratify a new arms reduction treaty.
Va. Judge Dismisses Challenge to Obama Health Care
A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed Liberty University's lawsuit
challenging the Obama administration's new federal health care law,
declaring that a provision requiring most individuals to obtain
insurance is constitutional.
Here It Comes: US Gives Green Light On IMF-Mediated Rescue of Europe,
EURSD Goes Parabolic
From Reuters: "US official says US would be ready to back larger
European financial stability fund via increased IMF commitments."
WikiLeaks Chief Said He Has 5GB of Secret Docs on Bank of America
In an interview published Monday, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange
revealed that his whistleblower website intends to publish a trove of
secret documents exposing the corruption of a major American bank.
The Deficit Commission Wants to Cut Your Tax Rate, but Kill Most
Exemptions
You read that right, the deficit commission proposal would reduce and
simplify personal tax rates. Just three brackets: 12%, 22% and 28%.
Iranians Furious After Finding Jewish Symbol Hidden in Plain View
Ahmadinejad and his antisemitic cronies are fuming with anger after
discovering the Star of David on the roof of Iran Air headquarters at
Tehran's airport. The building was originally built by Israeli engineers
prior to the the Islamic Revolution.
Foreclosure Inventories Rise to All Time Highs
Foreclosure inventories rose to all-time highs last month, according to
the October Mortgage Monitor report released by Lender Processing
Services.
Fed to Name Recipients of $3.3 Trillion in Aid During Crisis
The Federal Reserve, under orders from Congress, plans today to identify
recipients of $3.3 trillion in emergency aid the central bank provided
as it fought the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
Foreclosure Bombshell
With all the attention stories such as WikiLeaks and Irish bailout have
gotten the last few days, a bombshell judgment against Bank of America
in a New Jersey foreclosure case has been overlooked.
Congress Clears Indian, Black Farmer Settlements
American Indian landowners and black farmers who for years have waited
for Washington to address their claims of government mistreatment won a
hard-fought victory Tuesday as Congress cleared legislation to pay the
groups $4.6 billion to settle a pair of historic class-action lawsuits.
Tea Party Leader: Restricting Vote to Property Owners 'Make a Lot of
Sense'
Tea Party Nation President Judson Phillips said denying the right to
vote to those who do not own property "makes a lot of sense" during a
weekly radio program.
NASA Creates Buss With 'Extraterrestrial' Announcement
The US space agency has created a buzz with its announcement of a press
conference Thursday to discuss a scientific finding that relates to the
hunt for life beyond the planet Earth.
Treasurys Lower on Data, Europe Aid Report
Treasurys tumbled on Wednesday, sending yields higher, weighed by some
strength in global economic data and speculation the U.S. would support
extending aid to Europe.
US Treasury: No Talks Now on Bigger EU Fund
The U.S. is not currently discussing a proposal that would have the
International Monetary Fund provide more aid to Europe through an
additional contribution to European Financial Stability Facility, a U.S.
Treasury official said Wednesday.
Barack Obama Reverses on Offshore Drilling
The White House’s uneasy on again, off again relationship with offshore
oil drilling is off again.
High Court Questions Broad Use of FOIA Exemption
The Supreme Court is questioning the government's broad use of an
exemption in the federal Freedom of Information Act to withhold
documents from the public.
Organ Wagon Pilot Program
It might sound a little disturbing to some people but a new pilot
program will attempt to recover kidneys from people who die at home in
Manhattan.
Women Accused of Hiding Merchandise in Body Fat
Two women are arrested for shoplifting and police say they used their
bodies to conceal the goods. Edmond police authorities say it was at the
Edmond TJ Maxx that loss prevention officers found the duo stuffing
items under their belly fat and breasts.
FCC Chairman to Propose Plan for Net Neutrality
The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission plans to announce
Wednesday a controversial proposal that would prohibit Internet
providers from favoring or discriminating against any traffic that goes
over their networks.
Smithsonian Pulls Piece from Landmark LGBT Exhibit
Yesterday, the National Portrait Gallery pulled a video installation
from the exhibit “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American
Portraiture” following an uproar from conservative groups. The
four-minute video, “A Fire in My Belly” by late artist David Wojnarowicz,
depicts ants crawling over Jesus Christ, symbolizing the pain suffered
by AIDS victims.
