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How to Download eBooks and Audiobooks Using an Apple Device (iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch)

2013-05-26T01:45:00.004-07:00

Voter Suppression Group ‘True the Vote’ sues IRS Over Their Right To Victimize Others Tax-Free

2013-05-22T08:33:00.003-07:00

The Houston-based group True the Vote, filed suit in federal court Tuesday against the Internal Revenue Service over the agency’s processing of its request for tax-exempt status and what they claim is heightened IRS scrutiny. The lawsuit states $85,000 in damages.

But Why? Why can’t True the Vote get tax-exempt status to suppress the vote?

Although True the Vote claims to be nonpartisan, it began as a Tea Party group called King Street Patriots which Catherine Engelbrecht founded. The group has worked closely with a variety of well-financed organizations, many unabashed in their desire to defeat President Obama, according to the New York Times in 2012.

A polished and provocative video, circulating among Tea Party activists, seeks to raise a “cavalry” to march on swing states and identifies True the Vote as a participant in the effort, called Code Red USA.

…

Code Red USA is financed by the Madison Project, a political action committee whose chairman is former Representative Jim Ryun, a Kansas Republican who was regarded as among the most conservative members of Congress.

Engelbrechet said in a statement, “True the Vote is dedicated solely to promoting election integrity in our Republic..” Uh huh.

True the Vote’s complaint:

Filed Complaint – True the Vote v. IRS

Aww, I feel so bad. I have a little tear coming out of my eye. Nah, my bad. That’s just mascara irritating my eye.

Music time!

Stop Your Sobbing:

Image: UprisingRadio

Alabama: 4 Teens shot after gunman opens fire in the crowd at a graduation party

2013-05-22T08:09:00.002-07:00

In New Market, Alabama, four teenagers were hospitalized at a graduation party for Buckhorn High School late Tuesday when someone opened fire in the crowd. The shooting occurred around 10:30 p.m. at a house party with students from several schools in attendance.

AL.com reports,”Madison County deputies say the situation started as a fight out in the yard. One teen pulled out a small caliber handgun and began firing. He fled before authorities arrived.

Four teens were injured in the attack. One girl was shot in the abdomen. She was going into surgery at Huntsville Hospital as of the last report shortly before 2 a.m. The other three, all males, went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. At least two of them had leg wounds.”

Watch courtesy of AL.com:

Virginia GOP Nominee For Attorney General Would Force Women To Report Their Miscarriages To Police

2013-05-20T09:36:00.002-07:00

If a woman in Virginia has a miscarriage without a doctor present, they must report it within 24 hours to the police or risk going to jail for a full year. At least, that’s what would have happened if a bill introduced by Virginia state Sen. Mark Obenshain (R) had become law.

And yet, the Virginia Republican Party wants to make Obenshain into the state’s top prosecutor. This weekend, Virginia Republicans selected Obenshain as their nominee to replace tea party stalwart Ken Cuccinelli (R) as the state’s attorney general.

Under Obenshain’s bill, which was introduced in 2009,

When a fetal death occurs without medical attendance upon the mother at or after the delivery or abortion, the mother or someone acting on her behalf shall, within 24 hours, report the fetal death, location of the remains, and identity of the mother to the local or state police or sheriff’s department of the city or county where the fetal death occurred. No one shall remove, destroy, or otherwise dispose of any remains without the express authorization of law-enforcement officials or the medical examiner. Any person violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Under Virginia law, a Class 1 misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of “confinement in jail for not more than twelve months and a fine of not more than $2,500,” so Obenshain’s bill could lead to a woman who decides to take a day to grieve the loss of a pregnancy she’d hoped to carry to term spending a year of her life in jail for that decision.

Even without Obenshain’s bill, Virginia law already treats many miscarriages as potential crimes. Under existing Virginia law, “[w]hen a fetal death occurs without medical attendance upon the mother at or after the delivery or abortion or when inquiry or investigation by a medical examiner is required, the medical examiner shall investigate the cause of fetal death and shall complete and sign the medical certification portion of the fetal death report within twenty-four hours after being notified of a fetal death.” Obsenshain, however, would treat many women as if they were criminal suspects at the moment they are confronted with a deep personal tragedy — and imprison them if they would rather deal with that tragedy privately with their family than share the vulnerable moment after a miscarriage with law enforcement.

That's how you give complex to Psy ...lol

2013-05-20T08:27:00.001-07:00

Justice Dept. Tracked Fox News Reporter James Rosen’s Movements, Obtained His Personal Emails

2013-05-20T08:12:00.002-07:00

A report in the Washington Post indicates that the Justice Department’s admission that they seized two months of telephone records from the Associated Press was not the first time the DoJ invaded the privacy of reporters in order to further an investigation. In 2009, James Rosen, Fox News’ chief Washington correspondent, was suspected of receiving secret information from government sources on North Korea. As a result, DoJ tracked his movements within the State Department via his access card, they traced the timing of his telephone calls with State Department sources, and obtained a searched his personal emails.

They used security badge access records to track the reporter’s comings and goings from the State Department, according to a newly obtained court affidavit. They traced the timing of his calls with a State Department security adviser suspected of sharing the classified report. They obtained a search warrant for the reporter’s personal e-mails.

The Post notes that these methods are similar to those used by the Justice Department to track down a leak relating to national intelligence that led them to seize a wide swath of phone records from the AP.

Read the report via The Washington Post

Some could have gaps in medical coverage under new law

2013-05-20T08:10:00.002-07:00

Income fluctuations could interrupt coverage for 28 million low-income people who could bounce between Medicaid and insurance exchanges. The key will be ensuring people move smoothly between programs.

When the national healthcare law takes full effect next year, millions of Americans risk disrupted health coverage because of common life events: getting married or divorced, having children or taking on a second job.

