Guarding Arlington from the Westboro Baptists on Memorial Day was carried out by the KKK

A somber Memorial Day 2011 at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia was disrupted by an unlikely group of protestors against one another, reports CNN. Hours before the president began his yearly address from the Tomb of the Unknowns, members of the Ku Klux Klan and Westboro Baptist Church challenged each other. Fortunately, the day was not sullied by assault and arrests, only hateful comments.

Ku Klux Klan object to Westboro anti-gay protests

The angry demonstrations against homosexuality and the U.S. Military from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., have gotten lots of attention. Church members end up protesting outside military funerals with anti-gay signs saying the soldiers will go to hell with the help of Pastor Fred Phelps and his daughter Abigail.

A group of 10 individuals at Arlington in representation of the Knights of the Southern Cross, or Soldiers of the Ku Klux Klan, don't like the Baptists though. A group of Ku Klux Klan members gathered near the Westboro Baptists and tried to drown them out with American flags and a banner that read "POW-MIA" for all who could see it.

According to Imperial Wizard Dennis LaBonte, who was present at the demonstration, the KKK was assembled to protest Fred Phelps’ anti-troop message.

“It’s the soldier that fought and died and gave them that right to free speech,” said LaBonte.

Scriptures not about white power

CNN spoke with Abigail Phelps who said that since there is no reference to white power in the Bible, the Westboro Baptists recognize no authority in the Ku Klux Klan. Individuals like LaBonte maintain they are neither racist nor hate-mongers, but caretakers of the Caucasian race. In the meantime, the Westboro Baptists cling to their war against homosexuality and the U.S. military complex (illustrated by hateful slogans like "God hates fags" and "Thank God for dead soldiers").

What freedom costs

There was a United States Supreme Court ruling that allowed the Westboro Baptists to protest at military funerals with First Amendment protections. They do have to stay a distance away though. The Ku Klux Klan has the same rules to follow. So long as assault or direct violations of the law are not involved, such groups can protest as often as they like.

Citations

Arlington National Cemetery

arlingtoncemetery.mil/

CNN

cnn.com/2011/US/05/30/arlington.cemetery.protesters/index.html

New York Daily News

nydn.us/mK3Aku

DC Comics plans to re-launch its heroes

In Sept DC Comics plans to restart all of its superhero titles. Each one of them will begin once again from issue No. one. DC created Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and many other instantly familiar comic book characters.

Start of a new team

In a bold and risky move, DC’s new innovative team, Geoff Johns and Jim Lee, are leaving behind 70 years of storylines and starting over with a clean slate. The plotlines will be more modern, there will be new origins and the costumes will be changes. Lee explained it a little better. He said it will “make characters more identifiable and accessible to comic fans new and old.”

Fight between heroes

There have been DC and Marvel Comics for years. DC has always come in second place. Walt Disney Company is owned by Marvel who has about 40 percent of the industry for comic books. About 27 percent goes to Time Warner’s DC. Johns and Lee are hoping to narrow that gap.

Starting by working with the Justice League

August 31 will be the starting of the new DC saga. The Justice League will begin. The Justice League, which debuted in “The Brave and the Bold” magazine in Feb. 1960, is team of superheroes including Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Flash and Aquaman.

In all, 52 titles are slated to reboot, with 13 new titles being released each week through September. At DC, 52 is an enchanting and well known quantity. This is because in the company’s “multiverse,” there are 52 alternate Earths that “exist.”

Working digitally

A new marketing strategy will be put in place with the beginning of the “Justice League” reboot. DC plans a same-day digital release for all of the rebooted titles via an app and through the company site. DC’s blog claims that “making DC Comics the first of the two major American publishers to release all of its superhero comic book titles digitally the same day as in print.” The move is following what Archie Comics did. The strategy was initially thought up by the company.

Citations

National Post

arts.nationalpost.com/2011/05/31/dc-reboots-entire-line-of-comic-books/

MSNBC

today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43232629

Titans Tower

titanstower.com/monitor/?p=3118

Real life robberies prompted by Affleck film

Two armed bandits in nun costumes robbed a financial institution Sunday, jumping a teller counter and making off with an undisclosed amount of cash. The thievery was shockingly reminiscent of last year’s critically acclaimed Ben Affleck film, “The Town.”

