Why I’m switching from Ben Carson

If there’s one thing that hurts the most in politics, it’s realizing that someone you supported wholeheartedly for months is not the best choice as a candidate. I wanted Ben Carson to be the right candidate. I thought he was exactly what America needed. I was wrong. He’s close, but he’s missing a few components that are necessary in a time when America needs the strongest, most intelligent and thoughtful leader possible.

Nobody could ever convince me that Carson isn’t intelligent just as they couldn’t convince me that he isn’t thoughtful. The very nature of his chosen profession, neurosurgery, demands a great deal of both in order to be successful. I love what he has to say about fixing the country, dealing with immigration, and even addressing threats foreign and domestic. Despite what many said about his economic plan, there are enough numbers to support the ideas that he has been espousing about a flat tax rate that made me realize just how correct he has been.

The problem with Carson has emerged in the last couple of weeks as he’s faced criticism. He hasn’t handled it well. Keep in mind that I don’t believe most of the criticism was warranted, but that’s politics. In particular, that’s Presidential election politics. It’s the test that every major candidate has to face and Carson has not thrived in it the way that he needs to. Perhaps it’s because he’s not a politician. Perhaps it’s because he’s just too nice. Regardless of the reasons, this country needs a leader who can take criticism of any type, real or make believe, and handle it appropriately.

Unfortunately, my second choice for President based upon my desire to have an outsider take the reins has fallen in my eyes as well. Donald Trump says a ton of great things about being great and making things great and how great his greatness is. I bought into it for a while, particularly when I thought that he would likely be the candidate. Now, I’m realizing that his inability to handle any minutely negative situation makes him worse than Carson. The difference is that this bombastic mentality has shielded him in a way from the negative effects on his polling numbers, but that doesn’t change the fact that he turns into a child when anyone calls him out on his statements.

Donald Trump is not capable of being a good President. He’s a leader. He’s a smart man. He is not a President of the United States. He fell from number 2 to number not-gonna-happen in my books about a month ago.

While Carson and Trump were fading in my semi-conservative mainstream Republican mind, a candidate rose who surprised me in positive ways as much as Carson and Trump surprised me in negative ways. Ted Cruz has a reputation for being a hardline conservative. That has been his most compelling attribute since hitting the political stage four years ago. He’s a Tea Party favorite and that worried me. Don’t get me wrong – I have nothing against the Tea Party. However, I do believe in a more balanced and realistic perspective when it comes to Republican politics. I’m not necessarily a moderate, but I’m what might be considered conservative-lite when it comes to policy.

Cruz has demonstrated with his perspectives on the economy and national security that he’s not as hardcore conservative as the legend that precedes him. He’s definitely conservative, but his willingness to go against many of the most hawkish Senators like Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio on the USA Freedom Act proved that he’s willing to bend but not break. He’s like Trump in that he wants to build a wall but he’s not talking about building a deportation force that is not only irrational but that’s fiscally irresponsible. Most importantly, he appreciates the value of a flat tax while still maintaining a conspicuously aggressive stance as it pertains to market monetarism. This goes against standard GOP philosophies and would be damaging to him if it weren’t for the likely reality that he’s absolutely correct about it being the right way for the Fed to regulate money.

I will always consider Ben Carson to be a strong leader who needs to be more present in Washington DC policy-making. I just can’t see him as President of the United States. It’s only one perspective, but it’s a perspective that I hope moves other Republicans to see the light.

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When will it not be too early to call Common Core an utter failure?

The deeper we get into the “educational” system known as Common Core, the harder it will be to take down. Those of us who have been watching for a while realize that it’s definitely not what we thought it would be. I know. I was a big supporter all those years ago before I realized the impossibility of the situation.

The problem with Common Core is that it makes assumptions that are untenable. You cannot convince educators, let alone parents, that everyone should be able to handle the same level of workload and learning that others do. In essence, it relegates the education system into a parody of itself where critical thought is replaced by indoctrination of processes. The irony is that it was intended to somehow promote critical thinking. The failure comes in the form of universal concepts superseding direct interaction with individual students.