North Korea Says It Has Thousands of Nuclear Centrifuges
North Korea claimed Tuesday that it is has "thousands of centrifuges"
working to create nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Bolton: Military Strike Only Way to Stop Iran Nukes
John Bolton is mulling a run for president because he believes the US
needs to recover its international standing and be more assertive,
including being willing to bomb Iran and scrap the two-state solution.
The FDA vs Raw Milk and the Constitution
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF), an organization whose
mission includes “defending the rights and broadening the freedoms of
family farms and protecting consumer access to raw milk and nutrient
dense foods”, recently filed a lawsuit against the FDA for its ban on
interstate sales of raw milk.
Patriots are Eyeball to Eyeball With the Illuminati
It has taken the better part of two and a quarter centuries for the
people of the United States of America to arrive again on the domestic
field of battle.
Industry Bought Congressional Votes to Pass S 510 Food Safety Bill
Despite an incredible outpouring of public opposition to the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) "Food Safety Modernization Act", or S.
510, the Senate voted 73 to 25 to pass the bill anyway.
US Senator Caught Admitting That Lame Duck Session is 'Rigged'
The recent passage of Senate Bill 510, the so-called "Food Safety
Modernization Act" took place during the Senate's "lame duck" session --
the time after the fall elections, but before the new members of
Congress have been installed, where Congress reconvenes to discuss
various business matters and pending legislation.
Don't Fall for It: US and Canadian Governments Unleash Propaganda
Campaign Against Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is widespread. In fact, there have been so many
studies linking many of today's disease epidemics to inadequate blood
levels of vitamin D that to deny a connection is utter foolishness.
Canadian Vaccine Company Receives $2 Million Grant From US Government
Medicago Inc. has received a $21 million grant from the U.S.
government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to build
a 90,000-square-foot vaccine-production facility in North Carolina.
How many stars are there? More than you thought
Red dwarf stars are far more common than astronomers have believed -- in
fact, they may make up 80 percent of the star population, scientists
said in a study on Wednesday that triples the number of stars in the
universe.
Today In
History Wednesday December 1, 2010
1835 - Hans Christian Andersen published his first book of fairy tales.
1913 - Ford Motor Co. began using a new movable assembly line that
ushered in the era of mass production.
1913 - The first drive-in automobile service station opened, in
Pittsburgh, PA.
1941 - In the U.S., the Civil Air Patrol was created. In April 1943 the
Civil Air Patrol was placed under the jurisdiction of the Army Air
Forces.
1942 - In the U.S., nationwide gasoline rationing went into effect.
1952 - In Denmark, it was announced that the first successful sex-change
operation had been performed.
1955 - Rosa Parks, a black seamstress in Montgomery, AL, refused to give
up her seat to a white man. Mrs. Parks was arrested marking a milestone
in the civil rights movement in the U.S.
1965 - An airlift of refugees from Cuba to the United States began.
1969 - The U.S. government held its first draft lottery since World War
II.
1984 - A remote-controlled Boeing 720 jetliner was deliberately crashed
into California's Mojave Desert to test an anti-flame fuel additive. The
test proved to be disappointing.
1986 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan said he would welcome an
investigation of the Iran-Contra affair if it were recommended by the
Justice Department.
1987 - NASA announced four companies had been given contracts to help
build a space station. The companies were Boeing Aerospace, G. E.'s
Astro-Space Division, McDonnell Douglas Aeronautics, and Rocketdyne
Division of Rockwell International.
1990 - Iraq accepted a U.S. offer to talk about resolving the Persian
Gulf crisis.
1991 - Ukrainians voted overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet
Union.
1991 - Shiite Muslim kidnappers pledged to release American hostage
Joseph Cicippio within 48 hours.
1992 - Russian President Boris Yeltsin survived an impeachment attempt
by hard-liners at the opening of the Russian Congress.
1994 - The U.S. Senate gave final congressional approval to the
124-nation General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
1997 - Michael Carneal, 14 years old, fired upon a morning prayer group
at Heath High School in West Paducah, KY. Three students were killed and
five were wounded. Carneal pled guilty but insane and was sentenced to
life in prison with no chance for parole for 25 years.
1998 - Exxon announced that it was buying Mobil for $73.7 billion
creating the largest company in the world to date.
CIA Implanted Electrodes in Brains of Unsuspecting Soldiers, Suit
Alleges
A group of military veterans are suing to get the CIA to come clean
about allegedly implanting remote control devices in their brains.
