Daily Archives: 29. August 2014


29.08.2014 - 22:25 [ Electronic Frontier Foundation ]

Magical Drug Wins EFF’s Stupid Patent of the Month

Last December, the Patent Office issued Patent No. 8,609,915 on a “potent drug” that “rebukes cancer, cancer cells, and kills cancer.” According to the patent, this drug cures a litany of other maladies. What is this wonderful invention, you ask? It is a combination of “evening primrose oil, rice, sesame seeds, green beans, coffee, meat, cheese, milk, green tea extract, evening primrose seeds, and wine.” As the patent’s abstract says, “it works.”

29.08.2014 - 18:11 [ Time ]

Libyan Interim Government Submits Resignation

Libya’s interim government submitted its resignation to the newly elected parliament on Friday, raising the possibility that a more inclusive government will be formed, while militias in the capital accepted a U.N. call for a cease-fire.

29.08.2014 - 18:08 [ The New York Times ]

Political Mischief in the Philippines

President Benigno Aquino III of the Philippines is now hinting at running for a second term in 2016, which would require a constitutional amendment. He has also suggested limiting the power of the Supreme Court, which, on July 1, declared parts of Mr. Aquino’s economic program illegal. That, too, would require adjusting the Constitution. These threats jeopardize Philippine democracy.

29.08.2014 - 17:23 [ io9 ]

An Open Letter to New York Comic-Con: Protect Our Secret Identities!

Last weekend at New York Comic-Con, a lot of attendees found themselves tweeting ecstatically about the convention — without having written those tweets, because NYCC had hijacked people‘s social media accounts that were linked to their badges. In this open letter, the Electronic Frontier Foundation explains why that‘s heinous.

29.08.2014 - 17:20 [ Electronic Frontier Foundation ]

We‘re All In It Together: Cosplay With Us Over Labor Day Weekend

Join the Electronic Frontier Foundation, io9, and a coalition of fan groups over Labor Day weekend for Project Secret Identity, a cosplay photo campaign to raise awareness of how online anonymity and privacy are key to free expression. Visit ProjectSecretIdentity.org during Dragon Con (Aug. 29 – Sept. 1) to participate online or visit us on the second floor of the Hilton Atlanta or the Southeastern Browncoats booth, #1000 at AmericasMart.

29.08.2014 - 17:19 [ Electronic Frontier Foundation ]

Cosplayers Fight for Online Anonymity and Privacy During Dragon Con

Wizards, Browncoats, Sherlockians, and Other Creative Communities Join EFF in “Project Secret Identity” Photo Campaign

29.08.2014 - 17:16 [ Information Clearing House ]

Colonization by Bankruptcy: The High-stakes Chess Match for Argentina

Argentina is already foreclosed from international capital markets, so it doesn’t have much to lose by thwarting the US court system. Similar bold moves by Ecuador and Iceland have left those countries in substantially better shape than Greece, which went along with the agendas of the international financiers.

29.08.2014 - 17:13 [ Zero Hedge ]

Putin Says Everything U.S. Touches Turns Out Like Libya Or Iraq

Having been quiet for a few days, comfortable sitting back and watching NATO, Europe, and the US escalate each other‘s talking points to a frenzy of populist revolt, Russia‘s Vladimir Putin has come out swinging this morning:

*PUTIN: NO MATTER WHAT U.S. DOES, IT TURNS OUT LIKE LIBYA, IRAQ
*PUTIN SAYS UN CAN‘T BE FOREIGN POLICY TOOL FOR U.S., ALLIES
*PUTIN: EUROPEAN LEADERS FAR FROM SHOWING INDEPENDENT THINKING
*PUTIN SAYS RUSSIA IS COUNTRY THAT DOESN‘T FEAR ANYTHING

29.08.2014 - 17:08 [ Zero Hedge ]

The Nail In The Petrodollar Coffin: Gazprom Begins Accepting Payment For Oil In Ruble, Yuan

Several months ago, when Russia announced the much anticipated „Holy Grail“ energy deal with China, some were disappointed that despite this symbolic agreement meant to break the petrodollar‘s stranglehold on the rest of the world, neither Russia nor China announced payment terms to be in anything but dollars. In doing so they admitted that while both nations are eager to move away from a US Dollar reserve currency, neither is yet able to provide an alternative.

