Mike Tyson, a convicted rapist, was asked whether Rob Ford’s candidacy for re-election as Toronto mayor might be affected by hanging out with a convicted rapist (Tyson). Mike Tyson then flipped out and cursed a lot on live TV.
After the outburst, you can sort of see Mike level out, like he realized that he probably shouldn’t have said all those curse words, but no! When the host throws it back to Tyson, he just calls the host a piece of shit some more.
Russia has warned that US air strikes against militants in Syria would be a “gross violation” of international law. A Russian foreign ministry spokesman said any such action, without the backing of the UN, would be “an act of aggression”. It comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry meets Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia to try to build a coalition against Islamic State (IS) militants. President Obama has threatened action against IS in Syria as well as Iraq. IS controls large parts of Syria and Iraq after a rapid military advance. In a speech outlining his strategy, Mr Obama said any group that threatened America would “find no safe haven”. He also announced that 475 US military personnel would be sent to Iraq but said they would not have a combat role.
But the statement brought a strong reaction from Russia, which has been an ally of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
“The US president has spoken directly about the possibility of strikes by the US armed forces against Isil (IS) positions in Syria without the consent of the legitimate government,” ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich was quoted as saying. “This step, in the absence of a UN Security Council decision, would be an act of aggression, a gross violation of international law.”
Syria also repeated its warning that the US had to co-ordinate with the Syrian government before launching air strikes on its territory. “Any action of any kind without the consent of the Syrian government would be an attack on Syria,” National Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar said on Thursday. Last month Syria offered to help the US fight Islamic State, however the US ruled that out. The US has launched more than 150 air strikes against the group in Iraq and has provided arms to Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting against IS. The jihadist group has become notorious for its brutality, recording their beheadings of enemy soldiers and Western journalists.
Rebel training
Mr Kerry, who arrived in the Red Sea port of Jeddah on Thursday, will 
hold talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf states as well as Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Nato member Turkey. Reports say that among the issues to be discussed are training for Syrian rebels on Saudi soil and broader permission from regional states to use their airspace in order to increase the capacity of US aircraft.
President Obama’s anti-IS strategy
In a 15-minute speech shown at peak time in the US on Wednesday, President Obama vowed that America would lead “a broad coalition to roll back” ISIS.
“Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions, so that we’re hitting Isil targets as Iraqi forces go on the offense,” he said. President Obama was elected in part because of fervent opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and presided over the US troop pullout from the country.
For the first time, Islamic State targets on the ground in Syria will be in the crosshairs of American pilots. The president told the American people: “I have made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, wherever they are.” But he was equally emphatic that the combat on the ground would happen without US troops. Instead the US will ramp up its military assistance to the Syrian opposition. But the president was also at pains to express what this wasn’t. “We will not get dragged into another ground war,” he insisted. He
said that America would lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat and would not be acting alone. There were two cautionary notes — the first on timescale and also that this would not be risk-free to American servicemen and women. Action is going to start: who knows when it will be mission accomplished.
Last year, President Obama abandoned plans to launch airstrikes in Syria against government forces after congressional opposition. In his speech, he ruled out working with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, despite the fact that his forces are also engaged in fighting IS. Instead, he said, the US would seek to strengthen the non-IS Syrian opposition, which fights against both IS and President Assad. Syria’s Western-backed National Coalition welcomed Mr Obama’s plan, and urged Congress to approve it. However, the BBC’s Jim Muir in northern Iraq says the Syrian opposition is fragmented and dominated by Islamists, who may be opposed to IS but are seeking Islamic rule rather than democracy.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29154481
The judge in the Oscar Pistorius trial has cleared him of murder, but has left it to
Friday to announce whether the athlete is guilty of culpable homicide. Judge Thokozile Masipa said prosecutors had not proved he meant to kill his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, prompting tears from the Olympic sprinter. But she said he acted hastily and had been negligent. Mr Pistorius says he thought an intruder was in the toilet. Adjourning the trial, the judge said a reasonable person would not have fired. The BBC’s Andrew Harding, who was in court in Pretoria, says she is expected to deliver a verdict of culpable homicide (manslaughter) but has not yet spelled it out. Earlier, Judge Masipa described Mr Pistorius as an evasive witness but said this did not mean he was guilty.
Clearing him of murder charges, she said he could not have foreseen killing whoever was behind the toilet door.
The South African Olympic and Paralympic sprinter had denied murdering Ms Steenkamp after a row on Valentine’s Day last year, saying he shot her by mistake. Mr Pistorius, 27, has pleaded not guilty to all the charges
he faces, including two counts of shooting a firearm in public and the illegal possession of ammunition. While finding Oscar Pistorius not guilty of murder, Judge Masipa appears to be leaning towards the lesser charge of manslaughter, known in South Africa as culpable homicide. Minutes after the lunch break, she seemed to be on the verge of announcing her verdict, only to stop abruptly and adjourn until Friday — leading to sighs and gasps in the overflow court. Judge Masipa didn’t mince her words when she said the athlete, who has a good knowledge of guns, acted negligently by firing four shots into a confined space. She questioned why he did not phone for help or run to the balcony instead of confronting the apparent danger — questions that have plagued many. Following a long trial that has gripped people around the world, Judge Masipa seems to want to give a detailed account before announcing her verdict. South Africa’s legal system has also been on trial and many believe the athlete is getting off lightly, possibly because of his fame. But legal experts argue that the judge has merely followed the law and the evidence before her. The onus was on the state to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, which the judge said it had failed to do.
