Israel

♦ UN censures Israel for raid on flotilla that killed nine Turks

Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza is legal and justified but it used unreasonable and excessive force when it killed nine Turks on a flotilla trying to break through it, a UN report has concluded.

• ♦ Israeli Military Arming, Training Vigilantes To Put Down Palestinians: What Will UN Do About It?
• ♦ Meet some Pentagon Traitors Who Are Selling Out America
• ♦ Israel Wages Lawfare Against Gaza Flotilla
• ♦ Israel deports children to preserve "Jewish character" of state

Germany

♦ Germany lifts 17-year Doom ban

German officials have relaxed controls that stopped classic computer game Doom being sold widely in the country.

• ♦ Art fraud trial begins in Germany
• ♦ Germany scraps body scanners after false alarms

♦ One in five US Muslims knows of extremist support in community

One in five American Muslims knows of support for extremism in their community, new research has found, despite Muslims being far happier about the state of the US than other groups.

• ♦ Media Manipulation, Libya and Western Lies
• ♦ Pentagon Allows "Near Slavery" Conditions Among Foreign Workers in Iraq and Afghanistan
• ♦ Libya: now comes the hard part | Editorial
• ♦ Radio 3 fans complain station is ‘dumbing down’

Fitzgerald

♦ Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald announces run for Kohl’s Senate seat

Jessica Vanegeren of The Capital Times reports that Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon announced he will be running for the Senate seat that is soon to be vacated by Herb Kohl. Fitzgerald confirmed his decision to run Monday during an … →

Madison

♦ Madison Labor Leaders Join Chicago Teachers Union Rally

After standing at the forefront of massive, unprecedented protests over collective bargaining and workers’ rights on their home turf earlier this year…

• ♦ As teaching assistants suffer under Walker budget cuts, undergraduates bear part of the burden
• ♦ Justice Tour: Tom Morello & Tim Mcilrath with Wayne Kramer

♦ Madison Labor Leaders Join Chicago Teachers Union Rally

After standing at the forefront of massive, unprecedented protests over collective bargaining and workers’ rights on their home turf earlier this year…

• ♦ When celebrating Labor Day, thank the unions for making our lives better
• ♦ Senator Taylor urged Iowa Democrats to “get off the couch”
• ♦ Wisconsin Institute for Discovery picket/protest, 8/31/11
• ♦ Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald announces run for Kohl’s Senate seat

Fracking

♦ Cooperstown brewer SAYS NO fracking, as people don’t want toxic fluids in their Belgian ale

Cooperstown Brewer Fights N.Y. Fracking Sought by EOG Resources By Jim Efstathiou Jr. – Aug 22, 2011 Brewery Ommegang says Belgian ale and natural gas don’t mix. That statement of the obvious matters, the maker of Aphrodite Ale and Hennepin … →

• ♦ Exxon Exports Fracking to Russia…and Opens Gulf of Mexico to Russians
• ♦ Who wants fracking in NY? Gov. Cuomo, and a pack of Texas oilmen (Perry backers)!

Fraud

♦ Morning Maddow: August 31

 The next potential partisan impasse: money for highways.Some corporations pay their CEOs more than they pay the U.S. government.A bit of Republican hypocrisy in Rep. Eric Cantor’s new jobs plan.A federal judge restores funding to Planned Parenthood in Kansas–for now.AP: … →

• ♦ America has wasted $60bn in decade of fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq through poor planning and fraud
• ♦ NY AG Schneiderman No Longer Alone Fighting "Another Bank Bailout"
• ♦ Lawrence O’Donnell: Nothing more fraudulent than Giuliani as ‘hero of 9/11′
• ♦ Is computerized election fraud a federal crime? If so, somebody should tell the FBI.

