Category: Podcast

PNN #195 Show Notes http://bit.ly/17n8a5z

http://WeUseCoins.com

Microsoft & Google Sue Govt

http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_on_the_issues/archive/2013/08/30/standing-together-for-greater-transparency.aspx

Open Carry Texas Harassed by SAPD…Charged w/Crime

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/30/men-behind-open-carry-demonstration-in-texas-charged-with-crimes-even-though-what-they-did-wasnt-illegal-heres-how-police-are-justifying-it/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN0GcahEvIc#t=483

Cheap Wearable Cameras Are Changing the Game

http://www.wfmj.com/category/179433/video-landing-page?clipId=9219882&autostart=true

Two Cops Disciplined(?) After Trooper Confrontation

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/Two_Bergen_County_cops_disciplined_after_confrontation_with_trooper_caught_on_video.html

Tuesday, September 3rd 2013. 1 ounce of silver is 24 dollars. 1 Bitcoin is 140 dollars. Peace News Now is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com. Learn about bitcoin at http://WeUseCoins.com

Thanks to Edward Snowden, we all know that Microsoft and Google helped the government spy on their users. What we *don’t* know is how much they cooperated. The 2 major tech giants want to publish data, but the government won’t let them. Now they’re suing the government in an attempt to get permission to publish information. Microsoft issued an official press release about the situation. Here are some excerpts. Quote:

“To followers of technology issues, there are many days when Microsoft and Google stand apart.  But today our two companies stand together.  We both remain concerned with the Government’s continued unwillingness to permit us to publish sufficient data relating to FISA orders.

we believe it is vital to publish information that clearly shows the number of national security demands for user content, such as the text of an email. We believe it’s possible to publish these figures in a manner that avoids putting security at risk.  And unless this type of information is made public, any discussion of government practices and service provider obligations will remain incomplete.

The United States has long been admired around the world for its leadership in promoting free speech and open discussion.  We benefit from living in a country with a Constitution that guarantees the fundamental freedom to engage in free expression unless silence is required by a narrowly tailored, compelling Government interest.  We believe there remains a path forward that will share more information with the public while protecting national security.

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The Blaze reports that three San Antonio men are each facing criminal charges of “disorderly conduct” because someone allegedly complained about them “open carrying” a gun outside of a Starbucks.

The men were seemingly well within their rights. They posted video of the entire encounter on YouTube. Although it includes a disagreement with police officers, the men do not appear to be belligerent or aggressive.

Under Texas law, open carrying a rifle is legal as long as the gun is not loaded.

But San Antonio police Chief William McManus said that gun owners can still be charged with disorderly conduct if anyone feels threatened at any point. In other words, he believes that if anyone around you is uncomfortable with firearms, he can charge you with the crime “disorderly conduct.”

Watch the entire video in a link in our show notes.

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Police across the country are equipping themselves with small, wearable video cameras. Police in Goshen Township Ohio recently bought 8 at about $50 each. The Philadelphia Police recently employed them at the latest Smoke Down Prohibition. The goal is to keep an objective record of interactions with the public. Cameras like these can uncover the truth at a shocking low cost. Wearable video recorders are sold in varieties online ranging from $15 for some basic ones to about $100 for ones with more concealability. Wearing these cameras empowers the police, but it also empowers their victims, should the police ever act abusively toward an innocent person. Activists should take a note from police and start wearing cameras, if you don’t already.

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Speaking of police recordings, a youtube video surfaced this week in which a NJ State Trooper threatens the life of another officer conducting a traffic stop? The reason? That’s *his* turf. We’ve heard of these turf wars in other places, but thanks to the power of video, we can see for ourselves what happened. What’s even more interesting is who the officer stopped in the first place: Freeholder Maura DiNicola, on her way home from a Freeholders meeting. DiNicola opposes the merger of county police and sheriffs departments, and she believes intimidation was the real reason she was targeted for a stop.

Despite the viral video of one of their officers pulling a gun on a fellow officer during a routine traffic stop, a representative for the NJ State Police said, quote: “The State Police Office of Professional Standards reviewed the incident and found that no discipline was appropriate.” Nor is any additional training. Everything is just perfect at the NJ State Police. Nothing to see here, folks, move along. Full video of the incident is linked in this episode’s show notes.

