It may be considered a Bible war going on in the internet but ladies and gentlemen when someone markets teddy bears, t-shirts, with Psalms 109:8 on it in reference to President Barack Obama, it is time to turn up the serious valve and ask is this an American Jihad and where are the religious leaders when you need them to stand up and exhibit contentiousness against such a decree!
And what is the CIA, FBI and Secret Service doing about any of this?
I am trying to imagine how a Republican gets ready to make a pronouncement “That the Health Care Reform bill simply is more big government spending”. We have all heard each of them - with a straight face - make that statement. Is it drugs? Do they take a few hits before going out in public? Does Tom Delay still run things from Texas - with a gun to their heads? OR Is it just plain old-fashioned stupidity? Has to be one or a combination thereof.
Ah.................Mr and Mrs and Ms Republican - YOU are the big spenders in Washington. The proof is there. Have you already forgotten 2000 - 2006? Well, have you? No, No, GOP that old dog simply is sound asleep and will definitely NOT hunt.
Update New York. the right, financed by Fox and hyped by Fox. The 23ed Congressional District of NY. The tea baggers were out in force. Sean Hannity flat-out said Hoffman’s victory was signed, sealed, and delivered. Palin, Beck, and the Drugster were there. They all prepared for the big takeover by the wing-nuts. WELL dumb-butts - it did not happen did it? The Democrat candidate won !!!!!!!!!!!! Shall I repeat that Sean?
So, tea party goers. put away the tea and return to the hard stuff. You have fooled absolutely no one. Oh yes, the 20% hate everything, including Black folks, will continue to make noise. Let them. Meanwhile Obama and company will continue to blaze past them - leaving dirt in their mouths. But they have tea to wash it down. :)
The GOP: Opposed Social Security - but do you hear any of them in either chamber calling for elimination? Opposed the integration of schools in 1954. Opposed Medicare - but again all they need to is refuse payment. ????????????? I’m not hearing anything. Oh yes, let us not forget they opposed the right for women to vote. They even opposed putting round tires on cars - thought square tires were the way to go.
The GOP: Motto: “WE ARE 100% OPPOSED TO IT”. IT? Doesn’t matter, it’s an automatic response.
By the way righties - how is your new Bible coming? The one which removes all references to things you disagree with. The addition of whole new passages. The inspired word of God? or the uninspired word of kooks. It is to go on sale in January. For those who think this a joke - it is not. A group of right-wing preachers are actually planning it. The faithful await the New Word.
The GOP: Sad NOT FOR US - but a sad lot of 18th Century non-thinkers.
Robert Boseley
PS - Why is everyone so silent these days. Is there no way to get folks to engage?
Scientists have discovered how to “read” minds by scanning brain activity and reproducing images of what people are seeing — or even remembering.
Researchers have been able to convert into crude video footage the brain activity stimulated by what a person is watching or recalling.
The breakthrough raises the prospect of significant benefits, such as allowing people who are unable to move or speak to communicate via visualisation of their thoughts; recording people’s dreams; or allowing police to identify criminals by recalling the memories of a witness.
However, it could also herald a new Big Brother era, similar to that envisaged in the Hollywood film Minority Report, in which an individual’s private thoughts can be readily accessed by the authorities.
Jack Gallant and Shinji Nishimoto, two neurologists from the University of California, Berkeley, last year managed to correlate activity in the brain’s visual cortex with static images seen by the person. Last week they went one step further by revealing that it is possible to “decode” signals generated in the brain by moving scenes.
In an experiment which has yet to be peer reviewed, Gallant and Nishimoto, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology, scanned the brains of two patients as they watched videos.
A computer programme was used to search for links between the configuration of shapes, colours and movements in the videos, and patterns of activity in the patients’ visual cortex.
It was later fed more than 200 days’ worth of YouTube internet clips and asked to predict which areas of the brain the clips would stimulate if people were watching them.
Finally, the software was used to monitor the two patients’ brains as they watched a new film and to reproduce what they were seeing based on their neural activity alone.
Remarkably, the computer programme was able to display continuous footage of the films they were watching — albeit with blurred images.
In one scene which featured the actor Steve Martin wearing a white shirt, the software recreated his rough shape and white torso but missed other details, such as his facial features.
Another scene, showing a plane flying towards the camera against a city skyline, was less successfully reproduced. The computer recreated the image of the skyline but omitted the plane altogether.
“Some scenes decode better than others,” said Gallant. “We can decode talking heads really well. But a camera panning quickly across a scene confuses the algorithm.
“You can use a device like this to do some pretty cool things. At the moment when you see something and want to describe it to someone you have to use words or draw it and it doesn’t work very well.
“You could use this technology to transmit the image to someone. It might be useful for artists or to allow you to recover an eyewitness’s memory of a crime.”
Such technology may not be confined to the here and now. Scientists at University College London have conducted separate tests that detect, with an accuracy of about 50%, memories recalled by patients.
The discoveries come amid a flurry of developments in the field of brain science. Researchers have also used scanning technology to measure academic ability, detect early signs of Alzheimer’s and other degenerative conditions, and even predict the decision a person is about to make before they are conscious of making it.
Such developments may have controversial ramifications. In Britain, fMRI scanning technology has been sold to multinational companies, such as Unilever and McDonald’s, enabling them to see how we subconsciously react to brands.
