On the Rehabilitation of Alan Turing
By Barry Sheppard
December 28. 2013
On Christmas Eve the Queen of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern
Ireland, and the Commonwealth deigned to pardon one of the twentieth
century's most important mathematicians of the crime of homosexuality.
In 1952 Alan Turing was tried and convicted of engaging in sex with
other men. He was then presented with the choice of prison or chemical
castration. He chose the latter, estrogen treatments that caused him to
grow breasts, made him impotent, and sent him into depression. He was
fired from his job with the British government. Washington barred him
from entering the United States, which he had often visited to work with
mathematicians in Bell Labs.
In 1954 he ate an apple laced with cyanide, which was ruled a suicide.
He was 41 years old.
In 1936 Turing developed a model of the "universal computing machine," a
concept which lies behind all computers. Other subsequent mathematical
models of computers have been found to be equivalent to what has become
known as the "Turing machine."
Besides this accomplishment, Turing broke the German enigma code in the
Second World War, and proved two important mathematical theorems, and
other work.
The law under which Turing was convicted was repealed in 1967. But in
the years since, attempts to have him pardoned were repeatedly rebuffed.
The most recent was last year, 50 years after his conviction, when
Parliament voted down a motion to pardon him.
The reasoning of the majority of this most august body was that since
the law was the law in 1952, and Turing had knowingly violated it, he
was a lawbreaker and lawbreakers cannot be pardoned. This decision
provoked an immediate response, when 10,000 signed a petition that
Turing be put on the new 10-pound note.
There was international outrage in addition. All this led to the Queen's
pardon this year. The wording of the pardon itself is disgusting: "Now
Know Ye: that We, in consideration of circumstances humbly represented
unto Us, are Graciously pleased to extend Our Grace and Mercy unto the
said Alan Mathison Turing and to grant him Our Free Pardon posthumously
in respect of said convictions."
The "We" and "Us" and "Our" refer to the Queen's double personhood, as
both the physical person Elizabeth II and as the embodiment of the "body
politic," which is immutable and "utterly void of Infancy and Old Age."
It's something like the Pope's "We," which refers to him and God.
But Turning does not need forgiving because he did nothing wrong. If any
entity requires being extended Grace and Mercy it is the UK government
for its crime against Turing, which arguably directly led to his death.
Turing was pardoned because of his fame and accomplishments. But some
75,000 men were convicted under the same law as Turing, of whom 26,000
are still alive. Turing's pardon should be extended to the 75,000, and
would improve the lives of the 26,000 today.
A final thought -- those reading this are doing so on a "Turing machine."
Sunday, December 29, 2013
[humor] 50 Shades of Golf ... or was that Grey?
Four guys have been going to the same golfing trip to the Caribbean
for many years.
Two days before the group is to leave, Jack's wife puts her foot down and tells him he isn't going. Jack's mates are very upset that he can't go, but what can they do.
Two days later, the three get to the Caribbean only to find Jack sitting at the beach with a tent set up, firewood gathered, dinner cooking on the fire, and sitting having a cold beer.
'Bloody hell Jack, how long you been here, and how did you talk your missus into letting you go?'
'Well, I've been here since last night.
'Yesterday evening, I was sitting in my living room chair and my wife came up behind me and put her hands over my eyes and asked, 'Guess who?' I pulled her hands off, and there she was, wearing a nightie.
'She took my hand and pulled me into our bedroom. The room had candles and rose petals all over. Well she's been reading 50 Shades of Gray ...
'On the bed she had handcuffs, and ropes! She told me to tie her up and cuff her to the bed, so I did.
'And then she said, 'Do whatever you want.'
'So, Here I am!'
>:-}
Two days before the group is to leave, Jack's wife puts her foot down and tells him he isn't going. Jack's mates are very upset that he can't go, but what can they do.
Two days later, the three get to the Caribbean only to find Jack sitting at the beach with a tent set up, firewood gathered, dinner cooking on the fire, and sitting having a cold beer.
'Bloody hell Jack, how long you been here, and how did you talk your missus into letting you go?'
'Well, I've been here since last night.
'Yesterday evening, I was sitting in my living room chair and my wife came up behind me and put her hands over my eyes and asked, 'Guess who?' I pulled her hands off, and there she was, wearing a nightie.
'She took my hand and pulled me into our bedroom. The room had candles and rose petals all over. Well she's been reading 50 Shades of Gray ...
'On the bed she had handcuffs, and ropes! She told me to tie her up and cuff her to the bed, so I did.
'And then she said, 'Do whatever you want.'
'So, Here I am!'
>:-}
Israel’s recurring use of terror on civilians
Israel’s recurring use of terror on civilians
by aletho
By Bob Finch | January 26, 2009
Insanely disproportionate use of violence against unarmed civilians
“The
stated aim was, as always, to stop the launching of the rockets. The
means: killing a maximum of Palestinians, in order to teach them a
lesson. The decision was based on the traditional Israeli concept: hit
the civilian population again and again, until it overthrows its
leaders. This has been tried hundreds of times and has failed hundreds
of times.” (Uri Avnery “Kill a Hundred Turks and Rest”: The Five-Day War in Gaza March 2008).
Operation Grapes of Wrath ~ Lebanon, in 1996
“Ehud
Barak will be remembered in Israel’s history as the one who introduced
the abuse of innocent civilians as political cards. Barak was probably
not the first Israeli warrior to abuse civilians on a tactical level,
but he was the one who turned it into a central Israeli strategy.
