Updates 5/31/12

Hello everyone.

It appears I'm getting sick again. I'm trying to fight it off, but I don't really know how well you can fight swollen tonsils. Blech.

In other news, I really hope they don't blow up my university. I got an email earlier warning that they've accidentally ruptured a gas line and to vacate the immediate area and steer clear. Yay, construction. You think they would have marked where all the lines were, and possibly avoided them? *sigh*

On to the news.

-- Cases from the first mass arrest at OWS are heading to trial. While many of the cases have been dismissed or closed for various reasons, over a dozen head into court, hopefully within the next few months. The arrests stem from a late September march where police kettled and pepper sprayed many of the participants, gaining attention for Occupy. It's going to be June in a day, and these cases are from last September. (How's that for "speedy trial?")

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP09681dc72cb54adea52bb23d67bc4cbc.html

-- 14 Occupiers were arrested in Minneapolis last night when they joined hands and refused to move in protection of a house in foreclosure. Roughly 100 protesters were involved in the event, which police broke up with large batons and physical force. Occupiers are questioning who police are serving by taking homes away from people and giving them to banks. 10 Occupiers were arrested on site, with another four being arrested as they gathered outside the jail in support of their detained peers.

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/977836/391/14-arrested-by-Minneapolis-police-after-foreclosure-protest?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Cbc%7Clarge

-- The Denver camping ban is officially in effect, but it seems police are just as unhappy about enforcing it as Occupiers are about its passing. Police have been allowing a "grace period" to be sure that everyone knows about the ban, and are going to follow strict rules concerning citations. Here is a quote from one of their documents. They will not issue a citation if " a citation should not occur if an individual is in need of a homeless shelter or bed, expresses a willingness to accept homeless shelter assistance, and the officer is notified that shelter space is not available. " The police chief has stated that they last thing they want to do is arrest people for camping violations. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/30/denver-camping-ban-enforcement_n_1556997.html

-- Los Angeles is apparently not willing to take the chance that Occupy may begin another encampment in their city. The Arts, Parks, Health, and Aging Committee (wtf?) has proposed a ban on all forms of overnight camping and pitching tents in city parks. The City Council will vote on the measure next week, and says that the measure is not meant to target Occupy, only to "merely clarify what camping is to include tents." (Riiight...)

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/05/30/city-hall-moves-to-ban-tents-overnight-camping-after-occupy-la-damage/

-- Occupy Cal has changed up their lawsuit against UC Berkeley, this time demanding 15 million dollars in compensatory and punitive damages. The original lawsuit was filed in November, following the confrontation between police and protesters concerning tents. The lawsuit claims that the university held a "witch hunt" and used false arrests against protesters, and that they received physical and emotional harm at the hands of the school due to the denial of their constitutional rights.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/politics/Occupy-Cal-Protesters-Sue-for-15-Million-155755415.html

-- Chevron held its annual shareholder meeting yesterday in San Ramon, California, but shareholders and executives weren't the only people in attendance. Occupy joined up with union members, community leaders, and disenchanted shareholders to protest against the oil giant, with over 150 people holding signs and chanting against the corporation's reckless behavior. 73% of shareholders in attendance at the meeting rejected a move to disclose more about the methods of hydraulic fracturing, aka "fracking." Chevron is facing upward of 43 Billion dollars in fines, stemming from instances of contamination, explosions, and tax-dodging in multiple countries.

http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/05/occupy-movement-takes-aim-chevron/

***Solidarity***

To contact me, please email elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com. Thanks. 

Updates 5/30/12

Hello everyone.

The news is fairly quiet today. I think a lot of people are busy being freaked out about the Miami guy eating the other guy's face in a bout of "excited delirium." I wonder if that diagnosis also counts for the guy in New York who stabbed himself in front of police and started throwing bits of flesh and intestines at them. 

Moving on...

-- Occupy Chicago took to the street last night in a rally against police brutality. The protesters are demanding compensation for the consequences they've had to deal with due to police brutalizing multiple people during the NATO summit. While the mainstream media has praised Chicago PD for the supposed restraint they showed, it is becoming more obvious that they may have simply turned their cameras away from any true "actions" taking place.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Occupy-Protesters-Want-Compensation-for-NATO-Violence-155371905.html

-- Occupy Albany joined clergy and other protesters to fight for a minimum wage hike in NY yesterday. The wage raise is being called "politically impossible" by Gov. Cuomo, due to special interest groups and lobbyists who are strongly against it. Opponents warn that the hike would cause layoffs and businesses to possibly close. Cuomo has said he does support the increase.

http://www.uticaod.com/latestnews/x358806830/Occupy-Albany-clergy-push-for-higher-minimum-wage

Sorry the news is so short today. It's a bit quiet out there, at least on local fronts. Thanks for reading.

***Solidarity***

To contact me, email elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com.

Updates 5/29/12

Hello everyone.