| Verdict | What it means | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Premeditated murder | Intended and planned to unlawfully kill Reeva Steenkamp, or an intruder | Mandatory life term — 25 years before parole |
| Common-law murder | Unlawfully intended to kill in the heat of the moment but without “malice aforethought”. Either: Shot door intending to kill, or knew someone might be killed and still fired gun | Minimum of 15 years up to 20 years, at judge’s discretion |
| Culpable homicide (manslaughter) | No intention to kill. Takes into account disability, but actions negligent and not in keeping with a reasonable person | Maximum of 15 years, possibly between seven and 10 years |
| Discharging a firearm in public | Two counts for allegedly firing a gun through a car sunroof and discharging a gun at a restaurant | A fine or up to five years — for each charge |
| Illegal possession of ammunition | In possession of .38 bullets for which he has no licence | A fine or up to 15 years |
Judge Masipa began by detailing the charges against the athlete and repeating extracts of his testimony, reading in a slow, measured way. She then moved on to a summary of the trial. A tense-looking Mr Pistorius looked on from the dock, and wept several times during the proceedings. The judge questioned the reliability of several witnesses who apparently heard screams and gunshots at the time of the incident, saying most of those who said they had heard the incident had “got facts wrong”. The prosecution had used these witnesses to try to prove that Mr Pistorius had killed Ms Steenkamp with premeditation after an argument. Later in her judgement, Judge Masipa concluded that the prosecution had failed in this. “The state has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder,” she said. “There are just not enough facts to support such a finding.“The judge added that the accused believed his life was in danger and therefore could not be found guilty of a lesser charge of murder. “How could the accused reasonably have foreseen that the shot he fired would kill the deceased?” she said. “Clearly he did not subjectively foresee this as a possibility, that he would kill the person behind the door, let alone the deceased as he thought she was in the bedroom at the time.”
But Judge Masipa then adjourned for lunch before moving on to the charge of culpable homicide which suggests negligence without intention to kill and which could still mean a jail sentence. “The accused knew there was a person behind the toilet door, he chose to use a firearm. Would a reasonable person in the same circumstances as the accused have foreseen the possibility that if he fired four shots whoever was behind the toilet might be struck and die as a result? She said the answer was yes. “I am of the view that the accused acted too hastily and used excessive force. In the circumstances, it is clear that his conduct was negligent,” she said, before abruptly adjourning for the day. Her decision to do so took many by surprise. Throughout the day the court witnessed Judge Masipa’s logic and style — gentle, tolerant of error from witnesses, but razor sharp, reports the BBC’s Andrew Harding.
Most of the trial, which began on 3 March 2014, has been televised and attracted worldwide attention. Before the fatal shooting, the 27-year-old double amputee was feted in South Africa and known as the “blade runner”. He had won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and also competed at the Olympics. The judgement at his trial is likely to be well over 100 pages. The judge went through each charge, summing up the prosecution and defence cases and analysing the evidence. Ms Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model and law graduate, was hit three times by bullets shot through a toilet door by Mr Pistorius at his home in the capital, Pretoria, in the early hours of 14 February 2013. He denies the prosecution’s allegation that the couple — who had been dating for three months — had rowed. The athlete said he thought she was still in the bedroom when he heard a noise in the bathroom, which he believed to be an intruder. The prosecution have tried to characterise Mr Pistorius as a “hothead”, while his defence team have portrayed him as having a heightened response to perceived danger because of his disability and background. In July, a psychiatric report requested by the judge said Mr Pistorius had post-traumatic stress disorder but no mental illness that could prevent him being held criminally responsible for his actions. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-29143540
A couple years ago I wrote an Article on the issue of Domestic Violence. I sought to bring a level-headed dispassionate un-emotional perspective to the debate. I found through my own experiences that many who debate the issue use it to advance their own Agendas.
Whether it be Feminists, Psychologists, or band-waggonists seeking to make a name on the back of women’s issues I am convinced the issue is not as black and white as many of the most intemperate hypocrites would have you believe.
To be clear men are generally stronger than women.We should always seek to protect our women. As a Christian I am charged to love and 
cherish my wife as the weaker sex , she is worthy and deserving of my love and protection. This protection should spread as the ripples in a Brook to other women, hence the protection of all women is guaranteed.
Absent from this debate is the factual reasoning that Society has been on a fast track toward eliminating what we were told about women. Girls are now told that they can do anything men do, they can have any job men have, they can lift as much weight as men do. As Society seeks to toughen women, it conversely does the opposite, feminizing men. Men are now staying home out of choice, while their wives go out to work. It is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between some men from women today. There was always going to be some women who are stronger and better than some men at certain tasks. Conversely there were always going to be some men who are more girly than the average woman..
The September 20 1973 Tennis débâcle between 55-year-old Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King saw King Decimate Riggs: 6 – 4, 6 – 3, 6 – 3. This in no small way, advanced the notion that there was no difference between the sexes. Additionally disparate laws in favor of women in Industrialized Nations like the United States has literally caused some women to believe they can start fights with men and men are not supposed to react.
Throughout my experience as a law enforcement officer, when I had to deal with domestic violence it was generally the woman who started hitting on her spouse. Society does not want to acknowledge this, because it does not advance the feminist agenda. So we turn a blind eye when a woman hits on or otherwise abuse a man, we make jokes about him getting beaten, yet as soon as the man reacts he is an abusive degenerate worthy of being locked away forever. Women simply cannot have it both ways, if you do not want men to hit you , do not hit men.
