Archive for February, 2014
‘American Dream Seen as Out of Reach’
February 13th, 2014Any excuse to post this clip… Via: McClatchy: Racing into a new century in which many of the old rules don’t seem to apply anymore, Americans are overwhelmingly pessimistic about their chances of achieving and sustaining the American dream, according to a new Marist-McClatchy Poll. They see an economic system in which they have to […]
Connecticut: Thousands Flout Gun Registration Law
February 13th, 2014Via: The Courant: Everyone knew there would be some gun owners flouting the law that legislators hurriedly passed last April, requiring residents to register all military-style rifles with state police by Dec. 31. But few thought the figures would be this bad. By the end of 2013, state police had received 47,916 applications for assault […]
You Know Who Else Collected Metadata? The Stasi.
February 13th, 2014Via: ProPublica: The East German secret police, known as the Stasi, were an infamously intrusive secret police force. They amassed dossiers on about one quarter of the population of the country during the Communist regime. But their spycraft — while incredibly invasive — was also technologically primitive by today’s standards. While researching my book Dragnet […]
After 5 Rejections, Apple Accepts App That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes
February 13th, 2014Via: Mashable: Persistence, it turns out, does pay off. After rejecting it five times, Apple has finally approved an app that tracks every U.S. drone strike and sends a push notification to users every time a flying robot carries out a deadly mission around the world. Josh Begley, the data artist and developer who made […]
Much of the Editing Work on Wikipedia Is Done by Bots
February 13th, 2014Via: MIT Technology Review: Less well known is Wikidata, an information repository designed to share basic facts for use on different language versions of Wikipedia. Wikidata therefore plays a crucial role in lubricating the flow of information between these online communities. Maintaining all this data is a difficult job. It requires significant editing and polishing, […]
Britain: Children Act Out Drug and Rape Scenes from Grand Theft Auto
February 12th, 2014Via: South Wales Argus: A HEADTEACHER has sent a letter to parents after becoming aware of “extremely concerning behaviour” of pupils, some as young as six, which he puts down to a violent video game. Pupils at Coed-y-Brain Primary School, in Llanbradach, have been, according to head teacher Morian Morgan, “initiating games that involve simulating […]
Careto: Complex Malware Has Been Targeting High Intelligence Value Individuals Since 2007
February 12th, 2014Via: Vice: A surprisingly sophisticated malware named Careto has been infecting computers globally since at least 2007, a new report from security firm Kaspersky revealed today. While the virus, also known as The Mask, appears to have originated in a Spanish-speaking country—careto, a Spanish slang term for an ugly face, was found in the code—it’s […]
That Chemical Subway Ditched? Yep, It’s Everywhere
February 12th, 2014Via: CNBC: This week, Subway found out customers don’t like eating a chemical found in yoga mats, shoe rubber and synthetic leather. After one blogger’s petition against azodicarbonamide generated widespread uproar, the sandwich chain announced plans to remove the ingredient from its bread. Currently, its 9-grain wheat, Italian white and sourdough breads contain it. “We […]
Retired Lawyer Killed After Package Sent to Home Explodes
February 12th, 2014Via: CNN: Bewildered residents in rural Tennessee are grappling with fear and confusion as they try to understand why someone would send a bomb in the mail to their neighbor. Retired lawyer John Setzer, 74, died Monday after “an unknown package exploded,” the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said. His wife, 72-year-old Marion Setzer, was seriously […]
Black Man in Jasper, Texas Found With Cut Throat And Missing Ear—Ruled ‘Accidental Overdose’
February 12th, 2014Via: DailyKos: Alfred Wright was a 28-year-old physical therapist, a “man of great faith,” and father of three sons. He grew up in Jasper, Texas along with four siblings, and a father who was both the town’s pastor and gym teacher. Friends described him as ambitious, clean-living, hard-working, fun-loving, brilliant and a wonderful father. He […]
