As a wise woman said, “I try to be cynical, but you just can’t keep up”. Via the Daily Dot, der Spiegel brings us “Tales from the Land of Brothers Grimm” — the gamer version:
… According to internal NSA information, which SPIEGEL has seen, the agency’s European Cryptologic Center (ECC) is headquartered in Griesheim. A 2011 NSA report indicates that the ECC is responsible for the “largest analysis and productivity in Europe.” According to the report, results from the secret installation find their way into the President’s Daily Brief, the daily intelligence report given to US President Barack Obama, an average of twice a week….
The site in Hesse is also of interest for another reason: The controversial XKeyscore software appears to be in use there, as indicated by a 2012 internal NSA progress report. The report, with the odd title “Tales from the Land of Brothers Grimm” describes how successful the analysts have been in using the program. It is also enlightening because it shows that many NSA employees had a great deal of respect for XKeyscore. One analyst is quoted as saying that he always felt that he had one foot in prison when he was using the program, but that he began feeling more confident after going through training.….
To create additional motivation, the NSA incorporated various features from computer games into the program. For instance, analysts who were especially good at using XKeyscore could acquire “skilz” points and “unlock achievements.” The training units in Hesse were apparently successful. ECC analysts had achieved the “highest average of skilz points” compared with all other NSA departments participating in the training program….
No word on whether the program includes kewl pew-pew-bam sound effects.
Apart from hoarding skilz points, what achievement unlocks are on the agenda as the week winds down?
Anybodybuther2016
So.
Anybodybuther2016
And Hilary will never be president also too. ;)
PsiFighter37
I’m flying to Hawaii. Don’t care about anything else at this time. Aloha, motherfuckers!
Baud
I see myself as more of a rook.
The Other Bob
Open thread right?
Just probably lost a former HS/Facebook friend today after I essentially called her a child killer for promoting anti-vaccine crap on Facebook.
I was really somewhat more diplomatic than that, but not much.
I can take stupid opinions on Facebook, but anti-science garbage that endangers kids needs to be called out. She tried that “we must agree to disagree” crap, to which I said only works for opinions and for people who aren’t endagering children’s health.
People really are stupid.
Suffern ACE
@PsiFighter37: there’s a bar is recommend for you, but since you’re gone already, I won’t waste the space
gbear
Has anyone linked to this story yet? It seemed like an obvious choice for BJ.
IowaOldLady
I just read on DK that states allowing same sex marriage will be magnets for gays. I look around the corn fields and laugh.
Suffern ACE
In 2008, we discovered that the “market” for derivatives was really a 23 year old, so if you wanted to influence the market, you should really just buy it some hookers and blow and get the right outcome. Cheaper for Ireland to spend a few hundred thousand on the market than deal with the IMF.
Now you’re telling me our billion dollar spy state is some 14 year old who works for skillz points and probably needs a date.
Just Some Fuckhead
John and I are getting matching tattoos this weekend.
Haven’t decided on the design yet.
Higgs Boson's Mate
Just a quick “Howdy.” I’m doing much better thanks to MaryG. I’m replying to everyone who emailed me, a few at a time. Please be patient; of all the things that the Kindle Fire does well email isn’t high on the list.
JPL
@gbear: Thank you for linking to that article. A few weeks ago, I mentioned the problem that older dogs have getting adopted to my son. I also mentioned, that I wasn’t sure that I could do it.
When I’m ready for another dog, I might reconsider.
PsiFighter37
@Suffern ACE: Still here, just got through security. Talk to me! But it has to be on the Big Island
beltane
@Just Some Fuckhead: I’d go with the cats. The avocado halves are already passe.
Punchy
@IowaOldLady: Unless gay people are paramagnetic, Im not sure how state magnets will work on them.
chopper
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
good to hear. take it easy.
JPL
@beltane: I saw the open bird cage and thought, Steve’s in trouble.
Maybe John will take the time to update us on his motley crew.
IowaOldLady
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: Excellent! Glad to hear it.
Baud
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
Howdy!
beltane
@JPL: I’m still adjusting to John having a cat with the same name as my husband.
Violet
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: Good news! Thanks for checking in. Mary G’s stories about the two of you are so much fun. Glad you are doing better.
