JULY 2016 


Friday - July 29, 2016 - Today In History:

1773 - The first schoolhouse to be located west of the Allegheny Mountains was built in Schoenbrunn, OH.
1786 - "The Pittsburgh Gazette" became the first newspaper west of the Alleghenies to be published. The paper's name was later changed to "The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette."
1914 - The first transcontinental telephone service was inaugurated when two people held a conversation between New York, NY and San Francisco, CA.
1957 - The International Atomic Energy Agency was established.
1958 - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was authorized by the U.S. Congress.
1968 - Pope Paul VI reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church's stance against artificial methods of birth control.
1975 - OAS (Organization of American States) members voted to lift collective sanctions against Cuba. The U.S. government welcomed the action and announced its intention to open serious discussions with Cuba on normalization.
1981 - England's Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married.
1985 - General Motors announced that Spring Hill, TN, would be the home of the Saturn automobile assembly plant.
1993 - The Israeli Supreme Court acquitted retired Ohio autoworker John Demjanjuk of being Nazi death camp guard "Ivan the Terrible." His death sentence was thrown out and he was set free.
1997 - Minamata Bay in Japan was declared free of mercury 40 years after contaminated food fish were blamed for deaths and birth defects.
1998 - The United Auto Workers union ended a 54-day strike against General Motors. The strike caused $2.8 billion in lost revenues.
2005 - Astronomers announced that they had discovered a new planet (Xena) larger than Pluto in orbit around the sun.

Anti-US rally staged at NATO Incirlik air base in Turkey (Video, Photos)
RT - A crowd has been protesting near the Incirlik military base in Adana, Turkey. The facility houses US and NATO forces. The demonstrators are calling for the closure of the base, where arrests and searches were made in connection with the failed coup. Reports on social media suggest up to 1,000 people have gathered to support the demonstration. The base has made the headlines recently in connection with the failed coup in Turkey, and searches have been conducted at the facility by Turkish prosecutors and police. The air base commander, General Bekir Ercan Van, has been detained at Incirlik by the Turkish authorities along with over a dozen lower ranking officers, all accused of complicity in the attempted coup. Incirlik is used by NATO and stores US tactical nuclear weapons. Washington has been using the base in its campaign against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in neighboring Syria and Iraq.

China says to hold drills with Russia in South China Sea
Reuters - China and Russia will hold "routine" naval exercises in the South China Sea in September, China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday, adding that the drills were aimed at strengthening their cooperation and were not aimed at any other country. The exercises come at a time of heightened tension in the contested waters after an arbitration court in The Hague ruled this month that China did not have historic rights to the South China Sea and criticized its environmental destruction there. China rejected the ruling and refused to participate in the case. "This is a routine exercise between the two armed forces, aimed at strengthening the developing China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership," China's defense ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a regular monthly news conference. "The exercise is not directed against third parties." China and Russia are veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council, and have held similar views on many major issues such as the crisis in Syria, putting them at odds with the United States and Western Europe.

Syria's al-Nusra Front Officially "Splits" From al-Qaeda
Zero Hedge - …the leader of the Jabhat al-Nusra front, Abu Mohamed al-Golani confirmed that his group has formally split from al-Qaeda and has renamed itself Jabhat Fath al-Sham or the Levantine Conquest Front. "The creation of this new front aims to close the gap between the jihadi factions in the Levant," Golani said in his first televised appearance. "We thank the leaders of al-Qaeda for understanding the need to break links." According to the official narrative behind the "amicable split", the Nusra front is engaging in this unprecedented "reverse merger" in hopes to form closer alliances with other Islamist groups fighting in Syria.

Hungary's PM Orban: Trump "Better Option For Europe"
Zero Hedge - The anti-terrorism proposals of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump make him the better option for Europe and Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Saturday. Orban, who has built razor-wire border fences to stop migrants, said in Romania that Trump's ideas about the need for the best intelligence services and his opposition to "democracy export" were also applicable in Europe. "I am not Donald Trump's campaigner," the Hungarian leader said…” I never thought that the idea would ever occur to me that he is the better of the open options for Europe and Hungary. "I listened to (Trump) and I have to tell you that he made three proposals to stop terrorism. And as a European, I myself could not have drawn up better what Europe needs." More and more people I talk to in Europe are silently in Trump’s corner. The more intense the attacks, the stronger their support grows for Trump. Meanwhile, Eastern European countries are openly criticizing the European Commission quite bluntly. They are warning that the EU has learned nothing from the exit of Britain. They are now demanding reform and that local parliaments should have more say in the direction of their countries. Hungary also is now calling for a radical change of refugee policy in the EU.

In a country wary of migrants, Pope tells Poles to welcome refugees
Reuters - Pope Francis urged young people on Thursday to welcome migrants and refugees, putting himself in direct contrast with the government of Poland on the second day of his visit there…. Despite being rooted in Christian values, Poland's conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party government disagrees with Francis on refugees and opposes mandatory European Union quotas for accepting asylum seekers. Some of the country's conservative Church leaders have also been hesitant over migrants, particularly those from Islamic countries, fearing that they will dilute Poland's Christian identity.

‘She declared war on own people’: Merkel vows to stick to open door policy, faces online uproar
RT - Germany’s online community has been in a furor since Chancellor Merkel said she will still stick to an open door policy for refuges, maintaining Germany is still “safe,” despite the recent deadly attacks there, most of which were committed by migrants. Merkel acknowledged at a news briefing on Thursday that Islamists could use the refugee flow to infiltrate Germany. She also admitted that even a “powerful country” like Germany “cannot take so many refugees in the long term.” Yet, at the same time, she made it clear there will be no U-turn in the state’s policies with regard to migrants. Dealing with the flood of refugees is a “historic task” Merkel said, while reiterated that Germany “will make it.” She also stressed that “lot’s has already been done,” echoing arguments she had made in previous speeches…. Germany has faced five deadly assaults in just over a week. Three were committed by asylum seekers, and two of those are being investigated for links to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISSI/ISIL).

Germany: Man Shouting Allahu Akhbar Tried to Behead Surgeon
Breitbart - A medical practice was thrown into turmoil when a patient’s father lunged at a surgeon with a knife, shouting “Allahu akhbar” and threatening to behead him. The incident took place in the town of Troisdorf on Monday morning. Speaking with FOCUS Online, Dr. Attila Tan, the surgeon who was attacked, recounted his horrific experience. He said: “The patient came in at 10am, accompanied by his girlfriend, who was veiled. He radiated aggression, which increased when I began to treat him,” The man was released from the practice in mid-July, having undergone treatment for a broken leg, but returned on Monday in pain.

Italy launches €1.5mn online project to deter migrants
RT - The Italian government has launched a media campaign aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of violence and exploitation during migration, in an effort to keep potential refugees from sub-Saharan Africa from traveling to Italy and Europe in general.… The €1.5 million (about US$1.65 million) campaign was launched on various platforms, including its own website, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram in July. It targets migrants in the 16-35 age group, who are considered to be more mobile and more likely to take the risk of the journey to Europe.

President Obama Allows 400,000 Migrants From Central America Since 2012
Breitbart - President Barack Obama has allowed some 400,000 unskilled Central American migrants to pour into the nation’s schools, job-markets, welfare offices, hospitals and jails since 2012, according to government data. By the end of June, he had cleared the path for 214,982 “unaccompanied” youths plus 181,456 women and children to come in to the country since October 2012. That adds up to 396,428 migrants — with three months to go before the end of the 2016 fiscal year in October. The inflow is so large that it is greater than the number of African-American men who will turn 18 this year. It is equal to roughly 40 percent of the annual inflow of 1 million legal immigrants, and equal to 10 percent of all young Americans who join the workforce each year. Judging by prior years, the government will allow another 27,000 unskilled welfare dependent, Spanish-speaking, Central American migrants into the country by the end of October. That would bring the five-year total to 423,438 migrants, who are sent into the stressed neighborhoods and struggling schools where working-class Americans live.

HAZMAT situation at Fairchild Air Force Base sends 14 to hospital
RT - An unknown hazardous material at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington has sickened 24 people, 14 of whom were treated by base personnel and sent to a local hospital. The affected building has been evacuated. The incident took place around 8:30 a.m. local time at the base’s Logistics Readiness Squadron in Building 2045, Air Force officials told KXLY. Fairchild Air Force Base is located approximately 12 miles (20 km) southwest of Spokane. It’s host unit is the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, which is assigned to the Air Mobility Command’s 18th Air Force. It opened in March 1942. Emergency responders are at the scene and investigating the incident, base officials said. The two dozen base personnel “reported feeling affected by an unknown irritant,” the base said in a statement. Of them, four are in the emergency room at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Jennifer Semenza, a hospital spokeswoman, told the Spokane Spokesman-Review.

Government Agency Spent Millions on Public Relations Campaign to Improve Image
Daily Signal - Top officials at the Government National Mortgage Association spent $3.9 million on a public relations campaign designed to create positive images for themselves, including a magazine piece on how one of them avoided obesity. Spending tax dollars to polish an individual employee’s image isn’t allowed under Federal Acquisition Regulations, the Department of Housing and Urban Development inspector general said in a report released Tuesday. The association—which is popularly known as “Ginnie Mae”—is part of HUD. “The majority of the charges related to Ginnie Mae’s president, Theodore W. Tozer, and its former executive vice president, Mary K. Kinney,” the inspector general said. “This activity did not clearly meet the [rules] for allowable public relations and advertising costs.”

‘No, it’s meth’: Florida police mistake Krispy Kreme icing for hardcore drug
RT - Police in Florida appear to have made ‘dopes’ of themselves after they arrested a man for possessing what they thought was crystal meth, when it was actually icing sugar from a Krispy Kreme doughnut. Orlando resident Daniel Rushing is now planning to sue over the case of mistaken amphetamine, and according to the Orlando Sentinel has been put off munching the sugary snack in his car for good. The 64-year-old was stopped by police in December last year due to an apparent traffic violation while leaving a store parking lot. During an inspection of his vehicle, officer Shelby Riggs-Hopkins discovered what she identified as “some sort of narcotic,” according to a police report published by the Sun Sentinel. “I retrieved the substance that I initially saw on the floor board and two other small pieces from the floor board of the driver side,” Riggs-Hopkins wrote. “Rushing stated that he has never done any drugs in his life and he has no idea how the substance got in his vehicle. Rushing stated that the substance is sugar from a Krispie Kreme Donut [sic] that he ate.” An initial police test showed that the substance was crack cocaine, before suspicions were raised that it was meth, reportsWFTV9.“I kept telling them, ‘That’s glaze from a doughnut… Then they said, ‘No, it’s meth, crystal meth,’” said Rushing. Rushing spent around 10 hours in a police cell before he was allowed to post bail of $2,500. Less than a week later he was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing when further tests found the substance not to be a drug, but most likely a sugary, somewhat addictive, remnant of a doughnut.

DNC Grand Finale: Ladies Night, Hillary Unleashed - Live Feed
Zero Hedge - It's the day everyone has been waiting for - Ladies' night. IThe grand finale of four days of Democratic dreamery as Kary Perry takes the stage (after Barbara Mikulski - the first woman elected to the Senate). The night will be capped off by Chelsea Clinton introducing her mother - the first female nominee for President from a major party (Victoria Woodhill was first female nominee in 1872). As The Hill reports, Clinton will formally accept the Democratic presidential nomination on the final night of the party’s national convention in Philadelphia Thursday night. Campaign manager Bobby Mook said the former secretary of State will “stitch together” the themes from the first three nights of the convention.
* Related: Breitbart: DNC LiveWire Hillary Clinton Accepts Nomination

Video: “Free Speech Cage” Keeps Anti-Hillary Protesters Away From DNC Convention
Mac Slavo -Editor’s Comment: The tactics of stifling free speech, and making a mockery of those who have chosen to stand up against the system, only illustrates how far gone this country is, and how illusive the state of “freedom” really is. Politics, elections, power in the hands of a federal government – these people and institutions have long been accepted and normalized, despite the predatory nature of their activities, despite the phoniness, despite the broken promises and utter B.elated S. that they spew. Though most Americans recognize the futility and the corruption of these parties and politicians – who could ignore the release of damning information against the DNC? – they perform cognitive dissonance, and continue to support, endorse, vote for – and at least in spirit – “elect” their own oppressors, and by extension their own enslavement. When will this vicious cycle end, and how blatant must the tyranny become? “Free Speech Cage” At The DNC Is A Truly Pathetic Image Of Modern American Freedom.

U.S. Flags Disappear From Atop Philadelphia City Hall, City Official Says They Were Added To DNC Stage
Government Slaves - The six flag poles on top of the Philadelphia City Hall are bare Thursday morning. One city official who asked not to be named told The Daily Caller that the U.S flags typically atop the City Hall flagpoles have been moved to the Democratic National Convention stage. Lauren Hitt, communications director for the City of Philadelphia, told TheDC that the flags were taken down for “safety reasons.” “We took them down for safety reasons. Every time we needed to lower them to half-staff, we needed to get a roofer down here who would then have to use 2 ladders to get to where the flags were. Given the thunderstorms, expected flash floods and extreme heat we’ve experienced this week, we didn’t feel it was safe,” she said. Hitt has not yet responded to an inquiry from TheDC about where the flags previously flying currently are.

Amazing Trump Ad: “The Difference TV Ad” Starring Dorothy Woods, Widow of Ty Woods
Great America PAC released a powerful new ad this week starring Dr. Dorothy Woods widow of Tyrone Woods’s…. In the ad, Dr. Woods calls out Hillary Clinton’s disgraceful dismissal of the true origins of the attack during a congressional hearing, then she calls for a leader we can trust – Donald Trump.

O’Keefe Video: Bernie Mob Attacks Hillary Fans
Kit Daniels - To show just how much the Bernie movement hates Hillary Clinton, James O’Keefe and Project Veritas dressed as Hillary fans and walked around the DNC, where they were promptly harassed – and attacked – by a Bernie mob. The two Hillary “fans” were the only ones spotted near the DNC all week, and the harassment they endured debunks the claim by the mainstream media that Democrats are united behind Hillary. Simply put, the Bernie movement is outraged at Hillary for stealing the election and millions of Sanders fans won’t vote for her, as these videos show. That’s why the DNC and the mainstream media are working overtime to push a false narrative that Hillary has more support than she actually does. For one thing, the DNC is replacing Sanders supporters with paid seat fillers inside the DNC arena to create a fake image of “unity,” according to a Sanders delegate. “Every seat in the house is full – so those seat fillers you guys were hearing about? It’s real, they’re in here now,” he said.

Did The DNC Hire Actors (At Below Minimum Wage) To Work At The Convention?
Zero Hedge - Following the exposure of a fake Trump job advertisement designed by The DNC to embarrass Trump, it is interesting that a Craigslist ad calling for "Actors Needed for National Convention" has surfaced... Whether the ad is real or fake is unclear, but the text suggests below minimum wage compensation (7-plus hours work for $50) and the number of walkouts from the Convention indicates perhaps a need for cheering happy seat-fillers... Actors Needed For National Convention (Philadelphia)
compensation: $50.00… Looking for 700 people to be utilized as actors during the National Convention. We currently have a number of empty seats that will need to be filled as we are currently removing a number of people and need to refill their seats for the remainder of the conference. You will be paid $50.00 each night for the remainder of the convention. You will be required to cheer at all times and will be asked to dress properly and possibly wear some promotional material.

Shock Report: Uniformed Police Officers Banned from Dem Convention Floor
Breitbart - Thursday on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends,” in an appearance from the site of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani called the convention “the most anti-police” and “the most anti-law enforcement” he had ever seen. However, he also said that according to “high-ranking police officers” in Philadelphia, uniformed law enforcement was not allowed on the floor of the convention. “This is the most anti-police, anti-law enforcement convention I’ve ever seen in my whole life. There was not a uniformed police officer allowed on the convention floor. I was told that by four high-ranking police officers, two of whom I’ve known for a very long time. And then I walked the floor for very long time and I couldn’t find a single officer. Go look at your footage. You find me a uniform. Hillary Clinton didn’t want uniformed police officers on the convention floor.”

Full List of Hillary’s Planned Tax Hikes
Americans for Tax Reform - Hillary’s $1 trillion net tax increase takes the form of several proposals: Income Tax Increase – $350 Billion: Clinton has proposed a $350 billion income tax hike in the form of a 28 percent cap on itemized deductions. Business Tax Increase -- $275 Billion: Clinton has called for a tax hike of at least $275 billion through undefined business tax reform. According to the Clinton campaign document, “Hillary will fully pay for these [Infrastructure] investments through business tax reform.” “Fairness” Tax Increase -- $400 Billion: According to her published plan, Clinton has called for a tax increase of “between $400 and $500 billion” by “restoring basic fairness to our tax code.” These proposals include a “fair share surcharge,” the taxing of carried interest capital gains as ordinary income, and a hike in the Death Tax. But there are even more… Her campaign has failed to release specific details for many of her proposals. The true Clinton net tax hike figure is likely much, much higher than $1 trillion. For instance: Capital Gains Tax Increase…Tax on Stock Trading… “Exit Tax” – Rather than reduce the extremely high, uncompetitive corporate tax rate, Clinton has proposed a series of measures aimed at inversions including an “exit tax” – on income earned overseas. The term “exit tax” is used by the campaign itself.

Ted Cruz met with Obama prior to RNC, Endorses Hillary, Rick Perry set to Destroy Cruz
USA Today - Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz met with Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi just days before the Republican National Convention, allegedly to talk about the police murders that are taking place around the country at the hands of the BLM movement and attend the memorial service to honor the five fallen officers in Dallas. The meeting was kept top secret and virtually no mainstream media reported about this bizarre meeting between Barack Obama and Ted Cruz despite being photographed by the renowned Associated Press news agency…. We strongly believe that Ted Cruz met with Obama to talk about the RNC and what Ted’s new role would be in the narrative of the Democrats and how he would aid and support them. Many Ted Cruz Texas delegates now view Cruz as helping directly or indirectly Hillary Clinton to defeat Donald Trump…. Texas Republicans and Rick Perry are preparing to End Ted Cruz’s political career. According to some exclusive reports, Republicans are so angry at Ted Cruz, that the former three term Governor of Texas, Rick Perry is now considering to run for the US Senate in a bid to stop […] Ted Cruz from getting re-elected.

Flash Floods Possible On Final Night Of DNC
CBSPhilly - City officials are urging residents and Democratic National Convention demonstrators to take caution because of potential strong storms and the possibility of flash floods throughout the region today. The flash flood watch begins at 2 p.m. and continues through Friday at 7 p.m. [Perfect example of juxtaposed colors of orange/red and light blue and Navy.This is how the change is happening.]

Governor: Illinois doing all it can on Legionnaire's cases
Fox News - Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner said Wednesday that the state is doing everything it can to prevent the spread of Legionnaires' disease at a veterans home where an outbreak last year sickened 53 people, including 12 who died. Rauner visited the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy on Wednesday, a day after officials announced that two more residents of the home were sickened and less than a month after a nearly $5 million water treatment plant and delivery system was unveiled at the facility. The home has stopped admitting new residents. In a news release, Rauner's office said further water restrictions may be put in place until the source of the new cases can be identified. It cautioned, though, that the source may never be identified due to the nature of the bacteria that cause the disease, which can be inhaled in water vapor. Federal officials have said the bacteria that caused the outbreak last year were likely spread by an aging water system at the 129-year-old facility. "We are terribly disappointed and hurt that the problem came back," Dave MacDonna, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, told The Quincy Herald-Whig. "

Oil Industry About To Be Burned Again By Fall In Oil Prices
Zero Hedge - The current oil-price rally led many to believe that a full price recovery was underway. But inventories have been too large for that to happen short of epic supply interruptions. U.S. rig counts have surged as oil prices sink. Capital is driving the oil markets and it enables bad behavior by producers. That is why oil prices will stay low. The oil-price rally that began in February is over.Prices rose from $26 per barrel to $51 by early June and are now below $42 (Figure 1). If they fall through $40, the next likely support level is at $36 per barrel.

Ford Plunges After Warning "We Don't See Growth", Warns US Auto Industry "Has Plateaued"
Zero Hedge - The reason Ford stock is plunging this morning is not so much the company's earnings miss, when the US auto giant reported Q2 EPS of $0.52, below the $0.60 expected, but because in some startling language, CEO Mark Fields laid out a very gloomy picture of the future…. A key part of the problem is one shown here repeatedly over the past year, namely the troubling increase in auto inventories, which are now at 5 year highs, and the inventory to sales ratio back to levels seen during the last recession…. “What we’re seeing is that over time, particularly as the U.S. industry has started to plateau, we’ve seen a very gradual, modestly rising incentive level,” Shanks said later in a conference call with analysts. Ford lowered its estimates for full-year industry sales in the U.S. saying second half sales will be "much weaker than normal" and said next year's sales will be even weaker…. And while we await Santander Commercial to file its delayed, and adjusted, earnings report, it appears that even without the hard data one can conclude that the subprime driven auto-boom, which propelled the auto industry over the past two years, has finally ended.

Is Your Water Being Polluted by Big Pharma Chemicals?
Health Impact News - A recent study by the US Geological Survey (USGS) has found that a startling number of American streams carry traces of drugs. The researchers sampled 59 small streams in the Southeast for 108 different pharmaceutical compounds, and one or more chemicals were detected in every sampled stream. Steams tested positive for six chemicals on average. Among the most common drugs found in the streams were acetaminophen (Tylenol), lidocaine (a pain reliever), tramadol (an opioid pain reliever), fexofenadine (an antihistamine found in Mucinex and Allegra, among others), and metformin (a type 2 diabetes drug)…. Not only are they in our drinking water, they’re in our food supply as well. Biosolids—a euphemism for human waste—are being pushed on unsuspecting farmers by local or state governments as a cheap fertilizer alternative, even though they can be riddled with drugs and personal care products and are rarely if ever tested for these substances. And the pharmaceuticals found in biosolids can wreak havoc on animal and plant life. … At higher concentrations, even the vegetables themselves are harmed by the drugs when biosolids are used in fertilizer. Zucchini plants that were exposed to pharmaceutical drugs developed leaves with burnt edges and white spots, as well as stunted roots. Exposure also impaired the plants’ ability to perform photosynthesis, the process by which plants produce energy from sunlight.

Microsoft to cut 2,850 more jobs
Reuters - Microsoft Corp said it would cut about 2,850 more jobs over the next 12 months, taking its total planned job cuts to up to 4,700, or about 4 percent of its workforce. The company said in May it would cut 1,850 jobs in its smartphone business, most of them in Finland. Microsoft bought Finland-based handset maker Nokia in 2014 in an ill-fated attempt to take on market leaders Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. Chief Executive Satya Nadella, who took the helm just two months before the deal closed, has since focused on restructuring the struggling phone business. Microsoft had about 114,000 full-time employees as of June 30.

10K Google Wi-Fi kiosks are collecting millions of faces and MAC addresses
MassPrivateI - According to a NYC. gov page, CityBridge was chosen in 2014 to offer free private Wi-Fi to NYC residents. CityBridge is a consortium of companies that includes Intersection, Qualcomm, and CIVIQ Smartscapes – to develop and operate the LinkNYC network. These kiosks, called ‘Links,’ will provide the public with a fast, private Wi-Fi network providing free domestic calling, two USB charging ports, a tablet for accessing the internet, and a red 911 button to contact emergency services. New York city plans on installing nearly10,000 spying kiosks. According to Cryptome, LinkNYC kiosks use microphones, cameras, sensors and more to spy on the public…. CityBridge claims they won't keep a person's personally identifiable information longer than 12 months after their last login. Which means, every time the same person uses CityBridge they reset their privacy countdown. CityBridge collects personal info. and uses it to sell ads… “By having access to the browsing activity of people using the Wi-Fi — all anonymized and aggregated — we can actually then target ads to people in proximity and then obviously over time track them through lots of different things, like beacons and location services, as well as their browsing activity. So in effect what we're doing is replicating the digital experience in physical space" Sidewalk's CEO, Dan Doctoroff said.

Self-driving delivery robot makes first visit to United States
RT - A new self-driving delivery robot put on display in Austin, Texas could be just what you’ve been waiting for. Starship Technologies, a London-based robotics startup, has built what they say is the first commercially-available delivery robot that can drive itself…. The company is thinking of putting their diminutive deliverymen, which have yet to be named, to use in three different areas: parcel delivery, grocery delivery, and restaurant food delivery – meaning that paying a 20 percent tip on top of the price of a pizza might become a thing of the past. When the delivery droid arrives, the recipient uses the associated app to unlock its lid, take out the contents, and send it back on its way. They are designed to operate on sidewalks, rather than roads. And if anybody tries to steal them, they are equipped with tracking devices to help apprehend the thieves.

Mushrooms and Mycelium Help the Microbiome
Green Med Info - Mushrooms are prebiotics that not only boost the immune system, but also balance the microbiome in favor of beneficial bacteria, resulting in better digestion, and, amazingly, potential weight loss!… Fungi evolved to externally digest its nutrients, and projected a fine filamentous, cobweb like cellular networks known as mycelium. In both cases, over millions of years, choosing beneficial bacteria to aid in this process became essential for good digestion…. The mushroom is a fruit of the mycelium, like an apple is to an apple tree. Mushrooms are made of compacted mycelium but are materially different than mycelium. Mushrooms are nutritionally dense, packed with polysaccharides, proteins, minerals, vitamins (B, D), are low in fat (5%, mostly linoleic acids) and are free of cholesterol. The cobwebby mycelium exudes enormous suites of enzymes, antimicrobial agents, antiviral compounds… Recent research now shows the consumption of Reishi and Turkey Tail mushrooms, not only boost the immune system, but also balance the microbiome in favor of these beneficial bacteria, resulting in better digestion, and, amazingly, potential weight loss!

Parsley and dill could be the new safer chemo, say Russian scientists
What Doctors Don't Tell You - Compounds found in parsley and dill can fight cancer and could be a natural, and safer, alternative to chemotherapy, say Russian scientists. The compounds are the building blocks of an isoflavone that naturally blocks the rapid division of cancer cells. The compounds are precursors of the isoflavone, glaziovianin A, that disrupts the process of cell division, or mitosis, a common feature of cancer. Melanoma cells double every three days, for example, whereas healthy cells increase by only 15 per cent. Glaziovianin A slows mitosis—just as chemotherapy does—but it’s hard to come by and has involved six processing stages. One of its major sources has been the leaf of a Brazilian tree, but scientists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology say the same compounds have been found in the seeds of parsley and dill. The scientists have tested the effectiveness of the isoflavone on embryos of sea urchins and on human cancer cells, including lung, prostate, breast, colon and ovarian cancers and melanoma, with great success.

After Countless People Ignored Her, 1 Gentleman Rescued This Mom and Her 4 Kids
PopSugar - After Tawny Nelson's car broke down at night in the pouring rain with her four young daughters crying in the back, countless people just drove by as she begged for help. The single mother of four explained that things had been rough since her partner left — her vehicle was in such bad shape that she only drove if absolutely necessary and her cell phone was disconnected. She and her children desperately needed groceries so they made a quick trip to the store. However, one of her girls accidentally left a light on in the car and they returned to a completely drained battery. "I must have asked more than twenty people in the course of two hours for a jump," she wrote to Frank Somerville, which he shared on his Facebook page. "They all ignored me. Not even a no. [They] just acted like I didn't exist." s her newborn screamed, her 2-year-old cried from hunger, and her 9-year-old desperately tried to help, Tawny described that she started to break down herself. "I was bawling and felt like the worst Mom ever," she recalled. At that moment, a 74-year-old man with a bad limp knocked on the window. He handed her a plate of food and bottles of water for her family and let her know that a tow truck was on its way and that his wife was going to drive them home. The next day, the gentleman returned to her house with a mechanic and they made multiple repairs to her car.

Is the Pavement Too Hot for Your Pup’s Paws? Here’s An Easy Way to Find Out!
Dogington Post - While paws are pretty durable, what many pet parents don’t realize is that during the summer months, hot pavement, asphalt, and dark or metal surfaces can very quickly become scorching hot – too hot for paws…. Every summer, veterinarians treat dogs with serious, painful burns to their paw pads after a well-meaning parent took their dog for a walk without checking the temperature of the surface below. So, one really quick, easy way to tell if the ground is too hot for your pup’s paws is to remember the “5-Second Rule.” Before walking your dog, place the back of your hand on the ground and hold it there for 5-seconds. If the heat is unbearable, find another place to walk, outfit your pup with a pair of booties, or reschedule your walk for another time when the ground isn’t so hot.

Video: Breaking News: Bikers for Hillary are on their way to Philly
Watch out y'all. The bikers are on their way to Philly to stop the Bernie sanders protesters from crossing the fence. Beware of the Bikers.

Thursday - July 28, 2016 - Today In History:

1865 - The American Dental Association proposed its first code of ethics.
1866 - The metric system was legalized by the U.S. Congress for the standardization of weights and measures throughout the United States.
1868 - The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was declared in effect. The amendment guaranteed due process of law.
1896 - The city of Miami, FL, was incorporated.
1914 - World War I officially began when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
1932 - Federal troops forcibly dispersed the "Bonus Army" of World War I veterans who had gathered in Washington, DC. They were demanding money they were not scheduled to receive until 1945.
1941 - Plans for the Pentagon were approved by the U.S. House of Representatives.
1945 - A U.S. Army bomber crashed into the 79th floor of New York City's Empire State Building. 14 people were killed and 26 were injured.
1965 - U.S. President Johnson announced he was increasing the number of American troops in South Vietnam from 75,000 to 125,000.
1982 - San Francisco, CA, became the first city in the U.S. to ban handguns.
1998 - Monica Lewinsky received blanket immunity from prosecution to testify before a grand jury about her relationship with U.S. President Clinton.
2004 - The Democratic National Convention in Boston nominated Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry for president.
2009 - The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Sonia Sotomayor to be the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court.

Turkey orders shutdown of over 130 media outlets, dismisses 1,600 military personnel – broadcaster
RT - Turkish authorities ordered the closure of more than 130 media outlets on Wednesday in a crackdown following July’s failed coup, Reuters reports, citing CNN Turk. Some 1,600 military personnel were also sacked in the Turkish government’s latest move. The Turkish government shutdown three news agencies, 23 radio stations, 16 TV channels, 45 newspapers, 15 magazines, and 29 publishers and distributors in their crackdown on the media. The army saw 1,684 soldiers discharged, according to the government decree cited by CNN Turk. The number includes 149 generals and admirals, amounting to nearly half of the high-ranking officers in the entire Turkish military, the Reuters reported. In the wake of the coup attempt, Turkey is also planning to shut down all of the country’s military schools, Al Jazeera Turk reports, citing government sources. A decree is set to be released that will expel all military cadets from military high schools, but they will be able to continue their education at regular schools, according to the outlet. Earlier on Wednesday, Turkish authorities ordered that 47 journalists from a formerly oppositional newspaper be detained.

At least 44 dead in ISIS-claimed double bomb attack in Qamishli, Syria (Videos)
RT - At least 44 people have been killed and dozens more injured in a twin blast attack that rocked the city of Qamishli on the Syrian-Turkish border, state TV reported. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack. A truck rigged with explosives went off in the western edge of the predominantly-Kurdish-populated city, local media reported. Minutes later, a suicide bomber on a motorbike caused second explosion in the same area, reports said. The blasts struck near a local police department and a government building nearby…. The Syrian town of Qamishli, right on the Turkish border, is controlled by Kurdish militia. Still, Syrian government forces are also present in the area, controlling the local airport. The attack on Qamishli could be a reply to the US-backed Kurdish militia attacking Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in northern Syria, currently staging an offensive to capture the IS-held town of Manbij, situated further to the east of Qamishli. Kurdish forces have already captured wide areas of the Syrian territory from IS jihadists.

Russia forms brand-new task force to counter NATO buildup in Eastern Europe
RT - Moscow has been forming a force to counterbalance NATO’s massive military buildup along Russia’s borders in Europe, which will operate along its western and southern borders, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. Shoigu named NATO’s military buildup in Eastern Europe, the overall situation in Ukraine, and growing terrorist activity in the Caucasus region as the three principle drivers behind Moscow’s military upgrade. “In the given conditions, we have to take commensurate reaction measures,” Shoigu said, while speaking at a Defense Ministry board session.

In Latest Political "Coup", Catalan Parliament Votes To Secede From Spain
Zero Hedge - In the aftermath of last month's Brexit vote, there was an outpouring of concern in Europe that the British decision would embolden similar separatist movements across the continent. Earlier Wednesday, this is precisely what happened when Catalan nationalists voted to approve a plan to secede from Spain, defying the nation’s Constitutional Court and challenging acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who is currently in political limbo as he struggles to form a government. The decision was approved by 72 regional MPs out of 135. Ten MPs from the CSP group linked to Podemos, Partido Popular and Ciudadanos walked out of the assembly and the Socialists did not vote. A recent poll shows that 48% of the Catalan population currently supports independence compared with 43% against it.

Japan Has Sent A Massive Monetary Shock Wave Across the Planet: “Will Create A Big Upward Price Adjustment In Gold And Silver”
Mac Slavo - In what appears to be a strategy designed to keep their financial system afloat when fiat currencies around the world collapse under the strain of trillions in quantitatively eased debt, the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) has now shifted their operations so that all trade settlements can be completed in physical gold. The move follows the opening of the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE), which is the East’s answer to decades of manipulated precious metals prices by a concentration of inside players. It’s an open secret that western central banks and cooperating financial institutions have controlled the price of gold for years. The opening of the SGE and Japan’s TOCOM shift should be a clear signal that eastern governments like China, Japan and Russia are no longer willing to play a rigged game and that they are preparing to allow gold to be freely exchanged on the open market in its physical form.

Deutsche Bank Profit Plunges 98% And The Worst Is Yet To Come
Zero Hedge - The latest confirmation that Germany's troubled banking giant Deutsche Bank is unable to navigate the troubled waters of NIRP came on Wednesday when the bank announced that its second-quarter net income fell 98% from a year earlier, hurt by weaker performances in trading, investment banking and other core areas. The lender said net income tumbled to €20 million ($22 million) from €818 million a year earlier, modestly better than the €22mm loss expected, while net revenue dropped 20% to €7.4 billion…. What is more troubling is that as Bloomberg adds, the worst is yet to come. […] the biggest problem for DB remains its massive balance sheet. Morgan Stanley analysts calculated that Deutsche Bank has a €9 billion capital hole to fill by 2018, and that's not including damage caused by future litigation costs, which considering DB's record of pervasive capital rigging, are sure to rise.

Tax Meat Until No One Eats It Anymore, Says UN Climate Change Report
Off the Grid News - Meat production should be taxed to save the environment and prevent global warming, a United Nations report is recommending. Professor Maarten Hajer of Utrecht University in the Netherlands authored the report, released by the UN’s International Research Panel (IRP), which is comprised of 34 scientists and 30 governments “All of the harmful effects on the environment and on health needs to be priced into food products,” Hajer told The Washington Post. “I think it is extremely urgent.” Meat, he argued, should be taxed at the wholesale level to raise the price and deter consumption. He and other members of the IRP assert that livestock creates 14.5 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions that the panel says contribute to climate change. Taxes are needed to deter increases in meat consumption in nations like China, he said. “We think it’s better to price meats earlier in the chain,” Hajer told The Guardian. “It’s sexier to tax it at the consumer level, but not as effective.”

IRS Launches Investigation Of Clinton Foundation
The Daily Caller - IRS Commissioner John Koskinen referred congressional charges of corrupt Clinton Foundation “pay-to-play” activities to his tax agency’s exempt operations office for investigation, The Daily Caller News Foundation has learned. The request to investigate the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation on charges of “public corruption” was made in a July 15 letter by 64 House Republicans to the IRS, FBI and Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They charged the foundation is “lawless.” The initiative is being led by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican who serves as the vice chairwoman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which oversees FTC. The FTC regulates public charities alongside the IRS. The lawmakers charged the Clinton Foundation is a “lawless ‘pay-to-play’ enterprise that has been operating under a cloak of philanthropy for years and should be investigated.”… House Republicans singled out Laureate Education and Uranium One as two companies that seemed to have paid lavish sums to the Clintons and later received official government benefits.

Reagan Shooter John Hinckley Jr Released, Will Live With His Mother
Zero Hedge - 34 years after trying to assassinate Ronald Reagan in 1981, John Hinckley, Jr will be released from a psychiatric hospital and allowed to live with his mother in Virginia. On Wednesday, a federal judge granted John Hinckley, Jr., the man who shot President Ronald Reagan, full-time release from St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he has been in treatment since the shooting. Judge Paul L. Friedman delivered the ruling Wednesday, granting him full time convalescent leave to begin no sooner than Aug. 5. According to the WSJ, the 103-page order from U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman said Mr. Hinckley’s doctors have found he has "no signs of psychotic symptoms, delusional thinking, or any violent tendencies,’’ and therefore “presents no danger to himself or to others in the reasonable future if released." The ruling means that 34 years after an attack that severely wounded the president and three others, Mr. Hinckley will be a free man—albeit with restrictions on his travel, communications, work and use of the internet […] Hinckley will be allowed to live with his mother there, provided he still has regular medical and social-work checkups, works or volunteers at least three days a week and adheres to limits on his travel and communication. The judge’s order also specifically bars Mr. Hinckley or his family from talking to reporters.

NYPD Brag About Tax-Payer Funded Shopping Spree
Mint Press News - The New York City Police Department has acquired US$7 million in military-style protective equipment for patrol officers in response to recent shooting attacks on police in Baton Rouge and Dallas, officials said Monday. “You name it, we’re buying it,” Police Commissioner William Bratton told a news conference. “There’s not a police department in America that is spending as much money, as much thought and interest on this issue of officer safety.” Bratton said the NYPD has purchased 20,000 military-style helmets, 6,000 heavy duty bullet-proof vests, trauma kits and ballistic doors and windows for patrol cars. “It’s so important to recognize the threats our officers face and to act on them immediately,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We will not be the police department that brings a knife to the gunfight.” Special units are already equipped with upgraded protective gear, but now patrol officers will begin carrying the new equipment starting in September, according to police officials.

“This is My Second One” — Virginia Cop Caught Bragging About Killing Two Unarmed People
The Free Thought Project - A former Virginia police officer and U.S. Navy veteran, whose trial for murder begins this week, told a witness, “this is my second one,” after killing an unarmed 18-year-old black man in April 2015. While unclear whether or not the jarring statement amounted to a boast, the camera on ex-Portsmouth Officer Stephen Rankin’s Taser recorded him saying this to a Walmart employee mere seconds after he fatally shot unarmed teen and alleged shoplifter William Chapman in the store’s parking lot in April 2015. Rankin had, indeed, killed another unarmed man, Kirill Denyakin — under circumstances similarly and sufficiently questionable to earn three years’ administrative leave — just four years prior to the shooting for which he now stands accused of first-degree murder. During the final pretrial hearing on Tuesday, the Guardian reported, Rankin’s lead defense attorney, James Broccoletti, argued the former officer’s “statement is not probative of anything,” in an unsuccessful attempt to have it suppressed. Prosecutors countered to Judge Johnny E. Morrison they should not have to “sanitize the evidence” surrounding the fatal shooting.

*DNC Day 3 LiveWire* Democrats Identify Evil: Guns, Climate Change, and Trump
Breitbart - President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Vice Presidential nominee Tim Kaine, who will be formally nominated, will be tonight’s featured speakers. Democrats will also push gun control as Michael Bloomberg and family members of the victims of the Mother Emanuel and Sandy Hook shootings are schuedled to speak.

George Soros rises again
Politico - The billionaire investor, who scaled back his political giving after a then-unprecedented $27 million spending spree to try to defeat George Bush in 2004, has quietly reemerged as a leading funder of Democratic politics — and as a leading bogeyman of conservatives. Soros has donated or committed more than $25 million to boost Hillary Clinton and other Democratic candidates and causes, according to Federal Election Commission records and interviews with his associates and Democratic fundraising operatives. And some of his associates say they expect Soros, who amassed a fortune estimated at $24.9 billion through risky currency trades, to give even more as Election Day nears.

Video: Hundreds of Empty DNC Seats for Hillary Clinton Coronation Speech 26th July 2016
Jul 26, 2016 - Half The Convention Walked Out at Hillary's DNC Coronation. No Media Coverage.

Video: Larry Gatlin Performs Exclusive "Hillary's America" Song
Grammy Award-winning recording artists Larry Gatlin wrote "Stand Up and Say So" exclusively for Hillary's America, and performs the song in the film along with his brothers. "Stand Up and Say So" represents what a lot of Americans are feeling this year. Watch the full song now in this exclusive video, courtesy of D'Souza Media and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. Larry's song is one of many highlights of Hillary's America that audiences all over the country are raving about the film this weekend. We've received reports of crowds standing and cheering, hold their hands over their hearts, crying, and even yelling out in anger at the lies from the left that are revealed in the film. Have you seen Hillary's America yet? Click here to get tickets now.

Video: Trump asks Russia to find Clinton’s missing emails
Miami Herald - In a surprising call for a foreign power to use its hacking abilities to get involved in the U.S. presidential election, Donald Trump on Wednesday called on Russia to find Hillary Clinton’s missing emails from the time she was secretary of state. “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” Trump said to a room full of TV cameras at Trump National Doral. “I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press. ”Trump said he hopes Russia does have her emails. Clinton’s lawyers had turned over work-related emails, but deleted thousands which she said were about personal matters. “They probably have her 33,000 e-mails that she lost and deleted because you'd see some beauties there,” he said. “So let's see.”

Vietnam Vet Shot For Being a Trump Supporter
Paul Joseph Watson - A political discussion at a bar in Cleveland ended with a Vietnam vet being shot in the leg because of his support for Donald Trump. 60-year-old Paul Jones, Jr. was having a conversation with a friend at Winston’s Place near E. 131st Street and Miles Avenue on Monday evening. A man sitting nearby overheard the chat and immediately became aggressive. “He butted in the conversation,” Jones told WEWS from his hospital bed. “The conversation wasn’t directed at him or to him.” The man continued to get more irate, going to his car to retrieve a gun before he returned and shot Jones in the thigh. The shooter fled the scene and detectives are still searching for him…. The mainstream media has attempted to portray Donald Trump supporters as aggressive and violent for months, despite almost all the violence being directed against Trump supporters. Just yesterday, footage emerged of a man attempting to sick a DNC protest crowd on a woman because she said she supported Donald Trump.

Silver Surges Over $20 After Dismal Durable Goods Data
Zero Hedge - After 21 straight days of economic improvements, today's dismal durable goods orders appears enough to prompt 'the QE trade' as bonds, stocks, and bullion surge (and dollar drops). Silver just spiked to $20... Silver broke major downtrend... And Gold is surging on heavy volume...

Gestapo In The USA: FCC intimidates press and kills free speech at 5G rollout (video)
Take Back Your Power - In a public meeting at FCC headquarters on July 14, the agency which once served the people instead acted like tyrannical thugs… First, they prevented wireless science advocates from displaying a simple sign, violating their First Amendment rights in a public venue. Then, a security guard forcefully prevented a t-shirt from being taken out of a bag, by a former Congressional candidate with opposing views. Next, a Bloomberg reporter had his credentials confiscated — almost unbelievably — for merely talking with the former Congressional candidate. Following these incidents, the reporter, Todd Shields, was visibly irate with FCC Commissioner Tom Wheeler — who also happens to be the former president of CTIA, the wireless industry’s lobbying organization…. The issue here, is that the Federal Communications Commission just rubber-stamped their rollout of “5G” cellular technology, which while increasing throughput, would blanket all planetary life with ultra-high microwave frequencies — 24Ghz and up. The fact that these frequencies have never been tested as safe is not stopping corporate-government plans for an unleashing of “massive infrastructure”…. Here’s some snippets from FCC Chair Wheeler, at his June 20 press conference: “5G will use much higher frequency bands [24 to 100+ GHz]… antennas that can aim and amplify signals… massive deployment of small cells… tens of billions of dollars in economic activity… hundreds of billions of microchips… if something can be connected, it will be connected… unlike other countries… we won’t wait for the standards…”… Paraphrased: “We can’t let life get in the way of profit…. If unchecked, this will almost certainly lead to an increase in cancer and other ailments associated with exposure to electromagnetic radiation.

DARPA Spent $62 Million Creating Microchips For Humans
Glitch News - The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is in the process of making a neural-coding device capable of controlling artificial limbs when seeded in the brain. The device has had success in animal studies and the first human trials are set for 2017. The Pentagon has subsidized the institution $62 million to help foster this mind-control technology. Meanwhile, the mainstream media is pushing for the micochipping of children sooner rather than later. During a recent televised report by NBC News, the news station purported the micro-chipping of children by the state was as normal as bar codes for consumers: “When barcodes first came out in the late 1960s, people were appalled. They were wary of them and did not understand the concept. Today, it is so commonplace, we don’t even notice it. A microchip would work much in the same way.”

A Third of U.S. Adults Say They’d Be ‘Enthusiastic’ About Having a Microchip Implanted in Brain
The Free Thought Project - Over one-third of Americans would not only accept a microchip implant in their brain, but would be “enthusiastic” about the receiving the device to ‘enhance their thinking power.’ Once the subject of dystopian science fiction novels, three emerging technologies served as a focal point for a new survey to glean the public’s willingness to accept what many would call exceedingly invasive biomedical ‘enhancements.’ Pew Research Center surveyed 4,726 adults — 47 of whom additionally agreed to participate in focus groups — to discern not only how well putative biomedical advancements might be received, but where the public stands on inherent ethical and moral questions arising from their use.

Cancer Patients File for Coordinated US Lawsuit against Monsanto’s Roundup
Sustainable Pulse - A number of U.S. plaintiffs asserting that the use of Monsanto’s glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup resulted in them developing cancer, have moved the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) to create a coordinated docket for the pending federal cases. The motion was filed with the JPML on Wednesday. In it, the plaintiffs cited more than 20 similar cases pending in courts across the country. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a Group 2A carcinogen in 2015, meaning that it is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” In their motion, the plaintiffs suggested that the cases be coordinated before either Hon. Nancy J. Rosenstengel or Hon. David R. Herndon in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, noting that three of the 21 actions are pending there. The plaintiffs additionally noted that Illinois is the largest producer of soybeans, which are “sprayed with glyphosate containing herbicides more than any other crop with 122,473,987 pounds applied to soybeans in 2014.”

“Vaccine Robbed My Daughter’s Life” – 12 Year Old Girl Suffers Heart Disease After Gardasil Vaccine (Video)
Health Impact News - It is rare when a mainstream media source covers the story of a vaccine injury or death. When it does happen, it is usually a local news station reporting about someone in their community. WJBF out of South Carolina recently reported about a 12 year old girl who is suffering from POTS (Postural Tachycardia Syndrome) after receiving the Gardasil vaccine. POTS is a condition in which an excessively reduced volume of blood returns to the heart after an individual stands up from a lying down position. The primary symptom is lightheadedness or fainting. This once active young girl can now barely walk. Her mother says the vaccine robbed her daughter of her life.

How Coconut Oil May Rescue The Brain From Alzheimer's Disease
Green Med Info -…a promising new study soon to be published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease titled, "Coconut Oil Attenuates the Effects of Amyloid-β on Cortical Neurons In Vitro."[i] The study lends fresh experimental support to an accumulating body of anecdotal reports that coconut oil may alleviate and/or regress cognitive deficits associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's. Medical researchers from the Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada, undertook a pilot study to investigate the effects of coconut oil supplementation directly on cortical neurons treated with amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide in vitro. Aβ peptide is the main component of certain deposits found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease believed to contribute to the disease…. The researchers noted that a recent clinical trial, which we reported on in our article MCT Fats Found in Coconut Oil Boost Brain Function in Only One Dose, reported significant improvements in Alzheimer's disease patients after 45 and 90 days of treatment with medium chain triglycerides from coconut oil.

Prevent macular degeneration with the right nutrients
(NaturalHealth365) The leading cause of blindness in adults over 50 is macular degeneration. Up to 11 million older Americans have some degree of macular degeneration related to the aging process….The main cause of macular degeneration is exposure to ultraviolet light and visible light. Chemical stresses from too much glucose or oxygen in the blood stream can also contribute. These factors cause retinal light-sensing cells to break down. If this continues, vision loss and blindness can result. In an initial saffron study, patients in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration were either given a placebo or 20 mg per day of saffron. The improvements in eye responses to light were measurably stronger in the saffron group, indicating healthier retinal cells. A second saffron study found that those taking saffron were also stronger in visual acuity, or sharpness in distance vision. Saffron supplementation definitely helps the light-sensing abilities of the eyes, slowing the progression of macular degeneration. After three months, patients could see another full line on the eye chart…. Another known vision enhancer is the nutrient alpha-carotene. Persons with high levels of alpha-carotene in their systems have a 32 percent lower risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration…. he benefits of saffron and alpha-carotene are further enhanced when nutrients like lutein, astaxanthin, cyanidin-3-glucoside and zeaxanthin are taken.

Toxic Mercury Discovered in an Increasing Number of Personal Care Products
Natural News Blogs - Mercury has been discovered in an abundant amount of personal care products — including lotions, cosmetics, anti-aging creams, acne treatments, skin lighteners, antiseptic and beauty soaps. Mercury is extremely toxic — and exposure can lead to serious health consequences…. It can damage the brain, lungs, kidney, heart, and immune system of people of all ages. The danger of mercury exposure isn’t just to people using products containing this chemical. Families and pets of people using these products can suffer unpleasant and debilitating health conditions, as well…. rthur Simone, M.D., senior medical advisor at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clarifies how families become exposed. “Your family might breathe mercury vapors released from these products. Your children might touch washcloths or towels that are contaminated with mercury. It could be as simple as touching someone’s cheek or face.”… Checking the label is a proven way to find out if mercury is in a personal care product. If the words “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury” are listed on the label; then the toxin is in the product. You should stop using the product immediately. Most of all, be cautious of personal care products marketed as skin lighteners and anti-aging treatments that remove age spots, wrinkles, blemishes, and freckles. And acne treatments products are questionable, as well.

How Hot Does it Really Get Inside a Parked Car? (Video)
Dogington Post - Police from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, concerned by the volume of calls and deaths to children and animals left alone in parked cars, set out to see for themselves – and to show the public – just how hot it gets inside a parked car, how quickly it heats up, and what begins to happen to a living being trapped inside. In the video above, a deputy is urged by his colleagues after only 25 minutes to exit the vehicle rather than risk permanent or life-threatening injuries as a result of the experiment. In that 25 minutes, temperatures inside the vehicle reached between 124 and 177-degrees. The deputy’s heart rate began climbing within only a few minutes, finally reaching 151 beats per minute just as he exited the car, an early indicator of heatstroke. A dog, covered in fur and unable to sweat, unable to regulate their body temperature even remotely as efficiently as a human, would suffer the effects of extreme heat far faster and more intensely. Please, do not leave dogs unattended in a parked car, even for only a few minutes.

Infographic: 7 Summertime Treats That Could Hurt Your Dog
Dogington Post - Keep safe and stay cool this summer with Ralph’s 7 Summertime Treats that could hurt your dog. Try this safe summer treat instead… Watermelon Pupsicles: Use a melon baller to cut seedless watermelon into small cubes, lay flat on a sheet or plate and freeze overnight. Store in an airtight container or ziplock bag for an easy breezy pupsicle!
 

Wednesday - July 27, 2016 - Today In History:

1775 - Benjamin Rush began his service as the first Surgeon General of the Continental Army.
1777 - The marquis of Lafayette arrived in New England to help the rebellious American colonists fight the British.
1789 - The Department of Foreign Affairs was established by the U.S. Congress. The agency was later known as the Department of State.
1804 - The 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. With the amendment Electors were directed to vote for a President and for a Vice-President rather than for two choices for President.
1866 - Cyrus Field successfully completed the Atlantic Cable. It was an underwater telegraph from North America to Europe.
1909 - Orville Wright set a record for the longest airplane flight. He was testing the 1st Army airplane and kept it in the air for 1 hr. 12 min. and 40 seconds.
1914 - British troops invaded the streets of Dublin, Ireland, and began to disarm Irish rebels.
1944 - U.S. troops completed the liberation of Guam.
1953 - The armistice agreement that ended the Korean War was signed at Panmunjon, Korea.
1964 - U.S. President Lyndon Johnson sent an additional 5,000 advisers to South Vietnam.
1965 - In the U.S., the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act was signed into law. The law required health warnings on all cigarette packages.
1974 - The U.S. Congress asked for impeachment procedures against President Richard Nixon.
1995 - The Korean War Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC, by U.S. President Clinton and South Korean President Kim Young-sam.
1999 - The U.S. space shuttle Discovery completed a five-day mission commanded by Air Force Col. Eileen Collins. It was the first shuttle mission to be commanded by a woman.
2005 - Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian who'd plotted to bomb the Los Angeles airport on the eve of the millennium, was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

‘Killers chanting in Arabic film priest’s throat-slitting’: Details about French church attack
RT - An attacker that stormed a French church and slit an 84-year-old priest’s throat has been identified as Adel Kermiche. He was known to police and had travelled to Syria several times. A witness says the killers videoed the act while chanting in Arabic…. According to French prosecutor Francois Molin, one of the attackers was named as Adel Kermiche, 19. The identity of the second perpetrator still remains unknown. According to Le Figaro, one of the assailants had vowed to commit such an act beforehand…. Police say the 84-year old priest was killed with a knife. One of the attackers was found to have been carrying an explosive belt made of aluminum foil and three knives, Molin said. Another also carried a weapon made of aluminum and a backpack containing a fake explosive device, he added. The killing took place in the small town of St-Etienne-du-Rouvray, a suburb of the city of Rouen in northern France…. Philippe de Villers, a former French presidential candidate, told RT that the fact that a place of worship was targeted is significant. “This new murder presents something completely new. Before they used to strike the police, passers-by, or those on holiday – now they are targeting those who are religious,” he said. Kermiche tried to reach Syria twice in 2015, first attempting to pass under the radar of authorities in March of last year, according to Molin. However, he was arrested in Germany after trying to use his brother’s ID. Kermiche was subsequently put under surveillance in France.

Normandy: Jihadist Mosque Next Door to Beheaded Priest’s Church
Breitbart - The more details that emerge surrounding the gruesome lethal attack on a priest in northern France Tuesday, the more it appears that the attack could have been foreseen and perhaps prevented…. It turns out that the parish Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, the site of the assault, was on an Islamic State hit list recovered from suspected jihadist Sid Ahmed Ghlam, in April 2015. The 24-year-old Ghlam was arrested by French police, who believe he was a terrorist planning imminent attacks in France under the direction of Islamic State leaders. At the time, an arsenal of weapons was discovered in Ghlam’s car as well as at his student residence, which included Kalashnikov rifles, a police-issue pistol, and a number of bullet-proof vests. Ghlam is currently in a high-security prison awaiting trial for numerous crimes including murder, attempted murder, association with criminals with a view to commit crimes and other infractions connected to a terrorist organization. After the arrest, police discovered a list of Catholic sites to be targeted by Islamic State terrorists, which included the location of Tuesday’s attack…. More importantly, the church also “happened” to be right next door to the Yahiya mosque of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, whose best-known worshiper was the notorious French jihadist executioner Maxime Hauchard. Hauchard, who appeared in a video of the beheading of American aid worker Peter Kassig and 18 Syrian military captives in 2014, converted to Islam at the age of 17 and frequented the mosque of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, a stone’s throw from the parish church.

Hundreds of leads on possible terrorists among refugees - German police
RT - Germany's Federal Criminal Police says hundreds of refugees in the country might be linked to terrorism. Officials, however, do not want a "general suspicion" tag to be applied, despite recent attacks by migrants. The number of migrants under suspicion of links to terrorism as well as the amount of investigations against potential terrorists in their ranks is on the rise, the German Federal Criminal Police (BKA) told the Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung newspaper. According to the outlet, the criminal police have 410 leads on possible terrorists among asylum seekers in Germany, with investigations launched in 60 cases.

Germany mulls internal army use as top officials claim ‘Islamist terror has arrived’
RT - Officials in Germany are considering deploying the army inside the country in the wake of multiple attacks, while the governor of Bavaria says Islamic terror has already “arrived.” “Each attack, each act of terrorism, is one too many. Islamist terrorism has arrived in Germany,” Horst Seehofer, the governor of the German state of Bavaria, told reporters on Tuesday. The official gave a joint news conference with Bavaria’s interior minister, Joachim Hermann, following a summit of the local government, where security issues dominated the agenda…. During Tuesday’s press conference, Seehofer said Germany is facing “a new dimension of terror,” while Bavaria’s interior minister announced that the state’s police ranks would be increased. Hermann also suggested that Germany’s army (Bundeswehr) could be used to aid police in dealing with major terror threats. The debate over whether to deploy the Bundeswehr domestically should not wait “until the next attack happens,” he stressed, as quoted by General-Anzeiger. Lawmakers in Berlin are also discussing the possibility of establishing “troops of reservists” to aid police during internal crisis situations, German media outlet Bild reported, citing its own sources. In July, Germany approved its new military roadmap, the White Paper, which allows for the use of the German army inside the country in cases of large-scale terror attacks. Officials in Germany are now also pushing for greater controls and screenings for asylum seekers.

‘Revitalize economy, prevent WWIII:’ Japanese mass murder suspect reveals motives in warning letter
RT - Knife attacker Satoshi Uematsu, who is suspected of killing at least 19 disabled people at a special facility near Tokyo, threatened to wipe out a total of 470 in letters he sent to a Japanese member of parliament some months prior to the mass killing. Satoshi Uematsu promised to “obliterate 470 disabled people” in the letters he wrote in February and then attempted to pass to the speaker of Japan’s lower house of parliament. I am fully aware that my remark is eccentric. However, thinking about the tired faces of guardians, the dull eyes of caregivers working at the facility, I am not able to contain myself, and so I decided to take action today for the sake of Japan and the world,” he wrote, as quoted by AP. “My reasoning is that I may be able to revitalize the world economy and I thought it may be possible to prevent World War III.” “The act will be carried out speedily and definitely without harming the staff. After wiping out the 260 people in two facilities, I will turn myself in,” the letter goes on. “My goal is a world in which the severely disabled can be euthanized, with their guardians’ consent, if they are unable to live at home and be active in society,” Uematsu wrote, apparently trying to explain his goal.

'Abu Ghraib'-style images of children in detention in Australia trigger public inquiry
The Guardian - Australia’s prime minister has launched a public inquiry following the broadcast of footage of children in detention being abused, hooded and bound in a manner likened to Abu Ghraib and Guantánamo Bay. Malcolm Turnbull announced a royal commission hours after the national broadcaster aired shocking footage showing children in detention at the Don Dale facility outside Darwin in the Northern Territory. Footage aired on the ABC’s Four Corners program on Monday showed one youth being stripped and physically held down by guards. In another scene that the program compared with images from Guantánamo Bay or the Abu Ghraib jail in Baghdad, 17-year-old Dylan Voller was shown hooded and tied in a restraint chair for two hours. The chairs are among items recently including in a widened list of “approved restraints” under laws passed by the NT government. Voller – who was featured repeatedly suffering apparent mistreatment at the hands of guards – and five other former Don Dale prisoners intend to sue the Northern Territory government over their treatment in detention.

European Commission wants to suspend funding Spain & Portugal
RT - The eurozone finance ministers decided this month to start sanctions procedures against the two countries for breaching EU spending rules. Sanctions could be a fine of up to 0.2 percent of a country's GDP and the suspension of commitments or payments from EU structural funds of up to 0.5 percent.

EU Commission Allows ‘Toxic GM Soybeans’ for Import
Sustainable Pulse - According to news agencies, the EU Commission has allowed the import of genetically engineered soybeans produced by Bayer and Monsanto. These crops can be sprayed with a combination of glyphosate and other herbicides such as dicamba or isoxaflutole. Market authorization has been issued after massive pressure from industry, which already sold its patented seeds in the US for cultivation and now wants to import the harvest to the EU within the next months…. According to a recent toxicological dossier, mixtures of these residues are thought to have adverse effects on health such as genotoxicity, liver toxicity and tumors…. So far, safe residue levels for the herbicides cannot be defined, and there has been no assessment of the combinatorial effects. “This looks very much like the final rehearsal for the free trade agreements, TTIP and CETA. The biotech industry is already acting as the co-decision maker in Brussels,” Christoph Then says for Testbiotech, “The EU Commission is selling out its credibility for the interests of Monsanto and Bayer. Apparently, the Commission had already promised to authorize the soybeans some months ago, during the talks about the free trade agreements.” Genetically engineered soybeans awaiting authorization for import into the EU are cultivated in countries such as Argentina, Brazil and the US, and contain residues from spraying with herbicide formulations with glyphosate as one of the ingredients. Further additives such as tallowamine can be mixed into these formulations and these are known to be much more toxic than glyphosate alone.

State Dept. Releases Phone Transcript of Hillary Admitting She Knew Benghazi Was Planned Attack
The Gateway Pundit - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton blamed an “awful” internet video for the deaths of four Americans in the terror attack on the US Consulate in Benghazi. Hillary made the comments just three days after the assault on the compound that killed Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty…. The State Department released a phone transcript this week that proves Hillary Clinton knew the Benghazi massacre was a planned attack and not a protest. Judicial Watch obtained the documents this week…. The conservative political watchdog group Judicial Watch obtained a transcript of telephone call between the then-secretary of state and then-Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Kandil. “We know the attack in Libya had nothing to do with the film,” Clinton told Kandil. “It was a planned attack – not a protest.” Kandil agreed. “You’re not kidding. Based on the information we saw today we believe that group that claimed responsibility for this is affiliated with al-Qaida.”

