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US Marines posed with Nazi symbol in Afghanistan
Submitted by Anonmaly

A photograph taken in September 2010 surfaced of a sniper team posing with a flag resembling the logo of a notorious Nazi special unit. The Marine Corps stated the symbol was not acceptable but explained the soldiers in the photograph will not be disciplined because it was a naïve mistake.

The Marines believed the SS symbol was meant to represent sniper scouts and never intended to be associated with a racist organization, said Maj. Gabrielle Chapin, a spokeswoman at Camp Pendleton, where the Marines were based.

"I don't believe that the Marines involved would have ever used any type of symbol associated the Nazi Germany military criminal organization that committed mass atrocities in WWII," Chapin said. "It's not within who we are as Marines."

The Corps has used the incident as a training tool to talk to troops about what symbols are acceptable after it became aware of the photograph last November, Chapin said.

The community respond to the Marine photo:

ThirdSection: "Many people who join the Marines do so right out of high school, so assuming that this was a naïve mistake, what does this say about our public education system's attempts at teaching history?"

corndog67: "Who cares? These guys put their lives on the line every day, for a bunch of worthless f*cks that want to kill them. Let them do what they want. Maybe it does mean Scout Snipers."

MotherForTruth: "We need to thank our government for making the policy to invade other nations and train our young and vulnerable men to become killing machines."

bailey78: "They Phucked Up Again. Who is training these people? Who gave them the flag in the first place they are in a war zone and these flags don't just show up. I smell something sour and it's not just this flag."

Mark701: "The Marines believed the SS symbol was meant to represent sniper scouts..." It's difficult to imagine that ANY members of the US military don't know what this symbol means especially when the symbol is recognized worldwide by civilians and military personnel alike as that of the hated German SS. IMO these morons thought they were being super bad-ass using the initials in this manner. Stupid, stupid, stupid."

Vierotchka: "Naive mistake my arse..."

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Obama set to make compromise on contraception plan
Submitted by letsliveinpeace

President Barack Obama announced that he has found a solution for health insurance coverage of contraceptives that would ensure and protect religious liberty. The compromise seeks to support religious organizations outraged by a new rule that would have required them to offer free contraceptive coverage.

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30,000 Domestic Drones to Fill the Sky, Civil Liberties at Risk | Common Dreams
Submitted by figgdimension

Congress passed a bill that would increase the presence of drones to ply U.S. skies. The bill requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to rush a plan to get as many drones in the air as possible within nine months. An estimated 30,000 drones could fill the air by the end of the decade.

The Senate passed the bill on Monday, 75-20 and allots $63.4 billion to the FAA. Obama is expected to sign it into law.

ACLU, among other civil liberties groups, is expressing grave concern for civilian privacy, as the legislation does not restrict drone surveillance activities by police and federal government agencies.

The community raises its concerns:

circlesquared: "bad, bad, bad idea...more freedom lost in America and world wide"

figgdimension: "protecting and serving the sh*t out of you :/"

warman1138: "WTF are they looking for! Bunch of paranoid morons, you can't go anywhere in any store or public space without cameras around everywhere and they need more? Things are getting weirder and weirder."

oldbanjo: "I wouldn't have a problem with drones except for the fact that our Police departments are corrupt."

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U.S. military beginning review of Syria options
Submitted by maasanova

The Pentagon and the U.S. Central Command have launched a preliminary internal review of U.S. military capabilities towards Syria. Administration officials are preparing options in the event President Obama were to call for them.

"Before we start talking about military options, we very much want to ensure that we have exhausted all the political, economic and diplomatic means at our disposal," Ambassador Susan Rice said on CNN's “Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.”

The president has also said that the U.S. is working on non-military options first.

"I think it is very important for us to try to resolve this without recourse to outside military intervention, and I think that's possible," Obama said in an interview with NBC News that aired during the Super Bowl on Sunday.

