News You Can Use

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Netflix Faces Backlash for Tweeting Customers' Private Viewing Habits » Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!

Netflix is facing backlash for a tweet this week detailing the private viewing habits of some of its customers.

The official Netflix US Twitter account on Sunday jokingly noted that 53 people had watched the film “A Christmas Prince” for 18 days straight.

“To the 53 people who’ve watched A Christmas Prince every day for the past 18 days: Who hurt you?” the tweet said.

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Court upholds ban of vegetable garden in the front yard of Miami Shores home | Miami Herald

Ricketts and Carroll thought they were gardeners when they grew tomatoes, beets, scallions, spinach, kale and multiple varieties of Asian cabbage. But according to a village ordinance that restricts edible plants to backyards only, they were actually criminals. They didn’t think they were engaged in a Swiss chard conspiracy or eggplant vice, yet they were breaking the law.

Florida’s 3rd District Court of Appeal upheld Miami Shores’ ban on front-yard vegetable gardens in a recent decision, so the couple will take their case to the Florida Supreme Court. They argue, on behalf of gardeners everywhere, that the village’s restriction is unconstitutional and an infringement on their property rights.

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Homeland season 7 trailer: The president must be stopped | EW.com

Former CIA agent Mathison (Claire Danes) is back in the first trailer for Showtime’s Homeland season 7, which depicts the show’s heroes and villains alike struggling against an overreaching and civil rights-abusing president.

The upcoming season of the espionage thriller has a rogue Mathison trying to take down criminals in the government under the tyrannical administration of President Keene (Elizabeth Marvel), who has arrested 200 members of the intelligence community after barely surviving an assassination plot in the season 6 finale.

Also targeting Keene: The show’s Alex Jones-like conspiracy character Brett O’Keefe (Jake Weber) who was first introduced last season. “The founding fathers foresaw the dark day when we would face a president like her,” warns O’Keefe as he aims a pistol at a poster of the president’s face. “Anyone who takes a stand for what they believe, people are gonna say they’re crazy. They’ve been calling me that for years.”

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Turkey Places Bounty on Two Former U.S. Government Officials

A wealthy ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has placed a bounty on the heads of two former U.S. military and intelligence officials as part of what U.S. officials told the Washington Free Beacon is an effort by the Turkish government to threaten and intimidate Americans who they believe are working to undermine Erdogan.

A bounty of three million Turkish lira, or nearly $800,000, was placed on the heads of former Pentagon official Michael Rubin and former top CIA official Graham Fuller for what Erdogan's allies claim is their role in a 2016 failed coup that nearly toppled Erdogan's ruling government.

Both Rubin and Fuller have been vocal critics of Erdogan's, often publicly highlighting his widespread corruption. Rubin, in particular, has been in constant conflict with Erdogan, who once filed a lawsuit against the former Pentagon official in a bid to silence him.

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Turkey Places Bounty on Two Former U.S. Government Officials

A wealthy ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has placed a bounty on the heads of two former U.S. military and intelligence officials as part of what U.S. officials told the Washington Free Beacon is an effort by the Turkish government to threaten and intimidate Americans who they believe are working to undermine Erdogan.

A bounty of three million Turkish lira, or nearly $800,000, was placed on the heads of former Pentagon official Michael Rubin and former top CIA official Graham Fuller for what Erdogan's allies claim is their role in a 2016 failed coup that nearly toppled Erdogan's ruling government.

Both Rubin and Fuller have been vocal critics of Erdogan's, often publicly highlighting his widespread corruption. Rubin, in particular, has been in constant conflict with Erdogan, who once filed a lawsuit against the former Pentagon official in a bid to silence him.

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Moore spokesman: He 'probably' still thinks homosexual conduct should be illegal | TheHill

A spokesman for GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore's campaign said Tuesday that Moore "probably" still believes that homosexual conduct should be illegal when questioned about it on CNN.

"It's just a sin, OK? That's what it is," Ted Crockett told host Jake Tapper. "It's what my Bible tells me — the Old Testament and the New Testament. That's what this is about."

"You people want to take the whole 2,000 or 3,000 years of our history and you all just want to throw it out the window, as if you're just going to make your own rules, your own man-made rules, and do whatever you want," he added.

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Earth's mysterious hum recorded underwater for 1st time - CBS News

But underneath all that is yet another soundscape, a permanent, low-frequency drone produced by Earth itself, from the vibrations of ongoing, subtle seismic movements that are not earthquakes and are too small to be detected without special equipment.

