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Wireless ‘smart meters’ tell snoopers when you are not home

“Criminals no longer need to stake out a home or a business to monitor the inhabitants’ comings and goings. Now they can simply pick up wireless signals broadcast by the building’s utility meters. In the US, analogue meters that measure water, gas and electricity consumption are being replaced by automated meter reading (AMR) technology. Nearly a third of the country’s meters – more than 40 million – have already been changed. The new time-saving devices broadcast readings by radio every 30 seconds for utility company employees to read as they walk or drive around with a receiver. But they are not the only ones who can tune in.” Continue reading →

Paleo Diet Blogger Loses Round One of Free Speech Case

“A federal judge has thrown out Paleo-diet blogger Steve Cooksey’s lawsuit against the North Carolina state agency he claims censored his blog and violated his freedom of speech. U.S. District Court Judge Max Coburn agreed with the North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition that Cooksey has no grounds to sue because he has not been injured yet. Nearly 10 months ago, the board’s director Charla Burill told Cooksey he was under investigation for ‘practicing nutrition’ without a license. A week later she went through his website with a red pen telling him what he could and couldn’t say legally.” Continue reading →

Google threatens to drop links to French media if pay-per-link law passes

“Internet giant Google has warned it would exclude French media sites from its search results if France adopts a law forcing search engines to pay for content, in the latest confrontation with European governments. A letter sent by Google to several French ministerial offices this month said it ‘cannot accept’ such a move and the company ‘as a consequence would be required to no longer reference French sites,’ according to a copy obtained by AFP. France’s new Socialist government, which is open to helping struggling media companies, warned Google that it should not threaten democratic governments.” Continue reading →

Kuwait plunges into political turmoil amid crackdown

“Kuwait plunged into political turmoil on Friday after the public prosecution ordered the detention of three former opposition MPs for three days with more arrests expected. The three were questioned for nine hours on accusations of undermining the status of Kuwait’s ruler before being taken into custody. The prosecutor also extended the detention for three more days of four opposition activists arrested during clashes between police and protesters following a huge rally. It is illegal under the constitution to criticise the emir who enjoys extensive authority and must be from the Al-Sabah ruling family, in power for over 250 years.” Continue reading →

Extend NE State Senator Term Limits? Proposed Amendment No. 3

In 2000, Nebraska voters approved Initiative No. 415 by a vote of 50.2% FOR, to 39.7% AGAINST, which limited Nebraska Legislators to two consecutive four year terms in office. This year’s Proposed Amendment No. 3, would ease that voter imposed restriction and allow Nebraska’s State Senators to serve for three consecutive four year terms. more

Cubans ditch exit permits for international travel

“Cubans will no longer need an exit permit to travel abroad from January, the communist regime said on Tuesday, in a major overhaul of a half-century-old policy despised by the island’s citizens. The changes are the latest in a series of gradual reforms implemented in recent years by President Raul Castro, who took the helm from his ailing brother Fidel Castro in 2006. Cubans will no longer have to apply for a ‘white card’ to leave the island from January 14, and the period allowed for overseas stays will be extended from 11 to 24 months, according to decrees published in the official journal.” Continue reading →

U.S. Jails More People Than Any Other Country

“The U.S. has the world’s highest incarceration rate, with Department of Justice data showing more than 2.2 million people are behind bars, equal to a city the size of Houston. With a rate of 730 people per 100,000, the U.S. jails a higher proportion of its citizens than any other country. The U.S. also leads the world in the number of prisons in operation at 4,575, more than four times the number of second- place Russia at 1,029. U.S. states spent $52 billion to construct and operate those prisons in 2011, more than quadruple the $12 billion spent in 1987, according to data from the Pew Center on the States.” Continue reading →

British couple who helped Kenyan village with cannabis profits jailed

“Michael Foster, 62, and Susan Cooper, 63, made hundreds of thousands of pounds from a sophisticated cannabis growing operation at their Lincolnshire farmhouse, which was only discovered when a police officer chasing a burglar recognised the distinctive smell. The couple paid for live-saving surgery for a villager near Mombasa, Kenya, purchased computers for an eye hospital, and paid for schooling for children, the court heard.” Continue reading →