London 2012: Missiles May be Placed at Residential Flats
April 30th, 2012Via: BBC:
The Ministry of Defence is considering placing surface-to-air missiles on residential flats during the Olympics.
An east London estate, where 700 people live, has received leaflets saying a “Higher Velocity Missile system” could be placed on a water tower.
A spokesman said the MoD had not yet decided whether to deploy ground based air defence systems during the event.
But estate resident Brian Whelan said firing the missiles “would shower debris across the east end of London”.
The journalist said: “At first I thought it was a hoax. I can’t see what purpose high-velocity missiles could serve over a crowded area like Tower Hamlets.
“They say they’ll only use them as a last resort, but… you’d shower debris across the east end of London by firing these missiles.”
Mr Whelan, who claims to have seen soldiers carrying a crate into the building, said his property management company put up posters and gave out the leaflets on Saturday.
He continued: “They are going to have a test run next week, putting high velocity missiles on the roof just above our apartment and on the back of it they’re stationing police and military in the tower of the building for two months.
“It [the leaflet] says there will be 10 officers plus police present 24/7.”
March and April Earnings
April 30th, 2012I’m very behind with acknowledging the financial contributions and commissions that keep Cryptogon alive.
Total earnings in March came to $1472.38. Thank you.
In April, four Cryptogon readers sent contributions:
Pookie $75
TM $10
Eileen $104
MW $20
Thank you.
Thanks also go out the owners of biostasislabs.com, richardjhealy.com and getbitstories.com for signing up for hosting with BlueHost. Cryptogon received $270 in commissions as a result.
Readers are doing an astonishing job of remembering to make Amazon purchases count toward supporting Cryptogon. Thanks for starting those Amazon sessions here on Cryptogon. It all adds up and I appreciate it very much.
Economist Intelligence Unit: ‘Rise of the Machines: Moving from Hype to Reality in the Burgeoning Market for Machine-to-Machine Communication’
April 30th, 2012Via: Economist Intelligence Unit:
Fast-forward to 2012, and much of what used to be M2M whiteboard concepts can now be found in the field. The Fonterra Co-operative Group, a New Zealand-based dairy company, has set up autonomous forklifts within a warehouse that can work around the clock, with far fewer accidents and reduced wear and tear. US-based Progressive Insurance, one of several insurers providing usage-based insurance packages to drivers, sets rates based on actual driving habits. The OnStar system of General Motors (GM), which provides services ranging from automatic collision notification to remote door unlocking, now has 6m active subscribers. The latest devices from TomTom, a satellite navigation provider, automatically tally traffic information from millions of users to set better routes for other drivers. Logistics firms such as UPS use M2M in their vehicle fleets not only to optimise driving routes, but also to provide live package tracking information for customers.
‘Is it only a matter of time before drone technology is used in civil society?’
April 30th, 2012Via: Independent:
It is the snooping function foreseen by Orwell that is the most significant next step for drones in our societies: with our cities and public buildings already saturated with surveillance cameras, we may fondly suppose that the state’s monitoring of our daily lives has gone as far as it can go. But we ain’t seen nothing yet.
Related: Drones ‘Certainly’ Coming to Skies Over Washington, DC
Terrorist Plots, Hatched by the F.B.I.
April 30th, 2012Via: New York Times:
THE United States has been narrowly saved from lethal terrorist plots in recent years — or so it has seemed. A would-be suicide bomber was intercepted on his way to the Capitol; a scheme to bomb synagogues and shoot Stinger missiles at military aircraft was developed by men in Newburgh, N.Y.; and a fanciful idea to fly explosive-laden model planes into the Pentagon and the Capitol was hatched in Massachusetts.
But all these dramas were facilitated by the F.B.I., whose undercover agents and informers posed as terrorists offering a dummy missile, fake C-4 explosives, a disarmed suicide vest and rudimentary training. Suspects naïvely played their parts until they were arrested.
Disneyland: Club 33
April 30th, 2012My mom used to take my sister and me to Disneyland quite often when we were children. As a freak child, I was mostly interested in identifying the wizard-behind-the-curtain aspects of the place. I used to want to follow the Disney security men around to see where they went and what they did. To this suggestion, my mom would respond with something like, “How about a ride on The Pirates of the Caribbean?”
And I’d think, “Oh goody. The weird ’33’ door is near there.”
I remember the Club 33 door and intercom well. I even ding-dong-ditched it a few times to see if anyone would open the door. They never did. haha.
Now, more than three decades later, I looked into Club 33 a bit, and it’s a pretty open secret. Members of the public are allowed inside if attending with a member of the club. There are a couple of mundane explanations for the significance of the 33 on Wikipedia.
Students of other arts, crafts and sciences may find different meanings of 33 interesting.
Via: Disneyland Club 33:
Located within Disneyland, discreetly above the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square is perhaps one of Orange County’s finest five star restaurants. With a limited membership of only 487, Club 33 is not open to the public. Members may however arrange for their friends and associates to experience the club.
