Updates 1/31/13

Hello everyone. 

January is just about gone. It's quite bittersweet.

-- In China, 14 protesters who fought back against a government planned water treatment plant that would have spread even more pollution have pleaded guilty to starting a riot. The protest got out of hand, causing dozens of police injuries, and the local Communist Party leader found himself attacked and stripped partially nude. The government says sentencing will come later for the protesters, many of whom feel the charges are unfair because there has been no investigation of the officials involved.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/china-14-guilty-pollution-protest-violence-18360916

-- A study by CUNY has found that members of Occupy Wall Street were disproportionately white and wealthy, and several news stories are picking up on this to criticize the movement. (Maybe if poor people could take a day off to protest every once in a while? No? Why? Oh, that's right, one day off means that they may lose everything they have, because that's what living paycheck to paycheck is. Well, what about the minorities? Shouldn't they get out there and protest? Of course, the white protesters don't usually have to worry about police targeting them for arrest and beating them just because they're a different color... Hmm... Maybe the study was a little biased towards those who supported President Obama as well, considering that the movement is made up of LOTS of different political backgrounds. I don't know about you, but when I hear that 72% of those who responded contributed to President Obama's campaign, and 43% knocked on doors for him, I'd say THAT in itself is a "little" disproportionate, and to me, that highly discredits any theory from that study.)

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/30/zuccotti-glitterati-nycs-occupy-crowd-very-rich-ve/

-- Greek protesters took to the streets again against austerity measures, this time pushing their way into the Labor Minister's office, where they remained for around two hours. Police used tear gas and batons against the crowd in an attempt to make them leave. Protests in Greece are becoming increasingly violent as people struggle more and more with daily life.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/thomson-reuters/130130/greek-protesters-occupy-ministry-office-clash-police

-- Boston residents who ride mass transit are subject to random bag inspections, in which a swab is run along their bag and then tested for explosives. An Occupy offshoot believes this to be against the 4th Amendment (and I happen to agree.) Two courts have already said that the practice is not against the 4th Amendment because they are not searching INSIDE your bag (that doesn't matter....) but Occupiers are staging demonstrations against the practice. A person can refuse to have their bag swabbed, but then would not be allowed to ride the transit system.

http://roslindale.patch.com/articles/occupy-offshoot-to-protest-mbta-bag-checks-this-weekend

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/30/13

Hello everyone.

I need to make this quick today, so we're doing a simple link day. 

-- [Chuck] It's time for Congress to stop stalling and sign the Violence Against Women Act. Go here to sign the petition. 

http://signon.org/sign/tell-congress-pass-the-1?source=s.tw&r_by=190985

-- [Chuck] In Colorado, farmers have begun to plant hemp thanks to the recent legalization. This could mean wonders for our country and environment.

http://www.occupymonsanto360.org/2013/01/29/farmers-begin-planting-hemp-under-new-colorado-hemp-legalization/

-- Occupy Wichita is working to bring the story of a young girl who was killed by a speeding police officer to light. The girl was crossing the street outside of a crosswalk when the officer, who was speeding to a crime scene, hit her. He was not using sirens or lights.

http://articles.kwch.com/2013-01-29/crash-report_36621906

-- [Chuck] Here's a closer look at the wedding between women and Citizens United corporations. It's funny but poignant, and almost disturbing that we can do this today.

http://occupywallst.org/article/seven-brides-seven-corporations/

-- The Russian government has officially banned even just the videos of Pussy Riot's impromptu protest against Putin.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/01/30/footage-anti-putin-rock-band-protest-banned-in-russia/

-- [Chuck] Idle No More is sweeping across North America, and for good reason. Take a look here.

http://peoplesworld.org/idle-no-more-native-movement-sweeps-canada-and-u-s/

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/29/13

Hello everyone.

Can you believe January is almost over? How strange it is that as you get older, time seems to slip away faster. 

