North Korea Moves Rocket Stage To Launch Pad

New York Post reports, today, "North Korea may have moved the first stage of a rocket to a launch stand, indicating it is on schedule for a controversial mid-April launch, according to a new analysis of satellite images." The launch is planned for April 12-16 to commemorate 100th anniversary of the birth of its founding president Kim Il-Sung. A Washington Times story adds the United States believes the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite, is a thinly disguised missile launch. "Last week, the Japanese defense minister formally gave orders to the Japanese military to shoot down the launch rocket should it take place...deploying three Aegis-equipped missile destroyers in waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula." The Times story contains ominous note on launch that has, "...dramatically intensified the already volatile security environment in Northeast Asia, causing a crisis that threatens to bring war to the region." Let's hope not!

#DataDump: Glass, Kinect, Shady, Energy

Google's Project Glass*
Google Glasses Will Disappoint, AR Experts Warn*
Whole Foods wants you to use Kinect-enabled shopping carts*
James Bamford: Shady Companies With Ties to Israel Wiretap US for NSA*
LHC reaches highest energy level yet*
Just One More Game: Angry Birds, Farmville and Other Hyperaddictive 'Stupid Games'*

Spy Sat Blasts Off From Vandenberg Amid Mystery

A NRO spy satellite, atop a Delta IV rocket with two strap on boosters for added thrust, launched from Vandenberg AFB, yesterday. Mail Online article reveals rocket thought to contain, "...some form of spy technology - thought to be a hi-tech replacement for America's aging fleet of radar satellites...Intelligence analysts think the rocket carried a radar imaging satellite capable of seeing at night and through bad weather." Charles Vick, space policy analyst with GlobalSecurity.org observed in article, "... the United States has worked to phase out its fleet of older, heavier radar reconnaissance satellites with smaller but equally capable ones," It is possibly a new generation of spy satellites going up, but yesterday's launch required additional thrust and a larger payload enclosure! The casual observer has even cause to wonder what's inside?

ISPs Warn UK Over Government Email Surveillance 'Plans'

from guardian.co.uk: Internet firms have warned that government plans to monitor email and social media use in Britain are liable to be used by repressive regimes elsewhere in the world to justify their state surveillance. No internet business was willing to offer a public criticism of the coalition's proposal on Monday, but many privately raised fears over the legalising of a power to see who is contacting whom online in real time. "There is a question of jurisdiction. There is a risk that if you offer this access to [the authorities in] Britain, then you have to offer it to countries like Syria and Bahrain," said an internet industry official who declined to be identified because the proposal has not been outlined in detail. A number of MPs and civil liberties groups argued that the plan would endanger privacy and unfettered free expression online. Julian Huppert, the Lib Dem MP, said on Twitter that the Commons home affairs committee wanted to call the home secretary, Theresa May, to give evidence on the proposal. More than 14,000 people have signed a petition by the internet advocacy body Open Rights Group.

Mound Zero Tribute to 17th Anniversary of Ground Zero

A new Ground Zero parody by Mound Zero is out for enjoyment of Clyde Lewis fans. Three callers grace this episode: a Bible thumper, a prepper and Steve. Mound Zero continues its anal fixation to generate laughs. Guest caller Steve returns in last segment, wearing his tinfoil hat, to suggest how to stop asteroid threatening Earth.   Steve still focused on his "southern region," offers his dad's "assroid" cream to stop the assroid or make it smaller. While the caller admits it states to use on Uranus, he believes, it's worth a try with caveat it may take more than one tube!  Present viewer doesn't care how tastleless still laughed my assroids off!

Intel's Kill Switch Could 'End Computing As We Know It'

Freelance Journalist Jim Stone makes observation about Intel's Sandy Bridge processor. Stone suspects cell-linked remote kill switch built directly into the Sandy Bridge CPU, could be used to "end computing as we know it." The freelance journalist supplies widely circulated belief, "the 'elite' intended computers to be a way to gain access to the most intricate information about people's lives. They used popular bulletin boards such as America Online and Prodigy as spy machines, which worked well because they kept an identity of everyone who posted anything on them. The internet changed that. Because the internet was decentralized and allowed anonymity, it became a potent weapon in the hands of the people, and the elite are desperately seeking ways to shut it down..."