-- We start off today with a bit of sad news. An Occupy Yale member, Marina Keegan, died in a car accident on Saturday. Keegan fought back against Wall Street recruiters at her school, and made a name for herself in the world of activism. At age 22, she had just graduated and was preparing for a move to Brooklyn to work at the New Yorker. You can read more about her, including some of her own words, here:

http://www.businessinsider.com/yale-student-marina-keegan-dies-at-22-2012-5

-- PBS is getting in on the Occupy action. This well-written article details the hazards and confusion that surround the recording of police activity. According to the author, over 80 journalists have been arrested in Occupy protests, regardless of the letter sent out by the Department of Justice earlier this month. It is a good read that offers vital information to anyone who uses a camera or phone during a protest.

http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2012/05/citizens-get-conflicting-messages-about-their-right-to-record150.html

-- Anonymous India is putting a call to Occupy for Indian citizens on June 9. They are calling for protests to begin in major cities across the country on that date, in opposition to India's ban of file-sharing sites, as well as the heavy censorship on all forms of media performed by the government. They have created their own website, and are using social media forums like Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube to spread the word.

http://www.thinkdigit.com/Internet/Anonymous-spreads-word-of-June-9-Occupy_9667.html

-- ALEC may find itself audited soon. The American Legislative Exchange Council works on laws and policies, and often receives donations from politicians and other interest groups, yet the group regularly lobbies for laws they want in place. This is beginning to concern many outside of Occupy as well, since the group only lists itself as a registered charity. A complaint has been submitted to the IRS by Common Cause. 

http://www.bendbulletin.com/article/20120529/NEWS0107/205290373/

-- Occupy Denver, as well as Denver Police, are preparing for the Denver camping ban which is set to go into effect today. The ban was approved two weeks ago, and makes it illegal for anyone to engage in "unauthorized camping" on either public or private land. The ban carries up to a $999 fine and/or a year in jail if caught breaking it. Proponents of the law say that camping on the sidewalks causes problems for local businesses and hurts tourism. Opponents say this is a direct law against homelessness. 

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20729146/denver-police-occupy-homeless-get-ready-camp-ban

-- This last article is a critical opinion piece from Al-Jazeera. The author makes valid points concerning the Afghanistan wars, the humanity of America, and even criticism of some Occupiers concerning their lack of understanding of what is happening across the ocean. You may not like what he has to say, but you have to admit, he's right about some things.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/05/2012528131819967451.html

***Solidarity***

To contact me, please email elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com. Thanks.

"Happy" Memorial Day.

Hello everyone.


Today is Memorial Day.


Regardless of whether we agree with the wars that our country is fighting or has fought in, I firmly believe it is important to support our troops.


And by supporting them, I don't mean putting a little yellow ribbon on your car window or simply telling people you support them.

Our veterans are some of the most forgotten people in our system. Veterans become homeless and commit suicide at alarming rates compared to the general population. They suffer from physical and mental debilitation due to what they've been through and witnessed on behalf of the American government and people.

Personally, I am friends with many veterans. I go to school with many, and a lot of them have similar types of humor to mine, so we get along really well. I help them out when they need it, by talking with them and listening to them, figuring out how to fix school issues (such as with financial aid), and by simply being a friend who they know they could rely on. I offer assistance with homework too, should they need it. Many of them don't. They've learned to be self-reliant a long time ago. I'm just there if they need me.

It's never a good thing when we hear that veterans are being abandoned. It's a terrible thing when someone says to a veteran "It was stupid for you to go to war. You shouldn't have even signed up." I've actually heard people say things like that before. The truth is, people join the military for a multitude of reasons. Some want to serve their country. Some need the money for college. And still others join for personal reasons aside from those.

Today, I ask you to remember that it's not just another day off. I ask you to remember that "Happy Memorial Day" can actually be a hurtful phrase to the family who recently lost a loved one. I ask you to find a way to support troops outside of just saying so, even if it is just in your own little way.


Solidarity to ALL.


Kitty @ elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com

Updates 5/27/12

Hello everyone.

Hmm.. I don't really have much to say today. I have a neat news story for you at the end, with a little bit of "Oh, I get it now," added in from me. :)

News!

-- This short blurb comes from ABC Australia. This is the whole story in the link following.

For a few weeks earlier this month, Moscow was beginning to look like cities in the west, with its own occupy movement taking hold in a park in the centre of the Russian capital. But this protest was aimed at the political, not economic, sytem. At its peak thousands of demonstrators spent days protesting Vladimir Putin's return to power. But Occupy Moscow is now virtually finished. Barely 100 or so demonstrstors are holding on where they can, after constant arrests by police.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-26/police-crackdown-on-occupy-moscow/4035592

-- An Occupy Oakland protester was arrested Friday night on suspicion of vandalism after a window was cracked at a local bar. The protesters were reportedly banging on the steel bars protecting the glass when the window broke. The bar owner believes he may be a target during the anti-police marches because of the many police agency logos on the door. Interestingly, the man arrested was also at the protest over the arrest of the man who allegedly assaulted an officer at a meeting discussing the shooting death of an Oakland teen earlier this week.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20718878/protester-arrested-suspicion-vandalism-oakland-anti-police-march

-- IndyBay is once again at the forefront in releasing information concerned with police brutality. This time, they show the NLG's reports of brutality in Chicago, and detail what Occupiers have gone through during and after the NATO summit. A great quote from this article-- "NATO arrives everywhere violently. Chicago was no exception."

