A bill passed Monday (3/06/12) in the US House of Representatives and Thursday in the Senate would make it a felony—a serious criminal offense punishable by lengthy terms of incarceration—to participate in many forms of protest associated with the Occupy Wall Street protests of last year. Several commentators have dubbed it the “anti-Occupy” law, but its implications are far broader. The bill—H.R. 347, or the “Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011”—was passed by unanimous consent in the Senate, while only Ron Paul and two other Republicans voted against the bill in the House of Representatives (the bill passed 388-3). Not a single Democratic politician voted against the bill. This bill seriously compromises the Constittional right to freedom of assembly and the public's right to protest the wrong-doings of politicians and corporations alike. It is also VERY suspicious that this bill was brought to a vote without ANY major coverage from major (corporate owned) media outlets. Related article: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/03/1070673/-US-Congress-passes-authoritarian-anti-protest-law-why-no-coverage

Dear North Saanich Resident and/or Owner, A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure 83 acres of land for agriculture, in perpetuity, for North Saanich residents is before North Saanich council right now. However, it is being met with resistance from some council members. The current owners of Sandown Racetrack have offered to give the District of North Saanich 83 acres of agricultural land in exchange for retaining 12 acres for commercial development. To compensate for those 12 acres coming out of the ALR, the District of NS has twelve acres of land it will put into the ALR, so that there is no net change of land in the ALR. This proposal has the support of the Agricultural Land Commission, and the CRD under the Regional Growth Strategy. It is a tremendous opportunity for present and future North Saanich residents. To make this proposal a reality for the benefit of all North Saanich residents we need your support. Signing this petition will help make this happen. We will benefit by: a) A significant increase to our tax base in perpetuity (estimated at a minimum of $350,000 per year of new tax revenue from just the commercial portion, a total of $371,000 when added to present lease income); b) 83 acres of farmland as a community asset for the benefit of present and future residents. While the final uses of the land have not been determined yet, it could be used for leasing to farmers, community allotment gardens, teaching school children how to grow food, a permanent farmer’s market, agricultural education – and lots more; c) Economic spin off and potential revenues from development of the lands, both commercial and agricultural; d) Additional local jobs from the commercial development; e) Enhanced food security. If this proposal is rejected, the owner advises he will sell the land, as 8 estate lots, which would result in annual taxes totaling no more than $18,000. Full details of the proposal are available at the district website: http://www.northsaanich.ca/Municipal_Hall/District_Projects/Sandown_Racetrack_Proposal.htm Critics have voiced the following concerns: Myth #1: The municipality will “become farmers”. Fact: That has never been the intention. Once the municipality has acquired the land there will be further consultation with the community to consider possible options for third party leasing and/or management agreement. Myth #2: The farming will be subsidized by the District, thereby competing with existing farmers. Fact: Since any farmers using the land would pay fair lease rates, this is not a concern. Myth #3: There will be an increase in our taxes. Fact: This point is simply false as new taxes and revenues from the Sandown lands will cover all costs to meet ALC conditions. This proposal is self-sustaining using tax revenue and lease income that will not materialize if the proposal is not approved. And once the reclamation is complete, all tax revenue will continue to the benefit of the Municipality in perpetuity. Myth #4: There will be significant start-up costs that will need to be “front-ended” by the taxpayers. Fact: Again not true as any early stage costs will be paid from lease revenue and contributions from the present owner. Please sign the attached petition, and forward it to any other adults who live in your household, as well as any other North Saanich residents or owners you think will be interested. This is too good an opportunity to let pass us by, and it will be lost to us if we don’t act. Please sign now. Thank you, The Friends of Sandown Community Farm Email: [email protected]

Federal buildings and grounds improvements bill, HR 347. Is the "Anti Occupy Bill"! By the discretion of a federal agent any person on federal property or on grounds survailed by secret service, et al is subject to be deemed off limits to Any Peaceful Assembly or action of free speech. Basically, where or whenever "they" say so, you are in violation of federal law, a felony, for exercising your First Amendment Constitutional Right.

