June 2nd
An early Happy Birthday to ellenscult!
Sunshine today. Hopefully it will warm up too.
It was BEA time in NYC last week so there were meetings and was exhausted by the time I got home.
Dearest managed to sprain his wrist. Ouch! Not a happy camper.
Around 2:30 AM the kittens all decided that they all needed to impersonate a Saturn rocket. There were many near collisions as they ran around. They crack me up. You would think that they don’t get played with. It must be the all day naps they take. LOL!
Over the weekend I got more stuff planted and finally got the roses pruned and cleaned up. It looks like I’ve lost my Memorial Day rose but I am going to give it a bit more time.
I didn’t do much in the way of housework. I just could get myself into the “mood”. Next weekend.
Have a good one.
Another petition to sign:
Reclassify the Internet as a common carrier
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50409/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13907
Under the plan wealthy corporations will be able to purchase faster service, while those that cannot do so will have slower service. Rather than an open Internet for all the US will be moving to a class-based Internet. Of course, this will mean that when Netflix and other corporations purchase faster Internet, the consumers who use their service will be paying more to watch movies and download information. As a result, more money will be funneled from working Americans to wealthy telecom giants.
We recently wrote that the United States has lost its democratic legitimacy and now was a plutocratic oligarchy. This is what plutocracy looks like - policies designed for the wealthy, so they can make more money from the rest of us.
According to the Times:
“The new rules, according to the people briefed on them, will allow a company like Comcast or Verizon to negotiate separately with each content company - like Netflix, Amazon, Disney or Google - and charge different companies different amounts for priority service.
“That, of course, could increase costs for content companies, which would then have an incentive to pass on those costs to consumers as part of their subscription prices.”
In the future, if a new start-up - the future Twitter or Facebook - begins it will have a very hard time competing with those who are established Interne companies because the slower service of the start-ups will make them less consumer friendly. As a result we can expect less creativity on the Internet. As Stacy Higginbotham wrote:
“The plans took the hallmark of network neutrality - the notion that ISP shouldn’t discriminate between the traffic flowing over their networks - and turned it on its head.”
The proposal is being shared with other members of the Commission today. There will then be amendments suggested to garner majority support and the plan is to vote on the proposal on May 15.
Take action now. To Contact the Commissioners via E-mail
Chairman Tom Wheeler: Tom.Wheeler@fcc.gov
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn: Mignon.Clyburn@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel: Jessica.Rosenworcel@fcc.gov
Commissioner Ajit Pai: Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael O’Rielly: Mike.O'Rielly@fcc.gov
To call and contact commissioner’s offices, call 1-888-225-5322.
In addition, call your elected representatives. Tell them if net neutrality is ended, you will hold them accountable by withholding your vote. Both parties hope to control the senate after the mid-term elections, so you have more power than usual to let them know they are losing your vote if they fail to take action to stop the FCC proposal. The number for Congress is 202-224-3121.
Then go sign the petition here and the two a bit further down on the page:
http://www.popularresistance.org/internet-for-the-wealthy/
The FCC’s New Net Neutrality Proposal Is Even Worse Than You Think
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/04/24/fcc_s_new_net_neutrality_proposal_is_even_worse_than_you_think.html?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr:content&mc_cid=13bb388d47&mc_eid=a138cf4d02
Out in Missouri the Repug legislators have started impeachment proceeding against their Democrat Gov. because he “directed state tax officials to accept joint tax returns from same-sex couples.” Go sign the petition.
http://dlcc.wiredforchange.com/o/6377/p/dia/action3/common/public/;jsessionid=8ECF7D69C7B9540DDADB539E025D29CA-n2?action_KEY=185
Stop the FCC from Breaking the Internet
http://act.freepress.net/sign/internet_fcc_break/?source=conf
FCC Set to Kill Net Neutrality
The FCC is now moving to end net neutrality. Three months ago, Demand Progress
and RootsAction joined with allied groups to deliver a petition with a million signatures to
the FCC in support of net neutrality -- to keep the whole Internet available to everyone.
The news just broke that the FCC intends to blow us off and betray the principle of
equal access to the Internet.
http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/;jsessionid=CD41BE91896B98CE8A41034FF3FF5BD6-n4?action_KEY=9726
It is important - watch it.
A Controversial Episode With Harrison Ford And Don Cheadle That Will Haunt You. Make. The. Time
http://www.upworthy.com/a-controversial-episode-with-harrison-ford-and-don-cheadle-that-will-haunt-you-make-the-time?c=upw1
Recommended Reading
Japanese children 'not hungry to be sumo wrestlers'
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-27588064
Durian: The fruit that generates extreme reactions
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-27615446
Scott Walker is suddenly unsure what he thinks about this whole marriage equality thing - must be time for an election. Do you think the people of WI are going to fall for his BS?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/27/1302369/-Scott-Walker-is-suddenly-unsure-what-he-thinks-about-this-whole-marriage-equality-thing?detail=email
"Your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights" - how low can ya go…all the way to the bottom
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/27/1302350/--Your-dead-kids-don-t-trump-my-Constitutional-rights?detail=email
Chelsea Flower Show gardens donated to charity
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27616336
When the Earth Had Two Moons
http://nautil.us/issue/13/symmetry/when-the-earth-had-two-moons
All The Most Epic Moments In Your Favorite Movies Ruined By Science Facts. Because Science Is Real.