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/05/27/18714178.php

-- Truth-Out is posing an intriguing question... Has the FBI launched a war of entrapment against the Occupy Movement? If so, it wouldn't be the first time they've done so. They've used similar tactics against liberal movements and Muslim-Americans for decades. In each of the high-profile cases against Occupy thus far-the alleged "bridge bombing" and "terrorist Molotov cocktail" group, we've repeated heard that officers of some sort were involved but disappeared before lawyers could question or speak with them. The real question is, how far is the FBI willing to go to shut us all up?

http://truth-out.org/news/item/9403-has-the-fbi-launched-a-war-of-entrapment-against-the-occupy-movement

--  The last story I have today involves China. Every year, the US releases a report on human rights in multiple countries, including China, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and on and on. Many times, the countries do not respond to the reports, but China has been for 13 years. This year's report was especially heavy-worded against China, since this is an election year. In 2009, China actually wrote a plan for human rights, in accordance with the UN policy. However, the US is still slamming China in reports, sometimes for obvious reasons. 

This time was different for China. This time, the Chinese government called out the US. They pointed out the huge double-standard that the US has for human rights, and Occupy stood at the front of their pack. They accused the US of ignoring their own human right violations. They pointed out that the US applauded the protesters in other countries, many of which have the same reform concerns as Occupy, but arrested, attacked, and beat their own. They accuse the US government of being "in part, authoritarian." 

For the first time, I understand why I have readers in China. At first, I thought, this is unusual, China usually blocks views of protests and revolutions. They don't want their citizens to get ideas for an uprising. Now, I get it. China is allowing their citizens to see the Occupy protests in America because they want their citizens to see what America is becoming. What they are doing to us. Why we aren't really "free," and what that means.

For the first time, I say, I agree with the Chinese government. (On this issue, at least.)

Read this article to see more of what the Chinese government, officials, and intellectuals have to say about America. Believe me, it's surprisingly spot-on.

http://obrag.org/?p=61080

***Solidarity***

To contact me, please email elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com. Thanks.

Updates 5/26/12

Hello everyone.

So, my job interview was yesterday. They are waiting for my drug test and background check to come back now. They'll both come back clean, as long as they don't do what the last background company did, and look me up as some random woman in a state I've never even been through. But anyway, as soon as those come back clean, I'll be starting work. It likely will be between Tuesday and Thursday. I'll be up at the deli/bakery of a grocery store. Again. Good thing I like working the deli, huh?

My wife also had a second interview for a home improvement store yesterday. She has to wait for a call for a third, and hopefully last, interview, probably tomorrow or Monday. We just need work until school starts. After that, we're okay.

On to the news. First I have our general "this is what happened" type of articles... Then a few more sinister attack pieces on Occupy. You'll see what I mean.

-- Despite the massive crackdown against them by police, Russian Occupiers are still going strong and not giving up. They've been forced to move their encampment several times now. Since the first time the encampment was raided on May 16, police have been showing up and forcing a move every two or three days. Their numbers at any given time range between a few dozen to several thousand, but they are all protesting the same thing--Putin's regime. 

http://en.ria.ru/society/20120525/173675033.html

-- Of the 12 Occupy Minneapolis members fighting against a foreclosure by Occupying a residence, 5 were arrested early yesterday morning, after police sawed through chains and pipes blocking the doors. Occupiers marched on City Hall to complain that negotiations were taking place, so the raid was unnecessary. The Sheriff replied that there was "no proof" of negotiations, and that his office was carrying out orders from a housing court. He also stated that protesters were treated with respect.

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/154251655.html

-- A Thursday night protest led to the arrests of ten Occupiers in St. Louis, with five of the arrested facing charges ranging from the misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest, to two felony counts of assault on a police officer. Protesters say they were peacefully protesting. Police say that an officer was injured and a property manager was assaulted after confronting Occupiers about graffiti. Several attorneys working with the group are concerned about their clients who need medication, and are not getting the information they need to find out if their clients are actually receiving it. 

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/several-protesters-charged-after-arrests-in-st-louis/article_99e5790c-2567-51ad-84c1-50fa805fb372.html

-- A London court has granted Occupiers only one week to find a lawyer and build a defense against their eviction from a park on the outskirts of town. Park officials say that the Occupiers have caused extensive damage to the park, with numbers around $30,000. Occupiers believe that the week is much to short a time to work something out, and that the amount of time given is an intentional blockade against their encampment.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-25/london-occupy-granted-one-week-to-find-a-case-to-fight-eviction.html

-- The city of Tampa is preparing for the Republican National Convention, but in a different way than most. Tampa sent several of their officers to Chicago, not to be involved, but to observe how Occupiers protested. This article describes what several officers saw during the event, and what they may be expecting.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/local/tampa-police-study-chicago-protests-to-hone-rnc-strategy/1232031

-- Texas is once again leading the way in cases of "WTF are they thinking?". Students in one Texas school district will now have to carry identification cards at all times, each card holding its own unique form of surveillance-- an RFID Microchip designed to track the student's whereabouts at any time, even allowing teachers and school officials to see who uses the restroom when and for how long. (I consider this a gross invasion of privacy. Apparently I'm not the only one. It seems the ACLU agrees.) Read more about how they plan to use these here:

http://rt.com/usa/news/texas-microchips-school-district-262/

-- Human Events, a conservative news/blogger site, claims that Occupiers attacked several officers and other people in St. Louis (see earlier story). They refer to Occupiers as "Thugs" in their report. To read more about this dredge, look here:

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=51775

-- The last article for today is from Big Hollywood, which some of you might recognize as Breitbart's website before he died. (Too bad his drivel didn't go with him.) This article tries hard to claim that an Occupy protest against Romney's latest speaking event was actually arranged by Obama organizers. 

