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spread of the red
Weather
News
crowd control
fun d' mental
in bed with the red
number 176 12.14.08
| redstat archive |
| verbatim archive |
| ML King streaming audio |
Residents of Kentucky have filed
suit to remove language from the
state law that establishes the
Kentucky Office of Homeland
Security that requires “stressing
the dependence on Almighty God
as being vital to the security of
the Commonwealth.”
The Kentucky residents joined
with an advocacy group called
American Atheists, Inc to seek
that language added to the law in
2006 be removed because they
feel it is “grossly, and
outrageously, at variance” with
laws that prohibit the government
proselytization of religion.
The law declares that the “safety
and security of the
Commonwealth cannot be
achieved apart from reliance upon
Almighty God.” The law also
requires that a plaque with this
same language be placed in the
state’s Emergency Operations
Center. The statute also
requires, as part of the legally
proscribed duties of the executive
director of the Kentucky Office
of Homeland Security, that the
office publicize “the dependence
on Almighty God as being vital to
the security of the
Commonwealth.”
The religious language was added
to the law as by state Rep Tom
Riner who said, “government
itself, apart from God, cannot
close the security gap.” The
litigants say that “the existence of
these unconstitutional laws
suggest that their very safety as
residents of Kentucky may be in
the hands of fanatics, traitors,
or fools.” it's all true
suit to remove language from the
state law that establishes the
Kentucky Office of Homeland
Security that requires “stressing
the dependence on Almighty God
as being vital to the security of
the Commonwealth.”
The Kentucky residents joined
with an advocacy group called
American Atheists, Inc to seek
that language added to the law in
2006 be removed because they
feel it is “grossly, and
outrageously, at variance” with
laws that prohibit the government
proselytization of religion.
The law declares that the “safety
and security of the
Commonwealth cannot be
achieved apart from reliance upon
Almighty God.” The law also
requires that a plaque with this
same language be placed in the
state’s Emergency Operations
Center. The statute also
requires, as part of the legally
proscribed duties of the executive
director of the Kentucky Office
of Homeland Security, that the
office publicize “the dependence
on Almighty God as being vital to
the security of the
Commonwealth.”
The religious language was added
to the law as by state Rep Tom
Riner who said, “government
itself, apart from God, cannot
close the security gap.” The
litigants say that “the existence of
these unconstitutional laws
suggest that their very safety as
residents of Kentucky may be in
the hands of fanatics, traitors,
or fools.” it's all true
A document that was posted on the
Internet by the organization Wikileaks
that reveals that multiple federal law
enforcement and national security forces
controlled the security operations at this
summer’s Republican National
Convention, while state and local law
enforcement played a cooperative and
subordinate role in the event.
The document, which is a power point
presentation delivered prior to the RNC
convention by Minnesota’s Homeland
Security and Emergency Management
office, details the chilling extent to
which the National Security apparatus
was focused on performing surveillance
of and policing advocacy groups who
Internet by the organization Wikileaks
that reveals that multiple federal law
enforcement and national security forces
controlled the security operations at this
summer’s Republican National
Convention, while state and local law
enforcement played a cooperative and
subordinate role in the event.
The document, which is a power point
presentation delivered prior to the RNC
convention by Minnesota’s Homeland
Security and Emergency Management
office, details the chilling extent to
which the National Security apparatus
was focused on performing surveillance
of and policing advocacy groups who
made clear their intent to exercise their
free speech right to protest at the event
and local and national media who
covered the protests. The document
also reveals that private companies,
including national telecommunications
companies, helped to develop a
surveillance and security program to
monitor the event.
The American Civil Liberties Union,
which brought the document to broad
attention, was particularly concerned
about the roles in the security plan for
the Pentagon’s Northern Command and,
frighteningly, the National Geospatial-
Intelligence Agency. The inclusion of
these military agencies suggests that the
free speech right to protest at the event
and local and national media who
covered the protests. The document
also reveals that private companies,
including national telecommunications
companies, helped to develop a
surveillance and security program to
monitor the event.
The American Civil Liberties Union,
which brought the document to broad
attention, was particularly concerned
about the roles in the security plan for
the Pentagon’s Northern Command and,
frighteningly, the National Geospatial-
Intelligence Agency. The inclusion of
these military agencies suggests that the
The House Oversight and Government
Reform Committee held a hearing
recently where the former executives of
the quasi-private mortgage companies
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were
questioned about what the companies
knew about the risky nature of the loans
that they were guaranteeing and what, if
any, steps were taken to prevent the
crisis of widespread foreclosures that
currently confronts American
homeowners.