Recently Beyonce’s sister Solange was seen flailing away at her brother-in-law Sean (JZ) Carter in an elevator. She was eventually restrained by Carter’s security ‚still kicking and flailing away. Now granted that Solange’s actions did not rise to the level of Rices devastating hook which literally wiped out Janay, where was the outcry from the feminist hypocrites now pontificating about the Ray Rice elevator video. All of them were conveniently silent. If we are going to talk about domestic violence we must talk about it in gender neutral terms. Lorena Bobbitt cut the Penis off her husband, she hid behind allegations of domestic violence and got away with it. The instances of women killing or otherwise mutilating their spouses are well documented, where is the outrage. How is it abuse when men does it but comedy when women do it?
At a Press Conference Janay Rice publicly stated that she apologized for the part she played in events that night. Ray Rice apologized to everyone for his thuggish behavior. The firestorm which emanated from her taking responsibility have been visceral. They ranged from allegations that she is scared, to she is just in it for the money, to ridiculous statements she was again made a victim because she actually took responsibility for her part in the events of that night. There are rumblings that there is additional video footage which shows Mrs. Rice attacking her spouse and eventually spitting in his face. No mention is made of that, no one wants to acknowledge that.
In the end what the Feminist apologists want you to believe is that Janay Rice is incapable of making decisions for herself. This reduces Janay Rice to nothing more than a talking-point for the feminist agenda. The Baltimore Ravens have now fired Rice. The NFL which had given Rice a two game suspension as well as a pre-trial intervention program has now suspended the Running back indefinitely. The piling-on has however just begun, Rutgers University has pulled murals which were installed in Rice’s honor. EA Sports the video game maker, Nike which make Billions on the backs of some of world’s poorest people has since dropped Rice. How is that for perspective. Additionally, every little Joe-blow who have a Rice Jersey has now decided to pontificate by burning the Jersey.
Seem we have seen this before, but where? Oh yeah that Guy was accused of being a part of a dog fighting ring. Janay Rice has come out swinging in defense of her husband, and correctly so. What Ray Rice did was atrocious and despicable. Oh my God how do you punch the woman you supposedly love with such brutality, such reckless and wanton disregard, how do you hit her period?
Ray Rice has apologized to his wife, Janay Rice has agreed to forgive her husband. Lets hope they follow up with christian Counselling. This will offer them introspection and help in dealing with whatever issues exists between them that resulted in such explosive anger. In addition to other statements , Janay Rice said quote: “Just know we will continue to grow & show the world what real love is!”.I am rooting for this couple. I hope and pray they can move past their previous issues and seek God, at the end of all of this the NFL, The Ravens Nike, and the critics are unimportant.The Rice’s can use this defining moment to solidify their love by seeking a Godly solution to their problems. Many of Rice’s most vociferous critics are doing much worse, they just haven’t been caught. Many of Rice’s critics never cared for him never will. They never cared for Janay Rice , never will.
Janay Rice has every right to forgive her husband. She is a human being capable of making her own decisions. Jesus chided the people who were about to stone the woman who committed adultery. “He who is among you without sin you cast the first stone”.Janay Rice has forgiven her husband. Ray will have a lot of time to think about what he did. He should use that time to work on his anger. Those who are calling for his head doesn’t care that God wants us to forgive. They do not care that their kids are better off if they work through their problems. None of this is important to the blood-thirsty hordes, Ray and Jana Rice are mere pawns on the chess-board of their radical Feminist agenda.
After a year of speculation, countless leaks and many rival devices, Apple is on the verge of unveiling its next-generation iPhone 6 at an event in California. The event begins at 10am PDT (6pm BST) at the same location Steve Jobs unveiled the first Mac computer 20 years ago. Alongside two new larger-screen iPhones, Apple may also use the event to finally unveil a smartwatch — a device that has been on the cards since 2012. It is unsure whether the watch will be called the iWatch, or iTime — but numerous sources are reporting the device is incoming. Other reports have also suggested Apple could reveal its new range of iPads, which is typically reserved for a separate event in October. Before the event, rumours claimed Apple was working on two versions of its next iPhone, in different sizes, with one being 4.7 inches (11.9cm) diagonally, the same size as the HTC One.
A larger version was also rumoured to be released, measuring 5.5 inches (14cm) — slightly larger than Samsung’s 5.1‑inch Galaxy S5. Leaked specifications earlier today claimed the device would have an Apple A8 processor, 1GB of memory, 128GB of storage and an 8MP camera. Although this is the same as the current model, reports claim Apple has improved the camera’s overall performance ‘in other ways.’ The 4.7‑inch iPhone will reportedly come with a display resolution of 1334 x 750.Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2748175/Countdown-iPhone-6-launch-Apple-unveil-range-new-products-tonight-iWatch-finally-make-appearance.html#ixzz3Cpgp3JJG
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of National Security Peter Bunting has announced the
appointment of Carl Williams as Commissioner of Police, effective September 15, 2014.
Bunting was this morning formally advised by the Police Service Commission and subsequently briefed the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Commissioner designate Williams comes to the post with a track record of innovation and performance in a wide variety of command roles in the Jamaica Constabulary Force and is highly qualified academically, with a PhD in Criminal Justice, the Ministry said.
Williams is the founding director of Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) and the innovator responsible for conceptualizing and developing the Anti-Lottery Scam Task Force.
He led Jamaica’s anti-narcotics campaign from 2000 to 2004 with the successful prosecution and/or extradition of a number of major narcotics traffickers.
Williams, who is 50 years old, enlisted in the JCF in February 1984. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/UPDATE – Carl-Williams-new-Commissioner-of-Police
There are significant signs indicating that the second coming of Jesus Christ is close at hand, yet the Church is almost silent on end time prophesies. Is the Church more interested in things of the World ? Many Ministers preach prosperity and a feel-good gospel that goes over well with the crowd, but is that what God commands us to do?
