Entrepreneurship

Mega to run ‘cutting-edge’ encrypted email after Lavabit’s ‘privacy seppuku’

"Kim Dotcom’s Mega.co.nz is working on a highly-secure email service to run on a non-US-based server. It comes as the US squeezes email providers that offer encryption and Mega’s CEO calls Lavabit’s shutdown an 'honorable act of Privacy Seppuku.' The concept he was referring to was developed by secure service providers such as Cryptocloud, which made a ‘corporate seppuku’ pledge to oppose the mass surveillance and shield the privacy of their users’ data. The name for the move apparently derives from a Japanese ritual suicide, which was originally practiced by samurai to preserve honor." Continue reading →

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Bees Brothers keep thriving and already mined their first Bitcoin

"Being homeschooled, the Huntzinger brothers had a lot of freedom to experiment within their new passion (creating their own recipes, for instance), until they discovered Bitcoin and the business got even more interesting. 'One of the reasons we chose to homeschool was to have the freedom to learn what the kids want and have fun doing it. Neither of us knows anything about cryptography, so we are having to learn it too, but hopefully soon they can teach themselves without us. This journey of learning about bees, starting a business, and now the world of cryptocurrency has been a great learning adventure for the whole family', explained the parents." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBees Brothers keep thriving and already mined their first Bitcoin

Am Law Lawyers Help Bring Bitcoin to the Masses

"It may be awhile before Kathleen Moriarty lets clients pay her in bitcoin, but the Katten Muchin Rosenman partner is doing her part to help legitimize the digital currency derided as speculative and risky by some prominent economists. In July, Moriarty filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission what appears to be the first-ever proposal to create a bitcoin-based, exchange-traded fund on behalf of two high-profile clients: Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the twin brothers famous for battling Mark Zuckerberg over Facebook’s origins. The twins turned to Moriarty because of her extensive experience with ETFs." Continue reading →

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With Detroit’s Bankruptcy, Anarchists Have Begun Project “Free Detroit”

"With much of the city in disarray and literally moving away, the cost of living has gone down dramatically with housing prices in some cases reaching only a single dollar. Michigan market-anarchists from the 'Michigan Peace and Liberty Coalition' are coming together to put 'theory into reality' when it comes to free markets. In their plans, coalition members believe they’ll be purchasing an estimated five blocks of property. Free Detroit members hope to provide food production, security, water collection, education, construction, communications, child services and many others – through agorism, without any government intervention." Continue reading →

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How to Retire Gracefully in Your Own Community, Not Sun City

"Twelve years ago, a handful of older residents living in a tiny section in Boston gathered to figure out a way they could 'age in place' in the neighborhood they so dearly loved. They launched the Beacon Hill Village, a nonprofit membership organization that provides free or low-cost services to seniors who have chosen to live in their own homes. The services include social clubs, weekly exercise classes and lectures, transportation to doctors’ offices and grocery stores and access to reduced-fee home medical care and home repair services. Beacon Hill Village now boasts 400 members and the concept has spread to other communities across the country." Continue reading →

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Lavabit chief predicts ‘long fight’ with feds (Q&A)

"Ladar Levison can't talk for legal reasons about the specifics of why he shut down Lavabit, his encrypted Web e-mail company, but he was hardly tight-lipped about the subject. Levison, a San Francisco native and an enthusiastic beach-and-sand volleyball player who moved to Texas to go to college, currently resides in Dallas. In an phone interview about the decision to shutter Lavabit, Levison spoke about the connection between Lavabit and the Patriot Act, how he thinks the laws regarding privacy ought to change, and how the American government is failing to uphold the U.S. Constitution." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLavabit chief predicts ‘long fight’ with feds (Q&A)

U.S. E-Mail Services Close and Destroy Data Rather Than Reveal Files

"The shutdown of two small e-mail providers on Thursday illustrates why it is so hard for Internet companies to challenge secret government surveillance: to protect their customers’ data from federal authorities, the two companies essentially committed suicide. In effect, both businesses destroyed their assets — in part or in full — to avoid turning over their customers’ data. Such public displays are far more difficult for large companies to make, and help explain why the most public efforts to challenge secret government orders have come from small companies and nonprofits." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. E-Mail Services Close and Destroy Data Rather Than Reveal Files

Man who created own credit card sues bank for not sticking to terms

"Mr Argarkov's version of the contract contained a 0pc interest rate, no fees and no credit limit. Every time the bank failed to comply with the rules, he would fine them 3m rubles (£58,716). If Tinkoff tried to cancel the contract, it would have to pay him 6m rubles. Tinkoff apparently failed to read the amendments, signed the contract and sent Mr Argakov a credit card. Earlier this week a Russian judge ruled in Mr Argakov's favour. Tinkoff had signed the contract and was legally bound to it. Mr Argakov was only ordered to pay an outstanding balance of 19,000 rubles (£371)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMan who created own credit card sues bank for not sticking to terms

20 Things 20-Year-Olds Don’t Get

"I started Docstoc in my 20’s, made the cover of one of those cliché '20 Under 20' lists, and today I employ an amazing group of 20-somethings. Call me a curmudgeon, but at 34, how I came up seems so different from what this millennial generation expects. I made a lot of mistakes along the way, and I see this generation making their own. In response, here are my 20 Things 20-Year-Olds Don’t Get." Continue reading →

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