Who pulled the cord? - Emergency slide inflates mid flight

Emergency Evacuation Slide Deploys Midair On United Flight

June 30 (Reuters) - A United Airlines flight bound for southern California with 101 people on board was diverted to Wichita, Kansas on Sunday night after an emergency evacuation chute inflated inside the aircraft in mid-flight, the airline said.

United flight 1463, which was carrying 96 passengers with five crew members on board, was bound for Orange County's John Wayne Airport, south of Los Angeles, when the emergency chute accidentally deployed, the airline said.

"The flight diverted to Wichita ... No one was injured and the flight landed safely," United said in a statement. The Boeing 737-700 took off from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/emergency-evacuation-slide-deploys_n_5542665.html

American interests translated to Oil Companies interests

As the president talks about sending advisers to Iraq, he said "We will be helping Iraqis as they take the fight to terrorists who threaten the Iraqi people, the region, and American interests as well."

We all know the only interest that Americans have in Iraq is oil. And protecting that only means we are protecting several corporations interests. The first Iraq war was about oil, the second Iraq war was about oil, and this is as well.

Deadline Set For Claims In Freedom Industries Case

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A federal bankruptcy judge has set an Aug. 1 deadline for financial claims by West Virginia residents and businesses affected by a January chemical spill in Charleston that contaminated the local water supply.

Proof of claims forms can be obtained and filed on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court's website. The Charleston Gazette (http://bit.ly/1lYAOpF) reports business losses must be accompanied by documentation, while residents don't need such documentation for personal damage.

A spill of the coal-cleaning agent crude MCHM at Freedom Industries' plant along the Elk River contaminated 300,000 people's tap water in nine counties. Residents were ordered not to use tap water for up to 10 days except for flushing toilets and putting out fires.

Dozens of individuals and businesses sued Freedom after the spill, many saying they lost profits and wages while their workplaces remained shuttered for days without clean water. Those legal cases were frozen when Freedom filed for bankruptcy protection eight days after the spill.

The Freedom case's claims agent, James W. Layne Jr., said people should not rely on those previously filed civil lawsuits. They should instead file bankruptcy claims.

http://www.mbtmag.com/news/2014/06/deadline-set-claims-freedom-industries-case?et_cid=4004958&et_rid=652347563&type=headline

North Carolina Senior Stripped of Diploma After He Strips at Graduation

Quintin L. Murphy, who is headed to the University of North Carolina-Pembroke to play football in the fall, whipped off his purple robe at Jack Britt High School's graduation ceremony Wednesday night in Fayetteville and struck a pose dressed only in leopard print skivvies, socks and shoes. He was greeted by a uniformed officer and promptly escorted from the arena.


Video at link:
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/north-carolina-senior-stripped-diploma-after-he-strips-graduation-n130186

How is that party of NO working for you Cantor?

Another day - another gun nut shoots off...

This has become so common place that it isn't even late breaking news anymore.


Shooter and 1 Student at Portland, Oregon, High School Confirmed Dead: Police

A shooter opened fire at a suburban Portland, Oregon, high school Tuesday morning, killing one student, authorities said. The gunman is also dead.

Police say the situation at Reynolds High School in Troutdale was “stabilized” an hour after initial calls came in at 8:07 a.m. local time as the school day was beginning.


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The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office didn't immediately say if there were other victims or the extent of any injuries. It was unclear if the gunman was killed or died from self-inflicted injuries.

The victim was a male student, but wasn't further identified.


http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/shooter-1-student-portland-oregon-high-school-confirmed-dead-police-n127401

More Voting Games in Ohio - Xpost GD

Someday, after they figure out how to appeal to a broader swath of the electorate, Republicans will probably be embarrassed by how much time they have spent making it harder for Americans to vote. For now, though, the beat just goes on. In a misguided effort to hold on to power despite an ever-shrinking base of older white voters, Republican lawmakers around the country continue to impose all sorts of barriers to the ballot box.

One of the most egregious examples is happening in Ohio, a critical swing state in presidential elections and the scene of many recent disenfranchisement attempts.

In February, state legislators quickly pushed through a law removing the first week of Ohio’s 35-day early-voting period — which was also the only week that permitted same-day registration. Days later, Ohio’s secretary of state, Jon Husted, issued a directive further cutting back on early voting by eliminating voting during evening hours, on Sundays, and on the Monday before Election Day. Previously, county election boards had the power to set polling hours based on local needs, which vary widely — one rural county has just 13,000 residents, while more than 1.2 million live in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland.

The effect of the cuts will be felt especially by vulnerable populations in the bigger cities, who also tend to vote Democratic. Minority citizens vote early at twice the rate of whites, while lower-income and less-educated voters often cast ballots on weekends and evenings because they are often unable to take time off work. During the 2012 presidential election, 157,000 Ohioans — making up more than a quarter of all early in-person voters — voted during the days and hours that have now been cut, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which last month sued the state over the new restrictions.

