Category Archives: Pinboard

Reading: With depressing predictability, FCC boss leaves office with a list of his deeds… and a giant middle finger to America

From With depressing predictability, FCC boss leaves office with a list of his deeds… and a giant middle finger to America

I probably should have mentioned this before, but Pai’s leaving is a good occasion. Bullet lists are administrative faves because they appear to make factual claims.

Just as he had done during his tenure, however, Pai has mirrored the 45th president’s approach and, rather than give an overview of actions to show a coherent drive and philosophy, has created the longest list possible. Bigger is better.

They leave out anything unwanted. Leave no room for counterpoint. Appear complete when partial. Appear cohesive when scattered.

Close relation: Take Aways.

Reading: Insurrectionists’ social media presence gives feds an easy way to ID them

From Insurrectionists’ social media presence gives feds an easy way to ID them

It’s all about bragging rights.

Back on December 22, The Washington Post reported that organizers planning to rally on January 6 were openly discussing the potential for violence on that day on multiple social media platforms, including Parler, Gab, and Telegram. Reporter Marissa Lang continued in several subsequent stories to explain the high potential for violence at yesterday’s events. Several other outlets, including Bloomberg and BuzzFeed, have also reported that the extremists who stormed the Capitol had been planning well in advance not only on fringe or explicitly right-wing sites but also in Facebook groups.

Reading: ★ Facebook: Free as in Bullshit

From ★ Facebook: Free as in Bullshit

Yay to John for unpacking fb’s arguments against privacy and for data collecion.

Facebook’s argument is along the lines of arguing that the police shouldn’t crack down on burglaries because doing so might hurt pawn shops that have been thriving during a years-long crime spree. The information used for tracking belongs to the users whose behavior and interests is being tracked, not to Facebook and the companies, no matter how small and noble, who advertise with them.

Reading: Let’s check in now with the new California monolith… And it’s gone, torn down by a bunch of MAGA muppets

From Let’s check in now with the new California monolith… And it’s gone, torn down by a bunch of MAGA muppets

This is why we can’t have nice things, El Reg version. California monolith gives maga boys green light to destroy.

Poor-quality video filmed through a night-vision lens and taken from streaming site DLive, since removed, shows their leader referencing “so-called alien obelisks” before expressing intent to replace the structure with a cross. “Christ is king in this country,” he says, melodramatically banging the thing with his palm. “We don’t want illegal aliens from Mexico or outer space. So let’s tear this bitch down.”

Charming. The little boys then lay into the innocent stainless-steel art project, chanting like a Sunday School frat “CHRIST IS KING!” as it topples over. The intro douchebag then proclaims “America First!” while his mates puzzle over how to remove the obelisk from its base

Reading: Republican leaders ask Michigan election board to delay certification of results, in latest GOP effort to cast doubt on the vote – The Washington Post

From Republican leaders ask Michigan election board to delay certification of results, in latest GOP effort to cast doubt on the vote – The Washington Post

Michigan election audit doesn’t seem to be possible until after certification. Audits aren’t designed to smoke out fraud.

“Not sure who needs to hear this, but under state law (MCL 168.31a) audits can only be conducted after the State Canvassers certify the election,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wrote. “This is [because] election officials do not have legal access to the documents needed to complete audits until the certification.”

In more detail:

“Throughout my tenure as Michigan Secretary of State, and indeed long before, I have spoken repeatedly on the importance of post-election audits to ensure Michiganders can trust the outcome of our elections as an accurate reflection of the will of the people,” she said in the statement. “Notably, audits are neither designed to address nor performed in response to false or mythical allegations of ‘irregularities’ that have no basis in fact.”

According to Michigan election law, the secretary of state “authorize the release of all ballots, ballot boxes, voting machines, and equipment after 30 days following certification of an election by the board of state canvassers” in the event that a recount petition has been filed or a court has issued an order “restraining interference” with these materials.

Reading: One does not simply shove elephants on a ballet shoe point and call it an acceptable measure of pressure

From One does not simply shove elephants on a ballet shoe point and call it an acceptable measure of pressure

El Reg responds to standards upstarts.

Reg Standards Bureau A bizarre American website has come up with a new way of measuring pressure by referring to the weight of elephants delivered through the area of a ballet shoe. Frankly we’re baffled.

Upholding precision is paramount – and the Register is the institution to do it.

Moreover, the unit these bizarre upstarts are using for weight isn’t even precise, let alone easily understood. African elephants can be broken down into Savannah elephants and forest elephants, according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica. The Savannah variety comes in at up to 8 metric tonnes (9 long tons) while the GTi bush edition tips the scales at a nimble 5.5 tonnes (3â…” skateboarding rhinoceroses or 12 per cent of an Australian Tram when correctly expressed in Reg standard units).