Monthly Archives: February 2013

Colonial flags fly in Hong Kong as anger grows over Chinese rule

"Sixteen years after Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule, public discontent with Beijing is swelling and protesters have been rallying around an unexpected symbol — the British colonial flag. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in recent months in marches against Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, who took over from Donald Tsang last July after being elected by a 1,200-strong pro-Beijing committee. On several occasions the old blue flag, which incorporates the Union Flag, has been flown by protesters on the streets of what is becoming an increasingly divided Hong Kong, both embarrassing and infuriating Beijing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingColonial flags fly in Hong Kong as anger grows over Chinese rule

Massive espionage malware targeting governments undetected for 5 years

"Researchers have uncovered an ongoing, large-scale computer espionage network that's targeting hundreds of diplomatic, governmental, and scientific organizations in at least 39 countries, including the Russian Federation, Iran, and the United States. Operation Red October, as researchers from antivirus provider Kaspersky Lab have dubbed the highly coordinated campaign, has been active since 2007, raising the possibility it has already siphoned up hundreds of terabytes of sensitive information. The main purpose of the campaign is to gather classified information and geopolitical intelligence." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMassive espionage malware targeting governments undetected for 5 years

Chinese Hackers Could Face Aggressive Action From U.S. Over Cyber Attacks

"The Obama administration is considering more assertive action against Beijing to combat a persistent cyber-espionage campaign it believes Chinese hackers are waging against U.S. companies and government agencies. As The New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported that their computer systems had been infiltrated by China-based hackers, cybersecurity experts said the U.S. government is eyeing more pointed diplomatic and trade measures. The U.S. itself has been named in one of the most prominent cyberattacks — Stuxnet — the computer worm that infiltrated an Iranian nuclear facility, shutting down thousands of centrifuges there in 2010." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChinese Hackers Could Face Aggressive Action From U.S. Over Cyber Attacks

Strict Gun Laws in Chicago Can’t Stem Fatal Shots

"Not a single gun shop can be found in this city because they are outlawed. Despite a continuing legal fight, Illinois remains the only state in the nation with no provision to let private citizens carry guns in public. And yet Chicago, a city with no civilian gun ranges and bans on both assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, finds itself laboring to stem a flood of gun violence that contributed to more than 500 homicides last year and at least 40 killings already in 2013. Some 7,640 people currently hold a firearms permit, but nearly that many illicit weapons were confiscated from the city’s streets during last year alone." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStrict Gun Laws in Chicago Can’t Stem Fatal Shots

Journalists, Politicians Refuse to Post Lawn Sign saying “HOME IS PROUDLY GUN FREE”

"Since these reporters and editors did not consider it a violation of the privacy and safety of others to reveal which homes have guns and which homes don't, we went to see which of them would be willing to put a sign up publicly declaring their homes to be gun-free zones. While we didn't find any members of the media with the strength of their convictions, we did find quite a few guns, and some good explanations for why they might be necessary. Guns for Me, but not for Thee." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJournalists, Politicians Refuse to Post Lawn Sign saying “HOME IS PROUDLY GUN FREE”

Decorated Combat Veteran Arrested: Charged With 5 Felonies For Possession of AR Magazines

"On Sunday January 6th Staff Sgt. Nathan Haddad, a decorated combat veteran, was driving through Jefferson County New York when he was randomly pulled over for a vehicle check. Haddad, who had five 30 round empty magazines in his possession, was arrested by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department and charged with five felony counts. According to Haddad’s brother, Michael Haddad, Nathan thought these magazines were legally made before the New York Assault Weapons Ban. When Nathan Haddad was arrested the new ban had not even been fully enacted yet." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDecorated Combat Veteran Arrested: Charged With 5 Felonies For Possession of AR Magazines

Grandmother sues city, police department over flash grenade incident

"A 68-year-old Evansville woman, who was at home with her granddaughter last June when police in SWAT gear tossed in flash grenades into her home and forced their way inside to serve a warrant, has filed a lawsuit against the city and the Evansville Police Department. After damaging the house, handcuffing the woman and her granddaughter and seizing their computers and a cellphone in a search for evidence about threatening Internet posts, it was later determined that someone remotely accessed the home’s wireless Internet connection and the Milans were not involved." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGrandmother sues city, police department over flash grenade incident

Harvard Meta-Study Indicates Fluoride Reduces Children’s IQ

"A recent report from the U.S. National Research Council (NRC 2006) concluded that adverse effects of high fluoride concentrations in drinking water may be of concern and that additional research is warranted. Findings from our meta-analyses of 27 studies published over 22 years suggest an inverse association between high fluoride exposure and children's intelligence. The results suggest that fluoride may be a developmental neurotoxicant that affects brain development at exposures much below those that can cause toxicity in adults. In conclusion, our results support the possibility of adverse effects of fluoride exposures on children's neurodevelopment." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHarvard Meta-Study Indicates Fluoride Reduces Children’s IQ

Your employer may share your salary, and Equifax might sell that data

"The Equifax credit reporting agency, with the aid of thousands of human resource departments around the country, has assembled what may be the most powerful and thorough private database of Americans’ personal information ever created, containing 190 million employment and salary records covering more than one-third of U.S. adults. Some of the information in the little-known database, created through an Equifax-owned company called The Work Number, is sold to debt collectors, financial service companies and other entities." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingYour employer may share your salary, and Equifax might sell that data

Two-thirds of French people agree with labour minister’s statement that country is ‘totally bankrupt’

"Michel Sapin made the gaffe in a radio interview, which left French President Francois Hollande and other ministers racing to undo the potential damage to the country's reputation as a solid economy for investors. It came as several high profile individuals, including the actor Gérard Depardieu, have left the country to avoid punitive taxes. Last week it transpired that Bernard Arnault, France's richest man, had transferred his entire fortune to Belgium, where he hopes to gain citizenship. France last balanced its budget in 1973. State spending accounts for almost 57 per cent of gross domestic product while public debt has now reached 91 per cent of GDP." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTwo-thirds of French people agree with labour minister’s statement that country is ‘totally bankrupt’