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/25/Obama-Organizes-Occupy-Style-Protests-Against-Romney

***Solidarity***

To contact me, please email elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com. Thanks for reading.

Updates 5/25/12

Hello everyone.

Today is Towel Day. If you don't know what I'm talking about, that's okay. If you do, high fives. :) 

My job interview is later today as well.

On to the news.

-- Quebec Officials are worried that the growing protests in Montreal will make their way to their side in Ontario. The student protests have been continually growing and fears that a mass movement could envelope Canada are not entirely unfounded, say officials. Students from across the country will be meeting at the Canadian Federation of Students next week in Ottawa, in an effort to discuss important matters, including student fees, tuition, and social inequality. 

http://www.globaltoronto.com/feature/6442647798/story.html

-- Occupy Oakland dealt with a couple arrests on Wednesday after a meeting with police got loud and "out of control." Police were at a community meeting to discuss the police-involved shooting death of a teenager who they point out, "was armed a weapon and... was not shot in the back." Several groups attended the meeting, but reports say it was eventually ended because Occupy Oakland members were loudly heckling police and being disruptive. They then surrounded the police chief as he headed to his car, who called for back-up. One person spit on one of the officers, and another had a warrant out for his arrest. Both were taken into custody.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20706846/community-meeting-about-police-involved-shooting-turns-raucous?source=most_viewed

-- A dozen Occupiers were arrested in Portland Thursday evening, as they chanted and sang outside a post office. The protesters were demanding a full-service post office, as well as the resignation of the current Postmaster General. Roughly 80 people were in attendance of the event, but 10 stood inside the office holding banners and signs. 8 of the 10 identified themselves as being over 60 years old. After they made it clear they would not be leaving, they were arrested and loaded onto a police van.

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/05/police_make_arrests_in_protest.html

-- This HuffPo blogger asks a very good question. Did the Chicago Police run over a man with a police van? Conservative bloggers say no, and supply footage that allegedly proves the man moved out of the way. This blogger says they may have, as the man they claim moves out of the way is NOT the same man who gets help later on. Watch and read for yourself. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-cassello/occupy-chicago-protestor-injured_b_1530533.html

-- The Chicago Tribune is making a big fuss over their names. Apparently, the Corporate Media giant is attempting to shut down any Occupy media sources that use their name in the title, including OccupyChicagoTribune.org and OccupiedChicagoTribune.org, even though both sites offer a disclosure that they are not in any way affiliated with the "real" Chicago Tribune. 

http://domainnamewire.com/2012/05/24/chicago-tribune-wants-to-take-down-occupy-sites/

***Solidarity***

To contact me, please email elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com.

Updates 5/24/12

Hello everyone.

Sorry I'm pretty late on the news today. I had several important phone calls to make, and I have several more I still need to make afterward. On the plus side, I have a job interview tomorrow.

-- OWS is still angry about NYC's blatant destruction of the many books they had in their People's Library, and rightfully so. Occupiers have officially filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging almost fifty thousand dollars worth of destroyed books, computers, and other equipment as of today. Many of the books were returned to the group, but were in an unusable condition, while others still were just never returned. 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-occupy-lawsuitbre84n10j-20120524,0,1379721.story

-- Occupy Oakland is protesting over the city's decision to ban all shield type structures and other items, such as hammers, poles, and paint balloons. They say they need the shields as protection from police, but the city disagrees. Officials are working on passing the ban, which would make it a misdemeanor to even be seen with any other the items mentioned during a protest. This could result in up to a $1000 fine and/or six months in jail. 

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/05/occupy_shield_ban.php

-- Recently released documents are proving to everyone what Occupiers knew all along. There is a highly coordinated effort to keep an eye on, as well as squash parts of, the Occupy movement as a whole. According to one expert, the national government is surveilling Occupy like they have never been seen before. A quote from the article says that the documents "reveal a glimpse into the interior of a vast, tentacled, national intelligence and domestic spying network that the U.S. government operates against its own people."

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-government-is-running-a-massive-spying-campaign-on-the-occupy-movement-2012-5

-- Over in London, the National Energy Board has proved that they are quite a bit afraid of Occupy. They are preparing for a hearing involving the oil sands of Alberta by making it closed to the public, an unusual step for the group. The only groups allowed into the meeting will be those who previously applied to attend. All others will be only allowed to view via live webcast.

http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3569665

***Solidarity***

To contact me, please email elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com. Thanks.

Updates 5/23/12

Hello everyone.

