Why Are There Really Hungry People In The World?

Eradicating  hunger is more than a question of food production. It is estimated that farmers now produce sufficient food to feed 12 billion people-5 billion more than the current population of our planet. The issues are mainly problems related to economics, distribution, and waste.

Armed and Clumsy (All-New!)

Among the Americans (all males, as usual) who accidentally shot themselves recently: A 19-year-old man, with the AR-15 assault weapon he had just stolen (Independence, Ore., March)*. An angler, shooting salmon (Thurston County, Wash., October). An 18-year-old man, shot in the "groin" while cleaning his gun (Port St. Lucie, Fla., September). A 59-year-old poor-multitasker, who tripped and fell holding his shotgun while talking on the phone to his girlfriend (St. Matthews, S.C., September)*. A police officer serving an arrest warrant (shot in the buttocks) (Mercer Island, Wash., November). A 54-year-old man at a gun show, mistaken about whether his gun was loaded) (Des Moines, Iowa, January). A 22-year-old man, showing off and flummoxed by whether a bullet was still in the chamber (Stamford, Conn., September)*. An 18-year-old man, similarly flummoxed (and suffering the same fate) (St. Petersburg, Fla., January)*.

(* indicates people who will never make that mistake again, or any other) Independence: [KGW-TV (Portland, Ore.), 3-4-2013] Thurston: [The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.), 10-1-2012] Port St. Lucie: [WTSP-TV (St. Petersburg, Fla.), 9-10-2012] St. Matthews: [Associated Press via WYFF-TV (Greenville), 9-21-2012] Mercer Island: [KOMO-TV (Seattle), 11-29-2012] Des Moines: [Des Moines Register, 1-25-2013] Stamford: [Stamford Advocate, 9-14-2012] St. Petersburg: [Tampa Bay Online, 1-10-2013]

Thanks This Week to Bruce Leiserowitz, Kristina Rasmussen, David Swanson, Jeffrey Manfull, Tom Hundley, Mel Packer, Dave Leister, Mark Gorman, Richard Schneider, Yvonne Wiliams, and Kev at arbroath.blogspot.com, and to the News of the Weird Senior Advisors (Jenny T. Beatty, Paul Di Filippo, Ginger Katz, Joe Littrell, Matt Mirapaul, Paul Music, Karl Olson, and Jim Sweeney) and Board of Editorial Advisors (Tom Barker, Paul Blumstein, Harry Farkas, Sam Gaines, Herb Jue, Emory Kimbrough, Scott Langill, Steve Miller, Christopher Nalty, Mark Neunder, Bob Pert, Larry Ellis Reed, Rob Snyder, Stephen Taylor, Bruce Townley, and Jerry Whittle).

(Are you ready for News of the Weird Pro Edition? Every Monday at http://NewsoftheWeird.blogspot.com and www.WeirdUniverse.net. Other handy addresses: WeirdNews at earthlink dot net, http://www.NewsoftheWeird.com, and P.O. Box 18737, Tampa FL 33679.)

COPYRIGHT 2013 CHUCK SHEPHERD

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Readers' Choice

(1) Teri James, 29, filed a lawsuit recently in San Diego against San Diego Christian College because it fired her for being pregnant and unmarried -- a violation of specific employee rules. She said the firing was obviously illegal gender discrimination because her job was quickly offered to the next-most-qualified candidate -- James' fiance, who was openly cohabiting with James all along and is the baby's father. (2) In a Philadelphia courtroom in February, alleged assault victim John Huttick was on the witness stand tearfully describing how miserable his life has become since he lost his left eye in a barroom fight with the defendant. Right then, however, his prosthetic eye fell out. The judge, certain that it was an accident, quickly declared a mistrial (especially since two jurors, seated a few feet away, appeared sickened). [NBC News, 2-28-2013] [Philadelphia Inquirer, 2-7-2013]

GREEN CITY?

