News You Can Use

[mes5464]

Tennessee Church Shooter: 25YO From Sudan | The Daily Caller

Nashville Police have identified the suspect of a mass shooting at a church Sunday morning as 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson.

Samson is being charged with murder and multiple counts of attempted murder in the attack that killed one and left at least seven other people injured at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, a town just south of Nashville, Tenn.

[mes5464]

Conditions growing dire in hurricane-hit Puerto Rico

San Juan (AFP) - Living conditions in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico are growing worse by the day, with tired, bewildered people lining up to buy scarce fuel and food Sunday amid a blackout and little to no telephone service.

[mes5464]

Trump and the travel ban

Religious liberty and gay rights

Partisan gerrymandering

Cellphone tracking and privacy

Employees and group arbitration

Jail before deportation

Voting rolls and purges

Sports betting

Public employees and union fees

Job discrimination and gay employees

[mes5464]

[mes5464]

LePage threatens to remove Maine sheriffs who won’t detain immigrants — Politics — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine

AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage said Monday that he might remove two Maine sheriffs for what he called lack of cooperation with immigration officials — an apparent shot at one who has said he wouldn’t automatically hold inmates past release dates for the federal government.

The Republican governor told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham that he would issue an executive order because Maine has “a couple of sheriffs who say they’re not going to work” with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

[mes5464]

How Did Marriage Become a Mark of Privilege? - The New York Times

Currently, 26 percent of poor adults, 39 percent of working-class adults and 56 percent of middle- and upper-class adults ages 18 to 55 are married, according to a research brief published today from two think tanks, the American Enterprise Institute and Opportunity America.

In 1990, more than half of adults were married, with much less difference based on class and education: 51 percent of poor adults, 57 percent of working-class adults and 65 percent of middle- and upper-class adults were married.

[mes5464]

Survey: Just A Quarter Of Americans Can Name All 3 Branches Of Government

Fifty-three percent of respondents believed the falsehood that illegal immigrants aren’t granted any constitutional rights, while 37 percent couldn’t even name a single right endowed by the First Amendment.

Thankfully, 48 percent of those surveyed were able to identify freedom of speech as being a right enshrined by the First Amendment, although far fewer could identify other rights accorded.

These include freedom of religion (15 percent), freedom of the press (14 percent), right of peaceful assembly (10 percent), and right to petition the government (three percent).

[mes5464]

‘Transparent’ Shows TV’s First Transgender Full-Frontal Nude Scene

Transgender actress Alexandra Billings, alongside co-star Trace Lysette, talks about why she decided she wanted to bare all in the milestone scene from the Amazon series.

[mes5464]

'Gaydar' Shows How Creepy Algorithms Can Get - Bloomberg

Artificial intelligence keeps getting creepier. In one controversial study, researchers at Stanford University have demonstrated that facial recognition technology can identify gay people with surprising precision, although many caveats apply. Imagine how that could be used in the many countries where homosexuality is a criminal offense.

[Joel]

North Korea’s foreign minister said on Monday that President Donald Trump had declared war on North Korea. Ri Yong Ho said a Twitter message by Trump on Saturday in which the president warned that the minister and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “won’t be around much longer” if they acted on their threats, amounted to a declaration of war. “The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country,” Ri told reporters in New York. “Since the United States declared war on our country, we will have every right to make countermeasures, including the right to shoot down United States strategic bombers even when they are not inside the airspace border of our country,” Ri said. “The question of who won’t be around much longer will be answered then,” Ri said. On Saturday, U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew in international airspace over waters east of North Korea in a show of force after a heated exchange of rhetoric between Trump and Kim over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. The Pentagon said the flight was the farthest north of the demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea that any U.S. fighter jet or bomber has flown in the 21st century. North Korea, which has remained technically at war with the United States since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce not a peace treaty, has been working to develop nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the U.S. mainland and conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test this month.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nort ... SKCN1C026A

[mes5464]

In Venezuela, they were teachers and doctors. To buy food, they became prostitutes. | Miami Herald

ARAUCA, COLOMBIA
At a squat, concrete brothel on the muddy banks of the Arauca River, Gabriel Sánchez rattled off the previous jobs of the women who now sell their bodies at his establishment for $25 an hour.

“We’ve got lots of teachers, some doctors, many professional women and one petroleum engineer,” he yelled over the din of vallenato music. “All of them showed up with their degrees in hand.”

And all of them came from Venezuela.

As Venezuela’s economy continues to collapse amid food shortages, hyperinflation and U.S. sanctions, waves of economic refugees have fled the country. Those with the means have gone to places like Miami, Santiago and Panama.