Operation Grapes of Wrath in Lebanon, in 1996, with Barak as an
influential cabinet member, openly targeted civilians, turning them into
refugees to make them put pressure on Beirut’s government. The recent
siege on Gaza follows a similar logic: put pressure on civilians to
achieve political goals. (A clear war crime, it goes without saying.)”
(Ran HaCohen ‘Israel Says ‘No’’ Feb. 2008).
Israelis fire 1,300,000 bullets during first few days of Intifada
“Malka, in an interview with the Israeli paper Ha’aretz on 14 June,
revealed that during the first few days of the intifada, Israeli
occupation soldiers fired 1,300,000 bullets on Palestinian population
centres and other targets. This massive firepower, which had no
operational justification given the Palestinians’ inherently inferior
firepower (they possessed only light firearms and in limited numbers),
showed that the Israeli army was interested more in decimating and
harming the Palestinians and less in ending the violence. According to
Israeli sources, then-Chief of Staff and now Defence Minister Shaul
Mofaz didn’t plan to bring about the end of the conflict. Instead, he
thought he had finally seized the opportunity to “beat and vanquish” the
Palestinians in order to “burn into their consciousness” and make them
“internalise their weakness and inferiority vis-a-vis Israel’s
strength”. Mofaz’s ultimate aim, of which he later convinced Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, was to hector Palestinians into
negotiations in a weakened and exhausted state whereby they would have
no choice but to accept Israel’s dictates and demands. The new
revelations, Palestinian officials argue, prove that the escalation of
violence during the first few months of the intifada was, first and
foremost, Israel’s responsibility. “This is what we have been saying all
along that this is not about Israeli security but rather about Israel’s
terrorising the Palestinian people for the purpose of arrogating their
land and rights. Israel is now admitting that,” said Michael Tarazi,
adviser to Palestinian Authority leader Yasir Arafat.” (Khalid Amayreh
‘The second intifada, an Israeli strategy’ July 2004).
Lebanon 2006
“This
intentional and coldly calculated Israeli policy of targeting innocent
Lebanese civilians and civilian infrastructure stems from a
time-honoured, but hardly ever successful, Israeli doctrine of applying
intense “pressure” against a civilian population in order to compel
them, in-turn, to pressure the resistance into submitting to Israeli
dictates, thereby doing Israel’s bidding by proxy. It has been
consistently used against the Palestinians ever since the Nakba of 1948,
and is still applied now in the ongoing barbaric offensive and hermetic
siege against Gaza. Israel may have plagiarized this doctrine from the
legacies of previous oppressors, but it has refined it to a degree that
it no longer raises any moral qualms in most of Israeli society, where
it is widely accepted by the public as a right, even a duty in the fight
for Israel’s “security.” (Omar Barghouti ‘The Massacre at Qana’
August 01 2006); “As Limor and Shelah reveal, in spite of the fact that
the conflict on the ground took place on a very narrow strip of land
(the Israeli border on the south and Litani River on the north), the
Israeli artillery had managed to shoot over 170,000 shells. In
comparison, in the 1973 war while fighting against two strong state
armies over two very large fronts, the Israelis had launched only 53,000
shells. The figures relating to the Air Force are even more striking.
Though less than a few concrete targets were available for the IDF
intelligence, the IAF (Israeli Air Force) had launched as many as 17,550
combat missions, this translates into 520 missions a day, almost as
many as in the 1973 war (605 a day). Yet, in 1973 the IAF was fighting
two well-equipped air forces, it was engaged in a fair amount of
air-to-air combat and a relentless struggle against the latest Soviet
ground-to-air missiles. None of that happened in the Second Lebanon War.
The IAF was engaged solely in hammering the Lebanese soil. It literally
threw and launched everything it had in its disposal, presenting a
merciless method that in places (southern Beirut for instance), had a
similar effect to the infamous 1940s Anglo-American carpet bombardment.”
(Gilad Atzmon ‘Saying NO to the Hunters of Goliath’ August 13, 2007); “That was on Aug. 30,
by which time U.N. teams had identified 359 separate cluster-bomb
sites. Since then, the true dimensions of the problem have become even
clearer: 770 cluster-bomb sites have now been identified. And the
current U.N. estimate is that Israel dropped between 2 million and 3
million bomblets on Lebanon, of which up to a million have yet to
explode.” (Saree Makdisi ‘Israel’s Cluster Bomb War’ Oct. 2006).
Related articles
‘Blood Diamonds’ and Israel’s Diamond Export Industry
‘Blood Diamonds’ and Israel’s Diamond Export Industry
by aletho
By Sean Clinton | Palestine Chronicle | December 28, 2013
In November, members of the Kimberley Process
(KP), meeting in plenary in South Africa, squandered what was probably
their last good opportunity to ban the sale of all blood diamonds,
including cut and polished blood diamonds which are an important source
of funding for the nuclear armed regime in Israel which stands accused
of the crime of apartheid, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The
governments with a vested interest in the diamond industry, that set up
and control the KP, failed to amend the definition of a “conflict
diamond” which is restricted to “rough diamonds used by rebel movements
or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate
governments”. All other diamonds associated with human rights violations
evade the KP regulations.
The failure was well flagged in advance as key stakeholders, including South Africa which chaired the KP in 2013, had voiced opposition to reforms that would broaden the remit of the KP to embargo diamonds associated with human rights violations by government forces.
