This gives me hope

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/5/21/no_nato_no_war_us_veterans

Specifically, the part starting at 10 minutes 30 seconds into it.

Freedom of speech taken!

What are we gonna do? http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oG522Z7PFIQ

http://www.economist.com/node/21554520

Is Europe heading in the right direction? How might this affect the US economy?

President Obama Affirms His Support for Same Sex Marriage

.http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/president-obama-affirms-his-support-for-same-sex-marriage.html


Oh dear.  Another sad attempt to get voters without having to do much work.  There are also some interesting comments, but be careful.

Japan shuts down last nuclear reactor

So, Japan is going green, and switching to other sources of power then nuclear.

Good for them.

But it seems to be wageing war throughout Japan.

Is it worth it?

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/07/world/asia/japan-nuclear-energy-ends/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/26/world/meast/syria-qa/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

So the question is, does the United States have an obligation to move in? If people are being slaughtered, and the U.S has the potential ability to stop it, should they do so? I don't know.

Romney Flip-Flops

Is Romney a practical alternative to President Obama? Or is he just another flip-flopper who will say anything to get the presidency?

Mitt Romney's Economics: Flip Back Please

Which Romney would we prefer? Which Romney will we get?

Wal-Mart faces big fines amid bribery charges

Allegations that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. covered up the findings of an internal probe that proved its Mexican subsidiary bribed officials in that country could have huge implications for the world's biggest retailer and its executives.

What would we do without Walmart?

www.deseretnews.com/article/765570923/Wal-Mart-faces-big-fines-amid-bribery-charges.html?pg=3

"Defending" Afghanistan

"Washington has pledged in a newly agreed strategic pact to help defend Afghanistan militarily for at least a decade after the country formally takes control of its own security"  Fox quoting AP

Q: Who are we defending Afghanistan against?

A: The Taliban

Q: The Taliban are citizens of what country?

A: Afghanistan

So, we are defending the government of Afghanistan against its own citizens.

That's what you get for having " highly critical" views Rohrabacher!

"A senior US Congressman who is highly critical of the Afghan government has been prevented from entering the country, Afghan officials say. "

So, this guy was refused a visa to go into Afghanistan, and was  not allowed to board a plane to Afghanistan from Dubai. He is well known for being very- well- outspoken about Afghanistan's government.

"Anyone who speaks against the good of Afghanistan and tries to interfere in our internal affairs is ineligible for an Afghan visa," one official told our correspondent.

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17812898

North Korea is Messed up.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/19/politics/pol-clinton-panetta-interview/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

North Korea making trouble much?

Let's all just hope and pray that Kim Jong Un can take care of the mess his father left behind. If they can't pick up the pace with this one, WWIII is gonna be at our door. The old leader was messed up, the country was starving, and now they want to start something. OFFFFFF!!!

Should Women have the right to become a member of Augusta national?

Augusta national is a privately owned golf club that doesn't allow women. should they?

Syria steps up offensives ahead of cease-fire

"Syrian troops shelled restive areas and sent tanks and snipers into battle against rebels in the capital's suburbs on Friday, broadening a government offensive that appeared aimed at crushing pockets of opposition less than a week before an internationally sponsored cease-fire is to take hold, activists said."


This raises serious doubts about how serious Assad is about a cease fire.  Why would he agree to one, any way?
On the other hand, it seems that the Syrian conflict is still going to be interesting by the time the extempers get to the speech and debate tournament on the 28th.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=235&sid=19334115&title=syria-steps-up-offensives-ahead-of-cease-fire
For more about the Syrian conflict in general: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17258397

How Gas Could Hit $6 a Gallon

Awww man, right when I'll hopefully be getting a license. Here is the article.

Jews Accept Jesus? Hmmm.....

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/05/jews-reclaim-jesus-as-one-of-their-own/?hpt=hp_c2

This is an article about The Jews and Jesus. It talks about how the Jewish people have accepted Jesus now. Alrighty, it's been what? 2,000 years since they denied him? I'm not so sure about this one people. I mean, the Jews must be scattered first before they will be brought to the fold of God again. I don't think they are scattered enough. In fact, I think they felt a little out of the loop if you get my drift. Point is, I'm not convinced, nor am I thriled. But who knows? Maybe they have taken a turn for the best?

Copyright Stagnation

Overly long copyrights are a pet peeve of mine.

Here is a graph which vividly shows the negative effects of copyright on availability of books.