First of Its Kind Study Shows 55,400 People Hospitalized or Killed by US Cops in a Single Year
The Free Thought Project - New research published in the British Medical Journal demonstrates the danger posed to citizens by the most routine police practice of a “legal stop.” Researchers analyzed 12.3 million police interventions from 2012 and found that approximately 55,400 people were injured or killed by cops during legal stop and search incidents in one year. Of this number, about 1,000 were killed, with vast majority dying from gunshot wounds. The remaining 54,400 were hospitalized with serious injuries, mostly from blunt objects. “On average, an estimated 1 in 291 stops/arrests resulted in hospital-treated injury or death of a suspect or bystander.” Granted, some of these injuries or deaths were justified to protect officers or innocent people from actual violent people, but even the authors of the study conclude that these numbers reflect an “excess exposure” of people to police violence.

Hillary Clinton Makes History as First Female U.S. Presidential Nominee --Clinton makes history, secures U.S. Democrats' White House nomination
Reuters - Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton secured the Democratic Party's 2016 nomination for the White House on Tuesday, becoming the first woman to head the ticket of a major party in U.S. history. In a symbolic show of party unity, Clinton's former rival, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, told the chairwoman from the convention floor that Clinton should be selected as the party's nominee during a state-by-state roll call at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia. Earlier, delegates from South Dakota had given Clinton 15 votes, ensuring that she had more than the 2,383 votes needed to win the nomination. She emerged with a total of 2,842 votes to Sanders's 1,865 votes.

‘No TPP!’ Chants Drown Out Democratic Convention Speakers
Breitbart - “No TPP!” has been a popular slogan, in chants and printed signs, at the Democratic National Convention because of broad opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal that is heavily favored by President Barack Obama — and also heavily opposed by primary loser Sen. Bernie Sanders. The opposition to the TPP is a “reminder of how difficult it will be for Obama to win congressional ratification of the trade deal before he leaves office in January 2017,” says Bloomberg News. Some speakers, such as Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), had difficulty speaking over the “No TPP!” chanting from the crowd… In theory, Hillary Clinton and her running mate Tim Kaine, both changed their minds on TPP, which Clinton once hailed as the “gold standard” of trade deals, and pushed as hard as she’s ever pushed anything. Bernie Sanders forced her to change her position, and his voters are most likely correct to be concerned she might change her mind again, if she prevails against Donald Trump, who also strongly opposes the deal. Trump, in fact, has explicitly accused Clinton of offering sham opposition to the TPP, which she intends to abandon, at her earliest convenience.

Trump, Pence Blast DNC Speakers ‘Not One of Them Named ISIS’
Breitbart - Republican nominee Donald Trump and his running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence criticized the Democratic Party for not talking about the threat of terrorism and ISIS during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Monday night…. During an appearance at the VFW on Tuesday morning, Pence recalled the speakers at the DNC on Monday, saying, “It is extraordinary to think yesterday in Philadelphia, 61 speakers came to the podium and not one of them named ISIS by name.”

Border Patrol Union: Hillary Glorifies Lawlessness with DREAMers Speaking at DNC
Breitbart - The National Border Patrol Council criticized presumed Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton for giving a DNC speaking slot to an illegal immigrant after she took pride in violating federal immigration laws. Union president Brandon Judd shared with Breitbart Texas in a written statement that Clinton’s “decision to give illegal immigrant Astrid Silva a national stage was poor judgment and reckless.” He added that providing platforms for illegal aliens to share their successes in dodging law enforcement will not only encourage more of the same behavior, but deepen the personal risks that Border Patrol agents face in trying to uphold federal laws.

DNC Convention 2016: Soviet Flags, Palestinian Flag – BUT NO US FLAGS
The Gateway Pundit - The far left Bernie supporters marched with Soviet flags down the street. Democrats waved the Palestinian flag from inside the Wells Fargo Convention Center. But NO US FLAGS were visible from inside the convention hall. Of course, you couldn’t move inside the RNC without seeing an American flag.

Leftists at DNC: ‘Long Live Palestine,’ Destroy Israel, Support Black Lives Matter
Breitbart - The swelling numbers of leftist protesters surrounding the Democratic National Convention (DNC) are helping to lower the various groups’ inhibitions about showing their true intentions. Signs promoting Black Lives Matter can be seen waving next to signs calling for the destruction of Israel as the protesters chant, “Long live Palestine!”

#Demexit: Sanders Delegates Walk out of Convention in Protest
Breitbart - Hundreds of delegates for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) walked out of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday evening and staged a sit-in inside the media center in protest against a “rigged” election. The delegates waited until the roll call vote to nominate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was complete, with Sanders himself closing the process. Then they donned black gags, raised protest signs, held their fists high, and walked out en masse. Hundreds of delegates managed to enter the media center and sat down in the center of the first of three large tents inside the convention perimeter. Some chanted: “This is what democracy looks like!” Most were silent, and deferred media questions.

Tim Kaine: Ban 15-Round ‘Clips,’ Hold Gun Dealers Liable for Misuse of Firearms
Breitbart - On July 22 Hillary Clinton announced Tim Kaine as her running mate. Kaine is a Democrat Senator from Virginia who supports a ban on 15-round “clips” and “assault weapons,” and who wants to enact a law to hold gun dealers liable for the misuse of firearms. During the June 26 airing of Meet the Press, Kaine told Chuck Todd that he voted for an “assault weapons” ban before and “would likely vote for it again.” But he stressed that he believes “limitations on the size of magazines and ammunition clips” is the first step to take. Todd asked Kaine if he believes the sale of AR-15 rifles ought to be illegal, and Kaine offered no direct answer, Instead, he suggested the problem with banning certain rifles is that the ban can be circumvented. Kaine said.

Julian Assange: 'A lot more material' coming on US elections
(CNN) Wikileaks founder Julian Assange said Tuesday his whistleblowing website might release "a lot more material" relevant to the US electoral campaign. Assange was speaking in a CNN interview following the release of nearly 20,000 emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee by suspected Russian hackers. However, Assange refused to confirm or deny a Russian origin for the mass email leak, saying Wikileaks tries to create ambiguity to protect all its sources. "Perhaps one day the source or sources will step forward and that might be an interesting moment some people may have egg on their faces. But to exclude certain actors is to make it easier to find out who our sources are," Assange told CNN.

Nancy Pelosi Knows for Sure Putin Hacked DNC
Kurt Nimmo - California Democrat and Minority Leader of the House Nancy Pelosi told the wife of the former boss of the Federal Reserve there is no doubt the Russians hacked the DNC and provided WikiLeaks with a trove of embarrassing emails. Of course, there is no confirmation the Russians are responsible, but that has not stopped the Democrats and their buddies in the establishment media from drawing conclusions. Trevor Timm, writing for The Guardian, says they might want to hold their horses: “It’s amazing how quickly the media are willing to forgo any skepticism and jump to conspiracy-tinged conclusions where Putin is involved. He has been linked to everything from Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn, Greece and Spain. People treat him like an omnipotent mastermind who secretly and effortlessly controls world events. Here’s an idea: maybe we should stop giving him so much credit? Pelosi did not reveal her source, but that’s fairly easy to figure out. Most of the “evidence” on alleged Russian hacking comes from the cybersecurity firms FireEye and Crowdstrike. Both have lucrative contracts with the US government. A Crowdstrike sister company, CrowdStrike Services, Inc., is run by a former FBI executive. FireEye received its venture capital from In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s information tech investment firm. It was the first cyber security company awarded certification by the Department of Homeland Security.

Kremlin: Idea of Russia’s involvement in US Democratic Party mail hack is 'absurd'
RT - A Kremlin spokesman has refuted allegations about Moscow’s possible role in the hacking of US Democratic Party emails published by WikiLeaks last week, calling such accusations "absurd." "We are again seeing these maniacal attempts to exploit the Russian theme in the US election campaign," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Tuesday. “This absurd news was immediately refuted by the family of a prominent presidential candidate.” On Sunday, Clinton’s campaign manager, Robby Mook, claimed in an interview with CNN that “experts are telling us that Russian state actors broke into the DNC (Democratic National Committee), stole these emails, and other experts are now saying that the Russians are releasing these emails for the purpose of actually helping Donald Trump.” When asked what kind of evidence he had to back up that theory, Mook answered: “Well, we need the experts to speak on this. It's been reported on in the press that the hackers that got into the DNC are very likely to be working in coordination with Russia.”

‘Lock Her Up’ Chant Rings out at VFW
Breitbart - As Republican nominee Donald Trump spoke at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Charlotte, North Carolina, the audience broke out in sporadic chants of “lock her up” in reference to presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who spoke at the VFW on Monday…. “The other candidate in this race, crooked Hillary Clinton, […] has a much different view,” Trump told the VFW audience. “She recently said of the VA scandal that it isn’t as wide spread as it was reported to be,” he jabbed, saying it’s as if she’s trying to sweep it under the rug.

Terrorists Are Eyeing These Vulnerable, Unprotected Parts Of The Power Grid — And There’s 10,000 Of Them
Off the Grid News - How vulnerable is America’s power grid? The Wall Street Journal recently did an in-depth study to find out the answer to that question, and the results are unsettling. “Despite federal orders to secure the power grid, tens of thousands of substations are still vulnerable to saboteurs,” writes WSJ reporter Rebecca Smith in the July 14, 2016 edition. “The U.S. electric system is in danger of widespread blackouts lasting days, weeks or longer through the destruction of sensitive, hard-to-replace equipment. Yet records are so spotty that no government agency can offer an accurate tally of substation attacks, whether for vandalism, theft or more nefarious purposes.”… Abidance Consulting, a security company, inspected nearly 1,000 substations in 14 states over the past year. “At least half had nothing but a padlock on the gate,” Abidance’s James Holler told The Wall Street Journal. “No cameras. No motion sensors or alarms.” When one utility lost a set of substation keys when a truck was stolen, the staff didn’t even change the substation locks, Holler added. A big part of the problem with security is that although America’s grid system is federally regulated, in reality it is an interdependent collection of locations owned and operated by utility companies and grid operators.

FCC Puts U.S. Cell Phone Routing System in Hands of European Firm despite Security Warnings
AllGov - Intelligence officials have expressed concern that handing the contract to a foreign-owned company could leave the system more vulnerable to an attack. Evidence emerged several months ago that Telcordia had improperly used a number of foreign nationals, including a Chinese citizen, to do computer coding for early work on the system. Only “vetted U.S. citizens” were supposed to work on the project. As a result, the FCC forced the firm to scrap the work it had done and start over.

Marissa Mayer to expect $55m golden parachute from Yahoo
RT - Verizon's acquisition of Yahoo presents an interesting dilemma for the new owner. If Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is fired, her compensation for failing to save the former internet giant will be $54.9 million…. Mayer's contract stipulates she is paid $54.9 million only if both a new owner takes over and she gets fired. This happens at the time, when Yahoo is ready for massive layoffs. In February, the company announced it would cut its workforce by 15 percent and close offices in five locations. Marissa Mayer joined Yahoo as chief executive in 2012 from rival Google…. Mayer had been trying to revive the company’s core media and online advertising business. She was criticized for spending funds on various projects that failed to produce any substantial revenue. In 2013 Mayer led Yahoo's acquisition of blogging startup Tumblr for $1 billion, promising at the time "not to screw it up". The value of the startup has nearly halved since then.

First Dissolvable Heart Stent Approved in the United States
Natural Society - Made of lactic acid, which is found naturally occurring in the body, the stent is designed to dissolve over time. Traditional stents, made of metal, are typically very successful, but they make it difficult for doctors to perform further cardiac work should the need arise. A stent is used to flatten the plaque which may be restricting blood flow in a patient’s blood vessels. The metal structure, with a small balloon wrapped inside of it, is put inside of a blood vessel and then inflated. The balloon helps open up the vessel wall and allows increased blood flow and prevents serious cardiac episodes. However, many patients require more than one stent in their heart over a lifetime. This can cause layers of metal to build up in the blood vessels and make it difficult for doctors to perform bypass surgeries due to inflammation from the stent. This new stent will prevent these complications by absorbing within the body over time. Although the dissolvable stent isn’t said to work any more effectively than its metal counterpart, it can still prevent many of the issues that using a metal stent causes…. Researchers found that those receiving Absorb faced a slightly higher risk of a heart-related issue than those who used the metal stents.

7 Useful Preps You May Not Have Thought Of
Natural Blaze - The great thing about these items is they are budget-friendly and, in many cases, things you may already have stashed around your house…. 1. Aluminum Foil - A few rolls of aluminum foil will serve you well in an emergency situation. You can use foil to fashion cooking utensils or to line your pots and pans before cooking so that you do not have to waste precious water while cleaning up. 2. Disposable Eating Utensils - ven a 55-gallon water barrel or two will only go so far and you will want to reserve that water for drinking and cooking. Paper plates and disposable utensils (forks, knives and spoons) are the answer and will only set you back a few dollars. 3. Laundry Equipment and Supplies - Consider setting aside a tub or bucket and plunger (don’t discount using a plumber’s helper if that is what you have) or better yet, one of these mobile washers. An old-fashioned washboard may also come in handy. You can fashion a clothes line out of paracord or purchase a dryer rack. But have you thought about clothes pins? And what about hangers? 4. Cooking Grate or Grill - Depending on your facilities and the number of mouths to feed, cooking over an open fire may be a real possibility…. It makes sense to set aside a cooking grate with your preps. This can be a wire oven rack or re-purposed grate from a discarded barbeque. Check thrift stores for a deal.

Natural Thyroid Medicine Threatened - Action Alert!
Alliance for Natural Health - The Food and Drug Administration’s most recent guidance on customized natural medicine once again threatens to limit patient access to important thyroid medications. The guidance document deals with natural medicines that are “essentially copies of commercially available drugs.” This refers to a medicine made by a pharmacist or doctor that has the same active ingredient, dosage, and route of administration as a pharmaceutical drug currently on the market. The guidance strictly limits the quantity of these kinds of medicines that can be prescribed. The FDA is essentially saying that copies or near-copies of commercially available drugs cannot be compounded unless a doctor writes a specific prescription noting how a specific change will benefit a particular patient—and the FDA notes that this exception should rarely be used. How rarely? The FDA says that it does not intend to take action against a doctor or pharmacist if they fill four or fewer prescriptions of the medicine in one month. Will the agency take action when the number is five?…. If the FDA determines that compounded thyroid hormones are essentially copies of commercially available products like Cytomel or Synthroid, doctors will only be able to write four or fewer prescriptions each month…. There are an estimated 20 million people with some form of thyroid disease, and this is widely regarded as an under-diagnosed illness! But don’t think that you’re going to be one of the lucky four allowed to have your prescription filled. Pharmacies may find this so limiting and so risky that they will refuse to fill any such prescriptions. Other types of patients are also at risk. Patients that need to reduce the load of chemicals introduced into their body because of a genetically impaired detoxification system, a hyperactive immune system, or because of a disease like late-stage Lyme or multiple chemical sensitivity are typically prescribed custom medicines that limit their exposure to chemicals and dyes.

Pepsi is putting aspartame back into diet beverages
STEPin2 - Pepsi is putting aspartame back into diet beverages, just 10 months after they announced they would get rid of it due to safety concerns. Pepsi will bring back aspartame with the launch of their new product Diet Pepsi Classic Sweetener Blend. The new aspartame filled beverages will hit the stores in September. Health experts have long been suspicious of the health effects of Splenda, believing that it may cause obesity and other serious problems.
* Related: Splenda is now linked to leukemia

These Companies Put BPA and Other Chemicals in Their BPA-Free Cans
Brandon Turbeville - The report entitled, “BPA: Buyers Beware – Toxic BPA and Regrettable Substitutes Found in the Linings of Canned Food” a collaborative effort by the Breast Cancer Fund, Campaign for Healthier Solutions, Clean Production Action, Ecology Center and Mind the Store Campaign reveals that out of the samples tested by their researchers the overwhelming majority of them still contained BPA in their linings. […] 100% of Campbell’s cans contained BPA-based epoxy, Del Monte came in second with 71% of their products testing positive, General Mills (including Progresso and Green Giant) tested positive 50% of the time. In addition, all of the cans tested from McCormick & Company (Thai Kitchen) and all of the cans tested from Nestle contained BPA. Empire Company Limited, Goya Foods, Ocean Spray Cranberries, Thai Agrifoods and Vilore Foods tested positive in all of their samples. The report also expressed concern regarding four other coding compounds which were identified from the testing process. Acrylic resins, oleoresin, polyester resins and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) co-polymers…. PVC-based co-polymer that is found in 36% of national brands and 18% of retailers’ private label foods is made from hazardous chemicals and known carcinogens. PVC is not considered a safe BPA-alternative and thus, the label of BPA-free does not necessarily mean safe.

New Campaign to Ban Pet Homeopathy in the UK
Brandon Turbeville - The mainstream media and medical establishment in the UK has discovered a potentially deadly threat to pets and animals in the kingdom, but that threat is not a fast-spreading disease, destruction of a natural habitat or tainted food. According to some vets, the frightening threat to pet health is homeopathy. According to reports by the Daily Mail, over 2500 vets, veterinary nurses, “scientists” and “animal lovers” have signed a petition to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons demanding that it blacklist homeopathy. Homeopathy is practiced by around 50 vets in the UK who are also fully qualified veterinary surgeons who simply offer the treatments in addition to conventional options. The petition signers warn that homeopathy is dangerous and claim to fear for the wellbeing of pets who are treated with the alternative therapy as opposed to conventional medicine.

5 Reasons To Never Discipline Your Cat
The Alternative Daily - Cats do not respond well to punishment, but they do thrive on positive reinforcement. If you regularly punish your cat for inappropriate “catlike” behavior, only to find yourself feeling further frustrated, then maybe you’re going about the right way. Here’s five reasons why disciplining your cat does not work. 1. He may fight back harder - Perhaps your cat scratched or bit you during playtime. While your immediate response may have been to strike back — never ever hit your cat. It may just bite or scratch you again in self-defense, and worse you may seriously injure your cat. Remember: cats are not vengeful or malicious, they are merely responding to being frightened. Their scratch or bite could be the result of being overly stimulated during playtime…. 2. He’ll fear you instead of love you - When cats do something we don’t want them to do, like scratch the backside of a couch, we might shout or scold them to stop. Rather than improve their behavior, you’ll just end up with a cat that’s generally frightened of you. And that doesn’t mean his bad behavior will necessarily stop when you’re not around. 3. You’ll break the bond - Contrary to what you’ve read on social media, cats aren’t secretly plotting their revenge after a punishment. But what may happen is that their bond with you could diminish. Think about it, It’s hard to trust someone who’s yelling or smacking you because you strayed from your litter box, particularly if the incident occurred because of an unforeseen medical condition. What was once a normally affectionate cat may shy away and stop sitting on your lap, or scurry out of sight when you enter the room…. Learn to change bad “catlike” behaviors by teaching new ones through positive reinforcement. Working positively with your cat will not only help build a better bond, but also make your cat happier. And a happy, stress free cat makes a great pet.

Tuesday - July 26, 2016 - Today In History:

1775 - A postal system was established by the 2nd Continental Congress of the United States. The first Postmaster General was Benjamin Franklin.
1788 - New York became the 11th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
1881 - Thomas Edison and Patrick Kenny execute a patent application for a facsimile telegraph (U.S. Pat. 479,184).
1947 - U.S. President Truman signed The National Security Act. The act created the National Security Council, the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
1948 - U.S. President Truman signed executive orders that prohibited discrimination in the U.S. armed forces and federal employment.
1956 - Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal.
1971 - Apollo 15 was launched from Cape Kennedy, FL.
1990 - The House of Representatives reprimanded Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., for ethics violations.
1990 - President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act.
2000 - A federal judge approved a $1.25 billion settlement between Swiss banks and more than a half million plaintiffs who alleged the banks had hoarded money deposited by Holocaust victims.
2006 - A jury in Houston found Andrea Yates not guilty by reason of insanity in the drowning of her children in a bathtub in the second trial she faced on the charges; she was committed to a state mental hospital.

19 killed, 45 injured as knife-wielding man goes on rampage at medical facility near Tokyo
RT - A man was arrested after killing 19 people and injuring 45 others in a stabbing rampage at a facility for the disabled in Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo, local media reported, citing authorities. Twenty of the injured are in critical condition, the national fire department, which also performs emergency medical care, has said. A 26-year-old man was arrested by police after the attack, national broadcaster NHK reported. He was said to be holding a knife. Police are currently looking into the motive behind the attack, which happened in the city of Sagamihara, just west of Tokyo.

Munich Shooting Sparks Push to End Post-WW2 Limits on Using German Military Domestically
AntiWar - ... Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Hermann is pushing for a revision of the German Constitution after Friday’s mass shooting in Munich to remove limits on using the military domestically, limits that were put in place immediately after the destruction of the Nazi government. The German Constitution currently limits the military’s domestic deployments, only allowing their use in cases of “national emergency.” Hermann insisted this was “absolute” and that Germany, as “an absolutely stable democracy,” should be perfectly comfortable with their military deployed on the streets. Baden-Wurttemberg’s Interior Minister also talked of some change, saying that the military should be available for “large-scale, serious terrorist situations,” though he stopped short of Hermann’s suggestion that they would be used for “domestic threats.”

French Government orders destruction of CCTV videos in Nice Attacks
Blacklisted News - A report in 21st of July edition of Le Figaro newspaper states that France’s anti-terrorist executive ( sous-direction anti-terroriste- SDAT) has ordered Nice’s urban surveillance authorities to destroy all CCTV footage of the Nice Attacks on Bastille Day that rocked the city on the 14th of July 2016. Although SDAT have cited articles 53 and L706-24 of the prosecution procedure and article R642-1 of the penal code, authorities in Nice interviewed by Le Figaro say that it is the first time they have ever been asked to destroy evidence at a crime scene – something they point out is illegal. The explanation given by the French Ministry of Justice is that they don’t want ‘uncontrolled’ and ‘non-authorised (non maîtrisée) diffusion of the images of the terrorist attacks. The Judicial Police have noted that 140 videos of the attacks in their possession show ‘important pieces of the inquiry’ (éléments d’enquête intéressants). The French government claims it wants to prevent ISIS from gaining access to videos of the attacks for the purposes of propaganda. They also claim that the destruction of evidence is intended to protect the families of the victims. The comments section of the Le Figaro article is replete with outrage and disgust by the fact that the French government, instead of preserving evidence for the purposes of a thorough, independent investigation, is in fact behaving rather more like the chief suspect in the attack – ordering the destruction of vital evidence.

Policewoman's Nice claims leave government in crisis
The Local - Sandra Bertin, who is in charge of Nice's system of security cameras, told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper she had been "harassed for an hour" by an unnamed interior ministry official on the phone after a "commissioner" came to see her the day after the attack. She said she had been told to detail the presence of the local police at the Bastille Day fireworks event and also to report "that the national police had also been deployed at two points". "The national police were perhaps there, but I couldn't see them on the video," Bertin told the newspaper. "He ordered me to put in (the report) the specific positions of the national police which I had not seen on the screen," she was quoted as saying.... The head of the national police Jean-Marc Falcone joined the fray Sunday by taking the unusual step of calling a press conference to declare that "the manipulations attacking the national police, its leaders and its minister must stop".

Mexican Newspaper: Build a Trump-Style Wall with Central America
Breitbart - The Mexican border newspaper provides a controversial view on the Border Wall; which is one of the main topics in Trump’s campaign. “Mexico’s southeast has two borders; one with Guatemala and one with Belize, that do not provide any benefit, but on the contrary only problems are brought by these crossing points that are being used for the new invasion. The one use by Central American’s looking for a way into the United States. ” El Mañana’s editorial board wrote. One of the issues mentioned in the editorial piece points not only to the hordes of Guatemalans, Salvadorans and Hondurans that flock to Reynosa in an effort to get to the U.S., but also to the large number of Central Americans that are left in Mexico after deportation. Once the illegal immigrants are deported to Mexico instead of their country of origin, then Mexican officials simply leave them in Reynosa since the government lacks the funding to send them home.... The Mexican newspaper called out Democratic presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton for not having even mentioned the issue of border security.

China Bans Internet News, Can Only Carry State Approved Content
Government Slaves - The Cyberspace Administration of China imposed the ban on several major news portals, including Sohu.com Inc. and NetEase Inc., Chinese media reported in identically worded articles citing an unidentified official from the agency’s Beijing office. The companies have “seriously violated” internet regulations by carrying plenty of news content obtained through original reporting, causing “huge negative effects,” according to a report that appeared in The Paper on Sunday. The agency instructed the operators of mobile and online news services to dismantle “current-affairs news” operations on Friday, after earlier calling a halt to such activity at Tencent, according to people familiar with the situation. Like its peers, Asia’s largest internet company had developed a news operation and grown its team. Henceforth, they and other services can only carry reports provided by government-controlled print or online media, the people said, asking not to be identified because the issue is politically sensitive.

9/11 defense lawyers: Guantánamo judge let U.S. secretly destroy CIA black site
Miami Herald - Defense attorneys have been complaining about a mysterious destruction of evidence episode in a cloaked manner since May. Prosecutors have said they did nothing wrong but declined to explain with any specificity. After a closed session Friday, during which the judge apparently agreed some details were no longer classified, the defense lawyers laid out what they knew in a Sunday roundtable. It did not appear that the “torture chamber,” as defense attorney Cheryl Bormann called it, was razed, lawyers said. Rather, their reading of case documents, some undergoing declassification, was that U.S. agents undertook a “decommissioning” of a secret, former overseas CIA “black site” still controlled by the United States. They got permission, for example, to remove “fixtures” — something defense attorney Suzanne Lachelier described as sounding like “contraptions or devices.” Instead of seeing the U.S.-controlled former prison to “exercise our own professional judgment as to what to document about the black sites,” said defense attorney Jay Connell, the prosecution got permission from the judge to offer them a substitution: Top Secret photographs and diagrams of one stop in the CIA’s secret overseas network.

Three Charged in $1 Billion Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Scheme
The New American - Officials said that [owner of more than 30 Miami-area nursing and assisted-living facilities] Philip Esformes was the key conspirator in operating a network of corrupt doctors and hospitals that referred thousands of patients to their facilities even though many of them didn’t qualify under Medicare rules. Medicare was billed for services that either weren’t rendered, or were rendered but not needed. When certain limits were reached, the patients were then moved to another facility where the scam would begin once more. The kickbacks were disguised as charitable donations, said the [Medicare Fraud Strike Force] MFSF, or just paid under the table in cash. Esformes settled a similar case with the Justice Department in 2006 for $15 million, but apparently he just considered that as a cost of doing business, as he continued to defraud the programs.... The underlying temptation for the fraud is explained by Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, a whistleblower law firm specializing in healthcare fraud: The Medicare program is a target for fraud because it is based on the “honor system” of billing, where the government would reimburse a doctor for services without first verifying the validity of those services. It was originally set up to assist honest doctors who helped the needy with medical services…. Due to the sheer volume of healthcare claims submitted … the government … cannot effectively combat healthcare fraud.

'Clinton Cash’ Movie Surpasses 500,000 Views in 48 Hours
Breitbart - Breitbart News showed the motion picture adaptation of Clinton Cash three times in three-hour windows. In those total nine hours of Saturday and Sunday viewing, there were 290,000 video views. Pirated versions of the film have already begun sprouting up online, with one YouTube upload alone currently showing more than 215,800 views. In total, more than 500,000 people have pressed play on this film.... As Breitbart News reported, the film was pushed heavily on social media by more than 283,000 dyed-in-the-wool Bernie Sanders supporters, who helped catapult Clinton Cash to the top of Facebook’s trending topics list on Sunday. Due to overwhelming response and request, Breitbart News has decided to make Clinton Cash available for free forever by clicking here.

PA Man Arrested and Jailed for Flying a Flag Upside Down Gets $55,000
Activist Post - The Altoona Mirror reports Friday that supervisors in Allegheny Township, Blair County, have approved letting their insurance company pay the money to Joshua Brubaker. In May of 2014, Brubaker said he was standing up for his American Indian heritage when he hung the upside down flag outside of his home with the letters AIM spray painted on it. AIM stands for American Indian Movement. The flag was to protest the plans to route the proposed Keystone Pipeline through the site of the Wounded Knee confrontation in South Dakota. Brubaker had harmed no one and was merely exercising his 1st Amendment right to free speech when the Allegheny Township police descended on his home. “I was offended by it when I first saw it. I had an individual stop here at the station, a female, who was in the military and she was very offended by it,” said Allegheny Township police Assistant Chief L.J. Berg. Berg took down the flag and charged Brubaker with desecration and insults to the American Flag. Brubaker had harmed no one and was merely exercising his 1st Amendment right to free speech when the Allegheny Township police descended on his home. “I was offended by it when I first saw it. I had an individual stop here at the station, a female, who was in the military and she was very offended by it,” said Allegheny Township police Assistant Chief L.J. Berg. Berg took down the flag and charged Brubaker with desecration and insults to the American Flag.

Donald Trump Overtakes Hillary Clinton for First Time in CNN Poll
Breitbart - In his best showing since September 2015, Trump now commands a remarkable 44% to 39% lead over the Democrat candidate in the race for the White House, when compared in a four-way matchup including Gary Johnson (9%) and Jill Stein (3%). When just the two candidates are considered, the new poll has Trump leading Clinton by a margin of 48% to 45%, which CNN calls a “6-point convention bounce” for Trump, who went into the convention behind his opponent. In an important turning of the tide, Trump’s recent gains come primarily from self-declared independent voters, 46% of whom say they now support Trump, as opposed to only 31% who favored the Republican prior to the Convention. Clinton, on the other hand, has suffered a comparable loss of support among independents, down to only 28% from the 34% that favored her before Cleveland. Trump also experienced a significant jump in backing from blue-collar workers, with support from whites without college degrees now exceeding 62% as opposed to only to 23% in support of Clinton.

HERE IT IS=> Detailed List of Findings in Wikileaks DNC Document Dump
Gateway Pundit - On Friday Wikileaks released nearly 20,000 hacked emails it says are from the accounts of Democratic National Committee officials. The documents were released just days before the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia. The hacked emails revealed the DNC’s hatred for Bernie Sanders and his movement. The documents reveal the party’s hidden ties with the liberal media. The emails reveal the heights of dishonesty of the party infrastructure. Now there is a list of a few of the most shocking emails released by Wikileaks…. [41links in all, some selected topics: DNC requesting a pull an MSNBC commentary segment; DNC conspiring to create false Trump information and release with Reuters; DNC Hillary supporters infiltrated Sanders campaign; Super PAC paying young voters to push back online Sanders supporters; Offering to send interns out to fake a protest against the RNC; Possible money laundering by moving money back and forth to bypass legal limits; DNC feeding CNN the questions they want to be asked in interviews; DNC is upset that their “allies” didn’t send in protestors so they sent out interns; DNC trying to get away with violating the Hatch Act]

FBI probing DNC hack
Politico - The Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into the hacking of the Democratic National Committee's emails, the bureau announced Monday. "The FBI is investigating a cyber intrusion involving the DNC and are working to determine the nature and scope of the matter," the agency said in a statement. "A compromise of this nature is something we take very seriously, and the FBI will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who pose a threat in cyberspace."

DNC Planned To Reward Big Donors With Federal Appointments
The Daily Caller - Democratic National Committee documents recently released by WikiLeaks include spreadsheets and emails that appear to show party officials planning which donors and prominent fundraisers to provide with appointments to federal boards and commissions. The documents, which were circulated among top DNC officials in April, could raise legal questions for the party, says Ken Boehm, the chairman of the National Legal and Policy Center, a government watchdog group. “The disclosed DNC emails sure look like the potential Clinton Administration has intertwined the appointments to federal government boards and commissions with the political and fund raising operations of the Democratic Party,” Boehm told The Daily Caller. “That is unethical, if not illegal.”.... The proposed appointments also provide more evidence that the DNC favored Clinton over her former primary challenger, Bernie Sanders. Most of the donors listed on the spreadsheet have given to Clinton’s campaign. None gave to Sanders.

Bernie Sanders gets booed when he tells supporters they should vote for Hillary Clinton
RawStory - In the run up to his statements about Clinton and Kaine, Sanders touted his campaign’s many achievements, including writing a more progressive Democratic platform and reducing the total number of Superdelegates in Democratic primaries. But even after getting the crowd pumped up by talking about their positive achievements, Sanders could not contain the boos that rained down on him when he endorsed Clinton and Kaine. He responded by reiterating how dangerous of a candidate Donald Trump is, and he talked about how Trump would be a disaster for all of the causes he cares about.... While this calmed things down a little bit, he didn’t try to make a positive case for Clinton, and with good reason: It’s likely he would have been booed again had he mentioned her name.

Bernie Sanders Supporters Chant ‘Lock Her Up’ in Philadelphia Protest Against Clinton - Washington Wire
WSJ - It’s not just Republicans that want presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in prison. At a lively Sunday march in support of former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, chants of “lock her up,” “Hillary for Prison” signs and t-shirts and calls for indictment were common among the most ardent supporters of Mr. Sanders, who arrived in Philadelphia to make their voices heard to the delegates attending the Democratic National Convention.... A spokesman for Mrs. Clinton didn’t respond to a request for comment.

DNC Turns Women’s Restroom into ‘All-Gender’ Bathroom
Free Beacon - The all-gender bathroom is one of the ways the DNC is infusing its party platform into the arena accommodations. The arena also has a “gluten-free zone” and garbage cans are categorized by landfill, recycling, and compost. A DNC volunteer told the Washington Free Beacon that there is only one all-gender restroom to accommodate transgender individuals. The change leaves female convention goers with one fewer bathroom than male attendees. No transgender individuals were spotted using the restroom, but it was being used by both male and female reporters, as well as some cameramen. The bathroom is closest to the media section of the arena. The DNC will also for the first time feature an openly transgender individual in its speaking lineup. Sarah McBride, the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, will speak on Thursday…. Republican nominee Donald Trump said he would let Caitlin Jenner use whatever bathroom she wanted at Trump tower, and PayPal founder Peter Thiel called the issue a distraction at the RNC last week. “Now we are told that the great debate is about who gets to use which bathroom,” Thiel said. “This is a distraction from our real problems. Who cares?”

California’s Pension Plans Report Dismal Results, Increasing Shortfalls
The New American - Ted Eliopoulos, the chief investment officer of the country’s largest pension plan, the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), did the best he could with the bad news: “Positive performance in a year of turbulent financial markets is an accomplishment that we are proud of.” That “positive performance” was a measly 0.61-percent return from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, on his $300 billion pension plan. That means that the fund is now about $100 billion short of meeting its future obligations. But that $100 billion number greatly understates the real liability because it’s based on a pixie-dust assumption that the plan can earn an average of 7.5 percent each year on its invested assets. Unfortunately his plan’s returns haven’t met that target over the last three years, or the last five, 10, 15, or 20 years for that matter. t’s small comfort that the country’s second-largest pension plan, also in California — the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) — is in the same boat.... It is also way underfunded, having just 68 percent of the assets needed to pay its future benefits; or, put another way, it should have $278 billion instead of just $189 billion.

Credit Card Companies Specifically Target Less Educated And Less Sophisticated Americans
Economic Collapse - Many analysts are forecasting that the total amount of credit card debt will surpass a trillion dollars by the end of 2016. This is why there is such a crying need for financial education in this nation.... The following comes from Bloomberg… Credit-card companies need people to spend more than they can afford, but not so much that they default on their payments. So they could benefit from targeting individuals who are more likely to have cognitive failings. This is the dark side of behavioral finance. Some new research by economists Antoinette Schoar of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Hong Ru of Nanyang Technological University claims to find exactly such a result. The authors use data from a private company that tracks credit-card offers. They find that less educated consumers — who are likely to be less financially sophisticated — are more frequently given offers that include back-loaded costs. Those are plans that start with low rates, but increase later, with extra-high over-limit and late-payment fees. In other words, those are likely to be the borrowers who make bad financial decisions — racking up debt and eventually paying much more in interest.

Wildfire threatens 10,000 homes near Los Angeles
Reuters - The so-called Sand Fire has charred at least 50 square miles (130 square km) around the rugged northwestern fringes of the Angeles National Forest since it broke out on Friday, and remained just 10 percent contained on Monday, authorities said. Since Sunday alone the blaze engulfed an additional 11,000 acres, according to the latest figures from fire managers.... By Monday morning evacuation orders had been expanded to 10,000 homes, or roughly 20,000 people, Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Joey Marron said, adding that about 200 commercial buildings were also in harm's way. Authorities on Sunday had put the number of people evacuated at 1,500.... Nearly 3,000 firefighters were battling to contain the blaze, the cause of which was under investigation.

Facebook admits to blocking Wikileaks links in DNC email hack
New York Post - Facebook admitted Sunday that it had blocked links to the Wikileaks trove of emails hacked from the Democratic National Committee. In a Twitter post late Saturday, WikiLeaks accused the social media giant of “censorship” and gave its followers an online workaround, saying “try using https://archive.is.” The WikiLeaks allegation followed a firestorm of controversy that erupted earlier this year when former Facebook workers admitted routinely suppressing conservative news. In response to the WikiLeaks charge, another Twitter user, @SwiftOnSecurity, chimed in that “Facebook has an automated system for detecting spam/malicious links, that sometimes have false positives,” which prompted a response from the company’s chief security officer. “It’s been fixed,” Facebook CSO Alex Stamos tweeted. Facebook didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

FDA Finally Admits Raw Cheese Not Dangerous
Health Impact News - For more than a decade, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has had an undeclared war on raw milk cheese, until [last] week, when the FDA finally beat a retreat…. At the conclusion of its latest assault against raw milk cheese–a research study of more than 1,600 cheese samples to test for pathogens–the FDA made this remarkable admission: “The data collected by the FDA indicate that the prevalences of Salmonella and pathogenic Shiga toxin- producing E. coli are relatively low and similar to the contamination rates in many other foods.”… Raw milk cheese has been sanctioned by the FDA since the late 1940s, so long as it is aged at least 60 days. The raw milk cheese assault began back in 2005, when FDA dairy chief John Sheehan declared that the agency was concerned about contamination from cheese made from unpasteurized milk and suggesting that the 60-day aging rule wasn’t sufficient to reduce risks from pathogens. He then directed several efforts over the course of the next ten-plus years to make his case, including widespread inspections of American Cheese Society members in 2010 and a highly theoretical, and flawed, study concluding raw milk cheese was 50 to 160 times more risky for listeriosis than pasteurized milk cheese. All have failed to make the case Sheehan and his cronies at the FDA so badly wanted—that raw milk cheese is a high-risk food, requiring serious restrictions on production and distribution, including abandoning the simple 60-day aging rule. This latest report should put the kibosh on the FDA’s efforts to tighten rules on raw milk cheese, which prompted opposition late last year from a number of prominent politicians.

5 Doctors Dead or Missing After Discovering THIS About Vaccines!
David Wolfe - Last year, 6 holistic doctors investigating vaccine safety either went missing or were killed – all within less than a month of each other. It began on June 19th, 2015 when Dr. Bradstreet was found with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest. Investigators declared the death a suicide – despite Dr. Bradstreet displaying no suicidal tendencies. Just two days later, Dr. Holt and Dr. Hedendal from Florida were found dead under suspicious circumstances that have yet to be shared with family members and friends. On June 29th, Dr. Theresa Sievers – whom her community referred to as the ‘Mother Teresa of South Florida’ – was found murdered in her home. Investigators say it was targeted. That same day, Dr. Whiteside from Wisconsin simply vanished when he went out for a walk. And then there was Dr. Fitzpatrick, who went missing on July 3rd. He was traveling from North Dakota to Montana. Investigators found his truck but still haven’t found any sign of him…. We now know that each of the doctors, through their research, found out about a cancer-causing enzyme known as nagalese that is being intentionally spread through vaccinations. Nagalese is a natural byproduct of cancer cells. It prevents the body from using vitamin D to kill off cancerous cells and battle autism. As reported by The Big Riddle, the doctors who went missing or were found dead were getting ready to break the news about the presence of nagalese in vaccines. The news was eventually broken by Dr. Ted Broer. It took Dr. Broer and his team an entire hour to get their broadcast on air because it was repeatedly brought down. When he finally made it on air, he warned his listeners: I am in no way suicidal.” Understandably, Dr. Broer was incredibly nervous that he would share the same fate as his holistic colleagues who had been killed or abducted as a result of their discoveries.

DuPont Forced to Pay $5.1 Million to Cancer Victim of PFOA
Brandon Turbeville - On July 6th, 2016, a United States jury ordered the chemical giant DuPont to pay 5.1 million dollars to David Freeman, an Ohio resident who claimed he contracted testicular cancer due to his exposure to C-8 in drinking water. C-8, also known as PFOA and perfluorooctanoic acid is used to make a number of products, most notably, Teflon non-stick cookware. The jury took less than one day to deliberate before finding DuPont guilty of negligence. But what is more telling is the fact that the jury also decided that DuPont had acted with malice. This finding now opens the company to punitive damages. A separate proceeding will determine the amount of those damages. While a DuPont spokesman declined to comment, a spokeswoman for Chemours, a spin-off of DuPont’s chemicals segment stated that the new company will cover DuPont’s liability and that the verdict will be appealed…. DuPont is currently facing more than 3,400 lawsuits from residents claiming they have contracted one of six diseases linked to PFOA. The first trial over C-8 exposure took place in 2015 also resulted in a $1.6 million dollar verdict for the plaintiff. No punitive damages were awarded at the time.
 

Monday - July 25, 2016 - Today In History:

1759 - British forces defeated a French army at Fort Niagara in Canada.
1805 - Aaron Burr visited New Orleans with plans to establish a new country, with New Orleans as the capital city.
1845 - China granted Belgium equal trading rights with Britain, France and the United States.
1850 - Gold was discovered in the Rogue River in OR.
1861 - The Crittenden Resolution, which called for the American Civil War to be fought to preserve the Union and not for slavery, was passed by the U.S. Congress.
1866 - Ulysses S. Grant was named General of the Army. He was the first American officer to hold the rank.
1868 - The U.S. Congress passed an act creating the Wyoming Territory.
1941 - The U.S. government froze all Japanese and Chinese assets.
1943 - Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini was overthrown in a coup.
1946 - The U.S. detonated an atomic bomb at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific. It was the first underwater test of the device.
1952 - Puerto Rico became a self-governing commonwealth of the U.S.
1978 - Louise Joy Brown, the first test-tube baby, was born in Oldham, England. She had been conceived through in-vitro fertilization.
1984 - Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya became the first woman to walk in space. She was aboard the orbiting space station Salyut 7.
1998 - The USS Harry S. Truman was commissioned and put into service by the U.S. Navy.
2000 - Texas Gov. George W. Bush selected Dick Cheney to be his running mate on the Republican presidential ticket.
2008 - California became the first state to ban trans fats from restaurant food.
2010 - WikiLeaks leaked to the public more than 90,000 internal reports involving the U.S.-led War in Afghanistan from 2004-2010.

Isis claims responsibility after 'suicide bombing' kills 80 and injures hundreds
The Independent - In a statement issued by its news agency, Aamaq, Isis group claimed responsibility for the attack on a protest march by Afghanistan's ethnic Hazaras. The marchers were demanding that a major regional electric power line be routed through their impoverished home province. Most Hazaras are Shiite Muslims, while most Afghans are Sunni.... The government had received intelligence that an attack on the march could take place, and had warned the organizers, a spokesman for Afghan President Ashraf Ghani told The Associated Press.... Two suicide bombers had attempted to target the demonstrators, who were gathering in Demazang Square as their four-hour protest march wound down, [ presidential spokesman ] Haroon Chakhansuri said. One of the suicide bombers was shot by the police, he told AP. He said that three district police chiefs on duty at the square were injured and another three security personnel were killed.... Hazaras, most of whom are Shia Muslims, were especially persecuted during the extremist Sunni Taliban regime that ruled from 1996 to 2001.

Machete Attack in Germany Kills 1, Injures 2
Epoch Times - At least one person was killed and another two were injured during an attack in the German town of Reutlingen on Sunday, according to local media reports. The man killed a woman near a kebab shop. The man was identified as a 21-year-old Syrian refugee, reported German news agency DPA and Reuters. “The perpetrator was completely out of his mind. He ran with his machete behind a patrol car,” an eyewitness told Bild. The person said that a BMW driver stepped on the gas and “ran him over.”.... Witnesses said the man was arguing with a woman before he attacked her at around 4:30 p.m. local time.

Munich mourns after deadly mall shooting
CBC News - The gunman, an 18-year-old German of Iranian descent, first shot people at a McDonald's before moving across the street to the Olympia shopping mall in the culturally diverse, thriving middle-class neighbourhood of Moosach. Nine people, mostly young, were killed, more than two dozen others wounded.... What has emerged so far is that the young shooter, who local media have identified as Ali David Sonboly, acted alone. Police say he had no connection to ISIS or even right-wing extremist groups, as initially suspected, and that he suffered from mental illness. He may have even lured some of his victims to McDonald's with an invitation on Facebook for free food.
* Related: Munich gunman Ali Sonboly 'planned attack for more than a year'

Bomb blast kills 1, injures 11 at German restaurant
RT - At least one person has been killed and 11 others injured after an explosion struck a restaurant in the south German city of Ansbach, Bavaria.... A spokesman for the Bavarian interior minister said that the explosion in the Eugene Weinstube restaurant was a “deliberate” act rather than an accident. “At present we assume it is not an accident," the spokesman said. Initial reports indicated that a gas leak may have caused the incident, but the mayor of the city, announced that authorities believe it was triggered by an improvised explosive device.... According to media reports, the explosion occurred in front of a restaurant shortly after 10:00pm local time. A music festival nearby was forced to end and around 2,500 visitors were evacuated.... According to unconfirmed reports, a man with a backpack had been denied entry to a nearby music festival just before the explosion.

Beijing reacts as India deploys tanks to Indo-China border
IBTimes - The Indian military's deployment of T-72 tanks to the Chinese border came as a reaction to an "increase in force levels" from across the border. Beijing had been increasing its military presence in the border region over the past few years, causing concern for the government in New Delhi. On 22 July, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lu Kang, said: "The two countries should abide by relevant agreements and consensus, work in concert to maintain peace and tranquility of the border area and create a favourable environment for improving bilateral mutual trust and bolstering the proper settlement of the boundary question.". Kang added that there has previously been "significant agreements" reached between China and India on the border dispute.... According to Indian broadcaster NDTV, the number of Indian boots along the border have increased "exponentially" and more are expected over the next few months. It has indicated that China is prepared to hit India with between 60,000 to 80,000 soldiers in the case of any hostilities.

Turkish police arrest 60 children for TREASON
Mirror Online - The students, aged between 14 and 17, have been detained in prison, unable to speak to their parents, and accused of treason against the state.... Before the coup, the students, aged between 14 and 17 years old, were made to dress up in camouflage and were handed guns with empty magazines, their lawyers say. The children have been detained in prison, unable to speak to their parents, and accused of treason against the state.... “Some families haven’t heard anything from their children for seven days — children at the age of 14 or 15. That’s not something that should be happening even in a state of emergency,” said Nazli Tanburaci Altac, a lawyer representing three of the Kuleli students. She said 55 of the students had been subjected to a mass preliminary hearing in a single crowded courtroom, adding: “They got just two to three minutes to testify”. The boys’ families were not allowed to attend.

Kerry: Air conditioners as big a threat as ISIS
Washington Free Beacon - Secretary of State John Kerry said in Vienna on Friday that air conditioners and refrigerators are as big of a threat to life as the threat of terrorism posed by groups like the Islamic State. The Washington Examiner reported that Kerry was in Vienna to amend the 1987 Montreal Protocol that would phase out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, from basic household and commercial appliances like air conditioners, refrigerators, and inhalers. “As we were working together on the challenge of [ISIS] and terrorism,” Kerry said. “It’s hard for some people to grasp it, but what we–you–are doing here right now is of equal importance because it has the ability to literally save life on the planet itself.” Kerry said that most of the substances banned in the Montreal Protocol have increased the use of HFCs and claimed that the coolant was thousands of times more potent than CO2. He added that the increase of HFCs has led to the trend of global climate change.

Colorado Bill Would Fine Police $15,000 for Interfering with Citizens Filming Them
Activist Post - A bill in the Colorado Legislature is setting the groundwork that would subject officers who attempt to block, destroy or seize lawfully recorded video by citizens, seeing these officers face a penalty of up to $15,000. The bill was introduced by a bipartisan team of state representatives comprised of three Democrats and a Republican.... It came about as a result of numerous cases where the current laws and regulations were not properly enforced by police commanders, thereby allowing the unlawful seizure or destruction of legally filmed police video.... The United States Court of Appeals tackled this topic in 2011. The case of Glik v. Cunniffe was pivotal in paving the way for Colorado’s legislation. Simon Glik was filming police in Boston, where they had made an arrest. When they observed Glik filming, they arrested him on a charge of wiretapping. The court of appeals found that a citizen’s right to film police in public was “clearly established” and that Boston Police violated his rights by arresting him. Glik settled the case in civil court for $170,000.

Not Just Your Breath — Police Now Conducting Saliva Swabs to Check Drivers for Cannabis
Activist Post - Michigan State Police plan to implement one of the most invasive methods of drug testing in the country in a pilot program: saliva tests. Five counties will force their residents into becoming guinea pigs for what must be the worst thwarting of constitutional and privacy rights in recent years. Saliva-based tests will check drivers for cannabis, heroin, cocaine, and more — thanks to perhaps the most despised governor in the U.S., Rick Snyder. “The five-county pilot program will be used to help determine accuracy and reliability of the tests,” Snyder explained in June after signing the bill into law, as MLive reported. In other words, whoever happens to be unfortunate enough to have their saliva tested will literally be a guinea pig of the state — and there doesn’t appear to be any further information concerning recourse for those tested should the tests prove inaccurate.

Fort Worth Parents Beat Back Obama’s Bathroom Mandate
The Daily Signal - Administrators of a Texas school district changed guidelines for transgender students to involve parents and work with families on a case-by-case basis, after an uproar among parents. The Fort Worth Independent School District announced the two new pages of guidelines dated July 19 after parents and others had a chance to speak at school board meetings, six public forums, and five meetings of a safety advisory panel, among others.... The previous eight pages of guidelines, approved by Scribner in April, allowed students to use the male or female restroom of their choice and directed school personnel to address a student by the name or gender pronoun he or she prefers, even without permission from a parent or guardian.... The new guidelines say the school district will work with parents to create individual support plans for transgender students to address “the student’s unique needs.” If the student requests access to an opposite-sex restroom, locker room, or related facility, the campus administrator, the student and his or her parent or guardian, and guidance counselor will review the request on a case-by-case basis.

"The Hillary Leaks" - Wikileaks Releases 19,252 Previously Unseen DNC Emails
Zero Hedge - ... Julian Assange's whistleblower organization released over 19,000 emails and more than 8,000 attachments from the Democratic National Committee. This is part one of their new Hillary Leaks series, Wikileaks said in press release. To wit: Today, Friday 22 July 2016 at 10:30am EDT, WikiLeaks releases 19,252 emails and 8,034 attachments from the top of the US Democratic National Committee -- part one of our new Hillary Leaks series. The leaks come from the accounts of seven key figures in the DNC: Communications Director Luis Miranda (10770 emails), National Finance Director Jordon Kaplan (3797 emails), Finance Chief of Staff Scott Comer (3095 emails), Finance Director of Data & Strategic Initiatives Daniel Parrish (1472 emails), Finance Director Allen Zachary (1611 emails), Senior Advisor Andrew Wright (938 emails) and Northern California Finance Director Robert (Erik) Stowe (751 emails). The emails cover the period from January last year until 25 May this year.... A quick scan of the emails focus on Bernie Sanders and dealing with the fallout of many Democrats opposing Hillary Clinton and calling the system “rigged.”

Leaked DNC Emails Confirm Democrats Rigged Primary, Reveal Extensive Media Collusion
Zero Hedge - An initial read of the thousands of emails in the data dump reveals top officials at the Democratic National Committee privately plotting to undermine Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign.... They also reveal instances of media collusion as well as various questionable instances of fundraising.... In an email from early May, DNC CFO Brad Marshall wrote about a plot to question Sanders’s religion.... Another email shows similar 'us and them' language being directed at Sanders supporters.... An email titled 'Bernie narrative' sent by DNC National Press Secretary Mark Paustenbach to Miranda indicates that top officials in the party were trying to find an angle to disparage the Vermont senator in the media..... The DNC also made a secret “agreement” with Kenneth Vogel, an influential report for Politico. An email from late April with the subject line "per agreement... any thoughts appreciated" shows that Vogel sent an advanced copy of a story about Hillary Clinton’s fundraising to the DNC even before his editor even saw it.... Another email released in the Friday leak indicates that the DNC was in close contact with news websites on articles related to the Democratic Party. A Real Clear Politics article said that Sanders supporters were causing a lack of unity at the Nevada Democratic Convention. “This headline needs to be changed,” Wasserman Schultz wrote to Miranda.... The last email on the thread says: “Done. Article has been updated.”

Leaked Emails Show DNC Officials Planned Anti-Trump Protests
Daily Caller - The release of Democratic National Committee emails by WikiLeaks Friday reveals that DNC officials planned anti-Donald Trump protests. In multiple emails, DNC officials signed off and acknowledged the existence of two anti-Donald Trump protests in South Bend, IN and Billings, MT.... On April 29, a DNC press staffer, Rachel Palermo, alerted Eric Walker, deputy communications director, about a Facebook page for an anti-Trump protest on May 2 in South Bend. “Whoo! Thanks to our interns for finding this out.” Walker replies, “I like it, as long as the students feel safe getting involved. I imagine this demo will be nicer than the one in San Fran today.”.... In another other email chain also on April 29, titled “Week-Ahead Notes & Assignments,” former DNC media booker Pablo Manriquez comments “this should be fun” in reference to the May protest.... A DNC official wrote, “Pablo please reach out to any folks you think may be able to help.”.... Intern involvement with protests is mentioned twice in the leaked emails. DNC communications director Luis Miranda bemoaned photos of an empty anti-Trump protest in Washington, D.C. in one email chain. Miranda said: “Going forward, when our allies screw up and don’t deliver bodies in time, we either send all our interns out there or we stay away from it.. we don’t want to own a bad picture.”

WikiLeaks List: Most Damaging Emails About DNC, Clinton, & Bernie
Heavy.com - WikiLeaks kept its promise to release a series of emails related to Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and the DNC. The emails show the DNC working against Bernie Sanders during the primary, with some startling tidbits such as how the DNC considered denying a Bernie delegate admittance to a fundraiser because she supported Bernie. The DNC was also only concerned about reduced polling locations in Rhode Island because it might give Sanders' supporters more reasons to complain. Many of these emails are part of the emails discovered from a hack of the DNC by Guccifer 2. With 19,252 emails released from the Democratic National Committee, including 891 documents and 175 spreadsheets, it can be a little overwhelming to go through them all. That's why we're providing in-depth coverage of the most interesting Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders emails in this gallery.... Note: Some of these are hard to read, so we provided a direct link to where WikiLeaks posted the email, if you need to see it more clearly.

Tapper to Clinton Campaign Manager: You Really Think DNC Leak Was the Russians Helping Trump?
Mediaite - Hillary Clinton campaign chairman Robby Mook appeared on CNN this morning and played up talk of Russian influence on the U.S. election in reaction to the DNC email leak. Mook told Jake Tapper, “Experts are telling us Russian state actors broke into the DNC, stole these emails, and other experts are now saying the Russians are releasing these emails for the purpose of helping Donald Trump.” Tapper asked him what evidence is out there. Mook referred to pieces that have been written recently on potential scheming by the Russian government to help Trump win (and the Trump campaign returning the favor by, say, changing the GOP platform to be more pro-Putin last week). Tapper again pressed Mook on his “very strong charge” and asked him point-blank if he thinks Russia is trying to get Trump elected. Mook insisted that’s what “experts” are saying.

Wasserman Schultz resigning as party leader
CNN - Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced Sunday she is stepping down as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee at the end of the party's convention, which is set to begin here Monday. The Florida congresswoman's resignation -- under heavy pressure from top Democrats -- comes amid the release of thousand of leaked emails showing DNC staffers favoring Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders in the party's 2016 primary contest. Her announcement that she was leaving had pro-Sanders supporters cheering during a demonstration in Philadelphia and Donald Trump and other Republicans crowing about the disarray among the Democrats.
* Related: Hillary Clinton welcomes Wasserman-Schultz to campaign as 'honorary chair'

DNC Votes to Keep Superdelegates, But Sets Some Conditions
The Intercept - The rule-making body of the Democratic National Committee on Saturday defeated an amendment brought by Bernie Sanders delegates to abolish superdelegates — the unelected party elites who make up 15 percent of all delegates and are allowed to cast a vote for the presidential candidate of their choice, unbound by the popular vote.... After the defeat of the first amendment, the Sanders and Clinton camps met and came up with draft language for a “unity commission”... As part of the language of that proposal, which passed the committee 158 to 6, the commission will be charged to “make specific recommendations providing that members of Congress, governors and distinguished party leaders … remain unpledged and free to support their nominee of choice, but that remaining unpledged delegates be required to cast their vote at the convention for candidates in proportion to the vote received for each candidate in their state.” The Washington Post‘s Dave Weigel reports that this would effectively bind two-thirds of superdelegates to voting as their states vote in the presidential nominating process.

Why Obama’s half-brother says he’ll be voting for Donald Trump
New York Post - “I like Donald Trump because he speaks from the heart,” Malik Obama told The Post from his home in the rural village of Kogelo. “Make America Great Again is a great slogan. I would like to meet him.” Obama, 58, a longtime Democrat, said his “deep disappointment” in his brother Barack’s administration has led him to recently switch allegiance to “the party of Lincoln.” The last straw, he said, came earlier this month when FBI Director James Comey recommended not prosecuting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton over her use of a private e-mail servers while secretary of state.... He’s also annoyed that Clinton and President Obama killed Libyan leader Moammar Khadafy, whom he called one of his best friends.... “I feel like a Republican now because they don’t stand for same-sex marriage, and that appeals to me,” he said.... Obama plans to trek back to the US to vote for Trump in November. Obama used to live in Maryland, where he worked for many years as an accountant and is registered to vote there, public records show.

Ivanka Trump Wore $138 Dress to Address the Nation on Prosperity – Hillary Wore $12,000 Smock to Address Nation on Poverty
The Gateway Pundit - On Thursday night Ivanka Trump, daughter of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, used the national spotlight a showcase her taste in fashion to the American public. Her dress costs $138 – so it is affordable for most American women. And she looked gorgeous. The dress was from the Ivanka Trump Collection and has already sold out at Nordstrom.com and Macys.com. In June Hillary Clinton gave a campaign speech on income poverty. She wore a $12,000 Giorgio Armani jacket.

Clinton Cash Is the Movie Every Voter Should See before Election Day
National Review - If anyone still doubts that the Clintons are greedy, corrupt, and morally reprehensible, they won't after this.... To those who would uncover the truth about the Clinton Foundation, “follow the money” seems quaint advice, considering that billions of dollars were involved — making for a scandal ten-times the size of Watergate.... The viewer is shown numerous examples of blatant pay-to-play schemes. These lucrative business deals illustrate the unofficial partnership between Clinton’s State Department and the Clinton Foundation. Every scheme is perpetrated to personally enrich the Clintons, their Foundation, or their high-powered cronies — in the name of “doing good” for the world’s poor, naturally.
* Related: Full Movie: "Clinton Cash"

Canada Ditches Super Hornet After Threats to Buy F-35 or Lose 10,000 Jobs
Sputnik News - ... Canada reneged from its earlier proposal to acquire Boeing Super Hornet jets on an interim basis to plug the country’s air defense capability gap after Lockheed Martin threatened to pull all of its operations out of the country which would result in a massive layoff of some 10,000 employees and potentially bankrupt portions of Canada’s defense sector that benefits from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.... The Department of National Defense plans to rewrite its requirements for a new fighter jet, said Harjit Sajjan, the defense minister for the Liberal Party government. However, the existing aircraft requirements left by the previous Conservative government of Stephen Harper are designed to favor the F-35 and any attempts to radically alter the criteria will lead to another uproar by Lockheed Martin. A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin confirmed that the company is responding to the Canadian government’s request for information about the F-35, something that it had been reticent to do prior, which signals that the fix is in and that Canada has capitulated to the defense contractor’s threats and extortion.

California Drought Worsens – El Nino 'Gains' Flushed Into The Pacific As Water Storage Runs Dry
Zero Hedge - The San Luis Reservoir supplies water to the Santa Clara Valley, San Benito County as well as farmers in the Central Valley. As of July 22nd, the reservoir stood at 11% of total capacity... which puts storage well below the levels recorded during the driest season recorded in 1976-1977. This news comes in spite of a robust rainy season in California with YTD precipitation roughly 16% higher than the long-term average and over 200% higher than the driest 1976-1977 season. So, why are California’s reservoirs drying up in spite of a solid rainy season? The answer lies in the environmental regulations implemented to protect the Delta Smelt, a 5-7cm fish and endangered resident of the California Delta. Regulations designed to protect the non-native species have prevented pumping of water from the California Delta in Northern California leaving many reservoirs in Southern California empty. So rather than take advantage of a solid rainy season the State of California has opted to squander the opportunity to refill its water infrastructure and pump the water through the San Francisco bay and into the Pacific Ocean instead.

