Trump sent Comey a letter? He terminated his employment with a memo. Amazing.

There it is. Sessions. The Russian investigation will go forward. There really is no stopping it. The investigation can be conducted outside the federal government. Trials can be held outside the federal courts. The corruption effects the whole country. States can carry out their own investigations and find facts that are adverse to the state's interests. 

Dear Director Comey: (click here)

I have received the attached letters from the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General of the United States recommending your dismissal as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I have accepted their recommendation and you are hereby terminated and removed from office, effective immediately.

While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau.

It is essential that we find new leadership for the FBI that restores public trust and confidence in its vital law enforcement mission.

I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

Donald J. Trump

Sessions has no power over the states to conduct their own investigations if it is determined there are problems within the state related to Russia and it's corruption of our country and elections.

States Rights. This is just one.

April 15, 2017

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (click here) has long been a thorn in Trump’s side having led the state’s investigation into the Trump University scandal and the issues surrounding Trump’s charitable organization. However, now it appears that he may be getting involved in the investigation involving Trump’s possible ties to Russia....

The facts are already history. The campaign took place in nearly every state in the country. There were communications within those states. That is corruption. The feds may give up the chase of Russia and it's corruption, but, the states have an obligation to their citizens. 

March 9, 2017
by Phil Willon

Northern California Rep. Eric Swalwell (click here) really wants an independent investigation into President Donald Trump and his administration’s ties to Russia.

And he has some handy charts and graphics to prove his case.

Swalwell, a Democrat from Dublin,launched a new page on his official congressional website — which he titled “Protecting our Democracy” — detailing the alleged web of connections between Trump administration officials, and Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian interests.

Swalwell is a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which is investigating Russia's alleged election meddling.

“President Trump has also surrounded himself with people who do business with and are sympathetic to Russia,” his site declares in boldface type....

Rep. Swalwell wants an independent investigator. I think Attorney General Sessions would agree. I think the number of people involved and the relationships with the campaign, the only way forward is an independent investigation.

Comey is a political power grab by Bannon. From Comey to the White House Usher.

May 6, 2017
By Kate Anderson Bower

Since Howell G. Crim, (click here) who ran the White House executive residence from 1938 up until 1957, the chief usher has stayed put long after the president who hired him leaves office. In the last 132 years only nine people have held the position. The continuance of this long tradition, and the White House residence staff’s singular exemption from partisanship, seemed to suffer grievous injury Friday when staffers learned that Chief Usher Angella Reid, hired by the Obamas in 2011—the first woman, and second African American, to hold the job—was reportedly asked to leave.

There are approximately 95 full-time employees on the residence staff, these are the chefs, maids, florists, butlers and ushers who tend to the 132-room mansion that is the most recognizable symbol of the presidency. The White House Usher’s Office is at the center of the finely tuned operation. The chief usher runs the show. He or she is responsible for overseeing the funds allocated by Congress to run the house....

Either Trump is going to govern or he is going to play politics, there is no room for both. The campaign trail takes shape during the third year of a presidential re-election, but, not in the first six months in office.

Bannon is running around the "Trump Universe" stating he is coming out of his closet; he isn't really a racist. Really?

May 7, 2017
By Peter Maass

...The French novel (click here) is called “The Camp of the Saints,” and Bannon recommended it on several occasions when he was executive chairman of Breitbart News, to justify what he perceived as a mortal threat that whites face from immigration.

The book, published in the 1970s, had existed for decades as an obscure cornerstone of the utmost fringes of white racism. The Indian children in the novel were referred to as “little monsters,” and the adults were described as sexual maniacs who filled their ships with “rivers of sperm, streaming over bodies, oozing between breasts, and buttocks, and thighs, and lips, and fingers.” The novel ended with hundreds of thousands of them taking over France and, by extension, the West....

Actions speak louder than words. The second generation of racist power brokers are already in full swing and nurtured by Bannon and Brietbart.

...Paradoxically, a clue to Hahn’s radicalization is located at Harvard-Westlake. The school has a surplus of famous alumni, from Shirley Temple to Sally Ride, Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Matthew Weiner (the creator of “Mad Men” who named one of his show’s characters for a popular teacher at Harvard). But the school has another alum who is more infamous than famous: Alex Marlow, the editor-in-chief of Breitbart.

Marlow graduated from Harvard-Westlake in 2004, before Hahn, and for a long time nobody at the school seemed to know or care where he had ended up. The school took notice in 2016, when Marlow was quoted in a New York Times profile of Bannon. A school official posted the story on Facebook. Parents and alumni of Harvard-Westlake were aghast. “This is an embarrassment to our school, and to our fantastic community,” read one of the comments on the post....

