I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Linkee-poo, no more turning away from the coldness inside

Note to Self podcast Privacy Paradox project. The EFF Panopticlick tool and Privacy Badger browser plug in, find out who is tracking you, and gain the power to disappear from them (unfortunately doesn't work in my version of Safari).

"Starting in 2014, Vizio made TVs that automatically tracked what consumers were watching and transmitted that data back to its servers. Vizio even retrofitted older models by installing its tracking software remotely. All of this, the FTC and AG allege, was done without clearly telling consumers or getting their consent." Oopsie. (Grokked from Dan)

"Imagine the horror of being trapped in a hostile landscape surrounded by snowflakes that were once objects of amusement but now form a blizzard of menacing proportions. Then smile because you're not a fascist, and are merely stuck on a polar icebreaking vessel for 10 hours." It's a remix.

"Balls in SPAAAAAACCCCEEE!" "When Ellison Onizuka made his second flight as a mission specialist aboard space shuttle Challenger in 1986, one of the personal effects he carried with him was a soccer ball signed by members of the Clear Lake High School girls and boys soccer team, where his daughter attended school… Now that soccer ball has gone back into space." (Grokked form Dan)

"Despite more than a week of headlines about President Donald Trump's immigration executive order and the administration's focus on national security, a plurality of Americans say health care costs are their primary concern, rather than terrorism, according to a poll released Tuesday by Monmouth University." It's almost like those two things are linked somehow. Healthcare costs are at 25%, terrorism is at 2%. That's just one point up from "Trump as president" (1%).

"People who want to visit the United States could be asked to hand over their social-media passwords to officials as part of enhanced security checks, the country's top domestic security chief said." One, already has happened as reported by people coming into the US after Trump's EO on immigration. Two, this shit again? Three, there's a huge difference between asking for someone's social media handles and asking for their login information. Fourth, there have been reports of CBP demanding people coming into the US to unlock their phones so they could copy all the data on the phone. (Grokked from Dan)

"Sebastian Gorka (you may remember him as the Breitbart editor and being guilty of taking a firearm into a TSA controlled ares), deputy assistant to President Donald Trump, said Monday that the administration will continue using the term 'fake news' until the media understands that their 'monumental desire' to attack the President is wrong." I feel like I'm in a Rocky Horror Picture Show screening and I'm supposed to shout, "That's not what fake news is, asshole." That's some serious Ministry of Truth shit right there. (Grokked from Maureen Johnson)

How's those "alternative facts" working out? "Despite what the White House has claimed, top Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway acknowledged on Tuesday that some terror attacks on a list released by the administration did in fact receive 'international coverage and wall-to-wall coverage.'" So, say the outrageous lie and initially defend it, then roll it back later when your base isn't watching. Where have I seen that before?

"A House committee voted on Tuesday to eliminate an independent election commission charged with helping states improve their voting systems as President Donald Trump erroneously claims widespread voter fraud cost him the popular vote." First rule of corruption, turn off the alarms and clear out the watchdogs. (Grokked from George Takei)

Rep Sean Duffy stays on point no matter what the facts. I love when he states "that's one example" and then the reporter starts listing more examples. Also, there was that DoHS report on white supremacists that the GOP helped scuttle. (Grokked from Maureen Johnson)

"But there are plenty of people worried about it." I think that's the understatement of the decade. Trump's calls with foreign leaders continue to go off the rails. Although they say some have gone very well. I'm sure our alliance with the Czechs will prove fruitful. (Grokked from Laura J Mixon)

"'I think what’s most important are the actions,' (Speaker Ryan) continued. 'This administration is honoring the ruling, and this administration is going through the proper procedures to deal with the ruling to try and get the ruling overturned. They’re going through the appeals process, they’re respecting the separation of powers in the process. Look, I know he’s an unconventional President. He gets frustrated with judges, we get frustrated with judges. But he’s respecting the process, and that’s what counts at the end of the day.'" You know, except for that first week where there were other rulings against Trump's EO, but CBP keep detaining people and forcing them to give up their green cards. Also there are the comments made against the judge (attacking him personally, not just the judgement).

Tweet of my heart: @MaryRobinette Remember, you want the plot to thicken, not curdle. Steady application of heat, not a sudden boil. Unless writing a potboiler

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