At Least 1000 People Have Been Killed By Cops This Year and Less Than Half Had a Gun (VIDEO)

The Counted, a database compiled by The Guardian, monitors the demographics of those who have died at the hands of U.S. law enforcement this year, and details how and why they were killed.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/11/16/at-least-1000-people-have-been-killed-by-cops-this-year-and-less-than-half-had-a-gun-video/

Join the fight to outlaw robocalls to cell phones

Section 301 of the budget authorizes debt collectors to robocall anyone with educational loans or other federal debt including back taxes. It lets the debt collectors call their relatives, their references and even any unrelated person who happens to have the reassigned cell phone number of any of the above...
https://secure.consumersunion.org/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=29C2917AB9E0F0CE4863E265EAB66006.app223b?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=3090&s_src=EH5BY01&s_subsrc=102183000571470001021830005714700012&utm_source=acxiom&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20151117_advoc_cell_robocalls

The Real Debate: 2 Very Different World Views On Terrorism

The next president will have to make some very big decisions about how to combat terrorism.
 http://n.pr/1HTdpOc

And Now the Good News #163: 11/17/2015

https://youtu.be/DqELDL5tRkQ

Top U.S. and World News Headlines for November 17, 2015

https://youtu.be/Vl_QIiMLETM

Maher tells Colbert: Republicans want to kill radical Muslims, but we need to kill their ideas

“You can’t wipe people off the map — that’s not gonna happen,” Maher continued. “What you have to do is wipe out the idea. It’d be one thing if the terrorists did not share ideas with lots of mainstream people who follow the Islamic religion. But they do.”
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/maher-tells-colbert-republicans-want-to-kill-radical-muslims-but-we-need-to-kill-their-ideas/

The Dalai Lama on Praying After Terror Attacks: “It Is Illogical. God Would Say, Solve It Yourself”

We cannot solve this problem only through prayers. I am a Buddhist and I believe in praying. But humans have created this problem, and now we are asking God to solve it. It is illogical. God would say, solve it yourself because you created it in the first place. 

We need a systematic approach to foster humanistic values, of oneness and harmony. If we start doing it now, there is hope that this century will be different from the previous one. It is in everybody’s interest. So let us work for peace within our families and society, and not expect help from God, Buddha or the governments.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/11/17/the-dalai-lama-on-praying-after-terror-attacks-it-is-illogical-god-would-say-solve-it-yourself/

US Catholic bishops focus on marriage, religious liberty | KSL.com

Some bishops said they were committed to reversing the U.S. Supreme Court same-sex marriage ruling last June. Archbishop Joseph Naumann (NOW-muhn) of Kansas City, Kansas, said a concerted effort was needed to "build a consensus" to do so. Naumann said, "I don't think because five Supreme Court justices changed the public policy on such a fundamental issue that we should just accept it."
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1016&sid=37391800&title=us-catholic-bishops-focus-on-marriage-religious-liberty

A Genetic Map Hints At What Makes A Brain Human

Patterns of gene expression in human and mouse brains suggest that cells known as glial cells may have helped us evolve brains that can acquire language and solve complex problems.
 http://n.pr/1j3nzFv

‘George W. Bush Kept Us Safe’ And Nine Other Horrendously Egregious GOP Lies

As the Republicans line up to blame President Obama for the deadly terrorist massacres in Paris, it’s worth taking another look at the 10 most egregious Republican lies, updated to include Paris and the entirely ridiculous myth that Bush “kept us safe” during his two terms.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/11/16/george-w-bush-kept-us-safe-and-nine-other-horrendously-egregious-gop-lies/

Pastor Who Prayed For Obama’s Death Blames ‘F*ggots’ And Abortion For Paris Attacks (VIDEO)

“Can there be any doubt that France is a sinful nation? How many perverted things have come out of France. How many wicked fashions have originated in Paris, France? It’s a sodomite capitol. It’s a sodomite hub. It’s an abortion holocaust on a daily basis. It is a wicked place where adultery is the norm, it’s acceptable, it’s wonderful, and the judgment of God today is on the sinful nation of France.”
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/11/16/pastor-who-prayed-for-obamas-death-blames-fggots-and-abortion-for-paris-attacks-video/

ISIS Reportedly Threatens To Attack Washington, DC Next (VIDEO)

“We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that, by God, you will have a day, God willing, like France’s and by God, as we struck France in the center of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its center in Washington,” the man said.
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/11/16/isis-reportedly-threatens-to-attack-washington-dc-next-video/