Comey's dismissal is pure politics. He didn't deliver Hillary to trial and Trump is fully aware the growing campaign of his adversaries for 2020. His ratings are suffering and Comey was the best option he had.

May 9, 2017
By Michael D. Shear and Matt Apuzzo

Washington — President Trump (click here) has fired the director of the F.B.I., James B. Comey, over his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails, the White House said on Tuesday.

Mr. Comey’s dismissal was a stunning development for a president that benefited from the F.B.I. investigation of the Democratic nominee during the 2016 campaign. Separately, the F.B.I. also is investigating whether members of the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election.

The abrupt firing raised questions over whether Mr. Trump was trying to influence the Russia investigation. But he said he was following recommendations from the Justice Department, which criticized how Mr. Comey concluded the investigation into Mrs. Clinton.

“While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to effectively lead the bureau,” Mr. Trump said in a letter dated Tuesday to Mr. Comey....

I agree Mr. Comey uses his power inappropriately, that was especially true with the 2016 election. I suppose the handwriting was on the wall he was going to be a political victim.

If President Obama showed him the door he would have been criticized as a political activist. But, Trump had to get rid of Comey because Hillary wasn't on trial. It wasn't enough Comey put the last nail in the Hillary election coffin, Comey was suppose to take the attack even further to secure his place in Trump's White House.

I think Comey may have a path to sue and receive a nice payoff. Political fodder have unions standing with them to receive their pension and a nice check to sooth the wounds. Comey will be hired within a short period of time by Wall Street. Does anyone think he might be the next Snowden?

The "Hillary Football" is now handed off to Jeff Sessions. It was stated he might seek prosecution of Hillary, before Trump was elected. Sessions sees Hillary as a target. There is that mess over the Clinton Foundation, but, with Trump's family spanning the globe and reaping profits sown with White House clout, there is hardly room for the Trump White House to seek still yet another "Hillary, Witch Hunt."

May 9, 2017
Emily Shugerman

Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin isn’t mad, just disappointed. (click here)

The Stanford-educated lawyer who successfully brought about a block on Donald Trump’s so-called “Muslim ban” says the Trump administration's attacks on the judiciary are cause for concern.

“I think what makes it more discouraging [is] when you have people at the highest levels of government making those statements,” Mr Chin told The Independent. “It’s almost like they don’t understand that power that comes with the office that they have, or that they’re exploiting it unnecessarily....”

I agree and the power they have is either squandered on politics or profits. 

The Chameleon Syndrome is sweeping political parties.

Strike is NOT a dirty word!!!!!! The Brazil media is corrupt.

This is getting to be a typical POLITICAL STRATEGY to bring about the instillation of power and not people empowerment. While THE STRIKE was used for a political shift, when the people's strike continued in Brazil they were ignored.

Things are changing for the people of Brazil; they are getting worse under austerity. Evidently, the people of Brazil did not know their new President was a far right candidate. Nor, did they know he was a chameleon changing colors.

May 7, 2017

Last week, (click here) hundreds of thousands of Brazilians took to the streets and millions more stayed home in a general strike. Airports, factories, schools, public services were all shut down.

Last year, a different set of protests brought down a different government - that of former President Dilma Rousseff. But last year's demonstrations got wall-to-wall coverage in Brazil's privately-owned news outlets - including Globo, which is as dominant a TV presence as you will find in any country.

The subsequent impeachment of Rousseff paved the way for the current president, Michel Temer, whose austerity-based response to an economic recession led to the general strike last week.

But this time around Globo and other media outlets don't seem to find the protest story quite so compelling.

"The gulf in coverage is vast. The protests calling for impeachment against the Dilma government had huge visibility, with Globo's helicopter capturing the protest from the air and covering it all day long. With protests against Michel Temer, this doesn't exist," says journalist Joao Filho of The Intercept Brasil.

"When it came to the general strike the word 'strike' was avoided - they talk only about demonstrations, protests and vandalism," Filho says.

So why did the media treat the two strikes differently?...

If there were deep ocean energy transmission lines efficient enough, Iceland could power all of Europe.

May 7, 2017
By Niamh McIntyre

Iceland is harnessing volcanic heat (click here) to produce clean energy in a pioneering new geothermal technology project.

Energy company HS Orka has drilled down three miles into the earth near the country’s famous Blue Lagoon spa in the Reykjanes region.

If successful, the experimental project could produce up to 10 times more energy than a conventional gas or oil well, by generating electricity from the heat stored in volcanic areas.

Iceland has been a pioneer of geothermal energy, and 85 per cent of energy supply in the country is derived from renewable sources.

The small island nation is also the only country in the world with 100 per cent renewable electricity.

However, the new "supercritical" drilling technique is far more efficient than conventional geothermal wells.