New York Solar Project Would Result in Destruction of 350 Acres of Trees
AllGov - “Choosing solar over forests anywhere in the world is just plain stupid,” said Dick Amper, of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society. “Solar is very important to fight global warming and beyond, but I’m afraid we’re making false choices when you destroy portions of nature and the environment to accomplish that end.”... Under the proposal, a company called LI Solar Generation, LLC, a joint venture between NextEra Energy Resources and National Grid, would construct the facility on the grounds of the defunct Shoreham nuclear power plant. The plant was completed in 1984 for $6 billion but never opened because of community opposition over potential safety concerns.... Similar projects are happening elsewhere. A court fight is brewing over a plan by New Jersey’s Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park to cut down nearly 15,000 trees to make way for a solar farm. In Connecticut, state officials recently approved a plan to raze 134 acres of trees in the town of Sprague, near Norwich, for a solar energy project.

Collecting Rainwater Is No Longer Illegal In Colorado
Off the Grid News - Under the previous Colorado law, property owners who collected rainwater in a barrel could face a $500 fine. The idea, among its supporters, was that homeowners violate water rights and steal water from farmers and cities by collecting rainwater. That will change on August 1, when House Bill (HB) 16-1005 goes into effect. The measure, signed by Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper, allows homeowners to store up to 110 gallons of rainwater in two barrels. “We’re using perfectly good drinking water for so many reasons that we shouldn’t be,” science teacher Aaron Broderick told Colorado Public Radio (CPR). “So this is one way to repurpose water.” Using rainwater to water the lawn and flower beds is a good way to avoid wasting resources in a drought, State Representative Jessie Danielson (D-Wheatridge) said.

Gene-drive modified organisms not yet ready to be released into environment: Scientists
Homeland Security News Wire - Gene drives are systems of biased inheritance that enhance a genetic element’s ability to pass from parent organism to offspring.... “The science and technology associated with gene drives is developing very quickly,” said committee co-chair James P. Collins, Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and the Environment in the School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University. “But before gene-drive modified organisms are put into the environment, our committee urges caution — a lot more research is needed to understand the scientific, ethical, regulatory, and social consequences of releasing such organisms.”.... Each proposed field test or environmental release of a gene-drive modified organism should be subject to robust ecological risk assessment before being approved, the report says. These assessments, which take into account the gene drive’s characteristics, effects on humans and the environment, and local values and governance, are a key tool for determining a gene drive’s impacts. As of May 2016, no ecological risk assessment has been conducted for a gene-drive modified organism.

Brain Food to Improve Cognition
Natural Blaze - You are what you eat and that’s especially true when it comes to your brain. To preserve cognitive thinking all the years of your life, you have to consume brain food…. Garbage food, fake food, fast food doesn’t feed your body or your brain. In fact, research shows it steals the nutrients you have. It saps away your energy, your fuel, leaving you exhausted, mentally sluggish, and sometimes even sick…. 1. Coconut oil. This healthy fat offers your brain an alternative fuel to glucose. In the case of neurodegenerative disease, your brain becomes insulin resistant and literally begins to starve from lack of energy source. Coconut oil in particular has shown incredible promise in slowing (and even reversing) some symptoms of dementia. 2. Eggs. The ultimate brain food (and a personal favorite) that’s also considered one of the most perfect proteins on earth. 3. Avocado. Another healthy fat that also helps improve blood flow. 4. Nuts and seeds. Packed with healthy fat, protein, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acid, nuts and seeds are a great snack that delivers all day long. 5. Fatty fish and sea vegetables. This is where you’ll find the best omega-3s.

Everything you wanted to know about Lyme Disease and diet
Lyme Disease Research Database - When you want to know what to eat (and drink!) when healing Lyme, ask an expert. My recent guest—nutritionist, herbalist, Lyme expert, and educator Rebecca Snow, MS—shares a lot of fascinating facts about foods, herbs, and how to start thinking about using nutrition to really get the most out of your healing protocol. Rebecca’s clients often come to see her for diet and lifestyle support, particularly those who are already seeing a Lyme literate doctor and may also be taking antibiotics. Unlike some of the more conventional Lyme experts I’ve interviewed, Rebecca thinks “there’s probably too much focus on antibiotics in the Lyme-literate community.” “There is evidence that chronic symptoms of Lyme may be infection,” she adds, “but they may also be related to an auto-inflammatory response.” A more effective approach than one that simply applies antibiotics to healing Lyme would include diet, nutrition, and the use of herbal and homeopathic supplements.

Magnesium a must for Lyme patients
Lyme Disease Research Database - It is highly likely that you are also deficient in magnesium, because the Lyme bacteria, Borrelia, unlike other bacteria that require iron to survive, has evolved to use magnesium to complete its own life cycle. The Lyme bacteria steals magnesium from our cells to survive. Another factor contributing to the problem, for Americans at least, is that our farming topsoil has been depleted in magnesium which is not replaced. So our foods tend to be deficient in magnesium, which is problematic. Magnesium supplements have been clinically proven to reduce pain and inflammation from fibromyalgia and other autoimmune diseases. As Lyme is an inflammatory disease, it makes sense to pay attention to something as simple as adding in a vital mineral.

Friday - July 22, 2016 - Today In History:

1796 - Cleveland was founded by General Moses Cleveland.
1798 - The USS Constitution was underway and out to sea for the first time since being launched on October 21, 1797.
1937 - The U.S. Senate rejected President Roosevelt's proposal to add more justices to the Supreme Court.
1943 - American forces led by General George S. Patton captured Palermo, Sicily.
1941 - Plans for the Pentagon were presented to the House Subcommittee on Appropriations.
1955 - U.S. Vice-President Richard M. Nixon chaired a cabinet meeting in Washington, DC. It was the first time that a Vice-President had carried out the task.
1975 - Confederate General Robert E. Lee had his U.S. citizenship restored by the U.S. Congress.
1987 - The U.S. began its policy of escorting re-flagged Kuwaiti tankers up and down the Persian Gulf to protect them from possible attack by Iran.
1998 - Iran tested medium-range missile, capable of reaching Israel or Saudi Arabia.
2000 - Astronomers at the University of Arizona announced that they had found a 17th moon orbiting Jupiter.
2003 - In northern Iraq, Saddam Hussein's sons Odai and Qusai died after a gunfight with U.S. forces.
2003 - In Paris, France, a fire broke out near the top of the Eiffel Tower. About 4,000 visitors were evacuated and no injuries were reported.
2004 - The September 11 commission's final report was released. The 575-page report concluded that hijackers exploited "deep institutional failings within our government." The report was released to White House officials the day before.
2009 - The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, lasting up to 6 minutes and 38.8 seconds, occurred over parts of Asia and the Pacific Ocean.
2011 - Space Shuttle Atlantis landed successfully at Kennedy Space Center after completing STS-135. It was the final flight of NASA's space shuttle program.

Turkey MPs approve state of emergency bill allowing rule by decree
The Guardian - The three-month state of emergency, approved by parliament on Thursday by 346 votes to 115, will allow the government to rule by decree, passing bills that have the force of law unless they are overturned by parliament, where the majority of MPs belong to the ruling Justice and Development party. Turkish officials insisted the lives and freedoms of citizens would not be affected, and that western powers such as France had recently taken similar measures. But concerns have mounted among both opponents and allies that the move will further consolidate President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s power.

…Meanwhile, All Hell Has Broken Loose in the South China Sea
James Corbett - The failed Turkish coup. The Nice attack. The RNC and DNC. There is no shortage of headline-grabbing news stories to keep you occupied during this summer of rage. But while your attention is elsewhere, huge moves are afoot in the Asia-Pacific. Specifically, those moves are afoot in the South China Sea, where the Permanent Court of Arbitration handed down a long-awaited ruling last week in favor of the Philippines in their long-running dispute over territorial waters with China. The court, operating under the arbitration provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, ruled that China does not have “historical rights” to the waters in question and that their reclamation activity in the area has already caused irreparable environmental damage and should stop immediately. China promptly rejected the ruling exactly as they said they would…. Meanwhile China, for its part, is mulling the creation of an Air Defense Identification Zone in the South China Sea requiring any air traffic to first notify China before entering the air space over the waters. Oh, and Chinese citizens are smashing their iPhones and protesting outside KFC locations as a backlash against perceived American interference in China’s territorial disputes. To make matters worse, tensions are still high in the East China Sea, where Chinese and Japanese fighter jets are coming perilously close to actual dogfights. Indeed, each year there seems to be a fresh pronouncement that Japan has scrambled a record number of fighters to intercept Chinese jets over their airspace. And now that Prime Minister Abe’s coalition has just achieved the supermajority it needs to amend the constitution, many are worried that Japan is about to remove the mask of pacificism and convert its “Self-Defense Force” into the military threat it really is.

US Navy to return to New Zealand after 30-year rift over nukes
Stripes - The Navy will make a port call in New Zealand for the first time since 1985, when the South Pacific nation banned visits by ships carrying nuclear weapons. Vice President Joe Biden announced the visit Thursday during a short stop in New Zealand, according to the New Zealand Herald newspaper. The U.S. will send a ship to help celebrate the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th anniversary in November, officials said…. The Navy hasn’t docked in New Zealand since a left-wing government in Wellington refused a port-call request by the USS Buchanan three decades ago on grounds that the U.S. would neither confirm nor deny whether the guided-missile destroyer carried nuclear weapons…. The U.S. has been normalizing its defense relationship with New Zealand for some time, said Brad Glosserman of the Hawaii-based Pacific Forum think tank…. New Zealand is a key player in the South Pacific, where there are unstable governments and the potential for social unrest related to unsustainable development and climate change, Glosserman said.

Brazil arrests 10 suspected ISIS members ‘planning Olympic terrorist attacks’
RT - Interim Brazilian President Michel Temer has called an emergency cabinet meeting after authorities arrested 10 alleged Islamic State members who were planning to carry out acts of terror during the Olympic Games in Rio, which begin next month…. The police operation, codenamed 'Hashtag,' took place across nine states, with suspects arrested in Sao Paulo and Parana. Justice Minister Alexandre Moraes told a news conference on Thursday that all the detainees were Brazilian nationals. Judicial authorities in the state of Parana claimed that intercepted data and telephone calls revealed that a terrorist cell was planning to use “weapons and guerrilla tactics” to achieve its aims. It says that 12 warrants have been issued for an initial 30 days, which could be extended if charges are substantiated. Moraes said that the men were new converts to Islam, who initially researched jihadism on the internet, and came into contact by simply exchanging pro-jihadist messages on the chat platforms WhatsApp and Telegram, according to leading Brazilian media outlet O Globo.

Nice attacker 'plotted for months and had accomplices'
The Guardian - The man who drove a truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, killing 84 people and injuring hundreds more, had help planning the attack, the Paris prosecutor, François Molins, has revealed. Evidence from mobile phones and computer records suggested that Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel was not a recently radicalised “lone wolf”, as previously thought, but had several accomplices and had planned his attack for up to a year…. The suspects, whose full names were not given, were still being questioned by an anti-terrorism judge in Paris as Molins gave details of their alleged contact with the attacker. They are expected to be formally mise en examen – put under investigation – as accomplices to murder and being part of a terrorist organisation, and to be remanded in police custody for further questioning. The five were in contact with Lahouaiej-Bouhlel shortly before he ploughed into crowds gathered for the traditional Bastille Day fireworks last week along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, where the Tunisian man lived. Seconds before he drove the truck for almost 2km through groups of people, he sent two “odious messages” that appeared to have been pre-recorded on his mobile phone, Molins said…. The five people include a married couple from Albania, accused of supplying the automatic pistol that Bouhlel used to shoot at police, two French-Tunisian men and a Tunisian man. None were known to the French security or intelligence services and only one, a 41-year-old French-Tunisian, had a criminal record, for robbery, theft, assault and drug offences.

George Soros Doubles Down: Accept 300k Refugees Costing $30Bn, Or Risk EU Collapse
Zero Hedge - Seemingly doubling down on his comments in April (following what he called Europe's "flawed asylum policy"), George Soros has expanded his demands from four to seven fundamental pillars on how to prevent the collapse of the European Union. In an article penned for Foreign Policy titled “This Is Europe’s Last Chance to Fix Its Refugee Policy," Soros details his plan (over-riding the current "piecemeal approach") for rescuing Europe before it is too late. Simply put, the billionaire says the EU must take in hundreds of thousands of refugees a year, spend at least 30 billion euros (a minor sum, since he believes it can all be financed by debt and taxes) or Europe faces an "existential threat.”… Soros begins ominously: The EU’s piecemeal solutions are coming apart. Only a surge of financial and political creativity can avoid a catastrophe…. The benefits brought by migration far outweigh the costs of integrating immigrants. Skilled economic immigrants improve productivity, generate growth, and raise the absorptive capacity of the recipient country. Different populations bring different skills, but the contributions come as much from the innovations they introduce as from their specific skills — in both their countries of origin and their countries of destination. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence for this, starting with the Huguenots’ contribution to the first industrial revolution by bringing both weaving and banking to England. All the evidence supports the conclusion that migrants have a high potential to contribute to innovation and development if they are given a chance to do so.

74% Of Migrants In Germany Fit Only For Menial Jobs
Breitbart - New figures released by the Federal Employment Agency (BA) could put a further challenge to German lawmakers who assured the public that most migrants would be easily able to transition into highly skilled jobs that the country desperately needs filled. The report by the agency reveals that 74 per cent of the migrants who were registered in June have no job qualifications or professional training at all, reports Die Welt. The BA looked at 297,000 migrants in total and determined that 74 per cent had no vocational or professional training. But even more worrying was the fact that over a third of the migrants, or 36.8 per cent, had little to no secondary school education either. The agency noted that it would be incredibly difficult for any of these migrants to hold down skilled work and most would be relegated to menial labour jobs – possibly for their entire lives.

Sharia In Denmark
Zero Hedge - After the television documentary, "Sharia in Denmark", embarrassed Danish authorities by revealing how widespread the preaching of sharia is in mosques in Denmark; the Danish government, in May, concluded a political agreement about "initiatives directed against religious preachers who seek to undermine Danish laws and values and who support parallel legal systems." "We are doing everything we can without compromising the constitution and international agreements," Bertel Haarder, the Minister for Culture and Church, said about the political agreement. The agreement centers on a number of initiatives, which are supposed to compensate for the detrimental effects of all the years in which sharia was allowed to spread in Denmark while most authorities paid only scant attention to what was happening. Part of the new effort, therefore, will be the mapping of all existing mosques in Denmark. It will now be obligatory, according to the agreement, for all priests, imams and others who are not part of the Church of Denmark, and who wish to be able to perform weddings -- as well as for foreign preachers who apply for residence permits -- to learn about Danish family law, freedom and democracy. At the end of the course, all will have to sign a statement that they will accept Danish law, including freedom of speech and religion, gender equality, freedom of sexual orientation, non-discrimination and women's rights.

Iceland rises from the ashes of 2008 financial meltdown
RT - The country worst affected by the global financial crisis eight years ago has made a miraculous turnaround. Iceland saw an unexpected GDP surge of 4.2 percent in the first three months of the year. The growth is explained by a significant rise in tourism. Tourism has been steadily growing since the beginning of the decade, and is currently a larger source of revenue than exports of fish and aluminum. The number of visitors in 2016 may beat last year’s record of 1.3 million, according to June data…. Iceland's ability to overcome the disastrous results of the 2008 banking crisis is seen by some as miraculous. In the aftermath of the crash, the country broke off negotiations on EU membership, nationalized three major banks and defaulted on $85 billion in loans. The government imposed a ban on the moving of capital abroad and devalued the national currency. As a result, the stock market plummeted 90 percent, unemployment jumped to 10 percent, and inflation ballooned to 18 percent.

VIDEO: Politics is Fake and Staged
The Corbett Report - Politicians are puppets, and your only questions should be: “Who is writing their speeches? And who is pulling their strings?”

White House to review ban on military gear for police - police leaders
Reuters - At last week's meeting, law enforcement leaders urged Obama to reinstate military equipment such as helmets, grenade launchers and tracked armored vehicles to enhance officers' safety and their ability to respond to violent riots. Under the 2015 executive order, the federal government may no longer transfer such equipment. Local police are not banned from purchasing it on the private market, but most departments cannot afford that on their own, potentially leaving officers vulnerable, said Pasco [the executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police]. "The White House thought this kind of gear was intimidating to people, but they didn't know the purpose it serves," said Pasco, noting a grenade launcher can also launch tear gas for crowd control. At Obama's request, White House chief legal counsel Neil Eggleston will review the ban.

Obama Floats “Fixing” His Healthcare Plan with Obamacare 2.0
Activist Post - While the so-called affordable care act has increased the level of insurance coverage in the country, it has utterly failed in one of Obama’s primary promises – that competition introduced through the state exchanges would lead to lower premiums. This was supposed to put the “affordable” in the affordable care act. Peter Suderman explained the extent of the problem in a recent Reason.com Hit & Run Blog post. What this means is that in many rural areas, Obamacare’s exchanges will be served by one and only one insurer. A recent report by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that some 650 counties in states like Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arizona, and Oklahoma were likely to have just one carrier next year. In Wyoming, Alaska, and Alabama—yes, the same state that Obama highlighted in his 2009 speech—the exchanges will feature no competition anywhere in the state. In places like these, Obamacare has not solved the problem of too little competition in the health insurance market; it has allowed it to continue, and perhaps even contributed to it…. Essentially, Obama’s plan would bring the U.S. a step closer to the single-payer government run system progressives have aimed for all along.

Nebraska Law Expanding Health Freedom Now in Effect
Tenth Amendment Center - (July 20, 2016) – Today, a new law that will help facilitate healthcare freedom in Nebraska goes into effect. Sen. Merv Riepe (R-Omaha) introduced Legislative Bill 817 back in January. The new law specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer agreements) do not constitute insurance, thereby freeing doctors and patients from the onerous requirements and regulations under the state insurance code…. Jack Spencer writes: “Under medical retainer agreements, patients make monthly payments to a physician who in return agrees to provide a menu of routine services at no extra charge. Because no insurance company stands between patient and doctor, the hassles and expense of bureaucratic red tape are eliminated, which have resulted in dramatic cost reductions. Routine primary care services (and the bureaucracy required to reimburse them) are estimated to consume 40 cents out of every dollar spent on insurance policies, so lower premiums for a given amount of coverage are another potential benefit.”… This represents the kind of cost control Obamacare promised, but failed to deliver.

New Nebraska Law Taking on “Policing for Profit” Via Asset Forfeiture Now in Effect
Tenth Amendment Center - (July 20, 2016) – Today, civil asset forfeiture officially ends in Nebraska as reforms to asset forfeiture laws passed in the spring go into effect. Under the new law, the state can no longer take property without a criminal conviction. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the feds in most situations.

FULL SPEECH: “I Am Your Voice” Donald Trump Speaks To All Americans at the Republican National Convention, Accepts GOP Nomination
The Gateway Pundit - Donald Trump spoke to all Americans in his nomination acceptance speech tonight including women, minorities and members of the LGBTQ community. He touched on the economy, national security, jobs, trade, and fairness of opportunity for everyone. He prosecuted the case against Hillary Clinton and Obama’s legacy which has left America divided, poorer and less safe than it was eight years ago. This is now officially a change election and Trump is offering the alternative to Hillary Clinton’s status quo campaign. The choice is clear. Politico has posted the entire text of Trump’s speech and you can read it here.
* Related: FULL EVENT: * Republican National Convention Day 4
                                      * Live updates of the last night of the 2016 GOP convention

Trump Sparks "Wave Of Alarm" Across Europe After Warning US May Not Help NATO Members
Zero Hedge - Having entertained America for the past three days, overnight Donald Trump's rhetoric crossed the Atlantic and as the FT puts it, "has sparked a wave of alarm across Europe" as well as calls for solidarity from the head of NATO after warning that the US might not come to the defense of an alliance ally under attack from Russia if that country had not fulfilled its obligations to America. The Trump statement in question that has provoked dread across Europe's NATO member states, came from the following NYT interview… in which the presidential candidate was asked whether he would defend the Baltic states in the face of Russian aggression if he were president. “If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is yes,” Mr Trump said.

Secret Service Investigating Trump Adviser For His Call To Put Hillary “In The Firing Line” And Shoot Her “For Treason”
The Hill - The Secret Service told Politico Wednesday it is investigating Trump adviser and New Hampshire delegate Al Baldasaro's call to put Hillary Clinton "in the firing line" and shoot her "for treason.” The New Hampshire state representative heavily criticized Clinton on Wednesday, calling her “a piece of garbage.” “She is a disgrace for the lies that she told those mothers about their children that got killed over there in Benghazi,” Baldasaro said. “She dropped the ball on over 400 emails requesting back-up security. Something’s wrong there." “Hillary Clinton should be put in the firing line and shot for treason,” he added. According to Politico, Secret Service spokesman Robert Hobackis said the agency is aware of Baldasaro's statement and will "conduct the appropriate investigation.”

Ted Cruz Responds To Angry Trump Supporters: "I Won't Be A Servile Puppy”(Video)
Zero Hedge - In his first statement since unleashing the fury of Trump supporters at the RNC, Ted Cruz on Thursday morning defended distancing himself from Donald Trump, saying he won't vote for Trump "like a service pully dog", adding that he is not voting for Clinton, while ripping the Republican National Convention’s response to his speech the night before…. Speaking to Texas’s delegation at the convention at a Thursday breakfast, Cruz said his pledge to support the GOP’s eventual nominee was “abrogated” when the campaign between Trump and him became personal. “I am not in the habit of supporting people who attack my wife and attack my father,” he said. "Neither he nor his campaign has taken back a word of what they said about my family,” Cruz added, his voice rising. He then told the Texas delegation that "this isn't just a team sport. … This is about standing for what we believe in." Judging by the media response, many disagree. "In that speech last night, I did not say a single negative word about Donald Trump. And I'll tell you, this morning and going forward I don't intend to say negative things about Donald Trump. He also had nothing positive to say.

Lawsuit Accuses U.S. Army of Denying Diabetes Treatment for Children on Army Bases
AllGov - The Diabetes Association and the mother of 6-year-old M. W. say in the federal lawsuit that the Army refuses to give the girl access to daycare services, summer camp and sports programs at the Presidio of Monterey because she has diabetes and staff are prohibited from helping her if she is in need. The mother, Hope W., says her daughter has to leave the program after she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes because the Army forbids its co-defendant U.S. Army Child, Youth and School Services employees from "assisting with blood glucose monitoring and administering insulin, or even providing a rescue medication called glucagon in an emergency." The mother says this violates the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (pdf), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in federal programs. The Army's blanket policy denies "children with diabetes the opportunity to participate in and to benefit from the programs and activities that CYSS offers," the mother and daughter say.

Bix Weir Warns Economic Collapse Coming Before Election: “August, September Time-Frame” (Video)
Mac Slavo - It was September 2008 when Lehman Brothers collapsed, and things became official. The Treasury, under Goldman Sachs’ Hank Paulson, hurried everyone into a quick bailout under the chaos and confusion of financial debris and an exciting election that would bring Obama into the presidency, at which time he quietly but faithfully followed through with the business of bailout and cover-up for the banks. Here in 2016, Donald Trump has been accusing the Federal Reserve of holding off on raising rates because Obama doesn’t want the bubble to burst on his watch. Maybe the Fed is waiting to dump the inevitable on Trump. But perhaps it will burst anyway, and leave whoever takes the presidency with the silent duty to comply with the aftermath of the banker crisis.

Arrested HSBC FX Trader Had Been Cleared In Bank's Own Internal Probe
Zero Hedge - One day after news hit that a prominent HSBC FX trader was arrested, we find that the bank conducted its own investigation three years ago into a $3.5bn currency trade that US prosecutors now believe was criminally fraudulent and found nothing wrong with the transaction. The HSBC review was led by an external lawyer and found no breach of its code of conduct…. How unexpected: a bank looked at its own trades, and found nothing strange despite clear evidence, as revealed by US authorities, showing that Johnson had an explicit intention of front-running the client order. It took a DOJ review three years later to stumble on the smoking gun. As a reminder, the DOJ alleged the traders used a technique known as “ramping” that caused the price of pounds to spike. That spike benefited the bank’s trading book at the expense of the client, who then paid a higher price for the sterling.

Amazon To Issue Student Loans To New "Prime" Shoppers
Zero Hedge - On the off chance the US didn't already have a big enough problem thanks to a staggering $1.3 trillion in student loans which contrary to White House' claims, are crushing an entire generation under their interest expense weight, earlier today none other than billionaire Jeff Bezos announced he was entering the student loan business, when Amazon unveiled a partnership with Wells Fargo in which the bank’s student-lending arm would offer interest-rate discounts to select Amazon shoppers. In Amazon's latest attempt to entice shoppers into its premium Prime program, Wells Fargo will cut half a percentage point from its interest rate on student loans to Amazon customers who pay for a "Prime Student" subscription, which provides the traditional Prime benefits such as free two-day shipping and access to movies, television shows and photo storage. The subscription-based service will cost $49 a year, half the regular Amazon Prime fee.

USDA and Agribusiness Cartel Plot to Destroy a Small Business
Economic Policy Journal - A bipartisan bill was just introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D, NJ) and Mike Lee (R, UT) aimed at preventing federal programs that were established to promote sales of agricultural products from being illegally used to attack competitors and influence public policy.... Documents released last year under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that the American Egg Board, a compulsory cartel of egg producers supervised by the USDA, attempted to destroy small start-up Hampton Creek, producer of Just Mayo.... When Just Mayo appeared for sale on the shelves of the the Whole Foods grocery chain in 2013, Joanne Ivy, the president of the Egg Board, sounded the alarm to fellow cartel members via email, calling the new product "a crisis and major threat to the future of the egg product business".... Several months later, in January 2014, a USDA official wrote to Ivy advising that Just Mayo's labeling claims be challenged with the FDA. Ivy approved.... The AEB also hired a "sustainability contractor" to lobby Whole Foods to remove Just Mayo from its shelves. Whole Foods did not comply. Finally, the AEB worked covertly with Unilever, the $150-billion consumer products giant and the maker of Hellman's Mayonnaise, to quash Just Mayo. Unilever filed a suit against Hampton Creek alleging that Just Mayo was not really mayonnaise because it was eggless. The suit was withdrawn by Unilever a few months later.

Existing Home Prices Hit Record High As Sales Growth Slowest In 4 Months
Zero Hedge - Despite a better than expected 1.1% MoM rise in June (thanks to notable downward revisions), existing home sales growth is the slowest since February. Of course, NAR's Larry Yun gloated of "sustained job growth" driving an "impressive streak of sales gains," although he cautions " it's unclear if this current sales pace can further accelerate." Median home prices soared to new record highs driven by soaring demand for condo/co-ops (+3.2% vs just 0.8% for single-family homes).

Highway Bluetooth detectors are spying on motorists and pedestrians (Video)
MassPrivateI - DHS, the Dept., of Transportation and probably the DEA are using Bluetooth detectors to spy on motorists and pedestrians. Government agencies like DHS and the DEA use Bluetooth detectors to gather Bluetooth data from a Wireless Sensor Network…. “The whole country is doing this,” Paul Misticawi, vice president of public sector sales for traffic data software company. Bluetooth detectors will soon be able to identify everyone. According to Michael Robertson, "sensors that re-identify vehicles specifically. Some examples given are "electronic toll tag transponders, cell-phone tracking, license plate reading, Bluetooth sniffing, magnetic signatures, (and) video tracking." If an electronic device were seized by police as evidence, the MAC address could be determined and matched against Bluetooth detection records. Similarly, users who download and use certain mobile device applications may make personal information, including their MAC addresses, known to the apps' publishers, who could then potentially mine, share or sell this information. They can detect a vehicles location, speed and altitude (according to page 25 of the Meshlium datasheet) Bluetooth detectors use a GPS-3G/GPRS realtime tracker…. In-pavement magnetic detectors can identify individual vehicles. According to the DOT, arrays of magnetometers are installed in pavement at detection locations which can identify and match vehicles based on each vehicle's unique magnetic signature .In-Pavement magnetic detectors also, have close to 100 percent detection rate.

Why You Should Be Eating Watermelon Seeds, Instead Of Spitting Them Out
Huffington Post - You may have once believed that swallowing a watermelon seed would ignite the growth of an enormous fruit inside your belly. So instead of ingesting, you diligently plucked out each individual seed before chomping into the juicy fruit. Or you kept an arsenal of seeds in the pocket of your cheek to use as spitting ammo against your older brother. But these seeds will not bud fruit inside your body and they shouldn’t be tossed or shot at an annoying sibling. Instead, they should be eaten. (Here’s the catch: You shouldn’t eat them straight from the fruit. To make the most of them, the seeds need to be sprouted and shelled.) Once sprouted, shelled and dried, watermelon seeds become edible, protein-packed treasures. Just a one-ounce serving (about 1/8 of a cup) boasts 10 grams of protein — comparable to the amount found in your Greek yogurt breakfast.

The Vaccine that Causes Cancer
Living Traditionally - If you take any fruit and injected it with aluminum, phenol, acetone, thimerosal (mercury) and billions of bacteria and viruses…WOULD YOU EAT IT? If you answered NO…how can they justify INJECTING it into a muscle, which gets into your blood and circulates around the body…exposing all major organs and tissues to everything in the vaccine? Then, why do we inject our kids with a vaccine? In the early 1900s an astute Indiana physician, Dr. W.B. Clarke, stated “Cancer was practically unknown until compulsory vaccination with cowpox vaccine began to be introduced. I have had to deal with two hundred cases of cancer, and I never saw a case of cancer in an unvaccinated person.” Formaldehyde in vaccines has been linked to several types of cancers, including Leukemia. Formaldehyde has been used in the Anthrax vaccine, DT, DTaP, Hib, HPV, Hep A, Hep B, Influenza, Meningitis, Polio, and more…. Vaccine makers don’t test vaccines for their potential to cause cancer.They are very clear about it. Every single vaccine package insert says it. Here’s what Merck says about its MMR vaccine: M-M-R II has not been evaluated for carcinogenic or mutagenic potential, or potential to impair fertility. Various toxic elements within vaccines such as the SV40 virus, formaldehyde (formalin), mercury (thimerosal) and aluminum can become time bombs remaining dormant in the body for years until they suddenly activate, causing life threatening diseases.

Vaccine bombshell: Baby monkeys given standard doses of popular vaccines develop autism symptoms
Living Traditionally - Medical authorities have long claimed that vaccines play absolutely no role in the development of childhood autism. But if what they claim is true, why do some of the most popular vaccines that are commonly administered to children cause autism in animal primates? Many people are asking this question after a recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Pittsburgh (UP) in Pennsylvania found that infant monkeys given standard doses of childhood vaccines as part of the new research developed autism symptoms.

Tulsi: The Queen of Herbs
Healthy Beginnings - Ocimum tenuiflorum, also known as Ocimum sanctum, is better known as Holy basil, or tulsi. It is an aromatic plant in the family native to South Asia…. Tulsi’s health-giving properties are supported by its array of constituents, including flavonoids, fatty acids, sterols and polyphenols. It strengthens the immune system and benefits digestion. Its essential oils, which include eugenol, carvacrol, linalool, nerol and camphor, give Tulsi its sweet, pungent aroma and taste. The warming properties of Tulsi improve digestion and absorption of nutrients. Tulsi also has antispasmodic actions, which help relieve spasm, wind and bloating…. Tulsi can also help calm anxiety, mild depression, insomnia, and a variety of stress-related problems such as headaches and irritable bowel syndrome…. Tulsi’s decongestant action explains its use in treating coughs, colds, fevers, sore throats and flu. Studies have demonstrated holy basil’s activity against a range of micro-organisms including E. Coli, Staphylococcus aurous and Mycoplasma tuberculosis. ulsi can be taken in teas, juice or in tincture form. It is often combined with ginger and black pepper and honey.
 

Thursday - July 21, 2016 - Today In History:

1733 - John Winthrop was granted the first honorary Doctor of Law Degree given by Harvard College in Cambridge, MA.
1861 - The first major battle of the U.S. Civil War began. It was the Battle of Bull Run at Manassas Junction, VA. The Confederates won the battle.
1925 - The "Monkey Trial" ended in Dayton, TN. John T. Scopes was convicted and fined $100 for violating the state prohibition on teaching Darwin's theory of evolution. The conviction was later overturned on a legal technicality because the judge had set the fine instead of the jury.
1930 - The Veterans Administration of the United States was established.
1931 - CBS aired the first regularly scheduled program to be simulcast on radio and television. The show featured singer Kate Smith, composer George Gershwin and New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker.
1944 - American forces landed on Guam during World War II.
1949 - The U.S. Senate ratified the North Atlantic Treaty.
1954 - The Geneva Conference partitioned Vietnam into North Vietnam and South Vietnam.
1961 - Captain Virgil "Gus" Grissom became the second American to rocket into a sub-orbital pattern around the Earth. He was flying on the Liberty Bell 7.
1980 - Draft registration began in the United States for 19 and 20-year-old men.
1997 - The U.S.S. Constitution, which defended the United States during the War of 1812, set sail under its own power for the first time in 116 years.
2002 - WorldCom Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. At the time it was the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history.
2004 - White House officials were briefed on the September 11 commission's final report. The 575-page report concluded that hijackers exploited "deep institutional failings within our government." The report was released to the public the next day.
2010 - President Barack Obama signed into law the most sweeping overhaul of U.S. lending and high finance rules since the 1930s.
2011 - Space Shuttle Atlantis landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It was the last flight of NASA's space shuttle program.

‘Bloody massacres’: Syria appeals to UN after French & US airstrikes ‘kill over 140 civilians’
RT - Syria is demanding the UN take action after it says French war planes killed more than 120 civilians during airstrikes on Tuesday near the Turkish-Syrian border. The deaths came just a day after US air assaults killed a further 20 people in Manbij. The Syrian Foreign Ministry sent letters to the UN secretary general and to the president of the UN Security Council, which at present is Japan. Damascus wants the organization to look into atrocities committed by France, which is a member of the US-led international coalition, after it targeted the village of Toukhan Al-Kubra, located near the Turkish-Syrian border and the city of Manbij…. In the letter, the Syrian Foreign Ministry added that it condemns the continued support by the US, France, Saudi Arabia, the UK and Qatar to terrorist organizations such as Al-Nusra Front and Jaish Al-Islam, despite these groups having clear links to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and Al-Qaeda.

Erdogan Declares Three Month "State Of Emergency", Warns S&P "Don't Mess With Turkey"
Zero Hedge - Having warned earlier of the possibility, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday announced a three-month state of emergency, saying this would enable the authorities to take swift and effective action against those responsible for last weekend's failed military coup. He explicitly focused on the effort across his nation to "effectively tackle the Gulen movement," as Erdogan stated that there might be more plans to continue coup attempts. The state of emergency, which comes into force after it is published in Turkey's official gazette, will allow the president and cabinet to bypass parliament in passing new laws and to limit or suspend rights and freedoms as they deem necessary. The decision has immediately raised fears of more arbitrary arrests, killings and disappearances…. The president added that "citizens should have no concerns for democracy," and warned ratings egency S&P "not to mess with Turkey" and comforted his citizens that a "state of emergency does not mean military rule" and that the decision was not against the constitution. Erdogan said regional governors would receive increased powers under the state of emergency, adding that the armed forces would work in line with government orders…. Finally, he lashed out at Europe, "which he said does not have the right to criticize this decision," anticipating expressions of "concern" from the European Union, which has become increasingly critical of Turkey's rights record and has urged restraint as Ankara purges its state institutions since the abortive coup.

2 Constitutional Court judges arrested in Turkey, all military judges suspended
RT - Hundreds of Turkish judges and prosecutors have been suspended by the Turkish Defense Ministry, with at least two Constitutional Court judges having been arrested amid widening purges that follow a coup attempt last week. Over 100 members of Turkey's Constitutional Court, including prosecutors and other judiciary members were arrested on Wednesday, Turkish national broadcaster NTV reported. Two Constitutional Court judges, Alparslan Altan and Erdal Tercan are among them. The same day, the Turkish Defense Ministry also suspended at least 262 military judges and prosecutors.

Energy Is The Reason Europe Is Still Backing Erdogan
OilPrice.com - A lot of people in Europe are wondering why political leaders on the continent seem to be ready to agree with whatever Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says, and do anything he demands. Many resent Erdogan’s hand-twisting approach to the migrant crisis and worry about Turkey turning into a dictatorship, plain and simple. The Bosphorus is where around 3 percent of daily global crude oil shipments pass, or some 3 million barrels. This may not be a lot in percentage terms, but for Europe it accounts for well over a quarter of its total crude oil imports. Europe imported 1.559 billion barrels from the former Soviet Union last year, or an average of 4 million barrels daily, according to European Commission figures. Besides the Bosphorus, Turkey is also home to two pipelines for Caspian and Iraqi crude, as well as the Southern Gas Corridor, which should provide Europe with an alternative source of natural gas in hopes of undermining the leading position of Russia’s Gazprom on the European market. There is also the Ceyhan port, Turkey’s main crude export terminal. This is where the two pipelines from Azerbaijan and Iraq end up, and this is also allegedly where a lot of ISIS oil ends up. In short, Turkey is already a major hub for oil and gas coming from the Middle East and Central Asia, and its importance in this respect will only grow as new projects—especially gas projects—come online.

S&P Sees A "Crisis Of Confidence Around The Globe" As Corporate Debt Hits $75 Trillion In 2020
Zero Hedge - In an analysis that may rival that infamous "McKinsey report" from early 2015 which found that not only had there been no deleveraging since the financial crisis but that total global debt has risen to an unprecedented $199 trillion as of 2014, or up by $52 trillion in 7 years, earlier today S&P Global Raters issued a new report in which it forecasts that global corporate debt is set to rise by 50% over the next four years, rising from $51.4 trillion currently to $75 trillion by 2020 as a result of easy central bank monetary policy and low interest rates. Not surprisingly, the world's biggest credit creator, China, is expected to account for the bulk of the credit growth, with the nation projected to add $28 trillion or 45% of the $62 trillion in expected global demand increase (the other $13 trillion of the $75 trillion total are refinancings). The U.S. is estimated to add $14 trillion, or 22%, in new debt, with Europe adding $9 trillion, or 15 percent…. S&P notes that central banks may be trying to reinflate their economies, but they’re doing so to the detriment of credit quality. “Central banks remain in thrall to the idea that credit-fueled growth is healthy for the global economy. In fact, our research highlights that monetary policy easing has thus far contributed to increased financial risk, with the growth of corporate borrowing far outpacing that of the global economy.”

BBC Suggests Calling Terrorists “Terrorists” is Politically Incorrect
Paul Joseph Watson - Never mind Obama refusing to use the term “radical Islamic terrorism,” now the BBC has suggested that calling terrorists “terrorists” might be a bigoted thought crime. A tweet sent out by BBC Scotland asks, “Do you think we should remove the word “Islamist” or “terrorist” from our newspapers or does it categorise the atrocities for what they are?” Because referring to Islamists who carry out atrocities in the name of Islam as “Islamists” might offend Islamists. Even worse, calling terrorists who carry out acts of terror “terrorists” might be Islamophobic…. It’s no surprise that this comes from the BBC, an organization that is so politically correct it actively discourages white people from applying for jobs in order to make itself more ‘ethnically diverse’. However, the mere notion that the words “Islamist” and “terrorist” should be censored because they don’t accurately “categorise the atrocities for what they are,” is totally absurd and suggests that the BBC thinks some terrorist atrocities are actually justified and that terrorists shouldn’t be called the pejorative term “terrorist”. Absolute unbridled insanity.

4yrs in jail, damages: Finnish man sentenced after defending against home invasion
RT - A homeowner in Finland has been sentenced to four years in jail and a hefty fine after fighting off three intruders who attempted to rob his house. The thieves, meanwhile, got lesser prison terms and are to be paid damages by their victim. In April, a 35-year-old man from Hyvinkää, a town just 50km north of the Finnish capital, Helsinki, heard a knock on the front door of his suburban house and rushed to open it. As soon as he unlocked it, three strangers rushed in and launched at him, toting baseball bats and a gun. The man retreated to the kitchen, where he found a knife and with it was able to overpower the intruders, two men and one woman. The court spent nearly four months examining the case to come up with the unexpected ruling. The homeowner has been convicted of “excessive self-defense and attempted manslaughter,” Helsinki news reports. He will serve an unconditional sentence for four years and two months, which he has to spend in prison. The man also has to pay damages to his attackers, with the fine totaling €21,000 (US$23,000). The newspaper does not provide information on the severity of injuries sustained by the home-invaders, however, it is known that they survived the event. The attackers were also convicted for felony home invasion and assault, yet their punishments are much less harsh.

"My Own People Hate Me!" - Black Brooklyn Cop Slams "False Narrative Of Black Lives Matter"
Zero Hedge - Authored by Brooklyn, NY police officer Jay Stalien (via Facebook)… ”I haven’t slept well in the past few nights. Heartbreak weighs me down, rage flows through my veins, and tears fills my eyes. I realized... Black Lives do not matter to most black people. Only the lives that make the national news matter to them. Only the lives that are taken at the hands of cops or white people, matter. The other thousands of lives lost, the other black souls that I along with every cop, have seen taken at the hands of other blacks, do not matter." [Long post, but worth the time to read.]

Troopers charged in beating of New Hampshire motorist (Video)
Reuters - State troopers from Massachusetts and New Hampshire have been arrested and charged with assault in the beating of a motorist that was captured on video, authorities said on Tuesday. Video footage taken from a helicopter showed officers drawing their weapons at the end of a high-speed chase in May that began in Massachusetts and ended in New Hampshire. The video shows a man being punched several times by at least two officers and handcuffed. New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph Foster identified the man as Richard Simone Jr. Massachusetts State Trooper Joseph Flynn, 32, faces two charges of simple assault. New Hampshire State Trooper Andrew Monaco, 31, has been charged with three counts of simple assault, Foster said in a statement. Both have been released on bond. The charges are subject to an enhanced penalty since the two officers were on duty at the time.

DoD Creating Virus-Fighting Viruses For Outbreak Emergency: Will “Evolve With Lethal Viruses As They Compete With Them”
Mac Slavo - The U.S. military is now creating its own custom-made line of viruses that it hopes can be used to neutralize a deadly virus during an outbreak by out competing with it and reproducing enough times to overwhelm a strain like HIV, Zika or Ebola. But early research also shows that the lab created, genetically-engineered “dud” viruses could interfere with DNA and trigger cancer, and unlike other therapeutics, will be evolving as it courses through…. via Bloomberg: A pair of brothers working in laboratories on opposite coasts of the U.S. are brewing a new approach to fighting viruses, one that’s drawn interest from the military for protection against the threat of infections such as Zika and Ebola. The experimental treatment pursued by Ariel Weinberger, a Harvard University biologist, and Leor Weinberger, a virologist at the University of California at San Francisco-affiliated Gladstone Institutes, deploys a tweaked, safe version of a virus to overwhelm the form that invades and kills cells. While it’s very early — the approach has only been tested in test tubes and animals — the U.S. government is ready to invest in developing the idea and seeing whether similar mutants can protect against other diseases. […] The brothers are studying bits of genetic material called therapeutic interfering particles, or TIPs […] the Weinbergers have received funding from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for exploratory studies of TIPs, and in April DARPA issued a call for more proposals.

Melania Trump speechwriter apologizes; resignation offer rejected
Fox News - A Trump organization staffer identified herself on Wednesday as the person responsible for plagiarism in Melania's Trump convention speech and offered her resignation. Meredith McIver apologized in a statement sent out by the campaign and said Donald and Melania Trump did not accept her resignation. McIver explained that she included the passages from Obama's speech after listening to Melania Trump read passages from the 2008 speech. "Over the phone, she read me some passages from Mrs. Obama's speech as examples. I wrote them down and later included some of the phrasing in the draft that ultimately became the final speech. I did not check Mrs. Obama's speeches. This was my mistake, and I feel terrible for the chaos I have caused Melania and the Trumps, as well as to Mrs. Obama. No harm was meant."

Anti-Trump Protester Pepper-Sprayed, Arrested After Burning US Flag In Cleveland (Photos)
Zero Hedge - Police and fire officials moved rapidly in Cleveland as an Anti-Trump protester - reportedly a Communism-related "Revolution Club" supporter - set fire to the US flag. Plice and fire officials moved rapidly in Cleveland as an Anti-Trump protester - reportedly a Communism-related "Revolution Club" supporter - set fire to the US flag. There are few details as yet though it seems law enforcement had some knowledge it may occur...

Video: Hillary’s Racist VP Pick
David Knight - HUD Secretary leading contender for Hillary choice. While everyone was freaking out about plagiarism in a couple of phrases of Melania Trump speech, no one noticed the quiet announcement of an ethics investigation that found HUD Secretary Julian Castro, touted as a leading contender for Hillary’s Vice President, had violated the Hatch Act. His violation? Using his office and official position to support a political candidate. But what about Supreme Court Justice Ginsberg who did the same thing a week earlier? The media ignores these ethics violations, Obama says he won’t punish Castro and Castro says “mistakes were made”.

Pentagon tries to tackle anger and stress among military veterans after Baton Rouge and Dallas shootings
The Independent - As the US reels from the shooting deaths of police officers in Louisiana and Texas - incidents that were carried out by military veterans who had served in Afghanistan and Iraq - the Pentagon is trying to better understand the extent of the problems, and find solutions…. Police investigating the shooting deaths in Baton Rouge and Dallas say that the gunmen - Gavin Long killed three officers in Louisiana and and Micah Johnson killed five policemen in Texas - were apparently motivated by rage and anger. It it not yet clear whether their military service contributed to that anger. But reports have said both Long, who served five years in the Marine Corps, and Army reservist Johnson, both suffered with mental health problems. On Wednesday, CNN said that investigators in Louisiana had determined that 29-year-old Long was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. The news channel said that Long had filled a prescription for Ativan, an anti-anxiety drug, as recently as June. He also had prescriptions for Valium and the sleep aid Lunesta.

HSBC Global Head Of FX Cash Trading Arrested At JFK Airport
Zero Hedge - A historic event took place moments ago when Mark Johnson, the global head of cash FX at HSBC was arrested at JFK airport for his role in a "conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks", and specifically for frontrunning customer orders. He is the first person charged by the US in the ongoing FX rigging probe. As Bloomberg reports, a "senior manager at HSBC Holdings Plc was arrested in New York for his role in a conspiracy to rig currency benchmarks, according to two people familiar with the matter, becoming the first person to be charged in the Justice Department’s three-year investigation into foreign-exchange rigging at global banks." The DOJ adds that Mark Johnson, 50, a U.K. citizen and U.K. and U.S. resident, and Stuart Scott, 43, a U.K. citizen and resident, were charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Johnson was arrested last night at JFK International Airport in Queens, New York, and will be arraigned later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom of the Eastern District of New York. From Johnson's bio: Johnson is global head of foreign exchange cash trading at HSBC, based in London. Prior to joining HSBC in 2010, he was founding managing partner and chief investment officer at Johnson Stewart Partners. Before that, he was global head of trading at Deutsche Bank.

19.4 Trillion Dollars In Debt – We Have Added 1.1 Trillion Dollars A Year To The National Debt Under Obama
Economic Collapse - As I write this article, the U.S. national debt is sitting at a grand total of $19,402,361,890,929.46. But when Barack Obama first entered the White House, our federal government was only 10.6 trillion dollars in debt. That means that we have added an average of 1.1 trillion dollars a year to the national debt under Obama, and we still have about six more months to go. Even though Barack Obama is on track to be the first president in all of U.S. history to not have a single year when the U.S. economy grew by 3 percent or better, many have still been mystified by the fact that the economy has been relatively stable in recent years…. In the United States today, our standard of living is being massively inflated by taking trillions of dollars of future consumption and moving it into the present. The politicians love to do this because it makes them look good and they can take credit for an “economic recovery”, but what we are doing to our children and our grandchildren is beyond criminal. On average, we are stealing more than 100 million dollars from future generations of Americans every single hour of every single day…. At this point, our national debt is more than 30 times larger than it was just 40 years ago.

Alameda Becomes 5th County in California to Ban Fracking
EcoWatch - Alameda County is the first county in the San Francisco Bay area to ban hydraulic fracturing, CBS San Francisco reported. A coalition of environmental groups worked for more than two years to persuade county officials to ban the practice…. Environmentalists have been working to ban fracking one county at a time after Gov. Jerry Brown voiced his opposition to a statewide fracking ban. Santa Cruz, San Benito, Mendocino and Butte counties are the four other counties that have already banned fracking. Environmentalists are now setting their sights on Santa Clara and Monterey counties. Monterey is set to vote in November on the issue. Colorado will also see anti-fracking initiatives on the November ballot.

Why Citi’s Mark May Thinks "The Pokemon GO Threat Is Real"
Zero Hedge - The avg. U.S. iOS user is spending over 33 minutes playing Pokémon GO each day. This places PG ahead of apps such as Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram. Although we believe that PG is adding some incremental time to total smartphone time, we think it would be wrong to assume that the app’s success is not coming at the expense of other players.... , YouTube and TWTR are seeing the largest decreases in avg. time spent per day.

Saudi Clerics Unleash New Fatwa On Pokemon Game
Zero Hedge - Following Indonesia's ban and issuance of a 'national security threat', Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia's top clerical body has renewed a 15-year-old edict that the Pokemon game franchise is un-Islamic. Having tumbled almost 13% overnight - after its meteoric 'double' in the last 8 days - it appears Nintendo's new game is coming under increasing scrutiny... (as Reuters notes) Although the fatwa made no mention of the successful new Pokemon GO mobile game, Nintendo's augmented reality app, in which players walk around real-life neighborhoods to hunt and catch virtual cartoon characters on their smartphone screens, has prompted The General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars said it had revived a 2001 decree against a Pokemon card game in response to queries from believers. The Council argued that the mutations of the creatures in the game, who are given specific powers, amounted to blasphemy by promoting the theory of natural evolution. "It is shocking that the word 'evolution' has been much on the tongues of children," the fatwa read. It also said the game contained other elements prohibited by Islamic law, including "polytheism against God by multiplying the number of deities, and gambling, which God has forbidden in the Quran and likened to wine and idols". The fatwa added that symbols used in the game promoted Japan's Shinto religion, Christianity, Freemasonry and "global Zionism".

After 7 Years, U.S. Health Agency at Loss for Extending Patient Privacy Law to Booming Health Tech Industry
AllGov - HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act] requires tight security over personal health information. Apps and wearables may not have the same protections. A study looked at 600 of the most commonly used health apps and found that fewer than a third had privacy policies. Many apps connect to third-party websites without users’ knowledge and send data in unencrypted ways that potentially exposed personal information. Many people do not read an app’s privacy policy, leaving them open to having their information used in myriad ways.

Enjoy Lots of Watermelon This Summer – It’s Healthier Than You Know
REALfarmacy - First of all, it’s red. And all red veggies and fruits are high in lycopene and beta-carotene. Lycopene has several benefits beyond resisting prostate cancer. It helps resist other cancers that occur with women as well, and it may help resolve fatty liver with both men and women. It’s a powerful antioxidant. Beta carotene also provides protection against cancer. A Chinese study determined that women whose diets were high in fresh veggies and fruits, including watermelon had less incidents of breast cancer. Ah, but what about those sugar spikes. Watermelon is very sweet. A Danish study observed, tested, and analyzed 63 men and women recently diagnosed with diabetes 2. They concluded that the medical advice of eating less fruit for diabetics and pre-diabetics with high blood sugar or metabolic disorders is wrong…. Other studies using watermelon extract have demonstrated that watermelon actually helps prevent metabolic disorders that lead to diabetes type 2. And yet other studies show that watermelon’s L-citrulline and L-arginine improve cardiovascular health by preventing endothelial dysfunction, which reduces the blood vessels flexibility and ability to dilate as needed. In other words, watermelon is good for heart health.
* Related: Prostate cancer watermelon basil juice

Dandelion Tea Kill Cancer Cells, Controls Blood Sugar Spikes; How to Prepare it?
Natural News Blogs - Dandelion tea can be prepared from the roots or the yellow flowers of the dandelion weed. It is a very rich source of beta-carotene, as well of vitamin C, fiber, potassium, iron, copper, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus. Dandelion tea also provides B-complex vitamins such as B1, B2, B3, B6, trace minerals, organic sodium, and even some vitamin D too. It contains natural sodium, which fulfills the deficiency of nutritive salts, and detoxes the body, purifies the blood. It is an excellent source of antioxidants which prevents free radicals from damaging the body. Dandelion tea is very delicious and nutritious with a refreshing taste, when prepared, sweeteners like honey can be added. Ingredient: -1 tbsp. *roasted dandelion root -1/2 tsp. *minced, fresh ginger -1 cardamom seed -12 oz. Water -Honey to taste… Dandelion tea or juice benefits diabetics by stimulating the production of insulin from the pancreas and maintaining low blood sugar levels. Dandelion contains a substance known as alpha-glucosidase, which controls blood sugar spikes…. Dandelion root is also praised for its anti-cancer potential. It may slow cancer’s growth and prevent it from spreading. Dandelion is one of world’s best natural diuretic allowing your liver and kidney to more quickly eliminate toxins… It strengthens the immune system, reducing swelling, balance blood sugar levels, lowering your blood pressure, relieve heartburn and soothes digestive system.
 

Wednesday - July 20, 2016 - Today In History:

1801 - A 1,235 pound cheese ball was pressed at the farm of Elisha Brown, Jr. The ball of cheese was later loaded on a horse-driven wagon and presented to U.S. President Thomas Jefferson at the White House.
1861 - The Congress of the Confederate States began holding sessions in Richmond, VA.
1868 - Legislation that ordered U.S. tax stamps to be placed on all cigarette packs was passed.
1881 - Sioux Indian leader Sitting Bull, a fugitive since the Battle of the Little Big Horn, surrendered to federal troops. (Montana)
1917 - The draft lottery in World War I went into operation.
1942 - The first detachment of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, (WACS) began basic training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.
1944 - U.S. President Roosevelt was nominated for an unprecedented fourth term of office at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
1969 - Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. became the first men to walk on the moon.
1976 - America's Viking I robot spacecraft made a successful landing on Mars.
1982 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan pulled the U.S. out of comprehensive test ban negotiations indefinitely.
1985 - Treasure hunters began raising $400 million in coins and silver from the Spanish galleon "Nuestra Senora de Atocha." The ship sank in 1622 40 miles of the coast of Key West, FL.
1998 - Russia won a $11.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to help avert the devaluation of its currency.
1999 - After 38 years at the bottom of the Atlantic, astronaut Gus Grissom's Liberty Bell 7 Mercury capsule was recovered.
2003 - In India, elephants used for commercial work began wearing reflectors to avoid being hit by cars during night work.
2007 - The Senate Judiciary Committee voted almost totally along party lines, 13-6, to approve Elena Kagan to be the Supreme Court's fourth female justice.

US air strike in Syria kills up to 85 civilians 'mistaken for Isil fighters
The Telegraph - US air strike killed more than 85 civilians, including children, in Syria on Tuesday after the coalition mistook them for Islamic State [I-CIA-SIS] fighters. Some eight families were hit as they tried to flee fighting in their area, in one of the single deadliest strikes on civilians by the alliance since the start of its operations in the war-torn country. Pictures of the aftermath of the dawn strikes on the Isil-controlled village of Tokhar near Manbij in northern Syria showed the bodies of children as young as three under piles of rubble. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes appeared to have been carried out in error, with the civilians mistaken for Islamist militants.

WikiLeaks releases 300k Turkey govt emails in response to Erdogan’s post-coup purges
RT - Despite a massive cyberattack on its website, WikiLeaks has published the first batch of nearly 300,000 emails from the Turkish ruling AKP party’s internal server and thousands of attached files in response to the Ankara government’s widespread post-coup purges. Some 294,548 emails pertaining to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice & Development Party (AKP) were made public on Tuesday at 11:00pm Ankara time. “WikiLeaks has moved forward its publication schedule in response to the government's post-coup purges,” WikiLeaks said in the release. “We have verified the material and the source, who is not connected, in any way, to the elements behind the attempted coup, or to a rival political party or state,” added the whistleblowing site, which has previously insisted that it is neither pro- nor anti-government, but rather serves "the truth".
* Related: Search the AKP email database

Turkey formally requests extradition of cleric from U.S. as purge widens
(CNN) - Turkey has formally requested the extradition of cleric Fethullah Gulen from the United States, the Prime Minister said Tuesday, as the government widens its purge following a failed military coup over the weekend. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames Gulen, a longtime bitter rival, for the attempted coup that began Friday night, leaving at least 232 people dead and leading to mass arrests and dismissals. Prime Minister Binali Yildirim announced the request Tuesday in Parliament and on Twitter referred to Gulen as a "terrorist leader."

Erdogan Unleashes Unprecedented Crackdown: Fires All University Deans; Suspends 21,000 Private School Teachers
Zero Hedge - In an unprecedented move, Erdogan has taken his putsch to the next level, and after sacking 20,000 government workers, army, police and ministry workers, he has purged a mind-blowing 40,000 educators working for Turkey's private school and university system…. Anadolu reports that Turkey's Board of Higher Education has requested the resignations of all 1,577 university deans, effectively dismissing them. Of the deans dismissed, 1,176 worked in public universities and 401 in private institutions. The National Education Ministry said Tuesday that the staff are in both urban and rural establishments, and that an investigation has been launched against them. It didn't stop there, and as Turkey's Ysafak reports, the country has just canceled the license of some 21,000 private school teachers…. Why is Erdogan doing all of this? Simple: he is doing everything in his power to undo the last traces of secularism in the Turkish state and to propel himself to the role of undisputed, "democratically elected" despot, without any internal opposition.

They Know What Comes Next: Russian Citizens Are “Stocking Up On Essentials In Case Of War”
Mac Slavo - According to a report from Newsweek titled In Europe and Russia There’s Talk Of War, plenty of Russians feel the same way: Older generations of Russians know exactly what the build up to a war looks like and signs around the world indicative of serious problems simply can’t be ignored. With Vladimir Putin having recently purged 50 of his top commanders following an old Soviet doctrine that calls for exactly such maneuvers ahead of war, there appear to be a variety of actions being undertaken by both East and West in anticipation of a large-scale conflict. NATO is deploying more assets to the Eastern front and the Russians for, their part, are feverishly deploying new weapons systems, one of which is reportedly capable of obliterating an entire U.S. state the size of Texas, as well as a Tsunami torpedo that could wipe out entire coastal cities. And while it may be easy to dismiss the stockpiling and preparedness activities of citizens as extreme behavior, the fact is that the governments of both the United States and Russia are actively preparing in much the same way. The Russians, for example, have built 5,000 underground nuke shelters in and around Moscow. In the United States, the government’s Continuity of Government plans have called for trillions of dollars to be spent on everything from Deep Underground Military Bases (DUMBs) to literally billions of rounds of stockpiled ammunition by various government agencies.

German train attacker left 'suicide note', wanted revenge for killings in Muslim countries
RT - Pages from a notebook found at the home of an Afghan teen who attacked passengers on a German train with an axe may be regarded as a suicide note, police and investigating officials said during a press-briefing on Tuesday. Addressing his father, the young man asked him to pray that he could take revenge "on the infidels" and "get to Heaven," officials said. The train attacker was "a devout Sunni," according to officials, who added that he didn't visit a mosque regularly, but had probably prayed privately. Having studied the man's presence on social networks, investigators said he had published a post against "enemies of Islam" some 24 hours before the attack. One of the perpetrator's friends, with whom he often spoke by phone, had recently died in Afghanistan, the media were told, with investigators adding that it may have been a trigger for the assault. Investigators said they were in possession of a video, the content of which was being "analyzed." Earlier on Tuesday, Amaq news agency, affiliated with Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) released a video allegedly showing the axe-wielding attacker. Identifying him as Muhammad Riyad, IS called him a "soldier of the Caliphate."

Ohio Sheriff Urges Civilian Staff To Bring Weapons To Work
Zero Hedge - Following the recent surge in deadly violence involving police forces across the US, a sheriff in southwest Ohio has encouraged civilians on his staff to bring their weapons to work. According to the Hamilton-Middletown Journal-News, Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones is urging his civilian staff to “exercise some extra caution” concerning their personal safety, and in a memo to full-time and part-time staff and volunteers, Jones urged those with a valid Ohio CCW [Concealed Carry Weapon] License to carry their weapon within the department’s headquarters at 705 Hanover St. in Hamilton. He also encouraged employees to carry their weapon while operating any department vehicle away from the headquarters. The memo — which was directed to office-type personnel, not deputies — came Friday after recent attacks against police officers across the country over the past two weeks.

Police Officer Killed After Kansas City Shooting, Suspects At Large
Zero Hedge - According to a local report the officer was responding to a driveby shooting. A chase ensued and suspects emerged from a vehicle and shot the officer. According to police, officers responded to a shots fired call at about 1:30 p.m. at Second and Edgerton. One person was taken into custody. The caller said multiple people were shooting at him from a vehicle. Officers arrived at the scene at 1:37 p.m., and the suspects fled from the vehicle. An officer took one person into custody. As the second officer pursued the other suspects and made contact with one of them at 1:57 p.m., multiple shots were fired, and the officer was hit. The officer was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Authorities said he was wearing a bullet-resistant vest. Police continue to search for the other suspects.

