Society's ChildS


TV

'Waiting for that pilot': RT offers Michael McFaul his own show


RT
Wed, 14 Dec 2016 13:05 UTC
Michael McFaul
© Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
Former US ambassador to Russia turned full-time Kremlin critic Michael McFaul offered to present a show on RT for free to prove that dissenting views are not welcome on the channel. He was immediately given a chance to record a pilot program.

"I volunteered to host my own show on RT. No response yet," McFaul, who was in Moscow between 2012 and 2014, wrote on his Twitter feed on Tuesday. Within an hour, RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan tweeted back: "Let's do it! I am waiting for the pilot."
RT tweet Michael McFaul
© RT
"Have your US team be in touch by email," replied McFaul, who is now back at Stanford University, as a professor specializing in post-Communist Russia.

As stakes grew in this game of chicken, one user asked if McFaul was going to take money from the Russian state, to which he replied that he would "work for free." When asked about his qualifications for a job in front of the camera, McFaul promised to submit a resume.

"Professor... with respect... is this a good idea?" asked a concerned McFaul subscriber. "I'm calling their bluff. They will never air a show hosted by me. I would focus every show on Putin," replied the 53-year-old. "Waiting for that pilot," shot back Simonyan.

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Document

SOTT Exclusive: Facebook Users Insult The New York Times

Joe Quinn
Sott.net
Wed, 14 Dec 2016 12:23 UTC
When I logged on to Facebook today I was almost immediately confronted by an advertisement for the New York Times. On offer was a whole year's digital subscription to "the paper of record" for 50% off. Encouragement to sign up was provided by the claim that "Real news deserves real journalism" and that the NY Times is "more essential than ever". But what seems more essential than ever for the NY Times these days is convincing people that the paper and its mainstream partners are still sources of accurate information rather than a fount of yellow journalism.

Print newspaper ad revenues in the USA fell 55% between 2007 and 2012 as a result of a concomitant decrease in print readership as millions of people defected to the web for their news. So while outlets like the NY Times ridiculed Trump for his use of social media during his campaign, they themselves are actively targeting the growing numbers of people who have turned to social media and websites for their daily dose of news.

But if the online marketeers at the NY Times believe that digital is a viable way to save the paper from even more financial trouble and ultimately journalistic irrelevance, the Facebook responses to the ad I saw might make them think twice. At the time of writing there were 424 comments on the ad. Here it is, and the first 100 or so comments. The last one is my favorite! If you feel like commenting, here's the link.
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Arrow Up

Victory against policing for profit: Iowa disbands forfeiture team

Justin Gardner
The Free Thought Project
Tue, 13 Dec 2016 00:00 UTC
iowa forfeiture team, policing for profit
One of the worst states engaging in civil asset forfeiture, better known as "policing for profit," suffered a blow in its campaign to rob innocent people of their cash and assets. After withering criticism and a lawsuit it couldn't win, Iowa's "Drug Interdiction Team" was disbanded on December 6.
"The so-called "interdiction" unit's key focus was to stop vehicles traveling along Interstate Highway 80 suspected of being involved in drugs or other crimes. It was a part of the Iowa Department of Public Safety and had become a target in recent years from critics who alleged the team used unconstitutional practices to seize private property for law enforcement profits."
This special group of State Troopers used every trick in the book to engage in warrantless searches of people's vehicles, after pulling them over for minor "offenses" like failure to use a turn signal. Using flimsy excuses such as a dirty car, the odor of air freshener, or fidgeting, the cops would ransack vehicles in hopes of finding any amount of suspected drugs or paraphernalia.

The cops would then make up suspicions about "criminal activity" and use Iowa's broad civil asset forfeiture laws to seize cash, assets and vehicles of the occupants - with no charge or proof of a crime. Even if no charges are filed or the person is found innocent, he or she must prove to a court they obtained their cash or property legally, incurring attorney and court fees.

Comment: Policing for profit: Civil forfeiture revenue has doubled in past twelve years

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Info

With fighting over, Aleppo residents tell of terrorists' barbarism


Sputnik
Tue, 13 Dec 2016 00:32 UTC
Aleppo refugees
© AP Photo/ ICRC
The Syrian army has declared victory in the war-torn city of Aleppo after ousting militants from most of their remaining bastions of resistance. Speaking to Sputnik, eyewitnesses and freelance journalists spoke of threats by militants to beat or kill civilians who might try and flee the besieged eastern portion of the city.