Why Bernie Sanders Was Right To Link Climate Change To National Security | ThinkProgress

Since the overwhelming majority of pundits and policymakers don’t understand the existential threat climate change poses, Sanders remarks were criticized, much as fellow presidential candidate Martin O’Malley’s were back in July. Yet for over three years, leading security and climate experts — and Syrians themselves — have made the connection between climate change and the Syrian civil war. Indeed, when a major peer-reviewed study came out on in March making this very case, Retired Navy Rear Admiral David Titley said it identifies “a pretty convincing climate fingerprint” for the Syrian drought...
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/11/16/3722355/bernie-sanders-climate-change-national-security-paris-climate-talks/

Why ISIS Wanted Authorities To Find A Syrian Passport | ThinkProgress

“The Islamic State’s strategy is to polarize Western society — to ‘destroy the grayzone,’ as it says in its publications. The group hopes frequent, devastating attacks in its name will provoke overreactions by European governments against innocent Muslims, thereby alienating and radicalizing Muslim communities throughout the continent,” Harleen Gambhir, a counterterrorism analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, wrote in the Washington Post. “The atrocities in Paris are only the most recent instances of this accelerating campaign.”...
http://thinkprogress.org/world/2015/11/16/3722523/isis-hates-refugees/

Police work done right... in Netherlands

After a woman was taken to the hospital with hypoglycemia (low bloodsugar), two policemen stayed behind to prepare dinner for the five kids who were still in the house. Afterwards, they also did the dishes. Respect. (Eindhoven, Netherlands)
https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/3snlng/after_a_woman_was_taken_to_the_hospital_with/

The Little-Noticed Conservative Plan To Permanently Lock Democrats Out Of Policymaking | ThinkProgress

Given the Federalist Society’s influence among Republican lawmakers — especially the kind of Republican lawmaker who wears judicial robes — it is very likely that many of their proposals will be implemented if the 2016 election gives the GOP control of all three branches of government. It should be noted, moreover, that their proposals to hobble federal agencies are likely to give a structural advantage to Republicans that could very well become permanent. Republicans would still be capable of implementing their preferred policies, while Democrats would struggle to do the same even in the immediate wake of an electoral victory...
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/11/16/3722395/the-little-noticed-conservative-plan-to-permanently-lock-democrats-out-of-policymaking/

Syrian Refugee Puts Paris Attacks Into Perspective In One Simple Sentence | ThinkProgress

“What’s happening to them is happening every day in Syria, 100 times per day for five years, so we know what that means,” he said.
http://thinkprogress.org/world/2015/11/15/3722379/paris-refugees/

The Guardian: I was held hostage by Isis. They fear our unity more than our airstrikes

In Syria I learned that Islamic State longs to provoke retaliation. We should not fall into the trap
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/16/isis-bombs-hostage-syria-islamic-state-paris-attacks

The Guardian: Putin would back moderate Syrian opposition in Isis fight

Russia and west could set aside differences over future of President Assad and focus airstrikes on Isis, suggest world leaders
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/16/vladimir-putin-would-back-moderate-syrian-opposition-fight-isis

Al Jazeera America: Boko Haram destroyed more than 1,000 schools this year, UN says

Boko Haram has been blamed for scores of attacks on schools and universities in an insurgency that has killed at least 17,000 people since 2009. The armed group made international headlines in April 2014 when its members kidnapped 276 schoolgirls from a school in Chibok, a town in Borno State, Nigeria. Fifty-three of the school girls escaped but the rest remain missing...
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/11/16/boko-haram-destroyed-more-than-1000-schools-this-year-un.html

Meet the tiny robot that walks on water, cleans pollution, and never needs to be charged

First presented last month at the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems in Hamburg, Germany, the Row-bot is a essentially a fuel cell powered by electricity that is generated solely by bacteria living inside the device. The beauty of this particular bacteria-powered fuel cell, however, is the means by which the tiny organisms living in its gut generate that electricity...
Read more

Ted Cruz exploits Paris attack to talk about Christian persecution while honoring anti-gay bigots

There, Cruz made the case that the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday night proved that Christians are under siege, even though the attacks were on nightlife hot spots and not religious targets. Before the rally, Cruz told to reporters and said Christians need constitutional protections because they are most ostracized today, according to CNN...
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/11/ted-cruz-exploits-paris-attack-to-talk-about-christian-persecution-while-honoring-anti-gay-bigots/

