Monkeyfister

Occupy Wall Street Live-- 24/7...

2012-12-08T20:19:00.000-06:00

This Live Feed thread is pinned for the duration. New posts start below this one. Thank you for being here!

Watch live streaming video from globalrevolution at livestream.com

My dear friend MadSat reminds me that K Street is every bit as big a part of the problem as Wall Street. Here are two proposals for Constitutional Amendments to STOP Corporate Influence on OUR Government:

-- Move To Amend: A Constitutional Amendment To End Corporate Personhood

-- Get Money Out: A Constitutional Amendment To Get Corporate Money Out Of Politics

Both are simple and easy to support.

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Merry Fucking Christmas...

2011-12-22T19:18:00.000-06:00

Here's some really good Christmas Music:

DJ Riko's 10th Annual Merry Mixmas CD.
Best of the past nine years of AWESOME Christmas mixes. All there for free downloading, and NO DRM!!!

And here's the Cigar Box Nation Christmas Album Download. A whole CD's worth of awesome Christmas music played on homemade cigar box guitars.

Don't say I didn't give anything this year.

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Yes, Republicans Are Assholes, But I Can't Support The Payroll Tax Holiday...

2011-12-22T15:35:00.003-06:00

There is no question that the Teabagged Republicans are intransigent assholes, but I cannot get my head around Democrats, Liberals and Progressives rallying around the de-funding of Social Security with this Payroll Tax Holiday.

Attaching it to the very needed Unemployment Insurance extension, and Medicare re-imbursement authorization was a recipe for disaster in the first place, with this gaggle of evil clowns controlling the House.

Here is the actual House Bill: via House.gov

You'll have one hell of a time finding half of the provisions discussed anywhere in the Media or the Blogosphere. What the House Teabaggers are all het up about is the stripping out of several of their most odious demands for all of two months.

1. They inserted a proviso that greatly weakens the Affordable Care Act: CPBB, which would throw nearly 200,000 out of coverage.

The provision in question would substantially increase the repayment charges imposed at tax time on many people who, under the health reform law, will receive subsidies to help them afford coverage during months of the year when their incomes are low but whose incomes increase later in the year because they have found a job, gotten a promotion, gotten married, or for another such reason.

2. They demanded circumvention, or neutering of EPA regulations that greatly reduce emmissions, and put strict controls on mining company effluents-- specifically Mercury and Arsenic. Of course, they cynically called this, "EPA Regulatory Relief." Fortunately, the EPA just rolled those regulations out, thus making this point nearly moot. But, of course, it only made the Teabagged House all the more adamant to get their way, today: Susie Madrak has more on this.

3. The Teabaggers also were demanding drug-testing for Unemployment Insurance applicants/recipients, which is utterly ridiculous.

So, those three pieces of the Teabagger Bill were stripped out-- for all of two months-- by the Senate, and that was enough for them to go apeshit, and, once AGAIN, threaten to destroy what is left of this economy.

But, as much as I cannot understand how the horribly unnecessary XL Pipeline, or these other provisions remotely relate to Medicare or Long-Term Unemployment, I simply cannot support the HEADLINE Payroll Tax Holiday.

Even when I was making only $20K per annum, even when I was unemployed for 18 months post-9/11, $20 in my paycheck was still of nominal value to me. It meant I drank cheap beer, and rolled my own smokes, instead of buying premium. Twenty bucks per pay period is not worth what the Teabaggers are demanding as ransom, without offering a damned thing in their so-called "negotiations."

The de-funding of Social Security should be questioned by EVERY AMERICAN from age eight to eighty.

I'd prefer the Senate get their over-paid asses back in session, split the Payroll Tax Holiday nonsense out, pass the necessary Medicare and UI extensions as a "clean" Bill for the entire year, and deal with the rest of the crap Legislation at a later date.

This is no fucking way to govern a Nation in crisis, and I am shocked that Congress retains even an 11% approval rate.

Moreover-- the Left needs to stop and give some SERIOUS thought as to just what the fuck it is championing with this Payroll Tax cut.

Fuck the lot of them, I am so goddamned pissed. I'm over 40, and dammit-- I WANT Social Security to simply EXIST in twenty years.

This shit is fucked up, and BULLSHIT.

