Updates 1/12/13

Hello everyone.

Once you get this flu, it feels like it takes weeks to go away. I know it hasn't been that long, but damn if it doesn't feel like it.

In other news, Chuck sent two links to me today that are surprisingly on track with the happenings in my area. The first is a link to a petition demanding that President Obama put an immediate ban on fracking. While this is relevant for many people, a few days ago we had a 2.7 earthquake almost directly over a fracking site in a nearby town. Fracking in this area is likely to end up being disastrous.

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

The second relevant link has to do with the increasing changes in weather patterns across the globe, and how this is affecting all of us. Why is this relevant to me? Because right now, it is a beautiful 62 degrees Fahrenheit outside. It really is a nice day. Yet tomorrow's high is in the low thirties, and there are talks of severe weather involving storms, snow, and ice tonight. I know this isn't the deadly form of severe extremes, but it easily proves to the people in this area that something isn't right. We used to have an actual winter around here. Not anymore. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/11/science/earth/extreme-weather-grows-in-frequency-and-intensity-around-world.html?_r=2&

-- [Chuck] Idle No More continues to grow, and now there is this brilliant song "Red Winter," performed by Drezus, a Native who is tired of watching his people be taken advantage of. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEc3ZYqj5Fw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

-- Townhall.com is being its usual paranoid self as the website attacks the new Oakland teacher's group called TEACH, or "Transform Education, Abolish Capitalism, and Heal." They accuse the group of wanting to indoctrinate children to socialism and use them to achieve left wing ideals. (On another matter---Why so scared of socialism anyway, Townhall? You say you're afraid of losing freedoms, but could it be that you are actually afraid of equality? Wouldn't want other children to be on equal ground with yours now, would you?)

http://townhall.com/columnists/kyleolson/2013/01/12/oaklands-radical-occupy-teachers-finally-reveal-their-goal-abolish-capitalism-n1487447

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/11/13

Hello everyone.

I hope you all have a good weekend.

-- [Chuck] You may be wondering why we post things about Idle No More on an Occupy blog. The reason for this is simple: many people are involved with both, or easily could be. Check out this story of a person who has done so.

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2013-01-08/from-occupy-to-idle-no-more

-- [Chuck] About a week ago, a sheriff made some comments in a press conference that involved Anonymous and #KnightSec. That was probably the first bad idea, but claiming that #KnightSec isn't the "real Anonymous" was no doubt the second.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrmCFvj5WJw

-- In Edinburgh, Occupiers are having a rally over the weekend as a reminder that they are still working hard toward their goals, but they have been warned not to try to establish an encampment under threat of immediate eviction by police. 

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/occupy-campaigners-warned-weekend-rally-must-not-turn-into-new-camp-1-2732320

-- An Occupier who was injured by a high-ranking police official is suing the officer for using excessive force. The man was caught on video being punched in the face repeatedly and being thrown to the ground by the officer, which tore out one of his earrings. 

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ows-protestor-sues-nypd-face-punch-article-1.1237608

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/10/13

Hello everyone.

Let's get to the news. I'm still not well. This flu that is going around is a fierce little bugger. I had to reschedule some appointments and such. I could probably make it in, but the chance that I might make others sick gave me pause enough to reschedule.

-- [Chuck] Occupy has been accused of being involved with everything from terrorism to murder, and now groups are taking steps to ensure that this sort of bad journalism stops. 

http://tech.nycga.net/2013/01/03/protect-ows-from-false-allegations-of-ny-post/

-- [Chuck] Here's an appropriate photo that makes a lot of sense in the world today, even if we wish it didn't.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=430702350334571&set=a.392613804143426.93130.377788185625988&type=1&theater

-- [Chuck] Ever wonder how much food goes in the garbage these days? It's a horrible amount, and shows that maybe we need to reconsider some of the issues we have.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/10/half-world-food-waste?CMP=twt_gu

-- Julian Assange has been asked to speak for the Oxford Union, a politically neutral debate society. This has caused some anger to flare among Oxford students, who are furious that a man evading capture for possible sexual assault would be asked to speak. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/jan/10/oxford-students-to-protest-at-assange-talk

-- Anonymous is petitioning the US government to recognize DDoS attacks as legal forms of protest, rather than the form of cyberterrorism that they are seen as now. The petition is available on the White House website.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-57563188-83/anonymous-petitions-u.s-to-see-ddos-attacks-as-legal-protest/

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/8/13

Hello everyone.

Everyone in the house has some sort of awful flu thing, so we're going to make the news short and to the point. I'd like very much to go back to bed.