♦ Bring Our War Dollars Home

U.S. Mayors: In order to build up jobs, we have to draw down troops.<img src="…

• ♦ CEOs earned more than their companies’ tax bills
• ♦ Man Meals
• ♦ Can Coffee Prevent Military Suicides?
• ♦ Judge allows ‘vindictive prosecution’ defense in Dan Choi trial

Fukushima

♦ NRC’s Path After Fukushima: Still Lined with Pitfalls

On Friday, August 19, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) released its initial response to the recommendations of the Fukushima Near-Term Task Force. The NRC did not address the substance of the Task Force recommendations, but only the process for further … →

• ♦ NRC’s Path After Fukushima: Still Lined with Pitfalls
• ♦ Tohoku volunteer work shifts from labor to care
• ♦ Tepco plans to flood reactors, extract fuel

Nuclear

♦ NRC’s Path After Fukushima: Still Lined with Pitfalls

On Friday, August 19, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) released its initial response to the recommendations of the Fukushima Near-Term Task Force. The NRC did not address the substance of the Task Force recommendations, but only the process for further … →

• ♦ U.S. still monitoring residual radioactivity on Bikini Atoll isle
• ♦ Japan Farmer: ‘It’s My Responsibility’ To Stay In Nuclear Zone
• ♦ Natural Disasters Shake Public Confidence In Japan Government

♦ Unsavory ties for an entertainer

Popular TV personality Shinsuke Shimada and his agency Yoshimoto Creative Agency Co. hastily called a news conference on the night of Aug. 23 to announce his retirement from the entertainment industry, effective immediately, because of his relationship with a gangster. … →

• ♦ Australia anger at Wikileaks data
• ♦ Japanese bullet train halts – after driver forgets glasses
• ♦ Two Tibet monks jailed over death

Israel

♦ The Palmer/Uribe Report: another attempt by Israel to whitewash murder?

September 1, 2011 – On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos brutally attacked Freedom Flotilla 1, killing eight Turkish and one American passenger on board the Mavi Marmara, most having been killed at close range, execution style. They injured more than … →

• ♦ MP Barghouthi warns of massacres after Israel arms, trains settlers
• ♦ UN calls Israeli raid on flotilla ‘excessive’
• ♦ UN censures Israel for raid on flotilla that killed nine Turks
• ♦ The problem with Palestinian political leadership | Ben White

Egypt

♦ Video: Bill van Auken: NATO is waging a war against Civilians

August 30, 2011 – “This has been a war that has been waged for definite material interest, largely oil, and geostrategic placement in North Africa, a means of countering the revolutionary upheavals that have taken place on the Libyan borders … →

• ♦ Cut Back on Bad Policy or Quit Altogether?
• ♦ Military Trials on the Rise After Mubarak

♦ Statement by Syria’s Lawyers Committee for Freedom

August 31, 2011 – Today Adnan Mohammad Bakkor, the district attorney in Hama governorate, announced his resignation, he mentioned these reasons: 1- Killing of 72 prisoners in The Central Prison of Hama of, they ware peaceful demonstrators and political activists, … →

• ♦ Turkey’s Kurds must push for a democratic answer | Kaya Genç
• ♦ NATO vows to remain in Libya
• ♦ 88 Syrian protesters killed in jail, claims Amnesty
• ♦ UK flies unfrozen assets to Libya

Republicans

♦ Obama’s Paradox Problem

By E.J. Dionne, Jr. Call it the Party-of-Government Paradox: If the nation’s capital looks dysfunctional, it will come back to hurt President Obama and the Democrats, even if the Republicans are primarily responsible for the dysfunction.

• ♦ The Politicus Pulse – September 1, 2011
• ♦ Republicans Seek To Dumb Down The 2012 Electorate One Voter At A Time
• ♦ Republicans release jobs plan; President Obama still working on his
• ♦ What Was Obama Thinking?

Koch

♦ Classic Koch: Fewer Voters Equals More Republicans

Rolling Stone just published an unbelievable piece detailing the GOP War on Voting (bought and paid for by the Koch brothers); an effort to prevent millions of Democratic voters from casting ballots in the 2012 elections next year.