Aid-in-dying advocacy group girds for battles after California victory

Aid-in-dying bills were introduced this year in 23 state legislatures, plus in the District of Columbia, up from four last year, according to Compassion & Choices. Despite formidable opposition from the Catholic Church, disabled-rights groups and parts of the medical community, the group sees its strength growing...
http://www.whas11.com/story/news/2015/11/14/kaiser-aid-in-dying-advocacy-group-girds-for-battles-after-california-victory/75716006/

Five Stupid Things for November 16, 2015

https://youtu.be/7kIiLsiMrSs

When a church's mission is helping public schools, the boundaries are not always clear

...Andrews' presentation, which combined humor with observations about success and motivation, did not venture into any religious themes...
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/when-a-churchs-mission-is-helping-public-schools-the-boundaries-are-not/2253868

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Ben Carson: Says his tax plan wouldn't leave the federal government with a $1.1 trillion hole.

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Ben Carson: Says his tax plan wouldn't leave the federal government with a $1.1 trillion hole.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/nov/04/ben-carson/does-ben-carsons-tithe-based-tax-plan-lead-1-trill/

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Carly Fiorina: "92 percent of the jobs lost during Barack Obama’s first term belonged to women."

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Carly Fiorina: "92 percent of the jobs lost during Barack Obama's first term belonged to women."

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/29/carly-fiorina/fiorina-levies-out-date-charge-women-job-losses-un/

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Ben Carson: Says he "didn’t have an involvement with" nutritional supplement company Mannatech.

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Ben Carson: Says he "didn't have an involvement with" nutritional supplement company Mannatech. 

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/29/ben-carson/debate-ben-carson-says-he-has-no-connection-mannat/

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Chris Christie: Bernie Sanders’s plan is "to raise your taxes to 90 percent."

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Chris Christie: Bernie Sanders's plan is "to raise your taxes to 90 percent." 

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/28/chris-christie/chris-christie-says-bernie-sanderss-plan-raise-you/

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Ben Carson: "German citizens were disarmed by their government in the late 1930s,"

...which allowed the Nazis to "carry out their evil intentions with relatively little resistance."  Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Ben Carson: "German citizens were disarmed by their government in the late 1930s," which allowed the Nazis to "carry out their evil intentions with relatively little resistance." 

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/26/ben-carson/fact-checking-ben-carson-nazi-guns/

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Ben Carson: "The Chinese are there" in Syria.

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Ben Carson: "The Chinese are there" in Syria. 

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/nov/14/ben-carson/ben-carson-says-china-involved-syrian-conflict/

Why Wont You Atheists Just Shut Up? - Matt Dillahunty - Skepticon 7

https://youtu.be/aN175meGkrU

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Hillary Clinton: On the Keystone XL pipeline

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Hillary Clinton: On the Keystone XL pipeline. 

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/14/hillary-clinton/clinton-says-her-keystone-xl-position-isnt-flip-fl/

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Bernie Sanders: "Every other major country" has family paid leave.

Politifact.com Truth-O-Meter rulings from National: Bernie Sanders: "Every other major country" has family paid leave.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/14/bernie-s/bernie-sanders-says-every-other-major-country-has-/

Tenn. Pastor Rails Against Islam After Paris Attack: 'There Is No Such Thing As A Good Muslim'

Following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Pastor Maury Davis of Cornerstone Nashville Church said on Sunday that there was "no such thing as a ...  Read more

Women are twice as likely to die from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth in the United States

...than in Canada, a new global survey of maternal mortality published by the United Nations and the World Bank showed.
Read more

People Want DEA Chief to Resign After He Called Medical Marijuana ‘a Joke’

Protestors point to scientific studies that show the medicinal benefits of marijuana on patients suffering from chronic pain.
Read more

And So the Hate Speech Begins: Let Paris Be the End of the Right's Violent Language Toward Activists

Some can never let a tragedy go to waste.
http://www.alternet.org/media/and-so-hate-speech-begins-let-paris-be-end-rights-violent-language-toward-activists

Fitter legs linked to a 'fitter' brain

Researchers have found that muscle fitness as measured by power in the legs is strongly associated with an improved rate of ageing in the brain.  Read more

After Paris Attack, Cruz Calls for More Tolerance...for Killing Civilians

The Texas senator puts on his best tough-guy routine.
...  Read more

Bill Nye Demolishes Climate Deniers: '

