“I was there to take down the names of people who were arrested… As I’m standing there, some African-American woman goes up to a police officer and says, ‘I need to get in. My daughter’s there. I want to know if she’s OK.’ And he said, ‘Move on, lady.’ And they kept pushing with their sticks, pushing back. And she was crying. And all of a sudden, out of nowhere, he throws her to the ground and starts hitting her in the head,” says Smith. “I walk over, and I say, ‘Look, cuff her if she’s done something, but you don’t need to do that.’ And he said, ‘Lady, do you want to get arrested?’ And I said, ‘Do you see my hat? I’m here as a legal observer.’ He said, ‘You want to get arrested?’ And he pushed me up against the wall.” — Retired NY Supreme Court Judge Karen Smith, working as a legal observer Tuesday morning in New York after the Occupy Wall Street police raid. Paramilitary Policing of Occupy Wall Street: Excessive Use of Force amidst the New Military Urbanism
Out of all of the photos of the devastating central Texas wildfires, at least this one of my favorite water tower is ominously cheerful.
Detailed info about the extent of the damage is available from the the Texas Forest Service, and here’s information about how you can help.
(Photo credit: Jay Janner, Austin American-Statesman)
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Tolerance and intolerance are opposites, and like most opposites, are mutually incompatible. I’m not intolerant of you - I value tolerance, which means, by definition, that I oppose intolerant behavior.
Tolerance doesn’t mean “everything for everyone.” It is a positive, affirmative values system, which has a proper moral structure. It says “this is good” sometimes, and “this is bad” at other times. It isn’t relativism, it isn’t the idea that everything is good, or the idea that you can’t know good from bad. The values of a culture which are positive and affirming for everyone are to be celebrated, while the values of a culture that are harmful and intolerant are to be changed.
Tolerance isn’t a “kick me” sign, or a “go ahead and kick whom you want” sign. It’s a “no kicking” sign. Because “kicking” however defined, harms other people, and harming another person is wrong.
” — Posted by Ursula L at slacktivist: Manifested“It is facile and mistaken to attribute this particular madman’s act directly to Republicans or Tea Party members. But it is legitimate to hold Republicans and particularly their most virulent supporters in the media responsible for the gale of anger that has produced the vast majority of these threats, setting the nation on edge. Many on the right have exploited the arguments of division, reaping political power by demonizing immigrants, or welfare recipients, or bureaucrats. They seem to have persuaded many Americans that the government is not just misguided, but the enemy of the people.” — The New York Times (via marco)
(via marco)
“That’s why this cannot-be-killed lie about WikiLeaks’ “indiscriminate” dumping of cables has so consumed me. It’s not because it would change much if they had done or end up doing that — it wouldn’t — but because it just so powerfully proves how mindlessly subservient the American establishment media is: willing to repeat over and over completely false claims as long as it pleases the right people — the same people to whom they claim they are “adversarial watchdogs.” — WikiLeaks - Salon.com
This is how they’ll let me know when Jane’s ready… (Taken with instagram at Northwest Hills Surgical Hospital)
Several months ago, my wife noticed a small lump in her neck. It grew noticeably larger week by week. In early November, we found out it was thyroid cancer. Today, she’s having surgery to have it removed.
It’s a routine procedure and as far as cancers go, it’s a really minor one; very treatable with a high chance of success. We’re staying positive as much as we can.
I’m Stuck (Taken with instagram)
Lotus leaves. (Taken with instagram)