Network Archives

Bill Bonner: Thank You, TSA, NSA, FBI, and CIA!

"Respect for authority is cyclical. And presently, the authorities are enjoying an upswing. People look to them to get things they can’t get on their own. Health care paid for by someone else… a retirement they can’t afford… and foolish pride they don’t deserve. U.S. troops patrol the streets of towns we never heard of… American drones wipe out families we never met… the NSA listens in on the world’s conversations… Yes, thanks to the NSA, TSA, CIA, IRS, FBI, and Pentagon, no sparrow can fall anywhere in the world without it setting off alarms in America’s command centers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBill Bonner: Thank You, TSA, NSA, FBI, and CIA!

Romanian princess indicted in northwestern U.S. cockfighting ring

"John W. Walker is a former sheriff’s deputy and the group faces charges ranging from conspiracy to violate the federal Animal Welfare Act to illegal gambling. Irina Walker is the middle daughter of Romania’s King Michael I and Queen Anne. She is fifth in line for the throne of that country. She was born in Switzerland. King Michael abdicated the throne in 1947, but the family still owns a quartet of castles in the former Soviet-occupied country. Prosecutors say that the farm where the fights took place is subject to federal forfeiture because it was used for a criminal enterprise. Irina and John Walker each face years of prison time and millions of dollars in fines." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRomanian princess indicted in northwestern U.S. cockfighting ring

Zurich unveils ‘sex boxes’ for prostitutes

"The city of Zurich on Thursday unveiled a sex drive-in which local authorities say will enable them to keep closer tabs on prostitution, a year after voters backed the plan. Due to be opened officially in a ceremony on August 26th, the nine so-called 'sex boxes' are located in a former industrial zone in the west of the metropolis, the city said. With over 1.8 million people, the Zurich conurbation makes up almost a quarter of Switzerland's population, and the city itself has long been home to a red-light district. Work on the new site cost 2.1 million francs ($2.2 million), below the voter-approved budget, while running costs are expected to be around 700,000 francs a year." Continue reading →

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Seattle police distribute marijuana education via Doritos bags at annual Hempfest

"Seattle police plan to mingle with the 85,000 people expected to attend this year’s Hempfest to hand out bags of Doritos with information about what is and is not legal now that Washington’s Initiative 502 has been passed. The vote legalized possession and established a statewide system of regulations for the growing, processing and distribution of marijuana. The bags include a link to an FAQ on SPD’s website entitled 'Marijwhatnow? A Guide to Legal Marijuana Use In Seattle,' which explains the nuances of Washington’s new law." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSeattle police distribute marijuana education via Doritos bags at annual Hempfest

Texas deputy sues woman for ‘mental anguish’ after he kills her son-in-law

"Corina Padilla, who witnessed the incident, said that her brother-in-law never touched the officers and was backing away with his hands up when they shot him. 'At no moment did Kemal assault the officer,' she insisted. 'An unarmed man, a family guy, father and husband of three girls was killed. He had no criminal record. He was self-employed in import-export of very expensive rugs from Turkey and Persia.' Padilla said that Yazar was suffering from stress and had consumed some tea that caused him to hallucinate. She lashed out at Pullen for the 'outrageous' lawsuit. Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia agreed that the suit was 'unprecedented.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas deputy sues woman for ‘mental anguish’ after he kills her son-in-law

CA Attempt To Ban E-Cigarettes, Vaporizers Fails

"SB 648 would place vaporizers under the same stringent restrictions as tobacco cigarettes, banning their use in public buildings, restaurants, workplaces, hotel lobbies, playgrounds, within 20 feet of exit doors, etc. There is no evidence that vaporizers pose an appreciable second-hand smoking risk to the public. Users are known to vaporize in elevators and crowded rooms without any detectable odor or adverse notice. Bystanders are routinely exposed to worse emissions from kitchens, grills, garden plants, buses, chimneys, detergents, room deodorizers, gas stations, etc." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCA Attempt To Ban E-Cigarettes, Vaporizers Fails

Wisconsin: Increased Penalties for Marijuana Possession Sought

"Legislation is pending in the Senate and Assembly that seeks to allow municipalities to penalize marijuana possession offenders in instances where the District Attorney has refused to prosecute. At a time when many states and local jurisdictions are moving away from spending limited resources to target minor marijuana offenders, it makes little sense to enact legislation allowing for the continued prosecution of such persons in instances where the District Attorney has decided to forgo such actions." Continue reading →

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Circle startup CEO: Taking magic mushrooms can help solve business problems

"'It completely changes how you think,' Evan Reas of Circle told Business Insider on Wednesday. 'About your problems, about yourself, everything. It forced me to ask, ‘Is what I’m doing important?' 'When you work on a problem for a long period of time, you build up biases and filters and it becomes harder to get fresh thoughts. Mushrooms eliminates those biases.' Psychedelic substances are no stranger in the tech industry. Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs said in 2005 that doing LSD was one of the most important experiences in his life. Douglas Englebart, the father of the computer mouse, also experimented with LSD, as did Microsoft founder Bill Gates." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCircle startup CEO: Taking magic mushrooms can help solve business problems

10 Geniuses Who Used Drugs — And Their Drugs of Choice

"Is intelligence related to an increased likelihood of recreational drug use? It's an interesting hypothesis, and one that's been gaining momentum in recent years. If a definitive link between intellectual capacity and drug use does exist, it will likely be some time before anyone establishes one. Having said that, this much is for certain: history has more than its fair share of experimenting experimentalists. Let's meet 10 of history's most influential scientific and technological visionaries, along with their drugs of choice." Continue reading →

Continue Reading10 Geniuses Who Used Drugs — And Their Drugs of Choice

CNN highlights how marijuana prohibition harms children

"'Think of the children,' is usually the rallying cry of opponents of drug legalization. But CNN on Thursday highlighted how marijuana prohibition was actually harmful to some children who were denied the potentially life-saving drug. In a segment on The Lead, CNN host Jake Tapper interviewed a man whose young daughter suffers from a rare form of epilepsy that causes her to have daily seizures. The condition has been treated with a special strain of marijuana, but the young girl is currently prohibited from using it under New Jersey state law. Brian Wilson recently confronted Gov. Chris Christie (R) about the issue." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCNN highlights how marijuana prohibition harms children