Resistance to Tyranny

With the stroke of a pen, 31 million more Americans have hypertension

"Tighter blood pressure guidelines from U.S. heart organizations mean millions more people need to make lifestyle changes, or start taking medication, in order to avoid cardiovascular problems. At the new cutoff, around 46 percent, or more than 103 million, of American adults are considered to have high blood pressure, compared with an estimated 72 million under the previous guidelines in place since 2003. Potentially deadly high blood pressure can be brought under control with a wide array of medications."

Continue ReadingWith the stroke of a pen, 31 million more Americans have hypertension

In Duterte’s anti-drug pogrom, police and cameras tell different stories

"Chilling surveillance footage of a drug-war operation in Manila raises fresh doubts about police actions in President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal anti-narcotics campaign. Reuters obtained the footage, which shows the deadly operation from start to finish."

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Cash House Sales Rising in U.S. Despite Stable Mortgage Market

"Home buyers are facing a new challenge in finding mid-priced houses to purchase: Cash buyers who swoop in and snatch up all the properties. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, while mortgage lending is finally rebounding after the housing crash of a few years ago, cash deals are still at higher than normal levels – even with the prices of homes heading into record territory."

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Welsh city refuses man’s £7.4 million offer to dig for lost Bitcoin

"Welsh IT worker James Howells says he accidentally threw away a hard drive full of Bitcoin which he believes is now worth more than $100 million (around £74 million). He’s been fighting Newport city council ever since for a permit to look for the computer, which contains over 7,500 units of the cryptocurrency and is buried below thousands of tonnes of rubbish on a landfill site. A spokesperson for the council said James has been told 'on several occasions' he will not be given a permit despite his offer of a 10% cut."

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US-Backed Saudi Coalition Should Lift Its Yemen Blockade

"There are no heroes in the civil war between Houthi rebels, who have Iranian backing and were responsible for killing Saleh, and the Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government. Both sides have inflicted death and suffering on civilians. The Saudi coalition currently has a partial blockade on ports and airfields controlled by the Houthis. Hostilities have already killed or wounded at least 14,000 people in nearly three years, and countless others have died from disease and starvation. Some 1 million people have contracted cholera in part because the lack of fuel has affected the ability to pump clean water."

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Judge halts Indiana city’s code-enforcement property seizure racket

"The judge had particularly harsh words for Hall, who indicated in emails that it would be 'financially disastrous' for residents to try to improve their homes, because the homes would be demolished anyway. Such statements, coupled with the city’s policy of not levying fines against LLC-owned homes, undermine the goal of maintaining safety, Mount said."

Continue ReadingJudge halts Indiana city’s code-enforcement property seizure racket

How police used a traffic stop to take $91,800 from an innocent man

"He only got a $25 ticket for improperly wearing his seat belt and a warning for 'lane use.' But Wyoming law enforcement officers found and eventually seized the $91,800 in cash, as it was hidden in a speaker cabinet — by getting Parhamovich, under what he claims was duress, to sign away his interest in the money through a waiver. He has since tried to get his money back. But state law enforcement officials have rejected his pleas. Responding to a request for records related to Parhamovich’s case, state officials said they consider the cash 'abandoned.' The state has even moved to forfeiture the money without notifying Parhamovich of the relevant court hearing until after it happened."

Continue ReadingHow police used a traffic stop to take $91,800 from an innocent man