Alternative News

Developers Scramble to Build NSA-Proof Email

"Edward Snowden’s revelations about the NSA’s mass internet surveillance is driving development of a slew of new email tools aimed at providing end-to-end encryption to users, and it has boosted interest in existing privacy tools too. Jon Callas, a Silent Circle founder, says his company is planning to take another run at secure email. He says he’s primarily concerned with email metadata like the sender, receiver and subject line, as well as the IP addresses and transit server information in the header of encrypted email." Continue reading →

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Will Congress Support Military Action In Syria? A ThinkProgress Whip Count

"A ThinkProgress analysis of the public statements of 400 Representatives found that 200 lawmakers have either decisively ruled out supporting the measure or say they are unlikely to back it. Just 48 of the 400 members of the House of Representatives said they will definitely or likely vote in favor or the resolution. A vote in the House is not expected until next week at the earliest. 152 members have publicly said they are undecided and the positions of 33 members are unknown. All told, 361 members either have not decided, or indicated they are willing to consider changing their position." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWill Congress Support Military Action In Syria? A ThinkProgress Whip Count

McConnell Stays Quiet As Congress Moves To Strike Syria

"Facing competing pressures as he fends off a conservative challenger for re-election, Mitch McConnell is steering clear so far of the debate over whether to attack Syria. The potency of the GOP’s hawkish wing is waning as isolationist sentiments flourish within the conservative movement. The deep-pocketed Heritage Action is against military action. Many Republicans are leaning that way. The public is weary of more war. And being on the same side as Obama is not a comfortable place for Republicans to be politically. 2016 hopefuls Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rand Paul (R-KY) both voted against the use of force in committee Wednesday." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMcConnell Stays Quiet As Congress Moves To Strike Syria

California Senate Says No To NDAA

"This week the California State Senate unanimously shot down the federal government's indefinite detention powers in a 37-0 vote. Lawmakers are refusing to provide material support for the National Defense Authorization Act, and if the measure becomes law it will be difficult for the government to enforce indefinite detention in the state. Tangerine Bolen, founder and director for RevolutionTruth, has more on the NDAA." Continue reading →

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Reporter Asks Obama if Nobel Peace Prize ‘Dilemma’ on Syria Attack

"President Barack Obama flew to Sweden on Wednesday for a diplomatic meeting ahead of a two-day G20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia. Obama held a wide-ranging press conference in Sweden relating to the White House's effort to build support for a strike on Syria in the wake of that government's use of chemical weapons on civilians. One Swedish reporter cornered Obama on the contradictions contained in the fact that a Nobel Peace Prize winner is planning to launch his second war against a sovereign nation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingReporter Asks Obama if Nobel Peace Prize ‘Dilemma’ on Syria Attack

Senators Authorizing Syria Strike Got More Cash From Military-Industrial Complex

"Senators voting Wednesday to authorize a Syria strike received, on average, 83 percent more campaign financing from defense contractors than lawmakers voting against war. Overall, political action committees and employees from defense and intelligence firms such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, United Technologies, Honeywell International, and others ponied up $1,006,887 to the 17 members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who voted yes or no on the authorization Wednesday, according to an analysis by Maplight, the Berkeley-based nonprofit that performed the inquiry at WIRED’s request." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSenators Authorizing Syria Strike Got More Cash From Military-Industrial Complex

Who is the real big bucks bully in the gun control debate?

"For many years, the gun ban lobby has portrayed the National Rifle Association as the big money bully in the gun control debate, but stories published today and yesterday suggest that the real big spender is anti-gun New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has dumped a wad of cash into thwarting a Coloradorecall election in defense of two Democrats who could get the boot for backing that state’s new gun control laws. Today’s reports say Bloomberg has spent $350,000 against an estimated $100,000 put up by the NRA in the Colorado battle." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWho is the real big bucks bully in the gun control debate?

Kentucky agriculture head: Grow hemp, we’ll see what Justice Department does

"Kentucky’s Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer said Attorney General Eric Holder’s announcement last week of changes in the Justice Department’s marijuana policy could mean that the state can move ahead with industrial hemp farming. Comer intends to forge ahead with industrial hemp in hopes that federal policy will continue to mellow with regards to marijuana. 'This is going to happen sooner than many of us thought,' said Comer. Comer is sanguine enough about the outcome that he is already courting hemp processing companies in hopes that they will do business in the state. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R) issued a statement supporting Comer on Wednesday." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKentucky agriculture head: Grow hemp, we’ll see what Justice Department does

California Gold Rush county votes to secede and form state of ‘Jefferson’

"Leaders of a rural Northern California county are inviting communities in both California and Oregon to join them after voting on Tuesday to pursue seceding from the state. The Redding Record Searchlight reported that the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to form their own state, 'Jefferson,' in a 4-1 vote, citing a lack of representation at the state level and complaints about a $150 fire prevention fee for homeowners in smaller counties like Siskiyou. More than 100 residents reportedly packed the meeting, most of them supporting the decision. At least one neighboring county, Humboldt County, is considering a similar plan." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCalifornia Gold Rush county votes to secede and form state of ‘Jefferson’

Air Force Launches “Terminator” Quadrotor Project

"Quadrotors - they're all the rage right now. From applications from amateur videographers to weapons enthusiasts. Now the United States Air Force is launching a program to develop a fully autonomous quadrotor. The air force released this statement on the program: '...this project will further the development of autonomous quadrotor systems—teaching them to think and act with minimal human intervention. 'In a promotional video released today by the Air Force, they call on the quad-rotor community to assist in the development of these next generation drones." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAir Force Launches “Terminator” Quadrotor Project