Some
jewelers refuse to sell diamonds sourced in the Marange area of
Zimbabwe where government forces are reported to have killed 200 miners.
However, most if not all, of the worlds leading jewelers sell diamonds
processed in Israel where the industry generates about $1 billion annually for the Israeli military which is guilty of grievous human rights violations in Palestine .
With
the KP chair passed to China for 2014, and Angola in line for 2015, no
one believes they will implement the changes necessary to ban the trade
in all blood diamonds.
Corporate Posturing
Corporate
social responsibility statements – the moral beacons of wannabe
ethically progressive companies – amount to little more than
window-dressing unless they are supported by rigorous enforcement. No
amount of charitable support for a company’s favorite worthy causes can
mitigate, directly or indirectly, providing a revenue stream for rogue
regimes guilty of gross human rights violations.
Anglo
American plc owns 85% of De Beers making it one of the worlds leading
diamond companies with interests at all stages of the supply pipe from
mining to retail. De Beers promote their own “Forevermark” diamonds many
of which are crafted in Israel . Their promotional literature claims
“Forevermark is committed to upholding the highest business, social and
environmental standards and practices across its and its partners
businesses”.
Anglo American’s Sustainable Development Policy
stipulates that suppliers are expected to uphold “fundamental human
rights and fair labour practices, in line with internationally
recognized standards”. Suppliers must also “oppose corruption, bribery,
fraud…. and must not tolerate any form of money laundering or
participate in other illegal incentives in business”.
Despite
this, De Beers continues to sell diamonds crafted in Israel even though
the Israeli diamond industry is notorious for discrimination in the
workplace against non-Jews – a fact confirmed by data from the Israeli
Bureau of Statistics and a recent government-funded initiative to
encourage ultra-Orthodox Jews to take up employment in the diamond
industry without a similar initiative for non-Jews. Furthermore,
although authorities uncovered the “world’s largest illegal bank”,
involving fraudulent trading worth billions of shekels, in the Israeli
Diamond Exchange in 2012, Anglo American continues trading with Israeli
diamond companies.
Anglo
American’s failure to abide by their own standards exposes their
hypocrisy – a double-standard that permeates the jewellery industry when
it comes to blood diamonds from Israel .
The
Steinmetz Diamond Group, one of Tiffany’s biggest suppliers and a
“unique partner” of Sotheby’s Diamonds, through the Steinmetz
Foundation, funds and supports
a Unit of the Givati Brigade of the Israeli military. The Givati
Brigade is guilty of the massacre of at least 21 members of the Samouni
family in Gaza – a war crime documented by the UNHRC and other human
rights organizations.
Other
world-leading jewelers including Harry Winston, Cartier, Ritani, Blue
Nile, Zales, Brilliant Earth, Graff Diamonds, Chow Tai Fook, Chopard and
many more, sell diamonds from Israel which are tarnished with
Palestinian blood – one of the most recent victim being a 15 year old child,
Wajih Wajdi al-Ramahi, shot in the back and killed by the Givati
Brigade on 7th December. He was the 26th Palestinian to be killed by
the Israeli military this year.
The
imperative for all businesses to respect human rights and ensure their
business relationships are not contributing to adverse human rights
impacts is a well established tenet affirmed in the UN Guiding
Principles on Business and Human Rights, the UN Global Compact, and the
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The fact that the
diamond industry, which accounted for 31.2% of Israel ’s manufacturing
exports in 2011, is a very significant source of revenue for the regime
in Israel means jewelers that sell diamonds processed in Israel help
fund the commission of war crimes and suspected crimes against humanity.
Shareholders
of companies that sell diamonds linked to atrocities and bloodshed are
exposed to financial and legal hazard. The fraudulent misrepresentation
of such diamonds as conflict-free leaves jewelers open to challenge by
patrons angered by the fact that diamonds they purchased in good faith
are de-facto blood diamonds. Companies complicit in human rights
violations may be liable for reparations, which, in the case of victims
of Israeli violence in Palestine , could amount to billions of dollars.
Despite
Israel ’s record as a serial human rights offender and it’s nuclear
weapons stockpile which it refuses to submit to international
regulation, the leaders of the global diamond industry continue to give
Israel refuge in the KP tent.
Consumer Power
If
consumers are to have confidence in the ethical credentials of diamonds
civil society needs to regain the initiative. This can be done by
putting the jewellery industry under the spotlight and demanding that
jewelers guarantee the diamonds they sell are not a source of funding
for, or in any way associated with, serious human rights violations –
i.e. they are not blood diamonds.
As
cut and polished blood diamonds from Israel legally enter the diamond
market in vast quantities (50% of the US market), diamond buyers should
demand to know where a diamond was sourced, cut and polished if they
want to avoid buying a blood diamond.
Diamond
buyers should not allow jewelers to fob them off with assurances about
“conflict diamonds” – the sacrificial offering which only encompasses
rough diamonds that fund rebel violence against legitimate governments.
This distracts from, and blinds consumers to, the extensive trade in cut
and polished blood diamonds which continues unchecked and largely
unreported by media.
“Ethically
sourced” are some of the buzz words hammered into the conscience of
diamond buyers. Rough diamonds at source represent but a small fraction
of the value of the cut and polished diamonds sold by jewelers.
