What's in the news?

[Beguile's Mistress]

Yet another case of a Special Needs person suffering abuse. (And an added Race aspect thrown in as well) This poor person was kidnapped, cut with a knife, burnt with cigarettes, tied up and forced to drink toilet water as his abusers laughed and screamed at him.

*Warning it includes a video which is hard to watch.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/05/4-in-custody-after-group-beats-disabled-man-on-facebook-live-while-shouting-anti-trump-profanities-chicago-police-say/?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_mm-chicago-245am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.61c73da0243f


I just hope they all get convicted with every hate crime in the book and spend every last waking moment of their lives looking at the sun through prison bars.

The idiots posted the video on Facebook.  How did they believe the would not get caught?

[Mithlomwen]

Last I heard they had arrested four people involved. 

Edited to add:  I found a link.  Looks like they will be charged with hate crime too. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/05/4-in-custody-after-group-beats-disabled-man-on-facebook-live-while-shouting-anti-trump-profanities-chicago-police-say/

[Lustful Bride]

Last I heard they had arrested four people involved. 

Edited to add:  I found a link.  Looks like they will be charged with hate crime too. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/05/4-in-custody-after-group-beats-disabled-man-on-facebook-live-while-shouting-anti-trump-profanities-chicago-police-say/

I really hope they get a conviction.

[AmberStarfire]

This is disturbing and pretty much the plot of an episode of a tv show I watched on Netflix a while ago.

http://www.news.com.au/technology/online/security/in-china-your-personal-data-is-up-for-sale/news-story/96e7578e306a9dbb7af13e3555a18f3a

[AmberStarfire]

It looks like there's been another mass shooting in the US:

http://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/multiple-people-shot-at-fort-lauderdalehollywood-airport/news-story/002a8f04cd7decb1c1fdba27c96ec9e4

[Lustful Bride]

9 injured, 1 dead at Ft. Lauderdale shooting. Shooter has been captured alive.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/video/live-news-coverage-from-cbs-news/ar-BBmYvYY

[AmberStarfire]

They're saying multiple fatalities on CNN now.

[Lustful Bride]

They're saying multiple fatalities on CNN now.

I am getting different results now @_@ Its too soon to tell. Better wait until official numbers come out.

Im glad they got him alive, he will face justice.

[Lustful Bride]

The shooter has been identified. A former Alaska National guardsman, who was discharged for Dissatisfactory Service. And had gotten in trouble before hand making threats against others.

I don't even have words. I hope they keep him alive, so he can live to be locked away for the rest of his life.

[Lustful Bride]

Outrage in china among women over their new policy on IUDs

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/after-one-child-policy-outrage-at-china%e2%80%99s-offer-to-remove-iuds/ar-BBy0N65?li=BBnb4R7&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[gaggedLouise]

Suspected terrorist attack in Jerusalem, where a guy drove a truck into a crowd of people - soldiers who were off-duty, it seems - who had just exited a bus. Four people killed (apart from the driver who was shot dead by police), three of them young women, and a dozen wounded. Sounds depressingly like a copycat of the Berlin market massacre. 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/jan/08/jerusalem-truck-attack-israel-live-updates

[RedRose]

Of course. Car and truck attacks are the new "thing"... Though they've been going on in Israel for years if not décades.

[Valerian]

http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/1/11/14237748/tillerson-exxon-russia-lobbying

Secretary of State candidate, Rex Tillerson, probably lied under oath during his confirmation hearing today.  In this case, it's possible that the Republicans won't fall in line to approve his nomination since many of the more hardline Republicans are extremely anti-Russia and think Tillerson, like Trump, will be too friendly with Putin.

“I have never lobbied against sanctions,” Tillerson said. “To my knowledge, Exxon never directly lobbied against sanctions.”

This seems hard to believe. Indeed, after the second line, Sen. Bob Corker, the Republican chair of the committee, interjected: "I think you called me at the time [Russia sanctions were being debated]," he said. The public record backs him up: There is abundant and clear evidence that Exxon did lobby on sanctions under Tillerson’s leadership.

Corker later gave Tillerson a chance to finesse his response, which Tillerson took — arguing that the company never opposed sanctions per se, but merely engaged with Congress to understand how Exxon’s business would be affected. “Exxon Mobil participated in understanding how the sanctions are going to be constructed,” he said.

This is hard to disprove — but very, very hard to believe, as Sen. Chris Murphy said during the hearing.

[Missy]

Does ti really matter if one or more of his nominations gets rejected? Does it really make a difference who he picks? Americas going to hell anyway, it has since November, it's what America wants.

[Cassandra LeMay]

Does ti really matter if one or more of his nominations gets rejected? Does it really make a difference who he picks? Americas going to hell anyway, it has since November, it's what America wants.

I think it does matter, because it will tell us a little bit about how the relationship between Senate and White House might develop during the Trump presidency. This is the Senate's opportunity to stand up and be counted. The Republican majority in the House is pretty large, but at 52-48 the Senate could become a stumbling block for Trump - if some Senators decide they dislike Trump enough. The confirmation hearings could be the first sign we see if that will happen or not.