As their family incomes change, so too will their eligibility for public insurance programs. And if nothing is done, policymakers warn, many low-income patients will lose access to their doctors and medications during this massive game of health coverage pingpong.

Policymakers and healthcare industry leaders across the nation are paying close attention to the issue and working to close the coverage gaps before Jan. 1, said Alan Weil, executive director of the National Academy for State Health Policy.

Life changes are unavoidable, Weil said, but the key will be ensuring that people can move between programs without mountains of paperwork or interruptions in healthcare. "If we fail to effectively move people across programs as their circumstances change, that will be a big problem," he said.

Nationwide, income fluctuations are estimated to interrupt coverage for as many as 28 million people expected to bounce between Medicaid and the federally subsidized health insurance exchanges that states are working to create, according to an article in the journal Health Affairs. Among those most at risk are seasonal and hourly workers and young adults who lack coverage through their parents or jobs, experts said.

Patients who can't see their doctors or get their medication will either avoid care or end up in publicly subsidized emergency rooms, pushing healthcare costs even higher, experts said. And insurance premiums will rise if young, healthy people get fed up with the transitions and opt out of health coverage altogether.

Trivia Hill, 26, knows the game well. She and her fiance had Medi-Cal, California's version of Medicaid, while she was pregnant. But she lost it two weeks after their son was born. Medi-Cal workers told her that her fiance's job — holding signs for a haircutting business — made the family ineligible for the coverage, which paid for his diabetes medication.

"I was devastated," said Hill, who lives in Alhambra. "I thought, 'Oh my God. What are we gonna do?'"

The family couldn't afford to buy private insurance, so they went without. But just a few months later, her fiance got laid off and the family reapplied for Medi-Cal. "I had to do the process all over again," she said.

Jasmine Barajas, 20, also got dropped from Medi-Cal because her job selling cellphones and her husband's job making jeans put them above the income limit. Their young daughter remained on a public plan, but Barajas and her husband couldn't pay for their own coverage.

"We need something permanent," she said. "Everything is a hassle."

The Affordable Care Act will improve access for many low-income workers who currently become uninsured if they are no longer eligible for Medicaid, said Benjamin Sommers, assistant professor of health policy and economics at the Harvard School of Public Health. Beginning in January, those workers will be able to buy private insurance with federal subsidies.

But policymakers must figure out a way to make that coverage affordable and to ease the transition between Medicaid and the state exchanges to prevent more emergency room visits and hospitalizations, he said. "These significant disruptions … can make it hard for people to get high-quality, stable healthcare."

To address the issue, an Urban Institute analysis recommends that states provide intensive consumer assistance to help people navigate the changes, reduce the amount of paperwork and implement policies to maintain continuity of care during transitions.

In Washington, two representatives introduced legislation last month that would make beneficiaries' enrollment in Medicaid last for at least one year. Some states are considering other ways to make it easier for patients to keep their doctors and health plans even when their incomes change.

In California, residents earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $15,000 a year, will be eligible for Medi-Cal next year. Individuals earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level, or about $46,000, will be eligible for subsidies through the exchange, known as Covered California.

The Covered California board approved a plan in March to help patients expected to jump between the two. The "bridge plan" would enable patients now on Medi-Cal managed care whose incomes rise to continue to stay with their health plan once they move to the exchange.

The program, which still needs federal approval and state legislation to take effect, could serve as many as 840,000 people next year. The plan should streamline the process, keep out-of-pocket premiums low and make it easier for people to keep their providers, said David Panush, external affairs director with Covered California. "It is better for their quality of care, it is better for continuity of care," he said.

When patients bounce back and forth between plans, it leads to worse outcomes for those who are "living on the edge between working poor and just plain poor," said Howard Kahn, chief executive of the L.A. Care public health insurance plan. California's bridge program, he said, should make the transition much smoother.

Anthony Wright, executive director for the consumer group Health Access California, said the bridge plan may be especially important for people who have chronic diseases like diabetes and asthma and whose health will be affected if they have to switch doctors every time they get more shifts at work or their seasonal work ends.

"People don't live their lives neatly in categories above or below 138% of the federal poverty level," he said. "We are trying to create something that is more seamless."

True Story: Two burglars busted after one of them butt-dials 911

2013-05-20T07:59:00.001-07:00

Nathan Teklemariam and Carson Rinehart, both 20 years-old, broke into a car, then allegedly stole prescription drugs and other items after shattering the vehicle’s window with a hammer. One of the two genius-type burglars then butt-dialed 911. At that point a dispatcher heard, ”Get the bolt and give me the hammer just in case,” before glass hearing the sound of glass shattering.

After the dispatcher pieced together the pair’s location, the police tracked them down as they were leaving the crime scene.

The Daily News reports, “At first they maintained their innocence, but officers reportedly found items taken from the other car on the back seat.

When told how they were caught, one of the suspects said: “This fool really called 911? Damn.”

Teklemariam and Rinehart were arrested and charged with one count each of burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of stolen property.”

Please someone give these guys an Award of some sort, Darwin or otherwise.

Congrats guys. You’ll now be known as the butt dialers.

Images: the Daily News.

Video: Michele Bachmann already airing TV ads 17 months before the election to defend her seat

2013-05-20T07:18:00.003-07:00

Even though the election is 17 months away, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is airing about $85,000 in TV ads in the Twin Cities area in order to defend her seat. In the ad, Bachmann touts as an achievement her attempts to repeal Obamacare.

Politicians typically do not begin running commercials until the year of the election

Watch courtesy of Politico:

Politico reports, “Bachmann, one of Capitol Hill’s most formidable fundraisers, has a big cash reserve to draw from. During the first fundraising quarter, she brought in $678,000 and reported having more than $1.8 million on hand.”

