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Grateful Dead to rock for Obama in Pennsylvania.
From the report: Hoping to win votes for Obama in perennial swing state Pennsylvania, the surviving members of the Grateful Dead will reportedly stage a concert in the Keystone State on October 13th. No city has been named for the event, but the frontrunners appear to be Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. If the show does go on, it would mark the second Deadheads for Obama concert, as the reunited Dead previously played a San Francisco benefit concert in February (sans drummer Bill Kreutzmann). Bassist Phil Lesh first got involved with Obama’s campaign when his son worked as a volunteer for the Democratic presidential candidate. According to Relix, “sources confirm” a full Dead tour in the Spring of ‘09, but there has been no official announcement or confirmation of that report. From the report: Hoping to win votes for Obama in perennial swing state Pennsylvania, the surviving members of the Grateful Dead will ... more
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Arrest near Obama event sparks protest
A gun rights group is calling on Gov. Ed Rendell to "order a halt to unlawful police-state tactics at presidential campaign events" after a Beaver County man was arrested Friday for openly carrying a gun near where Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama later made an appearance.
The group, OpenCarry.org, accused state police of suspending the right to bear arms in Beaver by arresting John Noble, 50, of Industry. State police said Noble would be charged with disorderly conduct for carrying a loaded, holstered and exposed 9 mm semiautomatic because he breached a secured perimeter of a presidential candidate rally, creating alarm and causing a breakdown in security.
OpenCarry.org says Noble was not at the Obama event, did not attempt to enter the event area and broke no law.
A representative of Rendell's office could not be reached for comment Sunday. A gun rights group is calling on Gov. Ed Rendell to "order a halt to unlawful police-state tactics at presidential campaign event... more -
Body parts scammer pleads guilty in PA
The New Jersey man who was the leader of the stolen body parts scam could face life in prison.
Michael Mastromarino pleaded guilty in Pennsylvania to hundreds of counts of abusing corpses, forgery, theft and other allegations.
Mastromarino made millions of dollars in scams that involved funeral homes in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. He previously pleaded guilty to enterprise corruption, body stealing and reckless endangerment in New York, receiving up to 54 years in prison.
Without permission, he plundered hundreds of bodies sent to funeral homes and sold them to medical companies.
About 10,000 people received tissue from Mastromarino's company, and some say they have contracted diseases because the body parts were not medically screened. The New Jersey man who was the leader of the stolen body parts scam could face life in prison. ... more -
Wave energy from rivers
The ocean isn’t the only focal point for wave-generated electricity. The Kiskiminetas River in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania is about to be home to a new way to create electricity from water.
Researchers have devised a new system that encompasses a grid of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) placed on the bottom of the river, the undulating movement of which will generate electricity. The electrical current generated would pass to substations along the river bank, ultimately charging a group of batteries. The city is looking to harness enough power from the river to cover 20-40% of its needs.
The first system is going to be a grid about 30 yards wide by about 1 mile long, but the details on the precise make-up are still in the works. Laying the grid at the bottom of the river will help maintain the integrity of the area, which is used for fishing, boats, and so on.
How plant life might affect the system is not detailed, but researchers feel that this is a much more eco-friendly system, leaning more towards biomimicry, than damming a river ever was. The ocean isn’t the only focal point for wave-generated electricity. The Kiskiminetas River in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania is about to b... more -
Confederate Pennsylvania
An investigation into why Confederate flags are flown north of the Mason-Dixon line.
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From Blight to Bright: Reclaiming marginalized land in Pittsburgh
Growth Through Energy and Community Health (GTECH) is a newly formed non-profit organization based in Pittsburgh, PA. GTECH Strategies is unique in every way; the innovative company was started as a graduate project for two students attending Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz School of Public Policy.
Chris Koch and Andrew Butcher have found a way to create a biofuel commodity by harvesting plants like Sunflowers and Canola that are grown on contaminated sites (brown fields) across Pittsburgh. These sites have become dilapidated over years as populations have dwindled. The houses that once stood on many of the 14,000 vacant lots in and around the city, are now contaminated with asbestos and heavy metals and cannot be built on until the soil is clear of chemical pollutants. The plants that GTECH Strategies harvests, leech the soil of its toxins, giving a rebirth to these sites and allowing for a development horizon timeline, usually 3-5 years. Additionally, GTECH Strategies provides 'Green' job training to young adults living in these marginalized communities. What GTECH Strategies is doing is nothing short of inspiring and phenomenal. Growth Through Energy and Community Health (GTECH) is a newly formed non-profit organization based in Pittsburgh, PA. GTECH Strategies... more -
Forbidden Love: Mixed-Race Couples Face Violence in Pennsylvania Town
They are united by their love for each other, their children and their commitment to maintain a strong family. But every day, they must contend with disapproving looks and, sometimes, insults shouted at them because they belong to different ethnic groups.