[Samael]

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans took their first major step toward repealing the Affordable Care Act on Thursday, approving a budget blueprint that would allow them to gut the health care law without the threat of a Democratic filibuster.

The vote was 51 to 48. During the roll call, Democrats staged a highly unusual protest on the Senate floor to express their dismay and anger at the prospect that millions of Americans could lose health insurance coverage.

One by one, Democrats rose to voice their objections. Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington said that Republicans were “stealing health care from Americans.” Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon said he was voting no “because health care should not just be for the healthy and wealthy.”

The presiding officer, Senator Cory Gardner, Republican of Colorado, repeatedly banged his gavel and said the Democrats were out of order because “debate is not allowed during a vote.”

In its lengthy series of votes, the Senate rejected amendments proposed by Democrats that were intended to allow imports of prescription drugs from Canada, protect rural hospitals and ensure continued access to coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, among other causes.

More:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/us/politics/health-care-congress-vote-a-rama.html

Especially the pre-existing conditions thing will hurt a -lot- of people...

[Valerian]

More:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/us/politics/health-care-congress-vote-a-rama.html

Especially the pre-existing conditions thing will hurt a -lot- of people...

This is only a preliminary vote, so this can still be stopped.  For one thing, Ryan is doing a phone poll hoping to hear that people are overwhelmingly in favor of repeal, but I have a feeling he's going to be disappointed.  The numbers are (202) 225-3031 or (202) 225-0600 (and it's a real thing, Snopes said so).

You can also call your representative directly to express support for the ACA and concern for those who will lose coverage.  Try this site to find contact info and other information about your reps.

Does ti really matter if one or more of his nominations gets rejected? Does it really make a difference who he picks? Americas going to hell anyway, it has since November, it's what America wants.

I think it also matters if it proves to Trump that he isn't invincible as he's always seemed to think.  Remember, he wasn't what the actual majority of Americans wanted.

[Beguile's Mistress]

This is where the responsibility of citizenship comes into play.  Instead of sitting back and watching we all need to get in touch with our elected officials and put the pressure on them.  The need to be reminded that they are in Washington to represent us and do what is best for this country, not to be playground bullies and chart personal agendas.  If we won't stand up and be be counted we won't get what we need.

[Lustful Bride]

(no BS)

Flight 666 flew a route to HEL today. (on Friday the 13th. )

http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/flight-666-flew-to-hel-on-friday-the-13th/ar-AAlQiOz?li=BBnb4R7&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

ID be having such a heart attack if I were on that plane >_>  Its like you are daring the universe to screw you over.

[Lustful Bride]

After 146 years, the Ringling Brother's circus is closing down for good.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/nowhere-left-to-run-away-to-the-final-days-of-the-circus/ar-AAlT5yM?li=BBnbfcN&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

Kind of a shame...its like there is less magic in the world every year :(

[Beorning]

In another bit of depressing news from Poland - today marks the first time ever our government actively worked to sabotage a charity event.

Today, the annual WOŚP fundraiser is taking place:

http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/289008,Christmas-orchestra-charity-drive-raising-millions-for-healthcare

Many of our right-wing politicians, journalists and activist have hated WOŚP for years, as it's a creation of Jurek Owsiak, a guy who doesn't subscribe to conservative values and is often demonized by the right-wingers as a libertine. And, this year, with the PiS controlling the government, our state has made active attempts to lessen the effectiveness of WOŚP.

For the first time ever, our state TV is not helping with the trasmissions from the fundraiser center. The Polish Mail has cancelled printing of a new stamp commemorating the 25 years of WOŚP. Also, the Ministry of Defense has organized its own charity fundraiser... a *day* before the WOŚP action.

The funds gained in this MoD fundraiser are to be sent to Christian children in Syria. Yes, you read that right - our government has decided that it's going to support only *Christian* children in need. Apparently, Muslim children are not worth of charity.

*bangs head against the wall*

[gaggedLouise]

After 146 years, the Ringling Brother's circus is closing down for good.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/nowhere-left-to-run-away-to-the-final-days-of-the-circus/ar-AAlT5yM?li=BBnbfcN&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

Kind of a shame...its like there is less magic in the world every year :(

Agree! I heard someone from the circus had said that when they were made to phase out the trained elephants from the show, becaue of protests over the idea of using these iconic animals that way, it was "a game changer". Without elephants throwing balls and marching around the ring (and other exotic animals) "it was no longer a commercially viable operation" on that scale, it didn't pull that kind of crowd anymore. I think it sounds like a very hollow victory for the PETA camp; elephants getting trained are hardly the best example of animal abuse, and it's not where the risk to the survival of elephants is located either.

[Beguile's Mistress]

PETA has been accused of hypocrisy on several fronts, from members wearing leather to some of their food choices.  Hence, the sarcastic spelling out of the PETA acronym:

People Eating Tasty Animals

[RedRose]

I love animals, I even worked with animals years ago... But PETA is so, so aggressive and extreme!

[Avis habilis]

Some good news for once. Chelsea Manning looking at a May release date after most of her sentence is commuted.

One down.