Personally, I like the idea from Lawrence Lessig and others of having shorter but renewable copyrights, so that those who care about protecting and publishing their work can have longer terms, while neglected works will revert to the public domain sooner.

Syria 'agrees' to peace plan deadline

According to this artical on BBC, Syria has agreed to -on April 10th- pull back all soldiers and weapons being used to attack their people, and send humanitarian aid.  But many are concerned thet Assad will not be reliable enough to keep his promise- including the US rep. for the UN, Susan Rice.

The BBC's Barbara Plett, in New York, says Mr Annan told the closed session that Syria had said it was not ready to pull troops and heavy weapons out of the cities unless the armed opposition laid down their weapons too.  

The deadline will make clear whether, as some of his critics have said, Mr Assad is simply stalling for time, our correspondent adds.

Will Assad actually follow through?
And if he does, then what?
What measures does America need to take- both in dealing with Assad and helping the Syrian people?

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17587438

Romney advisor compares flip-flopping to an etch-a-sketch

A senior Romney advisor was asked whether taking far right positions against Santorum and Gingritch would hurt him in the general election against Obama.

Listen to the reply!

He's just another say-anything-to-get-elected candidate.

Workers get fired for wearing matching orange shirts?

A Florida manager saw orange and fired everyone wearing the color, for a total of 14 people.
A group of 14 workers decided to all wear orange shirts to work, and they got fired because of it.
One of the workers thinks it was just an excuse to fire workers.

Was it the right thing to do?
Was it just an excuse?
should the law do something about it?

Man who claims "Self Defense" will not be charged for shooting an unarmed Teenager

An unarmed black teenager was shot and killed by a man who claims that he shot him for "self-defense. The Florida law allows police on the scene to decide if the self-defense claim is relevant. In this case, they believe that it is. 28-year-old George Zimmerman was on neighborhood watch when he started to follow 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. He believed that Martin looked suspicious and said that Martin attacked him after he had given up on following him and was heading to his truck. He then shot and killed Martin in self-defense. Zimmerman will not be charged.

"Crump, the Martin family attorney, said the teenager weighed about 140 pounds and was carrying a bag of Skittles and a can of ice tea he had bought at a nearby convenience store when Zimmerman began following him in his sport utility vehicle. Zimmerman, meanwhile, weighs around 200 pounds and was armed with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun, which he had a permit to legally carry.

"So the facts that have come out that I have become aware of, would tend to indicate he should not be granted immunity," Roger Weeden, an Orlando defense attorney closely following the case, said of Zimmerman."

I believe that Zimmerman should be charged. His self defense claims are weak, and I don’t see a need for him to have shot Martin.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=157&sid=19673410&title=hundreds-march-in-nyc-for-fla-teenager-shot-dead
Honestly?  I've been thinking a about this kind of stuff recently.  People get so passionate about nothing.  I mean, really, what are they trying to achieve by this?  By my estimation, all this does is increase racial tension.  The best way to stop racism is to stop talking about it.   If the guy murdered the other guy, put him on trial.  Who cares if he did it because he doesn't like black people?

Utah Legislature HB 363

HB 363 is a bill that passed in Health Education Amendments sponsored by senator Margaret Dayton.
It defines sex education in Utah as abstinence-only and bans instruction in sexual intercourse, homosexuality, contraceptive methods and sexual activity outside of marriage. It's pretty simple but it was quite controversial up at the legislator.
Here's a list to the Utah legislator highlight list and you can read about it there, the other link is just an article about it with some of the senators views.

http://le.utah.gov/session/2012/pdfdoc/selectedhighlights.pdf

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865551672/Senate-joins-House-in-passing-abstinence-only-bill.html

Carmen

Joseph Kony victim demands justice

Jacob Acaye tells his story about how he was abducted from his small town of Koro by LRA rebels working for Joseph Kony. 40 kids were taken along with him. The boys were forced to become soldiers, while the girls were turned into sex slaves.

Acaye -- sitting a few meters from where he was abducted -- told CNN: "Whenever a brother is in a problem, whenever anybody is in a problem, it should get the attention of everyone in the world.

"It has been going on for the last 26 years. It shows that we are failing to solve it. And if there are any means that someone can help and it goes to end, then why not Americans get involved."

