Random News Stories

[Reginald Ret]

Given the remarks in the article in regard to CCTV, I have to find this somewhat strange. I walk past multiple cameras every day and I am not in an area that either needs or warrants them. I seem to have made the age old mistake of assuming buildings in need of good security would have basic security.

Well, the Very Important People don't want to be watched all the time, so they won't have that much CCTV. Of course for the poor and powerless to ask for the same respect is too much, they need to be watched all the time.
As everyone knows, poor equals criminal and rich = powerful = saint.

[Junkenstein]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting every inch watched at all times, but basic entry/exit just seems obvious. I wonder how easy it is to actually gain access? Probably a lot easier than I previously thought.

In other news, Batman caught in Maryland
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17564941

[Junkenstein]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17582542

An investigation is under way after indecent images were "inadvertently" shown by a Catholic priest during a presentation at a primary school in County Tyrone.

Father Martin McVeigh projected the images onto a screen during a meeting for parents in Pomeroy in preparation for First Holy Communion. One child was also present.

Parents said 16 indecent images of men were displayed. The priest said he had no knowledge of the offending imagery.

"He was visibly shaken and flustered," said the parents. "He gave no explanation or apology to the group and bolted out of the room. The co-ordinator and the teachers then continued with the presentation.

"Twenty minutes later he returned, he continued with the meeting and wrapped up by saying that the children get lots of money for their Holy Communion and should consider giving some of it to the church."

"The priest has stated that he had no knowledge of the offending imagery. The archdiocese immediately sought the advice of the PSNI who indicated that, on the basis of the evidence available, no crime had been committed.

Pretty sure that showing indecent images to children is a crime, even if it is only one child. Also nice to see he was able compose himself in time to remind attendees that God needs money. Paraphrasing Carlin, "He's all-powerful, all knowing, all wise and he needs your money!"

For bail in the forthcoming future I guess.

[Salty]

This is why you don't go with the guy with the gun. Let him shoot you right then and there.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/03/samantha-koenig-disappearance_n_1398626.html

The signs around town, REWARD FOR INFORMATION and such, are all torn on the edges and faded. The poor family.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Oh, that's horrible.

[Junkenstein]

People still not understanding the concept of Anonymous
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17648852

The hacking group Anonymous is alleged to have blocked the Home Office website, apparently in protest at government policies.

Shortly before the website became inaccessible a message was posted blaming a "high volume of traffic".

Anonymous is a loose group of "hacktivists" who came to the fore in 2010 in the wake of the emergence of Julian Assange's Wikileaks website.

Anonymous began by aiming distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on websites, like the credit card firm Visa, who had withdrawn services from Wikileaks.

But it has gradually changed into a grouping which claims to battle government surveillance and attempts to police the internet.

Which is all kind of "meh" until you tie it in to this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17601594

David Cameron has said "gaps" in national security must be plugged as he defended plans for more secret court hearings and more internet monitoring.

It follows concerns raised by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and others about civil liberties implications.

Now the suspicious bastard that lives in my head starts shouting things like "false flag" and I'm having trouble shutting him up. Blaming Anonymous and collaring the next few silly bastards who charge lazors at that website would be a lovely little PR boost. Shouting about terrorists every few minutes as well really doesn't help. Given the level of shit the IRA pulled here over the past few decades it's really hard to take it seriously. But that's another rant entirely.

I also struggle to understand the value in attacking websites like the home office. The chance of the hack actually having a positive  impact is negligible. The benefit to the hacked is huge, it's basically giving them the ammo they need to push these kind of laws.

[Cain]

Actually, this is pretty typical of Anonymous - they're not big on strategic planning.  I might have hung around with the /i/nsurgents a bit, back in the day....The idea is usually to raise awareness and make a symbolic show of anger and frustration, not do real damage. 

Besides, the Lib Dems are going to kill the legislation.  First useful thing they will have done since 2010.