Senate Passes Overhaul of Food Safety Regulations
The Senate on Tuesday passed a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s
food-safety system, after recalls of tainted eggs, peanut butter and
spinach that sickened thousands and led major food makers to join
consumer advocates in demanding stronger government oversight.
List of US Senators Who Voted for S 510
Senate Bill S 510 - the "Food Safety Modernization Act" - was passed by
the U.S. Senate today.
Top ten lies about Senate Bill 510
Here are the ten biggest lies that have been promoted about S.510 by the
U.S. Congress, the food industry giants and the mainstream media...Read
More...
DARVOCET, DARVON BANNED BY FDA AFTER INCIDENCES OF HEART ARRHYTHMIA
Darvocet, Darvon, and other drugs containing propoxyphene are banned by
the Food and Drug Administration for causing deadly heart rhythms,
according to WebMD.com.
During Food Safety Vote: Hot mic catches senator saying agenda is 'all
rigged'
A hot mic left on during a Senate vote Tuesday morning on the Food
Safety Act caught a senator complaining that process of setting the
agenda during the lame-duck session is “rigged".
2 million lose jobless benefits as holidays arrive
Extended unemployment benefits for nearly 2 million Americans begin to
run out Wednesday, cutting off a steady stream of income and
guaranteeing a dismal holiday season for people already struggling with
bills they cannot pay. Unless Congress changes its mind, benefits that
had been extended up to 99 weeks will end this month.
Distemper Outbreaks in Dogs Call for Natural Prevention
Recent increases in outbreaks of distemper around the country are cause
for alarm among dog owners. A dog that has been exposed to distemper
will come down with the disease in less than five weeks.
Fiji Water reopens after agreeing to tax
The US-owned bottled water firm Fiji Water Wednesday reopened its
operations in military-ruled Fiji, saying it would comply with a new tax
law it had previously branded "untenable". Fiji Water shut down
operations in the Pacific nation on Monday, saying the country was
"increasingly unstable" and a risky place to do business. But in a
statement released from the US it said it had restarted production of
the brand, which has soared in popularity since celebrities such as
Justin Timberlake and Mary J. Blige have been seen holding its
palm-adorned bottles.
BofA Mortgage Morass Deepens After Employee Says Trustee Didn't Get
Notes
Testimony by a Bank of America Corp. employee in a New Jersey personal
bankruptcy case may give more ammunition to homeowners and investors in
their legal battles over defaulted mortgages.
Canadian vaccine company receives $21 million grant from U.S. government
Medicago Inc. has received a $21 million grant from the U.S.
government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to build
a 90,000-square-foot vaccine-production facility in North Carolina.
New US Army Rifles Use Radio-Controlled Smart Bullets to Be Used in
Afghanistan
The U.S. army is to begin using a futuristic rifle that fires
radio-controlled 'smart' bullets in Afghanistan for the first time, it
has emerged.
Ron Paul to be
appointed Committee Chair overseeing Federal Reserve
In what can only be described as a huge victory for the libertarian wing
of the GOP, word is leaking out of Washington that Congressman Ron Paul
of Texas is about to be appointed Chairman of the Financial Services
subcommittee. The committee has near complete oversight of the Federal
Reserve.
YouTube: The Day the Dollar Died
Case Shiller Confirms House Market Deterioration Accelerates
The Case Shiller Home Price index declined to 145.47% YoY compared to
146.64 previously.
Aussie bank's computer glitch leaves millions without money
A freak computer glitch at Australia's biggest bank froze cash machines
and left millions of people struggling to access their money. National
Australia Bank (NAB) said a corrupted file wiped out a huge number of
transactions, including salary payments and transfers, and crashed some
ATMs, angering many customers who were facing a weekend without money.
This could easily happen here!!!
WikiLeaks Hit by Powerful Internet-Based Cyberattack
The WikiLeaks website said it came under a forceful Internet-based
attack on Tuesday morning, making some of the content, including the
controversial “Cablegate” documents, inaccessible for hours to users in
the U.S. and Europe.
Exclusive: WikiLeaks Will Unveil Major Bank Scandal
First WikiLeaks spilled the guts of government. Next up: The private
sector, starting with one major American bank. In an exclusive interview
earlier this month, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Forbes that
his whistleblower site will release tens of thousands of documents from
a major U.S. financial firm in early 2011. Assange wouldn't say exactly
what date, what bank, or what documents, but he compared the coming
release to the emails that emerged in the Enron trial, a comprehensive
look at a corporation's bad behavior.
