Rural California county to install mass surveillance system. “Project Skynet (!) would install 160 (automated license plate readers) and 124 surveillance cameras at 66 locations throughout Solano County.” https://www.cehrp.org/solano-county-sheriff-gets-initial-funding-for-project-skynet/ “Skynet” was the rogue artificial intelligence that attempted to destroy humanity, which it perceived as a “security threat”, in the “Terminator” movie series.
About 160 Applebee’s and IHOP restaurants to close due to poor sales. “DineEquity noted that the numbers are revised expectations – the number of Applebee’s restaurants set to close is more than double what was previously expected.” http://wgntv.com/2017/08/11/more-than-100-applebees-ihop-restaurants-to-close/ If the working class burns, retail burns with us.
ACLU sues Washington, D.C. public transport agency over ban on “advertisements that are intended to influence public policy”, while accepting ads “for alcoholic drinks… Squirt.org, an online service for gay and bisexual men looking for casual sex… casinos (and) military aircraft.” https://www.courthousenews.com/d-c-metro-sued-rejecting-ads-left-right/
Hackers may have compromised some North Carolina voting systems in 2016 election. “Voters were going in and being told that they had already voted — and they hadn’t.” http://www.npr.org/2017/08/10/542634370/russian-cyberattack-targeted-elections-vendor-tied-to-voting-day-disruptions
Walmart spokesperson claims “back to school” gun promotion was a prank, but does not provide details. “Crowson wouldn’t say what proof the company had…. He acknowledged only that the photo wasn’t taken at a store in Evansville, Indiana, as had been originally suggested.” http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-walmart-gun-back-to-school-display-20170811-story.html
Winner in Kenyan presidential election used same election strategy advisor as Trump. “No doubt trying to influence the vote was the incumbent government’s strategy advisor, the “big data” firm Cambridge Analytica (CA) owned by American billionaire Robert Mercer.” http://www.thedailybeast.com/kenyatta-wins-big-in-kenyabut-us-style-election-skullduggery-taints-the-results
Top Republicans reportedly accepted huge donations from Ukrainian-American oligarch with ties to Russian government. “Donald Trump and the political action committees for Mitch McConnell, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker, Lindsey Graham, John Kasich and John McCain accepted $7.35 million in contributions from a Ukrainian-born oligarch who is the business partner of two of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s favorite oligarchs and a Russian government bank.” https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/08/03/tangled-web-connects-russian-oligarch-money-gop-campaigns
Residents of Guam urged not to look directly at atomic blast or fireball. “…for those who survive the initial blast and avoid the heaviest radiation, the government suggests not going outside for at least 24 hours to avoid any possible radioactive material, unless otherwise told by authorities.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/08/11/guam-government-imminent-missile-threat-warning/558553001/
Trump threatens military action in Venezuela, without any suggestion of hidden weapons of mass destruction. “We have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option, if necessary.” https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-12/trump-warns-of-potential-u-s-military-option-in-venezuela If this is about democracy, are Saudi Arabia and China next?
China further tightens internet censorship. “China’s Cyberspace Administration accused internet users of “spreading violence, terror, false rumors, pornography and other hazards to national security, public safety, social order”… http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-40896235 Like stories about pro-democracy activists?
Hundreds of white nationalists reportedly march in torchlight parade in Charlottesville, Virginia. “Video showed protesters also chanting “Jews will not replace us” and “white lives matter”. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/torch-wielding-white-supremacists-march-university-virginia-n792021
Judge approves search warrants for police department cell phones of Minneapolis officers involved in Justine Damond shooting. “The application says the information “may more clearly define” the officers’ actions before and after 40-year-old Justine Damond was killed on July 15.” http://www.ksfy.com/content/news/Judge-OKs-search-warrant-for-officers-phones-439901853.html
Pace of deportations during Obama administration far exceeded those by Trump. “In (Obama’s) final year in office, about 240,000 people were removed. ICE statistics show removals in the first six months of this year… at about 103,000 removals.” https://www.dallasnews.com/news/immigration/2017/08/11/immigration-arrestsup-obamas-still-deporter-chief
68% of Republicans believe there is widespread voter fraud and 52% say they would be ok with Trump postponing the 2020 election if necessary to prevent non-citizens from voting. “Postponing the 2020 presidential election is not something that Trump or anyone in his administration has even hinted at, but for many in his constituency floating such an idea may not be a step too far.” https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/08/10/slippery-slope-dictatorship-majority-gop-would-back-trump-postponing-2020-elections Don’t give them any ideas!
16 civilians reported killed in U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan. ” It was the second time since July 24 that an airstrike in that district killed civilians, according to Afghan officials.” https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/11/world/asia/afghanistan-civilian-deaths-us-airstrikes.html
Lockheed Martin to be paid $8 billion to supply special forces troops. “The U.S. military often relies on outside contractors to perform support services including logistics at warehouses and depots as well as maintenance, modifications and repairs on equipment like airplanes and vehicles.” https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lockheed-pentagon-idUSKBN1AR2E3?il=0
CIA allegedly spent $20 million on project to surgically wire a cat as a listening device. “It thought that a cat wired to record sound would be able to come and go unnoticed, and with the use of audio cues, could be controlled to go where it would record interesting sounds–like talks between Soviet leaders.” http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/cia-experimented-animals-1960s-too-just-ask-acoustic-kitty-180964313/ Unfortunately, the first “Acoustic Kitty” was hit and killed by a taxi during its first “mission”.
Magazine article attacks “conspiracy theories”, forgets to mention those embraced by the mainstream media. “Goldberg and Co.’s theory that Saddam was working with Al Qaeda—which was floated by Goldberg everywhere from Slate (3/2/02, 10/3/02) to NPR (2/4/03) to the New Yorker (3/25/02) in the build-up to the Iraq War—was a textbook example of a conspiracy theory, complete with cherry-picked evidence, dubious inferences, rejection of contradictory evidence and ideological blinders.” http://fair.org/home/conspiracies-pushed-by-atlantics-editor-excluded-from-atlantics-denunciation-of-conspiracy-theories/
Trump advisor suggests Minnesota mosque bombing may have been staged by leftists. “We’ve had a series of crimes committed, alleged hate crimes, by right-wing individuals in the last six months, that turned out to actually have been propagated by the left.” https://www.democracynow.org/2017/8/11/headlines/trump_adviser_sebastian_gorka_calls_mosque_attack_a_false_flag
Greenland is on fire. “…a massive and unprecedented wildfire continues to burn nearly two weeks after dried peat first caught fire on the island’s southwest.” https://www.democracynow.org/2017/8/11/headlines/greenland_defrosting_drying_tundra_burns_in_unprecedented_wildfires
Russian journalist jailed for “extremism”. “In a report last month (the) Human Rights Watch organization called the legislation “vague and overly broad” and used to prosecute critics.” http://www.news24.com/World/News/russian-court-jails-journalist-for-extremism-20170810
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