Texas Governor Proposes Law to Make Cop Killing a Hate Crime
Breitbart - Texas Governor Greg Abbott proposed legislation to strengthen penalties for crimes committed against law enforcement officers — the Police Protection Act — to make targeting police with acts of violence a hate crime…. Aside classifying anti-cop violence as a hate crime, the Police Protection Act would change the crime of assault of an officer from a third to second degree felony — which carries stiffer penalties. The legislation also includes a campaign to educate Texas youth on having respect for police by teaching them the value that officers bring to their communities. “The men and women in uniform risk their lives every day to protect the public, and it is time we show them the State of Texas has their back,” Abbott said. “Texas will no longer tolerate disrespect for those who serve, and it must be made to clear to anyone targeting our law enforcement officials that their actions will be met with severe justice.”Abbott illuminated the Governor’s Mansion in blue for five nights to honor the five fallen officers, also hanging the Dallas city flag. He ordered Texas flags lowered to half-staff through July 12.

It's Official: Trump is Republican Nominee
Cleveland (CNN) - Donald Trump, the billionaire businessman whose outsider campaign has both galvanized millions of voters and divided the Republican Party, is the 2016 GOP presidential nominee. The New Yorker's embrace by the Republican National Convention marks a remarkable moment in U.S. political history and validates a campaign that shattered precedent, defied pundits and usurped the GOP establishment. His son Donald Trump, Jr., cast the votes for the New York delegation that put the billionaire businessman over the top of the 1,237 delegates he needed to clinch the nomination, as any talk of disruptive protest votes or walkouts dissipated. "It is my honor to be able to throw Donald Trump over the top in the delegate count tonight with 89 delegates," Donald Jr. said, surrounded by three of Trump's other children -- Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany. "Congratulations Dad, we love you."

Norovirus may have crashed GOP convention, sickening 11 staff so far
Ars Technica - Around 11 Californian Republican Party staff members who arrived in Cleveland early to help organize this week's National Convention have fallen ill with what appears to be norovirus infections. Health officials have reportedly taken fecal samples from the sick and sent them for testing at a lab in Columbus, Ohio. "It looks like the norovirus, but we're not going to say that's definitively what it is," Erie County Health Commissioner Pete Schade told the local newspaper, the Plain Dealer. The staffers who have fallen ill are essentially being quarantined at their hotel, the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. That facility is almost 60 miles away from the Cleveland arena where the convention is taking place. They have been instructed to avoid the convention until going 24 hours without symptoms. So far, no delegates have been infected, but local health authorities are cautioning convention attendees to wash their hands frequently, avoid sharing food, and avoid shaking hands. The resort has set up hand sanitizer stations for guests, however alcohol-based sanitizers are not effective against non-enveloped viruses such as noroviruses.

Manafort takes heat from ex-Trump campaign manager over Melania speech flap
Fox News - Donald Trump’s ex-campaign manager Corey Lewandowski took to task the man who replaced him Tuesday over allegedly plagiarized passages in Melania Trump’s convention speech, saying Paul Manafort should find out who’s responsible and hold them “accountable.” The passages in question were strikingly similar to first lady Michelle Obama’s 2008 convention address. As current campaign manager Manafort downplayed the controversy, Lewandowski said Manafort should “take a deep look inside” the Trump operation to find out who signed off on the speech…. He even said, “I think if it was Paul Manafort [who signed off], he would do the right thing and resign,” while adding it’s “very possible” Manafort did not approve the speech…. RNC chairman Reince Priebus defended Trump's speech, calling it "inspirational" and a "great immigrant story," but said he'd "probably" fire the woman's speech writer.
* Related Video: Trump Campaign Responds To "Absurd" Melania Plagiarism Accusations

Did Michelle Obama Also "Borrow" For Her 2008 Speech
Zero Hedge - Today's political press has been captivated by the alleged plagiarism by Melania Trump, who is said to have stolen fragments of a speech delivered by Michelle Obama in 2008…. However, in a curious development, the IOTWReport website finds some curious analogues between Michelle's own 2008 speech, and a book written in 1992 by African author Rob Marsh titled, "Business success in South Africa."

Hillary Clinton Lectures on White Privilege. How About the Privilege of the Elite?
Kurt Nimmo - On Monday at the 107th NAACP convention in Cincinnati, she mounted the stage and declared white Americans need to “recognize our privilege and practice humility.” “We white Americans need to do a better job of listening when African-Americans talk about the seen and unseen barriers you face everyday. We need to recognize our privilege and practice humility, rather than assume our experiences are everyone’s experiences,” she admonished. Clinton’s hypocrisy is nothing short of astounding. As a cherished member of the political elite, she enjoys unbounded privilege only imagined by the vast majority of Americans. The Justice Department has refused to prosecute Hillary Clinton for violation of 18 U.S. Code 1924 covering “Unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material.” FBI boss James Comey admitted Clinton enjoys special privilege.

The Feds “Assault” On U.S. War Veterans You Won’t Believe
Government Slaves - Constitutional Attorney Michael Connelly, JD, who also is the Executive Director of the United States Justice Foundation, has written the article “OUTRAGEOUS: Veterans are now receiving letters prohibiting the purchase, possession, receipt, or transport of a firearm/ammunition…” that every voter and law abiding citizen in the USA ought to read to understand the scope of what’s happened in this country… According to Connelly, veterans are receiving a letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that states in part, A determination of incompetency will prohibit you from purchasing, possessing, receiving, or transporting a firearm or ammunition. If you knowingly violate any of these prohibitions, you may be fined, imprisoned, or both pursuant to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, Pub.L.No. 103-159, as implemented at 18, United States Code 924(a)(2).? It seems as if the VA has taken another tact of dealing with neutralizing veterans apparently by denying them due process because, according to Connelly, In every state in the United States no one can be declared incompetent to administer their own affairs without due process of law and that usually requires a judicial hearing with evidence being offered to prove to a judge that the person is indeed incompetent. This is a requirement of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that states that no person shall “… be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law…

White House Claims That Student Debt Is Good For The Economy
Government Slaves - The organization recently released a paper which argued that these student loans are actually beneficial to the economy. “Federal student loan programs help expand access to high-quality education, which has long-lasting benefits to individuals as well as the overall macroeconomy through higher labor productivity and faster GDP growth.” The report goes on to claim that the Fed’s student loan program has helped build skills among workers, earning them more money and driving growth. In reality, unless you earn a degree in a field that society needs, like say science, medicine, or engineering, you’re probably not going to earn enough money to justify your student loan. Most college grads don’t even work in the field that they studied for, and the idea that a college degree will magically net you an extra $1 million over the course of your life, is a total myth…. What’s really going on, is the Federal student loan program is saddling students with debts that can’t be defaulted on, in order to pay for degrees that won’t earn them any money. That’s why millennials are putting off starting families, starting businesses, buying homes, and getting married. These debts are so high that it’s not uncommon for parents over the age of 40 to still owe money, and have children who are also brimming with student loan debt. We have an entire lost generation on our hands because of student loans.

New Report Slams US EPA over Harmful Pesticide Mixture Approvals
Sustainable Pulse - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved nearly 100 pesticide products over the past six years that contain mixtures that make them more poisonous and increase the dangers to imperiled pollinators and rare plants, according to an investigation by the Center for Biological Diversity…. The Center’s new report, Toxic Concoctions: How the EPA Ignores the Dangers of Pesticide Cocktails, involved an intensive search of patent applications for pesticide products containing two or more active ingredients recently approved by the EPA for four major agrochemical companies (Bayer, Dow, Monsanto and Syngenta). “The EPA is supposed to be the cop on the beat, protecting people and the environment from the dangers of pesticides,” said Nathan Donley, a scientist with the Center and author of the report. “With these synergistic pesticides, the EPA has decided to look the other way, and guess who’s left paying the price?” Synergy occurs when two or more chemicals interact to enhance their toxic effects. It can turn what would normally be considered a safe level of exposure into one that results in considerable harm. Pesticide mixtures are ubiquitous in the environment and also present in many products for sale on store shelves.

Rhode Island Legalizes Hemp; Sets Foundation to Nullify Federal Prohibition
Activist Post - A coalition of five Democrats introduced House Bill 8232 (H8232) on May 19. As introduced, the legislation would have only allowed state-licensed representatives of the Narragansett Indian Tribe to produce, possess, distribute, and commercially trade industrial hemp. In a rapid series of events, the bill was amended in the House Committee of Health Education and Welfare to apply to everybody. On June 17, the House passed the amended bill 71-0. The Senate concurred the next day by a 26-7 margin. With Gov. Gina Raimondo’s signature, the law will go into effect Jan.1 2017. Under the law, industrial hemp is now treated as an agricultural crop subject to regulation by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation.

Video: The Shocking Reason Why Apple Cider Vinegar Works for Weight Loss and Colds
Natural Blaze - Dr. Eric Berg has been turning old-time nutritional dogma on its head. In the video below, he explains the reasons why and how apple cider vinegar works in your body…. Excerpt from Dr. Berg’s description: Dr. Berg talks about the health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar. It contains Acetic Acid, the key ingredient at a pH of 2.5 The different parts of our body have different levels of pH. The Key is to know your blood pH level and adjust accordingly. Acetic acid is very acidic and is used to cure various conditions like acid reflux in which the stomach becomes too much alkaline. High levels of cortisol might cause this body condition. You might also show symptoms of calcium or potassium deficiency in which case you can use apple cider vinegar. There are many benefits of apple cider vinegar and Apple cider vinegar is fantastic for all sorts of ailments, but not because of it’s nutritional content, but from the ability to acidify the body. It will help in the transportation of minerals, especially calcium, the digestion of proteins, the stimulation of thyroid function. Interestingly, due to the common excessive alkalinity a good portion of the population has, apple cider vinegar is a safe and healthy solution.

Even many organic salad dressing manufacturers now use toxic ingredients
(NaturalNews) Canola, for starters, is made from rapeseed oil, which is toxic to all animals, including humans. Canola oil, or "low acid Canadian oil," is simply rapeseed oil with less toxic acid content that meets absurd FDA guidelines. Although the "USDA certified organic" label means no pesticides are added to food, it does not mean the food is not toxic or doesn't contain heavy metal toxins…. Manufacturers use hexane, a vapor component of gasoline, to process rapeseed oil…. If you smelled it, you would never eat it, but rapeseed oil is bleached, deodorized and then cooked at high heat to remove the awful odor. The omega-3 fatty acids of processed canola oil are transformed during this deodorizing process into trans-fatty acids. The reason why canola is particularly unsuitable for consumption is that it contains a very long-chain fatty acid called erucic acid, which is associated with fibroid heart lesions…. Just since the year 2000, U.S. food manufacturers have introduced over 3,000 soy-based foods, many of which are labeled "certified organic.”… Any soy that is unfermented, whether organic or not, is linked to immune-system malfunctions, thyroid dysfunction and cognitive decline. Mountains of research from health studies reveal infant abnormalities, kidney stones and food allergies related to unfermented soy consumption.

Video: The Shocking Reason Why Apple Cider Vinegar Works for Weight Loss and Colds
Natural Blaze - Dr. Eric Berg has been turning old-time nutritional dogma on its head. In the video below, he explains the reasons why and how apple cider vinegar works in your body…. Excerpt from Dr. Berg’s description: Dr. Berg talks about the health benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar. It contains Acetic Acid, the key ingredient at a pH of 2.5 The different parts of our body have different levels of pH. The Key is to know your blood pH level and adjust accordingly. Acetic acid is very acidic and is used to cure various conditions like acid reflux in which the stomach becomes too much alkaline. High levels of cortisol might cause this body condition. You might also show symptoms of calcium or potassium deficiency in which case you can use apple cider vinegar. There are many benefits of apple cider vinegar and Apple cider vinegar is fantastic for all sorts of ailments, but not because of it’s nutritional content, but from the ability to acidify the body. It will help in the transportation of minerals, especially calcium, the digestion of proteins, the stimulation of thyroid function. Interestingly, due to the common excessive alkalinity a good portion of the population has, apple cider vinegar is a safe and healthy solution.

Even many organic salad dressing manufacturers now use toxic ingredients
(NaturalNews) Canola, for starters, is made from rapeseed oil, which is toxic to all animals, including humans. Canola oil, or "low acid Canadian oil," is simply rapeseed oil with less toxic acid content that meets absurd FDA guidelines. Although the "USDA certified organic" label means no pesticides are added to food, it does not mean the food is not toxic or doesn't contain heavy metal toxins…. Manufacturers use hexane, a vapor component of gasoline, to process rapeseed oil…. If you smelled it, you would never eat it, but rapeseed oil is bleached, deodorized and then cooked at high heat to remove the awful odor. The omega-3 fatty acids of processed canola oil are transformed during this deodorizing process into trans-fatty acids. The reason why canola is particularly unsuitable for consumption is that it contains a very long-chain fatty acid called erucic acid, which is associated with fibroid heart lesions…. Just since the year 2000, U.S. food manufacturers have introduced over 3,000 soy-based foods, many of which are labeled "certified organic.”… Any soy that is unfermented, whether organic or not, is linked to immune-system malfunctions, thyroid dysfunction and cognitive decline. Mountains of research from health studies reveal infant abnormalities, kidney stones and food allergies related to unfermented soy consumption.

Why Probiotics?
Cats & Dogs Naturally - Probiotics are micro-organisms that are found in your cat’s and dog’s digestive tract. The gut has both good and bad bacteria, and since 80% of the immune system is located in the gut, it’s a good idea to keep a proper balance of good-to-bad bacteria so that the animal’s immune system continues to function well. If bad bacteria overruns your pet’s digestive tract, it can open the door to GI-related disorders, such as, poor food absorption, and intermittent or chronic diarrhea, or constipation. It can also lead to some serious conditions like leaky gut (dysbiosis), which means your pet can absorb partially digested amino acids and allergens into their bloodstream. And, this can result in a slew of other health problems, from allergies to disorders of the immune system…. Things go awry in the GI tract from the stress of antibiotics, processed pet food, vaccinations, the use steroids like prednisone, surgery, and chronic illnesses. And, then there are the emotional stresses, such as, travel, being placed in a boarding kennel, moving to a new home, and the arrival of a new pet (or, a baby) to the home.
 

Tuesday - July 19, 2016 - Today In History:

1799 - The Rosetta Stone, a tablet with hieroglyphic translations into Greek, was found in Egypt.
1848 - The Women's Rights Convention took place in Seneca Fall, NY. Bloomers were introduced at the convention.
1870 - France declared war on Prussia.
1942 - German U-boats were withdrawn from positions off the U.S. Atlantic coast due to effective American anti-submarine countermeasures.
1943 - During World War II, more than 150 B-17 and 112 B-24 bombers attacked Rome for the first time.
1964 - In Illinois, Cahokia Mounds was designated as a U.S. National Landmark.
1971 - In New York, the topping out ceremony for Two World Trade Center (South Tower) took place. The ceremony for One World Trade Center had taken place on December 23, 1970.
1974 - The House Judiciary Committee recommended that U.S. President Richard Nixon should stand trial in the Senate for any of the five impeachment charges against him.
1982 - The U.S. Census Bureau reported that 14% of the population had an income below the official poverty level in 1981.
1984 - Geraldine Ferraro was nominated by the Democratic Party to become the first woman from a major political party to run for the office of U.S. Vice-President.
1985 - Christa McAuliffe of New Hampshire was chosen to be the first schoolteacher to ride aboard the space shuttle. She died with six others when the Challenger exploded the following year.
1989 - A United Air Lines DC-10 crashed while making an emergency landing at Sioux City, Iowa, killing 112 people; 184 survived.
2005 - President George W. Bush announced his choice of federal appeals court judge John Roberts to replace Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
2011 - Summoned by British lawmakers to answer for a phone hacking and bribery scandal at one of his tabloids, media mogul Rupert Murdoch said he was humbled and ashamed, but accepted no responsibility for wrongdoing.

Former Admiral Urges US to Prepare for Naval Battle with China
Underground Reporter - In a congressional hearing on Wednesday, former Director of National Intelligence and retired Navy admiral Dennis Blair told the panel that the United States should be prepared to use military force to oppose Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.... The admiral’s recommendation came the day after a United Nations tribunal invalidated China’s claim of territorial rights to nearly all of the waters in the South China Sea.... The U.S., citing the territorial dispute and security concerns raised by its allies in the region, have for months been sending warships into the South China Sea as a check against Chinese hostility. Beijing, acutely aware of the military buildup off its coast, has publicly warned the U.S. it’s more than ready to defend against provocations.... Hanging above the whole affair is the fact that China, long before Tuesday’s ruling, had repeatedly stated it has no intention of abiding by the U.N.’s decision. And within hours after the tribunal’s verdict, China doubled down on that stance by raising the possibility that it would erect an “air defense identification zone” over the South China Sea.
* Related: China Warns US Patrols In South China Sea Could End In "Disaster" As It Launches Navy Drills

Erdogan Purges 20,000 As Europe Voices Concern Coup Was Staged With "Prepared Arrest Lists"
Zero Hedge - Bloomberg summarizes as follows: more than than 7,500, including more than 6,000 soldiers from various ranks detained by police, Turkish PM Binali Yildirim says in televised remarks. Those detained include 755 judges and prosecutors, 650 civilians and 100 police officers. Separately, about 9,000 from the Interior Ministry, 3,000 judges and prosecutors and 1,500 staff members of Finance Ministry have been removed from duty. In total, approximately 20,000 political opponents "purged" just days after the conclusion of the failed coup. At the same time speculation that the terribly planned "coup" was anything but came from the European Commission itself. As Reuters adds, the swift rounding up of judges and others after a failed coup in Turkey indicated the government had prepared a list beforehand, according to EU commissioner dealing with Turkey's membership bid, Johannes Hahn, said on Monday. "It looks at least as if something has been prepared. The lists are available, which indicates it was prepared and to be used at a certain stage," Hahn said. "I'm very concerned. It is exactly what we feared." It is also exactly what Erdogan has expected and hoped for. And with broad western support for Erdogan over the weekend, his mission to concentrate all Turkish power in his own hands is now assured.

Police search Turkish air base used by US military that houses NATO's largest nuclear weapons storage facility after commander was arrested by Erdogan over coup
Daily Mail - Turkish prosecutors accompanied by police have started a search of an air base used by US troops, which contains nuclear weapons... In the wake of Fridays failed military coup, authorities have begun a search of the base, according to state-run media. The authorities have already arrested a Turkish air force general from the base who was suspected of plotting the coup. General Bekir Ercan Van, ten other soldiers and one police officer from the Incirlik base were detained for their role in the botched Friday coup attempt.

French PM booed at ceremony for Nice truck attack victims
The Guardian - Manuel Valls, the French prime minister, has been booed before and after a minute’s silence in Nice for the victims of the Bastille Day truck attack. There were shouts of “Murderers!” and “Resign!” as Valls and two other ministers left the seafront, where a huge crowd gathered to remember the 84 people mown down by the truck driver, Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel. There were also placards in the crowd calling for the French president, François Hollande, to resign. The incident highlighted how three days of national mourning have been overshadowed by an intensifying debate about whether the government has done enough to respond to terrorism.... Six people are being detained in connection with the attack, including a 38-year-old Albanian suspected of providing Lahouaiej-Bouhlel with a pistol he used to fire at police.... The health minister, Marisol Touraine, said 85 people were still in hospital, including 18 in a critical condition.

Police Rushed to Rescue Bono and Other Celebrities During Nice Attacks
Liberty Blitzkrieg - When it comes to terror attacks, we now know that #CelebrityLivesMatter. A lot. Specifically, some Nice residents expressed concern that U2 frontman Bono and other celebrities dining a half mile away from the scene of the recent terror attack received special treatment. According to the Telegraph... Bono and Ducasse were rescued by armed counter-terrorism police along with other prominent French figures including the former mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, who was also at the restaurant. However, local residents have questioned the decision to launch special rescue missions of celebrities who were nearly half a mile away from the Nice attack, saying it was a “ridiculous” use of resources at a time when the city was plunged into chaos. Paulo Mendes, 46, the manager of a souvenir shop next door to the restaurant, said: “It is ridiculous that Bono was rescued by police.” He told The Telegraph that police were needed half a mile away at the scene of the attack where thousands of people were rushing to safety. “There was panic everywhere in the town,” he said. “I don’t care if it’s Michael Jackson, Bono or Barack Obama. The police should not help one person just because he is a celebrity. Everyone is equal.”

Germany axe attack: Assault on train in Wuerzburg
BBC News - Three people were seriously hurt and one suffered minor injuries in the attack in Wuerzburg, police said. Initial reports said up to 20 people had been injured but it was later revealed that at least 14 had been treated for shock. The motive for the attack is not yet clear. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said the attacker was a 17-year-old Afghan refugee who had been living in the nearby town of Ochsenfurt. He told public broadcaster ARD that the teenager appeared to have travelled to Germany as an unaccompanied minor.... Police said the attacker fled the train but was chased by officers who shot him dead.

Hungary asks IMF to leave the country after early payback
RT - The head of Hungary’s Central Bank Gyorgy Matolcsy wrote a letter to IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde on Monday asking for it to close its representative office in Budapest as it was "not necessary to maintain" it any longer. The IMF says it is ready to agree since the current IMF representative in Hungary is due to leave soon anyway. Hungary is heading for a general election next year, and many see the move as an attempt to show the government’s ability to avoid austerity programs and to act without outside help. In 2008, amid the global crisis Hungary was saved from bankruptcy with a $26 billion rescue package from the IMF and the EU. Two years later Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government decided not to renew the deal to avoid closer IMF scrutiny of its economic policies.... Hungary still owes $2.125 billion to the IMF from its original credit line of $25.5 billion.

To ease food shortages, Venezuela opens border with Columbia
CSMonitor - Venezuela temporarily opened the border to provide relief for its citizens, who have been accustomed to waiting in line for hours for anything from corn flour to medicine.... It was the second weekend in a row the Venezuelan government opened parts of the 1,378-mile border it closed to Colombia last August, ostensibly to combat smuggling.... "I've come to buy what I can't find in the country – rice, beans, lentils, sugar, toilet paper," Elizabeth Perez, a public employee, told Reuters. "I came a few days ago with a group of people so I could cross into Colombia today. We're only eating once a day."... [Venezuelan President Nocholas] Maduro said the jarring news a few weeks ago of 500 women rushing across a bridge from Urena, Venezuela, to Cucuta, Colombia, out of desperation to buy food was merely "a media show." .... Colombian officials dressed in white shirts, much like the 500 women who stormed the border checkpoint a few weeks ago, individually welcoming those arriving while police handed out cake.

Wisconsin sheriff on recent Baton Rouge shootings: I predicted this (Video)
CNN News - In a heated interview with CNN's Don Lemon, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke said he predicted the recent police shootings in Baton Rouge, Louisiana that killed three law enforcement officers and wounded three others. "I've been watching this for two years. I've predicted this," Clarke said. "This anti-police rhetoric sweeping the country has turned out some hateful things inside of people that are now playing themselves out on the American police officer." Clarke blamed the Black Lives Matter movement for inspiring violent crimes against law enforcement officers, calling the group "purveyors of hate." Lemon pressed Clarke for specifics, but the sheriff didn't offer any. Lemon and Clarke, who will speak Monday at the Republican National Convention, got off to a rocky start. Lemon began the interview by saying law enforcement officials in Louisiana talked about the Baton Rouge police killings. "Their message is peace and coming together in the country. What's your message?" "You don't believe that for one minute, do you?" Clarke replied.

Video: O’Reilly on America's Race Problem
CNS News.

WH Responds to Petition Seeking to Label ‘Black Lives Matter’ a Domestic Terrorist Organization
CNS News - It didn’t take the White House long to respond to a July 6 petitionasking the Obama administration to “formally recognize Black Lives Matter as a terrorist organization. “The White House plays no role in designating domestic terror organizations,” said last week’s response to the 141,444 signers of the online petition. “The U.S. government does not generate a list of domestic terror organizations, and therefore we are not able to address the formal request of your petition. We encourage you to engage with your community in the ongoing discussion of how we can better build trust and safety in our communities.

Highest Ranking Officer Found Not Guilty Of All Charges In Freddie Gray Case (Video)
CBS Baltimore - Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams has ruled that Lt. Brian Rice, the highest-ranking Baltimore City Police officer to be charged in relation to the death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray, is not guilty of all the charges he faced — involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office…. Rice is the third officer charged in the Gray case to get a full acquittal from Judge Williams. “The judge decided that there was no proof of any of the charges yet again,” according to WJZ’s Mike Hellgren, who was inside the courtroom as the verdict was read.

Democrats Introduce Bill to Ban Kids from Using Assault Rifles
USA Carry - Washington Democrats introduced legislation Tuesday that would ban children younger than 16 from using machine guns and so-called military style assault rifles. The bill, called the Help End Assault Rifle Tragedies Act, or HEART Act, would “prohibit the transfer, loan, or other disposition of a machinegun or semiautomatic assault weapon to an individual under 16 years of age.” Introduced by Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), the ban would include blocking kids from firing the restricted firearms at a gun show or a gun range.... The bill goes on to list six pages of specific models of firearms that would fall under the bill, including all AR and AK types.

Declassified 9/11 pages show ties to former Saudi ambassador
USA Today - The details in the newly released documents are a mix of tantalizing, but often unconfirmed, tidbits about the Saudi Arabian ties of some of the 9/11 hijackers…. The pages were used by the 9/11 Commission as part of its investigation into the intelligence failures leading up to the attacks. A telephone number found in the phone book of al-Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah, who was captured in Pakistan in March 2002, was for an Aspen, Colo., corporation that managed the "affairs of the Colorado residence of the Saudi Ambassador Bandar," the documents show. Another phone number found in Abu Zubaydah's effects was traced to a bodyguard at the Saudi embassy in Washington, according to the FBI. Osama Bassnan, who the documents identify as a financial supporter of two of the 9/11 hijackers in San Diego, received money from Bandar, and Bassnan's wife also got money from Bandar's wife. "On at least one occasion," the documents show, "Bassnan received a check directly from Prince Bandar's account. According to the FBI, on May 14, 1998, Bassnan cashed a check from Bandar in the amount of $15,000. Bassnan's wife also received at least one check directly from Bandar." Bassnan and Omar al-Bayoumi, another Saudi living in San Diego, "provided substantial assistance" to two of the hijackers — Khalid al-Midhar and Nawaf al-Hazmi — the documents said.

Dangerous Doctors Keep Working Due to Flawed Reporting to National Database
AllGov - The AJC [Atlanta Journal-Constitution] found numerous examples of hospitals and medical boards failing to report disciplinary actions. What's more, the review found that even when hospitals and medical boards file reports, they may classify violations in a way that conceals the scope of physician sexual misconduct on the very limited portion of the data bank available to the public. Because of such gaps, the AJC -- in reviewing board orders, court records and news reports -- found about 70 percent more physicians accused of sexual misconduct than the 466 classified as such in the public version of the data bank from 2010 to 2014. That didn't surprise Robert Oshel, a retired former official who worked with the data bank program at the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. Powerful economic incentives, he said, can discourage hospitals from reporting. "Unfortunately, the incentives are -- if you've got a physician you are trying to get rid of because he has quality problems -- you want him to go away, and you don't want him to sue you when you take action against him to make him go away," he said. Doctors also have incentives to negotiate with medical boards, he said, about how their violation will be reported. "This is a real problem and it always has been," Oshel said.

GOP leaders stamp out anti-Trump push at Republican National Convention
Washington Times - GOP leaders steamrolled over anti-Trump delegates Monday, pushing through the party’s rules binding delegates and ensuring Donald Trump will claim the nomination later this week. Party leaders gaveled the voice-vote closed and declared the pro-Trump rules adopted, spurring an angry outcry from a vocal minority.... The party adopted rules that bind delegates to vote for the candidate who won them in the primaries — giving Mr. Trump far more than the 1,237 he needs to sew up the nomination.... Earlier Monday the anti-Trump forces had said they had enough signatures from nine states to force the roll call vote.... But convention officials said some of the signatures submitted had later withdrew, and only six states qualified in the count for a roll call vote.
* Related: Live Updates of RNC

‘Bikers for Trump’ Assemble In Cleveland: Photos
Adan Salazar - “Bikers for Trump” organizer Chris Cox told MSNBC he expects anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 bikers riding around the convention in order to be a “calming factor” against agitators wishing to carry out violence. “We feel like it’s open season on law enforcement, there’s an assault on decency, and we’re here to stand with law enforcement, and in the event that we’re needed we’ll step up,” Cox said. “The bikers are citizen crusaders from all walks of life,” he added.

Republican Platform Unexpectedly Calls For A Return To Glass-Steagall
Zero Hedge - According to The Hill, Paul Manafort, Donald Trump's campaign manager, told reporters gathered in Cleveland Monday that the GOP platform would include language advocating for a return of that law, which was repealed under President Bill Clinton, husband of, well you know.... “We also call for a reintroduction of Glass-Steagall, which created barriers between what big banks can do,” he said. Including that language in the GOP platform comes shortly after Democrats agreed to similar language in their own, calling for an “updated and modernized version” of the law. However before anyone gets their hopes up, recall that a party platform is not binding but is thought to reflect the values of the party.... until the values change as a result of Wall Street "incentives" because if there is one thing US "commercial banks" can not afford it is a separation of their depository and investment activities.

Paris Train Hero Attacked as 'Small-minded Bigot' for Wearing Trump T-shirt
Townhall - Alek Skarlatos was one of three young U.S. soldiers on the right vacation at the right time when a terrorist attempted to launch an attack on a train in Paris, France last summer.... Yet, Skarlatos found out very quickly how people can turn on him. All he had to do was post a picture of himself on Instagram fishing and wearing a "Trump: Make America Great Again" T-shirt. While some of his followers praised his presidential choice, others attacked him. "Racist" and "uneducated" were among the insults hurled at him. One especially nasty commenter called him a "small-minded bigot." That's not all he called him (but the graphic language is best not placed here.).... Some commenters applauded the nasty remark, but others stood up for Skarlatos' right to free speech - considering, you know, he is one of a few Americans who actually fought for it.

Video: Political Correctness Kills
Paul Joseph Watson - If Hillary wins, America loses.

Vietnam veteran Lt. Col. Charles Kettles of Michigan gets Medal of Honor for saving soldiers
McClatchy DC - Nearly five decades after helping rescue dozens American soldiers pinned down by enemy fire during the Vietnam War, Lt. Col. Charles Kettles of Michigan received the Medal of Honor. Kettles led helicopter flights carrying reinforcements to U.S. soldiers and evacuated the wounded after they were ambushed in combat operations near Duc Pho in May 1967. He is credited with helping to save 40 soldiers and four members of his unit. The Veterans History Project campaigned to upgrade Kettles' Distinguished Service Cross to the Medal of Honor, and the Pentagon agreed his actions merited an upgrade. Congress passed legislation waiving a time limitation for the award, paving the way for the honor.

HSBC Report Shows Eric Holder Pushed For 'Too Big To Jail' Policy
ShadowProof - A new report from the House Financial Services Committee, which explores the Justice Department’s conduct in relation to the megabank HSBC, proves once-and-for-all what many had long suspected.... The report shows that officials within the Justice Department wanted to bring prosecutions against HSBC in 2012 after the bank was caught laundering nearly $900 million for drug traffickers, terrorists, and countries under US sanctions, but were ultimately stymied and forced to accept a weak deferred prosecution settlement, which left senior bank executives untouched by Holder and other DOJ senior leadership. To repeat, officials within the Justice Department recommended prosecuting HSBC for its massive money laundering scheme, and Holder and friends overruled them. According to the report, senior DOJ officials justified their decision because they believed prosecuting HSBC “could result in a global financial disaster.” In other words, HSBC was Too Big To Jail.

Vermont AG sued for withholding records on possible investigation of ‘climate change deniers’
Watchdog - On Monday, two nonprofit legal centers filed a lawsuit to force Attorney General William Sorrell and Assistant Attorney General Scott Kline to turn over documents from private email accounts that discuss climate change “deniers.” The complaint, filed by attorneys for the Energy and Environment Legal Institute and Free Market Environmental Law Clinic, says a request for documents was made on May 10 but not responded to by the extended deadline of May 24.... According to the complaint, the groups seek discussions with Matt Pawa, an environmental lawyer for the Climate Accountability Institute; Lem Srolovic, chief of the New York Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau; Eric Schneiderman, New York’s attorney general; and John Passacantando, former executive director of Greenpeace USA. Records obtained from a prior request made in March show Sorrell and Kline have been working with Schneiderman, Srolovic and anti-fossil fuel activists on launching investigations into ExxonMobil and conservative think tanks generally opposed to climate change agendas.
* Related: N.C. conservative group dinged for alleged climate change ‘denial’

11 Late-Summer, Quick-Growing Vegetables You Gotta Plant NOW To Beat The Frost
Off the Grid News - Depending on your growing zone and how many days you have left before frost, there are up to 11 vegetables you can still plant, from seed, and eat this season. Where I live in Zone 4, we usually expect our first frost about the third week of September. That means I can plant all eleven of the following vegetable choices right up until late July. If you have 60 or more days left of your growing season, you can plant the following: 1. Radishes. Almost all cultivars of radish can be grown in under 60 days. 2. Kale. This healthful favorite can be grown to full maturity in 60 to 75 days, depending on your conditions and the specific cultivar. 3. Peas. Mid-to-late summer is the perfect time to plant peas for a fall crop. They do not like high heat, and planting now will allow them to grow in relatively cool conditions. Most varieties are ready to harvest at between 50 and 60 days. 4. Cucumbers. Many cucumber cultivars reach maturity from seed in 60 days or less. Cukes vary widely, from as few as 49 days to nearly 70. 5. Summer squashes. There is a delightful array of zucchini, yellow and patty pan squashes that can be grown in a very short time. Some cultivars reach harvestable size in an astonishing 40 days. 6. Carrots. Many varieties of summer carrots reach maturity in under 60 days….

Man Given Months to Live with Brain Tumor Rejects Chemo for High-fat Ketogenic Diet – Doing Well 2 Years Later
Health Impact News - In recent times, studies have been done on cancer patients using the ketogenic diet, using the theory that refined carbohydrates feed cancer cells, whereas a diet induced state of ketosis can starve cancer cells. One of the most widely used dietary oils in the ketogenic diet to induce ketosis is coconut oil. But a diet approach to curing cancer is a direct threat to the multi-billion dollar cancer industry, which depends on no cures for future growth for its cancer products, which can only be pharmaceutical drugs approved by the FDA. (See: The Cancer Industry is Too Prosperous to Allow a Cure). So for cancer patients who want to try alternative methods to treat their cancer, they must endure ridicule, fear, and scorn by doctors in mainstream medicine…. The ketogenic diet relies on measuring ketones – an acid remaining when the body burns its own fat. The theory is that by reducing the intake of carbohydrates it is possible to starve a tumor of fuel and therefore stabilize it.

Alzheimer's and dementia can be prevented, slowed down and even reversed, despite what you've been told by conventional medicine!
The Alzheimer's and Dementia Summit is online and FREE from July 25 - August 1, 2016. Are you concerned about brain health? Or, of one day not recognizing your closest friend? If so, or if you care about friends and family members dealing with poor brain function, don’t miss The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Summit. Brain disorders, including memory loss, are fast becoming the single biggest health problem in the world. This event represents a unique opportunity to discover how to prevent, slow down and even reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

The Right Kind of Cinnamon Enhances Memory, Improves Learning Ability And Can Reverse Parkinson’s
Natural Blaze - Cinnamon is one of the most potent antioxidants in the world and regular consumption can lower blood sugar, help digestion, ease arthritis, lower blood pressure and even ward off Alzheimer’s. If you are to maximize the medicinal value of cinnamon it must also be non-irradiated and pure ceylon which will be labeled as such. Although related, cinnamon and cassia are not obtained from the same plant. They should be treated as separate foods, both from a nutritional and a health standpoint. Scientifically speaking, there is only one true cinnamon, which is most commonly called “Ceylon cinnamon,” and comes from the plant Cinnamomum zeylanicum. An alternative scientific name for Ceylon cinnamon is Cinnamomum verum, which simply translates as “true cinnamon.”

5 Signs Your Himalayan Salt Lamp is a Fake!
David Wolfe - They’ll improve your mental clarity, cleanse the air in your room and help you get better sleep, among many other things. Unfortunately, those benefits – along with the lamps’ rising popularity – make Himalayan salt lamps a prime target for counterfeiters. Protect yourself and your wallet by learning what to keep an eye out for. #1 – It’s White And Cost Next To Nothing- White Himalayan salt is harder to come across than the pink variety. As such, genuine white Himalayan salt lamps tend to cost several times as much. Expect to pay upwards of $50 online…. #2 – It’s Super Heavy… Yet It Emits Light Well - Once a genuine Himalayan salt lamp exceeds about 20 pounds, it’ll no longer emit light in a uniform pattern. That’s just the nature of genuine Himalayan salt…. #3 – It’s Indestructible - Himalayan salt lamps – especially the white variety – tend to be fragile. So if you’ve dropped yours, or the shipping box has arrived with significant signs of damage, yet the lamp itself still looks good as new, it’s probably not 100% genuine. #4 – The Lamp Handles Moisture Well - Genuine Himalayan salt manufacturers recommend that their products be placed in a cool, dry area. That’s because the salt will absorb any moisture around it and begin to shrink. You can test your lamp by taking a damp cloth and gently rubbing the lamp. The part of the cloth you’ve rubbed should have noticeable discoloration and the lamp should look like it’s “weeping.” #5 – Nothing Changes - All of your life’s problems are not going to be solved by a Himalayan salt lamp. But after a couple weeks of using one in your home, you should notice a few things, including: Reduced allergy or asthma symptoms, Increased energy levels, Better sleep, Improved depression, Reduced stress.

Bone Broth For You & Your Pet
Cats & Dogs Naturally - Achy knees? Arthritis? Leaky Gut? Or, do you just want to give your cat and dog (and yourself) a highly nutritious food? Well, then have some homemade bone broth! This past weekend, I made some broth from beef bones (grass-fed, hormone-free & antibiotic-free, of course!). I pulled out my 3-quart Crock Pot, packed in about 2.5 pounds of bones, poured in enough purified/distilled water to cover the bones, turned on my Crock Pot to low, and let it simmer for 48 hours. Some folks like to slow-cook the bones any where from 6 to 48 hours, but I figured two days is sufficient to pull out all the good stuff like glycosaminoglycans, collagen, calcium, magnesium, amino acids, chondroitin sulphates and glucosamine. All these great nutrients may help heal a leaky gut, IBD, and other digestive problems. Plus, help reduce joint inflammation, too, especially if you (and your pet) consume bone broth on a regular basis. One other thing: Don’t forget to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to the mix. This helps to extract the amino acid rich-gelatin from the bones into the soup… Since I don’t feed beef to my cats, I instead make their broth from chicken, turkey, and rabbit bones—it’s their favorite meats (Many cats can’t tolerate beef or bison, but some cats can. So, I suggest you use bones from a meat source that you know your cat or dog doesn’t have an allergy or a low tolerance to).

Meet Dindim, the penguin who returns to his human soulmate every year
The Independent - Four years ago, Joao Pereira de Souza, 71, found a South American Magellanic penguin covered in oil and starving on a beach on an island off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. A friendship was born. Since they met in 2011, the creature, which normally breeds on the Patagonia coasts of Argentina and Chile, three to five thousand miles away, has become a faithful companion, swimming every year from its habitat to spend up to eight months living with the retired fisherman in his house on the island.
 

Monday - July 18, 2016 - Today In History:

1743 - "The New York Weekly Journal" published the first half-page newspaper ad.
1914 - Six planes of the U.S. Army helped to form an aviation division called the Signal Corps.
1932 - The U.S. and Canada signed a treaty to develop the St. Lawrence Seaway.
1936 - The first Oscar Meyer Wienermobile rolled out of General Body Company’s factory in Chicago, IL.
1936 - The Spanish Civil War began as Gen. Francisco Franco led an uprising of army troops based in Spanish North Africa.
1942 - The German Me-262, the first jet-propelled aircraft to fly in combat, made its first flight.
1944 - U.S. troops captured Saint-Lo, France, ending the battle of the hedgerows.
1944 - Hideki Tojo was removed as Japanese premier and war minister due to setbacks suffered by his country in World War II.
1947 - U.S. President Truman signed the Presidential Succession Act, which placed the Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Tempore next in the line of succession after the vice president.
1971 - New Zealand and Australia announced they would pull their troops out of Vietnam.
2001 - A train derailed, involving 60 cars, in a Baltimore train tunnel. The fire that resulted lasted for six days and virtually closed down downtown Baltimore for several days. (Maryland)

At Least 6,000 Arrested in Wake of Turkey's Failed Coup
Sputnik News - Previously, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that 2,839 coup perpetrators have been detained. A large number of judges and prosecutors have also been arrested over charges of links to the Gulen movement, headed by exiled opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has been reportedly linked to the coup attempt. The justice minister vowed that all those implicit in the failed coup will pay the price as well as echoing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's call on the Unites States to extradite Gulen to Turkey. Late on Friday, Turkish authorities said that an attempted coup took place in the country. The coup was suppressed several hours later. Over 260 people were killed and hundreds were injured during the events.
* Related: 42 Helicopters Missing in Turkey Sparking Concerns of a Second Coup Attempt

“Why They Didn't Fire Is A Mystery" - Coup Pilots Had Erdogan's Plane In Their Sights And Did Nothing
Zero Hedge - …from Reuters: The Turkish leader was returning to Istanbul from a holiday near the coastal resort of Marmaris after a faction in the military launched the coup attempt on Friday night, sealing off a bridge across the Bosphorus, trying to capture Istanbul's main airport and sending tanks to parliament in Ankara. A senior Turkish official confirmed to Reuters that Erdogan's business jet had been harassed while flying from the airport that serves Marmaris by two F-16s commandeered by the coup plotters but that he had managed to reach Istanbul safely. "At least two F-16s harassed Erdogan's plane while it was in the air and en route to Istanbul. They locked their radars on his plane and on two other F-16s protecting him," a former military officer with knowledge of the events told Reuters. "Why they didn't fire is a mystery," he said.

Nice attacker sent text message about weapons supply – police
The Guardian - Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, 31, wrote of his “satisfaction at having obtained a 7.65mm pistol” and discussed the supply of other weapons, a police source confirmed to the news agency AFP. A pistol, two replica assault rifles and a dummy grenade were found in the truck. It also emerged that Lahouaiej-Bouhlel took pictures of himself at the wheel of the truck before the attack and shared them by text message. More than 200 investigators are working on identifying the recipients of the messages. … French investigators are also looking at the level of preparation undertaken by Lahouaiej-Bouhlel after it emerged that he was seen by CCTV cameras on Nice’s seafront Promenade des Anglais twice in the two days before the attack. Six people are being held for questioning over the attack, among them a 38-year-old Albanian who was arrested on Sunday morning on suspicion of supplying the pistol that Lahouaiej-Bouhlel used to shoot at police trying to block his route. Lahouaiej-Bouhlel’s estranged wife and mother of his three children was released after questioning by police. She was not a suspect in the attack…. As the government faces mounting criticism from rightwing opposition groups over its security policy, the prime minister, Manuel Valls, said new attacks would occur as France faced a long-term issue of terrorism…. Valls warned against Donald Trump-style proposals such as restricting Muslims’ entry. “The response to Islamic State cannot be the Trump-isation of our state of mind,” he told Le Journal du Dimanche.

Family detail Nice attacker's mental health issues
RT - Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel had a long history of violence and mental illness, his family back in his homeland of Tunisia said, while insisting he showed no obvious signs of radicalization prior to Thursday’s attack that left at least 84 people dead.... The 31-year-old Lahouaiej Bouhlel left Tunisia for France back in 2005, and did not keep in regular contact with his family.... “From 2002 to 2004 he had problems that led to a nervous breakdown,” his father Mohamed Mondher Lahouaiej Bouhlel told several French channels in an interview outside his home.... “He’d get angry and shout and break everything around him. He was violent and very ill. We took him to the doctor and he was put on drugs. Whenever there was a crisis, we took him back again. He was always alone. Always silent, refusing to talk. Even in the street, he wouldn’t greet people.”.... Although he last saw his family in Tunisia in 2012 when he traveled back for his sister’s wedding, in recent weeks Lahouaiej Bouhlel’s behavior radically changed. “Over the past month, he was calling us every day and he sent us money... He called several times a day,” explained [his sister] Rebab. His brother Jaber Bouhlel told the Daily Mail that the family received 240,000 Tunisian dinar (almost $110,000) from Mohamed in the past few weeks – a surprisingly large sum for a low-paid deliveryman. "He used to send us small sums of money regularly like most Tunisians working abroad. But then he sent us all that money, it was fortune. He sent the money illegally. He gave cash to people he knew who were returning to our village and asked them to give it to the family,” said Jaber.

Cloud seeding took place day before fatal flooding in Tasmania
Hang The Bankers - Tasmania’s government-owned energy company has been asked to explain why it conducted cloud seeding over the Derwent River catchment the day before flooding began this week. The catchment flooded on Monday near Ouse in southern Tasmania, where the search continues for a missing farmer. In the state’s north, one person was killed and another remains missing. Cloud seeding is a technique used to increase rain to bolster dams and involves the addition of a substance to suitable clouds to encourage the growth of ice crystals or raindrops. Premier Will Hodgman said he was told Hydro Tasmania authorised cloud seeding on Sunday morning in the Upper Derwent catchment, even though heavy falls were forecast.

Malta Set to Become First European Country to Fully Ban Glyphosate
Sustainable Pulse - An Environment Ministry spokeswoman told the Times of Malta that the government had begun the process of banning the chemical, which is considered a “probable human carcinogen” by the World Health Organisation cancer agency. “Malta’s position remains against the use of glyphosate and Malta voted against it without reservations,” the spokeswoman said, confirming that the pesticide regulator was currently implementing political direction given by the Ministry towards a ban.

Zika Makes It Rain Pesticides With Your Taxpayer Money
Dr. Mercola - Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would provide $622 million to fight Zika virus…That money was intended to get U.S. health agencies through the end of September. Now the House has passed a $1.1 billion Zika funding bill, which still falls short of the $1.9 billion the White House had called for. Of the hefty sum, $230 million would go to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help with vaccine development. Another $476 million would go to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for mosquito control and “readiness and response activities,” while $85 million would go to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for the development of rapid diagnostic tests, STAT News reported. The money would be further divided among the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which would get $175 million for mosquito control…. A rider inserted into the bill would allow pesticides to be sprayed over ditches, streams and other waterways protected by the Clean Water Act for a period of 180 days, with no permit required whatsoever…. Scientists at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) in Silver Spring, Maryland are racing to develop a Zika vaccine that may soon become one more shot that military personnel are required to receive. At the Institute’s Pilot Bioproduction Facility (PBF), researchers are growing Zika virus in monkey liver cells, then inactivating the virus, isolating the particles and injecting them into animals to study the resulting immune response. After the results are published, they’ll move on to testing in primates and then to human “guinea pigs” as early as this fall.

John Kerry, secretary of state: Recent 'desperate' terrorist attacks proves ISIS 'on the run'
Washington Times - “They are on the run, and what I believe what we are seeing are the desperate actions of an entity that sees the noose closing around it,” Mr. Kerry said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” CNN anchor Jake Tapper immediately challenged Mr. Kerry, saying, “With all due respect, sir, I’m not sure it looks that way to the public, that ISIS is on the run.” Hundreds of civilians have died in the past five weeks in terrorist rampages, including the June 12 massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that left 49 dead; the June 28 siege on Istanbul Ataturk Airport that killed 45; and the Bastille Day attack Thursday that left 84 dead in Nice, France. “I don’t think ISIS is on the run,” Mr. Tapper said.... Mr. Kerry said it is unclear whether those attackers were members of the Islamic State or merely inspired by the group’s ideology. “It depends on where you mean ISIS,” Mr. Kerry said. “I don’t know if this guy [in Nice] was actually ISIS and nor do you. And we don’t know if the guy in Orlando was fundamentally ISIS, nor even told what to do by ISIS. If people are inspired, they’re inspired.”

US Government Releases Redacted "28 Pages" Missing From 9/11 Report
Zero Hedge - The missing 28 pages from the 9/11 report begins as follows: "While in the United States, some of the September 11 hijackers were in contact with, and received support from, individuals who may be connected to the Saudi Government...".... The 9/11 Commission concluded in its report that senior Saudi officials did not knowingly support the terrorist plot to attack the United States.... To be sure, what the report does provide is much circumstantial evidence that the Saudis were most certainly involved in 9/11, sufficient to convince any rational man, but perhaps not enough to launch a lawsuit against, say, the King. [For example] Osama Bassnan, who the documents identify as a financial supporter of two of the 9/11 hijackers in San Diego, received money from [Saudi Ambassador Prince] Bandar, and Bassnan's wife also got money from Bandar's wife. "One at least one occasion," the documents show, "Bassnan received a check directly from Prince Bandar's account. According to the FBI, on May 14, 1998, Bassnan cashed a check from Bandar in the amount of $15,000. Bassnan's wife also received at least one check directly from Bandar."

Police Purge Underway in Baton Rouge: Three Officers Shot Dead Amid Protest
Sputnik News - At least three officers have been shot in Baton Rouge only a week after the deadly attacks in Dallas that left five officers dead and a dozen others wounded as protests have soured into violence over the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile at the hands of cops.... A lone gunmen dressed in all black armed with a high-powered rifle ambushed cops. Police responding to calls of "officer down" arrived five minutes later and engaged the subject while EMS cared to the wounded officers. The gunmen was killed in the shootout minutes later. In total, there are three officers dead — two from the Baton Rouge Police Department and one from the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Department. Of the three injured, one is said to be clinging on to their life by a thread and remains in critical condition. The lone gunmen has been identified by police as a 29-year-old black male named Gavin Eugene Long from Kansas City, Missouri. Police caution that the motive behind the shooting remains unknown until further investigation.
* Related: Baton Rouge Shooting Updates

Lawsuit: Brutal Baton Rouge Police Crackdown Violated Protesters' 1st Amendment
The Anti-Media - After facing an acerbic backlash for the riot gear-clad, militaristic response to peaceful protests over the weekend, Baton Rouge Police and Louisiana state officials are now being sued in federal court for violating dozens of people’s First Amendment rights. Six groups, including the state chapters of both the American Civil Liberties Union and National Lawyers Guild, filed the lawsuit Wednesday over a veritable catalog of grievances surrounding the militaristic crackdown on an otherwise peaceful assembly, which led to the arrests of over 180 demonstrators and journalists…. According to local CBS affiliate WWL, 157 of the 180 people arrested over the weekend were “cited for obstruction of a roadway, inciting to riot, interfering, or a combination of two of these charges.” Witnesses present as the militarized cops menacingly moved on the crowd felt the motivation might have been retaliation rather than public safety,

Video: Cleveland Police Union Head on Baton Rouge: Obama Has ‘Blood on His Hands’
Mediaite - The head of a Cleveland police union reacted to the shooting of multiple officers in Baton Rouge by going off on President Obama and a media culture that helps boost anti-cop narratives. Detective Steve Loomis said that the shootings of police officers, from Dallas to now, started with what he deemed as a completely false narrative concerning the death of Alton Sterling. He said that Obama has “validated the false narrative and the nonsense that Black Lives Matter and the media are pressing out there,” and he said the president has “bloom on his hands” that he won’t be able to wash off.

Establishment Media: Baton Rouge Shooter Affiliated with “Anti-Government” Group
Kurt Nimmo - The Wall Street Journal tweets… Missouri man suspected in Baton Rouge shootings was affiliated with anti-government New Freedom Group… WSJ does not provide details on this suspected group or does it name the source making the claim. The establishment routinely uses “anti-government” in reference to constitutionalists, patriot groups, tax activists, and “militias.”

Milwaukee police officer ambushed in his car - Officer Down
The Thin Blue Line - A Milwaukee police officer was shot in a “vicious” attack early Sunday as he sat in his squad car while colleagues investigated a domestic disturbance call. The suspected shooter, identified by police as a 20-year-old West Allis man with two felonies on his record, was found dead in a nearby yard, they said. It appears his death was suicide. The incident began as a response to a domestic disturbance call near South 17th Street and West Morgan Avenue at about 2 a.m. During that investigation, someone fired shots into the squad car, striking an officer “multiple” times,” Asst. Police Chief William Jessup said in a morning press conference. The officer, a 31-year-old man with 13 years of service, was taken to Froedtert Hospital for surgery.... the injuries were not life-threatening.

Gov. Abbott Hospitalized After Severe Burns
The Texas Tribune - Abbott is recuperating from burns on both legs below the knees. On Tuesday, the governor will undergo skin grafts to repair damage on both feet. He is expected to be discharged and will return to Austin. His office revealed on Sunday that he had suffered "second- and third-degree burns" when he was accidentally scalded with hot water last week at a lodge in Jackson Hole. Abbott shortened his vacation when he learned about the Thursday shooting that left five officers dead and seven others injured. It is unclear whether the governor will attend the Republican National Convention, which is being held July 18-21 in Cleveland. Abbott is an at-large delegate to the convention.

Bundy brothers' motion for pretrial release previews their defense in Oregon standoff case
Oregon Live - [attorney Marcus] Mumford described his client Ammon Bundy and his brother Ryan Bundy as political activists known for their strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and views challenging federal control of public land."The specific steps and lengths to which these defendants endeavored, including the establishment of a perimeter, the changing of the sign and renaming of the facility, the taking over of routine maintenance and cleaning, and the managing and control of the property all show that this was no random or spontaneous act of dangerousness or recklessness, but that it was a careful attempt by citizens acting in good faith... and in lawful protest of their government's actions,'' the attorney wrote.... The 28-page motion is a request for the pretrial release of Ammon Bundy and Ryan Bundy, who have been in custody for five and a half months. But it could very well serve as their defense brief for trial, set to start Sept. 7. Attached to the brief is 58 pages of statements from supporting witnesses.

Newtown Rejects $11 Million Lawsuit Settlement Offer From Sandy Hook Victims' Families
Hartford Courant - The town of Newtown has rejected an offer by two families of children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre to settle a pending civil lawsuit for 11 million. Attorneys for the estates of Noah Pozner and Jesse Lewis had filed a motion last month offering to settle the lawsuit against the Newtown school district for 5.5 million each. The town had 30 days to accept the offer and attorney Donald Papcsy, who is representing the families, said the deadline passed this week. Papcsy said he is now starting to go through the more than 8,000 pages of documents that have been turned over as part of the discovery process. Much of that is the redacted state police report on the shooting made public two years ago, but the town also has turned over the school district's policies prior to the shooting on security and active shooter protocols…. The lawsuit alleges that Rousseau "had neither a key to lock the door nor any knowledge of the ... safety and security protocols rehearsed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in case an intruder or other dangerous individual gained access to the school." The lawsuit also alleges the town was negligent in not having a more secure entrance to the school because it did not have bulletproof glass on the front windows and for having classroom doors that couldn't be locked from the inside. The lawsuit also questions the lack of security in the parking lot. Lanza parked his car at the curb near the front, less than 100 feet from the entrance.

Watch: Donald Trump Announces Mike Pence As VP Pick At Press Conference
Saturday, July 16, 2016: Donald J. Trump officially announced Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his Vice Presidential Candidate for the November 2016 today at a press conference in New York City at the New York Hilton Midtown.
* Related Video: Mike Pence Full Speech At Welcome Home Rally In Zionsville, IN

Republican National Convention Schedule Revealed
Breitbart - The Republican National Convention has released its highly anticipated program. Each day has a different theme, for instance, Monday is Make America Safe Again. The long awaited schedule, which is included in full below, offers a window into presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump’s promise of an unconventional convention…. Monday: Make America Safe Again. Headliners: Melania Trump, Lieutenant General (ret.) Michael Flynn, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Jason Beardsley and U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (Mont.). Headliners: Tiffany Trump, Kerry Woolard, Donald Trump, Jr., U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (WV), Ben Carson and Kimberlin Brown. Wednesday: Make America First Again. Headliners: Lynne Patton; Eric Trump; former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, and Indiana Governor Mike Pence, whom Donald Trump has chosen as his vice presidential running mate. Thursday: Make America One Again. Headliners: Peter Thiel, Tom Barrack, Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump.
* Related: Watch: RSBN Live Stream Coverage From The RNC In Cleveland – July 18-21

EXCLUSIVE – Roger Stone: Trump To Name Prospective Cabinet at RNC
Breitbart - Donald Trump is planning to use the Republican National Convention to make the unusual move of announcing names of potential cabinet members, Trump’s longtime confident Roger Stone has confirmed…. Stone said he doesn’t expect Trump to name establishment Republicans. So this will give the people some idea of how Trump will govern. Some idea of the caliber of people that he would bring to government. And I can tell you this. You are not going to be looking at a collection of political hacks. You are not going to be looking at the people responsible for the phony Iraq war. You are not going to be looking at people who have been part of the last 30 years of policy failures across the board, whether it’s immigration or trade or our fiscal situation. It is time for fresh thinking.

Federal Reserve: creating debt-free money out of nothing for Americans is possible
Washington's Blog - Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen affirmed last Wednesday in a press conference that the power to create debt-free money for direct payment of public goods and services is a legitimate consideration. In a statement parsed with eleven references that this action is “unusual,” “rare,” and claimed fears of hyperinflation, Yellen’s admission of this game-changing power is poisoned with lies of omission and commission. 1) The current “monetary” system only and always creates debt for what we use for money.... Yellen lies in omission to disclose that the Fed “monetary” system’s mechanics can only create increasing and unpayable debt. 2) Yellen lies that this is an “academic” debate only as an “all-out attempt” in a “very abnormal” situation without reminding us that Benjamin Franklin helped “invent” operating government without taxes when colonial Pennsylvania directly created currency to pay for its public goods and services.... Yellen lies about “academic debate” when 86% of US economics professors agreed that debt-free money to directly pay for goods and services is superior mechanics than our current debt and tax model when asked directly. 3) Yellen lies by not telling us that America’s infrastructure produces more economic output than investment cost, and therefore debt-free money to buy it produces game-changing triple benefits: employment, upgraded infrastructure, and overall falling prices.

U.S. Defense Contractor to Blanket Earth With New Surveillance Technology
Activist Post - According to Lockheed, they are making final preparations for a next-generation global imaging satellite called DigitalGlobe WorldView-4. If all remains according to plan, the new satellite will be launched into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base as early as September 15, 2016.... The previous generation of this satellite, WorldView-3 at the time, contained an alarming level of accuracy.... The 31-centimeter resolution images allow viewers to discern, for example, the windshield of a car and the direction the car is facing.... It is of paramount concern that the functions of Lockheed’s upgraded globe-spanning satellite will no doubt be shrouded by the impenetrable cover of military National Security, while the collected images can be sold to private buyers around the world.... The statement that “DigitalGlobe’s smart imagery serves hundreds of thousands of end-users charged with the safety and security of nations” should sound an alarm to anyone who finds themselves concerned with a trends toward world governance. The reference to a “changing planet through 2030” also would suggest a connection to the United Nations 2030 sustainable development agenda.

World’s Most Powerful Radio Telescope Discovers 1300 New Galaxies in Trial Run
Motherboard - On Saturday night astronomers at the South African MeerKAT radio telescope array fired up 16 of its recently completed dishes and released the first ever image from what is slated to become the world’s most powerful radio telescope. The initial results were incredibly promising: operating with only one quarter of the 64 dishes that will eventually comprise MeerKAT, the telescope was able to find 1300 galaxies in a small corner of the universe where only 70 galaxies were known to exist previously.... The first image from MeerKAT depicts several galaxies with massive black holes at their center, as well as a galaxy that is roughly 200 million light years away.

“Prepare for Primitive”: How to Survive For One Week, Alone in the Wilderness (Video)
Mac Slavo - Tom Mcelroy-Wild Survival notes: In this video (part one and two) I go into the wilderness of North Eastern North America with only a knife and live off the land for a week. I document many of the crucial steps and tips and tricks that I do to survive in the forest. Skills shown are shelter, primitive fire, bark containers, water purification, fishing, weaving natural rope, bark shelters, trapping, edible plants, primitive cooking, fish traps….and tons more…. Establishing water, shelter, food, fire and more become the most important priorities in a crisis, and only with practice do we gain the competency to handle ourselves in nature, against the odds and without the support of modern society and its conveniences. Someday, it may unfortunately no longer be practice but necessity. If that day comes, it would be best to be ready.

Vaccines Injuries and Deaths Increase in Government Vaccine Court – June 2016 Report
Health Impact News - The most recent report was issued on June 3, 2016 which covered the period from 2/16/16 to 5/15/16 had 206 cases adjudicated. 116 of them were listed in the report, specifying the vaccine, the injury or death, and the amount of time the case was pending before settlement. 85 of the 116 cases settled were for injuries and deaths due to the flu vaccine, making the flu vaccine the most dangerous vaccine in the U.S., harming and killing more people than all the other vaccines put together. Most citizens of the United States are not even aware that there is something called the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, and that if you suffer harm or death due to a vaccine, that you cannot sue the manufacturer of the vaccine, but you must sue the federal government and try to obtain compensation from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Trust Fund,which is funded by taxes paid on vaccines. The amount of money currently sitting in this trust fund is over $3.6 BILLION, as of September 30, 2015. Congress gave the pharmaceutical companies immunity against lawsuits for injuries or deaths resulting in vaccines in 1986. Prior to this time, there were so many lawsuits pending against pharmaceutical companies for injuries and deaths due to vaccines, that the pharmaceutical industry basically blackmailed congress and told them that if they did not grant them legal immunity against the liabilities of vaccines, that they would quit making them. These vaccine products cannot survive in a free market, they are so bad.

