Friday, December 19, 2014
5 takeaways from 'A community conversation: Giving voice to citizens-police'
5 takeaways from 'A community conversation: Giving voice to citizens-police' | MLive.com
Much of the discussion at Wednesday's forum revolved around the issue of race, which was attacked from several different angles.
4. Race remains an issue
Much of the discussion at Wednesday's forum revolved around the issue of race, which was attacked from several different angles.
Many citizens were curious as to how different departments deal with race issues and if officers are trained and prepared for different cultural situations.
Officials and citizens also cited a need for more diversity in local law enforcement itself.
Citizens also felt that eliminating Muskegon's perceived "racial divide" will lead to other problems being resolved.
"There are two sets of laws," one citizen said. "One for the white people and one for the black people."
Others took a more inclusive stance.
"It's not about the boundaries of our neighborhoods," one citizen said. "It's not about the color of our skin. We have a responsibility to our kids to make all of our communities safer. If we come together in here, we can make a difference out there."
Judge Orders Former Gun Store Owner to Hand Over His Facebook Password. Guess What Happened When He Didn’t Do It. | Video | TheBlaze.com
Judge Orders Former Gun Store Owner to Hand Over His Facebook Password. Guess What Happened When He Didn’t Do It. | Video | TheBlaze.com:"Jeremy Alcede doesn’t own Tactical Firearms shooting center anymore. Soon, he might not even own his Facebook page password.
Alcede was ordered to hand over his Facebook page’s password to the new owners when the business went bankrupt. He refused to provide it and was subsequently arrested for contempt of court on Wednesday."
The U.S. Government Wants to Keep You From Wearing "Comfyballs" Boxers
The U.S. Government Wants to Keep You From Wearing "Comfyballs" Boxers
The regrettably named Norwegian underwear brand Comfyballs was all set to make its big debut in the U.S. this year when it was shut down by the country's patent and trademark office. A trademark on Comfyballs, USPTO argued, was just too vulgar for Americans to accept.
The regrettably named Norwegian underwear brand Comfyballs was all set to make its big debut in the U.S. this year when it was shut down by the country's patent and trademark office. A trademark on Comfyballs, USPTO argued, was just too vulgar for Americans to accept.
The Independent reports on the tribulations of the company, which was already comforting balls across Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, and the U.K. when its trademark application was denied:
But American authorities banned it from operating under that name, finding that, "in the context of the applicant's goods... Comfyballs means only one thing - that a man's testicles, or 'balls,' will be comfortable in the applicant's undergarments."The mark does not create a double entendre or other idiomatic expression... When used in this way, the word, 'balls' has an offensive meaning."
History for December 19
History for December 19 - On-This-Day.com
William Parry 1790, Leonid Brezhnev (Russia) 1906, Edith Piaf 1915
Cicely Tyson 1933, Al Kaline 1934, Richard Leakey 1944
1562 - The Battle of Dreux was fought between the Huguenots and the Catholics, beginning the French Wars of Religion.
1732 - Benjamin Franklin began publishing "Poor Richard's Almanac."
1843 - Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" was first published in England.
1871 - Corrugated paper was patented by Albert L. Jones.
1957 - Meredith Wilson’s "The Music Man" opened at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. It ran for 1,375 shows.
1972 - Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific, ending the Apollo program of manned lunar landings.
1973 - Johnny Carson started a fake toilet-paper scare on the "Tonight Show."
1989 - U.S. troops invaded Panama to overthrow the regime of General Noriega.
1996 - The school board of Oakland, CA, voted to recognize Black English, also known as "ebonics." The board later reversed its stance.
1997 - "Titanic" opened in American movie theaters.
1998 - U.S. President Bill Clinton was impeached on two charges of perjury and obstruction of justice by the U.S. House of Representatives.
William Parry 1790, Leonid Brezhnev (Russia) 1906, Edith Piaf 1915
Cicely Tyson 1933, Al Kaline 1934, Richard Leakey 1944
1562 - The Battle of Dreux was fought between the Huguenots and the Catholics, beginning the French Wars of Religion.
1732 - Benjamin Franklin began publishing "Poor Richard's Almanac."
1843 - Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" was first published in England.
1871 - Corrugated paper was patented by Albert L. Jones.
