War on Drugs, 420; Police State, Bad Cops, Brutality, Don't Tase Me, Bro; Law and Disorder, Trial and Error, Innocence, Prison, Death Penalty, Guns, Recording; Ticket, Road Rage

War on Drugs

• Toddler critically burned during SWAT raid—"Phonesavanh told Young the grenade landed in the child's crib, and she showed him a photo of a charred portable crib."
• Federal judges challenging stings as 'fictitious crime'—"Two federal judges have ruled that widely used sting operations designed to ensnare suspects with the promise of a huge payday for robbing an imaginary drug stash house are so 'outrageous' that they are also unconstitutional. One judge said the charges were so unfair that he threw them out after three suspects already pleaded guilty."
• NYPD Still Making Thousands Of Marijuana Arrests, And One Lawmaker Has Had Enough
• Despite new law, pot arrests still likelier than fines—"New study shows state, Chicago inconsistent in enforcing tickets and fines for holding small amounts of cannabis. 98.7% of marijuana arrests involved simple possession.
• Texas man facing possible life sentence for pot brownies
• N.D.Ga.: Court doesn't buy officer testimony they smelled marijuana; search suppressed
• Today's Heroin Addict Is Young, White And Suburban—Wrong color to arrest?

420

• House Votes To End DEA Raids On Legal Medical Marijuana Operations—"'Marijuana does not make people commit crime. It makes them overeat,' Rep. Steve Cohen said. The amendment passed 219-189." Next step is the Senate.
• Illinois House Approves Medical Cannabis for Epileptic Kids
• Legal marijuana created thousands of jobs in Colorado
• The FBI Is Struggling to Hire Hackers Who Don't Smoke Weed
• FBI Director: Don't Let Weed Stop You from Applying to the FBI—It's a trap!
• Apple pulls popular weed-growing game from App Store
• One Direction Stars Smoke Joint, World Keeps Spinning

Police State

• City of Aurora, Police Sued for 'More-Than-Two-Hour Mass Roundup' of Innocent People in Search for Bank Robber
• Pennsylvania cops don't need a warrant to search your car? That's a problem
• 7th Circuit upholds warrantless entry, seizure of gun rights activist
• In Complaint, Activists Seek Audit of New York Police Surveillance—"After reports that the Police Department secretly monitored political groups, several are requesting a review of its intelligence-gathering operations." NYT
• Another Bogus Hit From A License Plate Reader Results In Another Citizen Surrounded By Cops With Guns Out
• Police use cellphone spying device
• Root backdoor found in surveillance gear used by law enforcement—"Vulnerability one of nine critical weaknesses from lawful intercept provider."
• OKC police, FBI, Homeland Security raid SW OKC home—Warranted a trifecta.
• Where did $1 million of seized money go?—"San Diego Police Department is looking for the funds, missing from records."
• Banned, On the Run—"Baltimore Police freeze out a Sun reporter; Sun management follows suit."

Bad Cops

• $650G for New York woman mistakenly shot by police—"A county police officer shot the Hempstead woman in the chest after bursting into the wrong apartment while hunting for drug dealing suspects."
• Police must ID officers in on-duty shootings, court rules—"Police agencies must reveal the names of officers involved in on-duty shootings unless there is specific evidence that disclosure would pose a safety threat, the California Supreme Court decided Thursday."
• Cleveland police officer to be suspended for inappropriate behavior —Issued citation to get woman's personal information.
• Man in Pig Mask Arrested for Impersonating Police Officer
• Woman Sues City After Chicago Police Officer Shoots, Kills Puppy
• Tupac's final words revealed by police officer on scene of murder
• Co-owner of restaurant tells 911 not to send police
• Officer Arrested After Holding Gun To 5 Year Old's Head
• Miami Gardens 'Stop & Frisk' Nabs Thousands of Kids, Finds 5-Year-Olds 'Suspicious'—"Stop and Frisk quota policy at Miami Gardens Police Department results in over 99-thousand stops in a city of 110-thousand people."

Brutality

• Albuquerque Police Face Federal Scrutiny, Local Outrage
• Autopsy: James Boyd was shot in the back and arms—"Boyd's family suing Albuquerque."
• Seattle Police Say Force Policies Unconstitutional—"Dozens of Seattle police officers have filed a federal civil rights complaint against city and federal officials, saying use-of-force polices are restricting their constitutional rights to protect themselves."
• State trooper convicted of official oppression for illegal searches—"Ex-trooper pleads guilty to official oppression for cavity searches on 2 female motorists."
• Jury weighs police pepper spray that blinded woman
• Victim's friend called 911 before beating to complain of harassment by off-duty cops, sources say
• BPD officers allegedly shot teen with BB gun
• I was the victim of police brutality: How I survived my brush with death—"In 2010, Chicago police officers viciously attacked me. The incident haunted me — and then I made a discovery." Salon