Addendum: This has never been about the Payroll Tax Holiday, it was the Teabagged GOP trying to make the simplest, but meaningless and destructive "Working/Middle-Class" Tax relief as painful as possible, while rewarding their most greedy Corporate Sponsors.

Biggest beneficiaries of this shitty Bill? TELCOs, Insurance Companies, BigEnergy.

I've already run through all the "Direct vs. Indirect" Funding of SS elsewhere. Even IF SS is being otherwise funded through the General Fund, it is at the expense of some other vital Discretionary Spending Program, and let's face it folks-- Social Security and the General Fund were NEVER, EVER intended to co-mingle. The very premise of all of this is fundamentally WRONG.

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Occupy Detroit Makes The Big, Logical Next Step...

2011-12-20T10:31:00.000-06:00

Well done. Keep it up, folks!

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Bankers Seek to Debunk Attack on Top 1%...

2011-12-20T09:17:00.001-06:00

So, a bunch of 1%-er heavies are getting together to counter the Occupation... They clearly think very little of us:

via Bloomberg News

Jamie Dimon, the highest-paid chief executive officer among the heads of the six biggest U.S. banks, turned a question at an investors’ conference in New York this month into an occasion to defend wealth.

“Acting like everyone who’s been successful is bad and because you’re rich you’re bad, I don’t understand it,” the JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) CEO told an audience member who asked about hostility toward bankers. “Sometimes there’s a bad apple, yet we denigrate the whole.”

Dimon, 55, whose 2010 compensation was $23 million, joined billionaires including hedge-fund manager John Paulson and Home Depot Inc. (HD) co-founder Bernard Marcus in using speeches, open letters and television appearances to defend themselves and the richest 1 percent of the population targeted by Occupy Wall Street demonstrators.

If successful businesspeople don’t go public to share their stories and talk about their troubles, “they deserve what they’re going to get,” said Marcus, 82, a founding member of Job Creators Alliance, a Dallas-based nonprofit that develops talking points and op-ed pieces aimed at “shaping the national agenda,” according to the group’s website. He said he isn’t worried that speaking out might make him a target of protesters.

“Who gives a crap about some imbecile?” Marcus said. “Are you kidding me?”

So the co-founder of Home Depot says we're imbeciles. Time to Occupy Home Depot, then?

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Kim Jong Il Dead At Age 70. South Korea On Emergency Footing...

2011-12-19T00:11:00.002-06:00

Now HERE's a fucking wild-assed turn, unexpected before Christmas... WOW.

via Zero Hedge

North Korea says its leader Kim Jong-il has died.
N. Korean leader died of fatigue at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 17 during train ride: KCNA

From Daily Yomiuri:

Cause of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's death is said to be a stroke.

And Reuters confirms:

NORTH KOREA STATE TELEVISION SAYS KIM JONG IL HAS DIED

Great. More geopolitical uncertainty. Because as the Arab Spring has shown us there is nothing quite as stable as a transitory military government to fill a power vacuum (also see Thermidorian reaction during the French Revolution).

As expected the South Korean response is immediate.

S. Korean gov't shifts to emergency footing on news of N.K. leader's death

Elvis-lovin' Kim Jong Il is dead at age 70. He was Bugtussle crazy. His heir/son? Crazier than Daddy.

Nothing but horrible madcap will come of this new twist. And nothing good.

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Calvin's Snowmen...

2011-12-17T14:49:00.000-06:00

This was always one of my favorites from Bill Watterson's "Calvin and Hobbes" comic strip.

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Pervasive phone logging software raises concerns with Sen. Franken

2011-12-02T19:10:00.002-06:00

Senator Seeks Answers About Phone Logging Software : The Two-Way : NPR

Those smartphones of yours, well, they're tattling on you!

via NPR.Org

"The revelation that the locations and other sensitive data of millions of Americans are being secretly recorded and possibly transmitted is deeply troubling," Franken said in a statement. "This news underscores the need for Congress to act swiftly to protect the location information and private, sensitive information of consumers. But right now, Carrier IQ has a lot of questions to answer."

