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More shots from my outing Saturday evening can be seen here: http://afotographer.smugmug.com/Presque-Isle/

A disturbing look at 10 events not taught in schools when studying the history of the United States.

Here is number 5 on the list.... CIA under Reagan running drugs to raise money for the Contras.

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During the 1980s, the CIA facilitated the sale of cocaine to the Crips and Bloods street gangs of Los Angeles and funneled millions in drug profits to a Latin American guerrilla army.

It’s convoluted and complex, but it’s true.

Gary Webb’s book Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion outlines how CIA-backed Contras smuggled cocaine into the U.S. and then distributed crack to Los Angeles gangs, pocketing the profits. The CIA directly aided the drug dealers to raise money for the Contras.

“This drug network,” Webb wrote in a 1996 San Jose MercuryNews article, “opened the first pipeline between Colombia’s cocaine cartels and the black neighborhoods of Los Angeles, a city now known as the ‘crack’ capital of the world. The cocaine that flooded in helped spark a crack explosion in urban America . . . and provided the cash and connections needed for L.A.’s gangs to buy automatic weapons.”

Worth pointing out: On December 10, 2004, Webb committed suicide under suspicious circumstances, namely the fact that he used two bullets to shoot himself in the head.

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http://www.nationofchange.org/2015/05/20/10-conspiracy-theories-that-turned-out-to-be-true/

I accept his explanation. I would have posted the video but didn't know how to get it from the Sports Central FB page to here... so here is the link to their page.

Let me know what you think.

https://www.facebook.com/1003032643070145/videos/1003131923060217/

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term "Yooper", it is used to describe a born and raised resident of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In other words "Gods Country".

From the cab of his truck....some rather profound insights from an unlikely source....my favorite bit of wisdom..."Thank outside the white box!"

Who knew Tom Izzo would evolve to become one of the all time great college coaches. These pictures were taken during the 1977 school year as head coach of the Ishpeming Hematites, his first head coaching job. (my current hometown) He only coached the Hematites one year before moving on to assistant coach at Northern Michigan University then eventually assisting at Michigan State under Jud Heathcoat. Now in his 20th year as the Spartan head coach he will be participating in his 7th final four this coming weekend. Good Luck Tom! All us Yoopers are rooting for you!

I will can DHS tomorrow and see if they can answer my question.

When I went to the Healthcare.gov site and applied I was certain that since my income was actually less than $10,000 per year...that I would just be shuffled to Michigan's DHS department.

However, after I applied I was sent a PDF file stating that I didn't qualify for Medicaid. I was quite surprised.....

So as it stood I was going to have to pay minimum $450.00 per month (Bronze) on a $750.00 per month income.

When I talked to a representative... she indicated that this was because I wasn't filing an income tax return this year. I told her that was because I don't make enough money to be required.

She then suggested she forward me to someone who might be able to help....but then my phone went dead.... so I had to hang up.

Anyone have any thoughts so when I call someone tomorrow I have a bit better understanding on how to proceed.

Thanks in advance.

MH

Richard is my former Son in Law and has lived in the Ukraine for most of the last 12 years. He is the reason my Daughter still lives in Kyiv to this day.

His understanding of the people and culture of Ukraine is very high. He is a very intelligent and kind hearted man and I respect him deeply.

snip>

For many years I've said a terrible thing to my Ukrainian friends in private conversations:

"I don't even know if Ukraine will exist in twenty years."

The country has only been independent for a little over two decades and suffers from deep — though hardly insurmountable — political, cultural, and linguistic divisions. It has historically not remained independent for lengthy periods of time, and regional wars tend to rewrite its boundaries. Even though a whole generation has grown up accustomed to the idea of an independent Ukraine, a sense of fragility has always lingered in the air.

It appears that Ukraine's moment of truth has arrived. The country currently known as Ukraine is now at a historical crossroads. The range of possible near-term scenarios is more or less clear, but there is absolutely no certainty as to which path the country will take.

< snip

An interesting read that will help anyone who wishes to understand the situation in Ukraine.

He was also interviewed in a new documentary "My Revolution" which I posted a link to in the video section here at the DU.

MH

http://tryukraine.blogspot.com/2014/03/will-ukraine-continue-to-exist-as.html


here is the link to my posting in the video section...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017181757

My former Son in Law (Richard DeLong) is one of the people interviewed for this documentary. He has lived in Ukraine for the better part of the last 12 years and understands the culture and the people very well. He is the reason that my Daughter still lives in Kyiv to this day. I respect him deeply and is a very kind hearted and intelligent man.

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The film "My Revolution -- Video Diary from Kiev" focuses on the protests in Ukraine, using only private video-footage and eye-witness reports. What was the goal of the protesters? How did peaceful demonstrations turn into the radical violence? Were the activists surprised by the Russian reaction?

The film highlights the beginning phase of the Euromaidan protests after the refusal of the Ukrainian government to sign the EU Association Agreement in early November 2013. It becomes apparent how the riots between the police and the protesters escalates during the last days of February 2014. Furthermore, after the escape of the Ukrainian government, the crisis on Crimea gets out of control. All of the protagonists are present during the Euromaidan protests in Kiev and reported via Skype about their experiences -- a rare glimpse behind the scenes.

More information on www.ecomediatv.de
Contact details: info@ecomediatv.de

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