Police brutality in Ozone Park?

From NY1:
It was six o'clock Tuesday evening when the Martin family says two plainclothes New York City police officers kicked down their door.
"We all came running downstairs and said 'What are you doing?' They said 'We kicked in the door.' We said 'What was the reason for kicking down the door?' They said 'Because we felt like it,'" Sean Martin said.
The NYPD's version is very different. The police say the officers were chasing a drug suspect who ran into the building where Source: Queens Crap RSS Feed

Map: On the front lines of the drug war

Ismael Estrada
CNN's AC360

It's an all-too common scene on patrol with a joint Mexican law enforcement task force in Juarez, Mexico.

Two people are shot dead in broad daylight Wednesday in a city lost in a drug war between rival cartels over the lucrative drug route into the United States.

Gunmen fire on a car, killing the driver; the passenger starts to flee and is gunned down in the street. These are the 11th and 12th killings in the Mexican citySource: AC360 RSS Feed

ThinkFast: December 2, 2009

In announcing his 18-month escalation strategy for Afghanistan, President Obama underscored his view that “Islamist extremism in the region remains an enduring threat to the security of Americans.” Obama revealed, “In the last few months alone, we have apprehended extremists within our borders who were sent here from the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan to commit new acts of terror.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) offered a cautious response to President Obama’sSource: Think Progress RSS Feed

Can Obama rally the country on Afghanistan?

U.S. troops search for militants in the mountainous Taliban stronghold in Paktika Province in Afghanistan.

David Gergen | BIO
AC360° Contributor
CNN Senior Political Analyst

In his Afghanistan speech tonight, Barack Obama will face one of the toughest tests of any president in modern times.

Presidents usually seek public support for sending U.S. combat troops into action just after another country has attacked us or threatened our national interestSource: AC360 RSS Feed

Beck criticizes TP for not laughing at his sexist ‘joke’ about Palin.

Last week, ThinkProgress reported on Glenn Beck’s sexist explanation for ruling out a vice presidential run with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at the top of the ticket. Beck said that he might consider a Beck-Palin ticket, but Palin-Beck would be out of the question because she’d always be “yapping away” as if she were “in the kitchen.” Today, Beck responded to our post on his website, saying hisSource: Think Progress RSS Feed

The Old Feeder in Ames, Iowa

Typical ISU Students - 1972
There have been some changes in the old feeder's plan to escape to the desert. I have acquired a traveling companion. This has required me to move my base of operations to Ames, Iowa, where I am going to stay until my adventurous partner, (who also happens to be an ex-wife) gets her house sold and her household goods secured. I have no idea how long this will take. I lived in Ames from 1965 to 1972.
In the meantime, I'm living out of a suitcase at herSource: Plains Feeder RSS Feed

Pedophile Priests Protected Not Only By Church But Also By Police

DOWNLOADS: (401)
PLAYS: (927)

November 27, 2009 BBC World

DUBLIN, Ireland — Police officers, government officials and bishops of the Catholic church in Ireland have been harshly censured in a report on clerical child abuse over three decades in the Archdiocese of Dublin. Coming just a few months after an equally harsh report on the ill-treatment of children in Church-run industrial schools, the latest revelations have shocked Catholics and non-Catholics alikeSource: Crooks and Liars RSS Feed

US/Afghan Begin Plan To Buy Off Taliban

From their allies at the New York Times:

Afghans Offer Jobs to Taliban Rank and File if They Defect

By DEXTER FILKINS

November 28, 2009

JALALABAD, Afghanistan — The American-backed campaign to persuade legions of Taliban gunmen to stop fighting got under way here recently, in an ornate palace filled with Afghan tribal leaders and one very large former warlord leading the way.

“O.K., I want you guys to go out there and persuade the Taliban to sitSource: Sweetness Light RSS Feed

WhiteHouse.gov Plays Media Critic: Calls Krauthammer’s Washington Post Column 'Wholly Inaccurate'

Well, it's not quite as bad as Paul Krugman critiquing the Fox Business Network, but a little troubling because tax dollars are being spent to undertake such an effort.