-- [Chuck] Idle No More is preparing for their International Day of Action. For more details on how you can join in or support them, follow the first link. For a film describing who the people of Idle No More are and why they are standing up, follow the second link.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/01/07-3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksESR2BVlqY&feature=youtu.be

-- [Chuck] The 113th session of Congress is about to begin, and RootStrikers is working to welcome the new Congresspeople with a new series called "Corruption Isn't Funny."

http://www.rootstrikers.org/corruption_isnt_funny

-- [Chuck] Anonymous isn't ready to allow the accused rapists in Steubenville to get away with their crimes. Here, a member of Anonymous goes on Democracy Now! to discuss the case and what they're doing to help.

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/1/7/hacker_group_anonymous_leaks_chilling_video

-- In China, protesters are fighting back against the government's oppressive censorship laws, and their struggle is getting worldwide attention and plenty of support.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323706704578227502841925808.html

-- Between three and eleven Saudi Arabian women are being detained against their wills at prisons and "Social Welfare Homes" (similar to senior centers and nursing homes, if I recall correctly) after they were taken into custody for protesting the extended detainment of their relatives.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/saudi-arabia-release-11-women-held-after-peaceful-protest-2013-01-08

-- The fight against Keystone is still ongoing, and Anonymous is rejoining the battle. Recently, at least  activists were arrested for gluing themselves together (with superglue on their hands, which officers then ripped them apart) and chaining themselves to the pipeline. In the first link, Anonymous provides tons of info about the companies behind Keystone, and the second link details the superglue protest story.

[Chuck] http://anarchoanon.tumblr.com/post/39931205182/its-national-nokxl-mass-action-day-and-it-would-be

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/massachusetts/2013/01/07/protesters-glue-themselves-together-westborough-office-company-building-pipeline/3MkxHkv9gbokZbTIQ4vkkO/story.html

-- [Chuck] Lastly, here's something extraordinarily relevant and outrageous.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=510939162259595&set=a.269806683039512.65846.243722972314550&type=1&theater

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/7/13

Hello everyone.

I have a little time before I have to head out, so it looks like you get the news today anyway!

-- Occupiers in London are moving down to a local level for a change in a bid to prevent the city from destroying an "Adventure Playground." The area has play supervisors on hand to ensure safety, but the city will be removing their jobs after they demolish the current equipment and install new. Occupy London has made the park into an encampment, and are asking other members of the public to join in and save both the jobs and this special park.

http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/topstories/10144824.VIDEO__Occupy_London_protesters_set_up_camp_in_Battersea_Park_playground/

-- [Chuck] It seems that, in general, the human race is very good at one thing: killing each other. Now we're using technology to make our deaths more efficient. (If you don't find that statement a little bit icky, you've been desensitized.) We already use drones to kill hundreds overseas, but now developments are in the works to make actual "Robot Wars," where our soldiers are all metal, as discussed in this video. And as Chuck says, why can't we just "Give Peace a Chance?"

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/faultlines/2011/12/2011122512243829505.html

-- We've been talking about the FBI documents for quite some time now, looking at the meaning behind them and trying to understand why our government would act in such a way toward its own civilians. Here's an opinion piece about the whole shebang in which the author seems to believe we're all mistaken about the FBI. According to him, the documents don't provide evidence of the FBI crackdown on free speech. He also seems to forget about the whole assassination bit, too.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/01/occupy-fbi-documents-naomi-wolf

-- [Chuck] Worrying about GMOs in your food? That's not the only issue these days. Your food may be irradiated--yep, zapped with gamma radiation as a "sterilization" method. Reports show that foods zapped with gamma rays can go a month without rotting, but that vitamins are lost, and many aren't even sure how this sort of thing affects us. Irradiated food is supposed to be labeled, but only in certain circumstances. This means that beyond growing your own food, it could be almost impossible to find out if your food has been zapped.

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/448-farm-and-food-policy/15308-is-your-food-being-zapped-with-radiation

-- Let's end today with a bit of humor. Here's a little article titled "5 Bad Guys the Conservatives Mislabeled as Liberals." It's humorous, and has an example of the opposite happening as well.

http://www.care2.com/causes/5-bad-guys-the-conservative-media-mislabeled-as-liberals.html

***Solidarity***

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

Updates 1/6/13

Hello everyone.

I was up much later than usual last night (and I suppose this morning) helping a friend with some personal issues and the like. I've only gotten a few hours of sleep, and what little I did get was broken up by the million sneezes that I kept waking up to. As for tomorrow, I'll be on the road again for a bit, not sure when yet, but it's likely that I won't have a chance to post the blog. Chuck took care of all the big news for today, so thank goodness for that. 

