I don't recall seeing this hit AoSHQ this week.

From TechDirt:

A few weeks ago, Glenn Greenwald, while working with NBC News, revealed some details of a GCHQ presentation concerning how the surveillance organization had a "dirty tricks" group known as JTRIG -- the Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group. Now, over at The Intercept, he's revealed the entire presentation and highlighted more details about how JTRIG would seek to infiltrate different groups online and destroy people's reputations -- going way, way, way beyond just targeting terrorist groups and threats to national security.

Read the rest here.

We're in the very best of hands.

Open thread.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 06:26 AM | Comments (226)
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Please direct all political discussion to the Crimea Post Below

A regular reader has graciously offered to save us from the regular Food Thread blather about CAC's favorite food (arugula) and other assorted inanities by providing an introduction to the world of craft beers.

What's better on a Saturday afternoon then a non-professional critique about beer. Not just any beer, mind you, but craft beers. I don't love craft beers because I am a beer snob; I snub the snobs! I love craft beer because of the quality of the ingredients used and the time allotted to brew the beer, resulting in a fuller styled beer, and higher alcohol content, (or drunkenness factor, herein referred to as ABV - alcohol by volume), over those consumed from macro-breweries, (herein referred to as InBev (google it slacker). more...

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:45 AM | Comments (108)
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Stupid Gun Laws Are Stupid

It looks like many aspects of the NYSAFE Act are unenforceable.

Wojdan was accused of violating the SAFE Act's restriction concerning the number of rounds of ammunition in a magazine. Police said Wojdan had 10 rounds in a gun, which exceeded the new limit of seven in a magazine.

During a traffic stop, Watson ruled, police have a right to ensure their safety by taking the magazine out of the pistol — but they cannot see how much ammunition is in the weapon without a warrant. That's what Wojdan's attorney James Tresmond argued in court.

Dozens Of Guns Lost By The ATF

I'm sure the agents responsible will be held responsible. /sarc

The incidents were catalogued in a report Wednesday by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Internal records obtained by the newspaper reportedly show ATF agents had their guns lost or stolen at least 45 times between 2009 and 2013.

But don't worry, they've recovered some of them.

Smart Gun Owners Don't Need Smart Guns

The latest smart gun models are receiving high praise from those who most likely blanch at the thought of ever even touching an actual dumb gun. Who knows, maybe they will soon become the next must-have celebrity fashion accessory, replacing diamond-studded iPhone cases and small hairy purse-dogs that remind me of Muskie lures.

Despite the cacophony of pro-smart-gun propaganda, I wonÂ’t ever own one. My reason is simple: TheyÂ’re dangerous, unproven junk.

I’m a firm believer in the KISS principal: Keep It Simple, Stupid – especially when it comes to personal security. The more complex the plan, the more you rely on technology, the greater the likelihood it can fail.

Gun Of The Week

(answer below) more...

Posted by: Open Blogger at 09:09 AM | Comments (240)
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Welcome to March. It's a whopping 5 degrees at my house right now, but Spring is allegedly just around the corner.

Posted by: andy at 03:10 AM | Comments (371)
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