All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

Obama Plans Meetings on Ferguson Unrest at the White House – NYTimes.com

President Obama is planning a day of meetings at the White House on Monday to respond to the unrest in Ferguson, Mo., and racially tinged anger across the country after a grand jury decided not to indict a white police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black teenager.

Mr. Obama, who has labored to strike the right balance in reacting to the crisis, has not scheduled a trip to Ferguson despite days of speculation about a presidential visit there.

But he will gather his cabinet on Monday to discuss the results of a review of federal programs that provide military-style equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies. The initiatives were called into question in August, after the Ferguson police responded with riot gear and assault-style weapons to protests in the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown, the teenager, by Officer Darren Wilson.

Continue reading the main story

RELATED COVERAGE

Churches Urge Healing, but Also Activism, After Stormy Week in FergusonNOV. 30, 2014

Raised Hands, and the Doubts of a Grand JuryNOV. 29, 2014

Darren Wilson, Officer in Ferguson Shooting, Resigns From Police Dept.NOV. 29, 2014

“As the country has witnessed, disintegration of trust between law enforcement agencies and the people they protect and serve can destabilize communities, undermine the legitimacy of the criminal justice system, undermine public safety, create resentment in local communities, and make the job of delivering police services less safe and more difficult,” a White House official said Sunday night, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe the meetings.

via Obama Plans Meetings on Ferguson Unrest at the White House – NYTimes.com.

Guardian admits it will not allow readers to criticise its journalists

“It seems hacks like to dish it out – but can’t take it back.” They are saving the world with their words, so how could they be wrong or criticized? – Reason that non-traditional news keeps growing. Problems of too little fact checking and too much spin – invades all.

Pride's Purge

(not satire – it’s the UK press)

In an extraordinary article today – the Guardian’s so-called ‘reader editor’ Stephen Pritchard admits the newspaper will delete any readers’ comments which “persistently” criticise its journalists.

Pritchard rounds off his extremely defensive piece with this extraordinary sentence:

….while we acknowledge criticism of the articles we publish, we will not allow persistent misrepresentation of our journalists.”

In other words, for “persistent misrepresentation” read “criticism“‘

Which at least explains why for several years now I have been banned (not pre-moderated – banned) from commenting on the Guardian website and my polite enquiries as to why I have been banned have been consistently ignored:

guardian commentsd

So now I know.

Because while I don’t use degrading, sexist or racist language, I do take a pretty persistent line in criticism of journalists from all mainstream newspapers- including the Guardian:

Guardian claims Lib Dem MPs opposed…

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Egyptian Aak 2014 – Week 48 ( Nov 24 – 30)

Egypt still not able to stop terror attacks, nor to re-open society – Salafists and Brotherhood types not a big help.

Nervana

Muabark's lawyer(Mubarak’s lawyer following the acquittal verdict)

(Photo via al-Masry al-Youm ) 

Main Headlines

 Monday

Tuesday

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800 Israelis Demonstrate Against ‘Jewish State’ Bill In Front of Netaneyahu’s Residence

Hundreds of Israelis gathered on Saturday night in front of Netanyahu’s residence, in protest of the “Jewish State” Bill he proposed last Sunday.

The Crowd consisted of left wing Israelis and members of Peace Now movement. The police reported that the protesters carried signs that condemn Netanyahu’s Bill draft because it serves democracy to Jews only.

via 800 Israelis Demonstrate Against ‘Jewish State’ Bill In Front of Netaneyahu’s Residence.

you are still here: a poem to remind you – {peace.love.free}

you are still here: a poem to remind you – {peace.love.free}.

{Because there are times that the very force of your reality – the relentless pace, the depths of what has been won and lost and seen and done and of all that relies on you, the pressing weight that you feel when you first wake up in the morning and the inescapable pressure to stay or to go or to know exactly the right thing – will make you feel both under intense observation and yet entirely and completely transparent to the point of invisibility.  Because there have been those times in my life and I know that there have been those times in yours.  Because of that, I remind you now.  You are still here.  I see you.  I hold you.  There is a safe space for you here. }

The Coalition Government Colouring and Activity Book is now available:

Better than Lester Maddox’s coloring book which was just empty pages – grin. But Lester would be judged too liberal by this coalition – Like their 6 months and out you go if applied to government’s that do not make life better for all.

Pride's Purge

(satire?)

You can now get a full copy of the Coalition Government Colouring and Activity Book either as a PDF download (£1.94):

book cover ebbok

or in paperback (£5.20):

book cover print

All proceeds will go towards a book I’m aiming to publish in the run up to the election next year lampooning the coalition government, so your support will be greatly appreciated.

Here are some sample pages:

cameron coloringesther cabinet meetinghomeless spikes

Osborne and miss whiplash
lib-dem-spineless
sad boy no toysvince lost balls

The book will hopefully make a perfect stocking-filler just in time for Christmas for anyone you know who isn’t a fan of the present government.

Or on second thoughts, why not annoy someone who is a big David Cameron or Nick Clegg fan by giving them a copy too?

.

Please feel free to comment. And share. Thanks:

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