Amanda Peacher and John Sepuvaldo are reporting on behalf of Oregon Public Broadcasting that the FBI has begun negotiating with Ammon Bundy of the heroic militia responsible for the liberation in Oregon (archived). Ammon made it clear to the Federal government's negotiator that: Continue reading
Category Archives: North America
Concerns About United States Coal Industry Intensify
Peabody coal, the largest coal mining concern in the United States, faces concerns that it could follow its smaller competitors into bankruptcy (archived). Patriot Coal, Walter Energy, and Alpha Natural resources filed for bankruptcy last year while Arch Coal filed for bankruptcy on January 11th of this year. While oil has dominated the mainstream news cycle, the energy extraction industry as a whole is leading the fiat march to suffering. Continue reading
Twitter's Jack Dorsey No Longer A Paper Billionaire
With the declining fortunes of his social media noise hole Twitter and his electronic fiat payments application Square being reflected in their stock price, Jack Dorsey is no longer a Billionaire according to his paper holdings. Sorry for your loss.
Fiat Feeling Pain Below The Corn Belt
A movement is building in the Middle West to compel the United States Government to raise the amount of debt that qualifies for restructuring under Chapter 12 "family farm" bankruptcy terms (archived). This push comes amid widespread fear from agricultural lenders concerned that the present limits would push many of the year's anticipated farm bankruptcies into either Chapter 7 liquidation or a far more expensive Chapter 11 reorganization, alternatives which would make their receiving eventual repayment far less likely. Depressed prices for corn and other staple agricultural products in the United States along with declining export sales are leading to grim prospects for 2016 on the farm. Sorry for your loss.
First Mass Walmart Closure
Arkansas based retailer Walmart is closing 269 stores including 154 locations in the United States. The move is expected to result in a reduction of at least 11,000 10,000 jobs in the United States (archived). Walmart has never before engaged in a mass closing of stores in its home territory inside the United States. Of all the indicators pointing to a dire 2016 for fiat enterprises this might be the most dire so far.
Water Quality Crisis In United States Lake Region
In the impoverished United States province of Michigan, the post industrial hell hole commonly referred to as "Flint" is going through a water quality crisis. Dangerous levels of lead, iron, and other metals had been detected in Flint's municipal for months, and now there are concerns that Flint's water problems are contributing to an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease (archived). Outbreaks of disease caused by Legionella bacteria have been increasing across the United State with deteriorating healthcare facilities most frequently being affected. The Flint outbreak is exceptional in the size geographic area apparently being affected. Travellers to the United States would be prudent to avoid drinking tap water that has not been further purified at the point of consumption. Much of Michigan is surrounded by the Earth's largest system of freshwater lakes.
Coindesk Acquired By Silbert Group
Today Coindesk announced their acquisition by Barry Silbert's Digital Currency Group (archived). Silbert's group was reportedly an early investor in that website. They further announced with the acquisition a May conference in the capital of anti-Bitcoin activity.
Ulbricht Appellate Brief Filed
Ross Ulbricht's attorneys have filed their appellate brief. Full text below or pdf here. Continue reading
Two US Navy Boats And Ten Sailors In Iranian Custody
Iran has reportedly taken custody of two small United States Navy boats and the ten sailors accompanying them in an Iranian controlled portion of the Persian Gulf (archived). Representatives of Iran and the United States are reportedly negotiating a resolution to this situation.
Another One Bites The Dust: Cryptsy Edition
The altcoin exchange known as Cryptsy finally went full Gox after more than a year of warnings. Reports then came in that the company moved out of their office without any notice to users. Yesterday divorce proceedings involving the exchange's proprietor, Paul Edward Vernon, were posted to Bitcointalk leading to speculation that the civil court has frozen all of the proprietor's assets including Cryptsy's cold wallet until divorce proceedings have finalized. Cryptsy has acted irresponsible in regards to its users, and has yet to make a public statement of any kind regarding its situation.