♦Why is the Christian Church impotent regarding end time Prophesies?
♦ Are present day preachers and teachers ill-equipped to decipher Biblical Prophesies, which would enable them to warn God’s people?
♦ What’s behind the inability, or lack of will, why preachers/teachers preach-teach feel good gospel?
WHAT DOES SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN THE END IS NEAR?
There will be wars and rumors of wars, famine, men will become lovers of themselves, earthquake in divers places, floods, these are signs of the second coming of Jesus Christ. With the proliferation of communication devices it will be difficult for anyone to argue they never heard about our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
♦Revelation 22:11. After everyone has had a chance to make an enlightened, intelligent decision, then the “door of mercy” will close forever, just like the door closed to Noah’s ark before the flood (See also Genesis 7:16). Every human being will either be “righteous” and “holy,” or “filthy” and “unjust” (Revelation 22:11). There will be no more changing sides.
Biblical prophesies are happening around us daily. I do not profess to know what the final sign of Jesus’ return will be.
Revelation 7:1 – 3; 13:16 – 14:1. In the end times, during Earth’s last crisis, every living human being will make a final choice, choosing the side of Jesus Christ and the truth (receiving the “seal of God”) or the side of Satan and the “beast” (receiving his “mark”). Humanity will be divided into two great, final classes.
The Christian Church is almost powerless, where is the power that God has bestowed on us to go out and preach the word to all the world? Why are Preachers of the Gospel afraid to speak truth to power? What power is as great as the power of God? Why has the Christian Church adopted a go-along-to-get-along approach to the Gospel of Christ? Why is the Church afraid to preach against Homosexuality, sexual perversion, infidelity, immorality, and other un-godly vices? Where is the Church on “thus sayeth the lord”?
Christians cannot be afraid to be martyred for Christ. The Bible’s New Testament book of Acts, records the martyrdom of the Apostle James
the son of Zebedee, and of Stephen, a believer who was killed while evangelizing. There are other accounts that up to 10 of the 12 Disciples were killed because of their Religious beliefs. If the Christian faith is the only true path to escape the calamity which is to come, how can we water it down yet expect that God will look kindly on us?
Jesus did not mince words he spoke truth to power, he called sin exactly what it was, sin, and yes he was killed. I am not advocating that Christians go out seeking to get killed. What I am suggesting is that we be less concerned about what the world think of us. After all the world needs to be saved , the world cannot offer us safety from the wrath to come. Why then are we mindful of what the world think of us ?
Even as the grip of the anti-Christ tightens , many are still totally blind to it.
666 AND THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS LAW:
Revelation 13:16 – 17. The “mark of the beast” will be enforced by governments around the world as a supposed “solution” to a global, desperate crisis. The majority of Earth’s inhabitants will not realize this is “the mark,” for they will be deceived. Revelation 19:20. The terms “beast” and “mark” are code words in the book of Revelation that God’s people alone will understand. They will know who the “beast” is, and what his “mark” is, while the rest of the world has no clue. http://www.end-times.info/
Whether we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior or not , he is coming back and he is coming back soon. We can trust to our own intellect and understanding or we may choose to seek his face, the time is nigh. I urge you to seek Jesus, there is absolutely no time to waste.
Over the last two years, the U.S. has had a spike in expatriations. It isn’t exactly Ellis Island in reverse, but it’s more than a dribble. With global tax reporting and FATCA, the list of the individuals who renounced is up. For 2013, there was a 221% increase, with record numbers of Americans renouncing. The Treasury Department is required to publish a quarterly list, but these numbers are under-stated, some say considerably.
The presence or absence of tax motivation is no longer relevant, but that could change. After Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin departed for Singapore, Senators Chuck Schumer and Bob Casey introduced a bill to double the exit tax to 30% for anyone leaving the U.S. for tax reasons. That hasn’t happened, but taxes are still a big issue for many.
To leave America, you generally must prove 5 years of U.S. tax compliance. If you have a net worth greater than $2 million or average annual net income tax for the 5 previous years of $157,000 or more for 2014 (that’s tax, not income), you pay an exit tax. It is a capital gain tax as if you sold your property when you left. At least there’s an exemption of $680,000 for 2014. Long-term residents giving up a Green Card can be required to pay the tax too.
Now, the State Department interim rule just raised the fee for renunciation of U.S. citizenship to $2,350 from $450. Critics note that it’s more than twenty times the average level in other high-income countries. The State Department says it’s about demand on their services and all the extra workload they have to process people who are on their way out.
The notice says:
1. Consular officers must confirm that the potential renunciant fully understands the consequences of renunciation, including losing the right to reside in the United States without documentation as an alien.
2. Consular officers must verify that the renunciant is a U.S. citizen and they must conduct a minimum of two intensive interviews with the potential renunciant. Consular officers must even review at least three consular systems before administering the oath of renunciation.
3. The final approval of the loss of nationality must be done within the Directorate of Overseas Citizens Services in Washington, D.C. After that, the case is returned to the Consular officer overseas for final delivery of the Certificate of Loss of Nationality to the renunciant.4. These steps add to the time and labor be involved in the process. Accordingly, the Department is increasing the fee for processing such requests from $450 to $2,350.
The world is in turmoil, here in America people are looking to our President to do what America has always done, just bomb the problem away.The problem with the bomb them into oblivion crowd is they fail to recognize that bombing other nations does not solve problems.