"The Single Most Important Thing We Can Do Now Is Talk About Climate Change"
The scientist discusses his new book, 'Unstoppable,' and the urgent need for climate action.
...  Read more

Egyptians and Twitter Mock Ben Carson for Dumb Pyramids Theory

“Does he even deserve a response?” asked Mamdouh el-Damaty, a professor of Egyptology and antiquities minister, speaking to the AP. “He doesn’t.”
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/egyptians-and-twitter-mock-ben-carson-dumb-pyramids-theory

Two Police Officers Convicted

Two police officers who accused a motorist of trying to grab one of their guns were convicted Thursday of misconduct in part because a dashcam video showed the motorist holding his hands up.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/4a0cb5ca375d464cb8a158f8a96ea865/dashcam-video-man-holding-hands-helps-convict-officers

10 Falsehoods That Netanyahu Told During His Appearance At CAP

In a wide-ranging forum, the hawkish prime minister invoked several of his favorite claims about the Israeli-Palestinian ... Read more

Marco Rubio’s New Faith Director Believes It’s Loving To Condemn Homosexuality

Eric Teetsel will offer his anti-equality evangelical prominence to the Rubio campaign.  ... Read more

Joe’s Crab Shack Believes Getting Rid Of Tipping Will Be Good For Workers And Business

"It reflects our commitment to not only being a great place to eat but a great place to work," the CEO said.  ... Read more

Huckabee: Syrian Refugees Just Want America’s Healthcare, ‘A Good Sandwich’

Huckabee largely dismissed the idea of accepting Syrian refugees into the United States at Tuesday's Republican debate. ... Read more

White Supremacists Planned Mass Shootings At Black Churches And Synagogues, FBI Says

The men were allegedly preparing for a "race war."  ... Read more

Noam Chomsky: America's Empire of Chaos

Chomsky reflects on the violent dynamics of US foreign policy in the 21st century.
...  Read more

Hoover, Truman & Ike: Mass Deporters?

Q: Did Eisenhower deport 13 million illegal immigrants? Did Hoover and Truman use mass deportations to open jobs for U.S. citizens?
A: No. Nothing close to 13 million persons were deported during any administration. All three of these presidents wrestled with a rising tide of illegal immigration, but a long-running chain e-mail makes bogus claims about them.
http://www.factcheck.org/2010/07/hoover-truman-ike-mass-deporters/

Israeli anger as EU agrees to label settlement products

Producers must clearly label produce coming from settlements built on land illegally occupied by Israel and sold in EU.  Read more

Matt Taibbi: From the GOP Campaign Trail

Matt Taibbi of "Rolling Stone" joins the show from the Republican campaign trail following the most recent debate.
https://youtu.be/r160ikXxkcg

The Crazy Proposal From Carly Fiorina Everyone Missed During Last Night’s Debate

America's government, according to Fiorina, is just too darn nimble.  ... Read more

Why Aren’t More Candidates Listening To Veterans On Medical Marijuana?

Veterans tell ThinkProgress that many Republican candidates are "just completely unreasonable and buy into the 'Reefer Madness' ... Read more

El Nino threatens millions of children in Africa: UN

Water shortages, hunger, and disease could affect 11 million kids in southern Africa, warns UNICEF. Read more

5 min Street Epistemology: Jamil | Muslim-Christian Ponders Prayer

https://youtu.be/_99dy6doEqs

How The American Religious Right Is Making The Middle East Peace Process Impossible | ThinkProgress

...But over the past few decades, the American Religious Right’s actions in the region have extended far beyond the broad consensus endorsing Israel’s right to exist, morphing instead into a form of faith-based activism that makes the area’s multitudinous issues more complicated. Often with the blessing of conservative politicians, funders, and pundits, right-wing Christian and Jewish groups in the United States have consistently offered financial assistance for the construction and maintenance of settlements in the West Bank that international law says are illegal, as well as lending support to fringe “outposts” that even the Israeli government often does not formally recognize. These constructions are passionately opposed by Palestinians, the international community, and the United States, which has repeatedly called them a “barrier to peace.”...
http://thinkprogress.org/world/2015/11/10/3720765/religious-right-israeli-settlements/

Christopher Hitchens "Hitch Slaps" Audience Member.

http://youtu.be/9HG0yH6Jtp0

Letting Go of God (Julia Sweeney)

Comedian Julia Sweeney performs her autobiographical telling of her reconversion from Catholicism to atheism.
https://youtu.be/KiU5ht5W_lk