There’s a piece I read that brings it home for those who don’t quite understand the process. I am a firm believer that if more people knew what Common Core actually did to education, that we could start calling it out for what it is much sooner.

Here’s the article:

Where a Wrong Answer Can be Right and the Right Answer Can Be Wrong https://t.co/YWSQ4zWT79 http://pic.twitter.com/hSC2q7Kb8I

— SocialNews (@SocialNews) December 6, 2015

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Does Rand Paul have a chance in an election that features Ted Cruz?

The pedigree for Rand Paul is as good as it gets. He was supposed to pick up the mantle that his father once carried and bring it to the finish line because of his less stringent Libertarian views. This was the year that the young, ideological conservative was supposed to be in the right place at the right time. His problem: Ted Cruz is beating him at his own game.

While not a Libertarian, Cruz represents many of the same views. The difference is that he seems to be more appreciated by the mainstream and is drawing much more support from the far right. This is a problem for Paul who must get those conservatives who believe in his isolationist perspective in order to have a chance.

It isn’t just Cruz. The isolationist perspective worked just fine a couple of years ago when it was clear that the mistakes of the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations had caused more harm than good in the Middle East. The problem is that the Islamic State is different from Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Afghanistan. With the Islamic State, they have the power to bring the war to America and that has people worried.

Still, it really does come down to Cruz.

Rand Paul's Biggest Problem: Ted Cruz https://t.co/4IVlQsiNyV http://pic.twitter.com/dBskkUU0KA

— National Review (@NRO) December 6, 2015

If Rand Paul is going to have any chance, he’ll have to… oh, nevermind. He has no chance.

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Can Obama and Netanyahu make nice? Yes and no.

It doesn’t take a behavioral scientist to look at the interactions between US President Barack Obama and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and come to the conclusion that they don’t like each other. The politically far-left Obama and the far-right Netanyahu have more than just political perspectives driving them apart. They have a completely different perspective as it pertains to the Iran nuclear deal and that divide is enough to break apart any potential common ground.

#Obama, #Netanyahu set for first talks since #Iran deal – #US #Israel https://t.co/5BcHfcb7Ap via @Reuters

— Ville Kostian (@Kostian_V) November 9, 2015

Despite the strain to their relationship and the relationship between their two countries, they will be meeting this week to help iron out some deals to bring the leery allies back to focus on their common goals. One of those goals is the defense of Israel, something that even the most unimpressed US President must admit is important in a Middle East that is loaded with turmoil. To do this, there will be some talks about a Palestinian State.

#News Obama, Netanyahu look to mend fractured relationship – Washington Post https://t.co/pEoy0zTCrh Vía @Google

— Obi-Wan Kenobi (@ObiWanKenobl) November 9, 2015

There will be no Palestinian State as long as these two are in power. President Obama has given up on getting it done before he’s out of office and Prime Minister Netanyahu cannot afford to do more than keep the peace process alive. Any deal would be political suicide, not to mention military suicide for his country. Instead, the two will focus on keeping the dialogue open long enough for Obama to make his exit. That’s all that both could hope for – open dialogue and continued military support for Israel.

Yes, they will play nice and put forth a unified front that will commend future peace talks, returning stability to Israel, and sustaining Israel’s military advantage in the region. No, they won’t actually accomplish much and they won’t be having a beer together after the talks.

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Ben Carson wants online-only debates

When you’re the front runner, you can say pretty much whatever you want about the various campaign venues. Ronald Reagan proved this. Bill Clinton reiterated it. Now, Ben Carson is putting his foot down and suggesting that future debates should be for the internet only.

The idea follows a debacle of a debate held by CNBC in which the debaters, the crowd, and all but the most liberal observers felt that the format of the debate and the questions being asked were ludicrous. It seemed design to embarrass the candidates rather than to give the American people an opportunity to learn more about them.