Bachmann must know her seat is in jeopardy. Federal investigators are interviewing former campaign staffers for the Congresswoman, surrounding allegations of intentional campaign finance violations. The investigators are working on behalf of the Office of Congressional Ethics, which probes reported improprieties by House members and their staffs and then can refer cases to the House Ethics Committee.

Jennifer Rubin Goes Off On David Shuster For Reciting ‘Media Matters Talking Points,’ Tells CNN To ‘Mute’ Him

2013-05-19T13:28:00.001-07:00

Reliable Sources got heated on Sunday morning when the Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubinclashed with David Shuster during a discussion about ABC News’ Jonathan Karl — who issued a statement “regretting” the error he made in reporting on emails about Benghazi talking points. Going after Shuster for parroting “Media Matters talking points,” she suggested CNN “mute” him.

Karl’s story wasn’t incorrect, Rubin argued, adding that the problem was with the attribution… before Shuster cut her off, prompting Rubin to glare while he spoke.

“It was wrong,” he countered. “Because the overall Republican point here was that the Obama administration was trying to protect the State Department — the Obama administration was trying to protect the State Department — and that the White House was somehow trying to characterize the talking points or change the talking points in order to minimize political damage. That Republican idea is just flat out wrong!”

“Very nice to have the Media Matters talking points recited out of David’s lips,” Rubin quipped.

“What are you talking about?” Shuster shot back. “I haven’t talked to anybody from Media Matters.”

As Shuster continued to talk, Rubin remarked to host Howard Kurtz, “Howard, if you want to hear me that’s fine, if you don’t, you should mute him.”

Kurtz then interjected to add the disclaimer that we assume everyone’s putting forth their own views, but Rubin pressed, “No, they’re actually on Media Matters. These exact comments are coming out of Media Matters — absolutely.”

Shuster deemed that as an “unfair accusation,” as the two proceeded to talk over each other and Rubin again turned to Kurtz and said, “If you want to mute David.” Later, Kurtz allowed her the chance to make her full point.

Watch below, via CNN:

CBS News' Major Garrett Reports That 'Republican' Source Fed ABC And CBS News Fake Benghazi Emails

2013-05-19T13:02:00.001-07:00

Ex-CEO Claims She Was Fired For Being ‘Disabled’ After Being Diagnosed With Breast Cancer

2013-05-19T12:59:00.003-07:00

Kathleen Mason, ex-CEO of Tuesday Morning (Credit: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Shortly after informing the board of directors of her breast cancer, former CEO of Tuesday Morning was ousted as the head of the furniture retail company last June. Kathleen Mason, who served as CEO for 12 years, has filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming she was discriminated against.

The Wall Street Journal reports this may be anunprecedented lawsuit among cases over alleged discrimination:

While employee suits over alleged discrimination are common, it is rare for one to come from a former CEO. Ms. Mason’s lawsuit, filed on Thursday in county court in Dallas, claims the board wrongfully dismissed her because “it regarded her as being disabled” after she informed some fellow directors about her diagnosis.

Mason, 64 years old, said that she informed board members of her cancer in March and she was asked to resign in mid-May. The board eventually released a letter criticizing Mason hours before she was fired that read, “[she] led an extraordinary destruction of shareholder value.” The company denies her allegations, noting the company’s stock fell nearly 60 percent before she was fired.

Though the law is very clear that gender and health discrimination is illegal, women in the workplace still regularly face repercussions over getting pregnant, taking birth control, or contracting diseases that affect predominantly women. And based on the strong reactions to Angelina Jolie’s recent news that she had a preventative double mastectomy to reduce her risk of breast cancer, it’s clear that the stigma over health issues that affect a woman’s anatomy still exists.

It is unclear whether Mason experienced her own discrimination, but the issue is hardly a women-only issue. Examples abound where employees have lost their jobs over perceived weakness after they developed cancer or recovered from surgery.

Scott Walker Touts Job Growth That Ranks Wisconsin Seventh-To-Last In Nation

2013-05-19T12:57:00.001-07:00

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) is pushing a report from his administration’s Department of Workforce Development that puts the state’s net private-sector job gains at 32,000 for 2012. Federally tallied figures for all states won’t be available until June, as CBS affiliate WSAW explains, which renders comparisons impossible:

Walker’s Department of Workforce Development released the new figures on Thursday, but they can’t be compared to other states until next month. Walker has been releasing the figures before they are published officially by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Critics say the state’s performance can’t be adequately measured until the numbers can be compared with other states. The most current ranking, comparing jobs created between September 2011 and September 2012, showed Wisconsin was 44th in the nation.

Walker is claiming a two-year total gain of 62,000 private-sector jobs, and a table on page 3 of the state’s report acknowledges the public sector is employing about 8,500 fewer people than it did the month before he took office. That puts the governor less than one quarter of the way to hiscampaign pledge of 250,000 total jobs created in four years.

If any independent organization would be likely to defend Walker’s record, it would be the conservative U.S. Chamber of Commerce. But the Chamber’s most recent annual scorecard of state economies has the state near the bottom in job creation, as the Madison Capital Timesnoted shortly after the report was released:

Its annual scorecard on state economies ranked Wisconsin 44th for overall economic performance and 50th — as in dead last — for short-term job growth as measured between September 2010 and November 2012. It also has Wisconsin 39th in “business climate” — on par with the state’s ranking under Gov. Jim Doyle.

Walker’s early-term agenda focused on busting public worker unions in the state and slashing state spending. His successes in pursuing those legislative goals amount to a localized version of the austerity approach to economic growth which Republicans have pressed with less success on the national level. Following the billions in budget cuts he pushed upon taking office, Walker has proposed both further cuts to school budgets and a tax cut that’s heavily slanted towards the state’s wealthiest residents.