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Crossing the Thin Blue Line

2011-12-01T21:11:00.001-06:00

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Senate Votes To Let Military Detain Americans Indefinitely

2011-12-01T20:52:00.002-06:00

Holy shit, something I can actually agree with Rand Paul on... of course, so do many Democrats in the US Senate.

Carl Levin should have to turn in his Democratic Party membership card for this whole damned mess. I never thought I would actually say this: but "Carl Levin, you have to go! I will be doing whatever I can to help someone run against you in your next primary you fascist little Nazi bastard. Your rabbi must be ashamed of you!"

via Huffington Post

"I'm very, very, concerned about having U.S. citizens sent to Guantanamo Bay for indefinite detention," said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), one of the Senate's most conservative members.

Paul's top complaint is that a terrorism suspect would get just one hearing where the military could assert that the person is a suspected terrorist -- and then they could be locked up for life, without ever formally being charged. The only safety valve is a waiver from the secretary of defense.

"It's not enough just to be alleged to be a terrorist," Paul said, echoing the views of the American Civil Liberties Union. "That's part of what due process is -- deciding, are you a terrorist? I think it's important that we not allow U.S. citizens to be taken."

Democrats who were also concerned about liberties compared the military policing of Americans to the detention of Americans in internment camps during World War II.

"Congress is essentially authorizing the indefinite imprisonment of American citizens, without charge," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who offered another amendment -- which has not yet gotten a vote -- that she said would correct the problem. "We are not a nation that locks up its citizens without charge."

It really makes me feel dirty to actually agree with something Rand Paul (the Teabagger Senator) has to say. But in this case, he is totally correct. And when he and Feingold both agree on something, that just kinda freaks me the hell out. Next thing you know, cats and dogs will be sleeping next to each other, cops will be joining with the 99% and Christians will be protecting Muslims as they pray... Oh wait... all that already happens!! What the heck? Is 2012 really The End? Must be if Hell is freezing over (as it seems it must be!).

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Spare links:

Google Results for Senate Bill 1867

Fuck politics and all that for just a minute...

2011-11-28T20:14:00.002-06:00

This video put a smile on my face. I was as giddy as a school kid!!

via io9.com

HBO has released an amazing behind-the-scenes look at the second season of Game Of Thrones. Can you name all the new characters included in this video? We'll get you started — up front is the sensational Natalie Dormer, who's playing Margaery Tyrell.

Sooooo looking forward to season 2! (Video is embedded in the linked article, with no Share feature).

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Spare links:

George R.R. Martin's official website
Westeros.org
Winter is Coming

Epic

2011-11-28T17:28:00.002-06:00

Here is another angle on the amazing "Bat signal" light the Occupiers projected onto the Verizon building...

"I'll Occupy" Recruitment Song: The 99 is Pissed and We Will Not Be Dismissed! - YouTube

2011-11-26T15:40:00.000-06:00

Great version of a classic song!

Tante Mary's "Just Put the Fucking Turkey in the Oven"...

2011-11-24T16:50:00.000-06:00

This is probably too late for most readers stuck cooking turkey today, but, really... Mary's advice is perfect-- Just put the fucking bird in the oven, and cook it until it is done. Modern-raised turkey really is a piece of shit tasting bird. Butter, salt and pepper and cook it.

She does a good job of explaining how to make awesome giblet gravy.

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Heh...

2011-11-18T13:23:00.000-06:00

Excellent product placement!

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Well, if science says so...

2011-11-18T01:42:00.003-06:00

via New Scientist

AS PROTESTS against financial power sweep the world this week, science may have confirmed the protesters' worst fears. An analysis of the relationships between 43,000 transnational corporations has identified a relatively small group of companies, mainly banks, with disproportionate power over the global economy.

The study's assumptions have attracted some criticism, but complex systems analysts contacted by New Scientist say it is a unique effort to untangle control in the global economy. Pushing the analysis further, they say, could help to identify ways of making global capitalism more stable.

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I Have A Dream...

2011-11-17T17:30:00.000-06:00

Source: Anthony Freda

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"Exit Through The Gift Shop"...

2011-11-17T16:51:00.000-06:00

The Banksy Documentary... or is it a mockumentary? I have no idea, but it is an excellent movie,and very worth viewing.

Click here to view it in full here.

