Thurl's Thoughts: 2014

He has a lot of worthy stances. Will need to know more about his support of the military. Would like to see Jerry Brown run but California still needs him. Both are getting old.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/10/us-voter-turnout-vs-world-election-day-holiday#comment-43459208

Strawberries and Dichloropropene

Thin skinned fruits and vegetables are more susceptible to pesticide contamination?

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/10/-sp-california-strawberry-industry-pesticides

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Conflict Kitchen

Great concept for a restaurant. Some folks don't like to hear the truth regarding world issues.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/09/pittsburgh-restaurant-conflict-kitchen-death-threats-israel

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Tom Tomorrow

Another good one courtesy of Tom Tomorrow.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/20/1337239/-Cartoon-The-house-of-feeeaaaarrrr?detail=hide

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Putin

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/24/vladimir-putin-ukraine-russia-us-blames-terrorism

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Tor Browsing

Tor provides an anonymous browser and now an anonymous router.

http://www.wired.com/2014/10/tiny-box-can-anonymize-everything-online/

https://www.torproject.org

and another product which tracks anonymous users.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/16/-sp-revealed-whisper-app-tracking-users

Portable Nuclear Fusion Reactors

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/15/lockheed-breakthrough-nuclear-fusion-energy

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Voting?

Is there any point/meaning/impact to one casting his/her vote?

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/14/why-i-will-not-vote?commentpage=1

Monday, October 13, 2014

Russel Brand on Inequality

He is a celebrity and appreciate his work on this.
We hope he is sincere and continues with this work.
The "Kill Capiltalism, Save the World" poster is spot on.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/13/monkeys-queen-inequality-capitalism-rich-poor-private-security

He also has a daily show on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/user/russellbrand

http://www.mattstoller.com/

http://tuvalu.santafe.edu/~bowles/

Monday, October 6, 2014

Civil Forfeiture

John Oliver has new show on HBO. From the Daily Show vein.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2014/10/06/watch-john-oliver-explain-civil-forfeiture-aggressive-police-procedures-on-last-week-tonight/?hpid=z4

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Show Me a Hero

The Wire's David Simon new series on inequality.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/sep/28/wire-david-simon-interview-american-politics-show-me-a-hero

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Police Shootings

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/02/01/697379/California-police-fatally-shoot-Black-double-amputee-Video

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Poverty: Hand to Mouth

The view of poverty from someone who has lived it.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/sep/21/linda-tirado-poverty-hand-to-mouth-extract

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/21/1330859/-Killing-those-zombie-lies-about-the-war-on-poverty

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Top Universities

http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/ng-interactive/2014/sep/16/-sp-qs-world-university-rankings-2014

Monday, September 15, 2014

Cell Phone Lanes

Town in China adds cell phone lanes to it's roads.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/sep/15/china-mobile-phone-lane-distracted-walking-pedestrians

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Perpetual War

Is this for noble reasons, economic, philosophical, resources, fear?

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/13/obamas-legally-dubious-isis-campaign-perpetual-war

Friday, August 29, 2014

California Drought

Almonds use more water than any other crop. Stop growing them here?

http://www.propublica.org/article/the-best-reporting-on-californias-drought

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Gun (out of) Control

Parents and a gun range let their nine year old daughter fire an Uzi at the shooting range. Crazy enough? Uzi's only have one purpose, to kill people. The gun recoiled and killed the instructor.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/gun-violence-in-america-facts-and-figures,36266/

http://www.theonion.com/articles/iowa-issuing-gun-permits-to-the-blind,33802/

http://www.theonion.com/articles/where-does-daddy-keep-his-gun,7214/

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/03/state-map-gun-suicides-traffic-deaths

Friday, August 22, 2014

Thimerosal

Thimerosal is a neuro-toxin which used to be included in many children's vaccines.
It is still used in children's vaccines abroad and in the US in flu shots and allergy patches.
Is thought to be a contributor to autism in children.
Kennedy's argument is if there are alternatives to this toxin for vaccines then drug manufacturers should use that instead. Seems like a valid argument to me.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Concerns/Thimerosal/Index.html

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/Vaccines/47000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiomersal

http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/SafetyAvailability/VaccineSafety/UCM096228

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/thimerosal.htm

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Police Militarization Redux

Police Officer murders an African American teen in St Louis. People protest making surrender sign to police. Police use military tactics/weaponry on citizens. What ever happened to community policing? Who is overseeing the countries police departments?

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/14/ferguson-police-military-restraints-violence-weaponry-missouri

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/08/what-i-did-after-police-killed-my-son-110038.html#.U-90sPldVLM

http://politicalblindspot.com/cop-shoots-kills-college-student-for-speaking-disrespectfully/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2014/08/27/daily-shows-jon-stewart-obliterates-fox-news-coverage-of-ferguson/

Friday, August 8, 2014

Market Basket

A grocery store chain with fair wages and benefits for employees.
Board fires CEO stating too much of profits being given to employees with intent to reduce wages and benefits. Employees and customers strike. Customers tape receipts from other groceries to Market Basket store windows. Greed going to lose one?