This is the story of the many couples in interracial relationships, mostly white women and Mexican men, who live in the town of Shenandoah, Pa. This summer, the town garnered national media attention when a group of white teenagers killed a Mexican man who had a white girlfriend.
Amid an environment of racial harassment, these couples also live with the uncertainty that they could one day be separated because their partner is not in the United States legally.
This is the case of Ruben*, a 39-year-old Mexican, who came to Shenandoah 10 years ago and lives with his partner of five years, 28-year-old Susan*.
Marriage is not a possibility for Ruben, who entered the country illegally and would need to return to Mexico and wait for 10 years before gaining legal status. He prefers to stay here with his three children and his girlfriend, ignoring the occasional insults shouted at him in the street by white teenagers, who call him a "dirty Mexican" or a "wetback."
Susan says she has also been the object of disapproving glances and comments for having a Mexican partner.
"It doesn't happen every day, but occasionally they've told me that I'm dirty to be with a 'dirty Mexican,'" says Susan. "I feel more welcome in the Latino community," she adds.
Susan sadly recalls the life of Luis Martinez and his girlfriend, Crystal Dillman, who suffered similar harassment on many occasions. On July 12, Martinez was beaten by four white teenage boys as they yelled racial slurs at him. He died 30 hours afterwards in a local hospital.
Dillman, a mother of three — two with Martinez — did not get married because the couple had planned to move to Mexico, far from the insults and stares of Shenandoah. She says Shenandoah residents have screamed "dirty Mexican," at her boyfriend on various occasions.
Another couple that has faced the hostile environment of Shenandoah is 32-year-old Felipe* and his girlfriend, Anne*. A native of Guanajuato, Mexico, Felipe works as a gardener and has lived for six years with Anne and their two children, who are two and four years old.
Although they may get married, Felipe says he doesn't want to. "I don't want people to say that she married me so I could get my papers," he says. "I am with her because I love her."
Anne says she respects his decision, but hopes that he can change his mind: She knows single mothers in Shenandoah whose undocumented partners have been deported.
Yet, discrimination in East Pennsylvania is not limited to Latino men and white women. Latina women who are dating white men are also harassed.
Ana Taveras, who is Dominican, is married to Raymond Schuman. The couple, who lived together for seven years before they got married and had a 5-year-old daughter together, still faces discrimination. Living in Hazelton, Pa., Taveras says she has to listen to people tell her husband that "'he could have done better.'"**continues** They are united by their love for each other, their children and their commitment to maintain a strong family. But every day, they mus... more -
Will Catholics Vote For Obama?
In an article on msnbc.msn.com, John M. Broder from the New York Times discusses the swing voters that are catholics and their role in this election year. In 2004, the vast majority of catholic voters supported G.W. Bush in opposition of John Kerry's stance on abortion rights. Like Kerry, Obama supports the rights of women to choose, though it's arguable that he is a little closer to the center on the issue.
One man might make a big difference in this topic; Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania. Sen. Casey's father, a catholic democrat and the then-governor of Pennsylvania, wasn't allowed to speak at the 1992 Democratic Convention because of his opposition to abortion. According to Broder, many catholics remember this and since democratic support among catholics has steadily dwindled. This year, it's rumored that Sen. Casey may get a chance to redeem the democrats in the eyes of catholics and speak at the convention in Denver.
Some of the top names in rumors about Obama's choice for vice president are also catholics; Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Sen. Joe Biden, Gov. Tim Kaine, and also Sen. Chris Dodd. The archbishop of Kansas City has said that for her support of abortion rights, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius should be denied communion while attending catholic mass.
The article cites Mr. Kmiec, a republican who served in the Justice Department under Reagan, who supports Obama "because his platform met the standard of justice and concern for the poor the church has always defended." Mr. Kmiec notes that “the proper question for Catholics to ask is not ‘Can I vote for him?’ but ‘Why shouldn’t I vote for the candidate who feels more passionately and speaks more credibly about economic fairness for the average family, who will be a true steward of the environment, and who will treat the immigrant family with respect?’ ”
Kmiec urges Sen. Obama to have Casey speak at the Denver Convention "as an answer to those who believe they cannot vote for someone who support[s] abortion rights." In an article on msnbc.msn.com, John M. Broder from the New York Times discusses the swing voters that are catholics and their role in... more -
Emperor - Chapter 1
Overview of the History of Cannabis Hemp
For the Purpose of Clarity in this Book:
Explanations or documentations marked with an asterisk (*) are listed at the end of the related paragraph(s). For brevity, other sources for facts, anecdotes, histories, studies, etc., are cited in the body of the text. Numbered footnotes are at the end of each chapter. Reproductions of selected critical source materials are incorporated into the body of the text or included in the appendices.