On Monday night, Syrians began celebrating the liberation of Aleppo, as government forces continued the effort to mop up the few remaining pockets of militant resistance. Syrian President Bashar Assad confirmed that the importance of the Syrian army's victory cannot be overestimated, saying last week that triumph in the battle for Syria's second city would be a "huge step" toward ending the crisis in the country.

Speaking to Sputnik Arabic about suspected crimes against civilians committed by the militants, one Aleppo resident confirmed that "most inhabitants of eastern Aleppo are saying that the terrorists threatened to kill or cripple them if they tried to escape territories under their control." The eyewitness added that he personally witnessed militants viciously beat civilians trying to escape to the western portion of the city.


Comment: Member of al-Jabha al-Chamiya terrorist organization admits US-backed terrorists executed scores of civilians publicly in Aleppo


Comment: More from the residents of Aleppo:

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X

Blast hits near Christian cathedral in Cairo killing 25 with 35 wounded: Update, Daesh claims responsibilty


RT
Sun, 11 Dec 2016 14:00 UTC
Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo
© Wikipedia Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Cairo
At least 25 people have been killed, and 35 others injured in an explosion near Cairo's Coptic Christian Cathedral, AP reports citing Egyptian state TV. No one has claimed responsibility for the blast yet.

The bomb was reportedly placed in a female handbag in a seat in the back of the church, and the explosion hit the section where female worshipers mainly stood, which is why the majority of the victims are women, Egyptian reporter for The Washington Post, Heba Farouk Mahfouz, posted on Twitter.

"I found bodies, many of them women, lying on the pews. It was a horrible scene," said cathedral worker Attiya Mahrous, as cited by AP.

Comment: Update: Daesh Claims Responsibility for Attack on Cairo's Coptic Cathedral
Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for an attack on Cairo Coptic Church Complex that killed dozens of people, Al Arabiya TV channel reported on Tuesday.

On Monday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi said that the deadly attack in a Coptic cathedral complex in Cairo was staged by a 22-year-old suicide bomber, wearing a suicide vest. The president said four people — three men and a woman — had been detained in connection with the attack, while police were searching for two more suspects.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Egyptian Ministry of Interior said it suspected members of the Muslim Brotherhood who fled to Qatar of involvement in the terror attack.


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Gift

Planned and perceived obsolesence: The 12 days of Christmas junk

George Monbiot
The Guardian
Sat, 10 Dec 2016 14:48 UTC
christmas presents
© Daniel Pudles
There's nothing they need, nothing they don't own already, nothing they even want. So you buy them a solar-powered waving queen; a belly button brush; a silver-plated ice cream tub holder; a "hilarious" inflatable zimmer frame; a confection of plastic and electronics called Terry the Swearing Turtle; or - and somehow I find this significant - a Scratch Off World wall map.

They seem amusing on the first day of Christmas, daft on the second, embarrassing on the third. By the twelfth they're in landfill. For thirty seconds of dubious entertainment, or a hedonic stimulus that lasts no longer than a nicotine hit, we commission the use of materials whose impacts will ramify for generations.

Researching her film The Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard discovered that of the materials flowing through the consumer economy, only 1% remain in use six months after sale(1). Even the goods we might have expected to hold onto are soon condemned to destruction through either planned obsolescence (breaking quickly) or perceived obsolesence (becoming unfashionable).


Comment: Our Obsession With Stuff Is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities and Our Health


But many of the products we buy, especially for Christmas, cannot become obsolescent. The term implies a loss of utility, but they had no utility in the first place. An electronic drum-machine t-shirt; a Darth Vader talking piggy bank; an ear-shaped i-phone case; an individual beer can chiller; an electronic wine breather; a sonic screwdriver remote control; bacon toothpaste; a dancing dog: no one is expected to use them, or even look at them, after Christmas Day. They are designed to elicit thanks, perhaps a snigger or two, and then be thrown away.
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Family

US House passes bill allowing the microchipping of people with Alzheimer's and developmental disabilities

Whitney Webb
True Activist
Tue, 13 Dec 2016 14:25 UTC
microchip
© Neon Nettle
Though the bill only targets those with conditions such as Alzheimers and autism, critics say the bill's passage will open a "pandora's box" of invasive government surveillance.

