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Intelligence director introduces group to review NSA privacy issues

"US intelligence director James Clapper introduced a review group Monday that will assess whether the right balance is being struck between national security and personal privacy. The group will assess whether the US 'optimally protects our national security and advances our foreign policy while appropriately accounting for other policy considerations,' the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said in a statement. The body is required to brief the president on its findings within 60 days and provide a final report with recommendations no later than December 15, according to ODNI." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIntelligence director introduces group to review NSA privacy issues

There is no terrorist threat: The feds want you to think there is

"Nothing can be said for certain as to what prompted the State Department to close more than 20 embassies and consulates in the Middle East and North Africa last Sunday, and this is by design. But it is no excuse not to raise the possibility that Americans are eating a summer salad of nonsense served to justify objectionable surveillance practices now coming in for scrutiny. This prospect seems so self-evident that one feels almost silly raising it, except that so few have. Let us insert it into the conversation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThere is no terrorist threat: The feds want you to think there is

Man Released After Spending 9 Years In Jail For Possessing “Al Qaeda Literature”

"Omar Altimimi has been released from prison after 9 long years. His crime? Simply possessing digital literature relating to Al Qaeda and unfortunately being Muslim at the same time. Altimimi a Dutch national – who resided in Bolton – was alleged to have had a 'vast' terror library, but actually possessed just 'six computer files connected with the preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000.' The infamous 'Al Qaeda training manual' that has resulted in other men being locked up for its possession, was actually written by an informant for the CIA. So is that Al Qaeda material, or American Government material?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMan Released After Spending 9 Years In Jail For Possessing “Al Qaeda Literature”

Deputies suspended over violence while serving a $1,000 civil warrant at 1:13 AM

"The video shows a group of eight deputies entering Nantania Griffin’s home around 1:13 a.m. on July 26 to serve a civil warrant for failing to pay a $1,000 debt. Her sons secretly recorded the encounter on their phones and posted it online. Griffin and her family allegedly refused to let the deputies into the home for 30 minutes while telling them they had done nothing wrong. 'You acted like a 2-year-old, so we treated you like a 2-year-old,' one of the deputies can be heard saying in the video. Griffin’s son, Donovan Hall, told WSB that deputies kicked him in the head and that one hit him in the face with the butt of his gun." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDeputies suspended over violence while serving a $1,000 civil warrant at 1:13 AM

British police officer keeps job after having sex on duty while wearing handgun

"A police marksman who had sex on duty with a woman while his loaded gun was in a holster around his ankles has been allowed to keep his job, it has emerged. The police watchdog condemned Gwent police’s handling of the case, saying it had omitted key details in a report. PC Shaun Jenkins was originally dismissed from the force over the incident in 2010 but reinstated on appeal. He used a police armed response vehicle to get a lift to the house where the woman was, and was inside for between 30 to 40 minutes during which time he said he continued to monitor the police radio." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritish police officer keeps job after having sex on duty while wearing handgun

Internal Bundesbank Report Predicts New Greek Bailout In Early 2014, Contra Merkel

"An internal Bundesbank document discovered by Der Spiegel states, in opposition to the comments by Germany's electioneering Chancellor Merkel, that Europe 'will certainly agree to a new aid program for Greece' by early 2014 at the latest. As Reuters reports, Frau Merkel has repeatedly played down suggestions Greece will require more aid (or debt relief) in light of German voters major skepticism over moar of their money being flushed into the Mediterranean. The document notes that the risks of the current aid package for Greece are 'extremely high' and that recent approval of the tranche payments were politically motivated." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInternal Bundesbank Report Predicts New Greek Bailout In Early 2014, Contra Merkel

12-year-old boy discovers impressive 5.16 carat diamond after digging for 10 minutes

"Michael Dettlaff's family drove 100 miles out of their way to visit Crater of Diamonds State Park - and it was worth it. After only 10 minutes digging for the prized gems, 12-year-old Michael unearthed one of the largest diamonds in park history. Michael's dad was still in the process of renting mining equipment when Michel bounded up to him with the honey-brown diamond the size of a jelly bean. Park officials registered the 5.16 carat diamond under Michael's name of choice - the 'God's Glory Diamond' - and say it is the 27th largest diamond found there since the site became a state park in 1972." Continue reading →

Continue Reading12-year-old boy discovers impressive 5.16 carat diamond after digging for 10 minutes

Bitcoin Goes to Washington

"The Committee understands that Bitcoins and other forms of peer-to-peer digital currency are a potential means for criminal, terrorist or other illegal organizations and individuals to illegally launder and transfer money. News reports indicate that Bitcoins may have been used to help finance the flight and activity of fugitives. The Committee directs the FBI to provide a briefing on the nature and scale of the risk posed by such ersatz currency, both in financing illegal enterprises and in undermining financial institutions. The briefing should describe the FBI efforts in the context of a coordinated Federal response to this challenge." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBitcoin Goes to Washington

Congress starts looking into Bitcoin

"The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on Monday sent letters to several agencies requesting that they disclose their virtual currency policies, how they developed them, how agencies are coordinating and finally what they plan to do going forward. Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and ranking member Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) sent letters Monday, which ask for information on a range of virtual currencies while naming Bitcoin as an example, to the Homeland Security Department, Justice Department, Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, Securities and Exchange Commission, CFTC, and OMB." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongress starts looking into Bitcoin

India raises import duty on gold, silver to 10 per cent

"India hiked import duty on refined gold bars for a third time in eight months to 10 per cent from the earlier 8 per cent, the Finance Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The government also raised the import duty on silver to 10 per cent from the earlier 6 per cent, and the factory gate duty on gold bars to 9 per cent from 7 per cent. India, the world's biggest buyer of gold, has been trying to curb imports of the yellow metal, which is the second biggest imported item after crude oil. On July 22, the RBI required a fifth of all gold imports to be used for export, usually in the form of jewellery." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIndia raises import duty on gold, silver to 10 per cent