Month: August 2014

Death of Eric Garner Ruled “Homicide by Chokehold”

killed by copsThe medical examiner for New York City

ruled the death of Eric Garner, who died in police custody
after a violent arrest over allegedly selling loose untaxed
cigarettes, a “homicide by chokehold.”

Police apologists often advocate the use of chokeholds neck
restraints, which are banned by the New York Police Department. NPR
explained
last week:

Many police trainers say chokeholds are relatively safe — and
should be used more. These proponents of the method,
it should be noted, hate the word “chokehold.” They say it confuses
two very different kinds of maneuvers: actual chokeholds, which cut
off a person’s air supply, and “lateral vascular neck restraints,”
which don’t.

Missy O’Linn, a former cop and self-defense trainer who is now a
lawyer who defends cops in court, says in a neck restraint, the
officer puts his or her arm around a person’s neck in a “V” —
putting pressure not on the windpipe, but on the sides of the neck,
and on the arteries to the brain.

In the aftermath of Garner’s death, police apologists also went
to the Internet to complain that Garner,  a 400 pound
asthmatic accused, he insisted falsely, of
selling loose, untaxed cigarettes, should have complied with
officers who were attempting to arrest him,
for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.

In a press conference earlier this week Bill Bratton, speaking
with New York City’s mayor Bill de Blasio, said that correcting
your behavior for police was “what democracy’s all about.” Though
his comments were largely wrong-headed, Bratton is correct that the
law against
selling loose, untaxed cigarettes is not a concoction of the
police, but the city that voted for elected officials who have run
the taxes on cigarettes so high as to create a black market in
loose, untaxed cigarettes. And that’s what democracy’s all about,
imposing rules supported by a nominal majority over the every-day
minority, the individual.

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L.A.’s Terrible Streets Are Because of Bad Management, Not Lack of Money

Who will pave the roads? Huh? WHO?Yes, that’s probably the most
obvious headline I have and possibly will ever write for Reason.
But an audit from the city controller’s office actually quantifies
it: The street department for Los Angeles is a mess that isn’t
repairing streets properly, isn’t keeping decent records, and isn’t
collecting some fees it’s supposed to be collecting, costing the
city $190 million over 16 years. The Los Angeles Times
gave Controller Ron Galperin
space for a commentary explaining why things are so
terrible:

The streets bureau also does not always prioritize its repair
work based on common-sense criteria such as traffic volume, heavy
vehicle loads and mass-transit loads. So despite the slurry work
that’s taken place, some of the city’s busiest and most important
thoroughfares remain in the worst condition, impeding traffic and
commerce, making bike riding unsafe and turning bus rides into
bumpy, uncomfortable journeys.

Our auditors also found that the Bureau of Street Services has
undercollected $190 million in fees from utility companies that cut
and dig into our streets, money that could have been used to
perform miles of repairs. Likewise, between 2011 and 2013, it did
not fully utilize its budgeted funds. Auditors found that $21
million earmarked for street repairs was returned to various
funding sources unused. And the city has also spent more to produce
its own asphalt than it would have if it had paid a vendor for
it.

I can personally vouch for the weird road repair priorities. My
own street and a few others in my neighborhood were resealed with
slurry work last year. But the most traveled streets nearby that
were in much worse repair remain completely untouched, so I have to
drive several blocks navigating crumbling, bumpy avenues, only to
turn onto my lovely street and drive about 100 smooth feet before
hitting my driveway.

And note who the city isn’t getting fees from? This isn’t a case
of blaming truck drivers for tearing up roads or other anti-private
transportation arguments. Nor is it rich, evil tech corporations
not paying their “fair share.” It’s because of utility companies
not paying fees back for literally tearing up the roads to do work.
(And you have to wonder what sort of work they’re doing given the
massive water main disaster that struck Los Angeles this week and

flooded UCLA.)

As for the asphalt production, a
companion news story at the Times notes that the
difference in price between the city and a private asphalt producer
is more than a 50 percent increase: $66 per ton versus $40 per
ton.

Oh, and some of that unused $21 million was apparently federal
stimulus funds. You know, for those “shovel-ready” projects?

In March, city advisors wanted to try to
push through another tax increase to try to generate more
revenue to repair the roads. That idea has been abandoned for
now:

“Right now, people want to know with a sense of confidence that
the money that we are spending is being properly spent,” Galperin
said Thursday at a news conference announcing the audit’s findings.
“And until that happens, I think people are going to be very
reluctant — and correctly so — to say, ‘Let’s just throw more
money at it.'”

