Alternative News

Did Goldman Sachs Overstep in Criminally Charging Its Ex-Programmer?

"A month after ace programmer Sergey Aleynikov left Goldman Sachs, he was arrested. Exactly what he’d done neither the F.B.I., which interrogated him, nor the jury, which convicted him a year later, seemed to understand. But Goldman had accused him of stealing computer code, and the 41-year-old father of three was sentenced to eight years in federal prison. Investigating Aleynikov’s case, Michael Lewis holds a second trial." Continue reading →

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JPMorgan: $7 Billion In “Fines” In Just The Past Two Years

"While JPM's precarious balance sheet was no surprise to anyone (holding over $50 trillion in gross notional derivatives will make fragile fools of the best of us), what has become a bigger problem for Dimon is that slowly but surely JPM has not only become a bigger litigation magnet than Bank of America, but questions are now emerging if all of the firm's recent success wasn't merely due to crime. Crime of the kind that 'nobody accept or denies guilt' of course - i.e., completely victimless. Except for all the fines and settlements. Here is a summary of JPM's recent exorbitant and seemingly endless fines." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJPMorgan: $7 Billion In “Fines” In Just The Past Two Years

Farm Fresh Food with Bitcoin – La Nay Ferme help Beccy & Austin eat!

"Austin & Beccy Craig relish the chance to purchase fresh produce and eat real food with bitcoin. They buy a share in a local CSA, La Nay Ferme in Provo, Utah (CSA=Community Supported Agriculture). The farm's owner Clint shares his philosophy about food, about community, about money, and about bitcoin. Life On Bitcoin is a documentary film project about intrepid newlyweds Austin & Beccy Craig who are living the first 90 days of their married lives only on bitcoin. They are asking businesses all around where they live to accept bitcoin. They will also be traveling using bitcoin." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFarm Fresh Food with Bitcoin – La Nay Ferme help Beccy & Austin eat!

Oakland’s creepy new surveillance program

"The so-called Domain Awareness Center (DAC) would consolidate a vast network of surveillance data. The project was initially supposed to be about port security. But in a classic illustration of mission creep, the project as proposed would have pulled in over 1,000 cameras and sensors pointed at Oakland residents, including 700 cameras in Oakland schools. The DAC would enable the city to track individuals when they visit the abortion clinic, the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, or the union hall, or engage in other private activities. Disappointingly, and in the face of enormous opposition, the City Council voted on Tuesday to approve the DAC." Continue reading →

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“U.S. homeland security has forced terrorist groups to target Americans overseas”

"Increased security in the U.S. has forced terrorist groups to target Americans overseas instead. 'The enemy is going to find an easier way. They’re gonna find softer targets, they’re gonna find ways that they can hurt us and it may not be bringing it to America in hijacked airplanes. It may be doing things when we’re not looking, in places that are vulnerable and every embassy is vulnerable if you think about it,' said Smullen. The government has also issued a global travel warning for all Americans overseas. It will remain active until at least August 31st." Continue reading →

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Obamacare Full Frontal: Of 953,000 Jobs Created In 2013, 77%, Or 731,000 Are Part-Time

"When the payroll report was released last month, the world finally noticed what we had been saying for nearly three years: that the US was slowly being converted to a part-time worker society. This slow conversion accelerated drastically in the last few months, and especially in June, when part time jobs exploded higher by 360K while full time jobs dropped by 240K. In July we are sad to report that America's conversation to a part-time worker society is not 'tapering': according to the Household Survey, of the 266K jobs created, only 35% of jobs, or 92K, were full time. The rest were... not." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObamacare Full Frontal: Of 953,000 Jobs Created In 2013, 77%, Or 731,000 Are Part-Time

Gold imports jump 102% in Pakistan; ban imposed

"Following the Indian government’s decision to discourage gold import by imposing 8% duties, buyers have reportedly shifted to Pakistan where the precious metal is allowed to be imported duty free since 2001. An official handout by Pakistan's Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, has noted that there have been serious apprehensions that the duty free import of gold is being abused by unscrupulous elements." Continue reading →

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Minnesota Starts to Regulate and Track Gold Coin Dealers

"Minnesota has passed legislation that would regulate bullion coin dealers. But it has coin dealers and coin club officials scratching their heads over just what it means and how to comply. Implementation of the bill will have the effect of licensing bullion coin dealers in the state. Bullion coin dealers will be subjected to registration as of July 1, 2014, with the state commissioner of commerce at a fee of $25 for a bullion coin dealer and $10 for his representatives. The legislation defines 'bullion coin' as any coin that contains 'more than one percent by weight of silver, gold, platinum, or other precious metals.'" Continue reading →

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Confusion, not regulation the major dampener for Indian gold demand

"While it is likely that imports will be dampened as a result of the new regulations, at least part of the reason for that will be because of the sheer confusion as to exactly what is going on. As UBS explains, 'The difficulty is that the new regime appears quite complex from implementation and logistical standpoints. How exactly are customs authorities going to track all this flow and ensure that all the required quotas are met? Where will the bonded warehouses be located? Will there be enough warehouse capacity in necessary locations? How does this new framework fit in with participants' business models in terms of logistics and distribution?'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingConfusion, not regulation the major dampener for Indian gold demand