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/12/world/africa/uganda-kony-abductee/index.html?hpt=wo_t2

here is the video- email me if it doesn't work
http://www.kony2012.com/

Equal Application of a Principle

Quote from Secretary of State Clinton:

We reject any equivalence between premeditated murders by a government’s military machine and the actions of civilians under siege driven to self-defense.

Could she be talking about Syria or Israel here?

Super tuseday

On Tuesday, Ten states held their primaries.  Because of this Republicans thought that would dominate the media.  But, on that same day, Obama held a press conference, which effectively turned most of the medias attention to him rather than it all being focused on Supper Tuesday.  The actual primaries were interesting though, Mitt Romney won six states, Ron Paul won none, Rick Santorum won three, and Newt Gingrich won one.   This just shows that the person who has the most chance of competing against Obama for presidency is Mitt Romney even though many do not agree with him. 


Here is a link to an article on this topic. 

This is the power of social media.  I am curious to know if anything is going to come of it.  


"On Tuesday, the Invisible Children  organization launched a program it called Kony 2012  to draw attention to the head of the Lord’s Resistance Army, Joseph Kony, and agitate for his arrest.      

By Wednesday, #stopkony   was trending on Twitter. On Thursday, “uganda” (one of the bases of operation for the LRA) and “invisible children kony 2012” were trending on Google at no. 5 and no. 11 respectively. At last glance, its video on YouTube  has been viewed more than 55 million times.

The effectiveness of this campaign to make Kony famous – and to pressure US politicians to commit to helping stop Kony's two-and-a-half decades of violence – is because of the way that Invisible Children took full possible advantage of current social media tools."

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2012/0309/How-Kony-2012-campaign-went-viral-and-focused-rare-attention-on-Africa

Amendment to end corporate personhood?

Vermont has started a movement to amend the constitution to deny corporations the same rights as natural persons. 

Since the supreme court's citizens united ruling, corporations have even more rights that natural persons to influence politics.  An amendment may be the only way to stop corporations from becoming über-citizens.  After all, the same 14th amendment language of "person" which gives corporations free speech rights, also states that "Representatives shall be apportioned ... counting the whole number of persons in each State".  The obvious implication of this is that Delaware, which has 907,135 "natural" persons and 909,000 "artificial" persons, should have twice the representation in congress that it currently has.

Md Congressman Denies Support For Mustache Tax Credit

I'm not quite sure how to describe this in my own words, so here are a few quotes to thoroughly confuse you.

 WASHINGTON, DC (WUSA) -- Maryland Congressman Roscoe Bartlett is denying reports that he's spearheading a drive to give men with mustaches a $250 dollar federal tax credit.

It's called the STACHE Act: the Stimulus for Critical Hair Expenses. And it's sponsored in a perhaps not so serious way by the American Mustache Institute.

 "Honestly, with people in District 6, probably 15% unemployed, I think we have other issues that are more important than facial hair'" say Del. Kathy Afazli

I have a feeling that we have some very bored congressmen. just saying.

http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/193677/158/Md-Congressman-Denies-Support-For-Mustache-Tax-Credit?hpt=po_bn6

 

what is Iran enriching uranium for?

Recently the International Atomic Energy Agency has been talking to Iran about their uranium enrichment program and according to this article they say that Iran was uncooperative and Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh says they are trying to cooperate. 

One instance of this is that, "inspectors said they were denied an opportunity to visit a military base in Parchin.  
Inspectors believe the base may have been the site of tests related to nuclear weapons. 
Soltanieh said the team was not prevented from visiting the site, but that inspectors left a day early. He said access to Parchin would be granted once Iranian officials and the agency can agree on the conditions under which such a visit would take place." 


According to this information it does sounds like Iran is trying to develop nuclear bombs. 

Occupy the SEC

A small group calling themselves "Occupy the SEC", has set an example of how ordinary citizens can participate directly in government, by using the public comment period in executive rule-making to send the SEC a 325-page document detailing the problems and loopholes in the rules implementing parts of the Dodd-Frank Act.

"What we ended up doing is having a book club, where the Volcker Rule was our book. And so we would meet once a week at first, and then twice a week, and we read through it line by line ... and we came up with bulleted lists of answers, and then we split it up, and we embellished those bullets. And we ended up writing 325 pages." -- Alexis Goldstein

If this sort of action can have a good effect on the ways laws are implemented, it can serve as a model for future efforts to influence government in ways other than just standing around and shouting.  The shouting works best if it is drawing attention to a real petition, rather than general discontent.

