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
South Carolina legislators approve execution by firing squad
Mirroring an earlier Senate bill, legislators in the South Carolina House today voted to approve the firing squad and the electric chair as methods of execution there and Gov. Henry McMaster has pledged to sign the bill into law. It's been 10 years since South Carolina executed anyone, reportedly because pharmaceutical companies refuse to sell… READ THE REST
Alabama lawmakers OK medical marijuana
One of the union's most conservative states was set to legalize marijuana for medical use Thursday, with GOP lawmakers switching sides to pass a bill that had earlier passed the state Senate. The Alabama House of Representatives voted 68-34 in the law's favor, which mandates a doctor's prescription for purchases. The bill now heads to… READ THE REST
Cop charged with murder after shooting man in car
Jonathan Brown, a police officer in Bristol, Va., was charged with murder this week after shooting and killing Jonethen Kohler, a local resident. Brown, on duty and in uniform, was among officers responding to a "shots fired" call early in the morning on March 30, according to prosecutors. As they searched the area, they spotted… READ THE REST
Pay what you want to learn Python and AI in this 15 volume eBook mega-set
When you need to know an answer to a coding problem, there's nothing like a reliable reference library to feed you the information you need. Sure, most people just start Googling these days, but if you aren't 100 percent sure about the information you're getting online, especially about something as idiosyncratic as programming, can you… READ THE REST
Fridayplays gives you a cool, new game every Friday — get one month for just $10
It could be the hottest game of 2021 like Call of Duty: Black Ops. Or maybe it's just a simple, yet engrossing mobile game that keeps your fingers glued to the buttons. Whether it's a blockbuster title or an intriguing freebie, there's really nothing like the allure of a new game to get you really… READ THE REST
This $99 router serves top Wi-Fi speeds to almost 3 dozen devices on your network
Picking a router is no simple task, even for those with a decent background in tech. Every home is different, offering unique layout challenges, device hurdles, and integration issues. But considering your router directly controls your home Wi-Fi, arguably the single most valuable component to household peace these days for millions, it's most definitely not… READ THE REST