Network Archives

Gold Investors Seek Alpine Haven in Swiss Army Bunkers

"At Pro Aurum, movement and vibration detectors add protection to the former Zuercher Kantonalbank branch in Kilchberg, a lakeside suburb of Zurich. Cameras hang from the ceiling to film employees as they fulfill orders from customers who can store valuables in one of the 700 safe deposit boxes or buy up to 100,000 francs ($107,000) of gold with cash over the counter without proof of funds such as a bank statement. About half of Buchwalder’s customers are Swiss, with Europeans making up most of the remaining clients. Pro Aurum, which also has units in Austria and Germany, trades 'over a billion francs' of gold per year." Continue reading →

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Prospectors pan Indiana creeks in quest for gold

"In the shallow streams and creek beds of Brown County, a new gold rush is going on. Outdoorsy types have taken to the water in search of flakes of natural gold left behind millions of years ago. No one is hitting the mother lode or striking it rich. But for modern-day Indiana prospectors, panning for gold is a chance to be outside, gather with like-minded friends and experience the thrill of finding buried treasure. Dozens of members of the Gold Prospectors Association of America gathered in the bends of Salt Creek, hunched over the water. Some of them used hand-held pans to sift through the bed of the stream." Continue reading →

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McCain and Graham flipflop on aid to Egypt– after AIPAC speaks up

"Two conservative senators, John McCain and Lindsey Graham, went to Egypt this week to urge Egyptian leaders to show more respect for democracy. McCain and Graham may be Republicans, but they have a lot of clout. They were reported to have the blessing of the Obama administration in making this embassy. Why do they have such clout? One reason is that they are extremely responsive to the Israel lobby. In fact, both men lately flipflopped on a principled statement-- cutting off aid to Egypt -- evidently at the urging of AIPAC, the leading Israel lobby organization." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMcCain and Graham flipflop on aid to Egypt– after AIPAC speaks up

MSNBC Blames Boston Bombing on “Deeply Racist” Alex Jones

"'Alex Jones may sound crazy, but he has 300 million people that have watched him on YouTube,' said Wagner, characterizing Jones as 'deeply racist,' despite the fact that Jones has preached a message of peaceful, non-violent inclusiveness for the best part of two decades. On the contrary, Alex Jones and Infowars are renowned for communicating a message of non-violence and racial harmony, stemming back from the 90′s when Alex Jones protested against and bullhorned the Ku Klux Klan. In comparison, MSNBC is part owned by General Electric, a titan of the military-industrial complex and one of the biggest arms manufacturers on the planet." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMSNBC Blames Boston Bombing on “Deeply Racist” Alex Jones

Bitcoin ATM Machines Receive Full Funding Hours After Campaign Launches

"Startup Lamassu Bitcoin Ventures has managed to fund its initial production run of 15 Bitcoin ATM units just hours after pre-orders were announced. The company’s new Bitcoin ATMs promise to take your cold hard cash and instantly added your money to a bitcoin wallet. The new ATM machines were paid for mostly with the use of Bitcoins. Based on the cost of each machine the company has raised $60,000-$75,000 in sales revenue after only a few short hours. While Bitcoin value has drastically increased over the last year the company is hoping to introduce the digital currency to “non-geeks” who may find entry into the payment a bit confusing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBitcoin ATM Machines Receive Full Funding Hours After Campaign Launches

Square Fined $507K In Florida For Operating Without A Money Transmitter License

"A little more state-specific financial regulatory hot water for Square, the hot mobile commerce startup: it has been fined $507,000 by Florida’s Office of Financial Regulation for operating a payment service without a money transmission license. This looks like the second time that a U.S. state financial regulator has gone after the company, after Square was served with a cease and desist order in Illinois in March 2013, also for failing to obtain a license before opening up for operations. According to the Florida payment order (embedded below), the $507,000 fine covers over two years of operation, from February 2010 to November 2012." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSquare Fined $507K In Florida For Operating Without A Money Transmitter License

German Finance Ministry recognizes bitcoin as currency

"Key aspects of the bitcoin, a popular online currency, have been recognized for legal and tax purposes by Germany, newspapers reported Saturday. The recognition, which was laid out in a Finance Ministry response to a query from a member of parliament, means Germany recognizes the online currency as a 'currency unit' and 'private money,' reported the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and the Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung. Bitcoins have been a popular form of payment among netizens since 2009 although economists question their viability because they are backed by neither a government nor a central bank." Continue reading →

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Decoding Bitcoin

"Chances are you have never used a Bitcoin, but you’ve probably heard of it. The virtual currency is popping up more and more in the news and the government has been showing an increased interest in the subject. For instance, the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee this week told federal financial regulators and law enforcement officials to explain how they are keeping tabs on 'virtual' currencies, including the $1.2 billion market for Bitcoins. So what, errr, is a Bitcoin? What follows is guide to understanding the currency, why it’s used and why the government is paying attention." Continue reading →

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