Unique institute unites capitalists who want to save the world

"The Unreasonable Institute, founded by University of Colorado graduates Teju Ravilochan and Daniel Epstein in this college town at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, is an attempt to solve real-world problems by linking innovative thinkers from around the world. Entrepreneurs wanting to join the camp submit written applications and go through a series of interviews. Successful applicants pay $10,000 for a single and $12,000 for a pair to take part. The institute helps participants raise the fee through crowd-sourcing and the support of donors like Hewlett-Packard and Vodafone." Continue reading

Continue ReadingUnique institute unites capitalists who want to save the world

Obama Introduces $300 Billion Crony Capitalism Electricity Program for Africa

"Africa needs electricity. What else is new? Africans need many things. So do people all over the world. Obama has 'pledged' $7 billion toward we-know-not-what that is supposed to build Africa's electricity. The White House says it will cost $300 billion by 2030. Liberals are liberals. They promote endless government programs and endless government, and often, as in this case, it's subsidizing particular businesses that will benefit. This is crony capitalism, which is not free market capitalism. And, as has often been the bi-partisan case, they promote funds that trickle down through corrupt governments [...] and are largely wasted and mis-directed." Continue reading

Continue ReadingObama Introduces $300 Billion Crony Capitalism Electricity Program for Africa

Obama Introduces $300 Billion Crony Capitalism Electricity Program for Africa

"Africa needs electricity. What else is new? Africans need many things. So do people all over the world. Obama has 'pledged' $7 billion toward we-know-not-what that is supposed to build Africa's electricity. The White House says it will cost $300 billion by 2030. Liberals are liberals. They promote endless government programs and endless government, and often, as in this case, it's subsidizing particular businesses that will benefit. This is crony capitalism, which is not free market capitalism. And, as has often been the bi-partisan case, they promote funds that trickle down through corrupt governments [...] and are largely wasted and mis-directed." Continue reading

Continue ReadingObama Introduces $300 Billion Crony Capitalism Electricity Program for Africa

Saudi prince sues Forbes after it says he’s only worth $20 billion

"Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has sued Forbes magazine for libel in a British court, alleging its valuation of his wealth at $20 billion was short of the mark by $9.6 billion. The prince, a grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder and nephew of King Abdullah, had attacked the US magazine’s ranking of world billionaires as flawed and biased against Middle Eastern businesses. Through his Kingdom Holding Company, Prince Alwaleed owns large stakes in Citigroup, News Corp and Apple Inc, among other companies. He is also owner or part-owner of luxury hotels including the Plaza in New York, the Savoy in London and the George V in Paris." Continue reading

Continue ReadingSaudi prince sues Forbes after it says he’s only worth $20 billion

Saudi prince sues Forbes after it says he’s only worth $20 billion

"Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has sued Forbes magazine for libel in a British court, alleging its valuation of his wealth at $20 billion was short of the mark by $9.6 billion. The prince, a grandson of Saudi Arabia’s founder and nephew of King Abdullah, had attacked the US magazine’s ranking of world billionaires as flawed and biased against Middle Eastern businesses. Through his Kingdom Holding Company, Prince Alwaleed owns large stakes in Citigroup, News Corp and Apple Inc, among other companies. He is also owner or part-owner of luxury hotels including the Plaza in New York, the Savoy in London and the George V in Paris." Continue reading

Continue ReadingSaudi prince sues Forbes after it says he’s only worth $20 billion

Robbers posing as police steal $261,000 from Saudi government official

"Robbers posing as policemen made off with 200,000 euros ($261,000) belonging to a senior official from the Saudi youth and sports ministry just after he landed in Paris, police said Monday. The audacious robbery was staged on the busy A1 highway near Le Bourget airport. The robbers were armed and used two cars equipped with flashing lights and the word 'Police' on them. They stopped the car the Saudi official was travelling in and demanded an inspection of the boot. They then made off with a suitcase containing 162,000 euros, $30,000 and 10,000 pounds. It was not immediately clear why the official was travelling with so much cash." Continue reading

Continue ReadingRobbers posing as police steal $261,000 from Saudi government official

Robbers posing as police steal $261,000 from Saudi government official

"Robbers posing as policemen made off with 200,000 euros ($261,000) belonging to a senior official from the Saudi youth and sports ministry just after he landed in Paris, police said Monday. The audacious robbery was staged on the busy A1 highway near Le Bourget airport. The robbers were armed and used two cars equipped with flashing lights and the word 'Police' on them. They stopped the car the Saudi official was travelling in and demanded an inspection of the boot. They then made off with a suitcase containing 162,000 euros, $30,000 and 10,000 pounds. It was not immediately clear why the official was travelling with so much cash." Continue reading

Continue ReadingRobbers posing as police steal $261,000 from Saudi government official

Our Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable

"Real reform would mean powerful constituencies would have to take real reductions in staffing, power, benefits and in their share of the national income. Rather than reveal this double-bind--reform is impossible but the Status Quo is unsustainable--the legacy system deploys its gargantuan resources to laying down a smoke-screen of bogus reforms and ginned-up statistics. America's legacy systems are like stars about to go super-nova. They have increased in size to the point where their stupendous mass guarantees that once their energy source (as measured in fossil fuels and money) falls below a certain threshold, the institution will collapse inward on itself." Continue reading

Continue ReadingOur Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable

Our Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable

"Real reform would mean powerful constituencies would have to take real reductions in staffing, power, benefits and in their share of the national income. Rather than reveal this double-bind--reform is impossible but the Status Quo is unsustainable--the legacy system deploys its gargantuan resources to laying down a smoke-screen of bogus reforms and ginned-up statistics. America's legacy systems are like stars about to go super-nova. They have increased in size to the point where their stupendous mass guarantees that once their energy source (as measured in fossil fuels and money) falls below a certain threshold, the institution will collapse inward on itself." Continue reading

Continue ReadingOur Legacy Systems: Dysfunctional, Unreformable

Bush says ‘civil liberties were guaranteed’ under his NSA Internet surveillance

"Former President George W. Bush is insisting that a NSA Internet surveillance program started during his administration 'guaranteed' civil liberties, and that Edward Snowden 'damaged the country' by leaking details about it. In an interview with CNN, Bush was confident that 'the Obama administration will deal' with Snowden and the fallout from his leaks. 'I think he damaged the security of the country,' he explained. 'I put the program in place to protect the country, and one of the certainties is civil liberties were guaranteed.' The former president added that his program had found 'the proper balance' between privacy and security." Continue reading

Continue ReadingBush says ‘civil liberties were guaranteed’ under his NSA Internet surveillance