Friday, July 25:

Six little words - David Sirota on unions This may be on OEN elsewhere, but it's an easy way to save the article. Six words are: "more union members, better workers' pay," something I knew throughout my working years. Although I was in an office and never had a union, I always got raises when the line employees received a raise.

Mental Health America: Health Reform Considering all the ways it affects us, mental health is the largest pubic health and economic concern facing our coutry.

Roy S. Carson: President Hugo Chavez Frias: Right on! Words well spoken -- now let us see the deeds! While I am not an aviculturalist and could scarcely be described as a culinary expert, the sage words of my mother come to mine that there are more ways than one to cook a goose. Another way of looking at it is that you can always say "Booh!" to a goose but you've got to be aware that it will generally respond with a hiss and a cackle that otherwise has no productive outcome.

Met with silence Recent Israeli army aggressions against Palestinian charities, beauty salons and shops show unequivocally that Israel is morally lost. In recent days and weeks, the Israeli army has been vandalizing, ransacking and confiscating Palestinian civilian institutions in the West Bank's largest towns and cities, including Ramallah, the seat of the so-called Palestinian government.

Sheldon Adelson: GOP's Answer To George Soros? (1 comments) Sheldon Adelson, the 72-year-old casino billionaire who has become the third richest man in America and who has strong ties to the hard-line Likud Party in Israel, has emerged this year a major benefactor of the American right. Past evidence suggests that Adelson will capitalize on his ascent to the top of the Republican money elite to try to build opposition in America to any Middle East peace settlement calling for...

Interview With Cindy Sheehan – The Peace Mom's Run Against the Congressional Madam (Speaker) (2 comments) The unstoppable Cindy Sheehan - and I - mince no words in discussing Nancy Pelosi - her opponent in the Congressional race.

Stephen Crockett: Response to "How Eminent Domain Finally Went Down" Wilmington (Delaware) News Journal editorial Stephen Crockett responds to editorial on the eminent domain issue in Delaware and the anti-labor union bias demonstrated in the News Journal editorial on the subject written by Assistant Editor Ron Williams. This OpEd was submitted to the News Journal Editor but not published.

David R. Usher: Restraining Orders Unconstitutional in New Jersey? VAWA principles, as reflected in New Jersey law, have been found unconstitutional by a trial court. The ruling is headed for appeal to the New Jersey supreme Court

Linda Milazzo: Hear This Barack - NO Bush, NO Baker, No Corporate War Maker. We've Had Enough! (2 comments)

Darren Wolfe: Debunking "The false ideology that caused our financial failure" In his article, "The false ideology that caused our financial failure", Ed Martin attempts to blame our present economic problems on the nonexistent free market. Ignoring the fact that the problems were caused by government interference in the economy, a fact that can't be stressed enough. Markets can recover from this interference if left alone.

Ronn Torossian: THE 5TH ESTATE: A VICIOUS MEDIA There is a problem with media today. People who call themselves journalists use their pens and keyboards today as a pulpit to pass judgment rather than report the news. They ruin reputations, they harm businesses and do it in the name of "freedom of the press", and "the public right to know." It is a self righteousness that now comes with the job, but must not become the standard for communication today.

Allen L Roland: *THIS IS OBAMA'S MOMENT AND THE WORLD KNOWS IT This is Obama's moment and the world knows it as he rises to the occasion before over 200,000 people in Berlin reminding the world that we must all come together and unite to not only save the planet but to evolve: Allen L Roland

Lee Patton: HOW TO SWIFT-BOAT McCAIN (1 comments) The Jet Ski Veterans for Truth aim to destroy McCain's candidacy, starting with suspicious names and madrassas, and moving on to serious derelictions of wartime duty.

Thursday, July 24:

Jane Stillwater: How come our favorite online news services didn't get credentialed for the national presidential conventions? (5 comments) I just checked to see if the Congressional Press Gallery had credentialed me to cover the national conventions. They hadn't. But many of our favorite progressive news services hadn't been credentialed either. Yet the MSM who supported the invasion of Iraq, housing deregulation, etc have been credentialed on mass. If I was a progressive news service, I'd be really pissed about this.

Mike Folkerth: The Real News is in the Fine Print: (7 comments) The bailout for Fannie and Freddie has an interesting provision sandwiched between the pages...an $800 Billion raise for the National Debt ceiling.

Cheryl Biren-Wright: The Democratic Majority: Enabling a Rogue Presidency and Stonewalling the American People (36 comments) Tomorrow, Rep. Conyers will hold a hearing, "Executive Power and its Constitutional Limitations." This article illustrates Conyers' rhetoric since '06 and details the failed attempts at accountability by the Democratic majority of the Bush/Cheney crimes.

Georgianne Nienaber: DR Congo: Peace Accord Fails to End Killing of Civilians (8 comments)

Marta Steele: Around the Capital Hilton: Thousands Line Up to Save Their Lives (3 comments) An acocunt of a five-day "occupation" of the Capital Hilton by the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), desperately reaching out to the droves of Americans facing foreclosure, with free counseling and attempts to restructure their mortagages more affordably.

Col. Jenny Sparks: Black PR and proof of Paid Internet Shills (19 comments) Ever wonder where some of "those" commenters are coming from? It may not just be a hobby for them. They may not have a personality disorder. They may be "Rent-A-Trolls".

MsSwin: Political Gaffes and Gift Horses (2 comments) RE: Recent controversial Couric/McCain interview creating multiple political gaffes and the general mainstream media gaffe of not covering the full McCain.

ACLU: *Mukasey to Congress: Use Endless War to Subvert Constitution (2 comments) Please sign the ACLU's petition to stop the nixing of habeas corpus for those detained from anywhere in the world, including US CItizens, without judges being able to review the torture evidence.

Ed Martin: The false ideology that caused our financial failure (23 comments) The title of an article by Lew Rockwell at LewRockwell.com, "The Greatness of the Market in a Crisis," contains the logical contradiction that disproves the title's claim and the premise of the article. The title ignores the glaringly obvious fact that if the market is so great, it wouldn't have created the crisis in the first place.

steve young: O'Reilly Wants Proof That FoxNews Is Racist? Read Your Own Columns, Bill (3 comments) Yesterday on his Radio Factor, Bill O'Reilly tried as hard as he could to come up with something that proved the case those dang smear sites were making. That the Fox News channel is racist. He even brought on the ever brilliant, albeit Fox News consultant, Prof. Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, a real live African-American, to try to help him.

Joshua Frank: Big Sky Rebels: A Book Excerpt (2 comments) An excerpt from Red State Rebels: Tales of Grassroots Resistance in the Heartland.

What Every American Should Know About Single-Payer H.R. 676 (3 comments) While well-intentioned people are pushing for single-payer health care in the U.S., it's important to view the plan from the perspective of patients' choice and providers' freedom. Here are some serious consequences that would result from enactment of H.R. 676, the "United States National Health Insurance Act"

David Michael Green: McCain Melts Down (Ronald McDonald Rejects VP Offer) (1 comments) If John McCain could be running a lousier campaign, I don't know how.

