ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS" href="http://unknownnews.org/RSSfeeds/dailyRSS.xml"> <title>Unknown&nbsp;News | Helen & Harry's cranky weblog of news and opinion | unknownnews@inbox.com </title> <META content="bad cops, civil rights, corrupt cops news, crooked cops, freedom news, liberal news, libertarian news, police blotter, police brutality, police corruption news, police misconduct, progressive news, Fox Lies"name=KEYWORDS> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <style type="text/css"><!--.fontmicro {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 5px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fontbox {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 8px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fonts {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 6px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fontz {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 8px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.font10 {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 8px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.font11 {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 9px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.font12 {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 10px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.font13 {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 11px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fontx {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.font14 {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 12px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fontzz {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 12px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fontsm {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 14px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.font15 {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 13px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fonttnr {font-family: Times New Roman, Bodoni, Garamond, serif;font-size: 17px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fonttnrx {font-family: Times New Roman, Bodoni, Garamond, serif;font-size: 17px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fonty {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 15px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fontpq {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fonta {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 17px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.font17 {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 17px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.font18 {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 18px;}--></style> <style type="text/css"><!--.fontxl {font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 30px;}--></style> <!-- 1-80% 2-Danger 3-Destroying 4-EBBV 5-HNMB 6-IB 7-ISN'T THERE SOMETHING 8-BHL 9-LJ 10-NSR-H 11-SOT-BTH 12-YR 13-WWJB 14-IC 15-ION 16-ION (2) 17-BHL (2) 18-LJ (2) 19-WWJB (2) 20-unknownnews 21-unknownnews 22-unknownnews 23-unknownnews 24-wwjb 25-wwjb 26-wwjb 27-wwjb 28-wwjb 29-wwjb 30-Bushisaliar 31-Bushisaliar 32-Bushisaliar--> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> <!-- Begin // Set up the image files to be used. var theImages = new Array() // do not change this // To add more image files, continue with the // pattern below, adding to the array. theImages[0] = 'stic1.jpg' theImages[1] = 'stic2.jpg' theImages[2] = 'stic3.jpg' theImages[3] = 'stic4.jpg' theImages[4] = 'stic5.jpg' theImages[5] = 'stic6.jpg' theImages[6] = 'stic7.jpg' theImages[7] = 'stic8.jpg' theImages[8] = 'stic9.jpg' theImages[9] = 'stic10.jpg' theImages[10] = 'stic11.jpg' theImages[11] = 'stic12.jpg' theImages[12] = 'stic13.jpg' theImages[13] = 'stic14.jpg' theImages[14] = 'stic15.jpg' theImages[15] = 'stic16.jpg' theImages[16] = 'stic17.jpg' theImages[17] = 'stic18.jpg' theImages[18] = 'stic19.jpg' theImages[19] = 'stic20.jpg' theImages[20] = 'stic21.jpg' theImages[21] = 'stic22.jpg' theImages[22] = 'stic23.jpg' theImages[23] = 'stic24.jpg' theImages[24] = 'stic25.jpg' theImages[25] = 'stic26.jpg' theImages[26] = 'stic27.jpg' theImages[27] = 'stic28.jpg' theImages[28] = 'stic29.jpg' theImages[29] = 'stic30.jpg' theImages[30] = 'stic31.jpg' theImages[31] = 'stic32.jpg' // do not edit anything below this line var j = 0 var p = theImages.length; var preBuffer = new Array() for (i = 0; i < p; i++){ preBuffer[i] = new Image() preBuffer[i].src = theImages[i] } var whichImage = Math.round(Math.random()*(p-1)); function showImage(){ document.write('<img src="'+theImages[whichImage]+'">'); } // End --> </script> </head> <body> <A NAME=top></A> <table width="980" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr> <td width="272" valign="top" align="left" class="fonty"><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.org/logo.gif" alt="Welcome to UNKNOWN&nbsp;NEWS" width="271" height="56" border="0"></A></td> <td width="536" valign="middle" align="center" class="fontsm">"<b><I>News that's not known, or not known enough.</I></b>"<BR> <I>Helen & Harry Highwater's cranky weblog of news and opinion.</I></td> <td width="172" align="center" valign="bottom" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fontx"> <TABLE CELLPADDING="3" CELLSPACING="3" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="100%" BGcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonty"> <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/stickers.html"><SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"> <!-- Begin showImage(); // End --> </script></A> </TD></TR></TABLE></td></tr></table> <table width="980" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="830" align="center" valign="top" bgcolor=white class="font14"> <TABLE CELLPADDING="4" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR> <TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="32%" BGcolor="#dddddd" class="fonty"> <b>unknownnews@inbox.com</b></TD> <TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="68%" BGcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonty">&nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/"><B>Home</B></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/about.html">About us</A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/contact.html">Contact us</A> &nbsp;&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/!workfiles.html"><FONT COLOR=black>|</FONT></A>&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/faq.html">FAQ</A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/mysterylinks.html">Mystery links</A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/stickers.html">Stickers</A> &amp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/forsale.html">stuff</A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|<BR> </TD></TR></TABLE></td><td width="150" align=center valign="middle" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="font15"><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/stickers.html"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/buyabumpersticker.jpg" border="0" width="138" height="23"></A> </td></tr></table><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="980" border=0><TR> <TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="830" BGcolor="#dddddd" class="fonty"> <iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/frames-new.html" height="32" width="830" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></TD><TD ALIGN="center" valign="middle" WIDTH="150" BGcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonty"><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/donations.html"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/makeadonation.jpg" border="0" width="138" height="23"></A> </TD></TR></TABLE><!-- end uniform header--> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="980" border=0><TR> <TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" WIDTH="980" BGcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonty"> <iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/submenu.html" height="32" width="980" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></TD></TR></TABLE> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="980" border=0><TR> <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="10" BGcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonttnr"> </TD> <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="10" BGcolor=white class="fonttnr">&nbsp;</TD> <TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="635" BGcolor=white class="fonta"> <!-- xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx below is duped at 0910-26.html xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx --> <A NAME=29></A><!-- =unk --><BR> <!-- Spying (cartoon) --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="135" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/spying.gif" alt="spying" border="1" width="120" height="183"></td></tr></table> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29><font color=black><BIG><B>The CIA wants to be your "friend"</B></BIG></font></a> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; The Central Intelligence Agency's "investment arm" has purchased a stake in Visible Technologies, a company that makes software for <A HREF ="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/10/exclusive-us-spies-buy-stake-in-twitter-blog-monitoring-firm">monitoring social media like Facebook and MySpace</A>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; This isn't from some tiny racist group, it's part of a poll conducted by Zogby International: <I>"Federal Communications Commission Chief Diversity Czar Mark Lloyd wants the FCC to <A HREF="http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/10/zogby-again-polls-on-misleading.html">force good white people in positions of power in the broadcast industry to step down to make room for more African-Americans and gays</A> to fill those positions. Do you agree or disagree that this presents a threat to free speech?"</i> And need I add, that's not what the FCC is doing <nobr>--</nobr> it's just another lie.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.olearyreport.com/media/pdf/X-OlearyZogbyReport-102609.pdf">Another question in the same survey</a> (PDF) is framed to include another hate-based lie: <I>"Some experts believe [hate crimes legislation] could lead to ... the prosecution of religious preachers, talk show hosts or political activists who speak against homosexuality or transsexuals."</i> Of course, no experts believe any such thing, but it sure sounds scary.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It's neither unknown nor news, but by design, the American right-wing have framed myriad issues in lies and hatred. It's <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/rwradicals.html">already led to violence</a>, and it's going to lead to more. <!-- =civil liberties --> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; In California, <A HREF="http://rawstory.com/2009/10/marijuana-legalization-expected-ballot-california/">an initiative to legalize possession of small quantities of marijuana</A> is being signed onto at a pace that virtually ensures it'll be on the ballot next November. Pot activist Richard Lee says  Voters are ripping the petitions out of our hands, in a good way. <!-- =business=wall&nbsp;street=economy=corporations --> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/10/tim_geithner_chared_13_billion.html">Timothy Geithner's main qualification to be Secretary of the Treasury</A> was that he had experience ripping off US taxpayers, to the tune of $13-billion. <A NAME=health></A> <table border="0" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="60%" align="right"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><BR><TABLE CELLPADDING="8" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=1><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonta"><center><B><i>Health care hell in America</i></B></center> <!-- health --><table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="122" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/healthish.jpg" alt="health care sucks in America" border="0" width="102" height="127"></td></tr></table> <BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Just how crappy will so-called health care reform be? <A HREF="http://ta-nehisicoates.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/10/toward_a_conservative_public_option.php">Ezra Klein explains</A>: "For the real liberals, the public option was already a compromise from single-payer. For the slightly less radical folks, the public option that's barred from partnering with Medicare to maximize the government's buying power was a compromise down from a Medicare-like insurance plan. For the folks even less radical than that, the public option that states can "opt out" of is a compromise from the straight public option. Access to the public option will be a political question settled at the state level. It is not a settled matter of national policy.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "In many ways, this is a fundamentally conservative approach to a liberal policy experiment. It's only offered to individuals eligible for the insurance exchanges, which is a small minority of the population. The majority of Americans who rely on employer-based insurance would not be allowed to choose the exchanges. From there, it is only one of many options on the exchange, and only in states that choose to have it. In other words, it has been designed to preserve the status quo and be decided on the state level. Philosophically, these are major compromises liberals have made on this plan. They should get credit for that."<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Yeah, they should get credit, all right, though 'blame' seems a better word. 90% of Americans will be prohibited from dropping the insurance swindle. The "liberals" who did this to America, starting with President Obama and working down the DC roster, have doomed thousands of Americans to die, but they're poor Americans so they don't matter. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.doublex.com/section/news-politics/health-insurance-woes-my-22000-bill-having-baby">Health insurance woes: My $22,000 bill for having a baby... and I had coverage for maternity care!</A> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.denverpost.com/frontpage/ci_13636522">Insurance companies routinely charge women up to 50% more</a> than men. Because they're women. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/10/sign_the_social_contract.html">Roger Ebert has something to say</A> about health care reform, and as usual he says it pretty well. </td></tr></table></td></tr></table> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Geithner's latest picadillo is <A HREF="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&;sid=abvqTkQC.Ft4">handing GMAC a check for at least $2.8-billion</A> in its <I>third</i> government bailout. Cripes, how many lifelines do they get on <I>Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?</i> Seriously, people, there will be no end to the looting of the treasury until the looters are arrested, and Geitner should be one of the first hauled off in handcuffs. <A NAME=28BL1114></A><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Matt Taibbi returns to Wall Street, and again <A HREF="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/30481512/wall_streets_naked_swindle/print">it's a wild and infuriating series of swindles</A>. I get the impression America's economy is about 60% Ponzi scheme, and that might be an optimistic guess. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Despite the US Chamber of Commerce's "<A HREF="http://www.uschamber.com/press/releases/2008/december/081208_abuse.htm">Campaign Against Frivolous Lawsuits</a>", they're <A HREF="http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/chamber_suing_yes_men_for_commercial_identity_thef.php">suing the Yes Men</A> for "commercial identity theft" over last week's fake press conference. <A NAME=30DM242></A><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Fisker Automotive, a California-based maker of plug-in hybrid cars, has received a <A HREF="http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/kit-eaton/technomix/old-gm-plant-gives-fisker-us-electric-car-making-base">$528.7 million loan from the US Department of Energy</A>. Their plan is to buy an abandoned GM plant in Delaware, and build 75-100,000 cars annually, which they're hoping to retail for $40,000. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/american-bankers-association-protest-michigan-avenue-chicago-showdown.html">Delightful-sounding protest</A> of the American Bankers Association convention in Chicago. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <I>The San Francisco Chronicle</i>'s management is <A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/27/BUDV1AAV94.DTL">overjoyed that circulation is down 25%</a>, and I can see their logic. ... <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; This guy started <A HREF="http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/man_about_town.php">a one-man newspaper in Seattle</A>, after he was laid off by the <I>Seattle Post-Intelligencer</i>. <!-- =world --> <BR><BR><!-- =Afghanistan --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="65" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagAfghanistan.gif" alt="Afghanistan" border="1" width="50" height="30"></td></tr></table> &nbsp;&diams;&nbsp; Ahmed Wali Karzai, the drug-kingpin brother of Afghan puppet leader Hamid Karzai, has reportedly <A HREF="http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/20370">been on the payroll of the Central Intelligence Agency for years</A>. The <A HREF="http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-28/the-karzai-brothers-fight-back/2/">Karzai brothers, of course, deny everything</a>, but the revelation could make stealing the coming run-off election a little more difficult. Stateside, of course, it's a reminder of the CIA's long-time and curiously close connection to drug trafficking, a topic rarely mentioned with a straight face in mainstream media since the days of <A HREF="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/october96/crack_contra_11-1.html">Gary Webb</a>.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; As President Obama ponders what to do about his war in Afghanistan, <A HREF="http://www.gainesville.com/article/20091028/ZNYT03/910283022/1109/SPORTS?Title=U-S-to-Protect-Populous-Afghan-Areas-Officials-Say">the <I>New York Times</i> reports</A>&nbsp; that the internal debate is  no longer over whether to send more troops, but how many more will be needed. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <I>The Onion</i> nails it: <A HREF="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/u_s_continues_quagmire_building">US continues quagmire-building effort in Afghanistan</A>.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Someone else who understands the situation is Matthew Hoh, a US Foreign Service officer assigned to Afghanistan, who's <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/26/AR2009102603394_pf.html">quit in protest</A>, saying that the US military presence in that country infuriates and fuels the anti-US attitude there. Kudos to Hoh for grasping what's been obvious for years, and a more serious cyberhandshake for having the integrity to distance himself from the moral hellhole America's digging there.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What strikes me strangest, though, is how amazingly serious the entire chain of command seems to have taken Hoh's resignation, trying to talk him out of quitting and even offering him a job in Washington <nobr>--</nobr> when he's been in the Foreign Service for less than a year. Is the Foreign Service that desperate for bodies to man their posts?&nbsp; <BR><BR><!-- =Canada--><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="65" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagCanada.jpg" alt="Canada" border="1" width="50" height="30"></td></tr></table> &diams;&nbsp; A Canadian court is hearing testimony from intelligence operatives in the matter of Abdullah Khadr, a Canadian that the American CIA tried to have kidnapped into custody, but the request was so beyond the pale that Canadian and Pakistani authorities refused to cooperate. There was no real evidence against Khadr until he started confessing, which led to an understandable suspicion that he'd been tortured or coerced. But since Khadr's case is being heard in Canadian courts instead of American courts, <A HREF="http://harpers.org/archive/2009/10/hbc-90005986">intelligence operatives are being compelled to testify</A> instead of being shielded by "state secrets" claims. <BR><BR><!-- =China--><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="65" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagChina.jpg" alt="China" border="1" width="50" height="30"><BR><BR><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagCuba.jpg" alt="Cuba" border="1" width="50" height="30"><BR><BR><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagIraq.jpg" alt="Iraq" border="1" width="50" height="30"></td></tr></table> &diams;&nbsp; In China, <A HREF="http://sun-zoo.com/chinageeks/2009/10/27/attack-those-who-seek-audience-with-higher-ups/">whistleblowing is seriously frowned upon</A>. <BR><BR> &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-26-voa45.cfm">Fidel Castro's sister</A> says she was also an operative for the US CIA. <BR><BR> &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/27/iraq-nuclear-reactor-programme">Iraq wants to rebuild at least one of its nuclear reactors</A> desptroyed in the first blisteringly stupid American war against that country. If I understand the standards of modern international hypocrisy, everyone in the western world is now supposed to become <I>very concerned</i> and talk about the necessity of war, or in this case, re-war. <!-- =environment --> <BR><BR><!-- =Environment --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="65" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagGreenWorld.gif" alt="Take care of Mother Earth" border="1" width="50" height="40"></td></tr></table> &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/2987821/Save-the-planet-eat-a-dog">The carbon footprint of a large dog</A> is about the same as that of a large car.