Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

NAZI-land: If you think SOPA is bad check out what is already happening in U.S. courts, it’s called ‘rogue website lawsuits’ and they can take all your money without you ever showing up in court! PayPal involved

“Wow!”-Venkat Balasubramani, internet tech lawyer

“…the court is ordering the full transfer not just of websites, but of any funds being sent to a website.”-Eric Goldman, associate professor of law at Santa Clara University

The proposed Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, has a lot of web users concerned, but what about what’s already taking place in U.S. Federal and State courts?  It can be called ‘rogue website/domain lawsuits’ and does not involve any true due process for those accused.  They can seize your domain name/website and any funds they claim is associated with it!

In most cases only the attorney’s for the accuser show up in court: “Nobody has showed up in any of these cases to contest his motions in court.”-Eric Goldman, associate professor of law at Santa Clara University

Attorney Eric Goldman has been following the big three cases, involving Chanel, True Religion clothing and Philip Morris.  They all claim that thousands of websites/domains are ripping them off by offering “counterfeit” products or services.  The problem is that the courts are hearing the cases without any response from those accused.

Something else that Goldman noticed is that in cases brought by Chanel and Philip Morris, only one attorney is being used; Stephen Gaffigan from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

It appears True Religion is using a law firm called Greenberg Traurig.

In one Philip Morris case their only proof was a written statement from a private investigator saying he bought fake Philip Morris cigarettes off a such ‘n such website.

Many cases involve courts sealing documents, meaning the accused, or the public, can never see what’s in them: “For example; in the True Religion case, the entire action was sealed for a couple of weeks. Even without the seal, I don’t know how to find these ex parte rightsowner enforcement cases against foreign rogue websites other than laboriously reviewing every federal filing, having readers tip us off or serendipity.”-Eric Goldman, associate professor of law at Santa Clara University

The courts are ordering websites removed from Google and Yahoo, only to be ‘given’ to GoDaddy.  They also ordered Western Union to redirect customer payments to three individuals.  PayPal has also been forced to freeze at least 84 accounts.

These cases involve hundreds of websites/domains, and some of the cases specifically name Chinese individuals.  While they might have merit, the problem is that the courts have established the practice of rendering judgment without the accused having their day in court, or even allowing an appeal.

For more visit Eric Goldman’s Technology and Marketing Law Blog

 

 

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

What Econommic Recovery? SAAB officially bankrupt, will affect GM sales

SAAB is now officially bankrupt.  The company filed for bankruptcy after two Chinese companies changed their minds about buying the Swedish automaker.

There was talk that General Motors was concerned about the Chinese getting their hands on U.S. technologies, because GM supplied those parts to SAAB.

The demise of SAAB will now hurt GM’s parts sales.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Lawsuit gives U.S. government ammo to attack Iran

“We are dealing with fabrications whereby a war agenda, which has been on the Pentagon’s drawing board for many years, is now seeking justification to go live, and we’ve seen the drone attacks, we’ve seen the sanctions.”-Michel Chossudovsky, Center for Research on Globalization

On December 15, a lawsuit supposedly brought by victims of the September 11th, 2001 attacks, won a default judgment (default means the accused didn’t show up).  The problem is that it blames Iran and Lebanon for the World Trade Center attacks!  Analysts believe the leaders of the United States could claim this court case as ‘proof’ that Iran is part of anti-Shia/pro-Wahhabi al Qaeda (Iran is majority Shia Muslim).

