NSA Core Secrets: Sentry Eagle →
Some more disturbing stuff in the latest set of NSA leaks. Given, the fact that the NSA works with foreign and domestic companies and gained physical access to infrastructure isn't new, but the stuff that is is scary and the list of ECI program descriptions is telling:
In addition to so-called "close access" operations, the NSA's "core secrets" include the fact that the agency works with U.S. and foreign companies to weaken their encryption systems; the fact that the NSA spends "hundreds of millions of dollars" on technology to defeat commercial encryption; and the fact that the agency works with U.S. and foreign companies to penetrate computer networks, possibly without the knowledge of the host countries. Many of the NSA's core secrets concern its relationships to domestic and foreign corporations.
SSL Broken, Again, in POODLE Attack →
Props for something that compromises the security of the Internet almost sounding cute.
Cookies, Caches and Cows →
"Crash" became hookii (a cow falling over but not dying); "timeout" became a honaama (your fish has got away). "Aspect ratio" became jeendondiral, a rebuke from elders when a fishing net is wrongly woven. In Malawi's Chichewa language, which has 10m speakers, "cached pages" became mfutso wa tsamba, or bits of leftover food.
A look at the localization efforts behind Firefox OS.
Time-Lapse Video of an Amish Barn Raising in Ohio →
These guys know how it's done.
A dancer captured in 3D with a Kinect. Add some Processing, stir until sublime. This is just incredible to watch.
Like watching sand angels in four dimensions.
Is this why Microsoft named it Windows 10? →
Dear God, that's certainly possible and the most reasonable thing I've heard yet...
House Values Map →
Spoiler: The Bay Area is more expensive than the other most expensive areas by as much as the median house value of non-Bay Area locations.
Bugging Out: How Rampant Online Piracy Squashed One Insect Photographer →
Excellent look at the copyright system from the perspective of an individual up against small or independent businesses.
Microsoft's Second Round of Layoffs →
These hit pretty close to home; Microsoft Research Silicon Valley and the Exchange Customer Engineering team, consisting of mostly former Outlook.com testers and the team that I was on two weeks ago, are both gone. Some good co-workers are being asked to turn in their badges. I wish them the best of luck.