Despite arguments to the contrary from the Obama administration, mounting evidence suggests that the U.S. economy is rapidly falling back into negative growth territory. More Americans are out of the workforce than ever before, median household incomes are at levels not seen since 1967, and consumer spending is coming to a veritable standstill. The crisis is apparently so significant that a Federal Reserve governor recently said U.S. policymakers are crafting regulations that will force bank depositors to cover any losses should their financial institutions fail.

The question that many are asking is, how did this happen? How, after six years of recovery efforts and trillions of dollars printed, is it possible that the economy is not booming again?

This week the Federal Reserve published a report that claims to have figured it out and it turns out that the renewed economic downturn has nothing to do with foreign outsourcing, high taxation, increased health care costs for business or rising consumer prices for food and energy.

No, according to the Fed it is your fault. Apparently, you are not spending enough money. In order for the economy to recover you need to stop hoarding cash now and get out there and start buying more homes, cars, vacations, and electronics. Otherwise, you'll only have yourself to blame when the system comes unhinged.

"Police are specialists in violence. They are armed, trained, and authorized to use force. With varying degrees of subtlety, this colors their every action. Like the possibility of arrest, the threat of violence is implicit in every police encounter. Violence, as well as the law, is what they represent." - Kristian Williams, activist and author

If you don't want to get probed, poked, pinched, tasered, tackled, searched, seized, stripped, manhandled, arrested, shot, or killed, don't say, do or even suggest anything that even hints of noncompliance. This is the new "thin blue line" over which you must not cross in interactions with police if you want to walk away with your life and freedoms intact.

The following incidents and many more like them serve as chilling reminders that in the American police state, "we the people" are at the mercy of law enforcement officers who have almost absolute discretion to decide who is a threat, what constitutes resistance, and how harshly they can deal with the citizens they were appointed to "serve and protect."

For example, police arrested Chaumtoli Huq because she failed to promptly comply when ordered to "move along" while waiting outside a Ruby Tuesday's restaurant for her children, who were inside with their father, using the bathroom. NYPD officers grabbed Huq, a lawyer with the New York City Public Advocate's office, flipped her around, pressed her against a wall, handcuffed her, searched her purse, arrested her, and told her to "shut up" when she cried out for help, before detaining her for nine hours. Huq was charged with obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Oregon resident Fred Marlow was jailed and charged with interfering and resisting arrest after he filmed a SWAT team raid that took place across the street from his apartment and uploaded the footage to the internet. The footage shows police officers threatening Marlow, who was awoken by the sounds of "multiple bombs blasting and glass breaking" and ran outside to investigate only to be threatened with arrest if he didn't follow orders and return inside.

A former Republican candidate for county commission in North Carolina has surrendered to police after being accused of raping a child.

The Independent Tribune reported that former Cabarrus County commissioner candidate Chad Nevada Mockerman, 39, turned himself in to police at around noon on Friday.

Mockerman was charged with statutory rape and taking indecent liberties with a minor.

Concord Police said that on August 17 Mockerman's ex-wife had informed them that he had sex with a child younger than 16 in June of 2012. The couple finalized their divorce on Friday, the same day that Mockerman was taken into custody.

An article in the The Herald Weekly explained how Mockerman enlisted "a local band, child dancers and family members" when he proposed to his then-current girlfriend on Aug. 9.

"I always thought Amanda was beautiful, but what makes me always desire her is her level of intelligence and how interesting she is," Mockerman told the paper. "I love how she let's me be me. She just takes me for who I am."

Mockerman came in last place with 3 percent of the vote in his bid for the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners earlier this year.

The cross-border 'Five Eyes' agreement that authorizes the sharing of intelligence between Britain, America, Australia, Canada and New Zealand should be made transparent, according to an appeal launched at the European Court of Human Rights.

The secret Five Eyes spy pact allegedly outlines UK security services' collaboration with the National Security Agency (NSA) and other foreign intelligence agencies. In an effort to shed light on the agreement, Privacy International (PI) issued a legal challenge against the British government in the Strasbourg-based court. The application was filed by UK law firm Leigh Day & Co Solicitors.

The move is the most recent of a series of legal challenges stemming from revelations unveiled by American whistleblower and former NSA computer analyst Edward Snowden. The legal ploy, which came into effect on Tuesday, was orchestrated in the hope of forcing the UK government to publish details of its surveillance practices at home and abroad.

