pre-crime

Thanks to a FOIA request filled by a group that advocates for greater transparency in algorithmically based decision making, we are given a glimpse into how software companies are peddling predictive policing to law enforcement authorities across several jurisdictions. Whether or not the programme has any merit in preventing infractions before they are committed, the best practises and techniques outlined in the training guide make concessions to the accuracy of its precognitive abilities by encouraging intrusion and over-policing and seeking out minor offenses in order to boost metrics.

no, you’re the puppet!

Idiot Trump’s predictable, petty

antics at the NATO summit are fomenting a dangerous distraction as the real and consequential crisis in the making (despite all the tantrums and threats) is the turning of Erdoğan’s Turkey away from its Western allies and towards Russia—a re-balancing act whose execution is seemingly more and more perfectly polished. I hope that the other members aren’t fully taken in by this side-show.

portrait studio

Considering all the horrors that the USA les enfants terribles are perpetrating, it’s a real challenge to provoke any sort of relief or respite touching this regime—so we are appreciative of the clever photo-editing work of an individual called Chest Strongwell. Such a repulsive collection of people have never looked gentler (or at least candid) but none of us are being fooled by this feigned innocence.

one-armed band-width or the magic of maybe

Via Miss Cellania—realising that all this wasn’t on the consent form, here’s a lecture worth considering before one next indulging in social media—or signing up in the first place.

jinbaori

Via Present /&/ Correct we are treated to a lovely antique collection of Samurai clan banners and cloaks from the 1850s, the late Edo, Bakumatsu era, sourced from two woodblock printed manuscript books. The name for the traditional garment draped over the Samurai’s armour is a specially tailored kimono tabard (a surcoat designed to show off one’s heraldic pedigree) called a jinbaori (陣羽織). Find a whole gallery of arms and supporters and learn more at the link up top.