Society's ChildS


Bacon n Eggs

'The worst storm in retail history' is heading straight for Walmart, Kroger, and Whole Foods

Hayley Peterson
Business Insider
Fri, 11 Sep 2015 22:15 UTC
Image
© AP Photo /Martin Meissner, fileA man in 2002 carrying two plastic bags in front of an Aldi market in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
Two highly competitive German grocery stores, Aldi and Lidl, are plotting to take over the US — and that's terrible news for Walmart, Kroger, and Whole Foods.

Aldi and Lidl have upended the UK grocery market over the past several years by sending the nation's largest supermarkets into a crippling price war that has dented profits, triggered layoffs, and sent the companies' share prices tumbling, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The CEO of Asda, the UK's second-largest grocery chain, has called the new competitive environment created by Aldi and Lidl "the worst storm in retail history."

"When we set the plan, I don't think anyone anticipated the market being in meltdown," Asda CEO Andy Clarke said last month after the Walmart-owned company reported its worst ever quarterly sales drop.
Read More...
People 2

Pro-independence rally in Barcelona - Catalonia begins campaign for seats in regional parliament


teleSUR
Fri, 11 Sep 2015 21:01 UTC
catalan independence spain
© ReutersCatalan pro-independence supporters hold a giant "estelada" (Catalan separatist flag) during a demonstration in Barcelona, Spain, Sept. 11, 2015.
The demonstration was held on the Catalan national day holiday, which marks the beginning of campaigning for regional elections.

Members of Catalonia's independence movement gathered in Barcelona, the regional capital, Friday, for a mass rally in support of a break with Spain. Hundreds of thousands of supporters filled the streets.

Friday's demonstration was held on the Diada, a Catalan national day holiday, which marks the beginning of campaigning for regional elections, seen by voters as a referendum on independence from Spain. The parties supporting independence need to secure at least 68 seats in the 135-member regional parliament to gain a majority, and polls suggest that they could achieve that in the Sept. 27 regional election.

Catalan regional President Artur Mas called snap regional elections in a bid to force the issue. Meanwhile, the government in Madrid has made clear again that it will not tolerate any such move. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has also stated that "there will be no independence for Catalonia."

Most polls predict that millions of Catalan will vote Yes, and, if that happens, the regional government will immediately begin preparations for secession in order to declare independence unilaterally as early as next year. If Catalans are successful, their victory could pave the way for other independence movements.

Catalonia is one of the wealthiest regions of Spain, making up nearly one fifth of the struggling Spanish economy. Spain's economic downturn, along with austerity policies and political scandals, have contributed to the renewed interest in independence.
Read More...
Star of David

Israeli whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu arrested for TV interview


RT
Fri, 11 Sep 2015 18:18 UTC
Image
© Ronen Zvulun / ReutersMordechai Vanunu
Whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu, who served 18 years for exposing details concerning Israel's clandestine nuclear program in 1986, has been put under house arrest for giving an interview to local media, thus allegedly violating terms of his release.

The Magistrate's Court in Jerusalem on Thursday confined the nuclear whistleblower to a seven-day house arrest, prohibiting him from using the internet or talking to the press, following a police investigation launched the previous day.

Local media report that the investigation was initiated by Shin Bet (the Israel Security Agency), which has been monitoring Vanunu's activities since his release in 2004.

The arrest was prompted by an interview the whistleblower gave to the local Channel 2 TV station last week. The news channel said the interview's content had been cleared for broadcast by the military censor. It added that police also asked for the unedited footage of the interview, suspecting that Vanunu had discussed sensitive information.

Channel 2 refused to hand it over, however, citing the media's right to protect its sources. This principle is an "important element in the system of rights and freedoms on which a democratic government is based," the station's lawyer asserted, as quoted by the Haaretz newspaper.

Comment: See also:

Read More...
Family

Consumer-culture values are detrimental to many children

James Hakner
University of Sussex
Fri, 11 Sep 2015 18:35 UTC
Children and consumer culture
© iStock.com/princigalliChildren who turn to consumer culture can enter a 'downward spiral' in terms of their well-being and popularity, a new study shows
The pressure to be cool, look good and own the 'right stuff' is detrimental to many children and teenagers, according to new research by University of Sussex psychologists.

The study shows that, while many young people buy into consumer culture believing it will make them feel better about themselves and help them to make friends, often the reverse happens.

The result is a negative downward spiral, say the researchers, whereby those with low well-being turn to consumerist values, which impacts further still upon their state of mind.
Read More...
Pistol

11 attacks confirmed along Phoenix interstate in spate of serial freeway shootings


RT
Fri, 11 Sep 2015 18:07 UTC
Image
© Arizona Department of Public Safety / ReutersA bullet hole is shown in a windshield of a car that was traveling on Interstate 10 in Phoenix, Arizona
Arizona police confirmed an eleventh attack on Thursday in a spate of serial freeway shootings near Phoenix along Interstate 10. In the latest incident, a bullet pierced the side of a tractor-trailer.

Police said no one was hurt in the incident and that they could be dealing with more than one gunman. They are investigating another incident where a projectile damaged the window of a car, according to NBC News.

The shootings began on August 29 along a route used by hundreds of thousands of people in Phoenix, Arizona. To date, no one has been killed.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey pleaded for the public's help on Thursday.