Carson’s camp had an answer.

Well, here's an idea. https://t.co/AcmrvdfqPs

— Mark Davis (@MarkDavis) November 2, 2015

The idea isn’t exactly bad, though it will never happen. In the digital age where so many get their entertainment, news, and music through streams rather than traditional media delivery formats, it makes sense to consider. Maybe next time. This time, we’re going to have more televised debates.

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Donald Trump. Democrat?

When someone starts discussing conspiracy theories, we often picture JFK’s assassination, aliens, and Elvis. Few would think that Donald Trump’s Presidential campaign would be the topic of discussion for a popular conspiracy theory YouTube channel, but that’s exactly what happened today.

According to Alltime Conspiracies, Trump may be a closet Democrat who is trying to weaken the Republican party for his friend Hillary Clinton. Think what you want. While the conspiracy seems unlikely, there is enough evidence to question whether Trump’s interest is for helping America, helping Clinton, or helping himself.

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Jesse Ventura whines about the two-party system’s destruction

As a WWF wrestler, Jesse “The Body” Ventura captivated crowds with harsh talk and fake wrestling moves. That experience helped him have a relatively successful career in both politics and reality television. Now, he’s sounding off again, presumably to get another gig.

Supporters will say that he was simply speaking the truth when he decried the two-party political system of the United States. He said he hoped that Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders would be the destruction of their parties. While we admit that he has clear justification to be angry about the way that government operates in our country, his rhetoric is lost in the hype of selfishness when he declares that he doesn’t fit in with either party.

There are plenty of constructive critics who have real solutions to offer for debate. Ventura’s solution of destruction of the current parties and building others up that suit him better smell more political than the system he’s railing against.

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Human rights officially replaced by trade deals on British government priority list

Sir Simon McDonald, Permanent Secretary of Great Britain’s Foreign Office, has come out and admitted what many have speculated about all along. Protection of human rights is no longer a priority for the government, replaced by the internal prosperity that comes when they focus on trade deals.

Yes, trade deals.

This sentiment has been echoed in other world powers, but Great Britain has always maintained a leadership role in righting the wrongs around the world. That’s not going to be the case anymore.

really worrying when the head of FCO says human rights are no longer 'a 'top priority for UK Government' http://t.co/62fSXjxSYj @AmnestyUK

— Allan Hogarth (@hogihogarth) October 2, 2015

This represents a combination of Great Britain’s dwindling world power and increased domestic needs. It also represents the sentiment of a people who have been involved in human rights issues for decades.

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European nations want Monsanto GMO crops out

Food giant Monsanto won a huge battle by getting their genetically modified crops approved in the European Union. The victory has been diminishing as individual EU nations have been pushing to opt-out of allowing those crops in their lands.

Out of 28 member nations, 19 have asked to be excluded from hopping on the Monsanto bandwagon. It was only for one crop – GM maize MON 810 – but many Europeans see it as a gateway that would allow further genetic manipulations to enter their food stream.

19 EU nations saying #NoGMO. https://t.co/FZL2WZ2CH5

— Edna Cianciotto (@MTitalian1) October 5, 2015

Will America ever wake up and see what Europeans and South Americans have known for a while?

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United Nations highlights food waste in coolest way possible

We aren’t the biggest fans of the vast majority of the United Nations’ actions. Their attempts to help are, in most circumstances, very poorly planned and terribly executed. That doesn’t even touch on the motives which are often questionable at best.

Despite all of that, they did something today that was pretty darn cool. Rather than the posh meals that normally get served to delegates when the United Nations is in session, they were served something completely different: food waste. Before you get grossed out, this is the type of food that most of us would actually enjoy. It was done to highlight the millions of tons of viable food that is discarded every year while we have billions of people starving.

