Occupy Mob Violence

Occupy Oakland went completely violent last night and brought out nothing but a rioting mob. They began by attempting to break into the Henry Kaiser Convention Center, tearing down fences and destroying equipment. When asked by police to disperse they responded by attacking police with bottles, metal pipes, rocks, spray cans, fire, improvised explosive devices, and at least one bicycle. Several police officers were injured in the assault. Occupiers continued to break into the Oakland City Hall and a YMCA building, causing thousands of dollars in damage and stealing US flags to burn on the steps. In defense of the city, and their own lives, police were forced to use tear gas, pepper spray, batons, flash bangs, rubber bullets, and bean bag guns. At least 400 occupiers were arrested over the course of Saturday alone.


Ironically most of the occupiers are not even from Oakland, but from all over the country. They consist mostly of anarchists and communists who are using the protests to promote their own agendas, cause chaos, and simply destroy things. Occupy Oakland has also threatened to attempt closing the airport as well as the shipyards, again. In ridiculous attempts, the occupiers have tried blaming the city and the police for their own actions last night. They have already filed law suits, claiming that they were peacefully protesting when attacked. "Their intent is to commit vandalism and cause problems," interim police Chief Howard Jordan said of the protesters. "Their intent is not to be peaceful."


Oakland Mayor Jean Quan is seeking "stay away" orders against occupiers that have been arrested repeatedly. These would basically act as restraining orders, making it illegal for the repeat offenders to enter into Oakland city limits. Police were kept so busy with the violence that they couldn't respond to over 200 other calls. This even despite help coming throughout the day from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and other city's police forces, including Fremont, Hayward, Berkeley, Pleasanton, Union City and Newark.

MOP Not Enough

It seems that the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is no longer enough. The Pentagon, despite seeking massive cuts elsewhere, has asked Congress for funding to build the "mother of all bombs" (MOAB). Pentagon experts state the need for one, by noting that certain countries have built bunkers housing nuclear facilities that the MOP may not be able to reach, and the MOAB could. Both the MOP and MOAB are attempts to avoid the use of nuclear weaponry.

Iran's Fordo facility for nuclear enrichment is built at least 200 feet below ground, and has been further strengthened with concrete and steel. Fordo is likely the foremost target in the mind of the military thinkers. A MOP likely would not be capable of destroying that site.

Tensions between Iran and the world have been at all time highs due to the continuation of Iran's nuclear program. While the US is joined by the EU, and most of the world, in placing sanctions against the belligerent country; Russia has stood by their ally vetoing any UN resolution that would place sanctions on Iran. Even China has cut down it's purchasing of Iranian oil, to put pressure on Iran's government, over the nuclear program. Iran's response to the sanctions has been to repeatedly threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz, the shipping lane for a fifth of the world's oil travels through. The US, France, and UK have all maintained and increased naval forces near the strait to ensure it stays open.

The Mothership

The USS Ponce is to be converted into a "mothership", where special operations forces can be kept and deployed from. Capable of housing helicopters, rapid deployment troops, speed boats, and some aircraft she would prove an extremely useful mobile base for the United States Navy. She would be very helpful asset against pirates and could be used as a commando station against hostile groups such as Al Qaeda.

Naval technicians are already working on full on motherships, which they hope to begin building in 2013. These would be capable of carrying a lot more troops and equipment. As they will be specially designed, rather than retrofitted, they would likely be much more capable as well.

The USS Ponce and it's successor will likely be sent to the Persian Gulf or Arabian Sea, as counters to the aforementioned pirates, but also as a message to Iran. Iran and the United States have been increasingly hostile over Iran's nuclear program. While the US is joined by the EU, and most of the world, in placing sanctions against the belligerent country; Russia has stood by their ally vetoing any UN resolution that would place sanctions on Iran. Even China has cut down it's purchasing of Iranian oil, to put pressure on Iran's government, over the nuclear program. Iran's response to the sanctions has been to repeatedly threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz, the shipping lane for a fifth of the world's oil travels through. The US, France, and UK have all maintained and increased naval forces near the strait to ensure it stays open.

Renewed Egyptian Turmoil

Protesters in Egypt have now begun turning on the Muslim Brotherhood, which was elected to a near majority in the elections last week. They blame the group for selling the revolution out and for supporting the military's continued control of the country. Military rule is set to end in June, and their timetable has been completely supported by the Brotherhood. The protesters did not turn to violence against them, but did send them the worst of insults as well as some thrown plastic bottles. Chants of,
"No Brotherhood, no officers! Down, down with military rule!" were heard. Members of the Brotherhood, that were present, seemed shocked by the turn of events, and did not really seem to know how to react.

Meanwhile, a mob broke into the Syrian embassy, with little to no resistance from Egyptian security forces. The attack lasted about fifteen minutes, mostly included ransacking the building, and then the group left with out any problems. The embassy had been empty at the time, so none were hurt. This is the fifth attack on an embassy in Cairo over the last year, the last was the Israeli embassy in September. Syrian ambassador, Youssef Ahmed, saw no relation in the attacks stating, "The Israeli Embassy was attacked by the revolutionaries of Egypt because Israel is the first enemy of the Arab nation," where as, "barbarians moved by money provided by Persian Gulf countries bent on Assad's ouster" had attacked the Syrian.

