Alternative News

The Attack at the Kenyan Mall

"Consider the attack at the Westgate mall in Nairobi, Kenya, blowblack for Kenya's interference in putting down militants against the Somalian government. Al-Shabaab, a Somalia-based cell of the militant Islamist, has targeted Kenya after the Kenyan government sent thousands of troops into Somalia in 2011. The US clearly has been an instigator, coaxing Kenya to send troops into Somalia. An NYT slideshow of the attack is here. Note to conspiracy theorists: The NYT photographer just happened to be near the Nairobi mall at the time of the attack." Continue reading →

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Fukushima ‘not under control’ – TEPCO official refutes PM’s assurances

"A senior TEPCO official contradicted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by saying the radioactive water leakage at the crippled Fukushima plant is not under control. The official, Kazuhiko Yamashita, was asked his opinion of comments by Abe regarding the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Plant to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 'I think the current situation is that it is not under control,' Yamashita said at a hearing in Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture, on Friday before further apologizing for the leaks." Continue reading →

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Grid Down Acapulco: “There’s Nothing to Eat”

“Though the government would like us to believe there is rarely looting or panic in the aftermath of a disaster, the fact of the matter is that within 72 hours of any serious crisis people will lose it.  Case in point: Acapulco, Mexico.  … Continue reading →

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You’re Much More Likely to Be Killed By Lightning than by a Terrorist

"The U.S. Department of State reports that only 17 U.S. citizens were killed worldwide as a result of terrorism in 2011. That figure includes deaths in Afghanistan, Iraq and all other theaters of war. Wikipedia notes that obesity is a a contributing factor in 100,000–400,000 deaths in the United States per year. That makes obesity 5,882 to times 23,528 more likely to kill you than a terrorist. The annual number of deaths in the U.S. due to avoidable medical errors is as high as 100,000. The CDC stated in 2011 that – in the majority of states – your prescription meds are more likely to kill you than any other source of injury. So your meds are thousands of times more likely to kill you than Al Qaeda." Continue reading →

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Pawn Shops Boom as Consumer Retail Banking Retreats

"The industry association estimates there were 10,000 pawnshops in early 2012, the latest figures available, compared with about 6,400 in 2007. That expansion is, in part, fed by the rising number of Americans whose tarnished credit effectively bars them from the mainstream financial system. The growth has attracted the attention of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a recently formed regulator that has been scrutinizing pawnshops, along with other nonbank lenders like payday loan operators. EZCorp, a publicly traded operator of pawnshops, reported that total loan balances swelled 22 percent to $44 million in its most recent quarter." Continue reading →

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A Government Database about our Sex Lives: Gee, What Could Go Wrong?

"I don’t like the idea of government bureaucrats having my private information, but what’s probably most worrisome about this Obama Administration scheme is that the data won’t be confidential. As McCaughey writes, it’s just a matter of time before hackers or incompetent bureaucrats make that information public. By the way, everything written by McCaughey and Hatch also helps to explain why we should resist privacy-destroying schemes such as the Internet sales tax cartel being pushed by greedy politicians. I know I wouldn’t want all my online purchases in a database where state and local bureaucrats would be able to snoop for details." Continue reading →

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FBI calls half of populace with 9/11 doubts potential terrorists

"A newly released national poll shows that 48 percent of Americans either have some doubts about the official account of 9/11, or do not believe it at all.The FBI circular entitled 'Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activities Related to Sleepers' says that people who should be 'considered suspicious' of possible involvement in 'terrorist activity' include those who hold the 'attitude' described as 'Conspiracy theories about Westerners.' The circular continues: 'e.g. (sic) the CIA arranged for 9/11 to legitimize the invasion of foreign lands.' Most recently, former Fox News anchorman Ben Swann has questioned the official 9/11 story." Continue reading →

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Iran’s new president promises: We will never make nuclear weapons

"NBC aired a longer excerpt from Curry’s interview with Rouhani Wednesday night, in which he tells Curry Iran has never tried to build a nuclear weapon. Instead, he explained, 'We solely are looking for peaceful nuclear technology.' 'Can you say that Iran will not build a nuclear weapon under any circumstances whatsoever?' Curry asked. 'The answer to this question is quite obvious,' Rouhani responded. 'We have time and against said that under no circumstances would we seek any weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, nor will we ever.'" Continue reading →

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When Penalties are Preferable

"Nearly five in eight Americans polled by ABC News and The Washington Post say they 'lack the information needed to understand the changes that will take effect as the Affordable Care Act is implemented.' No surprise with a bill that stretched to 906 pages — plus 20,000 more of associated regulations. Besides, there’s nothing you can actually do in reaction to these stories. You’re a helpless spectator. Which is why we find the YouTube video much more intriguing… 'What we’re trying to communicate is, ‘No, you’re actually not required to buy health insurance,’' says Evan Feinberg. 'You might have to pay a fine, but that’s going to be cheaper for you and better for you.'" Continue reading →

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Companies Tell Employees to Find Their Own Health Insurance Policies

"Walgreen’s is the latest firm to drop an in-house health insurance plan. It will pay workers a flat rate. Workers will then have to find a decent plan. Workers will soon find how slim the pickings are. This may make insurance companies more competitive. But there is a huge problem. Large companies got low rates because everyone was insured. The law of large numbers took over. High-risk employees were offset by all the low-risk employees. Now each person will be considered as a separate applicant. High-risk people will be identifiable. Obamacare says that they must get coverage. But will they? We don’t know yet. The health care insurance exchanges are not ready for prime time yet." Continue reading →

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