statism

Obamacare panel approves free cancer screenings for heavy smokers

"Using a highly sensitive test like a CT scan to look for early signs of lung cancer will undoubtedly result in high rates of false positives. The NLST found that 320 high-risk smokers had to be screened to prevent one lung cancer death. Because of that, and the risk from radiation from the CT scans, LeFevre stressed that the screening should only be used in the high-risk groups specified by the guidelines. What worries LeFevre and others is that some doctors and hospitals will try to profit from screening, which costs a few hundred dollars a test. 'We hope that physicians will not use this recommendation to exaggerate the benefits of screening,' he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObamacare panel approves free cancer screenings for heavy smokers

BGPSEC: More Internet Control In The Name Of “Security”

"BGPSEC is a control that, once fully implemented, would allow the federal government to instantly revoke an ISPs right to advertise specific IP addresses, effectively shutting off all services that exist on those addresses. BGP is a key component of the Internet infrastructure, existing barely above the physical cables and fibers that carry data. BGPSEC provides much more sweeping control over who and what can exist on the Internet. BGPSEC combined with the DNS system which is already managed by the government means a giant step forward for Big Brother. ARIN has already begun offering the capability as a free 'service'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBGPSEC: More Internet Control In The Name Of “Security”

The routing security battles intensify

"In essence, what is now being debated in SIDR is whether routing – one of the last areas in which Internet operations is distributed and autonomous – will become rigidified and centralized by what one participant in the debate calls 'slamming a hierarchical PKI into a distributed routing system.' RPKI is being advocated by US government-funded contractors and US government agencies such as the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The engineers leading the revolt against BGPSEC in its current incarnation, on the other hand, are coming from operators – i.e., the people who actually have to run things." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe routing security battles intensify

Paul Rosenberg: The Internet Is Being Slaughtered in the Back Room

"US government-funded contractors and US government agencies (like the National Institute of Standards & Technology) are the big pushers. Many people who actually run things are complaining about BGPSEC. These complaints, however, will either be ignored, or will be used to write still more proposals, with more contractors being hired to address the problems. At the base of it all, however, are engineers – smart guys – who are willing to do whatever they are asked, so long as they get a paycheck. They are forging electronic chains for humanity, and passing it all off as 'a harmless piece of software,' or, 'a systems design.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPaul Rosenberg: The Internet Is Being Slaughtered in the Back Room

Appeals court upholds decision to block New York City soda ban

"New York City’s plan to ban large sugary drinks from restaurants and other eateries was an illegal overreach of executive power, a state appeals court ruled on Tuesday, upholding a lower court decision in March that struck down the law. The law, which would have prohibited those businesses from selling sodas and other sugary beverages larger than 16 ounces, 'violated the state principle of separation of powers,' the First Department of the state Supreme Court’s Appellate Division said in a unanimous decision. Mayor Michael Bloomberg had advanced the regulation as a way to combat obesity among city residents." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAppeals court upholds decision to block New York City soda ban

Does the Internet Have a Libertarian Future? Interview With Paul Rosenberg

"The entire Internet is kind of being — it’s kind of a re-conquest that’s going on. It got out of control. They weren’t expecting it. The roots actually go back to Sputnik when they essentially scared the people in power in the United States. And they kind of let the smart guys loose — and that’s not exactly an absolutely correct explanation but it’s kind of true — and the Internet grew out of it. And nobody saw it coming outside of a couple sci-fi authors. Just a couple. And it got out of control and they’re essentially taking it back. So we have a lot of problems with that. In terms of avoiding the problems, it can definitely be done. Our company does it." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDoes the Internet Have a Libertarian Future? Interview With Paul Rosenberg

Edward Snowden’s father: ‘Absolutely no faith’ son would get fair trial in U.S.

"Lon Snowden, the father of National Security Agency (NSA) leaker Edward Snowden, on Monday revealed that he and his legal team had attempted to work with the U.S. Department of Justice to find a way for his son to come home, but talks had broken down. '[W]e’ve attempted to work with the Justice Department and both the people investigating this, and I just do not believe that that collaboration, that the good faith exists anymore,' he explained. 'So I’m very very disappointed and we’ve attempted to get assurances that Ed would receive a fair trial. I have absolutely no faith in Eric Holder, the Attorney General of the United States. None.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEdward Snowden’s father: ‘Absolutely no faith’ son would get fair trial in U.S.

‘Anonymous’ hackers attack New Zealand Prime Minister’s website over spying bill

"The 'hacktivist' group Anonymous on Tuesday briefly crashed New Zealand Prime Minister John Key’s website in protest at plans to allow the country’s intelligence agency to spy on local residents. New Zealand’s intelligence service, the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), is currently barred from spying on New Zealand citizens or residents. Key argues the restriction should be removed so it can cooperate more closely with agencies such as the police and military in an increasingly complex cyber-security environment. The bill is currently before parliament and expected to pass by a single vote." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Anonymous’ hackers attack New Zealand Prime Minister’s website over spying bill

A new, dangerous job in Mogadishu: tax collector

"Militias extorted cash from civilians during much of the last two decades of chaos. Now Mogadishu has a government in place, but shopkeepers view the taxman as the latest in a long line of troublemakers. That makes tax collection one of the riskier jobs in Mogadishu: Five tax collectors have been killed so far this year, following the killings of 10 last year. The idea of paying taxes for social services seems outlandish in a nation where few have seen functioning hospitals or schools. One obstacle tax collectors face is philosophical: If it's an established fact that government leaders in Somalia steal tax money, why should citizens pay?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA new, dangerous job in Mogadishu: tax collector

Preliminary Hearing: D.C. vs Kokesh

"Adam’s lawyer pressed the witness to describe the shotgun that was found in Herndon, and the witness could not name the model, but stated that it was the same shape and color as the one portrayed in the video. When asked if he knew what a green screen was, Detective Freeman noted that he 'knew they existed” but that he 'was not a video forensics analyst'. Judge Sullivan stated that it was ‘ridiculous to question’ the authenticity of the video, because Adam had ‘racked a shotgun for all the world to see’. It remains to be seen whether the facts will overcome the overwhelming bias that Judge Sullivan showed in the opening act of this high-profile case." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPreliminary Hearing: D.C. vs Kokesh