Details posted on alleged CIA-flights to Poland
By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA, Associated Press Writer – Mon Feb 22, 1:20 pm ET
WARSAW, Poland – A government-run agency has for the first time provided official records confirming the landing in Poland of planes associated with the CIA's secret detainee program, two human rights groups said Monday.
The data adds support to findings from a 2007 Council of Europe report that accused 14 European governments of permitting the CIA to run detention centers or carry out secret flights between 2002 and 2005, the Open Society Justice Initiative and the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights said.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Bank of American Steals Home
Bank of America foreclosed on the wrong house, breaking the locks and removing the contents of the legitimate owners.
Bank of America forecloses on house that couple had paid cash for
By Tony Marrero
...
The Massachusetts couple paid for their future retirement home in Spring Hill with cash in 2005, five years before agents for Bank of America seized the house, removed belongings and changed the locks on the doors, according to a lawsuit the couple have filed in federal court.
...
The bank had an incorrect address on foreclosure documents — the house it meant to seize is across the street and about 10 doors down — but the Cardosos and a Realtor employed by Bank of America were unable to convince the company that it had the wrong house, the suit states.
"Their own real estate agent told them, and nevertheless Bank of America steamrolled right ahead," said Joseph deMello, an attorney in Taunton, Mass., who is representing the couple. "This is a nightmare for anyone, and it affected my hard-working clients a lot."
Bank of America forecloses on house that couple had paid cash for
By Tony Marrero
...
The Massachusetts couple paid for their future retirement home in Spring Hill with cash in 2005, five years before agents for Bank of America seized the house, removed belongings and changed the locks on the doors, according to a lawsuit the couple have filed in federal court.
...
The bank had an incorrect address on foreclosure documents — the house it meant to seize is across the street and about 10 doors down — but the Cardosos and a Realtor employed by Bank of America were unable to convince the company that it had the wrong house, the suit states.
"Their own real estate agent told them, and nevertheless Bank of America steamrolled right ahead," said Joseph deMello, an attorney in Taunton, Mass., who is representing the couple. "This is a nightmare for anyone, and it affected my hard-working clients a lot."
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
School Loan Slaves
The availability of loans for higher education has allowed rampant price inflation at schools for the past couple decades. School budgets have ballooned along with outrageously high salaries for administrators and some educators.
Those who have taken the school loans are now slaves to the debt. This article states 60% of school debt is not being paid.
There is an estimated $730 billion in outstanding federal and private student-loan debt, says Mark Kantrowitz of FinAid.org, a Web site that tracks financial-aid issues—and only 40% of that debt is actively being repaid.
...
But as tuitions rise, many people are borrowing heavily to pay their bills. Some no doubt view it as "good debt," because an education can lead to a higher salary. But in practice, student loans are one of the most toxic debts, requiring extreme consumer caution and, as Dr. Bisutti learned, responsibility.
Unlike other kinds of debt, student loans can be particularly hard to wriggle out of. Homeowners who can't make their mortgage payments can hand over the keys to their house to their lender. Credit-card and even gambling debts can be discharged in bankruptcy. But ditching a student loan is virtually impossible, especially once a collection agency gets involved. Although lenders may trim payments, getting fees or principals waived seldom happens.
Those who have taken the school loans are now slaves to the debt. This article states 60% of school debt is not being paid.
There is an estimated $730 billion in outstanding federal and private student-loan debt, says Mark Kantrowitz of FinAid.org, a Web site that tracks financial-aid issues—and only 40% of that debt is actively being repaid.
...
But as tuitions rise, many people are borrowing heavily to pay their bills. Some no doubt view it as "good debt," because an education can lead to a higher salary. But in practice, student loans are one of the most toxic debts, requiring extreme consumer caution and, as Dr. Bisutti learned, responsibility.
Unlike other kinds of debt, student loans can be particularly hard to wriggle out of. Homeowners who can't make their mortgage payments can hand over the keys to their house to their lender. Credit-card and even gambling debts can be discharged in bankruptcy. But ditching a student loan is virtually impossible, especially once a collection agency gets involved. Although lenders may trim payments, getting fees or principals waived seldom happens.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Mumps Vaccine Fails
In the 2009 mumps outbreak in New Jersey and New York, over 77% of those who contracted mumps had received the recommended mumps vaccine. The mumps vaccine is clearly ineffective.