OBAMA'S BERLIN SPEECH The people of Berlin experienced the full range of Barack Obama's charisma on Thursday evening. At times he was reserved, at others engaging. Sometimes combative, and also demanding. Ultimately, though, the message he delivered at the Siegesäule was meant for audiences back home.

Nicholas Kristof: Tough Love for Israel? On his visit to the Middle East, Barack Obama gave ritual affirmations of his support for Israeli policy, but what Israel needs from America isn’t more love, but tougher love. Particularly at a time when Israel seems to be contemplating military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, we would be a better friend if we said: “That’s crazy” — while also insisting on a 100 percent freeze on settlements in the West Bank.

Dana Gabriel: Privatization of Mexican Oil Will Advance SPP Objectives (1 comments) There is a swell of national sentiment spreading across the country as the majority of Mexicans wish to retain control of one of their last symbols of sovereignty. A North American Union will be a hard sell as much of the population has woken up to the evils of globalization and are prepared to take action to stop it.

Mukasey: Congress Must "Urgently" Delay Guantánamo Cases Attorney General Mukasey gave a speech at the American Enterprise Institute on Monday morning (repeated before Congress yesterday) in which he issued an "urgent" call for a third round of Congressional legislation to ensure that this administration will never have to explain to a federal court why they have held our clients in Guantánamo for over six years

Mike Wallace mis-represents President Ahmadinejad President Ahmadinejad Calls for Democracy, Free and Fair Elections for Palestinians and a Durable Peace in the Middle-East. Mike Wallace saw fit to edit out all but the most inflammatory remarks and won an Emmy for his deception.

Aidan Monaghan - NTSB: No Records Pertaining To Process Of Positive Identification Of 9/11 Aircraft Wreckage (1 comments) Within a July 18, 2008 Freedom of Information Act response from the National Transportation Safety Board, the NTSB indicates that it possesses no records indicating how wreckage recovered from the 4 aircraft used during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 was positively identified as belonging to the 4 planes reportedly hijacked that day or even if such wreckage was positively identified at all.

Attack of the Global Pirate Bankers In the last thirty years, fueled by the globalization of financial services, lousy lending, capital flight and mind-boggling corruption, a relatively small number of major banks, law firms, accounting firms, asset managers, insurance companies and hedge funds have come to launder and conceal at least $10 trillion to $15 trillion of private untaxed anonymous cross-border wealth.

Mickey Z.: One little, two little, three little Eichmanns (1 comments) There are no innocent bystanders in America.

Crimes and Misdemeanors - Interactive Vinn-diagram of Bush Admin Crimes (2 comments) The best way to make sense of this legal tangle is an interactive Vinn-diagram. Just mouse over the title of an individual scandal, which will highlight everyone implicated. For example, the wiretapping bubble ensnares George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, David Addington, John Ashcroft, John Yoo, and Alberto Gonzales. At the same time, Ashcroft and Gonzales fall into the overlapping circle for monkey business related to DoJ hiring.

Friends of the Congo: Why Barack Obama May Be Off Point on the Congo? Obama's statement that "ethnic strife" is behind the killing in Congo explains in part why there is such silence around the tragic situation in the Congo. The conflict is unfortunately and wrongly presented as ethnic bloodletting. The ethnic rationale for the conflict in the Congo, plays into long-held stereotypes that Africans are interminably trapped in "tribal bloodletting," hence, nothing can be done.

James Nimmo: Homo-Haten', Rootin' Tootin' GOPer Duo of the Wild West Who Needs California Same-Gender Marriage When You Live in Oklahoma?

James Bovard: ELLSBERG’S LESSONS FOR OUR TIME Ellsberg knowingly risked spending a life in prison to bring the truth about the Vietnam War to Americans. He had hoped truth would set Americans free from the spell of official lies. But the experience in Iraq indicates that Americans have learned little if anything from the Vietnam-era deceits.

The U.S. Economy Is Socialism for the Rich Free market capitalism in the United States is by no means "free." It's time we recognize this and move past the destructive neoliberal agenda. The hyper-consumerist culture of the United States has led to predatory lending and credit schemes that have put millions of people on the brink of bankruptcy.

Tim Enstice: New Rx for kids is a tough pill for this dad to swallow Giving overweight children cholesterol-lowering drugs, as the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests, is not the best way to prevent them from becoming tomorrow's heart patients. A better solution is to teach kids to eat healthful vegetarian foods.

Rowan Wolf: The New Digital Divide (4 comments) The switch to digital only will likely leave more folks in the chasm of the digital divide.

Bruce K. Gagnon: JFK'S CONVERSION FROM WAR (1 comments) The new book on JFK by James Douglass is part history, part mystery, and part moral lesson. It is a must read if you want to understand politics in the US today.

The biggest oil guzzler? The Pentagon The Air Force is the SUV of the military. Its thirsty planes burn more than half the fuel supply for the entire U.S. military. It’s received $1.5 billion in new relief from Congress for fuel — and last week still had $400 million left on its credit card.

VIDEO: Bush: Wall Street "Got Drunk" (1 comments) ABC's Miya Shay got exclusive video of Bush "running off at the mouth" at Pete Olson's July 18 fundraiser. A pitiful 2 minutes with the POTUS...

Washington Post Editorial Board Peddles 'U.S. Knows Best' Position on Iraq The editorial board of the Washington Post continues to be a mysterious group, making strange arguments that are detached from the paper's own reporting. Indeed, the gap between the quality of the WaPo's news division and editorial division is greater than at any major newspaper in the country.

Juan Cole: Obama is saying the wrong things about Afghanistan (2 comments) Obama's pledge to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan will not be easy to fulfill. While coalition troop deaths have declined significantly in Iraq, NATO casualties in Afghanistan are way up. By shifting emphasis from Iraq to Afghanistan, would a President Obama be jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

Dave Lindorff: We're a Nation of Lemmings (3 comments) Where is a sense of community responsibility to save the world for our kids and our grandchildren? We don't need more oil? We need less!

(More...)

Friday, July 25:

Press Release: Kucinich Testifies on Abuses of Executive Power Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) testified about President Bush's culpability for leading the country to war today at a House Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Executive Power and its Constitutional Limitations."� The full text of the statement follows:

Martha Rosenberg: Solving Urban Poverty with 55 Gallon Drums of Fish--Another Heifer Success Story With its shameless photos of children hugging rabbits, goats and calves they will also dispatch and its celebrity stumpers, live animal charity Heifer International often gets a pass from donors and the press about its circular logic--that the poor should raise animals with the resources they don't have.

Rob Kall: Should Clean Energy Alternatives Be Fast Tracked? (3 comments) this approach was used to build the border security fence. Should it be used to expedite development of clean energy alternatives?