-- A study has been released concerning the Occupy Wall Street protesters from New York, and it has found that the majority of those protesting were well-educated professionals. Many of them had at least one degree, but many were also under or unemployed. For more demographic info, follow the link.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/28/in-occupy-well-educated-professionals-far-outnumbered-jobless-study-finds/

-- People figured that after Occupy died down a little, the government would stop performing heavy surveillance on the American population. Too bad it seems to be getting worse. Twitter has reported that there is a continuous increase in the amount of requests for information on users.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/government-snooping-twitter-jumps-sharply-article-1.1249801

-- [Chuck] Cool Revolution is a site where different news stories are posted together, and they have some interesting information up now. One of their articles talks about the Frontline story that ended up with a high-ranking banking official stepping down, but that the story missed connections to several others in government. Another story talks about the major protest outside the annual Alfalfa Club, where police and protesters clashed and a Senator got glitter-bombed.

http://coolrevolution.net/

-- [Chuck] Fracking is dangerous. We all know it. Even the companies that do it know it. Now we need to stop it. Here's a petition to the President demanding an immediate moratorium on fracking before more damage is done.

http://ecowatch.org/2013/obama-fracking-moratorium/

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/28/13

Hello everyone.

I missed a post again, didn't I? I've pretty much had one of the worst weekends ever. At one point, I was just lying in the floor of my shower, crying. I believe that I caught the norovirus that is quickly spreading across the country. I'm still shaky and stuff, but I'm pretty sure the worst is over. I wish there was a vaccine for that... The flu, I can deal with if I have to. Norovirus? That was simply horrible. No wonder it kills people. I was lucky I could at least keep some water, and eventually chicken soup, down.

Sorry about the image there. :S

-- We already know that the FBI considers Occupiers to be terrorists, and that they weren't too interested in protecting the protesters from known attacks. But now, more information is coming out, potentially confirming that the FBI themselves were working with the corporations to spy on protesters and protect the companies.

http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/01/27/285899/fbi-big--business-brutally-crushing-ows/

-- [Chuck] What is better than oil, cheaper, and more efficient? What also is a renewable resource that won't run dry when the oil pumps do? If you said hemp, you are so right! Hemp is an amazing product that could have a huge impact on the world. Check out this short article about hemp fuels, and be sure to look up what else hemp can be used for.

http://www.blacklistednews.com/Everything_Petroleum_Does%2c_Hemp_Does_Better/23318/0/0/0/Y/M.html?morestories=obinsite

-- [Chuck] It is now officially against the law to jailbreak/unlock your smartphone, and there are some damn stiff penalties that can come with it if you do. It's a ridiculous law, and it shows that even though you purchased that phone, you don't really own it, do you?

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/01/the-most-ridiculous-law-of-2013-so-far-it-is-now-a-crime-to-unlock-your-smartphone/272552/

-- [Chuck] President Obama promised that he would work hard on climate change, but these people are calling him out on his "all of the above" energy policies. They say that you cannot protect the environment with one hand while the other welcomes environmentally disastrous companies. You can read and sign their open letter to the President here.

http://act.350.org/signup/an-open-letter-to-president-obama/?rd=1&t=2&referring_akid=2651.674714.KpyMhx

-- Four protesters in Chicago were arrested while demonstrating at a hospital. They are fighting to get a trauma center on their side of the city, as people have died as a result of traveling to reach one. While the children's hospital nearby has such a center, they only accept kids up to age 15. 

http://wgntv.com/2013/01/27/4-arrested-at-hospital-protest/

-- The Beitar Jerusalem soccer team is facing some backlash from fans after the owner of the team decided to hire two Muslim players. Fans unfurled anti-Islamic signs at a game, as well as a banner declaring that the team would be "pure forever." The team owner says he sees no difference in the players, whether they are Jewish or Muslim, and the two will be joining the team.

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2013/01/28/3117961/beitar-jerusalem-soccer-fans-protest-hiring-of-2-muslim-players

-- [Chuck] A young woman in high school decided to brighten everyone's day, and had to be rescued by classmates and teachers after the administration decided she would be suspended for it. Have a read of this heartwarming story.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ashley-monroe/my-message-to-everyone-at_b_2563941.html

-- Israeli forces have once again attacked a Palestinian protest camp, this time injuring many of the protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets. This comes just before Israeli forces moved in to destroy Palestinian homes to make way for construction on their newest settlement, with clashes over the area causing at least 9 injuries.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/01/28/285985/israel-attacks-palestinian-tent-camp/

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/01/28/286029/9-hurt-in-palestinian-israeli-clashes/

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/26/13

Hello everyone.

I wasn't sure if I would be up for posting at all today, but I figured that you all deserve me giving it a shot. All the links are from Chuck. He has kept my inbox pretty busy these past few days. These links aren't even all of what he has sent, but some of them I will spread out for the next few days. 