Russia-Iran Foreign Relations

(this is from an artical titaled: Nuclear)
This artical talks about how Russia is teaming up with the UN security council against Iran's Nuclear program.

" Despite voting in favor of UNSC resolutions in 2006, 2007, and 2008, Russia blocked further punitive action against Iran in September 2008 - even after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) condemned the Islamic Republic’s lack of cooperation.[4] Russia also refused to participate in a P5+1[5] meeting in 2008 to discuss leveling additional sanctions against Iran.[6] Russia has publicly supported Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology and has helped supply the materials and expertise to build the Bushehr nuclear plant, which Iran has claimed it will complete in 2009. [7] "

Does Russia want Iran to have Nuclear power?
Why have they supported Iran in the past - but are now claiming to go against them?

http://www.irantracker.org/foreign-relations/russia-iran-foreign-relations

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day love stories for StoryCorps.

Be sure to have a hanky handy...

Or go directly to StoryCorps.

Greece Accepts Austerity Measures, Markets Climb

" Oil prices rose on Monday on cautious optimism after Greece's approval of austerity measures needed to avoid default also boosted the euro and equities."


http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/13/us-markets-oil-idUSTRE81C0T620120213

One activist's chronicle of daily hell in Syria

This artical basicly describes the conditions in Syria- through the eyes of a citizen. He explains the horrid living conditions and the constant fear of  their building being hit by a bomb, or trying to flee and being shot in the process.

"If we get the airplanes here, bombard the regime. We want someone to do something about this. We're going to get killed. I'm sure I'll get killed tomorrow if the army gets in here. No one's doing anything about this. We don't want the monitors or the Arab League. They are going to do nothing about this. We want the U.N. to interfere, the U.N. to do something."

These people have barely enough food and water, and not even close to enough doctors for the wounded and sick.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/09/one-activists-chronicle-of-daily-hell-in-syria/?hpt=wo_c1

Are Astronaut's going blind?

NASA’s new priority is how to protect astronauts from going blind on the years-long trip to get wherever they are going. In the past few years, about half of the astronauts aboard the international space station have developed an increasing pressure inside their heads

Female space travelers have not been affected.

Some of the astronauts slowly recover. Others have not.

Why is this happening?

Why are only the males going blind?

http://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/10/astronaut-feels-spaces-toll-on-his-body/?hpt=us_t2

UN says Arab League mission to Syria may resume

"Mr Ban said the "disastrous" failure to agree a UN resolution on Syria had encouraged Damascus "to step up its war on its own people".

The international community is struggling to find a way forward in the crisis after Russia and China blocked the resolution last week.

Syrian forces are continuing to attack opposition strongholds in the country.

Hundreds of people have died in the central city of Homs after days of heavy bombardment."
BBC

Santorum gets a triple

            Yesterday Rick Santorum won three states' primaries.  These states are Colorado, Missouri, and Minnesota.  This has also him a major opponent to Mitt Romney, who has only won three states total.  This also given Santorum a much needed boost in donations, which will help him a lot in preparation for March 6th, which is known as super Tuesday because ten states will be holding their primaries on that day.  

Here is a link to some more information on this subject

About this ad Catholics' battle with Obama intensifies over contraception exemption

Yet another mistake made by Obama. In a highly controversial decision, the Obama administration has stood by a rule derived from the new federal health care law that requires Catholic schools, hospitals and other institutions to pay for sterilization and contraception, including abortifacients, substances that induce abortion.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705398889/Catholics-battle-with-Obama-intensifies-over-contraception-exemption.html

About this ad Voicemails, dispatch tapes depict Josh Powell's chilling acts

At first Josh Powell was very suspicious of killing his wife when they went "camping" in the middle of winter. This shows his true colors. This is so horrible. Pure evil. Really sad.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705398885/Voicemails-dispatch-tapes-depict-Josh-Powells-chilling-acts.html

Away with Safety inspections?

Only 17 of the 50 United States require safety inspections on passenger cars, to check brakes, windshield wipers, fluids, etc for safety.  Utah Representative John Dougall wants to do away with these safety inspections in Utah. He says the risk [of injury on roads] is posed by the drivers, not the cars.  Dwayne Baird, a representative for the Utah Department of Public Safety thinks that the proposed additional 6 highway troopers won't make as big a difference as will safety inspections...  I think they should continue the safety inspections in order to provide safety to Utah.


