Computers & Technology – Page 19

Friday links

Published November 10, 2017 7:32 am by Claire

In news-of-the-creepy: the recently dead can now unlock smartphones with their fingers or eyes.

Speaking of creepy, Sean Parker accuses Mark Z and FB of exploiting vulnerabilities in human psychology. (No sh*t, Sherlock. That’s what FB exists to do.)

Electric cars: major polluters. (Yet another truth obvious to anyone who ever looked honestly at the question without being dazzled by the claims of clean urban air.)

6 Comments

Monday links

Published November 6, 2017 2:17 am by Claire

Elderly small-town doctor who accepts mostly cash patients loses her medical license because she doesn’t have a computer to report to her state’s mandatory drug-monitoring program.

Where oh where have we heard stories like this before? And why do politicians never see the predictable end to the tale? California plans to slap monumental taxes on legal cannabis in hopes of filling up the state’s shaky treasury.

The paradise papers are shaking up some otherwise comfortable people.

36 Comments

Weekend links

Published November 4, 2017 1:49 am by Claire

If you want to know how Hillary was able to take over the DNC before she even won the primaries, ask Obama.

Wrapping teenagers in bubble wrap and a chastity belt.

Sorry F*c*b**k, blasphemy is not apolitical.

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Tuesday links

Published October 31, 2017 7:35 am by Claire

Former Baltimore gun squad member justifies himself by saying he and his pals committed crimes only while on duty. That’s so noble of them.

And here’s what it’s like to be a convicted gun criminal who did nothing wrong. The story of Brian Aitkin in his own words.

Inevitable: the liquor industry is getting in on cannabis.

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Stupid, stupid, stupid Amazon security

Published October 27, 2017 1:44 pm by Claire

[rant] I have a vendor account on Amazon to sell dead-tree copies of RebelFire and Hardyville Tales. Yesterday I logged in, only to learn that as of next Tuesday, all vendors will be required to have two-factor identification or be locked out of their accounts. Well, that’s rather short notice. But I don’t mind two-factor ID. So today, Amazon nags me again and I click … and discover the ID can only be by phone. No email. Grumble. I absolutely hate the damn noisybox telephone. But what can I do? I choose SMS over voice. They send me a code.…

35 Comments

The Oatmeal: Reaching people on the Internet

Published October 26, 2017 10:21 am by Claire

Matthew Inman nails it once again (click to embiggenate):

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Thursday links

Published October 26, 2017 10:17 am by Claire

The DoJ is trying to get personal data on five Twitter users (one or two of whom you may know) because they received a smiley from a security researcher the feds have it in for.

Black preacher claims he was banned from a health club for giving an interview supporting Donald Trump.

Via Wendy McElroy: Big data meets Big Brother. In China. But I’ve seen hundreds of people on credit forums who’d think this horror was a fabulous idea.

4 Comments

Midweek links

Published October 25, 2017 6:36 am by Claire

Bovard: let us not forget the FBI’s own long criminal record.

Well, Jeff Flake (who went from libertarian-ish rep to RINOish senator) was right about one thing: “Resentment is not a governing philosophy”. More mainstreamers should be asking what causes so much resentment and why it’s become a driving force in both “right” and “left-wing” poly-ticks.

Five years from now, will we will we be wearing headbands to stimulate our brains and make us smarter? (H/T JB)

9 Comments

Weekend links

Published October 21, 2017 10:57 am by Claire

When you worry about big corps taking over the world (and I admit I often do, when those corps are Silicon Valley outfits that try to control how people think), remember that only 12 percent of The Fortune 500 companies from 1955 still exist in 2017.

Catalonia is not alone. Two prosperous northern regions are seeking more autonomy from Italy. (But then, Italy’s never quite been a country in the way we tend to think of country.)

Holy cats. I had no idea that product reviewing was either that lucrative or that dirty a business. (Via Adam in comments)

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Midweek links

Published October 18, 2017 10:20 am by Claire

Progressive writer tries desperately not to offend. Gets shredded, anyhow. Yes, America’s Red Guards are truly eating their own.

Are we suffering “dream deprivation”?

You probably don’t have to worry so much about the KRACK wifi vulnerability, unless you’re in a largish company or a particularly delicious location for bad guys. Still, A VPN could be helpful.

7 Comments

Category: Computers & Technology