Month: September 2021

Sixth Circuit Says Callers Liable for Illegal Robocalls Made in 2015-2020

EPIC Amicus Filing Lindenbaum

Sixth Circuit Says Callers Liable for Illegal Robocalls Made in 2015-2020

The Sixth Circuit has rejected a robocall defendant’s bid to use the Supreme Court’s decision last year in Barr v. American Association of Political Consultants to create immunity for illegal robocalls made between 2015 and 2020. In Barr, the Supreme Court found that an exception added in 2015 to the decades-old robocall restriction was unconstitutional and must be severed from the law. The defendant in the case before the Sixth Circuit, Lindenbaum v. Realgy, LLC, argued that the decision in Barr made the broad robocall ban unenforceable for the period between the unconstitutional exception’s enactment and the Supreme Court’s decision to sever, from 2015-2020. The district court agreed and threw the lawsuit out. The Sixth Circuit’s decision reverses the district court and allows the robocall suit to continue. EPIC and the National Consumer Law Center filed an amicus brief in the case arguing that granting robocallers immunity “would reward those who made tens of billions of unwanted robocalls and deprive consumers of any remedy for the incessant invasion of their privacy.” EPIC regularly files amicus briefs supporting consumers in illegal robocall cases.

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The Absolute State of Money in 2021

Jeff Deist: You recently completed a series of articles for the Mises Institute, which we will publish in book form, on how money works today. Why is it important for average people to understand the mechanics of the plumbing of central and commercial banks?

Bob Murphy: There’s two main reasons. First, it’s intrinsically interesting. That’s why I went into economics. Just like the average person should know the basics about physics and chemistry and Darwin’s theory of evolution, likewise, the average person needs to know: How does money work, how do banks work? Just the raw basics of it because it’s an important part of modern society, even premodern society, in terms of money. But beyond that, because central banks certainly since 2008 and even more so in the wake of the pandemic in 2020 have done lots of things that I believe are setting the world up for a series of major financial crises, and the average person needs to know about this.

JD: Considering the monetary and fiscal machinations engaged in by governments since the pandemic, it’s as though we lost any sense of what money is. It seems unlimited. People on Twitter tell us money is just information, or energy in a system.

BM: I do know what you’re saying. On the one hand, I can’t bristle too much when outsiders, people like Eric Weinstein, come forward and they say the economists have just botched it. I get why they’re saying it, because the economists have done such a poor job. It’s hard for me to say hey, stay in your lane, leave money to the economists. But, on the other hand, you’re right. We shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that the older-school economists and the ones in the Austrian tradition don’t know anything and that there’s no point in reading them. There are lots of fallacies that intelligent people who are not conversant with the economics literature might fall prey to, just like if you go into philosophy, there are lots of detours, and you would do well to take a basic course in philosophy to avoid fallacies that plagued people centuries ago. Likewise with money, there are lots of ways you can go down the wrong path, and some of these bright people who are spouting off on Twitter are just going over stuff that was demolished by Mises in 1912. They’re just repeating those fallacies and it’s because they never heard of it before.

JD: To be fair, the average Joe or Jane might well say money is just this made-up thing government tells us to use.

BM: Exactly, and it’s interesting because there is this sense in which money is a social convention, but it’s not merely a social convention. Just like spoken language is a social convention in a sense but that doesn’t mean words can just mean whatever you want. Money is a complex topic and it is easy to think of money incorrectly and certainly to then endorse government policies…

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Self Herding

The Soil Learning Center is a hub of resources for farmers & growers who are on the regenerative journey. A platform created by soil lovers at Farming Secrets Media Group.

The goal of Soil Learning Center is just that: creating a central online space bringing together resources, education, content and inspiration, to better your growing practices, boost profits and product quality with an emphasis on sustainability and promote freedom from climate change.

For today’s modern farmers, you can’t afford to not know about regenerative farming and how these practices can help you succeed. 

We’ll also discuss successful stories from other farmers and growers who have found their unique solutions using nature’s tools with this new form of agriculture. 

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What Exactly Is This “Great Reset” People Keep Talking About?

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by Jeff Thompson

For those who may not know, (and those who do) here is a primer on The Great Reset.

Buckle your seat belts for this one because it’s more chilling than any horror movie you’ve ever seen. You’ve heard your “crazy” friend at work bring it up in conversation. Perhaps you heard it briefly mentioned on TV the other day. And now you’re left wondering, “Just what on earth is The Great Reset?”

Meet the World Economic Forum (WEF)

You’ve heard of the WEF before. They’ve been in the news quite a bit for the past year or so. The reason? The Great Reset initiative. It is there that a man by the name of Klaus Schwabb runs the show. Schwabb founded the WEF and is one of the most powerful men in the world.

Each year the World Economic Forum hosts an event at a ski resort in the mountains of Switzerland where “the self-proclaimed global elite” meet to discuss global problems they can all work together to “fix.”

