Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Company Comments and a Party Recap
This week, we discuss companies' responses to being monitored by an ICE contractor, caring about the little things, weight loss drug ads, and how our SXSW shindig went.
News
“We Are Getting Lasered”: Nearly a Dozen Planes Lasered Last Night During New Jersey Drone Panic
Air traffic control audio reviewed by 404 Media shows 11 aircraft near New Jersey reporting people shining lasers at them during the ongoing drone panic.
Drones
The No-Win 'Mystery Drone' Clusterfuck
To political grifters boosting their profiles, government inaction is unacceptable, and government action cannot be trusted. There is no acceptable explanation.
Podcast
Podcast: The New Jersey Drone Panic
What is probably happening with all those drone sightings; Cellebrite used as a doorway to malware; and an art project and a cease and desist.
News
DHS Says China, Russia, Iran, and Israel Are Spying on People in US with SS7
The Department of Homeland Security knows which countries SS7 attacks are primarily originating from. Others include countries in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
wordpress
To Log Into WordPress, You Now Have To Agree Pineapple on Pizza Is Good
Longtime WordPress contributors ask: “Where are the adults in the room?”
News
Cellebrite Unlocked This Journalist’s Phone. Cops Then Infected it With Malware
A new report from Amnesty International reveals multiple cases where Serbian authorities used Cellebrite devices to access targets' mobile phones before loading them with spyware.
The Abstract
The Data on Civilization-Ending Superflares
Don’t panic…yet. Also: A baby galaxy with a bedazzled name, tiny poops with big potential, and an ancient ritual compound in a secret cave chamber.
Behind The Blog
Behind the Blog: Nostalgia and Newsworthiness
This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss archiving nostalgia, newsworthiness, and plans for 2025.
New Jersey drones
WTF Is Going on With the New Jersey Mystery Drones? Maybe Mass Panic Over Nothing
The New Jersey drone situation is very interesting. We've also seen this story before.
Cameras
Traffic Camera 'Selfie' Creator Holds Cease and Desist Letter in Front of Traffic Cam
Traffic Cam Photobooth lets you take a capture from NYC surveillance camera. The city's Department of Transportation does not like that.
News
YouTube “Enhances” Comment Section With AI-Generated Nonsense
YouTube’s rollout of AI tools shows nonsensical AI-generated audience engagement and AI slop thumbnails.
wordpress
WordPress CEO Rage Quits Community Slack After Court Injunction
Automattic is ordered to undo several of the actions of its CEO Matt Mullenweg in its ongoing legal battle with WP Engine. “It's hard to imagine wanting to continue to working on WordPress after this," Mullenweg said in a community Slack message.