Sunday, November 25

25.Nov.2012 - Small Retailers, Religious Fanaticism, Copyright Reform, Zionist Apartheid, Traffic Fatalities, College Admissions, Drone Problem, Social Crisis, Hostess Bankruptcy, Gaza Blitz, Financial Suicide, Walmart Strikers, Energy Independence,

New Twitter Account! http://www.twitter.com/dustcirclenews Don't forget to go to dustcircle.com and VOTE for which book we'll be giving away in December. There's also a Donation button, if you're inclined to give toward this site. Also, have you written a book? We'd like to read and review it.

Shopping? Small Retailers Want Your Business, Too

Jammed between Gray Thursday, Black Friday and Cyber Monday is yet another day devoted to shopping: Small Business Saturday. Wallets are expected to open yet again on Saturday — this time for mom-and-pop stores. Main Street in Littleton, Colo., is filled with them. The street is lined with small bars and restaurants along with other businesses, including a spice store and a men's clothing boutique.
http://www.npr.org/2012/11/24/165794352/more-shopping-small-retailers-want-your-business?ft=3&f=1001&sc=nl&cc=nh-20121124

What If Religious Fanaticism Killed Someone You Love?

The family of a woman who died after being denied an abortion are fighting so others don't suffer the same loss.

http://www.alternet.org/belief/what-if-religious-fanaticism-killed-someone-you-love

New Book Makes The Case For Why Copyright Needs To Be Reformed

I've argued in the past that copyright is a non-partisan issue, in that the concepts behind fixing a broken copyright system shouldn't be specific to either major political party. Unfortunately, historically, that's meant that there's been bi-partisan interest in helping Hollywood expand the system over and over and over and over again (15 expansions in the last 30 years). However, as we saw over the weekend with the wonderful RSC brief that was released and retracted in a day, there is significant interest in some circles to explore the idea of substantial copyright reform, which includes recognizing that the existing system is not functioning up to the standards set forth in the Constitution.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20121119/07554721091/new-book-makes-case-why-copyright-needs-to-be-reformed.shtml

World has put up with Zionist apartheid for too long

The body of 18-month-old Palestinian boy Eyad Abu Khosa, killed in the latest Israeli airstrikes, lays on the floor during his funeral in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Strip on November 18, 2012.

http://presstv.com/detail/2012/11/20/273477/world-has-put-up-with-israel-for-too-long/

Why Do Red States Have More Traffic Fatalities?

An analysis shows that people from conservative states are more likely to die from traffic accidents.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/strange-why-do-red-states-have-more-traffic-fatalities

4 Ways College Admissions Committees Stack the Deck in Favor of Already Privileged Applicants

It's time to stop stigmatizing affirmative action as an "unfair advantage" for historically unrepresented groups.

http://www.alternet.org/education/4-ways-college-admissions-committees-stack-deck-favor-already-privileged-applicants

Mr. President, You Have a Drone Problem

I have never had a more haunting experience than hearing people talk about their homes, villages and families destroyed by drone attacks.

http://www.alternet.org/world/mr-president-you-have-drone-problem

The social crisis in the US

As President Barack Obama and Congress prepare to slash trillions of dollars from social programs that keep vast numbers of people out of destitution, the prevalence of hunger and poverty in the United States has reached rates unseen in decades.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/nov2012/pers-n24.shtml

Hostess bankruptcy: The brutal face of American capitalism

Hostess Brands has sought authorization from the bankruptcy courts to liquidate its bakery business and wipe out the jobs and pensions of 18,500 workers. The 82-year-old company, maker of the well-known brands Wonder Bread and Twinkies, submitted plans last week to close 33 bakeries, 565 distribution centers, approximately 5,500 delivery routes and 570 bakery outlet stores throughout the United States.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/nov2012/pers-n21.shtml

Israel continues blitz against Gaza amid truce talks

After initial reports Tuesday that a ceasefire agreement with Israel was imminent, a senior Hamas official, Izzat Risheq, told the media that a deal would not be finalized until Wednesday at the earliest, as Israel had failed to respond to proposed terms of a settlement.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/nov2012/gaza-n21.shtml

Financial Suicide – Privatizing Social Security

The clatter is starting up again over the privatization of Social Security. With this plan, the individual gets to decide how to invest their Social Security funds, something akin to a public 401k program. The bulk of this new-found investing activity, however, will go towards Wall Street and the stock exchanges.

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/11/20/financial-suicide-privatizing-social-security/

Walmart Strikers Energized By Large Turnouts Nationwide

Twitter is ablaze with images and videos from Walmart workers striking ‘For Respect.’ We’ve collected some highlights in homage to the brave employees who are striking to demand respect from their employer and to catch the attention of millions of shoppers.

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/11/23/walmart-strikers-energized-by-large-turnouts-nationwide-imagesvideo/