Archive for March, 2012
Cheetah: Boston Dynamics Running Robot
March 6th, 2012Just FYI: You guys never need to submit stories that are mentioned on Slashdot. Via: Forbes: A warning for anyone who imagines a Skynet-ruled world of robot domination: Don’t watch the video below. Or if you do, prepare for nightmares of being chased at 18-miles an hour by a gas-powered steely automaton. Boston Dynamics, a […]
Afghanistan: Special Forces Under CIA Control Would be Considered Spies, Allowing White House to Claim U.S. Troops Have Been Withdrawn
March 5th, 2012Via: AntiWar: Top Pentagon officials are floating an idea to put elite special operations forces under CIA control in Afghanistan after 2014, sources told The Associated Press. The plan is one of several possible scenarios being considered and has not yet been presented to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, the White House, or the relevant […]
Obama, Iran and Preventive War
March 5th, 2012Via: Salon: President Obama yesterday joined virtually every U.S. political leader in both parties in making the obligatory, annual pilgrimage and oath-taking to AIPAC: a bizarre ritual if you think about it. During his speech, he repeatedly emphasized that he “has Israel’s back,” rightfully noting that his actions in office prove this (“At every crucial […]
Britain: Government Plans Radical Privatization for Police
March 5th, 2012I like this moment of clarity from the unnamed West Midlands police authority spokesman: “Combining with the business sector is aimed at totally transforming the way the force currently does business – improving the service provided to the public.” Law enforcement = business. If you start thinking about Mussolini and corporatism as you read the […]
International Observer Group Says ‘Serious Problems’ in Russian Presidential Election
March 5th, 2012Yes, but at least it’s another excuse to link to Vladimir Putin, Action Man. Via: The Canadian Press: There were “serious problems” in the vote that returned Vladimir Putin to the Russian presidency, the head of the major international election observer mission said Monday, adding fuel to an opposition testing its strength with plans for […]
U.S. Special Forces Command Wants Medium Range Missile System for SUVs
March 5th, 2012Via: FBODaily: The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Special Operations Research, Development and Acquisition Center (SORDAC), on behalf of the warfighter, seeks information from industry for a Medium Range Precision Strike System (MRPSS).The weapons system should provide the capability for precision engagements by U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) users against enemy forces. The entire […]
Speculators Who Inflated Property Bubble to Get Bailout
March 5th, 2012Via: Bloomberg: The Obama administration will extend mortgage assistance for the first time to investors who bought multiple homes before the market imploded, helping some speculators who drove up prices and inflated the housing bubble. Landlords can qualify for up to four federally-subsidized loan workouts starting around May, as long as they rent out each […]
Banker Resignations
March 5th, 2012I have no idea what a normal rate of resignations is, but, for whatever it’s worth: American Kabuki: 116 RESIGNATIONS FROM WORLD BANKS 3/2/12. Research Credit: MoneyMustGo
Feds Unlock Suspect’s Computer Without Her Help
March 4th, 2012As it turns out, the ex-husband provided a list of possible passwords to the government. Via: Denver Post: A dispute over whether requiring a bank-fraud suspect to unlock her computer violates the suspect’s rights against self-incrimination has shifted after federal authorities got into the computer another way. An attorney for Ramona Fricosu confirmed this morning […]
The Little White Box That Can Hack Your Network
March 4th, 2012Smaller organizations might not have the equipment or the expertise to defend against the Pwn Plug, but for enterprises to get nailed by this thing amounts to comedy gold. Note: The U.S. Department of Defense is a large Pwn Plug customer. *chortle* The first line of defense should be to train staff to resist social […]