&nbsp; <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Toyota has developed two <A HREF="http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/ariel-schwartz/sustainability/toyota-creates-its-own-flower-species-gobble-harmful-gases">new flower species engineered to eat pollutants</A>. <!-- =journalism=media --> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Nothing groundbreaking here, but it's <A HREF="http://www.pcworld.com/article/174540/wikileaks_leader_talks_of_courage_and_wrestling_pigs.html">an interesting article on Wikileaks</A>, the good guys who help whistleblowers get their word out. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; A few days ago, an Arizona newspaper, <A HREF="http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/146308">the <I>East Valley Tribune</i>, reported</a> that Supreme Court Justica Antonin Scalia had said he wouldn't have signed on to <I>Brown v. Board of Education</i>, the landmark court decision that began desegregation of public schools in America. Turns out the newspaper and its reporter, Howard Fischer, got it wrong, and that's not what Scalia said.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What's more curious than the flub is <A HREF="http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2009/10/27/scalia/index.html"><I>Salon</i> writer Alex Koppelman's response</A> <nobr>--</nobr> he critizes bloggers by genre and by name for not doublechecking what they read in a newspaper, while he doesn't criticize or even <i>name</i> the newspaper or reporter responsible for getting it wrong.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The <I>East Valley Tribune</i> is an ordinary, mainstream newspaper, and its reporter, Fischer, has been around for a long time (in <A HREF="http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2003/05/12/story2.html">unrelated coverage</a> he's described as "chief correspondent for Capitol Media Services in Phoenix, [who] writes for both the <A NAME=quote></A> <table border="0" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="60%" align="right"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><BR><TABLE CELLPADDING="8" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=1><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="40" class="fonty"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/thinker.jpg" alt="'The Thinker' statue" border="0" width="40" height="40"></TD><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" class="fonta"><i><B>It made me stop&nbsp;and&nbsp;think</B></I></TD><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="40" class="fonty"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/quesplanation.jpg" alt="Stop and think" border="0" width="40" height="40"></TD></TR></TABLE> <i><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Obama is an unindicted criminal nominally in charge of a massive criminal enterprise armed with nuclear bombs. His words amount to lies in the face of his deeds. When he appears on TV turn off the sound unless you want to receive the latest dose of propaganda from a mafioso." <DIV align="right"><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27JK607">Jeff Koyre</A></DIV></i> <br><center><img src="http://unknownnews.org/horizontal.jpg" border="0" width="50" height="20"></center> <i><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I have long thought that one of the main reasons we see politicians and policy makers scrambling madly to prop up the [Wall Street] greedheads is sheer, unadulterated panic that if they regulate this "magical" segment of the economy (financial services) that accounted for 40% of business profits before the crash, they will have nothing left. And it's a serious worry. When you have a mature economy like ours that's so heavily concentrated in paper pushing, gambling and middle man transactions that ridiculous risk is required to keep standing still, you have a big problem." <DIV align="right"><A HREF="http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/what-do-we-make-by-digby-campaign-for.html">Digby at Hullabaloo</A></DIV></i> </td></tr></table></td></tr></table> <I>Tribune</i> and Gannett-owned <I>The Business Gazette</i>"). But Fischer and <I>The Tribune</I> get a pass from <I>Salon</i>'s Koppelman, who only blames bloggers and says they should have looked "for a primary source -- video, audio or a transcript from the event" or called the Supreme Court for comment before publishing what Scalia was reported to have said. Yeah, he actually wrote that.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I don't know whether having his head up his ass is a chronic condition for Koppemnan or whether he just had a bad day, but the way it works is: Reporters write up the news as it happens, and bloggers comment on the news. Note the distinction. Reporters for mainstream media are paid to check the facts and get the story right. Bloggers aren't. And bloggers who <i>are</i> paid, of course, become reporters when they get a paycheck, and should be held to reporters' standards.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I'm a full-time janitor, a part-time writer for another website, and a blogger on my own website. I'm a responsible blogger but it ain't my job to ring up the Supreme Court for confirmation every time Scalia is reported as having said something stupid. The Supreme Court might take my call, but it's unlikely they'll return my call or answer my questions because I'm not a reporter. Bloggers who spread unfounded rumors and make stuff up deserve all the criticism in the world, but bloggers who believe and comment on a perfectly plausible newspaper report aren't doing anything shoddy <nobr>--</nobr> they're blogging, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; The Moonie-owned and far-right <I>Washington Times</i> reports with slack-jawed surprise that the Obama administration is rewarding big donors with White House access, like every other administration since the White House was built. Predictably, the <A HREF="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/steele-calls-for-investigation-of-white-house-fundraising.php">Republican Party is shocked, shocked</a>, and calling for an investigation. For reasons I don't understand, <A HREF="http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/obama_using_the_white_house_as_a_fundraising_tool.php">Talking Points Memo</a> also thinks this is news. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; I don't think this is necessary for any even moderately intelligent person, but we all have a dingbat, doofus, or drunk in the family or at work, and Media Matters has taken the trouble to compile this list, so here's <A HREF="http://mediamatters.org/columns/200910270002">30 reasons why Fox News is not legit</A>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://mediamatters.org/blog/200910270013"><I>Politico</i> continues to suck</A>. It's basically Fox Lite. <!-- =politics-as-usual=DC-Democrats=Republicans=Dems=Reps --> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2009/10/filibusters-and-holds">From <I>Mother Jones:</I></A>&nbsp; The Republican effort to block Obama's nominees to federal judgeships is, truly, without precedent. In the past there have always been a few high-profile fights, as well as a general slowdown toward the end of most presidencies when the minority party hopes that a few months of stalling will allow them to take office and fill the vacancies themselves. It's not pretty, but not surprising either.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But this presidency is different. Republicans are holding up everyone, and they're doing it during Obama's first year. Not a single appellate judge has gotten a vote yet. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; President Obama has appointed former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska) as co-chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board. Hagel is the <A HREF="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_10/020675.php">seventh Republican named to a high-level White House position</A>, further proof that Obama is the most divisive, partisan, Marxist, fascist President America's ever had and he refuses to have anything to do with Republicans <nobr>--</nobr> or at least, that always seems to be the Republicans' line.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Back here in reality, meanwhile, Obama is always, always, always reaching a friendly hand to the rightwingers, which by nature of human anatomy means that the Left sees only his backside and buttocks. &nbsp;&nbsp; <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Senator Joseph Lieberman (R-Connecticut) says he'll <A HREF="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/65203-lieberman-says-public-plan-must-be-off-the-table-to-win-his-vote">filibuster health care reform</A> if it includes a public option and blah blah, please nudge me if I fall asleep. Every pundit and blogger who's Dem-friendly is furious but why waste the emotion? What's the surprise? He's Joe Lieberman, and whatever label he wears, he's been a Republican for decades, working against whatever decent Democrats want, but he's always welcome to caucus with Democrats because ... well, I've never figured that out. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Congressman Paul Broun (R-Georgia) has <A HREF="http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/102409/new_508293130.shtml">introduced legislation to privatize Medicare</A>. It's not going to happen, of course, but this is Broun waving his freak flag for the other freaks. He's best known for comparing Obama to Hitler and stating that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (<font color="#cccccc">D</font>-California) and Senator Harry Reid (<font color="#cccccc">D</font>-Nevada) are plotting martial law for America, so what it probably means is that Broun's about to announce he's running for President. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Congressman Alan Grayson has apologized for calling a lobbyist a whore</A>, and it just makes me roll my eyes, almost as much as <A HREF="http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/143565/grayson_issues_apology_for_calling_woman_a_%22%3Bwhore,%22%3B_weiner_apologizes_for_calling_grayson_bad_food_--_and_why_they%27re_both_jerks">this politically correct response</a>. Yes, whore is a "gendered term" and ought to be used only rarely and accurately, but let's get real <nobr>--</nobr> the word is also a synonym for lobbyist (female or male) and you can count me as one woman who wasn't offended when it's used in that way. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; A <A HREF="http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=cqmidday-000003230928">gas station owned by former President Jimmy Carter's dead brother Billy</A> will become a national historical site. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee say that the Central Intelligence Agency <A HREF="http://thehill.com//homenews/house/65027-pelosi-claim-that-cia-lied-validated-by-intel-panel">has lied to Congress at least five times since 2001</A>. Will there be any repercussions or prosecutions? Perhaps you misunderstood <nobr>--</nobr> these are <I>Democrats</i>. These are people like Senator John Kerry (D-Massachusetts), who's been in DC since Reagan was President but remains so stupid, ignorant, or corrupt that he's saying he's <A HREF="http://washingtonindependent.com/65561/john-kerry-does-not-like-being-misled">surprised he was lied to</a>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; This is <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrPCicGcoIQ">an amusing ad from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee</A>, recasting the nonstop-no Republicans as a PC in a Mac commercial. It's amusing, that is, so long as you don't remember how willingly, almost eagerly the Democrats have capitulated to almost all of the Republicans' "no"s. <!-- =stupidity --> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-California) has sent <A HREF="http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/10/28/schwarzenegger_sends_a_message.html">a cleverly vulgar veto message</a>, which seems like something a character in a Schwarzenegger movie might do. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; A spokeswoman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says they're investigating how an actor hired by Kentucky Fried Chicken and dressed as <A HREF="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6444738/KFCs-Colonel-Sanders-tricks-his-way-into-UN-to-pose-for-official-photo.html">Colonel Sanders breached UN security</A> for an unannounced photo op handshake with the president of the UN General Assembly.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I think I can explain it: The actor's white, old, and doesn't appear at all Muslim, and to a lot of people's mindset that's far more important than any security check. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XivhwO_zWWg&;;">I wonder how many times this dog had to be beaten</A> before it learned to reject treats "from Obama". <!-- =personal --> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; You've seen <I>National Geographic</i>'s instantly iconic photo of grieving chimpanzees at the passing of an elder chimp, but to fully appreciate it you need to <A HREF="http://blogs.ngm.com/blog_central/2009/10/the-story-behind-our-photo-of-grieving-chimps.html">read the backstory</a>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <I>A brief note from the editrix:</I>&nbsp; I like blogs, especially well-written little blogs that don't get the attention they deserve. If you're reading or writing a good blog on news or politics or a great blog on just about any other topic and it's not a blog everyone in the world's heard of, I'd appreciate it if you'd <A HREF="mailto:unknownnews@inbox.com">let us know</A>. <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="58%" align="right"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><BR><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="6%" background="http://www.unknownnews.org/vertical.jpg">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="94%" class="fonta"><A NAME=nndb></A>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; You might not know about <A HREF="http://www.nndb.com/people/278/000178741/">Erle P. Halliburton</A>. <!-- =hattip --><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; A tip o' the hat to <A HREF="http://www.jrmooneyham.com">JR Mooneyham</A>, <A HREF="http://www.fivethirtyeight.com">fivethirtyeight.com</A>, <A HREF="http://eb-misfit.blogspot.com/">Just an Earth-Bound Misfit,&nbsp;I</A>, <A HREF="http://unreasonablefaith.com/">Unreasonable Faith</A>, Sherri&nbsp;B., Cassandra, Joseph&nbsp;D., Joe&nbsp;G., Lon Garm, J.S. (not the Watergate felon) Magruder at <A HREF="http://whynotresist.blogsome.com/">Why Not Resist?</A>, SirJ, Bill&nbsp;T., Wig, the letter Z, big-time mags <A HREF="http://www.motherjones.com/"><i>Mother Jones</i></A> and <A HREF="http://www.thenation.com/"><i>The Nation</i></A>, and <A HREF="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/"><i>Washington Monthly</i></a>, big time blogs <A HREF="http://crooksandliars.com/">Crooks & Liars</A>, <A HREF="http://mediamatters.org/">Media Matters</A>, <A HREF="http://thinkprogress.org/">ThinkProgress</A>, our first home at <A HREF="http://pitas.com/">pitas.com</a> (1999-2003), and the love of my life (who prefers to remain anonymous). <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <i>Updated today:</i>&nbsp; Our <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/cops.html">bad cops page</A>, <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/dialogue.html">daily dialogue</A>, <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/debunk.html">it's been debunked</A>, and <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/mysterylinks.html">mystery links</A>.&nbsp; <i>Next update:</i>&nbsp; Probably&nbsp;Monday, or sooner if something big and newsy happens. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span></DIV></TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="3%" class="fonta">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="97%" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=2><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonta" bgcolor="#eeeeee"><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="110" align="right"><tr><TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="font18"><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/dialogue.html"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/dialogue-bubbles.jpg" border="0" width="110" height="110"></A></td></tr></table><center><B><i>Dialogue</i></b></center><BR><SPAN class="fonta">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>We welcome readers' comments, questions, or criticisms. Just send us an email &#60;<A HREF="mailto:unknownnews@inbox.com">unknownnews at inbox.com</A>&#62;, and if it adds to the dialogue we'll publish it.</i>&nbsp; <span class="fonty"><i>If that email address ever fails you can also reach us at <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/contact.html">these back-up addresses</A>.</i></span> <BR><BR><center><HR NOSHADE width="200"></center><BR> <!-- =comments= --><I>Comments on previous entries:</I><BR> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#27HP602"><FONT COLOR=blue> Heidi Papademetriou replies to Wig</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about a lesbian's tuxedo</div> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#28MT349"><FONT COLOR=blue> Mark T. replies to Helen & Harry</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about newborn DNA collection</div> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#28SB424"><FONT COLOR=blue> Sherri B.&nbsp; replies to Helen & Harry</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about authentic parents</div> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#28SB403"><FONT COLOR=blue> Sherri B. replies to Wig</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about the lesbian in a tuxedo</div> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#28SB417"><FONT COLOR=blue> Sherri B. replies to Wig</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about white guys and terrorists</div> </TD></TR></TABLE></TD></TR></TABLE><BR></td></tr></table> <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.org/horizontal.jpg" border="0" width="265" height="20"></div> <!-- =dialogue= --> <A NAME=29SB933></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29SB933><font color=black><BIG><B>On the public option</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Steve B.</b><BR><BR>First I'd like to compliment you on the wonderful site. I've read it for a while now regularly. You offer news and comment without ranting. Thank you.<BR><BR>There are lots of alternative health care plans from around the world being discussed now. I'd like to mention one about which I've seen very little in the news or the blogs.<BR><BR>I have lived in Germany for the last twenty years. Their system deserves a bit of attention. It bridges the "socialistic" NHS in England and the scorched-earth, capitalistic system now in America and may be more palatable to the public as a whole. There is a "gesetzliche Krankenkasse" (a public, mandated health insurance) that everybody, with very few exceptions, has to belong to. It covers basically everything. It is regulated by the government and provided by private companies. Its coverage is very good on all counts, but if you wish you can add other policies privately. It's administered just the way that American Social Security works: It is deducted as a percentage of your salary with your employer matching your contribution. There are systems in place for self-employed artists that take the place of your employer, and there are no exceptions or restrictions for prior or present conditions. The effect that it has on the on the health care system as a whole is huge.<BR><BR>An anecdote: In 1996 I suddenly had Pneumonia. It showed no noticeable symptoms until it became life-threatening. I was one of those who fell through the cracks and showed up at the emergency room, unable to breathe and without insurance. They put me into the intensive care unit and kept me under sedation for about a week while they pumped various ugly fluids out of my lungs and kept me on an intravenous diet of antibiotics. Then a week under observation and I was discharged. There were questions of how I would pay for the bill, and I was afraid I would be financially ruined. When I finally received the bill it was about $4000 complete--hospital, doctors, drugs, everything! Except for the "Drainage" there was no operation, and except for antibiotics and observation there wasn't much to be done, but what would a week in intensive care and a further week in the hospital have cost in America?<BR><BR>Wouldn't a plan like that be of interest to Americans? It's regulated and mandated, and you can extend it (at extra cost) to your heart's and pocketbook's content. The insurance companies are constantly complaining (from their penthouses and Mercedes) that there isn't enough money to go around, and they occasionally get rate hikes. The demographics and longer life spans coupled with lower birth rates just about require that, but the system works. People get health care and don't go bankrupt. It even includes mental health, nursing homes (Kur) and alternative medicine (Acupuncture, Chiropractic, etc.) with appropriate paper work from your GP. It works. Enough said. Thanks for your time, and keep up the good work, Steve B <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29SB933"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- r --> <A NAME=29SB933-HH></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29SB933-HH><font color=black><B>Reply from Helen & Harry:</B></font></A><i><BR><BR>Sure sounds good to me. Sounds like a health care system, something America doesn't have.<BR><BR>Oh, and as for the price of a week in intensive care in an American hospital, I can't even hazard a guess, but the answer is undoubtedly bankruptcy. When I was in the emergency room for about half an hour a few years ago the bills came to several thousand dollars. </i><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29SB933-HH"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=29TL809></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29TL809><font color=black><BIG><B>Doctorow does it again</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Theo Lipschitz</b><BR><BR>New <A HREF="http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/28/makers-my-new-novel.html">Cory Doctorow novel</a>, available by <A HREF="http://craphound.com/makers/download/">free downloads</a>!