http://www.upworthy.com/all-the-most-epic-moments-in-your-favorite-movies-ruined-by-science-facts-because-science-is-real?c=upw1
Why It’s So Hard for Men to See Misogyny
http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2014/05/_yesallwomen_in_the_wake_of_elliot_rodger_why_it_s_so_hard_for_men_to_recognize.html?wpsrc=upworthy
America's Smallest Turtle Becoming Scarce
http://www.livescience.com/14112-america-smallest-turtle-scarce.html
Something Is Seriously Wrong on the East Coast-and It's Killing All the Baby Puffins
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/04/gulf-maine-puffin-climate-change
The Canadian Government Doesn’t Let Its Meteorologists Talk About Climate Change
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/05/28/3442208/meteorologists-climate-change/
US skyscraper viewing deck 'cracks'
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-27631101
Priest bought Van Dyck art worth £500,000 'for the frame'
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-27634942
Creationists Try to Outsmart Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Great Flood and Climate Change
http://www.alternet.org/creationists-try-outsmart-neil-degrasse-tyson-great-flood-and-climate-change?akid=11860.204376.6CqkA2&rd=1&src=newsletter997565&t=18
Glenn Greenwald to Publish Names of Americans NSA Spied On
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/glenn-greenwald-publish-names-americans-nsa-spied?akid=11860.204376.6CqkA2&rd=1&src=newsletter997565&t=16
Are You Sick of Terrible Service from Comcast and Time Warner? It's About to Get Much Worse.
http://www.alternet.org/are-you-sick-terrible-service-comcast-and-time-warner-its-about-get-much-worse?akid=11860.204376.6CqkA2&rd=1&src=newsletter997565&t=6
Windsurfing for four days from Cuba to a new life in US
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27626507
Solar FREAKIN' Roadways!
http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=qlTA3rnpgzU
Controversial study finds cat lovers are smarter than dog lovers
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/29/1302966/-Controversial-study-find-cat-lovers-are-smarter-than-dog-lovers?detail=email
AFA asks members to refuse mail that comes with a Harvey Milk stamp - oh please, will the business with large billings use the Harvey Milk stamp
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/29/1302855/-AFA-asks-members-to-refuse-mail-that-comes-with-a-Harvey-Milk-stamp?detail=email
GA Police Toss Stun Grenade in Toddler's Crib During Drug Raid
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/horrific-ga-police-toss-stun-grenade-toddlers-crib-during-drug-raid?akid=11862.204376.XihUyT&rd=1&src=newsletter997801&t=9
Otters Playing A Keyboard? Otters Playing A Keyboard.
http://dcist.com/2014/05/otters_playing_a_keyboard_otters_pl.php
Here’s what happens when you introduce airport-style security to the world’s busiest subway - bike anyone?
http://qz.com/213695/heres-what-happens-when-you-introduce-airport-style-security-to-the-worlds-busiest-subway/
Why Billy Graham's Son, Franklin Graham, Is the Next Worst Thing to Happen to God - now here is a real moron.
http://www.alternet.org/belief/why-franklin-graham-worst-thing-happen-god?akid=11865.204376.6AtMLU&rd=1&src=newsletter997918&t=7
Google's Mega-Hypocrite Says His Privacy Is More Important than Yours
http://valleywag.gawker.com/eric-schmidt-thinks-his-privacy-is-more-important-than-1578667573
Reconstructed ancient ocean reveals secrets about the origin of life
http://www.embo.org/news/research-news/research-news-2014/reconstructed-ancient-ocean-reveals-secrets-about-the-origin-of-life
Does Tom Wheeler Really Not Get It or Is He Saying One Thing and Doing Another?
http://greenshadowcabinet.us/news/does-tom-wheeler-really-not-get-it-or-he-saying-one-thing-and-doing-another
Woman Gives Birth in Solitary Confinement as Jailers Ignore Cries for Help
http://truth-out.org/news/item/24062-woman-gives-birth-in-solitary-confinement-as-jailers-ignore-cries-for-help
Dangerous Pesticides Are Showing Up More and More in Our Urine and Breast Milk
http://www.alternet.org/food/dangerous-pesticides-are-showing-our-urine-and-breast-milk-and-situation-getting-worse?akid=11867.204376.Df0CKh&rd=1&src=newsletter998392&t=11
Science Says There's No Such Thing As 'Comfort Food'. We All Beg to Differ
http://www.alternet.org/food/science-says-theres-no-such-thing-comfort-food-we-all-beg-differ?akid=11867.204376.Df0CKh&rd=1&src=newsletter998392&t=19
Say Hello to the Tree That Eats Metal
http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/05/27/tree-that-eats-metal?cmpid=tpenviro-eml-2014-05-31-tree
Your Antibacterial Soap Is So Dangerous, Minnesota Just Banned It
http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/05/25/minnesota-banned-antibacterial-soap?cmpid=tpenviro-eml-2014-05-31-tree
Free NASA eBook Theorizes How We Will Communicate with Aliens
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OpenCulture/~3/93TtSacnzcU/free-nasa-ebook-ponders-how-we-can-communicate-with-aliens.html
Teen Girl Accuses School Of ‘Shaming Girls For Their Bodies’ After Being Sent Home For Wearing Shorts - exactly the wrong thing for school officials to do. I never held with dress codes.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/06/01/3443544/teenage-girl-humiliated-for-wearing-shorts-slams-school-for-shaming-girls-for-their-bodies/?elq=~~eloqua..type--emailfield..syntax--recipientid~~&elqCampaignId=~~eloqua..type--campaign..campaignid--0..fieldname--id~~
'Godzilla of Earths' identified
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-27669572
A Very Good Idea!
Go sign the petition:
http://climatenamechange.org/
Petitions that need your signature
The Commerce Dept's Internet Policy Task Force proposed making it a felony to stream copyrighted content (aka SOPA Section 201).
Interpreted broadly, this proposal would apply to anyone who uploads a YouTube video of themselves covering a song without permission, a video with copyrighted music playing in the background, even your friend's embarassing karoke performance or your family singing "Happy Birthday To You."