Ethically sourced diamonds can still be blood diamonds if revenue they
generate after sourcing is used to fund human rights violations. “The
“ethically sourced” pitch is a scam – it offers zero protection from
blood diamonds.
Another
example of the duplicity of the jewellery industry is the widespread
abuse of the term conflict-free. This is part of a bogus System of
Warranties introduced by the World Diamond Council which allows sellers
to self-certify diamonds as conflict-free based on the fact that they
are in compliance with the discredited Kimberley Process which gives
legal cover to blood diamonds that fund government forces.
Related article
True Colors Residence
True Colors Residence (TCR), a
project of West End and partners Grammy-award winning artist Cyndi
Lauper and her manager, longtime WIR volunteer Lisa Barbaris, builds
upon West End’s history of pioneering new models to serve the most
underserved and vulnerable New Yorkers. TCR is New York’s first and
only permanent, supportive housing for lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender youth with a history of homelessness. This profoundly
underserved population is estimated to make up nearly 40% of homeless
youth in New York City.Opened in September 2011, TCR provides young, formerly homeless LGBT individuals aged 18-24 upon admission, a safe, stable and supportive environment in which they can rebuild their lives. Residents are responsible for paying affordable rent based on their income. TCR houses 30 studio apartments, each equipped with a kitchen and bathroom. Residents also have access to shared indoor and outdoor community space, a computer lounge, a small library, and laundry facilities.
Residents receive case management and ongoing assistance with every aspect of independent living as well as obtaining employment best suited to their individual interests and skills. Comprehensive support services, available on a purely voluntary basis and tailored to each individual, include: benefits and entitlement advocacy, counseling, HIV/AIDS counseling and education, medication management, job readiness and placement assistance and help with such practical details as cooking, money management, health issues and other independent living skills. A range of additional services, including GED classes and healthcare, are available through linkages with other nonprofit agencies.
Residents are referred to TCR by the New York City Department of Homeless Services, Department of Youth and Community Development, and local community-based organizations.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Facebook Targets “Have A Gay Day” Facebook Page Over Same-Sex Kiss
Facebook Targets “Have A Gay Day” Facebook Page Over Same-Sex Kiss
by Simone Sanner
Friday evening the 100 plus admins of equal rights Facebook page "Have A Gay Day" were banned for posting a picture of two men kissing, and immediately logged out of Facebook on their phones and other devices as well.
The caption to the picture read "Did this picture offend you? Did you ever think, that your opinion might be offensive?"
Site admins then released a statement,
stating that the same picture, a close-up of two stubbled faces
kissing, has been used in the past, specifically six months ago, without
issue.
They had this to say:
"We
posted a photo of two men sharing a kiss. The only thing visible was
lips touching. The quote on the photo read, did this picture offend you?
Did you ever think, maybe your opinion is offensive? We had posted this
photo in the past with no issue and the last time we posted this photo
was actually six months ago.
All
106 admins of this page were kicked off of Facebook and logged out of
their mobile apps and computer access. When logging back into Facebook
we were told that this photo was found to be against the Community
Standards for Facebook. We have reviewed the standards and feel that
Facebook is in error. Many of us have received account blocks and locks
from myself a 30 day ban to some with 15 day bans and yet others with
only a few hours.
There
is currently no way to appeal this decision. In the past Facebook has
apologized to LGBT pages that had photos removed of couples kissing and
restored their accounts. We are asking that Facebook wipe this
accusation of being against their community standard from our record and
restore our power to post on our personal pages and fan pages. This is
truly uncalled for.
We
have enabled back up Facebook accounts so we have the ability to still
post. We ask that Facebook review their decision and promptly restore us
as a page, our personal accounts and issue an apology as well as
working to make sure this doesn't occur again.
We will do everything in our power to bring this to Facebooks attention as quickly as possible.
We will do everything in our power to bring this to Facebooks attention as quickly as possible.
If you are a member of the media or Facebook our inbox is always open for interaction. Thank you.
Michael
Have A Gay Day"
Have A Gay Day"
There
is no way to appeal such a decision even though Facebook previously has
apologized for such bannings and restored admins' ability to post.
The group is asking Facebook to restore the page and issue them an apology.
Catholic Youth Leader Sexually Abuses Another Girl After Promising First Victim He’ll Never Do it Again if She Keeps Quiet
Catholic Youth Leader Sexually Abuses Another Girl After Promising First Victim He’ll Never Do it Again if She Keeps Quiet
by Howard Crane
A
Catholic youth leader was reported to the police after sexually
assaulting multiple victims. The complaint filed by Marain Foley claimed
that Catholic youth leader Brandon Eckerson raped her just days before
Christmas of 2012. Though, Eckerson influenced her to “not to say
anything further to anyone about his sexual exploitation of her; in
exchange he promised to never again sexually assault anyone. It was
understood that if plaintiff discovered he violated this sworn promise
she would go to the police.”
According
to Foley, Eckerson’s extreme behavior extends well beyond just sexual
assault, such as bringing a group of minors to bars and illegally
purchasing them alcohol, as well as providing alcohol at youth group
meetings.
But
Foley has no plans on just stopping with the small potatoes. She is
also filing a suit against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, Bishop
Thomas Olmsted, and Reverend Patrick Robertson because allegedly after
she first reported to her doctor regarding the rape, “in compliance with
state law [he] sent notice to Blessed Sacrament Parish, which
circulated an email on the subject.” Foley wants to make sure that the
church “knew that Brandon Eckerson was a danger,” “shared that concern
with other members of Blessed Sacrament Parish and the Phoenix Diocese,”
but failed to ever file a report with the police.
