Jean-Claude DuvalierMail.com

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Jean-Claude Duvalier, who presided over what was widely acknowledged as a corrupt and brutal regime as the self-proclaimed “president for life” of Haiti until a popular uprising sent him into a 25-year exile, has died. He was 63.

Duvalier died Saturday from a heart attack at the home of a friend in Port-au-Prince where he had been staying, said his lawyer, Reynold Georges, and several officials in the impoverished nation. The former leader, known as “Baby Doc,” made a surprise return to Haiti in 2011, allowing victims of his regime to pursue legal claims against him in Haitian courts and prompting some old allies to rally around him. Neither side gained much traction, however, and a frail Duvalier spent his final years quietly in the leafy hills above the Haitian capital.   Continue reading “Ousted Haitian dictator, Jean-Claude Duvalier dies”

David Cameron Mail.com

CAIRO (AP) — The Islamic State extremists who have beheaded another Western hostage are deaf to reason and must be destroyed, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Saturday as Muslims worldwide were urged to pray for the victim on one of Islam’s holiest days.

Cameron, speaking after a security briefing at his rural retreat Chequers, said Friday’s slaying of 47-year-old English aid worker Alan Henning demonstrated that Islamic State militants were committed to inflicting horror for horror’s sake.   Continue reading “UK leader: British hostage’s killers must be found”

Mail.com

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peter Kassig first visited Beirut on a college spring break trip. What the former Army Ranger from Indiana saw there prompted him to return, the next time as a medical assistant and humanitarian worker hoping to offer blankets, food and medical care to victims of the region’s conflicts.

Kassig founded a nongovernmental organization that provided aid for refugees fleeing the civil war in neighboring Syria. But his work in Lebanon led to his capture by militants on Oct. 1, 2013, while en route to eastern Syria.   Continue reading “Indiana aid worker threatened in Syria is Army vet”

Washington’s Blog – bu Carl Herman

We all have our roles to play.

Is it part of your work on Earth to speak for the millions of innocents gruesomely slaughtered by .01% “developed”/imperial nations in unlawful wars (here, here, here, here), Economic Hitman looting (here,here, here, here), and poverty-murder?

This part of our work will be complete when a critical mass of humanity:   Continue reading “.01% slaughter innocents by the millions, parasitize trillions: how do you speak of them?”

Dallas News – by Scott Farwell

Despite assurances that the wealth and medical infrastructure of the United States would stop the Ebola virus in its tracks, public health officials still struggled Friday to complete basic cleanup at an apartment where the contagious man lived with four others.

A hazardous materials crew dressed head to toe in yellow rubberized suits, masks and green gloves lumbered into apartment 614 just after noon, as a mother, her child, and two young adults watched anxiously.   Continue reading “Family exposed to Ebola patient is moved while cleanup continues”

A pedestrian wears a surgical mask as he crosses the street in front of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.New York Times – by MANNY FERNANDEZ

DALLAS — There is a little Ethiopian cafe here on Park Lane, down the street from where the man city officials call Patient Zero was staying. I walked in and asked the workers standing behind the counter if they knew anything about the patient, Thomas E. Duncan, a Liberian citizen who was the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States. Next to the cash register was a bottle of hand sanitizer.

They did not know him. But they called over a customer. The customer, a middle-aged woman, walked over. I don’t think she heard my question, but she heard one word within it: “Ebola.” With a worried look on her face, she stretched her arm in front of me, pumped the sanitizer a couple times and rubbed it on her hands.   Continue reading “Ebola, Fear and a Changing Texas”

File photo of Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev [PPIO]The BRICS Post

Russia and China will ink more than 30 agreements on energy, finance and high-speed rail cooperation during the annual Russia-China Prime Ministers summit to be held on 13 October, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Saturday.

The two states’ premiers will also hold a meeting at the international forum Open Innovations on 14 October, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei in Beijing. Russia has been attempting to shrug off its dependence on European energy markets and instead adopt a “look-east” policy towards China and India.   Continue reading “China, Russia to sign 30 agreements during annual meet”

Nature's Most Wicked-Looking Robot, the BacteriophageGizmodo – by Mark Wilson

I can’t lie; I’ve been waiting for an excuse to post a picture of a bacteriophage*, the microscopic spider virus that lands on bacteria to inject its own DNA, for a long time. This Cyborg Life gives me an excuse.