Don't Tase Me, Bro

• Teen Treated At Local Hospital Dies After Being Tased By Police
• Supreme Court vacates police-immunity ruling in suit over multiple Tasering
• Cops Used TASER Several Times On Mentally Ill Man, Family Says
• Suit: Officer Instructed 'Tase The Bitch' During Deadly Beating

Law and Disorder

• Cal graduate sues In-N-Out over spilled coffee—Restaurant claims company policy not to call 911.
• Woman's Story in Fatal S.C. Shooting Was a Lie: Deputies—"A South Carolina woman lied to investigators about the death of a friend who she said asked her to shoot him to test his bulletproof vest, sheriff's deputies said Friday."
• French father tried for ordering daughter's killer kidnapped from Germany
• Indian woman pushed off train to her death—"The woman's two children boarded the air-conditioned coach then the conductor told the woman her tickets entitled them to travel only in a cheaper coach...."
• Southern California city drops bill against Sriracha hot sauce plant

Trial and Error

• New York Federal Judge: Tens Of Thousands Of Innocent People Have Likely Pleaded Guilty—"A prominent New York federal judge said this week that a broken guilty plea system is sending too many people innocent people to prison, coerced by the threat of long prison sentences and not enough information."
• Final Word on U.S. Law Isn't: Supreme Court Keeps Editing—"The Supreme Court has been quietly revising its decisions years after they were issued, a secretive process that has led judges, lawyers and scholars astray." NYT
• Arrestee alleges government misconduct; federal magistrate orders arrestee to apologize and recant, as a condition of bail —How is this not a miscarriage of justice? WaPo
• N.C. judge overturns Darryl Howard conviction, finds prosecutor misconduct by Mike Nifong—"Ruling comes as new book tries to rehabilitate Mike Nifong's reputation." WaPo
• Italy: Murder trial is suspended after judge spots court staff having sex

Innocence

• Innocent man cleared after serving 10 years as 'Bronx rapist'
• New York prosecutor to re-examine 90 convictions—"Fueled by the freeing of a prison inmate who claimed a detective framed him in a 1990 murder, the Brooklyn district attorney's office has undertaken one of the nation's most ambitious efforts to revisit cases of people put behind bars decades ago to determine whether they were wrongly convicted."
• Man freed after wrongful murder conviction earns law degree

Prison

• End Mass Incarceration Now—"The American experiment in locking up vast numbers of citizens has been a moral, legal, social and economic disaster. It cannot end soon enough." NYT
• Punitive damages—"Q&A on the economic and social costs of rising U.S. incarcerations, despite dipping crime rates."
• $25M lawsuit for inmate who 'baked to death' in New York prison—"Mother of Jerome Murdough, mentally ill homeless veteran found dead in overheated jail cell, filing wrongful death lawsuit."
• Miami Herald: Allegations Of Abuse Of Mentally-Ill In Florida Prison—"A 50-year-old mentally ill inmate at the Dade Correctional Institution, Rainey was pulled into the locked shower by prison guards" and "was left there unattended for more than an hour…. When guards finally checked on prisoner 060954, he was on his back and dead. His skin was so burned that it had shriveled from his body…."
• Inmate in solitary confinement says jail ignored birth, leading to baby's death
• Invasive airport body scanners have found a new home at US prisons

Death Penalty

• U.S. Supreme Court justice halts Missouri execution at 11th hour
• U.S. top court rules for Florida death row inmate over IQ test—"The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out a death sentence for a Florida man in a decision that found the state's method for assessing whether defendants are mentally disabled was unconstitutional."
• Judges Orders Temporary Halt to Ohio Executions
• Tennessee to use electric chair when lethal drugs unavailable
• Firing squad or poison gas: America hunts for new death penalty

Guns

• The NRA has been blocking a nominee for surgeon general since February
• NRA lobbying led to law that stopped CDC from using federal funds to study gun violence
• AZ Candidate Apologizes For Saying Shootings Are Committed By Dems
• Detroit's top cop defends NRA article on deadly force
• Maryland police mistake pellet gun for assault rifle, kill man
• Colorado: Thornton pays $25,000 to man arrested for openly carrying firearm into Cinnebarre Theater
• Chipotle: Don't bring guns in our stores
• Gun Activists Flaunting Assault Rifles Get Booted From Chili's and Sonic

Recording

• Court upholds "First Amendment" right to film police—"Ruling is one of many nationwide supporting right to record police."
• Chicago cops physically, verbally abuse woman on video
• Ohio woman injured, charged after deputy pries open her mouth to retrieve Tylenol
• Cali. officer threatens illegal car search: "Doesn't mean I can use what I find but I can do it."
• Youtube Video Leads to Exposure of Police Coverup in Florida Beating Death—"Key West police not only tried to have his body cremated without an autopsy, a requirement for all in-custody deaths, they waited four days to notify his family that he was clinging to life in a hospital. And when an autopsy was finally conducted, it was discovered he had suffered from ten broken ribs."
• Dallas cop indicted for shooting mentally ill man—"Police Chief David Brown has suggested an expansion of the use of body cameras to avoid relying solely on officers' statements in disputed situations...."
• Can Cop-Worn Cameras Restore Faith In New Orleans Police?
  
