Monthly Archives: August 2015

Bitcoin Companies Terminate Service in NY due to BitLicense Compliance Costs

Posted on by

“The world’s largest peer-to-peer bitcoin marketplace Local Bitcoins and bitcoin marketplace BitQuick have terminated their services in New York due to the strict restrictions and fees demanded by New York’s BitLicense.  Local Bitcoins is a unique case; as every single seller on Local Bitcoins would be required to pay $5,000 to apply for BitLicense.  New Yorkers who have depended on the services of Local Bitcoins would have to cross the river and sell or purchase bitcoin in New Jersey legally.  The worst part, BitQuick and Shapeshift say, is that the government is trying to get hold of sensitive customer data of all exchanges.”

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/21553/bitquick-local-bitcoins-terminate-service-ny-due-bitlicense-compliance-costs/

Scan to Donate Bitcoin to Freedomwat.ch Staff
Did you like this?
Tip Freedomwat.ch Staff with Bitcoin
Donate via Installed Wallet

Georgia’s civil asset forfeiture ‘reform’ to go into effect

Posted on by

“HB 233 was signed by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to reform civil asset forfeiture laws. The new legislation requires law enforcement agencies to be more transparent about how seized money is spent and requires the money to be used only for law enforcement purposes. However, the burden will still be on property owners to get their property back as law enforcement’s burden of proof is still low, requiring only a ‘preponderance of evidence,’ or 50 percent plus 1 in order to seize property.  One of the worst parts of Georgia’s civil asset forfeiture laws is instead of seized property going to a general state fund or the local governing body, the seized assets go to the law enforcement agency.”

http://watchdog.org/226638/civil-asset-forfeiture-reform-georgia/

Scan to Donate Bitcoin to Freedomwat.ch Staff
Did you like this?
Tip Freedomwat.ch Staff with Bitcoin
Donate via Installed Wallet

Leave “My Cash” Alone, Says Oklahoma Sheriff

Posted on by

“After a concerned individual recounted his unfortunate encounters with Oklahoma police, Sheriff Edwards dismissed him as having ‘bad luck.’ It seems that Oklahomans must count on ‘luck’ not to be improperly targeted for their property.  SB 838 would also transfer the assets seized to the State General Fund and away from police department budgets. Edwards claimed that this money was critical to combatting drugs and other public health risks. However, a federal audit of Oklahoma law enforcement agencies show that large sums of seized assets are returned to agency personnel in the form of salaries and benefits, for administrative tasks, and non-law enforcement purposes.”

http://www.atr.org/leave-my-cash-alone-says-oklahoma-sheriff

Scan to Donate Bitcoin to Freedomwat.ch Staff
Did you like this?
Tip Freedomwat.ch Staff with Bitcoin
Donate via Installed Wallet

Entrepreneurs find new hope in fight against regulators

Posted on by

“Two years ago the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology threatened to fine and shut down two makeup instruction businesses owned by Lissette Waugh and Wendy Robin.  If Waugh and Robin want to teach makeup artistry, according to state licensing laws, their businesses would need to become licensed as cosmetology schools and invest thousands of dollars in unnecessary equipment and facilities. Robin said, ‘The state asked me to have bigger facilities, up to 5,000 square feet, with 10 special shampoo sinks, facial chairs and equipment to give pedicures and manicures, costing $75,000 or more.’  The state also requires 700 hours of special training in subjects like hair coloring, facials and manicuring.”

http://watchdog.org/190793/nevada-occupational-licensing-laws/

Scan to Donate Bitcoin to Freedomwat.ch Staff
Did you like this?
Tip Freedomwat.ch Staff with Bitcoin
Donate via Installed Wallet

Green Cab v. City of Bowling Green

Posted on by

“Bowling Green makes it impossible to start a taxi company. Not figuratively impossible—the problem is not that its requirements for insurance or driver qualifications are too onerous. Literally impossible: City law says only 16 taxi permits are allowed in Bowling Green, and it is illegal to issue any more. To make matters worse, the city government owns almost half of them (even though it does not run a taxi service, but only a shuttle service). Bowling Green’s taxicab cap prohibits Green Cab, or any newcomer, from offering taxi services to the public—and, as a direct result, Bowling Green simply lacks the kind of on-demand taxi service that Green Cab so effectively offers in Athens.”

https://www.ij.org/bowling-green-taxis

Scan to Donate Bitcoin to Freedomwat.ch Staff
Did you like this?
Tip Freedomwat.ch Staff with Bitcoin
Donate via Installed Wallet

Texas repeals regulations on hair braiding

Posted on by

“Three decades into her career as a hair braider, Isis Brantley has struggled with lawsuits and regulatory hurdles. Once, she was even arrested, she says.  But on Monday she moved over to the right side of the law. Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill lifting regulations on hair braiding in Texas. And Brantley was honored at the signing ceremony as a key reason for the change.  The legislation, House Bill 2717, would exempt hair braiders like Brantley from obtaining a cosmetology license to run a braiding business. Prior to its passage, state law required that braiders meet the same training and facilities requirements as barbers and cosmetologists — even though braiders don’t use any chemicals or tools.”

