Police Taser Mentally Handicapped Person, Thinking is Speech Impediment is Disrespect

Ohio police mistook a mentally handicapped teenager's speech impediment for disrespect. So naturally, they tasered him, pepper-sprayed him, and beat him. And called for backup of at least 20 police officers.

According to the mother of the victim, the originalal officer that stopped her son was aware of his disability.

Confused, the victim proceeded to bike home as normal and, despite pleas from a neighbor, was tasered by two officers.

Despite numerous people explaining that the victim was mentally handicapped, one of the officers pepper sprayed the victim to "incapacitate" him. Both officers involved beat him.

The victim was charged with "assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest, and obstructing official business."

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/06/29/37770.htm

Retro post

Big Pharma and US bullying NZ for ensuring cheap, free medicine

Pharmac, New Zealand's medicine-buying agency, uses a value-for-money model that funds and subsidises medicine to ensure all New Zealanders have access to affordable - and sometimes free - medicinal interventions.

That $200 you spent in the US for 10 pills? It's $4 in New Zealand.

But pharmaceutical companies and the US are pressuring the New Zealand government to make changes to Pharmac, using a free-trade agreement as ransom.

Exactly what changes to Pharmac the US might seek from New Zealand in the trade talks is not known – the talks remain secret... But what is becoming clear is how fervently the little drug-buying agency at the bottom of the world is resented by the big pharmaceutical companies.

In the US, the industry has singled out Pharmac in intense lobbying of the US Government ahead of the resumption of talks. A position paper from the US pharmaceutical industry cited Pharmac as "an egregious example", "using coercive negotiating tactics such as demanding price reductions on certain products in exchange for listing newer products, and waiting out patent terms before listing medicines".

Trade Minister Tim Groser is tight-lipped regarding any changes that may or may not occur. Asked why Pharmac can’t be taken off the negotiation table, he remarked, "Because if you remove one element from the table, then the other side can remove other elements, so we’ll work through all these issues in a professional manner."

Will medicine cost more? "Look, I think we’ve gone as far as we can in this conversation."

And given the National Party’s eagerness to sell off assets for foreign money, it’s a strong possibility changes will be made and NZ could move to an American-style inequity in healthcare provision.

http://www.listener.co.nz/commentary/pharmac-future-discussed-in-us-trade-talks/

Newt Gingrich's tax-exempt charity funding Newt Gingrich's for-profit businesses.

Newt Gingrich's non-profit, tax-exempt charity, Renewing American Leadership, has donated $220,000 to Newt Gingrich's businesses.

The charity also sent out newsletters criticising Barack Obama's presidency.

It's déjà vu, considering Gingrich was censured and fined by the House Ethics Committee after being accused of drawing money from a tax-exempt organization to help finance his political activities. The IRS later cleared him on the charges, but not before the House ordered him to pay a $300,000 fine.

Video at http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/newt-gingrich-charity-paid-cash-gingrich-profit-business/story?id=13804431&singlePage=true

GOP presidential candidates to secular progressives: Do not vote for us.

The Republican presidential candidates held a public debate and the official transcript of it is frightening:

PAWLENTY: Well, the protections between the separation of church and state were designed to protect people of faith from government, not government from people of faith.

SANTORUM: I’m some who believes that you approach issues using faith and reason. And if your faith is pure and your reason is right, they’ll end up in the same place.

PAUL: I think faith has something to do with the character of the people that represent us, and law should have a moral fiber to it... But the Constitution addresses this by saying — literally, it says no theocracy. But it doesn’t talk about church and state. The most important thing is the First Amendment. Congress shall write no laws — which means Congress should never prohibit the expression of your Christian faith in a public place. (Italics added for what-the-fuckery.)

BACHMANN: I also believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. I carried that legislation when I was a senator in Minnesota, and I believe that for children, the best possible way to raise children is to have a mother and father in their life... And I think the most eloquent words ever written were those in our Declaration of Independence that said it’s a creator who endowed us with inalienable rights given to us from God, not from government.

There you have it: anti-abortion, anti-first amendment, anti-gay rights. Vote Republican!

http://skepchick.org/2011/06/gop-presidential-candidates-dont-vote-for-us/

Three arrested for illegally feeding the homeless

Three members of Orlando Food Not Bombs were arrested a few days ago for daring to feed homeless people.

Police waited until the group had served 40 homeless people before arresting the trio for violating a city ordinance. It is not legal to feed homeless people in Orlando.

Bail was set at $250 per person. Clearly a threat to society.

