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SOTT Focus: Behind the Headlines: Connecting the Dots - The Oz G20 freak-show and Backfiring anti-Russian sanctions

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On this week's episode of 'Connecting the Dots' on SOTT Talk Radio, hosts Joe, Niall and Juliana discussed the G20 meeting in Australia, where the main item on the agenda was... Putin-bashing! If you're looking for true commentary on the G20 meeting because you couldn't find it anywhere on the lamestream media, this show is for you!

Also discussed: do Western leaders actually believe the lies they peddle? Or are they so invested in their 'dynamic narratives' that they will never ever, see the error of their ways?

Where did travelling, political freak-shows like the G-country meet-ups originate anyway? Believe it or not, the Bilderbergers and the 'green' environmental movement!

Noting how the West continues to target Russia's economy, and thus hurting Ukraine's economy in the process, your hosts considered what economic collapse in the US might look like. Will 'austerity' measures and backfiring sanctions cause the West to implode in on itself?

And stay tuned for this week's Extreme Weather Update: the 'Bering Bomb' polar vortex - did Russia send it to America as a gift?

Running Time: 02:13:00

Download: MP3


Handcuffs

Crushing college debt: The unforgiven generation

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© TICASOf the nearly 70 percent of U.S. graduates who are forced to take out a loan to pay for colllege, the burden continues to grow by leaps and bounds. When will students rise up?
Latest figures shows that today's college graduates are being saddled with the burden of increasingly high student loan debt as they begin careers or start families. But isn't there a better way to finance higher-education? (Hint: The answer is 'Yes.')

When will students and recent college graduates shake off the burden of increasingly higher student debt and demand a system that serves them instead of making them servants?

The amount of personal debt being accrued by college students in the nation's private and public colleges continues to rise at shocking rates with current graduates of four-year schools exiting with a national average of nearly $30,000 in loans to repay, according to a new report released Thursday.

Bad Guys

Los Angeles school district fires lawyer who successfully defends them by blaming 14-year old for sexual relationship with teacher

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Imprisoned: The Los Angeles Unified School District claims that a 14-year-old girl who had a six-month sexual relationship with teacher Elkis Hermida (pictured), 28, was mature enough to consent to the romance. Attorney W. Keith Wyatt (right) was fired because of remarks he made during the case.
  • Girl, 14, had six-month relationship with math teacher Elkis Hermida, 28
  • In 2011, Hermida was jailed for three years for lewd acts against a child
  • W. Keith Wyatt was fired for arguing she agreed to the relationship
  • General counsel said he had made inappropriate remarks during case
  • Recently, girl filed civil case against Los Angeles Unified School District
  • Alleged district was negligent and she had been emotionally damaged
  • In defense, LAUSD said victim bore some responsibility for relationship
  • Also mentioned girl's sexual history and said she was mature enough
  • Judge ruled in favor of district; student's lawyer is now appealing case
A California school district has fired an attorney who successfully defended it during a case claiming a 14-year-old girl was mature enough to consent to a romance with her 28-year-old teacher.

In civil court proceedings, the Los Angeles Unified School District argued that the unnamed student should bear some responsibility for her relationship with Elkis Hermida. The district's general counsel said Friday it is removing attorney W. Keith Wyatt from future legal matters because of inappropriate remarks he made about the case.

Lawyers and advocates for sexual abuse victims criticized Wyatt's strategy of blaming the schoolgirl for agreeing to the sexual relationship.


Comment: 14 is not the age of consent in California. How could she agree?
The age of consent in California is 18. It is illegal for anyone to engage in sexual intercourse with a minor (someone under the age of 18), unless they are that person's spouse. California employs a tiered system where the greater the difference in age, the greater the penalty. If the person engaging in sex with a minor is less than 3 years older or younger than the minor, then they are guilty of a misdemeanor. If they are more than 3 years older than the minor then they are guilty of a felony. Those over the age of 21 engaging in sex with those under 16 are subjected to more harsh penalties.
Really? Not if you have a conscienceless lawyer who is masterful at blaming the victim...


In July 2011, Hermida, who taught at Thomas Edison Middle School, was sentenced to three years in state prison after being convicted of lewd acts against a child. He has since been freed. However the school was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Speaking of the victim's 'responsibility' for the relationship, Keith Wyatt, LAUSD's attorney, told the public radio station KPCC: 'She lied to her mother so she could have sex with her teacher.
'She went to a motel in which she engaged in voluntary consensual sex with her teacher. Why shouldn't she be responsible for that?'

Recently, the girl filed a civil lawsuit against the school district, claiming the system was negligent and she had been emotionally traumatized by Hermida's actions. In its defense, LAUSD argued it had been unaware of the relationship between the student and her teacher, but cited a federal court decision saying a minor could consent to sex in some situations.