Shots not terminated during escape

”The Town” style robbery was most recently at the TCF financial institution. This financial institution is in Palos Heights, Ill. The two thieves, one male and one female, wore rubber masks and traditional nuns’ habits. Both were armed with handguns. They carried a duffel bag, which they stuffed with cash before exiting the bank. There was a Chevrolet with tinted windows that they left in. They never shot any person with their guns. Nobody was hurt in the robberies.

Very close to Ben Affleck’s film

In Affleck’s “The Town,” a male comes from a neighborhood in Boston where lots of armed robbers come from. Affleck plays the male that seems conflicted about it although he does what he is supposed to. Nun masks and habits just like in Illinois are used in the burglary in the movie. Although no confirmation exists, it is apparent that the burglars may have been influenced by the film.

'The Town’ influenced robberies before

The Affleck film was imitated before. 28 year old Kay Faughin, Eddie Solomon, 27, and 29 year old Lee Lubin all worked together on January 4 to rob Bank of America. They were wearing Halloween masks to the Delray Beach, Fla., branch. As burglars stole $67,000 in cash, the financial institution consumers had to lie on their backs. Police and news helicopters followed them as they left in a Cadillac. The lunchtime chase was heavily covered by local television news teams. All three men were apprehended within a few hours.

Lubin even said that watching “The Town” gave the men the idea for the robbery.

Citations

Pop Eater

popeater.com/2011/06/02/ben-affleck-the-town-chicago-bank-robbery/

Mail OnlineM

dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1344758/Three-men-dress-Halloween-masks-rob-bank-Florida-inspired-Ben-Affleck-film-The-Town.html

WPBF

wpbf.com/news/26381238/detail.html

‘The Town’ trailer

youtube.com/watch?v=QQ7wcayQQLQ

Phil Ivey not at World Series of Poker tournament

Big time pro poker gambler Phil Ivey is definitely avoiding the WSOP this year, claims Big Lead Sports. This is definitely because of the actions of supporter Full Tilt Poker, which has regularly neglected to refund customer account monies after the U.S. Justice Department cracked down on online poker online websites. The case claims that over $150 million in consumer funds is still in Full Tilt parent business Tiltware, LLC’s possession.

Full Tilt makes Ivey ‘deeply disappointed’

Full Tilt’s actions are more than just embarrassing, Phil Ivey said on his Facebook page. He said it makes it extremely hard for skilled poker players to get a better reputation without going to buy-in tournaments.

“I am not playing in the world Series of Poker, as I do not believe it is fair that I compete when others cannot,” writes Ivey. “I am doing everything I can to seek a solution to the problem as quickly as possible.”

Phil Ivey’s reputation needs fixing

By being closely associated with Full Tilt throughout his career, Ivey feels that the company’s lack of action in recent months has damaged his reputation. After a great deal of thought, he decided to bring suit against Tiltware, LLC, who are the founders of Full Tilt Poker. This group may become Ivey’s previous group soon. On Facebook he said:

“I sincerely hope this statement will ignite those capable of resolving the problems into instant action… I will dedicate the entirety of my time and efforts to finding a solution for those who have been wronged by the painfully slow process of repayment.”

Full Tilt allegedly had no financial institution reserve account

One thing Levy accuses Tiltware of isn’t having a bank reserve account for Full Tilt Poker. This made it so gamblers could definitely not very easily be refunded. Just like banks invest money deposited into them, online poker websites invest the money deposited into them. Full Tilt does this as well, states International Business Times.

This is definitely something federal regulators know and have laws about. Individual banks and online gambling online websites have to follow these reserve laws. Full Tilt won’t refund the consumer all of their money at once. Putting your money into one of these online websites may be a dangerous thing to do. This is as the gambling web sites don’t generally have the FDIC insurance banks do and would never get a tax bailout. Tax money would have to be used if the government were going to help. The government might not be able to get players their money back in the end.

Information from

Big Lead Sports

thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/06/01/phil-ivey-is-boycotting-the-world-series-of-poker/

Casino Scam Report

bit.ly/loVhfI

International Business Times

bit.ly/mR3mMV

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704628404576265060852516194.html