Land Of The Flea

Pepe Escobar: Towards a Snowden endgame

"The US Ambassador in Austria, William Eacho, was responsible for spreading the (false) information about Snowden being on board Bolivia President Evo Morales' Falcon - leading to the denial of overflying rights in France, Spain, Portugal an Italy. Eacho - a former CEO of a food distribution company with no diplomatic experience whatsoever - was appointed by Obama in June 2009. Why? Because he was a top Obama fundraiser. Eacho did little to disprove those who sustain that the NSA really needs to 'analyze' every phone call, email and tweet on the planet - otherwise they could never obtain such pearls of intelligence as pinpointing Snowden on Evo's plane." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPepe Escobar: Towards a Snowden endgame

Campus ‘smoke-free’ edicts extend to smokeless products and e-cigarettes

"The number of campuses enacting bans has been rapidly increasing. In early 2007, there were about 140 smoke-free campuses. By July 1, 2012, that number rose to about 770, according to the advocacy group. University of Massachusetts-Amherst's tobacco-free policy began July 1. Junior Derek Fisher said it is annoying that the university bans all forms of tobacco, even those that do not cause secondhand smoke, like chewing tobacco or electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are not currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Many schools are including the products in their bans until health risks associated with them are known, Williams said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCampus ‘smoke-free’ edicts extend to smokeless products and e-cigarettes

eEconomics Episode 10: Austerity

"David examines austerity and its effects on austerity and austerity austerity. Also, austerity is discussed briefly. A note on Reinhart-Rogoff: Who cares? The idea of fiscal responsibility wasn't created in a Harvard classroom three years ago. (a) we don't have austerity (b) two people messing up a spreadsheet doesn't somehow negate the laws of economics. Also, we've actually had deficit spending/stimulus. That's what demonstrably didn't work. But now that's seen as the solution once again because of a spreadsheet advocating a policy we don't follow? It's too insane to really think about." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingeEconomics Episode 10: Austerity

Support the Egyptian Uprising and Go to Jail

"Lynne Stewart read a note to the press that was construed as exhorting Egyptian radicals to rise up and violently overthrow the Egyptian military dictatorship under Hosni Mubarak. She is now living the rest of her life in a federal penitentiary. Thus, the state of U.S. law is this: In principle, it’s okay to support the right of people to use force to resist tyranny. After all, that’s what the Declaration of Independence says, a document that Americans just celebrated on the Fourth of July. But in the minds of U.S. officials, by exhorting Egyptians to violently overthrow their tyrannical, U.S.-supported regime, Stewart was guilty of being a supporter of terrorism." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSupport the Egyptian Uprising and Go to Jail

Suspension over gun-shaped toaster pastry is now permanent mark on kid’s record

"This week brought more bad news for Joshua Welch, the Baltimore-area second-grader who was suspended for two days because his teacher thought he shaped a breakfast pastry into something resembling a gun. School officials have denied an appeal to have the suspension expunged from the boy’s permanent record. Welch, who is now eight, was suspended from Park Elementary School for two days in March after he allegedly sculpted the pastry into something that maybe looked like a gun. At the time, Welch said that his goal was to turn the prefabricated delicacy into a mountain, but that didn’t really materialize." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSuspension over gun-shaped toaster pastry is now permanent mark on kid’s record

Taxation of Americans Abroad versus the 14th Amendment

"The 'citizenship penalty' deserves consideration. Both US citizens abroad and non-resident aliens are non-residents of the U.S. The fact that the U.S. citizen pays higher taxes, because of U.S. citizenship, is arguably a violation of the 'equal protection' clause of the 14th amendment. Furthermore, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that 'citizenship classifications' are 'suspect classifications' and that they can be upheld only if the government can demonstrate a compelling state interest. Why should US citizens abroad pay a penalty because of their citizenship?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTaxation of Americans Abroad versus the 14th Amendment

Nullification: Not a Temper Tantrum

"When the Supreme Court ruled the feds have the authority to make medicinal marijuana illegal across the U.S., more than 15 states said, 'No,' and created medical cannabis programs anyway. And when the Bush administration pushed through the Real ID Act in 2005, seeking to create a national system of identification, states said, 'No,' and refused to take steps to implement the program. In fact, state governments have utilized nullification to fight a wide range of overreaching federal actions, from military conscription during the War of 1812 to the Fugitive Slave Acts in the 1850s. From overreaching FDA regulations to groping TSA searches today." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNullification: Not a Temper Tantrum

Glenn Greenwald: Edward Snowden likely to accept Venezuela asylum

"Greenwald told Reuters after speaking with Snowden on Tuesday that of the three countries that have offered Snowden asylum, Venezuela is better positioned 'to get him safely from Moscow to Latin America and to protect him once he’s there,' Greenwald said. 'They’re a bigger country, a stronger country and a richer country with more leverage in international affairs.' In addition to Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia have indicated they would offer Snowden asylum. Cuba’s president said he supported Snowden and countries’ offers of asylum, but did not put forth an offer from Cuba." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: Edward Snowden likely to accept Venezuela asylum

Adam Kokesh Blog Statement On Arrest

"US Parks Police (an arm of the DHS) were assisted by local Herndon police in the armed invasion. The officers used a battering ram to knock in the door after two knocks, and did not announce that they had a warrant. Immediately after breaking down the door, a flash bang grenade was deployed in the foyer. Assault rifles were aimed on all members of the team as they were handcuffed without being told why they were detained. Masked and armored police in full 'Storm Trooper' gear flooded in and ransacked the residence. Over the course of the next five hours, the police searched every corner of the house with canine units and blueprints." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAdam Kokesh Blog Statement On Arrest

Gun-rights activist Adam Kokesh charged with possessing a mushroom near a firearm

"Police searched the Northern Virginia home of activist Adam Kokesh Tuesday evening and took him into custody on for allegedly being in possession of hallucinogenic mushroom while also having a gun, authorities said. 'Numerous police vehicles, including a light armored vehicle and two low-flying helicopters barricaded Adam’s street,' the news release says. 'More than 20 armored SWAT team members surrounded the house, as well as a number of detectives, and plainclothes officers.' The release says police used a battering ram to knock in the front door and detonated a flash grenade in the foyer, then ransacked the house in a five-hour search." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGun-rights activist Adam Kokesh charged with possessing a mushroom near a firearm