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A Texas-based Linux admin was charged with hacking into the websites of at least 4 police groups after FBI agents engaged him in an online manhunt that mined photo metadata, Facebook profiles, and other digital evidence. He says he's surrendered all accounts in his control, but his status as a cooperating witness is anything but clear.
Ars Technica
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We've heard recently of CISPA, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act , a bill currently making its way through Congress that many are calling the latest incarnation of SOPA. Reader SolKeshNaranek points out an article at Techdirt explaining exactly why this bill is bad , and how its backers are trying to deflect criticism by using language that's different and rather vague. Quoting: "The bill defines 'cybersecurity systems' and 'cyber threat information' as anything to do with protecting a network from: ' (A) efforts to degrade, disrupt, or destroy such system or network; or (B) theft or misappropriation of private or government information, intellectual property, or personally identifiable information. ' It's easy to see how that definition could be interpreted to include things that go way beyond network security — specifically, copyright policing systems at virtually any point along a network could easily qualify."
By Cory Doctorow at 5:47 pm Tuesday, Apr 3 • 12 Comments • Share On IO9, Ron Miller has published a selection from his collection of photos of 1970s cosplayers, dating from a costuming epoch where nudity was a lot more common than it is today. Among the clothed pictures (not reproduced here) is one shot of Elfquest co-creator Wendy Pini as one of her own elves. One thing I noticed in going through the slides — mostly taken at Worldcon masquerades and a few other cons — is the great sense of whimsy that permeated SF costuming decades ago. This is something that seems to be missing, now that costuming is taken so much more seriously.
Boing Boing
Social Media News and Web Tips – Mashable – The Social Media Guide
Tech Sometimes, you may just want to listen to your music in peace, without being interrupted by passers-by or visually intrusive ads, technology and surrounding events. That’s…Lifehacker, tips and downloads for getting things done
Lifehacker is making some changes to its comment system that will require you to log in with a Facebook, Google, or Twitter account. You must convert your account to one of these services in order to continue using your account. Converting your account on Lifehacker will do so on all Gawker Media Sites.
SoMe is a film about the rise (and fall?) of social media. Produced by web rabble-rouser and satirist, Loren Feldman , the film will feature Feldman’s signature puppet act (it will be cool, I promise) and interviews with and segments about web luminaries like: Julia Allison, Michael Arrington, Steve Ballmer, Henry Blodget, Chris Brogan, Robert Bruce, Paul Carr, Pete Cashmore, Brian Clark, Ron Conway, Henry Copland, Jay Cuthrell, Mike Daisey, Barry Diller, Jack Dorsey, Dan Farber, Steve Gillmor, Paul Graham, MC Hammer, Shel Israel, Andrew Jecklin, Steve Jobs, Kim Kardashian, Ashton Kutcher, Loic LeMeur, Jakob Lodwick
TechCrunch
Wired News
Isn’t it delightful how geek culture works? During my Christmas shopping last year, I stumbled into a favorite little pop culture shop in Little Collins Street in Melbourne which is well known for its comprehensive stocking of all things Lovecraftian. I was looking for some stocking fillers for the kids; instead I walked out with [...] The combination of a cloud service and verification that does not involve sharing data has allowed one company to provide a true bumper-to-bumper insurance policy, reports Victor Cruz. One legacy of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars has arrived on the southern border of the United States. The Department of Homeland Security recently completed tests of a powerful camera, one that cut its teeth in the war zones, that captures video of entire miles of border in a single frame.