Did Facebook Reveal Your Private Messages?
The company claims that newly-posted messages from before 2009 are not private. This may be true but people are still freaked out.
How Google Bought Legislation to Let Driverless Cars on California Highways
With $140,000 to a prominent Sacramento law firm and a steady drumbeat of state ($64,000 to state senatorial candidates) and federal campaign contributions (over $8 million), Google pushed for a bill that could have been controversial — to let their robot cars onto the freeways of California. But because of their spending (and their savvy), the bill sailed through the state's senate and awaits approval from the governor. Go read the whole story; Zusha Elinson from The Bay Citizen got some choice quotes from politicos about what it looks like for tech money to flex its political power.
Space Shuttle Endeavour Flies Over California, Twitter
All morning, California has stood on the roof, waiting for the shuttle (strapped to a 747) to fly over. But most of the action appeared to be on #spottheshuttle.
What It Was Like To Be Spied On Before The Internet
According to author Seth Rosenfeld, the most innovative part of the 20th century FBI was not its technology but its bureaucracy.
Why Can't Technology Find My Lost Cat?
Earlier this week, I came home to find my two kittens gone. I lost my shit. And I found out that it's hard to track pets even in a world of GPS and microchips.
Watch Springsteen Go Viral (For 40 Years)
A heat map of the Boss's touring history. Set to music, of course.
Tech Figures Raised At Least $27 Million For Obama Campaign
Leaked fundraising documents show Silicon Valley emerging as a key source of Democratic money and power. Valley money bests Hollywood.
Pi In The Sky
See some weird clouds in the Bay Area around noon? They're just a little piece of pi.
25 Things I Learned At TechCrunch Disrupt
At the startup world's most important conference, even Death can't stay off his smartphone.
Diplomat's Death in Libya First Reported on Gaming Site
News of U.S. official Sean Smith's death first broke on a gaming site, where he was remembered fondly as "Vile Rat," an avid player of Eve and a good friend to other online gamers. Chillingly, Smith was online chatting when the attack on the American Consulate in Libya happened: His friend says that he typed "FUCK" and "GUNFIRE" before getting disconnected. (via Talking Points Memo.)
6 Awesomely-Named CIA Spy Programs
Thanks in large part to documents "found" this year, we know the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology had a lot of fun with codenames, especially during its whole mind control phase in the '50s and '60s.
Meet The Guy Who Busts Cheaters In Video Games
An anonymous game company employee reveals how people try to cheat — and why they get caught.
The Semi-Charmed Life Of A Tech Company Chef
Free food is now an expected perk at all the shiny new tech companies. A former Google chef says, “They had no budget, it was foie gras and Kobe steaks every day.”
Where Are The NYC Troublemakers?
Find out where the petty criminals and boozehounds hang out in the city.
Is Your Favorite Celebrity Dead?
The site that aims to answer a simple question — is Twitter right? are they really dead? — for your favorite celebrity.
If The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Happened Today
A San Francisco photographer recreated — and then merged — images from more than a century apart.
The Pirates And Trolls Of Porn Valley
Since 2010, a slew of lawyers have made their living off of pursuing (possible) porn pirates. It's a controversial living, but it's a living.
How Internet Famous Do You Have To Be To Get Free Stuff?
Score high enough on Klout, supposedly, and you can get all kinds of perks. But are you famous enough to get free stuff?
The Real Story Behind the Incredible Storm Photo That Just Won't Die
Social media and news sites have been abuzz over an amazing image supposedly tropical storm Isaac. The picture was actually taken by an amateur in Brunei but that hasn't stopped people from using to to illustrate all kinds of weird things over the years.
How Child Porn And The Other Awfulest Things Ever Get Scrubbed From The Internet
Machines are long way from being able to automatically remove the most awful images mankind has to offer — child porn, beheadings, forced bestiality — from our favorite sites and social networks. An invisible workforce has emerged to look at it so we don't have to. (Warning: You may find this piece upsetting.)