In America, security agencies are researching the use of brain scanners for interrogating prisoners, and Lockheed Martin, the US defence contractor, is reported to have studied the possibility of scanning brains at a distance.
This would allow an individual’s thoughts and anxieties to be examined without their knowledge in sensitive locations such as airports.
Russell Foster, a neuroscientist at Oxford University, said rapid advances in the field were throwing up ethical dilemmas.
“It’s absolutely critical for scientists to inform the public about what we are doing so they can engage in the debate about how this knowledge should be used,” he said.
“It’s the age-old problem: knowledge is power and it can be used for both good and evil.”
More information about mind reading, go to:
http://peacepink.ning.com/forum/topics/information-about-mind-reading
Dear all,
Another Global protest on Dec 10 (Human Rights Day) are under discussion.
Please share your opinions by adding a comment.
If you want to be an organizer of your local protest location (Please apply protest permission from local authorities), please comment to this post.
If you want to see contacts and press release of "global protest on 14 Oct", Please go to:
http://peacepink.ning.com/profiles/blogs/list-of-protest-locations-andReports of Global protest on 14 Oct:http://peacepink.ning.com/profiles/blogs/19-oct-2009-mailteamPhotos of previous protests:http://peacepink.ning.com/photo/albums/rally-or-demonstrationPress Release in 10 languages:http://peacepink.ning.com/profiles/blogs/24-apr-2009-media-releases-in
List of protest locations:
Worldwide protest location: China(No street protest. Only Internet Mass emails and websites promotion)Contact Person: SoleilmavisEmail: soleilmavis@yahoo.comWebsite: http://peacepink.ning.comOnline petition:http://www.change.org/actions/view/ban_mind_controldirected_energy_weapons_abuse_and_torture http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=76416668535
USAWorldwide Protest Location: Washington D.C. Department Of Justice, White HouseDate: 10 Dec 2009 Contact Person: Marc Burnell Email: burnellmarc@yahoo.com (burnellmarc(a)yahoo.com)Tel: 202 528 2752
Worldwide Protest Location: San Francisco, California in front of City Hall, Date: 10 Dec 2009 Contact Person: Christine HarrisEmail: christinelynnharris@yahoo.com, christinelynnharris@hotmail.com, cococobella@yahoo.com(christinelynnharris(a)yahoo.com, christinelynnharris(a)hotmail.com, cococobella(a)yahoo.com)Tel: 415-235-6466 c
Worldwide Protest Location: Los Angeles, California Date: 10 Dec 2009 Contact Person: KeithEmail: mgb.young@sbcglobal.net (mgb.young(a)sbcglobal.net)Contact Person: Wanda DEmail: lloydjameson@yahoo.com, wanda@lentroneletric.comlloydjameson(a)yahoo.com, wanda(a)lentroneletric.com
Worldwide Protest Location: Philladelphia ReportDate: 10 Dec 2009 Contact Person: T. JosephineEmail:
Canada Worldwide Protest Location: Nanaimo BC Canada.BC (British Columbia) Date: 10 Dec 2009 Contact Person: Debbie Newhook at: dbnewhook@yahoo.ca (dbnewhook(a)yahoo.ca)
Worldwide Protest Location: Toronto, ON CanadaIn front of the Legislative Building Date: 10 Dec 2009 Contact person: Galina KurdinaEmail: helenkurdin@yahoo.ca (helenkurdin(a)yahoo.ca)
EuropeWorldwide Protest Location: United KingdomTrafalgar Square, LondonDate: 10 Dec 2009 Contact Person: Winston SmithEmail: winston_smith_will_win@yahoo.co.uk (winston_smith_will_win(a)yahoo.co.uk)Paolo Fiori Email: paolo_bf@hotmail.com (paolo_bf(a)hotmail.com) +447983332934
Worldwide Protest Location: Poland (in Europe)(Probably no street protest. Only Internet Mass emails. Maybe also websites promotion)Date: 10 Dec 2009Contact Person: Andre LandbergEmail: andrelandberg@wp.pl (andrelandberg(a)wp.pl)
Worldwide Protest Location: INDIA(No street protest. Only Internet emails)Date: 10 Dec 2009Contact: Vijay Karthic Email: vijayk_dsp@yahoo.com (vijayk_dsp(a)yahoo.com)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009Photos of protests: http://peacepink.ning.com/photo/albums/rally-or-demonstrationOct. 14 Protest: Reports from the Front
Here are the reports of the IAACEA (International Alliance Against Covert Electronic Abuse) October 14th Global T.I. Protests for Truth and Justice.
Starting with IAACEA creator, Debbie Newhook reports on the Victoria, Canada protest. Then on to reports two from San Francisco (Bruno Marchisani, Mesha Monge-Irizarry, and Christine), two from Toronto (by Helen Galina Kurdina and Danielle DiBari) and London (by Paolo Fiori). Paolo did a tremendous amount of work to get the word spread about the protest in the UK. Then move on to T. Josephine's concise Philadelphia report at the end. I want to give kudos to T.Josepine for braving the cold and rain all alone. The reports finish up with final thoughts by Debbie Newhook. - Nancy aka mistaken.name, A Word the the Wise T.I.