Generally, WEF invites 1500 people from roughly 70 countries to attend. All the attendees play major roles in various sectors of society, with a large portion of those invited being major players in the worlds of politics and business. 

In 2020, Schwabb released a book titled COVID-19: The Great Reset, in which he lays out his plans for what he believes needs to happen next.  

Now, let’s talk about Agendas

First, you need to understand one thing: the World Economic Forum and the United Nations march together hand in hand. In short, they’re two sides of the same coin.

The United Nations previously announced two separate agendas eerily similar to The Great Reset that contain many of the same components. These two UN agendas, Agenda 21 and Agenda 2030, include plans for what needs to happen on earth by 2021 and 2030 (there’s also an Agenda 2050, by the way).

Agenda 2030 has publicly stated goals of promoting racial and gender equality, eradicating global poverty, and abolishing violence, hate, and war from the globe. It also states it will reduce natural resource use in every country and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in every industrialized country. 

And how do you suppose Agenda 2030 would accomplish those goals?

Suppose you’re a lumberjack. A global organization has just stated you’re no longer permitted to cut down trees to “reduce natural resource use.” You’re now out of a job and can’t afford to feed your newborn daughter.

Or, let’s say you’re a farmer. A global organization…

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Are You Feeding Your Pet Commercial Pet Food?

The Soil Learning Center is a hub of resources for farmers & growers who are on the regenerative journey. A platform created by soil lovers at Farming Secrets Media Group.

The goal of Soil Learning Center is just that: creating a central online space bringing together resources, education, content and inspiration, to better your growing practices, boost profits and product quality with an emphasis on sustainability and promote freedom from climate change.

For today’s modern farmers, you can’t afford to not know about regenerative farming and how these practices can help you succeed. 

We’ll also discuss successful stories from other farmers and growers who have found their unique solutions using nature’s tools with this new form of agriculture. 

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Alpha Dog Training Information Booklet

The Soil Learning Center is a hub of resources for farmers & growers who are on the regenerative journey. A platform created by soil lovers at Farming Secrets Media Group.

The goal of Soil Learning Center is just that: creating a central online space bringing together resources, education, content and inspiration, to better your growing practices, boost profits and product quality with an emphasis on sustainability and promote freedom from climate change.

For today’s modern farmers, you can’t afford to not know about regenerative farming and how these practices can help you succeed. 

We’ll also discuss successful stories from other farmers and growers who have found their unique solutions using nature’s tools with this new form of agriculture. 

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Ireland’s Data Protection Commission Fines WhatsApp €225 million

consumer Facebook WhatsApp

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission Fines WhatsApp €225 million

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) fined Facebook’s WhatsApp €225 million ($266 million) for privacy violations following a GDPR investigation that began in 2018. In the decision, the data privacy regulator explained that WhatsApp breached the GDPR’s rules about data transparency, including when it processed user information between WhatsApp and other Facebook companies. While the €225 million fine is a record for the DPC and the second largest fine ever issued under the GDPR, privacy advocate and EPIC Advisor Max Schrems noted “[t]he DPC also proposed an initial € 50 million fine and was forced by the other European data protection authorities to move towards € 225 million, which is still only 0.08% of the turnover of the Facebook Group. The GDPR foresees fines of up to 4% of the turnover.” EPIC has long urged the Federal Trade Commission to block or unwind Facebook’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. In 2014, EPIC and the Center for Digital Democracy warned the FTC that Facebook incorporates user data from companies it acquires, and that WhatsApp users objected to the acquisition. Despite these problems, the FTC allowed the merger to go forward.

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Are Backyard Rabbits Safe To Eat

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The short answer is yes! Rabbits are an excellent source of protein, and they don’t require any more care than a common house cat. However, you should be cautious about eating them because some diseases can be transmitted through their meat. Rabbits are usually safe to eat if you cook the meat thoroughly.

There are many different types of rabbit meat that are perfectly safe and delicious to consume. The long answer is more complicated than it seems at first glance. Here’s what we know about eating rabbits:

Which Backyard Rabbits Are Safe To Eat

Raising backyard rabbits for meat is a popular pastime these days. If it’s what you’re looking to do, make sure that you go with the best breeds!

Rabbits with the most desirable meat would be Silver Fox, French Angora, and American Chinchilla. If you are considering eating rabbits for their fine taste or health benefits then these rabbits should be at the top of your list to hunt down.

Silver Fox: This breed is a great choice for those looking to raise rabbits. If you’re worried about the meat, don’t be – they are known for having large litters and will provide safe but tender rabbit meat if healthy enough.

American Chinchilla: The American Chinchilla is a breed of domesticated animal that has become popular due to the meat produced. This muscular and stocky creature will provide you with more than enough savory, sweet meat!

French Angora: The French Angora breed’s rabbits hardly come with enough meat. On top of that, the rabbit fur is vulnerable to matting. This means you’ll need to keep brushing it from time-to-time and watch out for an attack by the fever virus as well!

