Alternative News

Poverty Just Ain’t What It Used To Be

"A newly released report by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that most Americans living below the bureaucratically designated 'poverty line' enjoy most modern conveniences. For example more than 80 percent of U.S. households below the poverty line have a: refrigerator (97.8%); stove (96.6%); television (96.1%); microwave oven (93.1%); air conditioner (83.4%); VCR/DVD player (83.2%); and cell phone (80.9%). In addition, more than half of households beneath the poverty level also have a: clothes washer (68.7%); clothes dryer (65.3%); computer (58.2%); and landline telephone (54.9)." Continue reading →

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Median Household Income Is Flat

"In 2012, median household income in the USA was flat. Adjusted for price inflation, it was down 9% since 1999: the Clinton era. It is where it was in the late 1980s: early Bush I. All this has happened under Keynesianism. The engine of economic development has gone flat for 80% of Americans. According to Keynesian economic theory, none of this should have happened. The federal government is supposed to be able to manage the economy, so that recessions are short and mild. But that theory was blasted by the recession of 2008-9. The recovery has not done anything for the vast majority of Americans." Continue reading →

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Government-Run Bridges: Guaranteed Erosion

"Many fracture critical bridges were erected in the 1950s to 1970s during construction of the interstate highway system because they were relatively cheap and easy to build. Now they have exceeded their designed life expectancy but are still carrying traffic — often more cars and trucks than they were originally expected to handle. The Interstate 5 bridge in Washington state that collapsed in May was fracture critical. Cities and states would like to replace the aging and vulnerable bridges, but few have the money; nationally, it is a multi-billion-dollar problem. As a result, highway engineers are juggling repairs and retrofits in an effort to stay ahead of the deterioration." Continue reading →

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New Yorker Foodies Pissing Off the Regulatory Bullies

"The article describes heroic foodies in New York who celebrate and arrange unique dining experiences for folks who voluntarily want to partake of these experiences and pay their hosts a worthwhile fee to provide them with a desired service. Great chefs are doing this not just for a profit, but also because of their love for food culture and the desire to foster unique dining experiences for their own enjoyment. Meet-Ups have been forming here in Detroit doing the same sort of thing. I am going to my first 'illegal' event soon." Continue reading →

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Pirate Party Crashes Spy Drone in Front of German Chancellor Angela Merkel

"As Merkel and members of her team stood on stage, a small object could be seen in the sky. After hovering around for a while onlookers could see that the UFO was in fact a small drone. It proceeded to swoop down just a few feet in front of Merkel, apparently taking photos and recording video of the event. Seconds later with its Pirate Party operator apparently having been approached by the police, the drone crash-landed into the stage and was taken away by an official. While Merkel seemed to be amused, Germany’s defense minister in the dark suit to her left looked rather less impressed. The party later confirmed that the stunt was a protest against the EU’s use of surveillance drones." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPirate Party Crashes Spy Drone in Front of German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Farmers Market: Bitcoin Haven or Bitcoin Bust?

"A couple of weeks ago, we visited the Salt Lake Farmers Market. We were amazed at the receptiveness of the vendors there to bitcoin. It was the smoothest experience we have had in the month and a half we have been living on bitcoin in persuading people to accept bitcoin. These were very open minded folks! Five different vendors accepted bitcoin from us for their products." Continue reading →

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New Heights in Disgraceful Asset Forfeiture (Seizure)

"The U.S. is seizing 650 Fifth Avenue, the 36-story Piaget Building, from Iranian interests. I’d guess the value is several hundred million dollars. All asset seizure procedures are an utter disgrace, totally unlawful and unjust. This one is triply disgraceful, based as it is on undeclared economic warfare against Iran, phonily done in the name of anti-terrorism, and based on as about as unlawful a 'law' as Congress has ever manufactured." Continue reading →

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Court: WiFi Sniffing Can Be Wiretapping Because WiFi Isn’t Audio

"A couple years ago, we were disappointed to see a judge take the technologically wrong stance that data transmitted over WiFi is not a 'radio communication,' thereby making sniffing of unencrypted WiFi signals potentially a form of wiretapping. Indeed, based on that, the court eventually ruled that Google's infamous WiFi sniffing could be a violation of wiretap laws. This is wrong on so many levels... and tragically, an appeals court has now upheld the lower court's ruling. There are serious problems with this. Under no reasonable view is WiFi not a radio communication first of all. That's exactly what it is." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCourt: WiFi Sniffing Can Be Wiretapping Because WiFi Isn’t Audio

Apple’s Fingerprint ID May Mean You Can’t ‘Take the Fifth’

"For the privilege to apply, however, the government must try to compel a person to make a 'testimonial' statement that would tend to incriminate him or her. When a person has a valid privilege against self-incrimination, nobody — not even a judge — can force the witness to give that information to the government. But a communication is 'testimonial' only when it reveals the contents of your mind. We can’t invoke the privilege against self-incrimination to prevent the government from collecting biometrics like fingerprints, DNA samples, or voice exemplars. Why? Because the courts have decided that this evidence doesn’t reveal anything you know. It’s not testimonial." Continue reading →

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What Do the Latest NSA Leaks Mean for Bitcoin?

"Could the intelligence community have a secret exploit for Bitcoin? It's rather obvious that Bitcoin presents a very strong financial incentive to break its cryptography, since such a vulnerability could allow an attacker to claim large amounts of virtual currency for themselves. But given the decentralized nature of the currency, it may also be a target for intelligence officials looking for ways to track its use. Clearly, Bitcoin is on the government's radar. Knowing how much effort the NSA, amongst others, has placed on cracking encryption, has it tackled Bitcoin too? First, we need to look at how Bitcoin works." Continue reading →

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