FEDS WANT MAJOR EXPANSION OF SECRET WIRETAP POWERS OVER WEB-BASED SERVICES. Facebook, Google, Skype and other brand names behind your favorite internet sites and programs are chafing at proposed new rules from the Obama administration that would force companies to comply with sweeping wiretaps and information requests from the FBI and Justice Department. While companies [...]
THAT’S ONE GIANT STEP FOR WORLD LEUKEMIA SUFFERERS. An Indian court rules that a “copycat” (generic) version of a brand name drug cannot be prohibited by the patent claimed by the brand name company. This decision could have “ripple” effects on the availability of generics for people throughout the world. Prohibition of copycat [...]
“MONSANTO PROTECTION ACT” BRINGS IMMUNITY TO REGULATION OF FOOD TO YOUR DINNER TABLE. It was done quietly last week, an obscure provision slipped into a congressional spending bill, the passage and presidential signing of which averted a government shutdown. The so-named provision allows Monsanto and other corporate food processors exemption from federal regulation by [...]
“ANTIQUE COLD WARRIORS IN THE SERVICE OF PIRATE CAPITALISTS.” This is Rob Urie’s tag-line for his scathing denunciation of the Iraqi war: the authorities who perpetrated it, and the 75% of Americans who “supported” it until the action came to be seen as too costly and futile. Bush administration officials come under major charges [...]
DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN: U.S., ISRAEL AND IRAN IS STARTING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE U.S., ISRAEL AND IRAQ IN 2002. At least it looks this way to the “Roving Eye” reporter for Asia Times, Pepe Escobar. Benjamin Netanyahu, now PM, was not in power in ’02 but helped to lead the war [...]
L.A. UNDRESSED BY RUTH FOWLER. British journalist and screen-writer who wrote “Girl, Undressed,” based on her experience in the New York City sex trade, deconstructs the public outrage concerning Christopher Dorner, the deranged former LAPD officer turned cop killer. As usual, public notice focuses on the derangement and not what was in the mind [...]
The world’s largest purveyor of sugary drinks has made an unprecedented public embrace of its own culpability in America’s struggle with obesity and the costs associated with an overweight population. A new video released by Coca-Cola to considerable buzz bluntly labels obesity the “issue of this generation” and makes a vague admission that calories from [...]
MISSING IN ACTION IN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES: THAT VISION THING. With 3 of their 4 scheduled debates under their belts, the presidential and vice-presidential candidates have failed to articulate much of anything in the way of concrete plans that might determine how the electorate votes. Beyond accusing their opponents of not having detailed such plans, [...]
“NATIONAL STARBUCKS APPRECIATION DAY” TO COUNTER THE CHICK-FIL-A ONE—DOES THAT MAKE A LOT OF SENSE? Cord Jefferson doubts it, noting that there is a vast difference between the two fast-food restaurants in their active support of either side of the marriage equality issue. For conservatives, the “day” made sense as contributing to the coffers [...]
HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS, AND INSURANCE COMPANY PROFITS, ARE SKYROCKETING. (New York Times) America may be headed for a crisis in health care as costs for insurance are rising at a shocking rate. The cost of employer-based insurance for an average family has increased 9 percent over the past year, the higher costs hitting hard in [...]
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