Daily Archives: July 26, 2013

Glenn Greenwald and other NSA critics to testify before Congress

"Congress will hear testimony from critics of the National Security Agency’s surveillance practices for the first time since the whistleblower Edward Snowden’s explosive leaks were made public. Democrat congressman Alan Grayson, who is leading a bipartisan group of congressman organising the hearing, told the Guardian it would serve to counter the 'constant misleading information' from the intelligence community. The hearing, which will take place on Wednesday, comes amid evidence of a growing congressional rebellion [on] NSA data collection methods." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald and other NSA critics to testify before Congress

Halliburton pleads guilty to destroying Gulf spill evidence

"Halliburton Co has agreed to plead guilty to destroying evidence related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Thursday. The government said Halliburton's guilty plea is the third by a company over the spill and requires the world's second-largest oilfield services company to pay a maximum $200,000 statutory fine. Halliburton also agreed to three years of probation and to continue cooperating with the criminal probe into the April 20, 2010, explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. Houston-based Halliburton also made a separate, voluntary $55 million payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHalliburton pleads guilty to destroying Gulf spill evidence

Attempted Child Porn Set-Ups of Liberty Movement Leaders Continue

"Someone just attempted to set-up Stewart Rhodes (founder of Oath Keepers) & Dan Johnson (founder of People Against the N.D.A.A) by sending child porn to Dan Johnson's email from a tormail.org anonymous email account, pretending to be Stewart. [Earlier,] someone claiming to be a whistle-blower emailed activist Luke Rudkowski saying he had some incriminating pictures of Bilderberg elites, which Luke was able to see with his 'view' function and determine were actually child porn without opening them. He was contacted by the hackers who bragged that they were going to do the same thing to other alternative media activist leaders." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAttempted Child Porn Set-Ups of Liberty Movement Leaders Continue

Chris Christie’s Attack on the Civil-Liberties Wing of the GOP

"Now it seems clear that Christie will adopt the neoconservative line on national security, embracing the most radical actions of both George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Speaking at the Aspen Institute on Thursday, Christie belittled the libertarian wing of his party for its take on NSA spying. 'As a former prosecutor who was appointed by President George W. Bush on Sept. 10, 2001, I just want us to be really cautious, because this strain of libertarianism that's going through both parties right now and making big headlines, I think, is a very dangerous thought,' he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChris Christie’s Attack on the Civil-Liberties Wing of the GOP

Which State Is Headed in the Wrong Direction at the Fastest Rate?

"I was very interested in the data showing that most European nations actually increased the size of government in recent years – notwithstanding all the hyperbole about 'savage' and 'draconian' austerity. That’s why the 'exceptions to the rule' in Europe – such as Estonia and Germany – are so noteworthy. While their neighbors are doing the wrong thing, these countries are being at least semi-responsible and trying to rein in the burden of government spending. The same thing is true for state governments, which is why this new map from the Tax Foundation is worth sharing. It shows how fast spending has increased in each state over the past 10 years." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhich State Is Headed in the Wrong Direction at the Fastest Rate?

‘Bitcoin steals power from both banks and gangsters’

"Digital currency Bitcoin is gaining popularity around the globe as people become more and more dissatisfied with the conventional banking system. Instant, safe and nearly anonymous, is what Bitcoin claims to be. It takes no commission for transactions and can be used internationally wherever you have internet access. Is it the currency of the future? We talk to Bitcoin developer from UK Amir Taaki." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Bitcoin steals power from both banks and gangsters’

Erik Voorhees: “Bitcoin is the new Frontier”

"Erik Voorhees is one of the foremost Bitcoin entrepreneurs and has helped build some critical parts of the Bitcoin business ecosystem, as well as being a loud advocate for a free, decentralised and voluntary currency. When the history of Bitcoin is written, he will be remembered as one of the brave few explorers ready to set out into the unknown and risk life and fortune to create a new world." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingErik Voorhees: “Bitcoin is the new Frontier”

The Relentless Market for “Saturday Night Specials”

"The phrase 'Saturday night special' used to be applied to cheap handguns available to gangs. These days, the gangs have Uzis. But I am sure that low-budget criminals still buy Saturday night specials. About 30 years ago, I applied the phrase to describe the microcomputer. I said that this would shift power away from the federal government. It would provide the common man with a tool of resistance. The American government worries about its lack of gun control: the decentralization of power. But that is nothing when compared to the threat of Android." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Relentless Market for “Saturday Night Specials”

House Democrat proposes police registration for neighborhood watchmen

"Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) said Wednesday that she would soon introduce legislation that would cut federal funding to any state that doesn't require neighborhood watch programs to register with police. 'We will … decrease the incidence of gun violence resulting from vigilantes by reducing by 20 percent the funds that would otherwise be allocated … to any state that does not require local neighborhood watch programs to be registered with a local [law] enforcement agency,' Jackson Lee said on the House floor. She said her bill would also use the threat of less federal money to entice states to change their 'stand your ground' laws." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHouse Democrat proposes police registration for neighborhood watchmen