May 29, 2016

Poverty and boredom gnaw at Japan

Boredom, poverty and war: three themes you’d think would be extinct by now. They’re not — war because humankind as a whole is more peaceably inclined than ever before, poverty because of an abundance of riches and boredom because … doesn’t it go without saying, given the endless stream, not to say flood, of instantly accessible entertainment available? Even real life, if not always (or even often) entertaining, is undeniably interesting. You can say anything you like, good or bad, about the times we live in, but it would seem to require an unusual degree of apathetic detachment to be bored by them.

War we can discuss another time. Boredom and poverty are quite enough to fill one column.

Poverty, of course, is relative. “Extreme poverty,” defined by the U.N. as “severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information,” is endured by an estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide, most of whom, if they have any thoughts at all to spare for Japan, would likely envy even the poorest of poor here.

Japan’s poverty is real enough all the same, and among its indicators is the faltering of an institution — marriage — that, perhaps more than any other, has been a rock of stability down the ages and across the cultural spectrum, in conditions of dearth, plenty and everything in between.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/28/national/media-national/poverty-boredom-gnaw-japan/#.V0q6WyLXerW

May 29, 2016

Mother Jones nails it with this video.

Finishing trump with his own words.
https://www.facebook.com/motherjones/videos/10153777810687144/
Sorry I could find this on YT to embed.

May 28, 2016

Dog on the loose kills 280 chickens at farm

HURON COUNTY, Mich. (WEYI) -- Huron County Sheriff's office says on Friday, May 27 around 8:30 a.m. their office responded to the Bird Creek Farms on Grindstone Road, east of Port Austin, where they found that 280 chickens had been killed.

Sheriff's say a Husky dog found at the scene was responsible.

In all, 120 hens and 160 six week old chicks were killed. Sheriff's say the dog's owner was unknown at the time, but was later located through the use of social media.

Sheriff's say apparently the dog had wandered away from its owner's residence earlier, who lives blocks away within the Village. The value of the loss is not known, but it is believed it will exceed several thousand dollars.

http://komonews.com/news/offbeat/dog-on-the-loose-kills-280-chickens-at-farm

May 28, 2016

There is no doubt it's been a tough week for HRC.

I'm curious if there are any thoughts about why our stenographer media, suddenly got the gumption to ask tough questions and editorialize against her. Whenever I see the media working in sync across multiple platforms and companies I get suspicious.

Was it just the IG report? Is this foreshadowing something to come? I find it strange the WAPO, NEW YORKER, LA Times, AP and many more are now supercriticle, where a week ago they were repeating her talking points and not challenging her weak dismissals. It's a blood in the water feeling but I'm really not sure of the catalyst. All these pundits and insiders turning on her in sync.

Is could be just a case of trying to make a horse race look more exciting for advertising dollars and eyeballs. I have been surprised all week by the corporate non right wing media.

May 28, 2016

Some Aussies being Aussies

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=39d_1464304129

May 28, 2016

Exclusive: White House Blocks Transfer of Cluster Bombs to Saudi Arabia

Source: FP

Frustrated by a growing death toll, the White House has quietly placed a hold on the transfer of cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia as the Sunni ally continues its bloody war on Shiite rebels in Yemen, U.S. officials tell Foreign Policy. It’s the first concrete step the United States has taken to demonstrate its unease with the Saudi bombing campaign that human rights activists say has killed and injured hundreds of Yemeni civilians, many of them children.

The move follows rising criticism by U.S. lawmakers of America’s support for the oil-rich monarchy in the year-long conflict. Washington has sold weapons and provided training, targeting information, and aerial refueling support to the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen. It has also sold Riyadh millions of dollars’ worth of cluster bombs in recent years.

Asked about the hold on the shipments, a senior U.S. official cited reports that the Saudi-led coalition used cluster bombs “in areas in which civilians are alleged to have been present or in the vicinity.”

“We take such concerns seriously and are seeking additional information,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-white-house-blocks-transfer-214340791.html?nhp=1

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The optics are bad when you're selling cluster bombs to the country that birthed the majority of and funded the 911 hijackers.

May 28, 2016

French unemployment hits new record

France’s unemployment rate rose 1.1 percent in the month of February, pushing jobless numbers to a record 3.591 million people, the Labour Ministry said Thursday.

The monthly spike is the sharpest since September 2013 and follows a slight dip in January that had raised hopes of an end to years of surging unemployment.

It comes as students and trade unions staged new protests in cities across France on Thursday against government plans to reform the labour market.

Blaming France's 'bloated' labour code

France’s Socialist government says the reform will help create jobs by introducing greater flexibility in the labour market.

http://www.france24.com/en/20160324-french-unemployment-hits-new-record

Socialists attacking labor.

May 27, 2016

Divorced Italian allowed to pay his child support in pizzas, court rules

A court in Padua has ruled in favour of a divorced father who paid his child support in the form of pizza.

A 50-year-old pizza baker from the small village outside Padua was acquitted on criminal charges of failing to pay child support after a judge ruled that he had done his best during hard times to provide 400 Euros worth of pizzas, calzone and other goods from the take-out pizza place he was managing.

The couple (Nicola Toso and Nicoletta Zuin) divorced in 2002 and for several years all parties followed accords.

But in 2008, Italy was hit by a deep economic crisis and the pizza baker, who had since remarried and had three more children with his new companion, began struggling to make ends meet.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/27/divorced-italian-allowed-to-pay-his-child-support-in-pizzas-cour/

May 27, 2016

Dr. Heimlich Uses His Maneuver For The First Time, Saves 87-Year-Old Woman

Source: NPR

Henry Heimlich didn't hesitate. When a fellow diner started choking, the 96-year-old was ready to perform the maneuver that he invented. He had never actually used the technique in a real situation.

This all happened Monday at an assisted-living facility in Cincinnati, The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Resident Patty Ris, 87, had swallowed a piece of meat and was struggling to breathe. Perry Gaines, an employee of the Deupree House — who had in fact performed the Heimlich maneuver before — ran toward her table. But Heimlich was already in position.

"Typically, a staff member would do it," the Enquirer reports. " 'But,' Gaines said, pausing, 'it is Dr. Heimlich.' "

Heimlich successfully dislodged the meat from 87-year-old Ris' airway.

Read more: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/27/479760854/dr-heimlich-uses-his-maneuver-for-the-first-time-saves-87-year-old-woman

May 27, 2016

North Coast marijuana growers fear a takeover by 'Big Alcohol'

Humboldt farmers, Sonoma County's subterranean tasting rooms and Tuscan affectations offered a glimpse into a rarefied realm of legal intoxicants.

The marijuana growers had driven south from redwood country to the oak and grass hills to take part in an event called “The Women of Wine & Cannabis,” a chance to visit boutique wineries and learn about appellations and branding in the $200-billion retail alcohol market.

But as they sipped wine on a vine-covered terrace of the Mayacama Golf Club that evening, some of them began to see an insidious subtext to the affair.

The moneyed establishment was shouldering into the marijuana game, legislating the system to its favor, and the small growers who had built the industry had better accept the new model or get bulldozed by it.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-pot-distributors-10102020-snap-story.html?track=lat-pick