
RECENT ARTICLES

Facebook helps launch American Edge, lobbying group in DC to fight antitrust regulators | Boing Boing
• Facebook is one of the big-tech entities behind American Edge, a new lobbying group in DC to fight antitrust regulators and push back against lawmakers trying to rein in Big Tech."Facebook is working behind the scenes to help launch a new political advocacy group that would combat U.S. lawmakers and regulators trying to rein in the tech industry, escalating Silicon Valley's war with Washington at a moment when government officials are threatening to break up large companies," reportsThe organization is called American Edge, and it aims through a barrage of advertising and other...…• Facebook is one of the big-tech entities behind American Edge, a new lobbying group in DC to fight antitrust regulators and push back against lawmakers trying to rein in Big Tech."Facebook is working behind the scenes to help launch a new political advocacy group that would combat U.S. lawmakers and regulators trying to rein in the tech industry, escalating Silicon Valley's war with Washington at a moment when government officials are threatening to break up large companies," reportsThe organization is called American Edge, and it aims through a barrage of advertising and other...WW…

Reporter to Trump: "Do you regret all the lying you've done to the American people?" | Boing Boing
The question was asked by Huffington Post correspondent SV Dáte, who told :I don't know why he called on me, because I've tried to ask him before [in March] and he's cut me off mid-question. Maybe he didn't recognise me this time. You know, he has this group of folks that he normally asks questions of. […] I had always thought that if he ever did call on me, this is the one thing that is really central to his presidency.Image: Public Domain via…The question was asked by Huffington Post correspondent SV Dáte, who told :I don't know why he called on me, because I've tried to ask him before [in March] and he's cut me off mid-question. Maybe he didn't recognise me this time. You know, he has this group of folks that he normally asks questions of. […] I had always thought that if he ever did call on me, this is the one thing that is really central to his presidency.Image: Public Domain viaWW…

Texas AG probing Facebook over biometric data collection that may violate state law | Boing Boing
"Texas is investigating Facebook for possibly running afoul of state laws on the collection of biometric data, according to June documents uncovered by a tech watchdog group," reports .And the attorney general of Texas may just be on to something.Facebook users in Illinois recently secured a major settlement over the issue of biometric data collection.Excerpt:The Texas AG is investigating Facebook for possibly violating its Texas Deceptive Trade Practices — Consumer Protection Act by improperly collecting biometric identifiers, according to the documents, obtained by the Tech Transparency...…"Texas is investigating Facebook for possibly running afoul of state laws on the collection of biometric data, according to June documents uncovered by a tech watchdog group," reports .And the attorney general of Texas may just be on to something.Facebook users in Illinois recently secured a major settlement over the issue of biometric data collection.Excerpt:The Texas AG is investigating Facebook for possibly violating its Texas Deceptive Trade Practices — Consumer Protection Act by improperly collecting biometric identifiers, according to the documents, obtained by the Tech Transparency...WW…

'The Anatomy of a Lie,' NYT reconstruct of 'Trump's failed 77-day effort to subvert democracy and overturn the 2020 election' | Boing Boing
"Hours after the United States voted, the president declared the election a fraud — a lie that unleashed a movement that would shatter democratic norms and upend the peaceful transfer of power." —Just out on Sunday night, this extensive of Donald Trump's failed 77-day attempt to subvert American democracy, and overthrow the 2020 presidential election. That's quite the shared byline, too, a lot of reporting power.:Across those 77 days, the forces of disorder were summoned and directed by the departing president, who wielded the power derived from his near-infallible status among the party...…"Hours after the United States voted, the president declared the election a fraud — a lie that unleashed a movement that would shatter democratic norms and upend the peaceful transfer of power." —Just out on Sunday night, this extensive of Donald Trump's failed 77-day attempt to subvert American democracy, and overthrow the 2020 presidential election. That's quite the shared byline, too, a lot of reporting power.:Across those 77 days, the forces of disorder were summoned and directed by the departing president, who wielded the power derived from his near-infallible status among the party...WW…

Trump's legal team a wreck, lawyers all leave one week before impeachment trial begins | Boing Boing
Former president Donald Trump's legal team didn't last long.As of Saturday night, CNN is reporting that all five lawyers identified as part of Trump's impeachment defense — Butch Bowers, Deborah Barbier, Josh Howard, Johnny Gasser, and Greg Harris — have departed., CNN White House Correspondent: "With a little more than a week before his impeachment trial is set to begin, President Trump's legal team is up in the air. Butch Bowers and Deborah Barbier, who were expected to be two of the lead attorneys, are no longer on the team.", "A third attorney, Josh Howard, who was also recently added...…Former president Donald Trump's legal team didn't last long.As of Saturday night, CNN is reporting that all five lawyers identified as part of Trump's impeachment defense — Butch Bowers, Deborah Barbier, Josh Howard, Johnny Gasser, and Greg Harris — have departed., CNN White House Correspondent: "With a little more than a week before his impeachment trial is set to begin, President Trump's legal team is up in the air. Butch Bowers and Deborah Barbier, who were expected to be two of the lead attorneys, are no longer on the team.", "A third attorney, Josh Howard, who was also recently added...WW…

