An invasive, inaccurate, and secret DHS data mining project that was in development has been shut down after it was learned that the system "used live data, including personally identifiable information, from multiple sources in attempts to identify potential terrorist activity." Check out the Powerpoint-tastic RDF graph.
Speaking of graphing relationships, there's been a bit of chatter about Hillary Clinton's relationship to The Fellowship, a secretive evangelical organization established to "preach the word of Jesus to political and business leaders throughout the world... through discreet personal ministry." More on The Fellowship in Jeffrey Sharlet's 2003 Harper's article, "Jesus plus nothing: Undercover among America's secret theocrats." No response from the Clinton campaign, yet.
These are some interesting statements on Clinton from Mike Huckabee.
While we're on scary theocrats, check out this excerpt from Christian Amanpour's God's Warriors segment on Ron Luce and his line of "Battlecry" events and media products. What was that about the attraction to and rejection of modern, consumer culture in radical political/cultural movements?
Speaking of which, here's Phawker on M.I.A. I guess we're all a bit stuffed full of future shock.
Let the word go forth, however, that Glenn Reynolds is an idiot.
And now, a perblog.
No word on the apartment yet. I was hoping to hear today, as every day that passes means that I move my last day in this apartment forward. Since I have put down my desire move in date for the new place already, that means an extra day of overlap where I have two apartments and however many pro-rated dollars. Comeoncomeoncomeon...
Long day today. Bus broke down on the way to work. Somewhat frustrating trouble-shooting at work. Still, got stuff done. I think I'm just feeling crabby because things are up in the air with my housing situation. I am someone who at once fetishizes and fears states of flux. I guess you can't really have the former without the later, see above comments about future shock.
Almost done with Spook Country and have picked up a used copy of Count Zero; sprawl trilogy works need to be read in ratty paperback versions to be properly absorbed, I think. At the same bookstore I came upon a copy of the script for Renoir's The Grand Illusion. I really need to read Infinite Jest at some point.
Blrrrf. Thpppt. Crackle.
Chuffed this weekend!
