READING FOR THE WEEK (2-9-15)

Lack of rain isn't the only story behind the west's brutal drought (Wired).

Find the song that was #1 the day you were born (BillBoard).

Government Safety Nets (aka "welfare"): Is it really socialism, or is it about keeping people quiet in a failed system (Zero Hedge)?

Chipotle founder: McDonald's chicken farm was the 'most absolutely disgusting thing' I've ever seen (Think Progress).


RIGHT WING CRAZY TALK
Rep. Mo Brooks: Measles outbreak may be caused by 'illegal aliens' (Think Progress).

This GOP congressman doesn't believe LBGT rights are human rights (Addicting Info).

GOP Senator: Let restaurants 'opt out' of hand washing after toilet to 'reduce regulatory burden' (Raw Story).

GOP official resigns after saying purpose of voter ID is to suppress votes of Democrats, 'lazy blacks' (Think Progress).

West Virginia Republican says rape pregnancies are "God putting one in you" (Political Garbage Chute).

Republican lawmaker not sure if sex with an unconscious person is really rape (Alternet).


POLICE STUFF
Fraternal Order of Police wants attacks on cops treated as hate crimes (Huffington Post).

2 cops charged with aggravated assault after video reveals savage beating (Nation of Change).

'Keep Fear Alive': A misguided call to double down on localized street policing (Cognoscenti).


OUR FRACKING MESS
For the first time, scientist prove fracking caused an earthquake strong enough to be felt by humans (Think Progress).

Courts will decide if fracking companies can be held responsible for earthquakes (Think Progress).

Pennsylvania finally reveals fracking has contaminated water hundreds of times (Think Progress).


UPLIFTING STORY
Heart and sole: Detroiter walks 21 miles in work commute (Detroit Free Press).

Man with 21-mile round trip walking commute receives car, $40,000 from strangers after story appears in Detroit Free Press (Opposing Views).


ANTI-VACCINATION NEWS
An epidemic of fear: How panicked parents skipping shots endanger us all (Wired).

Roald Dahl wrote this painful plea for vaccinations after his own daughter died of measles (Huffington Post).

About time ... some pediatricians are 'firing' patients who refuse vaccinations (Huffington Post).

Howard Dean: Rand Paul's anti-vaxxer remarks disqualify him from becoming president (Crooks & Liars).


CONGRESSIONAL THOUGHTS
Confessions of a congressman: 9 secrets from the inside (Vox).

Justice Stevens pens six amendments to tune-up the Constitution (Daily Kos).


MISCELLANEOUS
Austerity to blame for 35% suicide surge in Greece (RT).

Caught on tape: The moment 58 people aboard a Taiwanese plane thought it was all over (Zero Hedge).

Robert Reich: Why work is turning into a nightmare - the new 'sharing' economy is about sharing the scraps (Alternet).

World's top oil producers (CNN Money).

- Mark