29.08.2014 - 15:08 [ Vimeo ]

Bitchin Bajas ‚Bueu‘

„Bueu“ from Bitchin‘ Bajas S/T album out August 26th, 2014 on Drag City
dragcity.com/products/bitchin-bajas
Video made by Nick Ciontea.
brownshoesonly.com/

29.08.2014 - 13:55 [ Radio Utopie ]

13-jähriger Terrorkrieg: Die “Authorization For Use of Military Force” vom 14. September 2001 im Wortlaut

Die nach den Attentaten vom 11. September in den Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika dem Präsidenten vom Kongress persönlich ausgestellte Vollmacht, der ein nun fast dreizehn Jahre andauernder weltweiter Terrorkrieg a.k.a. “war on terror” folgte, ist in Deutschland immer noch weithin unbekannt.

Radio Utopie dokumentiert dieses in jeder Hinsicht verheerende historische Ermächtigungsgesetz im Wortlaut.

29.08.2014 - 13:53 [ Haaretz ]

Israel strives to import America‘s war on terror

(18. Dezember 2001) Dayan said yesterday that the global reality resulting from September 11 gives Israel and the U.S. „the chance for victory over a common enemy.“ Halevy spoke about „a world war different from all its predecessors“ and about global agreement that „combined all the elements of Islamic terror into one clear and identifiable format,“ creating „a genuine dilemma for every ruler and every state in our region.“ (…)

During the Washington discussions, one of the Israelis proposed a new direction for the Americans to consider: „Syria first.“

29.08.2014 - 13:53 [ Jonathan Cook - The Blog from Nazaretz ]

Did US intelligence tie Israel to 9/11?

The Haaretz article on 18 Dec 2001 that quoted the pair, written by Aluf Benn, now the paper’s editor-in-chief, was originally titled “For Israel, September 11 was a Hanukkah miracle”. The version on Haaretz that can now be found has excised all references to “Hanukkah” and “miracles”, and is under the much blander – and misleading – headline “Israel strives to import America’s war on terror“.

More likely, as I explain in my book, Israel tried to export to Washington, care of the neocons, its own “war on terror” – and its long-term designs for breaking up the Middle East into feuding sects and tribes.

29.08.2014 - 13:43 [ taz ]

Ein dubioses Hörproblem

Raed Saleh verursacht einen Grammatik-Tinnitus: Wenn der Kandidat um die Nachfolge von Klaus Wowereit spricht, dann sind seine Zuhörer überzeugt, Fehler wahrzunehmen, wo gar keine sind. Vor allem Journalisten sind betroffen.

29.08.2014 - 13:43 [ Neølyd ]

Karies – Kariman

Seit heute gibt es das treibende Biest “Kariman” im Stream – das dazugehörige Album mit dem Titel “Seid Umschlungen, Millionen” erscheint Anfang Oktober via This Charming Man-Records. Wer jetzt noch kein Karies hat, hat es spätestens im Oktober. Im Plattenregal.

29.08.2014 - 13:38 [ Techdirt ]

Police Can‘t Find A Bunch Of The Military Weapons And Vehicles That The Pentagon Has Been Handing Out

Turning police departments into military bases has been one of the side effects of the 1033 program. This program routes military weapons and vehicles (as well as ancillaries like office equipment and medical supplies) to police forces, asking for nothing in return but a small donation and the use of the words „terrorism“ or „drugs“ on the application form. The program has been extremely popular and the US government can rest easy knowing that its excess inventory won‘t go to waste.

29.08.2014 - 13:37 [ Techdirt ]

Washington Law Enforcement Hides Stingray Purchase And Use From Everyone, But It‘s OK Because They‘re Fighting Crime

More news of secret surveillance has been uncovered, thanks to FOIA requests. Police in Tacoma, Washington have a Stingray device and have been using it, unbeknownst to pretty much everyone in the area. And it‘s not just a recent development. According to information obtained by The News Tribune, this dates back more than a half-decade.

29.08.2014 - 13:30 [ Ars Technica ]

Meet the machines that steal your phone’s data

The National Security Agency’s spying tactics are being intensely scrutinized following the recent leaks of secret documents. However, the NSA isn‘t the only US government agency using controversial surveillance methods.

29.08.2014 - 13:28 [ ACLU ]

Stingray Tracking Devices: Who‘s Got Them?