Russia is moving aggressively across the borders of the Ukraine. Russia maintains they are only supplying humanitarian aid to pro Russian separatist fighting for autonomy in the Ukraine. At the same time there is an even more sinister and ominous cloud on the horizon.
The recently formed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. or ISIS, was formed just over a year ago when members were forced out of Al-Queda because of their brutality. ISIS is like no terror group we have seen before. They are not just a group of thugs using terror to make political points. This group has declared itself a state. Presently they have carved out huge swaths of land both in Iraq and Syria. ISIS is reportedly worth over two Billion dollars in assets. Analysts say the terror group gets mostof it’s income from Captured Oil wells, they sell the oil on the black market. Earnings also come from Kidnappings and donations from people
supportive of their cause.
The question for the west is how to stop this emerging threat. Experts say the problem is made worse because there are American and British citizens fighting alongside ISIS. How does these events fit into biblical prophesy?
BIBLICAL PROPHESY
Biblical Scholars are pointing to these events as end time occurrences which were in the Bible over 25oo years ago, So what does the Bible say about this?
The civil war in Syria is fulfilling Bible prophecy in that it is leading to the creation of a radical Islamic
entity which is a re-formation of the ancient Assyrian empire, with a similar agenda of destroying Israel and
incorporating Palestine in a pan-Arab state. This is exactly the situation described in the Bible as existing
before Christ returns- and is therefore a sign He may well return very soon. http://www.carelinks.net/files/Syria.pdf
In the last days, the Bible tells us, a horrible series of events will take place in the lands of Israel and Syria. One of these events is the disappearance of Damascus as one of the premiere cities in the world. The oldest continuously inhabited city on the planet, Damascus has witnessed at least five thousand years of human history, and some historians believe the city actually dates back to the seventh millennium bc. In fact, Paul was on the road to Damascus when Christ first appeared to Him, an event that transformed not only his life, but the course of human history.
In the very near future, Damascus will once again play a major role in human events. The prophet Isaiah provides us with God’s commentary on a future conflict between Damascus and Israel, and in so doing, He reveals certain prophecies that have been partially fulfilled in the past. However, the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah 17 remains in the future. The current existence of Damascus, which will one day cease to be a city, as well as the historical absence of the coalition of nations prophesied to attack Israel and be destroyed by God, is proof that Isaiah 17 prophesies events yet future. http://www.raptureready.com/featured/gillette/Isaiah_17.html
Krynica (Poland) (AFP) — European military assistance to Ukraine could lead to a nuclear conflict between Russia and NATO, according to Poland’s iconic cold warrior and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Lech Walesa.
“It could lead to a nuclear war,” the
“The EU is well aware that Russia has nuclear weapons. NATO has them too. Must we then destroy each other?” said the former Solidarity trade union leader famous for negotiating a bloodless end to communism in Poland in 1989.
“This is why the EU keeps on repeating: stop being silly (…) This is why it isn’t getting involved too much!” he added, at an annual regional economic in Krynica, southern Poland.
The EU on Saturday agreed to impose fresh sanctions on Russia should Moscow failed to change its behaviour in Ukraine, after Kiev said Russian soldiers were fighting along side
Patrick Dorismond was gunned down in New York City by NYPD undercover cops who approached him and his friend and asked where they could buy drugs. In response to public outcry about the killing The City’s Mayor Rudolph Giuliani released the sealed juvenile record of Patrick Dorismond’s arrest for robbery and assault when he was just 13. Rudolph Giuliani stated then “People have the right to know the background and record of a person involved in a criminal situation,” he said, adding darkly, “He’s no altar boy.”
Giuliani did not mention that the charges against Dorismond was nothing more than a fight between two little boys over a quarter and that the case never even made it to a Judge. In fact Dorismond had no criminal record. Regarding the no altar boy comment, the Napoleonic Giuliani was so eager to sully the name of the dead Patrick Dorismond he did not bother to engage his brain before he put his mouth in gear. Patrick Dorismond was indeed an altar boy at the Holy Cross Church in Brooklyn. Dorismond’s mother had actually named her son after her favorite Priest. The hypocrisy of Giuliani was astounding, when his 20 year old daughter was arrested for shoplifting he stated,“It’s a private matter and it will stay that way”.
Michael Brown, 18, due to be buried on Monday, was no angel, with public records and interviews with friends and family revealing both problems and promise in his young life. Shortly before his encounter with Officer Wilson, the police say he was caught on a security camera stealing a box of cigars, pushing the clerk of a convenience store into a display case. He lived in a community that had rough patches, and he dabbled in drugs and alcohol. He had taken to rapping in recent months, producing lyrics that were by turns contemplative and vulgar. He got into at least one scuffle with a neighbor. Times writer John Eligon.
There is a mentality surrounding black life in America that makes any infraction with Police worthy of death. I was stunned when I learned sometime ago that people who are placed on parole are cautioned not to come in contact with law enforcement. In fact coming in contact with law enforcement is grounds for being sent back to prison. Wonder what police do to people they do not like, do they willfully come in contact with parolees? You bet they do. As we look at events unfold we are reminded as to why many men of color cannot disentangle themselves from the web which is the criminal justice system. It is no wonder reactionary forces use criminal record to legitimatize police unlawfully killing black men.
The black community has to nationalize this issue. Ferguson is just one area, as people march and demand justice in Ferguson, Police continue to murder black men in St Louis County, In New York City, In California, In Ohio, and in cities and communities all across America. The black community simply cannot use the old methods of putting out fires of racial injustice as they occur. What is needed is a flood of action which will sweep across this country effectively dousing all embers once and for all.
