Archive for the 'Dictatorship' Category
China Is Reaping Biggest Benefits of Iraq Oil Boom
June 3rd, 2013For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill. -Sun Tzu, The Art of War The Chinese had nothing to do with the war, eh? Attention Michael Makovsky: China bought hundreds of billions of dollars worth of […]
Fire Kills 119 at Poultry Plant in Northeast China
June 3rd, 2013Via: AP: A fire at a poultry plant in northeastern China trapped workers inside a cluttered slaughterhouse, killing at least 119 in one of China’s worst industrial disasters in years despite recent work safety improvements. Several dozen other people were hurt in Monday’s blaze in Jilin province’s Mishazi township, which appeared to have been sparked […]
Situation in Turkey
June 3rd, 2013Amnesty International Turkey has ongoing coverage of the protests.
Justice Department Secret Document Details Unconstitutional Surveillance of American Citizens
May 31st, 2013Via: IB Times: The Justice Department may soon be forced to reveal a classified document that details unconstitutional surveillance of American citizens. The Justice Department has fought to keep the document secret for about a year, but a recent court order demands that they respond to a formal request filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation […]
In California, Obamacare To Increase Individual Health Insurance Premiums By 64-146%
May 31st, 2013In other news: Maine Doctor Stops Accepting All Forms of Insurance, Cuts Prices for Treatments In Half. Via: Forbes: One of the most serious flaws with Obamacare is that its blizzard of regulations and mandates drives up the cost of insurance for people who buy it on their own. This problem will be especially acute […]
U.S. Government Clears Path for Iran to Back Orifice Itself
May 31st, 2013Via: Ars Technica: On Thursday, the Obama Administration lifted digital sanctions that for more than two decades have prevented companies that do business in the US from also selling or distributing digital goods—including mobile phones, hosting services, VPNs, and software updates—to Iran. Research Credit: almaverdad2
Schools Scanned Students’ Irises Without Permission
May 31st, 2013Via: Russia Today: Parents in Polk County, Florida are outraged after learning that students in area schools had their irises scanned as part of a new security program without obtaining proper permission. Students at three facilities — an elementary school, a grade school and a high school — had their eyeballs scanned earlier this month […]
Cost to Squid Minion to Avoid Prosecution for Influence Peddling: $100K
May 30th, 2013Via: Reuters: A former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. investment banker has agreed to a five-year securities industry ban and a record fine to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges that he broke rules against influence peddling to win bond underwriting business in Massachusetts. Without admitting or denying wrongdoing, Neil Morrison, 38, accepted what the […]
EFF Makes Formal Objection to DRM in HTML5
May 30th, 2013Via: EFF: Today the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) filed a formal objection to the inclusion of digital rights management (DRM) in HTML5, arguing that a draft proposal from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) could stymie Web innovation and block access to content for people across the globe. The W3C’s HTML working group is creating […]
Syria Receives Russian S-300 Air Defense System
May 30th, 2013Via: Deutsche Welle: Russian S-300 air defense missile systems have arrived in Syria, according to the Syrian president. Israel has long feared the delivery of the long-range missiles, calling them a “threat” to its own security. In an interview with Lebanese broadcaster, Al-Manar TV, the Syrian president confirmed that Damascus had received the surface-to-air missile […]