Peace News Now is on the Next News Network and is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com. I want you to share this episode, and if you enjoyed it, send some bitcoin to http://PeaceNewsNow.com/Donate. I’m Derrick J, reminding you that Peace is the way!

PNN #193 Show Notes http://bit.ly/15KmwAq

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McDonald’s Hires 7000 Touch Screen Cashiers

http://news.cnet.com/mcdonalds-hires-7000-touch-screen-cashiers/8301-17938_105-20063732-1.html

Marijuana is Kind of Legal Now

http://benswann.com/breaking-did-the-federal-government-just-legalize-marijuana/

Smokedown Prohibition VIII

https://www.facebook.com/events/150027531864769/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slt7F42IUTs&feature=share&list=PLfSTvfNLk-3mbv9HFo8JH7I6DlhMF093y

NO US Intervention with Syra

https://www.facebook.com/events/404768706301829/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-SCPtUKgRo

Sunday, September 1st, 2013. 1 ounce of silver is 24 dollars. 1 Bitcoin is 140 dollars. Peace News Now is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com. Learn about bitcoin at http://WeUseCoins.com

Amanda Kooser writes for CNET: “Welcome to McDonald’s. My name is HAL 9000. May I take your order?”

McDonalds recently went on a hiring binge in the U.S., adding 62,000 employees to its roster. The hiring picture doesn’t look quite so rosy for Europe, where the fast food chain is drafting 7,000 touch-screen kiosks to handle cashiering duties.

The move is designed to boost efficiency and make ordering more convenient for customers. In an interview with the Financial Times, McDonald’s Europe President Steve Easterbrook notes that the new system will also open up a goldmine of data. McDonald’s could potentially track every Big Mac, McNugget, and large shake you order. A calorie account tally at the end of the year could be a real shocker.

The touch screens will only accept debit or credit cards, adding to the slow death knell of cash and coins.

Speaking of the death of cash, this story is brought to you by the Suns of Liberty Mint. Trade value for value with “Fine Silver Quarters” from the Suns of Liberty Mint. 4 quarters to a troy ounce. The most divisible, usable silver on the planet. Order some today at Suns of Liberty Mint (dot) com.

Michael Lofti of the Tenth Amendment Center writes at http://BenSwann.com :

As states continue to nullify federal laws against marijuana and hemp, the federal government has been faced with an important question. It’s been more than 75 years, and marijuana and hemp  still remain illegal. Never mind the total lack of reasoning  behind the federal government’s ban. Is it time to end the law?

Less than 24 hours ago, it all came crashing down. According to the Associated Press, the justice department said that states can allow citizens to use the drug, license people to grow it and allow them to purchase it in stores. As long as the drug is kept away from the black market, children and federal property– It’s a go!

According to Mike Maharrey, national communications director for the Tenth Amendment Center:

“The genie is out of the bottle and she won’t ever go back in. The feds have lost and they know it. No matter how Holder and the DEA couch their words in an attempt to maintain an illusion of control, state actions continue to effectively nullify these unconstitutional marijuana laws.“

When asked if the federal government just essentially legalized marijuana Maharrey responded:

“The announcement makes it clear the feds have no will to fight the states on weed. They can call it an “illegal drug” all they want, but if they can’t, or won’t, stop people from using marijuana, their “law” means nothing.”

The recent surge in nullification has sent states fighting against the federal government on pot use. It would seem that the federal government just gave up.

One group that *won’t* give up are the Smoke Down Prohibition Protesters.

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Peace activists in Philadelphia organized a rally and march from City Hall down Market Street to the Liberty Bell 10 blocks away. There, they held signs and gave speeches criticizing US imperialism and intervention abroad, specifically in response to the Obama Administration’s trigger-happy attitude toward Syria. While over a hundred people marched in the street, it’s tough to put a number on the participants, since there was a lot of spill-over from another event–a pro-cannabis rally, which also took place at the Liberty Bell.

The rally, called Smoke Down Prohibition 8, featured comedians, activists, politicians, and performers giving speeches about living free and taking the consequences in order to change the culture around us. Despite the heavy police presence, there was a moment of marijuana reflection wherein participants lit-up at 4:20pm. 8 people were cited for smoking weed on federal property — a violation redressable with a $175 fine. Video & Updates to come on http://PeaceNewsNow.com , and NA Poe of the Panic Hour will be joining your peaceful news anchor on Peace News Now Live tonight at 5pm Eastern Standard Time.