• City, Fraternal Order of Police reach agreement on use of body cameras—"In plain English this means the Grievants will no longer be required to wear the Axon body cameras."

Ticket

• Trial of former Traffic Court judges begins this week—"They and two businessmen are accused of participating in a widespread ticket-fixing scheme."
• Sheriff’s deputies at fault in 500 accidents, receive little to no punishment
• Mendham Township officer lawsuit: Illegal ticket quotas—"A 16-year officer in the Mendham Township Police Department has filed suit against the force, alleging he has been bypassed twice for promotion and denied chances to earn overtime because he refuses to 'profile' young drivers for tickets."
• No fines for DC cops running red lights
• Driverless cars could cripple law enforcement budgets—"Local government have long looked to speeding tickets to increase revenue. What will they do when autonomous cars stick to the speed limit?"
• Video: Vaga Para Deficiente (Disabled Parking Prank)—Use full screen to read the tiny subtitles. Also: Double parking douches.

Road Rage

• Blackwood man wins $1.5M settlement after Hollywood Cafe-sponsored bar crawl crash
• Drunk father accused of running from crash scene, leaving 7-year-old screaming in street
• Packed minibus filled with boiling water after 'geyser' bursts through Siberian street
• Taxi driver stiffed out of $1500 after 22-hour ride across five states
• Oregon man caused three-car crash by holding breath in tunnel

Snowden; Santa Barbara Massacre, Guns; Comply! Incarcerating Kids, Rape, Bullying; Racism; Religion; I Was Told There Would Be No Math, That's Un-Possible, Educamation; Commencement, Graduation; Law and Disorder

Snowden

• Edward Snowden interview: breaking law was only option, says whistleblower—Watch the interview.
• Edward Snowden: I was a high-tech spy for the CIA and NSA—"Fugitive US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has described himself as a trained spy specialising in electronic surveillance, dismissing claims he was a mere low-level analyst."
• In NBC interview, Snowden says NSA watches our digital thoughts develop
• NSA Releases Email Snowden Sent Before Leaks

Santa Barbara Massacre

• The 'Twisted World' Elliot Rodger Lived In
• Are 'pick-up artists' to blame for Isla Vista shooting?
• Facebook removes page glorifying Isla Vista killer
• Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow blast journalist who suggested their films inspired Elliot Rodger 51
• Tech exec fired for comments about California killer
• Fox News analyst retracts theory about California killer's sexuality—"On a Fox News show Dr. Robi Ludwig wondered if a 22-year-old Californian killed six because women were taking men away from him [Salon]."

Guns

• Victim's Dad Blames Deadly Rampage On NRA, Politicians—"They talk about gun rights. What about Chris's right to live?"
• Father of victim in Santa Barbara shootings to politicians: 'I don't care about your sympathy.' WaPo
• California GOPer Sent Out Pro-Gun Robocall Day After Massacre
• CNN Guest Shames Anchor For Banning Gun Control Talk After Calif. Mass Shooting
• Joe the Plumber: The real victim of Santa Barbara shootings would be me losing my guns
• How the Gun Nuts Try to Excuse Away the Santa Barbara Slaughter—and Why They're All Wrong—"The firearms fanboys have been more creative than usual, scrambling to defend their precious weapons in the wake of the massacre in Santa Barbara. It's only made their excuses lamer."

Comply!

• Second Grader Written Up for 'Seeing' Gun in the Clouds
• Community sounds off after school punishes boy for refusing to stand for pledge
• New York Teacher Tells Atheist Student She's Unpatriotic and Disrespectful for Refusing to Stand for the Pledge
• Students Allegedly Threatened With Suspension To Stop Them From Protesting Pennsylvania's Governor
• Students rebel, police called after 170 high school students suspended for dress code: reports—"Police were called to Duncanville High School in Texas Wednesday to help mitigate the chaos as packs of students were seen on video allegedly throwing food and at least one trash can, myfoxdfw reported."
• Mother wants answers after teenage daughter's armpits were shaved by teacher—"I spoke to the teacher the very next day and she told me that she has the right to do it, it's part of the curriculum."
• Boardman Schools to begin drug testing students

Incarcerating Kids

• Arresting Children Is Now Commonplace in America—"Putting police in schools was supposed to make kids safer, but instead it's resulted in a children and teens being handcuffed."
• Why Are Kids Being Tried in Kangaroo Courts?—'Juvenile courts across the country deny young defendants the constitutional right to an attorney."
• Ohio agrees to reform, eventually eliminate juvenile solitary confinement—"Under the agreement with the DOJ, Ohio will provide mental health treatment rather than rely on solitary confinement."

