for life and liberty

Kerry renews $1.3 billion aid package for Egypt

"Secretary of State John Kerry last month approved $1.3 billion in annual US military aid to Egypt, despite concerns over democratic progress by the country’s new government. On May 10, Kerry quietly approved the transfer of the annual aid, notifying the US Congress of his decision. Morsi’s opponents accuse him of governing in the interests of the Muslim Brotherhood, the party on whose ticket he ran in the presidential election. Psaki defended Kerry’s approval of aid for the fiscal year 2013 saying it was in US national security interests and helped such things as 'maintaining access to the Suez Canal and the interdiction of weapons smuggling.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKerry renews $1.3 billion aid package for Egypt

Kerry downplays new reports of NSA spying on allies

"Nearly all national governments, not just the United States, use 'lots of activities' to safeguard their interests and security, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday, responding for the first time to allegations that Washington spied on the European Union and other allies. The EU has strongly demanded that the United States explain a report in a German magazine that Washington is spying on the group, saying that, if true, the alleged surveillance was 'shocking'. The Guardian newspaper said that the United States had also targeted non-European allies including Japan, South Korea and India." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKerry downplays new reports of NSA spying on allies

Kerry: Snowden’s actions ‘despicable’

“Traveling in India, Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with NBC’s Catherine Chomiak.   Kerry said Edward Snowden’s actions are ‘beyond description’ and said he hopes Snowden is apprehended and faces the full weight of the U.S. legal system.” http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/52300721

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New Jersey Just Banned Trash Talking in High School Sports

"Starting this fall, high school students in New Jersey who taunt each other during games will be subject to investigation not only by the state's athletic association, but the state's government. Thanks to collaboration between NJSIAA, the New Jersey Attorney General, and the New Jersey Civil Rights Division, 'discriminatory conduct will also be reported to the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights and may result in further investigation.'" Continue reading →

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Around the Bay Area, you’re being watched

"It's not just the National Security Agency secretly vacuuming up your personal data. Local police agencies are increasingly adopting Big Data technologies such as automatic license-plate readers that gather information about everyone, whether they've broken the law or not. A lot of the information ends up on the 14th floor of a federal office building in San Francisco, where a 'fusion center' run by state and local law enforcement agencies combines the data with a plethora of personal information about you, from credit reports to car rentals to unlisted phone numbers to gun licenses." Continue reading →

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Social Security: Muffling the Warning Bells

"It had to 'cover benefit payments, forcing the agency to tap its $2.7 trillion trust fund sooner than some had expected.' But how did it tap this Trust Fund? By selling assets. What assets? IOUs from the Treasury. Where did the Treasury get the money to pay the S.S.A.? From the general fund. Where did the general fund get this money? By borrowing it. Where will the Treasury get the money to pay this interest? From the general fund. Where will the general fund get it? Borrowing. When the agency says 'shortages of tax revenue,' it refers to FICA tax revenue. But there is also a shortage of tax revenues in the general fund. That is why there is an annual deficit." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSocial Security: Muffling the Warning Bells

$80 Billion Bond Funds Sell-Off in June

"Mortgage rates have soared. The days of the 3.5% 30-year mortgage are over. The bond market has been rigged by the FED. Everyone knows this. A handful of economists decide what rates should be. Investors went along with this. But Bernanke’s remarks persuaded them that the rigging will be reduced. So, they started selling their fixed-rate securities. This is what happens when the decisions of a handful of salaried economists to inflate the currency are substituted for the decisions of investors. The economists giveth, and then their #1 spokesman threatens to taketh away. Investors then scramble for the exits." Continue reading →

Continue Reading$80 Billion Bond Funds Sell-Off in June

84-year old Florida homeowner under investigation after shooting at burglar

“An 84-year-old Florida man returned home with his wife Sunday afternoon only to find a burglar’s car parked in his driveway and the man stuffing the resident’s belongings into his car. After several warnings, the elderly man shot at the robber, but … Continue reading →

Continue Reading84-year old Florida homeowner under investigation after shooting at burglar

Charges Dropped Against Teen for Wearing NRA T-shirt

"14-year-old Jared Marcum, who was suspended and arrested in April over an NRA t-shirt that he wore to school, has had all charges against him dropped. The decision followed massive controversy, including a threat of a gag order. A local news station reported that the dismissal order signed by Judge Eric O’Briant stated, 'The state of West Virginia is not interested in the possibility of creating a juvenile criminal record for this defendant.' A statement which has brought Jared’s mother, Tanya Lardieri, to tears of joy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCharges Dropped Against Teen for Wearing NRA T-shirt

The ghosts of America’s Cold War surveillance network pictured crumbling in Berlin

"These images of an abandoned NSA listening post on the outskirts of West Berlin have a special poignancy today, as it was leaks alleged that the U.S. bugs Germany, its prima facie ally, on the same scale as Communist China. The towers, antennae and geodesic domes of Teufelsberg Hill have long since stopped eavesdropping on the airwaves, but the U.S. still taps half a billion German phone calls, emails and text messages in a typical month, it was claimed. German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended governments' monitoring of Internet communications, however, and said that the U.S. cyber-snooping had helped prevent attacks on German soil." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe ghosts of America’s Cold War surveillance network pictured crumbling in Berlin