<BR><BR> They'll probably have this at your local library... eventually...if you care to dare the public cold and flu viruses... I went to the libary last Friday at 9AM and it was "baby day" with a big read-aloud, mommies with baby carriages...it was like a baby convention...there was a murmuring roar of babies at all times...SCARY... and on Monday I came down with a virulent cold...was doing fine all morning reading and walking outside by the pool, then in the afternoon, bang, all stuffed up, and the rest is history.<BR><BR>Anyway, I liked his last book VERY much -- <A HREF="http://craphound.com/littlebrother/download/"><I>Little Brother</i></A>, his best to date. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29TL809"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- r --> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=29EI848></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29EI848><font color=black><BIG><B>Corporate crimewave twofer, government aiding and abetting</B></BIG></font></a><BR>by<b> Emma Ibbers</b><BR><BR>GM's (ex) finance unit, GMAC, is asking for a third bailout. Supposedly, GMAC was vital to the US auto industry... According to Bloomberg, the US will <I>not</i> force management changes... (You've got to be shitting me! This is corporate welfare. If we don't see hundreds of executives headed to Sing Sing soon, then this whole fucking thing is a fraud and the American people have just cause to call up their representatives and go bugfuck apeshit about the ongoing crime wave in the government.)<BR><BR><A HREF="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&;sid=a7d8lS35GYvw">GMAC may receive third bailout from U.S. government</A><BR><BR>Another crime against humanity... OK, fine, the vaccine may work but with a high incidence of deadly side effects. HOWEVER, prescribing the vaccine to young children in the absence of safety trials is criminal, and I predict this is going to cause projectile vomiting one day in the Merck boardroom. <br><br><center><img src="http://unknownnews.org/horizontal.jpg" border="0" width="100" height="20"></center><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonta"> <A HREF="http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/10/25/top_stories/doc4ae4b76d07e16766677720.txt">Gardasil researcher drops a bombshell</A><BR><BR><I>Excerpt:&nbsp;</I> Dr. Diane Harper, lead researcher in the development of two human papilloma virus vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, said the controversial drugs will do little to reduce cervical cancer rates and, even though they re being recommended for girls as young as nine, there have been no efficacy trials in children under the age of 15.&nbsp;...<BR><BR>However, at this point, Dr. Harper dropped an even bigger bombshell on the audience when she announced that,  There have been no efficacy trials in girls under 15 years. Merck, the manufacturer of Gardasil, studied only a small group of girls under 16 who had been vaccinated, but did not follow them long enough to conclude sufficient presence of effective HPV antibodies.<BR><BR>This is not the first time Dr. Harper revealed the fact that Merck never tested Gardasil for safety in young girls. During a 2007 interview with KPC News.com, she said giving the vaccine to girls as young as 11 years-old  is a great big public health experiment. <BR><BR>At the time, which was at the height of Merck s controversial drive to have the vaccine mandated in schools, Dr. Harper remained steadfastly opposed to the idea and said she had been trying for months to convince major television and print media about her concerns,  but no one will print it. </TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29EI848"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- r --> <A NAME=29EI848-HH></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29EI848-HH><font color=black><B>Reply from Helen & Harry:</B></font></A><i><BR><BR>I'm doubtful about your second article, about Diane Harper and HPV vaccines. It's probably a descendant of the misleading </I>London Express<i> article <A HREF="http://www.gardasilhpv.com/2009/10/dr-diane-harper-badly-misquoted-on.html">rebutted rather reasonably here</a>. At <A HREF="http://www.med.umkc.edu/informatic_medicine/Faculty/harper.shtml">Harper's website</A> she mentions having contributed to the development of Cervarix and Gardasil, which is different from the article's first-sentence claim that she was "lead researcher", and made me question everything that followed.<BR><BR>I'm also doubtful because the newspaper, </I>The Philadelphia Bulletin<i>, is not what most folks would consider a serious newspaper; it's an underfinanced once-weekly revival of a daily paper that ceased publication decades ago. The article's author is <A HREF="http://www.lhla.org/breaking-news/brinkmann-bio.htm">Susan Brinkmann</a>, who seems to be wildly Catholic <nobr>--</nobr> she's a staff writer at something called </I>Living His Life Abundantly & Women of Grace<i>, she's big on "building up the Church and tearing down the culture of death", and she wrote a book purportedly debunking the work of Alfred Kinsey.<BR><BR>I don't know enough about Gardasil to have much of an opinion, but I've marveled at the drug's quick and widespread acceptance and use and I'm skeptical enough that if I had a daughter I'd do some research before subjecting her to the shot. I'm curious to know what Harper </I>really<i> has to say 'cuz she seems like a straight-shooter, but the </I>Express<i> seems to have mangled her words badly and I don't trust </I>The Bulletin<i>. I'm not curious enough to pester Doc Harper with an email, but her email address is at her website, if you want to ask her about the testing. </i><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29EI848-HH"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><A NAME=29EI849></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29EI849><font color=black><B>Reply from Emma Ibbers:</B></font></A><BR><BR> Well, I'm taking it as true-until-proven-otherwise. For one thing, viruses are hard to treat, at best. For example, why isn't there a vaccine for colds? And why doesn't Gardasil protect against all HPV? Also, I have lost faith in the "goodness" of most pharamceutical companies, and though I still own a couple hundred shares of Merck, I wouldn't consider buying more because this smells like another class action lawsuit coming.<BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29EI849"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><A NAME=29EI849-HH></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29EI849-HH><font color=black><B>Reply from Helen & Harry:</B></font></A><i><BR><BR>The story is plausible and we're agreed that the Big Pharma companies are criminal entities, but the author of that article is a nutball and for me that's a dealbreaker. </i><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29EI849-HH"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><A NAME=30SJ233></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#30SJ233><font color=black><B>Reply from SirJ:</B></font></a><BR><BR>Was Diane Harper the lead researcher or not? <A HREF="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/19/cbsnews_investigates/main5253431.shtml">CBS News refers to Diane Harper</a> as "one of the lead researchers for the Merck drug."<BR><BR>"Dr. Harper agrees with Merck and the CDC thatGardasil is safe for most girls and women. But she says the side effects reported so far call for more complete disclosure to patients. She says they should be told that protection from the vaccination might not last long enough to provide a cancer protection benefit, and that its risks <nobr>--</nobr>  small but real <nobr>--</nobr> could occur more often than the cervical cancer itself would." <BR><BR><A HREF="http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/10/25/top_stories/doc4ae4b76d07e16766677720. txt "><I>The Philadelphia Bulletin</i>'s article</a> appears remarkably similar to <A HREF="http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/mos/mos_159gardasilvaccine.html">this from lifeissues.net</A>, which is carefully footnoted. The text of the controversial London Express article is available at <A HREF="http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=138519.0">Prison Planet</A> . You can easily see that the Bulletin article is no decendent of the <I>London Express</i>' writeup. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#30SJ233"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div> <A NAME=30SJ233-HH></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#30SJ233-HH><font color=black><B>Reply from Helen & Harry:</B></font></A><i><BR><BR>If she was the lead researcher Dr Harper would probably say so on <A HREF="http://www.med.umkc.edu/informatic_medicine/Faculty/harper.shtml">her web page</A>, and she doesn't. I'm interested in what she has to say about Gardisol, but only when I can believe that what I'm reading is what she's had to say, and sorry SirJ, but at lifeissues.net and prisonplanet.com I don't believe much of anything. As I was telling <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#28MT349-HH>Mark T.</a> on a different topic a few days ago, I'm not going to spend (waste) much time on wingnut websites.<BR><BR>But there's a but! But <A HREF="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/19/cbsnews_investigates/main5253431.shtml">that CBS News article</a> you sent is helpful, and aids my understanding of Dr Harper's complaints. Appreciated, definitely. </i><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#30SJ233-HH"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Friday, Oct. 30, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><A NAME=31SJ851></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#31SJ851><font color=black><B>Reply from SirJ:</B></font></a><BR><BR> Dr. Harper doesn't need to toot her horn on her webpage. Others do it for her, as this excerpt from <A HREF="http://www.nvic.org/Events/speakers.aspx">http://www.nvic.org/Events/speakers.aspx</A> demonstrates:<BR><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonta"> Dr. Harper has participated in the national guideline meetings to discuss the implications of HPV on women s cervical health over the past 10 years. It is from these three major guidelines that all the professional societies, ACOG, AAFP, AAP, etc., have developed their society-specific guidelines for cervical cancer screening.<BR><BR>Dr. Harper is the leading international expert on HPV vaccines having worked with both Merck and GSK to develop Gardasil and Cervarix in phase II and phase III trials. She has published the sentinel work on both vaccines and is an on call consultant to WHO for HPV vaccine policy in developing countries. She serves as an international grant reviewer for the UK and for the EU Research Councils. She has been instrumental in guiding the course of HPV vaccination around the world.</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR> The following two excerpts match the Bulletin's write-up on Harper's statements about the HPV vaccine. They don't strike me as wing-nut websites.<BR><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonta"> <A HREF="http://health.usnews.com/blogs/on-women/2009/03/30/is-gardasil-more-effective-in -older-teens.html:">Is Gardasil more effective in older teens?</A><BR><BR><I>Excerpt:&nbsp;</I> Harper told me then that the vaccine's efficacy hadn't been tested in anyone under age 16, and she wasn't sure whether it even worked in preteens.</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT"VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonta"> <A HREF="http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/503/27/">HPV vaccine researcher blasts mandatory marketing</A><BR><BR><I>Excerpt:&nbsp;</I> Dr. Harper, a scientist, physician, professor and the director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Research Group at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth Medical School in New Hampshire, said: "It is silly to mandate vaccination of 11 <nobr>--</nobr> to 12-year-old girls There also is not enough evidence gathered on side effects to know that safety is not an issue."<BR><BR>All of her trials have been with subjects ages 15 to 25. "This vaccine has not been tested in little girls for efficacy. At 11, these girls don't get cervical cancer <nobr>--</nobr> they won't know for 25 years if they will get cervical cancer."<BR><BR>Dr. Harper said, Merck was required to put together a database on the efficacy in children beforeGardasil was approved. But instead, the company put together four study sites that "are not necessarily representative, and may not even have enough numbers to determine what they need to know."<BR><BR>She believes the ideal way of administering the new vaccine is to offer it to women ages 18 and up. At the time of their first inoculation, they should be tested for the presence ofHPV in their system. If the test comes back negative, then schedule the follow-up series of the three-part shots.<BR><BR>But if it comes back positive? "Then we don't know squat, because medically we don't know how to respond to that," Harper said.<BR><BR>She said that vaccinating little girls now is not going to protect them later. Since it can take a decade or more to even manifest itself asdysplasia, the HPVs against which this vaccine works may infect a little girl at the age she needs the vaccine most <nobr>--</nobr > meaning she will have to have a booster at the right point in time or she will not be protected. And, remember, it won't work at all if she was positive for the virus when she was inoculated in the first place.<BR><BR>Merck knows this, Harper said. "To mandate now is simply to Merck's benefit, and only to Merck's benefit," she said. Dr. Harper said, she's been trying for months to convince major television and print media to listen to her and tell the facts about the usefulness and effectiveness of this vaccine. "But no one will print it," she said.</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#31SJ851"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div> <A NAME=31SJ851-HH></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#31SJ851-HH><font color=black><B>Reply from Helen & Harry:</B></font></A><i><BR><BR>We're agreed that the relative merits and dangers of Gardasil for young girls are out of whack. That's unknown news that merits reading and sharing, and it's <A HREF="http://health.usnews.com/blogs/on-women/2009/03/30/is-gardasil-more-effective-in -older-teens.html:">the </I>US News & World Report<i></A> article that we'll be linking to. Thanks for sending it.<BR><BR>To me there's a mile-wide difference in credibility between <i>US News</i> on one hand and the article, author, and </i>The Bulletin</I> on the other, but if you don't see the difference or don't think the difference is important that's OK too. Agreement is not required. </i><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.orgre/0910-26.html#31SJ851-HH"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><A NAME=01SJ300></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#01SJ300><font color=black><B>Reply from SirK:</B></font></a><BR><BR>Of the articles I've linked to, I would rate the CBS article as the best. The US News article is very good, but I don't believe a sentence late in that article, "Certainly, it's fine to follow the government's recommended guidelines to get girls vaccinated at the preferred age of 11 or 12" is reflective of Dr. Harper's views.<BR><BR>This is what Dr. Harper said in <AHREF="http://www.offtheradar.co.nz/vaccines/34-merck-hpv/53-researcher-diane-harper-blasts-gardasil-hpv -marketing.html">offtheradar.co.nz</a>: "This vaccine should not be for 11 year old girls", she reiterated. "It's not been tested in little girls for efficacy. at 11, these girls don't get cervical cancer - they won't know for 25 years if they will get cervical cancer." <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#01SJ300"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=29Wig152></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29Wig152><font color=black><BIG><B>Government phishing</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Wig</b><BR><BR><A HREF="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/27/iraq-nuclear-reactor-programme">Iraq goes nuclear with plans for new reactor programme</A><BR><BR>Isn't this where we came in? <br><br><center><img src="http://unknownnews.org/horizontal.jpg" border="0" width="100" height="20"></center><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonta"> <A HREF="http://www.alternet.org/rights/143461/how_could_it_be_against_the_law_to_spread_public_information_/">How could it be against the law to spread public information? </A><BR><BR><I>Excerpt:&nbsp;</I> "In Iran, demonstrators were lauded for using it," he said. "Now that it is being used here for identical purposes it is being criminalized."</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR>In the police state the government has the freedom. This fellow's crime reminds me of the motorist flashing his headlights to inform oncoming traffic that a patrol car is ahead laying hidden to catch speeders .While the driver flashing his headlights considers himself doing a good deed for a fellow driver the police consider the practice aiding and abetting a criminal act. <br><br><center><img src="http://unknownnews.org/horizontal.jpg" border="0" width="100" height="20"></center><BR> <A HREF="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/29/republicans-seek-probe-of-white-house-perks/?source=newsletter_must-read-stories-today_photo_feature">Republicans seek probe of White House perks</A><BR><BR>Aside from the baloney hype of a transparent profile, the Republican claptrap about investigating the White House after the zzzzzzzz they offered during the Bush/Cheney secret operation is laughable. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#29Wig152"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- r --> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=28BL1114f></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28BL1114f><font color=black><BIG><B>The national Ponzi scheme</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Blulady</b><BR><BR>Re <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28BL1114">America's economy is about 60% Ponzi scheme</A><BR><BR>I have forgotten where you guys live, but from here in Washington State it feels like the national Ponzi scheme is about 60% of the economy... and then there is the underground economy: drugs and trading: about 25%. Doesn't leave much for the rest of us to live on does it. We have 1% of the national wealth, and 98% of the population must live on that. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28BL1114f"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- r --> <A NAME=28BL1114f-HH></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28BL1114f-HH><font color=black><B>Reply from Helen & Harry:</B></font></A><i><BR><BR>Sure seems to me that Tim Geithner is doing far more damage than Charles Ponzi ever did. At least Ponzi gave his marks the opportunity to say no, and only swindled those who bought his line. Geithner et al are swindling all of us.<BR><BR>Oh, and we live in Wisconsin, but we forget it too, sometimes. </i><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28BL1114f-HH"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><A NAME=28BL11115></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28BL11115><font color=black><B>Reply from Blulady:</B></font></A><BR><BR>As the stand in for Alan Greenspan, he's doing what he was sent in to do. <I>Rape the USA.</i> <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28BL11115"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div> <HR NOSHADE> <!-- LAST THING and DAILY DIALOGUE BREAK --><center><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/frames-short.html" height="32" width="600" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></center><HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=28Wig1127></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28Wig1127><font color=black><BIG><B>Always the fly in the ointment</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Wig</b><BR><BR><A HREF="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/lieberman-sure-id-filibuster-a-health-care-reform-bill.php?ref=fpblg">Lieberman: Sure, I'd filibuster a health care reform bill with a public option</a><BR><BR>Did anyone think Lieberman would do otherwise/ Actually I don't care because the so called public option being offered is a sham. The only thing that makes any sense as health care reform is the single pay concept. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28Wig449"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV><!-- r --> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=28RH431></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28RH431><font color=black><BIG><B>Bordered on the absurd</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Robert H.</b><BR><BR>Re <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28RH428>Bongwater conviction in Minnesota</A><BR><BR>Minnesota's highest court must have been high when they ruled that 2-1/2 tablespoons of bong water constituted an illegal mix of drugs. This was based on the testimony of a narcotics officer that bong water is often saved to be drank or injected by the user. The minority dissent wrote that the ruling "does not make sense and bordered on the absurd". The lady facing the charges is now facing a seven year prison term rather than a $300.00 fine. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28RH431"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV><!-- r --> <A NAME=28RH431-HH></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28RH431-HH><font color=black><B>Reply from Helen & Harry:</B></font></a><i><BR><BR>Hopefully the publicity over this stupidity will make someone somewhere in the state's judiciary stop and reconsider. Do keep us posted, please. </i><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28RH431-HH"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=28SB357></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28SB357><font color=black><BIG><B>New names</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Sherri B.