The community reacts to the U.S. closely monitoring developments in Syria:

Vierotchka: "Absolutely NOTHING fake about that humanitarian crisis - unless you think that it is normal to torture and kill children, women, old folks, young men, and to bomb their cities. Sheesh!"

rerushg: "It's a human rights issue, right? So why is this our job? I could go into a human-rights-start-at-home rant but I'll stuff that. There are 5 quite formidable nations bordering on Syria and you could throw a rock there from Saudi Arabia. Are they helpless? Or is human rights of no particular concern to them?"

remanns: "The military plans for everything they can conceive of,....and revises plans with some regularity. ( its those things they DONT plan for you need to try to worry about,.... assuming your powers of anticipation are more flexible or refined than theirs ! ) - nice to know that Syria has been recently reviewed a bit though."

letsliveinpeace: "First off, when I was in the USAF, we actually war gamed the first Iraq war during an readiness exercise, so no surprises in this at all, except for the claim provocateurs were used to start this up. I think Assad deserves full credit for that. And since we have seen armored personnel carriers and tanks used by the Syrians, Predator drones armed with Hellfire missiles should change up things real quick, since killing tanks is why they were built in the first place."

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Washington State House Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill by Vote of 55-43
Submitted by joeredford

In a vote of 55-43, Washington state lawmakers passed a bill to legalize same-sex marriage and protects churches, religious groups, and affiliated institutions from being charged with discrimination against same-sex couples. Wednesday's vote sends the bill to Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is expected to sign it into law next week.

"I didn't think I would be in office to see marriage equality passed," Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said Wednesday night. "It was incredibly moving to watch a new generation of gay and lesbian lawmakers in the House standing up and carrying the torch."

The Washington House passed the bill on a 55-43 vote earlier in the day. Supporters in the public-viewing galleries cheered as many on the Democratic side of the House floor hugged.

The community shows its support with the state Senate approved the measure:

The_Wanderer_Kansas: "Saw this coming in Washington! Great work!"

Leen61: "Excellent news! Nice to hear it. Good for Washington state! :))"

northernexpat: "One more step to equality for all. I hope the citizens of Washington do not let the anti-gay to reverse this decision. Their hatred shows no bounds. It boggles the mind why they should care what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their own home. If marriage between a man and a woman was so sacred, why are there so many divorces?"

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No food stamps for junk food: Florida bill would ban buying sweets with food stamps
Submitted by Radical_Centrist

Republican State Senator Ronda Storms wants to limit welfare funds that would include no longer being able to use food stamps to purchase sweets. The bill will require Florida to launch a  campaign to educate the benefits of a nutritious diet. The off-limit items would include: ice cream, pudding, sodas, potato chips, among others.

"Most individuals using public assistance dollars are using the funds to get by and to provide for their families. However, we should do what we can to prevent dollars intended to help Florida's poorest families from being spent in the wrong places," Storms said in a statement.

But critics say the government shouldn't dictate what people eat.

"What I choose to ingest even though I may be on food stamps, that's at my discretion. I don't need government telling me what I can and cannot purchase," said Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, a Pompano Beach Democrat who voted in committee against the bill.

Storms' bill (SB 1658) recently passed a committee and a companion bill in the state House (HB 1401) is being considered by a subcommittee. The community discusses the possible new ban on food stamps:

Radical_Centrist: "Sounds like a GREAT idea to me!"

KB723: "I cannot disagree!!! =)"

unimatrix0: "This is just another way for Republicans to demonize and scapegoat the poor. Disgusting. The gov. should not dictate what poor people can and cannot eat."

bailey78: "About Damn time. I see folks with a bunch of kids spend food stamps on crap every time I go to a Stop & Rob store around here. That or sell the card to buy dope. I know a lots of families need the help. But a lot of them are just abuseing the system as much as they can."

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Revolution 99 Update: Occupy D.C. to protest CPAC
Submitted by joeeddy

Occupy Washington D.C. plans to protest the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and labeled the event a “gathering of bigots, media mouthpieces, corrupt politicians and their one percent elite puppet masters.” Republican presidential candidates are expected to attend, as well as notable members of the Congress.