The facts cited herein are generally verifiable in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, which was printed primarily on paper produced with cannabis hemp for over 150 years. However, any encyclopedia (no matter how old) or good dictionary will do for general verification purposes.
Cannabis Sativa L.
Also known as: Hemp, cannabis hemp, Indian (India) hemp, true hemp, muggles, weed, pot, spinach, marijuana, reefer, grass, ganja, bhang, the kind, dagga, herb, etc., all names for exactly the same plant!
What’s in a Name?
(U.S. Geography)
HEMPstead, Long Island; HEMPstead County, Arkansas; HEMPstead, Texas; HEMPhill, North Carolina, HEMPfield, Pennsylvania, among others, were named after cannabis growing regions, or after family names derived from hemp growing. Overview of the History of Cannabis Hemp For the Purpose of Clarity in this Book: ... more -
Scientific Progress or Has Big Brother Gone too far?
Should parents be required to have their babies undergo genetic testing?
The governor of Pennsylvania just signed a new law mandating newborn screening for six genetic and metabolic conditions. "Pennsylvania now joins many other states that screen for at least 29 conditions at birth."
Is this a sign of progress, or has government stepped too far? Should parents be required to have their babies undergo genetic testing? ... more -
US: Pennsylvania to GPS sex offenders
"Pennsylvania's auditor general wants his state to join the estimated two dozen others that track some released sex offenders with global positioning satellite technology.
Auditor General Jack Wagner on Tuesday urged state lawmakers to require at least five years of GPS monitoring for sex offenders who do not comply with Megan's Law, which requires them to register their address with state police upon their release from prison.
The law also should be revised to mandate similar tracking of sexually violent predators whose victims are children immediately after they are released, Wagner said.
Wagner, who is seeking re-election this year to a second four-year term, previously criticized the state's Megan's Law enforcement in a 2006 audit that found state police had not verified the whereabouts of hundreds of sex offenders.
State law currently allows, but does not mandate, the use of sex offender GPS monitoring by county probation authorities and the state Board of Probation and Parole.
At least 24 other states have laws requiring GPS monitoring of certain sex offenders, and 14 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties are using GPS tracking for that purpose, Wagner said.
Gov. Ed Rendell's administration had no immediate comment on Wagner's recommendations. Spokesmen for Rendell and the state police said their offices needed to evaluate them.
Republican Sens. Jane Orie and John Rafferty said they are planning to introduce legislation that would require wider use of GPS tracking. They said they hope a bill will be considered when the Legislature returns to Harrisburg in the fall.
The recommendations were included in a report Wagner released at a Capitol news conference. Auditors determined in early June that the state lost track of more than 900 sex offenders, or about 10 percent of all registered sex offenders, based on apparently outdated addresses in Pennsylvania's Megan's Law registry.
"This is very disturbing to me ... and should be to every Pennsylvanian, and quite frankly, is unacceptable," Wagner said.
GPS systems allow tracking of offenders using a monitor attached to an ankle bracelet and a small tracking device that offenders must carry with them whenever they leave the house. The device transmits information that allows authorities to view an offender's location on a computerized map.
The probation and parole board is preparing to embark in the coming weeks on a pilot program to test the equipment of eight GPS vendors, spokeswoman Sherry Tate said. She did not know where the testing would be performed or how many sex offenders would be involved.
A previous test program that ran between October 2005 and June 2006 was riddled with problems, such as lost or blocked signals, she said. "We found the technology was not sufficient at the time," Tate said.
Counties that use GPS tracking typically pay for it by charging sex offenders one-time hookup fees of $30 to $50 and daily rates of $5 to $20 to cover the equipment costs, Wagner said."
If you're not from the United States, what does your country do with sex offenders that you find reasonable? "Pennsylvania's auditor general wants his state to join the estimated two dozen others that track some released sex offender... more -
Worlds Tallest Roller Coaster Model Guinness World Records
Branden Moyen, 18, has made a 36 feet tall and 50 feet long free standing roller coaster model, setting the new Guinness world record for the Tallest roller coaster model, Please see exclusive video of amazing record feats.