Those policies have pulled demand out of the state’s economy, undermining Wisconsin’s growth prospects. Beyond the paltry jobs progress Walker is touting, U.S. Commerce Department figuresshow the state ranked near the bottom in terms of personal income growth over the 2011-12 period.

How Cheap Genetic Testing Complicates Cancer Screening For Us All

2013-05-19T12:50:00.004-07:00

Sometimes, more medical information is a bad thing. The influential United States Preventive Services Task Forcerecommends against most women getting genetic screenings for their susceptibility to breast cancer. Why? Because the tests are imperfect: for every woman who gets tested for genes associated with onset breast cancer, even more will falsely test positive, leading spooked patients into needless surgery or psychological trauma. Super cheap genetic testing from enterprising health startups, such as 23andMe, have complicated cancer detection for us all by increasing the accessibility of imperfect medical information.

After discovering a mutated BRCA1 gene, known to increase breast cancer 60 to 80%, actress Angelina Jolie’s underwent a radical preventive double mastectomy. Herbrave confession in the New York Times brought much needed attention to breast cancer awareness, but it’s dangerous in the hands of a statistically illiterate population.

For instance, as New York Times statistical guru, Nate Silver, once reminded me, while breast cancer mammograms are 75% accurate, a woman who tests positive only has about a 10% chance of actually getting cancer. Since the vast majority of women don’t have cancer, there are far more women who will falsely test positive (here is a helpful blog post with the numbers worked out). Most importantly, surveys reveal that many people don’t understand the math behind false positives in cancer testing, and may make uninformed decisions as a result.

The same math holds true for the mutated BRCA1/2 gene of Jolie’s confession: researchersestimate that a tiny 0.11 to 0.12 of women have the faulty gene. “I believe in doing genetic testing for BRCA1/2 with appropriate counseling,” writes University of Southern California’s David Agus, one of Steve Jobs’ cancer doctors, The answers are not simple in this case and require experienced professionals to discuss with the patient.”

Traditionally hundreds, if thousands of dollars to test, a cottage industry of cheap genetic testing has sprung up. 23andMe, one of the most popular, offers the service for as little at $99, and has even dared to weigh in on the BRCA controversy on the company blog.

Citing a new study that found no negative emotional consequences from patients after learning about their BRCA1 mutation, the 23andMe blog concludes, “The findings are important given that a frequent criticism of direct-to-consumer testing is based on the assumption that it causes either serious emotional distress or triggers deleterious actions on the part of consumers,” wrote the blog.

“Given the absence of evidence for serious emotional distress or inappropriate actions in this subset of mutation-positive customers who agreed to be interviewed for this study, broader screening of Ashkenazi Jewish women for these three BRCA mutations should be considered.”

Sometimes, however, voluntary surveys don’t tell the whole story. Time, in their cover story on Jolie’s decision, recounts the tale of one woman who likely had unnecessary preventative surgery after learning about a genetic defect. ““She freaked out and had a bilateral mastectomy,” said Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, who worried that this patient’s particular mutation was not as troubling as she worried it was.

Interestingly, TIME’s author, Kate Pickart, argues the financial costs of genetic testing has stall mass run on genetic tests. Even a new provision under the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) only mandates 100% insurance coverage for patients with a family history of genetic flaws.

But, at just $99 (and probably far less in the future), financial barriers are crumbling. This isn’t to say that genetic screening is bad, it just complicates things for the rest of us, especially those who don’t understand statistics. The more women get tested, the more false positives exist, the less confident patients and physicians become in a course of action.

Maybe our only hope out of this cheaper testing spiral is technology that makes detection more accurate and more predictive. One promising solution is a new bra that constantly monitors deep tissue for cancerous signs (below)

So, perhaps, before long, we will innovate our way out of this dilemma.

Syrian army storms rebel town of Qusair

2013-05-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

Heavy fighting is reported in the besieged Syrian town of Qusair after state forces launched a major offensive to re-capture the rebel stronghold.

State TV says troops have captured key buildings in the town centre, a claim strongly denied by activists.

Rebels say 50 people have been killed while state media says 70 "terrorists" are dead.

Lebanese militants are said to be involved - Hezbollah siding with the government, Sunni gunmen with rebels.

The town - close to the border with Lebanon -
has great strategic value. Its control would give the
government access from the capital to the coast.

For the rebels, control of Qusair means they can come and go from Lebanon, says the BBC's Jim Muir, in Beirut.

The assault began early on Sunday with artillery fire and air strikes. In recent weeks the Syrian military has won back surrounding villages and countryside and had encircled Qusair.

Activists in the town posted video on the internet showing chaotic scenes at what they said was a field hospital flooded with casualties.

Our correspondent say some are clearly fighters while others are civilians.

The activists said the medical situation was drastic, with few resources to treat huge numbers of injured.

Analysis

Jim MuirBBC News, Beirut

What appears to be a concerted government attempt to recapture Qusair from the rebels had been in the making for some time.

In a sense, Qusair had already fallen militarily, since the rebels appear to have lost control of most of the surrounding villages and countryside adjacent to the Lebanese border.

It adds to a string of setbacks rebels have suffered in recent weeks, especially along the Lebanese and Jordanian borders and around Damascus itself.

Rebel commanders blame their recent losses on the drying-up of arms supplies from outside. Qatar and others are reported to have recently cut deliveries, perhaps in response to US reservations about enabling a victory by a rebel movement in which the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front is playing a lead role.

Certainly the government forces, bolstered by apparently open-ended support from Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, have in recent weeks had a new spring in their step.

They said at least 50 people were dead and some 450 wounded.