The map below tracks what we know, based on press reports and publicly available documents, about the use of stingray tracking devices by state and local police departments. Following the map is a list of the federal law enforcement agencies known to use the technology throughout the United States. The ACLU has identified 43 agencies in 18 states that own stingrays, but because many agencies continue to shroud their purchase and use of stingrays in secrecy, this map dramatically underrepresents the actual use of stingrays by law enforcement agencies nationwide.

29.08.2014 - 13:26 [ Ustream TV ]

burningman-webcast

BURNING MAN 2014 „CARAVANSARY“
For countless centuries, travelers along the Silk Route crossed paths in caravansaries, a network of oases and sanctuaries that dotted the 4,000-mile road from Europe to East Asia. These bustling caravan stops offered more than just shelter from the desert wilderness; they were vital centers of cultural exchange, bringing together traders, pilgrims, monks, nomads, traveling entertainers, and wild-eyed adventurers from all points of the compass to share their stories around a common fire.

29.08.2014 - 13:26 [ Pepe Escobar / RT ]

​From Minsk to Wales, Germany is the key

In parallel, every EU diplomat with a conscience – well, they do exist – knows that the non-stop hysteria about the Russian‘threat’ to Eastern Europe is a Washington-peddled myth designed to boost NATO. Secretary-General Anders ‘Fogh of War’ Rasmussen sounds like a scratched CD.

29.08.2014 - 13:13 [ MONDOWEISS ]

This war was not a war, it was a massacre

During a brief stint working for UNRWA in Israel Palestine a few years ago I came across a documentary film called ‘No Sharp Objects’. Made by the UN agency, it is about 15 children from Gaza who travel to the US. They meet politicians, go to New York, visit the UN and the Holocaust museum and meet American children. I particularly remember one scene where a dying father tells his son, who is about to go on the trip, to show the world that ‘the people of Gaza have principles and values.’

Mohammed Abulriban was one of the children in that film.

29.08.2014 - 13:09 [ Antiwar ]

Did Certain Foreign Governments Facilitate the 9/11 Attacks?

– and why is the US government keeping the evidence a secret?

Some thirteen years after the event, the shadow of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in Manhattan and the Pentagon still darkens our world. The legacy of that terrible day has impacted not only our foreign policy, bequeathing to a new generation an apparently endless „war on terrorism,“ it also has led directly to what is arguably the most massive assault on our civil liberties since the Alien and Sedition Acts. Getting all the information about what happened that day – and why it happened – is key to understanding the course we have taken since.

29.08.2014 - 13:06 [ The Times of Israel ]

PA wants foreign nationals in IDF investigated for war crimes

Malki sent a letter to the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, South Africa and five Latin American countries on Tuesday, as well as to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, reminding the countries that under international law they are required to investigate their citizen’s alleged violations of international law, the British newspaper The Guardian reported Wednesday.|

29.08.2014 - 13:02 [ JTA ]

Netanyahu meets with House Armed Services members

“On the House Armed Services Committee, we’re happy with the work we’ve been able to do, working with you on [Iron] Dome and how you’ve used it to protect human life,” he said. “And we will keep that bond and that friendship and that special relationship that we have forever.”

A recent report in the Wall Street Journal outlined tensions between the Netanyahu government and the Obama administration over Israel’s direct lobbying of Congress and the Pentagon for supplementary weapons supplies.

29.08.2014 - 12:59 [ The Washington Post ]

Christian leaders call for end to US strikes in Iraq, focus on peaceful resolution

“Lethal weapons and airstrikes will not remove the threat to a just peace in Iraq,” they continue. “As difficult as it might be, in the face of this great challenge, we believe that the way to address the crisis is through long-term investments in supporting inclusive governance and diplomacy, nonviolent resistance, sustainable development, and community-level peace and reconciliation processes.”

29.08.2014 - 12:55 [ Counterpunch ]

Obama’s No-Win War on ISIS

The Syrian opposition is completely dominated by Islamic extremists, a fact which nobody seriously contests. But Obama would like to create a whole new “moderate” fighting force out of his armpit, powerful enough to tackle both the Syrian government and the Islamic State. Fantasy quickly reaches its limits in war.

29.08.2014 - 12:50 [ Global Research ]

ISIS: US-made Monster Running Amok in Middle East

A backdoor to war into Syria?

