Monthly Archives: July 2013

A Flourishing $40 Million Medical Marijuana Industry Helps Israelis Forget

"Illegal for recreational use, today medical cannabis is prescribed to some 11,000 Israeli patients, up from 1,800 in 2009, according to the Israeli Health Ministry. It is used to treat an extensive list of illnesses including cancer, Parkinson’s, Tourette syndrome, and PTSD. While government attempts to limit use have sparked a heated debate, legislation is still relatively liberal. In May, Health Minister Yael German announced that an additional 11 doctors would be certified to prescribe cannabis—bumping up the number to 19—by the end of the year. While rabbinic support for medical cannabis has long existed in Israel, government regulation is relatively new." Continue reading →

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The Department of Energy Is About to Mess With Computer Power

"The Energy Department signaled Friday it intends to order new efficiency standards for all computers and servers in the United States, reports The Hill. A pair of documents published in the Federal Register said the DOE has 'tentatively' ruled that a federal law designed to curtail consumer energy use, created in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, also covers computer and servers." Continue reading →

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He Could Bear Arms for the Government — But Not For Himself

"Before he retired from the Army in 1993, Houston resident Ron Kelly spent decades firing machine guns, tanks, and other high-performance weapons. Kelly estimates that during his military career he fired 100,000 rounds of ammo. Yet when he recently tried to purchase a .22-caliber rifle at a local Wal-Mart, Kelly was denied – because a computerized background check turned up a misdemeanor marijuana conviction from 1971. As a teenager, Kelly was arrested with a baggie of pot at High School and given a year of probation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHe Could Bear Arms for the Government — But Not For Himself

Fox commentator was paid $50,000 to tout stock

"Most investors can’t tell the difference between 'sponsored investment research' and independent analysis, and that’s exactly what the 'sponsors' — typically small companies paying for a marketing campaign that will inflate their stock activity and value — are counting on. The difference gets even tougher to figure out when the sponsor hires someone who is known for giving independent commentary colored only by his own feelings and research. Last week, that bought-and-paid-for stock endorsement was a 20-page mailer about Petrosonic Energy, supported by an email campaign, featuring Tobin Smith, a regular on the Fox networks." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFox commentator was paid $50,000 to tout stock

Remember “8 Pressure Stock Pitches Stockbrokers at John Thomas Financial Might Use on You”?

"John Thomas Financial, the beleaguered Wall Street brokerage firm founded by celebrity broker Tommy Belesis, has fallen so far it’s now six feet under. The formerly high-flying brokerage firm, which once boasted attendants in its office bathroom and ties to famed film director Oliver Stone, filed termination requests with federal and state regulators. In March, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Belesis and George Jarkesy, a Houston radio host, accusing them of deceiving investors of a hedge fund allegedly controlled by Belesis. In April, Finra filed a complaint accusing Belesis of selling the brokerage firm’s shares ahead of clients and intimidating and harassing brokers." Continue reading →

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A Congregation of Liars: The U.S. Government

"Put aside for a moment that this massive, secret surveillance of all of our emails, phone calls and financial records violates our constitutional rights. I have commented about that before. I want you to consider what a government of lies means to each of us, and to America’s future, when our government officials, led by the president of the United States, routinely lie to us, intentionally and repeatedly. At worst, this destroys whatever trust we have in a government that now controls much of our lives. It engenders fear, disrupting our personal ability to plan our lives, our businesses and to move forward. Living under lies means we can never be certain about our future." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Congregation of Liars: The U.S. Government

Glenn Beck calls for celebrating Ramadan by shooting all Guantanamo prisoners in the head

"Let's save some money... here's the thing... We can't let them starve themselves to death? Damn right we can. We can also shoot them in the head, which is the other option and the one I'm for. SHOOT THEM. But, the other is let them starve to death and I'm totally fine with that. I don't want to starve anybody myself; but I don't want to do that. I want to be the country that we all love and appreciate. You know the one that is feared by its enemies, but should not be a country that is feared by all. But is feared by its enemies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Beck calls for celebrating Ramadan by shooting all Guantanamo prisoners in the head

Sen. Schumer: ‘Stop and frisk’ Ray Kelly should be new Homeland secretary

"New York Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) said in a statement on Friday that President Barack Obama should nominate controversial New York Police Department chief Ray Kelly to fill the vacancy left by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. In a statement obtained by the New York Daily News, Schumer said, 'The Department of Homeland Security is one of the most important agencies in the federal government. It’s [sic] leader needs to be someone who knows law enforcement, understands anti-terrorism efforts, and is a top-notch administrator, and at the NYPD, Ray Kelly has proven that he excels in all three.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSen. Schumer: ‘Stop and frisk’ Ray Kelly should be new Homeland secretary

China, India and Pakistan beefing up nuclear arsenals

"China now has 250 nuclear warheads against 240 in 2012, while Pakistan has increased its warheads by about 10 to between 100 and 120 and India has also added roughly 10 for a total of 90 to 110, SIPRI said in its annual report. Only the two old superpowers have cut their warheads, Russia reducing its number from 10,000 to 8,500, and the United States scaling back from 8,000 to 7,700. The warheads controlled by France stayed at 300, while Britain’s remained at 225, and Israel’s at 80. The United States and Russia have not destroyed all their chemical weapons in 2012 as promised, and Syria has said it is prepared to use them in the case of foreign attack." Continue reading →

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Threat from China Is Being Hyped

"China’s sea-denial forces [don't] make up any real threat to the all-in U.S. force of 11 large deck carriers. But of course this threat is to the American Empire, not the United States itself. The U.S. carrier-heavy force is deployed far forward in East Asia to contain China and protect allies, such as Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Australia. Those wealthy allies should be doing more to provide their own security but will never do so as long as the United States provides the first line of defense. Japan already has a stronger navy than China and could do much more if it spent more of its large GDP on defense." Continue reading →

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