CLibertyC

Hillary Clinton Starts to Cash in Big Time

"In the six months since stepping down as secretary of state, Clinton has addressed apartment-complex developers in Dallas, private-equity managers in Los Angeles and business executives in Grand Rapids, Mich. Still to come are travel agents, real estate brokers, clinical pathologists and car dealers — collecting more than $200,000 per appearance, according to one executive who arranges speaking tours.[...] Most of the trade groups Clinton has addressed actively lobby Congress on issues both substantial and mundane. Some audiences have many millions of dollars at stake in federal tax policies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHillary Clinton Starts to Cash in Big Time

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano resigning to lead Univ. of California

"Reports on Friday revealed that an administration official said Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will resign, according to reports from Reuters, the New York Times and the Associated Press. The AP reported that Napolitano is leaving to take a senior position in the University of California system and told senior staff about her departure at a meeting Friday morning. CNN confirmed that Napolitano will take over as president of the UC system. According to Foreign Policy magazine, Napolitano’s resignation means that now the top 15 posts at the Department of Homeland Security are now vacant." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHomeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano resigning to lead Univ. of California

Documents reveal IRS put Occupy groups on ‘watch list’ too

"Documents to be released by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) on Friday reveal that the IRS targeted progressive groups — including groups associated with Occupy Wall Street — on its so-called 'watch list' alongside conservative tea party groups, according to USA Today and the Washington Post. The new information released, however, does reveal that conservative groups, including those affiliated with the 9/12 protests in 2010, were kept on a separate list from other groups." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDocuments reveal IRS put Occupy groups on ‘watch list’ too

Microsoft Gave NSA Backdoor Access To Skype, Outlook, and SkyDrive (Default In Windows 8.1)

"The company has reportedly helped the NSA 'understand' certain alias and encryption features in its software, allowed it to intercept chats passing through the Outlook.com servers, and been so helpful that the NSA has described working with the company as a 'team sport.' Access to SkyDrive files is handled via PRISM and NSA documents praise Microsoft for simplifying this process over the past 12 months. This is particularly pertinent given that in Windows 8.1, SkyDrive is a default storage location for files and created documents. Now we know that the NSA has carte blanche to peer into Microsoft's servers virtually at will." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMicrosoft Gave NSA Backdoor Access To Skype, Outlook, and SkyDrive (Default In Windows 8.1)

Feds Shake Down Farmer For Free Raisins

"Marvin Horne, 68, stopped giving the government his raisins in 2002 and now 'owes the U.S. government at least $650,000 in unpaid fines,' in addition to '1.2 million pounds of unpaid raisins, roughly equal to his entire harvest for four years.' Horne violated Marketing Order 989, passed during the Truman administration, 'a federal regulation meant to solve a problem from the era after World War II, which created the national raisin reserve. The program gives the U.S. government a heavy-handed power to interfere with the supply and demand for dried grapes' and takes 'away a percentage of every farmer’s raisins' without paying for them." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds Shake Down Farmer For Free Raisins

First Major Success in Lawsuit Challenging New Colorado Gun Control Laws

"The Independence Institute’s David Kopel is representing 55 elected Sheriffs and one retired police officer in lawsuit against the new anti-gun laws signed by Governor Hickenlooper last March. Tuesday night, on the eve of a federal court hearing, the plaintiffs and the Colorado Attorney General agreed on proposal to fix two problems with the magazine ban. The successful resolution of these issues was achieved by voluntary agreement with the Attorney General. With these two issues now resolved, we are beginning preparation for a full trial on the merits. The trial will be our challenge to the entirety of the unconstitutional anti-gun laws." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFirst Major Success in Lawsuit Challenging New Colorado Gun Control Laws

Interview with Chris Kalbaugh, Producer of 4th of July DUI Checkpoint Video

"Thursday THP released dash cam video of its own. Troopers say it shows what Chris' video doesn't: a dog detecting drug residue in his vehicle. Chris says he even took and passed a drug test a few days later to prove his innocence. Chris isn't sure if he'd do it again, but says he proved his point and learned an important lesson.Chris says he was detained about 25-30 minutes, and allowed to leave without being charged with anything. Officers say 250 motorists went through that 4th of July checkpoint with one arrest." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInterview with Chris Kalbaugh, Producer of 4th of July DUI Checkpoint Video

Anonymous Person Posts $500,000 Bond To Free Texas Teen

"Justin Carter, the 19-year-old who was arrested and jailed in February after making a Facebook comment about a school shooting, is out of jail. An anonymous donor posted the $500,000 bond to allow Carter to go home. Carter plans to stay near New Braunfels, Texas, to await his trial on a felony terroristic threat charge. Carter, who was indicted by a Comal County grand jury in April, has gotten global attention because of the First Amendment questions raised by his case and the high bail that kept him behind bars for nearly five months. His lawyer told NPR last week that he had represented 'murderers, rapists, terrorists' and none had had such high bail." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAnonymous Person Posts $500,000 Bond To Free Texas Teen

China Gold Output Seen Rising to Record by Mining Group

"Gold output in China, the world’s largest producer, is poised to rise almost 10 percent this year to a record even as bullion prices slump, the nation’s mining association said. Bullion extended its drop this year to 23 percent and hedge funds cut bets on a rally by the most since February after the Federal Reserve said it may slow a bond-buying program that’s been pumping stimulus into global markets. That hasn’t deterred buyers in the second largest economy, which may pass India as the largest gold consumer as early as this year as regulators in Beijing make investing in the precious metal easier." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina Gold Output Seen Rising to Record by Mining Group

China’s gold imports still at unprecedented highs

"China will certainly become the world’s No. 1 gold consumer this year – if indeed it was not already. So far net imports through Hong Kong for the first five months of the year have totalled over 413 tonnes – double those of a year earlier when China imported just over 830 tonnes in the full year. China’s own gold production from its mines and as a byproduct from its smelting and refining sector exceeded 400 tonnes last year and is heading to between 420-450 tonnes by 2015 according to official estimates. This suggests Chinese gold imports plus its domestic production will, this year, account for comfortably over 50% of global new mined gold output." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina’s gold imports still at unprecedented highs