Yearly Archives: 2013

New Zealand military told to soften manual that equates media with extremist groups

"Opposition defence spokesman Phil Goff said it was 'utterly wrong and intolerable' for the military’s top brass to display such paranoia about journalists, showing they did not understand the media’s role in a democratic society. Goff said the situation raised further doubts about moves to expand the power of intelligence services so they can spy on New Zealanders, particularly after it was revealed that Internet mogul Kim Dotcom was illegally snooped upon before his arrest in January last year. The expanded powers, backed by Prime Minister John Key, are due to go to parliament this week and are expected to be passed by a narrow majority." Continue reading →

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Limbaugh and Hannity to be dropped by major radio network

"The country’s second-biggest radio network is planning to dump conservative commentators Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh at the end of 2013 to offset a loss in revenues, Politico reported on Sunday. Think Progress reported that the duo has lost 240 advertisers between them since 2012, with Limbaugh in particular being targeted for a boycott over his derogatory remarks against womens’ rights activist Sandra Fluke. That same month, Limbaugh complained that Fox News was losing out on advertising money because 'the media buyers at advertising agencies are young women, fresh out of college, liberal feminists who hate conservatism.'" Continue reading →

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Oklahoma prosecutors return $21,227 more to Interstate 40 travelers

"District Attorney Jason Hicks agreed Thursday to return the funds in the three cases, dropping efforts to have the money forfeited to law enforcement use. Hicks is under fire for hiring a private company, Desert Snow LLC, to assist in his drug interdiction effort. After hiring the Guthrie company in January, his task force seized more than $1 million in the stops, mostly along a 21-mile stretch of I-40 in Caddo County. Hicks agreed to pay the company 25 percent of all forfeited proceeds from stops involving its trainers. Hicks said he does not plan to return nearly $850,000 seized in one stop in May. No one was arrested in that stop." Continue reading →

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More countries abolishing capital punishment, but some returning to it

"Although 33 of the 40 countries that still have the death penalty are ruled by despots, some 'liberal democracies' returned to capital punishment in 2012, the report said. 'While China seems to be progressively improving, some liberal democracies seem to be going the opposite way,' said Sergio d'Elia, Hands off Cain secretary. In 2011, of the 'liberal democracies', just the United States and Taiwan carried out executions, while in 2012 Japan, Botswana and India began using capital punishment again after many years in which the practice was suspended. This year, Indonesia joined them, carrying out its first death penalty for five years." Continue reading →

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Sex Offenses, No Matter How Minor or Understandable, Can Ruin You for Life

"In 2013 alone, at least nine new laws were proposed in the California legislature to tighten or expand sex offender laws; if passed, these new laws would be applied indiscriminately to the entire registry, a list which includes persons convicted of public urination, teens having consensual sex, as well as serial rapists and violent pedophiles. In California, registration is for life. Current prohibitions include not being permitted to live within 2,000 feet of a school, park, nursery or church; obtain a contractor's license; practice medicine or law; foster a child. Sex offenders are ineligible for some federal and state grants and cannot live in federal public housing." Continue reading →

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States Sending the Most People to Prison

"In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., John Roman, Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Center, explained that each state’s policies on enforcement are a major factor. 'It really is a political choice,' he said. There are several sentencing policies that can dramatically increase the number of inmates in a state’s prison system, such as mandatory minimum sentencing, which requires a minimum predetermined prison sentence length, regardless of the circumstances of the crime. Roman also pointed to three-strikes laws, which impose much longer sentences on criminals who have committed three or more serious crimes." Continue reading →

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Bitcoin Mining Unit Sells on eBay for US$10,866.88

"Less than two hours ago, the auction closed for this 60 GH/s Single SC from Butterfly Labs. These supercomputers normally sell for $2,499. Last year, they were selling for US$1,299. Butterfly Labs started taking pre-orders for these units on June 23rd, 2012, with an expected ship date in October, 2012. Production finally began in May, 2013. It took them until Friday, July 26th (65 days of production) to start shipping orders placed after June 23rd, and there were still two June 23rd orders to be shipped." Continue reading →

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*ALERT* MI Medicaid Expansion Update!

  “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.“ Thomas Paine American Crisis, No. 1 — 1776 In this Issue I.) Information on Committee for Senate substitute (S-7) for Medicaid Expansion bill HB 4714 II.)Medicaid Expansion by any other …

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In Bitcoin we trust: The Berlin district where virtual currency is as easy as cash

"Start-ups like Berlin-based 9flats.com, a 'share economy' platform, say that the Bitcoin concept is working in their favor. 'The main advantage for our business is that we do not lose money on transaction fees because with Bitcoin there are none,' said Alexander Lossenko, lead developer at 9flats.com. To avoid the risk of devaluation and strong fluctuation in Bitcoin prices, companies like 9flats.com often use services that convert bitcoins into euro or dollars instantly. 'It also opens new markets for us. In Russia, for example, PayPal does not exist, so Bitcoin offers another alternative for payments,' Lossenko added." Continue reading →

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Cyprus Depositor Bail-In Set At 47.5%

"The government of Cyprus, the Bank of Cyprus and international lenders have come to an agreement that will recapitalize the bank and allow it to remain solvent: all depositors at the bank will have 47.5% of all funds above the deposit insurance threshold of $100,000 seized to pay for the bank’s bad debts. Since the original depositor bail-in plan was announced in March, the idea has been very warmly received by governments around the world. The governments of Japan, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand have all endorsed or taken preliminary steps toward potentially implementing similar plans if necessary in their own countries." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCyprus Depositor Bail-In Set At 47.5%