“CPAC will parade and attempt to perpetuate the radical right wing’s imperialist ideologies with keynote speakers, movies and banquets dedicated to pursuing its racist, sexist, patriarchal and exploitative agenda,” the movement said on its website.

Occupy protesters will be joined by the AFL-CIO, SEIU, National Nurses United and the Metro Labor Council. The community reacts to the upcoming Occupy protest:

The_Wanderer_Kansas: "It's only just the beginning folks..."

wolfess: "More power to them! When are the ditwads in power going to realize they can't break up this movement -- it's like water, the more they try to 'dam' it up, the more creative the 99% grow :-)! Pwr 2 the true American 99%! GUILLOTINE the naysayers! FREE Bradley Manning AND Julian Assange!"

MSII: "More power to them! Please do send a clear message to the “gathering of bigots, media mouthpieces, corrupt politicians and their one percent elite puppet masters.”!"

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A surprise Republican contender just pulled off a hat-trick and we're taking a closer look at this news story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

Perverts Stun Caucuses in Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri with Frothy Results
Submitted by ThirdSection

US presidential hopeful Rick Santorum pulled off a stunning victory sweeping three contests in Minnesota, Missouri, and Colorado on Monday night. Campaigning as the true conservative of the race, Santorum performed well with voters of the Tea Party and evangelical Christians.

"Conservatism is alive and well in Missouri and Minnesota," he said before the Colorado results were known. "I don't stand here to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama."

The former Pennsylvania senator, who had not won a contest since his narrow win in Iowa's caucuses in January, had been viewed as a long-shot candidate.

Tuesday's victories will inject new momentum into his campaign, as he hopes to displace Mr Gingrich as the Mr Romney's main challenger.

The community responds to Santorum shaking up the race:

dugdog47: "Makes me embarrassed to be from Missouri."

Leen61: "This is very frothy....and scary. When I heard last night he took Minnesota...whoa. I'll bet that was Bachmann's district that came out in force for him."

Truthitswhatsfordinner: "How could Romney do so poorly in MN when his campaign chairman Pawlenty is a former MN gov and his advisor Coleman is a former MN senator? More proof that Romney and his out of touch team just don't get it."

HarukoHaruhara: "Every time I think Republicans can be reasoned with, something happens like Rick Santorum winning three caucuses."

Plue: "Lets see if he can hold onto these wins when they become binding. I think that old Mittens will be on the atack. Love the headline Love the post."

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Senate Passes Bill Allowing Airports To Evict TSA Screeners
Submitted by maasanova

The Senate passed a bill that includes a provision allowing airports to hire and replace TSA screeners with private security. After reports of TSA's invasive policies, many airports are attempting to take responsibility for their own screening procedures.

The newly approved legislation “would require the TSA to reconsider applications for private screeners that it had rejected.”

“Some airport executives have argued that contract security personnel are more courteous than government workers,” reports CNN. “It was felt that a private contractor would provide friendlier customer service to the traveling public,” the head of a Roswell, New Mexico, airport wrote to Congress.”

The community shares its opinion on the TSA:

Truthitswhatsfordinner: "The TSA needs to go. I am so glad the senate passed this. Finally some bipartisan support to reign in these worker."

GRC54: "To my recollection wasn't the TSA brought into being when the Patriot Act was passed? Was it not to replace the private airport security that allowed 4 planes to get hijacked because the private security didn't care as they were paid minimum wages for their efforts. Some of the TSA workers probably should not be on the job as when you give a person power they tend to abuse it. Probably the airports are tired of paying high wages to the TSA for security as well. Look into it further."

jpvt: "I have no love for the TSA, but I'm not sure I trust security corporations to run the show any better or be any less invasive than the TSA. What's more is the TSA, being a government run program has some inherent authority to it. Rent-a-cops have a lot less (it seems to me)."

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A high-ranking official resigned Tuesday from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Submitted by The_Wanderer_Kansas

A supposed driving force behind cutting off funding for Planned Parenthood, Karen Handel announced her resignation from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. As the vice president of public policy, Handel acknowledged her role in the Planned Parenthood blowup:

"I am deeply disappointed by the gross mischaracterizations of the strategy, its rationale, and my involvement in it," Handel said in her letter. "I openly acknowledge my role in the matter and continue to believe our decision was the best one for Komen's future and the women we serve."