I'm still a bit of a wreck. My wife has long since landed in Japan, but has yet to contact me at all to let me know she is okay. In all likelihood, the almost 20 hours of flights knocked her on her bottom, and she will be getting in touch with me as soon as she wakes up. It's just a bit scary and frustrating to not know if your loved one is okay. Not to mention that I look like I have two black eyes thanks to a combination of sleeplessness and crying. (I don't usually cry at all. It's extremely unusual. Even my wife was super-surprised by my extraordinarily emotional reaction to her leaving.) So I'm going to push through this stuff, and we'll keep moving along.

Once again, ALL links are from Chuck. I'm not going to put his name in front of them.

-- A group of top CEOs are looking to line their pockets a little more by looting social programs needed by millions. They are trying to convince the government and the people that cutting these programs will make them stronger and more adapted to our demographics. This author examines their plans, and the real solutions that would actually help.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/01/201312215581386760.html

-- Aaron Swartz took his own life, possibly as a direct result of the federal government's heavy prosecution tactics against him for minor crimes. But now, new evidence against the government has come to light, as we learn that Swartz never even faced prison time until the feds became involved.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57565927-38/swartz-didnt-face-prison-until-feds-took-over-case-report-says/

-- Our country, and really the world, needs some help. Our leaders keep reforming everything, but nothing fixes our problems. Here's a suggestion from this author to reform something we haven't done yet: the trade agreements.

http://crooksandliars.com/dave-johnson/if-you-want-reform-something-reform-t

-- John Kerry is tapped as the next Secretary of State, replacing Clinton, but there are some things that need to be revealed about him. Kerry has had to go on record saying that if he is chosen as the next Secretary, he will remove his shares in companies that may cause a conflict of interest, including a bunch of them associated with the Keystone. 

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/23/john-kerry-oil-sands-investments_n_2537179.html?ir=Canada&ref=topbar&just_reloaded=1

-- Boston officially has its first Panera Cares cafe, an eatery meant to help those who cannot afford to eat with the support of those who can. It's a simple 'pay-it-forward' model. If you can afford to pay and help out a little extra, do so. If you can't, don't worry about it.

http://www.boston.com/businessupdates/2013/01/23/panera-cares-cafe-now-officially-open-boston/Mwc65F5SoRSXCFyWoVsJ7I/story.html

-- Occupy isn't just a revolution, says this author. It is, rather, a way of creating revolutionaries, and providing a brand new culture that people can become a part of. (Really interesting read.)

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/14095-occupy-everyone-making-revolutionaries-not-a-revolution

-- President Obama's inauguration speech may have been heart-warming and heart-felt, but was it accurate? Here, a member of Anonymous works to prove that it was, in his words, "A heaping pile of shit."

http://vimeo.com/57914228

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/24/13

Hello everyone.

I won't be posting tomorrow. I'm driving my wife to the airport, and I'm going to be an exhausted and miserable wreck of a human being when I get home. 

-- [Chuck] What happens when you stop people who support President Obama and ask them five random questions about him? WeAreChange wanted to find out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XaTsFjjBpg&feature=youtu.be&a

-- [Chuck] The House of Representatives has recently passed the No Budget, No Pay bill, which now makes its way over to the Senate. The bill would make it so that if lawmakers did not pass all the necessary budgeting and spending bills to fund the government, they would not receive a paycheck. If you want to sign the petition for this, head over to the link, or call your Senator!

http://action.nolabels.org/8944/no-budget-no-pay/?src=012312em

-- The four Occupiers from Little Rock who were arrested last May for refusing to leave their encampment will no longer be facing charges for those actions. The prosecution is apparently dropping the charges since all four stayed out of trouble since then, but the Occupiers believe that they simply couldn't prosecute them for exercising their Freedom of Speech and Assembly. 

http://www.kuar.org/kuarnews/88601-charges-dropped-occupy-little-rock-celebrating-victory.html

-- The Sundance Film Festival is a name we all recognize, but this year they recognized us. Two of the sixteen films at this year's Festival were on the topic of economic disparity, and are up for prizes. One of the filmmakers said that he turned on the news and saw nothing about the protests, so he just picked up his camera.

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130124/LIFE/130129590/1031

-- [Chuck] Ever wonder why some Congressmen are pushing SO HARD to get the Keystone XL pipeline? Here's a great image to let you know.

https://twitter.com/aprogressivepov/status/294280187745538048/photo/1

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/23/13

Hello everyone.

Once again I am posting news sent in all by Chuck. See, I am trying to spend as much time with my wife as possible. She leaves on Friday morning for almost five months. She applied to become an international tutor and got the position. Please, send her safe travel wishes. (And send some good thoughts for me, too, because I may just lose my mind over all this.)

