Islam is the real positive change that you need to change for being a better person or a perfect human being, you can change yourself if you read QURAN, IF YOU DO THAT !! you will change this UMMAH, say I am not A Sunni or Shia, BUT I am just a MUSLIM. Be a walking QURAN among human-being AND GUIDE THEM TO THE RIGHT PATH.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Cup of cocoa a day keeps memory loss away – scientists
A tasty drink may give a typical 60-year-old the memory as of a person 20 to 30 years younger. A US study has revealed that cocoa contains bioactive ingredients that reverse age-related memory decline.
Scientists at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) published the results of a dietary experiment, based on the effects of flavanols, extracted from cocoa beans, on the aging human brain in the journal Nature Neuroscience on Sunday.
A group of 37 healthy volunteers aged from 50 to 69 was randomly divided in two. Each day for three months, they had a specially-prepared cocoa drink, which is not available commercially. One group consumed the drink with 900mg of flavanols, and the other with only 10mg of these compounds.
"If a participant had the memory of a typical 60-year-old at the beginning of the study, after three months that person on average had the memory of a typical 30- or 40-year-old," said senior author Scott Small in a press-release.
The
brain area outlined in yellow is the hippocampus; the dentate gyrus is
shown in green and the entorhinal cortex in purple. (Image from the
press-release)
"I suppose that our study does show, for the first time, that flavanols improves the function of humans' dentate gyrus, particularly in ageing humans," Small told AFP.
To demonstrate the difference before and after the experiment, the participants had to pass special memory tests – a 20-minute pattern-recognition exercise, specifically addressing the dentate gyrus. Faster and clearer recognition among the high-flavanol group was backed by their better blood volume tests.
"When we imaged our research subjects' brains, we found noticeable improvements in the function of the dentate gyrus in those who consumed the high-cocoa-flavanol drink," said lead author Adam M. Brickman, PhD, of the Taub Institute in a press release.
Most methods of processing cocoa remove many of the flavanols found in the raw plant (Image from the press-release)
"Very simply, the amount of flavanols that are found in chocolate is minuscule compared to the very high amount of extracted flavanols that our subjects consumed. The same is true for most other foods or teas," Small wrote.
The research was supported by a large US food corporation, which took the responsibility for extracting and preparing the drink in such a way so that it is not lost from the raw plant.
Apart from cocoa and chocolate, flavanols are abundant in some teas, vegetables and fruit – such as grapes, apples or blueberries, but their types vary widely. They are also believed to improve cardiovascular health – to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Cognitive neuropsychologist Dr. Ashok Jansari told the Independent: “Given a globally ageing population, by isolating a particular area of the brain that is weakening in functioning as we grow older, and demonstrating that a non-pharmacological intervention can improve learning of new information, the authors have made a significant contribution to helping us improve our cognitive health.”
Friday, October 24, 2014
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Minus 4 years of life: Study links soft drinks to accelerated cell aging
The regular consumption of fizzy drinks accelerates cellular aging of tissues, according to a new study by American scientists. People who enjoy daily carbonated sodas experience DNA changes, aging their cells by four years.
After studying over 5,300 "healthy adults" in the US – aged between 20 and 65 years old, who had no history of diabetes or cardiovascular disease – the researchers found that the biological age of those who have been drinking fizzy drinks daily was increased – thus potentially shortening their lifespan.
Cell aging, prompted by sugary soft drinks including cola, is similar to the aging caused by excessive smoking, says the report, which was published in the American Journal of Public Health.
Scientists from the University of California in San Francisco based their study on the examination of telomeres – a part of chromosomes, previously linked with human lifespan.
Each habitual can of soda makes telomeres physically shorter, scientists say, not only decreasing a life cycle, but also possibly causing the development of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and some forms of cancer.
Reuters / Sam Hodgson
The over-consumption of soft drinks has long been linked to obesity and other health problems. In September, Russia's Public Chamber came up with an initiative to ban selling sodas to children under 14 years of age. The proposition has been sent for government review.
