Orwellian

Google report reveals world government requests for private data rising sharply

"Government surveillance of their citizens’ online lives is rising sharply around the world, according to Google’s latest report. The US accounted for the most requests, as it has consistently since the report was launched. US authorities asked for private details of Google users on 7,969 occasions, up from 6,321 in the last reporting period. The number is more than a third of the 20,938 requests for users’ details worldwide. Google fully or partially complied with 90% of those requests. Over the six months, Google was asked to remove seven YouTube videos criticising local and state agencies, police and other public officials." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGoogle report reveals world government requests for private data rising sharply

Now EU Seeks to Ban the Family

"Books which portray 'traditional' images of mothers caring for their children or fathers going out to work could be barred from schools under proposals from Brussels. An EU report claims that 'gender stereotyping' in schools influences the perception of the way boys and girls should behave and damages women's career opportunities in the future. Critics said the proposals for 'study materials' to be amended so that men and women are no longer depicted in their traditional roles would mean the withdrawal of children's classics, such as Enid Blyton's The Famous Five series, Paddington Bear or Peter Pan" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNow EU Seeks to Ban the Family

Man arrested for posting image of burning poppy on Twitter

"Kent Police said in a statement that the man, from Aylesham, was detained last night on suspicion of making malicious telecommunications and that he was in custody awaiting interview. The force does not say whether the arrested man actually burned the poppy, or just posted the photo online. The arrest was met with incredulity on Twitter, where people mounted a fierce discussion over civil liberties." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMan arrested for posting image of burning poppy on Twitter

Why License Plates Exist

"So the State can sell us yet another item no one needs or wants and milk more money from us, not only in the initial fee but later in fines, of course. The excuse that license plates help solve crimes is patently bogus. So rarely does that happen that a fascist organization actually awards a prize when it does. But license plates hand Leviathan another huge advantage, too: utter control of the serfs. Mayor Mike 'Nanny' Bloomberg has forced owners of gas stations to ration their product. And how does he accomplish that? Via those useless but expensive license plates." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhy License Plates Exist

‘Creepy’ camera irks Platte City family

"Last Thursday he noticed the video camera mounted in a tree and trained on his daughter’s yard and windows. She and her father, Steve Nash, suspect the police wanted to catch him feeding cats that the city believes are feral, which they said has been an ongoing issue between him and the city. Nash said he earlier was charged with the city offense of feeding feral cats and was placed on probation. Nash said he addressed the Platte City Board of Aldermen recently, protesting what he called government bullying. A person in civilian clothes came and removed the camera without identifying himself." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Creepy’ camera irks Platte City family

Gen. Mark S. Martins on Gitmo Military Commissions: “The Will of Our People!”

"It may not be surprising or any sort of revelation — it’s pretty well known that temporary measures taken by the state have a way of staying permanent, after all — but to hear a government official basically come right out and admit that they’re creating a shadow legal system is still amazing to me." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGen. Mark S. Martins on Gitmo Military Commissions: “The Will of Our People!”

Obama urged to fulfill Guantanamo closure pledge

"Rights groups challenged President Barack Obama on Thursday to use his second term to close Guantanamo and end drone attacks, warrantless surveillance and extrajudicial killings. Shortly after he took office in January 2009, Obama declared that he would shutter the prison camp for 'war on terror' suspects within a year, saying it served as a recruiting tool for militant and hurt US national security. Rights groups have strongly criticized the president for his Guantanamo failures and for maintaining other stringent security tactics put into practice under his predecessor George W. Bush." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama urged to fulfill Guantanamo closure pledge

‘Library’ Police

"The clerk scanned my library card and told me he would have to confiscate it. It was no longer valid. He told me that to get a new card that I would have to bring in a utility bill postmarked in the last thirty days and a state approved picture ID. I have had a library card continuously for over 55 years. I have checked out more than 10,000 books from this library in my lifetime. I was the former chairman of Friends of the Library. To no avail. I was informed that Homeland Security requires these new rules. The library removed all the old pockets which showed previous borrowers supposedly in the name of privacy." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Library’ Police

Poll: Nearly One Third Of Americans Would Accept ‘TSA Body Cavity Search’ in Order to Fly

"A new survey commissioned by Infowars and conducted by Harris Interactive has found that almost one third of American adults would accept a 'TSA body cavity search' in order to fly, with a majority of Americans also feeling a law that would make disobeying a TSA agent in any public place illegal is reasonable. The shock results emphasize the level of indignity Americans are willing to tolerate in order to travel. They also highlight how the TSA’s reputation has remained largely intact despite a series of scandals and widespread criticism from innumerable public figures." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPoll: Nearly One Third Of Americans Would Accept ‘TSA Body Cavity Search’ in Order to Fly

Oklahoma Man On No Fly List Fighting To Come Home

"An overseas Oklahoman who hasn't been on the Sooner soil for more than a decade is now fighting to come home. Forty-three-year-old Saadiq Long lives in Qatar where he teaches English. In April, the U.S. Air Force veteran was told he was on the Department of Homeland Security's no fly list. He's been fighting to get taken off the list ever since, but now he's running out of time. Long's mother who still lives in McAlester is terminally ill. Long will try to fly back to Oklahoma this week to visit her, perhaps for the final time. Long, a U.S. citizen, hasn't been given a reason for why he's on the list." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOklahoma Man On No Fly List Fighting To Come Home