</b><BR><BR>This isn't new. My husband's grandpa (Italian) did the same thing <nobr>--</nobr> for the military. <BR><BR><A HREF="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_trouble_in_taos">Hotel owner tells Hispanic workers to change names</A> <BR><BR><center><img src="http://unknownnews.org/horizontal.jpg" border="0" width="100" height="20"></center><BR> I must make it a point to get my hands on whatever it is these people are smoking.<BR><BR><A HREF="http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20091027/pl_politico/28764">What if Bush had done that?</A><BR><BR>I just love it... <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28SB357"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV><!-- r --> <A NAME=28SB357-HH></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28SB357-HH><font color=black><B>Reply from Helen & Harry:</B></font></a><i><BR><BR></i>Politico<i> is a Republican house organ, they have crap like this every day and it's just a waste of time to even bother debunking it. </i><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28SB357-HH"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV><A NAME=28SB358></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28SB358><font color=black><B>Reply from Sherri B.:</B></font></A><BR><BR>I didn't even want to debunk it. Just looking at it makes me contemplate acid. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#28SB358"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><HR NOSHADE> <!-- LAST THING and DAILY DIALOGUE BREAK --><center><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/frames-short.html" height="32" width="600" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></center><HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=27KR302></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27KR302><font color=black><BIG><B>The "Czar list"</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Ken R.</b><BR><BR>I received this in an email from a family member thought it might be something you guys might want to look into if you haven't already. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27KR302"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV><!-- r --> <A NAME=27KR302-HH></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27KR302-HH><font color=black><B>Reply from Helen & Harry:</B></font></a><i><BR><BR>Appended under your email is a long list of President Obama's "czars", with some Fox News-style overwrought exaggeration about how "The O Man has greatly increased the number of 'Czars'" and why this is worrisome. It isn't. <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/debunk-frame.html#20090906">This is a non-issue</a>. Picture me sighing but I am </i>trying<i> to be cordial and polite. As a rule I don't pay attention to emails that spread lies, and I would suggest that you also pay no attention to emails that spread lies.<BR><BR>In skimming toward the bottom of your email to see if you or someone had added something to suggest that you know you're being lied to, I noticed that the email's authors are spreading at least three vile and sickening lies about Kevin Jennings, an Obama appointee who's in charge of making schools safer for kids. The claim that Jennings counseled a 15-year-old who was having sex with an adult was <A HREF="http://mediamatters.org/research/200910050018">debunked about a month ago</a>, but being demonstrably untrue doesn't stop smears. I won't bother addressing the email's other smears about Jennings, since they're so over-the-top implausible that, cordially, only a fool could believe them. </i><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27KR302-HH"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV><A NAME=27KR303></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27KR303><font color=black><B>Reply from Ken R.:</B></font></a><BR><BR>I assure you I did not put this together. It was sent by a family member that lives in California and they go out of there way in that state to discredit Obama any chance they get.<BR><BR>I only sent you this because I am a big fan of your website and I thought it would be something you could look into, and discredit or confirm, which you have done. When I first saw it that was the very thing I thought of was fox snooze. I did a little investigating myself and found nothing to give this any credit.<BR><BR>I thank you for your time on this. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27KR303"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV><A NAME=27KR303-HH></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27KR303-HH><font color=black><B>Reply from Helen & Harry:</B></font></a><i><BR><BR>Ah, thanks so much for not taking my grumpiness personally. Some days I get so weary of all the crap and today's one of them but no insult was intended. Big hug! </i><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27KR303-HH"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=27JK607></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27JK607><font color=black><BIG><B>Let them eat cake</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Jeff Koyre</b><BR><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonta"> <A HREF="http://vdare.com/roberts/091025_next_crisis.htm">Are you ready for the next crisis?</A><BR><BR><I>Excerpt:&nbsp;</I> Evidence that the US is a failed state is piling up faster than I can record it.<BR><BR>One conclusive hallmark of a failed state is that the crooks are inside the government, using government to protect and to advance their private interests.<BR><BR>Another conclusive hallmark is rising income inequality as the insiders manipulate economic policy for their enrichment at the expense of everyone else.&nbsp;...<BR><BR>The Banksters are still in charge.<BR><BR>Is there another country in which in full public view so few so blatantly use government for the enrichment of private interests, with a coterie of "free market" economists available to justify plunder on the grounds that "the market knows best"?<BR><BR>A narco-state is bad enough. The US surpasses this horror with its financo-state.<BR><BR>As Brooksley Born says, if nothing is done, "it ll happen again."<BR><BR>But nothing can be done. The crooks have the government.</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR> Between all of *this* and Obama's coverups of Bush crimes of torture, etc., there is no escaping the *fact* that Obama is an unindicted criminal nominally in charge of a massive criminal enterprise armed with nuclear bombs. His words amount to lies in the face of his deeds. When he appears on TV turn off the sound unless you want to receive the latest dose of propaganda from a mafioso. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27JK607"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV><!-- r --> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=27Willow615></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27Willow615><font color=black><BIG><B>Public officials ignorantly wagering w/public money</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Willow</b><BR><BR>This article just completely outrages me:<BR><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonta"> <A HREF="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&;;sid=aBarSkIcch2k">Back-door taxes hit Americans with public financing in the dark</A><BR><BR><i>Excerpt:&nbsp;</I> Salvatore Calvanese, the treasurer of Springfield, Massachusetts, for four years, had a ready defense for why he risked $14 million of taxpayer money on collateralized-debt obligations laden with subprime mortgages in 2007.<BR><BR>He didn t know what he was buying, he says, and trusted the financial professionals who sold them and told him they were safe.<BR><BR> I thought they were money markets that were just paying more, Calvanese said in an interview.  Nobody ever used the term  CDO, and I am not sure I would have known what that was anyway. &nbsp;...</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR> Anyone playing at home wises up quickly after getting "cornholed" a few times. It ain't funny losing your own money because you were a big stupid dummy. That's how the game is supposed to go, with Rules, and Consequences For Actions; capital migrates from the dumb, stupid shits to the informed, smart(er) people. But to have these clusterfucks in the public arena is an outrage. These schmoes should be taken out behind the barn... and then get fed to the hogs... Salvatore Calvanese should be standing on the street holding a tin cup begging.<BR><BR>Caveat Emptor -- Let the buyer beware -- is a very old saying. Doesn't anyone pay attention to the Rules of the Games they are playing anymore? OK, fine, every generation needs to go through their "learning process". After that, well, getting charged overdraft fees and 29% interest on credit cards can be blamed on the customers as much as the banks. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#27Willow615"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></DIV><!-- r --> <HR NOSHADE> <!-- LAST THING and DAILY DIALOGUE BREAK --><center><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/frames-short.html" height="32" width="600" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"&nbsp; frameborder="0"></iframe></center><HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=26></A><!-- =unk --><BR> <!-- Eric Holder --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="149" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/HolderEric.jpg" alt="Attorney General Eric Holder" border="1" width="134" height="89"><BR><BR></td></tr></table> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#26><font color=black><BIG><B>Why call it the Justice Department,<BR>when justice is obviously not what it's about?</B></BIG></font></a> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Email evidence shows that the US Justice Department's prosecution of Charles Walker, a Georgia state official, <A HREF="http://harpers.org/archive/2009/10/hbc-90005967">was coordinated by Republican Party operatives</A>. As with the blatantly obvious but ignored evidence of torture, and as with several other politically-motivated prosecutions during the Bush-Cheney administration (<A HREF=http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/10/hbc-90001343>Paul Minor</A>, <A HREF=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/us/22justice.html>Don Siegelman</A>, etc.), Obama's Justice Department has given a free pass to the crimes of the Justice Department.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; And so it's no surprise that William Welch, who headed the Justice Department's botched prosecution of Former Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/21/AR2009102101899.html?hpid=topnews">won't be fired</A>. Instead he's been reassigned to Massachusetts. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey has <A HREF="http://jonathanturley.org/2009/10/21/mukasey-our-laws-brought-about-9-11-attacks/">come out against the American justice system</A>. Seriously. His position is no surprise, but the notion that he's comfortable saying it out loud reflects the increasingly worrisome tenor of our times. <BR><BR><!-- Hooray!--><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="116" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/hooray.jpg" alt="Hooray!" border="0" width="101" height="117"></td></tr></table> &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_lawmakers_extend_hate_crime_shie_10222009.html">Hate crimes legislation including protections for gays and lesbians has passed both houses</A>, and will be signed into law by President Obama. This is an important accomplishment, a historically happy moment, and we're suspending our general distaste for Democrats for the next ten minutes. Oh, wait&nbsp; <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; In the underreported small print of the Justice Department's long-delayed decision to stop prosecuting medical marijuana users, <A NAME=health></A> <table border="0" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="60%" align="right"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><BR><TABLE CELLPADDING="8" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=1><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonta"><center><B><i>Health care hell in America</i></B></center> <!-- health --><table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="122" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/healthish.jpg" alt="health care sucks in America" border="0" width="102" height="127"></td></tr></table> <BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Congressman Alan Grayson (D-Florida) was mistaken to compare Republicans' cruelty on health care to Neanderthals. The anthropological evidence suggests that Neanderthals, unlike Republicans, <A HREF="http://afarensis99.wordpress.com/2009/09/30/an-open-letter-to-rep-alan-grayson/">took care of the sick and injured</A>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; I try to tune out all the inside chatter on what exact form the final sell-out on health care reform will take, since you really can't rely on inside chatter. For whatever it's worth, though, the chatter says Senator Harry Reid (<font color="#cccccc">D</font>-Nevada) is pushing <A HREF="http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/10/23/health.care/">a public option that would let individual states opt out</A>, while President Obama (<font color="#cccccc">D</font>-White House) reportedly wants to slide back to the "trigger" idea, letting Americans keep dying for lack of medical care for at least several more years. And for whatever a denial is worth, <A HREF="http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/10/white_house_denies_report_that_it_wants_to_weaken_public_plan.php">the White House denies it</A> -- but given everything we've seen from the Obama administration, I seriously don't know what a White House denial is worth.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And of course, <A HREF="http://rawstory.com/2009/10/public-option-managed-private-insurance-company/">if there is a public option it'll be run by a private insurance company</a>, and of course, <A HREF="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-patients19-2009oct19,0,4630224,full.story">there's nothing in the proposed legislation that will address the insurance industry's pattern of claims denial</A>, and of course, whatever's worthwhile in this bill won't take effect until 2013, after Republicans have had two elections to try to take back Congress and repeal the legislation. And of course, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who has inexplicably been the focal point of all debate for months, says <A HREF="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/64603-snowe-indicates-health-vote-may-not-occur-before-christmas">we might have a few months more debate</a> before the final turd of health care reform is dropped from the Congressional anus.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If that final turd is the disappointment we're all pretty much expecting, how eager are <I>you</i> going to be to work for these <font color="#cccccc">Democrats</font> in the next election?<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What a golden opportunity the Democrats have dribbled away, and amazingly, most of them don't understand what they're about to do to themselves. If they had passed real health care reform written with an eye toward actually getting health care to uninsured Americans, Democrats could have run and won on just that accomplishment for generations. Instead they've put Big Money first, and they're putting the finishing touches on "reform" that will leave millions without health care and require Americans to funnel huge portions of their paychecks to the killer insurance cartel.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If health care reform is as ugly as it looks like it's going to be, the Dems will probably lose their nominal "control" of Congress in 2010. When millions of the young and the healthy realize that they're required by law to pay painful premiums for insurance they never wanted, "Democrat" will become the Ford Pinto of electoral politics, and a generation of Americans will have a powerful and expensive new incentive to vote Republican.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Mere hours after writing the above I came across someone saying the same thing far better, in the visual style of <A HREF="http://whiskeyfire.typepad.com/whiskey_fire/2009/10/public-option-please.html">a campaign ad</a> that ought to be on the television right now. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Health insurance companies are <A HREF="http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=28682">already planning their next round of whopping huge rate increases</A>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; It's harder to be opposed to a public option when it's <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju8LZkkQgGM">portrayed by Heather Graham</A>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-New York) has <A HREF="http://weiner.house.gov/news_display.aspx?id=1364">published a list of the 55 Republicans</A> in Congress who oppose a public option while on Medicare themselves. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Big drug companies are <A HREF="http://www.newshoggers.com/blog/2009/10/drug-companies-are-selling-your-prescription-information.html">selling your prescription information</A>. </td></tr></table></td></tr></table> we see that it's largely empty words. <A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/19/MNO01A7S79.DTL">Even those who are clearly complying with a state's law can be investigated and prosecuted</A> in the pursuit of "important federal interests", says the same deputy attorney general who authored the memo.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And those "important federal interests" will apparently be left to the discretion of individual prosecutors, many of whom have inexplicably been carried over from the Bush-Cheney administration.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And the deputy AG, David Ogden, adds that people currently facing federal prosecution for medical marijuana despite being in compliance with state laws will <I>not</i> be find any breathing room in his announcement, because nothing will change in current prosecutions.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Is there anything the Obama administration can do on anything that isn't half-assed in the extreme? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; The CEO of General Motors, Fritz Henderson, gets a nifty raise to <A HREF="http://www.reuters.com/article/ousivMolt/idUSTRE59M0YW20091023">$5.45 million</A>, presumably because GM is doing so very, very well. Sure glad Obama's got a Pay Czar on the case, except, of course, Obama's pay czar is AOK with this.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And <A HREF="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/10/cit_ceos_wife_is_angry_at_bara.html">the wife of the resigning CEO at CIT Group is grumbling</A> about how mean the Obama administration has been in forcing lower pay onto the executives at firms that would be out of business if not for the federal government's bailout billions.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Daniel E. Fass, who's apparently a Democratic Party operative, explains, "<A HREF="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/Financial-giants-donating-little-to-Obama-and-Democrats/articleshow/5142908.cms">The investment community feels very put-upon</A>. They feel there is no reason why they shouldn t earn $1 million to $200 million a year, and they don t want to be held responsible for the global financial meltdown." And so it goes, on and on.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I flat-out <I>never</i> advocate violence, and I'm not advocating it now, and anyway, ginormous paychecks to goombahs like Henderson and Peek are mere raindrops in the accumulating flood that's going to sweep away much of the American economy. But I do understand the public mood, apparently better than the people who claim to be wizards at understanding the public mood, so I seriously wonder if folks like Henderson and Peek understand how close they are to having their heads hoisted on pikes. <!-- =civil liberties --> <A NAME=28RH428></A><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; The good news is that a sane, sensible judge in Minnesota has said no to a county prosecutor's absurd decision to charge a woman with a first-degree felony that carries an <A HREF="http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2009/10/bong_water_is_a.php">86-month prison term for possession of <nobr>2 1/2</nobr> tablespoons of bong water</A>. The bad news is, it was a three-judge panel and the sane, sensible judge was in the minority. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Tom Morello, Jackson Browne, and several other rock-n-rollers have filed Freedom of Information Act forms to find out <A HREF="http://blog.aclu.org/2009/10/22/tortured-tunes/">how their music was used to torture prisoners at Guantanamo</A>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Here's a happy civil rights win: Raghbir Singh, a Sikh fired by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for refusing to shave his beard and remove his turban, <A HREF="http://www.fresnobee.com/265/story/1680851.html">gets $50,000</A>, and more importantly, DHS agrees to step into the 20th Century and abandon such discriminatory policies.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; You'll be unsurprised to learn that Senator John <A HREF="http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/174221/mccain_moves_to_block_fcc_net_neutrality.html">McCain (R-Arizona) has proposed legislation to end net neutrality</a>, which would allow giant corporations to pay extra to have their content delivered at top speed on-line, while people who can't pay extra  like you and me, or a mom & pop hardware store trying to compete with Home Depot  will find their websites loading much more slowly. McCain is also the current Congress's <A HREF="http://www.pcworld.com/article/174280/surprise_mccain_biggest_beneficiary_of_telcoisp_lobby_money.html">#1 recipient of contributions from telecom and ISP lobbies</A>. And he's said he doesn't know how to use email.