The truth at any cost lowers all other costs — curated by former US spy Robert David Steele.
Algorithms Still Need Oversight
Many have pondered what might happen when artificial intelligence systems go off the rails. While not spectacular enough for Hollywood, some very real consequences have been observed; the BBC examines “The Bad Things that Happen When Algorithms Run Online Shops.” Read full post.
Below is a very important report by Patrick Cockburn on the deteriorating situation in Syria with regard to (1) the terrible refugee crisis that may be on the verge of getting much worse, because ISIS forces are positioning themselves to cut the only major road connecting Damascus to government-held territory in north and northwest; and (2) the strategic reality that the only way to US led airpower can be effective in Syria against ISIS and it fellow Jihadis would be to coordinate airstrikes with Assad’s ground operations. This report, by one of the very best reporters covering the Islamic State makes a mockery of the Petraeus mad plan to peel away less radical Jihadis from the ISIS/al Nusrah axes of operations.
Exclusive: Though the Assad regime may not be about to collapse, any sign that it is weakening could convince millions of Syrians that it is time to leave the country
Ex-soldier and daughter, 12, found living in graveyard
“There are four million ex-soldiers in the UK, 400,000 of them in Scotland. We estimate that about 10,000 are homeless, and the situation is going to get worse with the Army cuts to come next year.
End-to-end encryption is key for securing the Internet of Things
Securing the IoT begins with understanding why it requires a fundamentally different set of strategies and tools than those currently used in IT, telecom and other domains . . . SSL/TLS is not sufficient for small devices with the need to protect the data in use, in motion and at rest.
Continue reading “Berto Jongman: End-to-End Encryption and the Internet of Things”
What Happens When Authoritarians Inherit the Earth? A Simulation
Two runs of a futuristic simulation involving introductory psychology students were held on successive nights. On one night, “Earth” was populated entirely by right-wing authoritarian followers; on the second night, a small number of dominating authoritarians were included among a second group of authoritarian followers. With a few notable exceptions (e.g., nuclear war did not break out), the future evolved as anticipated on the two evenings. In general, authoritarians produced dismal futures, beset by unemployment, famine, and disease
MEMORANDUM
Subject: Electoral Reform Possibilities in 2015 for 2016
UPDATE 2: Refined after second meeting of electoral reform activists.
Full Text & Downloadable Document Below the Fold
The UN's Sustainability Plan Is ‘Doomed,' According to Linguistic Analysis
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which seek to end poverty and hunger while creating sustainable societies, look like great news at first glance. But a report circulated to UN officials argues that the entire SDG process has been “fundamentally compromised” by powerful corporations with an interest in sustaining business as usual.
Continue reading “Nafeez Ahmed: UN Sustainability Plan Doomed”
