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

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

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

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/

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

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

Aspirin and Cancer

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

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