Monthly Archives: December 2013

Gators & Crocs Use Tools

croc3ScienceShot: First Example of Tool Use in Reptiles:

In what appears to be the first example of tool use among reptiles, researchers have discovered that both animals use twigs and sticks to attract nest-building birds. In 2007, behavioral ecologist Vladimir Dinets noticed that mugger crocodiles (Crocodylus palustris) at a zoo in India would balance small sticks on their snouts near a rookery where egrets compete for sticks to build their nests. Once, one of the crocs lunged at an egret that approached. Intrigued, Dinets studied alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) at four sites in Louisiana. The alligators put sticks on their snouts … much more frequently near egret rookeries and during the nest-building season, he and colleagues report online in Ethology Ecology & Evolution.

rsz_tauren01-fullArguably this shows gators and crocs have better sense when it comes to hunting than the NSA, which apparently spent millions of dollars spying on online gamers for fear terrorists might use World of Warcraft or Second Life as meeting sites. It was, for some reason, a very popular assignment all over the TLA world:

Meanwhile, the FBI, CIA, and the Defense Humint Service were all running human intelligence operations – undercover agents – within Second Life. In fact, so crowded were the virtual worlds with staff from the different agencies, that there was a need to try to “deconflict” their efforts – or, in other words, to make sure each agency wasn’t just duplicating what the others were doing.

Sticks would have been cheaper, and about as useful.

Posted in Science/Medicine, Surveillance | 1 Comment

This Mission Patch is REAL

Satellite-logo-for-spyingThe first time I saw this on a web site, I imagined it was a parody. The second time I saw it — at Forbes — I had to check for a second that the piece wasn’t posted on April 1.

But no, this is the genuine mission patch for a spy rocket lofted into orbit this week by the Office of National Intelligence:

“NROL-39 is represented by the octopus, a versatile, adaptable, and highly intelligent creature. Emblematically, enemies of the United States can be reached no matter where they choose to hide,” says Karen Furgerson, a spokesperson for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). “‘Nothing is beyond our reach’ defines this mission and the value it brings to our nation and the warfighters it supports, who serve valiently all over the globe, protecting our nation.”

O.M.G.

Posted in Civil Liberties | 1 Comment

As We Suspected (Updated)

FBI can secretly activate your webcam, without you being any the wiser – ex-official – Pogo Was Right Blog.

Update: Juan Cole offers a useful juxtaposition: FBi Laptop Camera Snooping and Orwell’s 1984: Side by Side Comparison. Click through for the graphic.

Posted in Law: Privacy | Comments Off on As We Suspected (Updated)

Schmuck

LET IT be recorded for posterity: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s support for granting “tuition equality” to the state’s undocumented immigrants spanned precisely 44 days. His support for the idea was born Oct. 12 and lasted through his Nov. 5 reelection victory, when he managed to win just more than half the Hispanic vote. It died abruptly on Nov. 25, as Mr. Christie pivoted from New Jersey’s general election to his preparations for the 2016 Republican primaries. On to Iowa!

From a WashPo Editorial of all places.

Posted in 2016 Election | 1 Comment

Odd Marketing

scroogled-mug-microsoft-270x167Can’t say I at all get the anti-Google marketing campaign by Microsoft running under the “Scroogled” monicker. But I do like this mug.

(Spotted via snarky story at the Inquirer.)

Posted in Software | 4 Comments

Worthy Procrastination

Jon Stewart skewers the annual flare-up of the ‘war on Christmas’ propaganda.

(I’d embed it if I could figure out how.)

Posted in Politics | 2 Comments