I'm changing up the news for today. I'm going to import an entire article that I found, and write a bit about it afterward. I would like your opinions.

Here's the article. Straight from Forbes, by their own Bill Frezza:

"Prediction: Romney Crushes Obama in Presidential Election Blowout"

"Put this column in a drawer and take it out on the date below. Let me know how many of these predictions I got right.

November 7, 2012 – It may not be morning in America, but be thankful that it’s not the dawn of the living dead. With civil war breaking out in Greece, Spain in chaos as it seeks to exit the euro, California preparing to file bankruptcy following the failure of Governor Jerry Brown’s budget referendum, and Portland, Oakland, and Seattle busy clearing the rubble from the devastation of their Occupy fires, the American electorate has finally said “Enough!”

The great experiment in “progressive” democracy is over. Convincing a majority of American voters that they can live at someone else’s expense proved a bridge too far, as those same voters watched the social democracies of Europe unravel. When presented with a choice between two presidential candidates with diametrically opposed visions of the proper role of government, Americans chose to step back from the abyss.

To no one’s surprise, the campaign was ugly. As each successive poll revealed incumbent President Barack Obama slipping further behind, the Obama camp’s attacks grew ever shriller. Class, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality—not variant of identity politics was left untapped in what turned out to be a futile attempt to divide the electorate into warring camps and shift the debate to anything besides the deteriorating economy and the cataclysmic national debt.

The Supreme Court’s evisceration of Obamacare—the president’s signature “accomplishment”—set the tone for a long, hot summer. The Occupy movement’s escalating campaign of violence, which culminated in major street battles at both national conventions, did little to help Obama’s cause. Persistently high unemployment, coupled with an inflationary uptick as the Federal Reserve made a desperate attempt to launch yet another round of “quantitative easing,” reminded too many voters of life under Jimmy Carter.

The bankruptcy of A123, Fisker Automotive, and a half dozen more solar and biofuel ventures that received hundreds of millions in tax dollars rang the death knell for Obama’s green energy policies. The final nail into the coffin of the failed Obama presidency came from Europe, as Germany and France finally jettisoned the PIIGS to save the Eurozone core—but not soon enough to avert a deep recession in Europe and a 20% decline in U.S. stock markets.

While the charisma-challenged Mitt Romney never managed to ignite the Republican base—which remains suspicious of his conservative bona fides—the right still managed to close ranks behind their man, largely out of fear of what a second Obama term would mean for America.

Mitt stuck to the economic high ground. Meanwhile, his campaign staff and cloud of well-funded SuperPAC proxies proved adept at throwing counter-punches, responding to every below-the-belt political assault launched Mitt’s way with well-prepared counter narratives, widely disseminated  across a network of right-leaning bloggers, Facebook activists, and radio talk show personalities.

Wading through the maelstrom, the Romney campaign remained focused on selling the idea that what the nation most needed was a return to economic sanity. Mitt’s public persona, never well matched with the vampire capitalist, out-of-touch plutocrat, Mormon underwear-wearing weirdo opponents made him out to be, finally gelled into one of mature competence that reassured voters that he was the man to help fix the mess we’ve gotten into.

Throughout it all, the mainstream media never found its legs. Always a step behind the Twitter blitzkriegs unleashed by millions of freelance citizen reporters, YouTube videographers, amateur pundits, and independent campaign organizations, professional journalists and the editors that issue their marching orders found that the day’s news had already been framed by the time they got out of bed each morning.

What made defeat all the more devastating for yesteryear’s media moguls was the decision to throw away the last shred of their purported objectivity by going all-in behind their candidate. Their failure to sway the election made it clear that a handful of White House Correspondents’ Dinner elites in New York, Washington, and Hollywood have lost their power to shape public opinion.

As the pending electoral deluge drew near and the liberal commentariat began turning on Obama, the American public was treated to the sorry spectacle of rats deserting a sinking ship as political insiders jockeyed to land the first big advance for a tell-all book dissecting the meltdown. By the time Election Day rolled around, it was all over but the counting.

The path ahead will be long and hard, and the rejuvenated Republican Party and its new president have yet to give a sign as to how they plan to tackle the entitlement tsunami that threatens to drown us all. But with veto proof majorities in both the House and Senate, they now own the problem.

You’ve just signed up for the hardest job on the planet, Mitt. And this time, if you can’t figure out how to turn things around, you can’t fire sale the wreckage and hope the rest of your portfolio makes up for the loss. The eyes of the world are upon you. This is democracy’s last chance. Don’t blow it."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/billfrezza/2012/05/22/romney-crushes-obama-in-presidential-election-blowout/

I'm not sure what to think about this. Personally, I'm starting to believe Forbe's has lost their collective minds. Just last week, they attacked a humorous article written by a cartoonist, in which he claimed that Tesla is a too-often overlooked inventor that we should be learning about in schools. Now we have this "prediction," which to me seems that someone is just angrily tossing about what they hope will happen, rather than what actually might. It sounds like a letter written by a fanboy to their idol.

So I'd like your opinions on this article, as well as the whole summer/fall prediction idea. What do you think will happen? Do you believe this writer is correct, or too far off? Do you agree with his prediction that Occupy will move to violence and terrorism?

