Ex Army Soldier Takes Hostages, Demands Psychiatric Help

An (ex) Soldier at Fort Stewart in Georgia took hostages, and demanded psychiatric help.  The individual, whose name has not been released by the army, took four loaded guns with him into a medical center.  He took hostages, demanded psychiatric help and a nurse helped talk him in to a peaceful surrender with the police. 

The individual is an ex-soldier and therefore is really a civilian.  A medic, a psychiatric nurse, and a tech who refused to let him through a door to the patient area were the hostages.

Since the individual is civilian, the FBI was called in to the investigation. 

The ex-soldier had some effects of his past services, and according to the Associated Press "He hadn't gotten the care that he wanted and he wanted it now,"

The army says he will have to "face the consequences" for obviously breaking the law,   "But we are going to get him the help for behavioral health."

I would like to think that the military is doing whatever they can to help traumatized soldiers upon their return home.   This situation where an ex army soldier takes hostages and demands psychiatric help indicates some form of disconnect that exists, even if only for one soldier. 

Glenn Beck and Prop8: Library Removes Gay Book While Prop8 Overturned

Glenn Beck requested libraries to remove copies of the book, "Revolutionary Voices" is the name of the book, and Glenn Beck calls it "child pornography." Gay rights activists are pointing to the possibility that Beck's problem with the book lies in it being about same-sex relationships.

While libraries in New Jersey are removing "Revolutionary Voices" from their shelves, a judge thousands of miles away, in California, made a ruling that Prop8 is unconstitutional. Proposition 8 is the Gay Marriage ban that was voted into law in California. Appeals are expected.

So we have two opposite reactions to the Gay rights movement. On one hand, an anthology of first person accounts of same-sex relationships is getting removed from shelves of libraries during Glenn Beck's 9.12 program, while a Federal judge has ruled that a ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.

Gay rights, immigration, health care, and unemployment are all going to play big roles in the upcoming elections. What do you think about Glenn Beck getting a book removed from libraries, and what do you think about the overturning of Prop8?

Reference: USA Today

VIDEO: Howard Dean - Fox News "Racist" in Susan Sherrod Coverage

Howard Dean thinks that Fox News acted with Racial Bias during the Shirley Sherrod coverage.  Sherrod is the USDA official who was forced to resign after conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart featured a clip of her speaking with an NAACP crowd.


In the clip, the former government official notes that she didn't give a white farmer the full service she was capable of because he was white.  The clip was grossly misleading and failed to show the rest of the speech which indicates that Sherrod used the incident to grow as a person and stop acting with racial biases.


Shirley Sherrod was not given the opportunity to explain herself, and to the surprise of many Fox News host Glenn Beck actually took the USDA official's side in the controversy, even though he is not a fan of the NAACP.


Dean says the following regarding Fox News's coverage of this event, saying "They took a -- they had an obligation to find out what was really in the clip. They had -- they had been pushing a theme of black racism with this phony Black Panther crap and this business and Sotomayor and all this other stuff. You -- I think you've got to be very -- I think the -- look the Tea Party called out their racist fringe, and I think the Republican Party's got to stop appealing to its racist fringe. And Fox News is what did that."


Dean failed to note that Fox News didn't even mention the scandal until after Sherrod had been forced to resign.   What do you think about his comments? Was he spot-on or is this just another example of another politician who has it out for Fox News?


Reference: Washington Post


Here is the video clip of Howard Dean speaking about the Shirley Sherrod case:

Sarah Palin:Facebook Post Deleted, Apology Ensues

Sarah Palin on Facebook is something that America is growing used to. Palin's social networking accounts (Facebook AND Twitter) have been the cause of much ridicule for the former VP hopeful. When she's not inventing words or coming up with zany things to say, she still makes headlines. This time, Facebook deleted one of her posts and then subsequently apologized.

The post in question had to do with the building of a mosque on Ground Zero. We all know that there is a controversy over whether or not an Islamic worship center should be built so close to where the 9/11 attacks took place. The post can be found here, as it has been re-instated by the social networking site.