♦ Cavuto and Obenshain Push for Ryan’s Budget Cuts to Infrastructure in the Aftermath of Hurricane Irene

Click here to view this media While we’re still in the middle of watching the devastating flooding left in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene with the likelihood that President Obama is going to come out and push the Republicans for … →

• ♦ American Family Association calls for re-criminalizing gay sex (bloggingblue.com)
• ♦ How It Came Down
• ♦ FEMA. Are you kidding Eric, or have you lost your mind?
• ♦ Layton-inspired e-book set for September launch

Fraud

♦ A STATEMENT ON MORTGAGE FRAUD THAT EVERY ATTORNEY GENERAL COULD ISSUE TODAY

False Statements Limited Purpose Corporate Officers Action Date: August 31, 2011 Location: TALLAHASSEE, FL A STATEMENT ON MORTGAGE FRAUD THAT EVERY ATTORNEY GENERAL COULD ISSUE TODAY There has been widespread, well-documented abuse of corporate officer titles by banks, mortgage companies and mortgage … →

• ♦ Was president of LPS’ Loan Portfolio Solutions division just let go?

Goldman-Sachs

♦ Goldman Sachs, Litton, Ocwen reach deal on robosigning with NY regulator

WSJ– The mortgage industry will take a step toward cleaning up some of its most controversial practices under a deal between a New York regulator and three financial firms, including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Under the agreement with the state’s … →

• ♦ Goldman Sachs, Firms Agree With Regulator To End ‘Robo-Signing’ Foreclosure Practices
• ♦ Goldman Ordered To Hire Consultant To Review Mortgage Loans
• ♦ Goldman Sachs must investigate questionable lending and foreclosure practices in its mortgage unit, Fed says.

♦ Candidates Increasingly Connected to Supposedly Independent PACs

by Braden Goyette …

• ♦ Goldman Sachs, Litton, Ocwen reach deal on robosigning with NY regulator
• ♦ Links 8/31/11
• ♦ BREAKING: Bank of America to Exit Mortgage Business
• ♦ Chinese manufacturing takes a hit from abroad

Banks

♦ Bank reform delay rumours spark relief rally across sector

The Independent Commission on Banking is expected to recommend ringfencing banks’ everyday ‘retail’ activities from their riskier ‘casino’ divisions when it reports its conclusions on September 12.

• ♦ Bank reforms: David Cameron warns banks must not ‘put economy at risk’
• ♦ “Societe Generale particularly vulnerable to funding problems.”
• ♦ Banks Drop Fees for Hurricane Victims
• ♦ Vince Cable: ‘Banks are using euro crisis to duck the need for reform’

Insurance

♦ World’s most expensive disasters

In recent years we have battled hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires and tsunamis. The huge cost is borne by all of us in the form of higher insurance premiums, taxes and more debt.

• ♦ Jack Byrne’s son leads group bidding for Omega
• ♦ Debrett’s to offer home insurance for the rich
• ♦ COBRA Subsidies Expire, Leaving Unemployed To Scramble For Healthcare
• ♦ Home Insurance: What’s Covered and What’s Not

♦ Fifteen Arrested After Theme Park Blocks Scarf-Wearing Muslim Customers

Rye Playland, a small Amusement Park in New York’s Westchester County, was briefly shut down Tuesday, after officials refused to allow female Muslim customers to go on rides unless they removed their headscarves. Fifteen people, including three women, were arrested … →

• ♦ Syria rues journalist ban as it loses media war
• ♦ Is This Flower Arrangement Worth $200?
• ♦ Everything Everywhere boss Swantee cuts exec jobs on first day
• ♦ Goldman Reaches Foreclosure Settlement With The FED & NY Regulators Calling For 25% Loan Forgiveness

FDA

♦ FDA: Silicone-gel breast implants ‘safe and effective’

GAITHERSBURG, Md. – The Food and Drug Administration reaffirmed its position that silicone-gel breast implants are “safe and effective for their intended use,” an FDA official said Wednesday, although the agency is looking for ways to improve long-term follow-up of … →

• ♦ Take action NOW to stop FDA from turning your vitamins and supplements into unapproved ‘food additives’
• ♦ Pure Encapsulations, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert On Undeclared Egg Allergen In Prenatal Nutrients

Nuclear

♦ Nuclear expert says Fukushima radiation coming to USA, massive cover-up under way

(Natural News) There has been a lot of disinformation regarding the Fukushima Nuclear disaster. It appears the government agencies of other nations cooperated with Japan while the international nuclear industry sided with TEPCO’s (Tokyo Electric Power Company) disinformation and denial … →

♦ Care-home solution touted for hospital-bound seniors

Shortages at New Brunswick nursing homes mean hundreds of seniors are stuck in hospitals while special care homes say they have spare beds.

