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4 Jun, 2015

Sex tape art project

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Emma Sulkowicz sex tape video imageSulkowicz releases a website and video entitled, Ceci N’est Pas Un Viol (link). The eight-minute video, which is dated August 27, 2012 (the same day as her alleged rape) features Sulkowicz’s and an unidentified  man, whose face is blurred, engaging in what appears to be consensual sex that turns violent. The man open-palm slaps Sulkowicz, chokes her, removes the condom, then continues to have rough sex with Sulkowicz, who whimpers and protests from pain.

Ceci N’est Pas Un Viol is not about one night in August, 2012. It’s about your decisions, starting now. It’s only a reenactment if you disregard my words. It’s about you, not him. Do not watch this video if your motives would upset me, my desires are unclear to you, or my nuances are indecipherable. You might be wondering why I’ve made myself this vulnerable. Look—I want to change the world, and that begins with you, seeing yourself. If you watch this video without my consent, then I hope you reflect on your reasons for objectifying me and participating in my rape, for, in that case, you were the one who couldn’t resist the urge to make Ceci N’est Pas Un Viol about what you wanted to make it about: rape. Please, don’t participate in my rape. Watch kindly.

Details warrantless hacker targeting

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Snowden releases National Security Agency documents showing that in 2012 the Justice Department authorized the NSA to search Internet cables on American soil without a warrant for evidence of computer hacking schemes originating abroad, as well as targeting hackers even when it could not establish any links to foreign powers. The secret memos from 2012 say the NSA could watch Internet traffic flowing to suspicious addresses or containing malware, as well as monitor addresses and cyber signatures.

Discloses 12th crash

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At a shareholder’s meeting, Brin discloses that one of Google’s self-driving cars was rear-ended at a traffic signal during the past week. The cars have been involved in 12 accidents while covering more than 1.7 million miles over the past six years.

I’m very proud of the record of our cars. Our goal is to beat human drivers.

In response to a request by Consumer Watchdog’s Simpson that the company release the self-driving cars’ accident reports filed with the California Department of Motor Vehicles and other government agencies to give the public a better understanding of the risks posed by the vehicles, Brin says the documents wouldn’t disclose anything different from a summary that the company posted online three weeks ago. Google says its self-driving cars have been rear-ended eight times (including the most-recent accident), side-swiped twice and hit by another vehicle rolling through a stop sign. Simpson says the records would shed more light by at least revealing the dates, times and precise locations of each accident. Brin:

I suppose we could give more detail and we are open to that, but you are not going to learn anymore.

John Simpson asks about Google's Robot Car Privacy, Safety at Meeting

Calls Obama to release TPP text

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Fiorina calls on Obama to release the text of the trade deal:

Of course, I support free and fair trade. But President Obama has made lofty promises before and we’ve learned with this White House that the devil is in the details. And the details are frequently very different than the lofty goals with which he describes the deal. So I’d like President Obama to tell us what’s in his trade deal before we grant him this broad fast track authority. So far, though, he’s been unwilling to do that and Hillary won’t even take a position on it. That should concern us. Mr. President, if you want TPA to pass, please just tell us what is in TPP.

3 Jun, 2015

Condition update

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Iglesias’ sister Falco says he is recovering from reconstructive surgery on his hand days after suffering a bloody accident during a concert in Tijuana, Mexico.

He is okay. I spoke with Anna [Kournikova], and he underwent surgery in Los Angeles. He finished his concert in spite of everything…The truth is it was quite a scare.

Obituary rehearsal rogue tweet

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Following a routine obituary rehearsal for Queen Elizabeth II, a BBC reporter releases a tweet stating the Queen is dead. The tweet is quickly followed by one stating the Queen is being treated in hospital, then the tweets are deleted. Reports state the Queen is in good health. BBC official:

During a technical rehearsal for an obituary, tweets were mistakenly sent from the account of a BBC journalist saying that a member of the royal family had been taken ill. The tweets were swiftly deleted and we apologise for any offence.

Twitter announcement

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Jenner makes her first statement since the Vanity fair article:

28 May, 2015

Catholic church withdraws

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The Roman Catholic Church of Burundi announces that it will withdraw its priests appointed to help organize the elections at the heart of the political upheaval in the country.

The Catholic Church cannot support elections that are full of shortcomings. It cannot support a process which is not based on a consensus.

26 May, 2015

May cede Florida primary

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Walker says he may not compete in Florida’s March 15 primary to gain an financial advantage.

If we chose to get in, I don’t think there’s a state out there we wouldn’t play in…I mean, other than maybe Florida, where Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio are at least in some of the polls essentially tied….They’re going to eat up a good amount of that financial advantage that Governor Bush is going to have. A good chunk of that will be gone after the Florida primary.

Presidential run announcement expected

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In a fundraising email, Santorum acknowledges a tough road ahead — but also signals he is likely to take another stab.

If I announce a campaign for president tomorrow, I’m really going to have an uphill battle ahead of me. The GOP field is already crowded, and it’s extremely competitive.

In his fundraising email, he says he will need to gain instant traction or else be left behind in the dash for money. He will also need to show movement in the polls in order to gain a place on stage in the debates, which are likely to use size of support as a threshold.

Memorial Day message

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Carson tweets a Memorial Day message with pictures of American flags with two quotes. The first is from Wallace Bruce:

Who kept the faith and fought the fight;
The glory theirs, the duty ours.

The second is a quote of his own:

Remembering the men and women who gave their lives in service for our country

Memorial Day message

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Jindal tweets a Memorial Day message:

Memorial Day message

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Huckabee posts a Memorial Day message on Facebook.

Memorial Day: Remember the fallen

The message is superimposed over a picture on the American flag with his campaign logo at the bottom.

Memorial Day post

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Chafee posts an image of American flags in front of headstones and McCrae’s famous war poem In Flanders Fields on Facebook.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Memorial Day message

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Christie tweets a five-part Memorial Day message.

Today, we pause to honor the American heroes in our military who courageously and selflessly defend our country and our freedom…Throughout history, the brave men and women of our armed forces have served as a constant symbol of patriotism for all Americans…Words alone cannot fully express our gratitude for our veterans and their families who continually support them…On this #MemorialDay, I encourage all New Jerseyans to join me in thanking our service members for their willingness t defend our nation…And to remember those who have paid the ultimate price for our country. Their unmatched patriotism makes us all proud to be Americans.