The first thing that you might think is that the post had something in it that violated FaceBook terms of service. That is not the case. After it became known to the site that the message disappeared, an apology ensued and the post was re-instated.

What do you think - was this some sort of glitch, or was this a calculated move on the part of someone at the site?

Tom Vilsack USDA Secretary - Forced Resignation of Shirley Sherrod a Bad Call

Tom Vilsack, the USDA Secretary has been in the news because of the whole Shirley Sherrod scandal.  The USDA Secretary forced Sherrod to resign after a conservative blog post showcased a video clip that made her appear to have racial biases. The decision to force the official to leave her post at the USDA is going to haunt Vilsack throughout his political career.

The video clip was supposed to be a jab at the NAACP.  A Tea Party supporter who was targeting the civil rights group used an edited video to make it appear as if she approved of racist treatment of individuals, when really she was sending the opposite message.

Instead of allowing her to explain her side of the story and review the speech which the clip was taken from in its entirety, he made the call to let her go.

The end result? Vilsack has offered Sherrod her job back, but it's not certain that she will take it.  Will she let bygones be bygones and return to the job she loved or will she take a different route, taking a stand to the adversity that she has felt.

So what do you think about the resignation of Sherrod? Should it be Vilsack that is reprimanded, or did he simply make a bad judgment call?

Source: NY Times

Unemployment Benefits Extension: 2010 Updates

The unemployment benefits extension 2010 bill will be brought to a vote later on today.  At 2:15 pm EDT, Carte Goodwin will be sworn in as interim Senator from West Virginia .  He is the replacement for the late Robert Byrd, who died before being able to vote on the measure the last time it was brought to the floor.

With the advent of Carte Goodwin, it appears as if the measure will have the votes necessary for passage. This is assuming that Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins stay on-board as the only politicians in their party approving the bill.

The extension is needed.  There are literally millions of Americans in need of some type of relief – either through jobs or through unemployment checks.  There are over 8.6 Americans who are considered long term unemployed.  Even though 313,000 jobs were added to the payrolls in June, that’s hardly a drop in the bucket considering these figures.

President Barack Obama is on the side of those who need to find work. He said during his weekly address: It's time to stop holding workers laid off in this recession hostage to Washington politics. It's time to do what's right. Not for the next election, but for the middle class”

The true test will be to see what happens today.  Carte Goodwin will be sworn in, and then the Senate can get to their business of trying to pass an extension.   Fasten your seatbelt, folks – it’s going to be an interesting day!

Reference: Bureau of Labor Statistics

White iPhone 4 Release Date - Availability Begins July 30th 2010?

Steve Jobs knows that the elusive White iPhone 4 is important to the consumers who have been putting off their new smartphone upgrade or purchase until the color has been released.  Many iPhone 4 customers wanted a white body, and were disheartened first when the model wasn’t available for presale and second when it wasn’t available the day the sales began in stores.

At Apple, the availability of colors is the last thing on their minds.  There has been an enormous uproar over the reception experience.  In fact, the name of the problem has been dubbed “Antennagate”, suggesting a large scale conspiracy on the part of the Cupertino , California based Tech Firm.

“Antennagate” makes an allusion to the infamous 1970’s political scandal, “Watergate.”  This was the scandal that involved the break-in into the Democratic National Convention, which ultimately lead to the resignation of Nixon.

Even though this politically dubbed controversy has been bogging down the rumor mills, the White iphone 4 is still in high demand. According to the press conference on July 16^th, Apple has pledged to have this problem fixed by the end of July 2010.

Oh, and for Antennagate conspiracy theorists...Apple is going to give all iPhone 4 buyers a free bumper case to solve the "death grip" problem.  For those who already bought a bumper, you will be eligible for a full refund of the purchase price up to $29. 

For those who still aren't happy, Apple will take back your iPhone 4 up to 30 days after its purchase.