Finally the UN has mustered the courage to challenge the United States of America to halt the police abuse and killing of
The American Press has done a terrible job of highlighting what is an epidemic of abuse, and murder of
The courts are not much better, in many cases Judges mete out longer sentences to black offenders than they do for white offenders for similar offences. Even at the highest level, the Supreme Court, there is systematic and institutionalized Racism. Just recently that body stripped away key sections of the voting rights act, which protected the rights of minorities to vote.
It is not getting better, in fact it has arguably gotten much worse since President Obama was elected to office in 2008. It appears to be a
American officials will seek to minimize and discredit the UN condemnation, particularly the reactionaries on the Political Right. They will do so as they did while they beat the drums of war against Iraq. This spotlight from the UN may not mean anything to many white Americans, but to the rest of the world it means a hell of a lot.
RECENT PUBLICATION
Where are the Human Rights Agencies in America? http://
There is a serious and ever increasing threat to citizens rights as a result of Police aggressiveness and disrespect of the very citizenry they supposedly serve. It is shocking that after serving 10 years myself as a Police Officer I am now loathe to encourage a young person to serve as a law enforcement officer.
Law Enforcement is no longer public safety, it is now Government containment of the masses through brutal and murderous police departments. We are unable to divest ourselves of the Police as an entity, after all the police are necessary in a civilized society. there is a huge problem when the police cannot be trusted to act with civility and are seen as an equal offender to peace and good order.
As the father of black sons, my greatest fear when my sons get in their cars to enter the streets, is not for regular criminals but for some of the criminals now wearing badges and parading as police officers. There is a growing trend by police in the United States to charge people they do not like with resisting arrest. Unwitting law makers attach serious penalties to the charge to encourage citizens to submit peaceably to being arrested.
What police have done is use it to send citizens to prison unjustly, as well as to justify using excessive force on those they want to administer a beating to. In New City alone the New York city Police Department filed over 55,000 resisting arrest charges against New Yorkers over a 10 year period. Even though the first charge was for a minor offense. Thankfully some Judges are not blinded by police support, most of these cases have been tossed out along with the underlying charge.
GENEVA, Aug 29 (Reuters) — The U.N. racism watchdog urged the United States on Friday to halt the excessive use of force by police after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white policeman touched off riots in Ferguson, Missouri.
Minorities, particularly African Americans, are victims of disparities, the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) said after examining the U.S. record.
“Racial and ethnic discrimination remains a serious and persistent problem in all areas of life from de facto school segregation, access to health care and housing,” Noureddine Amir, CERD committee vice chairman, told a news briefing.
Teenager Michael Brown was shot dead by a white police officer on Aug. 9, triggering violent protests that rocked Ferguson — a St. Louis suburb — and shone a global spotlight on the state of race relations in America.
“The excessive use of force by law enforcement officials against racial and ethnic minorities is an ongoing issue of concern and particularly in light of the shooting of Michael Brown,” said Amir, an expert from Algeria.
“This is not an isolated event and illustrates a bigger problem in the United States, such as racial bias among law enforcement officials, the lack of proper implementation of rules and regulations governing the use of force, and the inadequacy of training of law enforcement officials.”
The panel of 18 independent experts grilled a senior U.S. delegation on Aug. 13 about what they said was persistent racial discrimination against
U.S. Ambassador Keith Harper told the panel that his nation had made “great strides toward eliminating racial discrimination” but conceded that “we have much left to do”.
Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, who shot Brown, has been put on paid leave and is in hiding. A St. Louis County grand jury has begun hearing evidence and the U.S. Justice Department has opened its own investigation.
Police have said Brown struggled with Wilson when shot. But some witnesses say Brown held up his hands and was surrendering when he was shot multiple times in the head and chest.
“STAND YOUR GROUND” LAWS
In its conclusions issued on Friday, the U.N. panel said “Stand Your Ground” Laws, a controversial
Ron Davis, father of Jordan Davis, a 17-
The U.N. panel monitors compliance with a treaty ratified by 177 countries including the United States.
“The Committee remains concerned at the practice of racial profiling of racial or ethnic minorities by law enforcement officials, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Transportation Security Administration, border enforcement officials and local police,” it said, urging investigations.
The experts called for addressing obstacles faced by minorities and indigenous peoples to exercise their right to vote effectively. This was due to restrictive voter identification laws, district gerrymandering and
Jamil Dakwar of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the U.N. recommendations highlighted “shortcomings on racial equality that we are seeing play out today on our streets, at our borders and in the voting booth.
“When it comes to human rights, the United States must practice at home what it preaches abroad,” he said.
A swarm of millions of locusts descended upon Madagascar’s capital of Antananarivo on Aug. 28, slowing traffic and blotting out the skies over the city.
Fully-formed clouds of the insects, which have plagued the African nation for more than two years, whizzed through the city’s streets after an urban heat wave attracted the bugs away from their usual rural surroundings.
“It reminds us of the 10 plagues of Egypt,” said Ronald Miller, a missionary working in Madagascar with his family.
Miller captured video of the incident and posted it to his Facebook page.
The current plague began in April 2012, leading to a national disaster declaration in Madagascar in November of that year, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The island nation’s government announced a three-year emergency plan in September 2013, when the locusts threatened food security of more than 13 million people, almost 60 percent of Madagascar’s population.
But while the images are alarming, FAO officer Annie Monard told Voice of America that the locust swarms in the city were caused by unusually high temperatures, not a new surge in the pest population. So far, the FAO and Madagascar’s government have succeeded in controlling the pests in over 4,600 square miles of agricultural land. Madagascar’s emergency plan will continue until 2016 and is expected to cost more than $41 million.
Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them. In appearance the locusts were like horses prepared for battle: on their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces.
I had an incredibly poignant conversation with a young friend yesterday. Our conversation was centered around the ongoing imbroglio surrounding the Police killing of 18 year old Ferguson Missouri Resident Michael Brown. My friend was adamant that there is not enough outcry when blacks kill blacks. He feels fundamentally that the black community has a higher expectation of police than we have of ourselves. So we had an interestingly cordial exchange. I agree with my longtime friend that this cannot be it. We simply cannot be upset at police while giving our own killers in our community a pass.
However ‚Black on Black crimes are punished by the system, as long as law enforcement find evidence these perpetrators are brought to justice. America’s Prisons are filled with over 2 million people. The vast majority of the incarcerated are African-Americans. The issue for the black community is that whenever there are alleged police excesses the community has to take to the streets just to get an investigation started . There must be equal protection under the law. We cannot have the same expectation of Police that we have of Gangs. Police Officers are sworn to protect and serve.That is why they are held to a higher standard of conduct and accountability than criminal Gangs. The way some cops have been acting there seem to be little distinction between the two . Law abiding citizens have an absolute right and expectation that the police will not abuse or kill them.
Unfortunately for the African-American community, after the protests we go back to the way we were. We go back to accepting disrespect from Police. The issue of Police abuse is now a serious epidemic across America. It will not change , because white Americans do not see police in the same way Blacks do. Many in the black community believe if there are more black cops the community’s relationship with police will be enhanced. I disagree, it’s a band-aid approach which will only fix the optics. How many times have we seen black cops abusing black people , or not doing anything about their white colleagues who commit abuse in their presence?
The issue for the black community is one of respect. Police do not respect the community, the community do not trust the police. Crime is higher in black communities because of the enmity which exist between the two groups.I have had police officers tell me they are encouraged not to have a friendly relationship with the community they serve. In many cases these are top down decisions which have dire consequences for minority communities and officers alike. When the community is opposed to officers it places officers lives at risk. It puts residents lives at risk.
The attitudes of Police brass and unions will have to change if there is to be an improvement in the way police are viewed. A toxic relationship between police and citizens serves no one.
Anyone living in or around New York City during the tenure of Rudolph Giuliani will recall the horrific incidents of callousness carried out on black and brown citizens by NYPD cops, attributable largely to the rhetoric coming from Giuliani who clearly had a deep seated disdain for people of color. ‚Patrick Dorismond, Amadou Diallo , Anthony Baez, Abner Louima,.
The list of those killed and abused is long and varied. Unfortunately this did not end when Giuliani left office, the killing of young African American men continued under Bloomberg, and into the present Administration.
Perhaps the most powerful advocate for a professional police force was Sir Robert Peel, a Minister of Parliament who served as Home Secretary for the United Kingdom in the 1820’s. In 1829, Peel established the Metropolitan Police Services in London. With the founding of London’s police force, Peel became widely regarded by criminologists and historians alike as the father of modern policing. British police officers are still known affectionately as “Bobbies” in honor of his first name, Robert.
Public Opposition
The concept of a centralized, professional police force was a tough sell initially, and was met with a tremendous amount of resistance. There was a fear that a police force would essentially behave as another arm of the military. As result, there was an understandable reluctance to agree to be controlled by what many assumed would be an occupying force. In order to overcome this opposition, Peel is known for laying the framework for what a police force should be comprised of how a good police officershould conduct himself. While there is debate as to whether he ever clearly enumerated his ideas in any sort of list format, it is generally agreed that he created what are to this day considered to be the primary principles of policing.
I wish to publish this for the benefit of cops today. These are the principles by which police officers must be guided. Consent of the citizens not citizen domination. Unless of course American police officers still do not see African Americans as citizens.
Mid-term Elections scheduled for November is likely to see Republican gains in the House and Senate. Yup , I know it is incredible to figure out . For those of you who have an interest in what happens in and to your lives as far as Politics goes, it is almost incomprehensible. One of the hot button issues on the table is Immigration Reform. Republicans have done nothing to work with the Administration to fix the broken system. Despite Record deportations, President Obama still have no Partner in Republicans. For years Republicans demanded that securing the Borders must first be addressed. The President has done that. The Southern Border of the United States now looks like the Former East , West Berlin Border, replete with vehicular checks and all. In addition the Administration has deported over 1.5 million people in 6 years . More than any other Administration. Still Republicans have refused to act, claiming that acting on Immigration Reform is Amnesty. There is much to be said about their hypocrisy , considering this is a nation of immigrants. What’s more the hero of their philosophy Ronald Reagan, understood the need to regularize the status of undocumented people and granted Amnesty to people living in the shadows during his presidency.
If there is a swing in these upcoming elections it should be to boot these intransigent racist Republican bums from office. If current predictions are true that Republicans will gain seats and likely take the Senate, it means voters would have rewarded them for bad behavior. Sabotaging the economy through lock-downs. Not acting on Immigration. Not passing a jobs Bill which would put hundreds of thousands of workers back to work. Republicans argue Amnesty reward people who break American laws by coming to the country illegally. Why should they be rewarded for sabotaging the country?
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SPREADING HATE
There is a decided strategy by Fox and Rupert Murdoch , to hire the most outlandish racist in an effort to promote, and promulgate race baiting and race hate. In addition to the raft of far right guests they feature daily all toward spreading hate. There are these two.