Ironically, the explosive rise of IS across a wide swath of Iraq and Syria is handing the Obama administration an opportunity for doing what it could not do one year earlier: Open a military offensive in Syria. Following the reports of decapitated Christian babies, and the beheading of the American James Foley, it will be harder for critics like Ted Cruz to question a military operation against IS – even in Syria.

29.08.2014 - 07:33 [ Youtube ]

Can a Song Save Your Life – HD Trailer (German | Deutsch) | Keira Knightley & Mark Ruffalo

Can a Song Save Your Life – Trailer (German, OT: Begin Again)
Kinostart: 28.08.2014

29.08.2014 - 07:01 [ Süddeutsche ]

Deutschland will UN-Beobachtermission in Gaza

(21. August) Die Resolution soll auch die Forderung nach einer Öffnung der israelischen Grenze zum Gazastreifen enthalten – bei gleichzeitiger Kontrolle des Warenverkehrs, um eine Aufrüstung der Hamas zu verhindern. Das Papier beinhaltet auch Sicherheitsgarantien für Israel. Die EU bietet an, sich im Rahmen der Resolution stärker in Gaza zu engagieren.

29.08.2014 - 06:47 [ Radio Utopie ]

“Dieser Krieg, wie alle Kriege, muss enden”

(23. Mai 2013) Washington: In seiner heutigen Rede an der National Defense University in Fort McNair ging U.S.-Präsident Barack Obama über die rote Linie der weltweiten Kriegsgewinnler der letzten Dekade. Er kündigte die Schließung des Lagers Guantanamo an, er kündigte eine Aufhebung der am 14. September 2001 durch den Kongress erteilten allgemeinen Kriegsvollmacht “Authorization for Use of Military Force” A.U.M.F. an, aber vor allem sprach er über das größte Tabu unserer Zeit: das Ende des “großen Krieges” zu Anfang des 21. Jahrhunderts.

Die entsprechenden Passagen aus Barack Obamas Rede:

“Also freue ich mich darauf mich mit dem Kongress und dem Amerikanischen Volk über Bemühungen auseinanderzusetzen das A.U.M.F. Mandat zu präzisieren und letzten Endes aufzuheben. Und ich werde Gesetze nicht unterzeichnen, die entworfen wurden dieses Mandat zu erweitern. Unsere systematischen Bemühungen terroristische Organisationen unschädlich zu machen müssen weitergehen. Aber dieser Krieg, wie alle Kriege, muss enden. Das ist es, was uns die Geschichte lehrt. Das ist es, was unsere Demokratie verlangt.”

29.08.2014 - 06:44 [ Weißes Haus ]

Readout of the President’s Meeting with the National Security Council on Iraq and ISIL

(28. August) This afternoon the President met with his National Security Council to discuss the situation in Iraq, our ongoing efforts to support the Iraqi government, and our comprehensive strategy to counter the threat posed by ISIL in Iraq and Syria. The President will continue to consult with his national security team in the days to come.

Participants in today’s meeting included:

The Vice President (via secure video)

Secretary of State John Kerry (via secure video)

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (via secure video)

Attorney General Eric Holder

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson (via secure video)

White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough

National Security Advisor Susan Rice

U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Samantha Power (via secure video)

White House Counsel Neil Eggleston

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper

Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Brennan

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey (via secure video)

Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James Winnefeld

Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Matthew Olsen

U.S. Central Command Commander Lloyd Austin (via secure video)

Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shaun Donovan

Deputy National Security Advisor Antony Blinken

Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco

Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics Caroline Atkinson

Deputy Secretary of State William Burns

White House Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and Gulf Region Philip Gordon

Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs Katie Fallon

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran Brett McGurk

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Robert Stephen Beecroft (via secure video)

Suzanne George, Executive Secretary and Chief of Staff of the National Security Council

29.08.2014 - 06:32 [ Weißes Haus ]

Readout of the President’s Call with Chancellor Merkel of Germany

(28. August) The President spoke again today with Chancellor Merkel of Germany concerning the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The two leaders are very concerned about reports of additional Russian forces in Ukraine. In view of these developments, both agreed that it will be necessary for the United States and the European Union to consider additional sanctions on Russia. The two leaders also reiterated their determination to continue to work for a diplomatic solution to the crisis. The President and the Chancellor also reviewed goals for the NATO Summit next week in Newport, Wales.