Dialectical Maneuvers

World anti-doping agency wants a larger budget from national governments

"In the wake of the Armstrong scandal, which saw the Texan stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and banned from the sport for life, anti-doping agencies had to work more closely with the pharmaceutical industry. One way that the industry had helped so far was by making available to WADA samples of certain medications not yet available to the wider public to help develop tests more quickly and effectively when they are adapted for illegal use in sport. Rogge, however, said that sport also needed to enlist the support of law enforcement agencies to fight against doping, given that it frequently had links to 'other forms of corruption'." Continue reading →

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Directed History: A Fact of Life?

"Last Wednesday, just before Angela Merkel flew to London to tell David Cameron how desperately she wants Britain to stay in the EU, she told the European Parliament: 'Of course the European Commission will one day become a government, the European Council a second chamber and the European Parliament will have more powers – but for now we have to focus on the euro and give people a little more time to come along.' In other words, the EU is still on track to become precisely that 'government of Europe' that Jacques Delors was boasting about in 1989 (to which Mrs Thatcher famously responded 'No, no, no')." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDirected History: A Fact of Life?

Australia scraps plan to filter Internet

"The centre-left Labor government had pushed since 2007 for a mandatory Internet filter to protect children, to be administered by service providers, despite criticism it was impractical and set a precedent for censorship. The idea was that the filter would block access to material such as rape, drug use, bestiality and child sex abuse. But Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said the government had now reached an agreement with Internet providers that they would block 'the worst of the worst', adding that about 1,400 sites monitored by Interpol would be barred." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAustralia scraps plan to filter Internet

Stuxnet goes out of control: Chevron infected by anti-Iranian virus, others could be next

"America’s cyberwar is already seeing collateral damage, and it’s hitting the country’s own billion-dollar companies. Oil giants Chevron say the Stuxnet computer virus made by the US to target Iran infected their systems as well. California-based Chevron, a Fortune 500 company that’s among the biggest corporations in the world, admits this week that they discovered the Stuxnet worm on their systems back in 2010. Up until now, Chevron managed to make their finding a well-kept secret, and their disclosure marks the first time a US company has come clean about being infected by the virus intended for Iran’s nuclear enrichment program." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStuxnet goes out of control: Chevron infected by anti-Iranian virus, others could be next

In Egypt streets, Islamists throw weight around

"Four months since Egypt elected veteran Muslim Brotherhood politician Mohamed Mursi as president, human rights activists say hardliners are trying to impose Islamist ways on society. Such actions have grabbed local headlines and fuelled the worst-case-scenario fears of moderates worried by the rise of Islamists who were tightly reined in by Hosni Mubarak but have emerged as a major force since he was swept from power. Christians say overall the atmosphere has become increasingly menacing as the presence of hostile Salafi Muslim hardliners in public life has grown more pronounced." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIn Egypt streets, Islamists throw weight around

Peace group says European Nobel prize is ‘unlawful’

"The Swedish industrialist and philanthropist Alfred Nobel, who died in 1896, said in his testament that the award should go to the 'person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.' The International Peace Bureau noted that the EU 'is not seeking to realise a demilitarisation of international relations', and that its members 'condone security based on military force and have waged wars rather than insisting on the need for alternative approaches.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPeace group says European Nobel prize is ‘unlawful’

The European Central Bank on Bitcoins

"I have finally had a chance to read in full the unsigned report by the European Central Bank that I mentioned earlier this week. The report is quite impressive. The report clearly states the advantages of Bitcoins versus current credit/debit cards. The anonymity feature of Bitcoin is the feature that I believe could be the driving feature behind the potential success of Bitcoin. As world governments attempt to get in the middle of more and more private transactions, more and more buyers and sellers will seek anonymity." Continue reading →

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Feds to Bal Harbour: Hand over seized drug loot

"The U.S. Justice Department shut down Bal Harbour’s celebrated federal forfeiture program and ordered the police to return more than $4 million, slapping the agency with crushing sanctions for tapping into drug money to pay for first-class flights, luxury car rentals, and payments to informants across the country. For years, the small coastal town known for speed traps became one of the most successful in Florida, with plainclothes cops jetting across the nation toting bags stuffed with cash from investigations that had no connection to Bal Harbour — and making few arrests." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFeds to Bal Harbour: Hand over seized drug loot

CIA operators were denied request for help during Benghazi attack

"Former Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods was part of a small team who was at the CIA annex about a mile from the U.S. consulate where Ambassador Chris Stevens and his team came under attack. When he and others heard the shots fired, they informed their higher-ups at the annex to tell them what they were hearing and requested permission to go to the consulate and help out. They were told to 'stand down,' according to sources familiar with the exchange. Soon after, they were again told to 'stand down.' CIA spokeswoman Jennifer Youngblood, though, denied the claims that requests for support were turned down." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCIA operators were denied request for help during Benghazi attack

Missouri Lt. Gov. protests UN election monitors previously invited by Pres. Bush

"Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder (R) on Thursday warned that 'Albanian' election monitors who will observe polling places on November 6 are part of President Barack Obama’s plan to let the United Nations take over the United States. Kinder said he was inspired by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, who threatened to arrested the international election monitors if they come within 100 feet of a polling place. Following a request from eight civil rights groups, the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), a United Nations partner, had agreed to send 44 election monitors to the United States." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMissouri Lt. Gov. protests UN election monitors previously invited by Pres. Bush