Rape

• Schoolgirl Punished for Reporting Rape by Fellow Student
• Ohio schools chief accused of destroying evidence—"The superintendent of the eastern Ohio district where two high school football players were found guilty of rape in a high-profile case last year wiped computer hard drives, erased emails and lied to investigators about his knowledge of the allegations against the boys, newly released court documents say."
• Duke student, expelled after sex assault claim, sues for degree

Bullying

• Calif. mom accused of assaulting boy over bullying daughter—"A Northern California woman is facing charges that she grabbed a 12-year-old boy by the throat while confronting him about bullying her daughter, authorities said Sunday."
• Carson moves to criminalize bullying for children as young as 5
• California mayor sparks outrage by telling bullying victims to 'grow a pair'—"The mayor was responding to a student program proposing safe zones around town with signs directing children to places where they could seek refuge from bullies."

Racism

• Academe, an academic blog, reveals common prejudice among professors against white, rural students.
• 'Hump Day' event cancelled after students claim bringing a camel to campus was racist—"Students at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota have cancelled an event to celebrate the end of the year after complaints that bringing a camel on campus could offend those of Middle Eastern cultures."
• The Real Origins of the Religious Right—"They'll tell you it was abortion. Sorry, the historical record's clear: It was segregation."

Religion

• Narconon: Misleading antidrug program back in public schools—Scientology crap.
• Lawsuit claims teachers indoctrinated teens into religious cult
• Why Does This Public High School Football Team in Georgia Have an Official Pastor?
• Christian prayers violated Buncombe school policy
• A Winfield Tradition Comes To An End—"[T]he board of education says they've gotten complaints that McCoy's speeches contain too many religious references, and violate the Supreme Court ruling banning prayer in public schools." Thank FSM.

I Was Told There Would Be No Math

• Think the climate change fight is tough? What about the 17th century fight over math? LATimes
• 2+2=What? Parents rail against Common Core math—"Stacey Jacobson-Francis, 41, of Berkeley, California, said her daughter's homework requires her to know four different ways to add." Who came up with this shit?
• US 'in denial' over poor maths standards

That's Un-Possible

• Florida Lawmaker: Common Core Will Turn 'Every One Of Your Children' Gay
• Company rescinds Ohio man's job offer after learning he was home schooled
• Cole Middle School Cancels Honors Night—"Citing concerns about the "exclusive nature" of the annual honors night at Archie R. Cole Middle School, school officials have decided to scrap the tradition."

Educamation

• Group temporarily withdraws, modifies report accusing U of administrative bloat
• Elementary School 'Pay to Potty' Rule Outrages Parents—Technically monopoly money, and it was girl's decision not to go, but bathroom breaks shouldn't have been part of the prize/price list.
• Study: Black college grads have double the unemployment rate
• America's college students are graduating more indebted than ever
• Deck is stacked against millennials

Speeches

• Commencement meltdown– students are wisely rejecting elite authority
• Haverford College commencement speaker lambastes students
• Charlie Day's Commencement Speech Is the Only One You Need to Hear
• Blast from the Past: Fairness, idealism and other atrocities Commencement advice you're unlikely to hear elsewhere.

Graduation

• Florida high school charging $200 for 'premium' graduation seats
• Ridgewood to withhold diplomas pending class apology—The school has reversed their decision. The superintendent had blogged: "Perhaps it is the final lesson they will take away from high school: there are consequences for behaviors in life."
• Teen Threatened With Graduation Ban For Yearbook Quote
• Arizona high school dedicates yearbook pages to pregnant students
• Students upset to discover yearbook photos were altered to show less skin

Law and Disorder

• Teen tied to shopping cart drowns in Georgia lake
• Peace Sign Stolen From Conn. Playground Honoring Sandy Hook Victim Grace McDonnell
• Man with guns at BU commencement held on high bail
• Student charged with felony via hand sanitizer—"A 14-year-old has been arrested, accused of trying to poison his teacher with hand sanitizer."
• Dear Prudence: I made my teacher lose her job by saying she hurt me.

Fatherhood; Puppy-Dogs' Tails, Male Factor; Think of the Children!; Sex-ism; Men's Health, Circumcision, Penis; Syria, War Profiteering; NSA Spying, Facebook and Your Privacy

Fatherhood

• California bill would redefine sperm donor rights
• Tennessee man has 22 children by 14 women—"'I wanted 50 kids,' said 33-year-old Orlando Shaw from Tennessee, who has 22 children by 14 different women. Shaw said women love him but the mothers are suing him for unpaid child support."
• On Location West Bank: Smuggling sperm
• Japan: Schools now teach boys about home skills
• April Fool's: Sweden edition

Puppy-Dogs' Tails

• School Has Become Too Hostile to Boys—"And efforts to re-engineer the young-male imagination are doomed to fail."
• Batman in love—"Baffled by teen boys, experts keep trying to turn them into girls. Surprise — it's not working."
• The High Cost of Bored Boys

Male Factor

• Why Men Aren't Really Men Anymore
• The Thrill Is Gone – Modern Men Less Likely To Take Risks Than Their Fathers Were
• I love (and hate) dating Russian men Salon

Think of the Children!