Bill O’ Reilly,and Sean Hannity, irrespective of the host, the barrage of misinformation and hatred is the same. The idea is to stir up hate in America. It is a tactical decision, they calculate, which will bring a loyal and dedicated following to the network. It is based on the fundamental understanding that to a large extent more than half of white Americans are outright, or at best, harbor closeted racial bias. It has worked thus far . The FOX radio network is also busy spreading the hate among the least educated most ignorant of the white population. This is particularly effective among those who blame everyone but themselves for their inability to crawl out of poverty despite white privileged. These are they who are still mired in poverty despite the massive expansion of the American economy in the 1990’s during the Clinton Years. The ascendancy of Barack Obama to the pinnacle of white power and minorities becoming a majority has driven them nuts. It is a poisoned well and it’s only going to get worse.
It is not unusual to see many of these people railing against Government intrusion in their lives , while many are literally living off Government largess. Incredibly many of these people were rather upset at Obama when he suggested raising the tax rates on Americans making in excess of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars annually. What makes it interesting is that among this crowd are literally no top wage earners.
FOK has found fertile soil in this Xenophobic crowd who believe their problems whatever they are, are attributable to immigrants.
Elections are scheduled for November. In these upcoming elections ‚Governorships Senate, House and other positions will be up for grabs. Coming out of what many see as an escalation of Police killings of African-Americans is the less than novel call for voter registration. African Americans went out in numbers to twice elect Barack Obama to the Presidency, Obama was too busy playing Golf to bother going to Ferguson Missouri. Obama went to Sandy hook to comfort grieving families, why not Ferguson, whats different?
Republicans hate blacks for the color of their skin, But they also hate blacks for consistently voting Democratic. Blacks are being told to go out and vote, but who should they vote for? Democrats and the Democratic Party Party, has conveniently remained silent.
But for Claire Mc Caskil the US Senator from Missouri, where are the voices of Democratic Leaders who always come, hat in hand begging for votes ? What has Democrats done for it“s most loyal block of voters? Time and again the Democratic Party has taken the black vote for granted. Bill Clinton did it, when he threw Sister Soulja under the bus to show Southern and so called conservative whites he can handle the-blacks. He also did when he sided with Newt Gingrich who impeached him when he signed welfare reform into law. That backfired when they discovered the largest per capita block of welfare recipients were middle age white women. Obama did it by not showing up in Ferguson Missouri. Eric Holder is not Barack Obama. Black People overwhelmingly voted to elect and reelect Obama, he had a duty to show up and show solidarity with black people. What were they gonna do about it, he doesn’t face voters ever again. He did not show balls, he showed cowardice.
Missouri’s Governor Jay Nixon is a Democrat with whom the black community has no relationship. Residents of Ferguson want Nixon to replace Bob McCullough the County Prosecutor. They make it clear they do not trust McCullough to do the right thing for them because of his relationship with Police. Nixon outright refused to acceded to the voters demands to remove McCullough. That outright refusal is a clear indication Nixon has no regard for African American voters in Ferguson nor the broader Missouri.
Other than some Black Democrats there has largely been a deafening blanket silence from white Democrats. How can a blacks continue to vote for a party which perpetually disrespects and discards them, then embrace them when it is convenient to do so ?
Hillary Clinton is going around the Country signing books , anyone who believes this is just a book tour is seriously uninformed. When Reporters shouted out questions to Hillary Clinton, trying to get her take on the Ferguson incident, she hustled away without answering their questions.
Hillary Clinton will be running for President in 2016, she is laying the groundwork for that run , she does not want to be President because of any deep calling. She will be doing so out of raw ambition. When the time comes for her to run she will cozy up to blacks who will be elated to reciprocate her conditional affection, as an abused Dog cozies up to an abusive master.
Democrats have taken the tactical decision that Blacks have nowhere to go. Clinton and others feel no obligation to take a stand which may have negative push-back from white Democrats who see the police as their protectors.
SO WHERE DOES IT LEAVE BLACK VOTERS ?
Black voters Can do either of two things in my estimation.
♦ Vote Republican, .….….. I know, wait, wait , wait, I know they hate blacks, but maybe blacks will have to take a step toward that party. This could potentially have the effect of a change in attitude toward the community. What I am advocating is that Blacks hold their noses and vote Republican, as a means of ensuring Democrats do not take them for granted.
♦ Vote neither Republican nor Democrat, form another Party. The T‑Party claim they are not Republicans, yet they have
Republicans licking their boots. In fact Republicans who survived the Rights’ ideological purge, jump at every opportunity to be in the good graces of the T‑party. What is preventing African Americans from forming another Party There are more than enough black elected leaders in the Congress with the know-how. This is an opportunity to show some backbone. There are well over 40 million black people in the United States, if this new party reach out to others it could be a force to be reckoned with.
I wrote previously that this should be a defining moment for African-Americans, beyond the marching , the singing we shall overcome, the groaning , the crying and the looting, there are exponentially much more we can do to change our lot.
There is no use looking to Obama or anyone else, this requires a collective effort on the part of everyone. Obama is looking out for his legacy it’s up to blacks to look out for their future.
No words.
Michael Brown Sr.
Grief of unimaginable proportion .
A father’s grief at the prospect of burying his son.
In the weeks approaching students all across America will walk out of classes with hands up. They will be standing against police tyranny, made possible by the privileged minority.
The American constitution guarantees citizens the right to free speech , free association and the right not to be terrorized by their own Government.
We salute our young people who have decide to stand with right , over what’s white. When we secure the dignity and rights of others , we secure our own future.
Those who keep others incarcerated are themselves incarcerated. We cannot live in a world where some are allowed to enjoy their God-given rights to be free citizens, while simultaneously and systematically trampling on that of others.