What possible explanation is there for limiting citizens’ opportunities to vote? Mr. Husted has said he wants to make it “easy to vote and hard to cheat,” although it is not clear how his directive does either. Officials also claim the changes will improve “administrative efficiency” and statewide uniformity in voting procedures. But a 2012 federal appeals court ruling striking down a similar directive, also issued by Mr. Husted, found no evidence that local election boards were struggling to cope with early voting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/10/opinion/more-voting-games-in-ohio.html?emc=edit_th_20140610&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=45299538&_r=0

Easy to vote? How do they sell this bullshit?

This is cross posted from GD
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025073503

More Voting Games in Ohio

Someday, after they figure out how to appeal to a broader swath of the electorate, Republicans will probably be embarrassed by how much time they have spent making it harder for Americans to vote. For now, though, the beat just goes on. In a misguided effort to hold on to power despite an ever-shrinking base of older white voters, Republican lawmakers around the country continue to impose all sorts of barriers to the ballot box.

One of the most egregious examples is happening in Ohio, a critical swing state in presidential elections and the scene of many recent disenfranchisement attempts.

In February, state legislators quickly pushed through a law removing the first week of Ohio’s 35-day early-voting period — which was also the only week that permitted same-day registration. Days later, Ohio’s secretary of state, Jon Husted, issued a directive further cutting back on early voting by eliminating voting during evening hours, on Sundays, and on the Monday before Election Day. Previously, county election boards had the power to set polling hours based on local needs, which vary widely — one rural county has just 13,000 residents, while more than 1.2 million live in Cuyahoga County, which includes Cleveland.

The effect of the cuts will be felt especially by vulnerable populations in the bigger cities, who also tend to vote Democratic. Minority citizens vote early at twice the rate of whites, while lower-income and less-educated voters often cast ballots on weekends and evenings because they are often unable to take time off work. During the 2012 presidential election, 157,000 Ohioans — making up more than a quarter of all early in-person voters — voted during the days and hours that have now been cut, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which last month sued the state over the new restrictions.

What possible explanation is there for limiting citizens’ opportunities to vote? Mr. Husted has said he wants to make it “easy to vote and hard to cheat,” although it is not clear how his directive does either. Officials also claim the changes will improve “administrative efficiency” and statewide uniformity in voting procedures. But a 2012 federal appeals court ruling striking down a similar directive, also issued by Mr. Husted, found no evidence that local election boards were struggling to cope with early voting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/10/opinion/more-voting-games-in-ohio.html?emc=edit_th_20140610&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=45299538&_r=0

Easy to vote? How do they sell this bullshit?

5 countries with the widest wealth gaps

These nations have the largest income inequality between their richest and poorest citizens. And yes, the U.S. makes the list.

Countries of all sizes have large wealth gaps


There’s been a lot of talk of late about the rising gap between the rich and poor in the U.S. But how does that gap stack up against the rest of the world?

Based on Gini index figures of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, the United States of America — the land of opportunity — does have one of the most uneven income distributions in the developed world. Iceland tops the list as the most egalitarian.

The Gini index measures how much an economy deviates from a state of perfect equality where everyone has the same income. A score of zero indicates perfect equality, and a score of one indicates extreme inequality.

Gini index scores can be measured before and after taxes and transfer payments, which are often designed to limit inequality. But according to Chad Stone, chief economist at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, the economy alone is what really determines income inequality. "It's the whole economy. It's the fact that different people have different skills," Stone said.

http://money.msn.com/investing/5-countries-with-the-widest-wealth-gaps?gt1=33002

No. 5: Israel
http://money.msn.com/investing/5-countries-with-the-widest-wealth-gaps?gt1=33002


No. 4: United States
http://money.msn.com/investing/5-countries-with-the-widest-wealth-gaps?gt1=33002


No. 3: Turkey
http://money.msn.com/investing/5-countries-with-the-widest-wealth-gaps?gt1=33002

No. 2: Mexico
http://money.msn.com/investing/5-countries-with-the-widest-wealth-gaps?gt1=33002

No. 1: Chile
http://money.msn.com/investing/5-countries-with-the-widest-wealth-gaps?gt1=33002

Solar Panels Taking Over Northwest Missouri

This article is almost 2 years old, but should be updated. I am currently traveling in NW Missouri and have never seen so many solar panels. They are on roofs, in yards, farms have banks of solar panels, schools, and homes in and out of town.

http://www.stjoechannel.com/story/solar-panels-taking-over-northwest-missouri/d/story/R0GcHYOE-0uqz6C4Xjv0xQ

Solar panels are trending more and more in the area.

Businesses are spreading the word.

The power bill at AB Storage has gone from $350 to $15.

"I won't have to worry about a bill for the rest of my life, probably, mostly, or if not, close to the rest of my life," says Roger Mann, the owner.

With power tools, fans, and a lot of lights, the power bill at Ken Smith Autobody has gone from $1,719 to $1,403.

"I think it's awesome, considering how very hot it's been. This past month, my bill is $319 less instead of more," says Mary Brown, co-owner of Ken Smith Autobody.

The culprit in both of these locations: solar panels.

Many businesses in St. Joseph are starting to harvest energy from the sun.

More companies are hopping on, while paying a fraction of the installation.

"I think because of all the free money that's out there through KCP&L, and through the government and stuff like that," says Mann.

At U.S. Solar in St. Joseph, they say business is booming.