Lemon + Flaxseed- Detoxifies Your Body, Reduces Blood Sugar, Melts Cellulite & Stimulates Metabolism
Natural News Blogs - Lemon juice with flax seeds is a famous remedy for those who have stomach or digestive disorders. It also hydrating and boost the health of your liver and skin. Lemon’s powers and benefits increase when it’s mixed with flax seeds. Ingredients: 1 cup hot water, 1/4 lemon, 1 tsp ground flaxseed… Squeeze the lemon juice in the cup of water. Mix well and drink it immediately. Drink this drink in the morning, to boost the metabolism and stimulate digestion throughout the day.

This Drink is A Medicine For Diseases – How A Cup of Potato Juice Heal Your Entire Body
Natural News Blogs - Potatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals that are essential for the proper body functions. They are especially enriched in: Vitamin C: A half cup of potato juice contains almost half of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C. Potassium: A half cup of the juice provides around 27% of the daily recommended intake of potassium. Thiamine: A half cup of the juice provides more than 20% of the daily recommended intake of thiamine… Potato juice is a widely used remedy for treating sunburn, apply cold potato juice on the sun burnt skin to get a relief instantly. The solution made with potato juice and honey or olive oil works better for relieving the pain caused by sunburn. You can treat cuts, wounds, sores and cracks in the skin the same way with treating sunburn. Potato juice works effectively for these skin injuries. Potato is an effective anti-aging ingredient, it helps reduce wrinkles and keep your skin looks younger. Apply the juice on your face helps to fade away the dark spots, massage your face gently after applying potato juice and leave it for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. What’s more, potato juice also treats dry skin and removes the dead skin cells on the face. Raw potato juice is one of the best treatments for arthritis and joint pain, thanks to its strong anti-inflammatory properties…. Potato juice prevents hair loss and promotes your hair grow faster in a natural and chemical-free way.

Mushrooms For Animal Health
Cats & Dogs Naturally - Do you know a cat with herpes? The calicivirus? or FIV? Or, a dog going through chemotherapy treatments? Perhaps, birds suffering from Beak & Feather diseases? How about senior cats and dogs that need an extra boost? Well, guess what. They all may benefit from mushroom therapy…. Mushrooms are immune-modulators or Biological Response Modifiers (BRMs). It’s like they have an intelligence that seems to know whether the immune system needs more stimulation or less stimulation. So, whether you have an immune deficiency or an auto-immune disease (like MS), mushrooms will work with the body…. The most well-known BRM compound […] are beta-glucans. Beta-glucans are largely responsible for warding off tumors, cardiovascular disease, immune deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases. Beta-glucans […] activate different immune pathways, such as, macro-phages, T-cells, B-cells, Natural Killer Cells, and then activate the antibodies…. It’s very important to know your product and read the labels. If you can, ask how the product was prepared. If you see a beta-glucan level on the label then you probably have a product that has been extracted in hot water at some point. But if you don’t see a beta-glucan level on the product’s label then it’s likely not extracted. And therefore, will not contain much beta-glucan.
 

Friday - July 15, 2016 - Today In History:

1806 - Lieutenant Zebulon Pike began his western expedition from Fort Belle Fountaine, near St. Louis, MO.
1813 - Napoleon Bonaparte's representatives met with the Allies in Prague to discuss peace terms.
1870 - Georgia became the last of the Confederate states to be readmitted to the Union.
1876 - George Washington Bradley of St. Louis pitched the first no-hitter in baseball in a 2-0 win over Hartford.
1901 - Over 74,000 Pittsburgh steel workers went on strike.
1904 - The first Buddhist temple in the U.S. was established in Los Angeles, CA.
1916 - In Seattle, WA, Pacific Aero Products was incorporated by William Boeing. The company was later renamed Boeing Co.
1918 - The Second Battle of the Marne began during World War I.
1958 - Five thousand U.S. Marines landed in Beirut, Lebanon, to protect the pro-Western government. The troops withdrew October 25, 1958.
1965 - The spacecraft Mariner IV sent back the first close-up pictures of the planet Mars.
1968 - Commercial air travel began between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., when the 1st plane, a Soviet Aeroflot jet, landed at Kennedy International Airport in New York.
1971 - U.S. President Nixon announced he would visit the People's Republic of China to seek a "normalization of relations."
1987 - Taiwan ended thirty-seven years of martial law.
2006 - The social networking service Twitter was launched.
2010 - BP stopped the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico after 85 days using a 75-ton cap lowered onto the well earlier in the week.
2011 - Rupert Murdoch accepted the resignation of The Wall Street Journal's publisher, Les Hinton, and the chief of his British operations, Rebekah Brooks, as the once-defiant media mogul struggled to control an escalating phone hacking scandal.

Gun and truck terror attack leaves at least 77 dead in Nice: Bodies strewn across road after lorry drove for over a MILE through crowd watching holiday fireworks before gunman opens fire
Daily Mail - Eyewitnesses say there was an exchange of gunfire in the aftermath of the incident before the driver was shot dead. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to unconfirmed reports in the French media. A second suspect is currently on the run according to French authorities. Guns and grenades were later said to have been found inside the truck, which mounted the pavement at approximately 40mph and steered directly towards hundreds of people watching a fireworks display. Anti-terror police swooped in as the city was put on lockdown and residents were warned to stay indoors for their safety. Gunshots rang out in the streets, with gunmen targeting hotels and cafes in the port city in the south of France. [Warning Graphic Content ]
* Related: Nice 'terrorist attack': truck hits Bastille Day crowd killing 70 people – Live Updates

France 'informed of planned terror attack on Rio Olympic team'
The Telegraph - A terrorist attack targeting the French delegation at the Rio 2016 Olympics has been foiled by security services, it has emerged. The head of French military intelligence said "partner agencies" had issued an alert about the alleged plot by a Brazilian Islamist militant, according to a report into the Paris terror attacks in January and November, which killed 147. No other details about the plans were released and the information was not shared with Brazil’s intelligence agency Abin.

Fires tear through a row of cars in Brussels 'as three explosions are heard' in the south of the city
Daily Mail - The area is only a short distance from the European Parliament building. Several cars were destroyed after they burst into flames tonight in the Brussels business district of Saint Gilles amid fears of a possible terror attack. Early reports suggest that there may have been up to three blasts, although there has been on official confirmation of a terrorist explosion. Several cars have been destroyed been destroyed with video posted on social media showing pictures of a large fire. There are no reports yet of what caused the blaze and despite the extensive damage, they are not believed to have been as a result of a terrorist attack.

Report: French Government Covered-Up Torture of Bataclan Victims to Avoid Offending Muslims
Paul Joseph Watson - Did the French government cover-up details about how victims of the Bataclan Theatre massacre were tortured and killed in order to avoid offending Muslims? That’s the charge being made by French nationalist Boris Le Lay, whose website points to newly released documents from a parliamentary inquiry into the November 13 ISIS massacre in Paris that claimed the lives of 130 people…. François Molins, the public prosecutor for Paris, denies claims that any of the victims were tortured in such a manner, asserting that no bladed weapons were found at the scene…. However, people who escaped the Bataclan later told media outlets said they heard the screams of people being being tortured, with some claiming that ISIS jihadists sliced open the stomachs of their victims. According to the website that highlighted the documents, the information about how the victims were tortured and killed was withheld from the public “to protect the image of Islam and Muslim masses, both in France and in Europe and beyond.” If true, the issue wouldn’t be the only facet of the Bataclan attack that has prompted accusations of a cover-up.

Official: 6 of 7 Remaining Obamacare Co-Ops on the Brink
Free Beacon - The Illinois Department of Insurance announced this week that it was requesting an order of rehabilitation for the state’s Land of Lincoln Health co-op because of its unsustainable financial position. The co-op was originally awarded $160.2 million by CMS. This closing announcement has brought the number of failed co-ops from 15, which was reported earlier this week, to 16. Kevin Counihan, a top official for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, told lawmakers on Wednesday that of the seven co-ops that are still in operation, six have been placed on corrective action plans. Co-ops are flagged for these plans when the agency has identified issues with the co-ops finances, operations, compliance or management processes. The official was asked how many of the co-ops that are still in operation are profitable and he could not say. “Profitability very much can depend on the month,” Counihan said.

Obama Expected to Sign Industry-Backed GMO Label Bill Into Law
EcoWatch - The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill by a 306-117 vote Thursday. The bill now heads to President Obama's desk. President Obama is expected to throw his weight behind a controversial bill that allows businesses to use a smartphone scannable QR code instead of clear, concise wording that informs consumers if a product contains genetically modified ingredients. The bill would also nullify state-by-state GMO labeling mandates such as Vermont's landmark law that took effect on July 1.

Organic Farmers Leave Organic Trade Association over GMO Labeling Betrayal
Sustainable Pulse - By a unanimous vote of its Board of Directors, the U.S. organic farmer-controlled Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA) has withdrawn its membership from the Organic Trade Association (OTA), OSGATA announced on Wednesday. OSGATA’s decision was prompted by OTA’s duplicity towards organic farmers and consumers when a small number of OTA board members endorsed a dangerous Senate bill that would immediately preempt existing strong state GMO Labeling laws that are widely supported by the Organic community and ninety percent of consumers…. Recent revelations have made clear that the OTA has created numerous close partnerships with Monsanto including intensive lobbying efforts by the notorious biotech-linked lobbyist Podesta Group on behalf of the deal brokered by Senators Stabenow (D-MI) and Roberts (R-KS)…. OTA support for the Monsanto-backed bill proved essential for passage. Last week Stabenow-Roberts passed in the Senate by a narrow four-vote margin of victory on a vote of 63-30.

Manuscript of Obama’s book obtained from Malik Obama proves it was NOT written by the president
Got News - The new media startup WeSearchr has released a draft of Barack Obama’s first book proving he did NOT write the book…. The draft was obtained from Obama’s brother and former best man Malik Obama. Written notes and sticky notes all over the pages indicate large portions of the book were NOT written by Obama. One section is marked “Ink by Obama,” and others say not Obama on them. Obama has always maintained that he wrote his books by himself. Why did Barack Obama cross out the fact that his grandfather was a Muslim? Or did someone else cross it out? Was it Bill Ayers?

FBI, DHS Heads Warn of Possible Violence at GOP Convention
ABC News - The nation's top counterterrorism officials warned lawmakers today that radical activists drawn to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, next week could mar otherwise peaceful demonstrations with violence. "I am concerned about the prospect of demonstrations getting out of hand, and concerned about the possibility of violence," Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson told the House Homeland Security Committee today. "We have to be concerned about things getting out of hand, definitely.”… Johnson said the Department of Homeland Security alone is sending about 3,000 personnel to Cleveland, including personnel from the Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard. A similar contingent will be going to Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention the following week, according to Johnson. In addition to the DHS personnel, thousands of other federal authorities and thousands of state and local authorities will be helping to protect each convention, Johnson said.

Rasmussen Poll: Trump Takes 7 Point Lead Over Hillary
Rasmussen Reports - Just days before the Republican National Convention is expected to formally nominate him to run for president, Donald Trump has taken his largest lead yet over Hillary Clinton. The latest Rasmussen Reports weekly White House Watch survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Trump with 44% support to Clinton’s 37%. Thirteen percent (13%) favor some other candidate, and six percent (6%) are undecided…. This is the third week in a row that Trump has held the lead, although last week he was ahead by a statistically insignificant 42% to 40%. This week’s findings represent Trump’s highest level of support in surveys since last October and show Clinton continuing to lose ground.

Trump Announces Suspension of VP Pick Amid France Terror
Infowars - Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump declared he would suspend his announcement for his vice presidential pick following news of a devastating attack in Nice, France that left over 70 dead. Trump had planned to announce his pick on Friday at 11am EST. Rumors swirled Thursday Trump would be selecting Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his VP, however the campaign did not formally confirm the speculation.

Trump Campaign Denies Reports Mike Pence Picked as VP
Breitbart - Reports surfaced on Thursday afternoon that presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump picked Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his vice president (VP). “As Trump narrowed in on his choice of Pence, the two men spent time at both Trump’s golf resort in New Jersey in early July and at the Indiana governor’s mansion this week,” Roll Call notes, citing an anonymous Republican source for the report. The New York Times and CBS have also reported the pick is Pence. However, the Trump campaign is denying this is true. ***UPDATE*** A Republican source with information on Gov. Mike Pence’s travel schedule confirmed to Breitbart News that Pence is Trump’s VP. Pence will be returning to Indiana as part of his first stop on his tour as VP. ***UPDATE — 3:58 PM EDT*** Trump himself denies that he has made a final decision in a radio interview with Michael Savage.

Movement Conservatives Praise Mike Pence as VP, ‘Home Run Choice’
Breitbart - The NRA’s board member Ken Blackwell, who is also a senior fellow at the Family Research Council, called Pence a “home run choice” after reports emerged that Trump tapped Pence as his VP — although the billionaire hasn’t officially made the announcement…. “Mike is a fellow Midwesterner and a fellow rock-solid conservative, and will be a huge help on both scores. Mike has been a successful governor and chief executive, he’s been a successful legislator in Congress and commands deep respect across the board in the Republican Party and across the aisle with the Democrats. He’ll be an exceptional asset as Mr. Trump’s running mate, he’ll help unify the party as we take the battle to the Democrats in the fall up and down the ballot.” [said Ken Blackwell]… Susan B. Anthony List’s Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the the non-profit pro-life organization, praised Pence’s pro-life record: Mr. Trump’s selection of Gov. Mike Pence as his Vice President is an affirmation of the pro-life commitments he has made and will rally the pro-life grassroots. Gov. Pence is a proven pro-life champion both during his time in Congress and as Governor of Indiana. It was Mike Pence who led the effort to defund Planned Parenthood in Congress, and it was Gov. Pence who signed into law a historic bill protecting unborn children from lethal discrimination in the womb. Mike Pence is a pro-life trailblazer and Mr. Trump could not have made a better choice…. Trump plans to make his vice presidential pick official on Friday at 11 a.m. during a formal announcement in New York City.

Mike Pence Would be a Terrible Choice For Trump’s VP
Paul Joseph Watson - Making Pence VP is seen by many as a way of calming establishment conservatives and uniting the GOP, although why pandering to cuckservatives who have failed over and over again (John McCain, Mitt Romney etc etc) is suddenly a good idea remains a mystery. Here are more reasons why picking Pence doesn’t make sense; – While Trump has promised to build a wall, Pence has been savaged by respected conservatives like Pat Buchanan and Phyllis Schlafly for advocating “stealth amnesty” in the form of a guest worker program. – While Trump has campaigned against job-killing foreign trade deals, Pence vehemently supports NAFTA, CAFTA, and the TPP. – As recently as December, Pence tweeted, “Calls to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. are offensive and unconstitutional.” This completely contradicts Trump’s policy of a temporary halt on Muslim immigration. – Pence voted for the Iraq war and opposed a withdrawal date even after it became apparent that U.S. involvement in the country was a disastrous policy. – Pence once advocated “conversion therapy” for homosexuals. This will be exploited by the left to portray Pence as intolerant and bigoted, turning off many Bernie Sanders supporters who might have voted for Trump, as well as gays who were thinking about voting for Trump in the aftermath of the Orlando massacre.

Speakers Revealed for 2016 Republican National Convention
Breitbart - Jeff Larson, CEO of the 2016 Republican National Convention, today released a partial list of the speakers who will participate in the week-long, all-star event starting July 18th. The convention’s theme, “Make America Great Again,” will focus on the core themes of Republican Presidential Nominee Donald J. Trump’s campaign: national security, immigration, trade and jobs. A final list of speakers and information on convention themes will follow…. Pastor Mark Burns, Phil Ruffin, Congressman Ryan Zinke, Pat Smith, Mark Geist, John Tiegen, Congressman Michael McCaul, Sheriff David Clarke, Congressman Sean Duffy…

Trump Supporters Turned House Into American Flag
Breitbart - Youngstown, PA homeowner Lesli Rossi and her husband buy old buildings, restore them and then sell them, and one of their projects is drawing a lot of attention right now. The home is painted as an American flag and is surrounded in Donald Trump banners and signs. Rossi even stands outside of the house and hands out Donald Trump hats and other free stuff to visitors. Responses to the home are mixed, Rossi says, but she maintains positivity either way. “Here we’ll get a lot of honks and waves,” she told CBS Pittsburgh. “Sometimes I’ll get a thumbs down. But we’ll just wave anyway. Sometimes they’ll yell for the candidate they’re for, if it’s different. It doesn’t do any good to respond negatively. So if it’s too far, or I don’t feel I can control it, I just say I don’t want to speak to you. Please leave me alone.”

YouTube: Five Finger Death Punch - Wrong Side Of Heaven
This is a Music video by Five Finger Death Punch performing Wrong Side Of Heaven to help bring awareness to the many challenges our veterans face!! 

Massive Fracking Explosion in New Mexico, 36 Oil Tanks Catch Fire
EcoWatch - This week -- as thousands of Americans urge awareness to the destruction caused by oil bomb trains -- an oil field in San Juan County, New Mexico erupted in flames Monday night, highlighting the continued and increasing dangers of the fossil fuel industry. The fire broke out around 10:15 p.m. Monday at a fracking site owned and operated by WPX Energy, setting off several explosions and temporarily closing the nearby Highway 550. Fifty-five local residents were forced out of their homes. The site -- located in the Mancos shale deposit area and known as the 550 Corridor and a part of Greater Chaco Canyon -- contains six new oil wells and 30 temporary oil storage tanks holding either oil or produced water. All 36 storage tanks caught fire and burned, the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based energy company said…. According to Albuquerque news station KOAT, WPX stopped drilling for natural gas and oil in the area last May. The company had been producing for about a week before the fire broke out. The cause of the fire is currently unclear.

Researchers Find Roundup Responsible for Harmful Algae Blooms In Great Lakes
Underground Reporter - Scientists from Ohio Northern University (ONU) in the U.S. have discovered that glyphosate is largely responsible for an increase in harmful algae blooms that contaminate lake water and kill off life dependent upon this habitat. Namely, dissolved reactive phosphorous (DRP) has been contaminating Lake Erie and the Maumee watershed. This DRP comes from surrounding farms that rely on Monsanto’s weedkiller to grow their crops. The runoff ends up in the lakes, killing fish and contaminating the water. Though Lake Erie’s trouble with phosphorous is not new, there has been an alarming increase in DRP, which caused scientists to question its probable origins.

She Forgot To Mow Her Yard. So They Arrested Her, In Front Of Her Kids
Off the Grid News - Police in Cahokia, Illinois, took Conner to the station, booked her and held her for 30 minutes, KMOV-TV reported. “It’s grass,” Conner said when reporter Courtney Bryant asked her about the arrest. “And I’ve never heard of being arrested for grass.” “I understand I violated a code, but take the channels, give me a ticket first, make me appear in court,” Conner said. “I know there’s gotta be channels other than if you don’t cut your grass, we’re arresting you right now.” The single mother was arrested two weeks after receiving a code violation for uncut grass. She was upset because police never ticketed her or gave her a day in court. Another reason why Conner was so upset was that officers left her five children alone in the house, unattended. The only person nearby was a code enforcement officer, who was apparently sitting outside in his car. Disturbingly, Conner is far from alone, and several municipalities in the St. Louis area where she lives engage in similar practices. Residents of Pagedale, Missouri, were fined and arrested for such infractions as having weeds growing in a vegetable garden, leaving chipped paint on a drain sprout and having hedges over three feet high, as Off The Grid News previously reported.

The Delicious Edible Weed That Doesn’t Get Bitter, Is Packed With Vitamins, And Grows EVERYWHERE
Off the Grid News - We’ll pay a premium for spinach or kale but lose sight of the fact that many plants like dandelions, plantain and purslane have equal nutritional value. In fact, purslane not only equals the nutritional value of spinach and kale, but it also has a semi-sweet, salty and succulent flavor. Dandelion leaves and plantain leaves can acquire a bit of bitterness once they begin to flower or go to seed. Purslane is different. That’s because purslane is a succulent plant. It is related to the cactus and absorbs water, which gives it a refreshing taste and flavor. Unlike the cactus it has no needles and when chilled makes a great addition to a tossed, green salad and will stand up to the boil of a soup or broth. Purslane is high in omega-3 fatty acids and contains vitamins A, B, and C, and magnesium, calcium, potassium and iron. It’s also an excellent source of fiber. Both the leaves and stems are edible, which also sets it apart from other “wild” weeds. I’ve even incorporated purslane leaves into deli salads like potato salad, egg salad and tuna salad to give a burst of freshness and flavor. You also can eat purslane on its own. It has a burst of flavor when chilled.

Cancer Study Halted After 3 People Die
Natural Society - U.S. regulators in July of 2016 halted a trial of Juno Therapeutics Inc.’s experimental cancer therapy, known as JCAR015, after three patients died. JCAR015 uses genetically engineered cells as a treatment for cancer. However, one of the pursuits in oncology was temporarily halted by the FDA when some of the participants developed fatal swelling in the brain…. Bishop and other Juno executives believe the catastrophic side effects were the result of the combination of the chemotherapy drug and the particular cells being used. Juno has asked to continue the trial without the drug, but it’s not clear whether the FDA will agree, or when it will make a decision. Company executives said it could be within 30 days. Juno is working on CAR-T therapy, which entails drawing blood from a patient to extract immune cells, which are then genetically engineered to make them kill cancer cells. These immune cells are then placed back into the bloodstream to do their work. Early studies have shown promising results in certain types of leukemia and lymphoma. However, severe side effects can occur, especially immune system overreactions and neurological toxicity, including cerebral edema, which is swelling in the brain. Several deaths have been caused by these adverse events.

Why Thyroid Health Is Completely Dependent on Selenium
Dr.Edward Group - Common thyroid maladies can be caused by low selenium intake, including Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. With this condition, the thyroid first becomes inflamed and secretes excessive amounts of hormones. Then, over time, it starts producing far less than it needs. Conditions like thyroiditis can lead to an imbalance of hormones and that can be the start of major disruptions in the body’s normal processes. Hypothyroidism, which is one such potential consequence, is a condition in which the thyroid fails to provide a sufficient level of thyroid hormones. The outcome can be serious and include abnormal heartbeat, low body temperature, and nervous system disorders. It can even disrupt the body’s ability to metabolize proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. What can contribute to hypothyroidism? You guessed it, selenium deficiency.

Applegate Removes GMOs from Entire Meat Supply Chain
Sustainable Pulse - Applegate, the leading natural and organic meat brand in the U.S., announced Wednesday its commitment to remove genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from its entire supply chain – from animal feed to finished product – and gain third-party certification. The announcement comes as Applegate launches its first-ever Non-GMO Project Verified products, Applegate Organics Chicken Nuggets and Applegate Organics Gluten-free Chicken Nuggets. In June 2015, the company successfully removed GMO ingredients from all products, however, today’s move goes further down the supply chain to animal feed and includes third-party verification. The announcement is a monumental undertaking as the vast majority of animal feed crops in the United States, corn (88 percent) and soy (94 percent), are genetically modified, according to experts.

Police Rescue Dog Hanging from Truck in Walmart Parking Lot
Dogington Post - Arkansas City, Kansas police responding to a shoplifting call at a local Walmart came to the rescue after an employee noticed a small dog hanging by his leash from a truck in the store’s parking lot. The dog’s owner had left the small dog inside the parked car with the windows rolled down, but leashed the dog to prevent him from escaping. Apparently, the dog had tried to jump out of the window and essentially hung himself by his collar and leash. Sergeant Jason Legleiter used his patrol duty knife to cut the dog free and, along with Officer Wade Hammond, began attempts to revive the unresponsive dog. They removed his collar and immediately began performing chest compressions. After several minutes, the dog began to slowly show signs of life. The officers kept tending to him until he appeared to fully recover and was able to stand and drink water on his own…. Once again, let this serve as a reminder to leave your dogs at home if they cannot join you where you’re going. Leaving a dog unattended in a parked car, even with the windows rolled down, is dangerous – in addition to heat exhaustion, dogs are at risk of escaping or being strangled like this lucky-to-be-alive dog.

War On Health: The FDA’s Cult of Tyranny (Full Documentary)
Natural Blaze - “Featuring many pioneering American and European attorneys, physicians, medical researchers and advocates of health freedom, War on Health lifts the veil on FDA’s militaristic operations against organic food providers and alternative physicians. The film’s conclusion is perfectly clear: the FDA is a tyrannical cult founded upon the denial of sound medical science with little intention to improve the nation’s health and prevent disease.”

Music Video: Poisoned Rivers by Mike Younger
YouTube: This song and video reflect on a moment that a large corporate entity with all the money, all the influence and all the power tried to force itself upon a rural community made up of regular ordinary people.
 

Video: Adorable viral video shows toddler imitating Rocky Balboa training scene
A toddler’s adorable workout routine is gaining notoriety across the county after a video of the boy mimicking Rocky Balboa has gone viral.
 

Thursday - July 14, 2016 - Today In History:

1798 - The U.S. Congress passed the Sedition Act. The act made it a federal crime to write, publish, or utter false or malicious statements about the U.S. government.
1891 - The primacy of Thomas Edison's lamp patents was upheld in the court decision Electric Light Company vs. U.S. Electric Lighting Company.
1900 - European Allies retook Tientsin, China, from the rebelling Boxers.
1911 - Harry N. Atwood landed an airplane on the lawn of the White House to accept an award from U.S. President William Taft.
1940 - A force of German Ju-88 bombers attacked Suez, Egypt, from bases in Crete.
1945 - American battleships and cruisers bombarded the Japanese home islands for the first time.
1946 - Dr. Benjamin Spock’s "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" was first published.
1951 - The George Washington Carver National Monument in Joplin, MO, became the first national park to honor an African American.
1958 - The army of Iraq overthrew the monarchy.
1968 - Hank Aaron (Atlanta Braves) hit his 500th career home run.
1981 - The All-Star Game was postponed because of a 33-day-old baseball players strike. The game was held on August 9.
1998 - Los Angeles sued 15 tobacco companies for $2.5 billion over the dangers of secondhand smoke.
2001 - Beijing was awarded the 2008 Olympics. It was the first time that the China had been awarded the games.
2003 - Jerry Springer officially filed papers to run for the U.S. Senate from Ohio.
2015 - NASA's New Horizons spacecraft became the first space mission to explore Pluto.

Thousands of S. Koreans protest US missile defense system as Seoul announces location
RT - South Korea’s military has announced the location of its THAAD anti-missile defense system, intended to deter threats from North Korea. The plan, which greatly angered regional powers, has led thousands of Koreans on to the streets in protest. Seoul and Washington say the system is intended to both counter threats in the region and defend US troops stationed there. It forms the core element of the America’s multilayered defense program. But the local residents fear it will lead to deteriorating health and will negatively impact the agricultural economy. The system’s high-powered radar has been linked to infertility and cancer, according to local rumors, which the government dismissed as “baseless.” Some 3,000 people first took to the streets on Saturday, following the previous day’s announcement of the US-backed Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense System, or THAAD. This was in Chilgok County – thought to have been the likeliest of the locations. The protests have since spread.

U.S. Endorses Expansion of Military Force Used By U.N. Peacekeepers in Combat Zones
Brandon Turbeville - In yet another step towards the establishment of a world military force that seeks peace through the absence of dissent, the United States announced its support in May for a set of principles that will allow the United Nations’ peacekeeping troops and UN police to use force in order to “protect civilians” in combat zones and areas of armed conflict. U.S. Ambassador the U.N. and notorious warmonger against Libya and Syria, Samantha Power stated that the Kigali Principles would “make peacekeeping missions more effective, improve security and save lives.” “The Kigali Principles are designed to make sure that civilians are not abandoned by the international community again,” said Power.

Canada Inks Free Trade Deal With Ukraine, Emphasizes Security Relationship
Brandon Turbeville - [Prime Minster Justin Trudeau] met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kiev to announce a greater “cooperation” between the two countries both in security and in trade, despite the announcement being nothing more than the telegraph of a continuation of imperialism and the giant sucking sound of “free trade.” During the news conference, Poroshenko stated that Ukraine has requested 200 Canadian military trainers to remain in Ukraine after the 2017 expiration date for the current arrangement. While Canadian military “trainers” are currently deployed in Ukraine, Trudeau did not publicly commit to a continuation of the arrangement. Still, he re-emphasized Canada’s “commitment” and “relationship” with Ukraine both on the military and economic front. Given Trudeau’s statements about Russia and the Ukrainian crisis, however, informed observers tend to suspect that Canada’s military role in Ukraine will continue as needed. Trudeau and Poroshenko also signed a mutual “Free Trade” deal at the meeting, another small step in the direction of globalization and the elimination of anything resembling high living standards for majority of the world’s workforce.

'Shampoo Socialism'? Hollande's Hairdresser Costs French Taxpayers $11k Per Month
Zero Hedge - Amid record unemployment, painful labor reforms, economic collapse, and the most serious social unrest in decades, the shockingly 'let them eat cake'-ish revelations of French President Hollande's lifestyle will do little to improve the socialist's ratings from their record lows. As Bloomberg reports, a French satirical magazine has exposed the fact that Hollande’s hairdresser is paid a gross salary by the state of ~$11,000 per month (more than a European parliament member). Although just a third less than Hollande’s salary, it is more than the gross monthly wage of a European Parliament member, which stands at about 8,213 euros, excluding expenses. The salary paid to the Socialist president’s coiffeur at the Elysee presidential palace was confirmed by the government after satirical magazine Canard Enchaine published details of the terms, including an image of his contract.

Global Conflict Tracker
The Center for Preventive Action's Global Conflict Tracker is an interactive guide to ongoing conflicts around the world of concern to the United States.

CDC Urges Spraying Chemicals to Rid of Zika Virus in Puerto Rico
Before It's News - The CDC has promised a $1.1 billion initiative to help Zika-infested areas in Puerto Rico set up so-called mosquito control units while also spending $500,000 to help Puerto Rico get rid of old tires where the Zika-infected mosquitoes often breed. At present, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa are the only parts of the United States where Zika infected mosquitoes are indigenous. The some 900 cases of Zika that have been recorded elsewhere in the United States are all from travel-related cases, or the infected person having sexual relations with someone who recently traveled to a Zika-infested area. At this point, there have been 2,400 people in Puerto Rico infected with Zika, though no woman has yet to give birth to a child with microcephaly. Forty-four people have been hospitalized due to Zika-related complications; one person has died; and 16 have been diagnosed with Guillain-Barre in relation to the virus. Officials warn that the epidemic is a silent one, as most people do not display symptoms.

Day of rage protests are scheduled for July 15th in 37 American cities
Daisy Luther - The hacktivist group Anonymous is now calling for nationwide Day of Rage protests on Friday, July 15th. The video below promotes the protests.(WARNING: There is some disturbing and graphic violence in this video.) While I firmly believe that we are being distracted and manipulated so that we stop paying attention to the machinations and corruption of presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, the fact remains that being anywhere near these protests greatly increases the chance that you could become a victim of violence. When the mob mentality takes over, normally decent people can commit heinous acts. Use this as a list of places NOT to be on Friday the 15th. While the video by Anonymous does specify non-violence and denounces the actions taken against police officers that were not involved in these deaths, with the tagline “Day of Rage” I think it’s safe to expect emotions to be running very high on both sides of the line. No matter how great your empathy might be for those who have unjustly lost their lives, these protests are not safe places to be.
** These are the locations and times for the protests

Man in ‘Black Lives Matter’ Shirt Fires 17 Shots at Cop’s Home
Mikael Thalen - A black male opened fire on a police officer’s home in Indiana Tuesday just days after being released from prison. According to reports, the individual, 27-year-old March Eugene Ratney, began firing on an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer’s home just after 2 am while screaming profanities. The violent felon, who had recently been released after serving half of a 12-year sentence, was wearing a shirt with the words “Black Lives Matter” and “F*ck the police” during the incident. Although Ratney fired 17 shots – hitting the officer’s home, patrol vehicle and fence – neither the officer or his family were harmed…. Ratney, who was captured by a surveillance camera fleeing the area, was arrested by police during a traffic stop less than an hour later…. As reported by Fox59, local Black Lives Matter members were quick to disassociate themselves with the shooter. “He is not a part of the movement and you can tell he’s not a part of the movement just in his approach to this whole issue,” said Muhammad Siddeeq of The Concerned Clergy. “That movement is a movement trying to do positive things and peacefully resolve issues.”

FBI Agents Silenced on Hillary Probe
Newsmax - FBI agents who worked on the investigation of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server reportedly had to sign an unusual non-disclosure form banning them from talking about the case unless they were called to testify. Unnamed sources tell the New York Post they'd never heard of the special form — known as a "case briefing acknowledgment" — being used before, though all agents initially have to sign nondisclosure agreements to obtain security clearance. "This is very, very unusual. I've never signed one, never circulated one to others," one unnamed retired FBI chief tells the Post…. The Post additionally reports some FBI agents are disappointed that Director James Comey decided against recommending that charges be brought against Clinton for her mishandling of classified information. "FBI agents believe there was an inside deal put in place after the [Attorney General] Loretta Lynch/Bill Clinton tarmac meeting" just hours before the release of a House report on the Benghazi, Libya terror attack in 2012, one unnamed source tells the Post.

Russia Is Reportedly Set To Release Clinton's Intercepted Emails
OilPrice.com June 13, 2016 - Reliable intelligence sources in the West have indicated that warnings had been received that the Russian Government could in the near future release the text of email messages intercepted from U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s private e-mail server from the time she was U.S. Secretary of State. The release would, the messaging indicated, prove that Secretary Clinton had, in fact, laid open U.S. secrets to foreign interception by putting highly-classified Government reports onto a private server in violation of U.S. law, and that, as suspected, the server had been targeted and hacked by foreign intelligence services.
* Related: Clinton Email Scandal: Has Putin Played All His Cards?

In First, U.S. Judge Throws Out Cell Phone ‘stingray’ Evidence
Reuters - For the first time, a federal judge has suppressed evidence obtained without a warrant by U.S. law enforcement using a stingray, a surveillance device that can trick suspects’ cell phones into revealing their locations. U.S. District Judge William Pauley in Manhattan on Tuesday ruled that defendant Raymond Lambis’ rights were violated when the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration used such a device without a warrant to find his Washington Heights apartment. The DEA had used a stingray to identify Lambis’ apartment as the most likely location of a cell phone identified during a drug-trafficking probe. Pauley said doing so constituted an unreasonable search. “Absent a search warrant, the government may not turn a citizen’s cell phone into a tracking device,” Pauley wrote.

Trump Demands Supreme Court Justice Ginsberg Resign
Kurt Nimmo - Earlier this week, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg violated the code of conduct for federal judges when she trashed Donald Trump. The code states federal judges should not “publicly endorse or oppose a candidate for public office.” Although Supreme Court justices are not bound by the code, Chief Justice John G. Roberts has said the court adheres to it. Donald Trump responded to Ginsberg’s unethical comments by sending out one of his scathing tweets. He questioned her mental fitness and demanded she resign. “I don’t think the justices should be speaking out about presidential politics,” Gabe Roth, executive director of Fix the Court, a nonpartisan organization advocating for accountability from the justices, told the Boston Herald. “It’s part of the job of being a Supreme Court judge to be held to a high ethical standard.”
* Related: New York Times: Trump is Right About Ginsburg

GOP Sen Mike Lee: Ginsburg Attack on Trump ‘Calls Into Question Her Basic Judgement’
Breitbart - Wednesday on Fox News Channel’s “The Real Story,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) discussed Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg calling presumptive republican presidential nominee Donald Trump a “faker,” adding her comments were “wildly inappropriate” and “called into question her basic judgement.” Lee said, “It was a huge, huge error on her part. This was wildly inappropriate and it reflects a certain lack of bias. It also portrays a sense in which a lot of these Supreme Court justices, at least, are no longer even hiding behind the bench, they are wearing their political views on their sleeves. This is very problematic on many levels.”

Trump seeks $10 million from former aide in disclosure case
Daily Mail - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is seeking $10 million in damages from former senior campaign consultant Sam Nunberg, alleging that Nunberg leaked confidential information to reporters in violation of a nondisclosure agreement. In a court filing obtained by The Associated Press, Nunberg accused Trump of trying to silence him "in a misguided attempt to cover up media coverage of an apparent affair" between two senior campaign staffers. Such a legal dispute is highly unusual for a presidential candidate. It reflects Trump's efforts to aggressively protect the secrecy of his campaign's inner workings, as he has for years fought to protect the secrecy of his businesses and family…. In the court filings, Nunberg denied disparaging Trump and accused the presumptive GOP nominee of attempting to "bully" him into silence after Nunberg decided to publicly support Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's presidential bid.

Battleground Polls: Trump Takes Lead in Florida, Pennsylvania, Tied in Ohio
Breitbart - Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump took the lead in recent swing state polls published on Wednesday in battleground states. The New Yorker leads presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in Florida, Pennsylvania and is tied with her in Ohio, but he is winning with Independent voters in all three battleground states.

Cash-Strapped Towns Are Un-Paving Roads They Can’t Afford to Fix
Wired - Repaving roads is expensive, so Montpelier instead used its diminishing public works budget to take a step back in time and un-pave the road. Workers hauled out a machine called a “reclaimer” and pulverized the damaged asphalt and smoothed out the road’s exterior. They filled the space between Vermont’s cruddy soil and hardier dirt and gravel up top with a “geotextile”, a hardy fabric that helps with erosion, stability and drainage…. Meanwhile, several local bridges and retaining walls needed serious, urgent updates. By un-paving instead of repaving, Montpelier saved about $120,000—a big chunk for a city whose annual budget for street building and repairs was $1.3 million in 2009.

Decision to Blow up US Citizen With Robot Was Improvised in Less Than 20 Minutes
Activist Post - A hotly-contested decision by law enforcement to use a drone robot to blow up a U.S. citizen, who allegedly carried out the murders of five police officers in Dallas, just got exponentially more controversial—because, according to Dallas Police Chief David Brown, the “whole idea was improvised in about 15 to 20 minutes.” Already igniting fury around the country for neglecting any semblance of due process, the use of the “Remotec model F-5” to deliver a pound of C-4 explosive to decimate suspected shooter Micah Xavier Johnson as he targeted police in a sniper-style attack, has been revealed by the police chief as a hastily-plotted … whim. Brown’s disturbing offhand comment came during a press conference in which the model of the “mechanical tactical drone”—clarified as the “Remotec Andros Mark V-A1″—was finally made public, in an apparent attempt to quell constitutional rights’ advocates ire over the unprecedented move by police.

Monsanto's Toxic Chemical Found in 100% of California Wines Tested
REALfarmacy - An Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) analysis found the highest levels of glyphosate in non-GE crops including bagels, bread and wheat cereal. This, they noted, is likely the result of the common practice of using glyphosate as a desiccant shortly before harvest. Ten out of 24 breakfast foods tested in ANH’s analysis had detectable levels of glyphosate. This included oatmeal, bagels, coffee creamer, organic bread and even organic, cage-free, and antibiotic-free eggs. In addition, advocacy group Moms Across America sent 10 wine samples to be tested for glyphosate. All of the samples tested positive for glyphosate — even organic wines, although their levels were significantly lower. Roundup isn’t even sprayed directly onto grapes in vineyards, but it is often used to spray the ground on either side of the grape vines. A study of glyphosate residues by the Munich Environmental Institute also found glyphosate in 14 best-selling German beers…. Your best bet for minimizing health risks from herbicide and pesticide exposure — including both the active and “inactive” ingredients — is to avoid them in the first place by eating organic as much as possible and investing in a good water filtration system for your home or apartment. If you know you have been exposed to herbicides and pesticides, the lactic acid bacteria formed during the fermentation of kimchi may help your body break them down.
Related: Monsanto’s Glyphosate Found in California Wines, Even Wines Made With Organic Grapes

Is Lymph Node Removal with Cancer Surgery Really Necessary?
Green Med Info - It’s common practice for oncologists to recommend lymph node removal after cancer diagnosis. Removal of lymph nodes occurs with many cancers – breast cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, and others too. The conventional medical view is that lymph nodes contain cancer cells and therefore must be removed. At the same time, cancer is a systemic disease, so removing parts of the body doesn’t provide a real solution. In other words, the swollen lymph nodes aren’t the problem and neither is the tumor, which is often also surgically removed. The tumor and/or the swollen lymph nodes are a result of the problem…. Monica Morrow, MD, a well-known clinical researcher and conventional medical doctor, has been studying tissue from breast cancer survivors who have small numbers of cancer cells called micro-metastases in their lymph nodes. Currently, even small findings of cancer cells such as these are considered deadly by the allopathic community. But Dr. Morrow’s findings show that these small numbers of cancer cells do not affect survival rates. Other medical professionals are just beginning to question the common practice of lymph node removal. Surgical removal of lymph nodes, as a way of reducing metastasis, may actually be causing more harm than good because of the potential lifelong complications of lymphedema.

Taking painkillers for just 14 days increases heart attack risk
What Doctors Don't Tell You - People taking an over-the-counter painkiller for even a few weeks are increasing their risk of heart attack and stroke—and they need to think twice before taking the medication at all, America’s drug regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned in a new, stronger alert. The agency issued its first alert about painkillers and heart problems back in 2005, but its expert panel has since come up with new information that has triggered the stronger warning. Common painkillers known as the NSAIDs (non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs), which include over-the-counter preparations such as ibuprofen and naproxen, and prescription-only remedies such as celecoxib and diclofenac, are included in the warning, as is Naproxen, which was previously considered a safer NSAID. The only one to escape the warning is aspirin, which doesn’t seem to increase heart attack risk.

Vitamin K2 Deficiency Is a Significant Cause of Cardiovascular Disease
A significant risk factor in the development of CVD is calcium buildup in your arterial system. Plaque formation on the walls of your arteries may lead to small pieces breaking off, causing clot formation. This is one of the more common reasons for a heart attack or stroke. Calcification of these plaque formations occurs as atherosclerotic disease progresses, which may predict your risk for future cardiovascular events. A meta-analysis of 30 studies, including over 218,000 participants, found calcification in the arteries was associated with a 300 to 400 percent increased risk of a cardiovascular event (such as a heart attack) or death. Vitamin K2 regulates arterial calcification through protein modulation. In one study, those who had the highest amount of vitamin K2 were 52 percent less likely to experience calcification in their arteries and 57 percent less likely to die from heart disease over a seven to 10 year period…. However, like most other vitamins and nutrients, no one nutrient operates independently of others. For instance, most pasteurized milk is fortified with vitamin D. Manufacturers recognize they have effectively eradicated the natural vitamin D in the milk, necessary for absorption of calcium, and so they add it. While vitamin D helps you absorb calcium, vitamin K2 directs your body to deposit the calcium in the appropriate places. In other words, it's the vitamin K2 that tells your body to deposit calcium in your bones and teeth, and not in your organs, arteries, muscles or soft tissue.

Eating selenium-rich foods including shellfish, nuts and onions decreases the risk of liver cancer, say scientists
(NaturalNews) A new study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that increased blood selenium levels and selenoprotein P, the protein that transports selenium from the liver to other parts of the body, were associated with a lower risk of liver cancer incidence. The protective effect of selenium on the liver was even seen when all other liver cancer risks were taken into account…. Previous research from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, already made the link between selenium levels, the immune system and the development of cancer. They found that selenium inhibits the over-stimulation of the immune system. Such over-stimulation may cause the immune system to collapse, clearing the path for cancer to proliferate and spread throughout the body…. Selenium can be found in shellfish, salmon, Brazil nuts, meat, eggs, grains, broccoli and onions, among many other natural whole foods. However, the IARC notes that selenium levels in these foods depend on the soil where the products were grown, or where the animals grazed.

FDA Releases Concerning Information About Beneful
Susan Thixton - A recent ‘find’ on the FDA website shows the agency released some VERY concerning information regarding FDA’s investigation of Purina Beneful earlier this year (published April 21, 2016). No public notice was issued regarding the agency’s publication of the Beneful investigation documents, the agency simply stated due to multiple requests for information on Beneful… And in this morsel of information provided by FDA – with no alert to the public – we discover the agency tested Beneful dog food and found.. FDA found ‘above the allowable level’ of cyanuric acid and melamine in 2013 testing of Beneful. Cynauric acid and melamine are the deadly combination responsible for the largest and deadliest pet food recall in history (2007). There was no recall even though test results are evidence to 6 Purina Beneful pet food adulterations. The FDA release of information of Beneful testing also stated… “Six samples collected contained ethoxyquin; however, the additive was not indicated on the product labeling.” Ethoxyquin is a chemical preservative commonly used in pet food. (This very ingredient is what my veterinarian told me was responsible for my dog’s bone cancer 25+ years ago.) Pet food regulations require all ingredients to be declared on the pet food label; Purina did not comply with that regulation. There was no recall even though test results are evidence of 6 Purina Beneful pet food labeling violations.
 

Wednesday - July 13, 2016 - Today In History:

1754 - At the beginning of the French and Indian War, George Washington surrendered the small, circular Fort Necessity in southwestern Pennsylvania to the French.
1787 - The U.S. Congress, under the Articles of Confederation, enacted the Northwest Ordinance, which established the rules for governing the Northwest Territory, for admitting new states to the Union and limiting the expansion of slavery.
1832 - Henry Schoolcraft discovered the source of the Mississippi River in Minnesota.
1863 - Opponents of the Civil War draft began three days of rioting in New York City, which resulted in more than 1,000 casualties.
1931 - A major German financial institution, Danabank, failed. This led to the closing of all banks in Germany until August 5.
1941 - Britain and the Soviet Union signed a mutual aid pact, that provided the means for Britain to send war material to the Soviet Union.
1954 - In Geneva, the United States, Great Britain and France reached an accord on Indochina which divided Vietnam into two countries, North and South, along the 17th parallel.
1978 - Lee Iacocca was fired as president of Ford Motor Co. by chairman Henry Ford II.
1984 - In Arkansas, Terry Wallis was injured in a car accident and was left comatose. He came out of the coma in June of 2003.
1985 - Live Aid, a concert to raise money for Africa's starving people, was held in London, Philadelphia, Moscow and Sydney, Australia.
1998 - RealNetworks Inc. rolled out a test version of RealSystem G2. G2 is a streaming video and audio delivery system.
2000 - The United States and Vietnam singed a major trade agreement. The pact still needed to be approved by the U.S. Congress.
2000 - Sprint Corp. and WorldCom canceled their planned merger due to opposition by regulators in the United States and Europe.

In Wake of South China Sea Ruling, Beijing Unveils New Guided-Missile Destroyer
Sputnik News - On the same day that the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled against China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, Beijing has commissioned its fourth guided-missile destroyer…. The latest 052D Yinchuan destroyer was commissioned at a naval port in Sanya, in the Hainan province. Roughly 150 meters long with a 20-meter beam, the ship is one of China’s most sophisticated vessels…. According to Chinese military expert Cao Weidong, the new ship can outperform South Korea’s Sejong the Great-class destroyers, Japan’s Atago-class destroyers, and the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The unveiling comes directly after the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against Beijing in its dispute over territorial claims in the South China Sea…. Responding to the Hague’s decision, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it does not accept the ruling as valid. "With regard to the award rendered on 12 July 2016 by the Arbitral Tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration established at the unilateral request of the Republic of the Philippines…the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China solemnly declares that the award is null and void and has no binding force.

Hundreds 'disappeared' by security forces in Egypt, says Amnesty
The Guardian - Hundreds of Egyptians have been forcibly disappeared and tortured in a “sinister” campaign to wipe out peaceful dissent in the most populous country in the Arab world, Amnesty International says in a new report. Children as young as 14 as well as students, political activists and protesters have vanished without trace after security forces raided their homes. Many have been held for months at a time and kept blindfolded and handcuffed. At least 34,000 people are behind bars, the government admits. Most of those who have “disappeared” are supporters of Mohamed Morsi, the democratically elected Muslim Brotherhood president who was deposed in July 2013 and eventually replaced by president Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi…. “Enforced disappearance has become a key instrument of state policy in Egypt,” said Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director Philip Luther. “Anyone who dares to speak out is at risk, with counter-terrorism being used as an excuse to abduct, interrogate and torture people who challenge the authorities. “The report exposes not only the brutality faced by those disappeared but also the collusion between national security forces and judicial authorities, who have been prepared to lie to cover their tracks or failed to investigate torture allegations, making them complicit in serious human rights violations.

Venezuela army deployed to control food production and distribution
BBC - Venezuela's military has started monitoring ports and food processing plants, in a new effort to guarantee supplies of food and medicines. In a decree, President Nicolas Maduro has ordered the army to co-ordinate the production and distribution of items. Venezuela is going through a deep economic crisis, despite having the world's largest oil reserves. Basic products are increasingly scarce and many say they struggle to feed their families. Mr Maduro says the measure is to fight the "economic war" he claims is being waged against his government by political foes and businessmen, with US backing. But the opposition says the government has mismanaged the economy, and has called for a referendum to oust the president…. Meanwhile, Mr Maduro accused Citibank of mounting a "financial blockade" on the country, after the US bank decided to close the government's international payments account with it. Citibank said the decision followed a "periodic risk management review", but did not explain further. It would be implemented within 30 days, it added. Due to strict currency controls in place since 2003, the Venezuelan government relies on Citibank for foreign currency transactions.

Did Citi Just Confiscate $1 Billion In Venezuela Gold
Zero Hedge - Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro said on Monday that Citibank planned to shut his government's foreign currency accounts within a month, denouncing the move by one of its main foreign financial intermediaries as part of a "blockade." What Maduro did not mention is that among the central bank accounts closed by Citi will be at least one, rather prominent, gold swap launched just over a year earlier, which saw some 1.4 million ounces in gold swapped over to Citi in exchange for cash... gold which now appears to be confiscated.

Obama: ‘It Hurts’ When Whites Dismiss Protesters As ‘Political Correctness or Reverse Racism’
Breitbart - Tuesday at the memorial service for the five slain Dallas police officers, President Barack Obama said that “it hurts” when peaceful protestors who are attempting to forward their grievances with the police treatment of African-Americans are “dismissed perhaps even by your white friends and co-worker and fellow church members again and again and again.” Obama said, “When study after study shows that whites and people of color experience the criminal justice system differently — so that if you are black you are more likely to be pulled over, searched or arrested, more likely to get longer sentences, more likely to get the death penalty for the same crime. When mothers and fathers raise their kids right, and have the talk about how to respond if stopped by a police officer, ‘Yes, sir, no, sir,’ but still fear something terrible may happen when their child walks out the door, still fear that kids being stupid and not quite doing things right, might end in tragedy.” “When all of this takes place, more than 50 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, we cannot simply turn away and dismiss those in peaceful protest as troublemakers or paranoid,” he added. “We can’t dismiss as a symptom of political correctness or reverse racism. To have your experience denied like that, dismissed by those in authority, dismissed perhaps even by your white friends and co-worker and fellow church members again and again and again, it hurts. Surely we can see that, all of us.”
* Related Video: Officers Refuse to Applaud During Obama’s Race Lecture at Dallas Police Memorial

Day of rage protests are scheduled for July 15th in 37 American cities
Daisy Luther - The hacktivist group Anonymous is now calling for nationwide Day of Rage protests on Friday, July 15th. The video below promotes the protests.(WARNING: There is some disturbing and graphic violence in this video.) While I firmly believe that we are being distracted and manipulated so that we stop paying attention to the machinations and corruption of presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, the fact remains that being anywhere near these protests greatly increases the chance that you could become a victim of violence. When the mob mentality takes over, normally decent people can commit heinous acts. Use this as a list of places NOT to be on Friday the 15th. While the video by Anonymous does specify non-violence and denounces the actions taken against police officers that were not involved in these deaths, with the tagline “Day of Rage” I think it’s safe to expect emotions to be running very high on both sides of the line. No matter how great your empathy might be for those who have unjustly lost their lives, these protests are not safe places to be. These are the locations and times for the protests…

Clinton legal team moves to block deposition in email lawsuit
Politico - Clinton's attorneys submitted a legal filing Tuesday morning in a bid to shut down a conservative group's request for an order forcing her to submit to a deposition in the midst of her presidential campaign. Clinton’s legal team said her testimony was unnecessary and superfluous in light of her questioning before the House Benghazi Committee last October and several State Department inquiries into the issue. “Despite this public testimony and the various investigative reports, Judicial Watch claims that it needs to depose Secretary Clinton, a former Cabinet Secretary, about six purportedly unanswered questions," the filing states. "The record, however, already answers those questions or makes clear that Secretary Clinton has no personal knowledge to provide.” Judicial Watch has asked to depose Clinton in a pair of Freedom of Information Act lawsuits which have raised questions about whether her private email system was created in part to avoid making messages accessible under FOIA.

Video: Feds Stop Plot to Assassinate Police in Baton Rouge
Joe Biggs - Police say 3 individuals in Baton Rouge, who are accused of stealing firearms from a home and pawn shop, were planning to kill law enforcement at an upcoming Alton Sterling protest.

Five Arrested After Shooting At D.C. Police Officers
Zero Hedge - The shootings continue. According to AP, Police arrested five people for allegedly shooting at officers in Washington, D.C., early Tuesday, officials said. No injuries were reported. The good news is that the group allegedly fired at police to avoid arrest, not as part of a targeted attack on cops, a police official told The Washington Post. As Fox adds, officers in marked police cruisers were responding to reports of gunshots just after midnight in southeast Washington, D.C., near Martin Luther King Elementary School, when the cops were shot at by people inside an SUV, police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said. Police returned fire at the suspects, who barricaded themselves in the vehicle, Sternbeck said. Officers ordered the group to come out, but they refused. Unlike the Dallas shooting incident, no drone would be needed, however, and after about 30 minutes, three women and two men in the SUV surrendered to authorities. None of the five had been publicly identified as of Tuesday morning. The investigation will include whether the individuals who were arrested may have been involved in any other crimes before police arrived. Police were initially alerted to the area by the ShotSpotter system, WTOP reported. ShotSpotter uses sensors to detect gunfire around the city and then notifies authorities if anything is picked up. Tuesday's incident follows protests over police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota and the fatal shooting of five police officers by an anti-cop, anti-white assailant in Dallas last week.

Former Prosecutor Sues Obama, Al Sharpton For Inciting A Race War
Daily Caller - The federal class action lawsuit, filed Saturday in Dallas, accuses the defendants of aiding and abetting murder, terrorist promotion of gang activity and civil rights violations of law enforcement officers. It seeks damages of more than $2 billion. “These (defendants) have incited violence and in fact have a direct link to what happened in Dallas,” said Larry Klayman, who worked in the Department of Justice during the Reagan administration and later founded the conservative advocacy groups Judicial Watch and Freedom Watch. “I hope that law enforcement in Dallas and around the nation will join our class action, it’s a peaceful legal means to fight this. We’ve had it. People are finally starting to speak out.” The case has been assigned to Judge Sam A. Lindsay, a Clinton appointee who is also African American.

Houston Official Calls for Form of Segregation: Only Blacks Can Police Black Communities
Breitbart - A Houston city councilman has called for segregation in policing. In the wake of the officer-involved shootings of black men across the country and the assassination of Dallas police officers, the councilman said police should reflect the ethnicity of the particular community where they patrol. Speaking to Fox 26 in Houston, City Councilman Dwight Boykins (District D), “I think at this point, because of the crisis situation, not in Houston but throughout the country, we need to have officers patrolling areas that reflect the ethnicity [of that community].”

Video: CNN Panel Explodes Over Claim That ‘Black People Are Prone to Criminality’
CNN’s New Day on Monday morning was barely five minutes into it’s 6 a.m. ET broadcast when a panel discussion on race and law enforcement peaked into a shouting match. As CNN’s Chris Cuomo attempted his best to play referee between retired NYPD Detective Harry Houck and CNN’s Marc Lamont Hill, the conversation was shaped by two very different perspectives. While Hill, a Morehouse College professor, argued on behalf of the systemic racism that largely exists targeting black communities, Houck brought with him sobering statistics on black crime in the city of New York.

New EEOC Rules Allow Employers to Pay for Employees’ Health Information
Electronic Frontier Foundation - The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provisions for employee wellness programs give employers the power to reward or penalize their employees based on whether they complete health screenings and participate in fitness programs. While wellness programs are often welcomed, they put most employees in a bind: give your employer access to extensive, private health data, or give up potentially thousands of dollars a year. Sadly, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) new regulations, which go into effect in January 2017, rubber stamp the ACA’s wellness programs with insufficient privacy safeguards. Because of these misguided regulations, employers can still ask for private health information if it is part of a loosely defined wellness program with large incentives for employees.

New NC law prevents public from viewing police bodycam footage
RT - North Carolina House Bill 972, signed into law Monday, prevents citizens from viewing footage from police bodycams or cruiser dashcams unless law enforcement authorities choose to let them or a judge orders it. When a request to police footage is denied, the petitioner would have to obtain an order from North Carolina’s superior court see it. “[The law] seeks to gain public trust while respecting the rights of public safety officers,” Governor McCrory’s office said in a statement, adding that the law also establishes a “Blue Alert,” which acts as an “AMBER alert” for cops, alerting the public via smartphone about suspects who have harmed or killed police officers. Dashcam footage had previously been considered a part of the public record, and until Monday, the status of bodycam footage was never touched by any state statutes. Police departments, however, tend to treat bodycam footage as part of an officer’s personnel file, which is generally off limits to the public.

Exclusive: Bush Operatives Sabotaged Trump Effort To Make Release of ’28 Pages’ Part of GOP Platform
Paul Joseph Watson - On Monday, the national security subcommittee of the GOP platform committee approved a plank that calls for the declassification of the 28 pages… The plank, introduced by Maine state senator Eric Brakey, was subsequently rejected by the full GOP platform committee despite hopes that the resolution would pass. According to sources close to the Trump campaign, Trump himself threw his full support behind including the 28 pages promise on the platform, but Bush family operatives worked feverishly to sabotage the effort. “Bush operative Ron Kaufman was seen pulling committee members from the meeting and begging members not to embarrass “the President,” according to our source. The 28 pages were originally classified by the Bush administration in 2002 on “national security” grounds, but pressure has been building for their release ever since.

Sanders endorses Clinton for White House in show of party unity
Reuters - Democrat Bernie Sanders endorsed former rival Hillary Clinton for president in a show of party unity on Tuesday, saying she was the best candidate to fix the country's problems and beat Republican Donald Trump in the Nov. 8 election...Clinton hopes the joint appearance will help her win over Sanders supporters, some of whom carried Sanders signs into the rally and frequently drowned out her backers. In recent Reuters/Ipsos polling, only about 40 percent of Sanders backers said they would back Clinton, and the crowd at Tuesday's rally made it clear she still had work to do.
* Related Video: Sanders Sells His Soul to The Queen of Wall St.

Hillary's Lead Over Trump Shrinks To Just 3% As Two-Thirds Of Voters Find Her "Dishonest And Untrustworthy"
Zero Hedge - Following yesterday's report that a majority of Americans disapprove of FBI director Comey's decision on Hillary Clinton, it is perhaps not surprising that the Democrat's lead over Donald Trump has shrunk substantially in the latest NBC poll, and is now leading the presumptive Republican candidate by just three points after several days of "controversy" following FBI Director James Comey's recommendation that no criminal charges be brought against the former secretary of state over her use of a private email server.

New Black Panthers Plan Armed Rally During Republican Convention in Ohio
Sputnik News - The New Black Panther Party has announced that their members will ‘open carry’ while gathering outside the Republican National Convention next week, for stated self defense, provided that it remains legal for them to do so. Under Ohio law, protesters who possess gun permits will be allowed to carry weapons openly in the downtown area during the convention, though ironically, squirt guns are banned. Many groups supportive of presumed Republican nominee Donald Trump have also stated their intention to attend the event openly armed. "If that state allows us to bear arms, the Panthers, and the others who can legally bear arms, will bear arms." The prospect of several conflicting groups attending convention events and structured protest rallies while carrying weapons has left many on edge, especially after the shooting deaths of five Dallas police officers during a peaceful Black Lives Matter march last week. The New Black Panther Party has condemned the shooting, which Nzinga described as a massacre.

Thousands of U.S. Military Veterans Deported Due to Lack of Citizenship
AllGov - All immigrants who are in the country legally are entitled to U.S. citizenship because of their military service. But while some deported veterans believe they earned citizenship simply by signing up for military service, others were misinformed by recruiters or officers about their legal status, [ACLU staff attorney Jennie Pasquarella] said. "That's one of the greatest tragedies of this. People didn't realize that they weren't already a citizen. Had they known, they could have applied and naturalized when they were in the service," the attorney said. "I think that the fact that a veteran who serves in our armed forces and goes to fight our wars could come home from service and then be deported is news to most Americans. I think most Americans would be shocked to learn that that is happening." Not everyone is sympathetic. Ira Mehlman, with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said it's not the government's responsibility to help veterans or soldiers on active duty apply for citizenship. "Just because you have served in the military it doesn't exempt you from the consequences of your actions," Mehlman said in a telephone interview. "If you have served in the military and then subsequently committed some offense that makes you subject to deportation, that really is your responsibility.”… Pasquarella said there could be thousands of deportees, dating back to the Vietnam War. In the past six months the ACLU has documented 85 cases, she said…. For many veterans, deportation is a "lifetime punishment" that cuts them off from Department of Veterans Affairs medical benefits, the report says. Without medical help, to which they are entitled through the VA, veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder can end up turning to drugs: then can come addiction, criminal conviction and deportation, Pasquarella said.

Dow, S&P close at record high as Brexit fears ease; energy jumps 2 pct
CNBC News - U.S. stocks closed higher Tuesday as fears eased over Brexit and Japan signaled more economic stimulus. The S&P 500 moved higher in record territory and the Dow Jones industrial average closed at a new all-time high. The blue-chips index reached the milestone on the heels of the S&P 500 closing at an all-time high Monday. On Tuesday, the Dow closed about 120 points higher, with Goldman Sachs contributing the most gains.