After
Foley was informed that Eckerson had raped not only another member of
the youth group, but her best friend, she deemed that as breaking a
promise and decided to go to the police.
“Then, and only then,” the complaint reads, “did the Diocese terminate him.”
NSA Whistleblower Confirms Fears Of Planned 'Police State' In America
NSA Whistleblower Confirms Fears Of Planned 'Police State' In America (video)
CONTRIBUTOR: Live Free or Die.
Infowars reporter David Knight is joined by former NSA top official and
whistleblower William Binney for a discussion about the planned 'police
state' for America in an interview that should put an end to talk of
this being only a 'conspiracy theory'. Americans on a massive scale must
'awaken' and...
New York Federal Judge: NSA Phone Surveillance Is Legal. Washington Dist. Judge “Almost Certainly” Violates Constitution - Quo Vadis?
New York Federal Judge: NSA Phone Surveillance Is Legal. Washington Dist. Judge “Almost Certainly” Violates Constitution - Quo Vadis?
CONTRIBUTOR: Tom Dennen, the paranoid historian.
A federal judge in New York ruled Friday that the National Security
Agency's broad collection of U.S. phone-customer data is lawful,
dismissing a complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union. The
decision by U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III came just days
after another federal judge, U.S. District...Watch the Entire Universe Happen in Under Four Minutes
Watch the Entire Universe Happen in Under Four Minutes (Video)
by Nick Goroff
When
mired in the middle of debating the origins of the universe against
those who would believe the Earth is a mere six-thousand years old, it
can be easy to forget the majesty that is inherent to scientific theory.
And
while we may not be made in the image of an almighty God, spawned from
some original sin in a magical garden, the mere reality of us as a
species being -at least as of this moment- the culmination of billions
of years of progress, with elements forged in the hearts of stars, it
can be just as easy to get swept up in it.
Throughout
the long, long history of the universe, the growth and development of
basic elements into heavier, more complex matter, then leading to
planetary, ecological and biological evolution, ultimately leading to a
review of the entire process by we, the universe's tiny little
observers, plays like an ancient and epic tale of creation and reality.
Throughout
the variety of philosophies proclaiming humanity to be a reflection of
the universe itself, or alternately, the universe reflecting upon
itself, the basic elements which make up our very physical form lend
themselves nicely to these more secular ideas of the mystical nature of
life in the universe.
So
take a moment, let go of the mythology and surrounding debate and enjoy
this short video depicting (in short order) the origins of atomic
elemental structures and the reality of that which we often call
"creation." And if nothing else, try to pause and smile at the relative
insignificance and utter epic nature to existing in this universe we
share.
Scientist admits faking HIV cure to get millions in grants
Scientist admits faking HIV cure to get millions in grants
National Institute of Health donated part of $19 million to bankroll the bogus findings of an Iowa professorread more
Russian opera star, MP speaks out against anti-gay laws
Russian opera star, MP speaks out against anti-gay laws
Maria Maksakova said Russia has suffered extremely negative
consequences – artists lose their jobs and sexual minorities are
attackedread more
Survey says 1 in 20 Chinese university students is gay
Survey says 1 in 20 Chinese university students is gay
Some 5.6% of respondents admit having been in a same-sex relationshipread more
Venezuelan government urged to offer asylum to gay Ugandans
Venezuelan government urged to offer asylum to gay Ugandans
LGBT organizations are petitioning the Venezuelan foreign office to
offer political asylum to LGBT Ugandans facing imprisonment in their
home country under new anti-gay lawread more
Free IVF available to gay couples in North Staffordshire
Free IVF available to gay couples in North Staffordshire
Same-sex partners in the UK region will be able to apply for NHS-funded fertility treatment for the first time under new rulesread more
12 Bible Quotes That CONDEMN Republicans As Millions Lose Unemployment Benefits
12 Bible Quotes That CONDEMN Republicans As Millions Lose Unemployment Benefits
by John Prager
Conservatives
love Jesus, the Bible, and pretty much anything that they can twist to
justify their hatred and bigotry. Unfortunately, their love for the
Bible (or ability to read) does not extend to actually opening it.
Thanks to the "family values" party's refusal to engage in bipartisan
opposition to starvation, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation
program has expired, taking away much-needed federal aid from over 1.3
million Americans--including the children right wingers demand must be born into the world and veterans conservatives support enthusiastically (until they come home, that is), and the elderly.
This "let 'em starve"
mentality is justified in a number of ways in the alternate reality in
which conservatives reside. Most, however, choose the time-tested,
tried and true ultimate liberator of guilt for just being a terrible
person: the Holy Bible and its totally, completely white mascot-- Jesus.
Bill O'Reilly, FOX News' bastion of truth, said that Jesus would not support food stamps. TEApublican blowhard Stephen Fincher, for example, laid down some Thessalonians
on these moochers earlier this year, saying "The one who is unwilling
to work shall not eat." Many Christians believe Jesus said this, but the
quote was taken in a letter written by Paul to his church in
Thessalonica to remind that if they did not help build the church, they
would not be paid. Biblical scholars also believe the letter is a forgery written by someone pretending to be Paul.