Energy drinks are now in the spotlight too. Said to have bad effects on health, especially in children and teenagers, Lithuania voted to make the sale of energy drinks to minors illegal earlier this year. Parliament voted to prohibit highly caffeinated beverages to people under the age of 18, making Lithuania the first EU country to enact such a ban.
Mental Health Issues Put 34,500 on New York’s No-Guns List
nytimes
A newly created database of× Yorkers
deemed too mentally unstable to carry firearms has grown to roughly
34,500 names, a previously undisclosed figure that has raised concerns
among some mental health advocates that too many people have been
categorized as dangerous.
The
database, established in the aftermath of the mass shooting in 2012 at
the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., and maintained by
the state× Division of Criminal Justice Services, is the result of the× Act. It is an expansive package of gun control measures pushed through by the administration of× Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. The law, better known for its ban on assault weapons, compels licensed mental health professionals in× York to report to the authorities any patient “likely to engage in conduct that would result in serious harm to self or others.”
But the number of entries in the database highlights the difficulty of× America’s
complicated balancing act between public safety and the right to bear
arms when it comes to people with mental health issues. “That seems
extraordinarily high to me,” said Sam Tsemberis, a former director of× City’s involuntary hospitalization program for homeless and dangerous people, now the chief executive of× Pathways to Housing, which provides housing to the mentally ill. “Assumed dangerousness is a far cry from actual dangerousness.”
Similar
laws in other states have raised the ire of gun rights proponents, who
worry that people who posed no threat at all would have their rights
infringed. Mental health advocates have also argued that the laws
unnecessarily stigmatized people with mental illnesses.
Because the names in× York’s
database and the circumstances of their cases are private, it is
impossible to independently determine whether the people in it are truly
dangerous.
The database figures were obtained by The New York Times through a Freedom of× Law request.
Gun control supporters argue a wide net is appropriate, given the potentially dire consequences.
Even if just one dangerous person had a gun taken away, “that’s a good thing,” said× Malte, senior national policy director of the Brady Campaign To Prevent Gun Violence. The National Rifle Association of× America
favors a separate “process of adjudication” to make sure that “these
decisions are not being made capriciously and maliciously,” Andrew
Arulanandam, a spokesman, said.
John Tauriello, deputy commissioner and counsel for the state× Office of Mental Health, said the figure must be evaluated in the context of the magnitude of× York’s
mental health system, to which 144,000 people were admitted in 2012 for
treatment in community hospitals, private psychiatric hospitals or
state-operated psychiatric centers.
“It sounds really reasonable if you know the size of the system,” Mr. Tauriello said.
Mental
health professionals and advocates point out, however, the vast
majority of people with mental illnesses are not violent. Accurately
predicting whether someone will be violent, they said, is also a highly
fraught process.
Under
the 2013 law, the reports prepared by doctors, psychologists, nurses
and social workers are first sent to county officials. If they agree
with the assessments, the officials then input the names into the state
database. The information is retained for five years. If the authorities
find a person in the database has a gun permit — necessary to purchase a
handgun in New York — they are required to revoke the license and seize
any guns. The people in the database are barred from obtaining a permit
until their names are purged.
Among
the people named in the database, fewer than 300 were found to have a
permit. State officials said they did not know how many guns were
subsequently seized from them.
Under the 2013 law,× York is one of the most restrictive states in the country in terms of mental health and firearms.
Under
federal and most state laws, people with serious mental illnesses lose
their gun rights only if they have been involuntarily committed to a
mental health center, or have been legally designated as mentally ill or
incompetent; both relatively rare occurrences. A small number of
states, including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland and× York, have stricter criteria for people with serious mental health issues to purchase and possess firearms.
New
York’s law gives county officials the responsibility of reviewing the
reports from mental health workers, ostensibly providing an added layer
of oversight. But several said in interviews that they had little
capacity to independently confirm whether the finding that a patient was
dangerous was justified.
The
way the law has played out, local officials said, frontline mental
health workers feel compelled to routinely report mentally ill patients
brought to an emergency room by the police or ambulances. County health
officials are then supposed to vet each case before it is sent to× Albany.