ALL the news is from Chuck, so I'm not going to write in his name. 

-- For the first time in the history of its being, the Sierra Club is about to engage in civil disobedience in an attempt to stop the tar sands pipeline that would likely devastate any ecosystem near it. 

http://ecowatch.org/2013/civil-disobedience-stop-tar-sands/

-- The new documentary "We Steal Secrets" is all about Wikileaks. The first link is a discussion with the film's maker, and the second is a scrutiny of the film for the lack of coverage it gives to certain aspects of Assange's trial.

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/23/we_steal_secrets_alex_gibneys_new

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/23/wikileaks_legal_advisor_we_steal_secrets

-- Why won't officials charge the bankers on Wall Street with any of their obvious crimes? Everyone knows what they did was against the law and fully chargeable, yet nothing happens. This article and video looks at why.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/untouchables/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=

-- Millions of people in Africa have died as a direct result of Big Pharma and the USA's blockage of generic prescription AIDS medication due to a trade agreement. What kind of agreement willingly lets people die for profit? This one.

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/23/fire_in_the_blood_millions_die

-- As war still goes on, and protests continue on the home front, more and more individuals in the US are becoming concerned with drones, and what they mean for us as citizens and as a country. This is a really interesting read about how far the government will go, how far people think it will try to go, and what these drones show.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/23-0

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/22/13

Hello everyone.

I'm sure you can imagine how exhausting it can be to try to find the time every morning to write this news blog for you all. Even with Chuck's help (which I am extremely grateful for) it still sometimes feels tedious. But that's one of the reasons I am so happy to have Chuck helping me out. I can take a day off every now and then without actually taking a day off the news. I'm still writing the stories for the links he sends, but it's much easier to do that than it is to have to search them out.

...Not to mention how depressed some of the news can make me after a little while. People just suck sometimes. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know why I'll sometimes let Chuck's links take over the day. I really appreciate both his help and your understanding. 

Oh, and today is a Chuck day, but I'm sure you figured that out already. :)

-- [Chuck] Personally, I'm not too sure what I should think about this poster and President Obama supporter. They refer to him as the "King," but it seems like they mean less of a monarch sort and more of an Elvis-type thing. What do you guys think?

https://twitter.com/Lukewearechange/status/293430524540776448/photo/1/large

-- [Chuck] CounterCurrents has some great articles available today, with one of their articles talking about the President's surprise placement of climate change so high on his list for the second term. Check them out.

http://www.countercurrents.org/

-- [Chuck] For his second inauguration, President Obama banned lobbyists from donating to the ceremony, but accepted unlimited donations from their corporations. For the President's first inauguration, there were limits placed on the amount that could be donated by them, but they were completely removed this time. 

http://truth-out.org/news/item/14037-obama-inauguration-sponsors-spent-millions-influencing-government

-- [Chuck] The daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has spoken up about her support for One Billion Rising, and suggests that you should too. You can watch her video encouraging support and participation on the front page of their website.

http://www.onebillionrising.org/

-- [Chuck] Once again, let's end with a little humor to set the day off informed but laughing. From The Onion (a satirical news site,) we have a story about President Obama's second inauguration beginning with a little help from some drone friends.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/obama-begins-inauguration-festivities-with-ceremon%2c30974/?ref=auto

***Solidarity*** 

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

Updates 1/21/13

Hello everyone.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! No one here says the Jr. part though. This is one happy day for much of America (still not all, but one day...) While I know that no one is perfect, including Dr. King, sometimes it is more important to remember the message that person left behind than to try and taint it with negativeness. So happy (late) birthday to Dr. King, and I hope his message rings true for all. 

-- [Chuck] Let's start off today with the speech that everyone remembers, or at the very least learned in school. This wonderful speech should remain in our hearts throughout the entire year, not just today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F365_xYwg44&

-- [Chuck] Ever wonder how MLK wrote that speech? Here's a discussion about the imagination that went into it, but also a bit of talk about why this very public speech is so privately owned.

http://www.onthemedia.org/2013/jan/18/dr-martin-luther-king-jr-and-public-imagination/?utm_source=local&utm_media=treatment&utm_campaign=daMost&utm_content=damostviewed

-- The last story we'll do about Dr. King today involves Occupy. This opinion piece offers their reasoning as to why they believe that, had he been alive, Dr. King would be at the forefront of the movement.