Report: Illegal Immigrants Get More Food Stamp Benefits Than Poor American Citizens: “$2 Billion A Year”
(Mac Slavo) And as highlighted by a new report from the Washington Examiner, it’s actually American citizens who are feeling the brunt of the pain and being treated unfairly, not the other way around: Illegal immigrant households tapping into the federal food stamp program are receiving $1.4 billion to $2.1 billion a year despite their ineligibility, according to a new analysis of the Agriculture Department program. And rules guiding who can get food stamps favor households with illegal immigrants over all-U.S. citizen homes, according to the detailed report from the Center for Immigration Studies released Monday morning…. An already overburdened American taxpayer is also forced, by way of the gun, to pay for illegal immigrants’ health care, college tuition, and other social services. But if you argue against illegal immigration or the “free” services they consume you are a racist. We’d argue you’re a realist, especially if you understand that all of these free services only work until the government runs out of other peoples’ money.

Big Brother wants to create 17.5 million spying motorists
MassPrivateI - Big Brother and auto insurance companies have devised a devious new way to encourage Americans to spy on each other. They're offering motorists an insurance discount, if they purchase and install dashcams in their own vehicles! New York Assembly member Alicia Hyndman and NY Senator Jose Peralta have introduced a bill, that would give New York drivers a 5% auto insurance discount for having a dash camera installed in their car. Fyi, insurance companies are also secretly identifying motorists and passengers using facial biometrics…. Bill A10392, would let law enforcement and insurance companies view dashcam images. The bill would allow dashcam evidence to be used in civil and criminal proceedings and allows the insurer to review any images. According to the bill, motorists are responsible for making sure their dashcams are always recording.

Study: Breast Cancer Survivors Who Exercise Have Fewer Memory Problems
Natural Society - Northwestern Medicine in conjunction with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recently reported that women who had survived breast cancer and exercised regularly reported fewer memory problems than those who didn’t exercise. Memory problems are a common issue amongst breast cancer survivors, however it was found that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity could help curtail some of the cognition problems. It was also found that memory problems may be associated with the high stress of coping with a cancer diagnosis and not from radiation or chemotherapy as previously thought. Exercise may provide a way for patients to effectively deal with some of the stress caused by their cancer experience, which may, in turn, decrease memory problems.

Pomegranate: The Superfruit that May Hold the Fountain of Youth
Natural Society - Researchers at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) have stated that the molecule urolithin A, found in pomegranates, is responsible for kickstarting the mitophagy process. This process allows old and unusable parts of cells to be disposed of and helps make way for replacements. Over time, this natural process becomes less efficient, leaving people with aged skin, muscles, and organs. It is also associated with many diseases older people are afflicted by, such as Parkinson’s disease. Reversing the process can lead to a better body, both mentally and physically. It was found during lab testing that giving urolithin A to mice upped their endurance by a whopping 42 percent. Feeding the mice may have also been associated with expanding their lifespan by up to 45 percent. But while urolithin A is rich in pomegranates, humans can’t benefit from them if they don’t have the correct microbes in their gut to help break it down. Researchers are working on a way to help make it so everyone will be able to benefit from the molecule, regardless of gut bacteria.

A Common Unlisted Food Additive May Induce Food Allergies
Natural Blaze - …many chemicals used in food processing don’t seem to make it into print on package labels! One is the synthetic preservative and antioxidant tert-butylhydroquionone (tBHQ) added to cooking oils, nuts, crackers, breads, waffles, fast and frozen foods. TBHQ is a form of butane gas that’s used in welding or portable gas stoves! According to FDA regulations, 0.02 percent of the total oils in a food can be tBHQ. It’s used in unsaturated vegetable oils and some edible animal fats too. It also is used to ‘protect’ food with iron from discoloration. Frozen fish products have some of the highest concentrations of tBHQ. There are known adverse health effects from long term, high doses of tBHQ, one being cancer of the stomach. However, a Michigan State University researcher has devoted her work to finding out how tBHQ affects the immune system and causes T cells to release certain proteins which can trigger allergies to common foods like eggs, nuts, shell fish and wheat…. Another issue tBHQ may contribute to is behavioral problems. Those who struggle with attention deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD) are cautioned to avoid it…. Here’s a listing of foods/products, which apparently contain tBHQ or other petroleum byproducts: Mcdonalds chicken nuggets and french fries have TBHQ. Red Robin fast food chain also uses tert Butylhydroquinone in cooking oil. CHEEZ-IT Crackers made by Kelloggs have petroleum products. Butterfinger chocolate and Resee’s Peanut butter cups have tert-Butylhydroquinone. Nestle Crunch has tert-Butylhydroquinone. Wheat Thins contain petroleum….

What are the ingredients of vetinary vaccines?
Dr. Cathy Alinovi DVM - The list of ingredients for most vaccines is proprietary information – this means vaccine companies are not required to disclose their ingredients to the consumer. Therefore, even if the consumer, or the consumer’s pet, has a reaction to a vaccine, the vaccine the company is not required to divulge the ingredients of the vaccine…. While we don’t know specific ingredients in an individual vaccine, as that information is proprietary, we do know some vaccines contain some, or all, of the following: “[V]ery small amounts of the culture material used to grow the virus or bacteria used in the vaccine, such as chicken egg protein… Aluminum gels or salts of aluminum which are added as adjuvants to help the vaccine stimulate a better response. Adjuvants help promote an earlier, more potent response, and more persistent immune response to the vaccine. Antibiotics which are added to some vaccines to prevent the growth of germs (bacteria) during production and storage of the vaccine…. Formaldehyde…. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) and 2-phenoxy-ethanol… [and] Thimerosal…

The Popular Feline Stress-Buster I Can't Recommend
Dr. Becker - Japanese researchers conducted a small study to evaluate the effects of diet on feline stress; unfortunately, the test food was a processed dry diet containing two calming nutraceuticals. Study results showed a significant decrease in the stress hormone cortisol in cats fed the test diet, however, feeding kibble to cats on a regular or long-term basis creates diet-related stress. Adding calming nutraceuticals to pet junk food isn’t a good approach to managing stress in your cat. A moisture-dense, fresh, biologically appropriate diet coupled with environmental enrichment that reduces all forms of sensory stress is the best way to help your cat feel calm and comfortable…. What to do about a stressed-out kitty.… Reducing visual stress: your kitty appreciates variety in the lighting in his environment…. Giving your cat a break from unnatural or fluorescent lighting is very important…. Reducing auditory stress: studies show that music modulates both cardiac and neurologic function, reducing stress levels. Slow classical music seems to relax most animals…. Reducing olfactory stress: some smells that can cause stress for your kitty include cigarette smoke, chemical cleaning products, cologne, air fresheners and scented candles. Air quality is critically important for cats…. Kitties are known to respond well to certain aromas, including fresh air, catnip, lavender, chamomile flowers, valerian root and pheromones. Experiment with a variety of these scents and see which ones your cat seems to like….

Tuesday - July 12, 2016 - Today In History:

1862 - The U.S. Congress authorized the Medal of Honor.
1864 - U.S. President Abraham Lincoln witnessed the battle where Union forces repelled Jubal Early's army on the outskirts of Washington, DC.
1870 - The first rotary can opener with a cutting wheel was patented by William W. Lyman.
1933 - A minimum wage of 40 cents an hour was established in the U.S.
1941 - Moscow was bombed by the German Luftwaffe for the first time.
1954 - U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a highway modernization program, with costs to be shared by federal and state governments.
1957 - The U.S. surgeon general, Leroy E. Burney, reported that there was a direct link between smoking and lung cancer.
1974 - John Ehrlichman, a former aide to U.S. President Nixon, and three others were convicted of conspiring to violate the civil rights of Daniel Ellsberg's former psychiatrist.
1982 - "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" broke all box-office records by surpassing the $100-million mark of ticket sales in the first 31 days of its opening.
1982 - The last of the distinctive-looking Checker taxicabs rolled off the assembly line in Kalamazoo, MI.
1984 - Democratic presidential candidate Walter F. Mondale named U.S. Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro of New York to be his running mate. Ferraro was the first woman to run for vice president on a major party ticket.
1990 - Russian republic president Boris N. Yeltsin announced his resignation from the the Soviet Communist Party.
1998 - 1.7 billion people watched soccer's World Cup finals between France and Brazil. France won 3-0.
2000 - Russia launched the Zvezda after two years of delays. The module was built to be the living quarters for the International Space Station (ISS.)
2010 - Roman Polanski was declared a free man, no longer confined to house arrest in his Alpine villa, after Swiss authorities rejected a U.S. request for the Oscar-winning director's extradition because of a 32-year-old sex conviction.

US to send 560 more troops to Iraq to retake ISIS stronghold
RT - More US troops are on the way to Iraq to aid the country’s armed forces in the upcoming offensive against the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced during a surprise visit to the country.... With these new reinforcements, the US will have about 4,650 troops in Iraq, two years after returning to the country to fight ISIS.... The new troop contingent will include engineers, logistics personnel and other forces intended to help the Iraqi army with planning and preparation for the campaign to liberate Mosul.... American advisers are already working with Iraqis on a brigade level, but have not yet accompanied them on operations on the battalion level, US officials who wished to remain anonymous told AP.... Though the US troops in Iraq have been billed as strictly advisory personnel, never intended to see combat, three American soldiers have been killed in battle with ISIS so far.

U.S. missile brought down Russian helicopter in Syria says report
The Japan Times - Two Russian airmen killed in Syria on Friday were shot down with American weaponry, the Interfax news agency said Sunday, quoting a Russian military source. It said insurgents from the Islamic State group hit the airmen’s Mi-25 assault helicopter with a U.S.-made TOW heavy anti-tank missile, a weapon that uses guidance from a ground station.... Russian newspapers reported the alleged U.S. link without saying how the Islamic State group - which Washington is fighting in Iraq and Syria - might have obtained contemporary American weaponry. In some respects, the narrative mirrors Western allegations that Russia supplied the missile that shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in July 2014. However, the Islamic State group is known to have obtained U.S.-made vehicles and weapons when it seized territory from Iraq’s security forces in 2014.

US Authorizes Voluntary Departure of Officials' Families From Bangladesh
Sputnik News - The State Department underscored that the terrorist threat in Bangladesh is "real and credible." "The US Embassy in Dhaka remains open and will provide all routine consular services,” the warning added. On Thursday, at least 12 people were injured and one policeman killed in an explosion at Eid celebration in Bangladesh, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month Ramadan. The attack came after the July 1 assault, when a group of armed terrorists took dozens hostage inside the restaurant located in a diplomatic quarter of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. The attack left 20 people, mostly foreigners, dead, while 13 hostages were rescued by the country's security forces.

'Major Cover-Up': Turkey Blocks Probe Into Allegations of Mass Abuses
Sputnik News - Violence has engulfed southeastern Turkey since a ceasefire between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) ended two years ago.... Thousands of civilians have been killed in the process. The exact number is unknown, but human rights groups are attempting to tally the dead.... "The Turkish government is blocking access for independent investigations into alleged mass abuses against civilians across southeast Turkey," Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement released on Monday.... While Ankara denies that it has targeted civilians, HRW claims that there is reason to believe otherwise, and is demanding the government allow a comprehensive investigation. 'The Turkish government’s effective blockade of areas of the southeast fuels concerns of a major cover-up," Emma Sinclair-Webb, senior Turkey researcher with HRW, said as part of the statement.... Beginning in the summer of 2015, Ankara imposed several round-the-clock curfews, preventing civilians from fleeing regions where the military operations took place, particularly in the city of Cizre.

Theresa May to become new PM after Tory rival Leadsom withdraws
The Guardian - Theresa May will become Britain’s second female prime minister on Wednesday, a rapid ascent to the premiership that came after her sole remaining challenger suddenly withdrew from the leadership race.... May, who had campaigned for remain in the EU referendum, said she was “honoured and humbled” to have been chosen by her party, before offering an olive branch to colleagues who campaigned to leave the EU by declaring that she would “make a success” of Brexit.

Fool’s Errand: NATO Pledges Four More Years of War in Afghanistan
The Ron Paul Institute - President Obama said last week that the US must keep 3,000 more troops than planned in Afghanistan. The real reason is obvious: the mission has failed and Washington cannot bear to admit it. But Obama didn’t put it that way. He said: “It is in our national security interest, especially after all the blood and treasure we’ve invested over the years, that we give our partners in Afghanistan the best chance to succeed.” This is how irrational Washington’s logic is. Where else but in government would you see it argued that you cannot stop spending on a project because you have already spent so much to no avail? In the real world, people who invest their own hard-earned money in a failed scheme do something called “cut your losses.” Government never does that. Isn’t 15 years of US “blood and treasure” enough of a “best chance” to succeed?

Canadian affiliate charity of Clinton Foundation defends expenses
The Globe and Mail - The Clinton Giustra Enterprise Partnership (Canada), a registered charity based in Vancouver, B.C., devoted $737,441 — amounting to 78 per cent of its expenditures — to management and administration in 2014. The amount includes spending on office supplies and expenses, salaries and professional and consulting fees. That same year, according to the return filed to the Canada Revenue Agency and published online, the organization devoted $205,419 to charitable programs, accounting for 22 per cent of its expenditures. A similar ratio — 72 per cent to management and administration costs and 28 per cent to charitable programs — is in the 2013 return. The Canadian charity strongly defended against any suggestion it is spending too much on overhead.
* Related: Bill Clinton appears to have played a role in helping mining magnate Frank Giustra enter into a lucrative uranium mining deal

Report: Cop, Bailiffs Shot at Courthouse
Kit Daniels - Three people are dead, including two court bailiffs, following a shooting at the Berrien Co. Courthouse in St. Joseph, Michigan on Monday. A police officer was also wounded in the attack reported by local media. The gunshots were heard around 2:20pm local time, and by 3:00pm the shooter was declared dead with Sheriff Paul Bailey stating the situation was under control. “They had a gentleman in there, in his jail greens and handcuffs,” witness Mark Laukus told WSJM. “One of the sheriff’s bailiffs took him into another hallway, and you heard a scuffle, you heard someone hit the floor.” “Then the courtroom bailiff went into that room, and you heard a gunshot.”

Congress is going to try to expand the Patriot Act tonight and hopes no one will notice
Rare - In the wake of recent mass shootings, Monday night the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on an expansion of the Patriot Act.... The proposed bill, H.R. 5606, expands Section 314 of the Patriot Act to cover non-terrorism or money laundering related investigations. Critics claim that the bill is a threat to the privacy of innocent Americans and is being rammed through Congress without debate. Section 314 encourages law enforcement to share information with financial institutions on money laundering and terrorism. It also encourages financial institutions to share information with each other. The House Liberty Caucus, led by Congressman Justin Amash (R-Mich.), has come out in opposition to the bill, raising privacy issues as a concern. It claims that Treasury Department regulations will all but mandate financial institutions share information with the government, compromising the privacy of Americans who are not involved in criminal activity. The original Section 314 of the Patriot Act itself delegates significant authority to the Treasury Department to make regulations.

Last Month The Supreme Court Legalized Corruption
Blacklisted News - From on high Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has mandated the rules around the conduct in which somebody may try and prosecute for corruption over changed to be much more narrow and restrictive. More specifically the instance of corruption must occur 'officially'... The New York Times reports: ":...filing a lawsuit, say, or making an administrative determination. Routine political courtesies like arranging meetings or urging underlings to consider a matter, he added, generally do not, even when the people seeking those favors give the public officials gifts or money." So while the door still remains open for prosecutors to persue corrupt entities and people, the fact that it is now made more difficult by the treasonous actions of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. is undeniable. To be prosecuted you must now be committing the more 'traditional' forms of bribery and kickbacks.

Report: Three Syrian “Refugees” Rape Little Girl at Knifepoint in Idaho
Paul Joseph Watson - The sexual assault allegedly took place on June 2, but has received virtually no media attention aside from one vague KMVT report. However, residents have been circulating what really happened on social media, with the Creeping Sharia blog reporting that the victim was a young girl who was born premature and is “less developed for her age”. The perpetrators were three Syrian youths aged 8, 10 and 13, with the oldest boy directing the assault…. A follow-up KMTV report revealed that, “the case has officially been sealed by a judge with no chance of it ever being unsealed since all parties involved are minors.” A video of a Twin Falls council meeting shows irate residents demanding to know why council members have done nothing to address the alleged rape, as well as numerous other issues involving Syrian refugees being housed in the area, including hit and run incidents and Muslims spitting on non-Muslims…. In every instance, the council members claim ignorance as to the severity of the situation, with one even suggesting that residents’ concerns are based on anti-Muslim prejudice and even white supremacism.

Trump Releases 10 Step Plan to Reform the VA
Breitbart - Speaking from Virginia Beach, Virginia on Monday afternoon, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump released a ten point plan to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)…. Trump spoke about ten steps he will take if elected president to reform the VA: 1. I will appoint a Secretary of Veterans Affairs who will make it his or her personal mission to clean up the VA. The Secretary’s sole mandate will be to serve our Veterans – not bureaucrats, not politicians, but Veterans. Amazingly, President Obama’s VA Secretary recently downplayed concerns about waiting times by saying that people also wait in line at Disneyland. 2. I am going to use every lawful authority to remove and discipline federal employees or managers who fail our Veterans or breach the public trust. 3. I am going to ask Congress to pass legislation that ensures the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has the authority to remove or discipline any employee who risks the health, safety or well-being of any Veteran. 4. I am going to appoint a commission to investigate all the wrongdoing at the VA and then present those findings to Congress as the basis for bold legislative reform….
* Related: Watch: Donald Trump Delivers Veterans’ Reform Speech

Pro-Life Leader: Gen. Michael Flynn’s ‘Pro-Abortion Position Disqualifies’ Him for VP
Breitbart - Pro-life leader Marjorie Dannenfelser says Retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn’s position of supporting women’s rights to abortion “disqualifies” him from consideration as presumptive nominee Donald Trump’s vice-president. “General Flynn has disqualified himself from consideration as Vice President,” the president of the Susan B. Anthony List said in a statement. “His pro-abortion position is unacceptable and would undermine the pro-life policy commitments that Mr. Trump has made throughout the campaign.”

Sanders To Endorse Hillary Clinton — Even After DNC Accepts TPP!
Breitbart - Sanders had previously said that he would wait to endorse Clinton until critical planks of his platform were adopted by the Democrat Party. Over the weekend DNC delegates rejected one of the biggest pieces of Bernie’s platform by not including language clearly opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. Sanders’ campaign policy adviser Warren Gunnels is quoted as saying of the rejection of the anti-TPP language in the official platform, “it was very disappointing.” Many Sanders’ supporters were much more expressive about the rejection.

56 percent of Americans disapprove of FBI decision to exonerate Hillary Clinton
The Washington Post - The Post-ABC poll found 56 percent disapprove of Comey's recommendation against charging Clinton while 35 percent approve.... Roughly 6 in 10 independents disapprove of the recommendation against charges (59 percent), rising to nearly 9 in 10 Republicans (88 percent) and falling to 31 percent of Democrats.... The results resemble public opinion throughout the past year showing a majority of the public criticizing her answers to questions about the issue - a Post-ABC poll before the federal probe ended found 56 percent disapproving of her response.... Over 3 in 10 Democrats disapprove of Director Comey's recommendation against charges for Clinton (31 percent), and the same percentage says the issue makes them worry about Clinton's presidential responsibility. Over 4 in 10 liberals say the issue raises concerns about how Clinton might handle responsibilities as president, as do 36 percent of non-white Americans and 56 percent of those under age 40.

Video: Hillary's America: The secret history of the Democratic Party
Hillary's America, the latest film from the creators of America: Imagine The World Without Her and 2016: Obama's America takes audiences on a gripping journey into the secret history of the Democratic Party and the contentious rise of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. In Hillary's America, New York Times #1 best-selling author and celebrated filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza reveals the sordid truth about Hillary and the secret history of the Democratic Party. This eye-opening film sheds light on the Democrats' transition from pro-slavery to pro-enslavement; how Hillary Clinton's political mentor was, literally, a cold-blooded gangster; and how the Clintons and other Democrats see foreign policy not in terms of national interest, but in terms of personal profit. Hillary's America will uncover how their plan is to simply steal America. Watch the shocking trailer now!

Dakota Meyer: Military Service Had ‘Nothing to Do with’ Dallas Shooting
Breitbart - Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer … about Dallas shooter Micah Xavier Johnson, a military veteran who has been portrayed as potentially suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). “The big picture’s not really about if this is a veteran,” said Meyer. “I think the picture is, is what there’s these organizations out there doing, that are empowering these individuals to feel like they’re going to do the ‘right thing.’ I think that this person’s a veteran, it really has nothing to do with what is going on, in the situation that happened in Dallas.” Meyer blamed the media for sensationalizing the police shooting incidents that fuel Black Lives Matter protests. “It’s like a game to them,” he said. “It’s like, you know, ‘Hey, let’s go out and make people feel this way.’” .... “I’m sick of it,” Meyer declared. “Look, I fought for this country. I feel like I have as much skin in this country as anyone else does, and you know, like everyone who goes and wears the nation’s cloth — whether you’re serving overseas, or you’re serving behind the badge, or you go out and you put other people’s lives before yourself, and to serve other people, taking those risks every day.” “When we were overseas, I fought next to African-Americans. I fought next to Hispanics. I fought next to every ethnicity there is,” he recalled. “I fought next to Republicans, I fought next to Democrats. Not one day did we go out there and say, ‘You know what? I’m going to fight for black people. Today I’m going to fight for white people. Today I’m going to go out and fight for Muslims, or Christians, or whatever it is, whatever you feel like your American-hyphenated is.” “You know what we all went over to fight for? We all went over to fight for Americans. And you know what makes up being an American? African-Americans. Christians. Muslims. Hispanics. Every single one of them is what makes up an American,” he said. “I don’t understand why we have forgot that. Why are we segregating? We are more segregated now than we’ve ever been, across the board. Why?” [Long article, but worth reading. Also contains link to audio interview.]

US Consumers No Longer "Eating Out" - Restaurant Guest Counts Tumble To Three Year Lows
Zero Hedge - If one follows the government's retail spending data for "retail food and services sales" segment, the data is not bad... at 2.5% Y/Y, it hasn't moved much over the past two years, suggesting flat overall spending trends. A different tracker of US Restaurant sales, that of the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant performance index, shows a more troubling picture. As the NRA reports for its latest data, restaurant sales softened in May, along with operator expectations, as the industry continued its choppy 2016. The monthly indication of the health of the industry fell 0.9 percent to 100.6 in May, from 101.6 in April.... But the worst news for the restaurant industry came from the closely followed, and only available to subscribers, Knapp-Track index.... because unlike the government data, and even the NRA's more realistic index, it showed sales and guest counts in June tumbling to new multi-year lows. In fact, as of June, the number of guest counts was the worst in since February 2013.

The Senate votes this week on whether to give the FBI warrantless access to your browsing history
Fight For The Future - A couple of weeks ago, the Senate tried to sneak a rider onto a spending bill that would give the FBI sweeping new surveillance authority, including warrantless access to browsing history (obtained from ISPs). This measure failed by one vote.... Now, Republican leadership is planning to re-introduce the measure (McCain Amendment 4787) and do a re-vote this week. Even though we won the first time, the razor-thin margin means this upcoming vote could really go either way. It all boils down to a few key senators who are undecided or likely to change their minds.

Pokémon Go Linked to CIA
Kit Daniels - The ‘augmented reality’ mobile game Pokémon Go, which uses the player’s smartphone camera to ‘add’ Pokémon to real-world locations, has ties to the CIA. The developer of Pokémon Go, Niantic, Inc., was founded by John Hanke, who previously received funding from the CIA’s venture capital firm In-Q-Tel to develop what eventually became Google Earth. In-Q-Tel was once described as an “independent strategic investment firm that identifies innovative technology solutions to support the missions of the U.S. Intelligence Community.” It’s easy to see why the CIA would have an interest in the software behind Pokémon Go; the game utilizes the player’s camera and gyroscope to display an image of a Pokémon as though it were in the real world, such as the player’s apartment complex or workplace bathroom. Software like that could theoretically turn millions of smartphone users into ‘Imperial probe droids’ who take real-time, ground-level footage of their cities and homes, reaching into dark alleyways and basements which spy satellites and Google cars can’t reach.

USDA bans honeybee-saving environmentalists from yearly Pollinator Festival; invites chemical industry instead
(NaturalNews) At this year's USDA's Pollinator Week Festival, important environmental public interest groups were shut out and dis-invited from the event. These public interest groups, including the important Beyond Pesticides, seek to protect honeybees from neonicotinoid pesticides. "Neonics" are pervasive chemicals that make their way into pollen and adversely affect the bees' nervous and immune systems…. In their place this year was the Pollinator Partnership, which represents the chemical industry. Syngenta, Bayer, CropLife and BASF have all sponsored the Pollinator Partnership. This means that the very ones destroying pollinators will be the ones influencing the government and offering "solutions" to the problems they themselves are creating.

Roundup Ready GMO Grass Coming to a Lawn Near You?
EcoWatch - According to Forbes, trials are already underway for Scotts's latest Roundup Ready grass that grows at half the speed of conventional grass. The company hopes the novel grass will enter the market in three years…. Scotts's new GMO grass is an example of a company taking advantage of a new legal loophole that has allowed certain types of GMOs, such as the CRISPR-edited white button mushroom, bypass government regulations. This growing trend in biotechnology has critics speaking out mainly because these GMOs fall outside of regulatory authority. Ronnie Cummins, founder and international director of the Organic Consumers Association, criticized Scotts's genetically engineered grass in a 2014 blog post: Beyond its ability to spread quickly, beyond its potential impact on organic farmers, even more troubling is the fact that once Scotts Roundup Ready grass hits the market, it will lead to a dramatic increase in the use of Roundup, already the most widely used—and potentially harmful—herbicide in the world.

Place A Few of These Leaves in the Corners of Your House and You Will Never See Cockroaches Again
REALfarmacy - Bay leaves are the very best natural cockroach repellent. This herb can’t eliminate them, however it does drives them away quickly since the smell is unbearable for the cockroach. Place laurel branches in every corner of the house. Place 10 bay leaves in the garden or in the kitchen area and you will never ever see cockroaches strolling around. They are perfect for areas where food is stored such as the kitchen or pantry since they are safe and non-toxic. Likewise, we recommend putting bay leaves in your garden especially if you have a pet. This way you will eliminate cockroaches without worrying about your kids or animals security. You can use fresh bay leaves or dry. But the best way to use these leaves is to crush dry leaves and make a powder. They create a much stronger smell used by doing this.

Doctors in Germany are prescribing homeopathic and herbal remedies to one in five children they treat
What Doctors Don't Tell You - Vitamins, minerals and supplements are the most popular ‘alternative’ therapies, and are being given to one in three children, a major new international survey has discovered. In all, 1,164 doctors in Germany, Spain, Russia, Bulgaria, Colombia and Israel were surveyed about the way they treat children up to the age of 12 years. Not surprisingly, pharmaceuticals and other conventional therapies were the leading treatments being used, and were prescribed to around 40 per cent of children, but in some countries the alternative remedies were running them a close second. In Colombia, for instance, one in three children are regularly prescribed vitamins and minerals. Natural and homeopathic remedies are most commonly prescribed to treat colds, colic, sleeping problems, and recurrent infections, say researchers from the Blankenstein Hospital in Germany. Doctors were also influenced by the preferences of parents who were worried about side effects of conventional drugs.

9 Healthy Reasons to Snack on Cashew Nuts
Natural News Blogs - Eat cashews daily, as they are extremely good for health. All nuts are heart-healthy including cashews, they are full of essential antioxidants, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Nutrition: Cashews are rich in iron, phosphorus, tryptophan, magnesium, zinc, phytochemicals and selenium. They are also rich in folate and vitamin K…. Prevents Cancer: Cashews contain a type of flavonol called Proanthocyanidins which is a compound with high copper content. One serving provides 37.5% of your daily copper requirement- which helps in fighting with the cancerous cells. Also, prevents from various cancers like cancer of the colon, prostate and it starves tumors. Keeps Heart Healthy: Cashew contains healthy monounsaturated fat that is good for cardiovascular health. Diabetes: It is found that cashew nut extract is extremely beneficial for controlling blood sugar level, which is useful for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Cashews contain low amounts of sugar which make them safe for diabetic patients! Cashews reduce triglyceride levels in diabetes patients that help them from further cholesterol and sugar related problems….

22 Ways Drinking Soda Will Shorten Your Life
Green Med Info - So what are the risks and how much soda is too much? Let’s take a look: 1. Soda can cause a decline in kidney function. In an 11-year-long Harvard Medical School study, including 3,318 women, researchers found that diet cola is linked with a two-fold increased risk for kidney decline. 2. Soda increases diabetes risk. High levels of sugar in soda places a lot of stress on your pancreas, potentially leaving it unable to keep up with the body’s need for insulin. Drinking one or two sugary drinks per day increases your risk for type 2 diabetes by 25%. 3. Soda cans are lined with BPA. Soda cans are coated with the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to everything from heart disease to obesity to reproductive problems. 4. Soda dehydrates you. Caffeine is a diuretic. Diuretics promote the production of urine, causing you to urinate more frequently. When the body’s cells are dehydrated they have difficulty absorbing nutrients, and it also makes it more difficult for the body to eliminate waste. 5. Caramel coloring in soda is linked to cancer. The artificial brown coloring in colas is a chemical process, it is not made from caramelized sugar. It is made by reacting sugars with ammonia and sulfites under high pressure and temperatures. These chemical reactions result in the formation of 2-methylimidazole (2-MI) and 4 methylimidazole (4-MI), which in government-conducted studies caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice and rats….

Good News! Vermont Law Allows Citizens to Save Dogs From Hot Cars
Dogington Post - A new Vermont law that took effect July 1 will shield people from civil liability when they break into a locked vehicle to rescue a child or dog that is in “imminent danger of harm.” The law requires concerned citizens to call 911, fire or police departments before breaking into a car. They must check that all the doors are locked, must use no more force than necessary to enter the vehicle, must stay with the child or dog until emergency personnel arrive, and must leave a note on the vehicle about what happened. In addition to protecting citizens that take necessary steps to rescue distressed pets, Vermont prosecutors can also cite the owner for animal cruelty for leaving a dog in a hot car.
 

Monday - July 11, 2016 - Today In History:

1798 - The U.S. Marine Corps was formally re-established by "An Act for Establishing a Marine Corps" passed by the U.S. Congress. The act also created the U.S. Marine Band. The Marines were first commissioned by the Continental Congress on November 10, 1775.
1804 - The United States' first secretary of the treasury, Alexander Hamilton, was killed by Vice President Aaron Burr in a duel.
1864 - In the U.S., Confederate forces led by Gen. Jubal Early began an invasion of Washington, DC. They turned back the next day.
1914 - Babe Ruth debuted in the major leagues with the Boston Red Sox.
1934 - The first appointments to the newly created Federal Communications Commission were made.
1934 - U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the first American chief executive to travel through the Panama Canal while in office.
1955 - The U.S. Air Force Academy was dedicated in Colorado at Lowry Air Base.
1960 - In Honolulu, HI, the first tournament held outside the continental U.S., sanctioned by the U.S. Golf Association, began.
1962 - The first transatlantic TV transmission was sent through the Telstar I satellite.
1972 - U.S. forces broke the 95-day siege at An Loc in Vietnam.
1977 - The Medal of Freedom was awarded posthumously to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in a White House ceremony.
1995 - Full diplomatic relations were established between the United States and Vietnam.
1998 - U.S. Air Force Lt. Michael Blassie, a casualty of the Vietnam War, was laid to rest near his Missouri home. He had been positively identified from his remains that had been enshrined in the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington, VA.
1999 - A U.S. Air Force jet flew over the Antarctic and dropped off emergency medical supplies for Dr. Jerri Nelson after she had discovered a lump in her breast. Nelson was at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Research Center.
2000 - The video "Jaws," the Anniversary Collector's Edition, was released.
2007 - Former first lady Lady Bird Johnson died in Austin, Texas, at age 94.

US Sends Another 1,000 Troops To Poland As Part Of NATO Effort To Counter Russia
Zero Hedge - NATO’s massive build-up in the three Baltic countries and Poland is officially labeled “assurance measures,” but not everyone in the alliance is keen to take part in what the Foreign Minister of Europe's most important NATO member, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, called three weeks ago “saber-rattling and warmongering.”.... A recent YouGov poll found that 64 percent of Germans agreed with his statement, with only 16 percent rejecting it. Disagreeing with Steinmeier, [German Minister of Defence] Ursula von der Leyen told German broadcaster ARD on Friday that NATO needs to maintain a dialogue with Russia from what she called a "position of strength." Von der Leyen said "it's important that NATO deploys with such strength that it's clear nobody can see an advantage in attacking this military alliance.".... Meanwhile, Moscow, which has always opposed NATO’s build-up in its neighborhood, said it is “closely watching” the Warsaw summit and keeping the door for dialogue open, especially to fight what it sees as a "genuine threat" - terrorism. “We hope common sense will prevail,” the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday. “It is absurd to speak of a threat coming from Russia when dozens of people are being killed in the heart of Europe, while hundreds die in the Middle East every day,” he stressed.... Peskov added that "Russia is not looking (for an enemy) but it actually sees it happening. When NATO soldiers march along our border and NATO jets fly by, it's not us who is moving closer to the NATO borders."

Libyans fighting Islamic State seek U.S. help for Sirte victory
Washington Times - On a two-day Washington visit last week, Emadeddin Zahri Muntasser, an entrepreneur and founding board member of the Libyan American Public Affairs Council, said the U.S. must do more to aid in Libya’s fight against the Islamic State or risk missing the “incredible opportunity” to defeat the terrorist group in Libya. “It is Libya’s fight, and they are doing it for Libyans, but they’re really doing it on behalf of the whole world,” Mr. Muntasser told The Washington Times. “When else can we have a chance to defeat ISIL without putting American troops on the ground? I don’t want to say it’s ‘the cheapest fight’ the United States can do — but it is.".... Mr. Muntasser acknowledged the various “red flags” associated with providing aid to Libyans, including the hotly debated decision by the Obama administration to back the campaign to oust longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 and the ensuing political vacuum created with Gadhafi’s death.... For many lawmakers, however, it’s not about the money. U.S. officials and their allies have been cautious to send aid, worried that such help could upset the balance among the rival factions uneasily sharing power in Tripoli.

Some soldiers were on duty in front of the Bataclan … but they did not intervene
Voltairenet.org Voltairenet - According to the Belgian Social-Christian MP, Georges Dallemagne (the former doctor close to the French Minister of Defense), soldiers on duty in front of the Bataclan at Paris, at the time of the Isis attacks on 13 November 2015, did not intervene. Interviewed by RTL Belgique, the politician declared: “We know that the police did not intervene even though they were at the scene. We know that the Sentinelle Force, that had six armed soldiers in front of the Bataclan did not intervene when the carnage occurred at the Bataclan” (…) “They considered that they were under no duty to intervene, because no such duty was laid down in their rules of engagement. Their rules provided that they could only protect themselves. It is completely incredible, mind-blowing”.

All Israelis Will Have to Join Biometric Database From Next Year, Minister Says
Haaretz - “From now on anyone obtaining a document from the Interior Ministry, whether an ID card or a passport, will receive a biometric one. We’ve decided on having this database and we’ll soon decide what will be included in it,” Dery said at a ceremony marking the millionth person to join the biometric database, which was held at the new Population and Immigration Authority office in south Tel Aviv.... It’s the right and safe thing to do – there is nothing to worry about. There is nothing more secure than this database. People can remain calm, I can say with certainty – we have a secure database. Everything we do is for the benefit of our citizens,” he declared. The main objective of the biometric database is to prevent the forging of ID cards and passports, prohibiting anyone from assuming a false identity. The database includes high-resolution facial photos and the prints of applicants’ two index fingers. By law, the biometric data is stored in a secure database with limited access. Only an encrypted code enables the linking of the data to the personal details of any person.

EU Banks Need $166 Billion Bailout, Deutsche Bank Economist Tells Welt
Bloomberg - Europe urgently needs a 150 billion-euro ($166 billion) bailout fund to recapitalize its beleaguered banks, particularly those in Italy, Deutsche Bank AG’s chief economist said in an interview with Welt am Sonntag…. With Italian banks weighed down by 360 billion euros of soured loans, the government has been sounding out regulators on ways to shore up lenders amid a renewed selloff after Britain voted to leave the European Union. Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, a former member of the European Central Bank’s executive board who now chairs Societe Generale SA, said Wednesday that Italy’s banking crisis could spread to the rest of Europe and rules limiting state aid to lenders should be reconsidered to prevent greater upheaval…. The Bloomberg Europe 500 Banks and Financial Services Index has tumbled 33 percent this year, falling to the lowest level in more than seven years on Thursday. Deutsche Bank’s stock price has fallen 48 percent during that period.

Osama Bin Laden’s Son Hamza Threatens Attacks on US
The Gateway Pundit - Hamza bin Laden, son of Osama, threatened revenge against the US for the assassination of his father in an audio release today [Jul 10th]. Hamza added that all American people are accountable for the decisions of their leaders. CTV News reported: “Al-Qaida’s media arm has released an audio in which the purported son of the late al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden threatens revenge against the U.S. for assassinating his father. In the video released by As-Sahab Saturday, Hamza bin Laden tells Americans that they are accountable for the decisions of their leaders. He says al-Qaida will continue waging jihad, or holy war, against the U.S. in response to its “oppression” of Muslims. “If you think that your sinful crime that you committed in Abbottabad has passed without punishment, then you thought wrong,” he says.

Marine Who Sent One Classified Email May Get Much Worse Punishment Than Hillary
TownHall - In 2012, Marine Reserves Maj. Jason Brezler sent an email that contained classified information to his comrades in order to warn them about a serious threat in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. He did so with the short-term, not long-term consequences in mind. He just wanted to keep his comrades alive – the law was probably the furthest thing from his mind. Yet, because he sent sensitive information, Brezler is on the brink of being discharged from the Marine Corps. By contrast, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who sent 110 classified emails on her private server, is getting off scot-free.... Brezler’s lawyer Michael J. Bowe condemned the inconsistent hypocrisy that has punished and disgraced his client but lets Clinton continue to run for president of the United States.... You better believe Bowe is going to cite Clinton’s case in Brezler’s upcoming trials.

In Dallas, Drone Wars Just Came Home
The Ron Paul Institute - The Dallas shootings have ushered in a very new world for US citizens. For the very first time, drones have been used on US soil to kill Americans without trial or charges.... The media and opinion-leaders are presenting us with a false choice: if we question the use of drones to kill Americans -- even if we suspect they have done very bad things -- we somehow do not care about the lives of police officers. That is not the case. It is perfectly possible to not want police officers to be killed in the line of duty but to wholeheartedly reject the idea of authorities using drones to remotely kill Americans before they are found guilty. African-American Dallas protester Mark Hughes was wrongly identified by Dallas Police as a suspect in the shootings. Police tweeted photos of Hughes marching with protesters openly carrying a rifle, as is permitted in Texas. Police claimed was involved in the shooting. He was a suspect just like Johnson was a suspect.... What will happen in the future to a future Mark Hughes, falsely accused by police of being involved in a shooting?

Obama Pushes More Federal Oversight of Cops After Dallas Attack on Cops
Breitbart - President Barack Obama is harnessing the increasing attacks on police — and the periodic shootings of people by stressed cops — to push his agenda to federalize state and local police forces. “I want to start moving on constructive actions that are actually going to make a difference,” he said during his evening press conference in Poland when he was asked about the Dallas attack. Those actions, he said, would be based on the recommendations of the panel that he picked after the 2014 street riots in Ferguson, Missouri. The panel offered “practical concrete solutions that can reduce — if not eliminate — the problems of racial bias,” Obama said.

FBI warning of a cop-killing 'purge' in Louisiana raises tensions during Baton Rouge protest as thousands demonstrate across U.S. for a FIFTH night after shooting deaths of two black men at the hands of police
Daily Mail - Protests raged on across the country, in New York, San Francisco, Denver, Florida, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia… Officers were on high alert after the FBI noticed social media posts warning of a 'Baton Rouge Purge' throughout Saturday night. According to the rumors, there was just one rule to the violence: 'Kill every police.' Fireworks and rocks were thrown at police in St Paul, Minnesota - where Philando Castile was killed by police - as protests turned violent there. Three cops were injured. There were more protests across the country, with demonstrations against police brutality in New York, San Francisco, Denver, Florida, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City and Rhode Island.

Three countries urge caution traveling to U.S. amid protests, violence
(Reuters) - Three countries have warned their citizens to stay on guard when visiting U.S. cities rocked by sometimes violent protests that erupted after a string of police shootings of black Americans. The United States regularly issues travel warnings urging Americans to either avoid or exercise caution in countries marred by violence or political instability. Now America is the focus of concern by foreign governments in the Middle East and Caribbean as protesters marched in U.S. cities throughout the weekend after police killed black men in Louisiana and Minnesota.

Top #BlackLivesMatter Leader DeRay McKesson Arrested in Baton Rouge – Gets Paid $165,000 by Baltimore City
The Gateway Pundit - DeRay McKesson was a lead full-time paid protester in Ferguson, Missouri during the riots and looting. He later was became a lead activist in Baltimore during the Freddie Gray riots. DeRay McKesson and the other Ferguson and Baltimore protest leaders were trained in Soros-funded agitation…. Deray McKesson and Johnetta Elzie (ShordeeDooWhop).. helped whip up the Ferguson mobs. This year Fortune Magazine named these two professional activists two of the world’s greatest leaders. Last week DeRay was just awarded a job with the Baltimore school district in human resources making $165,000 a year. On Saturday DeRay was arrested in Baton Rouge leading other protesters in illegal activities.

$2 Drug Tests Used in Police Traffic Stops Have Up to 32% Error Rate Leading to 75% Wrongful Convictions
AllGov - Police arrest more than 1.2 million people a year in the U.S. on charges of illegal drug possession. Field tests help them move quickly from suspicion to conviction. But the kits are far from reliable. The tests seem simple, but a lot can go wrong. Some use a chemical which turns blue when exposed to cocaine. But it also turns blue when exposed to more than 80 other compounds, including certain acne medications and common household cleaners. Other tests use three tubes, which the officer can break in a specific order to rule out everything but the drug in question — but if the officer breaks the tubes in the wrong order, that, too, can invalidate the results. The environment can also present problems. Cold weather slows the color development; heat speeds it up, or sometimes prevents a color reaction from taking place at all. Poor lighting on the street — flashing police lights, sun glare, street lamps — often prevents officers from making the fine distinctions that could make the difference between an arrest and a release. There are no established error rates for the field tests, in part because their accuracy varies so widely depending on who is using them and how.

Donald Trump Considers Michael Flynn as Potential Running Mate
Fortune - The presumptive Republican nominee is considering Lieutenant General Michael Flynn as his potential vice presidential pick, four sources close to the process told the Washington Post. Flynn was the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency between 2012 and 2014, before essentially being forced out by the Obama administration over disagreements about his management style and goals for the agency. Unsurprisingly, though Flynn is a Democrat, he’s an outspoken critic of President Obama.... According to Trump, Flynn isn’t the only retired military figure that he’s vetting.... Flynn hasn’t confirmed or denied that he’s on Trump’s shortlist.... Trump similarly hasn’t confirmed or denied the claim.

Paul Ryan Plummets to 43 Percent in New Primary Poll
Breitbart - A poll of likely Republican voters shows House Speaker Paul Ryan well below 50 percent in his race to maintain his seat in Wisconsin’s first Congressional district. The poll was conducted by P.M.I., with 424 respondents randomly called from a file of 11,000 likely GOP primary voters. It shows that with one month remaining before Wisconsin’s August 9th vote, Ryan is polling at 43 percent. Ryan’s challenger, Wisconsin businessman Paul Nehlen, is polling at 32 percent.

West Point cadet earns Soldier's Medal for his dying act
Army Times - On Independence Day, Tom Surdyke would have turned 19 years old. Instead, friends, family and classmates mourned and buried the cadet at West Point. Surdyke posthumously received the Soldier’s Medal, the highest non-combat valor award in the Army, for saving a life with actions that ultimately cost his own. During a one-week break between air assault and cadet field training, Surdyke was vacationing at a beach on Long Island, New York, on June 24 when he and a civilian he'd only met that day got pulled out to sea in a riptide. "Without regard for his own safety, Cadet Surdyke immediately grabbed the civilian and physically assisted in keeping the civilian's head above water until help could arrive," his Soldier's Medal citation reads. "Before becoming overcome by exhaustion, Cadet Surdyke managed to push the civilian up, enabling a bystander on a paddle board to pull him out of the water, thereby saving the civilian's life. Within a couple minutes of being incapacitated, onlookers managed to pull the cadet out of the water. A couple minutes later, emergency workers arrived to take him to the hospital. Surdyke clung to life for days, but on June 28, he died.

26 Million Americans Are Now "Too Poor To Shop" Study Finds
Zero Hedge - The study, performed by America's Research Group, found that about 26 million Americans work on average two or three jobs at a time which, when added together, nets just shy of $30,000 in annual income. All while supporting anywhere from two to four children.... [Chairman of ARG] Britt Beemer told the Post: "The poorest Americans have stopped shopping, except for necessities" and "It's scary when you start to see things that you've never seen before"..."People are so pessimistic about their future". Recall from January the piece from the Atlantic that reviewed the weak state of American's finances. The Atlantic learned that nearly 50% of Americans were not in a position to find $400 to pay of a doctor visit without reaching out to friends So not only are 26 million Americans too poor to shop, there are also 2/3 of Americans who have no savings.... As The NY Post details, retailers have blamed the weather, slow job growth and millennials for their poor results this past year, but a new study claims that more than 20 percent of Americans are simply too poor to shop.

A bug in fMRI software could invalidate 15 years of brain research
ScienceAlert - There could be a very serious problem with the past 15 years of research into human brain activity, with a new study suggesting that a bug in fMRI software could invalidate the results of some 40,000 papers. That's massive, because functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of the best tools we have to measure brain activity, and if it’s flawed, it means all those conclusions about what our brains look like during things like exercise, gaming, love, and drug addiction are wrong.... During an experiment, a participant will be asked to perform a certain task, while a massive magnetic field pulsates through their body, picking up tiny changes in the blood flow of the brain.... It’s fascinating stuff, but the fact is that when scientists are interpreting data from an fMRI machine, they’re not looking at the actual brain. As Richard Chirgwin reports for The Register, what they're looking at is an image of the brain divided into tiny 'voxels', then interpreted by a computer program.... And that’s a problem, because as Kate Lunau at Motherboard points out, not only did the team expect to see an average false positive rate of just 5 percent, it also suggests that some results were so inaccurate, they could be indicating brain activity where there was none.

7 Vegetable Pairs You Should NEVER Plant Together (No. 5 Is Where Everyone Messes Up)
Off the Grid News - Paired properly, companion plants can help each other grow, deter pests, reduce weeds and even improve flavor. Unfortunately, not all plants are ready to link leaves and sing “Kumbaya” together. In this post, we’ll look at vegetable pairs that should be kept far apart from one another. 1. Corn and tomatoes: Both corn and tomato are vulnerable to the same worm and the same fungal infections and if planted too close together, it makes it easy for invaders to conquer both at once. 2. Cucumber and sage: The strong scent of sage and other herbs are likely to affect the final flavor of the cucumber, resulting in an unpleasant off-taste. 3. Radishes and hyssop: Hyssop is a fragrant flowering herb used to scent potpourri and prepare teas, but it also tends to wreak havoc with radishes. Don’t write off hyssop entirely, though — it’s great for luring away cabbage moths and is said to help make grapes grow. 4. Onions and peas: onion (and its many relatives like shallots, leeks and garlic) set up root systems with large radii that have a tendency to hoard needed nutrients from beans and peas. 5. Tomatoes and potatoes: Both are subject to the same early and late blights, making it easy for a problem with one to quickly become a problem for both….

The Average Flu Shot Left This 9-Year-Old Girl Paralyzed And Non-Verbal
Natural Blaze - The girl, Marysue Grivna, was an active 9-year-old that loved to play outside, help out in the kitchen, and could speak two languages. Just six days after she went in for a flu shot, Marysue succumbed to a rare autoimmune disorder brought on by the shot in which the body attacks itself by targeting protective covers around nerve fibers. When the coverings are destroyed, it leaves the brain and spinal cord vulnerable to damage, sometimes leading to loss of vision and paralysis. This is exactly what happened to Marysue just days after receiving the vaccine…. When asked if the doctors confirmed that the flu shot was to blame for the onset of these symptoms, Carla, her mother, said, Her father Steven and I are certain, due to all our research, that this was what caused Marysue’s condition. The doctors won’t confirm it or deny it… Though there’s hope that one day Marysue will recover, there is still only a 50-75% chance that she could return to her normal self with therapy.

CDC’s VAERS Data Confirm Multiple Vaccines Given at Same Time Increase Morbidity and Mortality in Children
Natural Blaze - [According to medical research journalist Neil Z Miller], “Since 1990, the VAERS database has received more than 500,000 reports of suspected adverse reactions to vaccines.” That’s over half a million and vaccines are considered safe?… Of the 38,801 VAERS reports that we analyzed, 969 infants received two vaccine doses prior to the adverse event and 107 of those infants were hospitalized: a hospitalization rate of 11%. Of 1,959 infants who received three vaccine doses prior to the adverse event, 243 of them required hospitalization: 12.4%. For four doses, 561 of 3,909 infants were hospitalized: 14.4%. Notice the emerging pattern: Infants who had an adverse event reported to VAERS were more likely to require hospitalization when they received three vaccine doses instead of two, or four vaccine doses instead of three. The pattern continues: Of 10,114 infants who received five vaccine doses prior to the adverse event, 1,463 of them required hospitalization: 14.5%. For six doses, 1,365 of 8,454 infants were hospitalized: 16.1%. For seven doses, 1,051 of 5,489 infants were hospitalized: 19.1%. And for eight doses, 661 of 2,817 infants were hospitalized: 23.5%. The hospitalization rate increased linearly from 11.0% for two doses to 23.5% for eight doses.

4 Natural Remedies that Cure Toenail Fungus FAST!
David Wolfe - 1. Apple Cider Vinegar: Use the apple cider vinegar to make an exfoliating scrub by mixing two teaspoons of it with one tablespoon of rice flour. It should turn into a paste. Apply this to your infected toenails and scrub with a toothbrush. Then, rinse your feet off and pat them dry…. 2. Baking Soda: Mix two parts of baking soda with one part of warm water to create a paste. Apply this to your infected toenail and leave it on for about 20 minutes. Then, wash it off. Repeat this process twice daily…. 3. Oregano Oil: Mix about five drops of oregano essential oil with two teaspoons of olive oil (or whatever your preferred ‘base’ oil happens to be) and apply the solution to a your toenails. Let it sit for about 10 minutes and scrub away the uppermost layer of your infected nail with a toothbrush…. 4. Turmeric: Begin with one tablespoon of turmeric powder. Mix it with a little bit of water to form a paste and apply this to your affected toenails. Let this sit for two to three hours and rinse your toenail off with lukewarm water. Dry your toenail thoroughly and repeat the process twice daily until you notice the fungal infection has vanished.

Quick and Simple Coconut Milk Popsicles
Holistic Health Talk - These delicious coconut milk popsicles contain only about two grams of carbs per serving and they are rich in fat. So they can be enjoyed by everyone following a candida, paleo, low-carb or ketogenic diet to beat the summer heat, or any other time of year, without any guilt or remorse…. 1 can full-fat coconut milk, 1 or 2 teaspoons vanilla [and] Stevia to taste…. Options: Stir in one or two tablespoons of nut butter and whisk with fork. Almond or macadamia butter are both delicious. You could add chopped nuts and/or pieces of fruit (strawberries, blueberries, bananas, cherries etc.) Spice it up with some nutmeg…. Vanilla extract can be replaced with any flavor you desire, like peppermint, lemon, orange, maple, cherry, or almond…. Make a fudgesicle by adding a little carob powder or melted carob chips.

Enticing to Pets, Just One Container Could Kill a Large Dog
Dr. Becker - The enticing flavors inside an e-cigarette cartridge (such as fruit punch, chocolate and bubble gum) may smell delicious to some pets, who may mistake the toxic liquid for a snack. A typical 1-milliliter e-cigarette cartridge may contain up to 36 milligrams of nicotine, which is equal to the amount found in three cigarettes. Even 5 milligrams of nicotine may lead to signs of nicotine toxicity in dogs and cats, while larger amounts can be fatal. E-cigarette cartridges are often sold in multi-packs or large refill containers that may hold more than 2,000 milligrams of nicotine — and amount that could kill even a large dog if ingested. Adding to their danger, while the nicotine from a regular cigarette tends to be absorbed over a few hours, the nicotine in e-cigarette liquid is easily absorbed through your pet’s skin and gums. If your pet consumes a tobacco cigarette, it’s still dangerous but your pet’s liver will have a chance to remove some of the nicotine before it gets into his bloodstream. This isn’t the case with e-cigarette liquid, which allows the nicotine to be absorbed through the mucous membranes, avoiding his liver…. Be aware that even licking the device or cartridge may lead to exposure to nicotine and other chemicals. This may be particularly dangerous for cats, as you might not realize they’ve been exposed.

One Disease Where Holistic Modalities Can Almost 'Work Miracles'
Dr. Becker - Cholangiohepatitis is a word that describes inflammation of the liver and bile ducts. This condition is seen less often in dogs than cats, and is a common cause of feline liver disease, especially in the Himalayan, Persian, and Siamese breeds. Cholangiohepatitis and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) make up about two-thirds of all liver disease in cats…. Most cats with cholangiohepatitis also have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — about 80 percent according to one study. Many also have pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas…. Typical signs of suppurative cholangiohepatitis include fever, a swollen and painful abdomen, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes), and dehydration…. Integrative veterinarians use a variety of excellent supportive therapies for cholangiohepatitis. I would recommend you consider investigating these if you have a pet with this condition. We use S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), vitamin B and E supplements, and vitamin K. Foods rich in vitamin K are provided to address blood-clotting issues. Choline, glandular therapies, and milk thistle can also be very beneficial.
 

Friday - July 8, 2016 - Today In History:

1776 - Col. John Nixon gave the first public reading of the U.S. Declaration of Independence to a crowd at Independence Square in Philadelphia.
1815 - Louis XVIII returned to Paris after the defeat of Napoleon.
1865 - C.E. Barnes patented the machine gun.
1889 - The Wall Street Journal was first published.
1919 - U.S. President Wilson returned from the Versailles Peace Conference in France.
1947 - Demolition work began in New York City for the new permanent headquarters of the United Nations.
1950 - General Douglas MacArthur was named commander-in-chief of United Nations forces in Korea.
1960 - The Soviet Union charged Gary Powers with espionage. He was shot down in a U-2 spy plane.
1963 - All Cuban-owned assets in the United States were frozen.
1981 - The Solar Challenger became the frist solar-powered airplane to cross the English Channel.
1997 - The Mayo Clinic and the U.S. government warned that the diet-drug combination known as "fen-phen" could cause serious heart and lung damage.
1997 - NATO invited Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic to join the alliance in 1999.
2010 - The Solar Impulse completed the first 24-hour flight by a solar powered plane.

Russian ‘traitor’ who exposed Anna Chapman's spy ring dead in US – reports
RT - Russian intelligence officer, Aleksandr Poteyev, who was sentenced for treason in absentia by Russia after blowing the cover of a spy ring in the US, has reportedly died. Moscow, however, is not confirming the news or taking the defector of its wanted list. “According to some information, Poteyev has died in the US. This data is currently being verified,” an informed source told Interfax early Thursday. Another source confirmed that the news of Poteev’s death has reached Moscow, but stressed that “it could well be disinformation aimed at ensuring that the traitor would simply be forgotten.”

Swedes no longer want to join NATO – poll
RT - Public support for the idea of Sweden becoming a NATO member has dropped from 41 to 33 percent in less than a year, a fresh poll has revealed. Forty-nine percent of Swedes, who took part in the survey published by the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper, said they don’t want their country to join the US-led military bloc. Thirty-three percent supported the possible NATO bid, while 18 percent said that they were undecided. Some 1,000 Swedish citizens participated in the survey, which was carried out by the Sifo research company this June.

24 injured by blast on passenger train in Taiwan
RT - At least 24 people have been injured, after an explosion inside a train carriage, at the Songshan railway station in central Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. Focus Taiwan TV reported that just before 10pm local time there was a loud bang in the sixth carriage of a crowded commuter train, which then quickly became engulfed in flames. The Straits Times and several other local media said there had been three explosions.

Syrian rebels lose ISIS battle after being abandoned by US jets
Veterans Today - A US-trained Syrian rebel unit was reportedly defeated and forced to flee by Islamic State during a desert battle near the town of Bukamal, after American jets abandoned them at a critical moment to bomb another target in neighboring Iraq. The Pentagon-trained rebel unit, the New Syrian Army (NSA), was on a ground offensive to re-take the Islamic State-held (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) town of Bukamal in southeast Syria last week, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday. In the middle of the desert battle the rebels requested air support, but the aircraft assigned to provide cover had unexpectedly been ordered to leave the area

LSE gets U.S., Russia nod for Brexit-clouded Deutsche Boerse merger
Reuters - London Stock Exchange Group (LSE.L) said on Thursday that U.S. and Russian authorities had approved its $27 billion merger with Deutsche Boerse, giving it the first set of regulatory clearances needed to create a European exchange giant. However, there still remain questions whether EU regulators will approve the deal, given the huge combined presence of the two companies in derivatives clearing and the status quo of LSE's LCH. Clearnet as Europe's main clearing house for euro-denominated swaps. The merger, if approved by the shareholders and cleared by other regulators, will create the world's biggest exchange by revenue, forecast to be 4.7 billion euros this year from stock, bond and derivatives trading, indexes, market data, and clearing and settlement.

Theresa May v Andrea Leadsom to be next prime minister
BBC News - After the second MPs' ballot, Home Secretary Mrs May finished with 199 votes, Energy Minister Mrs Leadsom 84 and Mr Gove, the justice secretary, 46.Conservative members will now decide the winning candidate, with the result due on 9 September. The winner will become the UK's second female prime minister.

Bill O'Reilly shares photos of Barack Obama in traditional Muslim dress he claims are from half-brother Malik's wedding
Daily Mail -
 * Bill O'Reilly released images of President Barack Obama claiming they were from the Muslim wedding of his half brother Malik
 * President Obama was Malik's best man at his first wedding in 1981 and Malik served as his best man when he married Michelle
 * O'Reilly claims the photos were taken in Maryland in the early 1990s
 * Fox News host said the pictures prove President Obama has 'deep emotional ties to Islam' and is not a 'devout Christian'
 * O'Reilly claims this has 'hurt the USA' because Obama has failed to combat ISIS which he calls the 'Obama administration's greatest failure'
 * A similar set of photos featuring President Obama in the same dress were shared by Malik in 2004 and previously published on DailyMail.com

Activists Expose Monsanto’s Senate Lackeys Minutes Before DARK Act Vote
Natural Blaze - Just before a controversial genetically modified (GM or GMO) labeling bill came up for a cloture vote in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, food and consumer advocates dropped over $2,000 on the chamber floor in a symbolic protest against what they are calling the “Deny Americans the Right to Know” (DARK) Act. The action aimed to highlight the fact that senators who took money from biotechnology giants like Monsanto are voting against majority public opinion, as recent polls have found that roughly 90 percent of Americans want labels on GMO foods.

USDA running massive glyphosate cover-up, refuses to test foods for traces of cancer-causing herbicide chemical used on GM crops
Natural News - Consumer groups have been calling on the U.S. government to test foods for glyphosate residues on behalf of the public, amid a growing body of evidence showing that the chemical is harmful to human health.Food companies, consumer groups and academics have also solicited testing for glyphosate residues, fueled by fears that prevalent use of the pesticide on genetically engineered (GE) crops may be contributing to health problems, as people eat foods containing residues of glyphosate. Fears have been growing thanks to some recent scientific studies that have revealed health problems tied to glyphosate, as well as data released by the U.S. Department of the Interior which found glyphosate in both water and air samples.

Is The CIA Manipulating The Weather?
Activist Post - In a recent speech, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency discussed the controversial topic of geoengineering, leading some activists to ask whether the agency is actively and deliberately modifying the weather. In late June, John Brennan, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, spoke at a Council on Foreign Relations meeting about threats to global security. Director Brennan mentioned a number of threats to stability before discussing the science of geoengineering. Brennan said the technologies “potentially could help reverse the warming effects of global climate change.”

Obama’s Civilian Drone Death Count up to 500% Higher Than US Mass Shootings
Activist Post - Obama’s drones have ‘officially’ killed more innocent people than mass shooters — despite paranoia surrounding gun control and propaganda about unhinged loose cannons shooting civilians en masse. According to President Obama’s administration — in a years-in-the-making report — drones used in military combat overseas killed between 64 and 116 civilians between 2009 and the close of 2015 — almost certainly a paltry representation of the true total, considering accurate record-keeping remains a near impossibility.

The Never Ending War: Obama Orders 8,400 Troops to Stay in Afghanistan
Activist Post - After nearly 15 years of conflict and 2,378 deaths, the United States is still trying to find an exit to the longest war in American history. Millions of Americans voted for President Obama because he promised to withdraw our military from countries like Afghanistan; and two years ago he promised that by the end of his term, the only troops who remained would be guarding the US Embassy in Kabul. Instead, it looks like there will be no further troop withdrawals for the duration of Obama’s presidency. The President announced today that the 8,400 troops currently stationed in Afghanistan will remain there until 2017. That is 3,000 more troops than he had originally planed.

