Month: May 2014

Quartz – by Mark DeCambre

Bank risk-taking is back. Toughened regulation such as the Dodd-Frank financial reforms haven’t entirely killed banks’ appetite to underwrite risky debt. According to a recent research note by Moody’s Investors Service, underwriting standards are loosening up at US banks.   Continue reading “Risky lending is on the rise again at US banks”

Police State USA

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — A man who had just been carjacked and robbed at gunpoint called the police to report the crime. He says the police almost treated him as badly as the criminals did.

The ordeal happened to Charles Williams, a religious man who works at a local church. First, he says armed thugs pointed guns at him and stole his car.   Continue reading “Carjacking victim calls police for help, gets threatened with jailtime”

Power Line – by PAUL MIRENGOFF

I wrote here and here about the Obama administration’s proposed rule on “affirmatively furthering fair housing” (AFFH), an attempt to dictate how we shall live. In essence, President Obama seeks to use the power of the national government to create communities of a certain kind, each having what the federal government deems an appropriate mix of economic, racial, and ethnic diversity.

The proposed AFFH rule, issued last July, was expected to be finalized by the end of last year. But the year ended with no further action.   Continue reading “Obama Will Wait Until After Election To Impose His Vision Of How We Should Live”

Fresno Bee – by Mark Grossi

East San Joaquin Valley farmers, facing a zero water allocation this summer, are asking a judge to stop unprecedented water releases that started last week at Millerton Lake.

The Friant Water Authority, representing 15,000 east-side growers, says federal leaders are not following a long-established water-rights pecking order in releasing Millerton water, which would help save thousands of acres of east-side orchards.   Continue reading “East Valley farmers sue to stop Millerton Lake water release”

Anti-War – by Chris Ernesto

The US doesn’t want peace in Ukraine — it wants control. So now that the situation there has largely blown up in their face, it’s not unreasonable to suspect them of fomenting more unrest in an attempt to change momentum.

Monday’s ruthless attack by the Ukrainian government in Donetsk in which up to 100 people were killed was a clear indication of this. Although the government labeled the offensive as an “anti-terrorist” operation, the reality is that it was either a case of Ukraine killing its own people, or it was a military assault against a sovereign population, depending on one’s interpretation of the Donetsk People’s Republic referendum of May 11 in which the people overwhelmingly voted for independence from Ukraine.   Continue reading “Heads Up – The US Is Losing in Ukraine”

Tech Spot

Virtual private networks were conceived to connect computers in different geographic locations as if they were part of one same local network. They rely on encryption, tunnel protocols and masking mechanisms to fulfill their purpose in a reliable and secure fashion. These same attributes which are indispensable to create safe networks through the internet have made VPNs the go to technology for anyone looking to keep their location and online activities private.   Continue reading “Five Free VPN Services You Should Check Out”

Defense Talk – by Agence France-Presse

Militia fighters stole hundreds of American-supplied automatic weapons and other equipment in a raid on a Libyan base where the US was training local forces, bringing an abrupt end to the secretive program, a report said Tuesday.

Elite US troops have been tasked since last year with covertly forming local counterterrorism units in Libya, Mauritania, Niger and Mali, part of US efforts to widen the war against Al-Qaeda affiliates in Africa, The New York Times reported, citing American officials.   Continue reading “Libya militia stole US weapons in raid: report”

Defense One – by Patrick Tucker

How well can you predict your next mood swing? How well can anyone? It’s an existential dilemma for many of us but for the military, the ability to treat anxiety, depression, memory loss and the symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder has become one of the most important battles of the post-war period.

Now the Pentagon is developing a new, innovative brain chip to treat PTSD in soldiers and veterans that could bring sweeping new changes to the way depression and anxiety is treated for millions of Americans.   Continue reading “The Military Is Building Brain Chips to Treat PTSD”

Prevent Disease – by Natasha Longo

Soy has become a major source of toxicity for human beings, especially in the last three decades. Not only is more than 99% of soy genetically modified, but sources labeled organic or non-GMO are often exposed to the same problems as conventional soy. If you consume processed foods, soy is almost impossible to avoid. With the exception of wheat, there are few foods that are causing as many health problems as soy in the food supply. Here are 12 reasons to avoid any kind of soy.    Continue reading “Whether Labeled Organic, Non-GMO or Conventional, Here Are 12 Reasons To Avoid Any Kind of Soy”

Simple Justice

Even when it’s beyond dispute that a police officer had no choice but to defend himself from deadly force, someone will question why.  Why did they have to shoot that many times?  The Supreme Court has now given a conclusive answer to the question: Because they can.

In Plumhoff v. Rickard, a quasi-unanimous Court rejected the claim that excessive force was used when Donald Rickard was shot. From the syllabus:   Continue reading “Good To The Last Shot”

CBS DFW – by Jack Fink

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – A fired female state trooper pleaded guilty to criminal charges on Friday morning after conducting illegal cavity searches on two women along the side of the road. The incident was recorded on the trooper’s squad car dashboard video camera.

Kelly Helleson, 34, admitted that she is guilty of two charges of official oppression. As part of her deal with the Dallas County District Attorney’s office, prosecutors dropped sexual assault charges against her.   Continue reading “Guilty Plea In Roadside Cavity Search Case”

Courthouse News Service

SHERMAN, Texas (CN) – A Sherman police officer told other officers to “Tase the bitch” during a traffic stop, and officers then beat her to death after stopping her for an illegal lane change, the dead woman’s sister claims in court.

     Linda Surratt sued the City of Sherman, its police Officer Brian McClarin, and police Officer Does 2-5, for the death of her sister, Lesa Ann Surratt, in Federal Court.   Continue reading “Beaten to Death During a Traffic Stop”

Raw Story – by Travis Gettys

Lawmakers in Louisiana passed a measure Tuesday to exempt themselves from gun restrictions at public buildings in the state.

The House voted 79-12 to approve a bill that would allow them to carry concealed weapons in courthouses and state offices, as judges and district attorneys are already permitted, reported New Orleans City Business.   Continue reading “Louisiana lawmakers vote to exempt themselves from gun ban in most public buildings”