i hate that fucking statue.

lemonjello and orangejello. dead serious. these people actually exist.

We're still at a loss to explain why there's been so little outrage over the fact that the FBI got a total free pass for its massive abuse in getting phone records. As you may recall, reports came out about how the FBI regularly abused the official process for obtaining phone records, avoiding any of the required oversight, but right before that info came out the White House issued a ruling saying that it was okay for the FBI to break the law. That's not how things are supposed to work.

And, it appears that since there was no outrage over all of this, the White House keeps pushing further. Three new articles highlight what a travesty this has become. First, the White House wants to quietly make it easier for the FBI to demand internet log file information without a judge's approval." Just as I finished reading that, I saw Julian Sanchez's new writeup about how the White House blocked and killed a proposal to give the GAO power to review US intelligence agencies. The GAO is the one government operation that seems to actually focus on doing what's right, rather than what's politically expedient. Sanchez notes that, beyond the sterling reputation of the GAO, it's also ready, willing and able to handle this kind of oversight:

The GAO has the capacity Congress lacks: as of last year, the office had 199 staffers cleared at the top-secret level, with 96 holding still more rarefied "sensitive compartmented information" clearances. And those cleared staff have a proven record of working to oversee highly classified Defense Department programs without generating leaks. Gen. Clapper, the prospective DNI, has testified that the GAO "held our feet to the fire" at the Pentagon with thorough analysis and constructive criticism.

Unlike the inspectors general at the various agencies--which also do vital oversight work--the GAO is directly answerable to Congress, not to the executive branch. And while it's in a position to take a broad, pangovernmental view, the GAO also hosts analysts with highly specialized economic and management expertise the IG offices lack. Unleashing GAO would be the first step in discovering what the Post couldn't: whether the billions we're pouring into building a surveillance and national security state are really making us safer.

Oh, and just to make this all more comically depressing, just as I finished reading both of these stories, I saw a story about a new investigation into reports that FBI agents were caught cheating on an exam, which was designed to get them to stop abusing surveillance tools. Yes, you read that right. After all the reports of abuse of surveillance tools, the FBI set up a series of tests to train FBI agents how to properly go about surveillance without breaking the law... and a bunch of FBI agents allegedly cheated on the test that's supposed to stop them from "cheating" on the law. And, not just a few. From the quotes, it sounds like this cheating was "widespread." But, of course, it might not matter, since the requirements for surveillance are being lowered, oversight is being blocked, and apparently the White House is willing to retroactively "legalize" any illegal surveillance anyway.Permalink | Comments | Email This Story

build a web app in less than 10k, though you can use jQuery/Prototype and Typekit  

submitted by rhymez0r to pics [link] [133 comments]

submitted by iwjason to programming [link] [43 comments]

you'll regret admitting this.

you'll regret admitting this.

submitted by shaneblog to pics [link] [1128 comments]

devriesm

Remember the Historypin project I mentioned recently? Creating that kind of historical overlay is about to get easier. “Computational rephotography,” says Wired, “is a fancy name for photos taken from the exact same viewpoint as an old photograph. Actually, that’s just rephotography. The ‘computational’ part is when software helps out.” Adobe researcher Aseem Agarwala, together with MIT’s Frédo Durand and Soonmin Bae, are developing some interesting tech here:   According to New Scientist,

The team’s software runs on a laptop linked to a digital camera. The software compares the camera’s view to a preloaded historical scene and provides instructions to adjust the camera’s position and zoom to best match the scene. The laptop is a temporary measure, however: “We envision the tool running directly on the camera,” the team says.

For more info, check out the project site and papers (including a 135 MB PDF!).  [Via Thorsten Wulff]

submitted by spekesel to funny [link] [381 comments]

This is the return trip.

One picture every 15 seconds. Each picture lasts 2 frames.

Music by: OK Go

EDIT: Since so many people are asking, I'll post the technical details here.

Canon Powershot A620 running CHDK (chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK) and a time lapse script taking 1600x1200 pictures at an interval of one every 15 seconds for a grand total of 2,753 pictures.

The pictures were edited together in Final Cut Pro with each picture lasting two frames, except for the ones where the camera was not running the whole time (rest stops, one battery change and the "nap").

The song is "1000 Miles Per Hour" by OK GO off of their self-titled record. The music has not been edited in any way, it came straight off of the CD.

The video file was exported as an 720x480 H.264 video with a data rate set around 4300 kbits/s; total size is ~110MB.

Hopefully I haven't left anything out. Feel free to ask any more questions and thanks for watching!

-Dave Cast: Dave Lucius

submitted by caligula213 to funny [link] [40 comments]

A road trip from Ohio to Minnesota captured on a dashboard digital camera. One picture every 15 seconds. Each pictures lasts 2 frames. Music by: OK Go. (Via)