Politics

Kissinger Smash! A new book reveals the former secretary of state Hulked out after Cuba sent troops to Angola in 1975. The “apoplectic” Kissinger told President Ford, “I think we are going to have to smash Castro,” and drafted secret plans to launch airstrikes. The plans were shelved after Carter won the 1976 election.

Ebola Vaccine Delay May Be Due To An Intellectual Property Dispute

For the past six weeks, about 800 to 1,000 doses of an experimental ebola vaccine have been sitting in a Canadian laboratory instead of being dispensed to West Africa. The delay, it would now appear, may be on account of an intellectual property spat. Back on August 13th, the Canadian government announced that it would…

Why Did The Doctor Start Eating Meat Again On Doctor Who?

The Doctor doesn’t make too many major life decisions on Doctor Who. He’s like Batman or Captain Kirk: Any character development will probably get rolled back at some point. But it’s still kind of sad that one of his few great changes of heart(s) has been undone: his turn to vegetarianism. In a way, it…

Will GMO Labeling Raise Food Prices?

Oregon will soon vote on Proposition 92, which requires mandatory labeling of GM foods. While opponents of the measure warn labeling costs will increase food prices, supporters just released a study saying the median cost to consumers would only be $2.30 per year. But that estimate overlooks some crucial ingredients. The 14-page study, published by…

Half of Our Planet’s Wildlife Is Gone. Here’s Why.

“In less than two human generations, population sizes of vertebrate species have dropped by half.” That’s the startling conclusion offered by the World Wildlife Foundation, as they release their biennial “Living Planet Report.” But what does that mean? Every couple years, the WWF assesses the status of 10,380 representative populations of 3,038 mammal, birds, reptiles,…

Drone Manufacturers Pin Their Hopes On Hollywood

Camera-mounted drones have been used to stunning effect in blockbuster films such as Skyfall and Iron Man 3, though restrictions on the commercial use of unpiloted vehicles have made it difficult for filmmakers to use the technology. But that changed this week when the FAA granted exemptions to six movie studios. Until now, whenever filmmakers…

“How Did This Turn Into A Flirty Thing?” Amy Acker Talks Root And Shaw

The new season of Person of Interest plunged us into a dystopian A.I.-monitored world. And all of a sudden, Root is the linchpin of everything, as she helps the undercover Machine Gang. We talked to Amy Acker about Root’s new role, her flirtation with Shaw, and whether Root will be meeting Samaritan’s right-hand woman Rousseau.…

Why It’s A Mistake To Call ISIL “Medieval”

“Medieval” is a term we’ve heard more and more frequently over the years to describe Islamist militants such as Al Qaeda and now ISIL. Given the cruelty of their tactics, it’s understandable. But it’s also a misleading label that obscures the ideology and motivation of what are, in fact, modern political movements. Historians of the…

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) recently said members of Congress have privately urged generals to resign “in a blaze of glory” if they disagree with Obama’s handling of Middle East conflicts. Amid criticism, Lamborn’s office later claimedhe was referring to earlier policy disputes such as the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Boxtrolls Is A Movie For Uncivilized People Of All Kinds

All of the best comedies are subversive. And by that token, the new animated movie The Boxtrolls is a tremendous success — it takes the fabric of society and gleefully shreds it, showing how silly and easily manipulated most “decent” people are. Along the way, though, the film gets kind of heavy-handed, and a little…

Person Of Interest‘s Creators Explain Why A.I. Could Be The New A-Bomb

Person of Interest returns tonight with an even scarier look at ubiquitous surveillance than before. The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Dave Maass is fascinated by the show’s themes — so he seized the chance to interview the creators and stars. And they told him why we should be very afraid. https://gizmodo.com/dystopia-usa-a-chilling-clip-from-person-of-interests-1637546444 As a researcher at Electronic…

You Want More Diversity in Your Pop Culture? Here’s How to Find It

Many fans are demanding more diversity in comics, movies and TV. What you may not realize is that there’s already a community of creators producing stories about diverse characters. Now is a great time to get into their work. Illustration from the cover of The Agenda “Many of the people who have been calling for…

Right Now, It Kinda Sucks To Be A U.S. Organization Named ISIS

In 1993, former UN weapons inspector David Albright founded the Institute for Science and International Security, or ISIS. Lately, Albright’s group — which, ironically, works to stop the spread of nuclear weapons to terrorists — is being threatened by people who confuse it with you-know-who. As the National Journal reports: The Institute for Science and…

Scottish SF Author Ken MacLeod Talks About the Referendum (He’s a No)

This is a fascinating conversation between Scottish SF author Ken MacLeod (Intrusion, The Execution Channel) and British historian Francis Spufford, which took place just a couple of weeks before last night’s historic vote on Scottish independence. MacLeod talks here about his background as a leftist, and why he wants the keep the Union together. He…

37% of Americans think the news media should be required to get government approvalbefore reporting on national security issues. Among the factors contributing to this view: declining trust in the media (notably among conservatives) and the belief that the reporting of Edward Snowden’s leaks “harmed public interest.”

Washington Policymakers Dislike “Ordinary Americans”

It’s not exactly breaking news that Americans don’t hold their government in very high regard. And now, with the release of a new study conducted by Johns Hopkins University, we can confirm that the feeling is mutual. Political scientists Jennifer Bachner and Benjamin Ginsberg surveyed upwards of 850 federal employees, Congressional staffers, consultants, lobbyists and…

Scottish Stormtrooper Dances To Bagpipes To Protest Evil British Empire

Star Wars has become a recurring theme in the lead-up to today’s referendum vote on Scottish independence, as pro-independence campaigners lampoon the British as their evil imperial overlords. So, yes, that’s why we’re treated to this rare sight of a stormtrooper dancing to bagpipes in Glasgow. And a few days earlier, a man riding a…

Possibly the Most Relevant Political Movement for Our Future

In a stunning example of how a political movement can actually change lives, the Strike Debt project has raised over $100 thousand to purchase and abolish student loans for a group of recent grads with a punishing amount of debt. They hope to turn this into a national movement. Strike Debt, which grew out of…

Thousands Of FBI Documents About Civil Rights Era Destroyed By Flooding

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of COINTELPRO, a major FBI operation to “expose, disrupt and otherwise neutralize” domestic political organizations deemed a threat to the U.S. It’s just been revealed that many crucial questions about that period will remain forever unanswered, due to archival neglect. Writing at the blog of the…

Americans Are Now More Concerned About Terrorism Than Civil Liberties

The polls have spoken: Americans are afraid, again. 47% believe the U.S. is less safe than it was before the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001, up from 28% last year. And concerns about protecting civil liberties have dropped from 47% to 35%. But will this change in mood last? And how will it impact the…