During the trial, Mr Wyatt also introduced the girl's sexual history and argued that she bore some of the responsibility for the half-year-long relationship, according to CBS Local.
At the end of the case, the judge ruled in favor of the district: LAUSD was cleared of wrongdoing by a civil jury, while the girl was not awarded any damages for the trauma she allegedly suffered.

Comment: First rule of psychopath spotting: blaming the victim.


Sherlock

Colorado judge presiding over James Holmes' trial refuses to recuse himself

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© APJames Holmes, left; Judge Carlos Armando Samour, Jr., right.
A judge overseeing the Colorado theater massacre case on Friday rejected a bid by lawyers defending accused gunman James Holmes to remove himself from presiding over the forthcoming murder trial, court documents show.

Public defenders filed a motion this week asking Arapahoe County District Court Judge Carlos Samour to recuse himself for what they called his "hostile and demeaning" tone toward the defense.

Samour denied the motion, and while acknowledging that he has been blunt and at times employed "flowery language" in his rulings, he dismissed claims that he had been unfair. He said it was important for him to stay on the case to avoid further delays in the proceedings.

Holmes, 26, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to opening fire inside a suburban Denver movie theater during a screening of the Batman film "The Dark Knight Rises."

Twelve moviegoers were killed and dozens wounded in the July 2012 shooting rampage.

Prosecutors have charged Holmes with multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder, and said they will seek the death penalty for the former neuroscience graduate student if he is convicted.

Although they have conceded that Holmes was the lone shooter, defense lawyers have challenged nearly every piece of evidence amassed against their client, and Samour has ruled against them in most instances.

Comment: See also:

James Holmes' lawyers enter insanity plea; here come the insane psychiatrists

FBI and DHS Warned in May of Terrorists Planning to Attack Movie Theaters

Programmed to Kill? Dark Knight gunman: 'Evil therapist programmed me to commit mass slaughter at Aurora cinema'


Cow

More than 800 roadkill salvage permits issued in Montana in first year

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© Larry Mayer/Gazette StaffDinner?
Nearly a year after Montana initiated a method to legalize collection of roadkill, more than 800 permits have been issued.

"I'm elated," said Rep. Steve Lavin, R-Kalispell, who carried the bill in the last Legislature.

Lavin said his purpose behind supporting the bill was to get meat into the freezers of people who could use it, so animals killed in collisions with vehicles wouldn't go to waste.

"I've heard a lot of positive comments about it," said Lavin, who is also a captain in the Montana Highway Patrol. He also endured a lot of jokes about the issue.

Painless permits

Under the new law, free permits can be downloaded from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' website. They can also be issued by officers, such as the Montana Highway Patrol, who respond to wildlife-vehicle collisions.

"We've made it pretty painless for folks to get online and do this," said Jim Kropp, FWP's chief of law enforcement.

Although the agency had initially opposed the measure, Kropp said the program seems to be reasonably problem-free.

"There was a lot of concern at first about how we were going to get our arms around this," Kropp said. "We canvassed a lot of other states who had similar programs. No new programs are ever without problems, but we're happy with where we're at now."

Comment: Montana: State to capture, kill 300 bison


V

"Austerity kills': Five thousand people take to Paris streets in protest against President Hollande

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© Reuters/Gonzalo FuentesPeople shout slogans as they attend a demonstration against the government's austerity reforms, in Paris November 15, 2014.
Thousands of people took to the streets of Paris on Saturday to protest against austerity and condemn French President Francois Hollande for betraying his voters.

The demonstration gathered around 5,000 people, RT's Ilya Petrenko reported from the French capital.

A variety of left-wing political forces occupied an entire street in downtown Paris for the rally.
15/11/2014 France - Protest in Paris against austerity. #15nov#manifencourspic.twitter.com/rWYH52BqhB
- Global March (@global_march) November 15, 2014
The majority of those who came voted for socialist Francois Hollande two years ago and now say they were betrayed by the president they put in power.
Anti-#austerity march reaches the Seine. pic.twitter.com/LjJLIz1nF1
- Ilya Petrenko (@ilpetrenko_rt) November 15, 2014
They gathered to say 'no' to austerity and budget cuts, as well as Hollande's policies which have been dictated by EU authorities in Brussels.

The protesters carried banners and signs saying "Austerity kills" and "They betrayed Jean Jaures (the leader of French socialists in the early 1900s)."

"These austerity policies consist of massive cuts in social spending and huge tax breaks for big corporations. That's precisely what Hollande promised not to do," a demonstrator told RT.

Gold Bar

Iran launches Middle East's 'biggest' gold plant, plans to double production

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© Reuters / Shannon Stapleton
Iran has opened a new gold processing plant, reportedly the biggest in the Middle East, hoping to double its production of precious metals. Using a unique technology, Tehran says it will now mine up to three tons of gold per year.

