Archive for October, 2007
Charles Riechers: Suicide Is Not Painless
October 23rd, 2007The New York Times has published an astonishing op-ed piece about Charles Reichers and the corruption industrial complex. The crimes are… breathtaking. I appended the full text to the Cryptogon post on Reichers (if you would like to comment on this, please do it there). Via: New York Times: Set against the epic corruption that […]
Sarkozy’s “Committee of Wise Men” to Contemplate Long Term Plans for European Union
October 23rd, 2007Will masks and capes be optional? Via: MSNBC/Financial Times: The mishmash of opt-outs and compromises contained in the treaty shows how the bargain that underpinned the EU’s evolution over the past 20 to 25 years may now be obsolete. Under the old pragmatic arrangements, countries that wanted an ever more united Europe created the euro, […]
Three Quarters of Adjustable Rate Mortgage Holders Don’t Know How Much Their Payments Will Increase After Reset
October 23rd, 2007Fantastic! Via: CNN: About $50 billion in adjustable rate mortgages reset this month, driving interest rates up for many borderline borrowers. And despite efforts to raise awareness, it doesn’t look like anyone is really prepared for what’s to come. “I don’t know if there’s anything much [borrowers] can do,” said Keith Gumbinger of HSH Associates, […]
Evidence of Tax Evasion by Blackwater
October 22nd, 2007Via: U.S. House of Representatives: New documents suggest that Blackwater may have engaged in significant tax evasion, failing to withhold and pay millions of dollars in Social Security, Medicare, unemployment, and related taxes, and sought to conceal its conduct from Congress and law enforcement officials.
The Truth About Homework
October 22nd, 2007Via: Alfie Kohn: There’s something perversely fascinating about educational policies that are clearly at odds with the available data. Huge schools are still being built even though we know that students tend to fare better in smaller places that lend themselves to the creation of democratic caring communities. Many children who are failed by the […]
German-Based Energy Watch Group: Oil Production Peaked in 2006
October 22nd, 2007From the article: “When I was an adviser to government, I proposed that we set up a taskforce to look at how fast the UK could mobilise alternative energy technologies in extremis, come the peak,” he said. “Other industry advisers supported that. But the government prefers to sleep on without even doing a contingency study. […]
Scientists Want to Steer Hurricanes with Industrial Slag and Directed Energy Systems
October 21st, 2007What could possibly go wrong? Via: Telegraph: Scientists have made a breakthrough in man’s desire to control the forces of nature – unveiling plans to weaken hurricanes and steer them off course, to prevent tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina. The damage done to New Orleans in 2005 has spurred two rival teams of climate experts, […]
TSA Asking Civilian Travelers to Sneak “Fake” Bombs Through Airport Security Checkpoints
October 21st, 2007Do you get it yet? Via: USA Today: When covert agents test how well airport security screeners find homemade bombs, they pack a detonator, timer and battery inside a cluttered toilet kit, stuff it into a suitcase and carry it through a checkpoint. Agents also hide fake sheet explosives in briefcase linings. They stash watch […]
Cryptogon Reader Contributes $56
October 21st, 2007Thanks to Pookie for extending her reign as Cryptogon’s top contributor.
U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE OFFERING EMERGENCY FUNDING TO BRITISH BANKS
October 21st, 2007U.S. Dollar holders: Brace for impact. Via: Telegraph: The Fed’s board of governors wrote to both banks 10 days ago, granting them access to funds for customers “in need of short-term liquidity”. The letter to RBS made particular reference to investors holding mortgage-backed securities – which have been at the centre of the sub-prime crisis. […]