http://www.policymic.com/articles/23759/mlk-and-occupy-wall-street-civil-rights-hero-would-have-led-the-99-in-an-uprising

-- [Chuck] Here's a video that is a little disturbing when you really think about what it means. Occupiers had a wedding for Citizens United, which is totally allowed because of the personhood status of corporations. This only begs the question: does the spouse get half the company in a divorce?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJOXUhB2uRA&feature=youtu.be

-- Japanese employees had to be rescued from a building in Shanghai after a protest kept them confined inside at least overnight. The protesters were angry over reported increases in fines for being late. There was no word on whether any injuries occurred, but this may be evidence that relations between China and Japan are getting even more strained.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-21/japanese-workers-rescued-from-shanghai-protest-consulate-says.html

-- The second Palestinian protest camp has been torn down by Israeli security forces, but the Palestinian people say they will continue to fight back against the encroachment of Israel's government. The Israeli government has annexed the land illegally, according to the international community.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-removes-palestinian-protest-camp-outside-jerusalem-1.495335

-- 99GetSmart has a slew of good articles available today, from the disclosure of the tax dodgers who use the Cayman Islands to discussions of Greece's finances and anarchists to prison labor and democracy. Have a look. It's definitely worth the time.

http://99getsmart.com/monday-read-21-january-2013/

***Solidarity*** 

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

Updates 1/20/13

Hello everyone.

The news today is short. Hope you don't mind.

-- [Chuck] Are you a Nebraska citizen who doesn't like the idea of the TransCanada pipeline knocking on your back door? Or just an American citizen who feels the same way? Check out this site, started by Nebraskan farmers who want to protest their state and country from this disastrous pipeline.

http://pipelinefighters.org/

-- [Chuck] Rush Limbaugh isn't exactly difficult to make fun of, but some people do it better than others. (Me? I just point out the facts about him, completely destroying his credibility -- if he had any to begin with, that is.) Stephen Colbert does a pretty good job here, making a mockery of Limbaugh and Steve Doocy for their attacks of President Obama's recent approach to gun laws.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/18/colbert-mocks-rush-limbau_n_2504752.html?utm_hp_ref=comedy

-- Another large group has stepped out in support of Occupy's criticism if the extremely rich. Oxfam, which receives much of its charity money from the super-rich, has determined that these people are part of the problem, rather than the solution. (Personally, I say this is a brave stance to take for a charity that relies so heavily on therich. It basically says that Oxfam is more worried about actually ending extreme poverty than they are pleasing their donors. Go Oxfam!)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/01/20/oxfam-poverty-income-inequality/

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/19/13

Hello everyone.

Let's get to the news.

-- [Chuck] We've been hearing a lot about Aaron Swartz lately, and for good reason. Here is an exclusive interview with his girlfriend, who found him after his death, and why she believes the courts are responsible.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2264177/EXCLUSIVE-Girlfriend-Reddit-founder-hanged-tells-moment-body-hounded-vindictive-legal-system.html

-- [Chuck] It has been long since known (especially by conspiracy theorists) that the government has been trying to manipulate weather patterns in the US. Now we have constant superstorms, massive tsunamis and earthquakes, and other changes. This petition demands that the government immediately stop all experimentation with weather modification.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/immediate-stop-chemtrails-and-haarp-weather-modification-programs/FXTmg13W

-- Occupiers in Edinburgh are dealing with multiple challenges to their encampment, including below freezing temperatures and a city council attempting to toss them out. The Occupiers have said they may leave their occupation spot early, but that they will be seen elsewhere.

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/latest-news/occupy-campers-to-leave-ahead-of-eviction-order-1-2747457

-- [Chuck] The Palestinian people are not giving up yet, even after their camp was destroyed by Israeli officials. Instead they have created another camp, this one called the Gate of Dignity. They are already looking to build permanent structures on the spot, but it is only a matter of time before the Israeli government steps in. 

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/18-8

-- Lastly, this Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and everyone should stop to remember this man. However, it seems that some people are getting pretty worked up over a new sort of idea: that MLK was a conservative. Do you think King was a conservative? Head over to this article on CNN for an interesting read and arguments for both sides.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/19/us/mlk-conservative/

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/18/13

Hello everyone.

I went to the doctor yesterday after feeling like I was going to pass out in class, and was told I have a major GI bug that is going around. So I'm off my feet and on a "bland diet" for 48 hours or so. No fun, but if it helps, I can't complain too much.