State TV said that troops had taken over buildings in the centre, including the town hall, and were now chasing out "terrorists" - its term for the rebels.

Qusair resident and opposition activist Hadi Abdullah said civilians had sought shelter in basements.

He denied the regime had made advances in the town and said that the municipality building was destroyed in fighting months ago.

"It's the heaviest [shelling] since the beginning of the revolution," he said, quoted by AP news agency.

Earlier, Rami Abdel Rahman, of UK-based activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said troops were advancing from the south and Hezbollah fighters were "playing a central role".

Earlier this month, Syrian forces reportedly dropped leaflets on the town, warning that it would come under attack if opposition forces failed to surrender.

In another development, the Lebanese National News Agency reported that eight Soviet-made Grad rockets had struck the north-eastern town of Hermel.

The agency said the short-range missiles were presumably fired from Syria but had caused no damage or casualties.

News of the assault on Qusair came as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed to continue the "fight against terrorism".

In his first interview since the US and Russia announced plans for a peace conference, Mr Assad told an Argentine newspaper that the meeting should focus on stopping the flow of money and weapons to "terrorists".

He rejected suggestions he might stand down, saying a captain did not abandon his ship and presidential elections next year would determine his future.

The conference, scheduled for June, will try to persuade the Syrian government and opposition to accept a deal, including an immediate cessation of violence.

The plan, based on a UN-backed proposal, would see the establishment of a transitional government that could include officials serving under President Assad and members of the opposition.

However, neither the Syrian government nor the opposition has yet made a commitment to attend the meeting.

The top US general described Russia's decision to send missiles to Syria as "ill-timed and unfortunate".

Gen Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the shipment would "embolden the regime and prolong the suffering".

Without confirming the shipment, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the supply of missiles to Syria did not break any international rules.

“Start Quote

A small hole has been smashed into the tiled floor, a pair of disposable surgeon's gloves lie abandoned nearby. The plants around the site appear to have withered and died, showing signs of possible contamination”

Ian PannellBBC News, Saraqeb

Is Syria using chemical weapons?

Last week, the BBC's Ian Pannell was shown video and eyewitness testimony that appear to corroborate allegations of chemical weapons' use in the Syrian town of Saraqeb.

Turkey has given US President Barack Obama what it says is evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria.

The US had warned that such a development would be a "red line" for possible intervention.

But Mr Obama said more specific details were needed about alleged chemical attacks.

Russia has consistently opposed any international intervention in Syria, along the lines of the Libyan conflict in 2011.

The UN said last week that the death toll in Syria had reached at least 80,000 since the conflict began in March 2011. Activists said the number could be as high as 120,000.

Minnesota State Rep Calls Climate Change ‘Complete United Nations Fraud And Lie’

2013-05-19T12:31:00.002-07:00

On Wednesday night, Minnesota State Representative Glenn Gruenhagen (R-Glencoe) took to the House floor to talk about climate change and renewable energy.

Using sources such as the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Gruenhagen told his colleagues that climate change is a “complete United Nations fraud and lie…. The latest facts from CPAC show that in the last sixteen years there’s been no global warming.”

While it is common practice among climate skeptics to claim that the Earth is no longer warming, the fact is global temperatures are rising. 2010 was the hottest year on record and every year of the 2000s was warmer than 1990s average. Over 30 million people were displaced by climate-related extreme weather events in 2012, and it is increasingly likely millions more will be displaced in the near future.

Watch the speech here, courtesy of theuptake.org:

Gruenhagen made his speech the same day a new survey of over 12,000 peer-reviewed climate science papers found a 97 percent consensus that global warming is happening and humans are the cause and just a few days after it was reported that atmospheric C02 levels reached 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time in human existence

Indeed, Minnesota residents are feeling the very real impacts of climate change. The MinnPostreports that three 1,000 year floods have occurred in the state in the last eight years as a result of shifts in rainfall patterns. Extreme drought is occurring not just in Minnesota but almost every state, and climate change is having cumulative stress on the Great Lakes. Rising levels of water vapor in the warming atmosphere are spiking heat indexes and associated health warnings.

Gruenhagen aside, the majority of lawmakers in Minnesota have recognized the importance of enacting policies to address climate change and in 2007, implemented one of the highestrenewable energy standards in the nation – laws which require electric utilities companies to produce a portion of their electricity from wind, solar, and other renewable sources. Indeed, Minnesota ranks seventh in the nation in overall wind energy capacity and lawmakers in the state recently agreed to a solar energy standard.

At the federal level, Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) recently attacked climate deniers on the Senate floor saying, “If 98 out of 100 doctors tell me I’ve got a problem, I should take their advice. And if those two other doctors get paid by Big Snack Food, like certain climate deniers get paid by Big Coal, I shouldn’t take their advice.”

Matt Kasper is the Special Assistant for Energy Policy at the Center for American Progress.

Virginia GOP Nominee Believes Gays Are ‘Very Sick’ And Democrats Are Worse Than The KKK

2013-05-19T12:09:00.001-07:00

The Virginia Republican Party this weekend nominated for lieutenant governor a minister who has a history of virulent anti-gay statements, accuses the Democratic Party of enslaving African Americans, and criticized President Obama for having “Muslim sensibilities.” The former Senate candidate ,who in 2012 garnered less than 5 percent of the vote in the Republican primary, bested six other candidates during the Virginia GOP convention, and will join conservative Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli on the Republican ticket. He is the first black candidate the state party has endorsed since 1988.