For more Guinness Book of World Records Branden Moyen, 18, has made a 36 feet tall and 50 feet long free standing roller coaster model, setting the new Guinness world record ... more -
Corpse in Pennsylvania baby mystery tentatively identified
The body of a woman found tied up with her uterus cut open inside a Pennsylvania apartment has been tentatively identified.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office told CNN late Saturday the body is that of Kia Johnson. Authorities will use dental records to definitely confirm the identity.
The partially eviscerated body of the woman was found at the apartment of a Pennsylvania woman who arrived at a hospital with a newborn infant earlier in the week.
A placenta was found at the scene, the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, medical examiner said.
The body "was in a state of moderate decomposition" and the woman had been dead for about two days, Medical Examiner Karl Williams said in a written statement.
The woman's hands and feet were bound by duct tape. The cause of death remains undetermined, Williams said.
Drugs were found at the scene, and authorities are awaiting toxicology results to determine whether the woman was sedated, he said. It's unclear whether the woman was alive when the infant was taken, he added.
"The most important thing right now is to identify this individual," said James Morton, assistant superintendent of Allegheny County Police.
He said investigators are seeking dental records to help with the identification process.
The body was found Friday at an apartment in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, belonging to a woman with a history of attempting to steal newborns, according to court records obtained by Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Andrea Curry-Demus, 38, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a felony, and dealing in infant children, a misdemeanor. Court records show that she was arraigned on the felony charge Friday and is next set to appear in court on Thursday. She is being held at the Allegheny County Jail, WTAE reported.
According to a criminal complaint, Curry-Demus was taken by ambulance to a local hospital Wednesday with the baby, claiming it was hers. Tests at the hospital proved that she was not the mother, and police were notified.
Curry-Demus told Grande she had suffered a miscarriage in June and "did not want her mother to get upset." The body of a woman found tied up with her uterus cut open inside a Pennsylvania apartment has been tentatively identified. ... more -
Body found at home of Pa. mystery baby suspect
Autopsy scheduled on bound body found at home of Pa. woman who claimed she bought newborn
(PITTSBURGH) Authorities hope an autopsy can help them identify a woman's body found with hands bound with duct tape at the apartment of a woman who showed up at a hospital with a newborn she falsely claimed was hers.
The body was found Friday in the bedroom of the Wilkinsburg home of 38-year-old Andrea Curry-Demus, who served time in the 1990s for attacking one mother and kidnapping a second woman's newborn baby.
On Thursday Curry-Demus allegedly told police she had paid $1,000 for the baby after authorities say tests proved she wasn't the child's mother.
Allegheny CountyMedical Examiner Dr. Karl Williams said the woman had been dead about 24 hours, but Williams said he could not tell if she had recently given birth. The autopsy was scheduled for Saturday.
Some blood was found near the body, Williams said, but he would not say if there were signs of trauma.
Investigators said police checked on Curry-Demus' apartment after reporters called authorities about a foul odor coming from inside. Wilkinsburg Police Chief Ophelia Coleman said the body was found lying face down.
Police had been at the building Thursday night, but did not go into that apartment, Coleman said. Instead, a relative of Curry-Demus led them to another apartment, she said.
Earlier Friday, police said they were concerned that the infant's real mother — described as a thin, black female in her 20s or 30s named Tina — might be in danger, or need medical attention.
The description was provided by Curry-Demus but authorities aren't sure how reliable it is because she "has a history of emotional problems," Coleman said. The body found Friday was that of a black woman, but Williams said he couldn't tell how old she was.
The families of two missing pregnant women, both of them black, waited at the crime scene Friday night for police to identify the body.
Curry-Demus told police she paid a woman named Tina $1,000 for the baby, but authorities have said they don't know how she got the baby.
A relative and a neighbor both said they had attended a baby shower for Curry-Demus last month.
Stephanie Epps, 41, the suspect's sister-in-law, said she had doubted the pregnancy.
"I just had a feeling that she wasn't pregnant," Epps said. "She would never let you touch her stomach and pregnant women let you do that. ... I liked her and I still do like her."
Ivee Blunt, a neighbor who also was at the shower, said Curry-Demus wanted her in the delivery room when she gave birth.