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Considering what a daily disappointment the Obama administration has become, maybe it's worth remembering that things could have been worse, with President McCain and Vice President Palin. <A NAME=quote></A> <table border="0" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="60%" align="right"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><BR><TABLE CELLPADDING="8" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=1><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="40" class="fonty"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/thinker.jpg" alt="'The Thinker' statue" border="0" width="40" height="40"></TD><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" class="fonta"><I><B>It made me stop&nbsp;and&nbsp;think</B></I></TD><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="40" class="fonty"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/quesplanation.jpg" alt="Stop and think" border="0" width="40" height="40"></TD></TR></TABLE> <i><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Counting warheads, ICBMs, mid- and long-range missiles, ABMs, tactical nukes, bunker-busters and submarine-based weaponry, the full nuclear arsenal of Iran at this moment is very rapidly just beginning to quite possibly approach a number just short of one! That makes them almost as deadly as the rogue nation of Whoville or the Islamic Republic of Candyland!" <DIV align="right"><A HREF="http://fafblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/q-our-threatiest-threat.html">Fafnir</A></div></i> <br><center>== &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; == &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ==</center> <i><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Sure, vaccines carry risk. You know what else is risky? Not getting vaccinated. Americans aren t real good at thinkin or math but it amazes me that they can t figure out which is riskier: taking a flu vaccine and accepting the 1% odds of getting sick or taking one s chances standing in line at the Post Office in front of a tubercular hillbilly hacking the contents of his esophagus in your general direction." <DIV align="right"><A HREF="http://www.ginandtacos.com/2009/10/19/purity-of-essence/">GinandTacos.com</A></div></i> <br><center>== &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; == &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ==</center> <i><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I have trouble listening to what [Cheney] says sometimes because of the blood that drips from his teeth while he's talking. ... He's just angry because the president doesn't shoot old men in the face. But by the way, when he was done speaking, did he just then turn into a bat and fly away?" <DIV align="right"><A HREF="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/24/rep-grayson-calls-cheney-a-vampire/">Rep Alan Grayson</A> (D-Florida)</div></i> <br><center>== &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; == &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ==</center> <i><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Don t bother looking for Goldman s results from commercial banking. They don t exist. Goldman has resolutely stated that it has no intention of changing its  banking model , which means no intention of getting into the traditional banking business of making loans to companies and individuals. This despite the fact that it probably owes its very survival to an agreement from the government in September last year to allow it to convert into a commercial bank.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "This begs the critical question: Why is the government allowing Goldman Sachs to function this way? It now has access to the Fed discount window and lender of last resort facilities, it gets funding from the Fed at close to zero percent, it is no longer subject to market runs on its stock because the FDIC backs up its deposits, and supposedly it is now visited routinely by Fed examiners who can see exactly what is going on. Yet there is not a peep of objection from the Fed, the Treasury, the White House, or even Congress about a soi-disant investment bank now converted into a commercial bank, which openly disdains any suggestion it should act like a commercial bank, which is struggling in its traditional investment banking businesses, and which is still allowed to make money hand over fist through outright speculation and what we might call 'trading with advantages'." <DIV align="right"><A HREF="http://agonist.org/sean_paul_kelley/20091015/a_leech_on_the_body_politik#comment-197700">Numerian</A></div></i> <br><center>== &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; == &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ==</center> <i><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Who is more familiar to contemporary American eyes, a general cum politician with common sense and some small measure of humanity, or a bunch of opportunistic profit seekers scrambling to make a buck, regardless of the consequences? Which character type is today more celebrated, more envied, and more sneakily admired? Which type shanks his way up to the highest peaks of American public life?<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Which type now makes the rules?<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Who are the real founding fathers?" <DIV align="right"><A HREF="http://donkeymountain.blogspot.com/2009/10/will-real-founding-fathers-please-stand.html">O Hollern</A></div></i> </td></tr></table></td></tr></table><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Judge John Grady (Ford 1975) has ruled, in keeping with precedent and common sense, that <A HREF="http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10380799-261.html">Craigslist can't be held liable</a> when prostitution services run ads on the website. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Governor David Patterson (D-New York) has <A HREF="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/10/health_workers_free_to_contrac.html">withdrawn his troublesome edict</A> ordering all health care workers to get flu vaccinations. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Oily billionaire T-Boone Pickens says that <A HREF="http://www.alternet.org/blogs/world/143465/oil_tycoon:_our_troops_died_..._we%27re_%22entitled%22_to_sweet_contracts_in_iraq!">American companies are entitled to Iraqi oil</A> because American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines died to steal it. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; There's this thing called the First Amendment which ought to ensure that nobody gets <A HREF="http://www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-story-fbomb-jail-102109,0,6382017.story?track=rss">prosecuted for using profanities</A>, but this principle is not well understood in Kansas. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://michiganmessenger.com/28587/house-anti-abortion-activists-introduce-fertilized-egg-is-person-amendment">A fertilized egg is a human being</A>, according to a constitutional amendment being pushed by Republicans in Michigan. <!-- =business=wall street=economy=corporations --> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; While he was US Secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson <A HREF="http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2009/10/20/the-secret-paulson-goldman-meeting/">secretly met with Goldman Sachs' board of directors in Moscow</a>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; What is the deal that allows Goldman Sachs to operate in the bloodsucking manner it does? I don't have an answer to that question, but <A HREF="http://agonist.org/sean_paul_kelley/20091015/a_leech_on_the_body_politik#comment-197700">I'm not sure I've ever seen the question asked better than this</A>, from Numerian, a commenter at The Agonist. Click and read, you won't regret it. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Elizabeth Warren, the straight-shooter with oversight but no authority over Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), should <A HREF="http://trueslant.com/matttaibbi/2009/10/22/elizabeth-warren-for-president/">run for President against Barack Obama in 2012</A>. That's Matt Taibbi's heartfelt suggestion, and I dunno if she'd be interested or for that matter whether she'd have any aptitude for the non-economic parts of the job. But she doesn't seem to speak Bullsh*t, which is Obama's native tongue, so the nomination has a definite appeal.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As Taibbi says, "We need someone in there who is willing to run on this one issue: who owns the Democratic Party? Is it the voters, or is it Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley and United Health Care?"<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Meanwhile Neil Barofsky, the guy with authority over TARP but little interest in oversight, notes correctly what's been flamboyantly obvious from the start, that <A HREF="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/21/tarp-chief-banks-possibly-in-more-danger-now/">it's an insane and counterproductive strategy</a> to prop up big banks that ought to be bankrupt and instead allow these "too big to fail" banks to actually grow even bigger by buying smaller troubled banks. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Congressman Alan Grayson (D-Florida) keeps asking the Federal Reserve's lawyer, and not quite getting an answer, <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXmNpdYpfnk&">Does the Fed manipulate the stock market or futures market</A>, or claim the authority to do so?<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I like Congressman Grayson quite a lot and he's clearly a sharp cookie asking exactly the kind of questions that are rarely asked, and I do hope he takes commercial flights, not charter planes, when he's traveling to and from DC. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Bank of America is experimenting with <A HREF="http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2009-10-19-bank-of-america-card-fee_N.htm">a new fee for customers who don't incur extra fees</A>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Albertson's, the grocery chain, has been <A HREF="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/22/BA6U1A9D8H.DTL&tsp=1">ordered to pay an employee $200,000</A> for refusing an employee's request for a bathroom break until she peed herself at the checkout stand. ... <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091109/scahill/">The war crimes case against Blackwater/Xe</A> will proceed. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Under pressure from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the misleadingly-named <A HREF="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gDCuco2ZrYlOeXDmo89lfIQMn4xQD9BH39802">Smart Choices will suspend its ad campaign</a> that preposterously claims crap like Kellogg's Fruit Loops and Cracker Jack are good for you. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Congressman Alan Grayson (D-Florida) continues kicking butt, and this time <A HREF="http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/alan-grayson-v-paul-broun">it's the rosy cheeks</A> of <A HREF="http://www.nndb.com/people/506/000179966/">Congressman Paul Broun</A> (R-Georgia). <!-- =world --> <BR><BR><!-- =Afghanistan --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="65" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagAfghanistan.gif" alt="Afghanistan" border="1" width="50" height="30"></td></tr></table> &diams;&nbsp; Will the soldiers we train in Afghanistan end up trying to kill us in the future? <A HREF="http://www.alternet.org/story/143382/will_the_soldiers_we_train_in_afghanistan_e%20nd_up_trying_to_kill_us_in_the_future_it%27s_happened_before?page=entire">It's happened before</A>. <BR><BR><!-- =Israel/Palestine --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="65" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagIsraelPalestine.jpg" alt="Israel/Palestine" border="1" width="50" height="30"></td></tr></table> &diams;&nbsp; After a UN report concluded that Israel had committed war crimes during the 22-day bloody assault on Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009, what would you expect the Israeli government to do? The report asked Israel to conduct its investigation, but, c'mon, you know better than that. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though, has gone beyond my cynical expectations  he's <A HREF="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jzYm9qJsFN5hXTCqOKrraGa6NgWQ">asking to have international law rewritten</A> so that the war crimes of Israel will no longer be war crimes. <BR><BR><!-- =Honduras --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="65" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagHonduras.gif" alt="Honduras" border="1" width="50" height="30"></td></tr></table> &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://inthesetimes.com/article/5084/casualties_of_the_bloodless_coup">There's been plenty of violence</A>, of course, in the so-called bloodless coup in Honduras. <BR><BR><!-- =UK=England --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="65" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagUK.jpg" alt="United Kingdom" border="1" width="50" height="30"></td></tr></table> &diams;&nbsp; Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, a British soldier who refuses to return to Afghanistan, <A HREF="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1222662/Solider-refuses-return-Afghanistan-accuses-politicians-betraying-armys-trust-anti-war-march-London.html">led a sizable protest against that war</A> in London on Saturday. <BR><BR><!-- =Pakistan --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="65" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagPakistan.jpg" alt="Pakistan" border="1" width="50" height="30"></td></tr></table> &diams;&nbsp; The Obama administration is <A HREF="http://ericmargolis.com/political_commentaries/flames-from-afghanistan-ignite-pakistan.aspx">sending mercenaries to protect America's new interests in Pakistan</A>, and building a massive 1000-person embassy as well as perhaps even new military bases. The situation appears to be explosive with general Pakistani "fear and loathing" of Uncle Sam's intentions for their country. Obama is out-stupiding Bush Jr.! <nobr><I>&nbsp; --Hazel Burke</i></nobr> <!-- =environment --> <BR><BR><!-- =Environment --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="65" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/flagGreenWorld.gif" alt="Take care of Mother Earth" border="1" width="50" height="40"></td></tr></table> &diams;&nbsp; <I>Ned Comer vs. Murphy Oil USA</i> is a lawsuit worth crossing your fingers over  it seeks to hold Murphy Oil Company liable for the global climate change that presumably added to Hurricane Katrina's strength and destructiveness. <A HREF="http://www.ogj.com/index/article-display/7089276925/articles/oil-gas-journal/general-interest-2/hse/2009/10/lawsuits-point_to.html">This industry coverage</A> notes that a similar lawsuit claiming damages over climate change in Alaska, filed against ExxonMobil by indigenous peoples, was dismissed and that, of course, dismissal is the general habit of courts in such cases, since directly linking cause and effect is a heck of a legal hurdle. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; According to a new poll, the number of Americans who view global climate change as a serious problem has collapsed by 20 points since 2006, <A HREF="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091022/ap_on_sc/us_climate_poll">from 77% to just 57%</A>. Propaganda works, and Big Oil and Big Business are spending a lot of money on their "it's a hoax" propaganda. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Generating electricity by burning coal is responsible for <A HREF="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/economy/story/77423.html">about half of an estimated $120 billion in yearly costs</A> from early deaths and health damages to thousands of Americans, a federal advisory group said Monday. Again, <I>"clean coal" my ass.</i> <!-- =journalism=media--> <BR><BR><!-- CNN --><table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="76" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/newslogo-cnn.jpg" alt="CNN" border="0" width="61" height="33"></td></tr></table> &diams;&nbsp; In a CNN interview with a Latino activist, <A HREF="http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/24/cnn-edits-dobbs/">the network edited out criticism of the network</A>. Civil rights attorney Isabel Garcia told CNN that "the two most dangerous men" to Latino communities are Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio and CNN's Lou Dobbs  and CNN aired the interview, with that comment edited out. You don't need to check with the Columbia School of Journalism to figure out that this is <i>extremely</i> poor, Fox-level journalism. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; To push its position for more military intervention in Afghanistan, <A HREF="http://www.truthout.org/1022097">a <I>Washington Post</i> editorial lied</A> last week, imagining a different history of Afghanistan than the history provided by, you know, history. It's the present-day <I>Washington Post</i> so it's hard to be surprised, but Katherine Graham must be spinning in her grave. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; When a reader called <I>The Post</i> on its duplicity  supporting more unfunded war while opposing health care reform because it might increase the budget deficit  <I>The Post</i> responded at length, something I've always thought would be a good idea. Unfortunately but predictably, the paper's response is to offer a mountain of political clichés in lieu of any actual thoughtfulness.<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Simply put, it is the position of the <I>Washington Post</i> that the eight years and counting of war in Afghanistan is an emergency that makes any thought of the budget irrelevant, while the deaths of 40,000 Americans every frickin' year due to lack of insurance is not an emergency at all, and we must pinch pennies on that front because it isn't "fundamental to the defense of our people."<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There is no witty or witless aside I can offer that could further illuminate the emptiness of <I>The Post</i>'s flailing attempt at deep thinking. <A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/23/AR2009102303666.html">Read it yourself</A>, if you need a stinky reminder of the way most DC insiders see the world  and remember, an unwinnable war for nothing is an emergency, but your life is an expensive luxury we can't afford. <BR><BR><!-- Hannity --><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="135" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://unknownnews.org/tv-hannity.jpg" alt="Sean Hannity" border="1" width="120" height="80"><BR><BR></td></tr></table>&diams;&nbsp; Sean Hannity seems to think ads for churches and religious groups are forbidden in public transit. You'll be surprised, I'm sure, to learn that <A HREF="http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/24/hannity-god-ad/">he doesn't know what he's talking about</A>. Again. <BR><BR> &diams;&nbsp; Jake Tapper of ABC News can't seem to see <A HREF="http://mediamatters.org/blog/200910210003">how his employer is different from Fox News</A>. Which really says something about Jake Tapper. <!-- =politics=DC=Democrats=Republicans--> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; The legislation from Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota) that bars federal contracts with companies that block rape victims from suing their employers is <A HREF="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/22/frankens-anti-rape-amendm_n_329896.html">not yet a sure thing</A>. Military contractors are unleashing the full force of their lobbying might to have it squashed. Meanwhile, <A HREF="http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/rachel-maddow-show-indefensible">some of the Republicans who voted for rape have drawn heat</A> from constituents and local newspapers.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgqqSHr0wVA&">Franken's Q-and-A with a shill for Big Insurance</A> was yet another moment that caused me to reassess my previously lukewarm support for Franken. He sure seems to be evolving into a that rarity, a Democratic Party officeholder worth respecting. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Former Vice President Dick Cheney has something to say about the Obama administration. <A HREF="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/22/cheney-hammers-afraid-obama/">See if you can guess</A> what it might be. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; On those rare occasions when the Obama administration <A HREF="http://www.usnews.com/blogs/robert-schlesinger/2009/10/24/biden-on-cheney-criticism-who-cares.html">lets Vice President Joe Biden open his mouth</A>, I often like what he says. I wish we were hearing from Biden more often, about all the issues before us. The intent and end result of the <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/rwradicals.html">endless Republican smearing of Obama is to get him assassinated</a>, and it would be helpful in the transition if Biden wasn't effectively a stranger when he takes the oath of office. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (<font color="#cccccc">D</font>-Nevada) has 58 Democratic Senators plus two Independents who caucus with the Democrats  60 out of 100  and still he complains that "<A HREF="http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/10/21/harry-reid-lashes-out-at-republicans-after-senate-sinks-medicare/">Washington is being driven by a small number of people on that side of the aisle (meaning, Republicans)</A> that are preventing us from doing things that help the American people". <A HREF="http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/64117-reid-tells-colleagues-he-was-led-astray-by-the-ama">This schmuck couldn't lead his way</A> from the living room couch to the fridge for a beer. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; It's pretty obvious that Congressman Charles Rangel (D-New York) is a crook, and <A HREF="http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/gop_congressman_leading_fight_against_rangel_has_h.php#more">so's his chief accuser, Congressman John Carter (R-Texas)</A>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Republicans in Georgia have <A HREF="http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/23/georgia-republicans-send-census/">sent out a mass mailer disguised to look like official US census paperwork</A>. The letterhead says "2009 Congressional District Census" and it has an official-looking "Census tracking code".