News will return tomorrow, of course. I just found this and went quasi-mental on how someone can apparently so clearly see the future.

***Solidarity***

Email me any responses you may have at elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com, or comment them here. Thanks for reading!

Updates 5/22/12

Hello everyone.

I'm sure if you read this blog, you probably watched some of the livestreaming that happened over the past few days. After I present some news, I have a small rant for you.

-- Occupy Wall Street held its first Feminist General Assembly last week, with other Occupy movements across the nation joining in with their own. This story was written by a woman who attended, and greatly explains the event--and why it is needed so much.

http://www.care2.com/causes/occupy-wall-street-holds-first-feminist-general-assembly.html

-- The police don't like being mocked, and apparently will arrest anyone who attempts to do so. Two people were arrested last Friday when they dressed up in what is described as "cartoonish" police uniforms, with duct tape lettering. One was riding a bicycle, the other a red tricycle. They were originally charged with impersonating police, but officers later realized those charges wouldn't stick, and changed them to reckless endangerment. You can watch several videos of the encounter here:

http://gothamist.com/2012/05/21/cyclist_activists_detained_for_impe.php

-- In this article, Progress Illinois explains why Occupiers targeted Boeing. Their reasons are many, including immoral business practices, such as building military drones for use in war, and the extreme profits they make from creating and building deadly weapons.

http://progressillinois.com/quick-hits/content/2012/05/21/occupy-chicago-protesters-explain-why-boeing-was-target-video

Rant Time.

Once again, the Corporate Media has proved to Occupy that they are both afraid of us, and controlled by something much larger than a reporter with a camera. Here are some of the most recent words and phrases I've seen in CM used to describe Occupy:

small

divided

unclear

unsure

terrorists

too inclusive

too small

hundreds (used when thousands are actually present)

dozens (see above)

few

no solid voice

ineffective

no united message

hijacked by (insert random left wing group here)

going nowhere

antipathy

taunting police

refuses to get involved in legitimate politics

illegitimate

not coordinated

irresponsible

uncaring

bullies

connected to (insert hated group here)

Moving on OUT of the CM scene, to the smaller and lesser known "free" media, I find this:

strong

thousands

millions around the world

careful

peaceful

inclusive

coordinated

united in many aspects

tormented by police

accused of (insert claim here) but...

victims of police brutality

effective in message

raising awareness

open to (insert random good idea thingy here, like gay rights, removal of class warfare, etc.)

I think it is becoming more and more blatantly obvious who has a grudge against Occupy. 

I'll leave you with some linkies that also show the differences in media forms.

By CM:

The Washington Post asks if Occupy's "all-inclusive mindset" is really the way to go:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/as-nato-summit-ends-in-chicago-questions-arise-about-protesters-all-inclusive-mindset/2012/05/21/gIQAvMdZgU_story.html

The Daily Caller says Bill O'Reilly was "provoked" by "Occupy Terrorists." While they don't explicitly say this, they make no effort to refute his claims.

http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/21/oreilly-claims-occupy-terrorists-tried-to-provoke-him-video/

WGN says protesters are "crying police brutality" in a condescending article towards Occupy.

http://www.wgntv.com/news/wgntv-occupy-members-blame-police-for-rally-violence-20120521,0,7082454.story

The Washington Post says "Occupy is going nowhere fast."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/the-occupy-movement-is-going-nowhere/2012/05/22/gIQAVvOlhU_blog.html

By Indy Media groups: 

IndyBay describes what it's been like in Chicago for Occupiers.

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/05/20/18713828.php

The Examiner displays some of the known goals Occupiers have, and what violence they've sustained by police in attempting to reach them.

http://www.examiner.com/article/police-violence-peace-love-making-among-75000-rights-defenders-saying-no-nato

Northwest Public Radio discusses the recent case against the photographer in NYC, and why charges got dropped. 

http://www.nwpr.org/post/video-helps-acquit-student-first-occupy-wall-street-trial

Al-Jazeera talks international goals, and how the US isn't really helping their own.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/05/2012513142113371535.html

Lastly, Indybay brings up the exact point I'm making here with an article titled "Corporate Media Bored With Occupy--And Inequality."

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/05/03/18712794.php

***Solidarity***

To contact me, email elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com. Thanks. 

Updates 5/21/12

Hello everyone.

I'm not too surprised at what I saw this morning when I began my research for the news. What did I find? A resounding "not much." Regardless of the fact that thousands of protesters planted themselves firmly in the streets of Chicago last night, the top headline I've found (in Corp Media, anyway) is one that makes me want to tear out my hair.

"Occupy my Wedding?!"

There are multiple articles in the Corporate Media about how Occupy ruined a woman's wedding, by marching by the church on the way to the NATO summit. Realistically, the wedding itself was fine, it was the outdoor photos that were unable to be taken by the couple that apparently ruined their big day. This is the major story being run on what happened yesterday. Puts things in perspective... at least in the perspective of the idiotic media.

Anyway, smaller media outlets are running some different stories about yesterday's events, so let's have a look.

