Famed Non-Automotive Journalist Michael Hastings Turns A C250 Into A “Bomb”

"I’m not here to speak ill of the dead. I’m here to state that I’ve seen dozens of cars hit walls and stuff at high speeds and the number of them that I have observed to eject their powertrains and immediately catch massive fire is, um, ah, zero. Modern cars are very good at not catching fire in accidents. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which is an evolutionary design from a company known for sweating the safety details over and above the Euro NCAP requirements, should be leading the pack in the not-catching-on-fire category. Nor is the C-Class known for sudden veering out of control into trees and whatnot." Continue reading

Continue ReadingFamed Non-Automotive Journalist Michael Hastings Turns A C250 Into A “Bomb”

Michael Hastings’ Final Article Before Car Explosion: ‘Why Democrats Love To Spy On Americans’

"For most bigwig Democrats in Washington, D.C., the last 48 hours has delivered news of the worst kind — a flood of new information that has washed away any lingering doubts about where President Obama and his party stand on civil liberties, full stop. Glenn Greenwald’s exposure of the NSA’s massive domestic spy program has revealed the entire caste of current Democratic leaders as a gang of civil liberty opportunists, whose true passion, it seems, was in trolling George W. Bush for eight years on matters of national security. 'Everyone should just calm down,' Senator Harry Reid said yesterday, inhaling slowly. That’s right: don’t panic." Continue reading

Continue ReadingMichael Hastings’ Final Article Before Car Explosion: ‘Why Democrats Love To Spy On Americans’

FBI knew earlier of Boston bombing suspect Tsarnaev

"Deceased Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev came to the attention of the FBI on at least two occasions prior to a Russian government warning in March 2011 that said he appeared to be radicalizing, FBI Director Robert Mueller said in Congressional testimony this week. The earlier references have led some lawmakers to question whether the FBI acted too quickly in closing an assessment of Tsarnaev's potential ties to terrorism done in response to the Russian request." Continue reading

Continue ReadingFBI knew earlier of Boston bombing suspect Tsarnaev

Central Bank Injects Cash After China Money Rates Jump to Records

"The People’s Bank of China added 50 billion yuan ($8.2 billion) to the financial system today after a cash squeeze drove money-market rates to record highs. The sum was supplied to a single lender through 'targeted liquidity operations' and more banks were in talks to obtain financing. A PBOC press official said he was unaware of the matter. Bank of China Ltd. announced on its microblog that it made all payments on time today and has never had a capital default. A spokesman for Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. declined to comment on whether the lender received any financing from the central bank." Continue reading

Continue ReadingCentral Bank Injects Cash After China Money Rates Jump to Records

India: Emerging from Poverty or Stuck in the Past?

"India's problems are a result of the country's collectivist system, which detaches people from the consequences of their actions. Economic feedback in India is warped – costs are socialized, while benefits are not. Trickery and heavy-handedness are the norm in India, and they work. Real wealth creation feels unnecessary. From an individual's point of view, time and capital are better spent making political connections and offering bribes, both of which are more lucrative and efficient than making an honest living. India has been like this for forever. There has been nothing to shake India from its philosophical slumber and force its citizens to re-evaluate outdated precepts." Continue reading

Continue ReadingIndia: Emerging from Poverty or Stuck in the Past?

Young Turks seek greater liberty, not revolution

"Ask the younger protesters who have taken to Turkey’s streets over the past two weeks what they are fighting for, and the response is simple: 'More freedom'. At the forefront are a generation who, unlike their parents, have grown up in an increasingly outward-looking and fast-growing economy, a new middle class with satellite TV, smartphones and social media connections with friends around the world. Ironically it is Erdogan who has driven that change, overseeing a near-tripling in nominal wealth over his past decade in power. But for the young protesters in Ankara, Istanbul and other cities around Turkey, he has created a generation whose aspirations he no longer understands." Continue reading

Continue ReadingYoung Turks seek greater liberty, not revolution

U.S. now has most Spanish speakers outside Mexico

"Latinos are now the largest minority in the United States at 52 million people, 50 percent more than a decade ago, according to the Pew Research Hispanic Center. Except for Mexico, that is more Spanish-speakers than in any country of Latin America, and projections are that the figure will triple by 2050, when one of every three people in the US will be of Latino origin. A record 12.5 million Hispanics voted in the November 2012 election in which Barack Obama won a second term. He took 71 percent of the Latino vote." Continue reading

Continue ReadingU.S. now has most Spanish speakers outside Mexico

DoJ Files Action to Collect Multiple 50 Percent Civil FBAR Penalties in U.S.A. vs. Zwerner

"On June 11, 2013, the U.S. government filed a Complaint to collect multiple civil FBAR penalties in the amount of $3,488,609.33 against Carl R. Zwerner of Coral Gables, Florida for his alleged failure to timely report his financial interest in a foreign bank account. According to the Complaint, from 2004 through 2007, Mr. Zwerner, a U.S. citizen, had a financial interest in an account at ABN AMRO Bank in Switzerland (hereinafter, 'the Swiss bank account') and that the balance of the Swiss bank account from 2004-2007 was at all times greater than $10,000 and that, as such, on or before June 30, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, Mr. Zwerner was required to file an FBAR." Continue reading

Continue ReadingDoJ Files Action to Collect Multiple 50 Percent Civil FBAR Penalties in U.S.A. vs. Zwerner