~Audrey Kenison


Click HERE for source

Italy ends the search for missing in shipwreck

The search for missing in the submerged part of the Costa Concordia cruise ship has ended because of the danger to the rescue workers. There is another danger being faced because the ship carries 500,000 gallons of heavy fuel. Italian officials worry that the fuel will leak out and cause an environmental disaster. http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=19034206&nid=235&title=italy-ends-search-for-underwater-missing-in-wreck

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/27/politics/obama-trip/index.html?hpt=us_c2

Here is a link to Obama's new plan to pay student's tuition. Though it might perhaps be nice for a student to get into college for free, the fact is this is a really bad idea. We all know the political view; it's one more step toward socialism. But even more than that, when a student has to pay for his or her own education, they will value that education so much more, and will work harder to get their degree.

I believe that this new plan of Obama's is a really bad idea.

Mormon tithing under national media microscope after Mitt Romney releases his financial data

Several nationally prominent news outlets have taken advantage of the recent release of two years worth of Mitt Romney's tax documents to take a close look at LDS tithing doctrine, policy and practice.

How is this going to affect him?

Click here.

Israel says Iran 'drifting' toward nuke goal line

This basically shows increasing suspicion and unease about Iran's nuclear program.

What is really happening?

What really is the solution?

Iranian Sanctions and oil prices

Ever since we left Iraq, the prices of gas and other oil products have been going down.  Now we are putting more and heavier sanctions on Iran, another big producer of oil. This makes me wonder if oil prices will go back up. 

This article talks about the sanctions on Iran but doesn't really talk about oil.  Instead it talks about this being the only way, besides military options, for stopping Iran's development of nuclear weapons.  This is plain stupid, instead of selling their oil and other products to us or our allies they will have to sell it, at cheaper prices, to China or Russia or someplace else.  This could only be detrimental to the U.S. and our allies.  And besides that they will still be able to develop their nuclear weapons. 

Navy Seal Strike Exemplifies Obama's Military Strategy

The Navy Seals were dropped off near a Somali pirate encampment.  They made their way in, secured the area, and rescued two hostages, one of them an American.  Small, clandestine missions like this are believed to be the new face of the military.


http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=157&sid=19009637&title=navy-seal-raid-in-somalia-shows-campaign-ahead

Ron Paul Hunts Delegates

"GOP strategist Ron Bonjean says... Paul's goal was never to win the nomination."

So what does this candidate want to do instead? Ron Paul has been pursuing delegates throughout his campaign. If he plays his cards right, Paul's message of a smaller government and cutting government spending could become an important theme at the convention.

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/01/23/forget-florida-ron-paul-is-hunting-for-delegates

Perry drops out of Republican presidential elections, and endorses Gingrich

Rick Perry has dropped out of elections, and is now supporting Newt Gingrich with his money and voters. This was quite shocking to me, seeing as how Perry seemed to support more conservative viewpoints, while Gingrich seemed to support more Liberal viewpoints. These were probably the last people that I would have seen supporting each other.  

Why did he choose Gingrich over other candidates?

Does Perry agree with Gingrich on the issues?

http://www.nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/perry-drops-out-of-presidential-race-endorses-not-perfect-gingrich-20120119?mrefid=election2012

The Candidate of the Establishment

Those in power have chosen their candidate, and it is Mitt Romney.  How can you  tell?

No amount of spin is too outlandish to support him.  ("Principled politicians are highly overrated"?!)

Extraordinarily wealthy institutions are trying to silence criticism of him.

Iranian Nuclear Scientist Assassinated

"Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, an expert on a phase of uranium enrichment, perished on a Tehran street on Wednesday after an assassin in a passing motorcycle attached a magnetized explosive to the side of his Peugeot 405 [car]."



Need I say more?


Okay, fine.  They blame Israel and the U.S. for a series of similar assassinations and sabotage related to Iran's nuclear program.  That's a pretty interesting strategy.


http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2104372,00.html#ixzz1jN7aPLzo

Republican Primaries 2012

Here is a link to a Wikipedia page that shows the results of the 2012 primaries.  As the year progresses it is updated to show how all the republican presidential candidates are doing.

So far Mitt Romney has taken both New Hampshire and Iowa, has 14 Delegates voting for him, and has 127,546 of the Popular vote which comes to 34.4%.

In Second we have Ron Paul who has taken no states (only two have done their primaries), has 10 Delegates voting for him, and has 83,068 of the Popular vote which comes to 22.4%.