-- [Chuck] The other day we mentioned a little research that points to the Keystone XL Pipeline being worse than previously thought. That is indeed the case, and this article explains the hows and whys of these findings. 

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/17-4

-- [Chuck] When Aaron Swartz took his life, he was less than a few weeks from facing a trial that was unjustly prosecuted so harshly that it is almost outrageous to believe. Here, his partner and the chief expert witness from that trial discuss how he was unfairly targeted and why.

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/17/exclusive_aaron_swartzs_partner_expert_witness

-- [Chuck] GMOs. It seems like they'll never go away, and that we'll never figure out what they're in, thanks to companies fighting to hide that info. So what on Earth is going on with Wal-Mart and the other big food giants who are seemingly working with the FDA to get a federal GMO labeling law?!

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/17/exclusive_aaron_swartzs_partner_expert_witness

-- Just the other day I told you that if you didn't think anything was wrong with the Israel/Palestine stats, you should go sit in the corner and think about your bias. But we all have a bias to something, and this is something even I cannot and will not deny. What kind of bias do we have? How can we be more aware of them? Head to this link for answers. 

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/17/http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/your-brain-flawed-12-scientific-reasons-human-beings-are-wildly-irrational?page=0%2C0

-- Lastly, let's end on something humorous. It turns out that even some Fox anchors don't believe what they are supposed to be spouting. 

http://www.alternet.org/media/fox-news-hosts-lose-it-crack-over-ridiculous-stuff-theyre-supposed-say-about-obama

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/17/13

Hello everyone.

We're going to have some news, then a talk about one of the articles. Also, Chuck sent some information about the gun restrictions and such. 

-- [Chuck] Gun activists and protesters alike throw the Second Amendment around constantly, arguing what it means and how it is to be interpreted. But I've never seen anyone ask why the Second Amendment was written to begin with. Here's a YouTube video that finally addresses that question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVJMtCAX5fs

-- [Chuck] Here's a direct quote from the email sent by Chuck:

 please send an email to your member of the House of Representatives, telling him or her to pass the gun safety proposals outlined by President Obama.

Earlier today, President Obama announced a series of executive orders on gun safety. However, the most important changes we can make to improve gun safety in America can only come with congressional action. These include:

Universal background checks whenever someone buys a gun, whether it is from a licensed dealer or a private seller;

Restoring the ban on military-style assault weapons, and a 10 round limit for magazines;

Improving access to mental health services;

Increasing funding for school security and safety

As President Obama himself said, "this will not happen unless the American people demand it." That means you.

Tell Congress: Pass the gun safety proposals outlined by President Obama.

The gun lobby has stood in the way of enacting common sense measures for too long. We finally have a chance to make a difference, but we need to help members of Congress find their spines.

Ask your representatives if they prefer getting an A rating from the gun lobby, or giving parents peace of mind when they drop their kids off for first grade.

I know my answer, I think I know yours, but make sure you know where your member of Congress stands.

Click here to remind Congress that they work for the American people, and not the NRA.

Keep fighting,

Michael Miller, Daily Kos

(Just in case that link doesn't work, here's where it is supposed to take you.)

http://campaigns.dailykos.com/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=299

-- We've had a bunch of explanations about what Idle No More is, but I couldn't resist convincing you all to read this great piece about it. The title is simply brilliant. Head over to "The Idle No More Movement for Dummies, (or 'What The Heck Are All These Indians Acting All Indian-Ey About?')

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/01/16/idle-no-more-movement-dummies-or-what-heck-are-all-these-indians-acting-all-indian-ey

-- This piece is also a must-read. This man, part of Occupy Oakland, was accused of being a Palestinian terrorist (who didn't even have the same name) by a break-away faction of the movement. All the man was actually guilty of was speaking out in favor of Palestine. The faction that accused him used baseless "evidence," but supported it so strongly that they left the movement in favor of keeping it.

http://electronicintifada.net/content/why-did-rogue-group-occupy-activists-smear-me-terror-claim/12099

This is what I wanted to talk about. 

