Rupert Murdoch Gun Control Tweet

FOX News chairman Rupert Murdoch has tweeted in favor of reasonable gun control. "We don't need AK47s to defend ourselves. Nobody does."

Andrew Cuomo Stealth Texting Scandal

* Gov. Cuomo says it's no big secret - reason for unrecorded texting system is fear of hacking. The Daily News reported Monday that Cuomo refuses to communicate by email. If aides can’t talk in person or by phone, they are told to use the BlackBerry PIN-to-PIN messaging system — a function that leaves no lasting trail because it bypasses data-saving email servers. Baruch College’s Doug Muzzio said, “There’s an element of the stealth governorship here. It’s all part of their strategy to tightly control information and message.”

* Gov. Cuomo uses BlackBerry pin-to-pin messaging system to contact key staffers when they can't talk on the phone. A message sent over a data server can always be recovered, even when deleted. Not so for PIN messages, which are gone forever once killed, a spokesman for BlackBerry operator Research In Motion said. And while much of the back-and-forth communication between the governor and his aides is private, it could be subject to subpoena by ethics investigators, prosecutors and possibly members of the Legislature in the event of a probe. All this secrecy, even though Cuomo "promised to have the most open and transparent administration in state history."

Madonna Marine Le Pen Lawsuit

The New York Daily News reported that Madonna faces a lawsuit from France's extremist right-wing National Front political party, because the Material Girl flashed a Nazi swastika image over a picture of Marine Le Pen during a concert at le Stade de France in Paris on Bastille Day last Saturday. ''National Front spokesman Alain Vizier told the AP that the party is planning to file a complaint in the French court next week for these 'insults,' '' reported The Daily News.

Read more at 20 Minutes : Marine Le Pen affublée d'une croix gammée: Que risque Madonna?

Madonna's Concert Stade de France : Marine Le Pen's Swastika Scandal

Madonna was all the talk of Paris, even before the city's huge Bastille Day festival. The Queen of Pop was giving a concert in the grand Stade de France just north of Paris, and the paparazzi were in full force, describing Madonna as exhausted and tired. But tonight, she put on a fabulous show, our sources tell us, as demonstrated this insider's photo (above). Madonna is still the epitome of glamour and style.

Madonna created a scandal (as usual) by projecting an image of the right-wing politician, Marine Le Pen, bearing a swastika on her forehead. Madonna had first aired the controversial image of Ms. Le Pen in Tel Aviv on May 31. After the image's debut, Ms. Le Pen shot back by describing Madonna as being one of the "old singers," who go to extremes for publicity. But last month, Ms. Le Pen escalated her rhetoric and threatened to sue the Material Girl if the controversial image was not removed from the montage of images and video as part of Madonna's concert. No word, yet, on Ms. Le Pen's reaction to the use of the image at le Stade de France.

Fire at South Street Seaport

Fire breaks out at South Street Seaport ; FDNY put out the blaze. No casualties reported, according to The New York Post. * Fire officials say a heavy blaze at New York City's crowded South Street Seaport shopping spot has been put out without any injuries. Battalion Chief John Sarrocco said flames enveloped a 100-foot stretch of Pier 17, which was teeming with several hundred people when the fire broke out about 4 p.m. Saturday. (NY Post) * Fire Causes Smoke and Panic at the South Street Seaport (NYT)

2003 Iraq NYC protests Censorship ?

A Google search for news stories about this string : nyc war protest 2003 (without quotation marks) (which is broad enough to pick up the massive anti-war protest and rally, which took place in New York City on February 15, 2003) turns up no results. Why does Google provide no links to news articles to a simple search for this historical event ?

AT&T Domestic Cellphone Surveillance

Cellphone carriers filed reports with the U.S. Congress indicating that the telecommunication companies "responded to a startling 1.3 million demands for subscriber information last year from law enforcement agencies seeking text messages, caller locations and other information in the course of investigations. ...AT&T alone now responds to an average of more than 700 requests a day, with about 230 of them regarded as emergencies that do not require the normal court orders and subpoena. That is roughly triple the number it fielded in 2007, the company said," according to The New York Times.

2012-05-29 ATT Response to Rep Ed Markey - Domestic Spying

Read more letters to mobile carriers reagrding use of cell phone tracking by law enforcement on Rep. Ed Markey's website.

What is the Robin Hood Tax ?

Simply put, the big idea behind the Robin Hood Tax is to generate hundreds of billions of dollars. That money could provide funding for jobs to kickstart the economy and get America back on its feet. It could help save the social safety net here and around the world. And it will come from fairer taxation of the financial sector.

This small tax of less than ½ of 1% on Wall Street transactions can generate hundreds of billions of dollars each year in the US alone.

Enough to protect American schools, housing, local governments and hospitals. Enough to pay for lifesaving AIDS medicines. Enough to support people and communities around the world – and deal with the climate challenges we're facing.

It won't affect ordinary Americans, their personal savings, or every day consumer activity, such as ATMs or debit cards. It's easy to enforce and tough to evade.

