Life Styles

As if the process of growing up and going to high school isn't hard enough. Our youth today face struggles of being accepted in social circles, the occassional school shootings, bullying and harrasment as well as trying to get a decent education.

Imagine the struggle of transgendered student Issak Wolfe. Issak who received massive support from other students and faculty for his transition being fully acknowledged by his new name, decided to run for prom king of Red Lion High School.  (Red Lion Highschool is located in Pennsylvania) Many students pledged their support to vote for Issak this year, and his name was added to the ballot. He pretty much had it won based on speaking with other students.

On the day of voting, Issak went to place a vote for himself as prom king. He was shocked, embarrassed, and humiliated to discover that he was removed from the ballot as prom king.

Issak went to principal's office to find out why he was removed from the ballot and was told he was unable to meet with Principal Shue (head principal of Red Lion High School.)

Eventually Issak learned that the reason he was removed from the ballot for prom king was that head principal Mark Shue wasuncomfortable with the boy running for prom king being transgendered.

Calls to Red Lion high school, Principal Mark Shue, and Superindent Dr.Dailey (This reporter has left 2 voicemails for each) Emails to Mr. Shue have been bounced back as undeliverable using the emails listed from the School's website.

Legendary album art designer Storm Thorgerson, RIP
Storm Thorgerson, whose album cover artwork includes Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, has died aged 69, the band’s management has confirmed.
A childhood friend of the founding members of the band, he became their designer-in-chief, fashioning a string of eye-catching creations.
Most-famously he designed the prism spreading a spectrum of colour across The Dark Side Of The Moon.
His credits also include albums by Led Zeppelin, Peter Gabriel and Muse.
His family released a statement saying he died peacefully on Thursday surrounded by family and friends.
“He had been ill for some time with cancer though he had made a remarkable recovery from his stroke in 2003,” it said.
“He is survived by his mother Vanji, his son Bill, his wife Barbie Antonis and her two children Adam and Georgia.” More…

Video: Homeless Berkeley Hippies Attack Stanley Roberts
A pair of dreadlock-sporting vagrants in Berkeley attacked noted KRON 4 reporter (and SFist favorite) Stanley Roberts this week while he was doing a segment outside Amoeba Music on Telegraph Avenue.
The journalist, best know for his “People Behaving Badly” news segments, was preparing a report on problematic panhandlers. He soon found himself on the receiving end of some bad behavior by said mendicants. More…

Accidental Racism, Pop Culture, and White Supremacy:
Alykhan critiques the new country-pop record that’s just been released by Brad Paisley, featuring LL Cool J.

Accidental Racism is still Racism by Alykhan Alani (@DJALYKHAN)
(link to original article: bit.ly/16NGEi8 )

[ Streaming Link to the song & Link to the lyrics ]

US Magistrate Robert Mitchell announced moments ago that former Pittsburgh Police chief Nate Harper has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy and tax evasion (4 counts). A warrant for Harper's arrest was issued shortly after the indictment.

Nate Harper resigned last month amid a FBI and IRS investigation into misappropriation of funds from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police's special events department which handles special officer securty details at bars, events and more. Investigators accuse Harper of redirecting funds from the special events department into Police credit union accounts. Using the funds for lush condos for VIP's during Pittsburgh's G20 Summit, a party for an officer's promotion, nights out on the town including visits to Silky's gentlemen's club in Mckee's rocks as well as multiple other unexplained expenses.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's body guards were also given debit cards from these credit union accounts. Harper is also accused of giving preferential treatment to friends when it comes to police contracts for new equipment in the police cruisers. The FBI and IRS will hold a press conference at 1 pm to discuss the charges.

In a press conference investigators told media that Harper failed to file taxes from 2008-2001, and used public funds to furnish his home, install a xm satellite radio for his car, and withdrew over $30,000 from the credit union for personal use. "These allegations represent the worst kind of corruption, these monies belong to the tax payers and were taken by theft." said US Attorney Hickton. Harper has also made over $400,000 between 2008 and 2011. Mobile Broadcast News will bring you more on this story as it progresses.

It was a cold night as i pulled in and parked my rented UHAUL makeshift media van behind NBC and diagonally from the Fox News production trucks. I made makeshift tags identifying the van as Mobile Broadcast News, and set up my gear in the back.
I lay down on the cot, and pull my zero degree sleeping bag over my head after hours of trying to sleep.

By Dr. Woody,CJE – I’ve decided that my main interest in the new Pope is to make Catholics uncomfortable about him, as the SPIRITUAL HEAD of their Church, right from the from the start, such that they will want to reject him and whatsoever “teachings” he propounds, and leave the Church in disgust and shame and confusion over the cognitive dissonances of it all.

He could NOT have been a person high in the Church hierarchy during the Dirty War and NOT have known what the Generals were doing

Late last night, sources have confirmed to me that a second Steubenville Video besides Nodianos' existed at one point on youtube and may infact exist offline. Prosecutors have been unable to retrieve deleted photos, videos, and text messages from over 15 confiscated phones during the Steubenville Police Department investigation which led to charging Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond with the alleged rape of 16 year old Jane Doe in August of 2012.

This second video allegedly depicts Jane Doe passed out Naked with Semen on her chest, as people wonder aloud if she is breathing, kick her to see if she will wake up and urinate on her.

Investigators and Prosecutors have been unable to find this video, but simple research and warrants to youtube would reveal that this video was posted to youtube on or around August 12, 2013, and removed days later.