Ty: What is the best economic system? Economics, Economic Systems

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: Can The Bush Family Wealth Be Seized Under The Trading With the Enemies Act? (2 comments) Are the Fascists who escaped in WW II secretly, and without their knowing affecting the campaigns of Both McCain and Obama? If so how can we stop them? I propose we indict Prescott Bush Post-Humously, freeze and then confiscate all current Bush wealth under the Ricoh Act, as having been seeded. sourced by Prescott Bush''s Trading With the Enemy Act Violations in 1941-1951. What do you think?

Guantanamo testimony: U.S. let bin Laden's top bodyguard go Was Bin Laden's top bodyguard a CIA mole? "Soon after Osama bin Laden's driver got here in 2002, he told interrogators the identity of the al Qaeda chief's most senior bodyguard - then a fellow prison camp detainee. But, inexplicably, the U.S. let the bodyguard go."

NOAA Responds to New Orleans Barge Collision Oil Spill This on the heavy-grade oil spill on the Mississippi at New Orleans. Weather (wind direction) plays a part in recovery according to The Picayune. If anyone finds anything from other US agencies, please post.

Ships blocked after US oil spill Pictures of oil spill on the Mississippi. From BBC news

Reopening of river remains days away MISSISSIPPI GASPING! This is serious stuff. NYTimes story is miniscule. WaPo little better. Calling all New Orleans fans. It's a big deal.

Ford Finally Sees Sense in Smaller, More Efficient Cars After several solid years of losses, Ford has finally decided to do what industry leaders Toyota and Honda have done for decades - make sensible cars that don't compensate for personal "shortcomings".

Thursday, July 24:

OIL SPILL SHUTS DOWN 80 MILES OF RIVER (1 comments) Thorough explanation of the thick oil spill in the Mississippi at New Orleans. Still assessing danger to wildlife. Most water sources in area are safe for drinking. Usual naming of investigative bodies and operators of vessels.

McCain Forgets Canada In Obama Attack In an interview with NBC, John McCain questioned Barack Obama's decision to give a speech in Berlin while he's still a candidate. But MSNBC points out that he's forgetting a recent speech of his own. On June 20, McCain himself gave a speech in Canada -- to the Economic Club of Canada -- in which he applauded NAFTA's successes. McCain's trip to Canada was paid for by the campaign.

Rep. Doyle: 'If Mr. Savage wants to find someone acting like a moron, he should simply look in the mirror.' Last week, right wing radio host Michael Savage claimed that autism is "a fraud" where "99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out." This morning on the House floor, Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA) responded to Savage's comments. Watch it.

Judiciary committee head rigs Bush impeachment hearing (2 comments) Conyers is now taking the position that no one at the hearing can accuse Bush or Cheney of any crime, any impeachable offense, dishonorable conduct, or even lying. Conyers' staffers have reportedly told various witnesses that according to Congressional rules he would be forced to shut down the hearing if any such accusations are made.

JGideon: 'Daily Voting News' For July 24, 2008 a collection of local, state, national and international articles on electronic voting and election issue

George Washington: The Real Reason that the Government Tortures Innocent People Why does the government torture people?

"˜Springtime for Irving': The Video Hatewatch, a part of Southern Poverty Law Center's work, produced a video, interviewing David Irving, who served time on a conviction of being a holocaust denier. With false identification, he convinced a church to provide space for his lecture after he was released. Remarkable response to questions posed by Max Blumenthal. Christian Hitchens' name is brought up.

No new troops to Afghanistan The Pentagon is unable to send additional combat brigades to Afghanistan this year because of constraints imposed by the war in Iraq, leaving a shift of forces to the next president, a spokesman said. Iraq remains the Bush administration's top priority.

Plan Would Use Antiterror Aid on Pakistani Jets The Bush administration plans to shift nearly $230 million in aid to Pakistan from counterterrorism programs to upgrading that country’s aging F-16 attack planes, which Pakistan prizes more for their contribution to its military rivalry with India than for fighting insurgents along its Afghan border.

Pentagon Auditors Pressured To Favor Contractors, GAO Says Auditors at a Pentagon oversight agency were pressured by supervisors to skew their reports on major defense contractors to make them look more favorable instead of exposing wrongdoing and charges of overbilling, according to an 80-page report released yesterday by the Government Accountability Office.

Berlin Rally Is Off-Limits for Embassy Workers The U.S. Embassy in Berlin has instructed Foreign Service personnel stationed there not to attend Sen. Barack Obama's public rally today, which the State Department this week labeled a "partisan political activity" prohibited under its regulations for those serving overseas.

VIDEO: MSNBC "Verdict" -- Rove Speaks on the Siegelman Case Why's everybody always picking on me? Karl Rove saw nothing...said nothing to nobody...knows nothing...Move on -- nothing to see here.

Pittsburgh cancer institute warns of cell phone-cancer risk, defying published research The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer.

Zogby poll July 24 Obama/McCain Red to purple, and purple to uncertain makes bigger to tallies than this article has to each.

CIA memos say 'specific intent' of 'pain and suffering' necessary for interrogations to be considered torture. (2 comments) The released FOIA DoJ memos effectively say that "as long as CIA agents could convince themselves they were not deliberately inflicting severe pain or suffering on detainees, they were free to do virtually anything in their questioning of suspected terrorists, including waterboarding." Bybee and Yoo must be disbarred ASAP. Neither should be allowed near a law school.

ACLU : Documents Released by the CIA and Justice Department in Response to the ACLU's Torture FOIA The Justice Department in 2002 told the CIA that its interrogators would be safe from prosecution for violations of anti-torture laws if they believed "in good faith" that harsh techniques used to break the will of prisoners, including waterboarding, would not cause "prolonged mental harm." That same day the Bybee Memo was issued and so it began...

Could You be on U.S. Terror Watch List? (2 comments) JIM ROBINSON, FORMER ASST. ATTORNEY GENERAL: his name is on the terrorist watch list; is yours, too? The list recently passed the 1 million name mark

Paul Kruger: Test for Congress (22 comments) Should you have to take a test to be a member of Congress?

karmacounselor: Which broken immigration policy would you fix first? (9 comments) Broken immigration parts Which to fix first?

Gene Cappa: Should John Conyers Hold An Impeachment Hearing in August? (17 comments) Should John Conyers forgo his August vacation break to hold a hearing on the 39 "privileged" pending Articles of Impeachment presented to Congress by Rep Dennis Kucinich?

Reward offered for citizen's arrest of Rice (2 comments) A $5000 reward is being offered to any Auckland University student who can make a successful citizen's arrest of United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her visit to the country this weekend.

Death of Free Internet is Imminent - Canada to be test case. (4 comments) Bell Canada and Telus will soon begin charging per site fees on most Internet sites, converting "the Internet into a cable-like system, where customers sign up for specific web sites, and then pay to visit sites beyond a cutoff point ... At present, the world condemns China because that country restricts certain websites." This will be "much worse than that. They are planning the death of the Internet (free) as we know it."

