statism

Feds reveal the search warrant used to seize Mt. Gox account

"In the warrant, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), states that there's probable cause to believe Mt. Gox is engaging in 'money transmitting' without a license, a crime punishable by a fine or up to five years in prison. The warrant goes on to demand that Dwolla hand over the keys to account number 812-649-1010, which is owned by Mt. Gox subsidiary Mutum Sigillum LLC, and held in the custody of Veridian Credit Union. The funds in that account 'are those of Mt. Gox customers that withdraw said funds from Mt. Gox and direct their transfer to Dwolla.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds reveal the search warrant used to seize Mt. Gox account

Cables reveal American diplomats lobbied aggressively overseas for genetically modified food crops

"The review of more than 900 diplomatic cables by the campaign group Food and Water Watch showed a carefully crafted campaign to break down resistance to GM products in Europe and other countries, and so help promote the bottom line of big American agricultural businesses. The cables, which first surfaced with the Wikileaks disclosures two years ago, described a series of separate public relations strategies, unrolled at dozens of press junkets and biotech conferences, aimed at convincing scientists, media, industry, farmers, elected officials and others of the safety and benefits of GM products." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCables reveal American diplomats lobbied aggressively overseas for genetically modified food crops

New Hampshire city suing ‘Robin Hood’ for paying parking meters of strangers

"The six 'Robin Hooders' named in the suit troll downtown Keene — often tracking parking enforcement officers — in search of cars parked at expired meters. When they find one, they pay the meter and slip notes under the windshield wiper of the vehicle that says: 'Your meter expired; however, we saved you from the king’s tariffs, Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Please consider paying it forward.' The note includes an address where people can send donations for the effort. The city claims in the lawsuit that the 'Robin Hooders' are causing the city’s three parking enforcement officers so much anxiety and distress that they’ve considered leaving their jobs." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew Hampshire city suing ‘Robin Hood’ for paying parking meters of strangers

Florida quietly shortened yellow lights, resulting in millions in additional red light camera fines

"A subtle, but significant tweak to Florida's rules regarding traffic signals has allowed local cities and counties to shorten yellow light intervals, resulting in millions of dollars in additional red light camera fines. The 10 News Investigators discovered the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) quietly changed the state's policy on yellow intervals in 2011, reducing the minimum below federal recommendations. The rule change was followed by engineers, both from FDOT and local municipalities, collaborating to shorten the length of yellow lights at key intersections, specifically those with red light cameras (RLCs)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida quietly shortened yellow lights, resulting in millions in additional red light camera fines

Leniency for a Uniformed Sexual Predator

"In November 2010, 17-year-old Utah resident Tamsen Reid was stopped by former Box Elder County, Utah, Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Womack. She and her two friends were told to get out of the car, stand barefoot in the snow, and submit to an invasive search. Womack told them to lift their shirts and expose their breasts so he could search for tattoos and body piercings. Reid was singled out for special attention. Womack told her to get in the back of his patrol vehicle, remove her clothes, and spread her legs so he could inspect her for an intimate tattoo. When the teenager refused, Womack warned her that she could either submit or be taken to jail." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLeniency for a Uniformed Sexual Predator

New York Fire Department Rescues Cop Stuck in Tree Trying to Rescue Cat

"Firefighters had to rescue an NYPD officer stuck in a tree after the cop climbed up to try and save a cat Monday in Queens. The FDNY responded with a tower ladder and found the officer and the cat about 30 feet up in the tree. Both were rescued 'safe and sound,' FDNY says. 'It was kind of comical,' said neighbor Jeff Yu. 'They seemed to be enjoying themselves. There were no rude comments or anything.' The officer had lit a flare and set up cones on the ground underneath the tree before going up but onlookers ignored them as they gathered and gawked from the ground, said Yu." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew York Fire Department Rescues Cop Stuck in Tree Trying to Rescue Cat

Eric Holder defends seizure of AP phone logs to track down ‘the most serious’ CIA leak

"The US administration pushed back Tuesday after being accused of undermining press freedom by seizing reporters’ phone records, claiming officials took the drastic steps to protect American lives. Amid a barrage of criticism, Attorney General Eric Holder said telephone logs were secretly taken from US news agency the Associated Press as part of a probe into a security breach which had put the American people at risk. The comments came as President Barack Obama’s administration faced heavy criticism over the Justice Department’s decision to seize two months of phone records from the news operations of the Associated Press." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEric Holder defends seizure of AP phone logs to track down ‘the most serious’ CIA leak

IRS office under scrutiny for targeting tea party groups also disclosed confidential info

"The same IRS office that deliberately targeted conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status in the run-up to the 2012 election released nine pending confidential applications of conservative groups to ProPublica late last year. In response to a request for the applications for 67 different nonprofits last November, the Cincinnati office of the IRS sent ProPublica applications or documentation for 31 groups. Nine of those applications had not yet been approved - meaning they were not supposed to be made public." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIRS office under scrutiny for targeting tea party groups also disclosed confidential info

Let’s Thank President Obama for Reminding Americans that They Should Distrust the IRS

"Last week, while writing about the latest IRS scandal, I noted that the IRS has a long record of abusive actions. It has thieving employees. It has incompetent employees. It has thuggish employees. It has brainless employees. And it has victimizing employees. So I wasn’t surprised to learn that it also has politically biased employees. But some Americans probably are shocked. Why am I thanking Obama? For the simple reason that this scandal means that more Americans now understand that the IRS is a venal agency." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLet’s Thank President Obama for Reminding Americans that They Should Distrust the IRS

Argentina’s Deadbeat Special: Buy a 4% Bond or Go to Jail

"President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner wants tax evaders hiding about $160 billion in dollars to help finance Argentina’s oil-producing ambitions. Her offer: Buy a 4 percent bond or face the prospect of jail time. The tax authority announced the plan May 7, highlighting its information-sharing agreements with 40 nations and warning Argentines who don’t use the three-month amnesty window that they risk fines or arrest. Evaders have two options for their cash and the only one paying interest will be a dollar bond due in 2016 to finance YPF SA (YPF), the state oil company." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingArgentina’s Deadbeat Special: Buy a 4% Bond or Go to Jail