Yearly Archives: 2013

Worried About Obamacare? The Government’s “Federal Data Hub” Is Here to Help

"If you’re confused about the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known 'Obamacare,' worry not. The federal government has conveniently used your tax money to hire 'patient navigators' to help you understand… and enroll you in the program. These otherwise unassuming civil servants will help you learn about the act, navigate its complexities, and select the benefits that fit your criteria. They will also have access to your personal information. All of it. The hub will 'bring together information about you and your family from the Treasury Department and IRS, the Department of Homeland Security [and] the Department of Justice…'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWorried About Obamacare? The Government’s “Federal Data Hub” Is Here to Help

Air Force claims budget cuts force shutdown of 1960s-era space surveillance system

"The U.S. Air Force will shut down its space surveillance system that tracks satellites and other orbiting objects by October 1 due to budget constraints caused by automatic federal budget cuts known as the sequestration, it announced Monday. Commander of the Air Force Space Command, General William Shelton, said the 1961 system was outmoded and that newer technology will provide more accurate observations. Shelton said a new Space Fence is being planned now, which will provide more precise positional data on orbiting objects and would become the most accurate radar in the Air Force’s space surveillance network." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAir Force claims budget cuts force shutdown of 1960s-era space surveillance system

A congressional speech on the centennial of the Expatriation Act of 1868

"In 1868, men stood on the floor of the House and quoted philosophers from the Roman Republic, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands in support of the proposition that emigration and change of citizenship are basic human rights. In 1968, men stood on that same floor and spluttered that Americans who emigrated and changed their citizenship were traitors who should never be allowed to return for a visit." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA congressional speech on the centennial of the Expatriation Act of 1868

More Compelling Evidence that America’s Corporate Tax System Is Pointlessly Destructive

"One solution is to engage in a lot of clever tax planning to minimize your taxable income. Though that’s probably not a successful long-term strategy since the Obama Administration is supporting a plan by European politicians to create further disadvantages for American-based companies. Another option is to somehow turn yourself into a foreign corporation. You won’t be surprised to learn that politicians have imposed punitive anti-expatriation laws to make that difficult, but the crowd in Washington hasn’t figured out how to stop cross-border mergers and acquisitions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMore Compelling Evidence that America’s Corporate Tax System Is Pointlessly Destructive

Scotland’s year of decision

"The summer of 2014 will be overshadowed by the imminence of the referendum in September on Scottish independence, ending the Act of Union with England that has lasted since 1707. Since Scotland has long been a heartland of the Labor Party and of the left, Scottish independence could portend something close to permanent conservative rule in England. It would also be a great boost for regional independence movements elsewhere: in Spain's Basque country and Catalonia, or for the Flemings of Belgium or the Corsicans of France. It is an irony of this age of globalization is seeing such a resurgence of traditional sentiments of nationhood." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingScotland’s year of decision

Ohio Attorney General rejects ballot measure to legalize marijuana

"A ballot measure that would legalize marijuana in Ohio was rejected on Monday by the state’s attorney general, who said the petition was not ' fair and truthful.' The group Responsible Ohioans for Cannabis collected enough signatures to submit the ballot measure to Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine’s office for approval. The ballot measure would have allowed voters in Ohio to approve or reject the End Ohio Cannabis Prohibition Act in the next election." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOhio Attorney General rejects ballot measure to legalize marijuana

Gupta Mea Culpa

"Dr. Sanjay Gupta has recently reversed his opposition to marijuana legalization and apologized for supporting marijuana prohibition. His reversal is a good reminder that our ultimate goal is to be rid of an entire health care system by which we are ruled by health care technocrats, bureaucrats, and politicians. The mainstream perspective is that experts and technocrats should establish what the best medical practices are and then bureaucrats should enforce those practices on everyone. Practices deemed suboptimal, unproven, or potentially dangerous should be prohibited by politicians and the prohibition enforced by bureaucrats." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGupta Mea Culpa

Bitcoin Block Time Halved To Five Minutes Amid Exponential Network Growth

"By now, bitcoin enthusiasts and professionals alike are aware of the tremendous growth of the bitcoin network so far this year. As millions of dollars (and bitcoin) are invested in increasingly powerful mining equipment, the cumulative hash rate of the network has continually blown by the periodic difficulty adjustments. Earlier this year we explained the long-term implications of this, but the near term effects are being felt as well. Since that piece was published, the network has continued to grow, as has the growth rate. The average time between blocks has fallen to approximately five minutes on average, half the time bitcoin was originally programmed for." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBitcoin Block Time Halved To Five Minutes Amid Exponential Network Growth

High Profile Digital Forensic Services Company SYTECH Embraces Bitcoin

"In August 2013 SYTECH announced its move into Bitcoin: offering data recovery services to salvage coins from damaged hard drives, mobile phones and other storage mediums. SYTECHis accepting Bitcoin as a payment method for its services, and offering a 5% discount to any client who pays in Bitcoin. In a world first, SYTECH has announced a stolen Bitcoin tracing and recovery service; turning its decades of digital forensics expertise to tracing online Bitcoin criminals and recovering stolen Bitcoin for their clients." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHigh Profile Digital Forensic Services Company SYTECH Embraces Bitcoin

Every Important Person In Bitcoin Just Got Subpoenaed By New York

"Declaring Bitcoin 'a virtual Wild West for narcotraffickers and other criminals,' the New York State Department of Financial Services is stepping into the sheriff’s boots. 'We believe that – for a number of reasons – putting in place appropriate regulatory safeguards for virtual currencies will be beneficial to the long-term strength of the virtual currency industry,' said NYSDFS superintendent Benjamin Lawsky in a statement. They sent letters to the major Bitcoin players asking them to hand over information regarding their money laundering controls, consumer protection practices, source of funding, pitch books, and investment strategies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEvery Important Person In Bitcoin Just Got Subpoenaed By New York