Greek Neo-Nazi party spokesman attacks rival candidates … on live TV
Remember Greece’s Golden Dawn political party? You know, the one with the guy who channels Hitler when he speaks, and won 21 seats in recent parliamentary elections? They’re back in the headlines again after spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris assaulted candidates from the rival SYRIZA and Communist parties during a televised debate. (Jump to 1:10 in the video. It’s crazy.) A warrant has been issued for Kasidiaris, who is also scheduled to go on trial Monday for his role in a separate mugging incident. source
8-bit “Community” game might become a reality after all
Reddit user Britta-Bot has set to work recreating “Journey to the Center of Hawkthorne”, the 8-bit title featured on NBC sitcom Community’s season finale. While the title is in it’s early stages, featuring little more than a handful of maps and characters seen on the show, Britta-Bot plans to introduce health and inventory systems, new maps, and more in future releases. Community fans, this is definitely something worth checking in on from time to time. (thanks to LaughterKey for the tip) source
I want to go to there.
"There’s a lot of, “We’d rather be first than right.” A lot of breaking stories without facts. And when it comes to television news, it’s a lot of commentary and not a lot of reporting."
— Lizz Winstead, during an interview with Mother Jones
Nine-year-old stages a one-man anti-Westboro protest
Meet Josef Miles: While walking around the Washburn University campus with his mother, Josef noticed a group of protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church. After reading the group’s signs, Miles asked his mother if he could create his own sign. A sign featuring his thoughts on God’s worldview. With the approval of his mother, Patty Akrouche, Josef wrote “God Hates No One” on a notepad, crossed the street, and proceeded to spend a few minutes staging a protest of his own. (Photo via Morris News Service) source
Like a boss.
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Last week, in response to an Overstock.com motion to unseal certain documents, the [Goldman Sachs’] lawyers, apparently accidentally, filed an unredacted version of Overstock’s motion as an exhibit in their declaration of opposition to that motion. In doing so, they inadvertently entered into the public record a sort of greatest-hits selection of the very material they’ve been fighting for years to keep sealed.
I contacted Morgan Lewis, the firm that represents Goldman in this matter, earlier today, but they haven’t commented as of yet. I wonder if the poor lawyer who FUBARred this thing has already had his organs harvested; his panic is almost palpable in the air. It is both terrible and hilarious to contemplate. The bank has spent a fortune in legal fees trying to keep this material out of the public eye, and here one of their own lawyers goes and dumps it out on the street.
"
- last week House Republicans led a filibuster that many thought had successfully killed a bill aiming to overturn Colorado’s 2006 ban on same-sex marriage. However, Governor John Hickenlooper called an emergency legislative session — set to last at least three days — giving the bill a second chance.
- today Republican Speaker of the House Frank McNulty essentially killed the bill once more, by sending it to the hardline-GOP State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. The move shocked many, considering the bill’s bipartisan support, and recent warnings about the GOP’s handling of same-sex rights. source
Pretty disappointed. I was really hopeful for this bill’s passage after Hick’s announcement about the legislative session last week.
Colorado civil unions bill not dead, only has a flesh wound
- tuesday A bill to overturn the 2006 ban on same-sex marriage in Colorado died after House Republicans blocked the measure from coming to a vote before the end of the current legislative session.
- wednesday Governor John Hickenlooper announced that he would call a special legislative session to finish addressing the civil unions bill, in addition to a number of other bills which were left un-addressed. source
Connecticut passes bill to legalize medicinal marijuana
With the state’s Democratic governor expected to sign the bill into law, Connecticut would become the 16th of 50 U.S. states to embrace marijuana as an option for people seeking medical relief, though in Connecticut they’ve approached it with tightened regulation to try to avoid abuse of the system, and trouble with the federal government. In particular, all patients must register with the Department of Consumer Protection in order to receive the drug, which is used for a variety of ailments, glaucoma, cancer and multiple sclerosis being prominent examples. (Photo by the appropriately named Dank Depot) source
Welcome to the medicinal club Connecticut!