The Other Chuck
All I want to know is, why is this thread missing the “Bring on the Brawndo” category?
lamh36
Read this article and thought Reason number 1090677544 for a reason why we need Sex Ed in school. No duh, the “pull out” method does NOT work to prevent pregnancy. ..who knew. ..um everybody!!!
http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSBRE97E11Q20130815?irpc=932
Roger Moore
@Punchy:
Maybe they’re ferromagnetic. Duh!
Roger Moore
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Don’t be a loser like the people who got the incorrectly drawn chemical structures. If you get a chemical structure, make sure it’s well drawn and of something significant to you personally, e.g. caffeine, sucrose, tetraphenylcyclopentadieneone, etc. /chemist
indycat32
Since this is an open thread, just want to say I LOVE Medicare, and I’m not even on it for another month. My current health/dental insurance is $407 a month with a $2500 deductible (through my former employer, the State of Indiana). With Medicare Advantage it will be $158.90 a month, with no deductible, small co-pays, prescription drug coverage (though I’m not on any), vision, dental, and they’ll even cover my health club membership! Thank you government health care.
Baud
@efgoldman:
How exciting! Congrats, grandpa.
Amir Khalid
Chris Christie appears to be hinting he will
runbe a candidate for president in 2016. (Link to TIME website.)Roger Moore
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
Glad to hear you’re still with us. And interesting to think this blog is saving the lives of humans now, not just pets.
beltane
@efgoldman: Congratulations!
cathyx
@efgoldman: Congratulations. But I have to ask, why would your wife think to start a long walk when the baby was due so soon?
IowaOldLady
@efgoldman: Congratulations! I’m so jealous!!
gelfling545
I would like to take a moment to honor the memory of Athena, a chocolate lab who was the companion of a gentleman I know who is wheelchair bound. Athena was with him for about 12 (I believe) years. She wasn’t a formally trained service animal. He trained her himself and she was remarkably alert to his needs: ready to pick up anything he needed, open the door, etc. and beloved by everyone who encountered them. She was happy and active til the end. She will be greatly missed.
JPL
It’s so nice to read happy news.
Amir Khalid
@JPL:
I second that emotion.
raven
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: Yo dawg.
JPL
@raven: Are you watching the Falcons? Preseason games tend to be blah but I’m hoping that Brain Banks has a good performance. It would be great if he made the team, although I know it’s unlikely.
PurpleGirl
I just saw a McDonald’s commercial with a yarn bombing in it. They had a tree whose trunk and a few limbs were covered in crochet work. How great is that. (I know, McDonald’s is evil but gotta love a yarn bombing.)
J.Ty
Obama names Bayard Rustin a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
? Martin
Hate to bring this up, but the game community has done exemplary work in the psychology of user engagement – how to get users to care about improving outcomes, staying focused, participating throughout a process, extending the time they participate, etc. These are all key to productivity, either in a job or in learning.
Those methods are increasingly being applied to these other areas, and that’s not a bad thing. We’ve had an ‘eat your peas’ attitude about learning and work, as though making them boring and miserable is some kind of virtue, that having fun is some kind of sin. It’s easy to criticize the gamification of everyday things, but it’s paying off in big, big ways. Runners have apps where they can pretend to have to outrun a swarm of zombies. There’s an app for diabetics to score points and compete with others to keep their blood sugar within a safe range and test on a regular schedule. And these things really work.
I’d be inclined to mock as well, but this is turning into a proper science with actual benefits.
Villago Delenda Est
OK, this skitz points thing sounds a lot like they’ve basically copied MMO design to keep users engaged in the game…you know, it’s “content”!
Martin more or less beat me to it. /shakes fist
Villago Delenda Est
@lamh36:
Old joke.
Q: What do they call people who use the “rhythm method” of birth control?
A: Parents
BillinGlendaleCA
@Just Some Fuckhead: When’s the wedding?
Yatsuno
@PsiFighter37: Aloha Oe! Enjoy my birthplace!
Chris
@The Other Bob:
I empathize.
It’s amazing how little to nonexistent my tolerance for conservatives has become these past few years. I’m not sure how much of it has to do with their having gone off the deep end since Obama’s election and how much of it is is just me being tired of putting up with the bullshit, but it’s a fact. I don’t really feel sorry about it either.