ChinaBy Soleilmavis We have more than 500 victims daily being tortured and abused by remotely directed energy weapons. But we remain resolute and most of us work diligently to expose this crime on the Internet, and won't stop reporting this heinous to the Chinese government.
In China, as in the rest of the world, the official police position is that Targeted Individuals are mentally ill, so we cannot get permits to do street protests.However, we did promote the global protest via the Internet. We got nearly one hundred Targeted Individuals to publish the IAACEA press release on their own websites, along with the list of protest locations, and to send many letters to public.Here is our online site of supporting signatures:http://everywhere.zh.pledgebank.com/peacepink (in Chinese)http://www.change.org/actions/view/ban_mind_controldirected_energy_weapons_abuse_and_torturehttp://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=76416668535
Soleilmavis, PeacePinkhttp://peacepink.ning.com
WASHINGTON, USA REPORT By Marc Burnell Thought the protest went well. Weather wasn't the greatest. Kind of nervous with all the cops and undercover cops around. Ate alot of the chips and drank sodas I bought by a great donation from Cynthia. There were lots of tourists that stopped by and took pictires of the White House and us. Enjoyed talking to other TIs about their situation. Learning alot from other TIs about how to cope and different remedies to use to uplift myself.. Many of the TIs were form NY. We spoke to a freelance writer who took notes and took our pictures. We spoke with other human rights groups that were nearby. Handed out fliers.
SAN FRANCISCO, USA REPORTby Bruno Marchisani
SF Photos by Scott at OneWorldLove- you'll have to join to view
Yesterday, Wednesday, October 14, 2009, from 11:00am to 2:00pm, there was a civil protest against OS/EH at city hall in San Francisco, California, one of several being planned on or about that same day in several cities around the world, including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Cincinnati (meeting only), Victoria and Toronto in Canada, London, India (internet mailings) and China (internet mailings), as part of a global day of protest being organized by a newly formed TI activism group called the International Alliance Against Covert Electronic Abuse, www.iaacea.org. Debbie Newhook and Galina Kurdina in Canada, Soleilmavis in China and Derrick Robinson of FFCHS were some of the planners.
Christine Harris in SF was the contact person for the San Francisco protest, with Mesha Monge-Irizarry being a resource having had experience in protesting.Mesha is a non-TI activist Christine recently began networking with who among other things setup and moderated a forum to help organize the global protest.She has an office in San Francisco and apparently moderates 250 internet forums, one of them being the recently created Targeted_Individual s yahoo group. She is considering holding TI meetings at her office in San Francisco.
A possibility of rain was forecast but the weather was clear and mostly sunny. I counted 16 protesters being present, including Christine, Richard in Marin, many other TIs who I've met before, a few I hadn't met yet, Mesha, and Marlon Crump,writer for Poor Magazine who Christine has recently began networking with. Most had arrived within the first half hour of the 11:00am protest start time.
We originally planned to protest at the park across the street from city hall,to be respectful of city hall workers, but a police officer came by and said we needed a permit to protest in a public park, though he said this first time he'd allow it. He also indicated we could protest directly in front of city hall if we liked, so we moved our protest to the sidewalk in front of city hall.
There was a plethora of protest signs of various sizes, colors and styles: "stop group stakling," "stop organized stalking," "stop organized terror," "stop covert torture," "stop electronic harassment," "stop electronic torture," "stop electromagnetic weapons," "stop defamation of character now," "restore human liberties now," "stop residential directed energy attacks now IAACEA," "unforgivable! MKULTRA should never happen again," and "my family is victim of mind control program illegally run by the US gov agencies. Torture, mental rape, robbery -- the outcome of the Nazi experiment." Also I brought buttons with the FFCHS logo for us to wear.
The mood was positive if not festive, with us talking amongst ourselves, getting to know each other. Some of us had come from as far away as Modesto and Fresno,and for at least one of us this was our first time meeting with other TIs.
Foot traffic was light, even during the lunch hour, with some passers-by looking to see what our signs said. A few spoke with us to try to understand what we were protesting. Due to the relatively light foot traffic and us not being very aggressive at distributing handouts, we didn't distribute all that many.Handouts included one of the IAACEA press releases announcing the global protest, a letter from Missouri State Representative Jim Guest acknowledging the existence of OS/EH on many of the constituents in the country, a flyer on the book "A New Breed: Satellite Terrorism in America" by Dr. John Hall, who has treated patients suffering from the effects of OS/EH, a copy of an article entitled "Is the NSA Conducting Electronic Warfare On Americans?" regarding former NSA intelligence officer Russ Tice and the NSA's purported mind control technology, and a compilation of excerpts from Cheryl Welsh, FFCHS and H.Michael Sweeney.
Vehicular traffic on the other hand was ongoing, and heavier during the lunch hour. Some of us were lined along the edge of the sidewalk displaying our signs -- several drivers honked their horns and gave us the "thumbs up" in support!
At one point a reporter and cameraperson for an independent San Francisco internet video news group came by and did a brief interview with Christine and Mesha -- everybody felt they did a great job! Later on a CBS van parked across the street to cover a different event and Christine went over and gave them some handouts.
I spoke with several TIs at the protest. Christine says she is doing what she can to network to help end our harassment, a TI from Fresno says he is educating some of the people in Fresno on OS/EH, and another said God's message of love is the most important tool in counteracting our harassment. Marlon wanted everyone to know about his new, second, article on OS/EH, entitled "Targeted Individuals.