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"Genocide Is Permissible" Muses Times Of Israel, Promptly Retracts

The Times Of Israel has removed a provocatively-titled blog post after huge blowback, denunciations, and ridicule across social media. The post – “When Genocide Is Permissible” (in full below) – concludes, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly stated at the outset of this incursion that his objective is to restore a sustainable quiet for the citizens of Israel. We have already established that it is the responsibility of every government to ensure the safety and security of its people. If political leaders and military experts determine that the only way to achieve its goal of sustaining quiet is through genocide is it then permissible to achieve those responsible goals?“ Removal or not, we are sure this will do nothing to endear Israel to the world.

 

The Times Of Israel site Before and After…

h/t @PrisonPlanet

 

And thanks to The Way-Back Machine, here is the full article…

When Genocide Is Permissible (authored by Yochanan Gordon)

Judging by the numbers of casualties on both sides in this almost one-month old war one would be led to the conclusion that Israel has resorted to disproportionate means in fighting a far less- capable enemy. That is as far as what meets the eye. But, it’s now obvious that the US and the UN are completely out of touch with the nature of this foe and are therefore not qualified to dictate or enforce the rules of this war – because when it comes to terror there is much more than meets the eye.

 

I wasn’t aware of this, but it seems that the nature of warfare has undergone a major shift over the years. Where wars were usually waged to defeat the opposing side, today it seems – and judging by the number of foul calls it would indicate – that today’s wars are fought to a draw. I mean, whoever heard of a timeout in war? An NBA Basketball game allows six timeouts for each team during the course of a game, but last I checked this is a war! We are at war with an enemy whose charter calls for the annihilation of our people. Nothing, then, can be considered disproportionate when we are fighting for our very right to live.

 

The sad reality is that Israel gets it, but its hands are being tied by world leaders who over the past six years have insisted they are such good friends with the Jewish state, that they know more regarding its interests than even they do. But there’s going to have to come a time where Israel feels threatened enough where it has no other choice but to defy international warnings – because this is life or death.

 

Most of the reports coming from Gazan officials and leaders since the start of this operation have been either largely exaggerated or patently false. The truth is, it’s not their fault, falsehood and deceit is part of the very fabric of who they are and that will never change. Still however, despite their propensity to lie, when your enemy tells you that they are bent on your destruction you believe them. Similarly, when Khaled Meshal declares that no physical damage to Gaza will dampen their morale or weaken their resolve – they have to be believed. Our sage Gedalia the son of Achikam was given intelligence that Yishmael Ben Nesanyah was plotting to kill him. However, in his piety or rather naiveté Gedalia dismissed the report as a random act of gossip and paid no attention to it. To this day, the day following Rosh Hashana is commemorated as a fast day in the memory of Gedalia who was killed in cold blood on the second day of Rosh Hashana during the meal. They say the definition of insanity is repeating the same mistakes over and over. History is there to teach us lessons and the lesson here is that when your enemy swears to destroy you – you take him seriously.

 

Hamas has stated forthrightly that it idealizes death as much as Israel celebrates life. What other way then is there to deal with an enemy of this nature other than obliterate them completely?

 

News anchors such as those from CNN, BBC and Al-Jazeera have not missed an opportunity to point out the majority of innocent civilians who have lost their lives as a result of this war. But anyone who lives with rocket launchers installed or terror tunnels burrowed in or around the vicinity of their home cannot be considered an innocent civilian. If you’ll counter, that Hamas has been seen abusing civilians who have attempted to leave their homes in response to Israeli warnings to leave – well then, your beginning to come to terms with the nature of this enemy which should automatically cause the rules of standard warfare to be suspended.

 

Everyone agrees that Israel has the right to defend itself as well as the right to exercise that right. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has declared it, Obama and Kerry have clearly stated that no one could be expected to sit idle as thousands of rockets rain down on the heads of its citizens, placing them in clear and present danger. It seems then that the only point of contention is regarding the measure of punishment meted out in this situation.

 

I will conclude with a question for all the humanitarians out there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly stated at the outset of this incursion that his objective is to restore a sustainable quiet for the citizens of Israel. We have already established that it is the responsibility of every government to ensure the safety and security of its people. If political leaders and military experts determine that the only way to achieve its goal of sustaining quiet is through genocide is it then permissible to achieve those responsible goals?

*  *  *

No comment.




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“Genocide Is Permissible” Muses Times Of Israel, Promptly Retracts

The Times Of Israel has removed a provocatively-titled blog post after huge blowback, denunciations, and ridicule across social media. The post – “When Genocide Is Permissible” (in full below) – concludes, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly stated at the outset of this incursion that his objective is to restore a sustainable quiet for the citizens of Israel. We have already established that it is the responsibility of every government to ensure the safety and security of its people. If political leaders and military experts determine that the only way to achieve its goal of sustaining quiet is through genocide is it then permissible to achieve those responsible goals?“ Removal or not, we are sure this will do nothing to endear Israel to the world.