Here are some of the most alarming facts you need to know about E.W. Jackson:

He has said gays and lesbians are “very sick people, psychologically and emotionally” whose minds are perverted. He has also said homosexuality “poisons culture, it destroys families, it destroys societies”
He called alleged Democratic Party ties to Planned Parenthood “more lethal to black lives than the KKK ever was” and thinks blacks who join the Democratic Party are voluntarily selling themselves into slavery.
He has equated Islam with anti-semitism, and criticized President Obama for having “Muslim sensibilities,”
He led an “Exodus Now!” movement encouraging African Americans to leave the Democratic party because opposition to same-sex marriage and government endorsement of religion means “Democrats are engaged in a concerted effort to do away with all symbols of our Judeo-Christian culture.”
He rallied against hate crimes legislation as a “virulent strain of Anti-Christian bigotry and hatred.”

‘Totally Misleading’: Chris Wallace Grills White House Adviser Over Benghazi Emails, Talking Points

2013-05-19T07:59:00.003-07:00

White House Senior Adviser Dan Pfeiffer made the Sunday show rounds this week, including a stop at Fox News Sunday, where Chris Wallace pressed him on the administration’s handling of and response to the Benghazi attack. Wallace persisted on the topic of the emails about the talking points in particular — but the two couldn’t manage to agree.

Wallace began by questioning Pfeiffer about what President Obama did the night of the attack and whether he was in the situation room — but Pfeiffer said Obama was kept updated, but didn’t provide specifics, contending that which room Obama was in is “a largely irrelevant fact.”

“Where is he while all this is going on?” Wallace asked. As Pfeiffer replied that “this has been testified to,” Wallace argued, “No. No one knows where he was or how he was involved.”

“The assertion from Republicans that somehow the president allowed this to happen or didn’t take action is offensive,” Pfeiffer stated. “There’s no evidence to support it.”

With that, Wallace moved on to the topic of talking points the emails the White House has released. Pointing to the White House adjustment that there was one stylistic adjustment to the talking points, Wallace remarked, “Any fair reading of the emails, just the two I read — that’s totally misleading.”

Pfeiffer’s response pointed to emails “doctored” by Republicans in an effort to “smear the president.” Wallace countered that his question was based on accurate emails, as Pfeiffer asserted that emails contradict GOP conspiracy theories. The pair clashed over the talking points’ mention of the attack being sparked by protests — whether in Cairo or over a video. Pfeiffer remained defensive, as Wallace concluding by agreeing to disagree.

Take a look, via Fox:

RNC FL Hispanic Director is Now a Democrat

2013-05-18T13:07:00.004-07:00

Note from Editor kevin cate:

I’ve known Pablo Pantoja for years. We were both in the same graduate program at Florida State University. We bonded because we were both also state employees at the time. However, Pantoja had another, another job. He was a National Guardsman, having already served in Iraq and Kuwait, winning numerous accolades.

I have a lot of respect for Pantoja, and that respect didn’t diminish one bit as he climbed the ladder of Republican politics. On my list of things I don’t do in politics: try to persuade military men and women about whom to support in the free elections they provide us.

Pantoja has a long, impressive political resume, but most recently he was the State Director of Florida Hispanic Outreach for the Republican National Committee. Not any more. Pantoja is now a Democrat.

In his own words (shared with permission):

From: Pablo Pantoja

Subject: From Republican to Democrat

Date: May 13, 2013 5:57:11 PM EDT

Friend,

Yes, I have changed my political affiliation to the Democratic Party.

It doesn’t take much to see the culture of intolerance surrounding the Republican Party today. I have wondered before about the seemingly harsh undertones about immigrants and others. Look no further; a well-known organization recently confirms the intolerance of that which seems different or strange to them.

Studies geared towards making – human beings – viewed as less because of their immigrant status to outright unacceptable claims, are at the center of the immigration debate. Without going too deep on everything surrounding immigration today, the more resounding example this past week was reported by several media outlets.

A researcher included as part of a past dissertation his theory that “the totality of the evidence suggests a genetic component to group differences in IQ.” The researcher reinforces these views by saying “No one knows whether Hispanics will ever reach IQ parity with whites, but the prediction that new Hispanic immigrants will have low-IQ children and grandchildren is difficult to argue against.”

Although the organization distanced themselves from those assertions, other immigration-related research is still padded with the same racist and eugenics-based innuendo. Some Republican leaders have blandly (if at all) denied and distanced themselves from this but it doesn’t take away from the culture within the ranks of intolerance. The pseudo-apologies appear to be a quick fix to deep-rooted issues in the Republican Party in hopes that it will soon pass and be forgotten.

The complete disregard of those who are in disadvantage is also palpable. We are not looking at an isolated incident of rhetoric or research. Others subscribe to motivating people to action by stating, “In California, a majority of all Hispanic births are illegitimate. That’s a lot of Democratic voters coming.” The discourse that moves the Republican Party is filled with this anti-immigrant movement and overall radicalization that is far removed from reality. Another quick example beyond the immigration debate happened during CPAC this year when a supporter shouted ““For giving him shelter and food for all those years?” while a moderator explained how Frederick Douglass had written a letter to his slave master saying that he forgave him for “all the things you did to me.” I think you get the idea.

When the political discourse resorts to intolerance and hate, we all lose in what makes America great and the progress made in society.

Although I was born an American citizen, I feel that my experience, and that of many from Puerto Rico, is intertwined with those who are referred to as illegal. My grandfather served in an all-Puerto Rican segregated Army unit, the 65^thInfantry Regiment. He then helped, along my grandmother, shatter glass ceilings for Puerto Rican women raising my aunt to become the first Puerto Rican woman astronomer with a PhD in astrophysics (an IQ of a genius as far as I’m concerned). Puerto Ricans, as many other Americans still today have to face issues of discrimination in voting and civil rights.

Regardless of what political affiliation people choose, my respect for some remains. I don’t expect all Hispanics to do the same (although I would hope so) but I’m taking a stand against this culture of intolerance.