• ♦ Flu vaccine advised even if kids got shots in 2010
• ♦ Cervical cancer sufferer, 25, is first to undergo treatment that will not stop her having children
• ♦ Child obesity swells as Italy forgets eating habits
• ♦ Aboriginal needs ignored in Ottawa research

Efficiency

♦ Energy Efficiency is So In Right Now

…

Big-Brother

♦ Sceptics change tune on electronic records

THE Facebook era is spurring an about-turn in the attitudes of those once anxious about the ”big brother” implications of electronic health records.

♦ Frankfurt Wind Stock News; City Windmills Ltd. (CYW.F) Provides Business Plan and Capital Increase Details

…

• ♦ Crystal Clear Lessons from Solyndra
• ♦ Bored UCLA Student Joins Libyan Rebels
• ♦ Japan Searches For Nuclear Export Deals
• ♦ Dmanisi’s Big, Bad Cheetah

Wall-St

♦ Table of the Day: Manufacturing Down Around the Globe

Courtesy of the Wall Street Journal, this table shows manufacturing activity (as measured by the ISM’s Purchasing Managers Index) around the world. Only China and the Czech Republic are showing positive improvement. Three countries are contracting, but doing so a … →

• ♦ Jeff Reeves: 4 blue-chips stocks ripe for valuable spinoffs
• ♦ Even Goldman Sachs Secretly Believes That An Economic Collapse Is Coming

Iraq

♦ Up to $60 billion in war funds said wasted

Up to $60 billion in war funds said wasted 31 Aug 2011 As much as $60 billion in U.S. funds has been lost to waste and fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade through lax oversight of contractors, … →

• ♦ WikiLeaks: US troops executed 10 Iraqi civilians, including elderly woman and infant
• ♦ ‘US treated Iraqi civilians inhumanly’
• ♦ Iraqi Kurd journalist attacked outside office
• ♦ Can Coffee Prevent Military Suicides?

♦ Federal Reserve Continued to Fund Gaddafi Banks After Sanctions

Sanders asked why the central bank made at least 46 emergency, low-interest loans to the Arab Banking Corp., in which the Central Bank of Libya owns a 59 percent stake. In the same letter, Sanders asked Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner … →

• ♦ Iran distance itself from Syria!
• ♦ N.Y. billing dispute reveals details of secret CIA rendition flights
• ♦ Slash Renews Wedding Vows in Ibiza
• ♦ Breaking: Documents Tie Neocon and Israel to Gaddafi Support in US Press/Blogs

♦ Morning Briefing: August 31, 2011

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• ♦ Why having an older dad boosts brain disorder risk
• ♦ Quarter of graduates without full-time jobs after three years
• ♦ Power Full Jogging Shoes

♦ Close hospitals, says ex-NHS boss

The closure of more hospitals is needed if the NHS is going to cope with the demands of the ageing population, a former NHS boss says.

• ♦ Presented By:
• ♦ Women who have abortions ‘face double the risk of mental health problems’
• ♦ Teacher defends double life as porn film star

♦ IT NEVER ENDS – U.S. Bancorp Sues Bank Of America Over $1.75 Billion Pool Of Fraudulent Countrywide Mortgages

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• ♦ JOC files for Tokyo’s Olympic bid
• ♦ U.S.-NATO escalate war crimes in Libya
• ♦ Freedom Urges the Public To Say No To Fossil Fuels
• ♦ Michigan Gov. Snyder Cuts Aid For Low-Income Families After Slashing Taxes On Corporations