Monthly Archives: December 2013

The global wine drought that never was

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“Recently the world’s media reported the alarming news that demand for wine has outstripped supply. Latest figures indicated a shortfall of 300 million cases in 2012, it was claimed… the world was facing the serious prospect of a wine shortage.  Scary graphs were published showing production dropping while consumption increased. But is it true?  All these news reports were based on a single piece of research carried out by the Australian research division of the investment bank, Morgan Stanley.  This made Reuters finance blogger, Felix Salmon, suspicious – especially when he realised the report was promoting an Australian wine company as a top stock pick to buy.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25401029

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Free Software Foundation Endorses Its First Laptop

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“The Free Software Foundation publicly announced today the ‘Respects Your Freedom’ certification for the Gluglug X60 laptops. These refurbished laptops come from an Internet retailer in the UK that replaces the proprietary ThinkPad BIOS with Coreboot. The free software operating system preloaded on the refurbished X60 is Trisquel GNU/Linux, the Ubuntu derivative backed by the FSF that ships without any proprietary software or firmware options.  The press release says, ‘This is the first laptop the FSF has been able to endorse and encourage people to purchase, because it this is the first laptop sold with a completely free boot system and OS pre-installed.'”

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTU0Nzg

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Google Approves Cyanogen’s Oppo N1 Phone

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“Cyanogen, a company known for its free, open source operating system and community built distribution of Android for smartphones and tablets, finally received Google’s approval to produce the Oppo N1 phone after previously warning them in Nov. 2013 that its installer encourages phone owners to void their warranty.  Cyanogen reportedly pulled out its installer from Google Play after the said warning, but now, it looks like they’re back on Google Play because of Google’s blessing.  This is perfect timing for both Google and Cyanogen because Cyanogen just announced that it will release the +CyanogenMod version (Cyanogen’s version of Android) of the Oppo N1 phone on Dec. 24, 2013.”

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/531485/20131223/google-oppo-n1-phone-cyanogen-approved-account.htm

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The case against Kim Dotcom, finally revealed

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“Much of the information is likely what was gleaned from the servers that were copied, searched, and ultimately seized by US law enforcement. But prosecutors have also convinced several heavy users of Megaupload, identified so far only by initials, to testify against Dotcom and his comrades about how they used the system.  The purpose of the massive evidence dump is to get Dotcom extradited from New Zealand, where he has been wrapped up in legal proceedings for the 23 months since his mansion was raided. The US hardly got the quick handover they wanted—not only is Dotcom out of jail, he’s free to do business. This year, he launched a new site simply called ‘Mega.'”

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/12/us-unveils-the-case-against-kim-dotcom-revealing-e-mails-and-financial-data/

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Switzerland reported just 20 cases of Internet wiretapping in 2012

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“There are two primary elements that appear to buttress the argument that storing data in Switzerland is a great idea: firstly, the Swiss Criminal Procedure Code puts strict limits on what type of digital surveillance may or may not be used. Swiss law enforcement is not allowed to use a given technique unless it is specifically authorized and regulated under the law. By comparison, American law enforcement tends to take the attitude that it will use whatever tools are at its disposal until that tool is reined in.  Further, it’s a crime for corporate representatives or law enforcement agents to access data on an unauthorized basis, punishable by a fine of up to 10,000 Swiss francs or three months in prison.”

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/12/switzerland-wont-save-you-either-why-e-mail-might-still-be-safer-in-us/

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RSA Responds to Claim that it Gave NSA Back Door Access For $10M

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“The NSA entered into a $10 million contract with RSA to place a flawed formula within encryption software to obtain ‘back door’ access to data.  According to the RSA, it had no idea that the algorithm was flawed, or that it gave the NSA back door access to countless computers and devices. The NSA reportedly sold the algorithm as an enhancement to security without letting the RSA in on its real intentions.  In fact, RSA responded to media reports about its contract with the NSA, saying it was never secret at all. It said the fact that RSA worked with NSA was always made public, but that RSA had no idea the government agency was actually sabotaging its encryption product.”

http://www.dailytech.com/RSA+Responds+to+Claim+that+it+Gave+NSA+Back+Door+Access+in+Exchange+for+10M/article33981c.htm

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Reuters Makes the Rational Case for a Surveillance State

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“The dialogue that Snowden has started can now be used to create a dialectic that will result in the rationalization of mass spying. Gradually, the idea that there is no privacy left – if Anglosphere elites have their way – is going to be enshrined into law. This will take a number of years. In the meantime … We will be bombarded over the next few years with constant reminders of how efficient government Intel is at spying and how much they know. This is actually a further meme aimed at terrorizing people who want to resist the encroaching Leviathan.  This Reuters article advances both these points in an almost mechanical way.”

http://www.thedailybell.com/news-analysis/34857/Reuters-Makes-the-Rational-Case-for-a-Surveillance-State/

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The Criminal ATF

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“Undercover stings encourage ‘law enforcement’ agents to behave like criminals.  One example is the ATF’s operations in several cities, where agents set up phony storefront businesses such as pawn shops. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal reports (http://bit.ly/1boPIij) some of the crimes they got away with… Knowingly purchased stolen property, prompting more burglaries in their neighborhoods;  Damaged the buildings they rented, then abandoned them without compensating the landlords;  Allowed minors to drink and smoke pot on their premises.  To what purpose?  Who are the REAL criminals here?”

http://www.downsizedc.org/blog/the-criminal-atf

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German police detect neo-Nazi music with new app

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“The software has been written by the regional police in Saxony and has been described in government documents as able to ‘spare resources and enable very quick investigations’.  It can pick out the common audio fingerprints of neo-Nazi rock music and could identify racist songs even if they have never before been heard by police or analysed by the software. The interior ministers of Germany’s 16 states will meet to discuss using what has become known as the ‘Nazi Shazam’ later this week.  Police could use the software to routinely monitor internet radio stations, small gatherings of suspects and public events with live music.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/10491565/German-police-detect-neo-Nazi-music-with-new-app.html

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Pennsylvanians Coerced To Give Cheek Swabs at ‘Voluntary’ Checkpoint

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“A supposedly ‘voluntary’ survey checkpoint run by a private firm in Reading, Pennsylvania on behalf of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy caused outrage when residents said they were forced off the road into a car park and coerced into giving cheek swabs as a result of an intimidating police presence.  Reading resident Ricardo Nieves said that he had to repeatedly refuse to take part in the survey over a 5 minute period before the was allowed to leave. Nieves noted that the presence of city police and a police car with flashing lights was designed to ‘intimidate motorists’ into submission and ‘gave the checkpoint an air of authority it would not otherwise have had,'”

http://www.infowars.com/pennsylvanians-coerced-into-giving-cheek-swab-at-voluntary-checkpoint/

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