It truly is ridiculous that in America (as with several other countries) one cannot speak up about the injustices they see in another country without becoming some sort of affront to the "Lord" or some form of terrorist. If you look closely at what is going on in Israel/Palestine right now, you can actually SEE the injustice. Israel wasn't supposed to build any more settlements that would possibly take away land from the Palestinian people. The Palestinian people already are struggling to survive in such a small area. (Yes, that is accurate. Go look at a photo of the Gaza Strip and the rest of Israel, then compare the numbers of Palestinians and Israelis. Look at those statistics using logic instead of emotion. If you don't see a problem there, go sit in a corner until you realize that you're being biased.) Anyway, the Palestinian people are struggling to hold on to what land they can so that they can survive. Here comes the Israeli government, pushing in to build another settlement, even with the leaders of other countries telling them that it is a bad idea. But they don't care. They want that land. So the Palestinian people are frustrated, and put up some tents to protest the building. And what do the Israeli officials do? They beat them up, tear down their tents, and get some bullshit excuse from their Supreme Court to do so (it'll attract terrorists my ass.)

Now, did you notice that I did not once refer to the Israeli PEOPLE? There is a reason for that... Because it isn't the Israeli people doing it. Accusing the Israeli people of being the ones to build these settlements or harm these people is ridiculous. Should they be out protesting to stop it? Of course. But the truth is that they are probably being fed just as many lies about their government as the American people are, and they believe it just as strongly. I did mention the Palestinian people, strictly because they took initiative out of their own frustration to set up the tents. 

I support the Palestinian people, but I also support the Israeli people. I do not support either of their governments, because both have proved that they are ineffective and sometimes downright cruel. 

That doesn't make me a terrorist. That makes me knowledgeable. That means that I know what is going on. I keep up. I read. I cry. I hope for an end to this stupid conflict that kills and maims so many. 

It just upsets me so much that we are so willing to let people die because we're told they are the bad guys.

What if WE are the bad guys for not doing anything about it???

--Kitty

Updates 1/16/13

Hello everyone!

Yesterday was a frustrating day, to be certain. I wrote the news blog yesterday, even though you didn't see it. I wonder about the wisdom of our monopolized utilities companies sometimes. Like yesterday, when our power company decided that they would shut off the power to our entire complex all day, while they changed a transformer. I can't help but wonder if it couldn't have waited until next week, when it is supposed to mildly warm up again, or if they could have done it last week, when it was sixty degrees and very mild outside. Instead, they decided to shut off the power for several hours in 25 degree (F) weather. So I had the blog all written up when they shut it off, and I was a bit on the "You've got to be kidding me," side of things. Without any further delay, here's the news from both yesterday and today.

-- Over 400 Occupiers from Oakland filed suit against Oakland and Alameda County for their arrests last year, which they say violated their civil rights. The suit is a class-action one, and adds that protesters were not given a dispersal order before being arrested. (Personally, I'm just glad to see someone suing Alameda County. Every time I watched a livestream, it was almost always the Alameda County sheriff's office deputies who were being violent. It made me so angry that no one could stop them.)

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_22384509/occupy-oakland-protesters-sue-city-and-county

-- [Chuck] In America right now, we have one of the most shameful problems, and it isn't the people plagued by it that should be ashamed. It's the rest of us. We have so many resources in this country -- in this world -- that no one should have to be homeless. Here's a great idea: a petition to create a homeless bill of rights so we can start to help those who need it.

http://www.alternet.org/poverty/what-americas-most-vulnerable-need-bill-rights-homeless

-- [Chuck] Think insurance companies want to help you? You'd be dead wrong. Even with the disastrously tragic events we've had in the world in the past decade, insurance companies are still well in the black, making millions. How can this affect you? Here's one story from the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand.

http://thechristchurchfiasco.wordpress.com/2012/11/28/backstory-to-the-christchurch-fiasco/

-- [Chuck] This is a pretty good reminder of what has happened throughout the past year, brought to you by Al Jazeera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEPzRwtFr5M&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs

-- In Tacoma, Lady Gaga started off her tour with the Born Brave Bus, a sort of tailgating vehicle meant to allow people to feel comfortable and safe no matter who they are. While this seems like a great idea (and I think it is) there are some people unwilling to allow it. Conservative groups including the Florida Family Association (what the hell were they doing in Washington state?) hired an airplane to fly over the concert hauling a banner that stated "NOT Born this way."

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/01/conservatives-protest-lady-gagas-born-brave-bus/

-- In France, employees of the Peugeot automobile factory brought production to a halt in an Occupy-style protest against the eventual selling of the factory. The struggling auto company said it was fire or lay off over 8000 people last year. 