A Nov. 27 post by incoming White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer on the The White House Blog attempted to fact check a Nov. 27 column by Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer, proving the left-wing noise machine isn't the only shop in Washington, D.C. criticizing conservative voices (h/t AmandaSource: NewsBusters RSS Feed

Amy Goodman Detained At The Canadian Border!

DOWNLOADS: (1305)
PLAYS: (1966)

November 26, 2009 CBC News

U.S. journalist Amy Goodman said she was stopped at a Canadian border crossing south of Vancouver on Wednesday and questioned for 90 minutes by authorities concerned she was coming to Canada to speak against the Olympics.
Goodman says Canadian Border Services Agency officials ultimately allowed her to enter Canada but returned her passport with a document demanding she leave the country within 48Source: Crooks and Liars RSS Feed

A Romantic Getaway For You

To The Point Cruise Lines is excited to offer the ultimate adventure cruise, along the pirate-infested coast of Somalia !

We board our luxury cruise ships in Djibouti on the Gulf of Aden near the entrance to the Red Sea, and disembark in Mombasa , Kenyaseven adrenaline-charged days later. Reservations start at only $5,200 per-person (double occupancy, inside room) and $6,900 (verandah complete with benchSource: Theodore's World RSS Feed

EDC hiding impact of traffic ramps

From the Neighborhood Retail Alliance:
Central to this unethical-and perhaps illegal-end run, is the withholding of the Access Modification Report (AMR); and all of the data that has been generated to come up with the report that is the key to getting both state and federal approval for the ramps. While the report itself may still be considered, "work product," the traffic information that has been utilized to make it up, certainly isn't.
What exactly is the city trying to hide?Source: Queens Crap RSS Feed

Lighter Skin, More Like Me

A dart in the evolving science of perception and race: a new study suggests that self-described partisanship influences how a candidate with biracial skin tone is evaluated. The biracial candidate in question, of course, is Barack Obama. In a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, researchers found that self-described liberals looked at artificially lightened photographs of President Barack Obama and judged them as more representative of his actualSource: Marc Ambinder RSS Feed

Construction unions are in the money

$10B city boost for unions
By GINGER ADAMS OTIS, NY Post
A new deal hatched between Mayor Bloomberg and the Building and Trades Council will net union hardhats an estimated $10 billion in work in coming years, The Post has learned.
The deal -- hammered out ahead of the Nov. 4 election narrowly won by Hizzoner, with the backing of the council -- will ensure that union labor does the rehabilitation, renovation and new construction on many city projects for the next severalSource: Queens Crap RSS Feed

County Employees at Risk

The awful condition of the state budget has attracted a lot of attention in recent months. But the county budgets are not doing much better. And one constituency is going to pay the price as much or more than anyone: county employees.
Below are the salary increases granted by counties to general government employees and teachers for Fiscal Year 2009, which ended on 6/30/09:

Twenty of the twenty-four jurisdictions granted both cost of living adjustments (COLAs) and stepSource: Maryland Politics Watch RSS Feed

Rezone not soon enough for Norwood Gardens

From the Daily News:
First, the good news for Astoria: The city is close to unveiling a zoning plan that will prevent tall buildings from sprouting on streets lined with one- and two-family homes.
Now the bad news: That zoning may not be approved in time to prevent the construction of a 10-story building in the middle of Norwood Gardens, a leafy enclave of smaller homes along 36th St.
"This is a beautiful block with unique architecture and a special ambiance, which this newSource: Queens Crap RSS Feed

A Small Note On The Asian Apology Tour

While perusing Drudge after a long day at work I saw a link quoting VP Cheney, so naturally I clicked it. I didn’t really find much in the story that was useful, but then I came across this gem of a quote by some anonymous staffer:

“The president sees it as a chance to present our points and advance our interests, and you’re not conceding anything,” the official said. “What’s more powerful that the president of the United States making these points to your face?”

Source: Red State RSS Feed

Man Who Said He Was a Ninja Impaled on Fence in Failed Jump - PCP Involved?

