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07 Sep 2011 17:24

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U.S.: Government files charges over millions in Medicare fraud

  • 91
    people     charged with Medicare fraud by the U.S. Justice Department, doctors and nurses among them
  • $255 million the value reaped from the alleged frauds — another crackdown in the hundreds of millions this year source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Sep 2011 17:47

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World: Documents show CIA, MI6 supported Gaddafi with renditions

  • MI6 and the CIA knew absolutely how much torture was taking place. They knew that these people would be abused in custody when they were sent back to Libya. Why else would you hand them over to the Libyans? You captured him, you have all of your black sites anyway, but you offered him to the Libyans. Of course the [CIA] letters say, ‘Please commit to us that you will respect their human rights.’ But that’s just talk.
  • Peter Bouckaert, emergencies director for Human Rights Watch • Speaking on the trove of documents he himself copied in Tripoli and released to various media. They show that following Gaddafi’s 2003 vow to give up his weapons of mass destruction, the CIA and MI6 both engaged in renditions to send political opponents of Gaddafi’s regime into Libya, presumably knowing the sort of inhumane treatment and torture would await them. One example: A current commander of rebel forces in Tripoli, Abdulhakim Belhadj, was rendered into Libya by the CIA, where he claims he was isolated and tortured.  (h/t ZeitVox) source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Sep 2011 17:04

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World: Failing negotiations spark fear of more bloodshed in Libya

  • Bad times in Bani Walid: Above is a video showing the very delicate process the Libyan rebellion has been engaged in, seeking to peacefully end the standoff between Gaddafi loyalists and their forces in Bani Walid. Sad to say this video highlights a process that has reportedly fallen apart, bringing very real concerns of a violent military resolution. The rebel leadership has insisted about 90% of Bani Walid’s residents want a peaceful surrender, and they accuse the remaining group of Gaddafi loyalists of holding the town hostage. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Sep 2011 16:50

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U.S.: IHOP shooting: Carson City, Nevada in shock after deadly attack

  • three people dead after a man opened fire with a rifle in a Nevada IHOP on Tuesday morning
  • six people were wounded; the suspect, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, hasn’t been identified source
  • » What happened: Witnesses said the man arrived at a Carson City strip mall in a blue minivan, and shot a man on a motorcycle before entering the IHOP, wherein he shot and killed two National Guard members. The man then exited the restaurant and fired towards a few other businesses, apparently before shooting himself. Our thoughts and our hearts obviously go out to those affected by this horrible attack.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Sep 2011 17:21

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World: Libya: Animals at Tripoli Zoo neglected amidst fighting

  • Languishing in cages: A video from CNN highlighting the plight of the animals still locked in the Tripoli Zoo, where their care and basic necessities have been both neglected by many, and made generally unavailable. The images of visibly undernourished tigers and lions are unpleasant to see, as it is to reflect on the fate these animals could face unless they get help — presumably a slow death by hunger and dehydration. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Sep 2011 17:04

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U.S.: Insomnia in the American workforce carries a high price tag

  • $63 billion in U.S. economic loss because of insomnia source
  • » Sleep, important to everything: Researchers at the Harvard Medical School and the University of Michigan have determined that the combined cost in loss of productivity as a result of insomnia in the American workforce is, well, that startling number you see above. Frankly, having had a few sleepless nights as a direct result of the dire economy ourselves, isn’t turnabout fair play? Seriously, though, the health findings on insufficient sleep are resounding enough that we should aspire to find solutions to this, regardless of the level of economic drag.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Sep 2011 16:42

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Politics: Stephen Colbert more popular with SC independent voters than Obama?

  • 12% Stephen Colbert’s poll numbers for a hypothetical presidential run in his home state of South Carolina — in a three-way against Perry and Obama
  • 24% Colbert’s level of support amongst “independent” South Carolinians, just behind Perry at 27%, and actually besting Obama at 22% source
  • » And obviously, there are other horses in the race. The surprise takeaway of this poll, the endlessly amusing inclusion of Colbert-related polling values aside, is the divergence in the state primary and national prospects of Rick Perry and Mitt Romney. Despite being favored to beat Romney in a primary, Romney polls much stronger in a South Carolina general election against Obama than Perry does. The key may be those “independent” voters again — Romney leads Obama by 16% amongst independents, while Perry only leads Obama by 3%.
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01 Sep 2011 16:07

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World: New Wikileaks cable suggests UN peacekeepers dealt food for sex

  • Sex exploitation by UN peacekeepers: A 2010 UN embassy cable released by Wikileaks indicates that U.N. peacekeepers traded food and basic supplies (mobile phones, as well) for sex with destitute underage girls in the Ivory Coast. The cable concerns the actions of Beninese peacekeepers in the town of Toulepleu, sixteen of whom a UN spokesman has now acknowledged were barred from UN service following a year-long investigation. Said a protection officer with Save The Children: “…sexual exploitation and abuse problem among (United Nations) personnel is more extensive than is recognized.” source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Aug 2011 17:14

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Politics: Boehner asks Obama to reschedule congressional jobs address

  • Boehner wants Obama’s jobs address pushed back: It’s being reported that House Speaker John Boehner has asked President Obama to reschedule his jobs address to the Congress, which is set for September 7th, to the following day. Reports offer no specific elaboration on Boehner’s motive beyond his citing a “tight schedule,” which if it’s referring either explicitly or tacitly to the GOP Presidential debate that night makes it seem a slightly tacky pitch. It’s not as if the GOP field won’t have months to batter each other around, on-stage and off, and it feels like a surprisingly audacious request. Then again, John Boehner is the man widely reported to have snubbed Obama’s phone call, so maybe asking for a rain check isn’t such a big deal? source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Aug 2011 16:37

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Politics: How is the corporate pay/corporate tax balance doing?

  • 25 highly paid CEOs earn more than their company’s income taxes source
  • » The high cost of big loopholes? The angst you may have had or heard the past few years about corporate tax loopholes and decadent executive pay comes home to roost nicely in this study by the Institute for Policy Studies, a left-wing Washington think-tank. As is typical in the strange and sometimes muddy world of Washington think-tanks, some have doubted the study (which found that 25 of the 100 highest paid CEOs in America earned more than their company paid in income tax), calling its accounting methods into question — in this case, corporate spokespeople for Boeing and General Electric.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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