January 2011
“Even in this world more things exist without our knowledge than with it and the...”
– — Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian. Stolen from a much longer quote made by Daily Meh.
Google won't autocomplete "bittorrent" but will... →
Leaked: US government strategy to prevent leaks |... →
Via Schneier on Security.
Jeff Koons claims to own all balloon dogs | Boing... →
‘This is a textbook case of why artists who argue against copyright flexibilities should be viewed with great skepticism; like the established fashion designers who say that it’s unfair that clothing patterns don’t qualify for copyright (and never mind the fact that all these designers benefited enormously from the right to copy popular designs when they were starting out), Koons...
Kid's petition against school's "No hugging"... →
‘a senior at a New England high school writes in to discuss the petition she’s circulating to protest her school’s “appropriate touch” policy (“the only appropriate touch is a handshake”)’
‘Imposing limits on interpersonal relationships merely divides “school” and “life” into separate and often warring factions. This...
Library clears its shelves in protest at closure... →
‘The library at Stony Stratford, on the outskirts of Milton Keynes, looks like the aftermath of a crime, its shell-shocked staff presiding over an expanse of emptied shelves. Only a few days ago they held 16,000 volumes.
Now, after a campaign on Facebook, there are none. Every library user was urged to pick their full entitlement of 15 books, take them away and keep them for a week....
Wikileaks volunteer detained and searched yet... →
‘Appelbaum is not accused of any crime. This is what being on a secret government watchlist looks like.’
Sal the Cat summoned for service in US and court... →
‘Sal is a member of the family so I listed him on the last Census form under pets but there has clearly been a mix-up.’
An application to exempt Sal has been rejected; he must appear at the courtroom.
Despite being in the Daily Mail, the indications are that the story is true — or, at least, it was reported by local TV station KGW. The Mail has video of the report.
Honey laundering: The sour side of nature’s golden... →
Via The High Weirdness Project.
What's causing the mysterious mass animal... →
‘Cindy Jacobs, a “respected prophet,” says birds and fish may be dying off en masse because of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. […] “From Pokemon cards and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, to Marilyn Manson and psychic hotlines, this nation is under siege,” she warns in her new book.’
Straight-shooting press corps members get CHL... →
‘Visitors [to the capitol building] now must pass through metal detectors, virtually guaranteeing delays. But there’s an express lane for people with a concealed handgun permit.’
Via The High Weirdness Project.
Home Office suppressed embarrassing ID cards... →
‘The Home Office slipped out the final report of the Independent Scheme Advisory Panel (ISAP) this week, more than a year after it was written. The ostensibly independent report, which reveals how the ID system had been compromised by poor design and management, was submitted to the Home Office in December 2009. It was modified on 4 January this year by people unknown, before finally being...