The community responds to Handel's decision to resign:

hoosierdaddy: "The thing to remember is this. When a team replaces its coach in the middle of a losing streak, that doesn't mean it has given up on winning. Just the opposite."

Slfriend79: "Bye, Bye, Karen Handel...Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

The_Wanderer_Kansas: "I expect we may hear from people who do want the door to hit her before the days out!"

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Prop. 8: Gay-Marriage Ban Unconstitutional, Appellate Court Rules
Submitted by ThatCrazyLibertarian

In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declared Proposition 8 violates the U.S. Constitution. In 2008, California voters outlawed same-sex marriage by passing the measure. In a case that could head to the Supreme Court, the 9th Circuit's rules allow at least two weeks before a ruling takes effect, so same-sex marriages will not immediately resume.

“Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California,” the court said.

The ruling upheld a decision by retired Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who struck down the ballot measure in 2010 after holding an unprecedented trial on the nature of sexual orientation and the history of marriage.

The community reacts to the court striking down the California gay marriage ban:

The_Wanderer_Kansas: "Huzzah! Now we get to hurry up and wait some more..."

bailey78: "Well by gawd if folks want to get married let them."

joeredford: "A legal analyst on MSNBC just said the Supreme Court may not accept the case and allow it to stand because it does not apply to all states, or even the other states in the 9th Circuit. It only applies to California."

ThatCrazyLibertarian: "So long as it's appealed, I think it's likely that the Supreme Court will take it up. And so long as Justice Kennedy is sitting on that Supreme Court bench, it is highly unlikely that it would be overturned. But it now stands as binding precedent to all the states in the 9th Circuit if the Supreme Court does let it stand."

Johnny_Los_Angeles: "Well of course it is unconstitutional, why we even allow things like this on a ballot is a serious problem, and this took years too long to get decided."

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The Cancer in Occupy
Submitted by Incredulous

In an article by Chris Hedges, the Black Bloc anarchists are exposed as the "cancer of the Occupy movement". The group dresses in black, conceals their faces, vandalizes and searches for physical confrontations with police during many Occupy protests. Actively opposing to strategy, "these anarchists represent no one but themselves."

Because Black Bloc anarchists do not believe in organization, indeed oppose all organized movements, they ensure their own powerlessness. They can only be obstructionist. And they are primarily obstructionist to those who resist. John Zerzan, one of the principal ideologues of the Black Bloc movement in the United States, defended “Industrial Society and Its Future,” the rambling manifesto by Theodore Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, although he did not endorse Kaczynski’s bombings. Zerzan is a fierce critic of a long list of supposed sellouts starting with Noam Chomsky. Black Bloc anarchists are an example of what Theodore Roszak in “The Making of a Counter Culture” called the “progressive adolescentization” of the American left.

“The Black Bloc can say they are attacking cops, but what they are really doing is destroying the Occupy movement,” the writer and environmental activist Derrick Jensen told me when I reached him by phone in California. “If their real target actually was the cops and not the Occupy movement, the Black Bloc would make their actions completely separate from Occupy, instead of effectively using these others as a human shield. Their attacks on cops are simply a means to an end, which is to destroy a movement that doesn’t fit their ideological standard.”

The community responds to the recent developments in the Occupy movement:

JanforGore: "Occupy is also being hijacked by politicians who only now come out and talk about constitutional amendments to get money out of politics when they were taking it themselves all along, just to get credit for themselves instead of just doing it. They just can't let the people have their voice. Last week Occupy members stood with farmers outside the courthouse in NYC peacefully to protest Monsanto. Didn't see anyone in the "media" covering that however."

