number 33 12.11.05
one nation, under surveillance
Terrorist Watchlist Creates Heavy Turbulence
The terrorist watch list, compiled and
maintained by the US Department of
Homeland Security and provided to the
Transportation Security Administration
and private airlines to be used for
passenger screening procedures, has
grown to over 80,000 names, according
to an investigation by a Swedish
newspaper. Problems with the
implementation of new security
measures have plagued the airline
industry since September 2001. In a
related story, the TSA revealed last
week that some 30,000 people had
requested that their names be removed
from the list in the just the past year. All
maintained by the US Department of
Homeland Security and provided to the
Transportation Security Administration
and private airlines to be used for
passenger screening procedures, has
grown to over 80,000 names, according
to an investigation by a Swedish
newspaper. Problems with the
implementation of new security
measures have plagued the airline
industry since September 2001. In a
related story, the TSA revealed last
week that some 30,000 people had
requested that their names be removed
from the list in the just the past year. All
but 60 were successful in their appeal.
The watch list, which is nominally
classified, contained just 16 names prior
to September 11, 2001. It had grown to
about 40,000 a year later, and last year
reached 80,000 , according to a report in
Svenska Dagbladet, which cited
confidential airline industry sources.
The list comprises two sections, a
strictly enforced "no fly" section which
requires a referral to local police, and a
"selectee" section which mandates
further security checks. The personnel
making decisions with regard to "selectee"
passengers are not law enforcement
The watch list, which is nominally
classified, contained just 16 names prior
to September 11, 2001. It had grown to
about 40,000 a year later, and last year
reached 80,000 , according to a report in
Svenska Dagbladet, which cited
confidential airline industry sources.
The list comprises two sections, a
strictly enforced "no fly" section which
requires a referral to local police, and a
"selectee" section which mandates
further security checks. The personnel
making decisions with regard to "selectee"
passengers are not law enforcement
officers, but are in most cases private
security guards. Members of the
bipartisan 9/ 11 commission recently
criticized the TSA for its handling of
screening procedures, noting that the
administration had failed to meet its
own goals with regard to airline
passenger security. Implementation
of the new procedures has led to
several high profile embarrassments
for the TSA. Public figures such as
Senator Edward Kennedy and
Representative Don Young have
appeared on the list. Young is the
chairman of the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee. its all true
security guards. Members of the
bipartisan 9/ 11 commission recently
criticized the TSA for its handling of
screening procedures, noting that the
administration had failed to meet its
own goals with regard to airline
passenger security. Implementation
of the new procedures has led to
several high profile embarrassments
for the TSA. Public figures such as
Senator Edward Kennedy and
Representative Don Young have
appeared on the list. Young is the
chairman of the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee. its all true
| interpreting the constitution crowd control spread of the red one nation, under surveillance fun d' mental in bed with the red red state rebate verbatim |
fun d' mental
Weather
Christian Contest
Draws Protest
at New Mexico
Public School
Draws Protest
at New Mexico
Public School
US Snubs Conference, Agrees to Continue to Contribute to Global Warming
economy. An unofficial delegation of US
representatives attempted to block
various versions of the draft accord,
even staging a walkout at one point in
protest against a perceived move to
reopen the subject of mandatory
emissions controls.
The US delegation found itself isolated in
its stance. Even developing nations such
as China and India, which are not subject
to the current Kyoto accords, agreed to
participate in talks preparing the
groundwork for a new global warming
treaty. The US is the world's largest
producer of greenhouse gases,
accounting for about one quarter of the
world's emissions.
Bush administration officials cast doubt
on certainty of various climate change
scenarios, particularly the link between
representatives attempted to block
various versions of the draft accord,
even staging a walkout at one point in
protest against a perceived move to
reopen the subject of mandatory
emissions controls.
The US delegation found itself isolated in
its stance. Even developing nations such
as China and India, which are not subject
to the current Kyoto accords, agreed to
participate in talks preparing the
groundwork for a new global warming
treaty. The US is the world's largest
producer of greenhouse gases,
accounting for about one quarter of the
world's emissions.