After 34 years at WNBC/Channel 4, Comcast has elected not to renew Sue Simmons' contract. Let's rally to get her back.

The current controversy over Rush Limbaugh's disgusting comments hides a much bigger problem; corporate control of the radio and TV airwaves. The airwaves that TV and radio stains use are the property of the American people. The FCC requires broadcasters to "serve the public interest". By allowing people like Rush Limbaugh to broadcast their hatred and lies Clear Channel is not serving the public interest. The best way to get them to operate in the public interest is for the FCC to pull their radio licenses.

The Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives plans to erect a statue in the capitol rotunda honoring Rush Limbaugh as part of Missouri's Hall of Famous Missourians, joining Joseph Pulitzer, Walt Disney, Sacajawea, Scott Joplin, Laura Ingalls Wilder, George Washington Carver, T.S. Eliot, Edwin Hubble, Marlin Perkins, Langston Hughes and Betty Grable. House Speaker Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, made the selection. Tilley said he was "proud" to induct Limbaugh because of the radio personality's success and achievement.

For-Profit Colleges are one of the leading causes of students with outstanding debt, which in turn becomes a problem for the government loaning out large sums of money to said students and thus increasing America's debt all together. For-Profit Colleges usually charge $50,000-$120,000 for their tuition. Which is quite outrageous considering that state and national colleges require significantly less money to operate. Colleges that are For-Profit should be regulated, there should be a cap on how much they are allowed to charge for tuition.

Redistricting Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties into the 1st District.

Pink slime -- that ammonia-treated meat in a bright Pepto-bismol shade -- may have been rejected by fast food joints like McDonald's, Taco Bell and Burger King, but is being brought in by the tons for the nation's school lunch program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is purchasing 7 million pounds of the "slime" for school lunches. Officially termed "Lean Beef Trimmings," the product is a ground-up combination of beef scraps, cow connective tissues and other beef trimmings that are treated with ammonium hydroxide to kill pathogens like salmonella and E. coli. It's then blended into traditional meat products like ground beef and hamburger patties. "We originally called it soylent pink," microbiologist Carl Custer, who worked at the Food Safety Inspection Service for 35 years, told The Daily. "We looked at the product and we objected to it because it used connective tissues instead of muscle. It was simply not nutritionally equivalent [to ground beef]. Custer and microbiologist Gerald Zernstein concluded in a study that the trimmings are a "high risk product," but Zernstein tells The Daily that "scientists in D.C. were pressured to approve this stuff with minimal safety approval" under President George H.W. Bush's administration. The USDA asserts that its ground beef purchases "meet the highest standard for food safety." Controversy surrounding "pink slime" stems from various safety concerns, particularly dangers associated with ammonium hydroxide, which can both be harmful to eat and has potential to turn into ammonium nitrate -- a common component in homemade bombs, according to MSNBC. It's also used in household cleaners and fertilizers. In 2009, The New York Times reported that despite the added ammonia, tests of Lean Beef Trimmings of schools across the country revealed dozens of instances of E. coli and salmonella pathogens. Between 2005 and 2009, E. coli was found three times and salmonella 48 times, according to the Times, including two contaminated batches of 27,000 pounds of meat.

RUSH IS HELPING DUMMING DOWN AMERICA WITH FALSE INFORMATION AND AND HIS DISTAIN FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Super pacs are running elections now and their money is determining who is in office and running our country . The average American vote will not count anymore if this money keeps interfering and controlling us. People deserve to know who is behind Super Pacs, what's their agenda and how far are they willing to go and how much are they spending??

Research shows that VMAs do not improve student achievement. Yet, teachers are being blackballed and placed under duress to approve an evaluation that includes the value-added test score ratings of their students' performances on standardized tests. Ignoring the research, NYS will spend millions of dollars on an inaccurate and inequitable system.