Alternative News

Colorado to grant Secret Service vast new powers

"The bill grants members of the Secret Service arrest powers by considering them to be a peace officer, putting them on a par with state law-enforcement officials. The legislation does not only apply to agents guarding the president or other government officials but also to special agents, uniformed division officers, physical security technicians, physical security specialists and special officers of the United States Secret Service. The idea actually aligns with an Obama agenda to create vast new restrictions and regulations on guns. Hundreds of sheriffs nationwide have said they cannot enforce federal restrictions that would violate the Second Amendment." Continue reading →

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An Idaho “Gun Violence” Story for the Huffington Post

"The Sheriff staged a SWAT-style raid in which the supposed victim was assaulted by a Deputy (Detective Rich Perecz, who has a previous violent offense in his criminal record), Bear was handcuffed, and an illegal search of the home was made in the hope of finding narcotics evidence that could be used as an excuse to forfeit (that is, steal) the property. Why were Bear and Marcella singled out for such abusive treatment? According to recorded radio traffic among the deputies, the paramilitary raid was carried out because Bear had been politically profiled as a 'Constitutionalist' – which meant that in the interests of 'officer safety,' SWAT tactics would be employed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAn Idaho “Gun Violence” Story for the Huffington Post

New York police sued for pepper-spraying 5-month-old baby over subway fare

"The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is being sued by a woman who says that officers violated her civil rights when they pepper-sprayed her entire family — including a 2-year-old child and a 5-month-old baby. Marilyn Taylor accuses Officers Maripily Clase, Suranjit Dey and Jermaine Hodge of overacting when they saw her pushing the stroller through a service entrance instead of going through the subway turnstile. 'The pepper-spray caused the children to scream out and choked the two-year old, who went into fits of vomiting,' the lawsuit says. 'Ms. Taylor was then placed in handcuffs as the minor children cried in fear and pain.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew York police sued for pepper-spraying 5-month-old baby over subway fare

Student given probation, loses scholarships and internship after semen breath mint prank

"Jordan T. Drake, 18, pleaded guilty in January to adulterating a food item in May 2012, when he put semen into a bottle of 'Ice Drops' breath mint drops as a senior prank. Drake was a high achiever at Saginaw Arts & Sciences Academy before the incident, winning science fair and quiz bowl awards, but was suspended after an internal investigation. He had enough units to graduate, but was not allowed to participate in commencement ceremonies,. He also lost a scholarship at Michigan State University and an internship at Dow Chemical Company. Judge Robert L. Kaczmarek sentenced Drake to 18 months probation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStudent given probation, loses scholarships and internship after semen breath mint prank

Daddy Bloomberg Wants to Require Retailers to Hide Tobacco

"The ban on large size sugary drinks was odd enough, but NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg has now gone totally loony. A new proposal would require New York City retailers to keep tobacco products out of sight under a first-in-the-nation proposal aimed at reducing the youth smoking rate. The legislation would require stores to keep tobacco products in cabinets, drawers, under the counter, behind a curtain or in other concealed spots. They could only be visible when an adult is making a purchase or during restocking. 'Such displays suggest that smoking is a normal activity,' Bloomberg said. 'And they invite young people to experiment with tobacco.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDaddy Bloomberg Wants to Require Retailers to Hide Tobacco

The Laffer Curve Bites Ireland in the Butt

"All over the world, governments impose draconian taxes on tobacco, and then they wind up surprised that projected revenues don’t materialize. We’ve seen this in Bulgaria and Romania, and in Washington, DC, and Michigan. Even the Government Accountability Office has found big Laffer Curve effects from tobacco taxation. And now we’re seeing the same result in Ireland. I have to laugh at the part of the article that says, 'receipts are falling dramatically short of targets, even though taxes have increased.' This is what’s called the Fox Butterfield effect, when a leftist expresses puzzlement about something that’s actually common sense." Continue reading →

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Rahmaland Cigarette Tax Increases by $1 a Pack

"Taxes on cigarettes sold in Cook County, Illinois which includes Chicago, are going up by one dollar a pack. The price of a pack of cigarettes could be near $11 in Chicago, $6.67 of which is city, county and state taxes. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle says the tax, which takes effect Friday, is expected to generate more than $25 million annually. The people of Cook County will soon learn what a black market looks like. Preckwinkle seems to already know it's coming. She says the county Revenue Department will hire more staff to help stop tobacco smuggling and tax evasion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRahmaland Cigarette Tax Increases by $1 a Pack

Frankenfish and Other Stupid Industrial Food Tricks

"Genetically engineered salmon is one step closer to your unsuspecting plate. First came the farm-raised fish lacking the health benefits of wild-caught fish, and now food culture is taking one more step toward lunacy by creating genetically modified animals in the form of Frankenfish. The FDA will likely approve this untested experiment for human beings for consumption as food, thanks to a biotech company called AquaBounty Technologies. The company created this so-called food product via a new gene construct that combines Chinook salmon growth with a regulator gene from an eel-like fish called an ocean pout." Continue reading →

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Milk Machine Aims to Hook Kids on Chemical Sweeteners

"As a solution to sagging milk sales, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) are petitioning the FDA to 'amend the standard identity of milk' and other dairy products. Dairy special interests want to be able to add high fructose corn syrup, aspartame, and other chemicals to milk while bypassing the requirement that the products be labeled 'artificially sweetened.' The attempt is to pass this off as a health benefit for children because the chemical sweeteners are not considered to be sugar." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMilk Machine Aims to Hook Kids on Chemical Sweeteners