Media Goof Again: Blackwater Isn't Going Anywhere Jerry Scahill, in response to media hints that Blackwater is leaving Iraq, says that there is a new one-year contract with the State Dept. However, he also outlines it is into private spy agency, Total Intelligence Solutions, bids on $15bn contract fighting the drug trade in 4 nations, & is working on an armored vehicle vehicle, the Grizzly, as well as its Polar Airship 400. Owns Greystone Ltd, the peacekeeping arm.

DC Rapier: *House Judiciary Committee to Hold Impeachment Hearings (10 comments) The House Judiciary Committee set to hold hearings on Kucinich's single article of impeachment of GW Bush.

Abizaid: 'We can't be in Iraq more than the Iraqis want us to be there.' Ret. Gen. John Abizaid, commander of CenComm from 2003-07, told a meeting of the Pacific Council that if the people of Iraq want the U.S. to leave, the U.S. should leave. "We can't be in Iraq more than the Iraqis want us to be there," Abizaid said. Reportedly, Abizaid predicted that by January the Iraqis "will be close to getting their act together." "The Iraqis have moved beyond the American political debate."

EU warns US of VISA retaliation The European Commission has warned it may force US diplomats to apply for visas to travel within the European Union from next year The commission's move is in retaliation for the US' failure to broaden visa-free travel to all EU member states.

Ukraine Banking: the thriving banking industry in South Eastern Europe Bharatbook.com has newly included a report into its existing reports which provides information on Ukraine Banking Sector. Ukraine is one of the fastest growing countries in Eastern Europe by assets, loans, deposits and profitability of the banking sector. The bank deposits in the Ukrainian banking sector are projected to grow at a CAGR of about 45.8% (in terms of national currency) during 2008-2012.

Rules prevent open discussion on Friday Rules prevent discussion of impeachment on Friday, prevent naming either Bush or Cheney, and prevent accusing either or them of any offense. So, what was the reason for the meeting again? (Vince B. will be there, but what could he possibly say under these rules?)

Air Travelers Accuse TSA Agents Of 'Humiliating' Security Screenings At Airports (2 comments) At that point, Perry was standing in his underwear in public view. He asked to see a supervisor. That made things worse. "She was yelling 'I have power, I have power, I have power," Perry said. The power to stop him from flying to Florida with his wife that day to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Wednesday, July 23:

Anbar Sheik Cited By McCain Was Assassinated Last Year (1 comments) The major Sunni sheik who John McCain said was protected by the surge and subsequently helped lead the Anbar Awakening, was actually assassinated by an al-Qaeda led group in midst of the surge.

Report Says Pentagon Pressured, Intimidated Auditors Auditors at an oversight agency of the Pentagon were pressured by supervisors to skew their reports on a major defense contractor's work, hiding wrongdoing and charges of overbilling, according to an 80-page report from the Government Accountability Office. The contractor implicated in the report was not named. Who gave contractors this kind of unaccountability and wild-west lawlessness?

WITNESSES: BUSH LABOR DEPT. WAGE & HOUR ENFORCEMENT DROPS, WORKERS CHEATED Enforcement of wage-and-hour laws, to ensure workers get at least the minimum wage and the overtime pay they deserve, has dropped drastically under the GOP Bush government, impartial investigators and a low-income workers' advocate told Congress. As a result, low-wage workers are routinely cheated.

Blackwell, Von Spakovsky Set to Testify in House on 'Lessons Learned from 2004 Election' Matthew Segal,Exec Dir of the Student Association for Voter Empowerment(SAVE),told BRADBLOG that he was disappointed that nobody [was]invited to this perhaps final hearing prior to the '08 election to speak on either e-voting or youth voting issues."There is no one on electronic voting,no one on student voter access,and,basically,no one from any groups or organizations that really represent any grass roots constituencies."

R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America: *Groups Urge Congress to Immediately Halt Any Further Advancement of NAIS; R-Calf and other groups press Congress to halt NAIS, citing USDA misrepresentations, premise registrations acquired without farmer/rancher consent, states needing to take action to protect citizens from USDA NAIS-related actions, USDA proceeding without regard to stakeholder costs/ability/confidentiality, USDA usurping congressional authority.

Rady Ananda: Los Angeles Electoral Crisis Looms (1 comments) What's the matter with Los Angeles? Double bubble ballot that disenfranchised tens of thousands cost Regisrar her job, but the replacement is worse: the 2004 King County, WA election chief who counted illegal votes but not legal ones. LA County is the largest election district in America. The votes cast and counted here significantly affect the outcome of every election--statewide and nationwide.

Sherwood Ross: STOP WAR ON IRAN RALLIES AUGUST 2-3 (2 comments) YOU can do something to prevent the Bush administration from attacking Iran by participating in the anti-war protests August 1-3. Read all about it!

JGideon: 'Daily Voting News' For July 23, 2008 a collection of local, state, national and international articles on electronic voting and election issue

Organization of Competitive Markets - press release: OCM Applauds Fifth Circuit Packers and Stockyards Act Decision The Organization of Competitive Markets hails the 5th Circuit Court decision in Wheeler v. Pilgrim's Pride which finds that producers don't need to prove "adverse effect on competition" to sue for unfair or deceptive practices. This is a win for small producers against the large meatpackers, and a battle that goes to the heart of critical efforts to return real competition to a country controlled by corporations.

Obama Spanish-language radio ad An Obama radio ad running in Spanish in Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Nevada is presented here in translation.

How to harvest solar power? Beam it down from space! Improving solar technology and the skyrocketing price of oil are making space-based solar power a feasible option.

Word on the street: 'I cried with happiness. Today, for the first time, I feel like the war has ended' Some comments... "I don't know why, but I am not sure whether this is good news or not, although I know our government must be obedient to its European and American sponsor." "A disgrace for the Serbian people. To sell our leader and hero in this way, and the same people attacking and destroying us will set more conditions. What's next? Recognize Kosovo? We've lost so much land – now our honour too."

Iran sees U.S. respect but says no nuclear retreat Ahmadinejad praised US participation in last week's talks with Tehran on its disputed nuclear program as "a positive step" and said its arch foe had shown respect. He made clear Tehran would not halt atomic work the West suspects is aimed at making bombs. Iran says its nuclear work is a peaceful drive to generate electricity so the country can export more of its oil and gas.

Obama says nuclear Iran poses "grave threat" U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Wednesday a nuclear Iran would pose a "grave threat" and that the world must stop Tehran from obtaining an atomic weapon. Obama told reporters during a visit to Israel that if elected, he would take "no options off the table" in dealing with the Iran issue and said tougher sanctions could be imposed.

Rangel to file complaint against self — first official grievance since 2004 Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday will formally ask the House ethics committee to investigate allegations that he misused his congressional office.

US general warns Russia on nuclear bombers in Cuba Russia would cross "a red line for the United States of America" if it were to base nuclear capable bombers in Cuba, a top US air force officer warned. The Russian moves come amid rising tensions over the US missile defense plans, and warnings by Moscow that it will be forced them to counter them militarily.

