CLibertyC

Scientists cook world’s first lab-grown, in-vitro hamburger

"The in-vitro burger, cultured from cattle stem cells, will be fried in a pan and tasted by two volunteers. The burger is the result of years of research by Dutch scientist Mark Post, a vascular biologist at the University of Maastricht, who is working to show how meat grown in petri dishes might one day be a true alternative to meat from livestock. The meat in the burger has been made by knitting together around 20,000 strands of protein that has been cultured from cattle stem cells in Post’s lab. The tissue is grown by placing the cells in a ring, like a donut, around a hub of nutrient gel, Post explained." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingScientists cook world’s first lab-grown, in-vitro hamburger

The Best Way to Profit From Private-Equity Crowdfunding

"Instagram and Tumblr are just a couple of examples of young companies that were acquired for hundreds of millions, even billions, of dollars, making their earliest investors fantastically rich. Now, thanks to a vocal group of citizens, ordinary citizens will be able to invest a small and affordable amount of money in a company they believe in and in exchange receive an ownership stake. This revolutionary change is called equity crowdfunding, and hundreds of websites called 'funding portals' — sites like CircleUp and RockThePost, to name two — are popping up to help match startup companies with potential investors like you." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Best Way to Profit From Private-Equity Crowdfunding

A Helping Hand for Bernanke and Co.

"Especially in the spirit of Mr. Bernanke’s commitment to transparency and accountability, his concluding remarks surely encourage the prospects for passage of the pending legislation introduced by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, to constitute a Centennial Monetary Commission, HR 1176. The legislation’s purpose: 'To establish a commission to examine the United States monetary policy, evaluate alternative monetary regimes and recommend a course for monetary policy going forward.' The duties set forth for the commission fully coincide with Mr. Bernanke’s public call." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Helping Hand for Bernanke and Co.

The US student loan problem – facts, charts, thoughts

"The unlimited availability of student loans has allowed colleges to sharply raise tuition and fees over the past few years - often simply because they could (as they kept on hiring). The rising cost of higher education in turn forced students to take out larger loans and in greater numbers, increasing the overall loan balances. This feedback loop is clearly unsustainable, particularly as household income growth remains weak. Higher delinquencies are inevitable and as long as the government funds this program, there really is only one way to arrest rising levels of student debt." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe US student loan problem – facts, charts, thoughts

86 Congressional signers demand an end to the FDA’s ban on gay blood donors

"Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and a group of 86 other signatories from Congress sent a letter on Thursday to call for an end to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s ban on blood donors who are 'men who have had sex with other men (MSM), at any time since 1977,' a policy the FDA has had in place since the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis in 1992. The American Medical Association, widely regarded as the most mainstream medical organization in the country, recently joined the chorus of those who oppose the FDA’s ban on gay and bisexual blood donors." Continue reading →

Continue Reading86 Congressional signers demand an end to the FDA’s ban on gay blood donors

State Department ends ban on visas for same sex spouses of American citizens

"U.S. officials paved the way on Friday for same-sex spouses to visit or live in the United States, announcing the State Department will give equal treatment to visa applications of gays and lesbians who want to travel with their partner. Secretary of State John Kerry said the shift will allow the department to start processing requests from married gay couples the same way it handles those from heterosexual spouses. The move would help U.S. citizens live and travel with their same-sex spouse in the United State as well as allow married couples from other countries to visit the United States." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingState Department ends ban on visas for same sex spouses of American citizens

Countries with the world’s most libertarian laws

"In 2001, Portugal became the first European country to decriminalise possession of all drugs for personal use. The country introduced state-funded therapy programmes for abusers which have seen record number of people seeking help. Rates of HIV infection and drug-related deaths have also halved in the ten years since the new legislation. But it is in fact the Czechs that have the most liberal laws when it comes to personal use. Citizens can legally be in possession of up to half an ounce of marijuana, 40 ‘magic mushrooms’, four tabs of LSD or Ecstasy and one gram of cocaine." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCountries with the world’s most libertarian laws

Did cops need to kill a 95-year-old veteran with a Taser, riot shield and shotgun?

"When John Wrana was a young man, fit and strong and fighting in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps, did he ever think he'd end this way? Just a few weeks shy of his 96th birthday, in need of a walker to move about, cops coming through the door of his retirement home with a Taser and a shotgun. The old man, described by a family member as 'wobbly' on his feet, had refused medical attention. The paramedics were called. They brought in the Park Forest police.First they tased him, but that didn't work. So they fired a shotgun, hitting him in the stomach with a bean-bag round. Wrana was struck with such force that he bled to death internally." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDid cops need to kill a 95-year-old veteran with a Taser, riot shield and shotgun?

Private Investor and Trader Joe Lewis Not Backing Bitcoin Ventures, Contra WSJ

"Noted private investor and trader Joe Lewis is not backing any Bitcoin ventures, as previously reported today. 'I have no investments whatsoever in any Bitcoin ventures,' said Lewis. A story widely reported in several publications inaccurately stated that Lewis is supporting the virtual currency through Phoenix Fund, a fund with no affiliation to Lewis or Tavistock Group. 'Unfortunately, many immature investments and investors would like the association of private investors like Joe Lewis. They bring instant credibility,' said Douglas McMahon, senior managing director of Tavistock Group, a private investment organization founded by Lewis." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPrivate Investor and Trader Joe Lewis Not Backing Bitcoin Ventures, Contra WSJ