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So, Satan is a person but not Heavenly Father?!

Don't argue with the Devil - he's much more intelligent than us, says Pope Francis

The Devil is more intelligent than mere mortals and should never be argued with, Pope Francis has warned.

Satan is not a metaphor or a nebulous concept but a real person armed with dark powers, the Pope said in forthright remarks made during a television interview.

“He is evil, he’s not like mist. He’s not a diffuse thing, he is a person. I’m convinced that one must never converse with Satan - if you do that, you’ll be lost,” he told TV2000, a Catholic channel, gesticulating with his hands to emphasise his point.

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China Gathering Blood, DNA and Iris Scans for Massive Database of Millions in Muslim Province

Chinese police have started gathering blood types, DNA samples, fingerprints and iris scans from millions of people in its Muslim-majority Xinjiang province to build a massive citizen database, according to report by activist group Human Rights Watch (HRW). 

The report, published Wednesday, said that officials are collecting the data from citizens between 12 and 65 years old using a variety of methods. Authorities are gathering DNA and blood types through free medical check-ups, and HRW said it is was unclear if patients were aware that their biometric data was being collected for the police during these physical exams.

According to the report, citizens authorities have flagged as a potential threat to the regime, and their families, named “focus personnel,” are forced to hand over their DNA regardless of age.

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Erdogan urges Jerusalem recognition as 'Palestine's capital'

In an angry address, Abbas warned that the United States has lost its role as the mediator in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, denouncing Washington as biased in favour of the Jewish state.

Erdogan -- who regards himself a champion of the Palestinian cause -- denounced Israel as a state defined by "occupation" and "terror", in a new diatribe against the Israeli leadership.

"With this decision, Israel was rewarded for all the terrorist activities it has carried out. It is Trump who bestowed this award even," he said.

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California Considers Placing A Mileage Tax On Drivers « CBS San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) — California is moving closer to charging drivers for every mile they drive.

The state says it needs more money for road repairs, and the gas tax just isn’t bringing in enough revenue.

The state recently road-tested a mileage monitoring plan.

The California Road Charge Pilot Program is billed as a way for the state to move from its longstanding pump tax to a system where drivers pay based on their mileage.

But it’s not just a question about money, it’s also a question about fairness.

State Senator Scott Wiener and others are saying that when it comes to road taxes, it’s time to start looking at charging you by the mile rather than by the gallon.

[tribrac]

At a very basic level I support a mileage based tax to replace a gas tax. When gas taxes were first implemented the mpg capabilities of most cars was relatively similar. That is no longer true and the per mile tax brings the taxing system closer to fair.

However, I think the gas tax produces some positive results, in doing this the PTB must realize they are taking away the incentive for drivers to purchase more efficient cars and the incentive to conserve gas.

Sadly, I think the PTB will realize the positive incentives and use them as an excuse to keep the gas tax and add the mileage tax. (this would also incentivise people moving to electric cars).

And even more unfortunately, the tax per mile will start as a basic charge per mile system but will quickly escalate into a tiered system where they charge drivers more to change behaviour.

You want to take a Sunday drive on a scenic byway? -That will cost you $25.

I-15 at 7:45 Am will cost you twice as much at I-15 at 9:45 Am.

Driving on red air quality days will cost a 0.05 cent per mile surcharge and 0.03 cents more if your vehicle is categorized as high emissions.

Of course to assess everyone accurately each vehicle must be fitted with a GPS device to track where you drive and when. The tax payer will pay for the device to be installed with the vehicle registration. the state will simply install receivers along most major roads or in the parkstrips next to gas stations. You can pay a monthly fee or a lump sum when you register your vehicle.

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At a very basic level I support a mileage based tax to replace a gas tax. When gas taxes were first implemented the mpg capabilities of most cars was relatively similar. That is no longer true and the per mile tax brings the taxing system closer to fair.

However, I think the gas tax produces some positive results, in doing this the PTB must realize they are taking away the incentive for drivers to purchase more efficient cars and the incentive to conserve gas.

Sadly, I think the PTB will realize the positive incentives and use them as an excuse to keep the gas tax and add the mileage tax. (this would also incentivise people moving to electric cars).

And even more unfortunately, the tax per mile will start as a basic charge per mile system but will quickly escalate into a tiered system where they charge drivers more to change behaviour.

You want to take a Sunday drive on a scenic byway? -That will cost you $25.

