sound money

Canadian Mint ready to test its own digital money project

"MintChip is 'the future of money,' according to the Mint’s promotional video, which goes on to present it as a digital version that would be legal tender, just like physical dollars and cents. You would hold it on a smartphone or other electronic device, just like a wallet. And according to the Mint’s Mr. Brûlé, the money could be used just as easily whether you’re shopping at a conventional bricks-and-mortar retailer, on-line or at your neighbour’s garage sale, though your neighbour would of course need a properly equipped smartphone. Mr. Brûlé sees it as part of the leading edge of a tsunami in mobile technology that is now washing over our society." Continue reading →

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Gliph Raises $200,000 To Expand Secure Messaging And Bitcoin Features

"Gliph began in early 2012 as an encrypted messaging app, focused on securing communications across iPhone, Android and web users, protecting all messages with SSL and/or AES-256 encryption. The service also offers the ability to reveal only as much personal information as desired with communication partners, using symbols – or ‘artifacts’, as the company calls them – as the primary personal identifiers. More recently, Gliph has added a number of bitcoin functions to seamlessly transact in the digital currency. Users can link existing wallets from a number of popular options including BIPS, Blockchain.info, or Coinbase." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGliph Raises $200,000 To Expand Secure Messaging And Bitcoin Features

Google, Facebook and Yahoo push 21 nations for surveillance data

"The Global Network Initiative, which includes Google, Facebook, Yahoo and Microsoft, asked the countries to 'report on the requests they make for electronic communications surveillance and to make it legally possible for companies to report regularly to the public on the government requests that they receive from law enforcement as well as national security authorities.' Letters were sent to senior government officials responsible for foreign affairs, justice, and security, with copies to data protection authorities, the group said. Copies were sent to representatives at the United Nations offices in Geneva, in advance of discussions on human rights and communications surveillance." Continue reading →

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Read more about the article Journalism professor says he hopes for murder of NRA members’ children

Journalism professor says he hopes for murder of NRA members’ children

"A journalism professor at the University of Kansas (KU) turned to Twitter on Monday to suggest he would like to see the murder of children of National Rifle Association (NRA) members at the hands of a deranged gunman. A journalism professor has defended tweets he sent out which called for the death of NRA employees children. '#NavyYardShooting The blood is on the hands of the #NRA,' tweeted David Guth, who is an associate professor of Journalism at the university’s William Allen White School of Journalism. 'Next time, let it be YOUR sons and daughters, he continued. “Shame on you. May God damn you.'" Continue reading →

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Jon Stewart Rips CNN Apart for Confusing, Frenzied Shooting Coverage

"Jon Stewart opened Tuesday night's Daily Show with a powerful indictment of how cable news covered the Washington Navy Yard shooting, aimed squarely at the 'breathless wrongness' of CNN. Stewart spent not one, but two whole segments mercilessly tearing CNN apart for how awfully it covered the shooting, especially all the unnecessary speculation. Stewart yelled at one CNN reporter, 'You're just standing in front of a camera naming shit you see!' and likened it to 'walking down the street with a five-year-old.' He ran the gamut from one anchor demanding to know the size of a building to another asking about the clothes someone who may have been the suspect possibly wore." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJon Stewart Rips CNN Apart for Confusing, Frenzied Shooting Coverage

Rand Paul: ‘I Ask That We Begin The End Of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing’

"Paul mentioned other examples of draconian mandatory minimums, including the 55-year sentence that Weldon Angelos, a 24-year-old Utah music entrepreneur, received for a few small pot sales. Brett Tolman, a former U.S. attorney for Utah, noted that the DEA could have busted Angelos after the first undercover buy but waited for two more, knowing that Angelos’ possession of a gun would trigger stacked sentences adding up to more than half a century. Paul also cited Edward Clay, an 18-year-old first-time offender who got 10 years after he was caught with less than two ounces of cocaine, and John Horner, a 46-year-old father of three who got a 25-year mandatory minimum." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRand Paul: ‘I Ask That We Begin The End Of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing’

Minimum Wage Madness

"Switzerland is one of the few modern nations without a minimum wage law. In 2003, 'The Economist' magazine reported: 'Switzerland’s unemployment neared a five-year high of 3.9 percent in February.' In February of this year, Switzerland’s unemployment rate was 3.1 percent. A recent issue of 'The Economist' showed Switzerland’s unemployment rate as 2.1 percent. Most Americans today have never seen unemployment rates that low. However, there was a time when there was no federal minimum wage law in the United States. The last time was during the Coolidge administration, when the annual unemployment rate got as low as 1.8 percent." Continue reading →

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Rep holds up vodka and steak on House floor to shame food stamp opponents

"Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) on Thursday held up steak, vodka and caviar during her House floor speech in an effort to shame Republicans who want to slash $40 billion from the food stamp budget, while they continue to go on 'lavish' trips financed by taxpayers and other groups. Earlier this month, House Republicans introduced a bill that caved to conservative members and doubled the amount of cuts the party was proposing to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 'They dine at lavish restaurants, eating steak, vodka and even caviar,' she added, showing food props to members of the House. 'They receive money to do this. That’s right, they don’t pay out of pocket for these meals.'" Continue reading →

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Ohio cop on paid leave after threatening handcuffed family with Taser

"Police in Washington Township, Ohio are investigating an officer’s conduct after footage surfaced online of him waving his Tazer at two people already handcuffed on the ground and seemingly grabbing a teenage boy during a traffic stop. The Toledo Blade reported on Wednesday that Officer Eric Hart was on paid leave while his department investigates his encounter on Sunday with Aaron Tatkowski, his daughter-in-law Cassandra Meyers, and Meyers’ 14-year-old son. The description for the video contends that Hart blocked Tatkowski’s driveway while stopping Meyers, and that the confrontation began after Tatkowski asked Hart to move his vehicle." Continue reading →

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