Revealed: Air Force ordered software to manage army of fake virtual people

First Big Blue, then the Overlord Watson beats humans in the great game of Jeapordy... at nearly the same time it comes to light that the USAF is doing THIS...

 

These days, with Facebook and Twitter and social media galore, it can be increasingly hard to tell who your "friends" are.

But after this, Internet users would be well advised to ask another question entirely: Are my "friends" even real people?

In the continuing saga of data security firm HBGary, a new caveat has come to light: not only did they plot to help destroy secrets outlet WikiLeaks and discredit progressive bloggers, they also crafted detailed proposals for software that manages online "personas," allowing a single human to assume the identities of as many fake people as they'd like.

Eerie as that may be, more perplexing, however, is a federal contract from the 6th Contracting Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, located south of Tampa, Florida, that solicits providers of "persona management software."

While there are certainly legitimate applications for such software, such as managing multiple "official" social media accounts from a single input, the more nefarious potential is clear.

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Is skynet in the works? Was the Zebulan Cyber Army part of the military? Or is this just some other way to wage cyber warfare, while we have awesome citizens like th3j35t3r fighting for their own beliefs as patriots, is this the USAF's own cyber division up to something?

Oops you broke it

Heh, so yeah.. don't trust your compass, or any magnetic based guidance system for that matter.

 

 

The Earth's magnetic field is changing at an increasing rate, throwing off airports and altering the aurora borealis -- and its effect on ordinary compasses could mean the difference between homeward bound and hopelessly lost.

Earth’s northernmost magnetic point -- or magnetic north -- is distinct from its geographic North Pole, and scientists have long known that the magnetic poles are on the move.

But the magnetic poles have been moving faster lately, sliding towards Siberia at 34 miles per year at a speed that's accelerated 36 percent over the last 10 years, according to the United States Geological Survey, or USGS.

Since compasses rely on magnetic north to point you in the right way up the trail, the average $2-dollar model could very well point you in the wrong direction. Depending on location and journey length, unaware hikers or boaters could find themselves hundreds of miles off course if they don’t calibrate for the shift, experts said.

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Personal Submarine Becomes Reality

I WANT ONE! Someone buy me one! NOW!

 

Forget jetpacks, hoverboards and beer hats -- the ultimate toy has always been something that's obvious, yet up until now, has seemed to be curiously avoided by leisure industry manufacturers -- personal submarines.

First widely used during World War I, submarines have been around for quite a while but these machines were cramped, uncomfortable, and difficult to navigate. Moreover, the vehicles didn't seem suited to personal use, aside from this effort from a Chinese farmer last year.

Then suddenly, in the last two years, there's been a rash of the ultimate escape vehicles hitting the market consumer market, culminating with the debut of Raonhaje's EGO at a boat show in Miami last week.

Unlike the dinky uBoatWorx submersibles and awkward Ocean Pearl, the EGO looks like what a proper undersea exploration lab should look like while doubling as a personal mobile island.

 

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