Society's ChildS


Cell Phone

"Toxic" behaviors that society has normalized, according to Reddit

Marc Bain
Quartz
Mon, 14 Jan 2019 00:01 UTC
smart phone
In 2017, researchers at Yale University published a paper in the journal Cognition demonstrating that what people consider normal behavior appears to be a mix of what's common and what they see as ideal. The finding suggested a significant consequence:

"People might sometimes be able to separate out the average from the ideal, but they more often make use of a kind of reasoning that blends the two together into a single undifferentiated judgment of normality," the researchers wrote in the New York Times. They added: "Our work thus offers support for those who worry about 'normalization': that things, simply by becoming more common, become more acceptable.

Comment: In both the behaviors mentioned above, what is missing from the equation is common courtesy. Technology likely has something to do with the rise of these now-common behaviors, but in the end it comes down to the individual and how much value they place on being courteous. The golden rule applies here - if you don't like being 'ghosted' or having unrealistic expectations of availability placed on you, then don't do this to others.

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Pistol

A 4-year-old found a loaded gun — and shot his pregnant mother in the face, police say

Kristine Phillips
The Washington Post
Mon, 04 Feb 2019 00:01 UTC
handgun
© (iStock) (Bigstock/Bigstock)
A 4-year-old boy accidentally shot his pregnant mother after finding a loaded handgun inside their suburban Seattle home, authorities said.

The woman, who is eight months pregnant, and her boyfriend were in bed watching TV on Saturday afternoon when the boy walked in, found the handgun and shot his mother in the face, said Sgt. Ryan Abbott, a spokesman for the King County Sheriff's Office.

The weapon was placed between the bed mattress and the box spring, and the boy found it there, Abbott said. The mother was rushed to a hospital with life-threatening wounds, though she is now in stable condition.
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Heart - Black

Missouri man accused of murder uses Scientology for his defense

Laura Italiano
New York Post
Wed, 06 Feb 2019 12:31 UTC
Kenneth Wayne Thompson
© Yavapai County Sheriff’s OfficeKenneth Wayne Thompson
A Missouri man is hoping his belief in Scientology will save him from the death penalty.

Kenneth Wayne Thompson is arguing that the religion will help a jury understand his actions on the day he allegedly bludgeoned his sister-in-law and her boyfriend to death with a hatchet and then set their home ablaze, the Arizona Republic reported.

Jurors were asked about their views on Scientology during jury selection in the Arizona murder trial, the paper reported - and Tom Cruise's name was mentioned during opening arguments.

Prosecutors say the death penalty is called for because the March 2012 killings were premeditated. Thompson had driven non-stop for more than 24 hours from his home in rural Missouri to reach the couple's home in Prescott Valley, they argue.

Comment: See also: Scientology: L. Ron Hubbard's great-grandson speaks out about the horrifying truth of the world's biggest cult

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Snowflake Cold

'Experts' attribute EVERY kind of weather to 'global warming' in attempts to validate it

John Nolte
Breitbart
Wed, 30 Jan 2019 00:00 UTC
cold weather map
America enjoys a winter filled with tons of snow and frigid cold weather and out pops the Climate Hoaxsters to assure this kind of weather only further proves our planet is getting, uhm... warmer.

This current Climate Hoaxster freak out is largely in reaction to President Trump's tweet earlier this week mocking the Climate Hoaxsters.

"In the beautiful Midwest, windchill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded," he tweeted. "What the hell is going on with Global Warming? Please come back fast, we need you!"


Comment: Don't miss: Tucker Carlson induces cognitive dissonance in Bill Nye the Science Guy over climate change

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Target

Kentucky MAGA teen takes aim at Elizabeth Warren for potential libel suit

Lisa Kashinsky
The Boston Herald
Tue, 05 Feb 2019 20:03 UTC
Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth Warren
The Kentucky MAGA teen who was vilified after a viral faceoff with a Native American activist last month is striking back with a threatened libel suit - with his high-profile lawyer sending "preservation demand letters" to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and a long list of media outlets and commentators who disparaged him.

"The Sandmann Family was blindsided by the mainstream and social media mob accusations and threats against Nick," Lin Wood, who represents 16-year-old Nick Sandmann, told the Boston Herald. Wood said civil lawsuits could encompass libel, slander, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, cyberbullying and cyber assault.

Sandmann's faceoff with activist Nathan Phillips, 64, in Washington, D.C. in January was initially reported as a "smirking" confrontation - which prompted widespread denunciation of the Covington Catholic High School students.