‘Clinton Act of 2016’: Republican Bill Banning Foreign Donations
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) has proposed legislation that would forbid charitable foundations with connections to former public officials, including presidents, vice presidents, ambassadors, and former secretaries of state, from accepting donations from individuals or entities with ties to foreign governments.

Chaffetz forces Comey to Admit Hillary Clinton Gave Classified Info to Non-Cleared Lawyers
Breitbart - FBI director James Comey admitted to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Thursday that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had given classified information to her personal lawyers, among others, who lacked security clearance.

Comey Reveals That Clinton Did Not Testify Under Oath
FBI Director James Comey revealed during testimony before Congress on Thursday that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was not questioned under oath by bureau agents during their investigation of her use of a private unsecured, unauthorized email server. House Oversight Committee member Rep. John Mica, R- Fla, queried Comey about some of the details regarding how FBI agents conducted their time interviewing Clinton on Saturday at her Washington, D.C., home.

VIDEO: Trump Parade Float Ambushed by ‘Tolerant’ Leftists
Infowars - Tolerant liberals threw water bottles, water balloons, candy and other debris at the pick-up truck, which was occupied by Trump supporters waving and holding signs. Parents jeered while encouraging their children to take part in the ambush, with one eyewitness describing the incident as a “full on attack”.

Brickyard 400 NASCAR Race Named in Honor of Veteran’s Charity through Annual Crown Royal “Your Hero’s Name Here” Program
Veterans News Now - In just a few short weeks, racing fans from across the country will flock to Indianapolis for one of NASCAR’s biggest events of the summer. And despite being named the winner of the annual Crown Royal “Your Hero’s Name Here” program, which renames the Brickyard 400 after a deserving hero, retired U.S. Navy SEAL Jason Redman’s name won’t be displayed around the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway – for good reason. Redman instead asked that the race bear the name of the charity he and his wife, Erica, founded. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race will officially be referred to as the Crown Royal presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard.

Immigrant Soldier Given U.S. Citizenship Charged with Aiding Islamic State
Breitbart - An immigrant from Sierra Leone, who was given U.S. citizenship and was a former member of the Army National Guard, has been arrested and charged with aiding an attack on U.S. soil on behalf of the Islamic State.

Volkswagen to pay $86 million in penalties to California over emissions
Reuters - Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) will pay an additional $86 million in penalties to California over its emissions scandal, on top of a settlement of about $15 billion the automaker reached with U.S. officials last week, state Attorney General Kamala Harris said in a statement on Thursday. The scandal has disrupted Volkswagen's global business and sullied its reputation. The office of Harris, a Democrat, said the $86 million in civil penalties resolved certain claims California officials made against Volkswagen under the state's unfair competition law as well as under federal law.

Going Local For EVERYTHING: Taking Back the Country and Our Lives
Natural Blaze - Across the board, localizing is showing it is the means to free us from debt, from corruption, from fear, from sickness, from control, from ignorance, from isolation and loneliness, from skill-llessness. It is giving us neighbors again, real value in what we eat, buy, and do, and purpose within a close community. Here is a short list of some of the areas in which localizing is exploding. They are coming from both the right and left but they all arrive in the middle because the intent is the same – to help people and communities be freer, safer, healthier, and thus happier.
* In money – local public banks, local currencies, barter, and even Ubuntu.
* In LAW – Common law
* In FOOD – local farmers, community gardens, home gardens
* In HEALTH – health coops, natural healing, and information so people can heal themselves.
* In ENERGY – community energy production, home systems of all kinds including homes designed for passive energy, and free energy.
* In EDUCATION – community controlled schools, parents sharing teaching with other parents, homeschooling, unschooling.
* In MANUFACTURING – local manufacture of things needed locally, teaching skills again, 3-D printers for home manufacture
* In DEFENSE – bringing military home, local militia, community support of militia
* In DEMOCRACY AND ETHICS – localizing brings accountability, localizing brings democracy, localizing offers deeper ethical interaction.

North Carolina Governor Signs Bitcoin Bill Into Law
Coin Desk - North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed 16 bills into law today, one of which was House Bill 289, which expands the state’s Money Transmitters Act to cover activities related to bitcoin and other blockchain-based digital currencies. Introduced in 2015, the passage of the law represents the fruition of more than a year of engagement between members of the US blockchain and digital currency industry and local regulators.

Firefighters receive thankful elk nuzzles after extinguishing a forest fire
Mother Earth News - When you spend all day battling forest fires, there's nothing like receiving some adorable thank you kisses from the friendly neighborhood wildlife. That's exactly what firefighters of Kittitas County in Washington state were treated to when a locally famous elk known as "Buttons" happened upon them as they took a break from the blaze on July 2. According to the Yakima Herald, the fire district's spokesperson Richelle Risdon "arrived at the scene on Saturday to see the elk nuzzling up to everyone in the command post area and resting her head on people's shoulders." The elk took her time, making the rounds to each firefighter and administering affection. She had no qualms about posing for a few photos in the process.

Mysterious garbage tsunami repels Hong Kong beachgoers
Mother Nature Network - This week in Hong Kong a majority of local beaches have been overwhelmed by a veritable tsunami of plastic waste and assorted household trash. Yet the sheer magnitude of this foul mess — a “plastic tide” per the South China Morning Press — has caught local conservation  organizations off guard. It’s safe to say that the size and scope of this monstrous rubbish-wave has never been seen before in Hong Kong. An estimated six to 10 times the normal volume of what normally washes ashore on Hong Kong beaches according to the Environmental Protection Department. The unsightly onslaught has left volunteer coastal clean-up groups overwhelmed yet determined to keep at it. It’s left everyone involved, concerned citizens included, perplexed as to how such a massive amount of waste could enter the ocean and where exactly the mountain of marine trash originated.

Texas set to build world's largest cryopreservation center, housing 50K frozen humans with plans to one day revive them
Natural News - The cryonic preservation of humans may become commonplace sooner than you imagine, as construction of a massive cryogenic facility in Texas is now underway. The Timeship Building – dubbed the "Mecca of cryogenics" – is the brainchild of architect Stephen Valentine, and will be capable of storing 50,000 frozen human bodies upon completion. The construction site of the Timeship Building is the small town of Comfort, Texas."DNA, tissue samples, and cryopreserved patients will be housed in Timeship, and their safety and security against all threats, both natural and human-made, will have to be maintained for hundreds of years," says the Timeship.org website.

Like humans, lowly cockroach uses a GPS to get around, scientists find
Science Daily - Rats, men and cockroaches appear to have a similar GPS in their heads that allows them to navigate new surroundings, researchers at Case Western Reserve University report. The finding, published in journal Current Biology, is likely an example of convergent evolution--that is, distinct animals developed similar systems to manage the same problems. Due to their simpler brain, further studies on cockroaches that would be difficult--if not impossible--on mammals may yield new insights into how humans orient themselves and navigate. Or, what goes awry in people who have extreme trouble getting their bearings.

Astronomers find evidence for ‘direct collapse’ black hole
Science Daily - Astronomers have discovered evidence for an unusual kind of black hole born extremely early in the universe. They showed that a recently discovered unusual source of intense radiation is likely powered by a "direct-collapse black hole," a type of object predicted by theorists more than a decade ago.

Wendy's Hacked
Washington Times - NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Wendy’s says the 1,025 U.S. restaurants where hackers stole credit and debit card information don’t include any in Mississippi, but included one in Louisiana, 17 in Alabama and 39 in Georgia. Checks on the website set up for customers to find affected restaurants showed the Louisiana breach affected customers from Jan. 13 through June 10 in Lake Charles at 3505 Gerstner Memorial Drive.

Grow your own ‘natural medicine’ ginger at home – for free
Homesteading News - Keeping fresh ginger around the house is a lot simpler than you might think. This herb is super easy to grow. Some conditions that ginger absolutely loves are a sheltered spot, filtered sunlight, warm weather and humidity. Ginger also enjoys rich, moist and loose soil. Ideally, it’s best to select organic ginger. Let it dry for 24-48 hours before planting into a medium-sized, well-draining pot. Good soil and compost is critical for starting a ginger plant. It’s also important for the plant to be free-draining so it doesn’t become waterlogged. Mature ginger requires eight to 10 months of growing; however, some say you can begin stealing tiny bits of root around four months. The best time to harvest is when the leaves die down. When your ginger plant is ready to harvest, simply use a small shovel to dislodge the root, separating part of it for use. You can replant them right away and/or keep the rest for the kitchen.

9 Herbs To Get Healthy Teeth & Gums
Z Living - Certain herbs have proven benefits not only in protecting your teeth and gums, but also in maintaining overall oral health. Our ancestors may have been right about gnawing on the sticks, after all. Know these nine herbs to keep your dental worries away: Bloodroot, Stevia, Wheatgrass, White Oak Bark, Cloves, Holy Basil, Licorice, Eucalyptus Oil and Tea Tree Oil

Five all-natural remedies for treating toothaches
Natural News - Tooth aches can be an enormous pain in the "mouth". From sitting at your desk constantly massaging your mouth to laying on the couch at night throbbing in pain, toothaches can really put a dent in your daily routine. Per Arizona Family Dental, here are five of the best all-natural remedies for treating toothaches.
1) Clove Oil
2) Peppermint Tea Bags
3) Salt Water
4) Bourbon Soaked Cotton Balls
5) Garlic

Asian Otters are the Latest Victims of the Illegal Pet and Fur Trades
Scientific American - Four Asian otter species appear to have become increasingly targeted for the illegal pet and fur trades, according to a report issued this week by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. TRAFFIC gathered information from a total of 167 seizures dating back to 1980, affecting nearly 6,000 otters during that time period. According to that data, the number of live animals rescued from smugglers has increased over the past five years, with each shipment averaging six otters. The researchers found that small-clawed and smooth-coated otters represented the bulk of the pet trade, with captured animals originating in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. They also uncovered evidence of a “flourishing online pet trade,” mostly via social media sites. Meanwhile the total number of otter skins seized by customs officials has also increased. The number of skins per shipment has decreased, however, leading researchers to speculate that wild populations may be declining as a result of this illegal activity.
 

Thursday - July 7, 2016 - Today In History:

1754 - Kings College opened in New York City. It was renamed Columbia College 30 years later.
1846 - U.S. annexation of California was proclaimed at Monterey after the surrender of a Mexican garrison.
1862 - The first railroad post office was tested on the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad in Missouri.
1930 - Construction began on Boulder Dam, later Hoover Dam, on the Colorado River.
1946 - Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini was canonized as the first American saint.
1950 - The U.N. Security Council authorized military aid for South Korea.
1969 - Canada's House of Commons gave final approval to a measure that made the French language equal to English throughout the national government.
1981 - U.S. Pres. Reagan announced he was nominating Arizona Judge Sandra Day O'Connor to become the first female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
1983 - Eleven-year-old Samantha Smith of Manchester, Maine, left for a visit to the Soviet Union at the personal invitation of Soviet leader Yuri V. Andropov.
1987 - Public testimony at the Iran-Contra hearing began.
1994 - Amazon.com, Inc. was founded in Seattle, Washington under the name "Cadabra."
2003 - In Liberia, a team of U.S. military experts arrived at the U.S. embassy compound to assess whether to deploy troops as part of a peacekeeping force in the country.
2003 - A federal judge approved a settlement fining WorldCom $750 million for its $11 billion accounting scandal.
2005 - Terrorist bombings in three Underground stations and a double-decker bus killed 52 victims and four suicide bombers in the worst attack on London since World War II.

The U.S. Gov’t Just Put Sanctions on North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for the First Time
The Daily Sheeple - WSJ is reporting that, for the first time, the U.S. government just officially put sanctions on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and 10 other NK senior officials. The “campaign to attack Kim Jong Un’s regime” is reportedly not just retaliation for nuclear weapons and missiles tests, but for the county’s “nationwide system of prison camps, torture chambers and propaganda organs that keep the Northeast Asian country isolated”.

Israel, US Carry Out Successful Test of Integrating Missile Defense Systems
Sputnik - The "Integrated Ground Test" conducted by the Israeli Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) and the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) lasted for five days and ended on June 22, the Ynetnews media outlet reported. During the drills, the United States and Israel tested real-time communication between six different missile defense systems: Israeli Arrow 2 and 3, David's Sling as well as US Aegis Ships, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot, according to the news portal.

Key Findings of UK's Inquiry Into Iraq War
ABC News - The long awaited British inquiry into the 2003 invasion of Iraq has been published. Led by former senior civil servant John Chilcot, the report took over seven years to prepare and runs over two million words. The report did not analyze the legality of the invasion and instead focused on the British decision-making process in the run up to the war in 2003.
Related:
  * ‘Betrayal’: Iraq veterans call for Blair’s indictment after Chilcot report
  * Corbyn: UK Needs Review of US Ties After 'Illegal' Iraq Invasion

Warsaw Sounds the War Drums, Eying Russia in Run-Up to NATO Summit
Sputnik - The latest anti-Russian remarks by Poland's Minister of National Defense Antoni Macierewicz reflect Warsaw's drive to belittle Russia's ever-increasing international clout, Polish political scientist Konrad Rekas told Sputnik.

Syrian military declares 72-hour truce across country, but fighting continues
Reuters - The Syrian military has declared a 72-hour "regime of calm" covering all of Syria from 1 a.m. on Wednesday (1800 EDT Tuesday), a military source told Reuters, although fighting and air attacks have been reported since then. The military high command said in a statement that "a regime of calm will be implemented across all territory of the Syrian Arab Republic for a period of 72 hours from 1 a.m. on July 6 until 2400 on July 8, 2016".
Related: Syrian government 'violates' Eid ceasefire

John Kerry commits more U.S. military aid for ex-Soviet Georgia
Reuters - Secretary of State John Kerry told ex-Soviet Georgia the United States would help it bolster its army as he reassured a close U.S. ally days before a NATO summit expected to focus on the threat a resurgent Russia poses. Kerry, on his first visit to Georgia as Secretary of State, made the commitment ahead of a NATO summit in Warsaw on Friday at which members of the Western military alliance plan to announce action to deter possible Russian military aggression.

Tony Blair’s letters to George W. Bush to be released... but not the president’s replies
Secret correspondence between former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and ex-US President George W. Bush will finally be published in connection with Sir John Chilcot’s long-anticipated Iraq War Inquiry report. A total of 29 missives written by the former Labour leader to the US president will be shown to the public for the first time on Wednesday, although some will be redacted on alleged security grounds. Bush’s letters to the British premier, however, will not be released.

After Brexit Blow To Brussels, Both Austria And Hungary To Hold Landmark EU Votes On Same Day In October
Breitbart - Both Hungary and Austria are soon to be holding national votes on issues that could strike further hammer-blows against the future of the European Union, and have announced today they are both to share the same date.

Rio police: Tourists, we can't protect you
CNN - The Olympic Games are 31 days away -- and Rio de Janeiro is in crisis. Violence is on the rise, and police officers are at loggerheads with the Rio state government after claiming they've not been paid for months. The message from police to tourists is clear: We won't be able to protect you.
Related: 'Super bacteria' found in Rio's waters

Chelsea Manning Rushed to ER After ‘Trying to Hang Herself Inside a Cell at Maximum Security Prison’
The Daily Sheeple - And the documents Manning released weren’t even classified “top secret” like the ones in Hillary’s private email server… Chelsea Manning, the ex-US-soldier who is serving a 35-year prison sentence for leaking thousands of secret military documents, attempted suicide in prison. The imprisoned transgender 28-year-old was hospitalized briefly, a US defense official said Wednesday after reports said she attempted suicide at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.

US Missile Defense Test Failed Miserably, and the Pentagon Lied About It
Sputnik - After spending billions of dollars, the US government is having trouble getting its state-of-the-art homeland missile defense system to function according to plan, and it’s driven the Pentagon to lie about the program’s success rate.

Judge Orders DEA Disclosure of U.S. Agencies Using Massive Phone Spying Program but Keeps Most Corporate Colluders Secret
By Nick Rummell, Courthouse News Service - A federal judge ruled that the Drug Enforcement Agency must release some information sought by a privacy group that relates to a secretive government data mining program. The June 24 ruling requires the DEA to release a list of other government agencies that use the so-called Hemisphere Project (pdf)—a secret program started in 2007 in which the U.S. government collects data on nearly four billion telephone calls a day. The ruling also requires the agency to disclose which AT&T locations are used for the program. However, the bulk of the requested documents sought by privacy group Electronic Privacy Information Center —including other possible private corporations besides AT&T that cooperate with the government on the program— remain under lock and key.

Nearly 1 Million Ignore Deportation Order – Including Over 170K Convicted Criminals
Breitebart - The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) reported that nearly one million immigrants are ignoring a deportation order from an immigration court. Nearly 200,000 of those are convicted criminals. “The fact that almost 10 percent of the illegal resident population has already been ordered removed and is still here illustrates just how dysfunctional our immigration enforcement system is.

Trump Ad Features Comey Exposing Hillary’s Lies
Infowars - A new Donald Trump ad features FBI Director James Comey rebutting the lies Hillary Clinton made about her private e-mails servers

Riots at the DNC? Protesters Ready to Besiege Convention: “Vowing to Bring Chaos”
Mac Slavo - Growing dissatisfaction with Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee is fueling potential riots and disruptions during the Democratic National Convention in late July where the former Secretary of State will be officially nominated. Former Bernie Sanders supporters and those who oppose many of her positions are planning to surround what promises to be a lively convention, with planned sit-ins and what could easily become clashes with police and security.
** Related: Americans React With Fury: ‘If Hillary Doesn’t Follow the Law, Why Should I?’

Exclusive — Donald J. Trump: ‘Guilty as Hell’ Hillary Clinton ‘Will Pay for Her Sins on Nov. 8’
Breitbart - Donald J. Trump, the presumptive 2016 GOP presidential nominee, told Breitbart News exclusively on Wednesday that his Democratic counterpart presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton is “guilty as hell” over the email scandal. And Trump says the voters will ensure that Clinton “will pay for her sins” by rejecting her at the ballot box.

Change the subject: hours after the FBI gives Hillary a pass, she tries to turn back to Trump's Atlantic City casino record, blasting 'numerous bankruptcies, stiffed contractors, hundreds of jobs lost' in new video
Mail Online - One day after the FBI gave Hillary Clinton a pass the Democrat is heading to Atlantic City to continue her assault on Donald Trump. She'll be attacking his failed casino businesses at a rally.
** Related: Naval Reservist Committed EXACT Same Crime as Clinton — Guess What Happened to Him

Trump: 'Who pays' for Obama's appearance with Clinton?
The Hill - Donald Trump is criticizing President Obama's use of Air Force One to travel to a campaign event in North Carolina on Tuesday with Hillary Clinton. “Who pays? Trump asked late Monday on Twitter, noting that Clinton will fly with Obama.

Two Years after Scandal, “Urgent Reform” Needed at VA, Says Congressional Report
By Matthew Daly, Associated Press - Two years after a scandal over long wait times for veterans seeking health care, the Department of Veterans Affairs still has "profound deficiencies" in delivering health care to millions of veterans, a congressional commission says in a new report.
The Commission on Care says in a report released today that the VA delivers high-quality health care but is inconsistent from one site to the next, and problems with access remain. The panel says the VA needs to improve its service to veterans, adding that the VA's health care operations "require urgent reform. America's veterans deserve a better organized, high-performing health care system."

Someone Just Made A Massive Bet On Gold Prices: “The Bullion Breakout Is Far From Over”
Mac Slavo - Global stock market panic following the Brexit vote suggests investors around the world are quickly realizing that the collapse of the entire system is inevitable. Though Brexit may have been the trigger for the latest sell-off, the fall out is merely an indicator of much deeper problems. And as the crash accelerates, those with foresight are rapidly divesting themselves of traditional assets and moving their capital into safe havens of last resort. The latest move comes from an unknown trader who, according to CNBC, just made a massive bet on gold.

EU Banks Crash To Crisis Lows As Funding Crisis Accelerates
Zero Hedge - The signs are everywhere - if you choose to look - Europe's banking system is collapsing (no matter what Draghi has to offer). From record lows in Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse to spiking default risk in Monte Paschi, the panic in Europe's funding markets (basis swaps collapsing) is palpable.
Tumbling to a fresh post-Brexit low, Europe's Stoxx 600 Bank Index is testing EU crisis lows...

Scathing new report shows just how bankrupt Social Security really is
Sovereignman - Last week, a group of analysts published an astonishing report about the future of Social Security in the United States, and their remarks were nothing short of damning. According to their calculations, for example, these analysts claim that Social Security is already running a huge deficit to the tune of tens of billions of dollars each year. In fact, this Social Security funding deficit has been taking place for several years now, and it’s actually accelerating. So the problem worsens each year. According to the analysis, the astounding rise in Social Security recipients vastly outpaces any growth in tax revenue received into the program. And this trend will continue for decades.

CIA Director Discusses Geoengineering at CFR Event
By Brandon Turbeville - In late June 2016, CIA director John O. Brennan appeared at the Council on Foreign Relations to give a brief talk and take questions from members of the council. The discussion was designed to address threats to national and global security as well as world stability. Among the threats that Brennan discusses are of course the usual suspects like ISIS and biological warfare, but interestingly enough, Brennan focused heavily on the rapid change and development of technology.

Health Ranger's science lab reveals alarming data: America's municipal water systems violate federal regulations with high levels of toxic heavy metals
NaturalNews - We've now published the water testing results for 239 water samples collected by our readers all across America. As promised, this is part of our effort to conduct real science in the public interest and share the results publicly... even as the corrupt, criminal federal government conspires to hide these data from the public. (The EPA, like every agency of the government regime, has become a corrupt, anti-science front group that deliberately pollutes America's waterways while covering up its crimes.)

This is How Easy It Is for the US Government to Tap Your Phone
Sputnik - A ten-year study conducted by the Federal Judiciary has revealed that the United States government approved 100% of last year’s wiretap requests from law enforcement. The study not only found that all requests were granted, but that requests are becoming more and more frequent. In 2005, when the study began, 1,774 requests were made. Over ten years, that number has more than doubled, with 4,148 requests made and granted last year.

New research considers 'growing' drones
BBC - Can you chemically "grow" a military drone? It sounds like an idea for a science fiction film, but here in the UK scientists and engineers are spending time and money to see if they can do exactly that. British warplanes are already flying with parts made from a 3D printer. Researchers are already using that same technology to build drones. The military advantage is obvious - building equipment quickly and close to the battlefield - without long waits and long supply chains - gives you an enormous advantage over any enemy.

Demand For “Pain Ray” Weapons Grows Over Fears of Civil Unrest
Infowars - System works by blasting crowds with microwaves
Demand for “pain ray” weapons used during riot control situations is growing as concerns over civil unrest continue to build. According to a new research study, the market for directed energy weapons is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period thanks to for their use in “controlling riots and cross border trespassing.” “The global riot control system market is estimated to grow from an USD 9.05 billion in 2016 to USD 11.78 billion by 2021” as a result of “increasing political disputes and civil unrest, militarization of law enforcement agencies, stringent environmental and governmental regulations, and declining defense budgets of developed economies,” states the report.

Israel Wants Mandatory Biometric Database To Go Live Next Year
By Nicholas West (Activist Post) - One of the principal reasons why civil liberties advocates try to sound the alarm about emerging technology is that it can very quickly progress from dystopian scenarios only found in science fiction, to elective consumer adoption in the name of efficiency, to commonsense security measures, to governments surreptitiously using it for surveillance and ID, and on to the final phase of mandatory requirement by centralized government. Biometrics is a case in point.

Wild Food Foraging Under the Swimming Moon
Mother Earth News - Just beyond the threshold of the summer solstice, the Appalachian Mountains burst forth with life, with abundant wild foods, sweet berries and meadow medicinals. The seedlings we planted in the spring are now giants in their garden beds, offering their fruits beneath broad and fanning leaves. This is truly the season of abundance and a potent time for wild-food foraging and food preservation. As we stand in the season of sun, however, we must also prepare ourselves for the seasons of cold to come.

The 8 most insane and absurd US laws regarding food, water, and medicine
NaturalNews - It's not conspiracy theory when it's a law, now is it? People who wish their government cared about them, protected them, and prevented disease and disorder, all would expect written laws that speak to those values, but it's just the opposite in the United States. Though you are "free" to roam from state to state, to run your own business, and grow food in your back yard, watch out! There are many laws that have been WRITTEN that, if you don't know about, will land you in a jail, hospital, or worse, your early grave.

PA: URGENT ALERT Allegheny County Health Department trying to MANDATE HPV VACCINE for all 7th grade boys and girls. Take Action!
by National Vaccine Information Center - In what appears to be an unprecedented move, the Allegheny County Health Department (Pittsburgh) is considering a MANDATE that would REQUIRE all 7th grade boys and girls to receive the HPV VACCINE before being admitted to school. Given that the HPV (Human papillomavirus) is sexually transmitted, not contagious in a school setting, and already available to anyone who wants it, this proposed mandate is totally unnecessary for the health of school children. This proposal only affects Allegheny County – for now. However, if this action is successful, the floodgates will be opened for counties across the Commonwealth and possibly other states to mandate this controversial vaccine.

The CDC is warning U.S. hospitals to prepare for deadly multidrug-resistant Candida infections
NaturalNews - A dangerous new strain of drug-resistant yeast infection is spreading throughout the globe, and may soon reach the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The deadly strain, called Candida auris, has killed 60 percent of patients who developed the fungal infection, and is resistant to most anti-fungal drugs commonly used to treat such infections.

Doctors and Scientists Call for Aggressive Regulation of Toxic Household Chemicals
By Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times - Every day, children and adults are exposed to a variety of chemicals found in common household items. Now a growing body of research suggests that many of these chemicals — which are used to make plastic more flexible, fruits and vegetables more abundant and upholstery less flammable — may also pose a threat to the developing brain.

Could broccoli sprout extract help prevent oral cancer?
Natural Health News — Potent doses of broccoli sprout extract activate a “detoxification” gene and may help prevent cancer recurrence in survivors of head and neck cancer, according to a new study. Results of the trial from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, which included human, animal and laboratory tests, appear in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. It is, they say, the first study demonstrating that the extract protects against oral cancer.
**Get your Broccoli sprouts from The Power Mall today by calling 877-817-9829!

Recipe: Three-Layer Goji Blueberry Peach Pie
by Dr. Edward Group - Goji berries are an excellent source of antioxidants and nutrients, you might even call them a legitimate superfood. They’re a great snack on their own, but if you’d like to switch it up and experience them in a new way, this goji, blueberry, and peach pie is unparalleled.
Grab your Goji berries from The Power Mall today!

17-Year Cicadas Emerge in the Eastern U.S.
By Dr. Becker - In ancient China, cicadas were viewed as a symbol of rebirth, as they emerge from the soil each year to turn from young nymphs into adults. There are thousands of cicada species and all of them spend a period of years underground before emerging, typically by the masses. This group encompasses six species (three that emerge after 17 years and three that spend 13 years below ground). If you live in parts of Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia or West Virginia, you may have recently been inundated with the insects; they’re part of Brood V — a generation of bugs that were last seen in 1999.
 

Wednesday - July 6, 2016 - Today In History:

1777 - British forces captured Fort Ticonderoga during the American Revolution.
1854 - In Jackson, MI, the Republican Party held its first convention.
1885 - Louis Pasteur successfully tested his anti-rabies vaccine. The child used in the test later became the director of the Pasteur Institute.
1905 - Fingerprints were exchanged for the first time between officials in Europe and the U.S. The person in question was John Walker.
1917 - During World War I, Arab forces led by T.E. Lawrence captured the port of Aqaba from the Turks.
1942 - Diarist Anne Frank and her family took refuge from the Nazis in Amsterdam.
1945 - U.S. President Truman signed an order creating the Medal of Freedom.
1945 - Nicaragua became the first nation to formally accept the United Nations Charter.
1983 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that retirement plans could not pay women smaller monthly payments solely because of their gender.
1985 - The submarine Nautilus arrived in Groton, Connecticut. The vessel had been towed from Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
1988 - Several popular beaches were closed in New York City due to medical waste and other debris began washing up on the seashores.
1989 - The U.S. Army destroyed its last Pershing 1-A missiles at an ammunition plant in Karnack, TX. The dismantling was under the terms of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
1997 - The Mars Pathfinder released Sojourner, a robot rover on the surface of Mars. The spacecraft landed on the red planet on July 4th.
2005 - NY Times reporter Judith Miller was jailed after refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating the leak of an undercover CIA operative's name.
2003 - Former ambassador Joseph Wilson, in a New York Times op-ed, disputed President George W. Bush's statement that Iraq had sought uranium in Africa, saying he had found no evidence to support the claim when the CIA asked him to investigate.
2004 - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry chose Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina to be his running mate.

Muslims around the world mark end of Ramadan
BBC News - Muslims around the world have been celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The festival ends weeks of fasting, and is one of the most important events in the Muslim calendar. Its exact start varies from country to country based on moon sightings, but people have been celebrating with feasts and family. This year, however, Ramadan was marred by major attacks in Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Iraq. Saudi Arabia was hit by three suicide attacks on Monday, including one near Islam's second holiest site. Sunday's Islamic State-claimed bombing in Iraq killed 165 people.

Iraq sees worst bombing since invasion with 250 deaths
BBC News - The death toll from Sunday's suicide bombing in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has risen to 250, the Iraqi government says, making it the deadliest such attack since the 2003 US-led invasion. A lorry packed with explosives was detonated in the Karrada district while families were shopping for the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it carried out the suicide attack. An earlier estimate for the attack had put the toll at 165. Iraq remains under an official state of mourning following the bombing. The destruction of the area was all but complete. Bewildered local residents have held candlelight vigils to mourn victims and pray for peace.

‘Threat of 2nd Chernobyl’: Kiev’s new nuclear project puts Europe at risk, Greens warn
RT - The construction of a spent nuclear fuel storage facility in Ukraine poses “significant safety risks for the whole of Europe” because of numerous rule and standards violations, Ukrainian environmentalists warn. The Ukrainian Greens Association, a non-profit environmentalist organization, listed the risks in a statement released on Monday. “We are deeply concerned about plans to build a spent nuclear fuel storage in the upper reaches of the Dnepr River close to densely populated places,” the statement said, citing a speech made by the association’s spokeswoman, Anna Rak, at the first Nuclear Energy Policy Forum in Brussels on June 30. Rak also emphasized that the government plans “to secretly fast-track the construction of a surface dry, spent nuclear fuel storage system… close to the Dnepr river,” ignoring basic safety standards and “creating the threat of a second Chernobyl.”

‘Absolute blindness in the EU’: Italy’s wealthiest region urges lifting of Russia sanctions
RT - The legislative assembly of Italy’s most populated and richest province, Lombardy, has passed a resolution urging the lifting of anti-Russia sanctions and recognition of Crimea’s right to self-determination. The vote on the resolution, prepared by the Lega Nord (Northern League) political party, took place on Tuesday, with the initiative supported by 43 out of 87 council members, with 15 others abstaining.
The non-binding document authorized the chairman of Lombardy's Regional Council and regional head to work with Italy’s government and parliament as well as with the European Union to reconsider relations with Moscow. It also called for the establishment of a special committee to gather signatures to lift sanctions against Russia. The council members also demanded that the Italian government condemn “the EU’s international policy towards Crimea,” which reunited with Russia in 2014 after having been part of Ukraine, and recognize the results of the referendum which led to the reunion.

Russia Plans to Deploy Aircraft Carrier to Syria
The Daily Sheeple - According to an anonymous military source that spoke to TASS, a Russian news agency, Russia’s aircraft carrier is going to be deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean between October of 2016 and January of 2017. “The General Staff has prepared a plan for involvement of the deck aircraft in delivering strikes on terrorist groups in the Syrian Arab Republic, where the crews will practice taking off the carrier to deliver strikes on ground targets.” The 1000 foot, 43,000 ton ship known as the Admiral Kuznetsov, which is Russia’s only remaining aircraft carrier after the fall of the Soviet Union, will be carrying 15 Sukhoi Su-33 fighters, 15 MiG-29 warplanes, and 30 helicopters. The ship will be coordinating with the Lakatia Air Base in Syria, and will be deployed close enough to Syria’s shoreline “so that the deck aircraft have enough fuel to complete the military tasks and return back,”

Anti-Hillary Video Quickly Seizes on ‘Clinton’s Lie’ After FBI Director Reveals Findings of Email Investigation
The Blaze - FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday seemingly contradicted Hillary Clinton’s repeated claim that she did not email any information that was “classified” at the time. “From the group of 30,000 emails returned to the State Department in 2014, 110 emails in 52 email chains have been determined by the owning agency to contain classified information at the time they were sent or received,” Comey said during an unexpected press conference. Comey also announced the FBI would be recommending no charges for Clinton in connection to the investigation into her emails, but said the former secretary of state and her staff were “extremely careless.” The FBI determined Clinton used multiple private email servers and mobile devices to send and receive email. In addition to the 110 emails marked classified at the time, investigators also found eight “top secret” emails in the course of its probe. The final decision whether to bring charges against Clinton rests with Attorney General Loretta Lynch and the Department of Justice. After meeting with former President Bill Clinton privately, Lynch said she would accept the recommendation of the FBI.

Man arrested jailed charged with a felony for burning the flag
Activist Post - On the 4th of July, countless Facebook users donned their digital pitchforks and torches and praised the arrest and felony charge against 22-year-old Bryton Mellott. His crime? Posting a picture of himself with a burning American flag. A short time after he posted the photo on Facebook, Mellott was swarmed with online attacks and threats from countless individuals who have no concept of freedom of speech. Shortly after the threats to Mellott began pouring in, the Urbana police department’s phone began ringing of the hook with calls for his arrest — so police responded.

Sorry, Texas Secessionists: Why the Lone Star State Can't Pull off a 'Texit'
Alternet - In the wake of Britain’s historic vote to leave the European Union—nicknamed the "Brexit"—speculation of a Texit on the horizon has cropped up once again. The secessionist movement has a long history in the Lone Star State. Delegates for the Texas Republican Party even recently debated adding secessionist language to the party's platform. But is it actually legal for Texas to leave the United States? Simply put, the answer is no. Historical and legal precedents make it clear that Texas could not pull off a Texit—at least not legally. “The legality of seceding is problematic,” said Eric McDaniel, associate professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin. “The Civil War played a very big role in establishing the power of the federal government and cementing that the federal government has the final say in these issues.”

Background checks miss 7% of gun buyers with domestic violence records, protective orders
Washington Times - While 89,000 sales were blocked, nearly 6,800 were cleared despite the buyer’s record, said the Government Accountability Office, partly blaming the complexities of domestic violence cases in determining whether they rise to the level that would land someone on the no-buy list. The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a 6-2 ruling reaffirming that legislatures can bar convicted domestic abusers from buying guns. But figuring out who counts as a domestic abuser can be difficult because the federal rules require certain elements, such as use of force, that mean background check investigators need to dig through the details of cases before they can order gun dealers to stop sales. Under federal law, firearms dealers can sell weapons if the FBI hasn’t made a determination of denial after three business days. Investigators can continue to research the transaction for up to 90 days to determine potential buyers’ eligibility.

Coast Guard searching for 3 after downed aircraft reported
Washington Times - Authorities say they are searching for three people after receiving a report of a downed aircraft in Southern Oregon near Brookings. The U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release that the report came in Tuesday morning and that a backpack believed to belong to someone in the plane was found washed ashore just north of the Brookings airport. The Coast Guard says an initial search by a helicopter crew failed to find any signs of the missing 1964 Cessna 172F. The Coast Guard is searching by helicopter, plane and while personnel from the Curry County Sheriff’s Office and Civil Air Patrol are also searching. The cause of the incident wasn’t immediately known. No further details were immediately available.

Trump Taps Consultant Accused of Defrauding PAC to Lead Colorado Campaign
Pro Publica -Donald Trump’s choice to run his campaign in Colorado, a key battleground state, is a veteran political consultant who was accused in the last election cycle of defrauding a top conservative super PAC. During the 2014 midterm election, Patrick Davis was brought on to help run Vote2ReduceDebt — a cash-flush group launched by an elderly Texas oil tycoon who had no experience in politics but wanted to help elect fiscally conservative lawmakers. The group quickly collapsed amid allegations of faked campaign events, destroyed records, fabricated expenses and contracts routed to friends. Patrick Davis has denied allegations that he inappropriately steered hundreds of thousands of dollars raised by a conservative PAC to organizations linked to himself and his friends. Now he’ll lead Trump’s campaign in a key swing state.

VA Officials Pledge New Studies Into Effects of Agent Orange
Pro Publica - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding its efforts to determine how Vietnam veterans and their children have been affected by exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange. The VA will conduct its first nationwide survey of Vietnam veterans in more than three decades and request an outside panel of experts to continue its work studying the health effects of Agent Orange on veterans, their children and their grandchildren. Both initiatives were discussed Thursday in Washington at a forum hosted by ProPublica and The Virginian-Pilot on the possible multi-generational impacts of Agent Orange.

IBM Completes Blockchain Identity Trial With Crédit Mutuel
IBM has completed its latest blockchain project with French bank Crédit Mutuel Arkéa, an effort that found the two firms using the technology to create a system for identity verification.

Sweden gold and silver dealer shut down banking-system
Silver Doctors - With European capital scrambling into gold following BREXIT, the cartel just played their hand. The plan this time is NOT door-to-door confiscation, but simply to SHUT DOWN the best gold and silver dealers the moment the public begins to wake up. The cartel have tipped their hand. The plan is not to come after your gold and silver coins, it is to shut down the gold and silver dealers themselves, and prevent access of safe haven capital flows from reaching the safety of gold and silver bullion. Case in point? Sweden’s largest gold and silver dealer Tavex Guld & Valuta, whose bank accounts were suddenly closed Thursday without notice by Swedish bank SEB due to ‘a general business decision’. Notice posted on Tavex Guld & Valuta’s website that as of 15:30 on June 30th 2016, they can no longer accept bank deposits or transfers as SEB has shut down their accounts without notice, leaving the PM firm scrambling to set up alternate payment systems.

GE’s Pineville plant, Blue Sky in Lafayette announce layoffs
Washington Times - In BATON ROUGE, LA , the energy technology arm of General Electric will eliminate 269 jobs when it closes its Rapides Parish facility later this year. Blue Sky Innovations in Lafayette is letting 55 employees go this month after losing a key contract. The Louisiana Workforce Commission said Tuesday that the GE layoffs will begin in December, and the plant will close by year’s end. NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports (http://bit.ly/29jAkxg ) the affected GE Oil & Gas employees at the Pineville site work in manufacturing, sales/services and engineering. The company notified the state of its pending layoffs July 1. Officials say hourly employees at Blue Sky will be let go by the end of July. Salaried employees will remain until the end of the year. Blue Sky provides aviation support, project management, procurement and other services for the energy industry.

Kazakhs, Chevron-led group approve $37 billion Tengiz field expansion
Kazakhstan and a group of oil companies led by Chevron (CVX.N) have approved a $36.8 billion plan to boost production at the Central Asian country's Tengiz field, a rare major investment in an industry hit by low prices and a boost to the local economy. The field, one of the world's biggest, already accounts for more than a third of total crude output in Kazakhstan, which is the biggest former Soviet oil producer after Russia. Under the plan, Tengiz, in which Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) and Lukoil (LKOH.MM) also have stakes, will increase output to 39 million tonnes a year (850,000 barrels per day) by 2022 from 27 million tonnes currently, Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry and its foreign partners said in a joint statement on Tuesday. The Tengiz expansion is the biggest final investment decision in the oil industry this year and one of just three major projects in recent years, two others being Statoil’s Johan Sverdrup and Shell’s Appomatox.

National emergency: Congress attempts to address lead poisoning
Activist Post - In response to recent studies which show dangerous levels of lead in public drinking water, over 60 members of Congress have signed a letter calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to lower the federal standard for lead in drinking water. Members of Congress want the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to lower the federal standard for lead in drinking water in an effort to protect the public from dangerous health effects. More than sixty members of Congress signed a letter asking the EPA to lower the threshold for taking action on water contamination. The letter was signed by 59 Democrats and two Republicans. Currently water systems exceed the lead standard, also known as the action level – when more than 10% of water samples show lead levels above 15 parts per billion. The letter asks the EPA to align with the World Health Organization’s guidelines for lead contamination by reducing the action level to 10 parts per billion.

Federal Judge Rules Lawsuit Against Monsanto Can Proceed
Activist Post - A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit by a former coffee grower who claims that Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide gave her cancer. In another blow to Monsanto Co’s already tarnished public image, a former Kona coffee grower will be allowed to sue the biotechnology giant for possibly contributing to her cancer diagnosis. Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide has been subject to heavy scrutiny following studies linking the herbicide to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Christine and Kenneth Sheppard, former owners of Dragon’s Lair Kona Coffee Farm in Captain Cook on the Big Island, claim that Monsanto hid the risks associated with glyphosate, a key ingredient in Roundup. Christine Sheppard believes her consistent contact with Roundup caused her to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Oil ends down nearly 5 percent on Brexit worry, supply builds
Reuters - Oil prices tumbled nearly 5 percent on Tuesday as investors worried that Britain's exit from the European Union would slow the global economy, making it unlikely energy demand will grow enough to absorb a supply glut. Brexit worries hit Britain's property market and drove the pound to a 31-year low. A flurry of data from China in coming weeks is likely to show weaker trade and investments. Traders also cited data from market intelligence firm Genscape showing a build of 230,025 barrels at the Cushing, Oklahoma storage hub for U.S. crude futures, during the week to July 1.

Hyper-sensitive electronic nose sniffs out nerve gas like no other
GizMag - Various types of so-called "electronic noses" have popped up over the years, promising to sniff out everything from minor infections to different types of cancers. But rather than diagnosing health problems after the fact, some researchers are looking more at the preventative side of things. Among these is a team of Belgian scientists that has developed what is billed as the most sensitive of such sensors yet, with a design that could see it integrated into electronics like your smartphone. Researchers from Belgium's KU Leuven have built a device they claim can pick up extremely low concentrations of such toxins, even down to a parts per trillion level. The basis for this hyper-sensitivity is the type of material the team used, called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).

New Study: Researchers invent mind reading machine that reads thought process
Activistpost - The research team from the University of Oregon, United States, are said to have developed a system that can read people’s thoughts via brain scans, and rebuild the faces they were visualizing in their heads. Lead researchers, Brice Kuhl and Hongmi Lee reportedly used artificial intelligence (AI) that analyzed brain activity in an attempt to reconstruct one of a series of faces that participants saw. Tech Worm reports that the result was not exact, but the AI got close. According to how the machine was able to read the human thought, the researchers created images directly from memories using a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, machine learning software, and some hapless human test participants. The researchers then put the test participants in the MRI machine, showing them several hundred faces. The program had access to real-time MRI data from the machine, as well as a set of 300 numbers that described each face. They covered everything from skin tone to eye position. As the MRI machine detected the movement of blood around the brain, the assumed conclusion was that the movement equals brain activity. The program then analyzed these movements of blood in reaction to the different points, learning how a particular brain reacts to known stimuli.

Ozone hole over Antarctic is healing say scientists
The Scotsman - In a triumph of international co-operation over a man-made environmental problem, research from the UK and the US shows that the September-October ozone hole is getting smaller and forming later in the year. The study in the journal Science also shows other indications that the ozone layer is improving after it was being eaten away by chemicals in aerosols and refrigerants. Ozone is a combination of three oxygen atoms; high in the atmosphere, it shields Earth from ultraviolet rays. The hole has shrunk by about 1.7 million square miles in the key month of September since the year 2000 – a decline of about one-fifth – the study found. . It also is taking about ten days longer to reach its largest size.

NASA's Juno spacecraft begins bid to orbit Jupiter
NASA celebrated a key triumph on Tuesday as its $1.1 billion Juno spacecraft successfully slipped into orbit around Jupiter on a mission to probe the origin of the solar system. Juno launched five years ago from Cape Canaveral, Florida and has traveled 1.7 billion miles (2.7 billion kilometers) since then. Its arrival marks the start of a 20-month mission, during which scientists hope to find out more about how much water Jupiter holds and the makeup of its core in order to figure out how the gas giant -- and other planets including Earth -- formed billions of years ago.

New Finnish sauna lets men and women let off steam together
GizMag - Steaming in a sauna is an essential part of Finnish culture, but the number of public saunas is said to be in decline. A new sauna in Helsinki has been built to help combat this. Designed to attract tourists, the low profile Löyly sauna has an unusual wooden structure that allows those within to look out, but offers shielding from the eyes of passers-by. And the center has forgone the local naked bathing tradition to help visitors feel more at ease, allowing male and female visitors to bathe together comfortably.

This Aeroponic Vertical Farm Uses 95% Less Water, Brings Local Food to Cities
Natural Blaze - As urban populations continue to rise, innovators are looking beyond traditional farming as a way to feed everyone while having less impact on our land and water resources. Vertical farming is one solution that’s been implemented around the world. Vertical farms produce crops in stacked layers, often in controlled environments such as those built by AeroFarms in Newark, New Jersey. AeroFarms grows a variety of leafy salad greens using a process called “aeroponics,” which relies on air and mist. AeroFarms’ crops are grown entirely indoors using a reusable cloth medium made from recycled plastics. In the absence of sun exposure, the company uses LED lights that expose plants to only certain types of spectrum. AeroFarms claims it uses 95% less water than a traditional farm thanks to its specially designed root misting system. And it is now building out a new 70,000 square foot facility in a former steel mill. Once completed, it’s expected to grow 2 million pounds of greens per year, making it the largest indoor vertical farm in the world.

How pineapple could help fight drug-resistant superbugs
Natural News - Rob Pike, a biochemist at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia, and his team of scientists, have discovered that a collection of enzymes found in the stems and roots of pineapples work as a natural antibiotic to cure diarrhea in piglets, thus reducing dependence on antibiotics. According to Professor Pike, these enzymes, referred to as bromelain, would likely be effective in treating humans as well, given the similarities in physiology and anatomy between humans and pigs. Furthermore, he notes that reducing the use of antibiotics in the meat industry will benefit pigs and humans alike, as these antibiotics are not exactly healthy for the people consuming the meat, and give rise to deadly superbugs.

Scientists discover 'transmissible cancers' spreading among shellfish
Natural News - A new study has found "transmissible cancers" among shellfish, disproving previous beliefs that such occurrences are rare in nature, and raising questions regarding the implications for humans. Cases of transmissible cancer had until recently only been observed in two mammal species, but researchers from Columbia University Medical Center in New York have discovered that shellfish are also capable of spreading cancer.

Professor finds positive effects from bringing physical activity to the desk
Science Daily - A positive link between mood, motivation and physical activity during work and study has been uncovered by new research that studied the cognitive effects of physical activity workstations and traditional desks on student volunteers. The results of the study suggest the inclusion of light physical activity during work or study has positive effects without detracting from work or study effectiveness.
 

Tuesday - July 5, 2016 - Today In History:

1814 - U.S. troops under Jacob Brown defeated a superior British force at Chippewa, Canada.
1830 - France occupied the North African city of Algiers.
1832 - The German government began curtailing freedom of the press after German Democrats advocate a revolt against Austrian rule.
1863 - U.S. Federal troops occupied Vicksburg, MS, and distributed supplies to the citizens.
1865 - William Booth founded the Salvation Army in London.
1865 - The U.S. Secret Service Division was created to combat currency counterfeiting, forging and the altering of currency and securities..
1940 - During World War II, Britain and the Vichy government in France broke diplomatic relations.
1950 - U.S. forces engaged the North Koreans for the first time at Osan, South Korea.
1951 - Dr. William Shockley announced that he had invented the junction transistor.
1975 - Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win a Wimbledon singles title when he defeated Jimmy Connors.
1984 - The U.S. Supreme Court weakened the 70-year-old "exclusionary rule," deciding that evidence seized with defective court warrants could be used against defendants in criminal trials.
1989 - Former U.S. National Security Council aide Oliver North received a $150,000 fine and a suspended prison term for his part in the Iran-Contra affair. The convictions were later overturned.
1998 - Japan joined U.S. and Russia in space exploration with the launching of the Planet-B probe to Mars.
2000 - Jordanian security agents shot and killed a Syrian hijacker after he threw a grenade that exploded and wounded 15 passengers aboard a Royal Jordanian airliner.

Bank Of England Unveils First Easing Measures After Brexit
Zero Hedge - The Bank of England lowered capital requirements for UK banks Tuesday in an effort to shore up the UK economy, saying that it "strongly expects" banks to support the economy with fresh loans in the wake of Brexit. In its first official easing act, the Financial Policy Committee lowered the countercyclical-capital buffer rate for UK exposures to zero from .5% of risk-weighted assets in a move that it said would release £5.7bn from the buffer, in which it requires banks to accumulate capital in good times to draw down in bad, and raise the capacity for bank lending to households and businesses by as much as £150 billion. "This action reinforces the FPC’s view that all elements of the substantial capital and liquidity buffers that have been built up by banks are to be drawn on, as necessary" the committee said in a statement. As the FT adds, the BOE also reminded banks that capital and liquidity buffers put in place during the financial crisis are there to be run down in stressed conditions. In exchange, banks are on notice from the BoE’s Prudential Regulation Authority that they are not to increase dividends and other distributions. The moves came as the pound hit a new post-referendum low amid rising concerns over the UK property market following a decision by Standard Life to halt redemptions on one of its flagship sector funds. Sterling fell 1.8 per cent to $1.3113, passing the $1.3118 nadir it reached on June 27.

Chechen leader names wanted terrorists hiding in Turkey, demands handover
RT - The acting head of the Chechen Republic has urged the Turkish authorities to do more to find, detain and hand over to Russia a number of suspected terrorists, who were supposedly hiding “on Turkish shores.” The address was posted on Ramzan Kadyrov’s Instagram page, the Chechen leader’s preferred medium for PR communications. The post came after news that one of the suspected organizers of the June 28 terror attack at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Akhmed Chatayev, had received refugee status in Austria. On a number of occasions, this helped him avoid extradition to Russia on terror charges.

El Al flight lands in Tel Aviv after Swiss fighter jets intercept it due to bomb tip-off
RT - El Al flight LY002 was flying over the Swiss-French border when the fighter jets were scrambled, according to the Jerusalem Post. Once the flight had crossed Swiss airspace, the F-18s returned to their bases and the airplane continued as planned. Flight tracking website FlightRadar24.com indicated the plane landed in Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport at 12:44pm local time. El Al released a statement saying no explosive device was found on board, the Jewish Press reported later in the day, citing Israel Radio. The El Al Boeing 747 was checked for explosives after landing safely at Ben Gurion Airport, according to Haaretz, citing Israel's Foreign Ministry. "An examination showed the plane was 'clean'," it said. The ministry added the anonymous tip about a bomb "inside an airplane kitchenette" was received by the US aviation body, which notified Swiss authorities "while the plane was in [Switzerland's] airspace, and the Swiss scrambled fighter jets to escort the plane."

Marseille airport evacuated 2 days before city set to host Euro 2016 semi-final
RT -M arseille Provence Airport has been briefly evacuated after a suspicious package was found, according to reports on social media, which state that police officers are currently patrolling the perimeter. According to a witness at the scene, the military has now allowed passengers to re-enter the airport.

China invests $2.4bn in Russian Far East
RT - Chinese companies have invested 16 billion yuan ($2.4 billion) in development projects in Russia’s Far East, according to the regional development minister Aleksandr Galushka. “The volume of investments to the region has already reached 1.1 trillion rubles ($17.1 billion) as a result of new Far East development mechanisms, such as the Advanced Development Territories [ADT – Ed.], the Vladivostok free port area, the Far East Development Fund and targeted infrastructural project support. Those mechanisms are popular with Chinese businesses who had already invested 163 billion rubles ($2.4 billion),” Galushka said in a ministry statement. According to the minister, Chinese firms have invested in a cement plant and plan investing in an oil refinery in the Amur Region, as well as working in the Sakha Republic and Primorsky Territory ADTs. The Chinese are key investors in the new Amuro-Khinganskaya ADT in the Jewish Autonomous Region, providing some 10 billion rubles ($157 million) in funds.

NATO summit: Focus will be on Black Sea security
Aljazeera - As NATO moves closer to its summit in Warsaw, the Black Sea is becoming the focus of attention. This should not come as a surprise given the politics of the neighbourhood. The takeover of Crimea in March 2014 has nearly turned the Black Sea into a Russian lake. With the port of Sevastopol under its control, Moscow has a geographic advantage vis-a-vis all other littoral countries, including NATO members Romania, Turkey and Bulgaria. Its warships are a frequent sight as far south as Syria and the Eastern Mediterranean. Russia has been upgrading its capabilities, too. Its Black Sea fleet is to add 15-18 new ships, including six multi-purpose frigates. Crimea already hosts stockpiles of S-400 surface-to-air missiles with a range of up to 400km and Bastion anti-ship coastal battery. Russian President Vladimir Putin has authorised the deployment of Iskander ballistic missiles and TU-22M bombers (known as "Backfire"), which can deliver both conventional and nuclear strikes. NATO planners, including US General Philip Breedlove, are fretting about Russia's ability to seal off the Black Sea - or achieve anti-access/area denial (A2/AD), to use defence jargon.

‘Biggest NATO reinforcement since Cold War’ to be focus of Warsaw summit – Stoltenberg
RT - NATO members will agree to “further enhance military presence in the eastern part of the alliance” at the upcoming summit in Warsaw, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said, adding the alliance will see its “biggest reinforcement since the Cold War.”

British politician Nigel Farage resigns as leader of right-wing UKIP
Washington Post - Right-wing firebrand and populist politician Nigel Farage resigned as leader of his U.K. Independence Party on Monday, the latest political bombshell to hit Britain as it grapples with the fallout from last month’s vote to leave the European Union.
His resignation came as Conservative members of Parliament launched their own process to choose a new party leader and prime minister Monday night, holding a closed-door meeting for the top five candidates. Prime Minister David Cameron, the current Conservative Party leader, announced his resignation the morning after the June 23 vote, having backed the campaign for Britain to remain a member of the European Union. His resignation threw the party into disarray.

Saudi Arabia: Bombings target Medina and Qatif mosques
Aljazeera - Four security officers have been killed and five others injured in a suicide attack outside the Prophet's Mosque in Saudi Arabia's Medina, Islam's second holiest city, the Saudi interior ministry said. The bombing was the third attack to hit the kingdom on Monday, after blasts in cities of Jeddah and Qatif. Photos posted on social media show smoke billowing from a fire outside the mosque where Prophet Muhammad is buried.

Western-Backed Chechen “Freedom Fighter” Named as Istanbul Attack Mastermind
Boiling Frogs Post - irst details begin to emerge about the suspected Islamic State attack on Istanbul’s Atatürk Airport that left at least 44 people dead and more than 230 injured. A senior Turkish government official announced on Thursday that the three suicide bombers who carried out the attack were nationals of Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak quoted police as saying that eight terrorists were involved in the operation. Three of them were killed, one was detained and four others remain at large. According to the Yeni Safak report, well-known Chechen Islamic State commander Akhmed Chatayev organized the deadly attack. Turkish officials did not immediately confirm Chatayev’s involvement but a Turkish police source with direct knowledge of the investigation told NBC News that Chatayev is believed to be the planner of the attack. Turkish police reportedly launched a manhunt to catch the Chechen terrorist leader. Western governments and media are now scrambling to explain why they dismissed Russian warnings about Chatayev and protected him for many years despite a long history of terrorism-related offenses.

Russians Ask “Why Do You Demonize Us When We Are So Much Like You?”
Worldbeyondwar - ’ve just ended two weeks visiting cities in four regions of Russia. The one question that was asked over and over was, “Why does America hate us? Why do you demonize us?” Most would add a cavaet– “I like American people and I think YOU like us individually but why does the American government hate our government?” This article is a composite of the comments and questions that were asked to our 20 person delegation and to me as an individual. I do not attempt to defend the views but offer them as an insight into the thinking of many of the persons we came into contact in meetings and on the streets. None of the questions, comments or views tell the full story, but I hope they give a feel for the desire of the ordinary Russian that her country and its citizens are respected as a sovereign nation with a long history and that it is not demonized as an outlaw state or an “evil” nation. Russia has its flaws and room for improvement in many areas, just as every nation does, including for sure, the United States.

‘Partnership of equals’: Putin sends Independence Day telegram to Obama
RT - Russian President Vladimir Putin sent out a personal commemorative message to his American counterpart as the US celebrates Independence Day, urging the two countries to mend ties.

Fmr Russian doping lab chief sold drugs to athletes, promised cover-up – investigation
RT - The former head of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory set up a doping scheme in which he sold illegal substances to athletes while also promising to help them obtain a clean doping record, a Russian investigation has revealed. Investigators cited witnesses implicating Grigory Rodchenkov in a doping scheme.According to preliminary information, he [Rodchenkov] purchased these substances in the US and when selling them to clients, promised to cover the fact that banned substances had been detected in their samples,” Vladimir Markin, spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee said in a statement published on Monday. The committee has reason to think that Rodchenkov was the mastermind behind the illegal trade, the statement continued to say. There is as of yet no information about his possible accomplices.

Brazilian airline issues alert for former Gitmo detainee
Daily Mail - A Brazilian airline is asking its employees to be on the lookout for a former Guantanamo Bay detainee who was resettled in Uruguay. The alert about Syrian native Abu Wa'el Dhiab adds to a growing mystery about his whereabouts. Uruguayan authorities have insisted for weeks that he is visiting neighboring Brazil and that as a refugee he is entitled to leave Uruguay, but the Brazilian government has said there is no record of Dhiab entering the country. Avianca Airlines spokesman Danilo Alves told The Associated Press on Monday that the alert was issued internally to employees but declined to give any more details.

20 foreigners killed in ‘Isil’ attack on Dhaka restaurant
Twenty foreign hostages were hacked to death with sharp weapons by Islamist terrorists during a dramatic siege at an upmarket Dhaka restaurant that ended in a bloodbath on Saturday morning. The majority of the victims were from Italy and Japan. No Britons have yet been confirmed among the casualties. At a press conference held after midday local time at the Bangladesh army headquarters, Brig-Gen Nayeen Ashtaq Chowdhury confirmed that 20 people were found killed using locally made sharp weapons, after police and military broke the siege with Operation Thunderbolt, which lasted from 7.40am to 8.30am. Two Sri Lankans and one Japanese hostage were rescued, along with around a dozen Bangladeshis. Two separate sources – a rescue worker and a paramilitary officer – told the Telegraph the victims had severe wounds to their necks and throats.

Baghdad Attacks: Isis Claim Responsibility After At Least 83 Dead In Bombings
Infowars - At least 83 people have been killed in two separate bomb attacks in Baghdad, Iraq. A car bomb attack hit a market in Karada, a busy shopping district in the centre of Baghdad, killing 78 people and wounding 160, according to police and hospital officials. The attack struck as families and young people were out on the streets after breaking their daylight fast for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Isis claimed responsibility for the attack, releasing a statement to say a suicide car bomber targeted Shiites and warning “the raids of the mujahedeen [holy warriors] against the Rafidha [Shiites] apostates will not stop”.

Bangladesh Attack: Isis Militants ‘Tortured Hostages Who Could Not Recite Quran’ In 12-hour Siege At Dhaka Cafe
Infowars - The Isis fighters who massacred at least 22 people at a café in Bangladesh ordered hostages to recite verses from the Quran and “tortured” anyone who could not, it has emerged. The father of one of the survivors said his son was held hostage for 12 hours after being separated from the foreign victims. Rezaul Karim told Bangladesh’s Daily Star newspaper: “The gunmen were doing a background check on religion by asking everyone to recite from the Quran. “Those who could recite a verse or two were spared. The others were tortured.” An Isis-affiliated propaganda agency released photos from inside the restaurant during the raid, appearing to showing the bodies of women and men on the floor in pools of blood by overturned tables and chairs.

Whitewashing Libya: US House Report on Benghazi Reveals Nothing, Hides Everything
By Eric Draitser (Global Research) - The Republican dominated House Select Committee on Benghazi has released its long awaited final report on the 2012 Benghazi attack which killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others. And, surprise, the report reveals absolutely nothing of substance that wasn’t already known. Naturally, Democrats running interference for Hillary Clinton have continually charged that the probe was simply an act of partisan politics designed more to hurt Clinton in the presidential campaign than to uncover the truth about what happened. No doubt there is truth to such an allegation. But the most important fact about this whole manufactured drama, the one that neither Democrats nor Republicans want to touch, is the simple fact that what happened in Benghazi was perhaps the most complete encapsulation of everything wrong and criminal about the illegal US war against Libya. Moreover, it exposes the uncomfortable truth that the US harnesses terrorism, using it as one of the most potent weapons it has against nations that refuse to submit to the will of Washington and Wall Street. In effect, it was not merely terrorists that killed the four Americans in Benghazi, it was US policy.

Putin Signs Law Prohibiting Production of Genetically Modified Products
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The document was published on the legal information portal on Monday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law to ban the cultivation and breeding of genetically modified plants and animals, except in cases where they will be used in testing and scientific research. Importers of genetically modified products should pass registration procedures, while their products could be banned after monitoring of their impact on people's health and environment. The legislation also sets penalties for breaching the law, from about $160 to around $780 for officials and from about $1,600 to around $7,800 for legal entities. Dozens of countries worldwide, including Russia, require food producers to label genetically modified foods, with opponents of GMOs arguing that the health risks associated with such products have not been adequately studied.