Teasing the new NBC/WSJ poll - 60% of Americans want al-Maliki and Obama's timetable Here's one result from the new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll that will be released tonight at 6:30 pm ET on Nightly News and MSNBC.com... With the news that Iraq's prime minister wants the US to set a timetable for withdrawal, 60% of registered voters believe it's a good idea for the US to set such a timetable, while 30% say it's a bad idea.

Jason Leopold: Rep. Ackerman Defends Iran Sanctions Measure, But Critics Call it An Act of War (2 comments) Two weeks ago, Rep. Gary Ackerman, the Democrat from New York, delivered an impassioned speech on the House floor defending a controversial resolution he co-sponsored calling on President George W. Bush "to increase economic, political and diplomatic pressure on Iran."

Exposing Bush's historic abuse of power (1 comments) Salon has uncovered new evidence of post-9/11 spying on Americans. Obtained documents point to a potential investigation of the White House that could rival Watergate.

Linn Cohen-Cole: *During a world food crisis, Monsanto just raised the price of its corn seed $100 a bag. (15 comments) "A $100 price increase is a tremendous drain on rural America," said Fred Stokes, OCM's executive director. "Let's say a farmer in Iowa who farms 1,000 acres plants one of these expensive corn varieties next year. The gross increased cost is more than $40,000. Yet there's no scientific basis to justify this price hike. How can we let companies get away with this?" continued Stokes.

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: Poll: If They win, Will Dems Do What is Right? (23 comments) This poll chronicles a 10 of items many people think should be legislated. Check those you think will actually be enacted

Tuesday, July 22:

Gabe Shames: Is there a North American Union forming, and why? (27 comments) The Security and Prosperity Agreement (SPP) signed in 2005 by Bush, then-Presidente Fox, and the then-Prime Minister of Canada, has sparked waves of fear across the continent. Many are concerned it's not just an "agreement" but the start of the removal of all three countries sovereignty to form a continental superstate. Could this be true or will it just be a "community," or is it in fact just an agreement?

Bill Samuel: Can We Defeat Terror by Escalating the War In Afghanistan? (42 comments) Escalation of war in Afghanistan is a major campaign position of Barack Obama. Do you agree his assumptions are correct.

Monday, July 21:

Amy Fried: McCain Surrogate: "The Muslims have said either we kneel or they're going to kill us." (8 comments) McCain's surrogate - on a campaign conference call - implied that the status of our national security boils down to a struggle with all Muslims. McCain did not challenge the statement. How does that reflect on his fitness for the presidency?

Sunday, July 20:

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: Poll: Cindi Sheehan or Nancy Pelosi? (25 comments) We want to know if you live in San Francisco's 8th District, or if you lived there, would you vote in the upcoming election for Cindi Sheehan or Nancy Pelosi?

Saturday, July 19:

Xanadu Zinnia: How to Save the World? (9 comments) Given the current state of our planet, what should we focus on to save the world?

Sherwin Steffin: Confident, Hopeful, Wishful, or Fantasy (12 comments) This poll asks for your assessment of the likelihood that America will eventually return to being the nation we all expected it to be.

Friday, July 18:

Bia Winter: Re-Defining "Terrorism" (20 comments) Who and what is a "Terrorism?

Paul Kruger: Congress, Rove & Contempt (14 comments) Rove and inherent contempt.

Kevin Gosztola: Should activist, citizen, and advocacy groups go to the DNC or RNC to protest? (26 comments) I believe this poll will help us have an important discussion and would greatly appreciate hearing from members of the OEN community and others on this.

Rob Kall: Do You Support Cindy Sheehan's Campaign Run Against Nancy Pelosi (23 comments) Pelosi or Sheehan? Will you be helping Sheehan or Pelosi?

Wednesday, July 16:

Kevin Gosztola: Should there be a massive anti-war march at the Democratic National Convention? (17 comments) Anti-war leaders do not know if they should have a mass march or little marches at the Democratic National Convention. Help them decide.

Tuesday, July 15:

Casey Reed: Separation of Corporate and State (13 comments) Do we need a Constitutional amendment to regulate the influence and current dominance of corporations and the rich and powerful interests? Should there be a separation of corporate and state?

Cindie Frap: Racial Divide (8 comments) Is there a racial divide in our country more now than before?

Monday, July 14:

Amy Fried: How do you feel about the New Yorker's satirical Obama cover? (58 comments) Reactions to The New Yorker's satirical cover featuring smear-inspired stereotypes of the Obama's.

Michael McCoy: Post 911 and Bush, what concerns you about America? (14 comments) With the profound change in the methods and tactics by which America is governed, what concerns you most about the lives of you children and grandchildren?

Gabe Shames: Are 'Chemtrails' a form of Government suppression? (24 comments) Have you heard of the supposed difference of regular airplanes excreting contrails (the short-duration line of exhaust) and what many are arguing are 'chemtrails?' Chemtrails are supposedly longer (continue instead of fading) and sometimes expand outward to unprecidented widths. Those in favor of the chemtrail theory often say they are purposefully sprayed by government-issued planes to control populations. What do you think?

PrMaine: What Happened on 9/11? (45 comments) What do you feel was the most likely explanation for the events of 9/11/2001?

Gene Cappa: Should ACLU Release Another Impeachment Pamphlet? (10 comments) The ACLU is in the forefront of defending the Constitution and should be releasing a new "Impeachment Pamphlet" INFORMING the American people why impeachment proceedings are urgently required presently?

Sunday, July 13:

Bill Samuel: Vote major party or not? (10 comments) Some people say you should vote for a major party candidate because these are the only ones with a chance to win. Others say that you should vote for someone with whom you agree on most major public policy issues, whether or not they appear to have a chance to win. Many OpEdNews readers really face this question, as they have major problems with thepositions of major party candidates.

Paul Kruger: Based on the Senate betraying America, who would support this campaign? (26 comments) Who here would activly support a campaign to remove from office EVERY single member of Congress who voted FOR IMMUNITY in both the House and Senate at the next possible election?

Friday, July 11:

Rob Kall: If Pelosi Changes Her Impeachment Position Will It Change Your Attitude Towards Congress (64 comments) What will it take to get you to approve of Pelosi's congress

Tuesday, July 8:

Linda Bemis: Should we eliminate medical insurance as we know it and replace with our own. Poll on whether we should eliminate employer insurance, Medicare, Medicade, Veterans health care, all medical insurance companies, etc.

Gene Cappa: Should John Conyers Hold Impeachment Hearings Anyway? (11 comments) Should House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers hold immediate impeachment hearings anyway even though his House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took impeachment "off the table" for Cheney and Bush, and Conyers has stated he is documenting everything for his next democratic president Barack Obama?

Rob Kall: Have Obama's Centrist Policy Policy Declarations Surprised You? (99 comments) Did you think Obama was a progressive or did you see him, from the beginning as a centrist moderate? If you saw him as a centrist moderate from the beginning, then his positions will not be as big a surprise as if you saw him as a progressive from the beginning.

