March 31, 2014

Okay… one more time, this question

I don't remember asking before about GOTV, but what does this stand for? I believe the acronym MIRT escapes me, though I think it's administrative and deals with decisions to ban, but what does the acronym stand for?

May as well ask if we have an acronym page, or is this a "duh" moment (probably, I know the answer to that)

Thanks! MMM

March 30, 2014

Is there an economic argument referenced from TX to warn people in my state of PA?

I just subscribed to this group, but have been an advocate of sustainable energies in a SW municipality where Allegheny County executive (placing pressure on county council) will force an up or down vote on fracking under the parks system, beginning in Deer Lake Park.

I've been examining Texas's experience and it sure looks like the cost to keep an intact infrastructure was over a million dollars more cost than was anticipated from each county's subsidies.

My question is if anything in this forum has been presented to address that there even IS an economic argument that holds water. The council is seeing dollar signs, and I'd like to present data to answer the TEXAS question, "Did you really make money from fracking?"

Thanks,


MMM

March 17, 2014

Why not help Jamaica back to prosperity?

Jamaica's first medicinal marijuana company, Medicanja, launched this year against a backdrop of reinvigorated debate around ganja law reform among leading policymakers. The renowned Jamaican scientist Dr. Henry Lowe, a leader in THC studies for medical purposes, is running the company, with the University of West Indies and the University of Technology jointly funding the facility.

Jamaican Bud Busines… This country needs a good idea for their natural resources, since the IMF and big business pretty much destroyed their other ones…

http://www.vice.com/en_au/vice-news/jamaican-bud-business

March 14, 2014

I absolutely love Jon Stewart

I don't have the video, or I'd run it in Video and Mulit-Media… (on edit, I corrected John to Jon, duh!)

Watching his show now and witnessed what so many want to do… demonstrate the idiocracy of the Fox "News" mental midgets … You gotta love someone who shows all the clips of FN's ranting about food stamp abuse of the poor, piecing together with FN's own ridiculous cast of characters the LUNATIC way they attempt to go after the abusers of those on relief, then zings them with the same cast of character's defense of corporate welfare.

Comedic brilliances, I tell you!

March 11, 2014

Feinstein: CIA searched Intelligence Committee computers

The head of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday sharply accused the CIA of violating federal law and undermining the constitutional principle of congressional oversight as she detailed publicly for the first time how the agency secretly removed documents from computers used by her panel to investigate a controversial interrogation program.

Video link here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/feinstein-cia-searched-intelligence-committee-computers/2014/03/11/982cbc2c-a923-11e3-8599-ce7295b6851c_story.html

What kills me is her commentary… Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said that the situation amounted to attempted intimidation of congressional investigators, adding: “I am not taking it lightly.”

Oh, bullshit, Diane. Your husband sits high in connection to the defense industry, so your word on what you take is tainted already..

March 11, 2014

Hey, Colorado… $2 MILLION in toke taxes!

Far out…

In the national briefs this morning, I see where CO made rough $2 million in marijuana taxes in January, according to their state revenue officials. This apparently is the world's first accounting of the recreational pot business.

The tax total reported by the state Dept of Revenue indicates $14,02 million worth of recreational pot was sold.

I wonder… any speeding tickets related? Naah… Domestic violence? Hmmm? Naaahhh…

Hey, how about a lot of sexual intercourse? … Ahhh! Now THAT'S something to consider!

March 10, 2014

ALEC, National Corporate Friendly 'Bill Mill', Going Local

Promoter of 'stand your ground' laws takes aim at towns across the country

- Jacob Chamberlain, Common Dreams staff writer

The conservative group American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase "going local."

According to a report in the Guardian, the Koch brothers-backed group—which has been responsible for many conservative pieces of legislation shaped in the form of ALEC "model bills"—is spring-boarding a new initiative that will focus the group's energy on issues and political campaigns in "villages, towns, cities and counties" across the country.

A local member of municipal government is quoted here whom I admire much. She and new members Pittsburgh's City Council are the only voice against the expansion of corporatism in local government, due to the likes of ALEC.