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/texas-repeals-regulations-on-hair-braiding/

Scan to Donate Bitcoin to Freedomwat.ch Staff
Did you like this?
Tip Freedomwat.ch Staff with Bitcoin
Donate via Installed Wallet

Kerry Calls for Democracy as US Flag Is Raised in Cuba

Posted on by

“Jubilant crowds waved American flags and chanted “Long live the United States!” as the Stars and Stripes rose over the newly reopened U.S. Embassy in Cuba on Friday after a half-century of often-hostile relations. Secretary of State John Kerry celebrated the day but also made an extraordinary, nationally broadcast call for democratic change on the island.  Kerry and Rodriguez said their nations would continue to disagree over issues such as democracy and human rights. But they also said they hoped to make progress on issues ranging from maritime security and public health to the billions of dollars in dueling claims over confiscation of U.S. property and the U.S. economic embargo on the island.”

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/top-us-diplomat-flies-cuba-policy-victory-lap-33076435?singlePage=true

Scan to Donate Bitcoin to Freedomwat.ch Staff
Did you like this?
Tip Freedomwat.ch Staff with Bitcoin
Donate via Installed Wallet

Kenyan slums dispense clean drinking water through ATMs

Posted on by

“The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage company has just opened four ATM-like kiosks that will dispense 20 liters of potable water for just half a Kenya shilling (about half a US penny). That’s 100 times less expensive than what vendors charge for the same amount. Residents simply have to swipe a smart card and put a jug under the spigot, and the access card balances can be refilled either at the kiosk itself or via mobile phone.  The plan is not new — it’s actually been in use in rural Kenya for a while now — but it’s thought to be the first time such a distribution scheme has been tried in an urban city center.”

http://www.engadget.com/2015/06/22/kenyan-slums-dispense-clean-drinking-water-through-atms/

Scan to Donate Bitcoin to Freedomwat.ch Staff
Did you like this?
Tip Freedomwat.ch Staff with Bitcoin
Donate via Installed Wallet

Kenya, home to Africa’s ‘Silicon Valley’, is set to be the continent’s tech hub

Posted on by

“Dubbed ‘Silicon Savannah’, this is an area in Kenya that has attracted a range of tech start-ups and venture capital firms. International tech giants such as Google, Intel, Nokia and Microsoft have sites in Nairobi and IBM has recently opened a new tower block, the IBM Innovation Centre, which is the company’s first research lab in Africa.   Furthermore, in Konza, 60 kilometres away from Nairobi, construction of a new techno-city is planned. These investments are clear votes in confidence in Kenya’s status as a globally-recognised hub for technology and innovation.  Kenya’s technology services sector has grown from £11m in 2002 to more than £300 million in 2013.”

http://mgafrica.com/article/2015-02-19-why-kenya-is-africas-tech-hub

Scan to Donate Bitcoin to Freedomwat.ch Staff
Did you like this?
Tip Freedomwat.ch Staff with Bitcoin
Donate via Installed Wallet

Dallas Puts the Brakes on Hard-Working Mechanic

Posted on by

“Hinga Mbogo immigrated to Dallas from Kenya to live the American dream—but Dallas officials had other plans for him.  City officials are demanding that Hinga stop repairing cars at his popular shop, Hinga’s Automotive Company, because it doesn’t fit in with their plans to reimagine the up-and-coming neighborhood. The city barred Hinga from using his land for auto repair and told him to close his business after letting an ‘amortization’ period pass.  Dallas officials are using this technique to avoid compensating Hinga for the time and money he invested in his business and property. So even though the city is wrenching away this hard-working mechanic’s livelihood, the city isn’t paying him a dime.”

http://www.ij.org/dallas-puts-the-brakes-on-hard-working-mechanic

Scan to Donate Bitcoin to Freedomwat.ch Staff
Did you like this?
Tip Freedomwat.ch Staff with Bitcoin
Donate via Installed Wallet