Blunt said Curry-Demus told her on Sunday night that she expected to have the baby the next day; but on Monday, she said, Curry-Demus told her she wasn't ready to give birth. Autopsy scheduled on bound body found at home of Pa. woman who claimed she bought newborn ... more -
Immigrant beaten to death in Pennsylvania
"Luis Ramirez came to the U.S. from Mexico six years ago to look for work, landing in this town in Pennsylvania's coal region. Here, he found steady employment, fathered two children and, his fiancee said, occasionally endured harassment by white residents.
Now he is headed back to Mexico in a coffin.
The 25-year-old illegal immigrant was beaten over the weekend after an argument with a group of youths, including at least some players on the town's beloved high school football team, police said. Despite witness reports that the attackers yelled ethnic slurs, authorities say the beating wasn't racially motivated.
Hate crime or not, the killing has exposed long-simmering tensions in Shenandoah, a blue-collar town of 5,000 about 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia that has a growing number of Hispanic residents drawn by jobs in factories and farm fields.
An investigation continues, and no charges have yet been filed, but police say as many as six teens were involved in the fight, which ended with Ramirez in convulsions and foaming at the mouth. He died early Monday of head injuries.
Witnesses say race was a factor
Arielle Garcia and her husband, who were with Ramirez when he was beaten late Saturday, said they had dropped their friend off at a park but returned when he called to say he had gotten into a fight.
She saw someone kick Ramirez in the head, she said, and "that's when he started shaking and foaming out of the mouth."
The Garcias said they heard the youths call Ramirez "stupid Mexican" and an ethnic slur.
Burke, the former Philadelphia officer, said she saw shirtless youths swarming around Ramirez, called 911 and went outside, when she heard a youth yell obscenities and make the get-out-of-Shenandoah remark." "Luis Ramirez came to the U.S. from Mexico six years ago to look for work, landing in this town in Pennsylvania's coal regio... more -
Reward Offered After Dog Fed Glass
MOUNT PLEASANT, Pa. -- A Westmoreland County woman's dog is recovering Tuesday after someone intentionally fed him glass, WTAE Channel 4's Shannon Perrine reported.
Veterinarians continue to monitor Maryann Stull's dog, Scooter, and a $2,500 reward is up for information.
"I woke up and there was fresh blood all over the bedroom," Stull said. "There were big stains on his mattress, big stains on his blankets, on the rug, and I noticed he had blood all over him."
Stull initially thought Scooter suffered a cut, but an X-ray and a scope showed glass all throughout his digestive system.
"You're going down with a circular TV screen and you see little pieces of red, and then you see little pieces sticking out of it like icebergs and you grab them with your tongs, pull them up and they are glass," said Dr. John O'Laughlin, Scooter's veterinarian.
O'Laughlin said dogs will sometimes eat one piece of glass, but the volume in this case suggests someone broke glass and fed it to Scooter.
"You take one piece and stop. This really had to taste good," O'Laughlin said. "It was intentional. Not only was it intentional, but it was well-thought out. It's sad."
"I went from scared for what he was going through and scared that I was going to lose him to the worst anger I'd ever felt," Stull said. "I've never felt this kind of rage before."
If you have information regarding this investigation, contact the Fayette County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is offering a $2,500 reward for information leads to arrest and conviction.
You can contact the SPCA by dialing 724-438-3121. MOUNT PLEASANT, Pa. -- A Westmoreland County woman's dog is recovering Tuesday after someone intentionally fed him glass, WTAE Ch... more -
Priscilla Ahn - Wallflower Video
Priscilla Ahn (born Priscilla Natalie Hartranft, 1984) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
Her new album: A Good Day released in June, 2008 Priscilla Ahn (born Priscilla Natalie Hartranft, 1984) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. ... more -
Priscilla Ahn - A Dream Video
Priscilla Ahn (born Priscilla Natalie Hartranft, 1984) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
Her new album: A Good Day released in June, 2008 Priscilla Ahn (born Priscilla Natalie Hartranft, 1984) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. ... more -
Priscilla Ahn - Homepage
Priscilla Ahn (born Priscilla Natalie Hartranft, 1984) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
Her new album: A Good Day released in June, 2008 Priscilla Ahn (born Priscilla Natalie Hartranft, 1984) is an American musician, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. ... more -
Auto confiscation for misdemeanor offense of cruising for prostitutes considered i...
"The Easton City Council is considering a law that would let the city permanently seize the car of anyone caught cruising for a prostitute."
(End of excerpt)
Full story at link by NBC10.com
Photo by flickr user telethon
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryanjunell/382523918/
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en "The Easton City Council is considering a law that would let the city permanently seize the car of anyone caught cruising for a p... more
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