The federal government wants to make streaming -- including material which falls under the "public performance" category -- punishable by years in prison.
As was pointed out last time they tried this, many artists depend on uploading YouTube covers to jumpstart their careers (including the young Justin Beiber...), and many others enjoy streaming creative interpretations of existing songs on their own websites or blogs. This proposal would make both subject to felony prosecution.
Click here to tell Obama NO to making streaming a felony, and NO new SOPA-style censorship: http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/streaming/?referring_akid=2268.655732.bYRpA8&source=taf
It is best that you watch this:
'We're building a domestic army' -Marine Corps colonel speaks out
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/15/1231397/--We-re-building-a-domestic-army-Marine-Corps-Colonel-speaks-out?detail=email
***How Government Cover-Up on Fish Farming Affects Your Health - Canada has a problem. It’s lengthy but worth the watch.
Petitions
I am getting tired of reading that things like the below three examples are coming out of Washington. There are three petitions below that need your signature. Please go sign them.
Yesterday during the debate over women’s healthcare, Republican Chairman Bob Goodlatte said that the GOP should support restricting women’s healthcare because it "promotes job creation."
And not even hours later, GOPer Bob Goodlatte gives one of the most offensive statements - that women shouldn’t be allowed abortions because it will ultimately benefit the economy if women have more children.
This is down-right offensive and we can’t sit idly by as Republican men try to dictate healthcare decisions for women.
http://act.votelouise.com/page/s/tell-republicans-hands-off-our-healthcarelms
====
A federal appeals court just killed critically important government protections against discrimination online; the giant Internet service providers (ISPs) - Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, and Time Warner Cable - now have total control over what information we can access on the web.
It's a nightmare scenario, and one the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has long seen coming. A self-imposed, Bush-era rule restricting the agency's ability to regulate broadband foreshadowed the court's finding this week that ISPs no longer have to treat all web users equally1 - they can block websites, slow down services, and double- and triple-dip in charging extra fees to restore access.
But we have the power to stop this. By raising our voices together, we can ensure the FCC has the political will to act on its authority to reverse a decade of failed Internet policy - and the courage to stand up to an industry that has pushed it around for too FCC chair Tom Wheeler says he supports a free and open Internet, but actions speak louder than words.
https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/FCC_reclassify/?rd=1&t=3&referring_akid=undefined
===
Mother Jones magazine just published a major exposé: A candidate for Congress in Virginia thinks that spousal rape should not be a crime. Yes, really.
His name is Richard Black, and he's currently a state senator. When Virginia voted to allow spouses to be prosecuted for rape, Black opposed it and questioned whether marital rape is even possible, saying "when they're living together, sleeping in the same bed, she's in a nightie, and so forth."
This is outrageous and unacceptable, and these revelations need a loud response right away. It's about more than one extremist candidate--we have a problem with rape in our politics. No one can forget Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin, but the fact is that Congress is debating a bill right now that would force women who sought abortions after a rape to report it to the IRS. And extreme conservatives in Congress tried to redefine rape to make it harder for women to receive health care services two years ago.
When candidates for public office aren't met with the outrage they deserve for their offensive and incredibly dangerous comments, it only emboldens them to push radical anti-woman policies once they are in office. We can change that cycle by speaking out today.
Women are not property. Marital rape is a crime and a very serious instance of domestic violence. And it is a shame that we have to make these things clear in 2014. Can you sign the petition to the National Republican Campaign Committee asking them to denounce Richard Black?
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/richardblack/?rd=1&t=3&referring_akid=754.94953.QyeuZ5
Subject: Here we go again…
The Monsanto protection act is back and may be included in the new 3-month spending bill!
Though wrapped in a “farmer-friendly” package, the Monsanto-driven rider remains simply a biotech industry ploy to continue to plant GE crops even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally.
Will you join me in telling Congress to exclude this dangerous rider in the upcoming spending bill?
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=11974&sp_ref=10142675.65.579.e.2444.2
The USDA is about to slash regulations for poultry plants, saving big corporations millions at the expense of public health and workers’ safety.
If new rules are allowed to go into effect, poultry plants will be able to follow less stringent health and safety rules, speed up their production lines, and police themselves for any violations. That means that chicken will come doused with feces and bleach and that workers will be at greater risk of serious injury.
Now the only person who can reverse these regulations is President Obama. Will you join me in saying that these that these disgusting rules are unacceptable?
http://action.sumofus.org/a/usda-chicken/2/?sub=taf
Rep. Darrell Issa is trying to pass a bill that would not only end Saturday delivery by the postal service, but also door-to-door mail service for millions. We must stop this outrageous attempt to kill the USPS and hand its business to FedEx and UPS. Go sign the petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/issa_usps?akid=8606.952925.D3Dc4S&rd=1&t=2
They are at it again
The Texas Taliban - also known as the rightwing majority on the Texas State Board of Education - want to revise the state's standards for science textbooks to require the addition of religious pseudoscience when teaching subjects like biology. And this isn't just bad news for Texas school children because the Texas standards will impact the textbooks used by millions of students nationwide.
Texas may want to dumb-down their children by teaching them pseudoscience but I don’t want the children of my state to be taught this way. Tell textbook publishers to stand up to the Texas Taliban and only publish books that are based on sound, peer-reviewed science scholarship. Click the link below to sign the petition automatically:
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/texas_taliban/?sp_ref=7570952.4.422.e.0.2&referring_akid=8622.952925.lJjLf7&source=mailto_sp
The Mind Your Own Business Act
http://mindyourownbusinessact.com/?source=Jun13Email
America's top grocers are selling fake honey containing carcinogens, heavy metals, and banned antibiotics.