I-15 at 7:45 Am will cost you twice as much at I-15 at 9:45 Am.

Driving on red air quality days will cost a 0.05 cent per mile surcharge and 0.03 cents more if your vehicle is categorized as high emissions.

Of course to assess everyone accurately each vehicle must be fitted with a GPS device to track where you drive and when. The tax payer will pay for the device to be installed with the vehicle registration. the state will simply install receivers along most major roads or in the parkstrips next to gas stations. You can pay a monthly fee or a lump sum when you register your vehicle.

I'm just opposed to taxes.

[tribrac]

Me too.

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Las Vegas shooting survivors: 'We're in the dark' - CNN

(CNN)More than two months have passed since 58 country music fans were gunned down in the Las Vegas massacre, and survivors as well as victims' families are still searching for some semblance of closure.

Authorities have largely gone silent on the case -- refusing to answer the many lingering questions except for a couple of local TV interviews. But one pressing query may get some answers Thursday when a probate judge could decide the future of gunman Stephen Paddock's finances.

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World's richest 0.1% have boosted their wealth by as much as poorest half | Inequality | The Guardian

The richest 0.1% of the world’s population have increased their combined wealth by as much as the poorest 50% – or 3.8 billion people – since 1980, according to a report detailing the widening gap between the very rich and poor.

The World Inequality Report, published on Thursday by French economist Thomas Piketty, warned that inequality had ballooned to “extreme levels” in some countries and said the problem would only get worse unless governments took coordinated action to increase taxes and prevent tax avoidance.

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Artificial Intelligence will 'see humans to communicate via TELEPATHY' | Daily Star

Kernel – a business set up last year – is developing technology that would give people super-intelligence like never seen before.

Bryan Johnson, who founded the company, presented the idea of a “brain-computer interface”, which will also allow us to communicate with machines.

It would also give people the capabilities to solve incredibly complex problems in a matter of seconds.

Johnson said: "I'd argue this is a necessity for the future and for our relevance.”



Humans 2.0: meet the entrepreneur who wants to put a chip in your brain | Guardian Small Business Network | The Guardian

Bryan Johnson isn’t short of ambition. The founder and CEO of neuroscience company Kernel wants “to expand the bounds of human intelligence”. He is planning to do this with neuroprosthetics; brain augmentations that can improve mental function and treat disorders. Put simply, Kernel hopes to place a chip in your brain.

It isn’t clear yet exactly how this will work. There’s a lot of excited talk about the possibilities of the technology, but – publicly, at least – Kernel’s output at the moment is an idea. A big idea.

“My hope is that within 15 years we can build sufficiently powerful tools to interface with our brains,” Johnson says. “Can I increase my rate of learning, scope of imagination, and ability to love? Can I understand what it’s like to live in a 10-dimensional reality? Can we ameliorate or cure neurological disease and dysfunction?”

[Joel]

Group sues LDS Church, bishop and other members for allowing alleged sexual abuse

BERKELEY COUNTY, W.Va. – Several John Doe and Jane Doe complainants filed a lawsuit against the LDS Church, and several stake leaders Monday, saying they knowingly allowed an individual who had a history of sexual abuse near underage children.

According to a complaint filed with the Circuit Court of Berkeley County, twelve plaintiffs were suing for damages caused to them from sexual abuse while they were minors by Michael Jensen.

Jensen was sentenced to 35-75 years in prison in 2013 for first-degree sexual assault, after he allegedly abused several minors, while in a position of leadership and counsel to young church members.

The complaint logged numerous situations in which Jensen was put in a position of trust, and then allegedly sexually abused children. One victim was said to be four-years-old, when Jensen locked her in a room, and forced her to touch him inappropriately. Another victim was allegedly a two-year-old boy, who had “abrasions or burns” on his upper thighs and genitals after being babysat by Jensen.

According to those suing the church, Jensen’s parents, who were leaders at the stake, and other members knowingly put Jensen in a position of trust, despite having knowledge of past abuse.

The complaint stated:

“The Church was repeatedly put on notice and/or had knowledge of Michael Jensen’s predatory acts. In 2007, before the abuses of the minor children suing herein, the Stake High Council held a meeting where Michael Jensen’s sexual abuses of his younger sibling and another minor child were discussed. Also in 2007, the mother of a victim (party in this case), who was four years old when abused, told Michael Jensen’s mother, the Church’s local Relief Society President, and Michael Jensen’s father, a Stake High Council member, that she was concerned that Michael had done something to harm their daughter while he babysat her.”