They don't say so but usually people who think they can fly or think they can become a "Super Ninja" at a moments notice like this idiot are usually tripping on something.....Look at this line from the police...

Witt says the man was 'overconfident in his abilities,' and that alcohol likely played a role.
Gee officer, ya think? Promote that man!!!! lolol
Like I said....trippin' on something....
but it usually takes more than a couple shots of Jack Daniels Source: Chicagoray RSS Feed

Hamilton resigns, what of probe?

Del. Phil Hamilton (STEVE HELBER, Associated Press / February 25, 2004)

I have just received confirmation that Phil Hamilton did indeed resign effective midnight last night, as reported by Bearing Drift.  The question now is what happens to the ethics probe.

Some are saying that as a part of the deal, the probe will cease. I don’t know that such action is appropriate. Chapter 13 of Title 30 of the Virginia Code deals with conflicts of interests in the GeneralSource: Vivian J. Paige RSS Feed

A Plains Pilgrim's Progress

Placitas, New Mexico
The old feeder is but a couple of weeks away from quitting the feedlot. Notices have been given, services set to be disconnected, and forwarding arrangements made. I have moved many of my earthly possessions to a storage shed; that which remains here I am kissing goodbye. It is nearly time to move into my car and head off to the New Mexico desert.
The plan is locate temporary living accommodations for the winter somewhere in the high desert. During theSource: Plains Feeder RSS Feed

Mother charged in connection with daughter's disappearance

____________________________________________________________________

Antoinette Nicole Davis has been charged in connection with her daughter's disappearance.

Gabriel Falcon
AC360° Writer

The mother of a missing North Carolina girl has been charged in connection with her daughter's disappearance, the Fayetteville Police Department said in a statement released late Saturday night.

The mother, Antoinette Nicole Davis, has been charged with human Source: AC360 RSS Feed

Afghan Girls

Photo Credit: US ArmyStudents at the Parwai Girls School show off their new school supplies in the Alingar district of Laghman province, Afghanistan. The supplies were delivered and distributed by Abdullah Ajabgul, the owner of a local construction company who identified a need for supplies while constructing a protective wall for the school..
tags : Republican ... Democrat .... Conservative .... Liberal .... Hillary ..... Clinton .... Barack .... Barak ..... Obama .... US Torture --- Source: U.S. Torture and Atrocities RSS Feed

Court Silences CIA Operative Despite Yellowcake Scandal

Valerie Plame Wilson cannot publicize details of her work as a CIA operative, even though a government official already outed her as an agent in an attempt to discredit her husband, Joseph C. Wilson, a federal appeals court says.

Valerie Plame Wilson and her husband, Joseph Wilson, in 2006

Plame Wilson, who served as chief of the unit responsible for weapons proliferation issues related to Iraq, argued that confidentiality agreements she signed to win her employment more thanSource: Threat Level RSS Feed

‘Death Panels’ Hypocrisy: RNC Health Insurance Provider Promotes End-Of-Life Counseling

Over the summer, one of the GOP’s loudest complaints against health care legislation was a provision offering senior citizens Medicare reimbursement for end-of-life counseling. Republicans claimed it would create so-called “death panels” or urge seniors citizens to die. RNC Chairman Michael Steele “endorsed this type of rhetoric, and on July 28, the RNC put out research document claiming that the government would “dictate” Americans’ “end-of-life care.”

ButSource: Think Progress RSS Feed

How do the messages on the main political party websites compare?

Comparing the popularity of different words in the latest stories from the the Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour Party websites reveals striking differences in the messages being put out by each party online.

Reproduced below are three word clouds, where the bigger a word is the more often it appeared on that party’s latest website stories. The word clouds were generated yesterday (Thursday) based on the then state of each of the three websites.

First, let’s look at Source: Liberal Democrat Voice RSS Feed

So why are we paying this guy?!?!.....