• Will Self furious over 'paedophile' police stop—"UK author (51) was out walking with his son (11) when he was stopped and quizzed." Not sure if the ones who left comments are shills or have been sufficiently beaten down by the UK's surveillance society.
• Legoland dream dies for man, 63, over rule that adults must be accompanied by kids
• Dad asks son to hold beer, kicked out of Arizona Cardinals game

Sex-ism

• How Kraft salad dressing is profiting off the female gaze Salon
• James Deen, The World's Favorite Porn Star, Talks About Sex
• Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines [Paródia Feminista Defined Lines Legendado PT BR]

Men's Health

• What Is Blue September?
• If your sperm have no taste, you may end up sterile
• Are testicles external for cooling, galloping, display, or something else?

Circumcision

• Fewer parents circumcising boys
• Forcible Circumcision Turned This Man Into an Anti-Circumcision Activist
• Botched circumcisions during initiation ritual kill 30 in South Africa

Penis

• Smallest Penis Contest Winner Tells Us Why He's Proud To Be Less Endowed
• Man With 'Micropenis' Discovers He's Actually A Woman At Age 66
• What is the average penis length? Salon
• Condom maker breaks down penis size by state, city
• 'Happy endings' not illegal in Guangdong
• One woman's struggle to reuse a penis-shaped cake tin
• PETA: Eating Chicken Wings During Pregnancy Could Affect Baby’s Penis Size—Inmates are running that asylum.

Syria

• Divided Senate Panel approves resolution on Syria strike—No need to worry; they're on it! NYT
• Intercepted call bolsters Syrian chemical-weapons charge, Germans say—"German intelligence intercepted a phone call between a Hezbollah commander and an unidentified official at an Iranian embassy that provided evidence that the Syrian government was behind the alleged Aug. 21 chemical-weapons attack, a German newsmagazine has reported."
• Rumsfeld refers to Obama as 'so-called commander-in-chief'
• Sullivan: Washington vs The American People—Most Americans are against strikes.
• Juan Cole: A US attack on Syria will Prolong the War
• Jon Stewart Returns To "The Daily Show," Compares Obama's Syria Plans To Bush
• The 'Mysterious' Disappearance of a Quotation Has a Mundane Explanation—The 'NYT' cut "references to AIPAC in Syria Debate." NYT

War Profiteering

• Senators Authorizing Syria Strike Got More Defense Cash Than Lawmakers Voting No
• Taxpayers Pad Military Contractor CEO Pockets—"Military contractors among the highest-paid CEOs of the past two decades."
• US Military Contractors Celebrate Record High Profits and Stock Prices

NSA Spying

• US and UK spy agencies defeat privacy and security on the internet—How can we take back the internet?
• Feds Beg NY Times, Pro Publica Not To Reveal That They've Inserted Backdoors Into Internet Encryption
• Patriot Act author says NSA's bulk data collection is "unbounded in its scope"—"Veteran Republican Congressman argues that government's rationale is absurd."
• Hundreds of Pages of NSA Spying Documents to be Released As Result of EFF Lawsuit
• Fears of gun registry prompt NRA to back lawsuit against surveillance

Facebook and Your Privacy

• Facebook considers adding profile photos to facial recognition—"Facebook Inc is considering incorporating most of its 1 billion-plus members' profile photos into its growing facial recognition database, expanding the scope of the social network's controversial technology."
• Facebook faces criticism over its privacy policy—"On the heels of a lawsuit settlement over user privacy, several advocacy groups complain to the FTC that the social network uses people's data for advertising without explicit consent."
• Facebook to compensate users for sharing details on ads

Dorner, Bad Cops, Injustice, Prisons, NRA, Gun Control. Armed and Dangerous

Dorner

• LAPD: Fugitive ex-cop a 'domestic terrorist'—With a million-dollar bounty on his head.
• Los Angeles to Reopen Its Inquiry of Officer NYT
• LAPD Had "No Idea" Who They Were Shooting At In Dorner Pursuit, Says Victims' Attorney
• Police seeking Dorner opened fire in a second case of mistaken identity
• Opinion: Dorner's LAPD is on the way out—"There are decades of work still to be done, but the culture of the LAPD is changing."

