Clipmarks | masbury's Pops

It's Not Yours, It's God's

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:41:40 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: "It's not yours, it's God's, and you're not going to get it," Copeland says of his financial records. He has launched a website to publicize his crusade and has received support from several leading conservatives, including Paul Weyrich and Kenneth Blackwell.

Incredible! And tax free!

Clip Source: rawstory.com

They preach the “Prosperity Doctrine” - that God can make you healthy and wealthy - and they live what they preach.

Every year America’s best known TV evangelists bring in hundreds of millions of dollars from donors all over the world. But as BBC’s Jonathan Beale reports, some of the evangelists’ own lifestyles have begun to ring alarm bells and have prompted a Senate investigation into their activities.

Last fall, Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, began probing the finances of six TV evangelists whose lifestyles include mansions, Rolls-Royces, and private jets, all paid for out of church funds. Grassley told BBC, “I would not contribute to an organization that is Christian and evangelical with money being wasted that way.”

Four of the ministers have since complied with the probe, but Rev. Kenneth Copeland, whose congregation recently bought him a $20 million private jet to preach the gospel

Clip Source: youtube.com

[Video]

Tags: scam, religion, money, greed

Travellers to Africa risk deadly form of malaria

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:46:32 GMT

clipped by: Socratoad

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Travellers to Africa risk deadly form of malaria

Mosquitos are the carrier of the parasite Plasmodium, the agent of malaria. Photograph: Rex features

The number of people returning to Britain with a potentially fatal form of malaria has risen sharply because travellers are not taking antimalarial drugs, health officials said yesterday.

Cases of falciparum malaria now account for three-quarters of all UK malaria, up from a third of cases two decades ago, according to a Health Protection Agency study.

The majority of malaria occurs among migrants who become infected while visiting west Africa where the disease is endemic. Many do not take antimalarial pills because they believe they are already immune.

Who Owns Americas Wealth?

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:00:05 GMT

clipped by: Yassin_M

Clip Source: video.stumbleupon.com

Who Owns Americas Wealth?

[Video]

What did I say last year?

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:16:14 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: The really sad and outrageous thing is, for the troops anyway, and innocent Afghanis, is that they all will be sent to Afghanistan to continue the war. And Iran?

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Senator Barack Obama said Thursday that he might “refine” his policies for Iraq after meeting with military commanders there later this summer. But hours later he held a second news conference to emphasize his commitment to the withdrawal of all combat troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office.

His two statements in Fargo, N.D., reflected how the changing dynamics in Iraq have posed a challenge for Mr. Obama, who is trying to retain flexibility as violence declines there without abandoning a central promise of his campaign: that if elected, he would end the war.

His remarks came as Republicans — including his all-but-certain opponent this fall, Senator John McCain of Arizona — have been arguing that Mr. Obama would most likely change his position on the phased withdrawal. They suggest that with violence dropping in Iraq, bringing the troops home would risk erasing the fragile gains that have been made.

The evolving situation in Iraq has, in fact, tested both candidates.

Norway leads the way

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:19:26 GMT

clipped by: Socratoad
clipper's remarks: "We want to prevent cities and town centers from dying out because all shopping moves out of the downtown area," Solheim said to newspaper Dagens Nærinigsliv. "And we want to limit the use of cars. We need to change community structures."

Clip Source: www.treehugger.com

Norway Proposes No New Suburban, Drive-To Shopping Malls

Malls like this one in Oslo, accessible by tram and on foot, are still okay.

In Norway wages have kept pace with fuel and food price hikes, so car trips haven't yet dropped drastically. To discourage driving, Environment Minister Eric Solheim has now proposed a bill that would forbid shopping centers of 3,000 square meters or more from being built along highways in Norway's suburban centers. Norwegian research has shown that 95 percent of shoppers to suburban malls arrive by car. Shopping centers would still be allowed in areas where public transport is existing or possible. The regulation, if passed, would be retroactive to this July. That 3,000 meter size, according to newspaper Dagens Naeringsliv, is just 1/12th the square footage of the latest IKEA already approved to be built in a suburb of Bergen. The government has also considered forcing shopping centers to charge shoppers to park.

FBI To Join The "Presumption of Guilt" Parade BushCo Favors

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:28:59 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: Civil rights become a fond memory.

