Alternative News

Encryption and Privacy: Goodbye Copyright Laws

"Kim Dotcom really is his name these days. He had it legally changed. The federal government shut down his enormously profitable file-sharing business in 2011. It won’t shut down his latest version of file-sharing. His new company, Mega, offers 100% encryption. His company can’t crack it. The U.S. government can’t crack it — not at a price it can afford, anyway. So people can post movies, songs, or anything else on his site. You get 50 megabytes of free storage to start out. His lawyers can now say this: 'Our company will cooperate with the governments of the world. But, sorry, we have no idea what people are putting into their accounts.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEncryption and Privacy: Goodbye Copyright Laws

Harvard Economist: ‘No Doubt, Pensions Are Screwed’

"Der Spiegel interviews Harvard economist Carmen Reinhart who has the novel idea that central banks are acting like the 'adults' in the room by cleaning up after spendthrift governments. 'Governments are incapable of reducing their debts and now central banks are stepping in.' Perhaps this argument sounds reasonable to a Martian that has not been following exactly what central banks have been doing and continue to do, but last time we looked we weren't Martian. The idea that monopoly central bankers are 'responsible' and politicians are not seems a spurious question, in our humble view. A pox on both their houses." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHarvard Economist: ‘No Doubt, Pensions Are Screwed’

As Gold Declines Will Stocks Fly?

"We often write of directed history, the idea that powerful forces create conditions for the policies that they want to implement. When it comes to money metals, the idea would be to drive down metals prices while simultaneously affirming that these same metals are simply not a good investment. They are barbarous and whatnot. At the same time as precious metals prices are falling, stock indexes are rising – presumably at least in part because of the pump priming by central banks that are printing great gouts of money. Some of this money gets stuck in bank coffers but a fair amount is obviously finding its way into various stock markets." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAs Gold Declines Will Stocks Fly?

China Builds Great Central Bankers?

"Around the world, Western-style monetary recipes are failing. But this article attempts to convince us that the Chinese have somehow managed to implement miraculous growth using ingredients that are notably dysfunctional elsewhere. How is that possible? We would submit it is not. What is going on is a kind of campaign to convince people that as capital and power flow east, such a reality is reasonable and inevitable. Seen from this standpoint, the profile of this Chinese central banking genius – and it drones on and on – is part and parcel of a larger attempt at explaining the inexplicable." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina Builds Great Central Bankers?

Supreme Court rules foreign citizens can’t sue in U.S. for rights violations

"The Supreme Court unanimously upheld a federal appeals court’s decision on Wednesday barring foreign citizens from suing corporations in American courts for human rights violations committed abroad. The Los Angeles Times reported that the 9-0 decision limits the scope of the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) of 1789 in rejecting a lawsuit brought against Royal Dutch Petroleum by a group of Nigerian citizens accusing the company of helping their country’s government in a series of human rights violations — including, murder, rape and torture — during the 1990s." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSupreme Court rules foreign citizens can’t sue in U.S. for rights violations

Marijuana Stocks Are Extremely Dangerous Investments

"At this stage I do not believe there is a single reputable marijuana stock on the market. Having previously investigated several marijuana stocks, and having observed the price action and news of the major marijuana stocks over the past few months, I believe that the only people set to make a lot of money from these stocks are the company insiders and smart day-traders. Why Do Investors In Marijuana Stocks Face Enormous Risk? Because the fundamentals of the primary marijuana stocks being traded are horrible, they have extremely limited histories, and there are numerous skeletons in the closet." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMarijuana Stocks Are Extremely Dangerous Investments

Jim Rogers shares insights on his book Street Smarts

"Jim Rogers of Rogers International Commodities Index (RICI) joins Open Currency Update with Kurt Wallace. While logging miles on his exercise bike, Jim discusses his ground up approach to investing and why he recommends investors learn philosophy and history. He also shares about a changing global environment toward Asia and why he sees New York City as a third world city. Rogers talks about his chapter ‘Creative Destruction’ and he explains the importance of how a robust immigration system directly effects the state of a society’s economy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJim Rogers shares insights on his book Street Smarts

Ron Paul Supporter Sues City Of St. Peters Following Caucus Arrest

"Stafford, 45, of O’Fallon, was arrested after things got out of control at a March 2012 St. Charles County GOP caucus. After a rules disagreement, St. Peters Police attempted to clear Francis Howell North High School and close the caucus. Stafford remained in the parking lot, trying to reconvene a meeting he said was improperly shut down, standing on a chair. During his trial in July 2012, officers said that they did not order him to leave as he was standing on the chair, but arrested him for disobeying orders to leave, and they felt everyone knew they were to leave the area. Police arrested Stafford and charged him with trespassing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul Supporter Sues City Of St. Peters Following Caucus Arrest

Federal Government Rating Hits New Low Among Americans

"For the first time since Barack Obama became president, more Democrats say they have an unfavorable view of the federal government in Washington than a favorable view (51% unfavorable vs. 41% favorable). Favorable opinions of the federal government among Republicans, already quite low in 2012 (20% favorable), have fallen even further, to 13% currently. Notably, politically divided state governments get positive ratings from members of both parties. In the 13 states with divided governments – those in which the governor and a majority of state legislators are from different parties – majorities of both Republicans and Democrats express favorable opinions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFederal Government Rating Hits New Low Among Americans

Congressional Research Service says not much Feds can do about legalized marijuana

"So where does this leave the feds? They can use their limited resources to arrest and seize whomever they can get their hands on. They can tie marijuana to other federal laws — gun possession, public housing occupancy, employment drug testing, etc. None of these options will achieve the overturning of state laws. And their pettiness will turn individuals further against the federal government. Or… the federal government could listen to the states, and to the people. Just a thought." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongressional Research Service says not much Feds can do about legalized marijuana