But so many names are funneled to county health authorities through the
system — about 500 per week statewide — that they have become, in
effect, clerical workers, rubber-stamping the decisions, they said. From
when the reporting requirement took effect on March 16, 2013 until× Oct.
3, 41,427 reports have been made on people who have been flagged as
potentially dangerous. Among these, 40,678 — all but a few hundred cases
— were passed to× Albany by county officials, according to the data obtained by The Times.
As
of Saturday, the state updated the database to 42,900 reports, and said
that roughly 34,500 of those were unique individuals. The rest of the
names were duplicates because people had been reported more than once.
Kenneth
M. Glatt, commissioner of mental hygiene for Dutchess County, said that
at first, he had carefully scrutinized every name sent to him through
the Safe Act. But then he realized that he was just “a middleman,” and
that it was unlikely he would ever meet or examine any of the patients.
So he began simply checking off the online boxes, sometimes without even
reviewing the narrative about a patient.
“Every
so often I read one just to be sure,” Dr. Glatt, a psychologist, said.
“I am not going to second guess. I don’t see the patient. I don’t know
the patient.” He said it would be more efficient — and more honest — for
therapists to report names directly to the Division of Criminal Justice
Services, which checks them against gun permit applications.
On
a recent Wednesday, Dr. Glatt logged into the system and up popped the
names of people being reported — 16 since he last looked three days
before.
Among
the newest cases was a patient who had threatened to kill his partner.
“Becomes aggressive and unpredictable, has history of noncompliance with
medications,” the narrative said.
Two
patients had attempted suicide with guns. Another “is exhibiting manic
behavior,” the note said. It added that the patient was “not sleeping in
the past few days, throwing lit cigarettes and matches around the
house,” and had “a history of fire setting.”
Still
one more involved a man who had threatened a housing office worker if
he was not helped immediately and was so agitated that it took six
police officers to bring him into the emergency room.
After
the names are entered into the database, they are compared against gun
permit records. Since the law went into effect, state officials have
found 278 matches, with the largest number, 36, in Monroe County,
followed by 17 in Westchester, 16 in Suffolk and 14 in Dutchess.
Several
mental health experts said the data obtained by The Times renewed their
fears that the reporting requirement would discourage patients from
seeking help.
“The
threshold for reporting is so low that it essentially advertises that
psychiatrists are mandatory reporters for anybody who expresses any kind
of dangerousness,” said Dr. Mark J. Russ, director of acute care
psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks, Queens, which has
filed many reports to the state.
Another
concern is the possibility that the database might be used for other
purposes or could contain a mistaken identity. State officials, however,
emphasized that only a small number of programmers and administrators
have access to the entire database, while others, like law enforcement
or licensing officers, see only what they need to make sure the
identifications match individual gun permit applications.
The
Cuomo administration initially refused The Times’s request for data on
the program and rebuffed a public records request, turning over limited
information only after an appeal process.
The
overwhelming majority of reports from mental health professionals are
coming from hospitals — often community hospitals — with an emergency
room and inpatient psychiatric services, according to several county
officials. Relatively few came from either outpatient mental health
clinics or private therapists, they said. The typical diagnoses are
schizophrenia, psychosis or major depression.
In
interviews last week, state officials said they believed the law had
focused on the right group of people. The approach prescribed in the law
“is common sense and saves lives,” Melissa DeRosa, a spokeswoman for the governor, said.
While
the county-level review of the names might not be a perfect system,
state officials said, it at least provided a check against flagrantly
undocumented referrals to the database. Not only that, they said, but
county officials in smaller upstate communities might know the people
being reported and be able to make informed judgments about them.
Despite
the breadth of the law, significant loopholes remain. Outside of New
York City, permits are not required to buy long guns, so nothing would
stop someone in the database from buying a shotgun, for example, after
being released from a hospital. Also, it is unclear exactly how the
process for confiscating someone’s guns is enforced. And law enforcement
officials may not even be aware of all of the guns someone owns.