If you are a Disney fan, we truly cannot express what a tremendous experience Club 33 has to offer.
Presidents of the United States, leaders of foreign nations, dignitaries, actors, and business leaders from around the world have all enjoyed the club. It is not unusual to be enjoying your meal, only to have a famous actor or well known celebrity sitting at the table next to you. There are many such stories, just ask any member or Club 33 staff.
We hope you enjoy this web site, finding it informative and entertaining.
Libya’s Former Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem Found Dead in Danube River
April 30th, 2012Via: BBC:
The body of Libya’s former Oil Minister Shukri Ghanem has been found in the Danube River, Austrian police say.
A spokesman said there were no signs of violence to Mr Ghanem’s body, which was in the river that flows through Vienna.
The former prime minister, 69, worked as a consultant for a Vienna-based company. He apparently left his home early on Sunday, police said.
Mr Ghanem defected from Libya as the country was engulfed in the uprising against Col Muammar Gaddafi last year.
At the time, he criticised the bloodshed in Libya, saying that the situation had become “unbearable”, making his position untenable.
He served as Libyan prime minister from 2003 to 2006 and then as oil minister until 2011.
Research Credit: afterhours
Australian Billionaire to Build Titanic II in China
April 30th, 2012Via: AFP:
One of Australia’s richest men, Clive Palmer, has unveiled plans for a 21st century version of the Titanic to be built in China, with its first voyage from England to New York set for 2016.
Palmer, a self-made mining billionaire, said he has commissioned state-owned Chinese company CSC Jinling Shipyard to construct Titanic II with exactly the same dimensions as its predecessor.
“It will be every bit as luxurious as the original Titanic but of course it will have state-of-the-art 21st century technology and the latest navigation and safety systems,” Palmer said in a statement, released on Monday.
“Titanic II will sail in the northern hemisphere and her maiden voyage from England to North America is scheduled for late 2016.
“We have invited the Chinese navy to escort Titanic II on its maiden voyage to New York.”
French Publication Claims Gaddafi Offered Sarkozy $66 Million to Finance His 2007 Campaign
April 29th, 2012Let’s start with the basics. The Frogs did it. It’s always worth repeating; this is a French war.
Via: Global Post:
In late 2006, Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi offered nearly $66 million, or 50 million euros, to support the 2007 campaign of Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s current president who is now facing almost certain defeat in a May 6 runoff vote, according to the investigative journalist website Mediapart.
The revelation, purportedly in an official Libyan document, comes a month after Sarkozy publicly rejected claims that his 2007 campaign had accepted funding from Gaddafi — with whom he had publicly carried on amicable relations even before emphatically winning the presidency five years ago.
An image of the Arab-language memo cited by Mediapart can be viewed here.
According to the evening newspaper Le Monde, a Sarkozy spokeswoman today denounced the report as a diversionary tactic created by the campaign of Socialist rival François Hollande, the projected winner on May 6.
The Dec 10, 2006 document is signed by Moussa Koussa, Gaddafi’s foreign intelligence chief, and, according to a French translation, reads in part:
“Reference is made by the liaison office of the people’s general committee to the approval for supporting the electoral campaign of the candidate in the presidential elections, Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, at an amount valued at 50 million euros…”
Mr. Koussa transmits the confirmed “agreement in principle on the above-referenced subject.” But the note does not indicate whether the funds were ever transferred.
Possible Arsenic Poisoning Probed in Death of Coroner’s Official
April 29th, 2012Various conspiracy backwaters have lost their minds over a rumor that this has something to do with Andrew Breitbart’s death.
I’m just posting this so I don’t receive several dozen submissions for Sucha Fool, ATS, GLP, etc.
Via: Los Angeles Times:
Authorities said a Los Angeles County coroner’s official, Michael Cormier, appears to have died from poisoning.
“At this point we haven’t ruled out foul play,” said Lt. Alan Hamilton of the Los Angeles Police Department. “It is one of the things being considered. We are waiting for the coroner’s results.”
Law enforcement sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing, said that finding the presence of poison does not necessarily mean the death was a homicide because the substance could have accidentally entered his system. According to sources, arsenic was one poison being examined as potential cause but stressed no final determination has been made.
Cormier, 61, died last week after being taken to Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank from his North Hollywood home. Earlier he had complained of pain and vomiting.
Hospital staff notified police about concerns surrounding the cause of Cormier’s death.
Ed Winter, deputy chief coroner, said that an autopsy had been performed but that a determination of the cause of death has been deferred pending further tests.
Investigators have also interviewed his family and friends. Messages left at the home Friday went unanswered.
Authorities examined Cormier’s Auckland Avenue home for clues in the death. Sources said several hazardous materials experts and officers searched the small home.
Cormier, who also worked as a coroner’s photographer, had registered a small business under the name MAC Autopsy Services at the home.