1957 - Meredith Wilson’s "The Music Man" opened at the Majestic Theatre in New York City. It ran for 1,375 shows.
1972 - Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific, ending the Apollo program of manned lunar landings.
1973 - Johnny Carson started a fake toilet-paper scare on the "Tonight Show."
1989 - U.S. troops invaded Panama to overthrow the regime of General Noriega.
1996 - The school board of Oakland, CA, voted to recognize Black English, also known as "ebonics." The board later reversed its stance.
1997 - "Titanic" opened in American movie theaters.
1998 - U.S. President Bill Clinton was impeached on two charges of perjury and obstruction of justice by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
‘We Have Killed All the Children… What Do We Do Now?’ | TheBlaze.com
‘We Have Killed All the Children… What Do We Do Now?’ | TheBlaze.com:
"After terrorists invaded a Pakistan high school and slaughtered more than 130 students, one of the Taliban militants reportedly had one of his last conversations with his handler. The chilling transcripts of the conversation were apparently provided to local newspapers by law enforcement officials.
“We have killed all the children in the auditorium. What do we do now?” one of the terrorists reportedly told his handler."
"After terrorists invaded a Pakistan high school and slaughtered more than 130 students, one of the Taliban militants reportedly had one of his last conversations with his handler. The chilling transcripts of the conversation were apparently provided to local newspapers by law enforcement officials.
“We have killed all the children in the auditorium. What do we do now?” one of the terrorists reportedly told his handler."
Listener Calls Into Glenn Beck Radio Show With an Incredible Allegation About Michelle Obama’s Race Story | Video | TheBlaze.com
Listener Calls Into Glenn Beck Radio Show With an Incredible Allegation About Michelle Obama’s Race Story | Video | TheBlaze.com:
"A listener called into Glenn Beck’s radio program Thursday with an incredible story that contradicts First Lady Michelle Obama’s example of racism at Target. The caller said her sister was the person who asked the first lady to help her reach something, and the shocker is the woman allegedly voted for President Barack Obama — twice."
POOF!!
The story changes!
"A listener called into Glenn Beck’s radio program Thursday with an incredible story that contradicts First Lady Michelle Obama’s example of racism at Target. The caller said her sister was the person who asked the first lady to help her reach something, and the shocker is the woman allegedly voted for President Barack Obama — twice."POOF!!
The story changes!
A reminder about life in Communist Cuba under the Castro regime, from a former political prisoner of 22 years | TheBlaze.com
A reminder about life in Communist Cuba under the Castro regime, from a former political prisoner of 22 years | TheBlaze.com:
"In light of the news regarding the release of Alan Gross and America’s re-opening of diplomatic relations with Cuba, we thought it useful to provide some insight into what life has been like under the Communist Castro regime in the decades since the island’s 1959 revolution.
The horrors of the Cuban system are perhaps best illustrated in Armando Valladares‘ “Against All Hope: A Memoir of Life in Castro’s Gulag,” which was published in 1986."
"In light of the news regarding the release of Alan Gross and America’s re-opening of diplomatic relations with Cuba, we thought it useful to provide some insight into what life has been like under the Communist Castro regime in the decades since the island’s 1959 revolution.The horrors of the Cuban system are perhaps best illustrated in Armando Valladares‘ “Against All Hope: A Memoir of Life in Castro’s Gulag,” which was published in 1986."
Marquette suspends professor who raised plight of muzzled pro-marriage student
Marquette suspends professor who raised plight of muzzled pro-marriage student:
Publicly tattling on colleagues who tell students they can’t share certain views in class is apparently “harassment” at Marquette University.
McAdams will still get paid but he’ll have to ask for permission to come back to campus. Dean Richard Holz attached Marquette’s harassment policy, “guiding values statement,” mission statement and “sections from” the faculty handbook, saying those materials would “inform our review of your conduct.”
Publicly tattling on colleagues who tell students they can’t share certain views in class is apparently “harassment” at Marquette University.
On his Marquette Warrior blog, Professor John McAdams shared the plight of a student whose philosophy instructor told him it would be “homophobic” to say he supports traditional marriage in class, as The College Fix previously reported.
Marquette is a Jesuit school, by the way.