-- [Chuck] The Tax Policy Center (a nonpartisan entity) has examined the new tax codes released as part of the fiscal cliff deal and come up with some not-so-surprising results. It seems that the middle-income individuals will be paying proportionately more of their income than those who make much more. You can see full charts and explanations at the link.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2256972/Middle-earners-hit-hardest-revealed-workers-making-30-000-bigger-hit-earning-500-000-new-fiscal-deal.html

-- [Chuck] Angry at the amount of corruption and lack of accountability that one small town is showing in the wake of the rape of a 16 year old girl, hacktivists have taken charge, revealing what the town is keeping hidden away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqcpiVMHbMY&list=UUczrL-2b-gYK3l4yDld4XlQ&index=1

-- [Chuck] 99GetSmart has an amazing collection of articles up today, ranging in topic from the fiscal emergencies and debt, to Greek scandals, to the American support of terrorism, and back to the bailouts. (I just had to read through almost all of them; they're that interesting.) 

http://99getsmart.com/sunday-read-7-january-2013/

-- [Chuck] Greenpeace's Save The Arctic campaign is taking off, but they need your help. if you sign their petition to declare a global sanctuary in the Arctic by February 11th, they will "plant your name and a Flag for the Future on the bottom of the ocean at the top of the world."

http://savethearctic.org/

-- [Chuck] Keeping the environment in mind, check out this post by Occupy America's Diane Sweet. It's a video that we should all probably see, reminding us not only what is happening to our planet, but why it's our responsibility to fix it. It also helps us to remember the many who have given their lives in their attempt to save the world.

http://occupyamerica.crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/planet-earth-shes-alive-beautiful-fini

-- [Chuck] Lastly, now that the new year is upon us, what is going to happen to Occupy? Should we continue down the path we are on now, or work toward other goals? Here's an Op-Ed from Bryan Henry, attempting to answer those questions and many more. (While I'm not sure I agree with some of the ideas he brings forth, Henry does make some decent points.)

http://www.nationofchange.org/new-direction-occupy-2013-1357400222

***Solidarity*** 

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

Updates 1/5/13

Hello everyone.

I keep writing 2012, and having to backspace or write in a three over the two. I'm sure I'm not the only one. I'll still be doing this in months though. For some reason, I kept writing August as the month all last year. I wonder which one I'll get stuck on this time. 

Also, I heard a fun bit of trivia for us yesterday. Did you know that 2013 is the first year with all unique numbers (no repetitions) since 1987? I thought that was actually pretty neat.

On to the news.

-- [Chuck] Chuck wants me to remind you all of one of my favorite news sources, RT America. If you are interested in checking out their segments, you can head over to their Youtube page. They have a bias like everyone else, but it is a lot easier to pick out the crap.

http://www.youtube.com/user/RTAmerica

-- The Idle No More movement is taking its toll on Canada, as the group's protests have shut down one of the International bridges heading into the country. Aboriginal tribes have been promised a meeting with the Prime Minister. Future protests will likely shut down other roads and bridges as well.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2013/01/05/ottawa-cornwall-idle-no-more-protest-close-bridge-to-usa.html

-- In Northern Ireland, violent clashes took over the cities as over 30 Molotovs were thrown at police, causing at least nine to be injured. 18 people were arrested during the riot-type scene, which was a result of the country deciding not to display Britain's Union Jack flag year-round anymore. 

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/flag-protest-nine-police-hurt-18-rioters-arrested-in-n-ireland/article4276713.ece

-- Occupy Madison is making their voices heard as an advocate for the homeless in a new plan to provide low-cost housing for those who need it. The group is attempting to get a loan from the city, but are already facing issues with concerns from other local businesses and following strict city ordinances. 

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/homeless-advocates-propose-buying-north-side-building-for-low-cost/article_3c287722-56d6-11e2-aeb6-0019bb2963f4.html

-- Pakistani tribesmen shut down a city market entirely yesterday in a mass protest against the drone strikes perpetrated by the American military. The tribesmen say innocent people are being killed. They are also angry about the death of a local "warlord," who they considered to be part of the "Good Taliban" because he attacked Americans rather than other Pakistani people. It should also be known that the country of Pakistan does not approve of the drone strikes either, calling them counter-productive and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. 

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/thousands-protest-drone-strikes-in-pakistan/article4276662.ece

***Solidarity***

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