Archive for May, 2008
“Computer Glitch” at Moody’s Awarded AAA Credit Ratings to Debt Products that, “Were Like Something Out of a Sci-Fi Blockbuster”
May 21st, 2008Via: Financial Times: When the craze for CPDOs erupted in financial markets in late 2006, some observers quipped that these new products were like something out of a sci-fi blockbuster. Not only was the ingracious acronym amusingly close to C3PO, one of the hapless robots from the Star Wars movies, but also like the heroes […]
Salvage Economy: Texas Man Builds Electric Car for $4750
May 21st, 2008Via: NBC5: With gas pushing $4 per gallon, many people are looking for ways to save some green at the pump. One North Texas man found a way to help the environment and commute to work for just pennies a day. David Murray may drive the quietest car in North Texas, powered only by a […]
Italian Crime Group Worth More Than Some Nations’ GDP
May 21st, 2008Via: Reuters: The ‘Ndrangheta, the Italian organised crime group, does yearly business equivalent to some 3 percent of Italy’s economy and more than the total of that of some small European nations, according to a study on Wednesday. The crime group, which has overtaken the Sicilian Mafia for control of drug trafficking, was responsible for […]
Squatters “Rent Out” Foreclosed Homes
May 20th, 2008Via: Reuters: They enter through a broken first-floor window each night to sleep on a moldy bed in the abandoned four-family house at 827 Main Street, part of a new generation of squatters emboldened by America’s housing foreclosure crisis. “For squatters, foreclosed homes like this are like a camp-ground with free camping,” says real-estate broker […]
Johannesburg Calls for Extra Police as Riots Kill 22
May 20th, 2008Via: Bloomberg: Authorities in Gauteng, the South African province containing Johannesburg, called for police reinforcements after rioters targeting mainly Zimbabwean immigrants killed at least 22 people over the last two days. Incidents were reported today in Cleveland, just south of the city center, in Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, Primrose in the east as well as […]
Presence of Logo on YouTube Videos Demonstrates Authenticity of Al-Qaeda Videos… to Joe Lieberman
May 20th, 2008The logo guarantees that the content was produced by al-Qaeda, does it? There you have it, Joe. Report to Camp X-Ray for rendering. While it’s unclear to me how that idiot manages to dress himself in the morning, he’s trying to have content banned on the Internet?! Good luck with that, Joe. Keep your dribble […]
UK Plans to Create Database Containing Details About Every Telephone Call, Email and Internet Session
May 20th, 2008Via: Times Online: A massive government database holding details of every phone call, e-mail and time spent on the internet by the public is being planned as part of the fight against crime and terrorism. Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecoms companies would hand over the records to the Home Office under plans put forward […]
Manufacturing a Food Crisis
May 19th, 2008Key word: Manufacturing. That’s a good word to remember when considering most global crises. Via: Nation Piece via Counter Currents: Collapse of prices from trade liberalization and loss of control over seeds to biotech firms is part of a comprehensive problem, says global justice activist Vandana Shiva: “Under globalization, the farmer is losing her/his social, […]
MI5 Linked to Max Mosley Sex Scandal
May 19th, 2008Oh my my my. What a shocking Coincidence! Full text follows. Via: Times Online: An MI5 officer has been forced to resign after admitting that his wife was a prostitute who took part in a notorious “Nazi-style orgy” with Max Mosley, the Formula One racing chief. The intelligence officer, who cannot be named for security […]
China’s All-Seeing Eye
May 19th, 2008The one is a bit long, but very worth reading, especially if you liked/were terrified by, The Last Roundup: MAIN CORE. If you plan on reading this, click through to the main story because my excerpt includes the grim spoiler ending. Via: Rolling Stone: China today, epitomized by Shenzhen’s transition from mud to megacity in […]