Peace News Now is on the Next News Network and is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com. I want you to share this episode, and if you enjoyed it, send some bitcoin to http://PeaceNewsNow.com/Donate. I’m Derrick J, reminding you that Peace is the way!

Mentioned in this article: Michael Lofti, Ben Swann, Tenth Amendment Center, Suns of Liberty Mint, silver, Philadelphia, The Panic Hour, Philly NORML, Next News Network

PNN #192 Show Notes http://bit.ly/17rYkVW

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BITCOIN CHIPIN!

https://bitcoinchipin.com/

Permit to Baptize

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/08/30/btodd-american-dispatchb-feds-forced-churches-to-get-baptism-permits/

Ron Paul Calls Syria a “False Flag” Event

http://www.infowars.com/ron-paul-syria-chemical-attack-a-flase-flag/

USDA Permits Gardening

http://www.activistpost.com/2013/08/4-yr-old-rosie-will-have-garden-next.html

Saturday, August 31st 2013. 1 ounce of silver is 24 dollars. 1 Bitcoin is 140 dollars. Peace News Now is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com. Learn about Bitcoin at http://WeUseCoins.com

So you got yourself a bitcoin wallet. Congratulations! You can now freely accept bitcoin! But how will people send you donations? Putting a widget on your website makes it easy for visitors to send you bitcoins instantly. Until now, fundraiser widgets have only been available for paypal and credit cards, which are loaded with fees from the antiquated 20th century banking system.

Enter http://BitcoinChipin.com — http://BitcoinChipin.com allows users to create professional-looking bitcoin fundraiser widgets–completely free. (But they do take donations, so if you make money on their service, hopefully you’ll pay it forward to those who helped make it possible.)

Go check it out for yourself. http://BitcoinChipin.com

And if you don’t have a wallet yet, I recommend getting started at http://Blockchain.info . Some call http://Blockchain.info the most secure web-based wallet because the encryption happens right in *your* browser. There’s a full video instruction tutorial at http://Bitcoin.PeaceNewsNow.com

Fox News reported yesterday that agents of the federal government began enforcing a policy recently that required churches to obtain special use permits in order to baptize in public water. As part of the same permit process, the National Park Service also mandated that churches give *them* 48 hours advance notice of pending baptisms.

This immediately caused controversy among pastors like Dennis Purcell, who said quote, “If the Holy Spirit is working on Sunday morning, you’re going to baptize Sunday afternoon. You may not know ahead of time.” Many Christians believe that the Bible commands new followers of Christ to be baptized immediately after their conversion. It’s a public expression and celebration of their new-found faith in Christ. Agents of the State told the pastors they are protecting the park from the people, or as they put it, quote, “maintain park natural resources and quality visitor experiences.”

But police wouldn’t *arrest* anyone for performing a baptism without a permit, right? That’s true. While no one has been cuffed and caged for performing a baptism without a permit, in 2011 agents of the state *did* shut down an ocean church baptism in Miami. We all know what happens if you keep doing something police have told you to stop doing.

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The New York Times reported yesterday that the Syrian president’s son posted a strange and provoking diatribe to facebook. Although apparently “liked” and commented on by several people who appear to be the children and grandchildren of the Assad regime, it’s unlikely the post is authentic. As the Times itself notes, quote, “the owner of the account wrote that he was a graduate of Oxford University and a player for a Barcelona soccer team, neither of which would be likely to appear on the résumé of an 11-year-old boy in Damascus.” This may offer a glimpse into the mindset of Syria’s ruling elite as the country braces for a potential Western invasion.

Here is an excerpt from the post allegedly by Hafez Assad, quote, “I just want them to attack sooo much, because I want them to make this huge mistake of beginning something that they don’t know the end of it.”

Ron Paul commented on the unfolding situation in Syria on Fox Business this Wednesday. In the interview, he called the recent chemical attack a ‘false flag’ likely carried out by the US backed Al Qaeda filled rebels. Quote, “I think it’s a false flag…Why don’t we ask about the Al Qaeda? Why are we on the side of the Al Qaeda right now?”

Good questions.

Meanwhile, JG Vibes over at http://Intellihub.com reports yesterday that the primary “witness” that the mainstream media is using as a source in Syria has been caught staging fake news segments.  Recent video evidence proves that “Syria Danny,” the supposed activist who has been begging for military intervention on CNN, is really just a paid actor and a liar.

