Category: Uncategorized

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Occupy Wall Street protesters cleared out in pre-dawn raid

Under the orders of Mayor Bloomberg, hundreds of police officers raided and cleared out Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park in the middle of the night. Many Occupy Wall Street protesters were arrested as they were rousted from their tents and sleeping bags.

At 6:30 a.m. this morning, Justice Lucy Billings issued an order requiring the protesters to be readmitted to Zuccotti Park with their tents. ThinkProgress just spoke to one of the plantiff’s attorney’s, Gideon Orion Oliver, who confirmed that the order was served on Mayor Bloomberg and the other defendants via fax at 7:50 a.m.

During his 8 a.m. press conference, Mayor Bloomberg seemed to acknowledge he was familiar with the temporary restraining order, but claimed he had not been served and was keeping the park closed. As of this writing, Zuccotti Park remains closed to protesters in direct contradiction of Justice Billing’s order.

For more info and updates, go to ThinkProgress

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Economists estimate number of years before jobs return to states

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Across the country, there are 4.7 percent fewer jobs today than there were when the recession began in December 2007.

And remember that the United States population has grown in the last five years, so if the economy were healthy there would be more jobs today than there were then. This analysis only models when we’ll be back to square one.
(via NYTimes)

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Mike McQueary To Former Teammates: “I Didn’t Just Turn And Run, I Made Sure It Stopped”

Via Peter Alexander of NBC Nightly News, Penn State receivers coach Mike McQueary has sent an email to former teammates.

McQueary, who played at Penn State in the 1990s, was the one who told the grand jury he had witnessed Jerry Sandusky raping a child in a Penn State shower in 2002, when McQueary was a graduate assistant coach.

In a series of tweets from Alexander’s feed, he quotes McQueary as saying:

“I did the right thing… you guys know me… the truth is not out there fully… I didn’t just turn and run… I made sure it stopped… I had to make quick tough decisions…”

I have to ask the question though: why didn’t he call the police? And looking back, does now think he should have?

Also, in his grand jury testimony – nothing is said about “stopping” anything.  All it says is “the graduate assistant left immediately, distraught.”  See the testimony here – bottom of page 6, top of page 7.

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Ben Cohen declares November 14th “StandUP Day” to stop bullying

Juan Martinez, Ben Cohen and Byron Beck StandingUp Against Bullying at NIKE Portland


Today is StandUp Day. Don’t know what that is? Well, then let’s have rugby legend Ben Cohen tell you:

“It is time to stop the bullying. Young people’s lives are being ruined and all it takes is the right person at the right time to stand beside them when it matters most to make the difference.

The 14th of November marks the death of my father, Pete, who although he is no longer here, has been a massive influence on my life and one of the reasons that I felt compelled to start StandUp.

Our aim is to bring awareness to the average person on the street who may not realise the harm that is being caused by bullying. By becoming aware, they may just be able to notice when something is not right and so stand up when needed before it is too late. The concept is simple, but very powerful.

I will be asking people to stand up with me by wearing their StandUp T-shirt or wrist band, by telling at least one person about StandUp, posting or tweeting about how they are standing up, or simply changing their profile picture to the StandUp logo for the day. It is time to stand up against bullying and I am proud to be able to ask you to stand up with me.”

Ben is currently on a tour of the US in support of his StandUp Foundation — the world’s first foundation dedicated to raising awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying, and funding those doing real-world work to stop it.
(source)

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Former boyfriend of Cain accuser backs her story

Victor Zuckerman said today he backs ex-girlfriend Sharon Bialek’s allegation that Herman Cain “touched her in an inappropriate manner.”

Zuckerman, a pediatrician, came forward after Cain last week denied knowing Bialek.

The GOP presidential candidate said the incident Bialek described from 1997 “simply did not happen.”

Bialek, a Chicago-area woman, came forward last week and alleged Cain put his hand up her skirt and groped her when she asked his help in finding a job.

In a statement read to reporters in Shreveport, La., Zuckerman says Bialek went to dinner with Cain in Washington and returned “upset. She said Mr. Cain had touched her in an inappropriate manner.”

The doctor, who described himself as a Republican, said he came forward to “aid the public in evaluating the statements previously made by Mr. Cain and Ms. Bialek.”

Allred says Bialek’s allegations are relevant because Cain is running for president.

Zuckerman says Bialek was “livid” hearing Cain deny claims of sexual harassment, which is what he says prompted her to come forward last week. The doctor says he was the one who suggested she contact Allred.

More at USAToday

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Advance thoughts on upcoming final season of “Mad Men”

The last season of Mad Men hasn’t even started yet, but the show’s creator Matthew Weiner already has an idea of what the finale will look like.

As fans wait out agonizing months, Weiner’s given a little hint at what next season holds. The seventh and final season, which won’t start until 2012, will end with Don Draper as an 84 year old man, Weiner told Grantland’s Lane Brown.

I do know how the whole show ends. It came to me in the middle of last season. I always felt like it would be the experience of human life. And human life has a destination. It doesn’t mean Don’s gonna die. What I’m looking for, and how I hope to end the show, is like … It’s 2011. Don Draper would be 84 right now. I want to leave the show in a place where you have an idea of what it meant and how it’s related to you. It’s a very tall order …

The show has come a long way in those seven seasons. In his interview with Brown, Weiner is reminiscent of the show’s scrappier days, when focus groups called the Emmy winning machine “too slow” and “too boring.”

I remember downloading the pilot for free on iTunes.  Watching it I was turned off by the clear misogynous and racial under currents.  But found it fascinating at the same time due to how true to the period it was.

I’m very much looking forward to seeing where Matt Weiner takes the last season.

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NBC interview with Jerry Sandusky from 1987

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Jerry Sandusky in a 1987 NBC interview: “I enjoy being around children… I just have a good time with them.” “Everybody needs people to care for them, even if sometimes they don’t want it.”

Although out of context, with the new perspective of the 40 alleged sexual charges against children today, the statements make for a chilling listening experience today.