IRS Seizes Wedding Boutique, Sells Everything for Next to Nothing

"The elderly Thai immigrants sunk their life savings into designer wedding dresses and were left penniless when the IRS sold them all, according to the couple's attorney. The legal filing claims that the agent on the case originally recognized that the entire inventory would not need to be sold to satisfy the debt. However, Freeman obtained internal IRS communications through a Freedom of Information Act Request and found that IRS higher-ups decided that the agency should 'shut down this failing business.'" Continue reading

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Oregon Takes Couple’s Kids Over Hand-Washing, Sunscreen Habits

"This year the couple had a second son, Hunter. The state also took custody of him. This time they didn't even wait to see how they'd behave as parents: Fabbrini was still in the hospital when they took the boy. One volunteer mediator said she told caseworkers that she believed the couple was capable of raising Christopher. Her conclusion conflicted with the position taken by officials, and subsequently, she says, they told her that her services were 'no longer needed.'" Continue reading

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The Freedom Watch 2017-07-10 23:42:54

"Senate Bill 1241 requires that anyone travelling beyond US borders declare his assets in writing and in detail, plus provide ongoing access to all accounts held by the individual. In essence, it’s providing the government with a license to track your cash, cryptocurrencies, and other assets in perpetuity. Should, at any point, your declaration come into question as to its accuracy, the entirety of those assets could be seized, not just those that were unreported. In addition, you could face a prison sentence of up to five years." Continue reading

Continue ReadingThe Freedom Watch 2017-07-10 23:42:54

Banned From the US? There’s a Robot for That

"Two telepresence robots roll into a human-computer interaction conference. Sounds like the beginning of a very nerdy joke, but it really happened (#2017). A few weeks ago in Denver, Colorado, a robot I was piloting over the internet from my computer in Idaho stood wheel-to-wheel with a similar 'bot in a pink skirt controlled by a researcher in Germany. We huddled. We introduced ourselves by yelling at each other's screens. Given the topic of the conference, this particular human-computer interaction was a little too on the HD touch-screen nose. But as much as we symbolized the future, we were also a political statement about a troubled present." Continue reading

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Trump’s travel ban brought back from the dead by Supreme Court

"The Supreme Court agreed Monday to review President Donald Trump’s travel ban and partially reversed lower court rulings that blocked the ban from being implemented. Trump’s travel restrictions on people from six Muslim-majority nations can be applied to individuals 'who lack any bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States,' the Supreme Court ruled." Continue reading

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US plans ‘enhanced security’ for air travel from 105 countries

"The new measures will affect 105 countries hosting approximately 280 airports, 180 airlines, and about 2,100 daily flights carrying 325,000 US-bound passengers. DHS already has in place a policy that bars electronic devices larger than a cell phone from Turkey and several Middle Eastern airports. The UK has a similar policy, affecting airports in six countries." Continue reading

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US Government Spends Billions Reviving Cold-War Nuclear War Bunkers

"Cold War-era government bunkers across the country were built to house the President and various Washington elites — members of a so-called 'shadow government' in the worst nuclear Armageddon scenario. Since September 11, 2001, Congress has intensified their interest in and funding of top secret 'Continuity of Government' (COG) in ways not seen since the Cold War." Continue reading

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