Monthly Archives: April 2013

Fr33 Aid Abandons Non-Profit Tax Status in Favor of Bitcoin

"Many organizations seek non-profit recognition from the IRS in an attempt to protect themselves from asset confiscation. In April 2012, Fr33 Aid applied for this privileged status, but since then the process has been nothing but a bureaucratic nightmare. Today Fr33 Aid announced they have abandoned their IRS application and adopted bitcoin as their primary financial instrument. Fr33 Aid Treasurer, Teresa Warmke said: 'Now that there are ways for us to do banking without government involvement, we decided fulfilling (IRS demands) would not be a responsible way for Fr33 Aid to spend its money nor for our volunteers to spend their time.'" Continue reading →

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A Silver Lining That Could Double Your Money

"Coming off the gold standard in 1971 ensured a new volatile rise in commodity prices would continue. That means that savvy investors should own assets that rise along with inflation. Precious metals are a good option – and given its current position, my choice would be silver. Silver’s drivers are still in place, and because no one wants silver right now, it’s a great contrarian play. I believe silver offers great risk-reward right now, which is the final reason it’s a buy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Silver Lining That Could Double Your Money

Is the Boston Bombing the “Moral Equivalent” of Drone Strikes?

"While Obama demands justice in the Boston bombing, he is silent about his own role in setting off bombs in overseas countries. If the U.S. drones have killed about 4,700 people abroad, then we are talking about something that dwarfs the horror of what happened at Boston. I am not speaking of tit-for-tat. However, I am sure that the horror that people in Muslim countries experience at a drone strike is every bit as awful as what people experienced in Boston yesterday. I do not believe that we are free to denounce the evil at Boston and cheer on the evil our government perpetrates overseas. We must denounce both or risk being the worst hypocrites on the planet." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIs the Boston Bombing the “Moral Equivalent” of Drone Strikes?

Filmmaker: Obama’s war on whistleblowers ‘a terrible disservice to democracy’

"Appearing on CNN Sunday, documentary filmmaker Robert Greenwald said that his latest film will highlight the Obama administration’s ongoing 'war' against people who reveal the government’s embarrassing and sometimes shocking secrets. 'War on Whistleblowers: Free Press and the National Security State' documents the Obama administration’s efforts to silence and retaliate against whistleblowers, and the effect that overreaching government secrecy has on journalism." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFilmmaker: Obama’s war on whistleblowers ‘a terrible disservice to democracy’

Study reveals GMO corn to be highly toxic

"A leaked study examining genetically-modified corn reveals that the lab-made alternative to organic crops contains a startling level of toxic chemicals. The report was provided by a representative for De Dell Seed Company, an Ontario-based farm that’s touted as being Canadian only non-GMO corn seed company. According to the analysis, GMO corn tested by Profit Pro contains a number of elements absent from traditional cord, including chlorides, formaldehyde and glyphosate. While those elements don’t appear naturally in corn, they were present in GMO samples to the tune of 60 ppm, 200pm and 13 ppm, respectively." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStudy reveals GMO corn to be highly toxic

Are You a Milk Cow for the Government?

"I thought it would be useful to look at when Tax Freedom Day occurs across the world to gain some perspective. Tax Freedom Day (TFD) is the day of the year that the average person has in theory earned enough money to pay their annual tax bill. If TFD falls on January 1st that means you are a milk cow for ZERO days out of the year for the government. If it falls on June 30th it means you are working 181 days each year to pay off your taxes. Unfortunately most of us will spend some time during the year acting as a milk cow in some fashion for a government. Below is a table showing when TFD hits in the countries within the EU." Continue reading →

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Foreign Central Banks Keep Buying U.S. Treasury Debt

"Latest report: foreign holdings of U.S. government debt are up by 10%, year over year. China has been buying. It now holds $1.2 trillion. The total comes to $5.66 trillion. Of this, 72% is held by foreign governments and central banks. This policy of inflating the domestic currency and buying U.S. Treasury debt with the new money holds down U.S. interest rates. It helps keep recession away. It also holds down the dollar value of foreign currencies. This is great for American consumers. American consumers are getting subsidies from foreign governments. This is mercantilism in action. American consumers are the great beneficiaries." Continue reading →

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In Venezuela, Almost-Free Gas Comes at a High Cost

"Premium gasoline in Venezuela costs 5.8 U.S. cents a gallon, using the official exchange rate. Every day thousands of taxis, buses and motorcycles freshly loaded with gasoline head into Colombia from Venezuela. Once in Colombia, the fuel is siphoned off by freelancers known as pimpineros who pay them about $2 a gallon and resell the gasoline or diesel to Colombians for a few cents more. Under 14 years of rule by the late President Hugo Chávez, Venezuela kept gasoline prices frozen even as rising government spending spurred robust overall inflation. He made himself enormously popular but damaged long-term prospects for Venezuela's economy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIn Venezuela, Almost-Free Gas Comes at a High Cost

Students, troops clash in Venezuela over election

"National Guard troops are firing tear gas and plastic bullets to disperse students protesting the official results in Venezuela's disputed presidential election. The students are hurling chunks of concrete and stones back at the troops on a highway in the capital of Caracas. The students are trying to reach the western part of Caracas, where most of the government is headquartered and where Nicolas Maduro is being declared winner of Sunday's election to replace the deceased Hugo Chavez. Citizens around the capital also are banging pots and pans to protest the proclamation of Maduro as the victor." Continue reading →

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David Lewis attorney says gun confiscation no “error”

"All of this apparently stems from Governor Cuomo’s signature gun control bill, the SAFE Act, which requires mental health professionals to notify the state when they believe a patient is at risk of hurting themselves or others. State Police and the Erie County Clerk had misidentified Lewis as such a threat, confusing him with someone else with the same name. Both sides have blamed each other for the snafu. It’s not sitting well with some State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer (R-Amherst) and State Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak (D-Cheektowaga). They are calling for an investigation of how the police are using medical records to seize guns." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDavid Lewis attorney says gun confiscation no “error”