Warren tweeted on Jan. 19: "Omaha elder and Vietnam War veteran Nathan Phillips endured hateful taunts with dignity and strength, then urged us all to do better."

Comment: See what actually happened:



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Quenelle

'Rejection of US intervention' in Venezuela goes beyond those who support Maduro


Sputnik
Wed, 06 Feb 2019 03:55 UTC
Maduro
© REUTERS / Miraflores Palace/Handout
On Monday, European Union nations moved to recognize Juan Guaido as the interim leader of Venezuela, and the Lima Group nations met in Ottawa to discuss their next move against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. However, Venezuelan patriotism sharply opposes foreign intervention, a journalist in the country told Sputnik.

"The eight-day period for convening free democratic and transparent elections in Venezuela has expired. The Kingdom of the Netherlands recognizes Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela. We want freedom and democracy to return to Venezuela as soon as possible," Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said Monday. The Netherlands was joined by over a dozen other EU nations in recognizing as Venezuela's leader Guaido, who declared himself interim president during a demonstration on January 23 celebrating the historical end of a military dictatorship in 1958.

Comment: What seems clear is that most Venezuelans - those who are not directly supportive of Juan Guaido - do not want the governments of other countries dictating how they should or shouldn't run their country. And by whom.

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NPC

Kook! Son, 27, 'wants to sue his parents because he didn't CONSENT to being born'

Danya Bazaraa
Mirror
Mon, 04 Feb 2019 13:47 UTC
Raphael Samuel
Raphael Samuel is reportedly suing his parents for giving birth to him without his consent
Raphael Samuel is reportedly planning on taking legal action against his parents in Mumbai, India

A 27-year-old man plans to sue his parents because they did not ask for his consent to bring him into the world, it is reported.

Raphael Samuel, from Mumbai, India, is reportedly part of a so-called 'child-free' advocate who believes children shouldn't be made to suffer life.

He has been described as an 'anti-natalist' who thinks parents don't have the right to give birth if a child has not agreed to being born.

Comment: Raphael sure doesn't command very much respect!

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Arrow Up

Population of Syrian Deir ez-Zor grows sixfold since end of fighting - governor


Sputnik
Wed, 06 Feb 2019 22:05 UTC
Residents in Deir ez-Zor, Syria
© Sputnik / MOHAMMAD NAJMResidents in Deir ez-Zor, Syria
The population of the Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor has increased sixfold since the end of hostilities in the area, the governor of the province, Abdul Majeed al-Kawakibi, said on Wednesday.

"The success achieved with the support of the Syrian government in the province of Deir ez-Zor has allowed citizens to return to their homes. As a result, the population has increased from 200,000 to 1.18 million people," al-Kawakibi said at a meeting of the joint Russia-Syria coordination center on refugee repatriation.

To promote the return of refugees, the authorities of the province are expanding services and opening new areas of accommodation, especially in rural parts of the province, he added.

"The restoration of social facilities and infrastructure focuses on the restoration of schools. As of today, the number of fully functioning schools has increased from 36 to 265, and the number of students has reached 93,400. The process of reconstruction continues," al-Kawakibi said.
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Attention

2 dead, seven injured after apartment block collapses in Istanbul


RT
Wed, 06 Feb 2019 15:01 UTC
turkey building collapse
© APA screenshot
Dozens of people are feared trapped under the rubble of an apartment block in Istanbul, Turkey. At least two people have died while seven injured people have been pulled from the wreckage.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the collapse of the 7-storey building in the city's eastern Kartal district after 16:00 local time. Eyewitnesses told local news station NTV that people were still trapped under the debris.

At least two fatalities have been recorded. Seven people feared trapped have been rescued, according to Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya.

Footage from the scene shows rescue workers frantically trying to clear the rubble to reach potential survivors. Tiles, concrete blocks and wooden beams can been seen tossed across the street. Hundreds of rescuers took part in the search effort.

Comment: "Dozens" dead as massive section of motorway bridge collapses during "violent cloudburst" in Genoa, Italy

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Megaphone

American rapper Boots Riley stomps on US interference in Venezuelan elections


RT
Wed, 06 Feb 2019 20:04 UTC
Boots Riley
© FlickrBoots Riley and Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello
With most of the media loudly cheering US efforts at regime change in Venezuela, skeptical citizens have been turning to social media for alternative analysis - and they're finding some wisdom from American rapper Boots Riley.

Riley, a progressive socialist, has been actively critiquing US policy in Venezuela since Donald Trump called on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down and announced his support for opposition leader Juan Guaidó, after the relatively unknown politician declared himself interim president last month.

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