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The Supreme Court Decided Your Silence Can Be Used Against You

angry-hippo:

A nation continues to wait for final word on the Supreme Court’s Big Four cases, but the justices’ closest call arrived first on Monday, in a ruling that just made your right to remain silent a lot more complicated — just ask Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.

Just FYI, the “Supreme Court” has now made it possible for your silence to be used against you unless you first say “I am invoking my fifth amendment rights” prior to being read your miranda rights. I’m sure cops everywhere will be honest about whether or not this is said.

No charges against HPD officer who killed double amputee in a wheelchair

A grand jury has declined to bring criminal charges against a Houston police officer who fatally shot a double amputee in a wheelchair last fall, a shooting that spawned nationwide criticism and renewed calls locally for more accountability of law enforcement. A Harris County grand jury empaneled in the 176th District Court decided on Monday not to indict the officer, said Julian Ramirez, the assistant Harris County district attorney who is chief of the Civil Rights Division. Claunch’s death also prompted members of the Greater Houston Coalition for Justice to ask U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to accelerate the group’s earlier request to investigate “patterns and practices” of civil rights violations by HPD against minorities and others. Since the shooting, Marin has been assigned to administrative duties at HPD’s property room facility, Cannon said. Amin Alehashem, staff attorney for the Texas Civil Rights Project in Houston, said the grand jury’s action was not surprising given a precedent of clearing police officers who shoot civilians.

(Source: c4ss)

moreanimalia: Loro Parque, a marine mammal park in Tenerife has just announced the death of 10-month-old killer whale, Vicky. Her death is also a blow for her owner SeaWorld, who is listed in its SEC filings as owning all of the orcas held at the facility.Questionable lineage: Keto was the father of both of Kohana’s calves (Adan and Vicky). After Adan was rejected, concerned conservation groups lamented breeding Kohana again. When Vicky was born however, the little orca’s lineage raised eyebrows over the level of inbreeding at the park. With Kohana’s dam — Takara, being the half-sister of Keto, it made Keto’s sire — Kotar, also Kohana’s grandfather. Following the family lines further, the inbreeding became even more complicated, because it meant that Kohana was bred to her own uncle, twice. The young Vicky then, shared the same grandfather as her dam, but on Keto’s side, and again as a great-grandfather on Kohana’s side, (through Takara). In short, Vicky was blood-related to 21 out of 26 SeaWorld whales, as is Adan. Under SeaWorld’s loan agreement with Loro Parque, killer whales born at Loro Parque remain the sole property of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment.Read [more], Photo [source]
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moreanimalia:

Loro Parque, a marine mammal park in Tenerife has just announced the death of 10-month-old killer whale, Vicky. Her death is also a blow for her owner SeaWorld, who is listed in its SEC filings as owning all of the orcas held at the facility.

Questionable lineage: Keto was the father of both of Kohana’s calves (Adan and Vicky). After Adan was rejected, concerned conservation groups lamented breeding Kohana again. When Vicky was born however, the little orca’s lineage raised eyebrows over the level of inbreeding at the park.

With Kohana’s dam — Takara, being the half-sister of Keto, it made Keto’s sire — Kotar, also Kohana’s grandfather. Following the family lines further, the inbreeding became even more complicated, because it meant that Kohana was bred to her own uncle, twice.

The young Vicky then, shared the same grandfather as her dam, but on Keto’s side, and again as a great-grandfather on Kohana’s side, (through Takara). In short, Vicky was blood-related to 21 out of 26 SeaWorld whales, as is Adan.

Under SeaWorld’s loan agreement with Loro Parque, killer whales born at Loro Parque remain the sole property of SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment.

Read [more], Photo [source]

angry-hippo: thepeoplesrecord: Just a reminder that 166 Guantanamo Bay detainees have been on hunger strike for more than three months now, & 43 are being force-fed in what doctors have just called “a medical ethics-free zone.” GITMO cartoon by Matt Bors That lying, fake-ass liberal has no intention of shutting down Guantanamo or doing anything else that his corporate sponsors haven’t approved of. Every so often he sheds some crocodile tears to reassure those gullible souls who still believe he’s here for Hope and Change, and then the program of the rich and wealthy continues on without any interference from him whatsoever. 
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angry-hippo:

thepeoplesrecord:

Just a reminder that 166 Guantanamo Bay detainees have been on hunger strike for more than three months now, & 43 are being force-fed in what doctors have just called “a medical ethics-free zone.”

GITMO cartoon by Matt Bors

That lying, fake-ass liberal has no intention of shutting down Guantanamo or doing anything else that his corporate sponsors haven’t approved of. Every so often he sheds some crocodile tears to reassure those gullible souls who still believe he’s here for Hope and Change, and then the program of the rich and wealthy continues on without any interference from him whatsoever. 