Tyr: "If you really want to enact change then you have to have candidates that can get elected and makes the changes from within....shouting about how " unfair" capitalism is won't get it done...I got all thumbs down then and I expect I will again, but pinning your hopes on this movement is futile, whether or not you like to hear that does not change the reality of it...sorry."

kennymotown: "These anarchist need to wait incase the movement takes a turn for the worse. I fear it will eventually, the Elite like the way things are going!"

EmperorThan: "The government loves Occupy. Either they're non-violent so they're docile enough to round up like cattle and take away, or they are violent and they make the entire movement look bad in the process."

Leen61: "Great article by Chris Hedges. I don't want the Occupy movement hijacked by this Black Bloc movement, either. It's just what they and TPTB want."

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The Internet Identity Crisis
Submitted by TanzaniteDiamonds

The great debate of personal data being shared on the Internet has been growing ever since Google+ launched with a real name policy and suspended accounts for those who didn’t agree. In the age of Facebook, the mandate is requiring more and more real names to be used online. Whereas, many still consider using real names as limiting individual liberties and freedom of expression. Advertisers seek real names and demographics to track every targeted penny and its audience.

“Transparency across many dimensions is truly important in the relationship between consumers and marketers,” says David Cohen, evp, global digital officer for Universal McCann. “The idea of hiding behind a pseudonym is the antithesis of transparency.”

Matt Rednor, vp of strategy for social media agency Mr. Youth, notes that the whole point of the Internet is to help people connect around shared interests, and to share opinions in ways they weren’t able to before. And “pseudonyms, especially from a marketing standpoint,” he says, “allow people to have more honest conversations about brands. Ultimately, that’s what we care about.”

The debate between real names and pseudonyms online has the community buzzing:

Incredulous: "I think people have to decide, based on their own circumstances, employment, political affiliations, etc."

Wyley_Wombat: "I would never use my real name and picture in any discussion group in which I discuss hot button items such as religion and politics. One never knows if and when this will be used against you. I do however use LinkedIn and have always felt a degree of unease about putting my information out there on line, but if I want to use it to further my career what choice do I have."

Leen61: "No way will I use my real name. I do not give out my e-mail address to anybody I don't know or trust. So, it's Leen61 for me here on the board. :)"

Progresshiv: "I cannot use my real name, because if my boss found out about my political views, I would get fired. The Internet is a tool for me, and it should not be the other way around."

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Romney: Obama trying to ‘bribe the voters’ with benefits
Submitted by KB723

During his victory speech after the Nevada caucuses, Mitt Romney claims President Obama bribed voters with benefits and "checks from government." If elected, Romney told the voters that they shouldn't expect a "free ticket" and stated he wouldn't buy off votes with government handouts.

“I will not attempt to bribe the voters with promises of new programs and new subsidies and ever-increasing checks from government,” Romney declared. “If this election is a bidding war for who can promise the most benefits then I’m not your president. You have that president today.”

“I’m asking each of you to remember how special it is to be an American. I want you to remember why it was that you or your ancestors, who sacrificed to come to America and to overcome the challenges of life in a new country, why they came here. It was not for a free ticket; it was for freedom.”

The community responds to Romney's remarks:

Plue: "I know this is not a deep and profound thought but I am so sick of Mitt and his lies that I would just like to tell him to "Shut the F*&k Up." His voice is beginning to make my ears bleed."

LivingPong: "These candidates are really 'clutching at straws'. With all the millions of dollars they have, can't they even hire a decent speech writer who can scratch out a compelling argument? It's obvious they can't write a speech themselves, but surely somewhere amongst the many people working for them, someone at least has a clue?"

Conniepae: "The Republicans are 'hurting' the people by denying benefits. Romney has no idea what people need. I doubt he's ever had a 'real' need. He may have experience a want he had to wait for, but not need of a roof over his head, or a meal on his table. Facts are, he has lived a life of wealth and opportunity. He can say anything, but he can't change the facts. I don't think 'help', should be labeled a bribe. What would he do for ordinary people who are struggling? Nothing."

GRC54: "BS BS and more BS. This dope never gives up. He'll say and do anything to get elected. He would make a great president in Mexico."