Peace News Now does not deny the death and violence happening in Syria right now. However, in your own pursuit of the facts, be aware that the mainstream media is scripted and staged propaganda.

Ending on a positive note, congratulations activists! Peace News Now reported on 4-year-old Rosie, whose family was being threatened over her backyard garden. Their property managers claimed the Federal Government doesn’t allow them to alter their landscaping to include a garden because they live in government housing. After food freedom activists generated a maelstrom of publicity highlighting this gross infringement, the USDA’s Rural Development Agency responded that it has no such policy, and Rosie’s family will be left to garden in peace.

Peace News Now is on the Next News Network and is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com. I want you to share this episode, and if you enjoyed it, send some bitcoin to http://PeaceNewsNow.com/Donate. I’m Derrick J, reminding you that Peace is the way!

PNN #191 Show Notes http://bit.ly/15aPfLc

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Rich Paul Files for Keene Mayoral Race

http://freekeene.com/2013/08/29/rich-paul-files-for-keene-mayoral-race/

Keene Committee Hears Cannabis Decrim Proposal

http://freekeene.com/2013/08/29/city-committee-hears-cannabis-decrim-proposal/

Russia Evacuating Its Citizens from Syria

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-08-28/russia-evacuating-its-citizens-syria

Syrian Rebel Cuts Out Soldiers Heart and Eats It

http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/video-syrian-rebel-cuts-out-soldiers-heart-and-eats-it-nsfw/

Syrian Father Reunites with Son He Thought Was Dead

http://www.businessinsider.com/syria-father-son-reunited-2013-8

Congress Already Against Intervention in Syria

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBA3CMZzMkg

Police Needlessly Forced Women to Strip Nude

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2402030/Police-department-forced-women-needlessly-strip-cells-recorded-using-toilet.html

Obama Takes More Guns

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-exclusive-obama-offers-new-gun-control-steps

DMX Arrested for Weed

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/21/entertainment-us-usa-rapper-arrest-idUSBRE97K17Q20130821

Friday, August 30th 2013. 1 ounce of silver is 24 dollars. 1 Bitcoin is 125 dollars. Peace News Now is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com. Learn about bitcoin at http://WeUseCoins.com

Rich Paul is running for mayor – from inside the Cheshire jail. Ian Freeman reports at http://FreeKeene.com that he took Rich’s declaration of candidacy down to the city clerk’s office today and filed the $5 fee to get him on the ballot. Thus far the Keene mayoral race only has incumbent Kendall Lane (an attorney) and now Rich Paul, a former flower salesman. Only two weeks remain until the filing deadline – will anyone else enter the race?

Also, when was the last time you wrote or visited Rich? Rich Paul went to jail for your liberties. If you don’t live near Keene, did you know you can visit him from your webcam? http://securustech.net/videovisitation Have you sent him mail? Did you know you can do that free via Mail-to-Jail? (^ Links to instructions in our show notes.)

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Liberty activist David Crawford recently submitted to the city council in Keene a proposal to have the council send a resolution to the legislators encouraging them to decriminalize cannabis. The city council assigned the issue to the Planning, Licensing, and Development committee and it was given a public hearing this week. Several at the hearing spoke in favor of the measure, and none against, including Keene Police Chief Ken Meola, who did speak, but only to answer a question about legality. Of course, he wasn’t completely telling the truth when he said this is a “legislative issue”. He knows he has discretion and can choose not to enforce laws at will, as Ian pointed out later in my comments.

We also learned that it appears the city people may have dropped the ball on sending a letter to the legislature in 2009, when a similar request was brought forth by, of all people, Fred Parsells! No one could seem to remember all the details so city boss John Maclean promised to research the issue and come back with a more accurate version of past events at the next PLD meeting in two weeks. The issue was given, quote, “more time” and will be raised again on Wed, September 11th at 7pm at city hall.

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The drums of war are beating in Syria, and Russia is evacuating its citizens. According to The Telegraph, a total of 180 people, mostly women and children, returned to Moscow on-board a plane which landed late on Tuesday. After filling the up first plane, Russia had to send another to retrieve the fleeing people. The plane also bore humanitarian aid for about 30,000 other Russians that are still living across the country.