 

The Times Of Israel site Before and After…

h/t @PrisonPlanet

 

And thanks to The Way-Back Machine, here is the full article…

When Genocide Is Permissible (authored by Yochanan Gordon)

Judging by the numbers of casualties on both sides in this almost one-month old war one would be led to the conclusion that Israel has resorted to disproportionate means in fighting a far less- capable enemy. That is as far as what meets the eye. But, it’s now obvious that the US and the UN are completely out of touch with the nature of this foe and are therefore not qualified to dictate or enforce the rules of this war – because when it comes to terror there is much more than meets the eye.

 

I wasn’t aware of this, but it seems that the nature of warfare has undergone a major shift over the years. Where wars were usually waged to defeat the opposing side, today it seems – and judging by the number of foul calls it would indicate – that today’s wars are fought to a draw. I mean, whoever heard of a timeout in war? An NBA Basketball game allows six timeouts for each team during the course of a game, but last I checked this is a war! We are at war with an enemy whose charter calls for the annihilation of our people. Nothing, then, can be considered disproportionate when we are fighting for our very right to live.

 

The sad reality is that Israel gets it, but its hands are being tied by world leaders who over the past six years have insisted they are such good friends with the Jewish state, that they know more regarding its interests than even they do. But there’s going to have to come a time where Israel feels threatened enough where it has no other choice but to defy international warnings – because this is life or death.

 

Most of the reports coming from Gazan officials and leaders since the start of this operation have been either largely exaggerated or patently false. The truth is, it’s not their fault, falsehood and deceit is part of the very fabric of who they are and that will never change. Still however, despite their propensity to lie, when your enemy tells you that they are bent on your destruction you believe them. Similarly, when Khaled Meshal declares that no physical damage to Gaza will dampen their morale or weaken their resolve – they have to be believed. Our sage Gedalia the son of Achikam was given intelligence that Yishmael Ben Nesanyah was plotting to kill him. However, in his piety or rather naiveté Gedalia dismissed the report as a random act of gossip and paid no attention to it. To this day, the day following Rosh Hashana is commemorated as a fast day in the memory of Gedalia who was killed in cold blood on the second day of Rosh Hashana during the meal. They say the definition of insanity is repeating the same mistakes over and over. History is there to teach us lessons and the lesson here is that when your enemy swears to destroy you – you take him seriously.

 

Hamas has stated forthrightly that it idealizes death as much as Israel celebrates life. What other way then is there to deal with an enemy of this nature other than obliterate them completely?

 

News anchors such as those from CNN, BBC and Al-Jazeera have not missed an opportunity to point out the majority of innocent civilians who have lost their lives as a result of this war. But anyone who lives with rocket launchers installed or terror tunnels burrowed in or around the vicinity of their home cannot be considered an innocent civilian. If you’ll counter, that Hamas has been seen abusing civilians who have attempted to leave their homes in response to Israeli warnings to leave – well then, your beginning to come to terms with the nature of this enemy which should automatically cause the rules of standard warfare to be suspended.

 

Everyone agrees that Israel has the right to defend itself as well as the right to exercise that right. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has declared it, Obama and Kerry have clearly stated that no one could be expected to sit idle as thousands of rockets rain down on the heads of its citizens, placing them in clear and present danger. It seems then that the only point of contention is regarding the measure of punishment meted out in this situation.

 

I will conclude with a question for all the humanitarians out there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clearly stated at the outset of this incursion that his objective is to restore a sustainable quiet for the citizens of Israel. We have already established that it is the responsibility of every government to ensure the safety and security of its people. If political leaders and military experts determine that the only way to achieve its goal of sustaining quiet is through genocide is it then permissible to achieve those responsible goals?

*  *  *

No comment.




via Zero Hedge http://ift.tt/1nc8Hzv Tyler Durden

Philly School Officials: Without Tobacco Tax Hike, We Can't Open

When the continued operation of your city’s
public school system turns on taxing tobacco, you might be doing it
wrong. Yeah, I’m looking at you, Philadelphia.

The city’s school superintendent,
William Hite, is admonishing Republican legislators in the
statehouse for stalling on a proposed Philadelphia cigarette tax
increase. “I’m annoyed, disappointed, and frustrated, because we’re
at a point two weeks before we have to make some operational
decisions to educate children,” Hite said. Without the cigarette
tax money, he claims 1,300 layoff notices will go out August
15. 

The Pennsylvania House was set to vote on the $2-per-pack tax
increase Monday. But House GOP leadership
canceled the vote at the last minute, citing a lack of
consensus. 

Philly Mayor Michael Nutter also blasted legislators for this.
“Philadelphia schools will not be able to open on time and safely,
because they chose not to come and do their jobs,” Nutter told CBS
Philly.

It is an absolute disgrace what is going on here and no other
school district in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, no other set
of parents, no other county, no other school district, would ever
be subjected to this kind of nonsense and irresponsibility as we
are now experiencing today based on the announcement that was
made.