Bad Cops

• Why Police Lie Under Oath—"Perversely, the criminal justice system gives officers an incentive to perjure themselves." NYT
• Police Department Rewards Officer Caught By An Online Pedophile Sting With Full Retirement Benefits
• NYC says cops had no duty to protect subway hero who subdued killer—Silly citizen, the police aren't for people like you.
• Greek police 'battered four terrorist suspects then launched cover-up'—They were allegedly published"manipulated mugshots of the men in a crude attempt to disguise their injuries."
• LA cop at center of rape investigation now being sued for police brutality
• Grandmother sues city, police department over June flash grenade incident
• Police officer accused of beating videographer fired

Injustice

• Edmonton man imprisoned after false accusations by stepson acquitted almost 20 years later
• Tearful ex-Texas DA says wrongful conviction was his 'worst nightmare,' but denies misconduct
• State faces lawsuit by man exonerated after 20 years in jail

Prisons

• The cost of a nation of incarceration—"The U.S. houses 25% of the world's inmates, costing taxpayers more than $63B a year; What steps are being taken to reduce incarceration?"
• U.S. Prison Population Seeing "Unprecedented Increase"—It "has jumped from 25,000 to 219,000 inmates, an increase of nearly 790 percent."
• The Big House That Wayne LaPierre Built—"The NRA spent millions in the 1990s pushing the largest prison construction boom ever—and harsh sentencing to keep them full."
• Unless They Want Dangerous and Disgusting Prisons, States Should Run Screaming From the Corrections Corporation of America
• Life in prison: What life is like after being in prison for decades.

NRA

• The NRA's Own Fanaticism May Be Its Doom
• New Poll Indicates NRA Endorsement Much More Toxic Than Helpful To Candidates
• Game-Show Host Barker Joins Rabbis on NRA’s List of Gun Foes—"The National Rifle Association classifies Bob Barker as anti-gun, even though the 89-year-old retired game-show host sleeps with a .38-caliber pistol next to his bed, shoots skeet and donated to the group’s choice for president, Republican Mitt Romney."

Gun Control

• Debate Rages On Even As Research Ban On Gun Violence Ends
• Poll: 9 In 10 Americans Support Background Check For All Gun Sales
• Gun Issue May Drive Women To 2014 Polls
• That Pro-Gun "Sandy Hook Father" Isn't Actually a Sandy Hook Father—"I just wanted to let you know that my daughter does not attend Sandy Hook Elementary."
• Nancy Pelosi: Video Games Are Not The Reason For Violence In America

Armed...

• Arkansas Guns In Church Bill Passes In House Of Representatives—Praise the Lord and pass the ammo.
• Texas considers letting college students carry guns on campus
• Dove Creek schools to arm administrators—"Superintendent, principal to double as security officers, carry weapons."

and Dangerous

• 3-year-old S.C. boy killed after mistaking pink handgun for toy
• Angry Dallas Neighbor Allegedly Kills 2 Over Dog Poop
• Fourth grade hero calls alerting school to weapons the right choice
• California student in custody after email warned of mass school shooting
• Bend man shot by wife's gun improving—"[W]hen [the wife] leaned forward and the gun fell out of her pocket and hit the floor[, t]he impact with the floor caused the gun to go off, with the bullet striking [the husband] in the abdomen...."

Gun Control, NRA, Deaths, Educamation, Videogame Violence

Gun Control

• Lack Of Up-To-Date Research Complicates Gun Debate
• Gabby Giffords: 'Too Many Children Are Dying. We Must Do Something
• Gayle Trotter Opposed Law To Protect Women Before Testifying On Guns For Moms
• Rick Perry Says Prayer, Not Gun Control, Will Keep American Children Safe From Violence
• Father of Newtown victim heckled at hearing
• Sandy Hook Conspiracy Theory Video Debunked By Experts
• Colbert: Obama's Gun Grab—"Since King Gun Snatcher the Magnificent knew his gun policies weren't going to pass the smell test, he stoops to surrounding himself with children during his speech."

NRA

• Unmasking the NRA's Inner Circle—"[T]oday's NRA, widely considered to be disproportionately influential in politics, operates more like a corporation or politburo than a typical nonprofit or lobbying organization."
• LaPierre Fights To Stop The 'Nightmare' Of Background Checks—Sen. Dick Durbin fires back, "Mr. LaPierre, that's the point. The criminals won't go to purchase the guns because there'll be a background check. We'll stop them from original purchase. You missed that point completely. It's basic."
• How To Convince The NRA That Assault Weapons, Not The Media, Are Responsible For Gun Massacres
• How the NRA spent $32 million on politics in 2012
• Jon Stewart Trashes NRA: They Must Be A Michael Moore-Run Covert Op To Make Gun Owners Look Stupid

Deaths

• 15-Year-Old Girl Who Performed at Inaguration Shot And Killed In Kenwood Neighborhood Park
• Georgia man shoots and kills young Latino who accidentally pulled into his driveway, police say
• Jimmy Lee Dykes Accused Of Killing Alabama Bus Driver, Taking 6-Year-Old Hostage

