Alternative News

Maker of Airport Body Scanners Suspected of Falsifying Software Tests

"A company that supplies controversial passenger-screening machines for U.S. airports is under suspicion for possibly manipulating tests on privacy software designed to prevent the machines from producing graphic body images. The TSA sent a letter Nov. 9 to the parent company of Rapiscan, the maker of backscatter machines, requesting information about the testing of the software to determine if there was malfeasance. The company previously had problems with a 'calculation error' in safety tests that showed the machines were emitting radiation levels that were 10 times higher than expected." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMaker of Airport Body Scanners Suspected of Falsifying Software Tests

Google report reveals world government requests for private data rising sharply

"Government surveillance of their citizens’ online lives is rising sharply around the world, according to Google’s latest report. The US accounted for the most requests, as it has consistently since the report was launched. US authorities asked for private details of Google users on 7,969 occasions, up from 6,321 in the last reporting period. The number is more than a third of the 20,938 requests for users’ details worldwide. Google fully or partially complied with 90% of those requests. Over the six months, Google was asked to remove seven YouTube videos criticising local and state agencies, police and other public officials." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGoogle report reveals world government requests for private data rising sharply

WordPress.com criticizes PayPal, credit card firms for restrictions, now lets you pay with Bitcoin

"To justify the additional payment method, the company noted that PayPal alone blocks access from over 60 countries, and many credit card companies have similar restrictions, for political reasons, financial reasons, and/or due to higher fraud rates. If you’re already using Bitcoin, Automattic says you’ll find this payment method even easier than paying by credit card. You’ll see the amount due in BTC and the address of a wallet created just for your transaction. As soon as the company receives notification of the transaction, your purchase is complete." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWordPress.com criticizes PayPal, credit card firms for restrictions, now lets you pay with Bitcoin

Wisconsin GOP lawmakers support arresting federal officials over Obamacare

"According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the group — Reps. Chris Kapenga (R), Don Pridemore (R), Erik Severson (R), Tom Larson (R) Rog Hutton (R), and Mark Born (R) and Sen. Mary Lazich (R) — stated their intentions as part of a questionnaire handed to state assembly candidates by the right-wing group Campaign for Liberty. House Republicans at the federal level have passed a horde of bills calling for it to be repealed, but more recently, House speaker Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) suggested those efforts would cease following Obama’s re-election." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWisconsin GOP lawmakers support arresting federal officials over Obamacare

Anti-Secession Threat From Spookville

"Most of you have probably heard of the different State petitions on the White House website to secede from the United States. I wanted to remind you that Allegiance to the United States is one of the 13 adjudicative guidelines that DISCO uses to grant you access to classified/sensitive information. A personnel security investigation (security clearance investigation) is an inquiry into an individual’s loyalty, character, trustworthiness, and reliability to ensure that he or she is eligible to access classified information or occupy a position of trust." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAnti-Secession Threat From Spookville

Obama’s ‘secret’ cyber security law may allow ‘military deployment within the U.S.’

"The FOIA was filed in response to an article that appeared in The Washington Post this week, claiming that Obama issued a secret directive shortly before the elections that empowers the military to 'vet any operations outside government and defense networks' for cyber security purposes. However, because the exact text of the directive remains a secret, nobody can really say exactly what it does. That was somewhat disconcerting to American Civil Liberties Union legislative counsel Michelle Richardson, who told Raw Story on Wednesday that without the text, 'it’s hard to see what they mean.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama’s ‘secret’ cyber security law may allow ‘military deployment within the U.S.’

Berlin Becomes Latest ‘Bitcoin Hotspot’

"While Bitcoin’s traction has primarily occurred online through exchanges and with merchants who sell online, its use as a payment method for purchases at bricks-and-mortar retailers and for in-person trade is not found that widely just yet. There is progress though and it is occurring in geographic areas where clusters of Bitcoin enthusiasts exist. In these areas are the first real-world merchants that are finding commercial success from accepting the cryptocurrency. A growing cluster growing in Berlin is the latest (and potentially the largest) to form." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBerlin Becomes Latest ‘Bitcoin Hotspot’

Occupy debt-relief campaign buys, forgives $100,000 worth of debt

"Members of a debt relief project borne from the Occupy Wall Street campaign said Wednesday they have purchased more than $100,000 worth of medical debt in a second trial run for their efforts. Thomas Gokey, a spokesperson for the Rolling Jubilee campaign, said the debt was purchased for $5,000. Earlier this year, the group bought $14,000 worth of debt for $500. 'We are buying debt that is being sold on the secondary market for pennies on the dollar,' Gokey said in a conference call. 'We are doing it in exactly the same way that [debt collectors] do it, with one big difference: we are abolishing the debt as we buy it.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOccupy debt-relief campaign buys, forgives $100,000 worth of debt

Is a college degree worth the cost? You decide.

"Here is an example of some of the plumb jobs college grads were able to land during the Obama administration. Not just liberal arts majors mind you, but graduates with degrees in mathematics, robotics, neuroscience, engineering, accounting, business administration, economics, biology, communications, graphic design, marketing, and linguistics." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIs a college degree worth the cost? You decide.