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New York isn't North Korea, but it's the closest thing you'll find in the U.S. -- at least according to a new report from a libertarian think tank.

A Mercatus Center study has pegged New York as the country's "least free" state, 49 slots behind "Live Free or Die" New Hampshire. Its authors gave the state particular abuse for its taxes, "by far the highest" in the country, according to their methodology.

True to their libertarian ways, however, they also said that New York would have scored higher if it had legalized gay marriage.

Just as the World Bank has put out an entire research report about the economics of virtual gold farmers (they claim it's a $3 billion plus industry, and has substantial impact on developing economies), it appears that the FBI is taking an interest in the practice as well. Just last month, the FBI apparently raided a Michigan home in search of virtual World of Warcraft gold.

When actor Vince Vaughn telephoned Congressman Ron Paul about two and a half years ago, it was not because he was interested in becoming a political activist, although he was interested in a political issue. The Federal Reserve and its inherent problems had become of increasing concern to Vaughn, and he knew that Rep. Paul was one of the most outspoken critics of the United States’s central bank.

The GAO has released its conclusion on a study commissioned to study a Pentagon study on its own studies. The study's conclusion was that the study of studies was ineffective. The taxpayer-funded cost for the worthless studies was not released, however.

Who is better informed about the policy choices facing the country—liberals, conservatives or libertarians? According to a Zogby International survey that I write about in the May issue of Econ Journal Watch, the answer is unequivocal: The left flunks Econ 101.

Zogby researcher Zeljka Buturovic and I considered the 4,835 respondents' (all American adults) answers to eight survey questions about basic economics. We also asked the respondents about their political leanings: progressive/very liberal; liberal; moderate; conservative; very conservative; and libertarian.

Corporate Political Spending Report Could Signal New Trend

The Center for Political Accountability analyzed a study this month revealing a slight decrease in shareholder support for greater transparency regarding corporate political spending. Though support remains just below the all time high of 35 percent, the slight trend reversal could signal a shift in the near decade-long trend.

"Collected Quotations Of The Dread Pirate Roberts, Founder Of Underground Drug Site Silk Road And Radical Libertarian"

Attention all Free Staters, Libertarians, and Liberty loving people: Feminism is not a political affiliation. Feminism is not about surpassing the status of men. Feminism is not "wrong" or "liberal." Feminism in now way thinks men are disposable but, in fact, find men indispensable. Feminism does not even care if man or woman embraces the term "feminism" as long as you believe in the equality of the sexes. Feminism _is_ egalitarianism, and I think that this article highlights that fact nicely.

In general, people in the sports world keep their political leanings to themselves. Sure, there are a few guys who regularly speak out on political issues, but for the most part that's considered bad business. As Michael Jordan put it, "Republicans buy shoes too." That's why what the Phoenix Suns are doing is so amazing.

The team will be wearing its "Los Suns" jerseys for Wednesday night's Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs "to honor [the] Latino community and the diversity of our league, the state of Arizona, and our nation." Awesome...