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Friday, May 23, 2014

Cheat Sheet - How Synthetic Weed Fuels Terrorism


May 23, 2014
FOLLOW THE MONEY
After a raid on a super storage warehouse in Alabama, federal agents discovered a connection between the synthetic weed drug-trafficking network and terrorists in the Middle East. It turns out, reports Abby Haglage, the millions in cash reeled in by designer drugs sold across the country are going into the pockets of those who hate America the most in Yemen, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
UNFOLLOW

For the first time since it operated in Pakistan, Twitter has begun to censor tweets deemed "blasphemous" or "unethical" by bureaucrats in the Pakistani government. Five of the requests that resulted in censorship this month included drawings of the Prophet Muhammad, images of burning Qurans, porn star Belle Knox of Duke fame, and tweets from anti-Islam bloggers. Most of the accounts under the request came in anticipation of "Everybody Draw Muhammad Day" on May 20. Pakistan's heavy-handed blasphemy laws have garnered global attention recently due to the murders of secularists accused of breaking the law. For its part, Twitter argues it's better to block certain tweets than have the entire site blocked.

WATCH OUT
The first year as pontiff has been a PR cake walk for Pope Francis. Now he may be in for a rude awakening, as he travels to Bethlehem, Tel Aviv, and Jerusalem this weekend, Barbie Latza Nadeau reports. Graffiti artists are attacking him on church walls in Jerusalem, and right-wing activists have been swept up by security for fear of "disruptions." While Francis will make key visits to Jewish, Muslim, and Christian sites, his attempts to please everyone may end up leaving nobody happy.
NEW SCANDAL

Another V.A. hospital has come under fire for covering up abuse, just as the Department of Veterans Affairs announced a wide-ranging investigation on Thursday. Miami's V.A. Hospital is being accused of drug dealing, patient abuse, and other crimes by a V.A. law enforcement officer. Thomas Fiore says he was reassigned to clerical work after reporting and requesting to investigate incidents in his capacity as a detective. He alleges that the Miami facility allows drug dealing among patients and failing to prevent abuse and even death.

OL' SPARKY

On Thursday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill approving the use of an electric chair for execution if drugs for lethal injection are unavailable. The state's current law allows inmates a choice between the electric chair or lethal injection if their crime was committed before 1999, but now Tennessee will be the only state to not give prisoners a choice in how they die. A recent poll shows that 56 percent of Tennesseans support using the electric chair for executions. A botched lethal injection that caused a death row inmate to die of a heart attack in Oklahoma last month and has sparked growing concern over the safety of the drugs used.


LONELY PITA CHIPS
Hummus Recalled for Listeria Risk
Sold at Trader Joe's and Target.
bad manners
Tea Partiers Arrested Over Break-In
Senator's wife was taped in nursing home.
TRAGEDY
China: Suicide Bombers Led Attack
That left 31 people dead.
METHOD ACTING
Iranian Actress Faces Public Flogging
For public kiss at Cannes.
BLITZ
50 Senators Push Redskins to Change Name
All of them Democrats.
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