Perhaps instead of casting shade left and right, Mayor Nutter
might want to consider why the School District of Philadelphia is
so mismanaged and hopeless that it won’t even be able to open
without a massive emergency cash infusion? Then again, crafting
sustainable solutions is so tedious. Much easier just to raise
taxes on groups generally disliked. 

For more on Philadelphia school mismanagement,
see Ed Krayewski on how the city is discouraging charter school
attendance and Ethan Roberts
on how Hite is fighting to keep teacher tenure. 

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Philly School Officials: Without Tobacco Tax Hike, We Can’t Open

When the continued operation of your city’s
public school system turns on taxing tobacco, you might be doing it
wrong. Yeah, I’m looking at you, Philadelphia.

The city’s school superintendent,
William Hite, is admonishing Republican legislators in the
statehouse for stalling on a proposed Philadelphia cigarette tax
increase. “I’m annoyed, disappointed, and frustrated, because we’re
at a point two weeks before we have to make some operational
decisions to educate children,” Hite said. Without the cigarette
tax money, he claims 1,300 layoff notices will go out August
15. 

The Pennsylvania House was set to vote on the $2-per-pack tax
increase Monday. But House GOP leadership
canceled the vote at the last minute, citing a lack of
consensus. 

Philly Mayor Michael Nutter also blasted legislators for this.
“Philadelphia schools will not be able to open on time and safely,
because they chose not to come and do their jobs,” Nutter told CBS
Philly.

It is an absolute disgrace what is going on here and no other
school district in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, no other set
of parents, no other county, no other school district, would ever
be subjected to this kind of nonsense and irresponsibility as we
are now experiencing today based on the announcement that was
made.

Perhaps instead of casting shade left and right, Mayor Nutter
might want to consider why the School District of Philadelphia is
so mismanaged and hopeless that it won’t even be able to open
without a massive emergency cash infusion? Then again, crafting
sustainable solutions is so tedious. Much easier just to raise
taxes on groups generally disliked. 

For more on Philadelphia school mismanagement,
see Ed Krayewski on how the city is discouraging charter school
attendance and Ethan Roberts
on how Hite is fighting to keep teacher tenure. 

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House Votes to Create More Visas for US Afghan Allies Threatened by the Taliban

Congress passed a bill
that will provide additional visas for the
Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program late Friday afternoon.
This bill passed both chambers of Congress with unanimous support
and will create an additional 1,000 Special Immigrant Visas (SIV)
for the Afghans who served the US government during
wartime. 

Afghans who work for the US—most serving as translators
for the military—are in danger of retaliation from the Taliban, who
label them traitors. All of them live in constant fear for their
lives, and many have been killed while waiting for their American
visa. 

Reason TV recently covered this issue:

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Humanity May Face Choice By 2040: Conventional Energy Or Drinking Water

Submitted by Andy Tully via OilPrice.com,

A set of studies based on three years of research concludes that by 2040, the need for drinking water and water for use in energy production will create dire shortages.

Conventional electricity generation is the largest source of water use in most countries. Water is used to cool power plants to keep them functional. Most power utilities don’t even record the amount of water they use.

“It’s a huge problem that the electricity sector do not even realize how much water they actually consume,” says Professor Benjamin Sovacool of Denmark’s Aarhus University, one of the institutions involved in the research. “And together with the fact that we do not have unlimited water resources, it could lead to a serious crisis if nobody acts on it soon.”

The research, which included projections of the availability of water and the growth of the world’s population, found that by 2020, between 30 percent and 40 percent of the planet will no longer have direct access to clean drinking water. The problem could be made even worse if climate change accelerates, creating more heat and causing more water evaporation.

That means humankind must decide how water is used, Sovacool says. “Do we want to spend it on keeping the power plants going or as drinking water? We don’t have enough water to do both,” he says.

The researchers, also from the Vermont Law School and CNA Corporation in the US, a non-profit research institute in Arlington, Va., focused their studies on specific utilities and other energy suppliers in four countries: China, France, India and the United States.

First, they identified each country’s energy needs, then factored in projections of water availability in each country and its population level as far as 2040. In all four cases, they discovered, there will not be enough water by then both to drink and to use at electricity-generating plants.

So how to prevent this conflict? The studies agreed on starting with the simplest solution: Alternative sources of electricity that don’t require massive amounts of water.

The recommendations are improving energy efficiency, conducting more research on alternative cooling mechanisms, logging water use at power plants, making massive investments in solar and wind energy, and abandoning fossil fuel facilities in all areas susceptible to water shortages.

This last proposal may be the most difficult to implement because parched areas now include half of Earth. But Sovacool says it would be worth the investment.

“If we keep doing business as usual, we are facing an insurmountable water shortage – even if water was free, because it’s not a matter of the price,” he says. “There will be no water by 2040 if we keep doing what we’re doing today. There’s no time to waste. We need to act now.”




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