Really, any domestic meat rabbit breed are safe to eat. It’s just a matter of preference.

The two inspirational alternatives from the wild are as follows.

Cottontail Rabbits (both mountain and desert): While they are small in size, these rabbits have shown to be fantastic meals. Their delicious and high-quality flesh will swiftly capture your attention. Due to their nocturnal nature, you can usually hunt them in the evening.

Eastern Cottontail Rabbit: This rabbit is America’s most hunted, and it’s not hard to see why. The cotton ball tail and ruddy brown coat are some of the characteristics that make this creature distinct. Because they are nocturnal, hunting them in the evening would be ideal.

If you don’t want the rabbits to escape your yard when you aren’t home or unable to catch them, check out this low-cost, efficient spring-loaded trap on Amazon to set up in your backyard for easy trapping and prevention of their flight.

How To Tell If a Rabbit Is Safe To Eat

In most cases, wild rabbits will be flea-infested and have parasite infections. Though these might not be a danger to people, the pests and parasites can cause long-term damage. Therefore, it is important to keep an eye on rabbits with fleas…

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Regenerative Agriculture Can Help Alleviate Climate Change

To support and maintain diverse soil micoorganisms, regenerative farmers are turning away from synthetic
fertilisers (standard purchased NPK plus trace element fertilisers having soluble and insoluble components), or at least very much reducing their use, and are switching to biostimulants. Examples of biostimulants are worm juice,
compost tea (carefully prepared), fish emulsion and seaweed-based liquids, etc. Many are available commercially, but you can make your own.

By applying synthetic fertilisers farmers are interfering with the communication between plants and soil, and soil microbes are being killed. If you pull up a plant and the main root can be seen clearly, then your soil is not healthy. The roots should be surrounded by soil called rhizosheaths containing mycelium (microscopic filaments of myccorhizal fungi). Rhizosheaths help the soil to stick to the roots.

Plants will send signals into the soil to get whatever nutrients they need (nitrogen and phosphorus from the soil as organic N, and organic P, calcium, boron, silicon etc.), and specialised bacteria working in a symbiotic manner with the plant will bring the required nutrients into the plant through the plant root tips. There is a bi-directional flow – carbon going out of the plant, supplying energy to the bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, etc. to source what is needed from the plant root exudates and the soil – and water and nutrients going into the plant. Of all the mineral nutrients, nitrogen contributes most to plant and crop growth. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria get nitrogen from the atmosphere and from the breakdown of organic material. In agriculture, the most important and efficient symbioses of nitrogen-fixing bacteria and plants occur in the legume family where the bacteria live in nodules along with the plant roots. The symbiotic activities of several nitrogen-fixing bacteria allow Acacias to live in some of the most nutrient-poor soils on the planet. An Acacias’ nitrogen-fixing contribution helps to regenerate soils.

Inorganic nitrogen fertilisers destroy soil carbon and inorganic soluble phosphorus suppresses the activity of soil microbes. Plant root exudates are influenced poorly by nutrient deprivation (particularly nitrogen and phosphorus). Similarly, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides interfere with a healthy soil microbiome and can destroy many soil microbes. Once the plant’s natural resistance to pests and diseases has been interfered with, poisons continually need to be applied to defend the plant, and fertiliser needs to be applied because the plant will not be supported by mycorrhizal fungi.

On a Montana ranch, 80 acres were sprayed with a biostimulant (fish-oil emollient, molasses, and a small amount of sea salt) and several things happened. “Horses in another pasture smelled the spray and broke through a barbed-wire fence to get to the site and graze the grasses. Then a squadron of dung beetles flew in and went to work so that the horse dung, instead of drying into hard pellets, was buried in the ground by the next day. This typically doesn’t happen in a climate that averages [250 to 300 mm] of precipitation per
year”. (See Dung Beetle article in this edition

Biostimulants support seed germination, plant…

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Ireland’s Data Protection Commission Fines WhatsApp €225 million

Data Protection Agency Facebook GDPR WhatsApp data protection

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission Fines WhatsApp €225 million

The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) fined Facebook’s WhatsApp €225 million ($266 million) for privacy violations following a GDPR investigation that began in 2018. In the decision, the data privacy regulator explained that WhatsApp breached the GDPR’s rules about data transparency, including when it processed user information between WhatsApp and other Facebook companies. While the €225 million fine is a record for the DPC and the second largest fine ever issued under the GDPR, privacy advocate and EPIC Advisor Max Schrems noted “[t]he DPC also proposed an initial € 50 million fine and was forced by the other European data protection authorities to move towards € 225 million, which is still only 0.08% of the turnover of the Facebook Group. The GDPR foresees fines of up to 4% of the turnover.” EPIC has long urged the Federal Trade Commission to block or unwind Facebook’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. In 2014, EPIC and the Center for Digital Democracy warned the FTC that Facebook incorporates user data from companies it acquires, and that WhatsApp users objected to the acquisition. Despite these problems, the FTC allowed the merger to go forward.

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