Leland Brendsel and Richard Syron,
former executives at Freddie Mac, and
Daniel Mudd and Franklin Raines, former
executives of Fannie Mae, appeared
before a committee armed with more
than 400,000 internal documents that
had been subpoenaed and animated by
anger as many of the committee
member’s constituents have been forced
Reform Committee held a hearing
recently where the former executives of
the quasi-private mortgage companies
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were
questioned about what the companies
knew about the risky nature of the loans
that they were guaranteeing and what, if
any, steps were taken to prevent the
crisis of widespread foreclosures that
currently confronts American
homeowners.
Leland Brendsel and Richard Syron,
former executives at Freddie Mac, and
Daniel Mudd and Franklin Raines, former
executives of Fannie Mae, appeared
before a committee armed with more
than 400,000 internal documents that
had been subpoenaed and animated by
anger as many of the committee
member’s constituents have been forced
into foreclosure having agreed to the
questionably designed loan products that
were bought by or guaranteed by the
companies.
The documents, which included internal
memoranda and e-mails, are replete with
evidence that the companies were well
informed of the disastrous ramifications
of loan products that required no down
payment and no documentation of the
borrower’s ability to pay and loans
where the borrower paid back only
interest leaving the principal to never be
reduced. The documents also reveal
that the companies were aware that the
loan products were targeted
“disproportionately” at minority
communities, and were perceived to
represent “predatory lending” practices.
In one of the subpoenaed e-mails that
questionably designed loan products that
were bought by or guaranteed by the
companies.
The documents, which included internal
memoranda and e-mails, are replete with
evidence that the companies were well
informed of the disastrous ramifications
of loan products that required no down
payment and no documentation of the
borrower’s ability to pay and loans
where the borrower paid back only
interest leaving the principal to never be
reduced. The documents also reveal
that the companies were aware that the
loan products were targeted
“disproportionately” at minority
communities, and were perceived to
represent “predatory lending” practices.
In one of the subpoenaed e-mails that
was received by Syron of Freddie
Mac, the writer warns that the No
asset/No Asset loan product being
sold in the early part of this decade
“appears to target borrowers who
would have trouble qualifying for a
mortgage if their financial position
were adequately disclosed.” The
writer reports that 8 to 13 percent
of such loans went into delinquency
in the first year of the contract. The
memo goes on to warn that these
loans appear also to be “dis-
proportionately targeted towards
Hispanics.”
The writer of the memorandum
proposed that Freddie Mac
discontinue to guarantee such loans,
even though it would result
annual losses of between 10 and
50 million dollars. it's all true
Mac, the writer warns that the No
asset/No Asset loan product being
sold in the early part of this decade
“appears to target borrowers who
would have trouble qualifying for a
mortgage if their financial position
were adequately disclosed.” The
writer reports that 8 to 13 percent
of such loans went into delinquency
in the first year of the contract. The
memo goes on to warn that these
loans appear also to be “dis-
proportionately targeted towards
Hispanics.”
The writer of the memorandum
proposed that Freddie Mac
discontinue to guarantee such loans,
even though it would result
annual losses of between 10 and
50 million dollars. it's all true
Research botanists and forestry
management officials have begun to
investigate widespread reports that oak
trees in various regions of the United
States have failed to produce acorns this
year. Anecdotal evidence has been
accumulating since late August that,
rather than just unusually light yields, the
trees were not producing any acorns at
all. Reports of a so-called “zero year”
for acorns have come from at least nine
states as well as parts of Canada, raising
fears that the problem may be related
to climate change.
Scientists point out that oaks have a life
cycle that can last up to 200 years, and
that a total lack of acorn production for
one season is not a cause for alarm, but
even skeptics acknowledge that the zero
year phenomenon is highly anomalous.
Naturalists throughout the Eastern US
management officials have begun to
investigate widespread reports that oak
trees in various regions of the United
States have failed to produce acorns this
year. Anecdotal evidence has been
accumulating since late August that,
rather than just unusually light yields, the
trees were not producing any acorns at
all. Reports of a so-called “zero year”
for acorns have come from at least nine
states as well as parts of Canada, raising
fears that the problem may be related
to climate change.