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18 mile crack seen by NASA in Antarctic glacier
Submitted by JanforGore

A new satellite image from NASA reveals a pencil-thin line across the Pine Island Glacier. In the next few months, scientists expect the 18 miles long crack to grow and create an iceberg about 350 square miles in area.

"Pine Island Glacier is losing ice very quickly, about six meters per year," said Michael Studinger of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, which sent an expedition called Operation IceBridge to Antarctica in October in an old DC-8 jetliner, modified for scientific operations. It spotted the break in the ice. Earth-observing satellites have been watching it since.

"These things happen on a semi-regular basis in both the Arctic and Antarctic, but it's still a fairly large event," said John Sonntag, Instrument Team Lead for Operation IceBridge, in video recorded on the plane. "So we wanted to make sure we captured as much of that process as we could.

The community shares its thoughts on the change to our world's climate:

kennymotown: "May I suggest a whole lot of super glue! All kidding aside, this is yet another warning from mother nature. When will we ever get our act together on global warming, it's at the point of pure insanity. But yet another 50 million idiots will vote Republican this time around AGAIN! And another 30 or 40 million will not vote. America is number one in polluting the Earth with China gaining ground, Capitalism will eventually kill us all."

MrMetalloidMan: "And when we're up to our necks in antarctic water, the Republicans will blame the Democrats for not doing anything."

haberzet: "The whole climate change denying is just an expression of pure fear among wide parts of society. Fear to have to change. Fear that life will not be the same anymore and fear of what the new condition we will live under will bring. The easiest way of coping with that fear, is to deny that it is actually happening. In the end the main problem, when it comes to climate change debates, is the low level of education. Too many people are not capable of understanding simple facts."

chew_chew: "How long must Mother Nature continue to scream for help until someone in a position to affect necessary changes, hears the cries and begins with the changes, already."

danitassin: "The best thing we can do is encourage education. We need teach our children how live with the earth not in constant struggle with it. I always think of the most cliche saying ever, but it's true. Knowledge is Power."

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Watch: 6-year-old girl reacts to father’s surprise return from Afghanistan
Submitted by KB723

After being in Afghanistan for a few months, Sgt. Adam Paige returend home and surprised his daughter on her 6th birthday while at school.

“That’s my only birthday present I wanted this year,” she said, embracing him as they both cried tears of joy. “I really missed you.”

The community responds to the touching father-daughter reunion:

Truthitswhatsfordinner: "A great post. Best thing I've seen on Current today. Thank you so much sir or ma'am!"

attilatheblond: "We all need a little happy tear duct cleaning now and then. More happy children this year. Make it so."

Leen61: "Thanks for posting this, KB. This made me cry. I have no words. This was so sweet to watch. As DEM46 said...that little girl is adorable. Incredible to see how much that little girl loves her Dad. I wish all the troops would come home tomorrow!"

galwayman: "A bit of good news for a change great there is so little!"

Another 23,000 soliders are expected to return home by the summer.

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Scientists may have found the link to deciphering actual words from a person’s brain waves. We're taking a closer look at this quite interesting story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

Words from brain waves may let scientists read your mind
Submitted by Dagum

In a recent study, scientists implanted sensors in a group of epilepsy patients to determine the source of a seizure. Neuroscientist Brian Pasley and his UC Berkeley team read words to epilepsy patients and ran those brain waves through a program that translated the brain's electronic signals into actual sounds. While researchers are far from reading people's brain waves, it may be possible one day.

“There are ethical concerns,” Pasley says. “Not with the current research, but with the possible extensions of it. There has to be a balance. If we are somehow able to encode someone’s thoughts instantaneously that might have great benefits for the thousands of severely disabled people who are unable to communicate right now. On the other hand, there are great concerns if this were applied to people who didn’t want that."

The community reacts on the new technology that can potentially help people who cannot speak:

TanzaniteDiamonds: "Fascinating! Is this process as effective for people who are multi-lingual? How will this technology be able to decipher if I'm thinking in English, French, or Spanish?"