- february On February 24th, the Texas health services department decided to turn down millions of dollars in grant money, in an effort to defund the then-heavy-in-the-news Planned Parenthood.
- march Planned Parenthood of West Texas announced its Odessa clinic would close on March 9. The Midland clinic remains open, but now women pay out-of-pocket for some services.
- april A federal judge ruled the new law, which removed Planned Parenthood from the Texas Women’s Health Program, unconstitutional over details in the anti-abortion language. source
Hope you guys like Fast and Furious coverage. Because Fox News is probably going to grab hold of this statistic and run with it for days.
Recap: Wal-Mart executives accused of major cover-up
A case which could damage a huge company’s rep: New allegations of a massive bribery and cover-up, orchestrated by Wal-Mart International to protect Wal-Mart de Mexico executives, surfaced in the New York Times over the weekend. Former executive Sergio Cicero Zapata spent more than 15 hours with Times reporters, detailing his role, and the role of others in the alleged crimes. Worst of all, according to Cicero, former CEO Eduardo Castro-Wright didn’t just know about the payments; he endorsed them. Here’s what happened after that:
- Sergio Leaves Wal-Mart De Mexico After being passed over for a promotion, Sergio left the company in 2004. In September 2005, he contacted senior Wal-Mart lawyer Maritza Munich to discuss his knowledge of crimes he claimed were authorized by senior-level management.
- Frantic investigations begin Munich hires Juan Francisco Torres-Landa to debrief Cicero, who reports that the allegations seem genuine. Munich notifies Wal-Mart International, and recommends a full investigation of Wal-Mart de Mexico’s senior management team. source
“There is reasonable suspicion” of violated laws
- reaction Wal-Mart then hired the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher to conduct an internal probe, but the company ignored their recommendation of a full investigation — instead choosing to let corporate investigations director Joseph Lewis take over.
- results Unhappy with Lewis’ “law enforcement approach” to the case, management re-wrote investigation procedures. Supervision of the matter was given to top executives (then under investigation) who closed the case, citing a lack of evidence.
- fallout After years of cover-ups, Wal-Mart International now finds itself in the midst of a huge PR scandal. The company has obtained new legal counsel, but has not announced plans to release any executives named. source
The company’s feeling it from investors
- 5% decline in the company’s stock on Monday, after the report source
» So what’s next? As of this posting, neither the U.S. Department of Justice or its Mexican counterpart have announced that they’ll be launching investigations of Wal-Mart. If either country does decide to pursue an investigation, analysts and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act experts estimate that the governments’ legal fees could end up much higher than Wal-Mart stands to lose in penalties. We’ll keep you posted as more information becomes available. (Photo by Code Poet)
Re-blogging for any of the morning crowd that missed this last night. I try to avoid re-blogging my stuff from SFB too often, but this took me forever. And by “forever”, I mean a couple of hours yesterday afternoon. But when you’re researching Wal-Mart, it feels like an eternity.
Edit: Early reports suggest that Bhoja Airline flight # B4-213, a Boeing 737 carrying 127 passengers, from Karachi to Islamabad crashed just before its scheduled touchdown at 6:40pm. (h/t @BreakingNews)
Bachmann & Associates had no idea that they were the target of yet another undercover gay advocate visit, and this time it was in the form of a young lesbian, a filmmaker from GAY U.S.A. the Movie. While the visit was contrived, and the character expounded upon, the reality and the seriousness of the possible harm to young gays and lesbians cannot be overstated.
Last week as co-producer on the film, I helped Kristina Lapinski set up and pursue a counseling session at one of the two Bachmann clinics in Minnesota, where she played the part of a confused 24 year old lesbian who had just moved from California to Minnesota to marry her long time male friend, Jake, all to please her Christian parents.