The CDC report details the failure of the mumps vaccine.
Outbreak Reports
Sullivan County, New York.
A total of 25 cases were reported among camp attendees and staff members. The median age of patients was 12 years (range: 9--30 years), and all were male. Of the 24 patients for whom vaccination status was reported, 20 (83%) had received age-appropriate vaccination with 2 doses, one (4%) had received partial age-appropriate vaccination with 1 dose, and three (13%) were unvaccinated. The attack rate in this camp was approximately 6% (25 of 400).
Brooklyn, New York.
Of the 61 patients (77%) for whom vaccine is recommended and vaccination status and age were reported, 47 (77%) had received age-appropriate vaccination, six (10%) had received partial age-appropriate vaccination, and eight (13%) were unvaccinated.
Ocean County, New Jersey.
Mumps vaccination status was reported for 29 (73%) patients, of whom 28 (97%) had received age-appropriate vaccination.
Rockland County, New York.
Mumps vaccination status was reported for 19 (70%), of whom 11 had received age-appropriate vaccination, and two had received partial age-appropriate vaccination.
Orange County, New York.
During October 8--14, eight cases occurred among the travelers. The median age of patients was 18 years (range: 11--23 years), and five were male. Seven patients had received age-appropriate vaccination with 2 doses, and one was unvaccinated.
Quebec, Canada.
By October 30, 15 cases (patient age range: 8--47 years) from Montreal and the Laurentian region of the province had been reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada. All patients were male, and 11 had documented vaccination with at least 1 dose of mumps-containing vaccine.
The CDC report details the failure of the mumps vaccine.
Outbreak Reports
Sullivan County, New York.
A total of 25 cases were reported among camp attendees and staff members. The median age of patients was 12 years (range: 9--30 years), and all were male. Of the 24 patients for whom vaccination status was reported, 20 (83%) had received age-appropriate vaccination with 2 doses, one (4%) had received partial age-appropriate vaccination with 1 dose, and three (13%) were unvaccinated. The attack rate in this camp was approximately 6% (25 of 400).
Brooklyn, New York.
Of the 61 patients (77%) for whom vaccine is recommended and vaccination status and age were reported, 47 (77%) had received age-appropriate vaccination, six (10%) had received partial age-appropriate vaccination, and eight (13%) were unvaccinated.
Ocean County, New Jersey.
Mumps vaccination status was reported for 29 (73%) patients, of whom 28 (97%) had received age-appropriate vaccination.
Rockland County, New York.
Mumps vaccination status was reported for 19 (70%), of whom 11 had received age-appropriate vaccination, and two had received partial age-appropriate vaccination.
Orange County, New York.
During October 8--14, eight cases occurred among the travelers. The median age of patients was 18 years (range: 11--23 years), and five were male. Seven patients had received age-appropriate vaccination with 2 doses, and one was unvaccinated.
Quebec, Canada.
By October 30, 15 cases (patient age range: 8--47 years) from Montreal and the Laurentian region of the province had been reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada. All patients were male, and 11 had documented vaccination with at least 1 dose of mumps-containing vaccine.
White February
49 of 50 states received snow this week. Higher temperatures bring rain, not snow. Why do people continue to insist on repeating the myth of man-made global warming?
49 states dusted with snow; Hawaii's the holdout
WASHINGTON (AP) — Forty-nine states have snow now, from the Gulf Coast's Redneck Riviera to the skyscrapers of Dallas.
The lone holdout? Hawaii.
...
49 states dusted with snow; Hawaii's the holdout
WASHINGTON (AP) — Forty-nine states have snow now, from the Gulf Coast's Redneck Riviera to the skyscrapers of Dallas.
The lone holdout? Hawaii.
...
Thursday, February 11, 2010
AP Pimps War With Iran
The war drums are beating louder.
AP Article Fuels Iran War Hysteria
Article Speculates Medical Uranium Enrichment a Weapons Plot
by Jason Ditz, February 08, 2010
UPDATE: The Associated Press has pulled the original article by George Jahn and it is being replaced by a more benign article called “Iran to stop enrichment if given nuclear fuel” by Nasser Karimi. (2/9/2010)
In a widely-circulated article which has further fueled Western hysteria about the prospect of an imminent war with Iran, the Associated Press today claimed that Iran’s uranium enrichment program move, an effort to produce medical isotopes which are rapidly running out in the nation, was a secret plot to build nuclear weapons.