I am also making a modest contribution (here: http://bit.ly/12uf3g8) to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for the efforts in helping protect the rights of immigrants and civil liberties in general.

With warm regards,

-pablo

Obama breaches Marine umbrella protocol

2013-05-18T13:05:00.005-07:00

The commander in chief of the American armed forces today forced a violation of Marine Corps regulations, so he wouldn’t get wet.

According to Marine Corps regulation MCO P1020.34F of the Marine Corps Uniform Regulations chapter 3, a male Marine is not allowed to carry an umbrella while in uniform. There is no provision in the Marine Corps uniform regulation guidelines that allows a male Marine to carry an umbrella.

Nevertheless, during a press conference under a light drizzle with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan this morning, President Obama allowed the First Head to be protected from the elements by an umbrella held by a male Marine corporal.

The relevant portion of the regulation reads, “3035. UMBRELLAS (Female Marines). Female Marines may carry an all-black, plain standard or collapsible umbrella at their option during inclement weather with the service and dress uniforms. It will be carried in the left hand so that the hand salute can be properly rendered. Umbrellas may not be used/carried in formation nor will they be carried with the utility uniform.”

Items not expressly delineated as authorized components of the Marine Corps uniform are prohibited. Male Marines are informed never to carry an umbrella from the earliest phases of training.

Not even the President of the United States can request a Marine to carry an umbrella without the express consent of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, according to the Marine Corps Manual.

The Marine Corps Manual, the guidebook that defines protocol for officers and enlisted Marines, in section 2806 paragraph 2, specifically states: “The Marine Corps Uniform Regulations, published by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, shall be binding on all Marines. No officer or official shall issue instructions which conflict with, alter, or amend any provision without the approval of the Commandant of the Marine Corps.”

Congressman Tears Into AG Holder Over Marijuana: ‘This Is The Time To Remedy Prohibition’

2013-05-18T13:00:00.002-07:00

During a Wednesday House oversight hearing with Attorney General Eric Holder that overwhelmingly focused on the invasive government search of Associated Press phone logs and the IRS, one House member took the
opportunity to grill Holder on another Department of Justice issue that has provoked criticism from the left. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) tore into Holder over his approach to marijuana, asking why his Justice Department is “continuing to put people in jail,” even as polling shows a majority of Americans believe the plant should not be illegal:

One of the greatest threats to liberty has been the government taking people’s liberty for things that people are in favor of. The Pew Research Group shows that 52 percent of people do not think marijuana should be illegal. And yet there are people in jail, and your Justice Department is continuing to put people in jail, for sale, and use, on occasion, of marijuana. That’s something the American public has finally caught up with. It was a cultural lag. And it’s been an injustice for 40 years in this country to take people’s liberty for something that was similar to alcohol. You have continued what is allowing the Mexican cartels power, and the power to make money, ruin Mexico, hurt our country by having a Prohibition in the late 20th and 21st century. We saw it didn’t work in this country in the 20s. We remedied it. This is the time to remedy this Prohibition, and I would hope you would do so.

WATCH IT:

In addition to the majority support for decriminalizing marijuana cited by Cohen, an even greater proportion of Americans say they think the United States is losing the so-called “War on Drugs”and that states should be allowed to decide whether marijuana is legal.

Holder said shortly after two states passed ballot initiatives to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana that he would announce a DOJ policy on a federal response. But six months later, his only answer has been that he expects an announcement “relatively soon.” Regional federal officials, meanwhile, have re-upped crackdowns on medical marijuana dispensaries, sending threat letters to dispensaries in several cities in Washington and California. And what started as a Drug Enforcement Administration crackdown has now developed into new DOJ action by regional U.S. attorneys. Just this month, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag filed federal forfeiture actions to seize the real estate that houses two Bay Area medical marijuana dispensaries seemingly in compliance with state and local laws, including the largest dispensary in Berkeley and another dispensary that serves the Mission region of San Francisco. Haag has filed a similar action against the largest U.S. dispensary with locations in Oakland and San Jose, suggesting a strategy to hamper the industry by targeting the largest players.

Members of Congress have introduced several bills to square state laws with the federal marijuana prohibition.

Until we restore Glass-Steagall, more big bank bailouts are inevitable

2013-05-18T12:57:00.002-07:00

Attorney General Eric Holder made actual some news this week amid the GOP’s scandal frenzy: he told the House Judiciary committee that big banks are not too big too jail. He was willing to criminally prosecute the nation’s largest banks, though he hasn’t done so since the financial crisis.

“Let me be very, very, very clear… banks are not too big to jail,” Holder added.

This is a small relief because the fact remains that the big banks are bigger than ever, much bigger than they were when they were able to prevent the decent reforms that followed the financial crisis to take the the crucial step of breaking up the big banks.

Since the 1930s, Glass-Steagall prevented another depression by separating investment and commercial banks by law. In 1999, conservatives passed and Bill Clinton signed a repeal of this crucial New Deal reform. You know what happened less than a decade later.

Not restoring Glass-Steagall after the financial crisis is like sending the Space Shuttle up with the same flawed O-rings the Challenger had.

Despite the fact that a bipartisan bill from Sherrod Brown and David Vitter would force the banks to maintain much more reasonable level of capital has been introduced, this issue is far off the radar of most politicians except Brown, Vitter and Elizabeth Warren. And it will be until another bank bailout becomes inevitable and then it will be too late.

This is an issue the middle class has to become obsessed with and not just because the big banks are getting an $83 billion implied taxpayer subsidy — and not because another crisis will lead to trillions more in debt that the right will use to justify gutting our social safety net. The fact that we cannot fix this glaring injustice, this obvious flaw in our economy, is the worst symptom of a sick political system.

We will win this fight. The question is will we win it before or after we have to bail out the big banks again.

