May, 2021 archive
Parler Talk, Stringing Apple Along Dept. 0
When you browse to a web site, your browser sends a “user agent” string which typically identifies the browser, the operating system, and other information about your system. (Depending on your browser, you may be able to customize your user agent string.) Generally, the information transmitted is innocuous and betrays no personal information.
Now comes Parler, which is customizing itself especially for iPhones.
I suspect that they are doing so by using iPhone users’ user agent strings to tailor their behavior.
Errata 0
I’m listening to The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart, sometimes referred to as “America’s Agatha Christie,” though, truly, she predated Christie by a generation.
I got the audiobook from Librivox.org, one of the two most worthwhile projects on the interwebs (the other is Project Gutenberg). Librivox audiobooks are read by volunteers (some of whom read better than others; indeed there is one I cannot bear to listen to).
For the person who is reading my current chapter of The Circular Staircase, English is clearly a second language. I can’t quite figure out from her accent what her primary language may be, but my guess would be French.
Oh, her English is quite good, but there are tiny little giveaways. For example, the last name of the heroine (and amateur detective and narrator) is “Innes,” which said reader pronounces as “Ins.”
It’s actually rather charming.
Mean for the Sake of Mean Money
0
LZ Granderson takes a look at what’s behind the recent spate of legislation to ban transgender children (which, I would point out, is a miniscule minority of the populace) from participating in school sports and concludes it’s all about the Benjamins. An excerpt (emphasis added):
The real sick thing about all of this is that we have state legislatures willing to hurt democracy, dismiss mental health, even target elementary school children all in an effort to mobilize and monetize the country’s prejudices and worst fears.
The Tattletale 0
Words fail me.
Accounts Receivable (Updated) 0
Afterthought:
I am not surprised that the right-wing bubble is filled with statements and political cartoons attempting to place the blame for the temporary interruption to gas supplies to the southeastern U. S. on President Biden, even though it was caused by (likely Russian) cyber-gangsters and an American company’s inadequate security practices.
Fact is absent from right-wing discourse.
Anyone who has paid attention to businesses’ attitudes towards cyber-security has seen that security is often treated as an afterthought–a troublesome expense to be minimized–rather than as an essential aspect of doing business.
No, the blame for the success of this ransomeware attack rests squarely on the pipeline’s operator’s incompetence.
Addendum:
In the Tampa Bay Times, cyber-security expert Mark Khan’s article supports my conclusion as to where the responsibility for this security breech lies and offers hints for protecting systems from being pwned.
The Noaccount Recount 0
At AZcentral, an Arizona Republican whose on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors calls out his party for forsaking truth in favor of Donald Trump’s “Big Lie.” Here’s a bit of his article (emphasis added):
I can say with confidence the election was safe, secure and fair.
There was no foul play.
There was no vote switching.
The November election was one of the best we’ve ever run.
For certifying and then defending the results of the 2020 general election, I’ve been sued, subpoenaed and chastised, primarily by Republicans. For embracing reality, I’ve had my conservative credentials questioned and even my integrity challenged.
Allaying America’s Amnesia 0
At The Roanoke Times, John Freivalds looks back on some oft overlooked dates in American history.
And Now for a Musical Interlude 0
There is strong evidence that Esther Jones, not Helen Kane, was ultimately the inspiration for the legendary cartoon character, Betty Boop.
The Money That Was Followed 0
In a follow-up relevant to the previous post, David and his guest, Jim Freeman, Director of the Social Movement Support Lab at the University of Denver and author of the book “Rich Thanks to Racism: How the Ultra-Wealthy Profit from Racial Injustice,” discuss how businesses and plutocrats (yes, I think that seemingly archaic term is appropriate) profit from maintaining racism.
Gutting Out the Vote 0
Mother Jones follow the money.