Sources have also confirmed that initially Jane Doe had implicated the prosecutor's son as one of the assailants. Local Prosecutor Jane Hanlin recused herself from the case 2 weeks after the investigation and initial charges were filed prompting the Ohio Attorney General's office to assign a special prosecutor.

The local judge also recused himself from the case due to ties to the Big Red Football team. Attorney General Mike Dewine has stated more individuals may be charged following the end of this week's trial of Mays an Richmond, but it is unclear as to who will be charged and what the charges will be.

LoveCry is a non-profit support organization for the homeless and the abused in Toronto, Canada.

JM – Angel, your group LoveCry The Streetkids Organization has quite a presence on FaceBook. Can you tell our readers about it and your reason for starting it?

A – I have been directing LoveCry for 20 years now and when I first saw FaceBook I felt it would be a great way to keep in touch with all the kids for free, then it grew so we send out information to everyone we can regarding abuse, healing and love.

JM – Can you tell our readers more about yourself and your history as an activist?

A – I was raised in a small town, in an abusive family. I worked part time from the age of 12 and then at 17 I began to work full time. I have three kids and totally broke down in 1981 from there I went to the streets.

By Sherry Pasquarello,CJE -

Honestly, I am one of the least cranky people you will ever meet. Even though I have depression and have had that black dog since childhood, I am generally the type that searches for the silver lining. This weekend I did my usual news hunt. I checked out cable and newsprint and the internet looking for a subject for today. Something I could give my thoughts on. All that I did was foul my mood. I looked and looked for some take on any of the big stories that might offer a little glimmer. Either I wasn’t looking hard enough or there just isn’t any.

Nope, from the congresscritters to the damn weather, nothing, NOTHING to hang my hopes on. It’s not just in our country either. It seems global. The greed and the fear mongering, the heartlessness and the calculating is everywhere. It’s people. It’s human nature. Some people can be amazingly cruel but they can be dealt with in time. What I’m seeing now is the small casual cruelties in many people. It’s the attitudes that add up. The petty and the everyday attitudes that we tend to overlook in ourselves and our neighbors.

I think those are the hardest to confront. It’s easier to point fingers and blame those congresscritters and the governments, ours and others. The thing is, they wouldn’t be able to do the things that they do to hurt citizens if WE changed our attitudes about the ways we think of those other than us and not just stick with the ones we feel comfortable about.

So, yes, I am cranky this morning. The weather? We can’t do anything about. Our attitudes, our casual cruelty? Yeah, we can. Today, I’m not feeling hopeful about that.

Peace

By Sherry Pasquarello,CJE -

When I was a kid back in the 50s and early 60s going to ST. Scholastica grade school, getting a new pope and all the pomp and ritual surrounding it was something that defied description. It was a Holy and mystical event. The prayers of the faithful for the Cardinals choosing the new Holy Father albeit with the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit were heartfelt and an extremely serious matter.

I’ve been through a few popes in my lifetime but now I see the process of electing a new Pope with the eyes of a full on adult. A woman grounded in the way the world and the Vatican really works. Oh, I know that there are men that go into that room with the best of intentions but I also know that men are men and frankly even if the Holy Spirit gave them the name engraved onto a tungsten card they’d pocket it and vote for whoever had the most ideals and ideas as they have.

Make no mistake about the power held in that little city state. Vatican City and the Pope, along with the other Princes of the Church hold an amazing amount of financial and political power. Americans here, even most American Catholics don’t understand just how much. Now, no matter if you are a fan of the church or not it would be wise to watch the doings in Rome closely.

Here in America we have a lot of differing Christian sects, it boggles the mind. But in other countries there may only be two or three to be born into. These faiths plus the evangelicals here that travel to promote their beliefs are pretty hardcore. They affect day to day personal lives AND the political leanings of entire countries. Right now the Catholic Church has a pretty strong presence in Africa and is looking for more. Who they pick as the new Pope could really go a long way influencing converts. South America is another stronghold that could be locked up with a judicious pick.

WikiLeaks reveals imperialist plots against Venezuela-Major Banks Aid in Payday Loans Banned by State-House Republicans strip LGBT, Native American protections from Violence Against Women Act-U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments over Md. DNA case-Karzai orders US Special Forces out of two provinces, citing torture and murder 

Today is “Pistol Patent Day (Samuel Colt)” Take an NRA member to lunch

Read Articles Here

By Ars Moriendi,CJE - American double standards, the country seems full of them. I was browsing around online and
caught sight of a photo depicting middle eastern men wearing a shirt that celebrated the killing of
Americans and American troops. Naturally I was appalled as were the thousands of people who
commented on this photo. This is nothing new to us though, we react with bitterness anytime we
feel hostile opposition.

This morning I sit with my partner watching him play a video game online. I can’t help but notice
this very popular game, we’ll call it Mack Blops and say it comes with LOTS of maps, depicted
scenes of these very same middle eastern countries. My partner was gloriously shooting people
from said middle eastern country and thinking nothing of it.

Now, not unlike the military, which is the style of the game, people who play wear a headset and
speak to one another. Mostly this is to back each other while they make “kills” in the virtual world.
I decided to try this headset on and ask around about how these guys feel about playing a
videogame where they kill people in middle eastern countries. Mind you anyone who is online can
answer and the answers are usually not pretty. Something about playing war games must hype
these guys up. Read more...

https://www.facebook.com/InterstellarTransmissions
there's a much better video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PtXKY5Ppj4
The Band Interstellar Transmissions from Austin routinely cruise the streets of New Orleans at Mardi Gras providing a bus load of fun.  
Sorry for the bad audio.  it's a new manual setting camera and I was drunk.  ;~)