Patients
can challenge the revocations of their gun permits in court, and at
least one has: a man in Otsego County, in central New York, who lost his
gun license after being admitted to a hospital because he had
threatened to harm himself, according to court papers. He also said he
had accidentally exposed himself to a young girl and was racked with
guilt. The county judge ruled the license could be revoked.
Susan C. Beachy and Alain Delaquérière contributed research.
A version of this article appears in print on October 19, 2014, on page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: Mental Issues Put 34,500 on New York No-Guns List. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Friday, October 17, 2014
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
winning his first UK bodybuilding championship
dailyrecord
DAVE Brown was driving home with girlfriend Marguerita Vonral when he suddenly stopped breathing. He died minutes later as she desperately tried to revive him.
A naked butler collapsed and died in front of his fiancee after winning his first UK bodybuilding championship.
Dave Brown, 32, who showed off his six-pack while serving nibbles at thousands of functions and hen nights, died after lifting the Miami Pro UK championship.
He was driving home with girlfriend Marguerita Vonral when he suddenly stopped breathing. He died minutes later as she desperately tried to revive him.
Yesterday, Marguerita told of her heartbreak at watching Glaswegian Dave die and how they had planned their whole life together.
She said: “It was an absolute magical day for us. I’ve never seen Dave so truly happy with where he was at in life and he was so excited and encouraged by everyone’s messages of support and congratulations.
“He was coming home a champ and we had big plans and all the usual wee ones.”
Recalling how she tried desperately to save her lover’s life after he took ill in the car, she said: “We were driving home and Dave was chatting away to me – no complaint of feeling sore or sick or in pain.
“We were still talking about his win. It was around 12:30am, he hadn’t long eaten and we were excited to
be getting home to our dog Odin, trophies in tow.
“It was so quick but it seemed like it was slow motion. He was immediately unconscious and struggling to breathe.
“I did my best but I couldn’t save him and when the paramedics took over they worked for 45 minutes trying to bring him back because he was so young, fit and healthy and his heart had been kept stimulated.
“Heartbreakingly, my Dave didn’t pull through and I still don’t know the actual cause.
“All I know that I can share is I was there with him the entire time. There was no warning and it was over very quickly.”
Marguerita believes Dave’s death had nothing to do with the contest he took part in. She said: “Already I’ve heard some say, ‘Oh, the competition took too much out of him’ .
“That’s not at all the case. People compete all the time and are fine.
“He would not want anyone thinking that and I believe this was something more, something that was going to happen anyway.
“He only had a regular heart running a superhuman body.”
Marguerita admitted she is lost without Dave and said she is doing her utmost to follow his positive philosophy in life.
She explained: “He meant everything to me – and he knew that. There’s nothing I feel he wasn’t aware of in the hours before he left me.
“We told each other we loved one another, we talked about how the three of us were a family and I told him he always had huge potential in everything he did. He knew I was super proud of him, he knew his friends and family were proud of him and he was delighted and humbled by everyone’s messages of support.
“Dave inspired so many people to get into fitness and he was really over the moon at this win. It meant big things for him.
“We were going to get married as soon as possible. I’m devastated and so is everyone that knew Dave.
“I couldn’t have been more proud of him and everything he achieved, not just for winning but just for who he was, for how he shared it with me and Odin – and he knew that.
“He honestly made my life. I’d never met anyone like Dave and I know everyone says that about their partner but I’m not glamourising it. We never argued, we were always together and I know I’ll never experience a love like it again. I was so lucky to have found him.”
Before the event on Sunday, Dave – a personal trainer and founding member
of the Man Candy Butlers – had thanked friends who wished him well. He told them: “Thank you everyone but the real inspiration for me was Marguerita Vonral. She believed in me and she entered me.
“I would never have taken the steps required to do something like this. It’s having Mags behind me that’s important to me, not standing on stage and placing or winning.
“It’s all about the journey to get there for me and I wouldn’t be making this journey if it wasn’t for my rock! Love u babe!! You did this!!”
Dave was thrilled about winning the competition in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and earning his WBFF pro card – confirming his status in the bodybuilding world.
