As we wait to hear Obama's plan to reform the NSA, spare a thought for the poor rubberstamping judges of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, who are charged with the solemn duty of granting permission for pretty much every stupid, overreaching surveillance plan America's spooks bring before it in its secretive, unaccountable chambers. These hardworking civil servants have sounded the alarm that any burden on them to actually pay attention to whether surveillance is proportional, necessary and legal would put an undue strain on them: "Even if additional financial, personnel, and physical resources were provided, any substantial increase in workload could nonetheless prove disruptive to the Courts' ability to perform their duties." Oh, diddums.
Rubberstamping FISA court can't be expected to actually oversee surveillance
How to steal all the money in an ATM
In this footage, the secret of successfully stealing all the money in an ATM is revealed by thieves near Derry in Northern Ireland. It makes up for its lack of elegance and subtlety by ensuring, without question, that you leave with all the money in the ATM. If you suspect that this extractive methodology might… READ THE REST
Texas police chase ends in deadly shootout with suspect
This chopper footage shows the end of a police chase on a Texas highway and a brief but startling shootout between a pursuing officer and the suspect. The officer was shot in the arm, leading to some unusual footage: the pursuit chopper landing nearby to medevac the officer, then speeding from highway to hospital while… READ THE REST
New beer too strong for some U.S. states
A limited-run beer from Samuel Adams is too strong for some U.S. states: its 28% ABV is illegal in 15 of them. The brewer releases a new version of its Utopias brand every two years, and the twelfth edition will be on shelves starting Oct. 11. But don't bother looking for it in Alabama, Arkansas,… READ THE REST
Enjoy your music and environmental awareness with over 25% off these headphones
Wouldn't it be nice to listen to your own music, while also still being aware of your surroundings? In-ear or over-ear headphones and earbuds can completely disconnect you from the outside world, making it unsafe while driving or even just walking or running. Luckily, these open-air Bluetooth Mu6 Ring headphones solve this issue, while providing… READ THE REST
This NFT and cryptocurrency wealth-building masterclass will turn your empty wallet into digital gold
If you're like most of the world, you leave cryptocurrency to the cryptocrazies. But you're not, and that's a good thing. Because, while some of us are totally fine with sitting around waiting to make old-fashioned salaries, you've got emotional and financial stock in NFTs and crypto and are ready to watch it pay off.… READ THE REST
Rekindle your love for creative writing with over 50% off Daily Prompt
We know your job may be pretty rough and has very little room for any artistic license, and that's something you miss about having free time. College was a great place to get in some creative writing classes and put the strange world into words, but those days are long gone and the novel you… READ THE REST