Get grocers to make sure they're selling us the real thing.
http://action.sumofus.org/a/honey-fake-walgreens/4/2/?akid=1806.65932.QE7P4I&rd=1&sub=fwd&t=3
The Wounded Knee site has been held sacred by the Lakota Sioux since the horrific massacre that happened there in 1890. Now, it's in danger of being sold to the highest bidder, including someone who would build a horse slaughterhouse on the plot.
The current owner has offered to sell the site to its rightful owners, the nearby Oglala tribe, for the cool price of $3.9 million. But The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, just a few miles from where Wounded Knee is located, is one of the poorest places in the country. To build a horse slaughterhouse on their sacred site after everything the tribe has already suffered would be unthinkable.
http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AhnMh/zNI6/3R2f
And now a word about Monsanto and others like them. These profit-hungry biotech companies have found a way to exclusively ‘own’ something that freely belongs to us all -- our food! They’re trying to patent away our everyday vegetables and fruits like cucumber, broccoli and melons, forcing growers to pay them and risk being sued if they don’t.
Companies like Monsanto have found loopholes in European law to get away with this, so we just need to close them shut before they set a dangerous global precedent. And to do that, we need key countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands -- where opposition is already growing -- to call for a vote to stop Monsanto’s plans. Go sign the petition.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/monsanto_vs_mother_earth_loc/?bjeIjab&v=23911
Tell Nestlé: Stop trying to patent a natural cure
In a paper published last year, Nestlé scientists claimed to “discover” what much of the world has known for millennia: that nigella sativa extract could be used for “nutritional interventions in humans with food allergy”.
But instead of creating an artificial substitute, or fighting to make sure the remedy was widely available, Nestlé is attempting to create a nigella sativa monopoly and gain the ability to sue anyone using it without Nestlé’s permission. Nestlé has filed patent applications -- which are currently pending -- around the world.
Sing the petition:
http://action.sumofus.org/a/nestle-nigella-sativa/11/2/?akid=1601.65932.w0DNPx&rd=1&sub=fwd3&t=4
Maddow features PCCC activism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7LANHts78c
Tell Congress Social Security is non-negotiable.
http://act.couragecampaign.org/sign/standwithbernie
Amazon is at it again! Please go sign this petition. It is not fair for those of us who make our living by writing. Authors are not libraries and while most of us enjoy the social side of writing we do this to pay our bills. If some one returns an ebook after reading it our royalties get reduced.
I just signed the peetition "Amazon Kindle e-Book Return Policy: Stop allowing refunds on e-Books after e-Books have been read." on
http://Change.org/
It's important. Here's the link:
http://www.change.org/petitions/amazon-kindle-e-book-return-policy-stop-allowing-refunds-on-e-books-after-e-books-have-been-read
North Dakota just passed the most extreme abortion ban in the country. It's just one of some 300 bills across the country designed to take away women's rights and access to health care -- and ultimately to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Don't let lawmakers get away with it, take action today:
http://ppaction.org/WakeUpCall
Click here to tell Obama to veto CISPA:
http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/veto_cispa/?referring_akid=a8234599.655732.Af5Ve3&source=auto-taf
AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon have all agreed to start spying on their users.
The US's largest Internet Service Providers are implementing a new "online infringement" plan to identify and punish, with virtually no due process, users suspected of downloading copyrighted content.
https://act.demandprogress.org/letter/six_strikes_2013/?rd=1&t=1&referring_akid=undefined
Remember CISPA? Well, it’s back - sign the petition
http://www.cispaisback.com/
Oppose Seismic Surveys in the Atlantic - sign it please
http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6937
Tell Congress to Dump Monsanto's Riders!
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50865/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=8644
Bury Power Lines in Cities and Towns, Prevent Long-Lasting Outages, Improve National Security
http://signon.org/sign/bury-power-lines-in-cities?mailing_id=7341&source=s.icn.em.cr&r_by=913515
Protect Global Internet Freedom - go sign the petition
http://protectinternetfreedom.net/
The Sierra Club has a variety of actions to be taken. Just follow the link.
Send the congress a letter here:
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=9962
Do you really own the smartphone or computer you’re using to read this email?
If you sold your computer, would you be breaking the law? A federal court in New York says you would be.
It's unbelievable, but trademark and copyright holders really are trying to take away your right to sell things that you own. Please click here to fight back:
http://www.youvebeenowned.org/
The First-Sale Doctrine gives us the right to sell most property we own. But if the Supreme Court supports the lower court’s decision, we won't really “own” anything if it's from a different country. We expect them to issue a ruling later this year.
The President can urge the Court to side with consumers; then Congress will probably weigh in on the issue, no matter how the Court rules.
If we lose this fight, anybody who wants to resell foreign products, from Macbooks and iPhones to our clothing and textbooks, will have to ask copyright holders for permission first. And they'll have the right to deny it!
Just click here to email your lawmakers right away:
http://www.youvebeenowned.org/
There are two very bad internet bills that you need to be aware of. The first concerns making streaming content a felony. Read about it here:
http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/ten_strikes?akid=700.450896.5hVZPC&rd=1&t=1
and the second is the Protect-IP Act that gives the government power to censor search engines and browsers. Read more about it here:
http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/protectip_docs
Both of the above pages have a petition to sign so please do so.
The non-existent tags
weather, knitting, gardening, global warming, environment, politics, Repugs, scumbags, quilting, petitions, CISPA, health, Exxon, oil spills, Monsanto, evil, people, tar sands, harassment, privacy, GMOs, fish, fracking, food, animals, WTF?, silliness, people, media, morons, fun stuff, women's issues, women's rights, astronomy, science, art, energy, cat lovers, police, voo doo hoo doo, oceanography, geology, hypocrites, pesticides, NASA, soap
Change the world one loan at a time - visit
http://www.Kiva.org
Sunshine today. Hopefully it will warm up too.