And as news broke of his death yesterday, tributes to him poured in on social media.
Friends posted pictures of Dave on their Facebook pages and Gary Gunning – his best pal who worked with him on the hen party circuit – said: “No words can describe this tragedy.
“For anyone who knows him, I think you’ll agree he was a total one-off.” Another friend wrote: “I’m gonna miss that wee cheeky grin of his. Great guy!”
A third added: “Dave had that knack of lighting up a room with his fun, infectious yet caring personality. He will be missed.
“Thoughts are with his family and friends at this tragic time.”
Club Noir, where Dave had worked in a burlesque act, also paid tribute to him online with club promoter Tina Warren changing her profile picture to include him.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/real-life/naked-butler-dave-drops-dead-4439820
Dave Brown, 32, who showed off his six-pack while serving nibbles at thousands of functions and hen nights, died after lifting the Miami Pro UK championship.
He was driving home with girlfriend Marguerita Vonral when he suddenly stopped breathing. He died minutes later as she desperately tried to revive him.
Yesterday, Marguerita told of her heartbreak at watching Glaswegian Dave die and how they had planned their whole life together.
She said: “It was an absolute magical day for us. I’ve never seen Dave so truly happy with where he was at in life and he was so excited and encouraged by everyone’s messages of support and congratulations.
“He was coming home a champ and we had big plans and all the usual wee ones.”
Recalling how she tried desperately to save her lover’s life after he took ill in the car, she said: “We were driving home and Dave was chatting away to me – no complaint of feeling sore or sick or in pain.
“We were still talking about his win. It was around 12:30am, he hadn’t long eaten and we were excited to
be getting home to our dog Odin, trophies in tow.
“It was so quick but it seemed like it was slow motion. He was immediately unconscious and struggling to breathe.
“I did my best but I couldn’t save him and when the paramedics took over they worked for 45 minutes trying to bring him back because he was so young, fit and healthy and his heart had been kept stimulated.
“Heartbreakingly, my Dave didn’t pull through and I still don’t know the actual cause.
“All I know that I can share is I was there with him the entire time. There was no warning and it was over very quickly.”
Marguerita believes Dave’s death had nothing to do with the contest he took part in. She said: “Already I’ve heard some say, ‘Oh, the competition took too much out of him’ .
“That’s not at all the case. People compete all the time and are fine.
“He would not want anyone thinking that and I believe this was something more, something that was going to happen anyway.
“He only had a regular heart running a superhuman body.”
Marguerita admitted she is lost without Dave and said she is doing her utmost to follow his positive philosophy in life.
She explained: “He meant everything to me – and he knew that. There’s nothing I feel he wasn’t aware of in the hours before he left me.
“We told each other we loved one another, we talked about how the three of us were a family and I told him he always had huge potential in everything he did. He knew I was super proud of him, he knew his friends and family were proud of him and he was delighted and humbled by everyone’s messages of support.
“Dave inspired so many people to get into fitness and he was really over the moon at this win. It meant big things for him.
“We were going to get married as soon as possible. I’m devastated and so is everyone that knew Dave.
“I couldn’t have been more proud of him and everything he achieved, not just for winning but just for who he was, for how he shared it with me and Odin – and he knew that.
“He honestly made my life. I’d never met anyone like Dave and I know everyone says that about their partner but I’m not glamourising it. We never argued, we were always together and I know I’ll never experience a love like it again. I was so lucky to have found him.”
Before the event on Sunday, Dave – a personal trainer and founding member
of the Man Candy Butlers – had thanked friends who wished him well. He told them: “Thank you everyone but the real inspiration for me was Marguerita Vonral. She believed in me and she entered me.
“I would never have taken the steps required to do something like this. It’s having Mags behind me that’s important to me, not standing on stage and placing or winning.
“It’s all about the journey to get there for me and I wouldn’t be making this journey if it wasn’t for my rock! Love u babe!! You did this!!”
Dave was thrilled about winning the competition in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and earning his WBFF pro card – confirming his status in the bodybuilding world.
