Alternative News

It’s time to tell the TSA what you really think of it – and for it to listen

"The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has ordered the TSA to engage in something known as notice-and-comment rulemaking on its screening procedures, and specifically its use of full-body scanners. You can leave your comment at the Federal Register website until June 24th. The TSA hopes the public it’s assigned to protect will approve of the scanners and the way they’re used. But it promises to 'review and analyze' the comments to develop a final rule related to the use of airport scanners. What could they do? That isn’t entirely clear. The lengthy document seems to suggest that four options are on the table." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIt’s time to tell the TSA what you really think of it – and for it to listen

Law Professor Wants To Do Away With Most C’s Because They Make Students Feel Bad

"Hey, why even make the kids take the classes? Let's just give them degrees! With honors! Law schools should 'substantially eliminate' 'C' grades because they're stress-inducing and make it more difficult for students to get jobs, a law professor argues in the University of San Francisco Law Review. Does this prof not realize that if everyone is given a grade of B or better that a college degree becomes even more useless than it now is in judging a graduate for employment? I give the prof an F for failure to understand the real world consequences of his proposal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLaw Professor Wants To Do Away With Most C’s Because They Make Students Feel Bad

Student Loans are About to Cross the Trillion Dollar Mark

"In the first quarter of 2013, students owed $986 billion in student loans, up $20 billion from $966 billion in the fourth quarter. Student-loan balances outstanding have soared 70% in the past five years, thanks to government backing of loan programs---which has done nothing but sent the price of a near useless education soaring. Prices fall and quality improves where the government doesn't intervene (see: cell phones, televisions personal computers). Prices soar and quality fall where the government gets heavily involved (see: the health sector and education sector)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStudent Loans are About to Cross the Trillion Dollar Mark

The Government-Created “ME ME ME Generation”

"A generation educated in government schools, funded by government student loans, and unable to find jobs in a government/central bank twisted marketplace are called 'lazy, entitled narcissists who still live with their parents.' How shall the State solve this problem? Since obviously no one else possibly can... How about some 'Good Service'? There you go. The massive military empire, that has been at constant war for most (if not all) of our lives, can use some more recruits! Peace Corps, as they like to call it. So of course! Why not force the 'lazy, entitled narcissists' to go out there to advance 'U.S. foreign policy objectives'?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Government-Created “ME ME ME Generation”

U.S. Banks Buy Gold Futures in Dramatic Position Change

"Clearly the U.S. banks, presumably including U.S. bullion banks, are not positioning as though they believe there is a great deal more downside left in gold futures. If they did or do believe that gold could probe even lower than the $1,320s, they are not positioning for it in COMEX futures. That does not necessarily mean they are 'right,' but it is a window into how the largest, best funded and presumably the best informed traders of gold futures on the planet - the U.S. banks - are positioning, both for their own book and for their clients." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Banks Buy Gold Futures in Dramatic Position Change

Google Folds Wallet Support Into Gmail So You Can Send Money As Attachments

"According to a post on the official Google Commerce blog, Google Wallet support has been baked into Gmail, so users will soon be able to send each other money by simply shooting each other emails. In the coming weeks and months, a dollar sign will start popping in Gmail accounts of people who already use Google Wallet, and a quick click lets users define the recipient and the amount they’d like to send along as an attachment. Since all of these transactions run through Google Wallet, the usual caveats are in place — sending funds from a connected bank account is totally gratis, but credit or debit cards are subject to an additional 2.9 percent fee." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGoogle Folds Wallet Support Into Gmail So You Can Send Money As Attachments

Earlier This Week, UK Government Agents Held a Conference on Bitcoins

"About 50 civil servants from HM Revenue & Customs, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Home Office and GCHQ – the intelligence listening service – held a one-day conference which examined how Bitcoin works and how criminals might seek to exploit the electronic cash system, which is currently unregulated by any financial authority. The Future of Money conference, which included presentations on how the cryptocurrency works, was organised by the government’s Foresight Horizon Scanning Centre, an arm of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which develops 'innovative, long-term policy.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEarlier This Week, UK Government Agents Held a Conference on Bitcoins

Mt. Gox Funds at Wells Fargo Have Been Seized

"Not only have Mt Gox funds been seized from the Dwolla account, but according to the warrant issued for that seizure, a separate seizure warrant was issued to allow Homeland Security to seize the funds in the Mt Gox account held in the name Mutum Sigillum at Wells Fargo. It appears that Mt Gox has been shutdown for all practical purposes in the United States." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMt. Gox Funds at Wells Fargo Have Been Seized

Feds reveal the search warrant used to seize Mt. Gox account

"In the warrant, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), states that there's probable cause to believe Mt. Gox is engaging in 'money transmitting' without a license, a crime punishable by a fine or up to five years in prison. The warrant goes on to demand that Dwolla hand over the keys to account number 812-649-1010, which is owned by Mt. Gox subsidiary Mutum Sigillum LLC, and held in the custody of Veridian Credit Union. The funds in that account 'are those of Mt. Gox customers that withdraw said funds from Mt. Gox and direct their transfer to Dwolla.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds reveal the search warrant used to seize Mt. Gox account