It was BEA time in NYC last week so there were meetings and was exhausted by the time I got home.
Dearest managed to sprain his wrist. Ouch! Not a happy camper.
Around 2:30 AM the kittens all decided that they all needed to impersonate a Saturn rocket. There were many near collisions as they ran around. They crack me up. You would think that they don’t get played with. It must be the all day naps they take. LOL!
Over the weekend I got more stuff planted and finally got the roses pruned and cleaned up. It looks like I’ve lost my Memorial Day rose but I am going to give it a bit more time.
I didn’t do much in the way of housework. I just could get myself into the “mood”. Next weekend.
Have a good one.
Another petition to sign:
Reclassify the Internet as a common carrier
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50409/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=13907
Under the plan wealthy corporations will be able to purchase faster service, while those that cannot do so will have slower service. Rather than an open Internet for all the US will be moving to a class-based Internet. Of course, this will mean that when Netflix and other corporations purchase faster Internet, the consumers who use their service will be paying more to watch movies and download information. As a result, more money will be funneled from working Americans to wealthy telecom giants.
We recently wrote that the United States has lost its democratic legitimacy and now was a plutocratic oligarchy. This is what plutocracy looks like - policies designed for the wealthy, so they can make more money from the rest of us.
According to the Times:
“The new rules, according to the people briefed on them, will allow a company like Comcast or Verizon to negotiate separately with each content company - like Netflix, Amazon, Disney or Google - and charge different companies different amounts for priority service.
“That, of course, could increase costs for content companies, which would then have an incentive to pass on those costs to consumers as part of their subscription prices.”
In the future, if a new start-up - the future Twitter or Facebook - begins it will have a very hard time competing with those who are established Interne companies because the slower service of the start-ups will make them less consumer friendly. As a result we can expect less creativity on the Internet. As Stacy Higginbotham wrote:
“The plans took the hallmark of network neutrality - the notion that ISP shouldn’t discriminate between the traffic flowing over their networks - and turned it on its head.”
The proposal is being shared with other members of the Commission today. There will then be amendments suggested to garner majority support and the plan is to vote on the proposal on May 15.
Take action now. To Contact the Commissioners via E-mail
Chairman Tom Wheeler: Tom.Wheeler@fcc.gov
Commissioner Mignon Clyburn: Mignon.Clyburn@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel: Jessica.Rosenworcel@fcc.gov
Commissioner Ajit Pai: Ajit.Pai@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael O’Rielly: Mike.O'Rielly@fcc.gov
To call and contact commissioner’s offices, call 1-888-225-5322.
In addition, call your elected representatives. Tell them if net neutrality is ended, you will hold them accountable by withholding your vote. Both parties hope to control the senate after the mid-term elections, so you have more power than usual to let them know they are losing your vote if they fail to take action to stop the FCC proposal. The number for Congress is 202-224-3121.
Then go sign the petition here and the two a bit further down on the page:
http://www.popularresistance.org/internet-for-the-wealthy/
The FCC’s New Net Neutrality Proposal Is Even Worse Than You Think
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/04/24/fcc_s_new_net_neutrality_proposal_is_even_worse_than_you_think.html?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr:content&mc_cid=13bb388d47&mc_eid=a138cf4d02
Out in Missouri the Repug legislators have started impeachment proceeding against their Democrat Gov. because he “directed state tax officials to accept joint tax returns from same-sex couples.” Go sign the petition.
http://dlcc.wiredforchange.com/o/6377/p/dia/action3/common/public/;jsessionid=8ECF7D69C7B9540DDADB539E025D29CA-n2?action_KEY=185
Stop the FCC from Breaking the Internet
http://act.freepress.net/sign/internet_fcc_break/?source=conf
FCC Set to Kill Net Neutrality
The FCC is now moving to end net neutrality. Three months ago, Demand Progress
and RootsAction joined with allied groups to deliver a petition with a million signatures to
the FCC in support of net neutrality -- to keep the whole Internet available to everyone.
The news just broke that the FCC intends to blow us off and betray the principle of
equal access to the Internet.
http://act.rootsaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/;jsessionid=CD41BE91896B98CE8A41034FF3FF5BD6-n4?action_KEY=9726
It is important - watch it.
A Controversial Episode With Harrison Ford And Don Cheadle That Will Haunt You. Make. The. Time
http://www.upworthy.com/a-controversial-episode-with-harrison-ford-and-don-cheadle-that-will-haunt-you-make-the-time?c=upw1
Recommended Reading
Japanese children 'not hungry to be sumo wrestlers'
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-27588064
Durian: The fruit that generates extreme reactions
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-27615446
Scott Walker is suddenly unsure what he thinks about this whole marriage equality thing - must be time for an election. Do you think the people of WI are going to fall for his BS?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/27/1302369/-Scott-Walker-is-suddenly-unsure-what-he-thinks-about-this-whole-marriage-equality-thing?detail=email
"Your dead kids don’t trump my Constitutional rights" - how low can ya go…all the way to the bottom
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/27/1302350/--Your-dead-kids-don-t-trump-my-Constitutional-rights?detail=email
Chelsea Flower Show gardens donated to charity
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-27616336
When the Earth Had Two Moons
http://nautil.us/issue/13/symmetry/when-the-earth-had-two-moons
All The Most Epic Moments In Your Favorite Movies Ruined By Science Facts. Because Science Is Real.