In my opinion the protest was certainly successful in terms of turnout -- this has been the largest turnout for any TI event in the San Francisco Bay Area I'm aware of and slightly exceed my expectations! Most of us stayed there until the 2:00pm protest end time, shortly after which we disbanded. I and at least a couple of others who were present took pictures of the event and I will be forwarding mine to Felix, a TI who plans to make a video of the global protests.President Obama was to be visiting San Francisco the following day and Christine along with some of yesterday's protesters planned to be present to gain more exposure.
Reports of some of the protests in the other locations have been posted. Debbie declared her protest a success in Victoria, Canada -- there were 5 TIs present -- they handed out about 400 flyers and were interviewed by a local university student -- later on heavy rainfall brought an end to their protest. There were 5 TIs present at Galina protest in Toronto, Canada -- they spoke with several people, some sympathetic, and handed out a few flyers -- after the main protest had ended and they had some coffee they decided to do a second impromptu protest at another location. An early report from London, England, indicated 5 TIs were present but more were expected. The Philadelphia protest apparently only had one protester show up, but none-the-less the protester remained and handed out flyers! The LA protest was postponed to next week due to a heavy storm and flooding. Nancy is posting the recaps of the protests at http://wiseti.blogspot.com and Mesha is considering doing a compilation on indymedia.org.
For questions about the protest please contact Christine directly.
Judy and I went to the Obama protest last night [Oct. 15th] at 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at Powell Street and Geary Street, with over 1000 people. I brought my huge sign, and Russell Tice FBI fliers, and had many inquiries, and victims stopping to talk with us.
With the support of Judy, two reporters from cable channels 13, and 26, which may have been on T.V. last night at 10:00 P.M. stopped to interview me. I was brief, but stated our plight.
Three interviews in two days, I like it!!
Christine Harrischristinelynnharris@hotmail.com (415) 235-6466Bruno Marchesanibruno_marchesani@msn.com (650) 776-1814
SAN FRANCISCO, USA REPORTby Mesha Monge-Irizarry
We were a "crowd" of about 20 TIs & Allies with signs brought by Bruno, Richard,a Black Brother who came from Fresno (name?), Christine, the Kats Family, Judy ... Who am I forgetting? Among us, a Black Sister who is a college professor in Political Science in Oakland, accompanied by a Latina and a white woman TIs.Also was present a San Franciscan woman, former nurse who blew the whistle on her medical unit at PMC, when she saw several patients with electrodes in their brain, and realized from their encephalograms that something terribly wrong was being done to them... she disconnected everything, and the electronic torture started, did not let up for over a decade. At first the cops, then the sheriffs tried the intimidating routine by demanding to see a permit, but when told:
"we are not blocking traffic, we are only exercizing our right to peaceful assembly, this is a peaceful demonstration", they did not know what else to do.
Then when they approached us again, twice, I gave them a big smile, told them I was a City Commissioner and asked: "Are you going to keep us safe, Officers?" which was sufficient to make them instantly go away after exclaiming "Of course!!" One sheriff, astoundingly, raised a timid fist and quickly told us GO GET "EM" as he walked away with his colleagues (Refreshing! A TI cop ?)Christine, Richard, the Kats Family, Carole, Judy, John, Yolanda, Carol , Bruno, Marlon, educated onlookers and passed on flyers (forgive this fried brain for omissions... ), and Bruno passed out Buttons. SF Based Tom MCray, TI and political writer, and a homeless person soon joined us. I talked to a colleague,a Veteran for Peace, published poet, who actually wore many political buttons, among them one on Covert Surveillance:
Robert W., who is the acclaimed Honorary chief of the Native Nation, although he is white, due to his incredible activism for Natives and Aborigines and tireless fight to ban School of the Americas and ROTC. He happened to just be waiting for a friend on City Hall steps, and enthusiastically interacted with us.
Robert stated: "We are ALL targeted !". I will stay in touch, potential powerful ally for us. I talked about the protest and IAACEA Goals & Objectives as defined in Debbie's pres release to Sophie Maxwell, City supervisor of my district, and to a campaign team member of James Keys, District 6 Supervisor candidate. Many participants actively engaged passerby's, including an Asian Gay Youth who now wants to be an ally to our movement. No negative interaction whatsoever! (To the sorry exception of a perplike loser... older white dude in a SUV who sped by, hollering: "Go get a job!" Which made us laugh.... Comic relief of the day) One press interview with Christine who handed out a press package and with myself.Christine connected with the City Hall Court TV Media Liaison, and participants took many pictures and videos of our event.
...Marlon C. from Poor Magazine PPN came to interview participants, stayed with us during the entire event, and will work on his third article on "Targeted Individuals" that he will submit to his editor, the formidable "Tiny" Gray Garcia ! Christine and I will work on an article , recount that we will self publish on Indybay along with a compilation of pictures, under Health isues (Covert Violence IS a Public Health issue !)
People came to join us from : Modesto, Fresno, Marin County, Oakland, Berkeley, local San Franciscans too !
Mesha Monge-Irizarry, FounderSFTEC
Philladelphia Reportby T. Josephine
Yes, I did give out flyers alone. Yes, some people wanted them. Plenty more were dying to get home. I am glad for the ones who were interested and next time we should have a group petition and get people to sign it.