Educamation

• Missouri Bill Would Require All First Graders To Take NRA-Sponsored Gun Class
• 'Firearms instructor' hired as school guard leaves handgun in student bathroom
• Charges: Dad points AK-47 at daughter for getting two B's in school

Videogame Violence

• Yes, a US Senator just said games are a bigger problem than guns
• Obama Urges $10 Million to Study Video Games and Violence WSJ
• How the Video-Game Industry Defends Itself from the NRA — and Joe Biden
• I'm Mentally Ill, I Love Violent Video Games, And They've Never Made Me Feel Like Killing Anyone
• Video Games are Now Cigarettes with New Proposed Taxes, Labels and Restrictions

Gun Control, NRA, Conspiracy Theories, Educamation, Violent Videogames

Gun Control

• US gun debate: Obama to unveil gun control proposals--Good luck having Congress approve them
• Unhinged Tactical Response CEO threatens to 'start killing people' over Obama's gun control--His online rant lost him his permit to carry, which he's pleading to get back.
• Sales of Guns Soar in U.S. as Nation Weighs Tougher Limits NYT
• Bill called 'toughest gun control package in the nation' passed by New York Senate--It makes the PATRIOT Act look good by comparison.
• Texas lawyers give $1 million to gun control super PAC--"Steve and Amber Mostyn, wealthy Texas lawyers who donated millions to help elect Democrats last year, are giving $1 million to a new gun control super PAC created by former Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly."
• Jon Stewart Goes After Gun Control Opponents On The Right
• Piers Morgan: No regrets over calling US gun lobby stupid

NRA

• NRA Vows To Stop Tucson From Destroying Guns
• NRA 'disappointed' by meeting with Biden
• NRA hits Obama over 'hypocrisy' of armed guards for daughters
• CNN interrupts coverage of Biden on the NRA with news of another school shooter
• The NRA once supported gun control--"It may seem hard to believe, but for decades the organization helped write federal laws restricting gun use." Salon
• Maddow: NRA fades from important to impotent
• Colbert Report: Gun Control Backlash

Conspiracy Theories

• Exposing Newtown conspiracy theory--"Some people are actually claiming the Newtown school shooting was staged (Salon) by the government and media who are in support of stricter gun control laws."
• Sandy Hook Conspiracy Video Goes Viral, Questions Everything
• This man helped save six children, is now getting harassed for it--"Gene Rosen sheltered six kids during the Sandy Hook massacre. Now he's become a target of conspiracy theorists." Salon

Educamation

• Newton Victim: Wrestling With Details of Noah Pozner's Killing
• Armed Janitors Approved By Montpelier, Ohio, School Board To Stop School Shootings
• After Newtown shootings, Pennsylvania county hires armed school guards
• Dad poses as gunman to test school security, gets arrested
• Why Are Poor Kids Paying for School Security?

Violent Videogames

• One Month After Newtown Shooting, NRA Releases Shooting Game App With Coffin-Shaped Targets--Yet another nail in their crazy coffin.
• Makers of Violent Video Games Marshal Support to Fend Off Regulation NYT
• Rep. Diane Franklin wants tax on violent video games

Gun Control, Educamation; War on Terror, Civil Liberties, Wikileaks, TSA: Theater Security of America; School-to-Prison, Prison Privatization, Jail Tales

Gun Control

• Obama Supports New Bid To Ban Assault Weapons, Close Gun Show 'Loophole'
• Case studies for Sandy Hook? Australia, Scotland and Finland changed gun laws after mass shootings
• Michigan's Snyder Vetoes Bill Allowing Concealed Guns In Schools
• All 31 Pro-Gun Senators Refused Invitations To Appear On 'Meet The Press'
• Gun Control Momentum Is Real, Just Don’t Ask The House
• Report: Fox News producers told not to address gun control
• NRA's Facebook page shuttered, Twitter activity halted--But they haven't gone completely dark.

Educamation

• Sixth Grader Brings Gun to School for Protection, Does Not Act Totally Responsibly
• Oklahoma Will Consider Law Allowing Teachers To Bring Guns To School
• Umbrella mistaken for gun at Upper Dublin High School

War on Terror

• Zakaria: End the war on terror and save billions
• US Muslims to GOP: If You're Trying to Lose Our Votes, You're Doing a Good Job
• Military Judge Orders Guantánamo Prisoners not to Talk in Court about being Tortured
• U.S.: dismiss lawsuit over Americans killed by drones--" The administration also threatened to invoke the State Secrets..."
• Rendition, Zero Dark Thirty and the brutal reality of Britain's secret services--"Kathryn Bigelow's film about the killing of Osama bin Laden does not touch the reality of what occurred in the 'war on terror'"

Civil Liberties

• CIA 'tortured and sodomised' terror suspect, human rights court rules--"Landmark European court of human rights judgment says CIA tortured wrongly detained German citizen."
• State Secrets Defense Corners Judge in 'Catch-22' Predicament
• Judge OKs Warrantless Cell-Site Data in Landmark Privacy Case

Wikileaks

• Pirate Party Presses Charges Against Banks For WikiLeaks Blockade
• Julian Assange to run for Australian Senate under WikiLeaks party
• Bradley Manning's long quest for justice--"History will judge harshly the US military's mistreatment of the alleged WikiLeaks whistleblower...."