So why are we paying this Guy?Virginia Governor and DNC Chief Tim Kaine is off in Little Rock Ark. at a $250 a plate DNC fundraiser while his home state, Virginia, is experiencing flooding in many areas.At least he was closer to the Commonwealth of Virginia when he declared a "State of Emergency" for Tim Kaine was in Memphis Tenn when he did that....It seems the Democratic Governor of Virginia feels it more important to be off in Arkansas hosting the $250 plate fundraiser instead ofSource: RightsideVA RSS Feed

Vikings and Pirates and Taxes, Oh My!

Today’s episode of “Hagar the Horrible” could be an epigraph for the new Fall 2009 issue of Cato Journal.

This issue includes Greek economists Michael Mitsopoulos and Theodore Pelagidis on “Vikings in Greece: Kleptocratic Interest Groups in a Closed, Rent-Seeking Economy” as well as Peter Leeson, author of The Invisible Hook: The Hidden Economics of Pirates, writing (with David Skarbek) on the effects of foreign aid. As for taxes, well, editor Jim Dorn has assembled aSource: Cato-at-liberty RSS Feed

GUEST VOICE: Veterans Day 2009, Military Man Does Not “Honor the Troops,” Rather The Person

This GUEST VOICE piece is by Rafael Jesús González from California, on Veterans’ Day 2009. It is a perspective on ’supporting the troops’ …or not. I brought it here to give a small x-ray into how one family’s three generations of soldiers is evolving nearly ninety years after what was supposed to have been ‘the war to end all wars, World War One’

…GUEST VOICE by Rafael Jesús González
I am leery of being asked to honor veterans of almost any war, except as I Source: The Moderate Voice RSS Feed

Hope or Hate?

Hope or Hate?Which option would you take? The BNP have got their website designed from the same people or similar people to the Barack Obama website. Now I don't think there is anything wrong with that except for the fact that, the web designers are probably American and are not British.How can the British National Party* get their website designed from a group of Yankees’? Clearly politics is degrading, mind you the BNP have always been the degraded cr** of society!*Not British inSource: British Blogs RSS Feed

no federal funds for abortions

Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan (above) is definitely not a Blue Dog. He has principles. He's a pro-life Democrat and Republicans like Indiana's Mike Pence have voiced admiration for the Stupak amendment, which prevents taxpayer dollars from being spent on abortions in new federal programs.
"We won because [the Democrats] need us," says Mr. Stupak. "If they are going to summarily dismiss us by taking the pen to that language, there will be hell to pay. I don't say it as a threat, butSource: Right From Left RSS Feed

The Family at C Street and Other Adventures

I'm finally finally home after four days in DCistan. It's 1:09 AM and I have to work in the morning, so I'll put up a few photos, tell a few short tales, and fill you in on the rest when my sanity finally catches it's connection at O'Hare.
On Saturday, OfJoshusa and I dragged a hippy chick to a gathering of Teabagger-Americans. As you can see by looking at this photo, there must have been at least 17.3 million very passionate protesters in attendence.

As is often the case,Source: Jesus' General RSS Feed

Time For Some Blunt Talk

The Republicans never even tried to take part in a serious health care debate. When they controlled Congress and the White House they did nothing (but create the donut hole and transfer billion of dollars from American families to their donors at Big Pharma). And once Obama was elected president, the GOP stance was simple obstructionism. Barely a week ago Utah obstructionist Orrin Hatch inadvertently got to the bottom of it when he worried aloud that healthcare legislation would be so Source: DownWithTyranny! RSS Feed

The fall

20 years ago
today

the joke's (still) on you
Uncle Joe!

(Stalin is captured in this photograph by Lt. Gen. Nikolai Vlasik, the Soviet dictator's bodyguard. Vlasik's off-the-record photos of Stalin caused a sensation in the early 1960s when an enterprising Soviet journalist spirited some out, selling them to newspapers and magazines worldwide.)

and our piece of the wall
in Lincoln Square

Source: Bicycle Diaries RSS Feed

Decision near on Aqueduct

From Crains:
And down the stretch they finally come.
After months of unexplained and often confounding delays, the state's leaders are expected to select a winner to develop a slot parlor at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens within two weeks.
“By now, this decision should have been made, shovels should be in the ground and money should be flowing into the coffers of the state,” says state Sen. Joseph Addabbo, whose district includes Aqueduct.
Two bidders—Penn NationalSource: Queens Crap RSS Feed

8th of November ~ Raise a glass to the Sky Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne

The poster represents an original painting by Craig Bone, renowned wildlife artist, comemorating the 173rd Airborne's heroic battle . Hill 65, 8th Of November, 1965 ......Sacrifice and Valor

On the 8th of November in 1965, one of the toughest Airborne battles was fought in the jungles of Viet
Nam.