SiubhanDuinne
@efgoldman: That’s SUCH happy news! You’re not planning to keep all those pictures to yourself, are you?
Huge congratulations to you, efgrampa.
Mnemosyne
@PurpleGirl:
My husband went for a long ride up the Ventura Rails to Trails bike path and was very excited to recognize a yarn bombing (though he didn’t know the proper term until I told him). It’s A Thing now!
BillinGlendaleCA
@Roger Moore: Reminds me of the former next door neighbor’s kid who got a tat of the map of India with the latitude and longitude of Calcutta along side of a star with the location of the city, her birthplace. She showed it to a friend of her mom’s a teacher who replied, better hope they got the latitude and longitude right.
gbear
TBogg has what I believe will be his last blog post up. Thursday Bassets.
sparky
Nice upbeat thread. Congrats EG and good to hear from you, HBM. Keep it up juicers.
Chris
@Amir Khalid:
I’ve been convinced he was running ever since he vetoed the gay marriage bill. It’s not something you do to get brownie points as the governor of a blue East Coast state on an issue that has the wind in its sails. It is, however, something you do if you want to pad your resume with SoCon cred before a nationwide run.
SiubhanDuinne
@gelfling545: Athena sounds like a love. RIP.
JPL
@gbear: Loved your comment.. He will be missed.
SiubhanDuinne
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: Howdy backatcha! Very happy to see you posting again.
schrodinger's cat
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: Good to see you posting again. Welcome back!
schrodinger's cat
@efgoldman: Congratulations Grandpa!
beltane
@J.Ty: I went to Bayard Rustin High School in NYC, but I don’t remember learning anything about him until much later in life.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: Good to see ya.
Just Some Fuckhead
Roger Moore:
lolz
I fail to see how the latter precludes one from being a loser. You are adorable.
Steeplejack
@efgoldman:
Congratulations to you and to the new parents!
A Humble Lurker
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
*waves* *hugs*
the Conster
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
See? We here at BJ have your back, and front, if you need it. This place is for all of the people who just can’t take the fucking bullshit and want it all to end, but only if there’s no hope. We’re the hope and change that we want to see.
ETA: MaryG is an angel. A BJ angel.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Roger Moore: I’m not sure I’d trust a tattoo artist to do a chemical structure correctly.
lamh36
True or False: if u want to make a woman really angry, tell her to “relax” or “take it easy”.
J.Ty
@beltane: I only heard about him a couple years ago. As part of an exhibit I was doing the copy for Alan Turing’s 100th bday. When I went to actually see it they had a bio for Rustin’s 100th as well. Anyway, it’s crazy that more people don’t know about him… and sad to know why.
Yatsuno
@efgoldman: MAZEL TOV!!!
Litlebritdifrnt
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
When you are clinging to the edge of the cliff with your fingertips, we are the ones standing underneath and pushing your butt up as hard as we can. You handle the fingertips. We got your butt.
Suffern ACE
@lamh36: ooh. Follow that with “you could actually be pretty if you’d just…”
the Conster
@efgoldman:
OMG, congratulations!!!!!! Nothing is better than a new baby in the family. Nothing. I hope one of my married daughters decides to have a baby, but neither one thinks it’s the right thing to do. I can’t blame them.
Botsplainer
The puppy broke one of his top baby fangs. The vet says the nerve is exposed, and is thinking we might want to remove it. Otherwise, we can wait and hope that his permanent fang pushes out all fragments over the next month or two. He may be a bit uncomfortable, given the exposure of the nerve.
Thing is, removal requires anesthesia, which makes me nervous because of the risk. Thoughts?
ruemara
@efgoldman: Congrats!
And I’m not sure why the article is such a big deal. Nearly everything has adopted the gamer method of achieves and unlocking and skill points. I’m on Crunchyroll and they keep calling watching programmes, “achievements”. The only thing I’m achieving is better tv than on my tv.
Botsplainer
@efgoldman:
“No, that’s not making you look fat. It’s your ass that makes you look fat.”
Then duck, because something is flying at your head.
handy
@efgoldman:
No…
You are fat.
IowaOldLady
@efgoldman: Also, where’s my smile?
