Archive for April, 2012
Vast Mexico Bribery Case Hushed Up by Wal-Mart
April 24th, 2012Via: New York Times: In September 2005, a senior Wal-Mart lawyer received an alarming e-mail from a former executive at the company’s largest foreign subsidiary, Wal-Mart de Mexico. In the e-mail and follow-up conversations, the former executive described how Wal-Mart de Mexico had orchestrated a campaign of bribery to win market dominance. In its rush […]
Homeland Security Raids Flee Market Over Pirated DVDs, Counterfeit Apparel
April 24th, 2012Via: Baltimore Sun: Vendors at the Patapsco Flea Market have a history of allegedly selling counterfeit and pirated merchandise, according to an affidavit, which outlined the latest accusation that resulted in a raid Sunday by federal Homeland Security Investigations special agents. Capping a 2 1/2-year-long investigation into counterfeit apparel and accessories as well as pirated […]
For First Time Since Depression, More Mexicans Leave U.S. Than Enter
April 24th, 2012Via: Washington Post: A four-decade tidal wave of Mexican immigration to the United States has receded, causing a historic shift in migration patterns as more Mexicans now leave the United States for Mexico than the other way around, according to a report from the Pew Hispanic Center. It is the first reversal in the trend […]
Trojan Uses Motion Sensors To Steal Smartphone Data
April 23rd, 2012Via: TechWeek Europe: Motion-sensor data from smartphones can be used to effectively guess what keys a user is tapping and steal sensitive data such as PINs and bank details, according to new research (PDF) from Pennsylvania State University (PSU) and IBM. The researchers developed a proof-of-concept Trojan for Android called TapLogger that uses a “training […]
Wireless Industry Association Opposes Bill That Would Require Warrant For Them To Turn Data Over To Law Enforcement
April 23rd, 2012Via: TechDirt: You would think that it would be in the mobile operators’ best interest to protect their own customers’ privacy and to stand up for their basic rights. You would think, but apparently you’d be wrong. It appears that CTIA — the mobile operators’ industry association — is opposing an effort in California to […]
Startup Claims ‘Holy Grail’ of System on Chip Design
April 23rd, 2012Yikes. If this is real, it will definitely accelerate the grim trends in technology that you’ve been reading about on Cryptogon and lots of other places. Scum from Wall Street to Fort Meade will be frothing over this one. Via: EE Times: The first automated software-to-chip dream came out of the closet Monday (April 23), […]
U.S. Suspends Controversial Outsourcing Training Program
April 23rd, 2012Feign forgiveness, regroup, do-it-again. And get them on that certificate program. Via: Information Week: The U.S. Agency for International Development has suspended funding for a program under which Filipino nationals were trained to work in offshore, English language call centers that serve U.S. companies. The program, first reported by InformationWeek, drew heavy criticism from lawmakers […]
Katy Perry Appears in U.S. Marine Corps Propaganda Video
April 23rd, 2012According to Wikipedia, this was filmed at, “USMC’s Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California.” Did she get a DoD paycheck for this? Related: U.S. Marines: Infantry Now Open to Women ‘Act of Valor’: Top to Bottom U.S. Navy Propaganda Film, Uses Active Duty SEALs as Actors, Raw Footage Kept for ‘Training and Other […]
Huge Water Resource Exists Under Africa
April 22nd, 2012Via: BBC: Scientists say the notoriously dry continent of Africa is sitting on a vast reservoir of groundwater. They argue that the total volume of water in aquifers underground is 100 times the amount found on the surface. The team have produced the most detailed map yet of the scale and potential of this hidden […]
Silicon Valley Firms in Alleged Salary Fixing Scheme
April 22nd, 2012Via: MacWorld: Apple, Google, Intel and Adobe are accused of agreeing not to poach each others staff, therefore holding back career development and suppressing compensation. A federal court in California has ordered seven technology companies in the state including Apple, Intel, Adobe and Google to face a private antitrust suit from five former employees, who […]
