Active CIA Employees Developed Alien Language for Disney Children’s Film
June 18th, 2012[???]
Via: Silver Screen Saucers:
One of the most eyebrow-raising cases of government involvement in a Hollywood UFO movie in recent years is that of Race to Witch Mountain (2009), which apparently received extensive support from the CIA – albeit in an ‘off the books’ capacity – despite its plot drawing extensively from UFO mythology (with references both to Area 51 and Roswell) and its presentation of a sinister government UFO cover-up.
In 2010, the film’s director, Andy Fickman – a self-described “UFO enthusiast” born and raised in Roswell, New Mexico – told me that, although he personally shaped the majority of the film’s UFO-related content, at least some of it was the result of CIA input. The director claims that, in a highly unusual production arrangement, he and his crew were closely assisted by an active employee of the CIA whose advice extended to designing the alien writing seen in the flying saucer during the film’s climactic scenes.
Also for the Kids: LEGO: Alien Conquest
EUR/USD Gap Higher
June 18th, 2012And Crap
Down into the 1.25s again.
—End Update—
High of 1.2727 so far.
Japan Restarting Two Nuclear Power Plants
June 18th, 2012Via: ABC News:
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda ordered the restart of two idle nuclear reactors Saturday amid widespread public opposition, more than a year after a powerful earthquake and tsunami triggered three nuclear meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Power Plant, and halted all 50 reactors in Japan.
The decision to reactivate the Ohi reactors in western Japan, marks the first time the government has turned nuclear power back on, since the Fukushima accident, the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Japan was rocked by a series of powerful earthquakes and a tsunami in March 2011.
Britain: Communications Data Bill Authorises Collection of Information from the Outside of Physical Mail
June 18th, 2012Via: BBC:
The Home Office says it has no current plans to force the Royal Mail to store data on all letters and postcards passing through its system.
The provision is included in the government’s draft communications data bill, published this week.
But the Home Office said the bill would just maintain existing powers relating to postal data.
And it stressed that only data about mail – not its contents – would be retained if the law was ever enacted.
Under the draft bill, the Royal Mail and other postal services could be asked to retain “anything written on the outside” of items for up to 12 months so they can be accessed by the police, security services and HM Revenue and Customs.
But a Home Office spokesman said only information relating to the “communications data of mail — who sent the letter to whom, when it was sent and the origin and destination” would, potentially, be stored.
U.S. Trying to Get Britain to Stop Russian Arms Shipment to Syria
June 18th, 2012Update: Britain Stops Russian Ship Carrying Attack Helicopters for Syria
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Via: Telegraph:
The US government has enlisted Britain’s help in a bid to stop a ship suspected of carrying Russian attack helicopters and missiles to conflict-riven Syria, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal.
The MV Alaed, a Russian-operated cargo vessel, is currently thought to be sailing through the North Sea after allegedly picking up a consignment of munitions and MI25 helicopters – known as “flying tanks” – from the Russian Baltic port of Kaliningrad.
Washington, which last week condemned Moscow for continuing to arm the Syrian regime, has asked British officials to help stop the Alaed delivering its alleged cargo by using sanctions legislation to force its London-based insurer to withdraw its cover.
Under the terms of the current European Union arms embargo against Syria, imposed in May last year, there is a ban on the “transfer or export” of arms and any related “brokering” services such as insurance. Withdrawal of a ship’s insurance cover would make it difficult for it legally to dock elsewhere and could force it to return the cargo to port.
The request to London from US officials comes after the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, disclosed on Tuesday that Moscow was in the process of shipping a batch of attack helicopters to Syria.
‘New Democracy’ Pro Bailout Party Wins Greek Election
June 17th, 2012See the Greek Interior Ministry website for the latest election results.
Update
Via: BBC:
With 40% of the vote counted, New Democracy has 30.45%, Syriza – 26.04%, Pasok – 12.85%.
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Via: BBC Liveblog:
Greece: Official Projection of Result: New Democracy – 29.5%, Syriza – 27.1%. That is from the Greek interior ministry, quoted by Reuters.