Bush administration officials cast doubt
on certainty of various climate change
scenarios, particularly the link between
Delegates from over 150 countries,
meeting in Montreal, concluded the
largest conference on global warming
since the adoption of the 1997 Kyoto
Protocol by agreeing to expand the
treaty before it expires in 2012. A
second, broader accord involving nearly
200 nations in non-binding negotiations
about the future of climate change issues
was also reached at the conference.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair called
the agreements "a vital next step in
tackling climate change - the biggest long
term challenge facing the world."
The United States, which opposes limits
on greenhouse gas emissions, did not
participate in the official negotiations.
Although the US signed the Kyoto
Treaty in 1997, the Bush administration
has repudiated the pact, saying
compliance would damage the US
meeting in Montreal, concluded the
largest conference on global warming
since the adoption of the 1997 Kyoto
Protocol by agreeing to expand the
treaty before it expires in 2012. A
second, broader accord involving nearly
200 nations in non-binding negotiations
about the future of climate change issues
was also reached at the conference.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair called
the agreements "a vital next step in
tackling climate change - the biggest long
term challenge facing the world."
The United States, which opposes limits
on greenhouse gas emissions, did not
participate in the official negotiations.
Although the US signed the Kyoto
Treaty in 1997, the Bush administration
has repudiated the pact, saying
compliance would damage the US
emissions and global warming. But
evidence of unprecedented warming
continues to mount. This week,
NASA scientists plan to release data
that shows 2005 to be on track to be
the hottest year in recorded history.
Carbon dioxide levels in the air
worldwide reached 380 parts per
million in 2005, a level believed to be
the highest in 650,000 years. As
recently as 1800, carbon dioxide
levels were about 280 parts per
million.
Total greenhouse gases are up
approximately 25 percent worldwide
since 1990. its all true
evidence of unprecedented warming
continues to mount. This week,
NASA scientists plan to release data
that shows 2005 to be on track to be
the hottest year in recorded history.
Carbon dioxide levels in the air
worldwide reached 380 parts per
million in 2005, a level believed to be
the highest in 650,000 years. As
recently as 1800, carbon dioxide
levels were about 280 parts per
million.
Total greenhouse gases are up
approximately 25 percent worldwide
since 1990. its all true
Sophomores at Piedra Vista High
School in Farmington NM were
encouraged by their English
Teacher to participate in a writing
contest for the best essay that
explains why "preserving marriage
between one man and one
woman (is) vital to a healthy
society", or, why "unborn
children merit respect and
protection." The public high
school students were offered
course credit to enter the
contest which is sponsored by a
fundamentalist religious group
called United Families
International (UFI).
Parents and civil rights groups
have protested the essay
assignment because they view the
assignment violates state
regulations that ban discrimination
on the basis of sexual orientation
in public schools.
The head of Pietra Vista's
language arts department stressed
that though the topics were
'slanted', the assignment was
optional and proposed
school-wide by Principal Danny
Ortiz. The principal told local
media that the idea for the essay
contest came in a state-wide
memo from the New Mexico
Public Department of Education
(PED).
Veronica Garcia, Secretary of the
PED, when questioned about the
contest, admitted that she passed
on the information about the UFI
contest, but only out of fear that
if she hadn't, the "ACLU would
also complain about" not allowing
students to participate. its all true
School in Farmington NM were
encouraged by their English
Teacher to participate in a writing
contest for the best essay that
explains why "preserving marriage
between one man and one
woman (is) vital to a healthy
society", or, why "unborn
children merit respect and
protection." The public high
school students were offered
course credit to enter the
contest which is sponsored by a
fundamentalist religious group
called United Families
International (UFI).
Parents and civil rights groups
have protested the essay
assignment because they view the
assignment violates state
regulations that ban discrimination
on the basis of sexual orientation
in public schools.
The head of Pietra Vista's
language arts department stressed
that though the topics were
'slanted', the assignment was
optional and proposed
school-wide by Principal Danny
Ortiz. The principal told local
media that the idea for the essay
contest came in a state-wide
memo from the New Mexico
Public Department of Education
(PED).