http://www.upworthy.com/all-the-most-epic-moments-in-your-favorite-movies-ruined-by-science-facts-because-science-is-real?c=upw1
Why It’s So Hard for Men to See Misogyny
http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2014/05/_yesallwomen_in_the_wake_of_elliot_rodger_why_it_s_so_hard_for_men_to_recognize.html?wpsrc=upworthy
America's Smallest Turtle Becoming Scarce
http://www.livescience.com/14112-america-smallest-turtle-scarce.html
Something Is Seriously Wrong on the East Coast-and It's Killing All the Baby Puffins
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/04/gulf-maine-puffin-climate-change
The Canadian Government Doesn’t Let Its Meteorologists Talk About Climate Change
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/05/28/3442208/meteorologists-climate-change/
US skyscraper viewing deck 'cracks'
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-27631101
Priest bought Van Dyck art worth £500,000 'for the frame'
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-27634942
Creationists Try to Outsmart Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Great Flood and Climate Change
http://www.alternet.org/creationists-try-outsmart-neil-degrasse-tyson-great-flood-and-climate-change?akid=11860.204376.6CqkA2&rd=1&src=newsletter997565&t=18
Glenn Greenwald to Publish Names of Americans NSA Spied On
http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/glenn-greenwald-publish-names-americans-nsa-spied?akid=11860.204376.6CqkA2&rd=1&src=newsletter997565&t=16
Are You Sick of Terrible Service from Comcast and Time Warner? It's About to Get Much Worse.
http://www.alternet.org/are-you-sick-terrible-service-comcast-and-time-warner-its-about-get-much-worse?akid=11860.204376.6CqkA2&rd=1&src=newsletter997565&t=6
Windsurfing for four days from Cuba to a new life in US
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27626507
Solar FREAKIN' Roadways!
http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=qlTA3rnpgzU
Controversial study finds cat lovers are smarter than dog lovers
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/29/1302966/-Controversial-study-find-cat-lovers-are-smarter-than-dog-lovers?detail=email
AFA asks members to refuse mail that comes with a Harvey Milk stamp - oh please, will the business with large billings use the Harvey Milk stamp
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/29/1302855/-AFA-asks-members-to-refuse-mail-that-comes-with-a-Harvey-Milk-stamp?detail=email
GA Police Toss Stun Grenade in Toddler's Crib During Drug Raid
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/horrific-ga-police-toss-stun-grenade-toddlers-crib-during-drug-raid?akid=11862.204376.XihUyT&rd=1&src=newsletter997801&t=9
Otters Playing A Keyboard? Otters Playing A Keyboard.
http://dcist.com/2014/05/otters_playing_a_keyboard_otters_pl.php
Here’s what happens when you introduce airport-style security to the world’s busiest subway - bike anyone?
http://qz.com/213695/heres-what-happens-when-you-introduce-airport-style-security-to-the-worlds-busiest-subway/
Why Billy Graham's Son, Franklin Graham, Is the Next Worst Thing to Happen to God - now here is a real moron.
http://www.alternet.org/belief/why-franklin-graham-worst-thing-happen-god?akid=11865.204376.6AtMLU&rd=1&src=newsletter997918&t=7
Google's Mega-Hypocrite Says His Privacy Is More Important than Yours
http://valleywag.gawker.com/eric-schmidt-thinks-his-privacy-is-more-important-than-1578667573
Reconstructed ancient ocean reveals secrets about the origin of life
http://www.embo.org/news/research-news/research-news-2014/reconstructed-ancient-ocean-reveals-secrets-about-the-origin-of-life
Does Tom Wheeler Really Not Get It or Is He Saying One Thing and Doing Another?
http://greenshadowcabinet.us/news/does-tom-wheeler-really-not-get-it-or-he-saying-one-thing-and-doing-another
Woman Gives Birth in Solitary Confinement as Jailers Ignore Cries for Help
http://truth-out.org/news/item/24062-woman-gives-birth-in-solitary-confinement-as-jailers-ignore-cries-for-help
Dangerous Pesticides Are Showing Up More and More in Our Urine and Breast Milk
http://www.alternet.org/food/dangerous-pesticides-are-showing-our-urine-and-breast-milk-and-situation-getting-worse?akid=11867.204376.Df0CKh&rd=1&src=newsletter998392&t=11
Science Says There's No Such Thing As 'Comfort Food'. We All Beg to Differ
http://www.alternet.org/food/science-says-theres-no-such-thing-comfort-food-we-all-beg-differ?akid=11867.204376.Df0CKh&rd=1&src=newsletter998392&t=19
Say Hello to the Tree That Eats Metal
http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/05/27/tree-that-eats-metal?cmpid=tpenviro-eml-2014-05-31-tree
Your Antibacterial Soap Is So Dangerous, Minnesota Just Banned It
http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/05/25/minnesota-banned-antibacterial-soap?cmpid=tpenviro-eml-2014-05-31-tree
Free NASA eBook Theorizes How We Will Communicate with Aliens
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/OpenCulture/~3/93TtSacnzcU/free-nasa-ebook-ponders-how-we-can-communicate-with-aliens.html
Teen Girl Accuses School Of ‘Shaming Girls For Their Bodies’ After Being Sent Home For Wearing Shorts - exactly the wrong thing for school officials to do. I never held with dress codes.
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/06/01/3443544/teenage-girl-humiliated-for-wearing-shorts-slams-school-for-shaming-girls-for-their-bodies/?elq=~~eloqua..type--emailfield..syntax--recipientid~~&elqCampaignId=~~eloqua..type--campaign..campaignid--0..fieldname--id~~
'Godzilla of Earths' identified
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-27669572
A Very Good Idea!