TSA: Theater Security of America

• TSA Detains "Explosive Laced" Girl In Wheelchair--And they come out with a so-called apology.
• TSA to Commission Independent Study of X-Ray Body Scanners
• TSA revising security screening at some airports

School-to-Prison

• Private Prison Company Used in Drug Raids at Public High School
• The Shocking Details of a Mississippi School-to-Prison Pipeline
• Groundbreaking Senate Hearing Shines a Light on the School-to-Prison Pipeline

Prison Privatization

• One way to trim the budget: Prison reform.
• Prison Price Gouging Costs Us All In The End
• Stupid and Unjust: The Highway Robbery of Prison Phone Rates
• Private Prison Company Exec Thomas Weirdsma: Lying To Federal Agencies 'Happens All The Time'
• Prison labor booms in US as low-cost inmates bring billions

Jail Tales

• For Lesser Crimes, Rethinking Life Behind Bars--"Many scholars say mandatory sentencing policies lock up nonviolent, low-level offenders for too long and are no longer a cost-effective way to reduce crime in the United States." NYT
• 31 percent of correctional officers have PTSD Salon
• Jailers worry about inmates using dental floss as a weapon

Right-Wing Terrorism, Guns, Media, Voter Fraud, Voter Suppression, Campaign Ads, Elections 2012

Right-Wing Terrorism

• Joplin mosque razed in fire; 2nd blaze this summer
• Army Veteran Wade Page Identified As Sikh Temple Shooter--He was into hate-driven music (NYT).
• Fox News analyst: Sikh temple massacre 'not domestic terrorism'
• Right-wing extremist terrorism as deadly a threat as al Qaeda?
• DHS Crushed This Analyst for Warning About Far-Right Terror

Guns

• A Guide to Mass Shootings in America
• The NRA's big secret: Nobody is actually trying to take your guns
• NRA Sought Donations In Days After Colorado Shootings
• White House: Obama Supports Renewing Assault Weapons Ban — But Congress Won’t Act
• What they're saying: Gun control is irrelevant--"A conservative pretends gun massacres have nothing to do with guns." Salon
• Ohio police arrest man for bringing gun into 'Dark Knight' screening
• The Onion: 'Just Illegalize Us Already,' Nation's Assault Weapons Beg

Media

• Extremism normalized--"How Americans are efficiently trained to acquiesce to ideas once deemed so radical as to be unthinkable." Salon
• Infographic of the Day: Do the Mainstream Media Have a Conservative Bias?
• Harry Reid Is Vilified by a Press Corps That Tolerates Much Worse From the Right--How dare he make Mittens look bad!

Voter Fraud

• Repeat After Me: In-Person, In-Person, In-Person--Absolutely the only kind of voter fraud there can ever be, and anyone who says otherwise is a commie-loving hippie.
• Actual GOP voter fraud in Arizona
• Voter Fraud 'Study' Authored By Republican Who Pleaded Guilty In Abramoff Scandal

Voter Suppression

• Obama campaign sues Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted over early voting restrictions
• Justice Department Investigates Pennsylvania Voter ID Law
• The voter ID mess subverts an American birthright
• Chart of the Day: Voter ID and Racial Resentment
• Clarifying recent changes to our electoral system

Campaign Ads

• Lewis Black Takes Apart Dishonest Campaign Ads in Epic Rant
• The scandal behind Romney's new attack ad
• Veterans: Romney Lying About Obama Suit’s Effect On Military Voters--"Romney had claimed — falsely — that the Obama campaign opposed allowing members of the military and their families to vote in-person in the three days before the election. Actually, the Obama campaign wants all people in Ohio — including, for example, veterans, cops and firefighters — to be able to vote during that period."

Elections 2012

• A real corporate choice for VP: If corporations are Mitt Romney's peeps, why not pick one as his running mate?
• One Clue To Romney's Veep Pick: Whose Wiki Page Is Getting The Most Edits?
• Sen. Sherrod Brown's Wife Makes Conservative Blogger Look Silly--"Dear Ms. Shultz, We are doing an expose on journalists in the elite media who socialize with elected officials they are assigned to cover. We have found numerous photos of you with Sen. Sherrod Brown. In one of them, you appear to be hugging him. Care to comment?"
• New 'Twindex' plumbs voter mood by issue via tweet analysis
• Mitt Romney suspiciously gets 116K Twitter followers in one day
• A super PAC wake-up call for Dems Salon
• The Onion: GOP Trying To Keep Elderly Voting Base Alive Until November