<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; And Republicans in Connecticut are dismayed that <A HREF="http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/22/twitter-connecticut-gop/">Twitter won't let them pretend to be Democratic officeholders</A>, but of course they plan to continue running their own websites pretending to be Democrats. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Where can we get a few million more Republicans who know the difference between right and wrong, <A HREF="http://jblaque.livejournal.com/736192.html">like Philip Spooner</A>? <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Hatemonger and general nutcase <A HREF="http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2009/10/22/neo-nazi-turner-sprung-from-jail-but-muzzled/">Hal Turner has been released from jail to home arrest</A>, with the stipulation that he can't go on-line or talk to the media. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Hulu is going to <A HREF="http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2009/10/hulu-to-charge-viewers-money-i.php">start charging for some or most content</A> next year. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Comic actor Tracy Morgan spent about 40 minutes chatting with Teri Gross on <I>Fresh Air</I> a few days ago, and it's every bit what you'd expect when <A HREF="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114009203">a smart but unbridled black man talks with America's whitest woman</a>. I couldn't help but laugh when she told him he's an angry man, because, of course, black people who speak at anything above a mellow newscaster's tone are <I>angry</i>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Yahoo has finally <A HREF="http://www.webuser.co.uk/news/top-stories/427768/yahoo-geocities-to-close-down">pulled the plug on GeoCities</A>. End of an era. When I first went on-line, <A HREF="http://geocities.yahoo.com/">GeoCities</A> was <I>the</i> place to go for free webhosting, especially for neophytes. We didn't go there, because it was already ghettoized as the land of amazingly ugly websites. We went to <A HREF="http://pitas.com/">pitas.com</a> instead, because it seemed less commercial and less likely to censor us. We eventually outgrew Pitas and got our own URL, but if you're at GeoCities and looking for a free but reliable alternative, we'd still recommend Pitas. <!-- =stupidity --> <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Ayn Rand is <A HREF="http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-18/ayn-rand-power-dressing/">getting a fashion makeover</A>. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://biobrain.blogspot.com/2009/10/but-he-hit-me-back.html">Here's the Democrats' perpetual quest for bipartisanship</A>, in a nutshell: "The other day, I walked up to an acquaintance of mine and punched him in the face. Then I had my two friends hold him down while I ate his lunch. And this guy, he had the temerity to threaten to hit us if we kept messing with him. The nerve! How does he expect us to all get along and be friends if he's going to insist upon being hostile to everyone who punches him in the face? He really needs to learn that if he wants us all to be friends, he needs to stop threatening us and do exactly what we tell him to do. Otherwise, he's just asking for trouble and the chance of friendship is zip." <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; Microsoft has introduced a new version of Windows, and <A HREF="http://www.balloon-juice.com/?p=28594">some people are buying it and installing it on their computers</A>. It sells for $100 or so, though I've seen ads offering it as cheap as $80. And that sounds about right. I'll install it on our computer, if Microsoft pays <I>me</i> $80 or so for my time and aggravation. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/juice/2009/10/rush_limbaugh_taxes_florida_texas.php">Rush Limbaugh says he'll move out of Florida</A> if the state raises its taxes. Discuss amongst yourselves. <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <I>A brief note from the editrix:</I>&nbsp; I like blogs, especially well-written little blogs that don't get the attention they deserve. If you're reading or writing a good blog on news or politics or a great blog on just about any other topic and it's not a blog everyone in the world's heard of, I'd appreciate it if you'd <A HREF="mailto:unknownnews@inbox.com">let us know</A>. <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="58%" align="right"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><BR><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="6%" background="http://www.unknownnews.org/vertical.jpg">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="94%" class="fonta"><A NAME=nndb></A>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; You might not know about <A HREF="http://www.nndb.com/people/578/000179041/">Marion Barton Skaggs</A>, patriarch of grocers. <!-- =hattip --><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; A tip o' the hat to <A HREF="http://www.jrmooneyham.com">JR Mooneyham</A>, <A HREF="http://jblaque.livejournal.com/">Blaque's Blog of Horrors</A>, <A HREF="http://biobrain.blogspot.com/">And Doctor Biobrain's Response Is...</A>, <A HREF="http://bobcesca.com/">Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog</A>, <A HREF="http://jonathanturley.org/">Jonathan Turley</A>, <A HREF="http://supergee.livejournal.com/">Arthur D. Hlavaty</A>, <A HREF="http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/">shakesville</a>, Sherri&nbsp;B., Cassandra, Joseph&nbsp;D., Joe&nbsp;G., Lon Garm, J.S. (not the Watergate felon) Magruder at <A HREF="http://whynotresist.blogsome.com/">Why Not Resist?</A>, SirJ, Bill&nbsp;T., Wig, the letter Z, big-time mags <A HREF="http://www.motherjones.com/"><i>Mother Jones</i></A> and <A HREF="http://www.thenation.com/"><i>The Nation</i></A>, and <A HREF="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/"><i>Washington Monthly</i></a>, big time blogs <A HREF="http://crooksandliars.com/">Crooks & Liars</A>, <A HREF="http://mediamatters.org/">Media Matters</A>, <A HREF="http://thinkprogress.org/">ThinkProgress</A>, and the love of my life (who prefers to remain anonymous). <BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &diams;&nbsp; <i>Updated today:</i>&nbsp; Our <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/cops.html">bad cops page</A>, <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/dialogue.html">daily dialogue</A>, <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/debunk.html">it's been debunked</A>, <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/mysterylinks.html">mystery links</A>, and <A HREF="http://unknownnews.org/rwradicals.html">the right-wing's calls to violence</A>.&nbsp; <i>Next update:</i>&nbsp; Probably Thursday, or sooner if something big and newsy happens. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#26"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;<BR>&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</span></div></TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <!-- =dialogue --><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="3%" class="fonta">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="97%" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=2><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonta" bgcolor="#eeeeee"><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="110" align="right"><tr><TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="font18"><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/dialogue.html"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/dialogue-bubbles.jpg" border="0" width="110" height="110"></A></td></tr></table><center><B><I>Dialogue</i></b></center><BR><SPAN class="fonta">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>We welcome readers' comments, questions, or criticisms. Just send us an email &#60;<A HREF="mailto:unknownnews@inbox.com">unknownnews at inbox.com</A>&#62;, and if it adds to the dialogue we'll publish it.</i>&nbsp; <span class="fonty"><i>If that email address ever fails you can also reach us at <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/contact.html">these back-up addresses</A>.</i></span> <BR><br><center>== &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; == &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ==</center><BR> <I>Comments on previous entries:</I><BR> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#24SO938"><FONT COLOR=blue> Sleepy but still awake replies to Asparagus</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about Jewish complaints <nobr>over Nazi namecalling</nobr></div> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#23SB8452"><FONT COLOR=blue> Sherri B. replies to SirJ</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about the "illegal alien" <nobr>Halloween costume</nobr></div> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#23SJ901"><FONT COLOR=blue> SirJ replies to Joanne</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about Westar Electric's <nobr>assault on Joanne</nobr></div> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#23Wig839"><FONT COLOR=blue> Wig replies to The Blue Rajah</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about President Carter's policies</div> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#25Wig1150"><FONT COLOR=blue> Wig replies to Helen & Harry</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about the lesbian <nobr>who wants to dress herself</nobr></div> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#23Wig744"><FONT COLOR=blue> Wig replies to Sherri B. and Elliot Cook</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about the lesbian <nobr>who wants to dress herself</nobr></div> <BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#23Wig836"><FONT COLOR=blue> Wig replies to Sherri B.</FONT></A> <DIV align="right">about white guys and terrorists</div> </TD></TR></TABLE></TD></TR></TABLE><BR></td></tr></table> <!-- =dialogue= --><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.org/horizontal.jpg" border="0" width="265" height="20"></div> <A NAME=ANCHOR></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#ANCHOR><font color=black><BIG><B>Explosive Situations--Heads Up</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> K-Bell Thomas</b><BR><BR> Here is a bona fide "heads up" alert from Jim Willie, a man who has been shown over and over again to be providing intel and making predictions that are/become Truth:<BR><BR> <A HREF="http://www.kitco.com/ind/willie/oct212009.html">Attack by Central Bank Lilliputians</A><BR><BR> The most critical intel for ASAP is Willie's discussion  near the end of the article  about the dubious gold and silver holdings of the primary ETF trusts, GLD and SLV. As the story has unfolded, various governments such as Hong Kong have repatriated their gold from London. This has created difficulties for the London exchange as more and more futures contracts are being held "for delivery". Willie is claiming that GLD shares have been used to satisfy short sales and further that gold bullion from the GLD trust has been sold off to the London exchange to satisfy long futures contracts.<BR><BR>It is apparent, even if Willie has one or more details slightly wrong, that there is much more "paper gold" in circulation than is backed by actual bullion in the vaults around the world. If/when this situation reaches the mainstream media, expect nuclear reactions  likely to include a skyrocketing spot price for physical gold!<BR><BR>Another thing Willie mentions, relevant because of recent financial fraud in the Western world, is that JP Morgan is the custodian of GLD and Barclays is custodian of SLV (and IAU); if you trust these "banks" then for sure, keep pouring money into these "exchange traded frauds" (ETFs). I think instead that gold mining shares, gold coins and  for trading  the CEF (centralfund.com) shares might be used instead of GLD/SLV/IAU. Don't wait too long to switch (though really, I would seriously ponder not buying new metals assets until there is some sort of correction closer to either the 50 day moving average (DMA) or the 200 DMA...).<BR><BR>The second fascinating topic in Willie's article is how the US Fed has painted itself into a corner with zero percent interest rates. Increasingly both private and central banks around the world are borrowing dollars at zero percent and investing the money elsewhere, like abroad, and in gold/oil/etc. Willie mentions also how variations of the carry trade exist, such as foreign governments are issuing their debt but repayable in dollars  in the future it may be that they will finance our debt repayable only in *their* currencies. At that point the dollar will be like a stick of dynamite with lit fuses at each end! The bottom line here is that if the Fed attempts to raise the zero percent interest rate, financial chaos will result, here and abroad! Banks, who were supposed to be loaning money in the US to finance the recovery will be caught out short the dollar and long speculative investments...in a repeat of our recent financial crisis! <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#ANCHOR"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- reply --> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=26Wig709></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#26Wig709><font color=black><BIG><B>A Rose by any other color...</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Wig</b><BR><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonty"><SPAN class="fonta"><A HREF="http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=65642">Army to phase in tan-colored Stryker vehicles</A></SPAN><BR><BR><I>Excerpt:&nbsp;</I> Over the years, there s been no satisfactory answer for the difference. The Army and its contracting agencies have been talking about changing the color of the Strykers since 2004, according to Butts,  but nothing firm was planned out until now.</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR> I wonder how Cheney rates this as "dithering"? <br><br><center>== &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; == &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ==</center><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonty"><SPAN class="fonta"><A HREF="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/25/baghdad-car-bombs-kill-ov_n_332968.html">Baghdad car bombs kill over 130</A></SPAN><BR><BR><I>Excerpt:&nbsp;</I> "Everyday, we hear statements from different government officials that our forces are ready to control the situation on the ground when the U.S. forces withdraw," Zahid Hussain Najim said. "But day after day it has been found that these officials are either liars or have no idea about what's going on outside their offices."</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR>The bombings are an everyday occurrence but only the biggest are being reported because they can't be glossed over. <br><br><center>== &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; == &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ==</center><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonty"><SPAN class="fonta"><A HREF="http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/64671-lieberman-health-bill-concern-not-based-on-states-insurers">Lieberman: Health bill concern not based on state's insurance firms</A></SPAN><BR><BR><I>Excerpt:&nbsp;</I> One unlikely ally of Lieberman s is state GOP Chairman Chris Healy, who said he agrees with the senator s skepticism about the bill and that he sees few faults in Lieberman s support for home-state interests.</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR>Although Lieberman is Connecticut voter's Trojan Horse, as far as the Senate's Democrat majority is concerned it's a case of "with friends like this who needs enemies". <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#26Wig709"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=26SS630></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#26SS630><font color=black><BIG><B>Mondale on the wall</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> SCREAMIN' STEVEN</b><BR><BR>CAN YOU BEGIN TO IMAGINE THE UPROAR AND CALLS OF TREASON WE'D HEAR IF SOME PAST VICE PRESIDENT HAD CRITICIZED THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION THE WAY VP CHENEY CRITICIZES THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION? IF WALTER MONDALE HAD OPENED HIS YAP LIKE CHENEY NEVER SHUTS HIS, HE'D STILL BE HANGING FROM A WALL AT GUANTANAMO WITH A BURLAP SACK OVER HIS HEAD. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#26SS630"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Monday, Oct. 26, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- reply --> <HR NOSHADE> <!-- LAST THING and DAILY DIALOGUE BREAK --><center><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/frames-short.html" height="32" width="600" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></center><HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=25RD525></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#25RD525><font color=black><BIG><B>Now that was a Democrat</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Rufus D.</b><BR><BR>Sweet Mary Joseph and Christchild I do get tired of these gol durn Democrats. When I was a young man a Democrat was a different animal, I swear, guys like Truman and Roosevelt talked tough and were tough and they were Democrats. I don't know what slimy swamp these present-day jellyfish crawled out of, but if Truman was alive again he'd make 'em all take a number and get in line so he could kick their sorry asses one at a time. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#25RD525"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- reply --> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=25NB510></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#25NB510><font color=black><BIG><B>Space lizard</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Not Bill Ayers but Wish I Was</b><BR><BR>I think maybe Obama is one of those space lizards David Icke is always talking about. Not really. But still. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#25NB510"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- reply --> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=25TC1253></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#25TC1253><font color=black><BIG><B>Fear sells well</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> The Canadian</b><BR><BR>Afghan election: The vote was clearly rigged by the UN and Allied political forces in favor of Karzai. These forces wished to continue the veneer of political stabilization. It took Western Europe centuries of social, economic and political turbulence to forge the ideal of representative democracy. How in the world do we expect a country like Afghanistan to adopt our form of democracy without a shred of historical foundation? In Afghanistan, realpolitik is the impetus of compromise and not a perfect ideal of democracy. Afghanistan is a hemorrhoid on the arsehole of the world.<BR><BR>Israeli/US War Games: This is the 10th annual Operation Juniper Cobra war exercise. They are generally defensive exercises. Nothing new. Within the context of the currently rising ME tensions, these war scenarios seem more ominous.<BR><BR>NASA & 2012: conflict of interest comment is quite funny! NASA, however, is correct. There is no truth to 2012; but fear sells well. The Earth will not be crossing through the centerof the Galaxy in 2012. <A HREF="http://www.idialstars.com/egp.htm ">Here is a good link</A> to explain why. <BR><BR>Nuclear armed terrorists: nice critical review by Sherri B. For the most part, the article is correct. A ragtag run of the mill terrorist organization would be extremely unlikely to be able to possess AND utilize a nuclear weapon. What the author of this article failed to consider was the use of a terrorist organization to act as a surrogate for an attack upon a nationstate by another nationstate / extremist elements within a nation state. For a terrorist organization to acquire a viable nuclear weapon with the trigger and sequence codes intact could only be accomplished with the assistance of a willing and or complicit nation state. Without the assistance of a nation state, a terrorist nuclear weapon would likely be a radiological/dirty bomb. (conventional explosives seeded with highly ionizing radioactive material. i.e. cesium, cobalt) <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#25TC1253"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- reply --> <HR NOSHADE> <!-- LAST THING and DAILY DIALOGUE BREAK --><center><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/frames-short.html" height="32" width="600" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></center><HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=24MG1249></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#24MG1249><font color=black><BIG><B>No sign of a backbone</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Margaret G.</b><BR><BR> After so many years of so many lies and smears from what Fox calls News, I'm enjoying that past few days, where Obama's people are describing Fox News as what it is. Finally. After so many years. Much as I'm enjoying it, though, I've seen no sign of a backbone from Obama so my prediction is, Obama's people cave within days or weeks. They'll either issue a straight apology to Fox News or, more likely, just start treating Fox like it's no different than the New York Times again. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#24MG1249"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- reply --><A NAME=24MG1249-HH></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#24MG1249-HH><font color=black><B>Reply from Helen & Harry:</B></font></a><I><BR><BR>If the White House backs down then Fox wins, and if Fox wins then Fox's lies gain much more credibility among Americans who aren't paying close attention and thus don't know better (which is most Americans), and Fox-style journalism continues its creeping takeover of what used to be mainstream journalism. With all their alleged smartness, I hope Obama's team understands what's at stake. </i><BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#24MG1249-HH"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; 24MG1249, Oct. 24, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=24SG1249></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#24SG1249><font color=black><BIG><B>Flawed logic</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Sven Goldstein</b><BR><BR> I just came across this blog posting (via <A HREF="http://whatreallyhappened.com/">WhatReallyHappened.com</a>), <A HREF="http://www.larkenrose.com/index.php?view=article&catid=38:tmds-blog&id=1926&tmpl =component&print=1&layout=default&page=">"Snickers: A Basic Human Right"</A>.