Rather than attacking typical plant or animal cells, the bacteriophage uses bacteria as its host for replication. Highly specialized, the bacteriophage lands on a specific part of a specific bacteria, and just like a syringe with legs, injects its genetic material (which is stored in that big bulb on top).   Continue reading “Nature’s Most Wicked-Looking Robot, the Bacteriophage”

talking to your kids about ebolaThe Organic Prepper

You can’t turn on the television or radio lately without hearing a breathless report about Ebola.  Since most of our kids don’t live in bubbles, they’ve been hearing the same things you are.  If you’re worried, concerned, or downright afraid, can you imagine how a child must feel? To allay that fear, it might be time for an age-appropriate talk with them about Ebola.

I’ve always been of the opinion that if my child is old enough to ask the question, they are old enough to receive an age-appropriate answer. When my daughters were small, I’d filter the answer down to one sentence. If they were satisfied with that, I left it alone. If they asked further questions, I went into more detail. They know how much information they can handle, and I feel like, as parents, we are obligated to teach them. When they asked things I didn’t know the answer too, we always looked it up, which I felt was another teachable moment: the answers are there if you know where to look.   Continue reading “Talking to Your Kids About Ebola”

Esquire – by Eric Vilas-Boas

The U.S. Forest Service, one of the four agencies which oversees wilderness areas in the United States, is backing off the language in proposed rules that would require members of the media to have a permit to photograph or shoot video in the 36 million acres of wilderness areas it oversees.

When readers of the original reports in The Oregonian and Esquire.com saw the potential fine—$1,000—the story went viral, and the agency scrambled to clarify its stance.   Continue reading “The U.S. Forest Service Is Backing Off Its $1,000 Fine For Photos In The Forest”

Lew Rockwell – by Jack Perry

And, also, the Great Father will not protect you. By now, it should become obvious that the Great Father cannot and will not protect you from Ebola. At least, unless one has resided under a rock for quite some time now. In case anyone has not yet detected the swindle, let’s review the tragically ridiculous situation.   Continue reading “The Great Father Cannot Protect You”

Senator Marco Rubio/ The Shark TankShark Tank – by Javier Manjarres

Americans are rejoicing over Attorney General Eric Holder’s recent resignation as the nation’s top crime fighter, but with two years left in his presidency, will the President Obama nominate a less divisive AG to fill Holder’s big obstructionist shoes?

Probably not, but that hasn’t stopped politicos and possible 2016 presidential contenders like Florida’s Senator Marco Rubio from dreaming about Obama possibly appointing a fair and just AG.   Continue reading “Marco Rubio’s Attorney General Christmas Wish List For Obama”

Cop Block

The content below was shared by Max McDuh via CopBlock.org/Submit. It documents a not too unusual situation (unfortunately) – people wearing police badges assaulting another – with a twist – the person wronged was a colleague. That person – Brandon Ruff, is now suing.

Outfit: Philadelphia Police Department
Phone: (215) 686-3280

Philly cop Brandon Ruff claims his friend bought three firearms from neighbors “in a proactive attempt to stop violence.” Cop attempted to turn in the guns at a different precinct than where he is assigned. Was treated as though he were being investigated, then roughed up, then held for 6 hours. He suffered two sprained wrists and two sprained shoulders.   Continue reading “Philly Cop Files Brutality Suit against Police Department”

Florida 'speed trap' town disbands police forceYahoo News – by Jason Dearen

WALDO, Fla. (AP) — The tiny town of Waldo in north Florida has such a notorious reputation as a speed trap that AAA erected billboards to warn drivers about it, but all that may be about to change.

On Tuesday, weeks after the police chief and interim chief resigned due to state investigations into ticket quotas, mishandling of evidence and other issues, Waldo’s City Council disbanded its police force.   Continue reading “Florida ‘speed trap’ town disbands police force”