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/bare-shelves-market-basket-employees-shoppers-unite-profit-sharing-fight/

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/tag/market-basket/

and the good news arrives. The greedy ones got their money unfortunately.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/28/market-basket-ceo-supermarket-standoff

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Derf's Thoughts on Guardians of the Galaxy and Comicon

Derf rips Marvel's Stan lee and Disney. Have a couple of the 1976 comic book releases of Guardians of the Galaxy myself. None of the characters from those comics are in the movie.

http://derfcity.blogspot.com/2014/08/why-i-dont-give-shit-about-guardians-of.html

http://derfcity.blogspot.com/2014/07/boycott-marvel-films.html

http://derfcity.blogspot.com/2014/07/dreams-of-comicon.html

California Drought

Orange County's reverse osmosis process explained. Recycled waste water and/or desalinization (San Diego) are now necessities.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/aug/07/california-drought-orange-county-toilet-to-tap-water

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Aspirin and Cancer

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/aug/06/aspirin-could-dramtically-cut-cancer-risk-say-scientists-biggest-study-yet

Friday, August 1, 2014

Putinism

Another fine article by Fareed Zakaria.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/fareed-zakaria-the-rise-of-putinism/2014/07/31/2c9711d6-18e7-11e4-9e3b-7f2f110c6265_story.html?hpid=z3

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

First Look Media

Here is what Glenn Greenwald has been working on since his work with Edward Snowden while at the Guardian.

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc7PrYk_fOw

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/gaza-5-day-old-miracle-baby-shayma-born-dead-mother-dies-incubator-1459054

http://mondoweiss.net/2014/08/yochanan-genocide-permissible.html

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2014/08/04/cash-weapons-surveillance/

http://www.salon.com/2014/08/04/they_were_war_crimes_the_specific_legal_case_for_international_charges_against_israel/

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/07/palestinians-return-home-israeli-troops-faeces-graffiti

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/08/-sp-gaza-israeli-strikes-unrwa-schools

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/11/gaza-children-israel-new-generation-enemies-najia-warshagha

Monday, July 28, 2014

I Know Where Your Cat Lives

Photos taken with our smart phones include GPS data so this web developer made a site involving cats and where they live. Pictures inside people homes...

http://www.npr.org/2014/07/24/334989329/meet-the-guy-whos-putting-your-cat-on-the-map-to-prove-a-point

http://iknowwhereyourcatlives.com/charts/

Monday, July 21, 2014

Climate Change and our Politicians

Videos et al of our politicians having their say on climate change.
How do they get elected to public office?

http://motherboard.vice.com/en_uk/read/there-is-a-senator-in-kentucky-who-thinks-mars-is-the-same-temperature-is-earth

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/congresss-scientific-illiterates-are-resigning-the-world-to-ruin

Friday, July 11, 2014

Climate Change and South Florida

Where I spent most of my life. Soon to be a memory.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/11/miami-drowning-climate-change-deniers-sea-levels-rising

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

2014 World Cup

Thoroughly enjoying the World Cup.
One of the best results thus far, Germany 7 - Brazil 1
Brazil has always agitated me with their arrogance and flopping style.
Tend to root for the lesser teams. Maybe I'll start throwing some support to Brazil, nah.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jul/09/brazil-germany-zico

http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2014/jul/09/world-cup-brazil-germany-front-pages

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/german-soccer-team-stays-focused-despite-epic-win-against-brazil-a-980080.html

http://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2014/jul/10/brazil-v-germany-world-cup-2014-brick-by-brick-video-animation

and the final, great fun!
Germany 1 - Argentina 0

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jul/14/world-cup-2014-guardian-writers-best-moments-brazil

http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2014/jul/14/world-cup-2014-world-cup-football

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jul/14/bastian-schweinsteiger-germany-world-cup

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jul/15/world-cup-2014-review-64-memories-matches-brazil-germany-argentina

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/a-winning-team-spirit-contributed-to-german-win-over-argentina-a-980924.html

Monday, July 7, 2014

Could there be a conflict of interest here?
The US encourages Ukraine to overthrow it's President and sign a treaty with the EU. Now Biden's son and Kerry's stepson have lucrative positions in one of Ukraine's largest energy corporations. Amazing!

http://www.thewire.com/global/2014/06/its-totally-normal-that-joe-bidens-son-works-for-a-ukrainian-energy-company/372385/

Poverty Increases from 2000 to 2010

http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/acs/acs-27.pdf

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Best Burgers and Chicken

In and Out/Chick Fil A/The Habit

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2014/07/02/consumer-reports-mcdonalds-burger-ranked-worst-in-the-u-s/?hpid=z4

Friday, June 20, 2014

Immigrant Children Detainees

Immigrant children referred to as "detainees".
Is the Associated Press simply trying to appease the conservative financial establishment in hopes of maintaining and possibly expanding their funding?
Are there any responsible US news agencies anymore?