Monday, July 7:

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: POLL IS THE Ancient Tablet Predating Jesus as Messiah and Resurrection Fraud Or Truth (15 comments) The Tablet now known as "Gabriel's Revelation" has stirred quite a controversy among, Christians, Jews and others. Many Hebrew scholars believe the stone to be authentic and if so it would to confirm the expectation of just such a Messiah even before Jesus was born. What do you think? Read and tap the link to read the original article and let us know.

Rob Kall: Which News Network Favors Right Wing Messages More? CNN or MSNBC? (15 comments) When you add Keith Olbermann, Andrea Mitchell, JoeScarborough and the rest on MSNBC and, Wolf Blitzer Lou Dobbs, Jack Caffrey, etcetera on CNN, which network cuts the right, McCain, Bush, etc. more slack, repeats the right wing message more?

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: Should Organized Religion Focus more on The Evils of Avarice/Greed Than on the Bedrooms of (6 comments) American Churches and governmental agencies are shown by polls to be the most self-righteous, sexually uptight on the planet and never once have they expressed indignation at the despicable nature of Human Avarice/greed. It's time we found out what the people think.

Sunday, July 6:

Edwin Rutsch: Why do conservatives value Self-Righteousness and Hypocrisy? (8 comments) Why do conservatives value Self-Righteousness and Hypocrisy?

Paul Kruger: Are there too many similar causes diluting available resources? (21 comments) Should similar causes/groups narrow their focus and refer donors to each other on specific issues with regards to supporting action on those issues?

Saturday, July 5:

Sherwin Steffin: Impeachment update (43 comments) This poll is an update of my April 30th poll, asking for your assessment of then likelihood that either/or Bush and Cheney will be impeached by the House, and convicted by Senate

Paul Kruger: Should the Feds be handed all of your credit card transactions? (12 comments) Should the federal government have the right to demand records of every American's credit and debit card transaction?

Thursday, July 3:

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: SHOULD NO-BID CONTRACTS BE ABOLISHED? (10 comments) NO-BID Contracts perpetuate the notion that the contract awardee is so "Uniquely Qualified" at whatever he is "bidding" upon, as to be spared the indignity of having to compete with others, the Hoi Polloi whose bids are an insult to the No-Bidder guys. In my experience I have found NO evidence to support such an assumption.

Rob Kall: I'm Holding Back on Contributing to Obama Because of his Move to The Right (60 comments) I either will escrow money to give later, just wait and see where he ends up, or vote for someone else.

Wednesday, July 2:

Edwin Rutsch: How many readers of Opednews.com will be going to Netroots Nation Conference? (1 comments) The Netroots Nation Conference will be held in Austin, TX from July 17-20. How many readers of Opednews.com will be going to Netroots?

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: Should Individual States and Cities Indict Cheney/Bush For Murder? (9 comments) GW Bush and Dick Cheney have been let of the hook for impeachment, but that does not mean that we, the citizens of America need to sit idly, impotently, by and let him bully his way out of prosecution. Should we indict them for murder in cities and states all across our nation, thus pinning him down or forcing him to go to war with the states with his mercenaries?

Brett Paatsch: Have you checked whether your rep has read Kucinich's 35 articles of Bush impeachment ? (3 comments) This is a poll to see what portion of Opednews readers have personally checked that either their congressional representative or a member of the House Judiciary Committee have read Kucinich's 35 articles of impeachment for President Bush.

Ben Kall: Mrs. McCain or Obama; Who Is Evading Media Coverage More? (1 comments) who's the more private?

Kevin Gosztola: What issue will Obama move to the center right on next? (5 comments) Obama's ever-increasing impulse to be on the center right of as many issues as possible could potentially be detrimental to progressives/liberals who think he is no match for McCain in November. Many are already calling his moves a sign that he suffers from a "character flaw." What issue will he move to the center right on next?

Tuesday, July 1:

Gene Cappa: Do YOU Support An Independent International 911 Invesitgation? (18 comments) Scientific and eyewitness evidence shows that the 9/11 Commission Report is a fraudulent document and those behind the report are guilty of covering up what really happened on 9/11/2001. This evidence overwhemlmingly supports the conclusion that World Trade Center Towers, 1, 2, and 7 were brought down by demolition explosives and official theory of airplanes and ensuing fires is irrefutably false.

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: IN YOUR OPINION, IS MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FIXED? (2 comments) Some statistics indicate the the steroids issue is a faux issue designed to deter people from examining the horrible calls by umpires. which most often seem to favor the home team. Well, guess what, they do favor the home and and for a good reason, doing so is VERY profitable. If the home team wins more often or at least almost wins pretty often, fans keep on coming. So, then are baseball game outcomes fixed?

Frank J. Ranelli: Is Barack Obama moving too far to the right just to be elected? (11 comments) In recent days, Obama has been accused of moving to the center and triangulating, a course and tactic that Bill Clinton used to get elected, and flip-flopping on many positions he held during the protracted, 16 month, Democratic primary. Today, Barack Obama announced if elected he would expand President Bush's Faith-Based Initiative programs.

Edwin Rutsch: Is Congresswoman Maxine Waters correct that conservatives value Blame, Hate & Lying? (4 comments) Is Congresswoman Maxine Waters correct that conservatives value Blame, Hate & Lying?

Rady Ananda: Lever Voting Machines or Computerized Systems? (1 comments) Which voting system do you trust more?

Saturday, June 28:

Edwin Rutsch: What social or political movements would psychopaths and narcissists join? (29 comments) What social or political movements would psychopaths and narcissists, who don't value empathy, tend to join?

Kevin Gosztola: Our Nation's Independence Day (6 comments) What are you thinking about this year's Fourth of July?

Friday, June 27:

Edwin Rutsch: Worst of the Failed Conservative Values that James Dobson exemplifies? (13 comments) What is the worst of the Failed Conservative Values that James Dobson exemplifies?

Gene Cappa: Will Bugliosi Succeed in Getting Bush Indicted & Prosecuted on Murder Charges? (18 comments) Over 4,000 American soldiers have lost their lives fighting in George W. Bush's war in Iraq on "false pretenses". Can Bush be indicted and prosecuted for murder and conspiracy to commit murder charges?

Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo: Should The Catholic Church Excommunicate Justices Alito, Scalia, and Thomas? (35 comments) Since, in my opinion, the below have not only acted with sycophantic accord with the powerful, corporate wealthy and in the best interests of encouraging a fascist dictatorship, and have done incredible harm to our Constitution and people, since they are CATHOLIC; Should The Catholic Church Excommunicate Justices Alito, Scalia, and Thomas?

Saturday, March 15:

Sponsored by www.worldproutassembly.org: "Building a New World" Conference The deep longing for positive, lasting change is the bedrock upon which this conference is based. How do we fix our country and our world? And how can we form one mass movement to address the crisis? (Event Date: May 22, 2008)

Sponsored by ourfuture.org: Take Back America a meeting of progressives (Event Date: Mar 17, 2008)

Wednesday, December 31:

Sponsored by Freedom Ambassadors: Walk for Human Dignity A national coalition of over 50 local, state and national organizations are participating in walk from Tucson to Phoenix beginning May 2 to call for an end to racially fomented hate crimes. The ten-day peaceful walk will end with a rally in downtown Phoenix on Mother's Day, May 11, honoring mothers for teaching children to treat all human beings with equal dignity. (Event Date: May 1, 2008)

(More...)