Six years ago, NBC Nightly News boldly predicted that all Americans would be fitted with RFID microchips by the year 2017. Though at the time, NBC's prediction seemed far-fetched, the House recently passed a bill that would bring a micro-chipped populace closer to reality before year's end. Last Thursday, the House passed HR 4919, also known as Kevin and Avonte's Law, which would allow the US attorney general to award grants to law enforcement for the creation and operation of "locative tracking technology programs." Though the program's mission is to find "individuals with forms of dementia or children with developmental disabilities who have wandered from safe environments," it provides no restriction on the tracking programs inclusion of other individuals. The bill would also require the attorney general to work with the secretary of health and human services and unnamed health organizations to establish the "best practices" for the use of tracking devices.

Those in support of the legislation maintain that such programs could prevent tragedies where those with mental or cognitive disabilities wandered into dangerous circumstances. Yet, others have called these good intentions a "Trojan horse" for the expansion of a North American police state as the bill's language could be very broadly interpreted.

Comment: First they came for the disabled....

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Attention

Priceless! Anti-Trump faithless elector Chris Suprun also unfaithful: Paid for Ashley Madison while bankrupt, married w/ 3 kids


GOTNEWS
Mon, 12 Dec 2016 21:18 UTC
suprun
Anti-Trump Texas faithless elector Stephen Christopher "Chris" Suprun, who wrote a widely-shared op-ed in The New York Times about his decision, joined and paid for cheating website Ashley Madison in 2012, using the same address registered to his 9/11 charity, while bankrupt, likely unemployed, and married with three young kids, after he and his working wife owed over $200,000 to multiple creditors — and that's just the start of it.

GotNews' research into Suprun's bizarre and unexplained flip-flop against President-elect Donald J. Trump turned up Ashley Madison data, damning bankruptcy records, and a series of P.O. boxes and what appears to be an association with a payday loan scam site.

Since turning against the decision of the people of Texas to elect Trump, Suprun also became a client of a "social justice media strategy" PR firm run by left-wing CNN commentator Van Jones.

What is going on here?

Comment: See also:

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Handcuffs

Highly decorated California cop arrested on multiple charges of raping children

Matt Agorist
The Free Thought Project
Tue, 13 Dec 2016 20:58 UTC
Pedophile Cop
© Free Thought ProjectBarney Joseph Ramnauth
A highly decorated officer was arrested last week on a slew of horrific charges all involving forced sex with children. Presidio of Monterey police officer Barney Joseph Ramnauth had the entire community fooled.

According to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office, last week, Ramnauth was arrested on suspicion of sodomizing a child younger than 10 years and a slew of other alleged sexual acts, some forced, with a child nearly two decades ago.

On top of the District Attorney's Office, the Superior Court records show that Ramnauth was also arrested on suspicion of forced acts with a child younger than 14; and aggravated assault-child sexual acts.

According to Assistant District Attorney Steve Moore, Ramnauth, 48, is an officer at the Army installation. Two years ago, this suspected child rapist was awarded the Monterey County Peace Officers Association highest honor, Officer of the Year.

While the warrant for Ramnauth's arrest was issued on December 1, there is no record of his arrest in court documents or an online inmate locator, according to Mercury News.

Comment: Listen to our interview with Dr. Anna Salter, author of the best-selling book, Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists, and Other Sex Offenders, Who They Are, How They Operate, and How We Can Protect Ourselves and Our Children:

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Sheriff

California cop shoots and kills unarmed 73-year-old grandfather with dementia

Matt Agorist
The Free Thought Project
Tue, 13 Dec 2016 19:17 UTC
Francisco Serna
© Courtesy of the Serna FamilyFrancisco Serna
At 12:30 am on Monday morning, Bakersfield police shot and killed 73-year-old Francisco Serna as he stood in his driveway. Immediately following the shooting, police released details noting that Serna was killed for 'brandishing a gun.' However, early Tuesday morning, we've now learned that there was never a gun and police fabricated that vital piece of information.

When police arrived on scene, they fired multiple shots at Serna, hitting and killing him.

According to Serna's family, he was in the beginning stages of dementia and occasionally experienced delusions. Serna's oldest son told the LA Times that Serna had difficulty sleeping and frequently went on late-night walks to tire himself out before bed.

Police were called to his home at least two times before because Serna had accidentally activated his medical alarm, Rogelia Serna said. However, those incidents were resolved without the need for any violence or charges. Bakersfield police Sgt. Gary Carruesco did not confirm if police had ever responded to Serna's residence before.

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