TORONTO CANADA Reportby Galina Kurdina
We protested in front of the Legislative Assembly Building and near Medical Science Building of University of Toronto today. We started at 10.30 A.M. There were 5 people in front of the Legislative Assembly: Robin Yan, Regan Hallett, Carlo Calandra, Mark Holden and I, Galina Kurdina. People approached us and we distributed about 10 fliers. One woman came to us and started a scandal. She offered us to hire people, pay them and ask to hold our posters on streets of Toronto. She suggested us not to appear ourselves on the streets. She persuaded us that we had to put some soft information on our posters, not the truth that we experienced and described. When asked, what soft things she would advice to write on our posters, she did not answer. She asked Robin, what was the reason of his targeting. It was clear for all of us that she worked for police, or RCMP or Government. Robin took his camera and wanted to take pictures of her, and she immedieately disappeared...
We left Legislative Building about 1.30 P.M. Robin, Regan and I went to Tim Horton and had some coffee. After that we decided to go to any street and came to Medical Science Building of University of Toronto. Regan left us 30 minutes [later], Robin and I stayed there for one hour.
We distributed our fliers very quickly, people approached us, read our poster about mind control and took fliers. One student of UofT, sweet boy, said to us that, in his opinion, these experiments were disgusting, another person wished us to continue our struggle.
We made pictures and video records. I will send them to all of you, as soon as get them.
Toronto Reportby Danielle DiBari, as provided by Robin Yan
Many of you do not know me, but Galina and Robin do (who ran the protest yesterday at Queen's Park do) and I will save introductions for later for those who are dedicated to working to expose the truth about our cause.
I would like to send you all a little run-down of events yesterday -- I think Galina and Robin will agree, it was an excellent day with superb weather (my nose is totally toasted..LOL~ ) and we were treated with dignity and respect, a generous amount of interest (so much so that we RAN OUT OF letters), and a FEW VERY INTERESTING CONTACTS!All times are approximate. 10:00 AM We were greeted by Security and shown where we could set up. We were asked if we would be "chanting" and we said no. We were asked not to interfere with people on site and that we should let them come to us, we agreed.
We set up across from a woman on a month-long protest of her autistic son being cut off from therapy and put in a regular school. www.tooautistic. com (HEY! OUR PIC IS THERE!)
11:30 am, A HUGE tour of Italian and Spanish speaking tourists get stuck outside the legislative building for some reason, and (possibly to kill some time) the tour guide relays and translates in both ITALIAN and SPANISH, the story of Covert Mind control as dictated by Galina. The group is sympathetic and interested (until they get to go in..lol)
Nothing too interesting happens after that for a couple of hours, we get anumber of people stopping and asking about our situation -- some stopping for longer than others ... needless to say, we only have ONE letter left when we spot the CBC vehicle in the parking lot!
1:00 pm Media Trucks start arriving -- our hearts are in our throats as we feel as if they may intend to interview us! Acutally, the set up is for speaker Dan McTeague to present his speech on the treatment of Omar Kadhr at Guantanamo Bay!
2:30 Dan McTeague shows up to do his interview. About half an hour of talking on Dan's part -- the issue with Quantanamo Bay is loosely connected to OUR issue ... the underlying facts being that PEOPLE ARE BEING TORTURED WITHOUT MERCY/JUSTICE/ ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS!
Here is a link to the situation he spoke of(but nothing on,oh well) http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090125/khadr_panel_090125/20090125/
Unfortunately, he only appeared on the news for about 10 seconds! (Robin, did you VHS it?)
Legislature Watchdogs (while polite) stood guard IN FRONT OF AND AROUND THE CAMERAS so that WE WOULD NOT BE IN ANY SHOTS!
However, Mr. McTeague's assistant came over to talk to us, took our picture and,I believe, strategically placed a camera to include US in the shot!
Once the shoot was over, Mr. McTeague came over and shook all our hands, talked with us for a bit, gave us his card and told us "You sure got THEIR attention"(possibly meaning the media - I mean, is it coincidence that a talk on a HUMAN RIGHTS TORTURE ISSUES by a prominent M.P. is scheduled on the SAME DAY as our protest? I think NOT!
Anyhow, he said we should contact him if we need anything...we already got a very good thing from him, we got a confidence boost like you wouldn't believe!
And so, our first protest day came to a close. Sunburned, but happy, we took a walk to the subway, and went on our way.
I would say it was a VERY successful day, no one was disrespectful to us, we got a good deal of attention, learned a lot about what to do better NEXT TIME -- and ALMOST got on TV ... lol!
Most of all we learned that FEAR is THEIR greatest weapon ... none of what we feared came about.
The perps will keep on doing what they do no matter what we do...being afraid only helps their cause so...we may as well make some noise 'cause they ain't going away by themselves.
Cheers and talk to you all soon.Danielle DiBariTI - Toronto &Vancouver
VICTORIA, CANADA REPORTby Debbie Newhook, founder, IAACEA
I feel our Victoria protest was a success. We had 5 people present at theprotest: Keith Tickleback from Nelson BC, Consuelo Galomar from Vernon BC, David Smith from Grabriola, Heather Quinn from Victoria BC and me Debbie Newhook. We had one protester from Nanaimo, Doug (Jerry) Rose who could not make the protest as he reported he was feeling horrible the night before the protest and he did not think he would be able to make it.