The number of miners with "Black Lung" is increasing and not decreasing. "My mother cried the day I left the mine. She was relieved and happy I was out."

May 9, 2017
Nick Mullins on Coal Culture (click here)

Nick Mullins (click here) is a former fourth-generation coal miner from Georges Fork, a small valley in the far southwestern tip of Virginia near eastern Kentucky. After leaving the mines at age 30, Nick embraced a new environmental ethos, and has become a voice for the region about the effects of coal culture. The Planet recently caught up with him to talk about his life after coal mining and how he and his family are using their story to educate others and facilitate a dialog about coal in all corners of the country.

Nick Mullins talked about his experience as a former coal miner who turned to writing and activism on behalf of miners and Appalachian communities. Topics included his family’s history in coal mining, his blog, "The Thoughtful Coal Miner"; and conflicts between coal mining industry interests and employee and environmental concerns.

The May 9, 2017 “Washington Journal” focused on coal mining, regulation and the health and environmental impact of the coal industry. Guests during the program were interviewed live from Murray Energy’s transloading center at Powhatan Point, Ohio....

The miner to the right in this picture is not wearing a "Scott Pak." (click here) That is negligence of the employees. If the coal mine health insurance companies are refusing to pay for the cost of good health and treatment of occupation related disease and injury, the coal mines will never pay for preventive measures.

Different occurrences, but, same outcome.

May 6, 2017
By Tiffany Arnold

...The 10-yard-wide twister (click here) left a half-mile path of damage in its wake, moving from Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, across US Route 301 near the Harry Nice Memorial Bridge, and ending up at Barnesfield Park.

Security camera footage showed a narrow vortex flipping four cars in a parking at around 8:20 a.m.

Federal Aviation Administration radars from Joint Base Andrews and Reagan National Airport confirmed the security camera footage, according to the NWS.

The tornado also damaged trees along Higley Road and uprooted a large pine tree, which fell near a visitor center near U.S. Route 301....

The death toll in Texas is now five from the tornadoes there. One of the tornadoes was upgraded to an F-4 from an F-3.

Addressing journalism and journalists at all stages of existence is an ongoing process. The politics demands vigilance, while, power seeks to control an image rather than a leader.

April 27, 2017
By Victor Pickard

A foundation created by e-Bay (click here) founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam recently bolster impoverished U.S. - based journalism....

The international journalists being held in Turkish prisons should be returned home.

May 9, 2017

Turkey marked May 3 International Press Freedom Day (click here) amid growing concerns for the state of press freedom in the country.

According to the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC), there are currently some 159 journalists in Turkish prisons.

“In order for peace in the country to be established, the 159 jailed journalists need to be released immediately,” a statement by TGC read, adding that “journalism will always exist.”

“We believe that these hard times will pass, the oppression deemed suitable for journalists will end and that the politicians who cause this will go away, but that journalism will always exist,” it also said.

Turkey’s Press Council High Commission held a meeting to mark International Press Freedom Day at the Yaşar Kemal Culture Center, which is close to Istanbul’s Silivri Prison, where a high number of journalists are being kept in.

The spouses of the jailed journalists also attended the meeting....

While asking the "Free World" to support jailed journalists, it would be nice if the Free World did not victimize them either.

May 3, 2017
The Law Commission (click here) is currently consulting on replacing the Official Secrets Act with a new Espionage Act.

The new proposed law states a new offence could be committed by “someone who not only communicates information” but also “by someone who obtains or gathers information” – i.e. a journalist.

The consultation also suggests that maximum sentences for breaching Official Secrets Act style offences should be increased from two years to 14 years in prison.

It broadens the scope of the law to include information which “affects the economic well being of the United Kingdom in so far as it relates to national security”....

And then there are the new cries for freedom.

March 5, 2017
By Mustapha K. Darbo

World Press Freedom Day (click here) will be marked in Gambia on Wednesday for the first time since the fall of the country’s authoritarian president.

During his 22-year rule, Yahya Jammeh imprisoned dozens of journalists and forced hundreds into exile. Others disappeared after being arrested by the secret police and one celebrated journalist was murdered 13 years ago. His killer or killers have never been brought to justice.

The atmosphere of repression led some to dub the small west African state the North Korea of Africa.

Bai Emil Touray, president of the Gambia Press Union, described Gambia under Jammeh as “the most difficult country for practising journalism”.

“In the past, journalists were subjected to all forms of degrading and inhuman treatment including torture, enforced disappearances, killings and incarcerations,” Touray, who was jailed by Jammeh in 2009, told Anadolu Agency.

According to Reporters Without Borders, Jammeh “established a climate of terror… in which journalists were murdered or disappeared, were spied and informed on, were arrested arbitrarily and were subjected to nightmarish trials.”...