Daily Archives: July 26, 2013

Six ways Congress may reform NSA snooping

"The narrow 205-217 vote showed that there is significant support in Congress to reform NSA surveillance programs. Here are six other legislative proposals on the table. 1) Raise the standard for what records are considered 'relevant'; 2) Require NSA analysts to obtain court approval before searching metadata; 3) Declassify Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court opinions; 4) Change the way Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court judges are appointed; 5) Appoint a public advocate to argue before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court; 6) End phone metadata collection on constitutional grounds." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSix ways Congress may reform NSA snooping

House leaders defend voting against bill to rein in NSA spying

"Republican and Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives defended their support for a spy program that sweeps up vast amounts of electronic communications after it survived a surprisingly close vote a day earlier. Although Speaker John Boehner said he was glad the House had the debate, he was unapologetic about his vote, echoing the contention of the Obama administration and intelligence chiefs that the NSA program was essential for national security. Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the House, who voted against the amendment, said Democrats voted on both sides of the resolution, but 'stand together' in their concerns about the program." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHouse leaders defend voting against bill to rein in NSA spying

Congressman Holt pushes to abolish Patriot Act he voted for in 2001

"Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ) crafted new legislation that would abolish the Patriot Act, and on Thursday the congressman introduced the bill known as HR-2818 to the House that would do just that. The Surveillance State Repeal Act is aimed to undo not only the Patriot Act but also the parts of the 2008 amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that gives the government the power to have backdoor access to online electronic devices. Rush Holt joins us with more on why he regrets passing the Patriot Act and what he hopes will change." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongressman Holt pushes to abolish Patriot Act he voted for in 2001

Feds tell Web firms to turn over user account passwords

"The U.S. government has demanded that major Internet companies divulge users' stored passwords, according to two industry sources familiar with these orders, which represent an escalation in surveillance techniques that has not previously been disclosed. If the government is able to determine a person's password, which is typically stored in encrypted form, the credential could be used to log in to an account to peruse confidential correspondence or even impersonate the user. Obtaining it also would aid in deciphering encrypted devices in situations where passwords are reused." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds tell Web firms to turn over user account passwords

Pepper-Spray Lieutenant Appealing For Worker’s Comp

"The former police lieutenant who became the target of worldwide ire after dousing Occupy UC Davis protesters with pepper spray, John Pike, is appealing for worker’s compensation, claiming psychiatric injury caused by the Nov. 18, 2011, incident. Pike ceased to be a UCD employee in July 2012. He remains entitled to retirement credit for his years of service, a UCD spokesperson said at the time, but he was to receive no other payout. If Pike receives disability benefits, it will cover income, health and other benefits until he turns 65. Pike, whose annual salary was $121,680, remained on paid leave for eight months while the pepper-spraying was investigated." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPepper-Spray Lieutenant Appealing For Worker’s Comp

Feds vs. Raisins: Small Farmers Stand Up to the USDA

"It's called an agriculture marketing order. Depression-era regulations meant to stabilize crop prices endanger the livelihoods of small farmers across the country, but the raisin marketing order is particularly egregious. An elected board of bureaucrats known as the Raisin Administrative Committee decides what the proper yield should be in any given year in order to meet a previously decided-upon price. Once they can estimate the size of the year's harvest, they force every farmer to surrender a percentage of their crop to raisin packers like Sun-Maid." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds vs. Raisins: Small Farmers Stand Up to the USDA

Jim Rogers: I’m Optimistic About the U.S. Dollar

"Rogers had a few tips for investors. 'I’m wildly optimistic about agriculture,' he explained. 'It’s going to be one of the most exciting economic sectors in the world in the next 20 or 30 years. Prices have been so low… the sugar price has been down 75% since 1974.' He noted the longtime lows signaled good long-term buying opportunities. Rogers has shifted his currency strategy, now believing that 'currency turmoil' around the world will lead investors to flee to the relative security of dollars. 'To my astonishment, I’m optimistic about the U.S. dollar, which I’ve been terribly pessimistic about for years.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJim Rogers: I’m Optimistic About the U.S. Dollar

Jim Rogers: I’m Optimistic About the U.S. Dollar

"Rogers had a few tips for investors. 'I’m wildly optimistic about agriculture,' he explained. 'It’s going to be one of the most exciting economic sectors in the world in the next 20 or 30 years. Prices have been so low… the sugar price has been down 75% since 1974.' He noted the longtime lows signaled good long-term buying opportunities. Rogers has shifted his currency strategy, now believing that 'currency turmoil' around the world will lead investors to flee to the relative security of dollars. 'To my astonishment, I’m optimistic about the U.S. dollar, which I’ve been terribly pessimistic about for years.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJim Rogers: I’m Optimistic About the U.S. Dollar

Bill Bonner: Where will China be in 6 months…or 6 years?

"Where will China be in 6 months...or 6 years? It is impossible to know. Goldman Sachs reduced its estimates of China's growth. But it has no better idea than Paul Krugman or anyone else. The Chinese could surprise us in either direction; the economy could be much worse than expected...or much better. But one thing does appear to be happening. After 20 years of spectacular growth, China is looking for a new way forward." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBill Bonner: Where will China be in 6 months…or 6 years?

Bill Bonner: Where will China be in 6 months…or 6 years?

"Where will China be in 6 months...or 6 years? It is impossible to know. Goldman Sachs reduced its estimates of China's growth. But it has no better idea than Paul Krugman or anyone else. The Chinese could surprise us in either direction; the economy could be much worse than expected...or much better. But one thing does appear to be happening. After 20 years of spectacular growth, China is looking for a new way forward." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBill Bonner: Where will China be in 6 months…or 6 years?