Veronica Garcia, Secretary of the
PED, when questioned about the
contest, admitted that she passed
on the information about the UFI
contest, but only out of fear that
if she hadn't, the "ACLU would
also complain about" not allowing
students to participate. its all true
| redstat |
News
Police Officer Discharged
After Taser Tantrum
After Taser Tantrum
A Michigan police officer has been
charged with assault and battery for
discharging his Taser gun into the leg
of his female partner during a quarrel
while she was driving their squad car.
The incident began when officer
Ronald Dupuis of the Hamtramck
Police Department in suburban
Detroit demanded that his partner,
officer Prema Graham, stop at a
convenience store so that he could
buy a soft drink.
Graham refused, saying that she
wanted to get back to the station.
An argument ensued, eventually
escalating into a struggle for control
of the steering wheel of the vehicle.
charged with assault and battery for
discharging his Taser gun into the leg
of his female partner during a quarrel
while she was driving their squad car.
The incident began when officer
Ronald Dupuis of the Hamtramck
Police Department in suburban
Detroit demanded that his partner,
officer Prema Graham, stop at a
convenience store so that he could
buy a soft drink.
Graham refused, saying that she
wanted to get back to the station.
An argument ensued, eventually
escalating into a struggle for control
of the steering wheel of the vehicle.
It was at that point, according to a
complaint filed by Wayne County
prosecutors, that Dupuis drew his Taser
and discharged the weapon's 50,000 volts
into Graham's leg, while she was still
driving the squad car. Tasers are typically
used by law enforcement personnel to
subdue violent suspects.
Dupius, 32, was fired from the
Hamtramck Police Department a few
days after the incident. Officer Graham
did not suffer any serious injuries as a
result of the assault. Since 2001, more
than 70 people in the US and Canada
have died as a result of Taser shocks,
according to Amnesty International.
its all true
complaint filed by Wayne County
prosecutors, that Dupuis drew his Taser
and discharged the weapon's 50,000 volts
into Graham's leg, while she was still
driving the squad car. Tasers are typically
used by law enforcement personnel to
subdue violent suspects.
Dupius, 32, was fired from the
Hamtramck Police Department a few
days after the incident. Officer Graham
did not suffer any serious injuries as a
result of the assault. Since 2001, more
than 70 people in the US and Canada
have died as a result of Taser shocks,
according to Amnesty International.
its all true
spread of the red
crowd control
Worker's Retirement Plans Abolished
or Defunded in Modern Workplace
or Defunded in Modern Workplace
LA Seeks to Protect
Area Businesses
From Sleeping
Homeless People
Area Businesses
From Sleeping
Homeless People
The country's second largest phone
company Verizon has announced the
phasing out of defined pension benefits
for its management staff. The plan,
which goes into effect in June 2006,
would allow employees to contribute to
a 401 (k) investment plan with limited
matching funds contributed by the
company and is projected to save
Verizon $3 billion over the next ten
years.
A Verizon spokesperson said that the
changes were an effort to harmonize
benefits as the huge corporation finalizes
its purchase of MCI, Inc. In a prepared
statement the company's chairman, Ivan
Seidenberg commented that the
abandonment of a traditional guaranteed
benefit retirement program "reflects the
realities of our changing world." This
appears to be true as commentators
have already predicted that other
telecommunications giants will also
abandon traditional pension plans
effecting hundreds of thousands of
American workers.
The migration from defined retirement
benefits to investment based schemes is
a change for US workers who have to
save and plan more than previous
generations, but not so large a change as
company Verizon has announced the
phasing out of defined pension benefits
for its management staff. The plan,
which goes into effect in June 2006,
would allow employees to contribute to
a 401 (k) investment plan with limited
matching funds contributed by the
company and is projected to save
Verizon $3 billion over the next ten
years.
A Verizon spokesperson said that the
changes were an effort to harmonize
benefits as the huge corporation finalizes
its purchase of MCI, Inc. In a prepared
statement the company's chairman, Ivan
Seidenberg commented that the
abandonment of a traditional guaranteed
benefit retirement program "reflects the
realities of our changing world." This
appears to be true as commentators
have already predicted that other
telecommunications giants will also
abandon traditional pension plans
effecting hundreds of thousands of
American workers.
The migration from defined retirement
benefits to investment based schemes is
a change for US workers who have to
save and plan more than previous
generations, but not so large a change as
workers and retirees who's retirement
plans have been effected by corporate
default.