Landfill salad? Eco-friendly menu at high-level working lunch on climate change included dishes made from food waste http://pic.twitter.com/zSJZF6iG8i

— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) September 27, 2015

World Leaders Are Fed Food Waste, and It's Great http://t.co/ntxeW8caHf http://pic.twitter.com/BmpjrsAxqB

— We Heart World (@WeHeartWorld) September 29, 2015

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Ali Mohammed al-Nimr will be crucified and beheaded for protesting Saudi government

One of the most egregious crimes that Americans and the United States government commit on a regular basis is turning a blind eye to atrocities for the sake of political ties. There is no doubt that Saudi Arabia has been an extremely important ally to the United States from an economic perspective for decades, but at what point do our values overrule our financial needs?

That time should be now. You won’t hear much about Ali Mohammed al-Nimr in the mainstream media because the government doesn’t want you to see it. You’ll hear all about the tragic death of Cecil the Lion, but you won’t hear of a 17-year-old boy who was arrested for protesting, tortured until he signed a confession that he had a gun which he later denied exhaustively when not under duress, and sentenced to crucifixion and death by beheading for speaking out against the government that the United States supports.

Saudi prisoner, arrested at age 17, faces death by crucifixion http://t.co/aUzSObKVRP #SaudiArabia http://pic.twitter.com/4JTtCB76Be

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) September 18, 2015

This is a vengeance sentencing. His uncle, who is also sentenced to die this week, is a leader of an opposition group to the current regime.

Ali Mohammed Al-Nimr: Saudi Teenager Faces Crucifixion And Beheading After Appeal Dismissed http://t.co/AzTn5MVOEa http://pic.twitter.com/en8nojXUcq

— Inquisitr News (@theinquisitr) September 18, 2015

Where is the public outcry? Where is the press coverage telling the citizens of the United States that one of our closest allies in the Middle East is going to execute someone who committed the “crime” of speaking out against his government? Many will point to cultural differences and claim that we should not get involved. They would be correct on one count. We should not be involved with any government that is willing to convict, torture, and behead its own citizens that act out as children.

He didn’t kill anyone. He didn’t rape anyone. He did not commit an act of treason or espionage. He protested. They say he had a gun and tortured him until he admitted that he did. In the end, he had the wrong uncle and spoke out against the wrong government.

There are so many liberal protesters who accuse Israel of heinous acts. These same people will be as silent as the US government and the mainstream media when it comes to the crucifixion and beheading of Ali Mohammed Al-Nimr.

According to @Amnesty, Saudi Arabia's charges against Ali are based on the confessions extracted under torture http://t.co/VwhBARRoUK

— Catch News (@CatchNews) September 21, 2015

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The Goals of a Fighter versus the Promises of a Deal Maker: Cruz/Trump 2016

The fact that Ted Cruz is the only major candidate that hasn’t really felt any of Donald Trump’s wrath combined with the lead that Trump has in the polls currently has many people promoting a concept of a Trump/Cruz ticket for the Republican nomination. They are close. In reality, a Cruz/Trump ticket makes a lot more sense.

Trump’s most recent policy announcement is a departure from where he’s been in the past. Rather than promoting the gun control measures he’s been known to advocate, he’s shifted his promise to include zero additional provisions for buying or owning a gun. This conservative shift towards being a second amendment promoter has some people wondering what policy shift is he going to promise next.

The differences between Cruz and Trump are numerous, but consistency is the most obvious. Cruz has been a fighter throughout his career even before he was an elected official. This is different from being a deal maker. Trump’s skills as a deal maker makes him someone who should be Vice President at best or even Secretary of State, but the shifting that has been happening smell suspiciously like someone who is willing to say whatever it takes to win votes.

Is Trump evolving or a cynical opportunist? –AP News – Trump's latest policy paper marks departure on gun control http://t.co/viDP90q7ry

— Antonio Albano (@Antonio_Albano) September 19, 2015

Despite the early polls (which are relatively meaningless if you look at recent history) it is very likely that Cruz will be able to gain more support as the field narrows. Both are polarizing but Trump has made many more enemies in the camps of other contenders. It’s very unlikely that a Bobby Jindal or Carly Fiorina supporter would shift to Trump once their candidates bow out.