Noted white nationalist and guy who got punched in the face Richard Spencer is "financially crippled" from lawsuit | Boing Boing
Self-proclaimed white nationalist and Richard Spencer has been bogged down in a for his part in helping to organize the "" rally in Charlottesville, Virgina, which resulted in much calamity, including the of activist Heather Heyers at the hands of another proud self-proclaimed white nationalist. Spencer is — perhaps, sadly, fittingly — the , and that privilege has helped him to finance his campaign of hate. But increasing legal (and marital) pressures have finally started to milk his racist wallet dry. From :Richard Spencer's attorney has asked for the court's permission to withdraw...…Self-proclaimed white nationalist and Richard Spencer has been bogged down in a for his part in helping to organize the "" rally in Charlottesville, Virgina, which resulted in much calamity, including the of activist Heather Heyers at the hands of another proud self-proclaimed white nationalist. Spencer is — perhaps, sadly, fittingly — the , and that privilege has helped him to finance his campaign of hate. But increasing legal (and marital) pressures have finally started to milk his racist wallet dry. From :Richard Spencer's attorney has asked for the court's permission to withdraw...WW…

Watch: Yesterday's Kamala Harris speech narrates this new "Prosecute Trump" ad | Boing Boing
Yesterday Kamala Harris made her since becoming the 2020 vice presidential nominee, and in the blink of an eye came "Prosecute Trump," another delightful anti-Trump video by the progressive group Meidas Touch.Using parts of Harris's speech as the narration, the video presents an "open and shut" case as to why Trump is a criminal failure. We're reminded of the recent US catastrophes created by Trump's mismanagement and utter ineptness, including "a crisis of poverty, of homelessness, of hunger, more than 165,000 lives that have been cut short."And then we're reminded of why we were doing...…Yesterday Kamala Harris made her since becoming the 2020 vice presidential nominee, and in the blink of an eye came "Prosecute Trump," another delightful anti-Trump video by the progressive group Meidas Touch.Using parts of Harris's speech as the narration, the video presents an "open and shut" case as to why Trump is a criminal failure. We're reminded of the recent US catastrophes created by Trump's mismanagement and utter ineptness, including "a crisis of poverty, of homelessness, of hunger, more than 165,000 lives that have been cut short."And then we're reminded of why we were doing...WW…

New research: There's a 50-50 chance we're living in a simulation and here's how to find out | Boing Boing
In 2003, University of Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom presented a mathematical argument that we are likely living inside a computer simulation created by some future intelligence. Of course, decades before Bostrom and The Matrix, other folks like Jacques Vallee, John Keel, Stephen Wolfram, Rudy Rucker, Ed Fredkin, and Hans Moravec also explored this . Now, Columbia University astronomer David Kipping has used Bayesian reasoning—a common method of statistical analysis—to calculate the odds that reality is unreal. There's a 50-50 chance we're living in a simulation, he says. And the...…In 2003, University of Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom presented a mathematical argument that we are likely living inside a computer simulation created by some future intelligence. Of course, decades before Bostrom and The Matrix, other folks like Jacques Vallee, John Keel, Stephen Wolfram, Rudy Rucker, Ed Fredkin, and Hans Moravec also explored this . Now, Columbia University astronomer David Kipping has used Bayesian reasoning—a common method of statistical analysis—to calculate the odds that reality is unreal. There's a 50-50 chance we're living in a simulation, he says. And the...WW…

Michigan power plant demolished | Boing Boing
A power plant was successfully . The shuttered J.B. Sims coal burning plant on had been operational for 37 years but a newer more efficient plant is taking its place. The only thing left for the old plant to do is to entertain us by smashing to the ground. The smokestack slowly falling over to its demise was particularly pleasing.…A power plant was successfully . The shuttered J.B. Sims coal burning plant on had been operational for 37 years but a newer more efficient plant is taking its place. The only thing left for the old plant to do is to entertain us by smashing to the ground. The smokestack slowly falling over to its demise was particularly pleasing.WW…

Baking thru the pandemic: The Muffaletta is my second favorite sandwich | Boing Boing
, as created and prepared by Central Grocery on Decatur in New Orleans, is my second favorite sandwich on earth. I recently spent a week in New Orleans trying Muffaletta at various locations to see if I might possibly like one better than the OG sandwich sold across from the French Market. I could not.While the location may be part of the experience, and I certainly do love sitting at a counter in the back of Central Grocery, drinking an Abita Amber and enjoying a Muffaletta with , I figured I could make this sandwich at home.The ingredients are commonly available. Mostly the sandwich is...…, as created and prepared by Central Grocery on Decatur in New Orleans, is my second favorite sandwich on earth. I recently spent a week in New Orleans trying Muffaletta at various locations to see if I might possibly like one better than the OG sandwich sold across from the French Market. I could not.While the location may be part of the experience, and I certainly do love sitting at a counter in the back of Central Grocery, drinking an Abita Amber and enjoying a Muffaletta with , I figured I could make this sandwich at home.The ingredients are commonly available. Mostly the sandwich is...WW…
Xeni Jardin
Rob Beschizza

Carla Sinclair