Video at sun-sentinel.com.

Rapture II: Bride of the Rapture

A new PPP GOP survey shows that 71% of Republicans believe they would be raptured. 51% believe Sarah Palin would be ratured, as well.

81% of Republicans do not believe President Obama will ascend into Heaven.

31% of Republicans who believe the Rapture is coming within their lifetime support Sarah Palin as the 2012 Republican presidential candidate.

Politicususa.com warns, "[Palin] is becoming the choice of primary voters on the religious right... The GOP primary electorate is disgruntled, unhappy, and in no mood to nominate Mitt Romney. They are primed for a Sarah Palin charm offensive. If GOP primary voters decide to go down with guns blazing in 2012 don’t be surprised if their Obama hate wins out over common sense and they nominate Sarah Palin."

Nothing says 'Patriot' quite like a flag-designed inflatable rifle.

Who knew a government could "shut down" because they can't agree on anything?

Idaho rejects rape exception in abortion bill because getting raped is part of God's plan

States all over the US are strengthening their abortion legislation to reduce acess to abortion.

In line with the Republican war on women's autonomy, the new law does not include exceptions for rape, incest, severe fetal abnormality or the psychological health of the mother. Even worse, if a woman becomes pregnant after being raped, it's part of God's plan for them and they should accept it.

State Rep. Shannon McMillan (R) argued that women who were impregnated under “violent circumstances” should have no choice because it’s not the fetus’s fault. State Rep. Brent Crane, the bill’s sponsor, took it a step further. Believing that “tragic, horrific” acts of rape or incest are the “hand of the Almighty,” Crane said women should trust God to turn the consequences of their sexual assault into “wonderful examples."

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/07/idaho-almighty-abortion/

46 percent of Mississippi Republicans want interracial marriage ban

Public Policy Polling has released a survey that shows a whopping 46% of Republicans in Mississippi support a ban on interracial marriage, with 14% "unsure."

The firm also asked non-Republican voters in the state and those results will be released sometime in the future.

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/04/07/poll_mississippi_interracial_marriage

Rape is child friendly

A sex scene in the film Suckerpunch has been edited to the point it looks like rape so the film's rating would go down from R to PG-13.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucker_Punch_(film)

Former KKK Grand Dragon ready to lead town

Former KKK Grand Dragon John Paul Rogers is campaigning to be the mayor of Lake Wales, Florida and is angered that his opponent had the audacity to bring up his past.

My favourite quote: "I don't know of any act of any violence that was sanctioned by our organization, either national or in Florida."

He added, "I work good with people and no one can point to me ever disrespecting anyone."

http://winterhaven.wtsp.com/news/news/former-kkk-leader-mayoral-candidate-speaks/49273

Food for thought

McCain's Libya Amnesia

According to McCain, Moammar Gadhafi has "American blood on his hands" and this is reason enough to take out the dictator.

Strangely enough, McCain led a delgation to Libya 18 months ago to organise the transfer of American military equipment to Gadhafi (back when he was a friend).

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/03/22/mccains_libya_amnesia.html

American theocracy

Republicans have decided to have the phrase "In God We Trust" put on 9,000 federal buildings.

I wonder how much the unification of church and state will cost.

I guess theocracy is okay, provided it's not Islam.

http://www.pensitoreview.com/2011/03/22/gop-house-judiciary-committee-votes-to-put-in-god-we-trust-on-all-federal-buildings/

The SAT expects all students watch trashy reality TV

Students taking a recent SAT examination were faced with an essay questions about reality television.

This kinda explains it all:

Another student told the New York Daily News that she had been preparing for questions of a higher caliber. "A lot of what we did in SAT prep classes was to use historical events or literature in our essays," she said. "I guess the kids who watch crap T.V. did well."

Apparently only a third of test takers were able to answer.

Snooki wept.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/17/sat-prompt-asks-students-_n_837087.html

Pregnant Iowa woman jailed for having once considered an abortion.

A pregnant woman in Iowa fell down the stairs and went to the ER to make sure her child was alright.

At some point in chatting with the nurse she mentioned that when she first found out she was pregnant she considered adoption and even abortion before deciding to keep the baby.

She was soon handcuffed, charged with feticide, and was kept in jail for two days because the hospital assumed she purposely threw herself down the stairs to kill the fetus.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/14/956120/-Iowa-Woman-Jailed-for-Thinking-about-an-Abortion

Overseas Edition - Israel fears sushi shortage after Japanese earthquake

After the devastating earthquake in Japan, Israel has admitted to fears that they may run out of sushi.