SeaWorld

angryinthebones:

SeaWorld  (on the Web)  (FaceBook) (Wikipedia)

SeaWorld Orlando- Shamu Stadium and pool complex

SeaWorld’s main attraction is its Orcas, several of which are housed in 7-million-gallon habitats that are each known as Shamu Stadium. Shamu was the name of the first Orca brought to SeaWorld San Diego in the 1960s from the Seattle Aquarium. ‘”Shamu” is now used as a stage name for adult Orcas in performances at SeaWorld parks. Currently, SeaWorld houses 20 killer whales in its three parks.

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  • Eight orcas live at Seaworld San Diego, California:  Corky 2, Kasatka, Keet, Ulises, Orkid, Nakai, Kalia and Ikaika.  Sumar died unexpectedly on September 7, 2010.
  • Seven orcas live at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida:  Katina, Tilikum, Kayla, Trua, Nalani, Malia and the young male Makaio born to Katina on October 9, 2010.  Taima died on June 6, 2010 from complications while giving birth to a stillborn calf.  Kalina died unexpectedly on October, 4, 2010.
  • Five orcas live at SeaWorld San Antonio, Texas:  Kyuquot, Unna, Takara, Sakari and Tuar.  Taku died on October 17, 2007 after being infected with the West Nile Virus transmitted by a mosquito bite. Halyn died unexpectedly on June 15, 2008.

Click HERE to view The Orca Project’s collection of SeaWorld’s orca profiles (their own internal documents).

In all, 37 orcas have died in captivity at SeaWorld’s 3 parks. There have been 28 live births at the 3 parks (9 of which are deceased as well as 10 of their mothers) and numerous unsuccessful births.

Click HERE to view The Orca Project’s collection of SeaWorld orca necropsy reports for deceased orcas.

For more on SeaWorld and Tilikum’s attack on Dawn Brancheau on February 24, 2010 please visit The Orca Project’s SeaWorld vs OSHA page and the following:

The Killer in the Pool, by Tim Zimmermann  (on the Web)  Outside Magazine- When a 12,000-pound orca named Tilikum dragged his SeaWorld trainer into the pool and drowned her, it was the third time the big killer whale had been involved in a death. Many observers wondered why the animal was still working. But some experts, knowing the psychological toll of a life spent in captivity, have posed a darker question: Was it human error, or can a killer whale choose to kill?

The uncut  e-book version of “Killer in the Pool” is now available at the iTunes store for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch and is available at Amazon for the Kindle.

Diary of a Killer Whale, by Tim Zimmermann  (on the Web)  Washington-DC based writer Tim Zimmermann digs a little deeper into some of the questions surrounding the tragedy of Tilikum and Dawn Brancheau.

For a collection of documents from the investigation of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau’s death including autopsy report, Orange County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Report, USDA-APHIS and OSHA freedom of information act documents, click HERE.

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SeaWorld posts from The Orca Project:

2012:

SeaWorld Ponders Defeat in OSHA Ruling. Trainer Death May Alter Industry Forever

Investigation Finds Hazardous Chemicals with Killer Whale Food Supply at SeaWorld

Author of “Death at SeaWorld” on NPR Radio Orlando

Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity

Voice of the Orcas

2011:

Judge Rules Morgan should be moved to Loro Parque ASAP.

SeaWorld vs OSHA Hearing Concludes- Judge’s Decision Pending

New Photos of Killer Whale involved in Trainer Death at SeaWorld

A Better Way to See Orcas.

Secrets of Killer Whale Captivity being exposed in Courts around the World

SeaWorld PR attempts to save-face but rescue and conservation efforts fall short

The Case Against Killer Whale Captivity

SeaWorld vs. OSHA- Killer Whale Showdown in Florida

More Blood in the Water with SeaWorld’s Killer Whales and Trainers.

SeaWorld vs Marineland. Killer Whale Ikaika Caught in International Custody Battle

SeaWorld Trainer Death Theory Debunked as a Ponytail Tale

Killer Whale Tilikum Returns to SeaWorld Shows After 3rd Death

NOAA-NMFS Failures in Marine Mammal Inventory Management for Killer Whales

SeaWorld’s Proposed Multi-Million-Dollar Safety Gimmicks Don’t Measure Up

Exclusive Interview #3: Former SeaWorld Trainer Samantha Berg and the Perils of Orca Captivity (part 2)

Exclusive Interview #3: Former SeaWorld trainer Samantha Berg and the Perils of Orca Captivity (part 1)

SeaWorld will likely press Judge to have Closed Hearings

Keto and Tilikum Express the Stress of Orca Captivity

2010:

How Does SeaWorld Masturbate their Stud Killer Whales? Rocker Tommy Lee Says “Cow Vaginas” And He Is Almost Right.

Exclusive Interview #2: Former SeaWorld trainer Carol Ray talks orca safety & separation with T.O.P.

Exclusive Interview #1: Former SeaWorld trainer John Jett PhD talks Tilikum with T.O.P.