No More Peace! Massacre or Civil War?

Over the last few days Syria has gone more violent than ever. In what can only be described by witness as massacre and urban warfare, Syrian troops have begun systematically clearing the suburbs of Damascus of any signs of opposition, whether it be armed or not. Some news sources have posted pictures of children slain, reportedly by the Syrian army and security forces, who have brought in tanks to crush the protesters and rebels alike.

Violence is not isolated in the capital though, and is seen in Homs and many other cities throughout the country. Death tolls are thought to be well over 100 since Friday, marking the bloodiest days of the opposition.

The Arab League has responded by announcing that they will put out their observers, a move which Syria has condemned. Syria states that the removal of the observers will only bring about more violence as it will encourage the rebels. The Arab League, mostly just fears for the safety of the observers, and realizes how ineffective they have been. Originally they had been sent in hopes that their presence would bring an end to violence, but it has only gotten worse since the arrived. Under the original agreement for observers, Assad's government was to, "cease all violence against civilians, free political detainees, remove tanks and weapons from cities and allow outsiders, including the international news media, to travel freely in Syria". Very little of which happened.

The United Nations is considering a resolution which would fully support an Arab League resolution which was passed last week. The Arab League's resolution requires that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad resign from his office and turn power over to his vice president. They furthermore called for the Syrian government to start a dialogue with the opposition within two weeks and for a unity government to be formed within two months. The temporary government would then have three months to write a new constitution and then hold parliamentary and presidential elections. The latest violence by the Syrian regime, seems to be to try and regain control before the UN could make any decision.

Either way, any UN resolution has little hope for passing as Russia has pledged to block anything that involves a demand for change of government or sanctions. Wednesday, Russia signed an agreement to sell jets to the Syrian government.

Teens Suspended for Sharing Inhaler

In Monument, Colorado two eighth grade girls have been suspended, after the one passed her inhaler to her friend when both thought she was having an asthma attack during gym class. The incident went unnoticed until the one girl had a slight allergic reaction to the inhaler medicine, and went to the school nurse.

The principal of the school has not only suspended both girls for "sharing a prescription drug", but is recommending expulsion from the school district. The school district's superintendent has backed up the principal saying that the punishment is totally appropriate, and that the girls need to learn from this.

The girls, and their families, defend their actions as the right thing to do. Both say they would do it again under similar circumstances.

North Korea Bans Cell Phones

He's pointing at you! You used your cell phone didn't you? You're a war criminal. That's right, per sources, North Korea has now made cell phone usage a war crime. Apparently punishing your people for "not mourning enough" wasn't enough to establish the tyrannical rule of Kim Jong Un.

Sparked by fears of last year's Arab Spring, North Korean seems to think that tightening down further will prevent similar events from happening there. Now why would the North Koreans wish for new leadership? Isn't the rule of the amazing son of the "Dear Leader" enough of a reason to be happy? How could it not be when your government starves you into submission? Is it any wonder that an estimated 23,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea?

Occupy, this is what a police state looks like. Real police states don't allow you to gather, let alone encamp in public spaces. Your precious I-phone, that you take those pictures of your so called "police brutality" on, is illegal in an actual police state. Freedom of information isn't a right in some countries. Your ability to tweet and use the internet to plan your marches and gatherings is a privilege. Think of that next time you're asked to clear a sidewalk or park, for a few minutes, so that the city can cleanse it of your filth.

Twitter vs. Freedom of Content

"We do not remove Tweets on the basis of their content. Our position on freedom of expression carries with it a mandate to protect our users' right to speak freely and preserve their ability to contest having their private information revealed." So said Twitter last January as revolutions began in the Middle East and North Africa.


Yet now Twitter has announced that they will begin censoring tweets. "Starting today, we give ourselves the ability to reactively withhold content from users in a specific country while keeping it available in the rest of the world. As we continue to grow internationally, we will enter countries that have different ideas about the contours of freedom of expression. Some differ so much from our ideas that we will not be able to exist there. We do not remove Tweets on the basis of their content. Our position on freedom of expression carries with it a mandate to protect our users' right to speak freely and preserve their ability to contest having their private information revealed." Clearly a totally different message.


Whilst Twitter did not go into full specifics, they used France and Germany as examples. In both of those countries pro nazi messages are illegal, so any tweets deemed to be such would not be visible there. Twitter did state that users who's tweets are blocked would be informed of such. Likely in a way similar to how they're told of being over the daily status update allowance or that their tweet is a duplicate.


And thanks to their being unspecific on what content won't be allowed, Twitter has now given itself carte blanche to hide or remove any and all tweets. So much for being the leader of free speech, or as Twitter General Counsel Alex Macgillivray declared them to be "the free speech wing of the free speech party".

