Monthly Archives: April 2013

Doug Casey on Second Passports

"It used to be that a passport was a document that a ruler of one country would give to a traveler to ask the rulers of other countries to assist him in his travels. Now, instead of a convenience, it's become a required permit for travel. It's degrading and actually runs counter to the whole idea of the thing. The original purpose of a passport has been turned upside down. But since they are necessary in today's world, you ought to have several of them, for your own convenience. If nothing else, it prevents any one government from basically placing you under house arrest by taking your passport away from you." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDoug Casey on Second Passports

Living the Lockdown Life

"While watching coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing and its aftermath, I couldn’t help but notice multiple uses and variations of the word 'lockdown' (e.g. 'Boston is locked down'). I’ve been hearing that word used more and more frequently over the last few years, and finding its connotations are troubling. Between 1990 and 2008, use of the term 'lockdown' in English-language books ballooned ten times. Suddenly lockdowns were no longer just a prison thing. They became a school thing, and then an area, neighborhood, city thing. As of Tuesday morning, Google News reported more than 50,000 uses of the word 'lockdown' in the news media in the previous 30 days." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLiving the Lockdown Life

537 Taser-Related Deaths In The United States Since 2001

"Between 2001 and 2008, 351 people in the United States died after being shocked by police Tasers. Our blog has documented another 186 taser-related deaths in the United States in 2009-2012. That means there have been 537 documented taser-related deaths in America. I think that something is wrong in America when the police electrocute folks on a WEEKLY basis with their taser arsenal … and the public is mute in its response. Sometimes it takes a lawsuit … like the one recently settled in Ohio … to get the police to cool it. The police in Cincinnati, Ohio took the hint … they changed their taser policy!" Continue reading →

Continue Reading537 Taser-Related Deaths In The United States Since 2001

Greece to sack 15,000 state workers in next two years to unlock bail-out cash

"Greece is in deep recession, GDP has contracted by 22pc since 2008 and unemployment has spiralled to 27pc as the Greek government has implemented deeply unpopular EU-IMF austerity measures or 'fiscal adjustment' in return for loans. 'Our society has reached its limits. But finally we are meeting our targets and the programme is being improved,' said Antonis Samaras, the Prime Minister, in a nationally televised address. 'Soon, Greece will not depend on the memorandums. Greece will have growth, it will be competitive and outward-looking. In other words, we will have a strong Greece.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGreece to sack 15,000 state workers in next two years to unlock bail-out cash

For Pakistanis It’s A Boston Marathon Bombing Nearly Everyday

"What a terrible and senseless tragedy. I can’t let myself think about it for too long without welling up inside. While my timing in saying what I’m about to say may seem harsh to some, now is the only time to make this point. For the people of Pakistan the Boston Marathon bombing happens nearly every day. Sometimes it’s a lesser bomb and fewer people are killed or injured. Sometimes it’s a much larger bomb like one example that left nearly seventy children dead at one time (that’s about three times the loss of children that happened in Sandy Hook). Can you imagine?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFor Pakistanis It’s A Boston Marathon Bombing Nearly Everyday

ACLU Appeals Ruling Allowing Feds to Stay Mum on Drone Targeted Killings

"The American Civil Liberties Union today appealed a judge’s ruling allowing the President Barack Obama administration to keep mum on its legal basis for its drone targeted killing program, including information connected to the killing of Americans via drones. The appeal concerns an 'Alice in Wonderland' decision by U.S. District Court Judge Colleen McMahon of New York, who in January ruled that she was trapped in a 'paradoxical situation' of allowing the administration to claim it was legal to kill enemies outside traditional combat zones while keeping the legal rationale secret." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingACLU Appeals Ruling Allowing Feds to Stay Mum on Drone Targeted Killings

Feds firm on gun denials for pot users

"The federal form all firearms purchasers are required to fill out includes this question: 'Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana ... ?' An untruthful response to this question is a crime, said a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. When it comes to marijuana law, the states and federal government have been in an awkward stalemate, with states such as Colorado taking an increasingly casual attitude toward marijuana and the federal government refusing to declassify it from a Schedule 1 narcotic – the same class as heroin and methamphetamine." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds firm on gun denials for pot users

Local credit union tries on being banker to the pot industry

"One of Seattle’s oldest credit unions has stepped up to serve the pot industry—and inadvertently test the limits of state versus federal authority as the state attempts to create an above-board recreational marijuana industry. Other banks and credit unions have uniformly rejected pot-related businesses, because marijuana is on the federal list of illegal drugs, and a bank that handles marijuana revenue could look like a money launderer. On the other hand, it is a business opportunity. Verity's interpretation of the banking rules does push the boundaries a bit, and highlights the tension between state and federal laws." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLocal credit union tries on being banker to the pot industry

John Paulson’s Gold Bet Loses Almost $1 Billion In Rout: Chart of Day

"Hedge-fund manager John Paulson’s wager on gold wiped out almost $1 billion of his personal wealth in the past two trading days as the precious metal plummeted 13 percent. Gold’s tumble since the start of the year has cut his riches by $1.52 billion on paper. Paulson started the year with about $9.5 billion invested across his hedge funds, of which 85 percent was in gold share classes. Paulson is sticking with his thesis that gold is the best hedge against inflation and currency debasement as countries pump money into their economies, according to the New York-based firm, which manages about $18 billion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJohn Paulson’s Gold Bet Loses Almost $1 Billion In Rout: Chart of Day