Now the dean of the College of Arts & Sciences has written to McAdams, telling him:
The university is continuing to review your conduct and during this period–and until further notice–you are relieved of all teaching duties and all other faculty activities, including, but not limited to, advising, committee work, faculty meetings and any activity that would involve your interaction with Marquette students, faculty and staff. Should any academic appeals arise from Fall 2014 semester, however, you are expected to fulfill your obligations in that specific matter.
McAdams says Marquette leaders must think blogging constitutes harassment, except that his post wasn’t “directed to a protected class”:
Marquette’s harassment policy is absurdly vague and includes “behavior is intimidating, hostile or demeaning or could or does result in mental, emotional or physical discomfort, embarrassment, ridicule or harm.” That’s right, even mental discomfort (which should be a normal part of having one’s opinions challenged in a university) is considered harassing.
Wealth gap in America widens to record level, report says
Wealth gap in America widens to record level, report says - LA Times:
"The wealth gap between middle- and upper-income households has widened to the highest level on record, says a new report.
Using the latest Federal Reserve data, the Pew Research Center said Wednesday that the median wealth for high-income families was $639,400 last year — up 7% from three years earlier on an inflation-adjusted basis.
For middle-income families, the median wealth — that is, assets minus debts — stood at $96,500 last year, unchanged from 2010.
U.S. income inequality is bad, but wealth inequality is a bigger problem
The result is that the typical wealth of the nation's upper-income households last year was nearly seven times that of middle-class ones.
By Pew's calculations, that is the biggest gap in the 30 years that the Fed has been collecting statistics from its Survey of Consumer Finances."
"The wealth gap between middle- and upper-income households has widened to the highest level on record, says a new report.
For middle-income families, the median wealth — that is, assets minus debts — stood at $96,500 last year, unchanged from 2010.
U.S. income inequality is bad, but wealth inequality is a bigger problem
The result is that the typical wealth of the nation's upper-income households last year was nearly seven times that of middle-class ones.
By Pew's calculations, that is the biggest gap in the 30 years that the Fed has been collecting statistics from its Survey of Consumer Finances."
Surprise: Insurers Extend Another Obamacare Deadline, Costs to Spike in 2016 - Guy Benson
Surprise: Insurers Extend Another Obamacare Deadline, Costs to Spike in 2016 - Guy Benson:
"The law. It's working, you guys. It's working so well that one entire year into its full implementation, insurers feel compelled to extend yet another alleged deadline because the so-called 'back end' of the program's website is still a hot mess. That big "re-branding" campaign can't come soon enough, in order to allow supporters to keep on highlighting Obamacare's unparalleled success:
Trying to head off a new round of consumer headaches with President Barack Obama's health care law, the insurance industry said Tuesday it will give customers more time to pay their premiums for January."
"The law. It's working, you guys. It's working so well that one entire year into its full implementation, insurers feel compelled to extend yet another alleged deadline because the so-called 'back end' of the program's website is still a hot mess. That big "re-branding" campaign can't come soon enough, in order to allow supporters to keep on highlighting Obamacare's unparalleled success:Trying to head off a new round of consumer headaches with President Barack Obama's health care law, the insurance industry said Tuesday it will give customers more time to pay their premiums for January."
Obama extends drilling ban at Alaska's Bristol Bay indefinitely
Obama extends drilling ban at Alaska's Bristol Bay indefinitely | Circa News:
"The president has withdrawn drilling leases in a salmon-rich area of Alaska's coast under his authority in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
"Bristol Bay… supports $2 billion in the commercial fishing industry.
It supplies America with 40% of its wild-caught seafood.
It is a natural wonder, and it's something that's just too precious to be putting out to the highest bidder."
Obama Dec. 16 declared Alaska's Bristol Bay off limits for oil and gas leasing indefinitely.
The president first put a moratorium in 2010 on leasing to the energy industry in the area, which covers more than 52,000 square miles..."
"Bristol Bay… supports $2 billion in the commercial fishing industry.
It supplies America with 40% of its wild-caught seafood.
It is a natural wonder, and it's something that's just too precious to be putting out to the highest bidder."
Obama Dec. 16 declared Alaska's Bristol Bay off limits for oil and gas leasing indefinitely.
The president first put a moratorium in 2010 on leasing to the energy industry in the area, which covers more than 52,000 square miles..."