Cruz has a history of fighting for the values that have made him a strong candidate. He has been the most consistent conservative throughout the campaign. Trump has done the appropriate shifts that work well in sound bites designed to get the headline-reading Republicans. When the base looks on the surface, they see someone who sounds conservative. When they dig deeper, they realize that many of his campaign promises are conveniently conservative compared to where he was when he spoke from his heart. These shifts are the differentiators that separate fighters from opportunistic deal makers. Trump would make a fine Vice President. Cruz would make a great President.

Donald Trump has very clear skills but it would seem that leading the country from a position of fortitude and consistency is not one of them. If the GOP combines his entertainment value as a VP candidate for Ted Cruz, it would be a winning ticket.

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Glenn Beck vows to smuggle Syrian Christians into the U.S.

On Thursday at a rally in D.C. against the Iran Deal, Glenn Beck says if his audience can raise $10 million before Christmas, he will vet Chritian Syrian refugees in order to smuggle them into the U.S., despite possible imprisonment.

Beck claims in his recent interview with Ginni Thomas, that he has former CIA officials that already vetting the refugees and that “we can save more people by Christmas than Oscar Schindler saved.”

GLENN BECK IN HIS OWN WORDS: I’LL SAVE MORE PEOPLE THAN SCHINDLER… Host Asks for $10M to Bring Syrians to US http://t.co/PWYRxSYjp0 #tcot

— Bill Postmus (@billpostmus) September 15, 2015

After commenting on the state department not letting them in, he says that he knows “some bridges over the river into Texas that doesn’t seem to matter.” He goes on to say that he doesn’t need permission at all to do the right thing and that we should forget what Washington says, “no one needs permission to do the right thing.”

Beck’s stated goal is to “…work on uniting people of different faiths.”

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Monsanto found guilty of poisoning farmer

In 2012 a court ruled Monsanto guilty of poisoning a French farmer, and on Thursday the ruling was upheld. The farmer claims that after inhaling the LASSO weedkiller, a soil-applied herbicide, he suffered major neurological problems. The chemical was banned in France in 2007

This would be the first time that Monsanto was held responsible and ordered to fully compensate a plaintiff for damages. The company plans on taking the case to the highest appeals court in France.

Glad the French court system hasn't been corrupted like in US: Monsanto guilty of chemically poisoning French farmer http://t.co/HKDO2f0DmM

— Staying Healthy (@ICanStayHealthy) September 11, 2015

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‘That special dog’ and the ethics of cloning sciences

A good dog is irreplaceable and unforgettable. Some of us dog lovers have had the blessing of at least one good dog in our lifetime, and if given the opportunity we’d have a dog just like them. For just under $100,000 it can happen.

In South Korea, Sooam Biotech (the most efficient cloning lab in the world) a company founded by Woosuk Hwang, the South Korean geneticist who was found guilty of ethical breaches in 2005 and was awarded “Invention of The Year” by Time Magazine, has nearly perfected the process of cloning dogs. But, Hwang has a long history that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

From @techinsider: Inside the South Korean lab that will clone your dog (for $100k) http://t.co/PgszOvGWQR

— Science Friday (@scifri) September 9, 2015

What prompted an investigation into Hwang’s work, before the founding of Sooam, was the promise he made to make a handicap boy walk again. The information obtained from the investigation was that some of Hwang’s findings were seriously flawed and it was concluded that it couldn’t be by accident. However, this didn’t stop Hwang from pursuing his ambitions.

Although he was found guilty he served no jail time and because of avid supporters there were plenty of private donors who funded a new research facility, which is what brings us to Sooam Biotech.

