Author Archives

Why, don't you KNOW who I am?

• Reaper Drones Spot Islamic State’s Jihadi John & Hostages in Orange Jumpsuits in Raqqa, Syria

  By raincoaster on October 6, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  God help me when I am reblogging the Daily Mail, but whoever they have on this story is rocking it. Note they confirm the American claim that Jihadi John has been positively identified; they do so without identifying him. Almost… Read More ›

• “Pinocchio & Butcher”: Islamic State Defector Describes Torture of Cantlie/Foley; Incl. Waterboarding/Electric Shocks

  By raincoaster on October 6, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  More information about British-accented jihadis in Syria; apparently one of the main prisons for their captives is in central Aleppo.

• Giving Police Backdoor Access To Smartphones Is An Invitatation To Be Hacked

  By raincoaster on October 3, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  The Consumerist puts it in straight terms. No, locking out the FBI by using encryption doesn’t make you a pedophile, regardless of their alarmist blatherings. Don’t be scared into compliance with shadowy three-letter agencies; it’s not your job as a… Read More ›

• Mexico’s security operations: Winners and losers

  By raincoaster on October 3, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  Here’s the nut of this story: “Mexican security forces must balance two objectives: achieving tangible results in the war against cartels, while also respecting the rights of Mexican citizens. In Mexico, achieving such a balance is harder than it appears.”… Read More ›

• Interwebbed: Crypto and Cyber #News for October 3

  By raincoaster on October 3, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  TGIF, kittens! Raise a yellow umbrella and a cup of a cheering beverage to the end of the work week and the start of…a weekend of recovery from the work week? Sure, let’s go with that. The tear gas continues… Read More ›

• ABC Developing ‘MKUltra’ CIA Miniseries

  By raincoaster on October 3, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  Oh MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY this could be either very, very good (eg The Prisoner) or very, very bad (eg…well, most 70’s conspiracy tv). Either way, at least the first episode of this miniseries will be a must-watch.

• You might already have a cosmic ray detector in your pocket

  By raincoaster on October 2, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  Originally posted on Gigaom:
  Our world is constantly being struck by cosmic rays–mysterious radioactive particles that likely come from supernovae and other distant sources. They interact with the Earth’s atmosphere and break into more benign particles before they reach human…

• I, Robot: What Nicholas Carr’s ‘The Class Cage’ Teaches Us About Our Robot Future

  By raincoaster on October 2, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  Is a robot future dystopian or utopian; does our interaction with machines reveal more about our humanity or our inhumanity? Are we willing to accept the semblance of friendship and personhood from robots if it is more in line with… Read More ›

• Online Payday Loans Cost More, Result In More Complaints Than Loans From Sketchy Storefronts

  By raincoaster on October 2, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  All things Pew rock unbelievably hard. Here’s a new study from the Pew Charitable Trusts which reveals that people who get payday loans online are ripped off even worse than those going to sketchy storefronts. And they can’t even pick… Read More ›

• Censorship Resistance and Decentralization Methods (I) by AnonyOdinn

  By raincoaster on October 2, 2014 • ( 1 )

  

  This is the second contribution by old Cryptospherian AnonyOdinn; the first was Stop the Power; How to Do Business Without Banks on bank-free financial systems. We are very pleased to welcome back our old friend. This article was first posted… Read More ›

• Interwebbed: Cyber and Crypto News for October 2

  By raincoaster on October 2, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

    It’s hump day, kittens! Have you been humping along well so far this week? Terrific. Now get off my leg. It’s your favorite time of day; no, not beer o’clock. Unless you’re bohemian that way and like to start… Read More ›

• Cops Distribute ‘Internet Safety Software’ That’s Actually Unsafe Spyware

  By raincoaster on October 1, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  Originally posted on LibertasIntel:
  An estimated 245 law enforcement agencies in 35 states have for years been distributing software called ComputerCOP as a way for parents to ensure their children have a safe web-browsing experience. The problem is, ComputerCOP is…

• In China, the internet of things is a social phenomenon

  By raincoaster on September 30, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  Originally posted on Gigaom:
  Chinese e-commerce provider Alibaba may be popular this month because of its blockbuster IPO, but it and several other big Chinese web properties such as Baidu, Sina Weibo and Tencent are keen to expand beyond e-commerce…

• The Strange Case of the Glitter Girl Grifter

  By raincoaster on September 30, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  Okay, get this: A Toronto Socialite (I know, I know! Hilarious!) befriends an Alzheimer’s victim in Florida, scams her out of $2 million or so, uses it to fly in a private jet to TORONTO (I know, right? In a… Read More ›

• “Hard to kill.” Julian Assange, interviewed on the CBC

  By raincoaster on September 30, 2014 • ( 0 )

  

  This is a terrific interview of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange by the terrific interviewer Jian Ghomeshi of CBC’s Q. Naturally, the hook is that Assange’s new book, When Google Met WikiLeaks, is out and he’s drumming up some interest in the… Read More ›