[weekly linkdump, somewhat edited]
#tumblr
i could just stay in bed for the rest of the year.
— steven (@sgoetzdesign) January 1, 2014
#biggest news this week
Neue Dokumente: Der geheime Werkzeugkasten der NSA – “Die NSA hat eine geheime Abteilung, die Spezialausrüstung herstellt: Spähsoftware für Rechner und Handys, Mobilfunk-Horchposten, manipulierte USB-Stecker und unsichtbare Wanzen. Hier sehen Sie Auszüge aus dem hausinternen Bestellkatalog der Abteilung ANT – Preise inklusive.”
#watch and
Eclectic Method – Monty Python – A timely mashup with the impending reunion.
#learn
Losing Aaron: Bob Swartz on MIT’s Role in His Son’s Death – “After his son was arrested for downloading files at MIT, Bob Swartz did everything in his power to save him. He couldn’t. Now he wants the institute to own up to its part in Aaron’s death.”
11 curious facts about 666, six years after the disappearance of the 666 area code – “The numbers on a roulette wheel (0 through 36) add up to 666.” Read this, Gölä! (The Swiss Rockstar famously switched to another bank, because they had 666 in their phone number)
Edward Snowden, Whistle-Blower – “He may have committed a crime to do so, but he has done his country a great service. It is time for the United States to offer Mr. Snowden a plea bargain or some form of clemency that would allow him to return home, face at least substantially reduced punishment in light of his role as a whistle-blower, and have the hope of a life advocating for greater privacy and far stronger oversight of the runaway intelligence community.”
Jacob Appelbaum’s must-watch 30C3 talk: why NSA spying affects you, no matter who you are – In case you missed his talk, Cory Doctorow sums it up here.
2013 was a horrorshow – and it can just Bake Off – “With so many horrific stories around this year, it’s no wonder we were sidetracked by baking and selfies. And between government surveillance and ‘bongo bongo land’ many of us were tempted to give up on politics for good”
DJ Food | 2013 – End of year round up – “2013 has been an odd year – I wouldn’t go as far as to highlight the ’13′ as one to be wary of but it was full of ups and downs for me personally.”
$1,000 Pill For Hepatitis C Spurs Debate Over Drug Prices – “Graham says she thinks once Gilead has recovered its investment cost, it ought to cut the price of sofosbuvir. “That’s very unlikely that we would do that,” responds Alton, Gilead vice president. “I appreciate the thought.”
Ending Solitary Confinement Through Viral Art – “PRFS reached out to its long-term prisoners and asked, if they could have a picture of anything, what would it be? Then, the requests were staged and Photoshopped.”
#lang:de
SPIELSALON: Art & Arcade – “Zahlreiche Künstler nutzen Arcade-Maschinen als künstlerisches Medium. Dabei programmieren sie nicht einfach nur ein künstlerisches Computerspiel – ihre Automaten sind gleichzeitig auch Kunstobjekte und Rauminstallationen.”
Image Atlas – “Die Anwendung wurde von der Medienkünstlerin Taryn Simon und dem im Januar 2013 verstorbenen Hacker und Netzaktivisten Aaron Swartz entwickelt und wird vom New Museum New York online ausgestellt.”
[delicious.com/pieceoplastic or subscribe to this RSS feed – with all the typos]