Living Large in a Tiny House
June 17th, 2012Via: Yahoo Finance:
Imagine living in a space that measures a mere 168 square feet, more than 14 times smaller than the average American home. That’s the reality for one family of four who, for the past year, has been living in their “Tiny House” tucked away in the rural mountains of Virginia. It’s here, they say, that they’ve truly learned how less can be so much more. In fact, in just one year the family has managed to save about $3,000 a month by downsizing in more ways than one.
The move began when Hari, her husband Karl and their two young children Archer and Ella were forced to give up their 1,500 square foot home last year due to financial struggles. Hari and Karl decided to take matters into their own hands, literally, by building their new tiny house with just $13,000 in materials found on Craigslist. Karl’s a bit of a handyman, to say the least. His parents helped build homes for a living and he learned the ropes at a young age.
The Tiny House is temporary. The end goal, they say, is to save enough to one day build a bigger home, one that’s 100% mortgage-free. And with the amount they’ve saved so far, they’re right on schedule to do so.
Ottawa Airport Wired with Microphones to Record Travelers’ Conversations
June 17th, 2012Update: Public Safety Minister Orders End to Airport Eavesdropping Pending Privacy Review
Via: Calgary Herald:
Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has ordered officials to halt the planned electronic eavesdropping on air travellers’ conversations until a full privacy review is completed.
“We have heard concerns from Canadians regarding the privacy impact of this practice,” Public Safety spokeswoman Julie Carmichael said in written statement Tuesday.
“Minister Toews has directed the CBSA to halt audio monitoring until a privacy impact assessment can be submitted, and recommendations from the privacy commissioner can be reviewed by the government.”
The move comes one day after Toews, responding to opposition questions in the Commons Monday, defended the planned audio surveillance of air travellers and airport employees at Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.
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Via: Ottawa Citizen:
Sections of the Ottawa airport are now wired with microphones that can eavesdrop on travellers’ conversations.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is nearing completion of a $500,000 upgrade of old video cameras used to monitor its new “customs controlled areas,” including the primary inspection area for arriving international passengers.
As part of the work, the agency is introducing audio-monitoring equipment as well.
“It is important to note that even though audio technology is installed, no audio is recorded at this time. It will become functional at a later date,” CBSA spokesman Chris Kealey said in a written statement.
But whenever that occurs, the technology, “will record conversations,” the agency said in a separate statement in response to Citizen questions.
Research Credit: almaverdad2
China Launches Its First Female Astronaut Into Space
June 17th, 2012Via: PC Magazine:
China on Saturday launched its Shenzhou-9 spacecraft carrying three astronauts, including Liu Yang, the first Chinese woman to travel to space. The Long March-2F rocket lifted off successfully from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 6:37 p.m local time and the Shenzhou-9 capsule separated from its booster shortly thereafter and entered orbit.
Known as Taikonauts in China, Liu and her male traveling companions are embarking on a 13-day mission to rendezvous with the country’s Tiangong-1 space station module. This month’s undertaking marks an important step for the country’s space program. It is China’s first attempted manned docking mission with an orbiting spacecraft, a feat that has only been accomplished by the United States and Russia.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has now sent eight astronauts into space, including two-time space traveler Jing Haipeng, who is onboard Shenzhou-9 with Liu Yang and Liu Wang, the third member of the crew.
The launch was televised in China by state-run CCTV.
Financial Firms Ready ‘Special Teams’
June 16th, 2012
Via: New York Times:
The banks are on high alert.
Hundreds of employees at big firms, some part of special teams, will be on standby this Sunday, awaiting the results of Greece’s pivotal election. They are preparing for the worst case. The fear is that the vote will heighten the chances of Greece exiting the euro and the global financial system will be shaken when the markets open on Monday.
After being largely unprepared for the extreme stress of the 2008 crisis, large banks in the United States are determined to be ready this time. They have been taking measures to deal with instability in Europe for over a year. In recent months, they have stepped up their contingency planning, especially after it became clear that Greece was struggling to comply with the terms of a March bailout that was intended to keep the country in the euro.