 We Must Kill This Legislation Because Too Many People Are for It: In February, the North Carolina House of Representatives Rules Committee took the unusual step of pre-emptively burying a bill to legalize prescription marijuana (which 18 states so far have embraced). WRAL-TV (Raleigh-Durham) reported Rep. Paul Stam's explanation: Committee members were hearing from so many patients and other constituents (via phone calls and emails) about the importance of medical marijuana to them that the representatives were feeling "harassed." [WRAL-TV, 2-20-2013]

WEIRD MAN!

- Denials of disability allowances in the town of Basildon, England, near London, are handled at the Acorn House courthouse, on the fourth floor, where afflicted people who believe they were wrongly rejected for benefits must present their appeals. However, in November, zealous government safety wardens, concerned about fire-escape dangers, closed off the fourth floor to wheelchair-using people. Asked one woman, turned away in early February, "Why are they holding disability tribunals in a building disabled people aren't allowed in?" (In February, full access resumed.) [Yellow Advertiser Today (Basildon), 2-6-2013]

Can't Possibly Be True

-- Though Americans may feel safe that the Food and Drug Administration approves a drug only for certain specific uses, the U.S. Court of Appeals in New York ruled in December that drug company salespeople have a First Amendment right to claim that drugs approved for only one use can be marketed for nonapproved uses, as well. Doctors and bioethicists seemed outraged, according to the Los Angeles Times, generally agreeing with a University of Minnesota professor who called the decision "a complete disgrace. What this basically does is destroy drug regulation in the United States." [Los Angeles Times, 12-7-2012]

LEAD STORY -- Holy Handguns

One of the many decisions greeting Pope Francis, as Salon.com pointed out, is whether to officially recognize a Patron Saint of Handgunners -- as urged by a U.S. organization of activists for more than 20 years. According to legend, St. Gabriel Possenti rescued an Italian village from a small band of pillagers (and perhaps rapists) in the 19th century by shooting at a lizard in the road, killing it with one shot, which supposedly so terrified the bandits that they fled. No humans were harmed, activists now point out, signifying the handgun was obviously a force for good. The head of the St. Gabriel Possenti Society has noted that, however far-fetched the "lizard incident" may be, it was rarely questioned until U.S. anti-gun activists gained strength in the 1980s. [Salon, 2-21-2013]

How Can Pet Owners Turn Their Lives Around Using This Ttouch?

Tellington TTouch is a gentle and unique method of working with both health and behavioral problems in animals.

It includes both bodywork and movement exercises that positively influence behavior, performance, co-ordination, balance and well-being, while deepening understanding and the relationship between humans and animals.

These, non-invasive touches & exercises influence habitual patterns of tension and posture by giving new information to the nervous system. As a result, animals relax and learn to make better choices.

Developed by internationally known animal expert, Linda Tellington-Jones, TTouch is based on cooperation and understanding rather than dominance. These revolutionary techniques promote optimal performance and health without fear or force. Read on...

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NEWS OFF THE GRID

Grab These Opportunities

Economies are crashing all around us and more and more people need to become self sufficient with regards to gleaning a sustainable income. As more and more jobs are lost, not only the gloom rises, but is also feeds the will to survive. This very fact has lead to a rapidly expanding market taking shape in the micro-business and self employment niches. Many thousands, worldwide are discovering gold in the self employment and small home business market. A rising business niche is becoming particularly noticeable in the services industries. One such a provider of micro enterprises is a Cape Town Based Company called Wales Enterprises cc.  

New ERA

Become A Member

New Economic Rights Alliance Membership

The New Economic Rights Alliance is a community of people who are seeking transparency in the banking and corporate sector. By joining this organisation, you will unite with many thousands of South Africans who believe that banks and large corporations are in breach of natural human rights. You will also be continually updated about The Big Case.Read on...

Do You Know Your Strawman?

This is a picture of "The Houses of Parliament" in London, England.
Let's have a little quiz:
    1. Who meets there?
    2. What do they do there?
    3. Do they help you in any way?


If your answers were:

    1. "Members of the government"
    2. "They represent all the people living in the country" and
    3. "Yes, they create laws to protect me and my family"

Then let me congratulate you on getting every one of the answers wrong.
Read on...

Article placed by: a.g.hartslief without prejudice