Read more and please support Common Dreams, too…

Link: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/03/07-7

March 8, 2014

Illuminating Bugliosi's 1969 "Helter Skelter" is now seen as almost science fiction

Both Vince Bugliosi's book and the movie, "Helter Skelter" were a big hit. Everyone seemed to have wanted it. Today, it's almost a joke and perversion of fact. Leslie Van Houton and Susan Atkins shouldn't have been in jail nearly as long as they did (Atkins in fact died in jail). And what is odd is that 8 out of the nine days of the murder, the insane Charles Manson wasn't even anywhere in the vicinity of the murders. Yet, to read H-S, Vince's "theory" was based on a motive of the Manson Gang based on passages of the Bible and The Beatles. Based on what was never proven and what was concocted in that book, it was imagined. Manson liked other genres and thought the Beatles were basically "yeah, yeah, yeah" music for screaming girls. He actually wrote two songs for the Beach Boys in those days, and lived with Dennis Wilson for a while.

I am of reminded of how it's more important to write something that sells than do investigative work. An excellent interview with Jim DiEugenio reviewed a book that might just blow away Bugliosi's Helter Skelter http://www.blackopradio.com/pod/black668a.mp3.

Hey, I'm all for a good read, but H-S is more fiction than anything in it's "THEORY" of murder motives.

The actual murderers, Tex Watson and Krenwinkle did the murders, and the LAPD, who at that time would not have been so interested in the connection with drug burns going bad, turned deaf ears on the drug connection. In the Tate/Polanski neighborhood of 1969, much of that connection was swept away of how Manson, who wanted to get into the music business mingled with these celebs and connected with a lot of the music scene. But, nobody wants to talk about Cass Elliot and John Phillips' connection to who many in the industry dealt in drugs, much less Steve McQueen the Beach Boys. It was common practice in the Southern California of 1969 that just like the rest of America, there was a lot of mescaline, MDA, quaaludes, LSD dealt. Also, was a well understood need to cover anything that could have been connecting the murders with the drug scene, so not much of this was covered in the "investigation" of Bugliosi. It's as if the book mentions this so lightly to address it and sweep it aside.

Here are the highlights from that interview:
Famous cases, Peverler/Cromwell, the Tate/LaBianca murders
Aaron Stovitz was removed from the case, he never bought the 'Helter Skelter' angle
Two trials, four convictions resulting in the death penalty, then commuted to life
7 million copies of the co-written Helter Skelter (Bugliosi/Gentry 1974)
As Jim read the book, his sharpened senses left him agape with the problems
Manson did not commit the murders, 'vicarious liability', conspiracy
Double standard, LA police work, poor, Dallas police work, good
Pre-trial publicity convicted these people, no change of venue
Very poor legal defense team, no defense was presented
Manson, the Beatles, the 'White Album', the Book of Revelations
Bugliosi, innate excitability and flair for hyperbole
Helter Skelter was not the only possible motive for the crimes
A lot of drugs were found at the Tate scene
Jay Sebring would distrubute cocaine to his customers
Wojciech Frykowski had been offered the franchise for selling MDA in LA
The LAPD does not bust Hollywood celebrities for drugs
Dennis Wilson, Cass Elliot, Terry Melcher, music/drugs
Manson had been at the Cielo Drive house when Melcher lived there
The Labianca phone line was tapped by the FBI
Copy-cat aspects of the murders, writings on the wall
Bugliosi made his named on that case, as a prosecutor
In the Kennedy assassination, he is not a good investigator
Bugliosi was indicted for perjury in the leaking of a transcript
Bugliosi's three failed runs for elected office
Bugliosi, his son, his wife, and Herbert Weisel - the Milkman
Van de Kamp, Bugliosi ran a dangerous and reckless campaign
The Family (Sanders), The Manson File (Schreck 1988)
Manson in His Own Words (Emmons 1988)

March 5, 2014

GROUNDSWELL RISING… more developing against Fracking

This is just a trailer …

Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children’s Air And Water, the new documentary from Emmy Award-winning Resolution Pictures, captures the passion of people engaged in a David and Goliath confrontation. They stand together, challenging a system that promotes profit over health.

GROUNDSWELL RISING web site:

http://www.groundswellrising.com/