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/20/media-immigrant-children-detainees

http://www.thenation.com/blog/180331/what-overcrowded-holding-center-migrant-children-looks

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/21/texas-mass-graves-undocumented-migrants-uncovered

Monday, June 2, 2014

Top Universities in England

http://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2014/jun/02/university-league-tables-2015-the-complete-list

By subject:
http://www.theguardian.com/education/ng-interactive/2014/jun/03/university-league-tables-2015-by-subject

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

The Program

Watched this last night on Frontline.
Glenn Greenwald was also on C-Span this morning (new book).
Doubt this Frontline program would ever have been made with such detail without Edward Snowden leaking the data he did.

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/may/13/glenn-greenwald-pbs-frontline-nsa

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Derf on the NSA and Culture Warriors

Needed some comedy.

http://www.gocomics.com/thecity/2014/04/23#.U2vR7vldX4h

http://www.gocomics.com/thecity#.U2vRvPldX4h

Also, the Onion on cosmetic industry.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/brutally-honest-new-revlon-ad-campaign-reminds-cus,35968/

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Climate Change Charts

Charts on climate change.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/05/06/national-climate-assessment-15-arresting-images-of-climate-change-now-and-in-the-pipeline/?hpid=z1

Monday, April 28, 2014

Capital in the Twenty-first Century

May be worth a read whenever have time again.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/apr/28/thomas-piketty-capital-surprise-bestseller

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

US Propaganda

Article on propaganda and the United States from perspective of outsiders.

http://www.voltairenet.org/article183337.html

Someone posted information on 3 investigative reporters on the guardian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Ruppert
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Webb
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hastings_(journalist)

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Don't cry for Walmart on tax day

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/04/15/1292154/-Don-t-cry-for-Walmart-on-tax-day?detail=hide

Modern Medicine May Not Be Doing Your Microbiome Any Favors

Heard this on Public Radio. Doctor says antibiotics are causing are bodies to not function as they should be by killing off beneficial bacteria in our bodies. Probiotic supplements can help?

http://www.npr.org/2014/04/14/302899093/modern-medicine-may-not-be-doing-your-microbiome-any-favors

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/07/09/156381323/confusion-at-the-yogurt-aisle-time-for-probiotics-101

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/04/world-health-organization-and-drug-resistance/361450/

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/apr/30/antibiotics-losing-effectiveness-country-who

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/apr/30/who-calls-urgent-action-antibiotics-antimicrobial-resistance

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Legalization of Marijuana

I have mixed feelings on this. I don't have a problem with people smoking. I don't believe marijuana is any worse than alcohol. I do have an issue with people behaving irresponsibly. What most likely is needed is something similar to open container laws. No drinking, smoking, or being under the influence in public places.

http://www.propublica.org/article/rocky-mountain-high-or-reefer-madness-legal-pot-in-colorado-comes-with-risk

Friday, April 4, 2014

Expand Stand Your Ground?

Florida's response to Stand Your Ground concerns.

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/04/03/3422782/florida-passes-stand-your-ground-expansion/

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Cuban Spring?

The US trying to create a Cuban Spring?
Someday we will have no allies.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/03/us-cuban-twitter-zunzuneo-stir-unrest

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Unlimited Contributions to Political Campaigns

Another Supreme Court decision yesterday permits individuals to contribute as much money as they wish to political campaigns. Since corporations are already considered to be individuals as per the Citizen's United Supreme Court ruling, we could view our votes to be virtually meaningless now.

http://www.chomsky.info/articles/20100124.htm

Monday, March 10, 2014

Dead Men Tell No Tales

Heard about this shortly after the Boston Marathon bombings. Is still unreolved and the FBI has not come clean on what happened to Ibragim Todashev. He supposedly was a friend of one of the bombers and was killed during interrogation by the FBI. The FBI still won't come clean on why the agent shot him seven times but An American Life chronicles the story and proposes a theory on what really happened. Most likely the agent failed to conduct a proper interrogation, then killed the suspect, and as a result the FBI most likely still does not know who committed the crimes in Waltham, Mass.

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/519/dead-men-tell-no-tales

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/14/fbi-agent-boston-bombing-ibragim-todashev-controversial-past

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/mar/02/family-chechen-shot-dead-sues-fbi-30m-ibragim-todashev

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Prisoners not being Rehabilitated

Onion humor. Too often mirrors reality.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/15-years-in-environment-of-constant-fear-somehow-f,35434/?ref=auto

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

How Right Wing Radio and Fox News Convert the Public to Adopt Their View(s)

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/03/02/1277976/-The-Brainwashing-Of-My-Dad-By-Limbaugh-Fox-Hate-Media-Documentary-Update?detail=facebook

Monday, March 3, 2014

Extorting the Poor

How the poor are subjected to extortion.
What happened to rehabilitation and forgiveness?
Now when someone gets down all they want to do is keep them down.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/mar/02/poor-