It’s probably smart to leave that place. A video surfaced online yesterday on Austin Peterson’s site, http://TheLibertarianRepublic.com, which featured a Syrian Rebel Cutting out the heart of a Syrian Army soldier and eating it. On the other end of that spectrum, ubiquitous video technology gave viewers the opportunity to watch the touching reuniting of a Syrian Father with his son, that he thought was dead.

Also in the news this week: Eleven women are suing a Washington state police department over claims that they were needlessly and inappropriately video recorded as police forced them to strip nude and use a jail cell toilet. The Obama Administration proposed two new restrictions on the trade of firearms, and rapper DMX was arrested for weed in South Carolina.

Peace News Now is on the Next News Network and is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com. I want you to share this episode, and if you enjoyed it, send some bitcoin to http://PeaceNewsNow.com/Donate. I’m Derrick J, reminding you that Peace is the way!

PNN #189 Show Notes http://bit.ly/18Z8J8R

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Thanks But No Bearcat

http://concord-nh.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/hundreds-sign-antibearcat-petition-in-concord

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant Shuts Down

http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2013/08/27/vermont-yankee-nuclear-plant-shut-down/VthM9oe73f8zeaHdWJJOVN/story.html

Bike Re-Thieved With Help from Technology

http://grist.org/list/girl-steals-bike-back-from-bike-thief/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=update&utm_campaign=socialflow

Wednesday, August 28th 2013. 1 ounce of silver is 25 dollars. 1 Bitcoin is 125 dollars. Peace News Now is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com.

Concord residents and activists on Aug. 24, collected hundreds of petitions from other residents against a city council proposal to accept a federal grant for a Lenco Bearcat armored vehicle.

The activists held a press conference outside City Hall on Aug. 26, calling on the city to reject the Bearcat. The proposal has garnered a lot of press and scrutiny ever since it was revealed in the grant application that Concord’s police chief, John Duval, had mentioned that the armored vehicle was needed due to the potential for domestic terrorist threats, brought about by groups like the Free State Project and Occupy New Hampshire.

Pam Ean, a Concord resident who is a former police officer and teacher, told those in attendance that it was time for local residents to draw a line in the sand when it came to federal spending, deficits, and debt, and reject the Bearcat, which costs over a quarter million dollars.

She said, quote, “The federal government continues to spend money it does not have in this way as long as our local governments allows them to do so. The buck must stop here in Concord.”

Carla Gericke, the president of the Free State Project, who has been active with the issue ever since the grant application came to light, called on the three city officials involved in the request to resign from their jobs. She said calling the group domestic terrorists was offensive and wrong.

At the end of the press conference, Ean said activists would continue to collect signatures and would present the final number to the Concord City Council before its Sept. 9, hearing, when it is scheduled to take a vote on the matter. The Concord School Board will consider the Bearcat proposal this evening.

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The company that owns the Vermont Yankee nuclear power announced yesterday that its plant will be shut down, bringing to a close a long-running, divisive battle over the plant.

While activists have criticized the plant for years, the company said its decision was based, in the end, on economics. The company blamed a variety of factors, including the boom in natural gas that has driven down natural gas and wholesale energy prices, the high cost of operating the plant, and what it called wholesale market “design flaws.”

Leo Denault, chairman and chief executive of Entergy, said quote, “We are committed to the safe and reliable operation of Vermont Yankee until shutdown, followed by a safe, orderly and environmentally responsible decommissioning process.”

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A young woman in Vancouver found her stolen bike posted for sale on Craigslist, so she contacted the thief posing as an interested buyer, took the bike for a test ride — and just kept riding.

The woman contacted police immediately when her bike was stolen, then called them back when her friend sent her the Craigslist post. But they said they might not be able to get back to her today — and by the time they could make it, she reasoned, the bike might be sold and gone, instead of being a mere two blocks away in the custody of a lazy thief. She described the decision-making process in a Reddit post. When she arrived, she recognized the bike immediately by its identifying stickers (although she also checked the serial number later, and it was a match). So when the seller cautiously allowed her to take a test ride, she got on the bike and just rolled away. It’s actually a hilariously Canadian story — she asked politely if she could try the wares, he politely but warily said “yeah, but don’t take off,” and she politely and quietly took off anyway. And then, she politely called back and apologized for not paying him!