Reference: Apple Press Conference

Norma Lopez Missing: California Girl, 17, Disappears on Way Home from Summer School

Norma Lopez is missing.  She's a 17 year old student at Valley View High School student who disappeared on her way home from summer school.  She was last seen walking on Cottonwood avenue.  This is yet another missing child case that has the world in a storm.

Chelsea King was the last high profile teenaged girl to go missing in California.  She was on a jog at  a nearby park when she was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered.  She was also only 17 at the time of her death.

Norma is tall and slender and has dark hair.  She's 5' 7" and weighs around 113 pounds.  She was last seen wearing a sleeveless black and white striped shirt.  She was supposed to meet her younger sister and some friends, and never showed up.

Police in the area are going door to door, informing families of the missing persons case so that they can keep an eye out for the young woman.  The quicker they can find her, the better off she will be.

Authorities are also looking for the owners of a green SUV which was seen in the area at the time of her disappearance.  The owners aren't suspects but authorities are hoping that they will have information that will help them locate the missing girl.  They have already found signs of a struggle and some personal effects of the missing teen, indicating that she could be in danger.

Reference: Associated Press

Glenn Beck: NAACP Racist, Tea Party Not Racist

Conservative Fox News correspondent Glenn Beck has fired back at the NAACP's claims that the tea party is racist.  Beck states that it is the NAACP or National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, not the Tea Party Movement.

The NAACP came together and formed a resolution indicating that they would stand against the racist motives of the Tea Party, claiming that they are trying to bring America back to its pre-Civil War state.  They later backed down, softening their stance and urging Tea Party leaders not to allow bigotry in its ranks.

Beck points out that the Tea Party movement isn't about race - it's about Americans wanting a change.  He invited the NAACP to come forward and identify any leaders of the movement that may be racist.  Racism is something that Beck wants settled once and for all.

Of course both movements have a lot of controversy surrounding them. The NAACP grew upset with the other movement when the Healthcare reform bill was making its way through the ranks of Capital Hill.  The organization claims that they were deeply offended by some of the racial slurs that were hurled at African American legislators and signs that were carried around mocking Obama.

The two could do a lot of good if they worked together.  The race card shouldn't be played in any organization - especially those that are poised to help America make positive changes.

Texas Mayor Suicide Note Found After Shooting Daughter

Texas Mayor Suicide Note Found After Shooting Daughter.  It's a tragedy that doesn't strike often.  A parent - this time a Texas Mayor - kills their child and then kills themselves.  You hear of these stories with lovers, and it's disturbing then but you almost lose sleep when you hear of a parent killing their own child, especially if you have children of your own.

Texas Mayor Jayne Peters shot her 19 year old daughter Corrine and then shot herself.  She left a suicide note which,according to the Associated Press left the following reasoning for the murder-suicide:

My sweet, sweet Corinne had grown completely inconsolable. She had learned to hide her feelings from her friends. But the two of us were lost, alone and afraid. Corinne just kept on asking, 'Why won't God let me die?' We hadn't slept at all and neither one of us could stop crying when we were together

Such a sad happening.  There's no doubt that the father and husband who passed away would have wanted to avoid this outcome at all costs. However, grief will make people do strange things.

There's also some indication that the Texas Mayor had financial troubles. There's indication that she was questioned about certain personal purchases ending up on her city credit card. Her home was also in foreclosure.

No matter what, nothing is worth ending your life.  If you are online and contemplating going to the same drastic measures as Texas Mayor Jane Peters, please call the suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.

2010 Unemployment Extension: A Benefits Bill Extension for Unemployed Americans

The 2010 unemployment extension could be voted on next week. The unemployment extension 2010 is needed, and it's a very important measure for many in Congress. The so called benefits bill extension within the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 may be controversial in the Senate, but there's few who will argue that it needs to be passed.

