Local courts reviving ‘debtors’ prison’ for overdue fines, fees

“As if out of a Charles Dickens novel, people struggling to pay overdue fines and fees associated with court costs for even the simplest traffic infractions are being thrown in jail across the United States.  Critics are calling the practice the new ‘debtors’ prison’ — referring to the jails that flourished in the U.S. and Western Europe over 150 years ago. Advocates are trying to convince courts that aside from the legal questions surrounding the practice, it is disproportionately jailing poor people and doesn’t even boost government revenues — in fact, governments lose money in the process.  Courts are dragging people in for fines and fees that have ballooned due to interest imposed on the initial sums.”

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/28/local-courts-reviving-debtors-prison-for-overdue-fines-fees/

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Bike Lanes by Casey Neistat [2011]

“Little movie about a ticket i got for riding my bike not in the bike lane.”

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Atlanta Installs Urine Detection System in MARTA Elevators

“To help stop people from urinating in the elevators, MARTA has installed a urine detection system in the elevators. That system includes sensors that are able to detect urine and a camera to catch the offender literally with their pants down.  The sensors alert MARTA police who are able to respond immediately and catch the offender in the act. The transit system currently has 111 elevators, and one offender has already been caught. While the efforts to catch habitual urinators are admirable, the system doesn’t come cheap. The urine detection system reportedly costs about $10,000 per elevator.”

http://www.dailytech.com/Atlanta+Installs+Urine+Detection+System+in+MARTA+Elevators/article33998.htm

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The Mike Bloomberg Legacy: 12 Years of Little Tyrannies in 2 Minutes!

“After 12 years, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg leaves office on New Year’s Day, 2014.  His legacy goes far beyond his nanny state war on cigarette smoke, salts and fat, but into his use of the NYPD (which he described as ‘his personal army’) to spy on citizens and stop-and-frisk young men of color en masse, as well as his abuse of eminent domain to seize private property and hand it over to his fellow billionaire developers for massive vanity projects.  Reason TV takes a brief year-by-year look back at Mayor Bloomberg’s most outrageous assaults on freedom of choice and civil liberties.”

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New laws in 2014: From tanning bed bans to ‘lemon pets’

“Colorado: Drivers will see a new annual $50 fee for plug-in electric cars. Colorado is one of several states looking to capture revenue from alternative fuel, electric and hybrid vehicles.  Connecticut: New gun-control laws in the aftermath of the school shooting in Newtown include mandatory registration of all assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines bought before April 2013, and creation of a statewide registry that will track parolees whose crimes involved weapons.  Delaware: Sale, possession or distribution of shark fins prohibited.  Florida: Expanded early voting.  Maine: Becomes the 48th state to require a check-off for organ donation on driver’s licenses.”

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/29/new-laws-january-first/4219901/

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What Does Government Do When People Start Living Healthier? Tax That

“What happens when the government’s grand Nanny State plan works and people start living the healthier, more environmentally friendly lives city and state functionaries want for us? Will they start scaling back all these programs funded by those now-redeemed sinners? No, don’t be silly. They’ll start looking for new ways to tax them. Several states and municipalities are looking for ways to drag revenue off of bicyclists. A Chicago City Council member proposed a $25 annual tax for cyclists.  Oops.”

http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/27/what-does-government-do-when-people-star

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No free meals? IRS considers taxing perks at Google, other tech firms

“For thousands of Bay Area techies blessed to be working for benevolent behemoths like Google (GOOG) and Facebook, there could be an end to the free lunch. And the free shuttle to work. And maybe even the free haircut.  As firms pile on benefits to attract and retain the brightest of the bright, it has increasingly been part of the job description of Silicon Valley tech workers that they be pampered nearly to death with perks. But now the IRS is reportedly examining whether free food — and the other free perks — provided by Silicon Valley tech companies qualifies as a fringe benefit on which employees should pay additional tax.”

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_22982220/irs-is-looking-into-whether-free-meals-at

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Utah Gets Ready To Do Without the Feds

“Like most westerners, Utahns are pissed about federal control of land and purse strings. Unlike most, though, they seem serious about reshaping that relationship.  In 2012, Utah passed the Transfer of Public Lands Act, essentially demanding that the federal government surrender the two-thirds of the state controlled by Washington, D.C. Other western states are considering similar measures, but Utah paved the way.  But Utah is preparing to go a step further and plans for a future that isn’t funded by federal largesse. The state passed a series of bills as part of a Financial Ready Utah movement.  Utahns foresee a day when whatever they want done will have to be paid by local funds.”

http://reason.com/blog/2013/12/26/utah-gets-ready-to-do-without-the-feds

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Northern California counties revive an old idea for a breakaway state

“Late this month another voice joined the mix: Citing the State of Jefferson movement as inspiration, Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper launched a state ballot initiative to carve up California — into six states.  Political analysts say congressional Democrats would never go for it. But an elated Baird is working to arrange a meeting with Draper.  But Mark Baird and others are convinced that a ‘more favorable regulatory environment’ could help them boost a region with some of California’s highest poverty and unemployment rates.  They expect they might be ignored in Sacramento. In that event, they plan to take their fight to federal court to try to poke holes in Reynolds vs. Sims.”

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-rural-secession-20131229,0,1098133,full.story

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Google, Yahoo back doors to US intel agencies: Ex-security official

“Richard A. Falkenrath, a former US Deputy Homeland Security Advisor, said in a Tuesday interview with Bloomberg television that the ‘US government has too much access to the privacy’ of Internet users.  Falkenrath said the progress in information technology (IT) and computer servers has in recent years been significantly beyond the imagination of US policymakers.   He said confidential documents have recently revealed that the US government and its intelligence organizations have extensive access to the encoded data and communications of people through companies providing email services.”

http://presstv.com/detail/2013/12/25/341863/us-internet-firms-invade-user-privacy/

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