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(Retired) Police Captain Ray Lewis Joins OWS

2011-11-17T12:40:00.009-06:00

A week or so ago I posted a video from Mike Ruppert, a decorated former LAPD officer, voicing his support of the Occupy Movement.

Now I bring you this video of retired Police Captain Ray Lewis (Philadelphia) as he joins with OWS to make his voice heard, and to reprimand the NYPD for their shameful tactics.

Kudos Captain Ray Lewis!! Thank you for showing your support and Solidarity with OWS and the Occupation Movement. We need more men and women in the blue uniform to stand up in support!

ETA: Also, I want to bring everyone's attention to this group: Occupy Police. They are police officers who are standing with the 99% (as well they should!)

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Dorli Rainey...

2011-11-17T11:45:00.000-06:00

Ms. Rainey is the 84 year-old woman who was pepper sprayed by police in Seattle.

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Occupy Dallas Is Being Evicted...

2011-11-17T11:09:00.000-06:00

The hand of the DHS seems to include keeping the Media away from documenting their atrocities.

via BoingBoing

"Dozens of Dallas Police officers holding shields, batons and wearing helmets about to enter the #Occupy camp," tweets WFAA (Dallas, TX) reporter Jason Whitely.

By various reports, about 50 Occupy Dallas protestors are gathered. Police are in riot gear.

Media were ordered by police to move away from the camp (at a distance that would make direct observation impossible), or face arrest along with protesters, according to various sources.

Wouldn't want anyone seeing the brutality.

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NYPD Scanner Feeds...

2011-11-17T09:57:00.000-06:00

Watching the live feed, while listening to Bloomberg's cops plan their assaults.

Listen In!!!

Document the atrocities.

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Homeland Security Coordinated 18-City Police Crackdown on Occupy Protest

2011-11-17T09:44:00.000-06:00

Since when did peaceful protest become a terror threat so terrible that DHS needed to take action?

Washington's Blog has the full run-down.

This wasn't a case of these cities just deciding on their own to crack-down.

Over the past ten days, more than a dozen cities have moved to evict “Occupy” protesters from city parks and other public spaces. As was the case in last night’s move in New York City, each of the police actions shares a number of characteristics. And according to one Justice official, each of those actions was coordinated with help from Homeland Security, the FBI and other federal police agencies.

[...]

According to this official, in several recent conference calls and briefings, local police agencies were advised to seek a legal reason to evict residents of tent cities, focusing on zoning laws and existing curfew rules. Agencies were also advised to demonstrate a massive show of police force, including large numbers in riot gear. In particular, the FBI reportedly advised on press relations, with one presentation suggesting that any moves to evict protesters be coordinated for a time when the press was the least likely to be present.

And we can see the heavy hand of the DHS in action, from footage and photos taken at various locations:

Pepper spray by the tank-load in Seattle--

It was so indiscriminate, they sprayed a Priest, an 84-year old woman, and a blind woman with a cane --

Here's Zucotti Park--

Berkley--

As I type, watching the live feed, OWS NYC is marching toward Broadway. NYPD is deploying an LRAD system ahead of them.

Needless to say, when the Right to peacefully assemble and protest is removed, it takes away the lowest level the People's ability to air grievances from the menu.

As the police escalate their use of force, it pushes the People to move to Direct Action and more disruptive methods.

And Direct Action is exactly were we're at now.

The streets are OURS.

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Citizens Forced to Pour Bleach on Perfectly Good Produce (Video) : TreeHugger

2011-11-14T14:04:00.004-06:00

WTF? Now they attack organically grown food??

Citizens Forced to Pour Bleach on Perfectly Good Produce (article)

via TreeHugger.com

As many of the folks in the video below argue, there is something very strange about a system that allows junk food to be marketed to children, and where obesity, heart disease and diet-related cancers are running rampant, and yet small-scale producers are not able to serve food to their immediate customers without a complex set of regulations that were designed more for the industrial food system than a local, informal economy.

(And the video from that article:)

Monkeyfister, I sure hope that the TN Health officials aren't as bad as the idiots in Nevada.

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Spare links:

Quail Hollow Farm
Southern Nevada Health District

Here's Mike Tyson As Herman Cain...

2011-11-10T09:22:00.000-06:00

It's priceless!

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