Society's ChildS


Red Flag

NYPD agent arrested for biker beating spied on Occupy activists


RT
Wed, 09 Oct 2013 10:31 UTC
Image
© AFP Photo / Spencer Platt
A NYPD cop arrested in connection with the violent biker brawl last month in Manhattan reportedly worked as an undercover officer and tried to infiltrate the Occupy movement and the activism community that supported Anonymous hacktivist Jeremy Hammond.

Officer Wojciech Braszczok, 32, was arrested this week for his alleged role in the Sept. 29 beating of a sport utility vehicle driver on the West Side of Manhattan. Video of the incident was captured live from the scene showing a parade of bikers assaulting the SUV driver after a minor fender bender between his truck and a motorcycle, and the subsequent media coverage has caused the video to go viral and catapulted the story to becoming one of the most discussed events in recent weeks.

The New York Times confirmed on Tuesday that Braszczok was arrested that evening and charged with rioting and criminal mischief, though more counts could be added in the future. As news reports circulate about his role within the NYPD, however, the officer has been accused by numerous sources as posing as an Occupy Wall Street activist during the course of the anti-capitalist movement that spawned a wave of peaceful protests around the world during the last two years.

According to prosecutors, Braszczok acted anything but peacefully when he allegedly attacked the SUV driver last month while the victim's wife and 2-year-old daughter watched in horror. The Associated Press has since reported that they have received video evidence showing Braszczok punching and kicking the vehicle.
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Light Saber

Anti-drones protesters who broke into RAF base are praised by judge

Richard Norton-Taylor and agencies
The Guardian
Mon, 07 Oct 2013 13:30 UTC
perimeter fence at RAF Waddington, Linconshire
© Matthew Cooper/PA Wire/Press Association Images A perimeter fence at RAF Waddington, Linconshire, where drones are operated.
Judge John Stobart finds six activists guilty of criminal damage with 'heavy heart' and says he would welcome appeal

Six protesters who broke into RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, home of Britain's first unmanned drones base, were described by a judge at their trial on Monday as "dutiful people". He said it was only with a "heavy heart" that he found them guilty of criminal damage to the base.

Judge John Stobart ordered the protesters to pay £10 compensation each to the RAF, £75 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge. He said he would welcome an appeal.

The protesters argued that the use of unmanned drones was a breach of international law and accused the government of war crimes.

Susan Clarkson, Christopher Cole, Henrietta Cullinan, Keith Hebden, Martin Newell and Penelope Walker all denied criminal damage to a fence belonging to the RAF on 3 June. They spent over half an hour walking around the base distributing leaflets and taking photographs as well as planting a peace garden of a fig tree and a vine.

Lincoln magistrates court heard that their action led to the base, home to 13 Squadron, which operates the drones, as well as a squadron of airborne surveillance planes, being placed on lockdown until the situation was resolved.
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Ambulance

Signing up for Obamacare in Maryland: 'No Doctors Are Found'

Jeryl Bier
The Weekly Standard
Tue, 08 Oct 2013 01:06 UTC
obama care

"If you've got a doctor that you like, you will be able to keep your doctor," President Obama assured the public as he worked to sell Obamacare in 2010. However, in July 2013, visitors to Healthcare.gov received a less confident "you may be able to" in answer to the question, "Can I keep my own doctor?" Beginning October 1, users of the Maryland Health Connection, that state's Obamacare insurance exchange, might have an even more basic question: Are there any doctors?

A consumer information update dated the day the exchange opened informed users (at least those who took the time to read the updates) that the doctor search function was not yet operational and they would need to visit an external website to find out which doctors accept which plans. The full update reads as follows [emphasis added]:
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USA

Poll: No heroes In shutdown, GOP gets most blame


NPR
Wed, 09 Oct 2013 20:54 UTC
Image
© ibtimes.com

President Barack Obama and lawmakers must rise above their incessant bickering and do more to end the partial government shutdown, according to a poll Wednesday that places the brunt of the blame on Republicans but finds no one standing tall in Washington.

"So frustrating," Martha Blair, 71, of Kerrville, Texas, said of the fiscal paralysis as her scheduled national parks vacation sits in limbo. "Somebody needs to jerk those guys together to get a solution, instead of just saying 'no.'"

The Associated Press-GfK survey affirms expectations by many in Washington - Republicans among them - that the GOP may end up taking the biggest hit in public opinion from the shutdown, as happened when much of the government closed 17 years ago. But the situation is fluid nine days into the shutdown and there's plenty of disdain to go around.

Overall, 62 percent mainly blamed Republicans for the shutdown. About half said Obama or the Democrats in Congress bear much responsibility.
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Arrow Down

Health center director in Mexico suspended after woman denied entry to his clinic gave birth on the lawn


Foxny.com
Wed, 09 Oct 2013 14:09 UTC
Image
Mexico officials have suspended a health center director after an indigenous woman denied entry to his clinic was forced to give birth on the lawn.