(and I'd just like to take this time to remind everyone, yet again, I said Nick Clegg was a tosser and not to be trusted BACK IN 2008)

[Telarus]

Who mentioned Ted Nugent recently?

http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/military-cancels-ted-nugent-performance-citing-violent-rhetoric-171841819.html

By The Hollywood Reporter | Stop The Presses! – 3 hours ago

Getting the boot from Fort Knox is the latest wrinkle in a controversy that began last weekend at an NRA convention and led to a visit from the Secret Service.
Citing inflammatory language while expressing his displeasure with President Barack Obama, the military has uninvited rock star and conservative political activist Ted Nugent from performing at Fort Knox in Kentucky, according to the U.S. Army post's Facebook page.
"After learning of opening act Ted Nugent's recent public comments about the president of the United States, Fort Knox leadership decided to cancel his performance on the installation," it's Facebook posting says.
So far, the June 23 concert remains on the Fort Knox schedule, with REO Speedwagon and Styx listed as "co-headliners," but army personnel said they will grant requests for refunds in light of their decision to nix the opening act.

The cancellation is the latest wrinkle in a controversy that has engulfed Nugent since last weekend when, speaking at an NRA convention, the rocker said that he would be "dead or in jail" if Obama is reelected in November.
Also referring to Obama and Democratic candidates in general, he told the NRA faithful: "We need to ride into that battlefield and chop their heads off in November."
Use of the violent metaphors earned Nugent a visit from Secret Service agents on Thursday. He said Friday on his website that he had with them a "good, solid professional meeting concluding that I have never made any threats of violence toward anyone."
A spokesman for Fort Knox told TheBlaze.com that having Nugent perform "would be a conflict of interest since the military has the obligation to be apolitical."
Such a claim, though, seems dubious when it comes to choosing entertainers, who oftentimes show their partisanship. At its website, for example, Fort Knox is touting an appearance this month by comedian Jay Phillips who is supportive of Obama through his Twitter activities. And Ludacris has performed at U.S. Army bases even after the 2008 release of his pro-Obama song "Politics As Usual," which calls Hillary Clinton, who was running against Obama at the time, a "bitch" who is "irrelevant." The ultra-partisan song also called President George W. Bush "mentally handicapped" and says that Sen. John McCain "don't belong in any chair unless he's paralyzed."
Fort Knox personnel did not return calls or emails requesting clarification on their "obligation to be apolitical" in their entertainment selections.
Comments at the Fort Knox Facebook page have been running about 3-1 against the decision to boot Nugent from the concert.
"He is such a supporter of the troops. Such a shame that he was canceled for expressing his freedom of speech. This is America, if you have not forgot," one commenter wrote.
"I thought that freedom of speech was one of the very same things that our military fought for. When Obama said he was going to change the military, he did. He made them cowards. Shame on you Fort Knox," said another.
And on the flip side: "Anyone who threatens a U.S. president like that should not be allowed on a military installation. No matter which party he affiliates himself with. Good decision."

[Cainad (dec.)]

"We had a good, solid professional meeting..."

I believe this translates to "they schooled my ass without ever needing to raise their voices," yes?

[Placid Dingo]

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/the-grid/anonymous-formula-1-bahrain

More Anon fun, attacking the Formula 1 over Bahrain's Human Rights record.

[Telarus]

  Goddamn, what a Hail Eris moment. Thousands of people thought they were fired for a whole morning.....

http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/04/23/2245250/company-accidentally-fires-entire-staff-via-email

[inode_buddha]

Goddamn, what a Hail Eris moment. Thousands of people thought they were fired for a whole morning.....

http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/04/23/2245250/company-accidentally-fires-entire-staff-via-email

it makes me want to buy stock in toilet paper companies  :sniffle: "It's so beautiful!"

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

INTERNAL SERVER ERROR!

[Junkenstein]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-17894176

Piratebay blocked by major ISP's in the UK.

Shit. I guess I'll just have to use Isohunt instead.

Or Demonoid

Or any of the million other torrent sites. Or one of the dozen ways around this.

Curiously it comes out the same day that this does

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17895456

Foreign Secretary William Hague has announced an extra £1.5m of funding focused on "promoting freedom of expression online".

It is part of a package of measures intended to "strengthen and develop" human rights around the world, he said.

Edit - I just realised the latest category added to the pirate bay was Porn in it's many forms. There's probably a bit of "Think of the Children" going on here as well. Hopefully more details on that soon as the results could be hilarious.

[Cain]

Porn has actually been on there for a few years now.  You needed to have an account (or do some basic experimenting with the URL),but it was always accessible.

Since my internet provider is not a major ISP, this does not concern me.  And even if it did....well, Demonoid.