Alternative News

TSA Charges ‘Unnecessary’ $130M ID Card Program Directly To Truckers

"The TSA in its mind-boggling stupidity came up with a scheme it called 'TWIC' ('Transportation Worker Indentification Credential'). TSA forced drivers to undergo background checks and fingerprinting and Lord-knows-what-all. And get this: 'TWIC enrollment centers' were often hundreds of miles from drivers’ homes and depots, forcing these professionals to work thousands of hours of unpaid overtime. TWIC also costs those hard-working serfs around $130. Remember that many drivers work as independent contractors, in business for themselves, so no company picks up such expenses for them." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTSA Charges ‘Unnecessary’ $130M ID Card Program Directly To Truckers

TSA Pursues Administrative Trial Against Man Who Disrobed At Airport Checkpoint

"TSA was not amused by Mr. Brennan’s cooperation – it had ordered him to assume the position and endure fondling, not drop trou. In fact, it sicced the cops on this hero and is now trying to fine him. A court dismissed the charges of indecency against Mr. Brennan, but the TSA ludicrously insists that his extreme cooperation with its nonsense 'interfere[d] with screening’ (victims of its gate-rape can only hope it did). Mr. Brennan faces an administrative trial this week, which means that the TSA will hold a kangaroo hearing to decide whether he should pay it a fine of $11,000." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTSA Pursues Administrative Trial Against Man Who Disrobed At Airport Checkpoint

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Next Bull Market

"A funny thing happened on the way to the next Bull market: the price-earnings (P/E) ratio has entered bubble territory--again. Note the P/E soared to bubble heights in the early 2000s, which set up the epic collapse of stock valuations in 2008-09. Thanks to Federal Reserve manipulation/goosing/QE, the SPX P/E has once again reached bubble levels. It's clear the SPX is extended far above what can be considered historical fair valuations. What's more profitable, a slow melt-up or a panic sell-off and sharp rebound? Definitely the latter, if you're heavily short, the market is teetering on record margin debt and you can kick out the critical 2X4." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Next Bull Market

Mars One has 78,000 applicants so far—sort of

"Mars One, the private venture with the audacious goal of sending humans to Mars—permanently—as early as 2023 made a splash earlier this week when it announced that more than 78,000 people had applied for its 'astronaut selection program' just two weeks after starting to accept applications. Lansdorp is very pleased with the public response to the campagn, the first step in a long process to select the first four-person crew that Mars One plans to launch in 2022." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMars One has 78,000 applicants so far—sort of

IRS Targeted Organizations Named With the Words “Tea Party” Or “Patriot”

"The Internal Revenue Service is apologizing for inappropriately flagging conservative political groups for additional reviews during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status, reports WaPo. Lois Lerner, who heads the IRS unit that oversees tax-exempt groups, said organizations that included the words 'tea party' or 'patriot' in their applications for tax-exempt status were singled out for additional reviews." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIRS Targeted Organizations Named With the Words “Tea Party” Or “Patriot”

The Truth About Fake Hospital Pricing (And What To Do If You Are Uninsured)

"People without insurance, on average, are being charged 3 times what insurance companies pay. When the uninsured patients can’t or don’t pay, the balance is written off and the tax liability is reduced. Some uninsured people try to raise the funds, and it breaks my heart that they go bankrupt trying to pay these debts. If you’re ever uninsured and wind up with a huge hospital bill, go negotiate with the hospital CFO for a 66% reduction in the bill. Use the government data (link here) as leverage in negotiating with the CFO. Threaten to expose the racket and I bet the CFO will write down your bill to keep you quiet." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Truth About Fake Hospital Pricing (And What To Do If You Are Uninsured)

Newly Printed Bernanke Money Floods Manhattan

"The average rent in Manhattan rose by $139 to $3,367 a month in April, compared with March, a one-month increase of 4.3%, according to a report by Citi Habitats, a brokerage firm that represents many renters, reports WSJ. And Anthony Trevisan reports in that his NYC laundry just raised prices by 13%." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNewly Printed Bernanke Money Floods Manhattan

Sweden’s War on Cash: News from the Frontlines

"Three of the four largest banks in Sweden continue to phase out the manual handling of cash at their branch offices at a rapid pace. Taken together, Swedbank, Nordea, and SEB, have stopped offering cash services at their branches at the rate of three branches per week since 2010. Thus during the period 2010-2012, cash disappeared from 465 Swedish bank branches. At Swedberg bank, only 75 of its 340 branches still handle cash. Leif Faithful, Head of Financial Infrastructure at the Swedish Bankers’ Association, believes that eventually all Swedes will need a bank card and sees this development as beneficial to 'both consumers and trade.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSweden’s War on Cash: News from the Frontlines

Minnesota City Settles After Cop Uses Mace On Deaf Motorist

"A police officer who lashed out at a deaf driver with whom he had difficulty communicating cost St. Paul, Minnesota $93,450 on Wednesday. When Bahl failed to produce the license, Officer Bobrowski shoved him. Bahl leaned away, and the officer grabbed him by the wrist. Bahl took a pad of paper from the passenger's seat and wrote 'joint' to signify his wrist joint was in pain. Bobrowski blasted Bahl with Mace and yanked the man out of the car to be placed under arrest. Bahl was taken to Regions Hospital for treatment of his left eye which showed significant swelling from the attack." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMinnesota City Settles After Cop Uses Mace On Deaf Motorist

Texas U. Sold $375 Million in Gold Bars

"The University of Texas Investment Management Co., the third-largest U.S. academic endowment, sold $375 million in gold bars from holdings of about $1.4 billion and reinvested the proceeds in gold futures and equities. The fund, which manages $29.2 billion, started taking delivery of gold through futures starting in 2008 as a hedge against inflation, Zimmerman said. While fund managers and directors remain concerned global consumer prices may increase, the fund wanted to increase investments in equities, he said. 'Our idea was to buy and hold gold, and when the world’s central banks begin tightening, we’ll sell,' Zimmerman said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas U. Sold $375 Million in Gold Bars