As soon as we arrived at the protest location we were greeted by a University of Victoria student who wanted an interview with us. David and I spent 30 mins with her speaking about this crime. We gave her hand out material which included FFCHS material along with a Jim Guest letter of support. In addition we suggest that she research James Walbert and directed her to an article in Wired Magazine about James Walbert. She was genuinely interested and shocked at many of the details about this crime.
During the time David and I were being interviewed, the police arrived. Consuelo spoke to the friendly police officer and was told that the police got 2 telephone calls indicating that we were obstructing the sidewalk traffic. Upon his arrival he saw that we were only a small group and that we were not blocking the sidewalk traffic and asked that we continue to allow the flow of pedestrians and not to interfere with them.
Keith was our camera person and did take still pics only of the event and did capture a picture of the police as he was talking to Consuelo.
Later I was approached by woman who knew she was a target of this crime. She knew much about the goings on of the world and she expressed that she was a whistle blower. David and I could tell that she was genuine and she was fearful.I gave her my contact info.
We had many other people briefly speak to us about this crime and did take hand out material.The area of the protest was a very busy location in Victoria and we all thought it was a success.
After about 2.5 hours we had given away about 400 fliers and we were almost out of hand out material when the skies opened up and it began to rain very hard. We called it quits at that time and went back to Heathers house for a chat and a meal.
In my opinion, I thought this was good activism day. David and I later talked about doing this in Nanaimo at a later date and discussed the date of Dec 10 as it was the UN day of Human Rights. http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
Debbie NewhookInternational Alliance Against Covert Electronic Abuse'We live to achieve justice.
London Reportby Paolo Firori
For all of you on the other side of the Atlantic who would like to know what happened at the Trafalgar Square protest. I received a voicemail from Winston at about 2pm London time, saying that at that point there were 5 people present at the protest, but that they were expecting a few more to attend later. I believe that besides Winston, John Allman and Amanda Palmer were there, as Winston used Amanda's mobile to ring me and John told me of his intention to attend the night before. If people [took] any picture of the event and feel able to share them, I really look forward to seeing them.
[Here's] a short message [Winston] sent me...
"There were 8 of us in the end - we handed out flyers in Trafalgar square and outside the Old Bailey. It was good to meet other T.I.s. We are going to try to set up regular meetings of T.I.s in London."
I may try to do something similar in London on the 24th at two very important events happening on the same day, the annual Anarchist Bookfair and a national Anti-War demo starting in Hyde Park, it will be actually very easy to leaflet there because there are already hundred of different people, leafleting on behalf of hundred different causes, I mean I will probably end up going there by myself, but I would certainly not mind if other London TIs were to decide to join me.
Paolo Fiorihttp://altnews.viviti.com
Saw this in yesterday's Business section of the L.A. Times, CVS and Walgreens promote free flu shots for the unemployed.
CVS will immunize 10,000 individuals that are jobless and Walgreen will give the shot to the uninsured. For a list of the vaccination locations visit www.cvs.com <http://www.cvs.com/> or call (888) FLU-SHOT. Walgreens will also give out vouchers to eligible people. Go to www.walgreens.com <http://www.walgreens.com/> or call (866) 484-TOUR for further information.
Peace out, Minerva
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The health “insurance” companies are showing their true colors. They now threaten all of us - that they will raise our premiums substantially - if they don’t get their way 100% on any health care reform. We all know these companies are not going to give up any profits. They have thrown the ball back into our court, and all of us must again play it.
As I a writing this, United HC has refused to cover a newborn because the infant weights a little too much. Please if you have not done so, go to
http:www.sickforprofit.com
You will see first hand how the companies routinely refuse to assist in saving lives.
There are thousands of examples amid millions of cases where YOUR insurance company has just said no. They need no reason. Just say no.
Now the trade association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, has taken up the cause to maintain the 5 million average annual salaries + bonuses for the CEOs.
I urge all of you to send email to ahip@ahip.org. Let them know we are on to their killing game. And folks - that is exactly the game they are playing. Every dime paid out is a dime less profit.
THIS IS MOTHER EARTH WITH A MESSAGE TO SOME FOLKS LIVING ON MY PLANET.
Hello? Anyone awake? Anyone putting their brains to work? Message:
Your President - Barack Obama DID NOT ASK FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE !!!!! HE DID NOT EVEN KNOW OF THE NOMINATION. WHY THEN, WOULD ANY OF YOU CRITICIZE HIM FOR RECEIVING IT???
As Master of my Planet, I have overlooked some of your recent behavior. If anyone is upset with the Nobel committee - then book a flight to Norway and speak to them. Otherwise close your pie holes.
The next thing you will criticize is the number of times per day your President moves his bowels.
Hush. Support your leader. Stop standing in the way of any progress on any front.
Mom
By the way - I AM GETTING WARMER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The right has really proven - were there ever a doubt - just how unthinking they are. Criticize the President for winning the Nobel prize???? He had nothing at all to do with the process. Yet according to the wing-nuts - President Obama should be impeached for winning. There is dumb and dumber - and now dumbest. I thank my God daily that I was not made a right winger. One positive thing, aside from the actual winning of the prize, is that it makes the point forever solid: “The right-wing nuts are right-wing nuts.”