More than 20 companies have defaulted
on their pensions in the past few year.
Last summer United Airlines, which is
currently in bankruptcy, defaulted on
$9.8 billion in pension obligations. More
than one hundred thousand employees
have been effected. Some United
retirees have seen their pension benefits
diminish by 70 to 80 percent.
The United employees and pensioners
will be funded by the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) , a
federal agency created thirty years ago.
The PBGC will pay the pensions of
retirees of bankrupt corporations, but at
a drastically reduced rate. The
corporation had a surplus of $7.7 billion
dollars in 2001 but, due to corporate
bankruptcies like United, the agency
currently is running a deficit.
Experts fear that the federal government
may have to step in and bail out the
agency. President Bush addressed the
situation earlier this year when he
scolded US businesses saying "my
message to corporate America is: you
need to fulfill your promises." its all true
plans have been effected by corporate
default.
More than 20 companies have defaulted
on their pensions in the past few year.
Last summer United Airlines, which is
currently in bankruptcy, defaulted on
$9.8 billion in pension obligations. More
than one hundred thousand employees
have been effected. Some United
retirees have seen their pension benefits
diminish by 70 to 80 percent.
The United employees and pensioners
will be funded by the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) , a
federal agency created thirty years ago.
The PBGC will pay the pensions of
retirees of bankrupt corporations, but at
a drastically reduced rate. The
corporation had a surplus of $7.7 billion
dollars in 2001 but, due to corporate
bankruptcies like United, the agency
currently is running a deficit.
Experts fear that the federal government
may have to step in and bail out the
agency. President Bush addressed the
situation earlier this year when he
scolded US businesses saying "my
message to corporate America is: you
need to fulfill your promises." its all true
A panel of appeals court judges heard
arguments last week regarding a law
that would outlaw sitting, laying or
sleeping on sidewalks in the city of
Los Angeles. Lawyers for the
American Civil Liberties Union filed
suit against the city representing six
homeless people who the group says
had their rights violated by the law.
Critics say the law was written to
target the homeless on 'skid row'.
Deputy City Attorney Amy Jo Field
argued that the city needed the law
to control the large numbers of
homeless people in the city's streets
that she said were causing problems
for area businesses.
Attorneys representing the six
homeless citizens argued that the LA
city ordinance criminalizes the
circumstance of being homeless.
Attorneys for the ACLU told the
panel of judges that there are not
enough shelter beds in the city for all
the homeless. "There is no way", an
attorney for the ACLU said, "an
individual who is homeless can't sit,
sleep or lie in public. its all true
arguments last week regarding a law
that would outlaw sitting, laying or
sleeping on sidewalks in the city of
Los Angeles. Lawyers for the
American Civil Liberties Union filed
suit against the city representing six
homeless people who the group says
had their rights violated by the law.
Critics say the law was written to
target the homeless on 'skid row'.
Deputy City Attorney Amy Jo Field
argued that the city needed the law
to control the large numbers of
homeless people in the city's streets
that she said were causing problems
for area businesses.
Attorneys representing the six
homeless citizens argued that the LA
city ordinance criminalizes the
circumstance of being homeless.
Attorneys for the ACLU told the
panel of judges that there are not
enough shelter beds in the city for all
the homeless. "There is no way", an
attorney for the ACLU said, "an
individual who is homeless can't sit,
sleep or lie in public. its all true
redstateupdate.net
verbatim number 6.3
"The tragic images of
innocent victims can
make it seem like
these terrorist
attacks are random
and isolated acts of
madness. While
these killers choose
their victims
indiscriminately...
innocent victims can
make it seem like
these terrorist
attacks are random
and isolated acts of
madness. While
these killers choose
their victims
indiscriminately...
...their attacks
flow from an
ideology and a
terrifying vision
for the world."
Anchorage AK 11.14.05
flow from an
ideology and a
terrifying vision
for the world."
Anchorage AK 11.14.05
source: Viroqua Institute
| Recent Pention Fund Failures in billions of dollars |
| 0 5 10 |
| United |
| Bethlehem Steel |
| LTV Steel |
| National Steel |
| Pan Am |
| US Air |