Scientists point out that oaks have a life
cycle that can last up to 200 years, and
that a total lack of acorn production for
one season is not a cause for alarm, but
even skeptics acknowledge that the zero
year phenomenon is highly anomalous.
Naturalists throughout the Eastern US
have reported that the lack of acorns is
already affecting local squirrel
populations, with scientists warning that
many will starve this winter. Virginia field
botanist Rod Simmons told the
Washington Post, “It’s a zero year.
There’s zero production. I’ve never seen
anything like it before.”
Other areas of the US and Canada have
experienced normal acorn production
this year, but some scientists have
observed a general trend toward lower
yields. Arborist Stephen Smith told the
Toronto Star that he had seen a
gradual reduction in the acorn crops
over the years. “Now, even when they
mass-produce, they don’ t in quantities
they did 20 years ago. No one knows
if it’s part of a natural cycle or if
something has changed and it could
be cause for concern.” it's all true
already affecting local squirrel
populations, with scientists warning that
many will starve this winter. Virginia field
botanist Rod Simmons told the
Washington Post, “It’s a zero year.
There’s zero production. I’ve never seen
anything like it before.”
Other areas of the US and Canada have
experienced normal acorn production
this year, but some scientists have
observed a general trend toward lower
yields. Arborist Stephen Smith told the
Toronto Star that he had seen a
gradual reduction in the acorn crops
over the years. “Now, even when they
mass-produce, they don’ t in quantities
they did 20 years ago. No one knows
if it’s part of a natural cycle or if
something has changed and it could
be cause for concern.” it's all true
The US Supreme Court has ruled
that the Navy may resume training
exercises off the coast of California
that were halted because of concerns
about the effects of sonar on whales
and other marine mammals. A federal
court in San Francisco had ordered
the Navy to curtail some sonar
exercises and eliminate other sonar
activities altogether. Chief Justice
John Roberts, writing for the
majority in the 5-4 decision, said that
the public interest was “strongly in
favor of the Navy.”
President Bush took the unusual step
of intervening in the case, arguing
that national security considerations
made the sonar exercises necessary.
The administration also claimed that
there is little evidence of harm to
marine life from sonar devices.
Environmentalists, who were strongly
critical of the Supreme Court ruling
because it failed to address their
concerns about the danger to whales,
say that sonar can disorient marine
mammals, leading to an often-fatal
condition. Roberts wrote that
restricting sonar "jeopardizes the
safety of the fleet." it's all true
that the Navy may resume training
exercises off the coast of California
that were halted because of concerns
about the effects of sonar on whales
and other marine mammals. A federal
court in San Francisco had ordered
the Navy to curtail some sonar
exercises and eliminate other sonar
activities altogether. Chief Justice
John Roberts, writing for the
majority in the 5-4 decision, said that
the public interest was “strongly in
favor of the Navy.”
President Bush took the unusual step
of intervening in the case, arguing
that national security considerations
made the sonar exercises necessary.
The administration also claimed that
there is little evidence of harm to
marine life from sonar devices.
Environmentalists, who were strongly
critical of the Supreme Court ruling
because it failed to address their
concerns about the danger to whales,
say that sonar can disorient marine
mammals, leading to an often-fatal
condition. Roberts wrote that
restricting sonar "jeopardizes the
safety of the fleet." it's all true
Naval Sonar Ruling
Denies Whales a Hearing
Denies Whales a Hearing
Oak Mystery Too Serious for Acorny Headline
...before I arrived in
President, during I
arrived in President."
Washington DC 12.01.08
President, during I
arrived in President."
Washington DC 12.01.08
verbatim number 34.2
US military was engaged in crowd
control at the event and protesters’
actions and communications were
monitored by the US military’s
network of spy satellites. The
presentation advises that the lead
federal agencies that coordinated the
security of the RCN convention
included the Secret Service, FBI, and
FEMA.
The ACLU said that the US military’s
direction of security at the event
signifies “a radical departure from
separation of civilian law
enforcement and military authority,
and could, quite possibly, represent a
violation of law." it's all true
control at the event and protesters’
actions and communications were
monitored by the US military’s
network of spy satellites. The
presentation advises that the lead
federal agencies that coordinated the
security of the RCN convention
included the Secret Service, FBI, and
FEMA.