Congratulations Mr. President!
I am about to come to a conclusion that I simply do not understand anything about American culture. I was born here. So were my parents, and their parents. I point that out only to indicate I should understand. I don’t.
Am I correct - we moved into the 21st Century a few years back? I honestly believe we did, but all the evidence seems to say we did not. WE elected the first African-American to be our President. (English teachers will grind their teeth at that sentence). Eleven months after that - racism as practiced in times passed has not changed that much. There is still a core of perhaps 25% of Americans who hold fast to the notion that non-whites simply can not be allotted the same level of respect as the wonderful white man. A large majority of the 25% are non-voters. When they got their teeth in and had someone read to them - they realized a Black man was in charge. Add to this group the so-called Conservatives - and you get Tea Parties. You get folks who insist this...this.....a.....Black man WILL is NOT going to be THEIR leader. No way.
Tea Parties, Birthers, Deathers, and fake town-hall meetings are born. The run of the mill Republican politicians saw this and joined in. The official position of the right and the GOP as stated by several of their leaders:
We will oppose anything this man proposes. We will sit on our hands and be of no assistance on helping right the horrible health-care mess. We will feel quite free to disrespect the American President. Stand in join session and call him a liar. We will attack every move he makes. [These idiots spent two weeks harping because he was away from the WH overnight to help bring the Olympics to America.] Whatever decision the president makes in regard to Afghanistan - we will oppose it. Our motto for as long as a Black man is president will be “just say no”. WE after all are the masters.
I mentioned conservatives. I call them so-called simply because most have no clue as to the real and original meaning of conservatism. Has nation building been a long-time belief of conservatives? NO Was the wild spending of the Bush administration a long-held vision of conservatism? NO Actually, were anyone so inclined to research the subject - one would find today’s conservatism closer to liberal than to conservative.
I will not limit this to berating the GOP and conservatives. Harry Reid could not “lead” a tricycle parade. The Speaker is a lightening rod. She should realize this and, for the good of the House and the president’s agenda, step aside. Lack of leadership in both houses of congress is largely responsible for most of the criticism now being aimed at Barack Obama.
The media. These air-heads are so used to covering people who are basically brain-dead - they don’t know what to think or say about a person of high intellect. Make a decision today Mr. President. Why “think” about it. Pull the trigger. I no longer listen to the pundits. Morning Joe will spend every single moment analyzing Mr. Obama’s every move and statement. He smiles too much, one of the crew said. He walks too fast said another. I really believe we will see hidden cameras in the living quarters at some point. Fox is working on it. Join me in turning them off.
I began by saying I don’t understand anything about American culture. That is a fact. But it pales as to what I don’t understand about the religious right. Have you heard? They are going to publish their own Bible. The one they use now has some passages which displease them. (But they still proclaim the Bible to be inspired by the word of God). So, any line or verse or word which does not support their view of the world will be stricken from the new Bible. Then the pastor’s of the right will hold the Bible, wave it above their head and proclaim it “The Word of God”. This is so stupid, I thought it a joke when I first heard it. Unfortunately it is no joke. Look for the new and improved Bible at local bookshops in March 2010. Expect heavy discounts.
What a country !
rboseley@me.com
Invitation to join citizen journalists team at Huffington Post to investigate insurance claim denials follows. Also, do you have any leads to share? Join Our Investigation: How Often Do Health Insurers Deny Claims? Posted by Adam Clark Estes Amid all the loud arguments about the proper role for government and private companies in American health care, one point often seems lost: Exactly how well – or badly – are private insurers handling claims in the existing system? Daniellle Ivory is uncovering some answers. But we also need you to help us investigate... http://huffpostfund.org/participate/join-our-investigation-how-often-do-health-insurers-deny-claims
1) The Congressional Budget Office dealt Blue Dogs a blow Thursday by notifying House Democrats that tethering a public option to Medicare reimbursement rates would save the government $110 billion more than a public option in which the government has to negotiate rates with doctors and other health care providers.
The initial projections showed the difference between the two was $65 billion. But this shows it would cost the government a lot more money to heed moderate demands. House Democrats need to trim as much as $200 billion from a bill that most estimates peg at $1.1 trillion in order to meet President Obama's $900 billion target.
An actual robust public option saves money, and it's what the majority of constituents in districts like Rep. Mike Ross's district supports. Will Rep. Mike Ross actually listen to what the CBO says, or act like Senator Kent Conrad in dismissing the CBO's projections about the public option?
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR (AP) – 1 day ago
WASHINGTON — One of the most widely accepted arguments against a government medical plan for the middle class is that it would quash competition — just what private insurers seem to be doing themselves in many parts of the U.S.
Several studies show that in lots of places, one or two companies dominate the market. Critics say monopolistic conditions drive up premiums paid by employers and individuals.
For Democrats, the answer is a public plan that would compete with private insurers. Republicans see that as a government power grab. President Barack Obama looks to be trapped in the middle of an argument that could sink his effort to overhaul the health care system.
Even lawmakers opposed to a government plan have problems with the growing clout of the big private companies. "There is a serious problem with the lack of competition among insurers," said Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, one of the highest-cost states. "The impact on the consumer is significant."