Everyone should note very real technology built into their computers. Stone makes quite plausible observation despite paranoid aura of a tinfoil hat:

"But what if such a shutdown could happen, with the blame directed away from those who caused it? Intel's Sandy bridge technology, which allows remote shutdown of a CPU via the cellular phone network could be used to end computing as we know it if such technologies become widespread and a fake EMP disaster is created as an explanation for why all the computers died. Keep that old PC in the closet!"

It's just something to stick in the back of your mind. The present writer believes it's very much style of those who want to remain in power! Stone makes a comparison to the recent AMD A6 processor that may come in handy:

"The AMD processors also contain the cell link, but when attacked, don't go down as easy. This is because the AMD A series uses a CPU die with 4 totally separate CPU cores, and the Sandy Bridge is a single core that emulates 4 cores. SO when attacked, the 4 discrete core setup from AMD remains more stable, and since it is very power efficient, it's hard to damage. The AMD Cpu's do not have the hardware kill, they use a bios rooted soft kill that pegs the CPU."

Stone makes it clear, an AMD processor would have better chance in such a scenario... But, it's purely tinfoil hat stuff, anyway! It couldn't happen. Nah! Please move along - nothing to see here!

Bales Looked Like Patsy When He Had No Name: No Change

The varied posts around net, represent attempt, to examine facts rationally about Robert Bales and 3-11 murders in Afghanistan.  The posts also illustrate need for more than sorely lacking media reports. There's no effort to provide a comprehensive account, and likely, for good reason.  Luikkerland.com makes clear Bales has been target of many media smears.  There's everything on Bales from drunken night club encounter years ago, a brain injury, malaria shot, post traumatic stress disorder, securities fraud, etc...all meant to distract from events on night of March 11. CNN reports recently Bales returned to base in mid-attack. Veteran's Today Senior Editor, Gordon Duff, believes everything US Army has said publicly is a lie!  Duff supplied his take on Press TV shortly after murders, the interview available on You Tube, Slaughter in Afghanistan!   Duff indicates soldiers cannot leave base on foot and necessary gas cans - to burn victims - point to vehicles. Empty Wheel supplies disciplined, insightful effort to secure solid facts in entry titled, "Panjwai: Was There One Killer at Alkozai But Multiple at Najiban?"


The Empty Wheel view of events is supplied and reminds it's only speculation. However, it represents an excellent effort to use facts to explain what happened over entire tragic night:

"To repeat, this is all a wildarsed guess. But I’m suggesting that it’s possible Bales went first to Alkozai and in a spray of gunfire killed 4 or 5 and wounded at least 5 more, then returned to the base, told others what he had done, and more followed him in helicopters to Najiban. That would explain the larger number of men described by Dawood’s children, how 11 people in 4 rooms were killed in Wazir’s home, and also how Bales was able to drag all 11 bodies to one room and attempt to burn them (though the timing is still short, given that Najiban is at least a mile from the base and Bales was reportedly gone just an hour total on that second trip). If some men followed Bales to join in the killing–rather than to find him, as the government claims–it might explain why they claim it took at least a half hour to search the FOB when what purportedly initiated the search was an Afghan guard telling the Americans one of their men had left the base (that is, the “search” story is a way to fudge the timing)."

Sergeant Robert Bales is receiving similar treatment as Private Bradley Manning nearly under total wrap.  The security surrounding Bales reveals very sensitive and precarious nature of situation.   The present writer cites reports Bales may not remember shooting, as indication of diminished capacity will likely be most acceptable course for all parties--but is it the truth? Is Bales' lack of recall an indication of something else? From this early perspective, lone killer story seems unlikely to hold up with multiple witness accounts of more soldiers and prior threats.