The complaint said that instead of reporting alleged sexual assault to authorities, the Hedgesville Ward of the Martinsburg Stake “did the opposite.”

It called church leaders “negligent,” in allowing Jensen to provide babysitting services, and live with members who had underage children.

Complainants are seeking for compensation to be paid.

The report stated:

“Punitive damages, in addition to compensatory damages, are not only warranted in these circumstances, but also are necessary to send a message to this institution and its agents that abusing young children is not acceptable, that compliance with secular laws requiring that sex abuse be reported to the authorities is mandatory, and that the Church’s self-interest cannot be elevated over the needs of young children and this State’s compelling interest that its laws prohibiting and protecting against sex abuse be followed.”

Jensen is currently serving his sentence in the West Virginia penitentiary, followed by 50 years of probation.

Six Mormon families suing LDS church over alleged cover up of child sexual abuse

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) - A group of families are suing the LDS church, alleging it covered up child sex abuse by another member in West Virginia.

A total of six families with nine children filed the lawsuit against The Corporation of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints according to court documents -- available at the end of the story.

The families allege LDS leaders knew one of their members was abusing children and actively covered up the abuse that continued for years. The case is scheduled to go to trial in January.

Helen is one of the plaintiffs and spoke to KUTV's sister station in Washington D.C. -- asking that only her first name be used -- and said she reported the abuse of her 4 and 6-year-old children to her bishop, the leader of her her Martinsburg, West Virginia congregation, and the top women's leader called the relief society president, who was also the abuser's mother. She said they didn't believe her and they didn't do anything.

"My church family preached to me about forgiveness -- that I needed to forgive him," Helen said. "How do you forgive something like that?"

The abuse allegedly took place over the course of two months in 2008.

According to documents, in January 2012 the children told their parents what Jensen had done to them five years before.

She didn't contact law enforcement immediately when she discovered the abuse.

"That is something that does eat at me. It is something that I wish that if I could go back and change, I would have done it differently," Helen said. "I felt if i couldn't even get these people that are supposed to have my family's best interest, why would a jury believe what happened?"

In 2012, the abuser, Michael Jensen, was indicted for abusing other children and she contacted law enforcement. She said one of her sons testified at the trial but the court proceedings were not about his abuse.

According to court documents, Jensen was on trial for abusing two children in 2007. The papers say the boys, 3 and 4-years-old at the time, were forced to perform oral sex on Jensen while he was their babysitter. In 2013 Jensen was sentenced for up to 75 years in prison after he was convicted beyond a reasonable doubt for abusing the two boys.

The appellants' brief states:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day (sic) Saints knew that it had a sex offender in its midst as early as December 2004-January 2005, when Michael Jensen was charged in Provo, Utah, with felony sexual abuse of two girls and pled guilty to two sex offenses in the presence of his parents (who became Church leaders) and a Church bishop in Provo.

It says that instead of warning others about Jensen, even as his predations began to mount, local church leaders "covered up, minimized and denied" his abuse and "dangerous proclivities; sponsored false explanations when evidence of abuse surfaced; touted him as a trustworthy and exceptional member of the Church community."

Attorneys in the civil case contend local church leaders discussed the allegations of Jensen's abuse as early as 2007 and no one reported them to law enforcement. The layers also claim LDS church leaders in Utah knew Jensen was convicted of other sex crimes in Utah in 2004.

The LDS church provided a statement for this story that says it does not tolerate abuse of any kind but said it could not comment specifically on this case. The full statement is at the end of this story.

Helen said she believes some church "higher ups" attended his trial.

The legal papers state that between April 2007 and August 2012, after moving from Provo, Jensen sexually abused nine children.

Helen said she doesn't want to forgive, she wants justice.

“And this is the only way I know how to do it,” she said. “The only way for [my son’s] voice to be heard and my voice to be heard and to force them to change their policies so that this doesn’t happen again.”

In the defense papers it says that there was no conspiracy to harm anyone and church leaders didn't know about his babysitting or that he would be around children.

In the 30-page defedants response to the 80-page petitioner's brief, it claims one of the defendants did nothing wrong by sharing religious views that plaintiffs should forgive rather than seek vengence through the courts.

It says one of the defendants wrote Joe Doe-5 on Facebook, "privately warning him of the spiritual costs 'seeking vengeance and not justice ...' From personal experience, [defendant-1] predicted that 'individuals and families will leave the Church either in the very near future or not too distant future, they will disregard covenants they have made and thus not be able [to achieve] the promise of becoming an eternal family.'