Clip Source: www.suntimes.com

The Justice Department is considering letting the FBI investigate Americans without any evidence of wrongdoing, relying instead on a terrorist profile that could single out Muslims, Arabs or other racial and ethnic groups.

Although President Bush has disavowed targeting suspects based on their race or ethnicity, the new rules would allow the FBI to consider those factors among a number of traits that could trigger a national security investigation.

Currently, FBI agents need specific reasons — like evidence or allegations that a law probably has been violated — to investigate U.S. citizens and legal residents. The new policy, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press, would let agents open preliminary terrorism investigations after mining public records and intelligence to build a profile of traits that, taken together, were deemed suspicious.

Critics say the presumption of innocence is lost in the proposal.

Ex-Agent Says CIA Ignored Iran Facts

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:32:36 GMT

clipped by: BartendingBear
clipper's remarks: CIA skull-duggery at it's finest.

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

A former CIA operative who says he tried to warn the agency about faulty intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs now contends that CIA officials also ignored evidence that Iran had suspended work on a nuclear bomb.

The onetime undercover agent, who has been barred by the CIA from using his real name, filed a motion in federal court late Friday asking the government to declassify legal documents describing what he says was a deliberate suppression of findings on Iran that were contrary to agency views at the time.

The former operative alleged in a 2004 lawsuit that the CIA fired him after he repeatedly clashed with senior managers over his attempts to file reports that challenged the conventional wisdom about weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.

"On five occasions he was ordered to either falsify his reporting on WMD in the Near East, or not to file his reports at all,"

"He is not even allowed to attend court hearings about his own case,"

Bill Maher is so funny on this one you have to take your

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:29:20 GMT

clipped by: Yassin_M

Clip Source: video.stumbleupon.com

Bill Maher is so funny on this one you have to take your ha…

[Video]

UK patients to get free healthcare throughout EU

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:19:28 GMT

clipped by: righthand

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

NHS patients to get free healthcare throughout EU

Clip Source: www.europarl.europa.eu

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

NHS patients will be given the right to free treatment anywhere in the European Union under a new blueprint for cross-border healthcare.

The move, which covers all 27 countries in the EU, is designed to give patients greater freedom and ease congestion in health services with long waiting lists for operations.

Clip Source: www.autonomic-communication.org

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The draft directive, approved by EU governments today, guarantees that treatment costs are covered by the national health scheme of the patient's home country.

It gives British patients the right to seek any treatment offered by the NHS, such as cancer care or heart surgery, in any other EU country that could provide it more quickly.

Clip Source: www.cartoonstock.com

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The plans would also make it easier for patients to receive medication prescribed abroad after they return home.

Patients will have to pay upfront for their treatment but as long as the cost was lower than in the NHS, they could will be able to reclaim the amount in full.

Clip Source: stuffwhitepeoplelike.files.wordpress.com

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Wednesday July 2, 2008

Tags: uk, eu, health

The FEC is Ready for Action (hopefully McCain action!)

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:55:19 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: The new commissioners joining sitting commissioner Ellen Weintraub, a Democrat, are:

* Democrat Cynthia L. Bauerly of Minnesota
* Republican Caroline C. Hunter of Florida
* Republican Donald F. McGahn of D.C.
* Republican Matthew S. Petersen of Utah

Also, recess appointee Steven T. Walther, a Democrat, was confirmed to a full term, completing the six-member panel. These appointments come after six months during which the FEC could not take official action because it did not have the required minimum of four commissioners, making it impossible to issue advisory opinions or dole out public funding. As we've written about several times, the impasse began when President Bush sent a controversial nominee to the Senate for confirmation.
As for the McCain debacle, "Knowingly violating the spending limit is a criminal offense that could put McCain at risk of stiff fines and up to five years in prison." http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/02/democratic_part_8.php

Clip Source: www.opensecrets.org

Just when the rest of us are taking off for summer vacations, the Federal Election Commission is getting back to work. The five new commissioners confirmed by the Senate this week now constitute a full quorum.

The business that's awaiting them, however, isn't so usual, as they will immediately take up issues new to this election year. First the new members will have to decide how to implement congressional rules requiring lobbyists to disclose the campaign contributions they collect

They'll also dive right into the issue of public financing, though their hands will be tied on deciding whether presidential nominee John McCain broke the rules when he used public funds as collateral to get a loan for his debt-ridden campaign (and then backed out of the federal financing program).