Friday, July 25:

RevBlake: The Angry Mother Honoring the mothers and women who are social and political activists. God bless you!

Thursday, July 24:

Ashin Mettacara: *Myanmar: Religion cannot be separated from politics; what did the Buddha say about Political Involvement? (7 comments) Politics and Religion

INNOCENTIVE: If You Have a Problem, Ask Everyone Would-be innovators can sign up online to compete for prizes for solving diverse problems from around the world in a variety of disciplines.

Innovation Inducement Prizes at the National Science Foundation Report available online free.

Scientists recover complete dinosaur skeleton (1 comments) Japanese and Mongolian scientists have successfully recovered the complete skeleton of a 70-million-year-old young dinosaur, a nature museum announced Thursday.

Arabesque: 9/11 Truth: Scientific Method versus Political Method: The US administration and its interpretation of the e (4 comments) 9/11 was a terrorist attack-or was it?

Suzana Megles: A Tribute to Mindy, a Pit Bull Dog (2 comments) Another needless banning of pit bulls in Lakewood, Ohio. It is wrong for the media to just report pit bull bitings. Other dogs bite as well. The Center of Disease Control has not zeroed in on any specific breed responsible for dog bites.

Allen L Roland: *THE FOUR STAGES OF RELATIONSHIP True relationship is a dance of intimacy ( a means to an end versus an end in itself ) where both partners continually take hold and let go ~ leading eventually to true SELF, inner joy and validation and the courage and freedom to fully express and sing one's own true song: Allen L Roland

Wednesday, July 23:

Safe Food Campaign, New Zealand: Aspartame harms young brains; New Zealand Petition asks for Ban in Schools; New Mexico Physician Stoller Testifies (2 comments) New Zealanders are trying to get rid of the neurotoxic carcinogenic artificial sweeteners, even though 99% of Americans still seem to be tragically "asleep at the wheel" and biochemically indifferent on this vital consumer protection issue, as to consuming formaldehyde and methanol in their diet Cokes, Equal, and Trident/Eclipse/Orbit Sugarless Gum

Maya Schenwar | On Iraq: Wiping Out the Legend BOOK REVIEW: A silent mythos is enveloping the liberal consciousness in the waning days of the Bush presidency.

Solar power from Saharan sun could provide Europe's electricity, says EU A tiny rectangle superimposed on the vast expanse of the Sahara captures the seductive appeal of the audacious plan to cut Europe's carbon emissions by harnessing the fierce power of the desert sun. Dwarfed by any of the north African nations, it represents an area slightly smaller than Wales but scientists claimed yesterday it could one day generate enough solar energy to supply all of Europe with clean electricity.

Tuesday, July 22:

Theresa Paulfranz: We Have Sexy Bodies and Brains....Why Not Sexy Culture and Sexy Planet? (8 comments) In this lopsided culture archetypal feminine thinking is missing. Humans have sexy bodies and sexy brains. So too, archetypally, they should have a sexy culture.

Georgianne Nienaber: Guitar Virtuoso Jimmy Robinson at New Orleans' Ogden: "After Hours"

Do IMF loans lead to higher rates of tuberculosis? Findings: In all of the countries under scrutiny, as IMF loans increased, so did TB death rates. For every 1% increase in credit, the TB mortality rate climbed by 0.9 percent. The longer IMF loans lasted, the greater the rate of TB deaths: Every extra year of money was associated with about a 4% increase in deaths. Those numbers are pretty striking...

What the Public Really Wants on Science Polls show that the public is more than just excited about science-they overwhelmingly think that it can make our lives better and that scientists should have a larger role in public policy decisions.

Michael Dewey: *Rocking Down Angels

Allen L Roland: *ONLY LOVE UNITES AND HEALS What lies deepest within us is a state of love and soul consciousness ( The Unified Field ) which extends beyond time and space and reveals itself in its universal urge to unite. It gently holds us, as if in two giant hands, and asks only that we play our part in a universal loving plan . It also exists beyond lifetimes whereas those who we love deeply become part of us forever : Allen L Roland

Monday, July 21:

Quarter of the planet to be online by 2012 (2 comments) According to the report by Jupiter Research, the total number of people online will climb to 1.8 billion by 2012, encompassing roughly 25 percent of the planet.

Are You Getting What You're Paying For? 25 Online Tools to Test Your Internet Service Most people pay a hefty amount of money every month to ensure that they have a quality connection to the Internet. But are you really getting what you pay for? Your speed, quality of service, and even the sites you're allowed to use may be interfered with. Put these tools to work to make sure you're getting everything you've been promised.

Advance brings low-cost, bright LED lighting closer to reality Researchers at Purdue University have overcome a major obstacle in reducing the cost of "solid state lighting," a technology that could cut electricity consumption by 10 percent if widely adopted.

Swiss man, moved by the sun, produces solar-powered car The 36-year-old Palmer is five months away from circling the globe in his solar powered car -- a trip that will take him across 40 countries and 36,000 miles. The United States is the 28th country he's visited in the Solar Taxi -- and he's driven more than 23,000 miles. His mission is to show people that automobile travel is possible without spending a single cent at the gas pump -- or negatively impacting the environment.

Jane Stillwater: Operation Hydra: Air Force disaster relief training, flying all over California, GWB & me.... I recently went on a tour of the USAF's Contingency Response Wing's readiness training exercise, in case of a major disaster. This article is rather long but you should slog through it anyway. Why? So you would know what our military is capable of in case of another Katrina or 9-11. Also Bush showed up for a Republican fund-raiser at our airbase that day. And us taxpayers paid for his transportation. That sucks eggs.

Park tests hybrid buses in McKinley's shadow The 230-horsepower hybrid bus white and sporting pictures of Denali on its sides. The plan is to test it this summer to determine its potential for replacing the park's 110 diesel buses. This is the type of program the government should be jumping in to finance Think of all the school buses polluting the air every morning. not only would it be govs and schools green but if big US auto was in that would be some real jobs to

Sunday, July 20:

Jim Miles: Descent Into Chaos - Book Review An excellent work that examines the previously poorly chronicled affairs between the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Jim Miles: Marching Toward Hell - Book Review The shackles of oil and Israel, the elitist ignorance of the American government, the antagonism of the Muslim world supported by the predictions and indictments of bin Laden have created a losing position for the Americans no matter what they attempt to do.

Appalachian English: Speaking the stereotype Kentucky is such an unusual state," Deem said. "You get this great diversity of accent, dialect and language usage."

One Soldier's Interview after Leaving the Service "When I showed up at the first coal mine where I worked ... I didn't get a lot of initial guidance, which was hard for me," he said. Making a decision of whether to be a lifer or get out, the man describes how he chose, then found he could sign up for the Guard and be useful in training recruits. Just good human interest.

