I had heard this report was out but hadn’t seen it until now–about our toxic waterways. Indiana, unfortunately, heads the list for toxic load. It’s worse than I first read about–the number now is 17 million pounds of toxins into our waterways. 43 million pounds released into the Ohio river, THE most toxic river. Good Grief.
And Joe Donnelly, Dan Coats, and Jackie Walorski, paid by their bosses (in the form of campaign $$, and God knows what else), are fighting for the industries’ right to poison us. Some of them are so bold to say they’re fighting for us and our families….seriously. 17 million pounds of toxins. Whom is irresponsible, Mr. Coats?
NY Times has a page up on fines and violations…and how nobody takes responsibility.
The Sierra Club’s take on the Indiana Dept. of Environmental Mis-Management, including a dog boiled alive by hot water discharge, and a coal industry lobbyist being appointed to…wait for it…the IDEM–for prosecuting the polluters. If this wasn’t so serious, I would be laughing my arse off.
Diane Ravitch has a blog up on one of the teachers involved in the Vergara case. Ms. McLaughlin had replied to the “witch hunt” charges that she was a bad teacher…made by a student who also said there were five bad teachers and only one during her education–the one that wanted revenge apparently for being let go.
As I read the comments, the one by Chi-Town Res made me cry:
Yeah, and just wait until he hits retirement age and realizes that teachers with no union protections like me are exploited terribly. We are very low paid (and often hourly workers), don’t make enough money to get by on, let alone to save, have no pensions and are expected to live on about $900 per month from Social Security when we retire.
I could go live in a ghetto, since I will officially retire next month, because I can’t afford to continue living where I’ve been (renting) for the past 15 years, but I have no money to move. (Yes, homeownership was never an option for me.) Anyway, that’s the kind of income that even poor people in the ghettos can’t survive on in my area.
The reality is that I’m in arrears on my rent due to a further decline in my already low income and a high increase in my rent. I have applied to many places but I’ve been unable to find additional work. SS won’t actually start paying me until mid-September, my job put limits on our income and wouldn’t give me work for July, and I don’t qualify for unemployment compensation. I won’t get paid my measly wage again until the end of August. My landlord will not wait to be paid, and anyway I won’t get paid enough money then to cover back rent. I’ve been fighting becoming homeless for about three years now but, at this point, I have no more resources or anyone to turn to for help, and absolutely no one cares. So I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I will lose everything I own and be put out on the street and homeless before the fall. The only thing that could save my life now would be winning the lottery, but that is an intolerable hope.
The truth is that I could never afford to really stop working either, but SS has a limit on the amount of income I can earn. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place. No one fully appreciates the “I’m living on a fixed income” cries, because the elderly are not revered in our society. No wonder the suicide rate for seniors is high.
As problematic as unions can be, not valuing the protections that unions provide workers is extremely short sighted.
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Also noted in the comments was that one of the plaintiff’s lawyers was Ted Olson, who ended the vote recount and handed George W. Bush the presidency, against the American public’s wishes. Blood is on his hands, as well, for the wars and the economic mess Bush left us in.
Be sure to click on the link for Diane’s original post on Ms. McLaughlin. Really stunning to see how she is “witch-hunted” by those with their own agendas. She seems to be an outstanding person with true caring about her students, as a good teacher needs to be.
From the link:
“Indeed, this whole Vergara trial was like something out of Mao’s “Cultural Revolution” in China during the 1960′s. For those not acquainted with this, here’s primer: zealous students, under party leaders’ directions, would persecute their teachers. Kids would get their jollies as they put their teachers on a stage, put dunce caps on them, then screamed at them while forcing their teachers to bow their heads, kneel down, and confess their “crimes” and on and on…
These kids—appointed and empowered as “Red Guards” by Mao’s henchmen— would parade their former teachers through the streets…
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Diane has also put up a link to a short film clip on the red army of children that illustrates the terrible time.
(A side note~I got this weird message that Diane Ravitch’s site was “untrusted”. Say what?? It’s on a wordpress platform…why would I get that message? Is someone trying to interfere with the traffic to her site??)