Renowned for its surveillance-related research and advocacy, PI warns the clandestine Five Eyes agreement has a profound impact on human rights in Britain and elsewhere. By failing to disclose the spy pact's details, the UK government is violating the right of British citizens to access vital information that impinges directly on their rights, the group warns.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign urged Gaza supporters to call on MPs to take action for Palestinian human rights and to demand an end to the blockade of Gaza.

The group announced hundreds of supporters would gather at the Parliament "to call on MPs to take action for Palestinian human rights and against ethnic cleansing and racism."

Following the lobby, a mass rally will be held at the House of Commons in London later on Tuesday.

They will demand free movement for all people, goods and humanitarian aid in Gaza, an end to the arms trade and all military-industrial collaboration with Israel, and "sanctions against Israel until they abide by international and human rights law."

The ongoing blockade of Gaza began in 2007, with Israel saying it was a security measure taken in response to the Battle of Gaza, in which Hamas militarily defeated Fatah.

Vladimir Putin's most important accomplishments as president are successful foreign policy, the growing military strength, and the general improvement of living conditions in the country, according to the latest opinion poll.

The independent Levada Center released the poll on Tuesday. The strengthening of Russia's position on the international stage is Vladimir Putin's most important success according to 30 percent of those responding. The number has increased from 26 percent in 2008, and 19 percent in 2004.

Maintaining political stability in the country ranked second with 29 percent of people saying it is Putin's primary achievement, and almost the same share of respondents - 28 percent - say it is the reform of the Russian military and the general strengthening of the nation's defense capability.

About a quarter of Russians value most the improvement in living standards and the growing incomes of ordinary people, and a similar number say that with Putin as a leader they feel growing optimism.

Sunday morning newspaper, steaming hot coffee, peaceful reverie, lounge chair on my deck, birdsong chorus in the background - bliss until I saw the Outlook section of the Washington Post with two, yes two, life size headshots of Henry Kissinger.

My peaceful easy feeling went full throttle grumpy in a matter of seconds.

Which was quite justified when I found that this dual image travesty illustrated a review by Hillary Clinton of Kissinger's new book (no I won't provide a convenient Amazon link).

As a feminist, I am completely in favor of electing a woman president. It is long overdue. But as anyone who has read my work over the years knows, I am no fan of Hillary Clinton. Yes, she has done some good things, but her world outlook is as dangerous as the male politicians who have preceded her. Lest you doubt this, read the following few paragraphs from her very long review:

Israeli forces have attacked the funeral of a Palestinian teenager who was shot to death by the Tel Aviv regime's troops last month, injuring dozens of mourners.

On Monday, at least 50 Palestinian mourners were injured in clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians near East al - Quds (Jerusalem). The Israeli forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas at the mourners.

On Sunday, Mohammed Sinokrot died from injuries after being shot by Israeli forces in the city's Wadi al-Joz neighborhood on August 31.

Following the news of his death, clashes broke out between Palestinians and Israelis in several areas of the occupied city, including Wadi al-Joz, the Issawiya and At-Tur.

Israeli forces fired tear gas, rubber bullets, and live rounds at Palestinian protesters in the districts.

A woman who claimed she was "playing the zombie game" allegedly broke into another woman's house to bite her early this morning.

The Coos County Sheriff's Office responded to an Eighth Street home in Lakeside where a 37-year-old victim told deputies she had been attacked by an unknown female.

The victim said a woman in a dark hooded sweatshirt and jeans broke into the residence and pushed her down the stairs, pulled her hair and bit her. The attacker then left the home and went outside to sit in the victim's vehicle, the victim told deputies.

A US air marshal has been forcefully injected with a syringe at Nigeria's Lagos Airport and has been taken to hospital amid fears he might have contracted Ebola.

It wasn't immediately clear what was in the syringe after the incident occurred Sunday. The name of the marshal has not yet been revealed, AFP reported.

Fears the syringe could have been infected with the Ebola virus spread quickly, as Nigeria remains one of the West African countries where the deadly epidemic is currently raging.

Authorities were taking all the necessary precautions, but preliminary tests suggested that the marshal wasn't in any danger, according to the FBI.

"Out of an abundance of caution, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted an on-scene screening of the victim when United Flight 143 landed in Houston early Monday morning," the FBI said in a statement.

"The victim did not exhibit any signs of illness during the flight and was transported to a hospital upon landing for further testing. None of the testing conducted has indicated a danger to other passengers."