Many Americans are left holding the bag. The benefits extension bill is the only way they will be able to afford their mortgages and put food on the table during these tough times. The extension of time to file for the emergency benefits in tiers 1-4 created by the Federal Government expired on June 2, 2010 and since then each and every day people have been losing their benefits.

According to The Huffington Post, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs expects the measure to pass this next week. Gibbs is quoted as saying:

"I think this president will press and my belief is the Senate will take up [the package], and we will pass next week an extension of unemployment insurance. As we go into the political season we talked about, we will get a sense of where people sit on the spectrum of helping the unemployed."

Hopefully Gibbs is correct in his assumptions and the unemployment extension will be passed during the week of July 19th, 2010. The benefits extension bill is a big deal for many Americans and should be for Senators. Hopefully partisan politics will be placed aside and we will get the law passed for the millions of Americans who need it the most.

Larry King Replacement - Piers Morgan Americas Got Talent

Larry King's replacement could be Piers Morgan of America's Got Talent. Larry King Noted that he wouldn't know Piers Morgan if he were walking down the street, but reality TV show buffs know that Simon Cowell's great buddy is a Brit with an attitude. Piers Morgan may not be the most conventional decision, but he's one that could bode well for the network.

CNN needs to increase ratings. Ryan Seacrest and Katie Couric were two names thrown around in the rumor mills regarding taking over Larry King's time slot on the news network. They could have increased the ratings better than Piers Morgan according to some views, but we think that Morgan is a befitting choice.

The America's Got Talent judge isn't afraid to say what's on his mind and is very candid. He was the winner of a cycle of Celebrity Apprentice and showcased that he does what it takes to get the job done. Controversial interviews won't intimidate him and he won't be afraid to ask the questions that are on everyone's mind.

As of late, there's not an official announcement from CNN regarding Larry King's replacement. However, according to Forbes the rumor indicates the most likely candidate.

It will be hard to truly replace Larry King. He's a big name in the world of broadcasting and he's been in the same time slot for decades. Many venture to say that CNN won't be the same without him. He will, however, still have quarterly specials on the network. One also has to wonder that given his tenure, how long King will stay away from the network.

Captain Phil Harris Deadliest Catch Last Episode Brings Big Ratings

Captain Phil Harris of the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" passed away. The dynamic captain of the Cornelia Marie was a big personality on the popular show, which follows around crab fishermen in the Alaskan waters. Captain Phil's last show aired this week, and the ratings and viewership were through the roof, showcasing just how popular the captain is.

The last episode which included Captain Phil brought in a reported 8.5 million viewers - the largest viewership for the Discovery Channel in 10 years. The ratings are usually reasons to celebrate - but it's hard to celebrate the loss of such an important and dynamic person.

Instead of celebrating Phil Harris's last episode, it's important to celebrate his life and all he contributed not only to the series, but also to the career of crab fishing. Awareness of the career and industry wouldn't be as widespread without the "Deadliest Catch" show.

Many viewers - and other show characters - were brought to tears. The show won't be the same without the loudspoken captain.

Robert F. Kennedy Divorce Confirmed

Robert F. Kennedy and his wife are getting divorced. Robert F. Kennedy and his wife, Mary, are calling it quits after 16 years of marriage. This divorce isn't as shocking as the recently announced divorce of Tipper and Al Gore, the former Vice President. Political relationships are known to shatter, and the Kennedy's have had their share of gossip in the rumor mills over the years - even back in the days of JFK.

Mary Kennedy, Robert's estranged wife, was arrested for drunk driving shortly after the divorce was filed. Robert was not present at her arraignment.

The couple has four children ranging in age from 16 to 9. Their children's names are John, Kyra, William, and Aidan. Their ages are 16, 15, 13, and 9.

Like most Kennedy's Robert F Kennedy is successful. He's a prominent attorney and was the nephew of JFK and the late Edward "Teddy" Kennedy. His parents are Ethel and Robert Kennedy.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr wasn't always successful. In 1983 he plead guilty to possession of heroin. He straightened his life up.

