Alternative News

Lockdown USA: Congress plans 700-mile ‘surge’ on Mexico border

"If Congressional Republicans get their way, the 2,000-mile (3,200-km) border separating the US and Mexico will be equipped observation towers, surveillance drones and one guard every 1,000 feet (300 meters). The legislation would see the Obama administration create a path to citizenship for some 11 million undocumented immigrants. The security plan would station another 20,000 Border Patrol agents along the southern border, in addition to the 18,500 already there. The bill would also expand fencing and install a visa entry and exit system at seaports and international airports, among other costly features." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLockdown USA: Congress plans 700-mile ‘surge’ on Mexico border

U.S. Leaving $7 Billion of Military Equipment Behind in Afghanistan

"Not only has the U.S. created a disaster with the unconstitutional invasion of Afghanistan, but now that they've been forced to retreat, they're leaving behind some stuff...$7 BILLION worth! The Washington Post reports: 'Military planners have determined that they will not ship back more than $7 billion worth of equipment — about 20 percent of what the U.S. military has in Afghanistan — because it is no longer needed or would be too costly to ship back home.' What's $7 billion when you can always just turn on the taxpayer spigot? And doesn't Bernanke create $7 billion just in his sleep? What's the big deal?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Leaving $7 Billion of Military Equipment Behind in Afghanistan

Video: Huge Protests In Brazil Sweep The Country

"Though the protests initially began following the announcement of bus fare increases, they have evolved to include a wide range of groups that have grown dissatisfied over everything from government corruption and income inequality, as well as to outrage over the police's harsh response to protesters last week. In a sign that public dissatisfaction was still simmering, soccer fans booed president Dilma Rousseff on Monday during the opening of a two-week tournament at a stadium in the capital Brasilia. The heckling only intensified when the president of the global soccer body, FIFA, reprimanded the crowed for failing to show the president 'respect.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVideo: Huge Protests In Brazil Sweep The Country

Bloomberg anti-gun group apologizes for calling alleged Boston bomber, shot by police, a ‘victim’

"A gun control group founded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg apologized Wednesday for mistakenly including one of the alleged Boston marathon bombers in a list of people killed by gun violence since the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. That list was delivered to Sen. Kelly Ayotte’s (R-NH) office amid a protest organized by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which targeted the New Hampshire Republican for her vote against gun control regulations proposed by the White House. Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in an April shootout with police." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBloomberg anti-gun group apologizes for calling alleged Boston bomber, shot by police, a ‘victim’

Depositing a Little Common Sense into the Law

"Did you know that small business owners can be prosecuted for making repeated cash deposits of under $10,000? Randy and Karen Sowers, owners of a successful Maryland creamery, learned that accounting detail the hard way when the federal government seized $62,936 from their company’s bank account and charged them with violating the Bank Secrecy Act. The Sowers did not intend to violate the law. The couple simply found themselves caught in a net of federal prosecution because their everyday business practices and ignorance of obscure banking laws ran afoul of a federal statute." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDepositing a Little Common Sense into the Law

In-Person Bitcoin Exchanges Are Thriving

"Call it a sign of the times, but something is definitely changing as face-to-face purchases of bitcoin are booming worldwide. In addition to avoiding a sometimes cumbersome registration process with traditional exchangers, in-person bitcoin transactions allow you to meet interesting new people in your area – and discuss bitcoin. Many choices are available with varying degrees of identification required. For the casual traders seeking more privacy, I recommend in-person trading through LocalBitcoins.com, the leading person-to-person matching service for people in various locales to meet and conduct bitcoin business." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIn-Person Bitcoin Exchanges Are Thriving

Ted Cruz: Will Obama do background checks before giving arms to Syrian rebels?

"In a tweet called the 'zinger of the day' by Twitchy, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wondered Tuesday if President Obama would conduct background checks before giving arms to Syrian rebels. 'Anyone know if President Obama intends to perform background checks on the Syrian rebels before providing them weapons?' he asked. As of this writing, the short message has been retweeted 6,480 times. Polls released Monday show that an overwhelming majority of Americans do not support plans to arm the rebels, Breitbart.com said. Part of the problem, John Nolte said, is 'the fear that the new boss will be an awful lot like the old boss.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTed Cruz: Will Obama do background checks before giving arms to Syrian rebels?

Steve Wozniak Laments Creating The Tools That Government Uses To Spy On Us

"When Morgan suggested the government would not be able to keep such a close eye on citizens without the work of innovators like him, Wozniak acknowledged: 'I actually feel a little guilty about that – but not totally. We created the computers to free the people up, give them instant communication anywhere in the world; any thought you had, you could share freely. That it was going to overcome a lot of the government restrictions. We didn't realise that in the digital world there were a lot of ways to use the digital technology to control us, to snoop on us, to make things possible that weren't.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSteve Wozniak Laments Creating The Tools That Government Uses To Spy On Us

Western Union now prohibits sending money to the USA from Argentina. Bitcoin may be the only way out.

"Western Union will no longer allow the outflow of dollars from Argentina to the U.S.. Two U.S. companies, Western Union and Delta Airlines, began to suspend some operations. According to the report said 'The Chronicle', the company's overseas remittance sent the following statement: 'As of 03/06/13 will not be able to ship from Argentina to the United States'. The company had discontinued their service, in part, to Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania. For shipments to Latin America, only allowed up to 1,500 pesos per month ($ 280). Meanwhile, Delta Airlines sell tickets Argentines abroad only if they enter and depart from the country." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWestern Union now prohibits sending money to the USA from Argentina. Bitcoin may be the only way out.

Use of Tor and e-mail crypto could increase chances that NSA keeps your data

"Using online anonymity services such as Tor or sending encrypted e-mail and instant messages are grounds for US-based communications to be retained by the National Security Agency even when they're collected inadvertently, according to a secret government document published Thursday. The document, dated July 28, 2009, bears the signature of US Attorney General Eric Holder. It's hard to read the documents and not be struck by the irony that use of these services may subject people on US soil to a much higher likelihood that their communications will be retained by an agency that's supposed to focus on foreign targets." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUse of Tor and e-mail crypto could increase chances that NSA keeps your data