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Pentagon to Start Awarding Medals for Drone Strikes and Cyberattacks

“The Defense Department is reportedly inventing a new medal designed to reward soliders who fight battles from the safety of their computer consoles. The Associated Press says the Pentagon is creating a new ribbon, called the Distinguished Warfare Medal that will be given for ‘extra achievement’ related to a military operation. That would include drone pilots operating unmanned planes from halfway around the world, or even hackers who launch a successful cyberattack on an enemy. Unlike all other combat-related medals, this would be the first one that you can be awarded without actually putting your life on the line.” Continue reading →

Audio catches cops shouting ‘Burn this motherf*cker!’ during Dorner siege

“Scanner audio apparently broadcast by the Los Angeles CBS affiliate KCAL on Tuesday captured angry officers yelling to ‘burn this motherfucker’ prior to a cabin fire that is thought to have burned the body of fugitive ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner. In a video recording posted to YouTube on Tuesday, the anchor pauses to let the viewer hear the mostly-inaudible scanner traffic. ‘Do it right now,’ one voice says. ‘Fucking burn this motherfucker!’ ‘Police officers, understandably upset,’ the anchor explains. A separate recording of scanner traffic — which has not been verified — features officers talking about going forward ‘with the burn.'” Continue reading →

Sheriff denies cabin intentionally burnt down with Chris Dorner inside

“San Bernardino Sheriff John McMahon on Wednesday denied that California police had intentionally set a cabin on fire with fugitive ex-LAPD officer Christopher Dorner inside. ‘I can tell you that it was not on purpose, we did not intentionally burn down that cabin to get Mr. Dorner out. The tear gas canisters that we used — first off we used a presence when we showed up, a cold tear gas, then the next tear gas was pyrotechnic, which does generate a lot of heat. We introduced those canisters into the residence and a fire arose.’ The charred remains found in the Big Bear cabin had not yet been confirmed to be Dorner, but the manhunt had been called off.” Continue reading →

Rising incomes fuel India’s growing appetite for meat

“India’s booming middle-class is driving the demand for meat in a country with a traditionally low intake — a survey in 2006 showed that 40 percent of the population were vegetarian. Members of the Jain faith and some groups within India’s majority Hindu religion hold vegetarianism as an ideal. Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi espoused a meat-free diet as part of his non-violent philosophy. But fewer of the younger generation appear to feel the same. With chicken a favourite meat, the rapid rise of the domestic poultry market is a good indication of changing diets.” Continue reading →

Vietnam jails 22 activists for subversion

“The 22 were accused of running a ‘reactionary’ group disguised as an eco-tourism operator, which produced documents ‘slandering’ the regime and distorting its guidelines and policies, according to state media. Dozens of activists have been jailed since Vietnam — a one-party state that forbids political debate — began a new crackdown on free expression in late 2009. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung ordered a new crackdown on online dissent, telling authorities to fight against anyone using the Internet to ‘defame and spread propaganda against the party and state’. Vietnam bans private media and all newspapers and television channels are state-run.” Continue reading →

Taiwanese billionaire launches Asian ‘Nobel prize’

“One of Taiwan’s richest men on Monday launched what has been widely touted as the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize. Samuel Yin, head of the sprawling Ruentex business empire, said that by donating Tw$3 billion ($101 million) for the Tang Prize he had fulfilled one of his biggest dreams. ‘I hope that the prize will encourage more research that is beneficial to the world and humankind, promote Chinese culture and make the world a better place,’ he said. Beginning in 2014 prizes will be awarded every two years in four different categories — sustainable development, biopharmaceutical science, sinology and the ‘rule of law’ — to individuals, regardless of nationality.” Continue reading →

The Communist Romania Exit Tax

“In order to receive a visa for permanent non-citizen residence in the U.S., I had to pay a tax for all the government benefits I had received in my first twenty years of life, schooling, medical care, subsidized concrete block housing, pot-holed road use, constant police surveillance, and other ‘services’ I was not even aware existed or received. I was worried since I had no penny to my name and I knew I would not be able to leave without paying. The final figure was provided to me after months of deliberation and computation by the communist party apparatchiks – my freedom was worth exactly $160 U.S. dollars. I owned a Japanese boom box which I sold quickly for $160.” Continue reading →

Renters to thank for healthier housing market

“Shares of the biggest U.S. builders including Lennar Homes (LEN) and Toll Brothers (TOL) have soared during the past year, but investors appear more excited about renters than a return of homeowners. To date, construction of multi-family units destined for the rental market rose by 150% over the two years ending in the third quarter of 2012. That’s by far higher than the 50% rise of newly constructed multi-family homes for sale, and a 30% increase of single-family starts also for sale, according to Capital Economics.” Continue reading →