Hacked Emails Expose US NATO General Plotting Conflict with Russia
By Matt Agorist (Activist Post) - There is no question that the United States has been dangerously rattling the saber in Russia’s direction. From deploying battleships off their coast, to conducting record-breaking war games in the region, there is no doubt — the US is painting Russia as an enemy. Now, however, we have even more glaring proof of the U.S. government’s intentions. Hacked private emails of the US general formerly in charge of NATO show a deliberate attempt to provoke conflict with Russia. The emails, posted by the site DCLeaks, show correspondence between General Philip M. Breedlove, former head of the US European Command and supreme commander of NATO forces, with several establishment insiders concerning the situation in Ukraine following the February 2014 coup that ousted the elected government in favor of a US-backed regime, according to reports.

U.S. Could be Found Complicit in War Crimes over Role in Saudi Atrocities in Yemen, Say Rights Groups
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Saudi Arabia should be suspended from the U.N.'s top human rights organization because of indiscriminate airstrikes by the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen that have killed hundreds of civilians, including women and children, human rights groups said Wednesday. Officials with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch told reporters at a joint news conference that their investigators documented 69 unlawful airstrikes by the U.S.-backed coalition that killed at least 913 civilians — including about 200 children. They said airstrikes hit homes, markets, hospitals, schools and mosques. The groups also said they documented 19 coalition attacks involving internationally banned cluster munitions, including in civilian areas. The rights groups also argued that if Saudi Arabia is found guilty of war crimes, the U.S. could be complicit because it provides airstrike targeting information as part of its support for the Saudi-led coalition.

Finland Referendum on Joining NATO Possible
Sputnik International - A national referendum on Finland's North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership could be held if the government decides to join the alliance, a chairman of the Finnish parliamentary defense committee, Ilkka Kanerva, told Sputnik Sunday. Kanerva is also the President of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) whose meeting is being held in Tbilisi, Georgia, from July 1-5. "A referendum [on joining NATO] is one of the alternatives we have and it will be one of the realistic approaches if there would be a need for it," Kanerva said on the sidelines of the ongoing OSCE PA meeting. Kanerva added that a decision on which instrument to use for deciding whether to join the alliance "depends very much on the circumstances," and reminded that "there have been two referendums in the NATO nations."

CITI: Italian Referendum Bigger Risk to Europe Than Brexit
Breitbart - Analysts at Citi have called a probable Italian referendum on constitutional reform next fall “the single biggest risk on the European political landscape this year,” bigger even than Brexit. In the midst of much hand-wringing over the possible consequences of the recent UK decision to detach itself from the European Union, Citi is saying that more serious dangers loom large on the horizon; namely upcoming referendums in Hungary and Italy. In a memo titled “Global Economics View: Who’s Next? EU Political Risks After the Brexit Vote,” Tina Fordham, Citi’s chief global political analyst, informed clients that Italy’s referendum poses a higher risk for EU stability than the Brexit vote.

Bangladesh hostage crisis: At least 2 killed as ISIS gunmen storm capital's diplomatic quarter
RT - Islamic state has claimed responsibility for the attack on a restaurant in the diplomatic quarter of the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka on Friday. At least two policemen have reportedly died, and dozens of people are being held hostage. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, Reuters said, citing the terrorist group’s propaganda website Amaq. The number of casualties, Amaq claims, stands at more than 20. However, the information hasn’t yet been officially confirmed. Four police officers have died, while the gunmen are holding approximately 40 hostages, including at least one Westerner, NBC News reported, citing Assistant Superintendent Fazle-e-Elahi. According to local media, two officers have been killed.

Obama admin says up to 116 civilians 'accidentally' killed in US drone strikes
RT - The US drone strikes have accidentally killed up to 116 civilians in countries that the US is not at war with, the White House said. The number is lower than the figures cited by various human rights organizations. No information was released on the number of unintended civilian deaths in countries the US is at war with, however. The long-awaited announcement came on Friday afternoon acknowledges that between 64 and 116 civilians were killed by US drone operations in Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen and other African countries, compared to 2,500 members of terrorist groups. Deaths resulting from strikes in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria were not counted in the report. The government said that the number of civilian deaths from drone strikes isn’t always clear, meaning that the numbers it released may be revised. The total is far lower than estimates made by non-governmental organization.

Austrian court cancels presidential election result, orders re-run
RT- The Austrian Constitutional Court has ruled that the presidential election must be held again. The vote, which took place on May 22, saw far-right candidate Norbert Hofer narrowly lose by just 31,000 votes, with Alexander Van der Bellen claiming victory.

Taiwan misfires supersonic missile in China’s direction, kills own fisherman
RT - An anti-ship missile fired from a Taiwanese patrol boat towards mainland China by mistake hit a Taiwanese fishing boat many kilometers away. The Chinese military made no retaliatory move amid Communist Party anniversary celebrations.

Czech president wants referendum on EU & NATO membership
RT - The president of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, has called for a referendum on his country’s membership in the EU and NATO. Although Zeman wants to remain in both organizations, he wants the public to have a chance to “express themselves.”

Moscow quiet on alleged proposal for US-Russia military partnership in Syria
RT - The Kremlin has refused to comment on reports in the US media that Washington proposed a new military agreement on Syria. The alleged deal aims to boost US-Russian ties against terrorists in exchange for Moscow pushing Damascus to stop bombing US-backed rebels.

Soros Plots European Order Coup: EU Will Disintegrate, Rise Again Under “New Marshall Plan”
Mac Slavo (Activist Post) - n perfect order out of chaos fashion, the elite are now showing their hand.
Problem. Reaction. Solution. What will come out of the vote for Britain to leave the European Union, and who will benefit from it? There is considerable reason to think that it will be the very billionaire elite class who created the EU in the first place. If the push for Brexit was fueled by the European anger against unlimited migration and its side effects of extreme culture clash, terrorism and sensational incidents of rape, then it was the very crisis that the likes of the Davos elite, and in particular, the Bilderberg elite having been playing upon.

Gun Used in Paris Attacks Linked to Fast and Furious Gun Running Operation
Claire Bernish (Activist Post) - Yet more fallout from the government’s notoriously ill-conceived “gunwalking” scheme as Judicial Watch found one of the guns used in the Paris terror attacks of November 13, 2015 appears to have been sold illegally, without repercussion as part of Fast and Furious. According to the watchdog group, a paper trail left, in part, by a 4473 form — which tracks a firearm’s ownership history through serial numbers and other means — traced the weapon to a Phoenix seller who had previously been caught selling illegal weapons. Evidencing a hallmark of the Fast and Furious scheme, the unidentified Phoenix seller had been caught twice previously for federal firearms violations — “for selling one weapon illegally and possessing an unregistered automatic” — for which no charges or prosecution ever developed.

Brazil’s Olympic Catastrophe, Can Rio pull off the Games with only weeks to go?
The New York Times - On June 17, fewer than 50 days before the start of the Games, the state of Rio de Janeiro declared a “state of public calamity.” A financial crisis is preventing the state from honoring its commitments to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the governor said. That crisis is so severe, he said, it could eventually bring about “a total collapse in public security, health, education, mobility and environmental management.” The authorities are now authorized to ration essential public services and the state is eligible for emergency funds from the federal government. Measures like these are usually taken for an earthquake or a flood. But the Olympics are a man-made, foreseeable, preventable catastrophe.

ELITE TO CREATE FOOD CRISIS FOR GLOBAL TAKEOVER!
Infowars - (Video) Experts say food scarcity could soon become a reality

Hacked Emails Confirm NATO Push To Provoke, Escalate Conflict With Russia
Infowars - Just two weeks ago, a huge scandal erupted within another ‘union’ as Germany slammed NATO for “warmongering” destroying the fictional narrative that ‘innocent’ NATO was merely reacting to evil Russian provocations. Furthermore, as NATO accelerated its encirclement of Russia, with British soldiers deployed in Estonia, US soldiers operating in Latvia and Canadians in Poland, while combat units are being increased in the Mediterranean…NATO found another excuse for war, assessing that it may now have grounds to attack Russia when it announced that if a NATO member country becomes the victim of a cyber attack by persons in a non-NATO country such as Russia or China, then NATO’s Article V “collective defense” provision requires each NATO member country to join that NATO member country if it decides to strike back against the attacking country.

Trial set to begin for highest-ranking officer charged in Freddie Gray case
Washington Post - Trial is set to begin this week for the highest-ranking Baltimore police officer charged in the arrest and death of Freddie Gray. Lt. Brian Rice faces counts of manslaughter, reckless endangerment and other charges related to the 25-year-old's death in police custody last year. A motions hearing is scheduled to be held Tuesday before Judge Barry G. Williams, followed by jury selection on Wednesday. Rice is one of six officers charged and the fourth officer to stand trial in Gray’s death and arrest in Baltimore City Circuit Court. Prosecutors have yet to secure a conviction in the case. Two officers were acquitted on all charges; the trial of a third ended in a hung jury.

WikiLeaks rolls out archive of over 1,200 ‘Clinton Iraq War’ emails
RT - The now-infamous whistleblowing website has published an archive of what is said to be over 1,200 of Hillary Clinton's private emails pertaining to the Iraq War. Julian Assange previously said that the release would be “enough to indict her.” On Monday, WikiLeaks tweeted a link to a search aggregate of 1,258 emails that Clinton wrote or received discussing US engagement in Iraq while she headed the State Department. The Iraq War email bundle is part of a trove of Clinton's correspondence that was released by the State Department in February, under the Freedom of Information Act.

Police Across America Celebrate Freedom this 4th of July with Forced Blood Draw Checkpoints
Activist Post - Happy 4th of July, the day where Americans celebrate imaginary freedom, and police departments nationwide make millions of dollars violating the rights of nonviolent individuals. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that police can’t forcibly draw blood from individuals suspected of drunken driving without a warrant. However, DUI checkpoints across the country now have judges on site, or on call to issue immediate warrants for cops to take your blood.
Under the pretense of catching drunk drivers, police will be patrolling the streets and setting up checkpoints all over the country this weekend. In some cases they will arrest drunk drivers, in others, they will search and arrest nonviolent drug offenders, while other people may get citations for problems with their vehicle or registration.

July 4th reflections from a man who may have experienced the US more fully than anyone in its history
Washington Blog - Frederick Douglass, one of the most brilliant minds in history, had many praises for the US and its founders. However, he experienced the nation more fully than any of them, beginning his life a victim of the totalitarian fascism they practiced and promoted, which Douglass called “worse than death”, and ending it a statesman and a friend of President Lincoln. Thus his understanding and analysis of the complex country and its culture is more complete and balanced than most.

Reported Active Shooter At Andrews Base Turns Out To Be A Drill
By Mac Slavo (Activist Post) - It seems that the Andrews Air Force Base, where the President’s Air Force One plane is stationed, couldn’t tell a difference between a drill simulating an active shooter attack and the real thing. And it happened just five minutes before President Biden was due to arrive. As the Daily Mail reported: Chaos erupted at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Thursday morning after an active shooter drill prompt reports of a ‘real world’ shooter. The base was placed on lockdown at 9am Eastern Time – just minutes before Vice President Joe Biden was due to arrive to board a plane to Ohio.

New California: Mandatory Vaccines & Total Gun Bans
Chris Menahan (InformationLiberation) - California, a one-time bastion of freedom and opportunity, has been transformed through leftist policies and mass immigration into a communist hellhole with total gun bans and mandatory vaccines. Let this disaster serve as a lesson to the rest of us.

New York cafe refuses to take down 'God bless America' banner after being ordered to remove patriotic message before Independence Day
Daily Mail - A cafe owner has refused to take down her 'God bless America' banner after officials ordered her to remove it before July fourth. Jennifer Aquino had asked to hang the patriotic message outside The 5 Mile Cafe, in Penfield, New York state, from Memorial Day through to Independence Day. But she was outraged when her request was denied as it breached the town's strict banner allotment policy, Fox News reports.

'Depression pills made me unfit to be a mother': Documentary maker Katinka Newman reveals all about her breakdown
By Katinka Blackford Newman For The Daily Mail - Katinka Newman, 51, was diagnosed with depression after marital break-up. Psychiatrist gave the award-winning documentary maker escitalopram. She suffered an adverse reaction to the drug which caused her to self-harm. Her new book, The Pill That Steals Lives, is published on Thursday.

This Is How They Protect Us! The Latest Airport TSA Horror. “Partially Blind Young Woman Brutally Smashed by Goon Tug TSA”
By Dr. Paul Craig Roberts (Global Research) - A partially blind, partially deaf young woman returning home from treatment for a brain tumor was brutally smashed to the ground by goon tug TSA “security” while her mother, a nurse, was shoved away. The good tugs responsible should get at least 30 years in a maximum security prison for assault with intent to kill. But nothing will happen to them. Their corrupt bosses always cover up for the psychopaths who occupy so many “security” and police positions from which they exercise unaccountable brutality over those of us forced to pay their salaries. A brain tumor had left Hannah blind in one eye, deaf in one ear and partially paralyzed, so when the guards grabbed each of her arms it startled her, she said. This is America today. We are forced to pay for our own brutilization by a criminal element that has taken refuge in “security” that “protects us.” We are in far more danger from the security forces allegedly protecting us than we are from terrorists. Indeed, the security forces are the terrorists.

Exclusive: Bill Clinton and the Selling of US Security
Infowars - This may be the greatest scandal in 50 years of American history.
It makes Watergate look like a jay walking charge. It makes the Iran Contra affair look like a small time operation. This is what House Republicans should have Impeached Bill Clinton for instead of lying about a White House Intern giving him head in the Oval Office. It’s called treason.

FEMA Investigator’s Shock 9/11 Claim: “Vault Contents Emptied Before Attack … They Knew It Was Going To Happen”
By Mac Slavo (Activist Post) - The attacks of September 11th, 2001 will forever be mired in doubt and suspicion by millions of people who saw the events live on their televisions. Almost immediately following the attacks theories began to emerge. Were the hijackers operatives for a Western intelligence service? How did a passport from one of the terrorists survive completely unscathed, only to be found later amidst the rubble of the Trade Centers? How did WTC Building 7 collapse even though it was never struck by an airplane? Why was President George H.W. Bush meeting with members of the Bin Laden family at the very moment of the attacks? Were the planes that hit the buildings actually commercial airliners or were they remotely operated drones? Why was the entirety of Ground Zero quickly sanitized and shipped to China for recycling before any investigation ever took place? And, what are the odds that on the very day terrorists used planes to attack the Pentagon and World Trade Centers, the U.S. military was holding exercises simulating hijackers crashing planes into buildings, a circumstance that led to total confusion across the United States and a complete failure of national defense? These questions and thousands more have been the subject of fervent debate for over a decade, and like the Kennedy assassination, may never have an official answer. But just as has been the case with the investigation of JFK’s murder, new details and evidence continue to emerge surrounding the events of that day. In a shocking report published by The Sun, former Federal Emergency Management Agency employee Kurt Sonnenfeld says he has evidence proving that certain insiders were privy to the attacks, perhaps even including President George W. Bush.

SELL OUT: Whole Foods partners with Monsanto to endorse fake GMO-labeling bill that's actually an ANTI-labeling bill with zero penalties for non-compliance
NaturalNews - What is it about large corporations and transparency that the two seldom mix? And here's another question: If you don't have any morals or a soul, then is there ever a point where you think you've gone too far or have actually done something wrong? These two questions immediately came to my mind when I read Natural News editor Mike Adams' bombshell expose this week that organic food retailer Whole Foods has aligned itself with GMO-manufacturing giant Monsanto, to endorse what amounts to little more than sham legislation that, to the uninformed observer may appear to call for the labeling of GMO foods, but which really doesn't. And what's more, if companies don't comply with the legislation it won't matter, because there won't be any penalties leveled against them anyway. So, a "labeling" bill that won't actually require GMO labeling or punish those who ignore it. Truly a piece of legislation made in today's dysfunctional, ineffectual Washington, where the special interests actually "govern" the country via the puppets posing as lawmakers.

TOP TEN GOVERNMENT CONSPIRACIES
Illuminatirex - Ten government conspiracies that were THEORIES that have now become conspiracy FACTS. Government lies and deception.
Operation Northwoods - Operation Mockingbird - Operation Paperclip - Project 112/SHAD - Tuskegee Syphilis Study - Operation Gladio - CointelPro - Iran-Contra - Project MKULTRA - Gulf of Tonkin Incident

Florida Counties Added to Algae Bloom Emergency; Government Reducing Water Releases From Lake Okeechobee
The Weather Channel - Florida Governor Rick Scott Thursday added two counties to the state of emergency declared over bright blue-green algae blooms that are taking over waterways and beaches on Florida's Treasure Coast. Scott issued Executive Order 16-155 declaring an emergency in Martin and St. Lucie counties Wednesday, according to a statement, but added Lee and Plam Beach counties a day later. The executive order allows state and local governments to take action against the spread of the algal blooms by redirecting the water flow in and out of Lake Okeechobee, which many believe are to blame for the foul-smelling algae that one resident described to the Associated Press as "guacamole-thick."

Report: FBI Ordered Media Blackout at Lynch Meeting
Infowars - (Video) The FBI blocked journalists from taking videos and pictures outside the secret airport meeting between former President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

US AG Lynch steps back from Clinton email case over conflict of interest
RT - US Attorney General Loretta Lynch has stepped away from deciding whether Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will be charged in the classified email investigation, following outrage over the AG's private Monday meeting with Bill Clinton, the justice department announced Friday morning. Lynch is expected to comment on the move during her conversation at the Aspen Ideas Festival in just a few minutes, according to an anonymous DOJ official.

Judge blocks controversial Mississippi law
CNN- A federal judge blocked a controversial Mississippi law that would've gone into effect Friday, which would've allowed businesses and government employees to deny services to gay and transgender people based on religious grounds.

Pentagon ends transgender ban
CNN - The Pentagon said Thursday it was ending the ban on transgender people being able to serve openly in the U.S. military.The announcement -- which removes one of the last barriers to military service by any individual -- was made by Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who had been studying the issue for almost a year.

Ban on Voting Rights for Iowa Felons Upheld by State Supreme Court
AllGov - A divided Iowa Supreme Court upheld a ban on voting access for residents who have been convicted of a felony, preserving its position as one of the strictest states in the country on voting rights. Language in the Iowa Constitution barring residents who have committed an "infamous crime" from voting was at the heart of the dispute, as both sides argued over whether a woman's past conviction for delivering cocaine should prevent her from accessing the polls.
Kelly Jo Griffin challenged the statute by suing Iowa's secretary of state when her ballot was rejected after she attempted to vote in 2013, the same year she successfully discharged her sentence for her 2008 conviction. Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Cady cited the state's implementation of the National Voter Registration Act in 1994, in which the state's Legislature defined any felony as an "infamous crime," in support of the high court's decision to uphold the voting restrictions.

New California Vaccine Law Being Challenged in Court
Health Impact News - California’s controversial new vaccination law, SB277 which is scheduled to go into effect this month (July 2016), has been challenged in court. SB277 became the first law in the United States to remove the philosophical and religious exemption for childhood vaccines, thereby completely removing parental choice in any decisions about vaccinating their children as a requirement for attending school. Only two other states do not have philosophical or religious exemptions (and apparently never did), Mississippi and West Virginia. Consumer Advocate Tim Bolen of the BolenReport reported on the new lawsuit filed in California, where parents and non-profit organizations are suing the State of California Department of Health, Department of Education, three Schools Districts, and one County Public Health Department. The Lawsuit Against SB 277 Has Been Filed

Tests conducted on explosive that hurt man in Central Park
By Associated Press - Investigators are conducting a forensic examination to identify the explosive compound that blew up in Central Park, seriously injuring the foot of a man who stepped on it, but authorities don't believe the device was designed to intentionally hurt people, police said Monday. The homemade explosive had been inside a plastic bag when it went off Sunday, said Lt. Mark Torre, commanding officer of the New York Police Department's bomb squad. Investigators believe it was created by "an explosive hobbyist or experimenter" who had some knowledge of chemistry, he said. The 19-year-old man, who police did not identify, was walking in the park with two friends when he stepped on a rock covering the explosive. He was to undergo surgery to his left foot and was in stable condition at a hospital, fire officials said.
Also see: Man Critically Injured In Central Park Explosion

Leaked Documents Reveal How Easily FBI Can Spy on Journalists
By Dierdre Fulton (Activist Post) - Newly leaked documents published by The Intercept expose just how easy it is for the FBI to spy on journalists using so-called National Security Letters (NSLs). The classified rules, which had previously been released only in heavily redacted form, “show that the FBI imposes few constraints on itself when it bypasses the requirement to go to court and obtain subpoenas or search warrants before accessing journalists’ information,” The Intercept‘s Cora Currier wrote on Thursday. According to the reporting, an attempt to access journalists’ call data with an NSL must be approved by the typical chain-of-command as well as the FBI’s general counsel and the executive assistant director of the agency’s National Security Branch.

Someone came up with the 911 calls and police communications in Orlando. What they portend is the shooter was in the ORMC not in Pulse
Investment Watch - (Video) Police/Fire audio from during the Orland Pulse Nightclub event of June 12th, 2016. It is reported that the shooter is contained within the ORMC(Orlando Regional Medical Center) 2 hours before the deadly shootout with law enforcement.

Extemely Proud to Be an American? Fewer People Say They Are
Government Slaves - Strong feelings of patriotism that peaked in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks have been on the wane for more than a decade, as many Americans grappled with prolonged warfare in the Middle East, the worst recession in decades, and bitter political controversies over domestic and foreign policies. As the nation prepares to observe another July 4th holiday, the share of people who are “extremely proud” to be an American has dropped sharply, from 70 percent in 2003 to a new low of 52 percent today, according to a new survey by Gallup.

Autistic teens with mental capacity of young children now undergoing dangerous hormone treatments and sex reassignment surgeries
Natural News - When parents learn that their child is autistic, a number of questions start running through their minds: What does this mean for my child's future? Will it hurt their educational and career prospects? Will they be able to live a normal life? What can I do to help? While it's easy for parents of autistic children to imagine the hurdles they might encounter, Dr. Kathleen Levinstein is facing one challenge that would never even enter most people's minds: Her daughter is being mutilated by her doctor because she wants to be a transgender boy, and there is nothing her mother can do to stop it. When Dr. Levinstein's daughter told her several years ago that she was a lesbian, the professor, who describes herself as left-of-center politically, did not have any problem with it. After seeing a transgender boy on the TV show Degrassi, however, her daughter decided that she wanted to become one too, and that's where her mother drew the line.

Bad GMO Deal Must Be Stopped
by Alliance for Natural Health - It’s mandatory labeling in name only. It discriminates against the poor. And it is clearly a gift to Big Food. Major Action Alert! For weeks now, Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) have been working on a GMO labeling bill that would pre-empt Vermont’s mandatory labeling law. Late last week they finally reached a compromise, and it’s not good. The bill requires the labeling of packaged food containing GMOs in one of three ways: an electronic code that consumers can scan; a USDA-developed symbol; or a label. The bill leaves it to manufacturers to decide which of the three methods they prefer. Now guess which method Big Food will choose? We have no doubts that they will choose the electronic code that can only be read with a scanner. They know that few will want to do this and even fewer will be able to. A recent national survey showed that only 16% of consumers have ever scanned a QR code for any purpose. QR (which stands for “quick response”) codes are those small square boxes you find on advertising material, though they’re also used in manufacturing and commercial

Huma: Hillary Flouted Protocol, Used Burn Bags To Destroy Documents Prohibited By Federal Regs
Infowars - Abedin also admitted to being “aware of [her] obligation not to delete federal records or destroy federal records.” Huma Abedin, a top aide to presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, says that the former secretary of state routinely used burn bags to dispose of personal documents during her time at the State Department. Abedin’s revelation came when she was deposed by watchdog group Judicial Watch on June 30. “If there was a schedule that was created, that was her Secretary of State daily schedule, and a copy of that was then put in the burn bag, then that certainly happened,” Abedin stated. “On more than one occasion.” Abedin also admitted to being “aware of [her] obligation not to delete federal records or destroy federal records.” The State Department has clear regulations pertaining to the use of “burn bags,” and while government officials are directed to use them to dispose of both “paper” and “hardrives,” the government strictly prohibits several items — including “personal documents” — from being destroyed in burn bags.

The Price Of Silver Explodes Past 20 Dollars An Ounce As The European Banking Crisis Deepens
The Economic Collapse - Have you seen what the price of silver has been doing? On Monday, it exploded past 20 dollars an ounce, and as I write this article it is sitting at $20.48. Earlier today it actually surged above 21 dollars an ounce for a short time before moving back just a bit. In late March, I told my readers that silver was “ridiculously undervalued” when it was sitting at $15.81 an ounce, and that call has turned out to be quite prescient. The Friday before last, silver started the day at $17.25 an ounce, and it is up more than 18 percent since that time. Overall, silver is up more than 30 percent for the year, and that makes it one of the best performing investments of 2016. So what is causing this sudden surge in the price of silver?

Trump: Sources Say No Charges for ‘Crooked Hillary’
Infowars - Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump says Hillary Clinton will not face charges for conducting sensitive State Department business on her private email server. In a tweet sent out late Saturday afternoon, Trump decried both “crooked Hillary” and the “totally rigged” system after allegedly hearing the news from sources close to the investigation.

Report: Investigators Looking into Espionage Charges for Hillary
Infowars - Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton could be charged under the Espionage Act for her actions in the ongoing email scandal, reports indicate. According to McClatchy writer Nita Kumar, investigators may be examining whether or not the former secretary of state violated not only the Espionage Act but sections of Title 18 as well.

Breaking: Hillary Clinton interviewed by FBI on email server
Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton met with FBI officials Saturday about her private email server that has sparked a federal investigation, her campaign said. “Secretary Clinton gave a voluntary interview this morning about her email arrangements while she was Secretary,” Clinton campaign spokesman Nick Merrill said in an email Saturday afternoon. “She is pleased to have had the opportunity to assist the Department of Justice in bringing this review to a conclusion. Out of respect for the investigative process, she will not comment further on her interview.” Sources confirm to CBS News that the investigation is in its final phase and interviewing Clinton was one of the last steps before concluding the investigation and submitting recommendations on whether charges should be filed.

New Survey Shows Exactly Why the Two-Party System Is Failing America
By Carey Wedler (Activist Post) - Republicans’ and Democrats’ views of each other are more vitriolic than they have been in nearly a quarter century, a new in-depth survey by the Pew Research Center released last week concluded. “For the first time in surveys dating to 1992, majorities in both parties express not just unfavorable but very unfavorable views of the other party,” the researchers noted [emphasis added]. “And today, sizable shares of both Democrats and Republicans say the other party stirs feelings of not just frustration, but fear and anger.” According to the survey of 4,385 randomly selected Americans, “more than half of Democrats (55%) say the Republican Party makes them ‘afraid,’ while 49% of Republicans say the same about the Democratic Party.”

VP Vetting? Trump Announces he’ll meet with Sen. Joni Ernst
Fox News - Donald Trump tweeted Monday he would spend part of his July 4th with Sen. Joni Ernst -- fueling speculation that the Iowa senator could be on the short list of his vice presidential picks. "I look forward to meeting (Ernst) today in New Jersey. She has done a great job as Senator of Iowa!" Trump tweeted about the freshman lawmaker. There was no immediate response from Ernst.

BREAKING: Devastating Truth About Huma Leaks… Look Where She Was on 9/11
Usanewsinsider - On Sept. 11, 2001, America suffered a terror attack that changed our nation forever. Over 15 years later, in January 2017, Hillary Clinton — and her top aide, Huma Abedin — may be moving into the White House. Those two facts may seem like a non sequitur. However, when you look at where Huma Abedin was working on that fateful day, it’s not. Not at all. It turns out that one of Hillary Clinton’s closest confidants was working for an organ
ization that the government wanted to put on a list of terrorist funders. According to Breitbart, Abedin was working in the London offices of the The Institute for Muslim Minority Affairs and the Journal for Muslim Minority Affairs — publications one writer called “the Abedin family business.” Huma worked in the offices as the assistant editor of the JMMA.

FBI Primary: Hillary’s First Term May Be in Prison After Bill’s Tampered AG
Sputnik - The presumptive First Husband’s meeting with Attorney General Loretta Lynch may force the Obama administration’s hand to indict Hillary Clinton over her failure to protect US secrets and hand the presidency to Bernie Sanders. The smartest man in America right now is Bernie Sanders. After facing a monumental trouncing at the hands of the corporate media and AP spin doctors who announced the race was over before California voters ever arrived at the polls, the insurgent Democratic challenger did something nobody expected – he stayed in the race and he refused to endorse Hillary Clinton.

New Clinton Email Smoking Guns
Judicial Watch Uncovers New Smoking Gun Clinton Emails - This week we learned more about the problems former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s staff faced in keeping her separate email system running. They were, in fact, wrestling with matters of national security. The revelations came thanks to our prying loose the email records referred to in the May 2016 State Department’s Office of the Inspector General report criticizing former Secretary of State Clinton’s email practices. The OIG report makes reference to the emails but they were not released to the public until now. We obtained them under a June 14, 2016, court order issued by U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan in accordance with an unopposed motion by Judicial Watch to obtain the records. As an explosive Associated Press article makes clear, these new emails raise more questions....read more!

Senator Admits The FBI Is "About To Ask Putin For His Copies Of Hillary's Emails"
Zero Hedge - It is well known that the FBI still does not have roughly 30,000 emails that Hillary Clinton deleted from her private server due to Clinton categorizing them as personal and not work related. We have also reported that Russia may be in possession of those emails, and according to Judge Andrew Napolitano, there is a debate going on in the Kremlin about whether or not to release them. Given that the FBI still doesn't have the emails, Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton (of the US is "under-incarcerated" fame), who is a Trump supporter and also serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has become so frustrated that Cotton suggests the FBI is about to ask Putin for his copies. Cotton also took a jab at Bill Clinton's meeting with Loretta Lynch, saying that his plane was also on the tarmac, and he thought Bill Clinton may be waiting to climb on board to talk with him as well.

U.N. Official 'Accidentally' Crushes Own Throat Right Before Testifying Against Hillary Clinton
Zero Hedge - Call it conspiracy theory, coincidence or just bad luck, but any time someone is in a position to bring down Hillary Clinton by testifying they wind up dead. In fact, there’s a long history of Clinton-related body counts, with scores of people dying under mysterious circumstances.
Perhaps the most notable is Vince Foster. Foster was a partner at Clinton’s law firm and knew the inner workings of the Clinton Machine. Police ruled that death a suicide, though it is often noted that Foster may have been suicided. Now, another official has found himself on the wrong end of the Clintons. That John Ashe was a former President of the United Nations General Assembly highlights the fact that no one is safe once in their sights.

Army Veteran Uses Rifle to Rescue Eagle Named ‘Freedom’ From a Tree
The Blaze - According to KARE-TV, Jason Galvin, who served two tours in Afghanistan, and his wife Jackie discovered the eagle trapped in a tree, tangled in a rope. After reporting the bird to local authorities – all of whom said they couldn’t help – they decided to take matters into their own hands. Galvin used a neighbor’s .22 caliber rifle to sever the rope and free the bird. “It was a good weekend for it to happen,” Galvin told KARE. “Fourth of July, you know, that’s our bird. I can’t let it sit there.” It took Galvin about 90 minutes and 150 shots to rescue the eagle. “It was very windy and I was just waiting for the right shot,” Galvin said. Galvin’s wife Jackie wrote on Facebook that she begged her husband to try and set the eagle free by shooting the rope, although he was nervous he would face legal ramifications for shooting at an eagle. “I can’t even tell you how amazing this experience was and I knew of all people, my husband wouldn’t let me down!” Jackie wrote.

Three Former Barclays Traders Convicted Of LIBOR Manipulation
Zero Hedge - As regular readers know, we have covered the manipulation of LIBOR for many years now going back to January 2009, and while our conspiracy theory once again became conspiracy fact, we do still follow the fallout of the scandal and the predictable scapegoating of lower level traders. The first bank to admit that it engaged in massive manipulation of the LIBOR rate was Barclays back in 2012, and traders are still being scapegoated tried in court to this day. As Bloomberg reports, five traders learned their fate recently, nearly four years since the bank admitted to the charge. Three traders were convicted, while the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the final two.

National debt jumps nearly $100 billion in one day to record high
Infowars - The U.S. national debt is creeping up again, after holding steady for the last few months thanks to the annual flood of individual and corporate tax receipts. Total government debt hit a record $19.38 trillion on Thursday, up nearly $98 billion from the day before. It’s the first time it has ever exceeded $19.3 trillion. The debt will soar higher still in the coming months, and is expected to approach $20 trillion by the time President Obama leaves office.

Independence Day Breakout! Silver Has Begun HISTORIC Run-Up
Silver Doctors - Gold has broken the gates down with the British Exit vote, pushing its price over the tough stubborn $1300 resistance line. In the following days it has been adding to its gains. But Silver has emerged amidst the political smoke and deceptive din to ride hard through the gate. Silver is on a RAMPAGE, and has begun to make the news headlines. Silver has chosen July Fourth as the day to declare INDEPENDENCE from fiat paper money. The spot prices scream loud. The Silver breakout will be one to behold in the history books. Silver has broken the shackles of the vile banker cabal. Silver has begun its historic run-up

American Nightmare: Mom Ordered to Pay Murdered Son’s Student Loan Bills
Sputnik - In the state of New Jersey being murdered ‘does not meet threshold for loan forgiveness’ in an only in America story of heartless profiteering on the back of a grieving mother. "Please accept our condolences on your loss," explained a letter from the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority of New Jersey. "After careful consideration of the information you provided the authority has determined that your request does not meet the threshold for loan forgiveness. Monthly bill statements will continue to be sent to you." This is the letter that Marcia DeOliveira-Longinetti received when she applied to get a student loan forgiven after her 23-year-old son was murdered last year. The mother inherited nearly $20,000 in student debt on loans she cosigned on to ensure the young man could attend the University of Vermont in hopes that he may enjoy a middle-class lifestyle — hopes that were dashed all too soon.

Video: WELFARE ABUSE: 32 years old Austin, TX welfare recipient says working is stupid

Brexit Pushed The Stock Market Down: O The Horror
By Jon Rappoport (Activist Post) - In the wake of the Brexit vote, and in many other cases where an event is said to be “negative,” stocks plummet. Major media promote these downward actions as evidence that “something bad has happened,” and the “economy is suffering” because of it. On the other hand, if the general trend of the stock market is up, and “new highs” are reached, media claim the economy is “recovering” or “in good shape,” or “booming.” Indeed, the movements of the market are used as critiques of political and economic choices and happenings. “X policy-move shouldn’t have been taken, because look at what the market reaction was.” We need to examine all this blather.

Russia & China Met Twice Last Week to Propose Monetary Reset – Willem Middelkoop
Silver Doctors - Russia and Chinese leaders met twice during last week and called (again) for an end to the current (dollar) system. From my contacts with Chinese insiders I know they really understand our problems well and are clearly preparing for The Next Phase (a monetary and geopolitical reset…

Caustic fracking chemical spills in San Antonio train derailment
RT - A derailed train has spilled approximately 1,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide in San Antonio, Texas, according to reports. The train was carrying 60,000 gallons of the poisonous, highly-corrosive chemical. A nearby area was temporarily evacuated. Five train cars overturned on Sunday afternoon, according to the San Antonio Express-News, near the intersection of Loop 410 and Interstate 35. As many as 6,000 people were evacuated from Traders Village, a large flea market and carnival area just south of Lackland Air Force Base.

EPA literally wants you to DIE from radiation: Agency raising the limit of radioactive elements in drinking water by over 3,000 times... to cause widespread cancer and death
Natural News - We really have reached a point of such insanity across human civilization that governments have become the terrorists who actively seek to harm and kill off the people. The latest example demonstrating this very point is the fact that the EPA just announced its plan to allow gigantic increases in the allowable radioactivity in drinking water... increasing it by over 3,000 times in the case of radioactive Iodine-131... while calling it "safe" to drink even though it's almost certain to give you cancer. In this public EPA document, the agency says it was ordered by President Obama's Executive Order 12656 (section 1601(2)) to "[d]evelop, for national security emergencies, guidance on acceptable emergency levels of nuclear radiation...." In this report, the EPA warns that a nuclear "incident" may strike the United States, and if people are going to drink the radioactive water, somebody needs to decide how much radioactivity Americans will be allowed to consume.

Deforestation is causing rainforests to catch on fire... and no one is putting out the flames
NaturalNews - New research has determined that human disturbances have made the Amazon rainforest much more flammable and that even in areas of protected forest human activity has degraded the landscape. As reported by the BBC, the two-year study of the Brazilian Amazon found that a range of activity including logging and defragmentation has dramatically increased the chance for more wildfires.

‘Burn complete, orbit obtained’: Juno mission ready to unlock Jupiter’s secrets
RT - After an almost five year journey, the US space agency’s solar-powered Juno spacecraft has arrived on Jupiter's doorstep and is "ready to unlock" all Jupiter's secrets. Jubilant scientists in NASA control room rose to standing ovation when Juno was confirmed to have entered Jupiter's orbit after the burning of the engine.

Jaws-dropping invention: Electric ‘shield’ can scare away maneating sharks
RT - Scientists believe an electric ‘shield’ is the “most effective” protection against shark attacks for swimmers, with the animals’ sensitive sensory system apparently proving key. Academics from the University of Western Australia (UWA), tasked by the government to find out the best way to stop people from becoming shark bait, tested a range of novel deterrents such as strobe lights, loud underwater audio and bubble barriers, used to cloak swimmers from nearby prey. But it seems that a commercially available device called Shark Shield is the best option when it comes to avoiding a toothy face-to-face meeting with ‘Jaws’.

What Could Go Wrong? US Unveils Artificially Intelligent Fighter Pilot
By Justin Gardner (Activist Post) - The two most aggressive military forces in the world have added a new frontier in their immense ability to deal death and destruction. In the same week, an Israeli firm launched the first-ever torpedo from an unmanned sea vessel while a U.S. artificially intelligent fighter pilot easily won combat simulations against human pilots. These achievements are a testament to the sad reality that military interests are often the first to take advantage of wondrous advancements such as AI, just as nuclear physics and other technologies were hijacked for more efficient methods of killing.

New Study: Researchers Invent Mind-Reading Machine that Reads Thought Process
By Amando Flavio (Activist Post) - A new study published in the journal Neuroscience suggests that researchers have successfully invented a mind-reading machine that is capable of reading the human thought process. The research team from the University of Oregon, United States, are said to have developed a system that can read people’s thoughts via brain scans, and rebuild the faces they were visualizing in their heads. Lead researchers, Brice Kuhl and Hongmi Lee reportedly used artificial intelligence (AI) that analyzed brain activity in an attempt to reconstruct one of a series of faces that participants saw. Tech Worm reports that the result was not exact, but the AI got close.

Washington State University researchers develop 'shape shifting' materials
Daily Mail - Researchers have developed a new material that demonstrates 'three-way shapeshifting' behaviour, changing its form in response to heat or light. This is the first time scientists have achieved a single material that combines several smart capabilities – earlier efforts were limited to one function at a time. The multifunctional material can fold and unfold itself based on the external stimulus, and can even heal itself when damaged.

Miniature Drones of The Future Won’t Need “Human Input, Radar or Even GPS Satellite Navigation”
By Nicholas West (Activist Post) - While the use of military drones is rightly criticized as report after report sanitizes death numbers for public consumption, the future is heading toward a miniaturization of drone technology that makes it increasingly likely that they will take on an even greater role in assassinations and widespread surveillance. At the heart of this initiative is something known as biorobotics, essentially the agenda to mimic nature in order to produce robotic facsimiles. When applied to drones, biorobotics hopes to harness nature’s unique ability to fly through all environments while avoiding obstacles, and ultimately untether these micro-drones from human control. According to the Society for Experimental Biology, the latest research is focusing on the flight patterns of bees and birds such as the budgerigar to study their vision systems and flight intricacies.

Tesla Driver's Death Using Car's 'Autopilot' Probed by NHTSA
ABC News - Joshua D. Brown of Canton, Ohio, the 40-year-old owner of a technology company, was killed May 7 in Williston, Florida, when his car's cameras failed to distinguish the white side of a turning tractor-trailer from a brightly lit sky and didn't automatically activate its brakes, according to statements by the government and the automaker. Just one month earlier, Brown had credited the Autopilot system for preventing a collision on an interstate.

Michigan citizens lose their right to farm or pursue beekeeping in their private backyards
NaturalNews - Every U.S. state has laws on the books designed to protect farms from being declared "nuisances" by their neighbors, and Michigan is no exception. But in 2014, the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development exempted small farms from this protection with the stroke of a pen. The revised rule states that local governments can, at their discretion (that is, arbitrarily), ban goats, chickens and beehives from any property that has a residence within 250 feet of its boundary, or that has 13 homes within one-eighth of a mile.

5 Best Homesteading YouTube Channels to Binge Watch
By Jeffrey Green (Activist Post) - The above link provides the 5 best homesteading YouTube channels worth binge watching.

8 reasons nutrient rich beets should be a dietary staple
NaturalNews - In ancient times, beets were used to treat fever, constipation and other digestive complaints. The Romans consumed beets to boost their libido and improve their sex life. Legend has it that if a man and woman eat from the same beetroot, they will fall in love. Beets (or beetroots) contain a variety of unique health-promoting nutrients that you may not be getting elsewhere. They house a broad range of vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients, including carotenoids, lutein, glycine, betaine, anthocyanins and dietary fiber.

Can this type of medical cannabis save lives?
Bnd.com - As Mitch Meyers sees it, she sells more than medical cannabis.
She sells hope. Cannabis plants at BeLeaf facility in Earth City, Mo. Meyers, of Glen Carbon, back in January launched the first medical cannabis cultivation center and dispensary in Missouri. The 5,000 square-foot facility is located in a former Verizon customer care center located in a nondescript office park in Earth City, Mo. For Meyers, a former Anheuser-Busch marketing executive, her commitment to her company, BeLeaf, represents a big leap of faith in a plant and in an industry that are both still widely misunderstood. BeLeaf specializes in the cultivation and sale of a strain of cannabis rich with cannabidiol, or CBD, which the firm began selling two months ago. CBD oil has shown great success, at least preliminarily, in the treatment of the symptoms of the most severe categories of epilepsy, especially among children who, despite conventional drugs, can suffer hundreds of debilitating seizures per week.

Declaration of Independence: Freedom to Refuse Vaccines
by Barbara Loe Fisher (National Vaccine Information Center)
Defending the Religious Exemption to Vaccination - Every summer, Americans celebrate the 4th of July to mark the day in 1776 when the American colonies agreed they would no longer be ruled by an aristocracy. The Declaration of Independence begins with, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” That Declaration was a rejection of oppression by a ruling aristocracy and the pledge that this country would uphold the unalienable natural right to life and liberty that belongs to every person.

For a Sound Body and Mind, Choose Cypress Oil
Mercoloa - The cypress tree has long been associated with mortality, grief, and the immortal soul.1 But aside from its melancholic symbolisms, this tree is also well-known for the fragrant and relaxing oil that it produces. Here are more interesting facts about cypress oil. What Is Cypress Oil?
Cypress oil comes from Cupressus sempervirens, a deciduous, evergreen tree that can be identified by its dark green foliage, small flowers, and round brown-gray cones with seed nuts inside. It's native to Southern Europe, but has spread to North Africa and North America. It's also widely cultivated in Spain, France, and Morocco. Cypress trees thrive well in wetlands, growing on cypress "knees" or pneumatophores. This tree is a softwood that's ideal for making vases and other novelty items. During the early times, Phoenicians and Cretans used it to build houses and ships, while the Egyptians used it to make sarcophagi for burying their deceased. The Greeks also used cypress wood to carve statues of their gods. The botanical name of this plant comes from the Greek word that means "ever living."7 Cypress trees are often cited in art and literature, and are believed to be an emblem of death. Legend also has it that the cross where Jesus was crucified was made from cypress.
** You can order Young Living Cypress Essential Oil by calling The Power Mall at 877-817-9829

The Relationship Between Vitamin D and Insulin Resistance
Mercola - Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that influences virtually every cell in your body, which is why maintaining a healthy level is so important. Low vitamin D levels are widely known to harm your bones, leading them to become thin, brittle, soft or misshapen. But vitamin D is equally important for your heart, brain, immune function and much more. For example, there's an important connection between insufficient vitamin D and insulin resistance and/or diabetes, both type 1 and type 2. Vitamin D Deficiency May Influence Your Type 2 Diabetes Risk According to recent research, vitamin D deficiency affects your glucose metabolism and may actually be more closely linked to diabetes than obesity. In a study of 118 people, those with low vitamin D levels were more likely to have type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes or metabolic syndrome, regardless of their weight. Among obese people, those without metabolic disorders had higher levels of vitamin D than those with such disorders, and among lean people, those with metabolic disorders were more likely to have low levels of vitamin D.
**You may get your Vitamin D-3 from The Power Mall by calling 877-817-9829
Books: Vitamin D The Sunshine Vitamin by Zoltan Rona, MD, MSc. & The Vitamin D Solution: A 3-Step Strategy to Cure Our Most Common Health Problem by Michael F. Holick Ph.D., M.D.,

Music Legend Kris Kristofferson Misdiagnosed With Alzheimer’s, Goes Public With Lyme
Brandon Turbeville - For years Kris Kristofferson was told he was suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and would simply have to get used to a failing memory that would only continue to get worse. Even Kristofferson himself wondered how he was able to continue performing but somehow the songs remained in his mind. But at the age of 79, Kristofferson discovered that he was misdiagnosed and that it was neither Alzheimer’s nor dementia that was causing problems with his memory – it was Lyme disease.

The Benefits of Chaga
Mother Earth Living - Indigenous peoples have been using chaga for its curative properties for centuries. Siberians used it in stews, soups and beverages to boost physical stamina and attain a long life. In ancient writing, Chaga is described as “gift of nature,” “diamond of the forest” and “King of the herbs,” due to its healing ability and high nutritional content. Chaga is known for super-oxide dismutase, an enzyme that functions as a powerful antioxidant. Another active ingredient is lanosterol, which helps the body rebuild cell membranes and supports the endocrine system. Yet another helpful constituent in chaga is the polysaccharide content which supports the immune system.
Refreshing & Healthy Chaga Iced Tea Recipe:
1. Put 1 teaspoon of chaga in a tea strainer and steep in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Or steep a tea bag with chaga.
2. Pour over ice. Add lemon and honey or peach slices and a bit of peach juice for additional flavor.
**Get your Chag-O-Charge Original Wild Chaga Tea from The Power Mall today by calling 877-817-9829!

Pepsi to reintroduce aspartame into diet drinks... because ignorant, suicidal consumers kept asking for it
NaturalNews - A year ago PepsiCo announced that it would be removing the controversial sweetener aspartame from its Diet Pepsi products, claiming that was the No. 1 request from customers. But now the company says it is putting the sweetener back in Diet Pepsi, allegedly because that's what consumers want. As reported by The Associated Press, aspartame-laced Diet Pepsi will be back on U.S. shelves soon after sales of the soft drink plummeted following the company's reformulation.

Thousands of dogs dying or suffering severe reactions after being vaccinated
By Shari Miller For Mailonline - Dog owners are being warned against the side effects of a vaccine that has caused thousands of beloved pets to die or suffer severe allergic reactions. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has asked owners not to use Nobivac L4 vaccine, which helps safeguard dogs against a bacterial infection, on puppies under 12 weeks old amid safety concerns. Manufactured by MSD Animal Health, the vaccine is intended to safeguard against leptospirosis, a disease spread by rats and wild animals.
 

Monday - July 4, 2016: 




Friday - July 1, 2016  -  Today in History:

1844 - Mormon leader Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were killed by a mob in Carthage, Ill.
1847 - New York and Boston were linked by telegraph wires.
1893 - The New York stock market crashed. By the end of the year 600 banks and 74 railroads had gone out of business.
1924 - Democrats offered Mrs. Leroy Springs for vice presidential nomination. She was the first woman considered for the job.
1927 - The U.S. Marines adopted the English bulldog as their mascot.
1929 - Scientists at Bell Laboratories in New York revealed a system for transmitting television pictures.
1942 - The FBI announced the capture of eight Nazi saboteurs who had been put ashore from a submarine on New York's Long Island.
1944 - During World War II, American forces completed their capture of the French port of Cherbourg from the German army.
1950 - Two days after North Korea invaded South Korea, U.S. President Truman ordered the Air Force and Navy into the Korean conflict. The United Nations Security Council had asked for member nations to help South Korea repel an invasion from the North.
1955 - The state of Illinois enacted the first automobile seat belt legislation.
1967 - The world's first cash dispenser was installed at Barclays Bank in Enfield, England. The device was invented by John Sheppard-Barron. The machine operated on a voucher system and the maximum withdrawal was $28.
1973 - Former White House counsel John W. Dean told the Senate Watergate Committee about an "enemies list" that was kept by the Nixon White House.
1973 - Nixon vetoed a Senate ban on bombing Cambodia.
1980 - U.S. President Carter signed legislation reviving draft registration.
1985 - Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System.
1985 - The U.S. House of Representatives voted to limit the use of combat troops in Nicaragua.
1991 - Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall resigned from the U.S. Supreme Court. He had been appointed in 1967 by President Lyndon Johnson.
1995 - Qatar's Crown Prince Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani ousted his father in a bloodless palace coup.

Barack Obama plans new military alliance with Russia in Syria
The Independent - The crux of the deal is a US promise to join forces with the Russian air force to share targeting and coordinate an expanded bombing campaign against Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria, which is primarily fighting the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

World's Most Systemically Dangerous Bank Crashes Back To Record Lows
Zero Hedge - Despite all the exuberance over the Brexit bounce in US (and UK) equities, never minds bonds, FX, and credit being far less enthusiastic, Deutsche Bank is plunging once again this morning. Having failed The Fed's stress test for the second year running and been diagnosed by The IMF as the world's most systemically dangerous financial entity, the giant Germanbank is getting slammed down almost 4% today, back near record lows as its 'Lehman-esque' path to devastation continues.

Credit Suisse Raises Gold, Silver Price Targets To $1,500; $18.75, Sees "Significant Physical Deficit"
Zero Hedge - Just days after Goldman threw in the towel on its bearish gold call, the gold bulls are crawling out of the woodwork and none has been more vocal than Credit Suisse which moments ago hiked its gold price forecast to $1,500 which the world's 3rd most systematically risky bank expects the yellow metal will hit in the first quarter of 2017.

Gerald Celente: Globalists Will Collapse the Entire World Economy As “Currency War Has Begun” (Video)
Mac Slavo - Markets have rattled with major currency swings surrounding the Pound Sterling, and everyone is in for a devastating sequence of events. The future of the EU, and its tenuous relationship with Britain is unclear, and the financial reaction is significant.

Italy Granted "Extraordinary " €150BN Bank Bailout Program To Prevent "Panic, Run On Deposits"
Zero Hedge - The European Commission has authorized Italy to use government guarantees to create a precautionary liquidity support program for their banks, a spokeswoman for the European Union’s executive arm said, adding that the program was approved under the bloc’s "extraordinary crisis rules for state aid." Prime Minister Matteo Renzi hoped to use a liquidity backstop to contain investor panic, which could result in a run on deposit and affect banks’ liquidity.

Red Cross Built Exactly 6 Homes For Haiti With Nearly Half A Billion Dollars In Donations
Pro Publica - In late 2011, the Red Cross launched a multimillion-dollar project to transform the desperately poor area, which was hit hard by the earthquake that struck Haiti the year before. The main focus of the project — called LAMIKA, an acronym in Creole for “A Better Life in My Neighborhood” — was building hundreds of permanent homes. Today, not one home has been built in Campeche. Many residents live in shacks made of rusty sheet metal, without access to drinkable water, electricity or basic sanitation. When it rains, their homes flood and residents bail out mud and water. The Red Cross received an outpouring of donations after the quake, nearly half a billion dollars.

Rowers, Swimmers at Rio Olympics Will Compete in Raw Sewage from Toilets – 1.7 Million Times Above Hazardous Levels
The Gateway Pundit - FOX News reported: Athletes competing in next year’s Summer Olympics here will be swimming and boating in waters so contaminated with human feces that they risk becoming violently ill and unable to compete in the games, an Associated Press investigation has found. An AP analysis of water quality revealed dangerously high levels of viruses and bacteria from human sewage in Olympic and Paralympic venues — results that alarmed international experts and dismayed competitors training in Rio, some of whom have already fallen ill with fevers, vomiting and diarrhea.

'Active shooter' report at Andrews Air Base linked to drill
USA Today - Andrews Air Base, the military facility that is home to Air Force One, was placed on lockdown briefly Thursday after a planned active-shooter training exercise was apparently mistaken for a real, armed threat. Emergency personnel at the base, located about 20 miles outside downtown Washington, D.C., responded to calls at 9:30 a.m. of an active shooter, according to Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokeswoman. The call came in about a half hour after the scheduled start of an "active shooter" drill.
* Related: Andrews Air Force Base on lockdown amid reports of active shooter - at the same time active shooter DRILL was supposed to start

Media Silent as Concealed Carrier Stops Mass Shooting in Progress at a South Carolina Nightclub
The Free Thought Project – Lyman, SC – A remarkable incident is being largely ignored by corporate mainstream media – as it doesn’t fit their “guns are bad” narrative. A man with a concealed carry license stopped a mass shooting in progress outside a South Carolina nightclub in the early morning hours on Sunday after an assailant opened fire in a crowed of people, striking and injuring three people.

Judicial Watch Demands DOJ Inspector General Probe Into "Scandalous" Lynch-Clinton Meeting
Zero Hedge - "Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s meeting with Bill Clinton severely undermined the already low public confidence in her agency’s criminal investigation of Hillary Clinton. Her meeting with President Clinton creates the appearance of a violation of law, ethical standards and good judgment. Simply stated, Attorney General Lynch’s June 29, 2016 meeting with former President Clinton creates the broad public impression that “the fix is in."

State Department Won’t Release Clinton Foundation Emails for 27 Months
Daily Caller - Department of Justice officials filed a motion in federal court late Wednesday seeking a 27-month delay in producing correspondence between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s four top aides and officials with the Clinton Foundation and Teneo Holdings, a closely allied public relations firm that Bill Clinton helped launch. If the court permits the delay, the public won’t be able to read the communications until October 2018, about 22 months into her prospective first term as President.

Orlando 911 Call Log Released
Breitbart - Orlando police dispatchers heard repeated gunfire, screaming, and moaning from revelers who called to report that Mateen, armed with an assault rifle and a handgun, had stormed the busy club with a primarily gay and Latino clientele and opened fire, according to the a written police log released by the city Tuesday among hundreds of pages of documents linked to the massacre. The other documents have prompted questions about whether one of the club’s exits may have been blocked weeks before the shooting.

Now Wisconsin: Migrants Bring Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Breitbart - Two refugees and a foreign student on a visa brought multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2009 and 2011, according to a 2014 article in an epidemiology publication written with the cooperation of the doctors who treated them. The introduction of MDR TB to the United States represents a serious public health threat, since its successful treatment is uncertain and very expensive. Active TB can usually be treated successfully in six to nine months at a cost of $17,000 per patient, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), but MDR TB treatment costs more than $150,000 per patient and can take between 20 and 26 months.

Human smugglers hail Uber drivers to take migrants to U.S.-Mexico border
(Reuters) Mexican migration officials attribute the increase to migrants finding new routes past checkpoints, increasingly through varied forms of transport…. ”First we saw them on trains, then on buses, then on trucks and today we see them in rented vehicles," Doguin told Reuters by telephone on Wednesday. The drivers left the northern Mexican city of Monterrey and picked up the migrants in Matehuala, 323 kilometers (201 miles) further south, Doguin said. The caravan was headed for the city of Reynosa, 551 kilometers (342 miles) north, on the border with Texas. The migrants told investigators they each paid 3,000 pesos ($162) to make the journey, Doguin said. Uber Mexico said in a statement it bore no responsibility, but was cooperating with authorities.

Rasmussen Poll: Trump 43%, Clinton 39%
Breitbart - The tables have turned in this week’s White House Watch. After trailing Hillary Clinton by five points for the prior two weeks, Donald Trump has now taken a four-point lead. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds Trump with 43% of the vote, while Clinton earns 39%. Twelve percent (12%) still like another candidate, and five percent (5%) are undecided.

Trump: ‘A Lot Of Syrian Refugees Getting Into US Are ISIS Members’
Steve Watson - GOP nominee Donald Trump warned Wednesday that active ISIS terrorists are being allowed into the US while posing as Syrian refugees. Trump made the comments in an appearance on the O’Reilly factor, in the wake of the latest ISIS attack in Europe, with scores of people being killed by bombs at Istanbul airport in Turkey. Trump said that Obama and Hillary Clinton had the opportunity to make sure ISIS was “wiped out quickly and effectively,” while it was still in its infancy, but they failed to do so.

British man who 'tried to shoot Donald Trump with cop's gun at campaign rally' faces 30 years in prison as he is charged
Daily Mail - British man who authorities say tried to grab a police officer's gun to shoot presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at a Las Vegas campaign rally has been indicted on federal criminal charges. A grand jury on Wednesday charged Michael Steven Sandford, 20, with disrupting an official function and two firearm possession counts, U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said. Together, the charges could get him up to 30 years in prison.

Pentagon lifts ban on transgender servicemembers – Says Defense Secretary Ash Carter
RT - The US military will no longer discriminate against transgender troops, Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced on Thursday. Lifting the ban will involve changing numerous procedures and rules, especially regarding providing medical care…. The change has been in the works for a year. Top brass had raised concerns about how to deal with medical, housing and uniform issues for troops who are transitioning to the other sex, but ultimately agreed with Carter on the change.

'Death of winter': Jet streams cross equator, 'chaos' predicted
RT - Scientists have observed an “unprecedented” event that could lead to an end of seasons as we know them, after Northern Hemisphere jet streams crossed the equator and linked with others in the south. Usually separated entirely from each other by the equator where warm air acts as a barrier, both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere consist of jet streams made up of either warm moist air or cold dry air. The streams usually run from east to west but new data shows that the Northern Hemisphere’s streams have changed path and linked with streams in the south. “Welcome to climate chaos. We must declare a global climate emergency” warned Paul Beckwith, a climate scientist from the University of Ottawa, when analyzing data from Earth Nullschool. Beckwith explained the data in a video online in which he warned it could disrupt the world’s food supply and lead to “massive geopolitical unrest.”

Federal regulation of Internet coming, warn FCC, FEC commissioners
Washington Examiner - Democrats targeting content and control of the Internet, especially from conservative sources, are pushing hard to layer on new regulations and even censorship under the guise of promoting diversity while policing bullying, warn commissioners from the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Election Commission.

Camera police? Apple might soon make it possible to block recording video at concerts
RT - Like recording live shows with your iPhone? A new patent granted to Apple details a new method of shutting down such behavior without the owner’s consent, raising concern about the possibility of the technology being used for censorship.

4 Foolish Mistakes People Make When Picking A ‘Bug-Out’ Location (LOTS Of People Do No. 2)
Off the Grid News - When choosing a location to “bug out” to, there are three very common mistakes people make, each of which could seriously compromise your survival plan, or even worse. Don’t make these mistakes, and you’ll stand a much better chance of pulling through.

Gardasil: Sharing the Carnage with Boys
Health Impact News - In 2014, at the age of 18 and a half, Zach was a first semester full-time college student and worked a laborious job roughly 30 hours a week. His life was on track, he was social, active and happy. Zach swam like a fish in the water with a body built for track who walked miles almost every day. In early October that same year, Zach sustained an ankle injury which placed him out of work while he recovered. During this October 3rd appointment for his ankle, he was talked into a flu vaccination. October 13th, Zach returned for a follow up and was talked into accepting the Gardasil and meningococcal vaccines. It was shortly after this that the first phase of his health decline began.

CDC Halts Use of Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
Natural Blaze - The CDC’s vaccine task force, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) announced that the live attenuated vaccine was only three percent effective in children ages 2 through 17. This panel of vaccine experts stated that “no protective benefit could be measured.” In the general population, overall flu vaccine effectiveness was only 49 percent.

Do You Still Eat Baby Carrots? After Reading This, You Won’t!
Natural Blaze - Carrots are part of a healthy diet, right? Well, if they’re organic, haven’t been processed, or dipped in chemical cleaners, absolutely. Carrots are an incredibly nutritious root vegetable to consume as they’re rich in fiber and vitamins A and C. Of course, that doesn’t really apply to “baby” carrots, which are made from larger, crooked or deformed carrots. As Mercola relays, the bright orange, edible-looking bites are cut and shaped into cocktail carrots and are dipped in a solution of water and chlorine so they might be preserved. Why is this done?

7 Proven Reasons To Eat More Blueberries
Green Med Info - Spring and summer are prime seasons for fresh blueberries. But there are good reasons to eat them all year round. Blueberries pack huge health benefits in a tiny package. Research confirms that eating even less than a cup of blueberries a day helps fend off heart disease, cancer, brain aging, and much more. Here are seven great reasons to eat more blueberries every day.

Homemade Tennis Ball Bombs a Serious Threat to Dogs
Dogington Post - As you’re walking your dogs this time of year, be careful when picking up a stray tennis ball – it may be a new type of homemade explosive and could pose a serious risk to you or your dog if it’s played with. Most commonly found around the 4th of July and New Year holidays, when fireworks and backyard pyrotechnics are most popular, some people are turning tennis balls into bombs and often leave them lying around for dogs and kids to find. Abandoned tennis ball firecrackers have been found both in wooded areas and in busy neighborhoods.

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