How to deal with UK TV licencing officials
"When the goons show up at your door this is what to do!" Continue reading →
The TSA Meets Independent Media – Opt Out And Film Week
"On day one of the 'Opt Out And Film The TSA' campaign, Dan Dicks of Press For Truth and Ashley Jessica went to the Buffalo International airport to help raise awareness about the intrusive and invasive TSA procedures. We were immediately surrounded by members of the TSA and also the Buffalo Transit Police who tried various intimidation tactics on us but ultimately failed to deter us from taking part in this important campaign." Continue reading →
Glenn Greenwald on The Next 4 Years with Obama and Journalism Tips
"Glenn Greenwald took time out of his busy day to do a walk and talk interview with Luke Rudkowski. The two discussed the next 4 years with Obama, the lack of criticism of the Obama and journalism tips." Continue reading →
Glenn Greenwald: The ‘both-sides-are-awful’ dismissal of Gaza ignores the key role of the US government
"For years now, US financial, military and diplomatic support of Israel has been the central enabling force driving this endless conflict. Just consider the actions of the US over the last week as violence in Gaza escalated. On Tuesday, the US vetoed a UN Security Council cease-fire resolution on the ground, in essence, that it was too balanced. The US State Department publicly attacked its Nato ally, Turkey, for condemning Israeli aggression. As always, the US Congress and the US Executive Branch are virtually unanimous in their full-throated, completely one-sided support for Israeli actions." Continue reading →
UBS requires ‘US persons’ in Switzerland to renounce Swiss data protection law
"A startling Thanksgiving Day gift awaited Americans in Switzerland, green card holders and even non-US spouses of Americans who have bank accounts with UBS. The Swiss bank sent Americans a form where they agree to renounce protection under Swiss data protection laws 'to the extent necessary for reporting …and any other information regarding the Relationship which may be requested or required by the IRS.' Signatures required include those of Swiss citizens who do not have US citizenship and have never held of green card or lived in the United States, but who have an American spouse and joint bank accounts, including mortgages." Continue reading →
Foster children taken away from UK couple for political party membership
"The couple from Yorkshire said they had been fostering children for seven years but have been told by social workers that they were not suitable because of UKIP’s calls for curbs on immigration to Britain. UKIP leader Nigel Farage, a member of the European Parliament, said the situation was 'appalling' and 'disgraceful'. He accused the council of bigotry, insisting that decisions on foster care should be 'colour-blind'. The decision came after two officials visited to question them about their membership of UKIP, Britain’s fourth-biggest party which campaigns for an end to Britain’s membership of the European Union." Continue reading →
Google takes action to support open Internet
"The conference, organized by the UN’s International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) has reignited a fierce debate over who should control the Web. Google has remained unequivocal in its stance that the closed-door meeting a power grab aimed at ending public control of the Internet and strangling free speech. Google, which has consistently taken a self-regulatory approach to the Internet, called the Dubai conference the'wrong place' to make decisions on the future of the Internet." Continue reading →
What’s cooking in WHO powwow?
"A monumental session during the World Health Organization’s (WHO) convention on tobacco control turned into an alarming attack on transparency, accountability and press freedom. The decision to meet behind closed doors occurred when a discussion began about efforts to decrease tobacco use by increasing the price of tobacco products. Specifically, the convention attendees were discussing the framework for an international tobacco tax. This stance raises some serious questions about an organization that for years has operated largely behind the scenes and without the benefit of much public scrutiny." Continue reading →
Egypt protesters tear-gassed as world concern mounts
"Anti-riot police fired tear gas on Saturday to disperse protesters camped out in Cairo’s Tahrir Square as Western governments voiced growing concern over Islamist President Mohamed Morsi’s assumption of sweeping powers. The president already held both and executive and legislative powers and Thursday’s decree puts him beyond judicial oversight until a new constitution has been ratified in a referendum." Continue reading →
A Shoe Tariff With a Big Footprint
"As cost-conscious Americans clip every coupon, they might well wonder about government policies that take needed money from consumers. Smoot-Hawley set high tariffs on hundreds of products. In the decades since 1930, many of these rates have been reduced to more reasonable levels, or eliminated altogether. However, footwear tariffs have remained largely untouched. The thriving U.S. shoe-manufacturing sector of the 1930s is long gone, but what remains are protective tariff rates of 37.5%, 48% and some as high as 67.5%." Continue reading →