...
AP Article Fuels Iran War Hysteria
Article Speculates Medical Uranium Enrichment a Weapons Plot
by Jason Ditz, February 08, 2010
UPDATE: The Associated Press has pulled the original article by George Jahn and it is being replaced by a more benign article called “Iran to stop enrichment if given nuclear fuel” by Nasser Karimi. (2/9/2010)
In a widely-circulated article which has further fueled Western hysteria about the prospect of an imminent war with Iran, the Associated Press today claimed that Iran’s uranium enrichment program move, an effort to produce medical isotopes which are rapidly running out in the nation, was a secret plot to build nuclear weapons.
...
Hispanic Immigrants To USA Get Cancer
When Hispanics Immigrate to the U.S., Their Cancer Rates Begin to Soar
Tuesday, February 09, 2010 by: David Gutierrez
(NaturalNews) Cancer rates among Hispanics rise following migration to the United States, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Miami.
"This study is [reminiscent] of studies from the late 1960s that looked at immigrants from China and Japan to the United States," said Otis Brawley of the American Cancer Society. "They raise risk of cancer by immigrating and raise rates for second generation Americans even more so."
...
Tuesday, February 09, 2010 by: David Gutierrez
(NaturalNews) Cancer rates among Hispanics rise following migration to the United States, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Miami.
"This study is [reminiscent] of studies from the late 1960s that looked at immigrants from China and Japan to the United States," said Otis Brawley of the American Cancer Society. "They raise risk of cancer by immigrating and raise rates for second generation Americans even more so."
...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
British Torture Complicity
Britain discloses secret data on detainee abuse
By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer
LONDON – Britain was forced by an appeals court Wednesday to reveal a long-secret description of how a former terrorism suspect was beaten, shackled and deprived of sleep during interrogations by U.S. agents.
...
She said it is now evident that British authorities were complicit in the use of torture and benefited from it.
...
By JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer
LONDON – Britain was forced by an appeals court Wednesday to reveal a long-secret description of how a former terrorism suspect was beaten, shackled and deprived of sleep during interrogations by U.S. agents.
...
She said it is now evident that British authorities were complicit in the use of torture and benefited from it.
...
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Foreign Police In Your Bank Account
Now foreign police can go on fishing expeditions of American's bank accounts, without a search warrant from a US judge.
U.S. rule directs banks to share data abroad
Dan Margolies
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. financial crime agency has adopted a rule allowing local, state and foreign police agencies to seek information from American banks, despite opposition from industry groups.
...
U.S. rule directs banks to share data abroad
Dan Margolies
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. financial crime agency has adopted a rule allowing local, state and foreign police agencies to seek information from American banks, despite opposition from industry groups.
...
Monday, February 08, 2010
Guantanamo Murder Cover-Up
Harper's has an enlightening article about detainee murders in Guantanamo. The cover-up began during the Bush administration and the deaths and cover-ups are continuing during the Obama administration.
The Guantánamo “Suicides”: A Camp Delta sergeant blows the whistle
By Scott Horton
...
"The official story of the prisoners’ deaths was full of unacknowledged contradictions, and the centerpiece of the report—a reconstruction of the events—was simply unbelievable.
According to the NCIS documents, each prisoner had fashioned a noose from torn sheets and T-shirts and tied it to the top of his cell’s eight-foot-high steel-mesh wall. Each prisoner was able somehow to bind his own hands, and, in at least one case, his own feet, then stuff more rags deep down into his own throat. We are then asked to believe that each prisoner, even as he was choking on those rags, climbed up on his washbasin, slipped his head through the noose, tightened it, and leapt from the washbasin to hang until he asphyxiated."
...
"Now four members of the Military Intelligence unit assigned to guard Camp Delta, including a decorated non-commissioned Army officer who was on duty as sergeant of the guard the night of June 9, have furnished an account dramatically at odds with the NCIS report—a report for which they were neither interviewed nor approached."
...
The Guantánamo “Suicides”: A Camp Delta sergeant blows the whistle
By Scott Horton
...