[Sunain]

How Did Marriage Become a Mark of Privilege? - The New York Times

Currently, 26 percent of poor adults, 39 percent of working-class adults and 56 percent of middle- and upper-class adults ages 18 to 55 are married, according to a research brief published today from two think tanks, the American Enterprise Institute and Opportunity America.

In 1990, more than half of adults were married, with much less difference based on class and education: 51 percent of poor adults, 57 percent of working-class adults and 65 percent of middle- and upper-class adults were married.

Marriage, which used to be the default way to form a family in the United States, regardless of income or education, has become yet another part of American life reserved for those who are most privileged.

I think that pretty much says it all for the current generations. I think it's something the church really needs to address. It's not that single members of the church don't want to get married, they just can't afford married life. Yes, the leaders will say you can't afford not to but it's a lot harder now when everything in this world revolves around money. Unfortunately it's going to get harder and more expensive.

[mes5464]

Catalan president 'could be arrested over independence referendum'

Spain's chief public prosecutor on Monday refused to rule out ordering the arrest of Catalonia's president as Spanish authorities continued a crackdown against a banned independence referendum in the region.

Jose Manuel Maza said Carles Puigdemont could be charged with civil disobedience, abuse of office and misuse of public funds for pressing ahead with preparations for the October 1 referendum.

"It's a decision that is possible but we have not considered that we should take it," Maza said during an interview with Onda Cero radio.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who meets US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, has repeatedly said that the vote - which his conservative party insists is illegal and unconstitutional - will not take place.

The legislation underpinning the vote has already been suspended by Spain's Constitutional Court.

[mes5464]

Catalan president 'could be arrested over independence referendum'

Spain's chief public prosecutor on Monday refused to rule out ordering the arrest of Catalonia's president as Spanish authorities continued a crackdown against a banned independence referendum in the region.

Jose Manuel Maza said Carles Puigdemont could be charged with civil disobedience, abuse of office and misuse of public funds for pressing ahead with preparations for the October 1 referendum.

"It's a decision that is possible but we have not considered that we should take it," Maza said during an interview with Onda Cero radio.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who meets US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, has repeatedly said that the vote - which his conservative party insists is illegal and unconstitutional - will not take place.

The legislation underpinning the vote has already been suspended by Spain's Constitutional Court.

[passionflower]

How Did Marriage Become a Mark of Privilege? - The New York Times

Currently, 26 percent of poor adults, 39 percent of working-class adults and 56 percent of middle- and upper-class adults ages 18 to 55 are married, according to a research brief published today from two think tanks, the American Enterprise Institute and Opportunity America.

In 1990, more than half of adults were married, with much less difference based on class and education: 51 percent of poor adults, 57 percent of working-class adults and 65 percent of middle- and upper-class adults were married.

Marriage, which used to be the default way to form a family in the United States, regardless of income or education, has become yet another part of American life reserved for those who are most privileged.

I think that pretty much says it all for the current generations. I think it's something the church really needs to address. It's not that single members of the church don't want to get married, they just can't afford married life. Yes, the leaders will say you can't afford not to but it's a lot harder now when everything in this world revolves around money. Unfortunately it's going to get harder and more expensive.

The NYT just wants to stir up class warfare.
What these stats really show is that lower classes of people have the most out of wedlock children and are more likely to be cohabitating, whereas the upper income people are more likely to get married before having children. Stats also show they are more likely to be college educated, claim a religion and attend a church, too. The World Congress of Families has stated that the religion and church part seem to be the real deciding factor here, not the money or status someone initially started out with.

[Sunain]

How Did Marriage Become a Mark of Privilege? - The New York Times

Currently, 26 percent of poor adults, 39 percent of working-class adults and 56 percent of middle- and upper-class adults ages 18 to 55 are married, according to a research brief published today from two think tanks, the American Enterprise Institute and Opportunity America.

In 1990, more than half of adults were married, with much less difference based on class and education: 51 percent of poor adults, 57 percent of working-class adults and 65 percent of middle- and upper-class adults were married.

Marriage, which used to be the default way to form a family in the United States, regardless of income or education, has become yet another part of American life reserved for those who are most privileged.

I think that pretty much says it all for the current generations. I think it's something the church really needs to address. It's not that single members of the church don't want to get married, they just can't afford married life. Yes, the leaders will say you can't afford not to but it's a lot harder now when everything in this world revolves around money. Unfortunately it's going to get harder and more expensive.