“There is absolutely no evidence that Iran aided the 9/11 attacks. There is ample evidence after collection that there was conspiracy and the complicity of the U.S. government…There is absolutely no evidence that al Qaeda or the Taliban were involved in the 9/11 attacks. In fact, if there is anyone behind al Qaeda, it was the Central Intelligence Agency, going back to the Soviet Afghan war!”-Michel Chossudovsky, Center for Research on Globalization

Analysts say the U.S. government is setting the stage, just like they did prior to invading Iraq: “What we are seeing now is this strange self-fulfilling prophecy process. This is exactly what we saw with Iraq. This is a campaign to go to war.”–Jamal Abdi, National Iranian American Council

Iran even helped the U.S. topple the Taliban (who had executed Iranian diplomats): “Immediately afterwards Iran condemned the attacks. There were candlelit vigils on the streets of Tehran in solidarity with the Americans who lost their lives. You saw Iran cooperating with the United States in helping to topple the Taliban, the enemy of Iran.”–Jamal Abdi, National Iranian American Council

Here’s the real reason the U.S., and the United Kingdom, want to attack Iran: “…Iran has 10 per cent of the world’s oil reserves, four or five times the amount of the United States; it’s in a crucial region, it doesn’t accept U.S. hegemony and it’s an ally of Russia and China.”-Michel Chossudovsky, Center for Research on Globalization

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: Argentina moves to discourage immigrants from the United States

Argentinians are saying no more to immigrants fleeing the United States.

Lawmakers in the lower House have passed a bill that would limit the amount of Argentine land foreigners could buy. But don’t worry, it means you rich immigrants fleeing the U.S. will have to settle for only 2,500 acres.  Yes, under the bill you can still buy up to 2,500 acres of Argentine land, so I think the bill is just symbolic.

In a recent survey Argentinians proved to be just as xenophobic as people in the U.S.  Many Argentinians surveyed said they were tired of the growing number of people coming from the United States, and taking their jobs!

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery: EU official says saving Europe is like throwing money down the toilet. $3.9 trillion already spent trying to save Europe!

“I never understand when market participants say authorities haven’t put enough money up…I don’t share the view that only the European Central Bank can solve the crisis.”-Klaus Regling, European Financial Stability Facility

The boss of the EFSF, Klaus Regling, said when you combine what has been spent, what is currently being spent, and what is about to be spent to save troubled European governments, it equals three trillion Euros (U.S.$3.9 trillion)!

This is more evidence that the economies of Europe and the United States are much worse than what we’re being told!

Business/Economics, U.S.

Government Incompetence & United Police States of America: Las Vegas cops shoot Gulf War veteran, who lost his house, in the back of the head, 7 times. Veteran’s wife blames PTSD and the VA. VA is ending needed treament for veterans

“100%. They are 100% responsible for what they did to my husband. They killed my husband.”-Rondha Gibson, blaming the Veterans Administration for her husband’s death because they took him off his PTSD meds and cancelled his benefits

On December 12 Las Vegas police shot and killed a 1991 Persian Gulf War veteran.  They shot him seven times in the back of the head as he sat in his car.

According to newly released police report, cops responded to claims of an attempted burglary.  Apartment residents said two men tried to break into an apartment, failed and then took off in a white Cadillac. As the cops were writing down the info, a white Cadillac pulled into the apartment parking lot.

The cops surrounded the car, the driver apparently panicked a tried to get away but ran into a parked police car.  For 30 minutes the cops yelled at him to get out of the car.  They decided to shoot a bean bag to break a window, and then spray riot control gas into the car.  For some reason another cop grabbed a semi-automatic AR-15 assault rifle.  When the one cop fired the bean bag round, the cop with the AR-15 fired also.  The reason has yet to be revealed.

The cop with the AR-15 fired seven times into the back of the war veteran’s head.  The AR-15 is a semi-automatic version of the automatic military M16.  What that means is that the cop had to pull the trigger seven times to fire seven rounds!

Police officials are investigating why the cop with the AR-15 fired seven rounds off, when that was obviously not part of the plan to get the veteran out of his car.

By the way, the reason why the veteran pulled into the apartment parking lot was because he lived there!  He and his wife moved in after losing their house!  There are plenty of white Cadillacs in Las Vegas, dumb cops!