Saturday, July 19:

Rady Ananda: Warning: This Product Is Hazardous To Your Freedom (25 comments) Top shelf; the creme de la creme; the most succinct, in plain English best quotes by computer security experts. Do we really want to vote on this "crap?"

mikel paul: Welcome to the Earthly Ice Crème Shoppe (18 comments) ...owned and operated by and for all its inhabitants. Close to seven billion flavors and counting. Way more than 31. Some flavors will make you gag or worse. But many more will have you wondering why you waited so long to have a lick.

Allan Lichtman: Conservative Denial (2 comments) This article opens a discussion of the history and current status of American conservatism through a response to David Frum's review of my book, White Protestant Nation: The Rise of the American Conservative Movement.

Mole's Progressive Democrat: The Tangled Web of the Organic Industry (2 comments) This blogger, who is a biologist living in Brooklyn, discusses organic food. What's really organic (or nearly so), and which corporations have the most involvement in the food industry. Interesting charts.

Synthetic Pot as a Military Weapon? Meet the Man Who Ran the Secret Program Ketchum was into weapons of mass elation, not weapons of mass destruction. From before the Viet Nam War, as the Army researched new chemical warfare techniques, this doctor worked on compounds which would render enemies incapable of action without killing them. Articles updates issues of medical marijuana and decriminalization.

Richard Volaar: Misogyny And the Beer-Bellied Portion of the Bell-shaped Curve (7 comments) A shocking retort to those who would shy away from the defense of things manly and untoward

Swiss Man, Moved By the Sun, Produces Solar-Powered Car (2 comments) A car with Swiss license plates cruising along roads on the sunburned hills of Merced County isn't exactly common sight. An even less common sight is a solar-powered car that produces zero carbon emissions. That's exactly what a small group of residents saw Friday, as Swiss schoolteacher and world traveler Louis Palmer rolled into UC Merced with his Solar Taxi.

The Crisis is Upon Us by Ron Paul (15 comments) The doctor/Congressman/scholar writes about the economic calamity facing the world and discusses what we can do to lessen its impact.

Rady Ananda: Debunking Pre-Election Testing Myths (1 comments) Debunking myths can be a full time job in the election integrity world. Here are 12 expert quotes on testing election software. Malware (malicious software code) can easily defeat pre-election testing and certification processes: logic and accuracy tests cannot "prove" that software is free of malware.

mfaison: Plan X: My Deferred Dream Plan (2 comments) creative writing expressing feelings concerning economic and occupational uncertainties

Allen L Roland: *RACISM RAISES ITS UGLY FACE ON NEW YORKER COVER (2 comments) Racism has subtly raised its ugly face for all to see, courtesy of the New Yorker, but it was always there beneath the surface ~ so now we no longer have to deny its presence nor its role in an election where 45 percent of Americans believe Islam encourages violence: Allen L Roland

Friday, July 18:

SolarCity provides SF power below grid price If you are a San Francisco resident considering solar panels, now is the time for action, says Lyndon Rive, CEO of SolarCity, a start-up that leases panels to homeowners. Since the city solar-incentive program came into effect in July, it has become financially viable for even small energy consumers to install solar-power systems.

Homeowner boards can't exclude democracy Prof. Political Science and Homeowner rights advocate criticize HOAs for lack of democracy. The NJ Supreme Court heard this case pertaining to free speech rights at a cost of $500,000 to the HOA.

We thought we were safe Not in Paradise! A pensive tale of a man's escaping the fires of Northern California with his horse, and only memories of a house they had spent four years building. It happened June 12. A month later, he thinks about when he will get his horse back home.

Dr. GLEN MABSON, Phd. Epileptic Foundation of Maui dba Pacific Epilepsy Society: Epilepsy Study Incriminates Aspartame in Medications (6 comments) Shocking analysis of the large numbers of victims of Epileptic Seizures in Hawaii, tying it in to their use of the artificial sweetener and neurodegenerative carcinogen, Aspartame, still commonly added to many medications!

Strongest Material Ever Tested: Graphene, praised for its electrical properties, has been proven the strongest known mat Materials scientists have been singing graphene's praises since it was first isolated in 2005. The one-atom-thick sheets of carbon conduct electrons better than silicon and have been made into fast, low-power transistors. Now, for the first time, researchers have measured the intrinsic strength of graphene, and they've confirmed it to be the strongest material ever tested.

Quantum Leap: Researchers have controlled the position of a single electron in a silicon circuit. An international team of researchers has shown that it can control the quantum state of a single electron in a silicon transistor--even putting the electron in two places at once. Their discovery could help pave the way toward a practical quantum computer.

Automated Precision Satellite Guidance Of 9/11 Type Aircraft Largely Possible Just Before Attacks Because information collected after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 has raised questions about the alleged ability and motivation of the people accused of piloting Boeing 757 and 767 planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, speculation has since lingered regarding the covert use of technology to precisely self-navigate all 4 airliners into targets that day.

The Risks of Obama's Iraq Strategy (2 comments) This CQ piece analyzes flipflopping of both candidates and sees past where they are inconsistent on Iraq War strategy. Did I get the impression right? That it says Obama's problem is he doesn't see that the surge is working?

Tidal power feeds electricity to National Grid in world first The first ever commercial electricity powered by the tides has been put on the National Grid, project managers said today. The £10million SeaGen turbine based in Northern Ireland's Strangford Lough generated enough green energy to supply 150 homes in a test. Full-blown production is expected in a few weeks' time.

Ray Louis: Spoiler Alert! The Dark Knight is an Unmasked Bush Apologist (6 comments) This is partially a review of the new Batman movie (The Dark Knight), as well as a look at the questionable actions and the cultural impact of the comic book character. Bruce Wayne/Batman is clearly a villain, not a hero.

Steve Windisch (jibbguy): Free Energy and the Open Source Energy Movement (Part 3) (4 comments) Third article in the series; discussing Dr. Eugene Mallove and Cold Fusion, the non-profit organization Panaea-BOCOF, and an interview with Mr. Ashtweth Palise.

Ferdinand: Prepare Yourself (2 comments) The news articles will be meant to instill fear and create confusion. Do not believe any of them without serious thought and consideration, no matter their apparent credibility. We could never trust the mainstream media and its pundits...

Thursday, July 17:

Rachel Maddow, Host Apparent: Analyst "At The Top" Of "Very Short List" For Next MSNBC Opening (5 comments) For eight nights beginning just before the 4th of July, Rachel Maddow, the host of a program on Air America, the liberal talk-radio network, served as a substitute for the vacationing Keith Olbermann. "At some point, I don't know when, she should have a show," said Phil Griffin, hours before he was promoted on Wed to president of MSNBC. "She's on the short list. It's a very short list. She's at the top."

Microgeneration could rival nuclear power, report shows British buildings equipped with solar, wind and other micro power equipment could generate as much electricity in a year as five nuclear power stations, a government-backed industry report showed today.