-- This article is damned interesting. It's a guideline for police, and how to distinguish between types of protesters, and what to do about them. It includes notes on styles of clothing, actions, chanting, and multiple other things that police should apparently "watch out for."

http://www.policeone.com/Crowd-Control/articles/5588426-Observe-Occupy-Watch-the-tactical-evolution-of-their-revolution/

-- This Politico article details the 45 arrests from last night, and offers a view on what happened to police as well as protesters. It also provides supposed numbers of protesters at the events, placing it much lower than any other that I've seen.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76560.html

-- Boeing is preparing for protesters, worried they might follow through on their plans to "shut down" the company. This article details the plans they've been working on to protect themselves.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Boeing-Occupy-Protest-Chicago-NATO-152264215.html

-- CNN is trying to keep up with what's going on in Chicago, offering updates on information as often as they can. They're not entirely accurate, but they have interesting statements. 

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/21/us/illinois-summit-protests/index.html?hpt=us_c1

-- Here's a "fun" article almost guaranteed to irritate any Occupier. It's titled "'Nonviolence' Explodes in Chicago," and gives Front Page Mag's point of view on why they think Occupy is anything but nonviolent. The writer sounds like a real pissant. Excuse my language. 

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/05/21/nonviolence-explodes-in-chicago/

***Solidarity***

To contact me, email elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com. Thanks.

Updates 5/20/12

Hello everyone.

Please forgive my absence. It was much longer than I expected. As soon as I reached my mother's town, I became ill, and kept getting worse as time went on. It turns out that they've been driving the streets fogging for mosquitoes on a regular basis, which is enough to trigger several of my health problems from all the chemicals in the air. I wasn't supposed to be back home on the train until late tonight, but yesterday my mother strapped my brother in the van, dragged me out to it, and drove me all the way (90 miles) home to make me get better. Aside from a few remaining issues, I'm feeling loads better.

I still don't understand why I jumped out of bed, wide awake, at 6:21 a.m. though. Especially since I didn't get to sleep until after midnight. I'll never understand the confusion that is my brain.

(This is just something funny I thought of earlier while looking at the weather for today.)

By the way- This is just funny to me. Hey! Hey North Carolina! See that big-ass storm over there? You know, the one that's likely ONLY going to hit you? Yeah... Maybe you should put two and two together there and think... Hmm... Maybe God doesn't like it when we take away people's rights. Aaaaannnyway.

On to the news.

There is no link for this, as I heard all about it from other Occupiers as I watched multiple streams last night. This is NOT confirmed yet, at least not by Corp Media. If you know it to be true, please let me know in the comments or email me.

-- Yesterday, livestreamers were ducking for cover and searching for places to hide after it was reported that Chicago police were raiding the apartments and rooms that livestreamers were supposedly staying in. Several people reported that police were allegedly confiscating recording equipment. Livestreamers were set up to meet in an undisclosed location before the march last night, but when a few arrived, they immediately backtracked and set off calling other streamers to warn them not to come, as groups of police officers were waiting for them. (Again, I do not know if this is accurate or not, but feel that it needs to be looked into. Why are they hunting streamers, if they actually are?)

-- Over in Oakland, the City Council is considering a ban on what they are calling the "tools" of protesters, including poles, hammers, and shields. They never directly mention Occupiers, by do supply the dates of major Occupy protests, leading many to charge that this is an Occupy-specific ban. If passed, having any of these items at a protest would immediately qualify as a misdemeanor, with up to a thousand dollar fine and six months in jail. 

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/19/BAKC1OJMJJ.DTL&type=politics

-- In Maryland, Occupiers from around the nation are gathering in the small towns surrounding Camp David, and they are letting their voices be heard. Many of the activists are Ethiopians from across the United States. They say that the US supplies Ethiopia with the means to keep restricting the freedoms of the people of Ethiopia, and that it needs to stop. Police have been eyeing the protests, but so far have made no arrests. 

http://www.voanews.com/content/occupiers-ethiopian-activists-protest-g8-summit/727384.html

-- Earlier this week in Frankfurt, Occupiers were removed from their encampment, with some even being physically carried away by police. The Occupiers obviously weren't finished, regardless of what police said. Saturday, over 20,000 people arrived to rally against Europe's biggest financial hub, calling for blocking access to the European Central Bank. Roughly 5,000 officers were on site, but there are no reported arrests as of yet. 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303360504577414370915099252.html

-- The CM is abuzz about the arrests of three activists who were arrested for conspiracy to commit terrorism and providing material support for terrorism, as well as possession of incendiary or explosive devices. Originally, nine were arrested without charge,  but six were released. The three supposedly bought gasoline and poured it into beer bottles, cutting up bandanas to make fuses. According to their attorneys, it was actually two undercover police officers who created the bombs, and they lost track of them as the arrests occurred. According to a few sites, police have nothing to go on except for a "home-brewing kit," which they confiscated during the raid. Police apparently destroyed most of the belongings in the apartment where they were staying, ransacking the location in their search. Police believe the goup wanted to bomb Mayor Rahm Emanuel's home, and President Obama's campaign headquarters.

http://www.antiwar.com/blog/2012/05/19/three-chicago-nato-summit-activists-charged-with-conspiracy-to-commit-terrorism-providing-material-support-for-terrorism/

http://washingtonexaminer.com/2012/05/occupy-activists-arrested-alleged-plot-bomb-obamas-campaign-hq/632186

-- (This is included to show the sheer insanity of the Corporate Media, and how sometimes, it's pretty okay to have a good laugh at their expense.) According to the Washington Times, as well as numerous other media sources, there was no big deal in Chicago last night. I'm going to post a direct quote from this article:

"A group of Occupy protesters barely had enough members to occupy a small corner of Daley Plaza Saturday as they shouted anti-NATO slogans under the watchful eyes of dozens of police.