Wellpoint Inc. accounted for 71 percent of the Maine market, while runner-up Aetna had a 12 percent share, according to a 2008 report by the American Medical Association.
Proponents of a government plan say it could restore a competitive balance and lead to lower costs. For one thing, it wouldn't have to turn a profit.
A study by the Urban Institute public policy center estimated that a public plan could save taxpayers from $224 billion to $400 billion over 10 years by lowering the cost of proposed subsidies for the uninsured, while preserving private coverage for most people.
"Right now, there's no incentive for insurers or big hospital groups to negotiate with each other, because they can pass higher payments on through premiums," said economist Linda Blumberg, co-author of the report.
"A public plan would have the leverage to set lower payment rates and get providers to participate at those rates."
"The private plans would come back to the providers and say, 'If you don't negotiate with me, you're going to be left with only the public plan.'" Blumberg continued. "Suddenly, you have a very strong economic incentive for them to negotiate."
Insurers contend their industry is extremely competitive, and a public plan is unnecessary. About 1,300 carriers operate across the country, although many only have a small share of the market in their states.
"You can have a very competitive market and still have companies with a high market share," said Alissa Fox, a top Washington lobbyist for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Fox points to the federal employee health program, which also covers members of Congress. It offers a total of more than 260 options and 10 nationwide plans. Despite all the choices, about 60 percent of federal workers pick a Blue Cross plan. "Insurers need to be of a significant size to best serve their customers and make sure that people get the best value," Fox said.
Nonetheless, lawmakers are concerned. Big insurers are getting bigger. Small businesses in particular have fewer and fewer options for getting coverage.
Congressional investigators this year looked at insurers catering to small employers around the country. The Government Accountability Office found that the median _or midpoint — market share of largest carrier increased to 47 percent in 2008 from 33 percent in 2002.
There's widespread recognition among lawmakers that a health care overhaul should foster more competition among insurers. The debate is over how far to go.
The basic framework lawmakers are looking at would encourage competition, even without a government plan. It calls for setting up a big insurance purchasing pool called an exchange. It would be open, at least initially, to individuals and small businesses. The government would offer subsidies to make premiums more affordable.
Consumers would find it much easier to shop for a plan through the exchange. For one thing, they would be able to readily compare benefits and premiums in different plans. Also, participating insurers would have to take all applicants and not charge higher premiums to those in poor health.
Offering the option of a public plan would supercharge the competition, supporters say.
Blumberg envisions a plan that pays medical providers more than Medicare, but less than private insurance. Her study estimated it could grow to 47 million members, leaving 161 million with private insurance. Even so, that would make the new public plan one of the largest insurers in the country, rivaling Medicare, Medicaid and big private companies such as Wellpoint and UnitedHealthcare.
It's a scenario that gives pause even to traditional adversaries of the insurance companies.
"The fear and concern is that the public plan could become the market-dominant plan," said Dr. James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association. "When you've got the federal government involved, it can infuse money into a plan to keep it solvent even if the premiums are lower than its actual costs."
Snowe, among the few Republican senators still trying to come up with a bipartisan compromise, wants to hold back on creating a public plan for now and give insurers one last chance to show if they can keep costs in check.
That's doesn't go far enough for liberals, who are loath to give the insurance industry tens of millions of new customers supported by taxpayer subsidies.
"It would give the industry a windfall without any countervailing force to require them to lower their costs," said Richard Kirsch, national campaign manager for the advocacy group Health Care for America Now. "The insurance companies could continue to jack up premiums while getting a whole new market."
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press.
ref (1) http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2009/09/24/cbo-tells-blue-dogs-that-the-public-option-will-save/
ref( 2) http://www.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/3148749.aspx
I cannot rest for the cry of these great agonies. ~ E.A.P.
Caring is the Key to Life - Healthcare for All ... Rob [bob-pol]
This week Congress started the 'marking up' session on the Health Care and Insurance Reform. It is crucial we keep the pressure on them pass the bill.
The Daily Kos has an excellent article about the amendments we should push to support, and those we should push against.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/21/10112/5602
While reflecting on the tragic events of September 11, 2001, I couldn't help but miss the "We're All Americans" spirit. There's a noticeable void, where once was a sense of unity and pride. Hence, I have made a a cognizant decision to rethink my support for various organizations, causes and charities.
I have sent notice, to many charities, of my decision to discontinue any further support. If people elect to act like "animals", then that's exactly how I'll view and treat them. After some forty years of monthly support for such organizations as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the American Red Cross, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and various local churches and charities, (just to mention a few that I've been extremely loyal to) each has been notified of my decision and all automatic monthly contributions have been discontinued immediately.
When we can once again come together as "Americans", as a respectful society, then and only then will I reconsider my position.
Regretfully,
Peter
Our gracious leader is truly a Man of Peace who turns the other cheek, or he would have a few reasons to get angry.
A few examples over the past year -
Rob [bob-pol] racggg@gmail.com
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/3489/towersa.jpg
SACRED LAND AND SACRED SOULS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snFyt4Kdhl4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdSJFHnbls0
GOD BLESS AMERICA'S BELOVED AND THEIR FAMILIES
You might want to sit down to read this one ......
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-dorlester/guaranteed-health-care-in_b_280528.html
