43608581
submission
AstroPhilosopher writes:
In a move not far removed from the model T-101, US researchers have succeeded in re-animating a dead sparrow. Duke scientists were studying male behavior aggression amongst sparrows. So they cleverly decided to insert miniaturized robotics into an empty sparrow carcass and operate it like a puppet. It worked; they noticed wing movements were a primary sign of aggression. Fortunately the living won out this time. The experiment stopped after the real sparrows tore off the robosparrow's head. But there's always a newer model on the assembly-line. Good luck sparrows.
32820185
submission
AstroPhilosopher writes:
Researchers at the Federation of American Scientists have discovered documentation that allows the military to keep footage from drones for up to 90 days to determine rather further investigation is warranted. Besides using footage from natural disasters and monitoring of domestic military bases, all that's truly required is for an operator to 'accidently' have the camera running while flying.
31759581
submission
AstroPhilosopher writes:
The US Supreme Court will hear an appeal from a Thai student who was fined $600,000 for re-selling textbooks. Trying to make ends meet, the student had family members in Thailand mail him textbooks that were made abroad, purchased abroad, and then resold in the US. A practice many retailers partake in everyday in the 'parallel market'.
31619693
submission
AstroPhilosopher writes:
In a move similar to Hollywood's attempt to have the Supreme Court ban VCRs back in the 80's. ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and Univision are set to appear in court next month to urge a New York federal judge to block Aereo. Aereo opened last month allowing you to stream everything you can already view for free over the 'airwaves' straight to your iPad.
30722183
submission
AstroPhilosopher writes:
Recently Wired, USA Today and other news outlets reported on a new spy center being built to store intercepted communications (even American citizens'). Tuesday, Gen. Keith Alexander testified in front of Congress refuting the articles. Even going so far as claiming the NSA lacks the authority to monitor American citizens. An authority that was given to the NSA through the FISA Amendments Act signed into law by Bush and still supported today by Obama.
30510445
submission
AstroPhilosopher writes:
The National Security Agency is building a complex to monitor and store 'all' communications in a facility to be larger than DC. One of its secret roles? Code-breaking your private, personal, information. Everybody's a target.