Stream of U.S. jobs flows overseas
For the six months that ended Sept. 30, workers at about 1,200 offices
and plants nationwide were approved for federal Trade Adjustment
Assistance. That's about 20 percent more approvals than in the same
six-month period last year, according to the U.S. Labor Department. In
addition, the most recent Commerce Department data show that employment
at the foreign subsidiaries and affiliates of U.S. multinational firms
grew by 729,000 in two years, to 11.9 million in 2008 from 2006. Over
that same period, domestic employment by such firms slipped by 500,000
jobs, to 21.1 million. "The paradigm has shifted," said John Challenger,
chief executive of outplacement and consulting firm Challenger, Gray &
Christmas. "Most companies see the next phase or era of growth as
global. ... That'll still create jobs here, just not on the scale when
they were focusing on growth in the U.S." Comment: This is THE perfect
case for imposting tariffs.
Sealed With a Kiss
What does modern North Korea, 1600 ~ 1853 Imperial Japan and the USA
have in common?
Corporate Bond Sales Collapse, Corporates on Pace for Worst Monthly
Returns Since October 2008
Bernanke's QE II policy did nothing for jobs, nothing for bank lending,
nothing for the real economy and had negative benefits for small
businesses.
WikiLeaks Next Target: 'A Big US Bank'
Honest distributor of leaked data or a clever PsyOps front, one can not
deny that whatever it is, Wikileaks does share some unique information
with the world (as to how it is interpreted is a different story).
WikiLeaks Founder Could Be Charged Under Espionage Act
Federal authorities are investigating whether WikiLeaks founder Julian
Assange violated criminal laws in the group's release of government
documents, including possible charges under the Espionage Act, sources
familiar with the inquiry said Monday.
'Bank Run 2010' Aims to End 'Criminal, Corrupt' Financial System
In what may be the most subversive reaction yet to global outrage over
the financial crisis, a European soccer star has inspired an
international "bank run" protest aiming to collapse the global financial
system.
Pot Raid at School Turns Up Tomatoes
Police last month raided an Española-area school looking for marijuana
growing in a greenhouse, but all they found there were tomatoes.
Senate Votes Down Ban on Earmarks, 39-56
The Senate on Tuesday morning defeated a proposal from Sen. Tom Coburn
(R-Okla.) to ban congressional earmarks.
Tempers Flare As Unemployment Benefits Near Expiration
Unemployment benefits for more than 100,000 people in both Kentucky and
Indiana could run out in a matter of days if Congress doesn't act.
Russian Missiles Fuel US Worries
The U.S. believes Russia has moved short-range tactical nuclear warheads
to facilities near North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies as recently
as this spring, U.S. officials say, adding to questions in Congress
about Russian compliance with long-standing pledges ahead of a possible
vote on a new arms-control treaty.
Lights Out for Incandescents
Yes, this is not new news, but a reminder if you want to continue using
incandescent light bulbs, now is the time to stock up. More nanny-state
America is about to descend on us.
US Chases Foreign Leader's DNA, WikiLeaks Shows
Foreign potentates and diplomats beware: the United States wants your
DNA.
Life After the Oil Crash
Judging from a lot of the comments, many people seem to think that the
rest of the planet might not offer any good places for American former
middle class persons to continue to pretend that they are successful. I
don't find this particularly relevant; the life of a refugee is rarely
comfortable.
High Levels of Natural Plant Antioxidant Alpha-Carotene are Associated
With Fewer Deaths From All Causes
Picture this: a chemical is discovered that has amazing
health-protecting powers.
Treat Stomach Viruses With Probiotics
The foundation of good health lives in the digestive system, where
countless billions of beneficial microflora protect against harmful
pathogens, assist in proper digestion, and generally guard the body
against foreign invaders that cause disease.
Chinese Medicine Herbs Scientifically Proven to Help halt Cancer
A 1,800-year old Chinese herbal remedy for an upset stomach may boost
the effectiveness of chemotherapy while reducing its side effects,
according to a study conducted by researchers from Yale University and
published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Corn-Based Ingredient Could Replace BPA in Plastics
Oil and grain conglomerate Archer Daniels Midland has announced that the
chemical isosorbide could function as a replacement for the embattled
petroleum derivative bisphenol A (BPA).
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