This is a tax on Wall Street, which created the greatest economic crisis in our nation, and globally, since the Great Depression. The same people who have returned to record profits and bonuses while ordinary Americans, the 99%, continue to pay the price of their crisis.

So it's time for justice for ordinary families and businesses. For American families faced with a choice between buying food or paying the heating bill.

The Robin Hood Tax is just. The banks can afford it. The systems are in place to collect it. It won't affect ordinary members of the public, their bank accounts or their savings. It's fair, it's timely, and it's possible.

It's not a tax on the people, but a tax for the people.

Armstrong Anti-Doping Lawsuit Dismissed

2012 07 09 Armstrong v Tygart Judges Order 2012 07 09 Armstrong Anti Doping Lawsuit

Suzannah Troy Joe Tacopina Censorship YouTube

A video about Joe Tacopina and the Baby Lisa story from Kansas City and posted on YouTube by Suzannah B. Troy was censored earlier today. After Ms. Troy's friends and supporters began an e-mail campaign to YouTube, her video was restored.

Here is the original video, which has been restored :

Mitt Romney Hamptons Protests : OWS Electoral Politics

Mitt Romney appeared in campaign fundraisers in the Hamptons last weekend, where he raised close to $4 million dollars. But his campaign fundraisers, in the exclusive VIP enclave, became the impromptu backdrop for Occupy Wall Street-inspired protests. The protests seem to be the first major time that Occupy Wall Street protests take part in 2012 Presidential Election politics, rather than the movement organising truly autonomous, grassroots demonstrations, depending on the editorial portrayal of yesterday's demonstrations.

Anonymous Will Protest Against Scientology In Paris on August 25

French members of Anonymous will do an International Raid in Paris August 25, 2012. To protest against the Cult of Scientology, to celebrate our victories on court vs this criminal cult. First raid will start at 3:00 PM in front of the Celebrity Center in Paris : 69 rue Legendre 75017 Paris. An after will be organized but it will stay confidential until the end of the raid.

Bad Corporate Person of the Week: Verizon

Our pick for the bad corporate "person" of the week : Verizon.

From : arstechnica

Verizon pressed its argument against the Federal Communications Commission's new network neutrality rules on Monday; filing a legal brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. The company argued the FCC's rules not only exceeded the agency's regulatory authority, but also violated network owners' constitutional rights. Specifically, Verizon believes that the FCC is threatening its First Amendment right to freedom of speech and its property rights under the Fifth Amendment.

Read more : Verizon: net neutrality violates our free speech rights. Company argues FCC regulations run afoul of Fifth Amendment property rights too

BOE Scandal in Charles Rangel and Adriano Espaillat Congressional Race

Board Of Elections Defends Its Work In Disputed Congressional Primary

From NY1 :

As State Senator Adriano Espaillat continues his legal challenge of his primary loss last week to incumbent Congressman Charles Rangel, the city Board Of Elections says it is not to blame for the disputed results.

Rangel reportedly had a 2,300-vote margin of victory on primary night, but that lead has since dwindled to just 802 votes. The Espaillat campaign says roughly 2,100 absentee and affidavit ballots still need to be counted.

Initially, 79 election districts reported a complete lack of votes in the Democratic primary.

Elections officials say the zero-vote tally was entered when police officers could not read the handwritten totals or election inspectors failed to add up the votes. The incomplete count was then shared with the media.

"There's a process that we have to follow in order to do the re-canvas and make sure that every vote is counted and that's what we are charged with," said Pamela Perkins of the Board of Elections. "We are not charged with explaining election night results, because they are not our results."

Espaillat also claims valid ballots are not being counted and some voting machines were broken.

These errors have made the BOE subject to criticism from Mayor Michael Bloomberg, good government groups and newspaper editorial boards, but the board's commissioner said the agency did its best.

"It's unfortunate, but I think that the campaigns are launching incredibly vicious attacks of the hardworking men and women of the Board Of Elections. They're based on absolutely nothing but a conspiracy theory," said BOE Commissioner J.C. Polanco. "The reality is that we have hardworking men and women at the Board Of Elections who work tirelessly to make sure that each one of these ballots gets counted."

Good government groups also question why the initial election results were so erroneous.

"Other states have managed to give unofficial results on election night that are darn close if not completely accurate to the end official tally because they use modern technology in a modern way. It's embarrassing that New York refuses to do that," said Susan Lerner of Common Cause New York.

The BOE is beginning its count of the remaining votes on Thursday.

Should the Jackson Heights Plaza be named after Mahatma Gandhi ?

Post a comment below -- let me know what you think about naming the plaza along 37th Road in Jackson Heights after Mahatma Gandhi ? Around the world, many people name roads and other structures after Mahatma Gandhi. In India, many roads are named after Mahatma Gandhi, and even in Paris, there is an avenue named after the famous leader in the area between l'arc de Triomphe and La Défénse. Let me know what you think about naming the Jackson Heights plaza after Mahatma Gandhi ?