Year: 2014

Mercury News

AUBURN, Calif. (AP) — A man who barricaded himself inside a Northern California home has died after firing over 100 rounds in a gunbattle with police.

The Placer County Sheriff’s office says the house started to burn several hours into Sunday’s standoff near Auburn, and that the man was killed by officers around 4 p.m.

The standoff, which started around 10:45 a.m. when shots were fired from the house, triggered the evacuation of neighboring homes.   Continue reading “California man dies in gunbattle, standoff in burning house”

Reuters – by LETITIA STEIN

A veteran Florida police officer was shot and killed while on duty early Sunday by a man described as transient, according to law enforcement officials, who gave no motive for the suspect now charged with murder.

Officer Charles Kondek, 45, was gunned down in Tarpon Springs, about 30 miles northwest of Tampa, after responding to a call for service around 2 a.m. EST, the Tarpon Springs Police Department said.   Continue reading “Florida police officer killed; suspect charged with murder”

Times of Israel, October 25, 2013

For media mogul and celebrity judge Simon Cowell, the Israel Defense Forces, it seems, has the X factor

Cowell, best known for his acid-tongued judgments on “American Idol” and “The X Factor,” attended a fundraiser for Israeli soldiers on Wednesday and shelled out $150,000 of his own money for the cause. The event was hosted by billionaire Haim Saban, the Israeli creator of “Power Rangers.”   Continue reading “Simon Cowell gives $150K to Israeli soldiers”

Washington’s Blog

We’ve Known for Thousands of Years that Torture Doesn’t Work

Mark Costanzo (Claremont McKenna professor of psychology) and Ellen Gerrity (Duke University professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) note in a study published in the journal Social Issues and Policy Review:   Continue reading “We’ve Known for 1,700 Years that Torture Nets False Confessions”

Press TV

The analysis by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) found that from fiscal 2001 to fiscal 2014, the US government spent $815 billion for the war in Iraq, $686 billion for warfare in Afghanistan and $81 billion for other war-related operations.   Continue reading “US wars since 9/11 attacks cost $1.6 trillion: Analysis”

CNN – by Ralph Ellis, Holly Yan and Kyung Lah

The United States has asked China for help battling North Korean hacking of American information systems, such as the Sony Pictures incident, a senior administration official told CNN on Saturday.

“We have discussed this issue with the Chinese to share information, express our concerns about this attack, and to ask for their cooperation,” the official said. “In our cybersecurity discussions, both China and the United States have expressed the view that conducting destructive attacks in cyberspace is outside the norms of appropriate cyber behavior.”   Continue reading “U.S. seeks China’s help against North Korean cyberattacks”

Continue reading “A few chuckles”

SI Live – by Zak Koeske

HARLEM, N.Y. – Rev. Al Sharpton said Sunday that he’s received multiple threatening calls since the execution-style killing of two NYPD cops in what the 28-year-old gunman apparently considered vengeance for the police-involved deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown.

Sharpton, who said he would be turning over the threats he’s received to the FBI, played one of the calls at a press conference he held Sunday at the National Action Network headquarters in Harlem.   Continue reading “Rev. Al Sharpton says he’s received threats since police slayings; pleas for non-violent protests”

Natural News – by Ethan A. Huff

It’s known to pop up as a persistent weed in gardens, on lawns and even in driveway cracks. But plantain is one of the most medicinally powerful “nuisance” plants that you probably aren’t taking advantage of for your health, perhaps to your own detriment.

Those bushy green leaves and small, stalk-like buds bear unique nutritive potential that could help you overcome difficult menstrual cycles, clear up skin acne and even treat painful arthritis. For hundreds of years, plantain has been used as one of nature’s most powerful medicines, and for very good reason.   Continue reading “Plantain, a common driveway weed, is one of nature’s most powerful medicines”

Natural News – by Mike Adams

The shamelessness of vaccine pushers knows no limits. Even when the vaccine admittedly doesn’t work — as the CDC has openly admitted — the mainstream media, drug companies and vaccine zealots keep pushing it on everyone.

All those same people and institutions are simultaneously attacking Dr. Oz, primarily because Oz refuses to promote pharmaceuticals as the answer to everybody’s health problems. Dr. Oz teaches people how to eat healthy, make informed choices and prevent degenerative disease. In response to that, the Washington Post shamelessly posts a hit-piece story on Dr. Oz entitled, “Half of Dr. Oz’s medical advice is baseless or wrong, study says.” [1]   Continue reading “Shameless health authorities keep pushing flu vaccines even after openly admitting they don’t work”

Zero Hedge – by Tyler Durden

We are sure it’s nothing – since stock markets in China and The US are soaring – but deep, deep down in the heart of the real economies, there is a problem. The Baltic Dry Index has fallen for 21 straight days, tumbling around 40% since Thanksgiving Day.     Continue reading “The Baltic Dry Index Has Never Crashed This Fast Post-Thanksgiving”

Continue reading “Obviously: ‘No rain allowed for us’”

The Daily Beast – by Rebecca Dana, June 15, 2010

George Clooney, Oscar winner and star of such films as Syriana and Three Kings, is bringing his sly charm and rugged good looks to an expanded arena this summer: U.S. foreign policy.

The heartthrob has been accepted for life membership in the Council on Foreign Relations, the independent nonpartisan think tank whose ranks include Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, Condoleezza Rice and Zbigniew Brzezinski. Clooney was nominated to the Council by New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof and TV host Charlie Rose. He joins fellow Hollywood heavies Michael Douglas and Warren Beatty as a member of the vaunted organization.   Continue reading “George Clooney at the Council on Foreign Relations”

The Organic Prepper

Every year around this time, it just isn’t the holiday season if you don’t end up stuck in a long line of traffic going through a mandatory DUI checkpoint.  The cops are looking for people drinking and driving, and this unconstitutional search has been upheld by the Supreme Court.

And every year around this time, when I say it is a violation of my rights, someone chimes in:   Continue reading “Police Checkpoints: I’m Not Doing Anything Wrong, But I Definitely Have Something to Worry About”

Examiner – by Joe Newby

About 400 people showed up at the Spokane Valley, Washington, police department on East Sprague Avenue Saturday to send a message to Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich that they were not happy with him and the way his department has handled comments made by a deputy sheriff who said an armored vehicle was needed for Constitutionalists with guns. The comment was captured on video by an area resident who wondered why the department would need a vehicle designed for combat.   Continue reading “Hundreds protest over comment that MRAP needed for Constitutionalists with guns”

Bio Prepper

My close friend and colleague “David A” (real name withheld for security reasons) is a former Israeli Special Forces Operative, who now runs a world-renowned Executive Protection Agency. David and I have collaborated on several “projects” and he has written several books on Urban Self Defense. He recommends the following when confronted by a gang or mob bent on violence.

First and foremost as you have heard over and over again in this chapter – Survival often means NOT fighting, if you see an escape route — take it now. David also says see if you can talk your way out of the situation. This may not be as hard as it sounds, but it does take a certain amount of finesse, confidence, and a very clear head. Here are some tips:   Continue reading “Survival In A Confrontation With Multiple Attackers”