Because the FEC didn't have a quorum until Tuesday, it wasn't able to take up the issue within 120 days after the DNC filed a complaint

allowing the party committee to file a lawsuit

Tags: fec, violation

And the end of political apathy.

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:30:11 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: Let's keep it simple, folks. It's not NAFTA or Social Security that will beat McCain. It's 3 dollar milk, shrinking wages, skyrocketing gas prices and a war that has delivered nothing but three dollar milk, shrinking wages and skyrocketing gas prices.

Clip Source: blogs.tnr.com

It's possible McCain's numbers are stagnant simply because Clinton and Obama soaking up all of the media attention. But there may be another explanation, one I know I've read elsewhere (maybe in a Gallup analysis, though I can't find it now): That 45 percent figure represents a ceiling of his support.

After all, barring some outside shock to the political system, there is no reason to think McCain's numbers will go up. People already have overwhelmingly positive feelings about him--stronger than about either of the Democratic candidates. They see him as a likeable, principled war hero whom they trust on national security. Very few realize that he has supported privatizing Social Security, that he opposes universal health insurance, that he supports free trade without qualification, and so on. Once the voters learn these things, at least some of them are likely to abandon him.

If anything, McCain has the look of an Internet stock circa 1999: Great numbers, lousy fundamentals.

Tags: elections. politics, ethics, george bush, reform

What Hath The Patriot Act Wrought?

Sun, 11 May 2008 04:26:32 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: When there are real Grey Lensmen, we can try this again.

Clip Source: www.justicefortracy.com

Help Tracy Ingle find justice.

Tracy is yet another innocent victim of no-knock warrants and the so-called war on drugs. Please read his story below and take a look at the limited press coverage of the incident. Everyone in America needs to hear about this.

Press Coverage

Shot in the Dark - David Koon

Radley Balko - The Agitator

Reason.com - Tracy Ingle: Another Drug War Outrage

Information About the Incident

Tracy Ingle was asleep in his house when armed police using a no-knock warrant burst in. Unsure about what was happening, he reached for a non-functioning pistol, but began to drop it as soon as he realized who they were. The gesture was too late -- officers shot him 5 times.

He and his family are trying to get a lawyer to fight this injustice but do not have the necessary funds, yet.

Tags: patriot act, police, police state, police abuse, political, tracy ingle, 2nd amendment

Impeach The [Miserable Failure] Already!

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:15:40 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: If not, why not? If not now, when?

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

Congressman Wexler just signed on as co-sponsor of Dennis Kuchinich's articles of impeachment, as shown in the text of this letter that I just found in my in-box.

It's damn important to go through this process now. Why? Because that will put the next president - whoever they are - on notice that we will not tolerate this, nor will we allow them to put the powers Bush illegally, immorally and unconstitutionally claimed in their pocket.

So, let us do this right, by the book. And do it now before either "side" is surely in power. Right now, Nancy Pelosi has a duty to the Republic - and that duty comes before her duty to party or personal ambition.

Tags: impeachment, george bush, dick cheney, wexler, kucinich, nancy pelosi, articles of impeachment

My Favorite quote versus Michael Savage et al

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:25:47 GMT

clipped by: cptenaud
clipper's remarks: A quote for the true patriots
And those who think they are.

Clip Source: www.vetvoice.com

by: TexDem

Sat Jun 21, 2008

My favorite quote or I should say my contemporary favorite quote is from journalist Sidney J. Harris. Sidney's quote although made several years is very relevant today and directly addresses the likes of Michael Savage and most of this administration.

Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, 'the greatest,' but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.

Ernie1812's diary reminded me of Sidney's quote, it could very well become one of your favorite quotes. Use it as a refute to those who claim to be patriots but are really only nationalist and bigots.

Tags: nationalism, patriotism, michael savage, sydney j. harris

"Autism Speaks" So We Don't Have To...

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:37:37 GMT

clipped by: graphictruth
clipper's remarks: ...and if we do, we Aspies and Auties get Cease and Desist letters from their lawyers.

Clip Source: www.graphictruth.com

When the A in AS stands for Assholes

Nor are they surprising. While this instance dates from February of this year, more recent instances of equally frivolous and illegal intimidation of autistics speaking for themselves have become public. We can only presume that finding and stamping out the dissenting voices of Autistics is a

one of their very highest priorities, other than fund-raising, of course.