Land Of The Flea

Bill Bonner: In Praise of Mr. Putin

"Why would the US do things that make the world worse off? Dear reader, where have you been? It’s got nothing to do with liberal or conservative, hawk or dove, Democrat or Republican, Bush or Obama. And it’s not because we are dumber than we used to be, either. Instead, thinking people are starting to realize that we’re right about this too. America is a victim of creeping zombieism. Bureaucrats at the Fed force down interest rates to support zombies everywhere – from Wall Street to Skid Row. Low rates also help make more money available to the zombies who are besieging the Pentagon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBill Bonner: In Praise of Mr. Putin

Fmr. Pres. Candidate Michael Badnarik Weighs in on Rush to War w/ Syria

"John Kerry and John McCain would have been on opposite sides of a war debate 40 years ago. Today, they stand together with the president supporting a military strike on Syria. Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky took the Secretary of State to task for his viewpoints on the future of Syria. This was just a few days after former Democratic lawmaker Dennis Kucinich said President Obama may face impeachment if he attacks Syria without Congressional authorization. Matt Drudge, normally a well-known conservative, tweeted that there is no difference between the parties. The publisher of the Drudge Report stated that politics is now 'Authoritarian vs. Libertarian.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFmr. Pres. Candidate Michael Badnarik Weighs in on Rush to War w/ Syria

Report: NSA Mimics Google to Monitor “Target” Web Users

"This revelation adds to the growing list of ways that the NSA is believed to snoop on ostensibly private online conversations. In what appears to be a slide taken from an NSA presentation that also contains some GCHQ slides, the agency describes 'how the attack was done' on 'target' Google users. NSA employees log into an internet router—most likely one used by an internet service provider or a backbone network. (It's not clear whether this was done with the permission or knowledge of the router's owner.) Once logged in, the NSA redirects the 'target traffic' to an 'MITM,' a site that acts as a stealthy intermediary, harvesting communications before forwarding them to their intended destination." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingReport: NSA Mimics Google to Monitor “Target” Web Users

NSA chief Clapper: Data spying debate ‘probably needed to happen’

"'As loathe as I am to give any credit for what’s happened here, which is egregious…' said National Intelligence Director James Clapper, 'I think it’s clear that some of the conversations that this has generated, some of the debate… actually probably needed to happen.' Clapper, speaking at a conference in Washington, said the public discussion examining the balance between spying powers and privacy rights 'perhaps' should have taken place earlier. 'So if there’s a good side to this, maybe that’s it,' he said of the Snowden media leaks. His comments were the first time a senior US intelligence figure had portrayed the leaks as sparking a useful debate." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNSA chief Clapper: Data spying debate ‘probably needed to happen’

Senator on journalists who publish leaks: ‘Historically, spies have been shot’

"In a contentious Senate panel hearing about what protections should be available to journalists who receive government secrets, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) said that 'historically, spies have been shot for revealing information,' and that the thinking on a shield law for journalists should proceed forth from that point. Earlier this year, journalists and editors working for the Associated Press found out that the Department of Justice had tapped and recorded their phone calls for more than two months. The Justice Department also used warrants to obtain the emails of reporter James Rosen. In each case, the government maintained that it was attempting to police its internal workings for leakers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSenator on journalists who publish leaks: ‘Historically, spies have been shot’

“Privacy” Held Hostage By “Security” – Public Unimpressed

"Since Sept. 11, our government has acted as if security and privacy were an either/or proposition. In other words, an increase in one causes a decrease in the other. Like a seesaw, if one side goes up, the other side must go down. As federal security consultant Ed Giorgio stated several years ago in a widely quoted New Yorker article, 'Privacy and security are a zero-sum game.' Apparently, in order to be more 'secure,' we must accept less 'privacy.' That includes allowing increased warrantless surveillance and scrutiny by the government. So is the government’s argument sound?" Continue reading →

Continue Reading“Privacy” Held Hostage By “Security” – Public Unimpressed

Win for Chicago gun owners: City Council rewrites gun laws

"The National Rifle Association is claiming victory today after the Chicago City Council tentatively approved a rewrite of the city’s onerous gun laws that were passed in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the McDonald v. Chicago case (2010), which effectively overturned Chi-Town’s ban on handguns. While the full City Council will officially vote on the changes on Wednesday, it’s believed that they’ll stick because of the state’s recently passed concealed carry law, a 'shall-issue' statue that allows law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms in public provided they pass a background check, pay a $150 fee and take a 16-hour firearms training course." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWin for Chicago gun owners: City Council rewrites gun laws

New Jersey Suddenly Begins Enforcing Air Rifle Ban

"In New Jersey, it is illegal to own an air rifle if it in any way reduces noise. That would make it a weapon with a silencer. Such weapons are illegal in New Jersey. The police did not bother with this in the past, but now they do. The idea that criminals are going to threaten victims with air rifles equipped with silencers is bizarre. But in the world of bureaucracy, North’s law of bureaucracy reigns supreme: 'In any bureaucracy, some bureaucrat will eventually enforce the letter of the law to the point of absurdity.' I don’t know how gun owners are supposed to comply. Must they sell their guns to New Yorkers? How are they to transport their guns across the state’s border?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew Jersey Suddenly Begins Enforcing Air Rifle Ban

Newtown approves gun ordinance restricting recreational shooting

"'No resident may shoot for more than four hours after police are notified and shooting is limited to one person at a time,' the ordinance states as reported by NewsTimes.com. 'Target backstops are required and must be 10 feet above the target,' the ordinance continues. Lastly, there is no shooting allowed within a half-mile of a school. The ordinance only affects recreational shooting. Hunters, military professionals and law enforcement are exempt. Also, gun salutes for memorial events and tributes are not affected by the ordinance." Continue reading →

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Police captain, chief, firefighter all sexually assault same teenage girl

"Old Forge Mayor Michele Avvisato confirmed police Capt. Jamie Krenitsky submitted a letter of resignation Friday morning. She declined to comment further, citing pending litigation against the borough. Police charged Mr. Krenitsky and Old Forge Police Chief Larry Semenza with sexually assaulting the same teenage girl around the same period of time. In 2004, the girl, then a 15-year-old junior firefighter, began a sexual relationship with Chief Semenza, also then a Fire Department captain. The relationship lasted until 2007. Former borough firefighter Walter Chiavacci, also accused of sexually assaulting the girl, pleaded guilty to indecent assault in December." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPolice captain, chief, firefighter all sexually assault same teenage girl