Click to viewGo sign the petition:
http://climatenamechange.org/
Petitions that need your signature
The Commerce Dept's Internet Policy Task Force proposed making it a felony to stream copyrighted content (aka SOPA Section 201).
Interpreted broadly, this proposal would apply to anyone who uploads a YouTube video of themselves covering a song without permission, a video with copyrighted music playing in the background, even your friend's embarassing karoke performance or your family singing "Happy Birthday To You."
The federal government wants to make streaming -- including material which falls under the "public performance" category -- punishable by years in prison.
As was pointed out last time they tried this, many artists depend on uploading YouTube covers to jumpstart their careers (including the young Justin Beiber...), and many others enjoy streaming creative interpretations of existing songs on their own websites or blogs. This proposal would make both subject to felony prosecution.
Click here to tell Obama NO to making streaming a felony, and NO new SOPA-style censorship: http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/streaming/?referring_akid=2268.655732.bYRpA8&source=taf
It is best that you watch this:
'We're building a domestic army' -Marine Corps colonel speaks out
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/15/1231397/--We-re-building-a-domestic-army-Marine-Corps-Colonel-speaks-out?detail=email
***How Government Cover-Up on Fish Farming Affects Your Health - Canada has a problem. It’s lengthy but worth the watch.
Petitions
I am getting tired of reading that things like the below three examples are coming out of Washington. There are three petitions below that need your signature. Please go sign them.
Yesterday during the debate over women’s healthcare, Republican Chairman Bob Goodlatte said that the GOP should support restricting women’s healthcare because it "promotes job creation."
And not even hours later, GOPer Bob Goodlatte gives one of the most offensive statements - that women shouldn’t be allowed abortions because it will ultimately benefit the economy if women have more children.
This is down-right offensive and we can’t sit idly by as Republican men try to dictate healthcare decisions for women.
http://act.votelouise.com/page/s/tell-republicans-hands-off-our-healthcarelms
====
A federal appeals court just killed critically important government protections against discrimination online; the giant Internet service providers (ISPs) - Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, and Time Warner Cable - now have total control over what information we can access on the web.
It's a nightmare scenario, and one the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has long seen coming. A self-imposed, Bush-era rule restricting the agency's ability to regulate broadband foreshadowed the court's finding this week that ISPs no longer have to treat all web users equally1 - they can block websites, slow down services, and double- and triple-dip in charging extra fees to restore access.
But we have the power to stop this. By raising our voices together, we can ensure the FCC has the political will to act on its authority to reverse a decade of failed Internet policy - and the courage to stand up to an industry that has pushed it around for too FCC chair Tom Wheeler says he supports a free and open Internet, but actions speak louder than words.
https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/FCC_reclassify/?rd=1&t=3&referring_akid=undefined
===
Mother Jones magazine just published a major exposé: A candidate for Congress in Virginia thinks that spousal rape should not be a crime. Yes, really.
His name is Richard Black, and he's currently a state senator. When Virginia voted to allow spouses to be prosecuted for rape, Black opposed it and questioned whether marital rape is even possible, saying "when they're living together, sleeping in the same bed, she's in a nightie, and so forth."
This is outrageous and unacceptable, and these revelations need a loud response right away. It's about more than one extremist candidate--we have a problem with rape in our politics. No one can forget Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin, but the fact is that Congress is debating a bill right now that would force women who sought abortions after a rape to report it to the IRS. And extreme conservatives in Congress tried to redefine rape to make it harder for women to receive health care services two years ago.
When candidates for public office aren't met with the outrage they deserve for their offensive and incredibly dangerous comments, it only emboldens them to push radical anti-woman policies once they are in office. We can change that cycle by speaking out today.
Women are not property. Marital rape is a crime and a very serious instance of domestic violence. And it is a shame that we have to make these things clear in 2014. Can you sign the petition to the National Republican Campaign Committee asking them to denounce Richard Black?
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/richardblack/?rd=1&t=3&referring_akid=754.94953.QyeuZ5
Subject: Here we go again…
The Monsanto protection act is back and may be included in the new 3-month spending bill!
Though wrapped in a “farmer-friendly” package, the Monsanto-driven rider remains simply a biotech industry ploy to continue to plant GE crops even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally.
Will you join me in telling Congress to exclude this dangerous rider in the upcoming spending bill?
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=11974&sp_ref=10142675.65.579.e.2444.2
The USDA is about to slash regulations for poultry plants, saving big corporations millions at the expense of public health and workers’ safety.
If new rules are allowed to go into effect, poultry plants will be able to follow less stringent health and safety rules, speed up their production lines, and police themselves for any violations. That means that chicken will come doused with feces and bleach and that workers will be at greater risk of serious injury.
Now the only person who can reverse these regulations is President Obama. Will you join me in saying that these that these disgusting rules are unacceptable?
http://action.sumofus.org/a/usda-chicken/2/?sub=taf
Rep. Darrell Issa is trying to pass a bill that would not only end Saturday delivery by the postal service, but also door-to-door mail service for millions. We must stop this outrageous attempt to kill the USPS and hand its business to FedEx and UPS. Go sign the petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/issa_usps?akid=8606.952925.D3Dc4S&rd=1&t=2
They are at it again
The Texas Taliban - also known as the rightwing majority on the Texas State Board of Education - want to revise the state's standards for science textbooks to require the addition of religious pseudoscience when teaching subjects like biology. And this isn't just bad news for Texas school children because the Texas standards will impact the textbooks used by millions of students nationwide.