NotMax
@PsiFighter37
If in Maui, first round’s on me.
schrodinger's cat
Summers: Great for kitteh’s diet
Litlebritdifrnt
@Botsplainer:
Never had this problem seeing as I am skinny as a rail. Always have been. The only fat jokes that get thrown around about here are about him. “Am I eating too much right now?” etc.,
Botsplainer
@efgoldman:
Sitting next to my lovely spouse on the couch, serene look on my face as if I’m writing love poems….
schrodinger's cat
@Litlebritdifrnt: How is your mom?
Mary G
@efgoldman: Congratulations!
Mary G
@lamh36: The one that gets me is “you’re so cute when you’re mad.”
raven
@Botsplainer: Got to do it . There is risk in everything. Poor pup.
Amir Khalid
“That’s not a dog! That’s, um, ah, a lion.” This is the most WTF story I’ve ever seen about a zoo.
Suffern ACE
@Amir Khalid: I love mastiffs, so I’m ok with the substitution.
NotMax
Born to be cute.
All hail the new mammal: the olinguito.
Suffern ACE
@NotMax: curse you. I was just gonna post that. It looks deadly cute.
NotMax
@Amir Khalid
Gotta remember the travails of Marjan.
Citizen_X
@Just Some Fuckhead:
“O” and “BOT.”
Regnad Kcin
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: Finest kind
NotMax
@Just Some Fuckhead
Functional: “If you can read this, get out of my space.”
Surrealist: “This is not a tattoo.”
BillinGlendaleCA
@NotMax:
I like it, if I get another tat, that’s it.
Botsplainer
@raven:
I was surprised to see the chart of how far up even the baby fang goes into the top jaw. I always thought those little baby chompers just sort of hung in the gum, ready to get shoved out by the permanent teeth.
He’s growing fast. He’s picked up nearly 10 pounds over the past two weeks – the little guy is up well over 25 already.
Dead Ernest
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
Brings a big fat smile to my face seeing you back.
Cheers Buddy.
DE
gwangung
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: Whoop! Good to hear!
Betty Cracker
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: Good to see you! Well, you know what I mean.
@efgoldman: Mazel tov!
@Botsplainer: They can’t do a temporary cap or something? Poor pup!
Origuy
The World Track and Field Championships are going on right now in Moscow. Some athletes are taking stands, on both sides.
Citizen_X
@The Other Bob:
Good. To hell with the child killer. If you don’t slug a vaxxer in the face, you’re letting them off easier than they truly deserve.
(And–speaking of tattoos– I’ve been seriously thinking of getting a Jonas Salk tattoo, for the vaxxer idiots.)
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@? Martin:
A quick google failed to turn up anything. Linky?
Gin & Tonic
Late to the thread, and I’m sure the pros will say “eh, NBD” but a Brassavola I bought a year and a half ago will be blooming in the next couple of days. I is happy.
Mino
Even the head of FISA judges say they must trust the govt’s reporting of violations. They have no investigative wing. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/court-ability-to-police-us-spying-program-limited/2013/08/15/4a8c8c44-05cd-11e3-a07f-49ddc7417125_story.html
It just gets better and better.
srv
Oh, so now Obama is selling out our covert allies in the EU who had to feign outrage because they’re really just our biotches and we hired some jackass contractor who went awol and we have to redirect the outrage?
Always making Bush Strategery look like a rocket science.
Benghazi Jackolopism.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Mino:
Does any judge have an independent investigator?
FlipYrWhig
@BillinGlendaleCA: Judge Dredd. Maybe Judge Doom. Probably Judge Reinhold.
Roger Moore
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Well, you’d be more of a loser if you get a chemical structure tattoo and it isn’t even of a real, significant chemical. It’s like getting a tattoo of Chinese characters that spell out gibberish or a biblical verse that’s part of the begats.
Roger Moore
@BillinGlendaleCA:
I’d definitely want to give an accurate picture, ideally one that came from ChemDraw or the like, for him to copy. And honestly, if you can’t count on your tattoo artist to copy a picture correctly, you probably shouldn’t be getting tattoos from them in the first place.
CaseyL
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: So glad to hear from you! And huge props to MaryG for helping you out.
manyakitty
@The Other Bob: Antivaxers drive me into a blind rage.