"The official story of the prisoners’ deaths was full of unacknowledged contradictions, and the centerpiece of the report—a reconstruction of the events—was simply unbelievable.
According to the NCIS documents, each prisoner had fashioned a noose from torn sheets and T-shirts and tied it to the top of his cell’s eight-foot-high steel-mesh wall. Each prisoner was able somehow to bind his own hands, and, in at least one case, his own feet, then stuff more rags deep down into his own throat. We are then asked to believe that each prisoner, even as he was choking on those rags, climbed up on his washbasin, slipped his head through the noose, tightened it, and leapt from the washbasin to hang until he asphyxiated."
...
"Now four members of the Military Intelligence unit assigned to guard Camp Delta, including a decorated non-commissioned Army officer who was on duty as sergeant of the guard the night of June 9, have furnished an account dramatically at odds with the NCIS report—a report for which they were neither interviewed nor approached."
...
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Peace Prize Recipient Expands War
Obama seeks $192 billion for wars
Request reflects decision to increase number of troops in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama wants $192 billion in war spending for the next year-and-a-half, a hefty sum aimed at escalating the war in Afghanistan despite its waning popularity.
...
Request reflects decision to increase number of troops in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama wants $192 billion in war spending for the next year-and-a-half, a hefty sum aimed at escalating the war in Afghanistan despite its waning popularity.
...
Friday, February 05, 2010
Britain Planned Iraq Overthrow Years Earlier
Plan to oust Saddam drawn up two years before the invasion
Secret document signalled support for Iraqi dissidents and promised aid, oil and trade deals in return for regime change
By Michael Savage, Political Correspondent
A secret plan to foster an internal coup against Saddam Hussein was drawn up by the Government two years before the invasion of Iraq, The Independent can reveal.
Whitehall officials drafted the "contract with the Iraqi people" as a way of signalling to dissenters in Iraq that an overthrow of Saddam would be supported by Britain. It promised aid, oil contracts, debt cancellations and trade deals once the dictator had been removed. Tony Blair's team saw it as a way of creating regime change in Iraq even before the 9/11 attack on New York.
The document, headed "confidential UK/US eyes", was finalised on 11 June 2001 and approved by ministers. It has not been published by the Iraq inquiry but a copy has been obtained by The Independent and can be revealed for the first time today. It states: "We want to work with an Iraq which respects the rights of its people, lives at peace with its neighbours and which observes international law.
...
Secret document signalled support for Iraqi dissidents and promised aid, oil and trade deals in return for regime change
By Michael Savage, Political Correspondent
A secret plan to foster an internal coup against Saddam Hussein was drawn up by the Government two years before the invasion of Iraq, The Independent can reveal.
Whitehall officials drafted the "contract with the Iraqi people" as a way of signalling to dissenters in Iraq that an overthrow of Saddam would be supported by Britain. It promised aid, oil contracts, debt cancellations and trade deals once the dictator had been removed. Tony Blair's team saw it as a way of creating regime change in Iraq even before the 9/11 attack on New York.
The document, headed "confidential UK/US eyes", was finalised on 11 June 2001 and approved by ministers. It has not been published by the Iraq inquiry but a copy has been obtained by The Independent and can be revealed for the first time today. It states: "We want to work with an Iraq which respects the rights of its people, lives at peace with its neighbours and which observes international law.
...
Thursday, February 04, 2010
ACORN Pimp Arrested
The "pimp" who gained fame by recording conversations in ACORN offices was recently arrested with three others while attempting to install recording devices on phones of a Congress woman. This occurred in a federal building.
Has James O’Keefe been acting on his own, or is some group directing his actions against a sitting Congress woman?
4 Arrested in Phone Tampering at Landrieu Office
By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON and LIZ ROBBINS
Published: January 26, 2010
NEW ORLEANS — Federal officials charged four men on Tuesday with plotting to tamper with the telephone system in the New Orleans office of Senator Mary Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana. One of the men was a conservative activist who gained fame last year by secretly recording members of the community group Acorn giving him advice on how to set up a brothel.
Stan Dai, left, and James O’Keefe, were arrested in the office of Senator Mary L. Landrieu.
All four of the men arrested Monday in New Orleans, each in his mid-20s, were charged with entering federal property under false pretenses with the intent of committing a felony, ...