About 150 demonstrators marched into the plaza adjacent to City Hall in mid-afternoon to denounce the U.S. government, NATO, the FBI and Wall Street. They carried signs with slogans such as “LBJ, Nixon, Bush, Obama – Troops home now” and “No cuts, no austerity, tax Wall Street now.”"

Funny, I remember clearly seeing hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the streets last night.

Here's the link: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/19/occupy-protesters-rally-against-nato-chicago/

Be careful out there, everyone. Chicago Police are not well known for their kindness and clarity. At the risk of getting in trouble, I'd say they are some of the most hostile and least restrained when it comes to protesters. Watch your back. 

***Solidarity***

To contact me, please email me at elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com. Thanks.

Updates 5/17/12

Hello everyone.

I leave this afternoon to go visit my family for a few days, so expect updates to be a little sporadic. I will be keeping an eye on things, though, so you may find me posting at odd times if I see something that must be shown.

-- Russian investors and citizens alike are fleeing the country to save their funds from the reign of newly elected President Putin. Opposition leaders are now facing up to three years in prison, and fears of crackdowns have many scrambling to get their money out of harm's way. Putin declared he would make the country more democratic, but with arrests and raids already swinging into action, it seems unlikely that his promise will be kept. Putin has decided that Russia will not be attending either the NATO or G8 summits, further isolating the country from the rest of the world. Putin said one of the reasons he is not attending is to show President Obama his displeasure over America's criticism of Russian elections.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/05/17/bloomberg_articlesM44JI30D9L3801-M45O4.DTL

-- Thousands of Occupiers from numerous cities are making their way to Chicago as this is written. Buses from across the country, as far away as NYC, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, will be arriving between Friday night and Saturday morning. Chicago police have cordoned off an area for buses to release passengers. Several churches have opened their doors to Occupiers, saying they will provide a place of rest for as many as they can.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Busloads-Occupy-Protesters-Chicago-151765285.html

-- Four members of Occupy Little Rock were arrested yesterday, only a few hours after the group's permit expired. They were charged with failure to disperse, while other Occupiers chanted nearby. A Police Chief initially sat down with the four and asked them to leave. He told the media that all four responded very politely that they would not do so, then were arrested by officers. He praised the Occupiers for being peaceful and polite throughout the entire process. 

http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/18628698/article-Police-arrest-4-members-of-Occupy-Little-Rock

-- Many Occupiers may be surprised to find that the U.S. Justice Department is siding with protesters. The Dept. released an 11 page letter to the Baltimore P.D., as well as many other larger police departments and agencies, reminding them that the recording of police officers doing their jobs is a First Amendment right, and that any officer who takes a camera and deletes or destroys footage under any circumstances should be punished. Some agencies are pushing for a stronger statement from the Justice Department, asking them to address First Amendment rights in America as a whole.

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/05/doj-supports-right-to-record/

-- The NYPD is struggling to save face now that the first major Occupy trial blew up in their face. It turns out that the student journalist they arrested for blocking traffic on disorderly conduct charges was there to help out the NYPD, by showing that the police were being mis-characterized. A video from Tim Pool, the well-known NYC livestreamer, proved that at no time were the protesters in the street, it was, in fact, the police blocking traffic. The NYPD blatantly lied in court concerning the events surrounding the arrest, and may, if the judge so desires, face perjury charges.

http://rt.com/usa/news/nypd-occupy-trial-lost-406/

-- A Federal Judge ruled yesterday that a class-action suit may be brought against police for their biased use of Stop-and-Frisk techniques, leading to a blown up controversy between Mayor Bloomberg and the media. Bloomberg says that the majority of the population agrees with Stop-and-Frisk policies, and that the media is blowing things out of proportion by covering the minority's opinions on the topic. He cites an unknown poll with no numbers, saying only "majority" and "minority," yet polls actually show that more people disagree with the tactics than agree: 49% to 46%.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/16/nypd-stop-and-frisk-mayor-bloomberg-media-blames_n_1522593.html

-- A grandmother in Minnesota is fighting back against her local community after they told her she must remove her lawn signs supporting Occupy or face fines. The woman first decorated the signs with holiday attire in order to make them legal, as she could not afford an attorney, and was then told she could leave them up until the holiday season was over. The woman then found multiple other violations in the city and turned complaints in regarding them, but they did nothing to the others. The woman has received threats because of her complaints, and now heads to Federal Court to have the city ordinance declared unconstitutional.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/05/16/46546.htm

***Solidarity***

To contact me for any reason, please email me at elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com. Thanks.