At about 0600 on the morning of 8 November C Company began a move northwest toward Hill 65, while B Company movedSource: Theodore's World RSS Feed

Today's Health Care Reform Debate

This evening the House will vote on whether or not to pass the historic-- if very imperfect-- health care reform bill. It could have been so much better. But to appreciate how good it is, just look at the Republican alternative joke bill that John Boehner, Roy Blunt and Paul Ryan put forward. We don't often laud Debbie Wasserman Schultz here but she hit the nail on the head when she dubbed it the "Health Insurance Company Protection Act." Here's what the GOP is offering in the place ofSource: DownWithTyranny! RSS Feed

White House: FOX off-limits -- strategist

The Obama White House now goes after Democratic political strategists who participate in discussion on FOX News Channel.
(The Swamp) At least one Democratic political strategist has gotten a blunt warning from the White House to never appear on Fox News Channel, an outlet that presidential aides have depicted as not so much a news-gathering operation as a political opponent bent on damaging the Obama administration.
Political consultants are a staple of cable television talk shows,Source: Eye On The World RSS Feed

The hero of Fort Hood

With all the talk of the Fort Hood shooter, I think it’s important to also recognize someone else. She’s the hero of Fort Hood, a civilian who showed incredible bravery and strength under pressure, and certainly saved the lives of countless more people by stopping Nidall Malik Hasan. She is Sgt. Kimberly Munley, the hero of Fort Hood, and someone you should know.

The hero cop who ended the bloody rampage at Fort Hood by pumping four bullets into the crazed gunman even though sheSource: Stop the ACLU RSS Feed

Why Is Fox News Excited About Democratic Congressional Gains?

Thank God Fixed News dispelled the silly notion that they're the media arm of the Republican Party:

Republicans' hopes are rekindled because:

WINS SEND SHOCKWAVES THRU CONGRESS

Really? Yesterday in Virginia and New Jersey, voters overwhelmingly said that their vote had nothing to do with the President or his policies, while at the same time Nancy Pelosi picked up two more House votes for health care reform. Yet according to Fixed News, Democrats winning the only twoSource: Daily Kos RSS Feed

The Storming of the U.S. Embassy: ‘A Day that Shook the World’ – Kayhan, Islamic Republic of Iran

Two of the 53 American Embassy workers being held hostage with the approval of the Iranian regime, after the facility was stormed on November 4, 1979.

Thirty years ago today, the American Embassy in Tehran was stormed by followers of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It is a day that the current regime commemorates every year as a celebration of victory over what the leaders of the country like to call ‘The Great Satan.’

So what is Iran’s rigidly state-controlledSource: The Moderate Voice RSS Feed

AP: Tuesday Elections Not About Obama

From the DNC’s Associated Press:

Handful of elections shed light on US politics

By Liz Sidoti, AP National Political Writer Mon Nov 2

WASHINGTON – Most Americans won’t vote Tuesday.

Still, a handful of elections in a few states will give hints about this country’s state of mind, provide lessons for both Republicans and Democrats, and shed light on answers to a few important questions a year before pivotal 2010 midterm contests.