The Onion has their usual satirical take on the Charter Schools lottery “system”.
“Between small class sizes, longer school days, individualized instruction, and superior college admission rates, charters provide amazing opportunities for students who don’t enter a convulsive state, fall into a coma, stop breathing, and cease all bodily functions during the admissions process.”
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bwahahahahahahaha.
Spot on.
It’s really sad that the article hits Charter snobbery at its heart….and the kids suffer most of all.
I have to agree with the writer’s premise–that we have made a mess of things and they need to work this out for themselves without us riding in on a white horse to only make matters worse.
They know how many Americans feel about Muslims–led by a biased media willing to portray them as all thinking alike. That is as stupid as portraying all women as thinking alike. Or anyone, for that matter.
One New York state study found radioactivity in fracking waste water at 267 times the level considered safe for human consumption. Other studies found several cancer-causing contaminants in fracking waste water. The report cites arsenic, lead, hexavalent chromium, barium, chloride, sodium, sulfates, boron, benzene and radioactive agents.
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You might remember hexavalent chromium…it was the stuff used by PG & E featured in the movie, Erin Brockovich.
It, as well as benzene, are known cancer causing agents. Arsenic and lead, of course, are heavy metals that cause neurological damage and in enough amounts–death.
It is just mindboggling that the fracking proponents look the other way at the damage caused by the fracking process. All that matters to them is getting the gas out of the ground, no matter the consequences. Well, it has a way of coming back on you…quality of life goes down…healthcare costs go up…and each generation suffers more DNA damage.
The former video of Elliot Rodger has been made “private” now, so one cannot view his rant on how deserving he is of women’s attention and sex. One cannot see the blatant sense of entitlement. Nor his viewing women as objects for his personal pleasure.
I love that CNN explored this topic–one that women deal with on a daily basis, but has been ignored by mainstream media…well, ANY media, be it liberal or conservative. Women’s concerns, up to now, have been ignored or if any attention is given to it, their concerns are belittled to be insignificant. Elliot Rodger is a product of the rape culture–I’ll take what I want if she won’t give it to me willingly.
(Side note~Migraine is gone…weird. I felt like I was getting one Tuesday, and then it went away. Probably due to the new stress of job and getting away from all grains and chocolate….it’s going to be interesting to see how my body re-adjusts, if my migraines are any clue.)
I got the rare chance of watching Melissa Harris-Perry this morning. I don’t always agree with her conclusions, but do enjoy the stimulating program. She talked about the Santa Barbara shootings and the gender bias of the shooter, Elliott Rodger. She mentioned a video by him, but refused to play it, so I went looking for it on youtube:
Wow. Just Wow. Two minutes into this video, and you can see why women rejected this guy. Narcissistic. Self-absorbed. Playing the victim. Shallow. Entitled.
Over and over again, he claims rejection by women and doesn’t understand why. Over and over again he says “these beautiful blonde women” are out with “douchebags”….when they should be out with “wonderful” him. Women have great intuition (which they don’t always listen to) and probably could see this guy’s warped view of himself and the world and his negative energy towards them…as is now known by his murdering people.
MHP’s guest stated that this guy had a sense of entitlement. I can see that in the video. By his view, he was such a “terrific” guy, and was entitled to the beautiful women, but couldn’t get them….so he killed them.
There are so many things tied to Elliott Rodger’s view –one of which is the society’s rape/violence culture against women.
Rodger focuses on rejection by beautiful women. I would lay bets that there were women who liked Elliott…but they weren’t “beautiful” on the outside. He probably treated them badly…as he claims he was treated. It’s okay, you see, to treat women who are “ugly” by society’s standards in a disrespectful and dismissive tone. This makes me so angry I could spit nails right now.
They brought up that Elliott was autistic. Okay, you all know what I’m going to say next…he was a high functioning autistic, with apparent aggression and rage — both tied to mercury poisoning. Will anyone explore that possibility while investigating this case? Probably not. And another chance at recognizing mercury/heavy metal poisoning/toxicity’s influence in crime is ignored.