Iranian TV reported that the opening ceremony was attended by First Vice President Ishaq Jahangiri.

The new facility is located near one of the country's richest mines, Zareh Shuran. It is located 35 kilometers from the city of Takaab in northwest Iran, in an area where gold, silver, and mercury are extracted.

The gold ore reserves of the Zareh Shuran mine are estimated at 20 million tons.

According to authorities, the plant's production can reach three tons of gold per year and thus can double the total of Iran's gold production.

Worth over $31 million, according to IRNA, the plant will use a new technology which was created in Iran.

It is expected that the plant's gold production capacity will soon reach six tons per year. Silver and mercury productions are expected to hit 2.5 and 1.5 tons, respectively.

This implementation is part of the so-called "economy of resistance," which Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, introduced in February.

The policy includes domestic economy building with maximum utilization of the country's resources, as well as the promotion of a knowledge-based economy and innovation. The ultimate goal is to become the No. 1 knowledge-based economy of the region.

Iran is still under tough sanctions that were imposed in 2012 over its nuclear program, which the West claims is aimed at developing atomic weapons. However, Iran says the program is for peaceful, civilian purposes.

World powers are demanding that Iran restrict its nuclear program so that it cannot be used to build atomic weapons.

Iran is currently facing a November 24 deadline to reach an agreement on its program, within the framework of year-long diplomatic talks.

Comment: This gold mine will further agitate the West. They can't have nations relying on gold rather than fiat currency.


People

People camping out for Black Friday deals already!


Beaumont, California -- Black Friday is still about three weeks away, but two friends in Beaumont are already camping out, ready to cash in on holiday deals.

Vicky Torres and her friend Juanita Alva picked out their spots in front of the Best Buy in Beaumont last Wednesday.

They're ready for the long haul, stocked with mittens, snacks and hot coffee.

"We're good to go," Torres said.

Alva and Torres switch off sleeping at the store overnight, saving each other's spot. Alva's husband takes part if for some reason, they both need to leave.

"The point is to get the sales, because everybody is on a fixed income and we don't have that kind of money to splurge," Alva's husband said.

When stores open for Black Friday, Alva and Torres are hoping to get a 50-inch, high-definition TV for $199.

They say they get to talk to a lot of people while waiting out here. People say a lot of different things.

"They say you're dedicated. That's cool. Some say you're stupid," Torres said.

"They say they're crazy, but then they come and ask us can you save a spot in line, or can you do this for us? We're not here for that. We're just here to get our stuff and that's it," Alva's husband said.

Dollars

The ugly face of American consumerism: Buffalo mall threatens stores with fines if they don't open on Thanksgiving

galleria mall
© APShoppers walk the concourse on Black Friday at the Walden Galleria in Cheektowaga, N.Y.
An upstate New York shopping mall is threatening to fine retailers about $200 an hour if they fail to open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

Walden Galleria, a suburban Buffalo retail complex with more than 200 stores, told store managers in a meeting last week that they must open their doors when the shopping center opens on the holiday, or pay penalties specified in leases, 10 managers told The Huffington Post on Tuesday. Waiting until midnight to open may cost stores $1,200 or more.

Struggling to compete with big-box stores and online retailers, shopping malls around the country plan to kick off Black Friday early by opening on Thanksgiving. The malls are trying to keep up with stores like Kmart, Target and Walmart, which have all pushed holiday shopping's start date to turkey day.

It's not uncommon for mall property managers to penalize stores for time spent closed when the rest of the mall is open. Though the practice still can ignite controversy. In Albany, New York this year when a shopping mall refused to close despite a snowstorm, stores stayed open to avoid fines and many workers complained.

Comment: Just say no to rampant consumerism and materialism. Boycott Black Friday.


Heart - Black

Sick bag: Child pornography case, couple sent to prison for 2,340 years collectively.

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File photo of Patricia and Matthew Ayers
In an aftermath of what can be termed as the most disturbing and horrific example of sexual exploitation of a young child, the cruel couple Patricia and Matthew Ayers have been given an extraordinary punishment of 2,340 years behind bars collectively. Man received 750 years while woman received 1,590 years in jail.

The couple pleaded guilty to the charge of exploiting a child in their care. The Federal Judge while giving out the sentences addressed the defendants and said that "I have been on the bench since 1998 and this is the worst case I have personally dealt with. ... You robbed this child of her childhood and her soul, and a maximum sentence is the only sentence appropriate."

The case came into limelight during December 2012 in Alabama after a friend of the couple informed local law enforcement authorities about the ongoing exploitation after seeing digital pornographic photographs of the female child given by Patricia Ayers.

Comment: As society continues to break down we'll see more and more horrific cases like the above. For more information about the root causes of societal break down see.