It turns out the Gulf War veteran, Stanley Gibson, had lost his Veterans benefits, was taken off his PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) meds, and then lost his house!  A social worker who works with veterans blames the Veterans Administration for what happened: “They’re just trying to get away with the minimal that they can, and if they dance you around the block enough you’ll go away.”-Marsha Oritt, social worker

Gibson and his wife had fought the gradual reductions in his benefits for years, but the VA won out.  Rhonda Gibson says the VA totally blew them off: “If they had just listened to the man, listened to me and stopped canceling his appointments and make sure he had his medications on time, we would have been ok.”

Social worker Marsha Oritt says the VA has made the Gibson’s life a living hell: “It was just a constant nightmare for them both. Lots of tears. Lots of frustration. Lots of upset.”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Russia finally an official member of the WTO. Is that Why Russia suddenly reversed course on Syria, bailing out Europe?

“Russia is the world’s 12th largest trading nation and until we have this important country among our members, we cannot truly be the World Trade Organization.”-Pascal Lamy, World Trade Organization

After 18 years of trying to join the WTO, Russia was finally allowed in on December 16.  Just the day before Russia surprised many people in Europe and the United States, by announcing they would help bailout Europe, and, they would work with the United States to present a resolution to the UN Security Council concerning Syria.

Up until December 15 Russia had kept mum about bailing out Europe, and had opposed any UNSC resolution on Syria.

Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich, did admit there were conditions for Russia’s joining the WTO, and conditions for maintaining  membership: “Russia is joining the WTO on conditions answering its national interests. There are preconditions for further improvement of our business climate, for attraction of foreign investmens, for expanding of Russia’s export with simultaneous keeping of key industries of the national economy.”

WTO officials put another condition on Russia’s joining the global organization; they have to be well behaved for at least six more months, then, in the summer of 2021 they will be considered a full member of the World Trade Organization.  Even then there will be a “transition period” up to seven years.

The WTO members, including the United States, voted unanimously to let Russia finally join.  There are now 154 WTO members, which control 98% of global trade.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? One step closer to One World Government, IMF proposes international co-op, hints at Global Great Depression

“It’s not a crisis that will be resolved by one group of countries taking action. It’s going to be hopefully resolved by all countries, all regions, all categories of countries actually taking action.”-Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director

The director of the International Monetary Fund made that comment in a U.S. State Department conference on December 15.  Christine Lagarde also used the word “retraction” which is another way of saying economic depression.

Lagarde said she is greatly concerned because recent efforts to ‘save’ Europe have failed, and there is growing economic protectionism, and political isolationism, which will only make the global economy worse.  These are all things that helped cause the Great Depression of the 1920s-1930s.

She is calling for a new global financial co-operative system to prevent the coming Global Great Depression.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Russia says it will bailout Europe, through the IMF

“41% of foreign exchange reserves in Russia are euro-denominated, so EU member states and Russia all are interested in the security of it.”–Dmitry Medvedev, President of Russia

Turns out that Russia has a big stake in European countries getting back on the economic track.

On December 15, Russia’s current President said his country will work to help bailout struggling European countries, but only through the International Monetary Fund: “…we will keep backing the EU in terms of our quota in IMF membership and we will abide by all the commitments, being the participant of the IMF and ready to invest financial means to back the European economy and the euro zone.”

Medvedev did say that it was still up to European Union members to come up with a doable plan: “Only Europe will be able to help Europe but other countries should provide conditions for Europe to liberate itself from the crisis burden as soon as possible and recover from this downturn as soon as possible.”

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Food Crisis: Where’s the beef? Texas drought killing the cattle industry

“Consumers are going to pay more because we’re going to have less beef. Fewer cows, calves, less beef production and increasing [demand for] exports.”-David Anderson, Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Texas is officially suffering its worst drought ever!  The decline in cows just more proof.

Texas is now seeing the biggest drop in cattle since the U.S. Great Depression in 1930s.  This year they lost more than 600,000 cattle.  Not all to death directly caused by drought, or early slaughter, some were moved out of state to, literally, greener pastures.

It’s not just Texas, but Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana and Arkansas also saw an increase in loss of cattle due to drought.

This past year beef prices for U.S. consumers went up 9%. The USDA predicts another 5.5% increase for 2012.