While Sooam makes a lot of its money on cloning dogs, the research being conducted behind the scenes is far more serious. Regardless of the past allegations the facts are evident in Hwang’s achievements. These achievements have caught the attention of some of the greatest geneticists in the world, some have even joined his team.

Cloning a woolly mammoth Hwang Woosuk and other scientists attempt …: Cloning a Woolly Mammoth Good Science or… http://t.co/8i32tHkp

— genes (@genes5) March 21, 2012

Hwang’s stated goal is to help eradicate some of the most common ailments that plague humans. Coincidentally, dogs seem to have very similar diseases as we do, thus they can be used and studied, along with pigs, to help achieve the goal of changing some of the most common problems we face medically, such Alzheimer’s, Diabetes and so on. With Hwang’s recent breakthrough in somatic cell nuclear transfer, he has paved the way for a much more intense study that will receive funding from both government and private entities in various countries.

We went inside a dog cloning lab. Here’s what we saw: http://t.co/0x3I6WPeoo @drake_baer @techinsider http://pic.twitter.com/eKz4bfeSeP

— Will Wei (@WillWei) September 8, 2015

While many of us in America may shun the idea of cloning humans, the move towards this reality is ever so closer because of people like Woosuk Hwang. Make no mistake, there will be a market for it, just as we see with cloning dogs. Recently China caught on and jumped on board the cloning dog bandwagon. Russia as well has been conducting major research in the field of cloning and is currently in a fight with Sooam Biotech over the mammoth cloning technology.

China is setting up a major animal cloning company with Korean assistance http://t.co/9FN7Liz2Bm

— Reddit Science (@Science_Reddit) July 23, 2015

While the idea of cloning is not new in recent times, the technology has progressed to a disturbing level. And we’d be sticking our heads in the sand if we didn’t take the research seriously. It goes well beyond dogs, and it’s only moving forward at a rate much faster than we have anticipated.

Should human cloning be legal? Vote & join the debate: https://t.co/PuFeZW4rve #Bioethics #Genetics http://pic.twitter.com/qKYj8hwOom

— netivist (@netivistorg) September 7, 2015

Americans' moral acceptance of both polygamy & human cloning has doubled in recent years. http://pic.twitter.com/TYSgmk7BRT

— Justice Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) September 7, 2015

In the year 2045, we will have widespread human cloning, and @Sainsburys_Bank will provide quality products by telephone. Thinking big, guys

— Tom Blomfield (@t_blom) September 8, 2015

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Russia’s helpful little Syrian base appears to be permanent

It takes a good friend to help someone in need. For Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, that good friend turns out to be the Russians who are sending 1,000 troops and temporary housing for them to Syria to help the civil war-torn country on two fronts: rebels and the Islamic State.

As the world rightfully cries over the crisis of refugees flooding Europe, Russia’s help is coming at an opportune time for everyone. Unfortunately, it also marks what is likely a permanent presence in the Middle Eastern country that bridges the gap between their other buddies in Iran and their unofficial enemies in Israel. It also gives the Russians an opportunity to forge a permanent presence in the Middle East that’s built on their own terms, a situation they’ve coveted for decades.

In case you think that 1,000 troops and an airfield is a tiny military presence, it’s important to remember that history shows Russia and the United States have both been known to start off with a token military presence that is designed to set up something much bigger in the long run.

This is not the type of effort that’s put into building a temporary assistance base to quell an uprising. This is the start of a much bigger initiative, one that will likely establish the Russian military in a major way in the Middle East. The United States intelligence services as well as those in Europe and Israel are likely already seeing this and trying to determine how they can keep this from coming to pass. It may be too late, as US Secretary of State found out on a phone call with his Russian counterpart.

“The secretary made clear that if such reports were accurate, these actions could further escalate the conflict, lead to greater loss of innocent life, increase refugee flows and risk confrontation with the anti-Isil coalition operating in Syria,” the State Department said in a release.

