Yearly Archives: 2013

Glenn Greenwald: Pentagon’s new massive expansion of ‘cyber-security’ unit is about everything except defense

"This Cyber Command Unit operates under the command of Gen. Keith Alexander, who also happens to be the head of the National Security Agency, the highly secretive government network that spies on the communications of foreign nationals - and American citizens. The Pentagon's rhetorical justification for this expansion is deeply misleading. Beyond that, these activities pose a wide array of serious threats to internet freedom, privacy, and international law that, as usual, will be conducted with full-scale secrecy and with little to no oversight and accountability, with a small army of private-sector corporations who will benefit most from this expansion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: Pentagon’s new massive expansion of ‘cyber-security’ unit is about everything except defense

The Internet Has Been Conquered: Get Busy With the Next Steps

"For years, people like me have been telling everyone who will listen that they need to start using encryption and to stop cooperating with the strangling of the Internet. Sadly, not many people cared. They were far more interested in free services and shiny new iGadgets. Ah well… at least I did my part. My point today is this: It’s over. The state has won. The Internet will be fully controlled in just a few years. Actually, it’s worse than that. Within that same amount of time, the Internet will not only be a Worldwide Surveillance Web, but it will be a Worldwide Manipulation Web." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Internet Has Been Conquered: Get Busy With the Next Steps

The New Fourth Estate: Anonymous, Wikileaks, and –archy

"The press has been captured by a handful of news corporations that are generally uncritical of government and fail to expose corporate injustice. The techno-libertarian culture has birthed the do-it-yourself fourth estate—usurping the illegitimate media and furnishing a viable alternative to the cartelized press. Two entities, Wikileaks and Anonymous, have emerged under this banner. This inquiry seeks to understand their history, methods, and to ascertain whether use of the discrete figurehead is efficacious." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe New Fourth Estate: Anonymous, Wikileaks, and –archy

U.S. ranked 32nd in press freedom index

"Reporters Without Borders on Wednesday launched a new indicator measuring global press freedom by aggregating the scores of its annual index, from perennial table-topping Finland to worst offenders Eritrea. 'In view of the emergence of new technologies and the interdependence of governments and peoples, the freedom to produce and circulate news and information needs to be evaluated at the planetary as well as national level,' the Paris-based watchdog said. Northern European countries topped the rankings of its separate Press Freedom Index, while the small, reclusive African nation of Eritrea came last." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. ranked 32nd in press freedom index

EU Financial Tax Portends Loss of Market Leadership

"Although limited presently in scope and at an apparently low rate, the tax will nevertheless provide an extra layer of financial bureaucracy that will dissuade some market participants from transacting in the Eurozone. More importantly, the measure is a 'supra national' tax that helps to pave the way towards a global taxation system. Not only will such a system be economically damaging, but it will be devoid largely of effective democratic accountability. At a time when governments should be encouraging the free flow of capital, this measure moves us exactly in the wrong direction." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEU Financial Tax Portends Loss of Market Leadership

Detlev Schlichter: ‘Positive Money’ and the fallacy of the need for a state money producer

"Every injection of new money into the economy, regardless by whom, has to occur at a specific point from where the new money will disperse through a number of transactions. This process must always – from the point of view of a smoothly functioning, uninhibited market economy – lead to disruptions. It can never be neutral and it can certainly never enhance the functioning of the economy, or lead to a better plan-coordination between economic actors. Money injections always lead to arbitrary changes in relative prices, reallocations of resources and redistribution of wealth and income, without ever enhancing the wealth-generating properties of the economy overall." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDetlev Schlichter: ‘Positive Money’ and the fallacy of the need for a state money producer

Timothy Geithner Accused Of Alerting Banks To 2007 Interest Rate Cut For 2nd Time

"In the summer of 2007, as storm clouds gathered over the world's financial system, then-New York Federal Reserve President Timothy Geithner allegedly informed the Bank of America and other banks about the possibility the U.S. central bank would lower one of its critical interest rates, according to a senior Fed official. Jeffrey Lacker, the head of the Richmond Fed, originally raised the allegation during a Fed conference call in August 2007, and he stuck to his 5-year-old claim against the current U.S. treasury secretary in a statement provided to Reuters on Friday." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTimothy Geithner Accused Of Alerting Banks To 2007 Interest Rate Cut For 2nd Time

Silicon Valley House Sells for $117.5 Million

"An estate has sold in the wealthy northern California community of Woodside for $117.5 million, making it one of the highest-priced residential sales ever in the U.S. Public records show the house is 8,930 square feet and is located at 360 Mountain Road, Woodside CA, next door to the Steve Jobs house at 370 Mountain Road. Bottom line: Bernanke money is flooding Silicon Valley. The sale comes as Silicon Valley luxury home sales surged 54 percent in December, according to residential brokerage Coldwell Banker Wendy McPherson, quoted by the San Jose Mercury News." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSilicon Valley House Sells for $117.5 Million

Home Prices Continue to Soar; Best Gains Since 2006

"Data through November 2012, released today by S&P Dow Jones Indices for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices showed home prices rose 4.5% for the 10-City Composite and 5.5% for the 20-City Composite in the 12 months ending in November 2012. It was the strongest year-over-year price increase since August 2006. The Southwest – Las Vegas and Phoenix – are staging a strong comeback with the Southeast -- Miami and Tampa close behind. The sunbelt, which bore the brunt of the housing collapse, is back in a leadership position. California is also doing well while the northeast and industrial Midwest is lagging somewhat." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHome Prices Continue to Soar; Best Gains Since 2006

A Swedish Police Taskforce Raided a Bunch of Teenagers Playing Call of Duty

"The ten-man team raided the apartment to find a group of teenagers in the midst of murder and destruction, yes, but also enjoying just another friendly night in playing Call of Duty. After being forced outside by what must have essentially been a SWAT team, the boys were able to explain that the gunshots were entirely virtual and the cries for help merely came when the character of one of the boys (let's call him Sven) was shot several times and left lying on the floor. Sven's alter ego had, presumably, been put out of its misery by the time the police arrived. Eventually, the police admitted the mistake and left without filing any charges." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Swedish Police Taskforce Raided a Bunch of Teenagers Playing Call of Duty