Pentagon Proposes Cuts

The Pentagon has announced it's proposal for a reduced budget. The reductions would total $487 billion over the next ten years. Included in the proposal are troop reductions, cutting planned purchases, closing bases, cutting pay raises, and increasing the costs of health insurance fees.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said that the Army would be reduced over the next five years from 570,000 troops down to 490,000. Meanwhile the Marines will drop from 202,000 to 182,000. A totally of 100,000 troops being removed would put the armed forces just barely above pre 9-11 strength. The Air Force would be losing six of it's tactical fighter squadrons and be forced to retire 130 troop moving aircraft. Whilst the Navy is required to retire seven cruisers and a few other ships. The Pentagon would also buy fewer F-35 jets. The Navy will delay buying around a dozen ships. As for closing bases, which are unclear, but the Army would begin by pulling two of its four brigades out of permanent bases in Europe to bases in the United States, and would increase rotational deployments to the remaining bases so that more units would have an opportunity to train with NATO allies.

The proposed changes to pay raises and increased costs of the health care for vets and their families would not begin until 2015. Currently the Pentagon spends almost a third of it's budget, $181 billion a year, on salaries and benefits. There are severe worries over active duty and retired members facing what could be a large part of the proposed cuts. Healthcare costs, going up would directly hurt the pocket books of all involved, especially disabled retirees who may be unable to bring in other forms of income.

Even before the proposal was official, various members of Congress were already coming out against it. Michigan Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was quoted as saying "I'm not going to be able to support" it. "These cuts reflect President Obama';s vision of an America that is weakened, not strengthened, by our men and women in uniform," said Howard P. McKeon of California, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.

The Hippie Homemaker-Homemade Shampoo and "Conditioner"

Hey all!

First off, let me introduce myself. My name is Keely, I'm a baker, crafter and intrigued by all things domestic. I'll be guest blogging here at TORARADICAL once a week. You can also find me at kraftykeely.tumblr.com.

About 6 months ago I switched from using traditional hair care and body products and now use only natural/homemade products. That spurred my interest in all things natural and slowly I am attempting to even transition out of commercial house cleaning products (as it turns out there are so many natural things that are anti-bacterial it makes you wonder why cleaning products were invented in the first place).

Some may say I'm crazy (and some may say I smell like a salad, more on that later) but I would argue that neither of those are true. Why buy something that you can make in a mater of minutes? Why use products that claim they are good for your hair and skin when really they are just designed to make you use them more? Why cover your house in chemicals when you can use things from your pantry to achieve the same effect?

I first decided to switch to all natural bath products when I saw the huge success and following of the no-poo revolution. This involves using baking soda as "shampoo" and a vinegar rinse as "conditioner." At the time, I was dying my hair red and upon further investigation I found that baking soda will slowly strip the color out of your hair. This led me to search for an alternative to commercial shampoo that wouldn't ruin my hair color.

I found a handful of posts on using liquid castile soap to create a healthy, natural shampoo that allows you to only wash your hair every 3-5 days! How great is that!?!?! After some adjusting the recipe to my particular hair texture and a bit of a transition period (ok it was a little bit longer than a bit, but I was determined and decided that a month of greasy hair was worth it, sorry about that world). In the end I came up with this recipe. I hope you give it a shot! My hair is so much healthier and shiner!

Homemade shampoo

1 1/2 cups Dr. Bronner's castile soap (any scent you prefer)

1/2 distilled water (this can be bought in a gallon for about a dollar at any grocery store)

1 tablespoon avocado oil

8-10 drops of any essential oil (optional)

Combine all ingredients into an old shampoo bottle and shake gently. Enjoy!

FYI This shampoo is going to be a lot thinner than commercial shampoos because it does not contain any thickening agents. Instead of rubbing it in your hands first it is best to squirt directly on your head. If you feel that your hair is not getting clean you can add more soap.

So now that you have an all natural shampoo you must be wondering what you are supposed to do for conditioner. That's a toss up amongst us hippie folk. Some people make conditioners out of egg yolks, mayonnaise and other weird things that I don't really want to put on my head. My solution to the problem is quite simple. Are you ready for this? (It's also the reason some might argue that I smell like a salad...)

Homemade "conditioner"

2 cups water

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

That's it, that's all you need. Put the two ingredients in a bottle and squeeze a bit over your head after you wash, then rinse. See, isn't that a simple solution to the problem.

Some science! (This is the part where I try to sound smart).

First off, I'm sure that you are concerned about the smell from the vinegar. I promise, you won't smell, once your hair dries the smell goes away. Also, you must be wondering why the vinegar is a conditioner. First off, it eliminates any potential residue from the soap.

Any vinegar will do, but apple cider vinegar is best. The unfiltered kind contains the vinegar "mother." The mother contains enzymes and minerals which are great for your skin and hair. Also, the acid in the vinegar will help to restore a pH balance on your scalp which will in turn keep your hair healthy. Simple as that.

As for the shampoo, the castile soap is naturally less harsh than soap that is made out of animal fat. This means that it removes less oil from your hair in the first place (which is why you don't have to replace it with a conditioner). This in combination with the vinegar rinse will leave your hair looking shiny and feeling nice, smooth, and in my case, my hair feels thicker, because it is healthier.

Enjoy! And I will chat with you next week!