Texas may want to dumb-down their children by teaching them pseudoscience but I don’t want the children of my state to be taught this way. Tell textbook publishers to stand up to the Texas Taliban and only publish books that are based on sound, peer-reviewed science scholarship. Click the link below to sign the petition automatically:
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/texas_taliban/?sp_ref=7570952.4.422.e.0.2&referring_akid=8622.952925.lJjLf7&source=mailto_sp
The Mind Your Own Business Act
http://mindyourownbusinessact.com/?source=Jun13Email
America's top grocers are selling fake honey containing carcinogens, heavy metals, and banned antibiotics.
Get grocers to make sure they're selling us the real thing.
http://action.sumofus.org/a/honey-fake-walgreens/4/2/?akid=1806.65932.QE7P4I&rd=1&sub=fwd&t=3
The Wounded Knee site has been held sacred by the Lakota Sioux since the horrific massacre that happened there in 1890. Now, it's in danger of being sold to the highest bidder, including someone who would build a horse slaughterhouse on the plot.
The current owner has offered to sell the site to its rightful owners, the nearby Oglala tribe, for the cool price of $3.9 million. But The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, just a few miles from where Wounded Knee is located, is one of the poorest places in the country. To build a horse slaughterhouse on their sacred site after everything the tribe has already suffered would be unthinkable.
http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AhnMh/zNI6/3R2f
And now a word about Monsanto and others like them. These profit-hungry biotech companies have found a way to exclusively ‘own’ something that freely belongs to us all -- our food! They’re trying to patent away our everyday vegetables and fruits like cucumber, broccoli and melons, forcing growers to pay them and risk being sued if they don’t.
Companies like Monsanto have found loopholes in European law to get away with this, so we just need to close them shut before they set a dangerous global precedent. And to do that, we need key countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands -- where opposition is already growing -- to call for a vote to stop Monsanto’s plans. Go sign the petition.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/monsanto_vs_mother_earth_loc/?bjeIjab&v=23911
Tell Nestlé: Stop trying to patent a natural cure
In a paper published last year, Nestlé scientists claimed to “discover” what much of the world has known for millennia: that nigella sativa extract could be used for “nutritional interventions in humans with food allergy”.
But instead of creating an artificial substitute, or fighting to make sure the remedy was widely available, Nestlé is attempting to create a nigella sativa monopoly and gain the ability to sue anyone using it without Nestlé’s permission. Nestlé has filed patent applications -- which are currently pending -- around the world.
Sing the petition:
http://action.sumofus.org/a/nestle-nigella-sativa/11/2/?akid=1601.65932.w0DNPx&rd=1&sub=fwd3&t=4
Maddow features PCCC activism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7LANHts78c
Tell Congress Social Security is non-negotiable.
http://act.couragecampaign.org/sign/standwithbernie
Amazon is at it again! Please go sign this petition. It is not fair for those of us who make our living by writing. Authors are not libraries and while most of us enjoy the social side of writing we do this to pay our bills. If some one returns an ebook after reading it our royalties get reduced.
I just signed the peetition "Amazon Kindle e-Book Return Policy: Stop allowing refunds on e-Books after e-Books have been read." on
http://Change.org/
It's important. Here's the link:
http://www.change.org/petitions/amazon-kindle-e-book-return-policy-stop-allowing-refunds-on-e-books-after-e-books-have-been-read
North Dakota just passed the most extreme abortion ban in the country. It's just one of some 300 bills across the country designed to take away women's rights and access to health care -- and ultimately to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Don't let lawmakers get away with it, take action today:
http://ppaction.org/WakeUpCall
Click here to tell Obama to veto CISPA:
http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/veto_cispa/?referring_akid=a8234599.655732.Af5Ve3&source=auto-taf
AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon have all agreed to start spying on their users.
The US's largest Internet Service Providers are implementing a new "online infringement" plan to identify and punish, with virtually no due process, users suspected of downloading copyrighted content.
https://act.demandprogress.org/letter/six_strikes_2013/?rd=1&t=1&referring_akid=undefined
Remember CISPA? Well, it’s back - sign the petition
http://www.cispaisback.com/
Oppose Seismic Surveys in the Atlantic - sign it please
http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6937
Tell Congress to Dump Monsanto's Riders!
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50865/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=8644
Bury Power Lines in Cities and Towns, Prevent Long-Lasting Outages, Improve National Security
http://signon.org/sign/bury-power-lines-in-cities?mailing_id=7341&source=s.icn.em.cr&r_by=913515
Protect Global Internet Freedom - go sign the petition
http://protectinternetfreedom.net/
The Sierra Club has a variety of actions to be taken. Just follow the link.
Send the congress a letter here:
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=9962
Do you really own the smartphone or computer you’re using to read this email?
If you sold your computer, would you be breaking the law? A federal court in New York says you would be.
It's unbelievable, but trademark and copyright holders really are trying to take away your right to sell things that you own. Please click here to fight back:
http://www.youvebeenowned.org/
The First-Sale Doctrine gives us the right to sell most property we own. But if the Supreme Court supports the lower court’s decision, we won't really “own” anything if it's from a different country. We expect them to issue a ruling later this year.
The President can urge the Court to side with consumers; then Congress will probably weigh in on the issue, no matter how the Court rules.
If we lose this fight, anybody who wants to resell foreign products, from Macbooks and iPhones to our clothing and textbooks, will have to ask copyright holders for permission first. And they'll have the right to deny it!
Just click here to email your lawmakers right away:
http://www.youvebeenowned.org/
There are two very bad internet bills that you need to be aware of. The first concerns making streaming content a felony. Read about it here:
http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/ten_strikes?akid=700.450896.5hVZPC&rd=1&t=1
and the second is the Protect-IP Act that gives the government power to censor search engines and browsers. Read more about it here:
http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/protectip_docs
Both of the above pages have a petition to sign so please do so.
The non-existent tags
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Change the world one loan at a time - visit
http://www.Kiva.org