And as news broke of his death yesterday, tributes to him poured in on social media.
Friends posted pictures of Dave on their Facebook pages and Gary Gunning – his best pal who worked with him on the hen party circuit – said: “No words can describe this tragedy.
“For anyone who knows him, I think you’ll agree he was a total one-off.” Another friend wrote: “I’m gonna miss that wee cheeky grin of his. Great guy!”
A third added: “Dave had that knack of lighting up a room with his fun, infectious yet caring personality. He will be missed.
“Thoughts are with his family and friends at this tragic time.”
Club Noir, where Dave had worked in a burlesque act, also paid tribute to him online with club promoter Tina Warren changing her profile picture to include him.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/real-life/naked-butler-dave-drops-dead-4439820
Shocking moment shows 'adulteress' stripped naked and beaten in busy shopping centre
dailyrecord
- By Gareth Roberts
The images show the victim being battered as shoppers and workers pass by
This is the shocking moment a woman accused of sleeping with someone else's husband was savagely beaten in broad daylight as passers-by watched on.
It's the latest in a string of copycat attacks in China, including one a month ago when a half-naked woman was stamped on by a stiletto-wearing rival.
Locals say such scraps go ignored because there is an acceptance that love cheats are deserving of a beating having caused a man to cheat on his partner.
In this latest incident, accused Lin Yao Li, 38, was ambushed by four women as she walked home from shops in Puyang, in eastern China's Henan Province.
Punching and kicking her to the ground while she writhed in agony, her attackers then ripped her clothes off and continued the beating, pulling her hair and kicking her in the breasts and groin.
Local reports say the sickening attack was carried out by the scorned wife of the man Lin is accused of sleeping with and her three friends.
Meanwhile, as the stomach-turning drama unfolded, scores of people pass by without making an attempt to help the outnumbered and defenceless victim.
Local man Jun Feng, 30, who helped the woman after spotting her lying on the ground told local TV: "This type of thing is becoming quite normal.
"Angry wives and girlfriends get their revenge on their cheating men by attacking the other woman.
"People don't tend to get involved because they see it as being an argument of the heart."
The woman was later taken to hospital where she was treated for cuts, severe bruising and shock.
Last month's attack in Jinan city, in Eastern China's Shandong Province, saw three women caught on camera attacking an alleged mistress.
A police spokesman declined to comment, saying they had not received any complaint from any of those involved.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/shocking-moment-shows-adulteress-stripped-4434527
Friday, October 10, 2014
Decades-old CIA crack-cocaine scandal gains new momentum
Back in 1996, Gary Webb of the San Jose Mercury News broke a story stating not only that the Nicaraguan Contras – supported by the× States in a rebellion against their left-leaning government – were involved in the US crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s, but also that the CIA knew and turned a blind eye to the operation.
As a result,× Webb concluded, the CIA was complicit in a drug trade that was wreaking havoc on× American communities in Los Angeles.
The bombshell report sparked outrage across the country, but when national newspapers like the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and× Post weighed in on the matter, they dismissed Webb and attacked his story to the point that it was disowned by the Mercury News. Webb was forced out of journalism and ultimately committed suicide in 2004.
Now, however, the whole ordeal is being looked at with fresh eyes in the form of two new films: “Kill the Messenger” and a documentary called, “Freeway: Crack in the System.” Additionally, several figures involved in the operation have recently spoken out, lending further credibility to× Webb’s original reporting.
Coral Baca, who had a close relationship with prominent Nicaraguan drug dealer× Cornejo, told the Huffington Post that she remembered numerous occasions in which she meet× Contra leader Adolfo Calero near San Francisco. During these meetings, she said× Calero handled bags full of money, and he clearly knew that money was made through the drug trade.
“If he was stupid and had a lobotomy,” he might not have realized,× Baca added. “He knew exactly what it was. He didn't care. He was there to fund the Contras, period.”
If true, the news would contradict multiple reports made by national media outlets at the time, which doubted just how much cash was going to the Contras – or even if the× Contras knew it was coming from crack cocaine sales.