There's no reason given for the divorce, although many people are very interested in the divorce filing coming only days before the drunk driving charge. Could Mary have had an alcohol problem? Or is this just another example of how people grow apart over the years?

2010 Unemployment Extension and Angle's Outlook: Unemployed are Lazy?

The 2010 unemployment extension hasn't been passed, and the unemployment extension 2010 is one of those things that is a big deal to politicians planning on running during the 2010 mid-term elections.  One politician that has been on the radar of the unemployed because of her strange description of the unemployed is none other than Sharron Angle.

Sharron Angle is going head to head with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for the Senate seat from Nevada.  The state recently surpassed Michigan as the state with the highest unemployment rate, and yet Angle has repeatedly called the unemployed "lazy" and has expressed general disdain for the benefits extension bill currently making its way through Congress.

Yes - that is correct.  A Senate hopeful in a state with enormous unemployment levels has called the unemployed "lazy" and has expressed that she is against any lifeline for the unemployed. Hey look at the bright side - at least you know where you'll stand if you vote for her! At least she's not one of those politicians who pretends to be on your side, only to in all actuality end up not being on your side later on.

It's doubtful that Angle will prevail in a state with the high unemployment rate experienced in Nevada.  Then again, stranger things have happened in the world of Politics.  The agenda on how to deal with the unemployed is something that will be discussed heavily during the mid-term elections and is a very important political topic.

If you are unemployed or have strong feelings either way about a benefits extension, pay attention to the candidates in your state.  Your unemployment benefits could depend on their vote if more measures are brought up in 2011 and beyond.

AIDS, HIV Vaccine Research Antibodies VRC01-03

HIV and AIDS have been a killer for many years. Since HIV and AIDS were discovered in 1981, work on a vaccine has been a top priority. AIDS isn't just a killer in the United States. In fact, the AIDS epidemic is much worse across third world countries where access to sanitary healthcare conditions and access to decent preventative health care isn't available.

In fact, 90% of the world's HIV positive pregnant women live in the sub-Saharan African continent.

A breakthrough in finding a cure for aids may be here. Researchers have identified antibodies such as VRC01, VRC02, and VRC03 that appear to be useful in vaccines that could prevent as many as 95% of new HIV cases.

There's no vaccine that will be available in the near future, but the breakthrough could provide scientists and drug companies with a starting point to develop a vaccine that could save lives.

Previously, researchers realized that the virus quickly mutated in the human body - much quicker than they could create a vaccine for it. While the virus is still one that mutates rapidly, scientists are getting a better understanding of the inner workings of the virus itself and what vulnerabilities are present which could prove useful in a vaccine.

Currently, the best way to prevent AIDS is to avoid sharing bodily fluids with those who have the illness, and avoid sharing needles. Being in a true monogamous relationship with someone unaffected by the illness or abstaining altogether from intercourse are the only ways to avoid contacting the disease from sex. Due to new screening procedures, AIDS from blood transfusions are very rare.

2010 OIl Spill Gulf of Mexico Update - Oil Spill on 86th Day

The 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is on it's 86th day. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is 2010's worst disaster, and the nation's worst environmental catastrophe in history. From the wetlands in Louisiana to the white sugar sand beaches in the Florida panhandle - there's hardly a destination in the Gulf untouched by the spill.

BP has a lot on their plate trying to figure out what to do with the spill. After all, the entire Gulf Region's ecosystem has been compromised - that's something that's not easily remedied. In addition, countless individuals have lost their way of living.

The most recent issue that has been affected by the oil spill is the food chain for marine life. Scientists warn that if the changes continue, the marine life in the gulf will change and the fishing industry will never be the same.

We already knew this unfortunate fact. Many who have made their living fishing, shrimping, and being an oysterman are watching the situation very carefully. Those who love seafood need to watch the situation carefully as their favorite Gulf fare may not be available in the future.

If the industry is lost, then there will be widespread monetary damages felt throughout the region.

