Alternative News

‘Rise of the Drones’ Is Mostly a PBS Infomercial for the Military Defense Industry

"The widely-acclaimed PBS program, NOVA, premiered a documentary on unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. The documentary, 'Rise of the Drones,' was produced to explore how the technology is revolutionizing warfare and creating the next generation of cutting-edge surveillance. It was created to provide a glimpse at how the technology has advanced and how innovations might progress in the future. Before the documentary began, PBS noted the program had received funding from the David H. Koch Foundation for Science. It also received 'additional funding' from Lockheed Martin." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Rise of the Drones’ Is Mostly a PBS Infomercial for the Military Defense Industry

Man With 4th Amendment Written on Chest Wins Trial Over Airport Arrest

"Among other things, the federal lawsuit claimed wrongful detention and a breach of the First Amendment and Fourth Amendment. Tobey was on his way to Wisconsin for his grandmother’s funeral. Despite his detainment, he made his flight. According to the suit, while under interrogation, the authorities wanted to know 'about his affiliation with, or knowledge of, any terrorist organizations, if he had been asked to do what he did by any third party, and what his intentions and goals were.' Two weeks later, Henrico County prosecutors dropped the misdemeanor charge against him, and he sued the Transportation Security Administration and others." Continue reading →

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At Davos the Elite Ponder Stale Cybersecurity Issues—and Charlize Theron

"Cybersecurity is on the minds of the Davos-ians because it could cost them money. Apparently they have just learned that 'there is barely a large company out there today which has not had its infrastructure and systems breached.' They have also realized that this is going to require some sort of collective action–and the private sector does not do collective action well. Australia and the United Kingdom are actively forcing companies to work together. Last week the European Union proposed a law that would require tech companies to report server issues and security breaches to the government." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAt Davos the Elite Ponder Stale Cybersecurity Issues—and Charlize Theron

The next frontier for 3D printing: drugs

"While the video above may not win an award for action movie of the year, it’s illustrating an exciting new breakthrough for the way we manufacture medicines and drugs. Depicting the brain child of Professor Lee Cronin, the chair of chemistry at Glasgow University, the video shows a new 3D printing process he and his team developed to synthesize chemicals. He believes his research could one day lead to low-cost chemical printers in the home that allow patients to print out their prescriptions." Continue reading →

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Kim Dotcom wants to encrypt half of the Internet to end government surveillance

"The United States government says that Kim Dotcom, a German millionaire formerly known as Kim Schmitz, masterminded a vast criminal conspiracy by operating the file-storage site Megaupload. Dotcom, on the other hand, begs to differ. One year after the high-profile raid of his home and the shut-down of one of the most popular sites on the Web, Dotcom hosted a launch party for his latest endeavor, simply called Mega. On the anniversary of the end of Megaupload, Dotcom discusses the year since his arrest and what the future holds in regards to both his court case and the Internet alike." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKim Dotcom wants to encrypt half of the Internet to end government surveillance

Unlocking Cellphones Becomes Illegal Saturday

"In October 2012, the Librarian of Congress, who determines exemptions to a strict anti-hacking law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), decided that unlocking mobile phones would no longer be allowed. Unlocking a phone frees it from restrictions that keep the device from working on more than one carrier's network, allowing it run on other networks that use the same wireless standard. This can be useful to international travellers who need their phones to work on different networks. Other people just like the freedom of being able to switch carriers as they please." Continue reading →

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“FEMA Won’t Let Us Rebuild Our Home”

"The Taylor family lives in the Natomas community in Sacramento, California. On August 24, 2012, Brad and Jennifer were driving home with their two young children when they saw smoke in their neighborhood. As they got closer to home, they realized that their house was on fire. Though shaken, both Brad and Jennifer were relieved that no one had been hurt. 'It's just a fire,' Brad said. 'It can all be replaced.' Little did they know that, thanks to regulations created by the Federal Emergency Managment Agency in the wake of Hurricane Katrina -- which hit land thousands of miles away from Sacramento -- their rebuilding nightmare was just beginning." Continue reading →

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Oregon Democrat proposing making cigarettes a prescription-only drug

"A lawmaker in Oregon has proposed making nicotine a Schedule III controlled substance in the state, placing it in the same category as many prescription tranquilizers and stimulants. The bill, introduced by Democratic Rep. Mitch Greenlick, would require anyone who wished to smoke a cigarette to first obtain a prescription from a doctor. Nicotine-containing products would only be available from pharmacies. Those caught using nicotine without a prescription could face up to one year in prison and a $6,250 fine under the proposed law." Continue reading →

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The Shocking List of Firearms That Would Be Banned Under the Feinstein Bill

"Flanked by gun grabbing lawmakers, including New York Sen. Chuck Schumer and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, Diane Feinstein announced the introduction of the 'Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 Bill.' It would make gun grabbers such as Mao, Stalin and Hitler proud. The legislation being pushed by Feinstein would prohibit the sale, transfer, importation and manufacture of certain firearms, including many rifles, pistols and shotguns. Here's the list." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Shocking List of Firearms That Would Be Banned Under the Feinstein Bill

Olga from Greece Has a Lithuanian Soulmate Mooching in the United Kingdom

"Natalija Belova, 33, told The Sun how she spurns full-time work — yet can afford foreign holidays and buys designer clothes. The Lithuanian said: 'British benefits give me and my daughter a good life.' She has milked soft-touch Britain for £50,000 in benefits and yesterday said: 'I simply take what is given to me.' And what is given to her? Quite a lot. The graduate, who became a single mum after she arrived here, rakes in more than £1,000 a month in handouts — £14,508 a year — to fund her love of designer clothes, jaunts to the Spanish sun and nightclubbing. Natalija vowed: 'I am not going to work like a dog on minimum wage.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOlga from Greece Has a Lithuanian Soulmate Mooching in the United Kingdom