Land Of The Flea

Will Adam Kokesh Face Charges of Armed Sedition?

"During the attack, Adam reports that the Park Police covered his chest with laser-sight red dots even when he had his hands up. A sheriff’s deputy informed Adam that charges of illegal transportation of a firearm, sedition and armed sedition are being considered against him, presumably by federal prosecutors. (Oxford defines sedition as 'conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.' Eyewitnesses to the attack on Adam and his companions Tuesday night report that US Park Police brought large brown paper evidence bags in with them before their search that appeared to be full." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWill Adam Kokesh Face Charges of Armed Sedition?

Snowden’s full statement from Moscow: ‘I did what I believed right’

"A little over one month ago, I had family, a home in paradise, and I lived in great comfort. I also had the capability without any warrant to search for, seize, and read your communications. Anyone’s communications at any time. That is the power to change people’s fates. It is also a serious violation of the law. The 4th and 5th Amendments to the Constitution of my country, Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and numerous statutes and treaties forbid such systems of massive, pervasive surveillance. My government argues that secret court rulings, which the world is not permitted to see, somehow legitimize an illegal affair." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSnowden’s full statement from Moscow: ‘I did what I believed right’

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

Not All Insurers Game for State Exchanges: The Consumer Impact

"As more insurers decide to pack up and leave certain states as health exchanges start to take form, experts say consumers are going to be left feeling the pain. Over the last few weeks, several departure announcements have sent a ripple through the health insurance industry, as companies weigh whether or not they want to play ball under Obamacare. So far, California has experienced the biggest migration with Aetna (AET), UnitedHealthcare (UNH) and Cigna (CI) leaving the state’s exchange, Covered California. Fifteen states and D.C. are in the process of creating their insurance exchanges before the 2014 deadline; when individuals must purchase insurance or face a fine." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNot All Insurers Game for State Exchanges: The Consumer Impact

Anonymous predicts demise of Corrections Corporation of America

"A final, interesting facet of the report - analyzing a recent development that's been little discussed among advocates - was its dissection and critique of the company's decision to become a 'real estate investment trust' (REIT) as essentially a tax dodge. Find below the jump a substantial excerpt (citations omitted) from the report explaining CCA's REIT strategy and the implications for their business model, shareholders and taxpayers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAnonymous predicts demise of Corrections Corporation of America