Despite
right wingers' certainty that Jesus is down with letting poor people
starve, the Bible is not so sure about that. Had they actually read one,
they would know this. After all, should one not understand that which
he is shoving down another's throat?
Let's see how God feels about these moochers.
Deut. 15:7:[box type="shadow"] If
there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the
towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not
harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you
shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient
for his need in whatever he lacks.[/box]
Lev. 19:19[box type="shadow"]
Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the
very corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of
your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather
the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy
and for the stranger.[/box]
1 John 3:17[box type="shadow"]
But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to
live well, and sees a brother in need, and won't help him--how can God's
love be within him?[/box]
Prov. 14:31[box type="shadow"]
Anyone who oppresses the poor is insulting God who made them. To help
the poor is to honor God. Prov. 21:13 He who shuts his ears to the cries
of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need.[/box]
Luke 3:11[box type="shadow"]
"If you have two coats," he replied, "give one to the poor. If you have
extra food, give it away to those who are hungry."[/box]
2 Cor. 9:9[box type="shadow"]
It is as the Scriptures say: "The godly man gives generously to the
poor. His good deeds will be an honor to him forever."[/box]
Isa. 58:7[box type="shadow"]
I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your
own homes those who are helpless, poor, and destitute. Clothe those who
are cold, and don't hide from relatives who need your help[/box]
Luke 6:20-21[box type="shadow"] Blessed
are you who are poor, for yours in the kingdom of God. Blessed are you
who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep
now, for you shall laugh.[/box]
Prov. 22:9[box type="shadow"] He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.[/box]
Ezek. 22:29,31[box type="shadow"] "The
people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and
they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner
without justice... Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have
consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon
their heads," declares the Lord GOD.[/box]
James 5:1-6[box type="shadow"] Come
now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon
you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.
...Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and with you
have withheld, cries out against you; and the outcry of the harvesters
has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived luxuriously
on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your
hearts in a day of slaughter.[/box]
All Utah Counties to Issue Marriage Licenses as Appeal Proceeds
All Utah Counties to Issue Marriage Licenses as Appeal Proceeds
December 27 2013 12:41 PM ET
Meanwhile, state officials are expected to ask the U.S. Supreme Court in the next few days for a stay of the ruling that allowed same-sex marriages to begin.
Officials in Box Elder, Utah, Plute, and San Juan counties decided Thursday to begin issuing licenses to gay couples, the Associated Press reports. They “had little choice” after a federal appeals court Tuesday refused to put a hold on U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby’s ruling for marriage equality, according to the AP. Shelby ruled last week that the state constitution’s ban on same-sex marriage violated couples’ rights under the U.S. Constitution.
Some counties with small populations have had no license applications from same-sex couples to date, but in larger counties pent-up demand from these couples has resulted in record numbers of licenses being issued, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
The state plans to appeal Shelby’s ruling all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary, but first it is seeking a stay of it. The
The request will initially go to Justice Sonia Sotomayor because she has jurisdiction over Utah’s appeals, and she could either decide on the stay herself or ask the entire court to consider the matter. Legal experts said the latter is the more likely scenario, and probably a majority of justices will vote against the stay. “On the strictly legal argument, it’s hard to justify granting a stay,”
On the ruling itself, Utah is preparing an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. That court has agreed to expedite its consideration of the case. If Utah loses there, it is expected to take its appeal to the Supreme Court.
After last June’s landmark pro-marriage equality rulings in cases involving the Defense of Marriage Act and California’s Proposition 8, the high court justices may have thought they would not hear similar cases for a few years, the Times notes. But the rapid progress of marriage equality means the court will have no respite from the issue.
On whether the court will go beyond those rulings and
But Harvard Law School historian Michael J. Klarman told the Times a Supreme Court ruling for nationwide marriage equality is not out of the question. “Somewhere between the next two and six years, the court will be ready to do it, assuming the composition of the court does not change,” he said.
In Speech From 2009, Phil Robertson Says Men Should Marry 15 and 16 Year-Old Girls
CAUGHT ON TAPE: In Speech From 2009, Phil Robertson Says Men Should Marry 15 and 16 Year-Old Girls
by Sky Palma
In addition to homophobia and bigotry
towards African Americans, it looks like we can now add pedophilia to
the list of Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson’s shortcomings.
Video
has surfaced of Robertson giving a speech in 2009 at the Sportsmen's
Ministry in Georgia, where he suggests that men should target 15-16
year-old girls for marriage -- because they’re basically over the hill
at 20.
“Look,
you wait ‘til they get to be twenty years-old and the only picking
that's going to take place is your pocket. You got to marry these girls
when they're about fifteen or sixteen and they'll pick your ducks.
Watch:
Paul Ryan Attempts to ‘School’ Pope While Posturing for Presidential Run
Paul Ryan Attempts to ‘School’ Pope While Posturing for Presidential Run
by Simone Sanner
Rep. Paul Ryan
of Wisconsin, posturing as the new face of Conservative compassion,
sought to teach the Pope about politics this week, saying, “The guy is
from Argentina, they haven’t had real capitalism in Argentina.” Ryan
went on, “They have crony capitalism in Argentina. They don’t have a
true free enterprise system.”
The
remarks are an attempt to explain to the Pope the difference between
Argentina's economy and the economy of the United States - because we
have no cronyism in the American economics landscape.
