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Not. One. Reason.
Author: Raine    Date: 07/23/2015 13:10:30

She should not have been taken to jail.

There is not one reason why Sandra Bland should have even been taken out of her car and taken to jail.

My heart breaks for her friends and family. My heart breaks for every person that struggles just to stay alive one day to the next.

My heart breaks for a law enforcement system that is seemingly out of control for so many people that live in this country.

That is all I can say. This woman should not be dead.

Peace.
Raine
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28 comments (Latest Comment: 07/23/2015 19:38:46 by Scoopster)

Republican Blowback
Author: BobR    Date: 2015-07-22 10:54:18

If there's one concept Republicans do not ever seem to understand, it's "blowback". Most of our bumbling in the Middle East is the typical example, but it happens with seeming regularity in their political decisions, actions, and propaganda. The current political circus is a prime example.

Back in 2004, John Kerry was running against George W. Bush for president. We were going through a rather nauseating display of jingoism, nationalism, and chest-thumping patriotism. Everyone was bending over backwards to proclaim "WE SUPPORT THE TROOPS". It was a reaction to the hostile reception VietNam vets got upon returning from war, as well as an "us against them" posturing when it came to anyone in the Middle East. All vets were sacred.

Except one.
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22 comments (Latest Comment: 07/22/2015 21:43:15 by Mondobubba)

Ask a Vet
Author: TriSec    Date: 07/21/2015 10:17:17

Good Morning.

Today is our 397th day back in Iraq.

There have been no new casualties reported.

We find this morning's Cost of War passing through:

$ 1, 628, 099, 450, 000. 00


So, I've got a rare week - being away last week, most of the stories I had saved have gone stale. But the "easy" part about writing this column is that it's easy to find fresh material. I will resist the temptation to waste any time on the bloviating blowhard with the hair, except to say this: "Mr. Trump bears a striking resemblance to that circular muscle that is commonly found at the end of a mammalian digestive tract."
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22 comments (Latest Comment: 07/21/2015 20:51:13 by BobR)

There Are Differences
Author: Raine    Date: 07/20/2015 13:45:51

I am pretty sure we all know what happened this weekend at NetRoots Nation this weekend.

It wasn't pretty. I am not here to discuss the tactics used by #blackLivesMatter nor am I going to moralize that.
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24 comments (Latest Comment: 07/20/2015 23:33:24 by Raine)

Will I Live to See The End of This?
Author: velveeta jones    Date: 07/19/2015 13:56:13

Democrats lost control at the Netroots Nation political rally that was held in Phoenix AZ; both Sanders and O'Malley were boo'd off stage. Demonstrators protesting cases of police brutality and the treatment of black Americans by police disrupted the presidential forum yesterday as O'Malley was being interviewed on stage. The group later drowned out Sen.Sanders as he tried to remind the crowd of his many years fighting for civil rights.
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2 comments (Latest Comment: 07/19/2015 16:09:04 by Will in Chicago)

Science Saturday
Author: Will in Chicago    Date: 2015-07-18 10:10:29

"There are more wonders in Heaven and Earth than are dreamed of in your philosphy, Horatio."

This week seems to have proven Hamlet's quote correct. As a break from politics, I thought I would examine some recent science news.

Perhaps the most covered story this week is the New Horizon mission to Pluto. The former planet is getting much attention as we now have learned much more about this distant world.

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2 comments (Latest Comment: 07/18/2015 18:36:18 by TriSec)

Fluffy Friday
Author: wickedpam    Date: 07/17/2015 13:08:48

I got nothin' - here look, something cute....

http://d1qmdf3vop2l07.cloudfront.net/plum-stingray.cloudvent.net/optimised/english-bulldog-puppies-34b715d4a22c9966c3114a25812ac2c0.png


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14 comments (Latest Comment: 07/17/2015 21:00:27 by Raine)

There is nothing to report today.
Author: Raine    Date: 07/16/2015 13:08:42

Nope, nothing except for doom and gloom and plain old asshattery.

I have been doing a lot of research — I mean deep down in the weeds research on political candidates as of late, and plan on writing something seriously comprehensive in the next few weeks.
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23 comments (Latest Comment: 07/16/2015 20:30:29 by Raine)

A Contentious Deal
Author: BobR    Date: 07/15/2015 13:07:33

In case you've been under a rock the past couple days, the big story of the week (other than the return of Bloom County) is that a coalition of nations reached an agreement with Iran to constrain their nuclear program. The arrangement is fairly comprehensive, relying on extensive monitoring to ensure Iran cannot possess nor create enough enhanced uranium or plutonium to create a bomb.

Here is a breakdown:
Uranium stockpile: Iran has agreed to slash its stockpile of enriched uranium by about 98 percent, from about 10,000 kilograms to less than 300 kg over 15 years. That uranium must be kept at a low-enrichment level — at 3.67 percent or less — that would prevent it from being used in a weapon over that period.

Centrifuges: The deal cuts Iran’s nuclear centrifuges by about 66 percent over 10 years, from about 20,000 to 6,000. Those centrifuges are used to isolate the isotopes needed to develop nuclear-grade materials.

Heavy water reactor: Iran will rebuild its Arak heavy water reactor so that it can no longer produce weapons-grade plutonium. The country also won’t be allowed to build a new heavy water reactor for 15 years.

Breakout time: The deal would extend Iran’s breakout time for a nuclear weapon — the time it would need to amass enough nuclear material to build a bomb — to one year, according to the White House. Iran has also agreed to restrictions on other activities required to turn nuclear material into weapons.

Nuclear weapons: Iran underscored a promise to never seek a nuclear weapon, giving the international community more leverage if it violates that pledge. Iran has also agreed to issue a statement that accounts for military aspects of the nuclear program.

This covers the next 10 years. Over that time, the current hard-liners in power will be dying off, and the younger people (who like America) will be moving into positions of power. It also gives us plenty of time to work on an extension to the treaty.
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37 comments (Latest Comment: 07/15/2015 20:54:22 by Will in Chicago)

Ask A Vet - 7-15-2015
Author: Will in Chicago    Date: 2015-07-14 10:47:33

Good morning, bloggers!

Today marks our 390th day back in Iraq.

I have no news of U.S. casualties.

As of my start in writing the blog, the Cost of War has passed through:

$1,626,636,250,456.


As regular Ask A Vet correspondent TriSec is out, I thought that I would assemble a few stories for you. As a non-veteran, I have found this blog to be a good source of information about the military and veterans, with both distressing and heart warming stories
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33 comments (Latest Comment: 07/14/2015 21:57:58 by BobR)

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