This Liberal Can’t Understand Why So Much Stuff Got Crammed Into Congress’ $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill | Video | TheBlaze.com
This Liberal Can’t Understand Why So Much Stuff Got Crammed Into Congress’ $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill | Video | TheBlaze.com:
"Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” is no fiscal conservative.
But even he was astounded to learn of all the special interest extras that have been crammed into the massive, $1.1 trillion government spending bill that the Senate passed Saturday night and President Barack Obama signed Tuesday night.
Some of those non-budgetary items: blocking the District of Columbia’s legalization of marijuana, clarifying endangered species rules and a rule allowing schools to call white potatoes “fresh vegetables.”
"Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” is no fiscal conservative.
But even he was astounded to learn of all the special interest extras that have been crammed into the massive, $1.1 trillion government spending bill that the Senate passed Saturday night and President Barack Obama signed Tuesday night.Some of those non-budgetary items: blocking the District of Columbia’s legalization of marijuana, clarifying endangered species rules and a rule allowing schools to call white potatoes “fresh vegetables.”
This scam is STILL in operation??!!!!-------------Oldest U.S. black college on verge of financial collapse
Oldest U.S. black college on verge of financial collapse | Reuters:
"The nation's oldest black college, Cheyney University, one of Pennsylvania's 14 state-run universities, is on the verge of a financial meltdown that threatens its ability to continue operating, a state official said on Wednesday.
Cheyney's student body has shrunk by two-thirds, to about 1,000, since its 1983 peak, and its four-year graduation rate is just 9 percent.
A quarter of students never receive a degree, and student loan defaults are high."
Cheyney's student body has shrunk by two-thirds, to about 1,000, since its 1983 peak, and its four-year graduation rate is just 9 percent.
A quarter of students never receive a degree, and student loan defaults are high."
Michelle Obama’s Example of Racism in America: I Was Asked to Get Something Off the Shelf at Target | TheBlaze.com
Michelle Obama’s Example of Racism in America: I Was Asked to Get Something Off the Shelf at Target | TheBlaze.com:
"First lady Michelle Obama said a woman asked her for help getting something off a shelf at Target, describing racial experiences she’s had.
“I think people forget that we’ve lived in the White House for six years,” Michelle Obama told People magazine. “Before that, Barack Obama was a black man that lived on the South Side of Chicago, who had his share of troubles catching cabs.”
"First lady Michelle Obama said a woman asked her for help getting something off a shelf at Target, describing racial experiences she’s had.“I think people forget that we’ve lived in the White House for six years,” Michelle Obama told People magazine. “Before that, Barack Obama was a black man that lived on the South Side of Chicago, who had his share of troubles catching cabs.”
Hilarious photos reveal the cats and dogs ruining Christmas
Hilarious photos reveal the cats and dogs ruining Christmas | Daily Mail Online
Ripping open gifts, chewing decorations and climbing the tree: Hilarious photos reveal the cats and dogs ruining Christmas
- Photos reveal cats and dogs destroying decorated homes across UK
- Show pets trying to climb Christmas trees ... and tearing open presents
- Also reveal pooches ripping festive cards and moggies inside firs
President Barack Obama commutes sentences for 8 drug inmates
President Barack Obama commutes sentences for 8 drug inmates | Daily Mail Online:
Obama commutes sentences for 8 drug inmates and pardons a dozen more federal convicts – not including the three spies set free in Cuba deal
- President picked low-level drug offenders whose sentences would have been shorter if they were punished today
- New clemency guidelines originally brought few requests out of the woodwork so the DOJ ordered officials to encourage people to apply
- News was little-reported because it came as the White House announced the release of three Cuban spies as part of a prisoner swap with Castro
Finally! Some good news------No taxpayer-funded sex-change for prison inmate convicted of murder, court rules
"Spouse Cheryl Kosilek"?
No taxpayer-funded sex-change for prison inmate convicted of murder, court rules | AL.com
BOSTON -- A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday overturned a ruling ordering Massachusetts prison officials to provide taxpayer-funded sex-reassignment surgery for an inmate convicted of murder.
Michelle Kosilek, born Robert Kosilek, is serving a life sentence for killing spouse Cheryl Kosilek in 1990.