The ACLU said that the US military’s
direction of security at the event
signifies “a radical departure from
separation of civilian law
enforcement and military authority,
and could, quite possibly, represent a
violation of law." it's all true
“I think when the history of
this period is written, people
will realize a lot of the
decisions that were made on
Wall Street took place over
a decade or so...
this period is written, people
will realize a lot of the
decisions that were made on
Wall Street took place over
a decade or so...
| amount returned for each dollar spent on different stimulus plans |
| food stamps |
| corporate tax cuts |
| $ .50 1 1.50 |
| infrastructure development |
| Bush tax cut made permanent |
| accelerated depreciation |
| extension of unemployment |
Euro Fury Over Pharma Army Maneuvers
A report recently released by the
European Union accuses multinational
pharmaceutical companies of acting to
keep drug prices artificially high by
engaging in a range of practices intended
to restrict market access for generic
equivalents. The report is the result of a
10-month investigation that began
dramatically with the seizing of
documents at major corporations
including GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer,
Merck, and Sanofi-Aventis.
Manufacturers of generic drugs have
long complained that access to
European markets is more restricted
than other developed countries.
The report, by European Commissioner
for Competition Neelie Kroes,
concludes that billions of dollars have
been added to health care costs during
the period under investigation, from
2000 through 2007. Among the tactics
commonly used by the drug makers is
the accumulation of numerous patents
for every drug and even drug ingredients.
In one case highlighted by the
Commission, 1300 separate patents
were obtained for a single drug. The
pharmaceutical manufacturers then
aggressively litigate against companies
trying to develop generic equivalents,
delaying or even derailing the
European Union accuses multinational
pharmaceutical companies of acting to
keep drug prices artificially high by
engaging in a range of practices intended
to restrict market access for generic
equivalents. The report is the result of a
10-month investigation that began
dramatically with the seizing of
documents at major corporations
including GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer,
Merck, and Sanofi-Aventis.
Manufacturers of generic drugs have
long complained that access to
European markets is more restricted
than other developed countries.
The report, by European Commissioner
for Competition Neelie Kroes,
concludes that billions of dollars have
been added to health care costs during
the period under investigation, from
2000 through 2007. Among the tactics
commonly used by the drug makers is
the accumulation of numerous patents
for every drug and even drug ingredients.
In one case highlighted by the
Commission, 1300 separate patents
were obtained for a single drug. The
pharmaceutical manufacturers then
aggressively litigate against companies
trying to develop generic equivalents,
delaying or even derailing the
introduction of the cheaper drugs.
“Market entry of generic companies and
the development of new and more
affordable medicines is sometimes
blocked or delayed, at significant cost to
healthcare systems, consumers, and
taxpayers,” said Kroes. The Commission
has the authority to impose fines or
bring legal action against companies that
are found to have acted unlawfully.
Kroes told reporters, “It is still early
days, but the Commission will not
hesitate to open antitrust cases against
companies where there are indications
that the antitrust rules may have been
breached.”
Seized corporate memos and papers
released with the report appear to
openly contemplate strategies intended
to thwart competition from generics.
One document stated, “We identify
options to obtain or acquire patents for
the sole purpose of limiting the freedom
of operation of our competitors.”
Another said, “I suppose we have all had
conversations around 'how we can block
the generic manufacturers.’” In Europe,
generic drugs account for 40 percent of
the total pharmaceutical market, while
the US market has in recent years been
dominated by generics. it's all true
“Market entry of generic companies and
the development of new and more
affordable medicines is sometimes
blocked or delayed, at significant cost to
healthcare systems, consumers, and
taxpayers,” said Kroes. The Commission
has the authority to impose fines or
bring legal action against companies that
are found to have acted unlawfully.
Kroes told reporters, “It is still early
days, but the Commission will not
hesitate to open antitrust cases against
companies where there are indications
that the antitrust rules may have been
breached.”
Seized corporate memos and papers
released with the report appear to
openly contemplate strategies intended
to thwart competition from generics.
One document stated, “We identify
options to obtain or acquire patents for
the sole purpose of limiting the freedom
of operation of our competitors.”
Another said, “I suppose we have all had
conversations around 'how we can block
the generic manufacturers.’” In Europe,
generic drugs account for 40 percent of
the total pharmaceutical market, while
the US market has in recent years been
dominated by generics. it's all true
Pentagon Party Favors Were an Unconventional Use of Force
God on State's Side,
Pending Legal Action
Pending Legal Action
At Fannie and Freddie, Prophets Predicting Losses Were Given Little Credit