Month: April 2014

RT News

Crimea and Sevastopol have officially joined Russia as President Putin signed a final decree. The US and the EU are moving forward with more sanctions, targeting Russian officials, businessmen and economic sectors.   Continue reading “Ukraine turmoil Updates”

RT News

The US Internal Revenue Service paid millions to people who turned in their friends and neighbors for tax evasion in 2013, a report states. But there’s an ongoing argument about the nature of award payouts: the current scheme is extremely slow.

The annual report to Congress details a total of 122 awards made to those who exposed tax cheats, according to the AP. That is an average of $435,000 per person, making up $53 million. That total collected by the IRS scheme in 2013 was $367 million.   Continue reading “‘Too little, too slow’: IRS pays out $53mn to whistleblowers on 2013 tax evaders”

Mail.com

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A U.S. Navy warship reached a crippled sailboat hundreds of miles off the Mexican coast and was preparing Sunday to complete the rescue of a sick 1-year-old girl.

The transfer of the child from the 36-foot boat to the ship was expected to start around dawn, Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Barry Bena said Sunday. “Sometime this morning as soon as they get some light they are going to take the child off the boat and bring her aboard the naval vessel,” Bena told The Associated Press.   Continue reading “Navy warship reaches sailboat carrying ill toddler”

Mail.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lacking congressional backing to raise wages or end gender pay disparities, President Barack Obama is imposing his policies directly on federal contractors, following a long-established tradition of presidents exerting their powers on a fraction of the economy directly under their control.

This week, the president will sign an executive order that would prohibit federal contractors from retaliating against employees who discuss their pay with each other. The prohibition on the wage “gag rules” is similar to language in a Senate bill aimed at closing a pay gap between men and women. That legislation is scheduled for a vote this week, though it is not likely to pass.   Continue reading “APNewsBreak: Obama actions test workplace ideas”

“Under Obama’s leadership, almost 2 million people have been removed from the U.S.”

I think they meant to type:  “Under Obama’s tyranny, more than 2 million illegals have been welcomed to the U.S. and given free housing, food, medical, and education….at your expense!” 

Mail.com

PHOENIX (AP) — Immigration advocates and supporters rallied Saturday in cities across the country in a renewed effort to push President Barack Obama to put a freeze on deportations.   Continue reading “Rallies in cities across US decrying deportation”

Mail.com

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sam Robinson said it’s been about 15 years since he last played the videogame Tetris on a Game Boy. On Saturday night, he played it on the side of a skyscraper.

Robinson, 30, was among the hundreds of Tetris fans who had a little fun Saturday with a big version of the classic video game on the side of the 29-story Cira Centre in downtown Philadelphia. “It has been probably 15 years since I played Tetris last on a Game Boy, and it’s much different playing on the side of building that’s a half-mile away,” the city resident said. “Everything’s happening so quick.”   Continue reading “Tetris in the sky: Gamers play on Philly building”

ABC News – by LOLITA C. BALDOR, AP

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel delivered a two-pronged warning to Asia Pacific nations Sunday, announcing that the U.S. will send two additional ballistic missile destroyers to Japan to counter the North Korean threat, and saying China must better respect its neighbors.

In unusually forceful remarks about China, Hagel drew a direct line between Russia’s takeover of Ukraine’s Crimea region and the ongoing territorial disputes between China, Japan and others over remote islands in the East China Sea.   Continue reading “US sending 2 warships to Japan to counter NKorea”

The Guardian – by Orlando Crowcroft

The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has said Israel may take “unilateral action” against the Palestinians after the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, signed 15 international conventions that could pave the way for a renewed attempt to gain United Nations statehood.

Speaking at his weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said: “Unilateral actions from the Palestinians will be answered with unilateral actions from our side”. He blamed the Palestinians for the current impasse over the US-sponsored peace talks.   Continue reading “Israel may take ‘unilateral action’ over Palestinians UN move says PM”

Against Crony Capitalism – by Nick Sorrentino

Beer, many of us love it. I definitely count myself a fan. A nice hefewiesen on a hot day while grilling burgers is one of the great gifts of life. But stouts, ales, lagers, pilsners, porters, and bocks all have their place. Variety is the spice of life, and beer. And that is why craft brewers have sprouted up like barley shoots all over our great nation over the last decade. It is a golden age for beer drinkers. Never before have beer consumers had so much quality and so much variety.   Continue reading “Bill would require Florida craft brewers to sell beer to distributors, then buy it back for resale”

Earth Sky – by Deborah Byrd

Tungurahua volcano in Ecuador erupted powerfully and explosively on Friday (April 4, 2014), sending a 6-mile (10-km) column of ash skyward. AP reports that the initial five-minute explosion shot hot gas and rock onto the volcano’s northern and northwestern flanks and that a second, four-minute explosions and five lesser tremors followed.

According to AP, Ecuador’s geophysics institute said Friday’s blast occurred at 6:10 p.m. local time.   Continue reading “Throat of Fire volcano in Ecuador erupts explosively”

Yahoo News – by JOHN HANNA

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators gave final approval Saturday to a bill that would nullify city and county gun restrictions and ensure that it’s legal across the state to openly carry firearms, a measure the National Rifle Association sees as a nationwide model for stripping local officials of their gun-regulating power.

The House approved the legislation, 102-19, a day after the Senate passed it, 37-2. The measure goes next to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback. He hasn’t said whether he’ll sign it, but he’s a strong supporter of gun rights and has signed other measures backed by the NRA and the Kansas State Rifle Association.   Continue reading “Kansas lawmakers OK bill to void local gun rules”

Town Hall – by Cortney O’Brien

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s gun restrictive SAFE Act has been the source of much controversy in New York. The bill is a burden for gun owners who simply want to carry their firearms and it bans AR-15 assault rifles with military-style features.

Now, one Missouri-based gun manufacturer, Black Rain Ordnance, has produced an AR-15 rifle that is compliant with New York’s rules. Based on Black Rain Ordnance’s description of the new gun, it’s easy to tell they’re a little bitter (emphasis added):   Continue reading “Gun Company Changes Design of AR-15 To Comply with ‘Second Amendment Trampling’ NY SAFE Act”

CBS Connecticut

HARTFORD (CBS Connecticut) _ An estimated crowd of more than 3,000 gun rights supporters rallied outside the State Capitol Saturday in opposition to gun control measures passed a year ago in response to the Sandy Hook School Tragedy.

Among those attending the rally was Bill Stevens, a Newtown father who says he’s heartbroken by what happened in his town, but added, “It wasn’t the AR-15 that killed 26 innocent people in my town, it was a mentally ill shooter who pulled the trigger and this law does nothing to address that.”   Continue reading “Gun Rally Brings Thousands of Supporters to State Capitol”