statism

San Diego County plans to forcibly medicate residents under Laura’s Law

"San Diego County in California is considering implementing Laura's Law, which would give the state's second most populous county - home to over three million people - the uncontested right to force psychiatric medication upon its residents. Funds for the forced inpatient or outpatient psychiatric incarceration, known as 'assisted outpatient treatment' are to be provided by taxpayers. Other bills under consideration would extend Laura's Law to schoolchildren, at the discretion of school administrators. Laura's Law is heavily supported by law enforcement, the press, the American Psychiatric Association and host of 'consumer and family advocate groups.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSan Diego County plans to forcibly medicate residents under Laura’s Law

New Book on EU Corruption Gets Author Investigated

"No, I am not making this up. My memoirs A Mote in Brussels' Eye describing my five years in the Brussels lunatic asylum came out as an eBook at the end of January. Today, March 5, nine policemen arrived unannounced at my front door armed with a warrant to search our home. Much of my book details my efforts on behalf of the taxpayers of SE England to expose the gross misuse of public funds by the EU, and hold them accountable. Such an unusually fast reaction by Brussels tells me they are both very angry and terrified. My book is obviously causing them trouble." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew Book on EU Corruption Gets Author Investigated

Privacy protections booted from CISPA cybersecurity bill in closed-door hearing

"A controversial data-sharing bill won the approval of a key congressional committee today without privacy amendments, raising concerns that the National Security Agency and other spy agencies will gain broad access to Americans' personal information. The House Intelligence committee, by a vote of 18 to 2, adopted the so-called CISPA bill after an unusual session closed to the public where panel members debated and voted on the proposed law in secret. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said afterward she was disappointed her colleagues did not limit the NSA and other intelligence agencies from collecting sensitive data on Americans." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPrivacy protections booted from CISPA cybersecurity bill in closed-door hearing

Nevada bill would legalize gambling on federal elections

"If one Nevada lawmaker has his way, visitors to Sin City will soon be able to bet on the next presidential election. Las Vegas Democrat Tick Segerblom on Monday introduced a bill in the Nevada state Senate that would legalizing betting on federal elections. SB 418 would revise the state’s definition of sports betting 'to include wagers with respect to the outcome of a federal election.' 'We’re in a competitive environment,' Segerblom explained to KVVU. 'We’re basically competing against the world, and I think we need to start looking beyond what we’ve done.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNevada bill would legalize gambling on federal elections

Florida bill designed to fight gambling scandal could cost state thousands of jobs

"The measure, House Bill 155, was passed by the state Senate on April 4 by a 36-4 vote, following a three-year investigation into racketeering, money laundering and other charges. The scandal led to the resignation of Lieutenant Gov. Jennifer Carroll on March 12. The new law effectively curtails the state’s so-called 'Internet cafes' — businesses that featured online games recreating slot machines. It also forbids arcades from letting customers use cash or debit or credit cards from operating their games and from handing out gift cards as prizes. Patrons must now use change to play, and winnings are capped at 75 cents." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida bill designed to fight gambling scandal could cost state thousands of jobs

Trouble on U.S. farms as growers seek workers and crops rot

"Here’s a mess with no easy fix: American crops going unpicked — it’s backbreaking work Americans won’t touch — and poor migrants in need of work shying from it for fear of being abused. Creating a program for temporary farm workers from Mexico and other countries to work the land, sow seeds or reap harvests is one of the touchiest aspects of the immigration reform that Congress is working on. Some 61 percent of growers in California report shortages of laborers, especially in labor intensive crops like grapes and vegetables, said Rayne Pegg of the California Farm Bureau Federation. So some crops are left to rot." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTrouble on U.S. farms as growers seek workers and crops rot

Amazon asks for laxer online shopping rules in India

"US online retail giant Amazon said Tuesday it had asked New Delhi to consider relaxing a law that stops its Indian subsidiary from selling directly to customers. The topic was raised when Paul Misener, Amazon’s global vice president, met Indian Trade Minister Anand Sharma in New Delhi. Last year the Indian government eased legislation to allow foreign retailers such as US supermarket giant Wal-Mart to set up shop in India and sell directly to Indian consumers but online retailers were left out." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmazon asks for laxer online shopping rules in India

World landmarks go dark for Earth Hour

"The Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower and the Kremlin—along with a slew of other landmarks around the world—went dark to draw attention to climate change. In a symbolic show of support for the planet, people across the continents switched off their lights for 60 minutes—all at 8:30 pm local time—to make 'Earth Hour.' In bustling New York, that's exactly what happened when the Empire State Building pulled the plug on its nighttime brilliance. In Paris, the city of light, the Eiffel Tower turned off its illumination—but only for five minutes due to security reasons." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWorld landmarks go dark for Earth Hour

New space race: Putin unveils $50 billion drive for Russian supremacy

"President Vladimir Putin on Friday unveiled a new $50 billion drive for Russia to preserve its status as a top space power, including the construction of a brand new cosmodrome from where humans will fly to space by the end of the decade. Fifty-two years to the day since Yuri Gagarin became the Soviet Union’s greatest hero by making the first human flight into space, Putin inspected the new Vostochny (Eastern) cosmodrome Russia is building in the Amur region of the Far East. Putin said that Russia hoped to have the first launches from Vostochny in 2015 and the first manned launches in 2018." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew space race: Putin unveils $50 billion drive for Russian supremacy

U.S. Regulations Require Use of Biofuel That Doesn’t Exist

"What is really crazy is that the law caps the amount of ethanol allowed at around 15 billion gallons. The law requires refiners to blend advanced cellulosic biofuels, despite that they are not being commercially produced. Up until this year, the requirement has been relatively minimal ~500 million gallons, but by 2017 the amount reaches 5 billion gallons. The US produces about 3 – 3.5 billion bushels of soybeans annually. A bushel of beans yields 11lbs of oil, and a gallon of biodiesel weighs ~7.3 lbs. Therefore even if we devoted all of the soybeans produced (3.015 bb) in the 2012/13 season it would only amount to 4.5 billion gallons. Where is all this biofuel going to come from?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Regulations Require Use of Biofuel That Doesn’t Exist