Dr Naomi Rose Speaks Out on GMA about Premature Captive Orca Deaths

Death Toll Rises At SeaWorld. Original Baby Shamu, Kalina is 4th Orca Casualty This Year

The Hidden Cost Of Captivity- Oral Health of Killer Whales Exposed

SeaWorld Former Trainers Tell OSHA Spare Air Is No Solution

What It’s Like To Be Banned From SeaWorld’s Facebook Page

Sumar, the Killer Whale, dead at the age of 12

Poll: Should Tilikum be retired?

Seeing is Believing: Tilikum’s Lonely Life after Dawn.

Is This the Beginning of the End for Killer Whale Shows?

SeaWorld Obstructing Federal Safety Probe in Trainer Death?

Could “Spare Air” Save Marine Park Trainers During Orca Attacks?

OSHA vs. SeaWorld: A Case Study Of DC In Action

The Orca Project

chemicalfreelife: . FOOD CHEMICALS:    Is Your Honey Real or a Chemical Concoction? . Chemicals in Fake Honey: High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), Heavy metals, Banned Antibiotics, and Carcinogenic Pesticides. . In a shocking new study, seventy-six percent of the sticky, golden stuff sold as honey in the US isn’t actually honey, according to the FDA. Over three-fourths of honey recently tested in supermarkets contained zero traces of pollen, and is often diluted with high-fructose corn syrup. In fact, only a small handful of local or organic chains passed the test. Even one third of all “organic” supermarket honey turned out to be fake. This is sick, cynical, and dangerous. Major grocery stores are packing their shelves with “honey” without bothering to ensure that they’re selling us the real thing. If 150,000 of us sign this petition, we’ll deliver it to the top grocery chains and force them to stop ignoring this issue. Tell Safeway, Aldi, Kroger, Walmart and other grocers to remove fake, adulterated honey products from their stores. The only reason that you would need to filter out the pollen from honey would be to disguise its origin to get around FDA restrictions on the importation of Chinese “honey” that is diluted with high-fructose corn syrup, and contains heavy metals, banned antibiotics, and carcinogenic pesticides. According to Mark Jensen, head of the American Honey Producers Association, “In my judgment, it is pretty safe to assume that any ultra-filtered honey on store shelves is Chinese honey and it’s even safer to assume that it entered the country uninspected and in violation of federal law.” This is consumer deception at its most basic level. The honey industry has undergone a boon recently as consumers move towards natural sweeteners. Big business is taking advantage of our desire to eat natural food, instead selling us cut-rate, fake “honey” while pocketing the profits. We need to send a clear message that we want real food, and real honey, on our shelves. Sign the petition today and make sure that your friends and family know about this shocking scam. Stop selling us fake honey. Only sell products that meet the FDA’s definition of honey. SumOfUs.org . (Thanks to DH) Stop trying to eat the stolen food from bees and you won’t have to worry about whether it’s genuine bee vomit or chemical-laden crap. Go vegan.
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chemicalfreelife:

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FOOD CHEMICALS:    Is Your Honey Real or a Chemical Concoction?

.

Chemicals in Fake Honey: High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), Heavy metals, Banned Antibiotics, and Carcinogenic Pesticides.

.

In a shocking new study, seventy-six percent of the sticky, golden stuff sold as honey in the US isn’t actually honey, according to the FDA. Over three-fourths of honey recently tested in supermarkets contained zero traces of pollen, and is often diluted with high-fructose corn syrup.

In fact, only a small handful of local or organic chains passed the test. Even one third of all “organic” supermarket honey turned out to be fake. This is sick, cynical, and dangerous. Major grocery stores are packing their shelves with “honey” without bothering to ensure that they’re selling us the real thing. If 150,000 of us sign this petition, we’ll deliver it to the top grocery chains and force them to stop ignoring this issue.

Tell Safeway, Aldi, Kroger, Walmart and other grocers to remove fake, adulterated honey products from their stores.

The only reason that you would need to filter out the pollen from honey would be to disguise its origin to get around FDA restrictions on the importation of Chinese “honey” that is diluted with high-fructose corn syrup, and contains heavy metals, banned antibiotics, and carcinogenic pesticides.

According to Mark Jensen, head of the American Honey Producers Association, “In my judgment, it is pretty safe to assume that any ultra-filtered honey on store shelves is Chinese honey and it’s even safer to assume that it entered the country uninspected and in violation of federal law.”

This is consumer deception at its most basic level. The honey industry has undergone a boon recently as consumers move towards natural sweeteners. Big business is taking advantage of our desire to eat natural food, instead selling us cut-rate, fake “honey” while pocketing the profits. We need to send a clear message that we want real food, and real honey, on our shelves. Sign the petition today and make sure that your friends and family know about this shocking scam.

Stop selling us fake honey. Only sell products that meet the FDA’s definition of honey.

SumOfUs.org

.

(Thanks to DH)

Stop trying to eat the stolen food from bees and you won’t have to worry about whether it’s genuine bee vomit or chemical-laden crap.

Go vegan.

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