It also said the defedant expressed concern that a lawyer had boasted about making a very comfortable living suing churches, including the Catholic and LDS churches. The entire document is available below.

The LDS church said it cannot comment specifically on pending litigation but said this about sex abuse:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not tolerate abuse of any kind. We take seriously our role as a recognized national leader in ensuring that child abuse prevention efforts are in place and followed – as happened in this case. In fact, it was the Church that first encouraged the parents to report the abuse and then made their own report as a confirmation. While the Church is, and will always be, heartbroken about the terrible actions of this individual, we are thankful that he is behind bars, where he should be. We encourage parents to come forth immediately to authorities when they believe their child has been the subject of harm.
The Church cannot comment specifically on pending litigation, but will present a solid case reaffirming its commitment to not only keeping children safe, but also taking action when there is reason to believe that harm has occurred

2016-07-22 Church Defendants' Response Brief (Reduced)

2016-07-22 UD-1's Brief of Appellee (Reduce)[2]

2016-07-22 Jensen Appeal Brief (Reduced)

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Alphabet's Google opens China AI centre

Google is opening an artificial intelligence center in China
The Google AI China Center will be the first facility of its kind in Asia
Google's website and cloud services are blocked in China, but the tech giant is keen on snagging the top researchers in the country

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California health officer advises cellphone use limits | The Fresno Bee

Put your cellphone down – and keep it away from your pillow, the California Department of Public Health is advising.

Smartphone use continues to increase in the U.S., especially among children, and the health department said some people and health professionals have concerns about the radio frequency energy emitted from cell phones. The scientific community has not reached a consensus on the risks of cell phone use, but the health department said research suggests long-term, extensive use may affect health.

[lundbaek]

Alabama elected Democrat, Doug Jones, in a tight race against Judge Roy Moore who was the target of a smear campaign by Democrats, the media, late-night comics, and George Soros. Jones will occupy the Senate seat for two years that was vacated by AG Jeff Sessions. The Senate is now composed of 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats. [That is not as important as it may seem, because there is no conflict between the two parties on most important issues, such as US sovereignty, the Federal Reserve, and privacy. The leaders of both parties support global government, fiat money, and the surveillance state.] -G. Edward Griffin

[lundbaek]

Alabama elected Democrat, Doug Jones, in a tight race against Judge Roy Moore who was the target of a smear campaign by Democrats, the media, late-night comics, and George Soros. Jones will occupy the Senate seat for two years that was vacated by AG Jeff Sessions. The Senate is now composed of 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats. [That is not as important as it may seem, because there is no conflict between the two parties on most important issues, such as US sovereignty, the Federal Reserve, and privacy. The leaders of both parties support global government, fiat money, and the surveillance state.] -G. Edward Griffin

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Boykin To Ask U.N. To Fight Chicago’s ‘Quiet Genocide’ Of Gun Violence « CBS Chicago

CHICAGO (CBS) — Some politicians in the past have recommended deploying the National Guard to help Chicago quell gun violence, but Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin went even further on Thursday, suggesting the United Nations perhaps send in peacekeepers in the face of what he called a “quiet genocide.”

Boykin was traveling to New York to meet with Oscar Fernandez-Taranco of Argentina, the U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Support, to seek international help with “horrific levels of shootings” and other violent crime in West Side and South Side communities.

“I’m hoping to appeal to the U.N. to actually come to Chicago and meet with victims of violence, and maybe even possibly help out in terms of peacekeeping efforts, because I think it’s so critical for us to make sure that these neighborhoods are safe,” Boykin said at O’Hare International Airport on Thursday.

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Intruders in police gear duct-tape, rob residents in Cobb home

As many as five men dressed as police officers broke into a south Cobb County home, duct-taped the residents and robbed them, police said. 

Officers were called to the 1400 block of Mill Creek Court just before 3:15 a.m. Thursday, Cobb police Sgt. Dana Pierce said.

When they arrived, the victims — all in their 20s and 30s — told police four or five people kicked in a door at their home, tied up the residents and took an undisclosed amount of cash, jewelry and cellphones.

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Entire Family Turns Transgender

The father identifies as a woman. His  fiancée, the mother-to-be, identifies as a man. The son considers himself a girl and, of course, the daughter thinks she’s actually a boy. An entire transgender family, all under one roof.