If Russia sets up permanent camp in Syria, it’s likely that al-Assad will remain in command from a political perspective but that the real power will rest with Russia’s military and Iran’s Ayatollah Khameini on the policy front.

Here is a chronological flow of Tweets that detail what has been happening with this escalation.

Russian Navy's N.Filchenkov heading back home after unloading the armored vehicles in Tartous https://t.co/VYpU0saan7 http://pic.twitter.com/Iv7MTfntCq

— alper boler (@alperboler) August 31, 2015

Russian Warship Korolev Passed Through Istanbul With Cargo On Her Deck http://t.co/Ja2Wu7xTkB http://pic.twitter.com/SOoC7Xfcqa

— Bosphorus Naval News (@Saturn5_) September 4, 2015

4 years later, costs of Syria war spilling into developed world. If anything forces the world to pay attention, that would be it.

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) September 5, 2015

Supposedly the Tsezar Kunikov…added 2 September…caption: "Again to Syria" http://pic.twitter.com/5g8CIpr9w9

— RussianNavyBlog(ret) (@russiannavyblog) September 5, 2015

Liwa al-Haqq (Jeish al-Fath) commander reacts to news of Russian intervention: Sure, come to Syria. We'll kill you. http://pic.twitter.com/SfBLjhJdrx

— Abu al-Jamajem (@AbuJamajem) September 6, 2015

CORRECTION: Russian merchant cargo ship Aleksandr Ktachenko carries military URAL 4320 truck @Saturn5_ @alperboler http://pic.twitter.com/KcoulDv05l

— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) September 6, 2015

#Syria Pics posted by Russian soldier on Nikolay Filchenkov (152)- At least 2 BTR-82A. Crossed Bosphorus on Aug 20. http://pic.twitter.com/QRxGgLguca

— Green lemon (@green_lemonnn) September 6, 2015

#Yemen: Imagery showing aftermath of strikes on al-Imam University, now a Houthi base in northern #Sanaa. http://pic.twitter.com/D3pRll6gkO

— Beyond The Levant (@TheRealBTL) September 6, 2015

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Boston’s new favorite person: U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman

Very few people saw it coming. U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman has denied the NFL’s Management Council’s motion to confirm the award of New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension for the #deflategate scandal during this year’s playoffs and Super Bowl. As a result, the star is able to play the first game next week.

Boston has found a new hero.

A @DunkinDonuts in Maine is offering the #Deflategate judge free coffee for life http://t.co/u8AxCMxnfK http://pic.twitter.com/pguBDsC6g5

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) September 3, 2015

This makes the NFL and particularly Commissioner Roger Goodell look very bad.

Hurley: After Losing DeflateGate, Roger Goodell Should Be Embarrassed http://t.co/0l00tBdLHj #Boston #News

— Boston News (@NewsInBeantown) September 3, 2015

Time we added "general awareness" to that personal conduct code, eh? @CharlesRobinson on NFL's next moves: http://t.co/bwY2UobbXe

— Al Toby (@AlTobyYahoo) September 3, 2015

.@GlobeWasserman's take on Goodell and #Deflategate http://t.co/XrgOkw0LF6 http://pic.twitter.com/GlzD0ujSUk

— The Boston Globe (@BostonGlobe) September 3, 2015

News is going viral with SportsCenter’s tweet getting tens of thousands of retweets and favorites.

BREAKING: Tom Brady beats NFL in Deflategate court case. Judge nullifies league's 4-game suspension. http://pic.twitter.com/MzCg2RANVU

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 3, 2015

Brady is even getting praise from Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Donald Trump showers praise on 'total winner' Tom Brady after court ruling http://t.co/FK0PyoX9A2 http://pic.twitter.com/HpD9mfZdl6

— Business Insider (@businessinsider) September 3, 2015

This isn’t just bad for the commissioner and good for Brady. This changes the way that the NFL will have to enforce its rules and investigate infractions. The biggest winner in all of this (other than Boston) is the NFL Players’ Association.