“What
I love about the pope is he is triggering the exact kind of dialogue we
ought to be having,” Ryan suggested. He added nothing about his own
state's sickly state of fiscal health.
Some see Ryan's remarks as an attempt to associate himself with a "kinder, gentler" Conservatism, as the rift between
Tea Party Conservatives and Reaganites continues to grow. Ryan,
positioning himself at a distance from the Tea Party, appears to be
courting the votes of moderates by inching his image a bit to the Left.
Ryan,
an heretofore Tea Party darling, is not saying he will run for the 2016
election. He's also not saying he will not run. When asked he said,
"“I’ve decided I will consider this later,” Ryan said in a November
interview with the Des Moines Register. “Once I’m through with this
term, then I’m going to give a hard look at it.” Ryan's new book, the
presidential hopeful's roadmap for Conservatism, tentatively titled
"Where Do We Go From Here?" is due out sometime in 2014.
Life-expectancy for homeless (in Scotland): 39
Life-expectancy for homeless: 39
THE life-expectancy of people living rough on Scotland's streets is just 39, according to a survey by a homeless charity.
THE life-expectancy of people living rough on Scotland's streets is just 39, according to a survey by a homeless charity.
Video of Spanish police beating up women in peaceful protest goes viral
Video of Spanish police beating up women in peaceful protest goes viral
Posted: 28 Dec 2013 02:13 AM PST
A
video of Spanish police violently beating up a group of women during a
demonstration has gone viral. The women were protesting a draft bill
that restricts the right to abort, only allowing the procedure in cases
of rape and when there is a health risk.
The video, released by the Periodismo Humano news site, following the
protest on Friday, has taken YouTube by storm, racking up over 300,000
views over the weekend. The footage shows members of the activist group
‘We decide’ talking to officers after the protest. Shouting can be heard
and then officers, seemingly unprovoked, knock down a number of women
and beat them with their truncheons
Increasing Police Brutality: Americans Killed by Cops Now Outnumber Americans Killed in Iraq War
Increasing Police Brutality: Americans Killed by Cops Now Outnumber Americans Killed in Iraq War
Posted: 28 Dec 2013 02:17 AM PST
The
increase in police brutality in this country is a frightening reality.
In the last decade alone the number of people murdered by police has
reached 5,000. The number of soldiers killed since the inception of the
Iraq war, 4489.
What went wrong? In the 19070’s SWAT teams were estimated to be used
just a few hundred times per year, now we are looking at over 40,000
military style “knock and announce” police raids a year
Alaska Air’s Been Fuked! Cancellations Due To Fukushima Radiation Rather Than The Flu?
Alaska Air’s Been Fuked! Cancellations Due To Fukushima Radiation Rather Than The Flu?
Posted: 28 Dec 2013 02:45 AM PST
In
light of recent cancellations of airline flights out of Alaska, Oregon
and Washington state, was there another reason behind those
cancellations besides what we have already been told? While the official
word is that ‘the flu’ has struck Alaska Airlines crews, causing the
cancellations of 24 flights, we have been informed that the real reason
that crew members have called in sick has been due to fears of high
levels of radiation in the air, as confirmed by this recent story that
hot particles are now in the lungs of Americans, especially in Seattle,
via an Interview with nuclear expert Arnie Gundersen of Fairewinds. That
same story shared with us that helicopters conducted secret flights to
do surveys of the amount of radiation in the air and adds credence to
more secretive military flights that were conducted just days ago and
shared below
Racist Texas Knockout Game Punk Suspect DENIED BAIL!
Racist Texas Knockout Game Punk Suspect DENIED BAIL! (Video)
by Simone Sanner
Conrad Barrett, the 27-year-old white man charged with allegedly hitting a 79-year-old black man in a game of "Knockout" has been denied bail. Prosecutors say the attack was racially motivated.
U.S.
Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy, the judge who denied the bail, said
Barrett is a flight risk and a danger to the community. George Parnham,
the attorney representing Barrett, was not surprised. "We were expecting
that decision," said Parnham.
The
federal complaint against Barrett states he recorded the incident on
his phone, looked for the "perfect" victim, calling his selection a
derogatory racist term.
The victim, so far unidentified, was hospitalized for four days and had surgery to repair his broken jaw.
Knockout
is not a new game, dating as far back as the 1970's, where victims are
targeted by race for unprovoked, surprise attacks.
Barnett
has been diagnosed as having bi-polar disorder, and is taking lithium
in detention. Parnham said to Associated Press reporters Thursday “When
you start peeling back the layers of the onion and look at the mindset
behind the action you soon realize there's a mental issue." He also said
he "feels horribly sympathetic" for the victim.
Class Claims Memphis Spoiled 15,000 Rape Kits
Class Claims Memphis Spoiled 15,000 Rape Kits
MEMPHIS
(CN) - Memphis did not bother to submit 15,000 rape evidence kits for
testing, but merely threw them away or "caused the spoliation of the
sexual assault kits," Jane Doe claims in a federal class action.Doe is an adult victim of rape and a resident of Memphis, she says in the lawsuit against the city.
"Plaintiff and the putative class members are female individuals who reported sexual assaults to third parties, had bodily fluid samples removed from their bodies and placed within sexual assault evidence kits, and whose sexual assault kits were subsequently transported to the Memphis Police Department for testing, evidentiary and custodial purposes," the complaint states. "The City of Memphis failed to submit over 15,000 such sexual assault kits for further testing and caused the spoliation of the sexual assault kits, all of which resulted in damages to the plaintiff and the putative class, which constitutes a violation of the equal protection clauses of the Tennessee and United States Constitutions."