<BR><BR>I sympathize with the author but his or her logic is flawed.<BR><BR>The author conflates "right" with "freedom" and builds an analogy between the "basic human right" to have healthcare and the right to have Snickers candy. The main flaw in the logic is exposed in this statement:<BR><BR><TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonty"><SPAN class="fonta"> "In other words, a 'right' is a purely NEGATIVE concept: something that should NOT be forcibly interfered with by anyone else. 'Rights' aren't a bunch of goodies that someone has to provide for you; they're the things that no one should STOP you from doing yourself."</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR> This is simply an error as the author would have discovered during a quick visit to the dictionary: <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonty"><SPAN class="fonta"><A HREF="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/right%5B2%5D">"Right"</A></SPAN><BR><BR><I>Definition:&nbsp;</I> 2 right Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English riht, from riht, adjective Date: before 12th century [...]2 : something to which one has a just claim: as a : the power or privilege to which one is justly entitled &#60;voting rights> <his right to decide&#62; b (1) : the interest that one has in a piece of property  often used in plural &#60;mineral rights&#62; (2) plural : the property interest possessed under law or custom and agreement in an intangible thing especially of a literary and artistic nature &#60;film rights of the novel&#62;</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR> Just to make it *perfectly* clear as to how the right to vote is not a "purely negative concept", in order for me to exercise my "right" to vote, someone must provide an election, ballots, and ballot counting. Thus, my "right" to vote obliges the "state" to provide me voting services and elections. How meaningful would a "democracy" be if it operated according to the principle of "one person, one vote, one time"?<BR><BR>According to the dictionary a "right" is a "just claim". I sympathize with the blog author that in a purely free country no one, not even the State would be obligated to provide free food, clothing, shelter or anything else, especially to lazy-ass, no good, collectivist parasites. However, at the level of pragmatism, let us also consider the web of obligations -- the "just claims" -- which citizens are already operating under. For example, the State has assumed the authority to say who and who cannot practice medicine, and in fact has given the AMA the authority to restrict the supply of "doctors". Likewise with every other healthcare related service and product. It is a crime to practice medicine without a state-issued medical license. Since that is the case, the absolute human right to freely purchase goods and services from the marketplace has been severely interfered with by the state, thus affecting costs and availability. Similarly with access to money to purchase these things; the state restricts who can work, when, how and what they can do. And of course, the state is constantly debasing the value of money with inflation and excess money printing, which interferes with the property claims of money owners (thus damaging their access to healthcare.)<BR><BR>Although I sympathize with the blog posting's author, I also feel that he/she should not have harshly criticized the logic of others. Apparently the blog entry was written in a moment of radical excitation without access to constructive criticism. I hope we have provided that now... <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#24SG1249"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- reply --> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=24Wig1210></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#24Wig1210><font color=black><BIG><B>Obama's "dithering"</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Wig</b><BR><BR><TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonty"><SPAN class="fonta"><A HREF="http://www.alternet.org/story/143382/will_the_soldiers_we_train_in_afghanistan_e%20nd_up_trying_to_kill_us_in_the_future_it%27s_happened_before?page=entire">Will the soldiers we train in Afghanistan end up trying to kill us in the future? It's happened before.</A></SPAN><BR><BR><I>Excerpt:&nbsp;</I> There is a record here. It's not a pretty one. It's not a smart one. Someone should take it into account before we plunge in and arm our future enemies one more time.</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR>Will Obama's "dithering" pay dividends? <br><br><center>== &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; == &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ==</center><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" bgcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonta"><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonty"><SPAN class="fonta"><A HREF="http://www.alternet.org/workplace/143485/nightmare_in_america:_after_the_billionaires_plundered_alabama_town,_troops_were_called_in/?page=entire">After the billionaires plundered Alabama town, <nobr>troops were called in ... illegally</nobr></A></SPAN><BR><BR><I>Excerpt:&nbsp;</I> Meanwhile, over in Jefferson County, Ala., there's so little left to steal from the impoverished locals that Wall Street has been forced to come up with a new, grotesquely evil plan to line their pockets: taxing the local residents for <A HREF="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20670001&sid=a6QpSf.s4NaA">taking a sh*t</A>.</TD></TR></TABLE></TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="25" class="fonty">&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE><BR>As one of the prologue introductions to the Lone Ranger radio program "....we return to yesteryear ...." so goes the new "Robber Barons" rape of America. While this article concerns the situation in Alabama, the same rape goes on nationwide. I'm somewhat ambivalent in my feeling for the Southerners who find themselves in this predicament. For years they snickered about the luring away of business from the northern states by tax abatements and right to work laws. Now they have been left in the lurch by those industries fleeing to even more generous enticements elsewhere globally. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#24Wig1210"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- reply --> <HR NOSHADE> <!-- LAST THING and DAILY DIALOGUE BREAK --><center><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/frames-short.html" height="32" width="600" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></center><HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=23SB709></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#23SB709><font color=black><BIG><B>Big Medicine</B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Sherri B.</b><BR><BR><A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/health/22nami.html">Drug makers are advocacy group s biggest donors</A><BR><BR>I am not suggesting that anyone go off meds  at all. I just want people to see the motivation some groups have to "suggest" that staying on meds for a lifetime is the way to go. <br><br><center>== &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; == &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ==</center><BR> <A HREF="http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/143447/is_the_military_ignoring_its_heroin_problem_in_the_ranks?page=entire">Is the military ignoring its heroin problem in the ranks?</A><BR><BR>Water is wet. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#23SB709"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- reply --> <HR NOSHADE> <A NAME=23Cassandra825></A><BR> <A HREF=http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#23Cassandra825><font color=black><BIG><B>Helpful </B></BIG></font></a><BR> by<b> Cassandra</b><BR><BR>Re <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html#23Cassandra825f">44% of Americans approve legalization of pot</A><BR><BR>I used to work for a social services agency that dealt with drug and alcohol offenders, and my boss was pro-marijuana. She thought it less harmful than alcohol and helpful for people with anxiety problems. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><SPAN style="background-color:#eeeeee">&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-26.html#23Cassandra825"><font color=blue>Permalink</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="#comments"><font color=blue>Comments?</font></A> &nbsp;&nbsp;|&nbsp;</SPAN></div><!-- reply --> <HR NOSHADE> <!-- LAST THING and DAILY DIALOGUE BREAK --><center><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/frames-short.html" height="32" width="600" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></center><HR NOSHADE> <BR><center>|&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/">Our home page</a> &nbsp;|&nbsp; <A HREF="http://unknownnews.org/RSSfeeds/dailyRSS.xml">RSS feed</a> &nbsp;|&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.twitter.com/unknownnews">Twitter</a> &nbsp;|&nbsp; <A HREF="mailto:unknownnews@inbox.com">Email: unknownnews@inbox.com</A> &nbsp;|</center> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR> <TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" WIDTH="23%" class="fonta"> <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0910-16.html"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.org/leftarrow.jpg" alt="arrow pointing left" border="0" width="75" height="11"><BR>Older entries</A> </TD><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" WIDTH="54%" class="fonta"><BR> Compiled by Helen&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;Harry&nbsp;Highwater<BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.org/logo.gif" alt="Welcome to UNKNOWN&nbsp;NEWS" width="150" height="31" border="0"></A><BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/">unknownnews.org</A></TD><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" WIDTH="23%" class="fonta"> <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/0911-02.html"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/rightarrow.jpg" alt="arrow pointing right" border="0" height="10" width="75"><BR>Newer entries</A></TD></TR></TABLE> <BR><center><HR NOSHADE width="535">Recommended sites for gathering unknown or underreported news:<BR> &nbsp;<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://mediamatters.org/">Media&nbsp;Matters</A>&nbsp; &nbsp;<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.propublica.org/">Pro&nbsp;Publica</A>&nbsp; &nbsp;<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://thinkprogress.org">ThinkProgress</A>&nbsp; &nbsp;<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/">Washington&nbsp;Monthly</A>&nbsp; &nbsp;<A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.truthout.org/">TruthOut</A>&nbsp; <HR NOSHADE width="535"></center><BR> <A NAME=thanksmore></A><center><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="300" border=0><TR> <TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonty"> <center><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/support-wide.html" width="600" height="550" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></center></TD></TR></TABLE></center> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="2%" class="fonty">&nbsp; </TD><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="96%" class="fonty"> © &nbsp;Helen & Harry Highwater and the individual authors.</center> </TD><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="2%" class="fonty"><!--WEBBOT bot="HTMLMarkup"startspan ALT="Site Meter"--><script type="text/javascript"language="JavaScript">var site="sm4unknownnews"</script><script type="text/javascript"language="JavaScript1.2" src="http://sm4.sitemeter.com/js/counter.js?site=sm4unknownnews"></script><noscript><A HREF="http://sm4.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=sm4unknownnews"target=_top><img src="http://sm4.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=sm4unknownnews&refer=&hours=8&minutes=53&rtype=4" border=0 title="Site Meter" height="10" width="10"></A></noscript><!-Copyright (c)2000 Site Meter --><!--WEBBOT bot="HTMLMarkup"Endspan --></TD></TR></TABLE> </TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="5" BGcolor=white class="fonttnr">&nbsp;</TD> </TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="5" BGcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonttnr">&nbsp;</TD> <TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="310" BGcolor="#eeeeee" class="font14"> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="300" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" WIDTH="48%" class="font14"><BR> <!-- Translation--> <form action="http://www.google.com/translate" ><script language="JavaScript"> <!-- document.write ("<input name=u value="+location.href+" type=hidden>") // --></script> <input name="hl" value="en" type="hidden"> <input name="ie" value="UTF8" type="hidden"> <input name="langpair" value="" type="hidden"> <input name="langpair" value="en|ar" title="Arabic" src= "http://unknownnews.org/flagArab.gif" onclick="this.form.langpair.value=this.value" height="16" type="image" width="23" border=1> <input name="langpair" value="en|zh-CN" title="Chinese" src= "http://unknownnews.org/flagChina.gif" onclick="this.form.langpair.value=this.value" height="16" type="image" width="23" border=1> <input name="langpair" value="en|fr" title="French" src= "http://unknownnews.org/flagFrance.gif" onclick="this.form.langpair.value=this.value" height="16" type="image" width="23" border=1> <input name="langpair" value="en|de" title="German" src= "http://unknownnews.org/flagGermany.gif" onclick="this.form.langpair.value=this.value" height="16" type="image" width="23" border=1> <input name="langpair" value="en|it" title="Italian" src= "http://unknownnews.org/flagItaly.gif" onclick="this.form.langpair.value=this.value" height="16" type="image" width="23" border=1><BR> <input name="langpair" value="en|ja" title="Japanese" src= "http://unknownnews.org/flagJapan.gif" onclick="this.form.langpair.value=this.value" height="16" type="image" width="23" border=1> <input name="langpair" value="en|ko" title="Korean" src= "http://unknownnews.org/flagKorea.gif" onclick="this.form.langpair.value=this.value" height="16" type="image" width="23" border=1> <input name="langpair" value="en|pt" title="Portuguese" src= "http://unknownnews.org/flagPortugal.gif" onclick="this.form.langpair.value=this.value" height="16" type="image" width="23" border=1> <input name="langpair" value="en|es" title="Spanish" src= "http://unknownnews.org/flagSpain.gif" onclick="this.form.langpair.value=this.value" height="16" type="image" width="23" border=1> </form> </TD><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="middle" WIDTH="52%" BGcolor="#eeeeee" class="font13"> <A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/RSSfeed.html"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/RSS-button.gif" alt="Subscribe to our RSS feed" border="0" width="72" height="54"></A>&nbsp; <A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.twitter.com/unknownnews"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/twitter.jpg" alt="Follow us on Twitter" border="1" width="54" height="54"></A> </TD></TR></TABLE> <A NAME=casualties-box></A> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="290" border=0><TR> <TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" bgcolor=black WIDTH="100%" class="fonty"> <iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/casualtieslog.html" width="100%" height="115" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe> </TD></TR></TABLE> <A NAME=today></A><A NAME=wdwb></A><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="8" CELLSPACING="8" WIDTH="295" border=1><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="300" bgcolor=white class="fonta">Like the URL says, this website is about unknown news.&nbsp; We try to track news that merits more attention, only from mainstream, professional journalists, or (rarely) other sources we trust entirely.<BR><BR><center><BIG><B>What we believe</B></BIG></center><BR> We believe in liberty and justice for all, so of course, we oppose many US government policies. This doesn't mean we're anti-American, redneck scum, pinko commies, militia members, or terrorist-sympathizers. It means we believe in freedom, as more than merely a cliché. <BR><BR> We believe you have the right to live your own life as you choose, and others have the equal right to live <I>their</I> lives as <I>they</I> choose. It's not complicated.<BR><BR>We believe freedom leads to peace, progress, and prosperity, while its opposite -- oppression -- leads to war, terrorism, poverty, and misery. <BR><BR> We believe it's preposterously stupid to hate people because of their appearance, their race or nationality, their religion or lack of religion, how they have sex with other consenting adults, etc. There are far more apropos reasons to hate most people. <BR><BR> We believe in questioning ourselves, our assumptions, each other -- and we especially believe in questioning authority (the more authority, the more questions). We believe obedience is a fine quality in dogs and young children, but not in adults. <BR><BR> Like America's right-wingers, we believe in individual responsibility, hard work to get ahead, and stern punishment for serious crimes. We believe big government should not be blindly trusted.<BR><BR> But unlike most right-wing leaders, we mean it. <BR><BR> Like America's left-wingers, we believe in equal treatment under law, war as a last (not first) resort, and sensible stewardship of natural resources. We believe big business should not be blindly trusted.<BR><BR>But unlike most left-wing leaders, we mean it. <BR><BR> Like libertarians, we believe it's wrong and <I>reprehensible</i> to arrest people for what they think, believe, look like, wear, eat, smoke, drink, inhale, inject, or otherwise do to themselves. <BR><BR> But unlike many libertarians, we're not obsessed with the gold standard, we don't believe incorporation is humanity's highest achievement, and we don't believe everything in life comes down to dollars and cents. We've read and enjoyed Ayn Rand's novels, but we understand that they're works of fiction.<BR><BR> We're skeptical, and we're sick of so-called 'journalists' who aren't skeptical at all. <BR><BR>A reader asks, what are our solutions?<BR><BR>We propose no solutions except common sense, which is never common. We like the principles of democracy, and the ideals broadly described as 'American'. The US Constitution is a fine and workable framework for solutions, when it's actually read and thoughtfully understood by intelligent statesmen and women. So, no manifestos from us. We don't dream that big, and if there's one thing the world <i>doesn't</i> need it's yet another manifesto.<BR><BR>Our suggestion is: think.<BR><BR>A fact-based instead of faith-based approach leads to solutions for most of the recurring issues of our time, from abortion to global climate change, pollution to universal health care, careful but real regulation of industry and economy, hunger, war, terror, human rights for humans not for corporations, science not religious doctrine in public schools, equal protection and prosecution under law, etc. Approach problems without glorifying stupidity, without demonizing intelligence, and answers usually come into focus. <BR><BR> These pages are published by <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.net/bighowdy.html">Harry and Helen Highwater</A>, happily married low-income nom de plumes and rabble-rousers from Madison, Wisconsin (with a few friends scattered around the world helping out). <BR><BR> We try to spotlight news that hasn't gotten enough (or appropriate) attention in American media, along with our opinions and yours. <BR><BR> We bang our keyboards against the wall, because it doesn't hurt as much as banging our heads. <BR><BR><center><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/bighowdy.html"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/Highwaters-oldtime.jpg" border="3" width="199" height="277"></A></center><BR> <DIV align="right"><i><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/contact.html">Helen &amp; Harry Highwater</A></i> &nbsp; <BR><BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;(from <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/about.html">About <I>Unknown News</i></A>)&nbsp;&nbsp;</div> </TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <A NAME=comments></A><TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="295" border=2><TR> <TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonta"><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <B><I><font color=darkred>Got comments?</font></I></B><BR><BR> <center><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/dialogue.html"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/dialogue-bubbles.jpg" border="0" width="230" height="230"></A></center><BR><SPAN class="fonta">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>We welcome readers' comments, questions, or criticisms. Just send us an email &#60;<A HREF="mailto:unknownnews@inbox.com">unknownnews at inbox.com</A>&#62;, and if it adds to the dialogue <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/dialogue.html">we'll publish it</A>.</i><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="fonty"><i>If that email address ever fails you can also reach us at <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/contact.html">these back-up addresses</A>.</i></span></TD></TR></TABLE> <A NAME=thanks></A><BR><table cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" width="295" border=3><tr><td align="left" valign="top" width="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonta"><table border="0" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="140" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/thankyou.jpg" border="0" width="130" height="72"></td></tr></table> Sherri&nbsp;B., Mr.