Mino
@BillinGlendaleCA: Generally opposing council serves that purpose does it not? However ineptly. The set-up might have bothered his sensibilities to have volunteered the article to the paper. Or a “don’t blame me, I didn’t set it up this way”?
manyakitty
@efgoldman: Mazel tov! Always happy to hear good news!
Dead Ernest
@Roger Moore:
Or, um, spell it incorrectly either.
(Tetraphenylcyclopentadienone)
the Conster
@manyakitty:
I’ve been fighting that battle on FB with anti-vaxxer anti-science nutjobs all day. So far I’ve gotten the last word. They’re morons who have no argument as to why vaccines have worked to virtually eradicate all the deadly contagions until their fraudulent hero Wakefield came along and single handedly made whooping cough an epidemic again. They’re fucking dangerous idiots who can’t find their ass with a mirror and a flashlight.
Dead Ernest
@manyakitty:
thatis probably due to the Thimerisol in your contact lens’ cleaning solution.
Dead Ernest
@Dead Ernest: (just kidding. They infuriate me terrifically as well)
Nina-the-first
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: @efgoldman: Good news on the agenda for tonight!
manyakitty
@the Conster: And their queen starts on the View in mere weeks. Things like this make me weep for the future. @Dead Ernest: D’oh!
Rhubarb
So glad for the good news from HiggsBosunsMate and ef goldman. And many thanks to MaryG.
Lavocat
Let me see if I have this correct.
The U.S. government has engaged the services of FOREIGN governments and their respective intelligence agencies to engage in pervasive violations of the Constitutional rights of millions of Americans.
This is breath-taking.
Why?
Because it literally means that the U.S. government – en toto – is collectively engaged in TREASONOUS conduct.
In other words, our purported government – the U.S. government – is ITSELF a traitor to the American people.
And, truly, there is only one sure cure for such treason.
Revolution.
Assange and Manning and Snowden and Greenwald have started it.
When will We The People follow?
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT IS A TRAITOR TO ITS OWN CITIZENS!!!!!
This shall not stand.
Dead Ernest
@Dead Ernest:
Oops. That should be Thimerosal.
Crap. Sorry Roger Moore.
[smugness crumbles and falls off as I meekly shuffle away]
Jane2
@The Other Bob: I’ve had to hide people I can’t delete because of dangerous views like that.
A Humble Lurker
@Lavocat:
Can’t tell if joking, or just insane.
Jane2
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: Welcome back! I’ve missed you around these parts.
Jane2
@efgoldman: Congrats!! Expecting the first upload of 23847 pics of the cutest and smartest grandbaby in the world any minute now….
Jane2
@Gin & Tonic: Wow….that is something. I’m happy that I got prairie lilies to bloom!
? Martin
@Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: MySugr – iPhone and Android
Mnemosyne
@? Martin:
Hmm … I may have to tell my friend at work about that. Does it also work for Type II, or is it only for Type I? I couldn’t figure it out from the website.
J R in WV
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
Hi Higgs,
I Wasa Bosun’s Mate a long time ago in a USN far away. If you were actually a Bosun’s Mate, as opposed to using Higg’s Bosun as a very cute pun, we have something in common. If you’re using it as a figure of speech, we still have something in common, as I enjoy punny remarks as well.
Take your time with things, stay calm, and don’t take offensive remarks personally. Best of luck with the future!
JR in WV
Suffern ACE
@Roger Moore: My John 3:61 tattoo ain’t coming off.
fuckwit
Also, Google reads all your shit:
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/aug/14/google-gmail-users-privacy-email-lawsuit
BillinGlendaleCA
@Mino: The government is asking the FISA Court for a search warrant. There usually isn’t opposing council involved. The President was suggestion an advocate to do that, but that usually isn’t done for most search warrants, it’s just the cops calling a judge.
Suzanne
@efgoldman: HUZZAH! Congratulations, grandpa. The name is beautiful.
@Higgs Boson’s Mate: Hiya, dude. Glad to “see” you around these parts.
Mino
@BillinGlendaleCA: Hmm. His beef is no verification of reporting. I assume if a regular judge has a lot of his warrants thrown out of court for reason, that is a check on the system.
bjacques
@Higgs Boson’s Mate:
Glad you made it through, man!