Meanwhile, Nicaraguan drug importer Danilo Blandon recently confirmed to documentary filmmaker× Levin that he was involved in drug trafficking, and that he supported the Contras. Back in 1996, Blandon was asked in court if he ran the LA drug operation, which he confirmed. Then, too, he said all the profits went to the Contras.
Despite a 1986 LA County arrest warrant detailing allegations that Brandon “filtered” drug money to the Contras, other newspapers dismissed× Webb’s allegation that the Contras’ drug trafficking operation directly impacted the increased use of crack in the US – primarily, they said, because× Blandon split off from the group and ran his own drug venture.
Last year, though, former LA Times reporter Jesse Katz apologized for attacking× Webb’s story and reputation.
“As an L.A. Times reporter, we saw this series in the San Jose Mercury News and kind of wonder[ed] how legit it was and kind of put it under a microscope,” Katz said, according to LA Weekly. “And we did it in a way that most of us who were involved in it, I think, would look back on that and say it was overkill. We had this huge team of people at the L.A. Times and kind of piled on to one lone muckraker up in Northern California.”
“We really didn't do anything to advance his work or illuminate much to the story, and it was a really kind of tawdry exercise. ... And it ruined that reporter's career.”
While Webb was also criticized for suggesting the CIA intentionally devastated× American communities with crack, he defended himself saying that was not the case.
“It’s not a situation where the government or the CIA sat down and said, 'Okay, let’s invent crack, let’s sell it in black neighborhoods, let’s decimate black America,’” Webb reportedly says in the upcoming documentary. “It was a situation where, 'We need money for a covert operation, the quickest way to raise it is sell cocaine, you guys go sell it somewhere, we don’t want to know anything about it.'”
Following the scandal, in 1998 the CIA quietly published an internal inspector general’s report into the matter, which prior to its release was much-touted for whitewashing the agency’s reputation. Instead, it seemed to add legitimacy to the accusations, saying, “CIA knowledge of allegations or information indicating that organizations or individuals had been involved in drug trafficking did not deter their use by CIA.” At other times, the “CIA did not act to verify drug trafficking allegations or information even when it had the opportunity to do so.”
“No information has been found to indicate that CIA informed Congress of eight of the ten Contra-related individuals concerning whom CIA had received drug trafficking allegations or information,” the report added.
In a new post on Democracy Now, a transcript from the documentary “Shadows of Liberty” reveals investigative journalist Robert Parry saying this watchdog report was even more damning for the CIA than the original story.
“The contents of the reports, if you go into the actual nitty-gritty of them,” he said, “what you find is that there was a serious problem, that the US government knew about, and that the Contras were far more guilty of drug trafficking and the CIA was more guilty of looking the other way than even Gary Webb had suggested.”
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Actor Ben Affleck defends Islam in TV showdown
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Real Time With Bill Maher turned into a heated debate about the religion when the host and author Sam Harris began talking about radical Islamists.
The movie star accused them of stereotyping all Muslims.
Click here to watch a video of the show
"Hold on — are you the person who officially understands the codified doctrine of Islam?" Affleck interrupted.
He then told them their talk was "gross and racist". "It's like saying, 'Oh, you shifty Jew!'"
Harris continued to argue that Islam was currently the "motherlode of bad ideas", to which Maher agreed.
"How about the more than a billion people who are not fanatical, who don't punish women, who just want to go to school, have some sandwiches, pray five times a day and don't do any of the things that 'all Muslims do'?” he said.
“You're stereotyping. You're taking a few bad things and you're painting the whole religion with that same brush.”
Harris countered that fundamentalism wasn't limited to a few Muslims, but that there were millions.
Affleck, visibly angry, shook his head, while others intervened to argue that if Harris’ opinion was true, it was only because fundamentalists had the visible platform to espouse their ideas.
"We've killed more Muslims than they've killed us, by an awful lot... yet we're exempted from these things because they're not really a reflection of what we believe in... I'm specifically telling you that I disagree with what you think," Affleck said.
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/actor-ben-affleck-defends-isl
Monday, October 6, 2014
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