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Peugeot-workers-occupy-plant-slated-to-be-sold-4198149.php

-- [Chuck] Coca-Cola has finally admitted that its Dasani brand of water (at least in the UK) is nothing but bottled and refrigerated tap water. (To this I say great, at least we know that it's regulated and tested, unlike other bottled waters that do not come from tap sources.)

http://www.occupymonsanto360.org/2013/01/15/5500/

-- The Israeli Supreme Court has ruled that the Israeli government can legally remove the tents of Palestinian protesters who stood up against the Israeli government's most recent land grab. The Supreme Court agreed with the argument that leaving the tents up could attract "violent Palestinian protests," which is one of the worst excuses and obvious passes I've ever seen.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/16/us-palestinians-israel-settlements-idUSBRE90F0QO20130116

***Solidarity***

To contact me, email elvishbutterfly@hotmail.com.

Thanks.

Updates 1/14/13

Hello everyone.

It seems I have caught a second round of the flu, or a different strain of some sort. I was feeling much better, but then I woke up today unable to even talk for a few minutes because I hurt so bad. I just have to keep fighting it off. It's just so frustrating, since I did get a flu shot and all. Anyway, I feel like death, so we're letting Chuck bring us the news.

-- [Chuck] Researchers have now confirmed that the Keystone XL pipeline, and others like it, have devastating effects on the environment. The tar sands oil is likely the world's dirtiest, and can cause severe damage. Previously, the pipeline companies have been trying to say the environment issues could have been "naturally-occurring," but there is no chance of that now.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/08-1

-- [Chuck] This petition from CODEPINK urges senators to reject President Obama's nomination of John Brennan to the head of the CIA, or at the very least ask him some tough questions about his involvement in the wars and drone killings. 

http://codepink.salsalabs.com/o/424/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7125

-- [Chuck] Noam Chomsky is a famous linguist and political analyst who has really good ideas for politics (don't get me started on his linguistics though.) Here he discusses privilege, and why that privilege involves responsibility and moral duty.

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2013/01/201311294541129427.html

-- [Chuck] This is a direct quote sent to me by Chuck:

Tonight on OPN- 7:30pm EST  The ChristChurch Fiasco and it's implication for Hurricane Sandy Region

Beginning at 7:30 OccupyEye will be showing us footage from his recent trip to New Zealand's Christchurch area, which was devestated by earthquakes from 2010-2012.  Following will be a live in-depth interview with former investment banking lawyer and psychotherapist turn author Sarah Miles whose book "The Christchurch Fiasco..." details the failure of the government, aid agenices and insurance companies to provide the required relief and assistance to the region.  This failure has been part of an attempt to leverage the disaster for profit.  Sarah has observed many similarities between this evolution and the post Sandy hurricane environment in the NE US. 

This show is a warning call for what might be happening in the Sandy region as we speak.  We hope it will be educational and raise awareness of the population that leads to proactive action and accountability so the story will not be repeated.

Hope to see you there!

http://www.o-p-n.org/

The OPN Team

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/13/13

Hello everyone.

It's quite dreary out today, which seems to match my mood quite nicely.

-- [Chuck] Aaron Swartz was an Internet Freedom Activist, meaning that he went to great distances in order to try and make information available for all, even going so far as to sacrifice his own liberty to do so. Federal prosecutors chased after him so vindictively that it was almost certain he would be spending many years in prison for something done by many others. The only difference was that the government was already angry at him, because he fought back against SOPA and PIPA and internet censorship. Swartz often spoke about issues with battling depression. He was 26 years old when he committed suicide on Friday.

http://boingboing.net/2013/01/12/rip-aaron-swartz.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/12/aaron-swartz-heroism-suicide1

-- While this article is a little late, it does provide some information we haven't seen yet. Activists across the US have taken to protesting the Keystone XL pipeline, both at the construction sites and at the banks and government offices supporting it. It turns out that the activists aren't the only ones protesting. The Head of the EPA will apparently be resigning in protest of President Obama's likely support of the project. She will not be the Head when he signs his support, says a source.

http://truth-out.org/news/item/13873-millennials-occupy-transcanada-offices-across-the-us

-- Israel is at it again, this time detaining and questioning dozens of protesters from a protest camp on the West Bank. The Israeli government has decided that they will be building on the site, essentially cutting off Palestinians from their would-be capital of East Jerusalem. Other international leaders have decried the plan, as have the Palestinians who are protesting against it. 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/12/world/meast/west-bank-protest/index.html

-- [Chuck] Let's end today's news with a little humor. President Obama's second term has technically not yet begun, but he's already failed at it, according to Stephen Colbert. Watch here for a humorous take on how President Obama has messed up before he even started. 

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/colbert-goes-after-obama-his-failed-second

***Solidarity***

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