From the first link:
Studies involving a large sample of autistic and schizophrenic patients found that over 90 % of those tested had high levels of the milk protein beta-casomorphine-7 in their blood and urine and defective enzymatic processes for digesting milk protein(92,93,83), and similarly for the corresponding enzyme needed to digest wheat gluten(92,94)
Due to the large number of vaccinations that are now containing mercury thimerosal, most children have been documented to receive mercury exposure far above the government health guideline for mercury, and the number of causes of autism has increased over 600% in the last decade[81,A,43b].
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[…]
A group of violent criminals had signif. higher levels of hair lead and cadmium levels than non violent controls(62b)
[…]
Studies at the Argonne National Laboratory found that the majority of delinquents and criminals had high metals levels such as cadmium and lead, and to fall into 2 categories. One group with high copper and low zinc, sodium potassium tended to have extreme tempers, while another group with low zinc and copper, but high sodium and potassium tended to be sociopathic(115). But it was found that treatment of delinquent or violent prone individuals for metals related problems including nutritional therapy usually produced significant improvements in mood, violent behavior, and functionality- with complete cure in the majority of cases (115,119,120).
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A note here about hair analysis–Dr. Cutler is of the belief that hair levels are helpful, but not 100% indicators of toxicity. Time and again, mercury poisoned folks have tested low mercury on hair tests — NOT because they are not poisoned, but rather, because their bodies are not secreting mercury. They lack the ability to efficiently rid the body of mercury. Once they began to chelate, and their poor bodies were able to function half-way decently, their hair tests have changed to high mercury levels.
It is almost a rule that on the mercury support group, that we are gluten and dairy intolerant–lack of enzymes since mercury interferes with it.
It will be interesting to see the developing story. God Bless the parents and loved ones who lost someone.
Well, this is sad news. I hope folks think of this the next time someone spouts off that we need to nuke Iran…there are people of peace all around the world who just want to live their lives…and be happy…
In relation to my other post on our loss of civil rights…this is one of the things that happen when “intelligence” is used to track down someone expressing Free Speech.
Abby Zimet has a post up on the vulgarity of the 9/11 museum commercialization. It’s more like an enterprise than a solemn memorial to those who experience the horror of that day.
And, as is brought up–the end of our civil rights, specifically, the First Amendment and Fourth Amendment is hardly reason to “celibrate”…or perhaps one should say, bank upon…
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
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Violation of our right to peacefully assemble:
And, of course, the violation of our right to privacy against government intrusion unless there is a court warrant with justifiable cause.
Perhaps it should be called the Museum of Lost Civil Rights…
And like a couple of commenters, I take exception to the dismissive tone of Abby on the Architects and Engineers –who are not claiming to know if 9/11 was an inside job, but rather, they are stating that Building 7 was not hit, but nevertheless collapse as one does in a controlled demolition. THAT is what they’re saying.
The comments:
Ned B.• 18 hours ago
“arguing it was all an insider job by the U.S. and Israel; their premise is kinda bonkers” I disagree, Abby Z., and I dislike your dismissive tone.
From what I know of Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth, they do not argue that “it was all an insider job by the U.S. and Israel.” They do however argue that the observed events cannot be adequately explained by the “official story” and that a new, impartial investigation should be conducted.
Shantiananda Ned B. • 17 hours ago
As a financial supporter of the 9/11 truth movement that is supported by over 2,000 Architects and Engineers of impeccable credentials, your post is spot on. They do not say they know what really happened or who was behind 9/11 but what they do say is: anyone with an open mind that makes a comprehensive study cannot help but see the official story is so bogus as to be a fairy tale for children.
The website for the architects and engineers questioning why Building 7 collapsed is here. Their video on how and why they question the building collapse is here.
As you see, these are not Tea Partiers, but people with degrees in engineering and architecture who explain simply how this building could not have collapsed from heat alone.
They don’t speculate on who did this or why–they are just following the path of scientific explanation. Since this was a financial center, I can’t help but wonder at the connection to banksters. Why the World Trade Center?
Eagle 
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