The NYT just wants to stir up class warfare.
What these stats really show is that lower classes of people have the most out of wedlock children and are more likely to be cohabitating, whereas the upper income people are more likely to get married before having children. Stats also show they are more likely to be college educated, claim a religion and attend a church, too. The World Congress of Families has stated that the religion and church part seem to be the real deciding factor here, not the money or status someone initially started out with.

Yeah, that's the world at large though. We can all see that as religion plays less and less a part in adults lives, the less likely they see the reason to get married. The NYT article though is showing that education and money does help with the moral decisions people make like "lower classes of people have the most out of wedlock children and are more likely to be cohabitating, whereas the upper income people are more likely to get married before having children." Money makes a difference in the lives and decisions of people now more than ever. I think the NYT is right on in trying to stir up class warfare honestly. The wage disparity and the whole social idea that money is class is just completely wrong. Satan's plan to ruin the family through economic means is working really well currently!

My original comment though, I guess I should have been more specific, was about the subset of those adults that are religious and unmarried in the church. Mormonleaks released a Powerpoint presentation today that coincides coincidentally with this NYT article. Some of the stats are horrifying for 31-45 unmarried in the church. 41% of single endowed and only 3% of single unendowed members are attending church weekly. I wish the church would do a followup study (maybe they did since this leak was from 2012) and try to get the reasons why these people aren't married or attending church. Generally it's geographic, financial and church culture reasons, not moral reasons, at least from my experience as a single adult rep. The fact that 'aged out' is even a term used by the church is very concerning to the point of age discrimination. These stats are basically showing that by aging out these unmarried members to the YSA program, they effectively become inactive because they are shamed or feel guilty that they aren't married.

Edit: for grammar.

[mes5464]

Saudi Arabia Agrees to Let Women Drive - The New York Times

Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that it would allow women to drive, ending a longstanding policy that has become a global symbol of the oppression of women in the ultraconservative kingdom.

[mes5464]

Witch doctors in Uganda: Sacrifice children in this African country

KATABI, Uganda — Jackline Mukisa sobbed as she described how her 8-year-old son was found in a nearby swamp in February without teeth, lips, ears and genitals.

[mes5464]

Republicans agree to raise bottom tax rate, double standard deduction - Axios

Big picture details: Republicans plan to collapse the number of brackets from seven to three. The standard deduction would almost double to $12,000 for a single filer and $24,000 for married couples, meaning Trump can accurately argue that many more low income earners would pay no tax under his plan. As we previously reported, the top tax bracket would fall from 39.6% to 35%.

[mes5464]

Robot farmers have successfully planted and harvested barley by themselves

Humans have been cultivating plants for some 10,000 years and, for much of that time, we’ve used beasts of burden to help tend the fields. Just last century, humans turned from animal strength to machine power, leading to huge leaps in agricultural efficiency and scale. Over the past few years, farms have deployed emerging technologies like drones and autonomous driving systems to make the farmers’ job even less strenuous — but human hands were still needed throughout the process.

[mes5464]

Puerto Rico emerges from storm; water and some food scarce

Most food stores and restaurants remain closed, largely because power is out for most of the island and few have generators or enough diesel to power them. The shops that were open Monday had long lines outside and vast empty shelves where they once held milk, meat and other perishables. Drinking water was nowhere to be found.

[mes5464]

Spain to deploy police to prevent Catalan independence vote | World news | The Guardian

Police will be deployed at polling stations to prevent people from voting in the Catalan independence referendum, the Spanish government has confirmed.

[Sunain]

Interpol Votes to Accept 'State of Palestine' as Member Country

75 nations back motion after Israel fails to delay general assembly vote; Palestinians praise 'joyous occasion'; Israeli minister blasts Palestinians 'diplomatic war'

Israel had contended that Palestine is not a state and that it is ineligible for Interpol membership. Under interim Israeli-Palestinian peace deals, a Palestinian Authority was granted limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

“This victory was made possible because of the principled position of the majority of Interpol members,” Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki said in a statement.

[Sunain]

A fifth of young people are homeless - you just can't see them

One in five young people in the UK have sofa-surfed in the past year and almost half of them have done so for more than a month.

In a city – and a country – that is among the wealthiest in the world, how can this be possible?

A new report by the London Assembly housing committee on hidden homelessness is a timely reminder of an issue that goes unseen by most of the public and by many local and national politicians.

The report estimates that there are 13 times more hidden homeless people in London than those who are sleeping rough. Our own figures, based on surveys by YouGov and ComRes, suggest that almost a quarter of a million under-25s in London have stayed in an unsafe place because they have nowhere to call home.

[Joel]