Orwellian

Swiss banks to divulge names of US account holders, pay billions in fines

"About a hundred Swiss banks will avoid prosecution by divulging the names of US clients who have allegedly avoided tax by using secret accounts. The banks could face fines of up to 50 percent of the asset value if they provide full disclosure. Under the deal, each bank will set its own non-prosecution or deferred-prosecution agreement with the US authorities. The fines are set to reach up to 50 percent of the aggregate value of any undeclared accounts held by wealthy Americans, depending on the time the accounts were opened. Swiss banks will have to assess the cost of potential penalties versus the risk of US prosecution." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSwiss banks to divulge names of US account holders, pay billions in fines

Bionic Commandos from the Warrior Web

"In 2011, DARPA started the Warrior Web program in order to develop a soft, lightweight undersuit that would augment physical capabilities. This suit would relieve mental strains that obstruct a soldier’s ability to execute missions. Ninety percent of the U.S. Army could be wearing these high-tech suits one-three years from now. DARPA is not alone in their ambition to produce a human augmentation suit. NASA is working on their own suit with several partners, which could give us a good idea of what human augmentation suits will be like further out in the future. Their suit could give astronauts superhuman strength on major space missions to an asteroid or Mars." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBionic Commandos from the Warrior Web

Bradley Manning: The Mighty Fist!

"We stand in solidarity with PFC Manning and the peace his actions stand for. The state has grown far too large. The centralized, federated nation-state is a great agent of repression. Its power lies in the hands of state servants who wish to extinguish what tiny flames of liberty are left among us. But for many, this sentence has inspired a howl so large that these flames may rage into a roaring fire. If such an injustice can come down on Manning then it can come down on any of us who wish to challenge the immoral actions of the state. May the mighty fist of solidarity vanquish this state!" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBradley Manning: The Mighty Fist!

Chelsea Manning files bid for Obama pardon

"A separate statement released by Amnesty International on Tuesday urged Obama to take a sympathetic stance towards Manning and grant clemency, saying the soldier’s sentence was a 'blight on the US human rights record.' 'President Obama should grant Manning clemency for time served, protect whistleblowers, and provide accountability for crimes like those Manning exposed,' Amnesty said. The rights group noted that Manning’s sentence 'contrasts with the leniency given those responsible for torture and other types of grave human rights violations' revealed by the soldier’s disclosures." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChelsea Manning files bid for Obama pardon

Egypt expels three Al-Jazeera journalists for biased reporting

"Egypt on Sunday expelled three foreign journalists working as freelancers for Al-Jazeera television’s English channel, the state news agency MENA reported. Correspondent Wayne Haye, a New Zealander, South African cameraman Adil Bradlow and Irish producer Russ Finn were arrested last Tuesday while covering the political crisis in Egypt. Police said they did not have press accreditation. The Qatar-based channel said last week: 'There has also been a campaign against Al-Jazeera, in particular, as the channel’s offices were raided last month and security forces seized equipment which has yet to be returned.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt expels three Al-Jazeera journalists for biased reporting

Egyptian court orders Al Jazeera and other news outlets to close down

"A Cairo court Tuesday ordered the closure of four television channels, including Al-Jazeera Egypt and Ahrar 25, a network belonging to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood. The closure comes a day after Islamist broadcaster Al-Hafez was ordered shut following accusations that it was 'inciting hatred' against Coptic Christians and 'undermining national unity'. Tuesday’s order against Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr comes two days after Egyptian authorities expelled three foreign journalists working as freelancers for the Doha-based network’s English-language channel. Egypt’s authorities have accused Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr of bias in its reporting of the coup that ousted Morsi." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgyptian court orders Al Jazeera and other news outlets to close down

Obama Drone Attack Deaths versus Syria Chemical Weapon Deaths

"The actual number of drone deaths is at least 200 times the '22 top Al-Qaeda leaders plus Bin Laden' noted by President Obama. Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) recently floated the number 4,700. Independent studies by both U.S. and British investigators have confirmed numbers in that ballpark, with many of those being 'collateral damage.' [..] More than 1,400 killed in Syrian chemical weapons attack, U.S. says." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Drone Attack Deaths versus Syria Chemical Weapon Deaths

U.S. steps up Pakistan surveillance: ‘black budget’ analysis

"America has delivered nearly $26 billion in aid to Pakistan over the past 12 years, with the money aimed at stabilizing the country and ensuring its cooperation in counterterrorism efforts, according to the paper. US spy agencies reported that senior Pakistani military and intelligence officials knew of and possibly ordered a broad campaign of extrajudicial killings of militants and other adversaries, the Post said. Public disclosure of the reports could have forced the administration of President Barack Obama to sever aid to the Pakistani armed forces. This is because of a US law that prohibits military assistance to human rights abusers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. steps up Pakistan surveillance: ‘black budget’ analysis

‘What is Government?’ Elementary Students Taught It’s Your ‘Family’

"Fourth-grade students in Illinois are learning that “government is like a nation’s family” because it sets rules and takes care of needs such as health care and education. So says a worksheet for social studies homework that was distributed to students at East Prairie School in Skokie, Ill, complete with a drawing of Uncle Same cradling a baby that represents the citizens. Students are then prompted to answer 10 questions comparing government and families, including how their family provides for their health care needs and how the government does the same, and what rules families set and what rules government sets." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘What is Government?’ Elementary Students Taught It’s Your ‘Family’

Tennessee to roll out “No Refusal” blood-draw DUI checkpoints for Labor Day

"The new law now mandates blood be drawn from citizens in a variety of circumstances. No longer limited to vehicular assault cases, police are [now] required to take the blood of any DUI suspect who has ever had a DUI conviction in their life, according to WBIR. The other requirement is that blood be drawn from any suspect who has a person under the age of 16 in the car. The rest of the blood-draw cases are done upon seeking a readily available warrant. In light of these new powers, the latest fad in Tennessee law enforcement is setting up 'no refusal' checkpoints, having a judge or a judicial commissioner on call to churn out blood warrants on demand." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTennessee to roll out “No Refusal” blood-draw DUI checkpoints for Labor Day