Kosilek has waged a protracted legal battle for the surgery she says is necessary to relieve the mental anguish caused by gender-identity disorder.
In 2012, U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf became the first judge in the country to order sex-reassignment surgery as a remedy for an inmate's gender-identity disorder.
Courts around the country have found that prisons must evaluate transgender inmates to determine their health care needs, but most have ordered hormone treatments and psychotherapy, not surgery.
Wolf's decision was upheld by a three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but prison officials appealed and won a rehearing before the full appeals court.
In a 3-2 ruling Tuesday, the full 1st Circuit found that Kosilek failed to demonstrate that prison officials violated the Eight Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment by not providing the surgery.
No taxpayer-funded sex-change for prison inmate convicted of murder, court rules | AL.com
BOSTON -- A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday overturned a ruling ordering Massachusetts prison officials to provide taxpayer-funded sex-reassignment surgery for an inmate convicted of murder.Michelle Kosilek, born Robert Kosilek, is serving a life sentence for killing spouse Cheryl Kosilek in 1990.
Kosilek has waged a protracted legal battle for the surgery she says is necessary to relieve the mental anguish caused by gender-identity disorder.
In 2012, U.S. District Judge Mark Wolf became the first judge in the country to order sex-reassignment surgery as a remedy for an inmate's gender-identity disorder.
Courts around the country have found that prisons must evaluate transgender inmates to determine their health care needs, but most have ordered hormone treatments and psychotherapy, not surgery.
Wolf's decision was upheld by a three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but prison officials appealed and won a rehearing before the full appeals court.
In a 3-2 ruling Tuesday, the full 1st Circuit found that Kosilek failed to demonstrate that prison officials violated the Eight Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment by not providing the surgery.
Lots of news to encourage you to buy cases of Spam and bullets!
Zero Hedge | On a long enough timeline the survival rate for everyone drops to zero
Swiss Central Bank Enters NIRP, Sends Deposit Rates Negative, Scrambles Against Safe-Haven Capital Flight
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 12/18/2014 - 06:43
Everyone thought that any major monetary policy surprises and/or capital controls today would come from Putin during his annual press conference. Boy were they wrong: just after 2 am Eastern, none other than the Swiss National Bank joined the ranks of the ECB in scrambling to stem the wave of capital flight, not to mention the cost of money, when it announced it too would start charging customers for the privilege of holding cash in its banks, when it revealed a negative, -0.25% interest rate on sight deposits: a step which according to the SNB was critical in maintaining the 1.20 EURCHF floor.
- COMMENTS: 18
- READS: 2,337
China Prepares To Bailout Russia
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 12/17/2014 - 23:17
Earlier this evening China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange's (SAFE) Wang Yungui noted "the impact of the Russian Ruble depreciation was unclear yet, and, as Bloomberg reported, "SAFE is closely watching Ruble's depreciation and encouraging companies to hedge Ruble risks." His comments also echoed the ongoing FX reform agenda aimed at increasing Yuan flexibility which The South China Morning Post then hinted in a story entitled "Russia may seek China help to deal with crisis," which which noted that Russia could fall back on its 150 billion yuan ($24 billion) currency swap agreement with China if the ruble continues to plunge, that was signed in October. Furthermore, two bankers close to the PBOC reportedly said the swap-line was meant to reduce the role of the US dollar if China and Russia need to help each other overcome a liquidity squeeze. Is 'isolated' Russia about to be bailed out by the world's largest economy China?
- COMMENTS: 269
- READS: 32,911
IMF Now Ready To Slam The Door On The U.S. And The Dollar
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 12/17/2014 - 22:25
This is it, folks; this is the endgame right in front of our faces. The year of 2014 is the new 2007, with all the negative potential but 100 times more explosive going into 2015. Our nation has wallowed in slowly degrading financial conditions for years, hidden by fake economic statistics and manipulated stock prices. All of it has been a prelude to a much more frenetic and shocking event. We expect a hailstorm of geopolitical crises over the next year to provide cover for the shift away from the dollar. Ultimately, the death of the dollar will be hailed in the mainstream as a “good and necessary thing.” They will call it “karma.” They will call it “progress.” They will even call it “decentralization” and a success for the free market. But it will not feel like a positive development for the American public, who will suffer greatly as the dollar crumbles.
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