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Where the coalition failed, the CIA hopes to succeed with drone strikes

Coalition air strikes against the Islamic State have been considered by most to be ineffective. The idea was that if the airstrikes could be used to cut off supplies and halt the ISIS advances in Syria and Iraq, that the local military would be able to take back territory over time. It hasn’t worked.

The United States Central Intelligence Agency coordinating with the US Special Operations forces are now conducting drone strikes of their own. Rather than supply lines and strongholds, they have been going after high-value targets in an effort to cut the snake of at its head.

CIA, Special Operations forces reportedly launch drone strikes targeting ISIS leaders in Syria http://t.co/odDLZw63On

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 2, 2015

According to Fox News, their highest profile known kill has been “Junaid Hussain, a British-born computer hacker who used social media in an effort to inspire homegrown jihadists to commit terror attacks.”

CIA and U.S. special ops have launched a secret drone targeted killing program against ISIS in Syria (WaPo) http://t.co/SjUW7DhxZt

— The Intercept (@the_intercept) September 1, 2015

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Powdered caffeine keeps you up but may kill you

The FDA just issued a warning to distributors of powdered caffeine in light of two deaths that occurred in 2014 as a result of unintentional overdosing. The agency says that the powder is dangerous and presents a significant risk to consumers.

The distributors who received the warning included Bridge City Bulk, Hard Eight Nutrition (BulkSupplements.com), Pure Bulk, SPN (Smartpowders) and Kreativ Health (Natural Food Supplements). All have products available online.

Deadly dose: FDA issues new warning to companies distributing powdered caffeine http://t.co/cLsfnNz422 http://pic.twitter.com/2DZMEFVbEt

— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) September 1, 2015

To put this into perspective; one teaspoon of the pure powdered caffeine is equivalent to 28 cups of coffee. And to measure precisely the amount that is considered a safe dose is difficult with most kitchen tools available. The difference between the amount for a safe and lethal dose is small.

Teenagers and young adults are especially at risk because they are more drawn to substances that give them an energy boost, and less likely to take extreme caution on the amount they are consuming.

Prom king dies of a caffeine overdose just days before graduating from high school: http://t.co/omHbVZFJ7y http://pic.twitter.com/XKDMWCRfyG

— HLN (@HLNTV) May 29, 2015

After Logan Stiner’s death, Ohio moved to ban the powder from being distributed in their state. The ban was approved this year. Other states are taking steps to ban the substance as well.

A year after Logan Stiner's death, Ohio powdered #caffeine ban approved, awaits governor's signature. http://t.co/Q6aAhqPctr

— Murray Carpenter (@Murray_journo) June 4, 2015

Companies have been given 15 days to respond. Hard Eight says that they have stopped selling the product after receiving the warning. Kreativ Health claims that they will be taking it off the market. PureBulk says that it is preparing to respond to the FDA’s request and has no further comment. The others have yet to respond.

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Study finds grass-fed beef much safer than conventional

In a recent test study by Consumer Reports it was found that sustainable beef has half the amount of bacteria (grass-fed even lower) when compared to conventional. From 26 cities around the country, 458 pounds of beef was tested.

The tests include 5 main bacteria: Salmonella, C. Perfringins, S. Aureus, E. Coli and Enterococcus. The findings were sobering.

Because my sarcasm was lost on the last post… here's the full report from Consumer Reports on what's going on… http://t.co/dLU3aDAGyU

— Food Babe (@thefoodbabe) August 26, 2015

According to their findings:

One of the most significant findings of our research is that beef from conventionally raised cows was more likely to have bacteria overall, as well as bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, than beef from sustainably raised cows. We found a type of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus bacteria called MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), which kills about 11,000 people in the U.S. every year, on three conventional samples (and none on sustainable samples). And 18 percent of conventional beef samples were contaminated with superbugs—the dangerous bacteria that are resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics—compared with just 9 percent of beef from samples that were sustainably produced.

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