“The U.S. confirmed that an American citizen, identified as 19-year-old Furkan Dogan, was killed by multiple gunshots during the Israeli raid on a flotilla carrying activists attempting to run a blockade of the Gaza Strip. “State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said the U.S. has made no decision on a response to Dogan’s death.” Apparently official Washington is torn between issuing a mild protest, and thanking them. “Protecting the welfare of American citizens is a fundamental responsibility of our government,” Hillary Clinton assured the media, “and one that we take very seriously” – but not seriously enough to issue an official protest. “We are in constant contact with the Israeli government attempting to obtain more information about our citizens.” Do they want to know how many holes the IDF put in Furkan Dogan’s head before they make a decision on a response? http://redactednews.blogspot.com/2010/06/israelis-kill-american-joe-biden-says.html

from: William Hughes

There was a protest rally in front of the White House on June 1, 2010. Former U.S. Ambassador Edward Peck was one of the speakers. He described his ordeal of being on a vessel, part of a flotilla, on a “humanitarian” mission to Gaza. It was forcibly seized, hijacked, at 4 AM on May 31th, by heavily armed Israelis in international waters. Ambassador Peck was arrested by the Israelis and taken, in custody, to the port city of Ashdod in Zionist Israel. He was processed, interrogated there by his captors and later released. Ambassador Peck added that in Somalia,“we call that ‘piracy.’” For background, see, “The Goldstone Report,” at: http://www.goldstone-report.org/ and http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE53A0OC20090411

from: William Hughes

On Tuesday afternoon, June 1, 2010, a protest action was held in front of the White House.The demonstration was in response to a May 31th attack by Israeli Military Forces on a humanitarian six-boat flotilla, in international waters, in the Mediterranean Sea, carrying 10,000 tons of supplies to Occupied Gaza. The assault has caused outrage around the globe. At least nine civilians were killed by the Israelis and another 60 or so wounded. One of those speaking out at the rally was Orthodox Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss. He is associated with "Orthodox Jews United Against Zionism," and is a member of "Neturei Karta International." Rabbi Weiss said: “We cry and we pray for the people of Palestine and Gaza.” He was also sharly critical in his remarks of the political ideology of Zionism. See: http://www.nkusa.org/

from William Hughes

The recent attack by Israeli Military Forces on a humanitarian six-boat flotilla, in international waters, in the Mediterranean Sea, carrying 10,000 tons of supplies to Occupied Gaza has caused outrage around the globe At least nine civilians were killed by the Israelis and another 60 or so wounded. On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, a demonstration was held in front of the White House to protest Israel’s conduct. Numerous speakers can be heard on this video raising their concerns about this deplorable situation. For background, see, “The Goldstone Report,” at: goldstone-report.org/

from: William Hughes

The recent attack by Israeli Military Forces on a humanitarian six-boat flotilla, in international waters, in the Mediterranean Sea, carrying 10,000 tons of supplies to Occupied Gaza has caused outrage around the globe At least nine civilians were killed by the Israelis and another 60 or so wounded. On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, a demonstration was held in front of the White House to protest Israel’s conduct. One of the speakers was Sarah Sloan, National Staff Coordinator for the ANSWER Coalition. For background, see, “The Goldstone Report,” at: http://www.goldstone-report.org/

from: William Hughes

The recent attack by Israeli Military Forces on a humanitarian six-boat flotilla, in international waters, in the Mediterranean Sea, carrying 10,000 tons of supplies to Occupied Gaza has caused outrage around the globe At least nine civilians were killed by the Israelis and another 60 or so wounded. On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, a demonstration was held in front of the White House to protest Israel’s conduct. One of the speakers was CODEPINK cofounder, Medea Benjamin. For background, see, “The Goldstone Report,” at: http://www.goldstone-report.org/

from William Hughes

On May 26, 2010, co-hosts Deborah Rudacille and John Barry presented the initial nonfiction readings for “The New Mercury.” The event was held in Baltimore, MD, at the Jordan Faye Contemporary/BE, with a thank you to Ms. Jordan Faye Block.The readers were: Tim Kreider, a celebrated political cartoonist and writer. Check out Mr. Kreider’s web site here: thepaincomics.com/ He read a story from H.L. Mencken, “The Incomprehensible Buzz Saw; and, then from his own piece, “Seeing Is Believing.” Author and writer, Antero Pietila, read from his book, “Not In My Neighborhood.” Finally, Laura Wexler is an educator and author. She read from her story, “Separate Storm.” Ms. Wexler is the author of “Fire in a Canebrake.” A native of Catonsville, MD, she is also known for hosting “The Stoop.” Go to stoopstorytelling.com/ to find out more about this highly praised venture. The CityLit Project, (Gregg Wilhem, director), is sponsoring the series. For more background, go to: thenewmercuryreadings.com/

Gerald Celente: Banks robbing the people From: RTAmerica | The turmoil that has stricken Greece has spread to Romania and Ireland. This crisis may be spreading worldwide as the debt crisis continues, there have been reports that it may spread to Japan, one of the biggest economies in the world. Gerald Celente says that this is the greatest bank robbery in history and it is the banks that are doing the stealing.

from William Hughes

"On Sunday afternoon, May 23, 2010, author, scriptwriter and ex-Baltimore Sun reporter, Rafael Alvarez, read one of his favorite essays, “Where Book Lovers Settle Between Covers.” He had written it a few years back while working for the Sun. Later, he signed copies of his newest book, “Storyteller," which is a combination of his fiction; and essays and newspaper articles. One of Mr. Alvarez’s previous works of fiction, “Orlo and Leini,” was labeled by Publishers Weekly as “a rare treat that even those with a nonadventurous palate will find delectable.” The event took place at the Crystal Moll Gallery, in Federal Hill, in Baltimore, MD. Ms. Moll, who is also an artist, served as the hostess for the reading and introduced Mr. Alvarez."

from William Hughes

On Sunday afternoon, May 23, 2010, author Deborah Rudacille read from her new nonfiction book, “Roots of Steel: Boom and Bust in an American Mill Town.” It’s the moving saga of Sparrows Point, a company town and steelmaking plant, once owned and operated by Bethlehem Steel. In its heyday, the plant employed about 36,000 employees. The event took place at the Crystal Moll Gallery, in Federal Hill, in Baltimore, MD. Ms. Moll, who is also an artist, served as the hostess for the reading and introduced Ms. Rudacille. “Kirkus Reviews” said of Ms. Rudacille’s tome, “An affecting portrait of decaying loop on the Rust Belt...[She] has delivered a book that would do Studs Terkel proud, partaking of his oral-historical approach to the past, at turns, imbued with pro-Labor spirit throughout.”