I don’t necessarily condone bike re-thievery, but I have to admit that everyone in this story got basically what they deserved. It’s all very inspiring and heartwarming.

Peace News Now is on the Next News Network and is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com. I want you to share this episode, and if you enjoyed it, send some bitcoin to http://PeaceNewsNow.com/Donate. I’m Derrick J, reminding you that Peace is the way!

PNN #188 Show Notes http://bit.ly/15dMSxe

http://WeUseCoins.com

Naked Bike Ride

http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2013/08/26/14-photos-naked-video-phillys-naked-bike-ride/

Harvard Says: Guns Save Lives

http://www.smallgovtimes.com/article/harvard-study-reveals-gun-control-counterproductive/

Bitcoin Lobbyists Ask Govt to Lay Off

http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/26/4657950/bitcoin-lobbyists-host-meet-and-greet-with-homeland-security-and

Pastafarian Wears Spaghetti Strainer for DMV Photo

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/26/texas-pastafarian-license-photo_n_3816839.html

Tuesday, August 27th 2013. 1 ounce of silver is 25 dollars. 1 Bitcoin is 125 dollars. Peace News Now is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com.

The 5th annual Naked Bike Ride took place in Philly this Sunday. About 3-thousand people participated in biking around the city nude or semi-nude.

According to the website, the main reason for the bike ride is to promote cycling advocacy. The ride raises awareness about fuel consumption and environmental impacts of the car culture. But why naked?

Organizers say it’s about promoting a positive body image. And also, because it’s fun.

In other news, a new Harvard study attempts to answer the question of whether or not banning firearms reduces murders and suicides.  Researchers looked at crime data from several European countries and found that countries with HIGHER gun ownership often had LOWER murder rates.

Russia, for example, enforces very strict gun control on its people, but its murder rate remains quite high.  In fact, the murder rate in Russia is four times higher than in the “gun-ridden” United States, cites the study.  ”Homicide results suggest that where guns are scarce other weapons are substituted in killings.”  In other words, the elimination of guns does not eliminate murder, and in the case of gun-controlled Russia, murder rates are quite high.

The study revealed several European countries with significant gun ownership, like Norway, Finland, Germany and France – had remarkably low murder rates. Contrast that with Luxembourg, “where handguns are totally banned and ownership of any kind of gun is minimal, had a murder rate nine times higher than Germany. Many speculate that murder rates around the world would be higher if guns were more available. But there is simply no evidence to support this. The determinants of murder and suicide are basic social, economic, and cultural factors, not the prevalence of some form of deadly mechanism.” Meaning, it’s not guns that kill people. People kill people.

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Members of the Bitcoin Foundation, the trade organization that represents the virtual currency that approximates cash on the internet, held a series of, quote, “educational meetings” yesterday with politicians, regulators, law enforcement officials, and federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, Treasury Department, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The overall message that the Foundation is trying to send is that Bitcoin has proven itself to be a useful and enduring tool, and that the US will suffer competitively if the currency becomes illegal or too onerous to use under American law. In March, a division of the Treasury Department announced that certain Bitcoin businesses must register with the federal government, a requirement the Foundation says would be crippling for many startups.

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Trips to the DMV don’t typically elicit genuine smiles, but from beneath a metal pasta strainer, Texas Tech student and practicing Pastafarian Eddie Castillo flashed the “biggest, cheesiest” one he could muster last week.

The triumphant moment came after a lengthy fight with the state’s Department of Public Safety that the unusual headgear was protected as part of his religious beliefs. He worships the Flying Spaghetti Monster, a deity created by an atheist in 2005 in protest of the Kansas School Board’s defense of teaching intelligent design. According to its founding principles, quote, “the only dogma allowed in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is the rejection of dogma.”

Castillo is the first American to successfully have his government-issued photo identification taken while wearing a colander, but it may not last: Bureaucrats at the Dept of Public Safety are reportedly planning to follow up with Castillo in order to “rectify” the situation…(for the public safety, of course). Others have tried unsuccessfully, and Castillo was surprised at his victory, which he called a “political and religious milestone for all atheists everywhere.”

Peace News Now is on the Next News Network and is brought to you in part by friends of http://WeUseCoins.com. I want you to share this episode, and if you enjoyed it, send some bitcoin to http://PeaceNewsNow.com/Donate. I’m Derrick J, reminding you that Peace is the way!