I hope you’ll share this video above and remind people what a real scandal looks like.

Michelle Obama wants Bowie State graduates to promote education

2013-05-18T11:42:00.002-07:00

She addresses commencement for historically black university

May 17, 2013|By Krissah Thompson

COLLEGE PARK — — Michelle Obama encouraged the graduates of Bowie State University on Friday to live up to the legacy of their university's founders and the leaders of the civil rights movement by promoting the importance of education in the black community.

"Just think about this for a moment — for generations, in many parts of this country, it was illegal for black people to get an education," Obama told the predominantly black crowd, referring to the period in which Bowie State was founded. "Slaves caught reading or writing could be beaten within an inch of their lives."

The creation of the small school that eventually became Bowie State University was an "eloquent act of defiance," she told the crowd of about 600 graduates and several thousand of their supporters at the Comcast Center in College Park.

Obama encouraged the students to keep a hunger to learn, quoting abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who said education "means the uplifting of the soul of man into the glorious light of truth, the light by which men can only be made free."

The first lady received thunderous applause from several thousand people attending the ceremony in a state that voted overwhelmingly for her husband. It was an intensely friendly and excited crowd — with shouts of congratulations to individual graduates from the crowd, along with calls of "Michelle! We love you!" and a standing ovation that began before she spoke a word.

In the second of three commencement addresses the first lady will give this month, she also called on the graduates to encourage other African-Americans to pursue higher education.

Too often, she said, young African-Americans "can't be bothered."

"Instead of dreaming of being a teacher or a lawyer or a business leader, they're fantasizing about being a baller or a rapper," she said.

"Please reject the slander that says a black child with a book is trying to act white," Obama said. "In short, be an example of excellence for the next generation."

Bowie State presented the first lady, a graduate of Harvard Law School, with an honorary doctorate of laws. It also recognized Valerie Simpson and her late husband, Nickolas Ashford, who made up the songwriting team Ashford & Simpson, presenting Simpson with an honorary doctorate of humane letters.

Obama's 21-minute address did not mention the political or policy issues that are at the forefront of her husband's administration. She stuck to the historical arc of African-Americans in the nation and the need to increase the number of black high school and college graduates.

Senior Ariel Williams-Edwards of Baltimore was one of two students Obama mentioned from the dais as examples of beating the odds. Williams-Edwards is an honors student who achieved despite family challenges, including a parent who struggled with substance abuse.

"She's such a positive figure," said Williams-Edwards, who said she was overwhelmed at being singled out by Obama. "She stressed for blacks how important learning is and how young individuals need to stay focused. It was a significant message."

President Barack Obama has spoken at Bowie State twice — once as a candidate, according to university spokeswoman Damita Chambers. But this was the first time a sitting first lady has given a commencement speech here.

The occasion also marked the first time Bowie State has held its graduation ceremony away from the historically black university's campus. Some of the school's alumni had argued against the move to the Comcast Center on the campus of the University in Maryland, College Park because of the historical relationship between the universities, the school's student newspaper reported.

Black students were once barred from the flagship institution.

A Smile Can Go A Long Way: Indiana Waitress Gets $446 Tip For Her Cheery Attitude

2013-05-18T11:37:00.003-07:00

Here is the Bill: http://i.imgur.com/WLZrTk5.jpg

CeCe Bruce works as a waitress at a Steak N' Shake in Indianapolis while going to school. Despite having her share of rude or difficult customers, CeCe always tries to keep a smile and a positive attitude. Recently, her hard work and good spirits paid off for her when a regular customer, known as "Miss Jo," left her a hefty tip -- $446 on a $6 bill.

"I didn't think I was worth $400 but, you know, apparently she feels that I am," said the waitress who has worked for Steak N' Shake for the past two years. CeCe's boss agrees with the customer, saying, "She stays late, comes in early. Whenever we need her, she's here. So she deserves it more than anyone."

The smile on her face while recounting the story is huge. While the money is welcome (CeCe says she'll be paying bills with it), the boost to her self-confidence will keep that positive attitude going strong. However, tipping has long been a controversial subject, especially in a down economy. While most would think that tipping your server is just common courtesy, it is actually how your server is paid. Most servers make far less than minimum wage because it is presumed that tips will make up the rest. Tipping etiquette calls for 18-25% of your total bill, before any discounts you may receive.

But, what if your service was less than exemplary? Is it okay to not leave a tip? No. Choosing not to tip may impact more people than just your server. In some cases, servers share a portion of their tips with the bussers or other staff, or they may actually pool tips and split them evenly at the end of the shift. If you experience poor service, before stiffing the server, talk to a manager and see what can be done.

If you are unsure how much you should give, there are several smartphone apps that will calculate the tip. All you have to do is input the bill total. If you are unsure who you should tip, CNN/Money has a nice chart that lists different service industry workers and how much they should receive. Finally, be courteous and make sure that you reward your server's efforts appropriately. You don't want to end up here.

IRS Commissioner: "It Is Absolutely Not" Illegal For IRS To Target Conservatives

2013-05-18T11:35:00.002-07:00

STEVEN MILLER, IRS COMMISSIONER: I think, are you talking about the letters?

REP. PRICE: Saying that there is a parellel here in the exansive nature of what the IRS has done, would you care to recharacterize the unneccesary word? Is it illegal what they have done?

MILLER: It is absolutely not illegal.

PRICE: It's not illegal what the IRS has done?

MILLER: Let me understand the question. What is your statement as to what is illegal?

PRICE: Do you believe it is illegal for employees of the IRS to create lists to target individual groups and citizens in this country?

MILLER: I think the Treasury inspector general indicated that it might not be, but other will be able to tell that.

PRICE: What do you believe?

MILLER: I don't believe it is.