The state government in the southern state of Oaxaca says Dr. Adrian Cruz has been suspended during state and federal investigations.

A photograph of a woman grimacing in pain with a newborn child still bound by the umbilical cord horrified Mexicans in a country where many poor women still die in labor.
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USA

You're still dead, Ohio court tells man

Dominique Debucquoy-Dodley
WMUR9
Wed, 09 Oct 2013 11:01 UTC
Gavel
© iStock
An Ohio man who has been legally dead since 1994 will remain so in the eyes of the law after losing his complaint to overturn his death filing, according to authorities.

Donald Miller, 61, testified Monday that he disappeared in 1986 after losing his job, leaving behind a wife, two children and thousands of dollars of unpaid child support, according to James Hammer, the attorney for Miller's ex-wife, Robin Miller.

He was declared legally dead eight years later.

Donald Miller said he returned to Ohio "around 2005" with no knowledge of his legal death, and that he had hoped to re-establish his Social Security number.

A legal statute in Ohio prevents changes to death rulings once three years have passed, Hammer told CNN, and Judge Allan Davis ruled accordingly in Hancock County Probate Court.
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Arrow Down

Blind man beaten in Philadelphia while witnesses just stand there

Lacey Donohue
Gawker
Wed, 09 Oct 2013 20:12 UTC

According to police surveillance footage, a 33-year-old blind man walking alone in the Germantown section of Philadelphia was shoved, beaten, and robbed while witnesses walked by without intervening.

The incident took place on Oct. 2 and police have released this video hoping the footage will help lead to an arrest of the attacker. The victim, who said he did not recognize the voice of the attacker, suffered injuries to his head and face.
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Black Cat

Anti-Bullying programs having an opposite effect?


CBS DFW
Tue, 08 Oct 2013 22:00 UTC
A lot of schools spend countless hours trying to stop bullying. But some question if they are sending the right message.

It started as a simple look at bullying. University of Texas at Arlington criminologist Seokjin Jeong analyzed data collected from 7,000 students from all 50 states.

He thought the results would be predictable and would show that anti-bullying programs curb bullying. Instead - he found the opposite.

Jeong said it was, "A very disappointing and a very surprising thing. Our anti-bullying programs, either intervention or prevention does not work."

The study concluded that students at schools with anti-bullying programs might actually be more likely to become a victim of bullying. It also found that students at schools with no bullying programs were less likely to become victims.

Comment: These programs may be teaching children with psychopathic tendencies how to better abuse their peers and to hide the evidence. They are now better able to fool school officials while they conduct their bullying in secret. For more information regarding possible causes of bullying, read:

Bullying Linked to Psychotic Symptoms
The bullying epidemic
Behind Bullying: Why Kids Are So Cruel
The empathy gap in bullying

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Arrow Down

Southern New Jersey town requires beggars to get permit


North New Jersey.com
Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:52 UTC
Beggar
© The Inquisitr
Middle Township - A southern New Jersey town now requires beggars to obtain permits and seeks to punish those who aggressively solicit donations.

The Middle Township ordinance defines aggressive begging as speaking to or following a person in a manner that would cause them to fear bodily harm or otherwise intimidating someone into giving money or goods.

The ordinance requires those who solicit money to obtain a permit at no charge and forbids solicitation by obstructing a pedestrian or vehicle, near an automated teller machine or bus or train stop, and in exchange for a service.

Fines start at $250 and include possible jail time.

Police Chief Christopher Leusner tells The Press of Atlantic City beggars who are not threatening and comply with the ordinance will not be punished.

Source: Associated Press
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Arrow Down

Irish man's organs wasted away due to poor diet, coroner told


Irish Times
Wed, 09 Oct 2013 19:42 UTC
Coroner's Court
© Irish TimesFionn Clarke (30) was found dead at his apartment on Melville Way in Finglas, Dublin 11, on September 11th, 2012.
A man who lived on Pringles, chocolate, wine and Coca-Cola died after his internal organs wasted away as a result of his poor diet, an inquest heard.

Fionn Clarke (30) was found dead at his apartment on Melville Way in Finglas, Dublin 11, on September 11th, 2012. He had been dead for at least a week. Dublin Coroner's Court heard he suffered from depression and alcoholism and had cut himself off from his family.

His father Michael Clarke said that he would call to Fionn's apartment every three or four weeks bringing him "sweets and Coke" because he would not eat anything else. His son worked at the Revenue Commissioners but walked out on his job and was living off savings but these had run out.

Mr Clarke said Fionn would make sure he was not in the apartment when he called and he had not seen him since Christmas. He let himself into the apartment on September 11th and discovered his son.
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