The oil spill is on its 86th day. It's hard to tell how long the devastation will continue, but the hope is that the well will be sealed within the coming days. Then, the focus can be on fixing the damage and getting the Gulf region back under control.

Immigration Reform 2010 - Arizona and Other States Fight for Immigration Law Changes

The immigration reform 2010 started with one state's quest to stand up and do something about illegal immigration.  Arizona passed a controversial law which makes it a criminal offense to be in the state without legal status.  Of course, the law is a mirror of the federal law that is already on the books, but is loosely enforced.

There are actually many Americans - both natural born citizens and legal immigrants who are tired of the illegal immigrants driving up crime rates, giving all immigrants a bad name, and abusing the social services available for tax paying citizens.

On the other hand, there are those who oppose reform, claiming that it will infringe on the rights of legal immigrants by subjecting them to racial profiling.  However, law enforcement cannot stop someone and ask about their immigration status unless they are investigating another issue.  For instance, responding to a domestic call or pulling someone over for speeding.

Arizona isn't the only state that wants to pass comprehensive reform.  (Although saying 'reform' isn't really what's going on - the laws are already there they just need to be enforced).  Other states such as Mississippi, Texas, Michigan - countless others - want the same law as Arizona's SB 1070.

So much will depend on the federal lawsuit pursued by the Obama administration.  If the federal government is successful, then enforcing immigration laws will be the responsibility of the federal government and states won't be allowed to do so.

2010 Unemployment Extension and Tier 5 Benefits Desires

The 2010 unemployment benefits extension will be brought to vote on July 19th.  The unemployment extension in 2010 would extend the time to file the tiers 1-4 unemployment benefits.  Currently, the time to file has been suspended as of June 2, 2010.  Many thought that the extension would have passed before the Memorial Day holiday.  Then, it was the July 4th holiday.  Now, we will be lucky to see it before August.

There is going to be a vote on July 19th for the unemployment extension.  If the replacement for Senator Robert Byrd from West Virginia is sworn in by that time, then it is expected to pass.  The Democrats have 59 votes and 60 is needed to pass the measure.

Of the 59 votes, two of them are Republican Senators from Maine. As long as they don't flip and go back with the rest of their party, the measure should pass on the next vote.

Although the Republicans have in one way a valid claim - they don't want to pass the measure because it adds to deficit spending - their logic isn't sound.  If the government wasn't doling out billions of dollars to foreign entities and Wall Street bankers then it would be a valid claim. However, if money can be spent on those types of expenses it can be spent on Americans.

We will see July 19th whether or not the measure will pass.  Many are hoping and praying that the extension will pass but there's still that possibility as we have seen before that it won't.

OIl Spill Gulf of Mexico 2010 Oil Leak Update - Florida Beaches

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico rages on. One of the saddest parts of the Gulf oil spill is perhaps the beaches in the Florida panhandle that have been negatively impacted by the spill.  Tar balls are even washing up along beaches along the eastern side of the state, which could indicate that the oil spill has reached the loop current.

Tests results on the tar balls that have washed up will tell if the oil is from the spill or if it is from a boat or ship that is located off the coast.

In addition, BP has lowered a new containment cap onto the spewing well head. It's not certain whether or not the cap will contain 100% of the spilling oil or not, but the engineers and teams involved in the oil spill containment are hoping that it will.

One thing that many people are kind of upset about is that BP Is "profiting" from the oil that is coming out of the leaking well.  We wouldn't say that BP is profiting from the spill per se - but they are selling the oil that they collect from the leaking well head. However, BP needs to continue to make money in order to pay for the claims.

The company has lost a considerable amount of market share - which is a direct result of their mismanagement and corner cutting. In addition, they have incurred a considerable amount of claims from the spill - again no one's fault but their own.

Efforts to drill relief wells are supposed to be ahead of the game.  Hopefully, that is the case.  Once the relief wells are in place, the spill can hopefully be stopped once and for all.  Then, the company can focus their efforts on stopping the spewing water into the well.