"There may be a shortage of sushi components, but we are still studying the situation," says Dudi Afriat of the Rakuto Kasei company, which imports the Kikkoman soy sauce, as well as seaweeds, wasabi, rice and other necessary ingredients for sushi rolls.

"My only fear is that they'll have to import Kikkoman from the US, and that will affect the imports to Israel... After the tsunami I received phone calls from hysterical people fearing a shortage of Kikkoman."

Glad you guys have your priorities straight.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4042347,00.html

Fox's Megyn Kelly

Exposing a war crime is worse than committing one

Intersting article at Alternet.org:

Bradley Manning is accused of humiliating the political establishment by revealing the complicity of top U.S. officials in carrying out and covering up war crimes. In return for his act of conscience, the U.S. government is holding him in abusive solitary confinement, humiliating him and trying to keep him behind bars for life.

The lesson is clear, and soldiers take note: You're better off committing a war crime than exposing one.

Read more at http://www.alternet.org/news/150157/bradley_manning_humiliated_and_abused%3A_why_is_exposing_a_war_crime_more_dangerous_than_committing_one/

Republican-led New Hampshire doesn't want college students to vote

"Voting as a liberal. That's what kids do." These are the words of New Hampshire's new Republican state House speaker William O'Brien.

New Hampsire is pushing for a law that would keep college students in the state from voting.

Democrats are arguing that the real goal is to remove the power of core Democratic voting blocs (young people and minorities).

"There's no doubt that this bill would help Republican causes," said Richard Sunderland III, head of the College Republicans at Dartmouth College. But, he added, "this doesn't help if the Republican Party wants to try to win over people in the 18-to-24 age range."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/06/AR2011030602662.html

Students falsely accuse teacher of pedophilia, parents angry kids were punished

Two students in Georgia were suspended and another expelled for accusing a teacher of pedophilia and rape on facebook.

Twelve year old Alejandra Sosa remarked, ""I was just expressing myself on Facebook, because like I said I was mad that day because of what he [did]."

The other suspended student's father said, "the school should write the rules of Facebook into their policy before they try to take rules out of context." Because accusing someone of rape and pediphilia in the privacy of your home is no big thing.

Douglas County School officials said the three students violated the disciplinary code and they could not comment on the case due to an impending tribunal.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/douglas-co-students-disciplined-over-facebook-post-030111

Or normal.

CNN asks, "Are Whites racially oppressed?"

Seriously?

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/12/21/white.persecution/index.html

Farmville for Dummies

The Kardashians

Why are we meant to care about this family? How come so people actually do?

Idiot's idiot daughter gets richer

Women and children first

http://www.gocomics.com/tonyauth/2011/03/01/

Texas immigration law will exclude rich people's servants

Worried about Texas' immigration laws? You'll be safe as long as a rich white person wants you to mop their floor or mow their lawn.

The proposed House Bill 1202 will harshly punish anyone who hires an illegal immigrant, with one exception: hiring a Mexican to be a maid or landscaper.

Texas state Representative Aaron Pena, a Republican, said the exception is a wise one because, "When it comes to household employees or yard workers it is extremely common for Texans to hire people who are likely undocumented workers."

Other bills Texass is proposing:
1. Making English the official language of Texas.
2. Placing an 8% surcharge on all money wired from Texas to Latin America. About $480 million could be collected from money sent to Mexico alone.
3. Requiring police officers to ask every person they stop what their citizenship status is.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/03/01/texas.immigration.bill/index.html

Harding University hates its gay students

Harding University threatens its queer students with a choice: expulsion or "re-orientation therapy."

Students have protested and published an online zine, which the University has banned access to.

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2011/03/war-at-harding.html

Download the zine here: http://www.arktimes.com/images/blogimages/2011/03/02/1299113266-harding3.pdf (.pdf, 7.8MB)

Anti-Muslim rally supported by local politicians

Muslims hold a charity fundraiser for homeless and women's shelters, people protest it and shout "Go home and beat your wife!"

And local politicians supported the protest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NutFkykjmbM
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/03/03/hatemongering

Fetus testifies in a court of law in Ohio. Seriously.

A fetus "testified" before an Ohio legislative committee to support an anti-abortion bill.

The bill would outlaw abortion if a heartbeat could be detected. The problem? The heartbeat couldn't be detected. Whoops.

http://wonkette.com/439714/testifying-fetus-refuses-to-cooperate