Among them: DidSource: Sweetness Light RSS Feed

Revolution via Education

The Progressives’ plan to socialize America required the most thorough and radical reform of American education. To this they applied their extensive knowledge of behavioral psychology. That the goal was socialism was clearly known and understood throughout the educational establishment. That it meant downgrading academics in favor of socialization was also understood, for in a socialist society an elite rules at the top, and the masses below are relegated to the subservient, mindless tasksSource: Right Mind RSS Feed

BREAKING: Scozzafava endorses Owens

I would say that this is shocking, but when it comes to Democrat-lite RINOs like John McCain and Dede Scozzafava, it isn’t really. They’re all about being beloved by the liberal establishment, and not so much concerned with conservative values and serving their constituents. All the goodies come with being adored by liberals, you see. You don’t get fame and notoriety and goody bags just by serving your constituents and adhering to your conservative principles. That gets you mostly scornSource: Stop the ACLU RSS Feed

Last ditch effort shows Kim's desperation

From the Daily News:
Kim supporters and religious leaders began the day outside Republican headquarters, trying to make hay over Halloran's acknowledged involvement in a pre-Christian pagan religion, Theodism.
"By comparing animal blood sacrifices with the Jewish dietary laws of keeping kosher, it's no wonder that Dan Halloran's religion is supported by neo-Nazis and white supremacists," said Michael Dovid Sais, a Jewish Kim supporter.
The anti-Halloran protesters claim theSource: Queens Crap RSS Feed

The Right Wing Case Against Adoption

Glenn Stanton is a Research Fellow at Focus on the Family, that loving place once run by Dr. James “Daddy” Dobson (Dobson retired as their radio voice just yesterday), and was brought in by the Philadelphia Inquirer today, the first of November, to debate the gay marriage issue. (Gay marriage was supported in the Inquirer by David Boies, who argued using constitutional principles.) Stanton’s argument rests on the stance that children are owed an upbringing by their “natural”Source: All Spin Zone RSS Feed

Airing Live On AM1100: The Say Anything Show, “Some Media Are More Equal Than Others” Edition

If you miss the live broadcast you can catch a re-broadcast of the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday night shows on URLRadio.net from 11:00am - 12:00pm central time. Also, KHND AM1470 re-broadcasts the Tuesday shows on their station on Fridays from 11:00am - 12:00pm. Or you can always download past shows via the podcast.

The Say Anything Show - Fullscreen

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT: The Obama administration attacks Fox News, but the White House press corps is expanding to include more Source: Say Anything RSS Feed

Saturday Morning Garden Blogging Vol. 5.37

In Orange

Good morning, and the battle is joined. Welcome to Saturday Morning Garden Blogging.

Nature, apparently, has joined in the War on Halloween and Expansion of Christmas in Denver this week. It's bad enough that at the grocery store candy canes and Halloween candy were on display side-by-side, but a foot and a half of snow, falling over two days, was a little much.

The slower-than-usual rate of the snowfall (inches per hour over far fewer hours is more typical Source: Square State RSS Feed

cracking the whip...,

Washington Post | House ethics investigators have been scrutinizing the activities of more than 30 lawmakers and several aides in inquiries about issues including defense lobbying and corporate influence peddling, according to a confidential House ethics committee report prepared in July.
7 on defense panel scrutinized
Sanchez sisters eyed by House ethics panel for alleged collusion
Rep. Shuler's land swap deal eyed by ethics committee
The report appears to haveSource: subrealism RSS Feed

Stimulus Spending, Before Your Very Eyes

The government watchdogs at the Sunlight Foundation have released a new iPhone 3GS/Android phone app that uses the phones' "augmented reality" function--which is probably the spookiest technology that exists today, outside the guided-missile acumen of predator drones--to conjure floating representations of stimulus contracts, wherever you are.

Augmented reality
lets users hold up a phone and see, on screen, the world
in front of them as if they're taking a photo--but Source: Marc Ambinder RSS Feed

My Family’s Version of a Barn Raising

In an area where cheap labor is abundant and construction help is prevalent, it’s quite rare in Northern Virginia to see family and friends come together as we did last weekend at my brother-in-law’s house to build a deck.

Many of the townhouses in his Woodbridge neighborhood feature decks. But almost all of them were built by contractors and day-workers rather than homeowners. Not this one.

My brother-in-law had been organizing this project for months with mySource: Bluey Blog RSS Feed