Doe says she was raped at around 2 a.m. on March 30, 2001, by an intruder who kicked in a window of her home. She reported the rape to Memphis police that day, and was taken to a Rape Crisis Center for treatment and collection of evidence.
"While at the Rape Crisis Center medical personnel took body fluid samples from Jane Doe and placed them into a Memphis Police Department Sexual Assault Evidence Kit," she says in the complaint.
It continues: "An officer from the Memphis Police Department transported the Sexual Assault Evidence Kit to the Memphis Police Department ostensibly for testing and to be used as evidence against the intruder.
"Over the next thirteen (13) years defendant City of Memphis never submitted plaintiff Doe's Sexual Assault Evidence Kit for testing.
"Unknown to plaintiff Doe, the City of Memphis had a policy, practice and/or custom of discarding sexual assault evidence kits.
"Unknown to Plaintiff Doe, the City of Memphis had a policy, practice and/or custom of failing to submit sexual assault evidence kits for testing:
"Over fifteen thousand (15,000) Sexual Assault Evidence Kits went untested over a period of several decades."
It goes without saying, though Doe says it, that a "disproportionate number" of the people whose rape tests were spoiled or trashed were women.
She claims that the policy of discarding rape evidence kits "was ratified by multiple policymakers within the City of Memphis Police Department."
She claims Memphis police failed to "affect an arrest of" Doe's home intruder and failed to "prevent future rapes by the intruder."
She claims that the "defendant has a history of discriminating against females" and that the "defendant's conduct was motivated by gender."
She seeks an injunction "restraining and prohibiting defendants from continuing its policy and/or custom of failing to test sexual assault evidence kits," declaratory judgment that city policy on handling of sexual assault evidence is unconstitutional, damages for civil rights violations, plus costs and attorney's fees.
She is represented by Robert L.J. Spence Jr., with Spencewalk, of Memphis.
White Guy Charged With Hate Crime After ‘Knockout Game ‘Style Attack on Elderly Black Man
White Guy Charged With Hate Crime After ‘Knockout Game ‘Style Attack on Elderly Black Man
by John Prager
The
phony "knockout game" that has been taking the sort of media popular
with white nationalists by storm has encouraged a good amount of hatred
toward African Americans. Those with no sense, whose desperation to
inspire race-based hatred, have begun to classify random street assaults
(which occur at a rate of more than one per minute
nationwide) as some sort of "game." Normally, this label is applied to
situations in which the victim is white and the perpetrator black --
because, of course, we all know only black folks are violent.
Supposedly, in the "game," the assailant attempts to knock out the
victim with one punch.
This sudden supposed assault on white people is not a new trend, as outlets like Glenn Beck's The Blaze would have you think. Similar assaults date back as far as 1992.
Of
course, some are senseless enough to take the right wing media hype
seriously--and one such person is twenty seven year old Conrad Alvin
Barrett of Katy, TX. Barrett, who is fond of racial epithets and has a
generally low opinion of African Americans according to police documents, spent a week "working up the courage" to "play" the "knockout game."
Barrett
approached a young couple in a bar and asked them if they had heard of
the "knockout game," and proceeded to show them a video of the attack he
had spent so much time working up the courage to perform. In the video,
Barrett approached an elderly African American man, asking him "how's
it going man?" He then panned the camera up to show his soon-to-be
victim. There was a loud smack, and the victim fell to the ground.
Barrett laughed, said "Knockout" and then fled in his vehicle.
Unfortunately
for the attacker, one of the people to whom he showed the video was an
off-duty police officer. the couple left immediately and found a
uniformed officer, to whom they reported the crime. The officer
approached Barrett and asked him if he had shown a video to the couple.
He admitted he had, but showed the officer a different and less
"race-based-assaulty" offering from the phone.
After
the phone was confiscated to be searched, police found ten additional
videos related to the attack. In one, Barrett says "The plan is to see
if I were to hit a black person, would this be nationally
televised?"--an apparent reference to a right wing media-inspired belief
that black people are given a "free pass" by the "lamestream" media.
In
yet another video, Barrett uses the "n-word" and states that African
Americans "haven't fully experienced the benefit of evolution."
Barrett's
victim suffered two jaw fractures and underwent surgery as a result of
the attack. Two metal plates were inserted in his jaw and three teeth
were removed during the unfortunate man's four day hospital stay.
Let's
stop sensationalizing violence. It's not the "knockout game." It's
assault and battery. It's horrible. Random street violence is an issue,
and it needs to end--but right wing media has a habit of taking a
problem and, rather than offer a solution, make the problem worse by
somehow turning it into a "white vs. black" thing.
As
a result, some mindless twit who is incapable or unwilling to perform a
logical analysis will always--ALWAYS--become inspired to act. White
Barrett was likely a racist before right wing media came into play, it
is doubtful that he would have done this had those outlets not preyed on
his feeble-minded bigotry and fear of those different from him on a
superficial level.
If
you were wondering how conservatives are taking this...it seems the
comment sections of most conservative web sites have descended into a
link sharing party to prove that "blacks are worse," idiotic remarks
about Eric Holder being directly responsible for this man;s prosecution
because Holder hates white people, and of course that he was only
prosecuted because he was white.
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