"I'd ask Arzionans to remain alert and aware, and we are going to find who's doing this and bring them to justice," Ducey said during a press conference.
Read More...
Dollars

New York first state to mandate $15 wage for fast food workers


RT
Fri, 11 Sep 2015 17:50 UTC
Image
© Carlo Allegri / Reuters
New York will raise the minimum wage for fast food workers to $15 per hour, marking the first time any US state has agreed to raise the industry's wages that high. The governor said he will try to increase the minimum wage for all workers next.

Fast food workers' wages will reach a minimum of $15 an hour by 2018 in New York City, while they will have to wait until 2021 in the rest of the state. Notably, the move did not require action by state lawmakers because the issue fell under the jurisdiction of the State Labor Commission, which approved the proposal on Thursday.

Once the wage increase kicks in, it could affect approximately 200,000 fast food workers in the state.

Speaking at a New York City event with Vice President Joe Biden at his side, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo turned attention to raising wages outside of the fast food industry. He pledged to work towards a $15 minimum wage for all workers across the state. Currently, New York's minimum wage of $8.75 is set to hit $9 per hour by the end of the year.
Read More...
Eye 2

Police release video showing brutal restraint and fatal tasering of mentally ill woman


RT
Fri, 11 Sep 2015 17:43 UTC
Image
© FairfaxCountySheriff / YouTubeStill from the video showing Fairfax County deputies in full biohazard gear restraining Natasha McKenna on February 3, 2015
Fairfax County has released the video of deputies struggling with a mentally ill woman, who died after being repeatedly shocked with a stun gun. Virginia authorities declined to press charges, ruling the death of Natasha McKenna a 'tragic accident.'

The 46-minute video shows the team of deputies, dressed in full biohazard gear with shields and masks, wrestle McKenna on the ground and struggle with her for over 20 minutes.

"You promised you wouldn't kill me," McKenna says as she stumbles out of the cell, naked. "I didn't do anything." At one point, she is shocked by a taser four times, and passes out. She lapsed into a coma and died several days later.

McKenna, 37, was arrested in January for attacking a police officer in nearby Alexandria. She had a documented history of mental illness, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. The recorded incident happened on February 3, a team of six deputies was sent to retrieve McKenna from her cell and transport her to Alexandria for a hearing.

WARNING: DISTURBING IMAGERY

Read More...
Sheriff

Retired tennis pro James Blake tackled and handcuffed by abusive NYPD cop

Al Baker and Liz Robbins
NY Times
Wed, 09 Sep 2015 17:27 UTC
Image
© Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesMr. Blake playing a match last month in Connecticut
The New York Police Department is investigating an episode in which James Blake, a retired top-10 professional tennis player, said he was pushed to the ground outside his hotel by a police officer on Wednesday and handcuffed by several officers who had mistaken him for a suspect in a fraudulent credit card operation.

Police Commissioner William J. Bratton said in an interview on Wednesday on NY1 that Mr. Blake's account was "very disturbing."

"He has a right to be upset about it," Mr. Bratton said.

By late evening, the police had reviewed a video that showed the officer taking Mr. Blake to the ground, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

That officer is expected to be placed on modified assignment as soon as Thursday, the official said, and added, "The bottom line is they got the wrong guy."

Mr. Blake, 35, who retired two years ago and was in town making appearances for corporate sponsors at the United States Open, was leaving the Grand Hyatt Hotel on East 42nd Street for the Open around noon when he was accosted by a plainclothes officer, he said in an interview with The Daily News.

Read More...
Health

One Marine killed and 18 injured in vehicle accident at military base


Associated Press
Thu, 10 Sep 2015 17:22 UTC
Image
© AP
One Marine was killed and 18 others injured Thursday in a single-vehicle rollover crash during routine training at Camp Pendleton Marine Base.

First Lt. Colleen McFadden said she had very few details to release, including what type of vehicle rolled over or the extent of the injuries involved.

Several patients from the accident were taken to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, hospital spokeswoman Bobette Brown said. She would not say exactly how many or give any further details them, citing legal restrictions.

The Marine who was killed was from the 1st Marine Division, and that person's name will not be released until 24 hours after relatives are notified, McFadden said.

"The command's priorities are to take care of the Marines, Sailors and families of the unit," McFadden said in a statement. "We want to ensure the Marines and their family members are being provided for during this difficult time."

Camp Pendleton, a vast seaside base north of San Diego, is the major West Coast outpost for the U.S. Marine Corps.

In November 2013, four Marines were killed there while clearing explosives in a Camp Pendleton training area.
Read More...
Top Secret

History teacher denies Native American Genocide: Native student disagrees - ejected from the class and expelled


countercurrentnews.com
Sun, 06 Sep 2015 17:04 UTC
Image
A Native American student at Cal State Sacramento University was told by her history teacher that there was no genocide against the indigenous population of North America. When the student, Chiitaanibah Johnson, took issue with this claim and challenged him, she was ejected from the class and expelled.

The professor said he didn't care for the term "genocide" as he didn't think it accurately describes what happened in relation to Native American history.

U.S. History Professor Maury Wiseman accused Johnson of "hijacking" his class when she challenged him on this. He also pointed out that he was very offended at her accusations that he was a "bigot" and "racist."

The professor cancelled class for the rest of the day and apologized for the 19-year-old sophomore's "disruptions."
Read More...