Varex_Sythe: "It is very interesting. For a moment lets skip the paranoia (due though it may be) and look at what this could mean medically and therapeutically. What could this imply for people in a coma who still have brain activity? Could people in a waking coma finally be able to communicate with others instead of just being trapped inside of their body? Hell, what would happen if you used this to study dreams? Certainly, there are a lot of negative things that could come from this, but there are a lot of positives that could come from it as well."

Dagum: "There could be very positive applications for this. I was discussing that concept on a previous post. Technology is neutral. Whether it's applied for good or evil depends on how good or evil the men are applying it. Which begs the questions: Who comes up with the applications for new technology in your society? Who applies technology in your society? Who has access to the new technology first?"

Tayllerand: "Can this be use as a military weapon? If it is yes, then they can get rid off all enemies of the state. Very nice."

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January jobs report: Hiring ramps up, unemployment falls - Feb. 3, 2012
Submitted by kennymotown

The Labor Department reported that more American employers hired in January, bringing the unemployment rate down to 8.3% - the lowest since February 2009. Employers added 243,000 jobs in January across several sectors.

The manufacturing sector -- a focal point of President Obama's latest jobs speeches -- added 50,000 jobs in January. Manufacturing has accounted for 14% of the job gains in the last 13 months.

Professional and business services added 70,000 jobs, and education and health services added 36,000 jobs.

But the government has also been bleeding jobs since the middle of 2010, and continued to do so last month. Most of the recent job losses have been at the state and local level. Overall, the public sector cut 14,000 jobs in January.

The unemployment rate is obviously a highly politicized number. While gradual improvement in the job market may strengthen President Obama's position, major weakness still remains.

The encouraging news of the unemployement rate has our community buzzing:

Mitekillem1: "Funny how the unemployment always seems to decrease on election years."

circlesquared: "I find this hard to believe. Florida is a dead zone for employment...even the tourism industry is shrinking fast although inland Disney is still doing great."

Truthitswhatsfordinner: "The govt has changed the way it calculates the statistic. There is no decrease in unemployment. If the old measure was used, unemployment stands at 10%."

JanforGore: "Really? For what? McDonalds? Fracking companies? There are no jobs where I live and I am not exaggerating. I really begin to wonder what "kind" of jobs are being "created" to pump up these reports regardless of the party in power."

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We're taking a closer look at this developing story from the Current community. Check it out and add your two cents:

Breaking News: Komen Apologizes; Pledges To Continue Planned Parenthood Grants
Submitted by letsliveinpeace

After public backlash, the Susan G. Komen foundation backtracks on its disputed decision to cut ties to Planned Parenthood. Komen for the Cure just released the following statement from Nancy Brinker and the Susan G. Komen Board of Directors:

"We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives.

The events of this week have been deeply unsettling for our supporters, partners and friends and all of us at Susan G. Komen. We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not.

Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair."

Komen plans to revise a new policy that barred the organization from funding Planned Parenthood. The community responds to the foundation's new promise to support women and families in the fight against breast cancer:

ampersand: "Good on the board members who resigned to protest this attempted political coup in a public health organization. To really save the Koman Foundation long term harm the Komen board members who supported the original move to attack Planned Parenthood services and funding should resign."

ZiggyStrange: "Not good enough for me. That was a political hit on the people, saying I give when the nation and it's own contributors turned on Komen for being a compromised organization. I don't trust them anymore, and nobody should, I do not accept the apology. To hell with them."

jackhole: "The heat needs to remain on then demand transparency. Demand an investigation of The Komen foundation lets see what atrocities happen behind the scenes."

lazloman: "I wouldn't rest easy just because they reversed their decision. The wacko fringe on the right really, really, really, really wants to impose its way on the rest of us and they won't be deterred by public opinion. They will likely try to find another way to attack PP."

northernexpat: "I will still not support them ever again. They only apologized because they saw a major impact on their gravy train. The President of National Organization for Women said that because of this very political decision by the SKC that she predicted that this organization would not be around in three years. I say let's make it happen. What have they really done to find a cure for breast cancer? Just making people aware of breast cancer is not enough."

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