&nbsp;Chuckles, <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/Nursing-Mothers-Problem-Solver/dp/0684857847">Claire&nbsp;Martin</A>, <A HREF="http://www.jrmooneyham.com">JR&nbsp;Mooneyham</A>, SirJ, Siskiyousis, Wig, <A HREF="#thanksmore"><FONT COLOR=blue>everyone else who's helped</FONT></A>, everyone we've forgotten to mention, and the love of my life (who's asked to remain anonymous).</td></tr></table> <A NAME=help></a><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="8" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="295" border=0><TR> <TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" bgcolor=white WIDTH="100%" class="fonta"><center><B>You can help</b></center><BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If the news frustrates or angers you, please, <A HREF="http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml"><b>contact your elected officials.</b></A> Seriously. Perhaps it sounds hokey and futile, but someone on the other end will actually take your call or read your letter and pay attention to what you say &#151; and if you say it well you can make a difference.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A helpful hint:&nbsp; Sending a letter on paper or making a phone call takes more time and might cost a little more than sending an email, which is why <A HREF="http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa020199.htm"><b>a well-written letter</b></A> or a well-rehearsed phone call is <i>more effective</i> than an email.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As for our work on the website, we try <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="72" align="right"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="right" width="100%"><BR><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/begging.jpg" border="0" width="62" height="110"></td></tr></table> not to whine too much or too loudly, but we are poor and this site eats a lot of time and especially <I>money</I>. Just a buck or two can make all the difference and help keep <I>Unknown News</I> alive.<BR><BR> <center><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/donations.html">Donations</A> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/advertising.html">Sponsorships</A><BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/stickers.html">Stickers and stuff for sale</A><BR><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/subscriptions.html">Subscriptions</A> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/wishlist.html">Wish list</A><BR> <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/credits.html">Thank you</A><BR><BR> <A HREF="https://secure.aclu.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2125&2125.donation=form1&s_src=UNW080001C00&s_subsrc=getinvolvedmenu_join_hp&JServSessionIdr006=wnbcqvc7x1.app20a"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/aclu_logo.gif" border="3" alt-"American Civil Liberties Union" width="190" height="74"></A><BR><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="220" border=1><TR> </TD><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonty"> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="50" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"> <A HREF="https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?id=36"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/thumbtack.jpg" border="0" width="40" height="40"></A> </td></tr></table><BR> <A HREF="https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?id=36">Help ACORN fight<BR>the Right-wing's&nbsp;lies</A><BR><BR></TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR> <TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="3%" class="fonty"> </TD><TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="49%" class="fonty"> <A HREF="http://article31.org/"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/article31.gif" border="1" width="148" height="70"></A> </TD><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="4%" class="fonty"> </TD><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="37%" class="fonty"><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=1><TR> <TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="middle" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonty"> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="50" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"> <A HREF="http://www.actblue.com/page/blueamerica08"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/thumbtack.jpg" border="0" width="40" height="40"></A> </td></tr></table> <BR><A HREF="http://www.actblue.com/page/blueamerica08">Act<BR>Blue</A><BR><BR> </TD></TR></TABLE> </TD><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="7%" class="fonty"> </TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="295" border=2><TR> <TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonty"> <TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="100%" border=0><TR> <TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonty"> "A mind-blowing mix of<BR>fact and fantasy, hard science<BR>and well-grounded speculation, with concrete how-to info to top it all off -- resulting in some of the best and strangest stuff on Earth..."<BR><BR> <A HREF="http://www.jrmooneyham.com">www.jrmooneyham.com</A> </TD></TR></TABLE></TD></TR></TABLE></center></TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <A NAME=height></A> <A NAME=cops></A><A NAME=cops-box></A><!-- =cops= --><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="295" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonta"><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/policelog.html" width="295" height="1800" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="auto" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="295" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="375" bgcolor=blue class="fontbox"><TABLE CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="8" WIDTH="295" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor="#ffffff" class="fontsm"><I>Scroll down or click for more&nbsp;</I><BR><A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/cops.html"><B>unknownnews.org/cops.html</B></A>&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></td></tr></table><BR> <A NAME=debunk></A><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="295" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" class="fonta"><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/debunk-frame.html" width="295" height="1800" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="auto" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="295" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="375" bgcolor=black class="fontbox"><TABLE CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="8" WIDTH="295" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor="#ffffff" class="fontsm"><I>Scroll down or click for more&nbsp;</I><BR><A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/debunk.html"><B>unknownnews.org/debunk.html</B></A>&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></td></tr></table><BR> <A NAME=oldnews></A><A NAME=unymhm></A><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="295" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top" bgcolor="#eeeeee" WIDTH="100%" class="fonty"><TABLE CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="center" WIDTH="100%" BGcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonty"><center><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/oldnews-frame.html" width="295" height="1800" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="auto" frameborder="0"></iframe></center><TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="295" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="295" bgcolor=darkred class="fontbox"><TABLE CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="8" WIDTH="295" border=0><TR><TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor="#ffffff" class="fontsm"><I>Scroll down or click for more&nbsp;</I><BR><A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/oldnews.html"><B>unknownnews.org/oldnews.html</B></A>&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="5" CELLSPACING="5" WIDTH="295" border=0><TR> <TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonta"> <center><A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/mysterylinks.html"><b><i>Our mystery&nbsp;links</i></b></A><BR>(mostly just for fun)</center><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;Links in <FONT COLOR=red><B>red</B></FONT> are not safe for work, and<BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;links in <FONT COLOR=magenta><B>pink</B></FONT> include audio and/or video.<center><iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/myslinks.html" width="295" height="225" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></center><DIV align="right"><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/mysterylinks.html">... more mystery links</A>&nbsp;</div></TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <A NAME=introduction></a><TABLE CELLPADDING="8" CELLSPACING="8" WIDTH="295" border=1><TR><TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="300" bgcolor=white class="fonta"> <B><I>If you're new to Unknown News,</I></B>&nbsp; here are some answers to <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/faq.html">frequently asked questions</A> about the site, and <A HREF="#wdwb"><font color=blue>answers to questions we wish you'd ask instead</font></A>. Here's <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/RSSfeed.html">our RSS feed</A>, and here's some <A HREF="#unymhm"><FONT COLOR=blue>unknown news you might have missed</FONT></A>. If you'd like to say hello or add a comment, here's <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/contact.html">our email address</A>. And yes, <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/stickers.html">we <i>do</i> sell bumper stickers</A> and <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/stickers.html#stuff">stuff</A>. <BR><BR> We assume our readers are well-<BR>informed before they click here, so we focus on news that's generally unknown or under-reported. We're generally disinterested in such non-news as reports on what politicians might do, may do, or should do, and we don't usually mention the murders, kidnappings, house fires, auto wrecks, celebrity crap, wacky fluff, and other nonsense that's pushed <i>real</i> news right out of the newscasts. <A NAME=disclaimer></A> <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="60" align="right"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="right" width="100%"> <img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/right-PG13.gif" border="0" width="45" height="250"> </td></tr></table><BR><BR> <B><I>Disclaimer for&nbsp;dummies:</I></B>&nbsp; Our front page is free from nudity and profanity, but interior pages and external links may not be safe for work, and you may be shocked, offended, or in trouble with your boss. A link doesn't imply that we agree with every sentence and every sentiment on every site we link to. We use our noggins, and suggest you use yours. <BR><BR><B><I>We always welcome comments from readers</I></b>, and we're especially interested in hearing and considering different perspectives, so please don't be shy. All we ask is that you conduct yourself sanely and civilly, so consider yourself invited to speak your mind.<BR><BR>You can contact Helen &amp; Harry at &#60;<A HREF="mailto:unknownnews@inbox.com">unknownnews at inbox.com</A>&#62;. If that address ever fails, check <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/contact.html">our contact page</A> for our alternate email addresses.<BR><BR><b><I>Anything sent to Unknown News may be published.</I></b> If you don't want it published, say so plainly. When we publish incoming emails, we <I>usually</I> edit out the sender's last name, email address, or anything else that would tend to identify the author in the real world (if we slip up, please let us know). But if your email is unambiguously intended only to annoy, insult, or threaten us, <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/hatemail.html">we'll publish it with all the details</A> and leave it on-line forever. <A NAME=nothanks></A><BR><BR> <!-- no nuts --><center><img src="http://unknownnews.org/no-nuts.jpg" border="0" width="260" height="260"></center> <A NAME=notinterested></A><BR><B><I>We're not at all interested</I></B>&nbsp; in Area 51, the Bilderberg Group, the Bohemian Grove, the Club of Rome, the Council on Foreign Relations, the evil plot behind vaccinations, denial of evolution or global climate change or the holocaust, eyeballs inside pyramids, flying saucers, FreeMasons, Vince Foster's suicide, anyone named Gosselin, the Illuminati, JFK's assassination, the New World Order, the North American Union or its alleged Amero, Barack Obama's birth certificate, Planet X, President Obama's birthplace or his fascism or communism or whatever other rot they're pushing on Fox News, prophecies of the End Times, <i>Protocols of the Elders</i>, the Rockefellers, Rosicrucians, Rothchilds, Skull & Bones, space aliens, technologies supposedly suppressed, the Trilateral Commission, theories you don't really understand about the collapse of the World Trade Center, or the latest <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/debunk.html">fake news we've already debunked</A>. Emails about these and similar matters will be chuckled at but quickly deleted.<BR><BR> We never knowingly link to sites that allow "news" to be posted without editorial control, nor to amateur sites where we've seen easily debunked "news" in the past. We never link to 'news' from unreliable sources such as americanfreepress.net, Art Bell, <i>Brasscheck</i>, cloakanddagger.ca, Dandelion Books, Tom Flocco, <i>Free World Alliance</i>, <A HREF="http://www.nndb.com/people/455/000022389/">David Icke</A>, <A HREF="http://www.nndb.com/people/969/000048825/">Alex Jones</A>, Lyndon LaRouche, <A HREF="http://unknownnews.org/WayneMadsen.html">Wayne Madsen</A>, Henry Makow, Al Martin, <i>Prison Planet</i>, Sherman Skolnick, Edgar Steele, Webster Tarpley, truthseeker.co.uk, or your brother-in-law. Due to time constraints, if you send links or references to such sources we'll be unable to take you or your comments seriously.<BR><BR> Please don't email us unless you're sending an original communication that you're not sending to anyone or everyone else. If you add us to your mailing list or chat group without asking us first, or if you send "Dear friend" newsletters, or "link exchange" form letters, or if you send a press release every time you add a post to your blog, you're a spammer and we'll soon block your emails.<BR><BR> Also, as a matter of security, we don't open emails from strangers which include attachments or have any kind of programming imbedded, and we recommend a similar policy for others. If you're sending us an email, please send it in plain text only. <A NAME=rss></A><BR><BR><table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="69" align="left"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"><A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/RSSfeed.html"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/RSS-button.gif" alt="Subscribe to our RSS feed" border="0" width="54" height="41"></A></td></tr></table> <B><I>Our RSS feed</I></B> of <i>Unknown News</i> headlines is updated whenever we update the site. Click the orange button for more information, or just get the feed at &nbsp; <A HREF="http://unknownnews.org/RSSfeeds/dailyRSS.xml">http://unknownnews.org/ RSSfeeds/dailyRSS.xml</A>. <table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="4" style="border-collapse: collapse" width="70" align="right"><tr><td class="fonty" vAlign="top" align="left" width="100%"> <A TARGET="_blank" HREF="http://www.mistersquirrel.net/index.php"><img src="http://www.unknownnews.org/MrSquirrel.jpg" alt="Subscribe to our RSS feed" border="2" width="55" height="72"></A> </td></tr></table> <BR><BR><i>(Enormous and eternal thanks to Doug at <A HREF="http://www.mistersquirrel.net/index.php">mistersquirrel.net</A>, for setting up our RSS feed.)</I> <A NAME=privacy></A><BR><BR> <B><I>Our privacy policy</I></B>&nbsp; is that we're in favor of privacy. We make no effort to track or identify anything about visitors to our website. We never share, trade, or sell email addresses. We never send spam. Our site has no pop-up ads. We never send email, except in response to readers' queries. We never send (or open) attachments of any kind, and we delete un-opened any emails received with attachments.<BR><BR> If you see or receive any of the above, it's not from us. It's coming from spyware you picked up elsewhere, or an "exit" pop-up from another site you have visited, or spammers mimicking our email address.<BR><BR> We use a freeware hit-counter, and it plants a harmless short-term cookie so visitors aren't counted again if they go to several different <I>Unknown News</I> pages within a short time. Our feelings won't be hurt if you reject the cookie, and you'll still be able to visit any page you wish. Other than that we don't use cookies.<BR><BR> If you <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.net/donations.html">donate</A> or <A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.net/stickers.html">buy something</A> we'll say thank you, and never bother you again. We do not send any reminders to re-donate or buy more stuff. Incoming emails and orders are deleted within 72 hours, and we keep no records of contact information about donors, emailers, or sticker orders.<BR><BR> If you use your credit card to donate or buy something, it's processed by PayPal (their privacy policies are <A HREF="http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/policy_privacy-outside">here</A>). We do not file or even see your credit card information. <BR><BR><B><I>We try to avoid</I></B>&nbsp; linking to sites that require logging in, so if any clicks here ask for registration or a password, please let us know and we'll try to find a not-so-nosey link to similar coverage elsewhere. <BR><BR>Nothing at <I>Unknown News</I> bounces, flashes, flickers, sings or speaks, twinkles, or moves. We try to avoid coding practices that intentionally frustrate or annoy readers. <BR><BR><DIV align="right"><i><A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/contact.html">Helen &amp; Harry Highwater</A></i> &nbsp; </TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="300" border=2><TR> <TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonty"> <iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/blogroll.html" width="295" height="1800" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="auto" frameborder="0"></iframe> <DIV align="right"><BR> <SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dddddd">&nbsp;&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/kissback.html"><FONT COLOR=blue><B>unknownnews.org/kissback.html</B></FONT></A>&nbsp;&nbsp;</SPAN></div><BR> </TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="300" border=2><TR> <TD ALIGN="center" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor=white class="fonty"> <iframe src="http://www.unknownnews.org/recentthanks.html" width="295" height="1800" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="auto" frameborder="0"></iframe> <DIV align="right"><BR> <SPAN style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #dddddd">&nbsp;&nbsp;<A HREF="http://www.unknownnews.org/credits.html"><FONT COLOR=blue><B>unknownnews.org/credits.html</B></FONT></A>&nbsp;&nbsp;</SPAN></div><BR> </TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <TABLE CELLPADDING="8" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" border=8><TR> <TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top" WIDTH="100%" bgcolor="white" class="fonta"> <center><img src="http://www.unknownnews.net/bill-of-rights.jpg" alt="U.S. Bill of Rights" border="0" width="270" height="151"><A NAME=preamble></A></center><BR> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <!-- 300x168 --> Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. The Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution expressed a desire in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.<BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several states as Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of which articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures to be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the said Constitution. viz: Articles in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress and Ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.<BR><A NAME=FirstAmendment></A><BR> <b>The First Amendment</b><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. <BR><A NAME=SecondAmendment></A><BR> <b>The Second Amendment</b><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. <BR><A NAME=ThirdAmendment></A><BR> <b>The Third Amendment</b><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. <BR><A NAME=FourthAmendment></A><BR> <b>The Fourth Amendment</b><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. <BR><A NAME=FifthAmendment></A><BR> <b>The Fifth Amendment</b><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. <BR><A NAME=SixthAmendment></A><BR> <b>The Sixth Amendment</b><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. <BR><A NAME=SeventhAmendment></A><BR> <b>The Seventh Amendment</b><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. <BR><A NAME=EighthAmendment></A><BR> <b>The Eighth Amendment</b><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. <BR><A NAME=NinthAmendment></A><BR> <b>The Ninth Amendment</b><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. <BR><A NAME=TenthAmendment></A><BR> <b>The Tenth Amendment</b><BR><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. </TD></TR></TABLE><BR> <center><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-2996608746973398"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; google_ad_format = "300x250_as"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_ad_channel = ""; google_color_border = "8B0000"; google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; google_color_link = "000000"; google_color_text = "000000"; google_color_url = "0000FF"; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></center><BR> </TD><TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP" WIDTH="5" BGcolor="#eeeeee" class="fonttnr"> </TD> </TR></TABLE> </body> </html>