If convicted, the four would face sentences ranging from a fine to 10 years in prison.
The political activist was James O’Keefe, 25, who has gained renown in conservative circles by poking fun at the left through pranks and undercover video.
...
Has James O’Keefe been acting on his own, or is some group directing his actions against a sitting Congress woman?
4 Arrested in Phone Tampering at Landrieu Office
By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON and LIZ ROBBINS
Published: January 26, 2010
NEW ORLEANS — Federal officials charged four men on Tuesday with plotting to tamper with the telephone system in the New Orleans office of Senator Mary Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana. One of the men was a conservative activist who gained fame last year by secretly recording members of the community group Acorn giving him advice on how to set up a brothel.
Stan Dai, left, and James O’Keefe, were arrested in the office of Senator Mary L. Landrieu.
All four of the men arrested Monday in New Orleans, each in his mid-20s, were charged with entering federal property under false pretenses with the intent of committing a felony, ...
If convicted, the four would face sentences ranging from a fine to 10 years in prison.
The political activist was James O’Keefe, 25, who has gained renown in conservative circles by poking fun at the left through pranks and undercover video.
...
Monday, February 01, 2010
Airliner Security
An unbiased article by, The Christian Science Monitor, on wasted resources that don't enhance airliner security.
More airport security won’t do much to stop terrorists. Leaving the Middle East would.
... pundits have therefore called for heightened security measures at airports and on airplanes.
It won’t work without addressing why there are attacks to begin with.
Additional security measures may prevent a few attacks, at least until terrorists learn to circumvent the new policies. But these measures will have little lasting impact, as with many past tactics, because they do nothing to reduce the demand for terrorism against the US.
If the desire to engage in a certain activity is not reduced, attempts to raise the costs (such as harsher punishment) of such an activity do not matter much.
Consider the evidence from existing policies toward drugs, prostitution, and immigration. In each case, policy tries to ban or limit the activity, hoping to raise the costs of supplying it. Meanwhile, minimal effort is exerted to reduce the demand for intoxication, sex, and a higher income.
...
More airport security won’t do much to stop terrorists. Leaving the Middle East would.
... pundits have therefore called for heightened security measures at airports and on airplanes.
It won’t work without addressing why there are attacks to begin with.
Additional security measures may prevent a few attacks, at least until terrorists learn to circumvent the new policies. But these measures will have little lasting impact, as with many past tactics, because they do nothing to reduce the demand for terrorism against the US.
If the desire to engage in a certain activity is not reduced, attempts to raise the costs (such as harsher punishment) of such an activity do not matter much.
Consider the evidence from existing policies toward drugs, prostitution, and immigration. In each case, policy tries to ban or limit the activity, hoping to raise the costs of supplying it. Meanwhile, minimal effort is exerted to reduce the demand for intoxication, sex, and a higher income.
...
Government Allowed Christmas Bombing
The US government aided and abetted the Christmas airplane underwear criminal by not revoking his visa.
The timeline that makes clear government complicity is available at The Truth About Flight 253 Has Been Revealed.
Terror suspect kept visa to avoid tipping off larger investigation
Nathan Hurst / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington --The State Department didn't revoke the visa of foiled terrorism suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab because federal counterterrorism officials had begged off revocation, a top State Department official revealed Wednesday.
Patrick F. Kennedy, an undersecretary for management at the State Department, said Abdulmutallab's visa wasn't taken away because intelligence officials asked his agency not to deny a visa to the suspected terrorist over concerns that a denial would've foiled a larger investigation into al-Qaida threats against the United States.
...
The timeline that makes clear government complicity is available at The Truth About Flight 253 Has Been Revealed.
Terror suspect kept visa to avoid tipping off larger investigation
Nathan Hurst / Detroit News Washington Bureau
Washington --The State Department didn't revoke the visa of foiled terrorism suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab because federal counterterrorism officials had begged off revocation, a top State Department official revealed Wednesday.
Patrick F. Kennedy, an undersecretary for management at the State Department, said Abdulmutallab's visa wasn't taken away because intelligence officials asked his agency not to deny a visa to the suspected terrorist over concerns that a denial would've foiled a larger investigation into al-Qaida threats against the United States.
...
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