Damsel in de Tech

Also, explicitly banning and calling out “female-presenting nipples” - note there’s an exception if it’s after giving birth or during breastfeeding because OBVIOUSLY the only way breasts and nipples are okay is when you’re fulfilling your goddamn job of being an incubator and not just posting nipples wilfully or for (gasp) money. Because obviously, when we’re talking about the banning of child pornopraphy we must target “female-presenting nipples” and let everyone know that those are the real problem. Nipples are only okay when they’re “male-presenting” and in the proximity of a newborn that is confirmed yours. 

Like c’mon… FOSTA/SESTA has been presented under the guise of fighting human trafficking just like these moves are no different. If they wanted to go after these very real issues then they would and they definitely wouldn’t be (dangerously) conflating the issues. Also why can I still look up violent pro-Nazi, antisemitic imagery but not a goddamn nipple??

“The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food,” The New York Times

this is one of the most interesting pieces about nutrition, capitalism, and food science i’ve read in a long time. really long, but highly, highly recommended. 

(CNN) A self-described “email prankster” in the UK fooled a number of White House officials into thinking he was other officials, including an episode where he convinced the White House official tasked with cyber security that he was Jared Kushner and received that official’s private email address unsolicited.

“Tom, we are arranging a bit of a soirée towards the end of August,” the fake Jared Kushner on an Outlook account wrote to the official White House email account of Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert. “It would be great if you could make it, I promise food of at least comparible (sic) quality to that which we ate in Iraq. Should be a great evening."Bossert wrote back: "Thanks, Jared. With a promise like that, I can’t refuse. Also, if you ever need it, my personal email is” (redacted).Bossert did not respond to CNN’s request for comment; the email prankster said he was surprised Bossert responded given his expertise. The emails were shared with CNN by the email prankster.

White House officials acknowledged the incidents and said they were taking the matter seriously. “We take all cyber related issues very seriously and are looking into these incidents further,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told CNN.Cyber experts consulted by CNN say the incidents are illustrative of how vulnerable Americans – even those in the highest reaches of power – remain to the potential threat of spear-phishing, the process through which officials are duped by hackers, and expose government computers and systems to various cyber threats. No one in any of these situations clicked any links making them vulnerable, and the prankster appears motivated by mischief not anything more malignant, so the severity of these White House pranks should not be overstated. But spear-phishers often begin the process by falsely posing as a friend or associate before asking the victim to take further action.

“This shows how susceptible government officials are to spear-phishing in general,” Adam Malone, a former cyber specialist and special agent for the FBI, told CNN. “Spear-phishing is the most common technique used by hackers to gain access to their victims. This information shines a light on how easy it is for people to build trust with unverified individuals."Former Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta infamously fell victim to such a trap, though the person who preyed on him had more nefarious intentions than mockery.” I try and keep it on the humorous side of things,“ the email prankster told CNN. "I’m not trying to get the keys to the vault or anything like that."One such exchange appears to have possibly played a role in the tensions between then- White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci, who resigned from his job earlier today, and since-fired White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. Masquerading as Priebus, the prankster emailed Scaramucci’s official account using a mail.com account on Saturday, the day after Priebus’ resignation was announced."I had promised myself I would leave my hands mud free,” wrote the fake Priebus, “but after reading your tweet today which stated how; ‘soon we will learn who in the media who has class, and who hasn’t’, has pushed me to this. That tweet was breathtakingly hypocritical, even for you. At no stage have you acted in a way that’s even remotely classy, yet you believe that’s the standard by which everyone should behave towards you? General Kelly will do a fine job. I’ll even admit he will do a better job than me. But the way in which that transition has come about has been diabolical. And hurtful. I don’t expect a reply."The very real Scaramucci responded: "You know what you did. We all do. Even today. But rest assured we were prepared. A Man would apologize.”

Fake Priebus wrote back: “I can’t believe you are questioning my ethics! The so called 'Mooch’, who can’t even manage his first week in the White House without leaving upset in his wake. I have nothing to apologize for."Actual Scaramucci responded: "Read Shakespeare. Particularly Othello. You are right there. My family is fine by the way and will thrive. I know what you did. No more replies from me."In another exchange, Scaramucci was hoodwinked by the same prankster pretending to be Ambassador to Russia-designate Jon Huntsman Jr."Who’s (sic) head should roll first?” the bogus Huntsman asked from a Gmail account on Friday, before the Priebus termination had been announced. “Maybe I can help things along somewhat.”“Both of them,” responded the real Scaramucci, in an apparent reference to both Priebus and White House Senior Adviser Steve Bannon, about whom Scaramucci has been quite critical.After a few other nice messages of support from faux Huntsman, Scaramucci wrote, “Are you in Moscow now? If not please visit."Huntsman himself was also tricked, with the prankster pretending to be Eric Trump, the President’s son. "Thanks for the thoughtful note,” the ambassador-designate wrote to fake Eric Trump. “Russia will be a challenging but no doubt rewarding assignment.” The fake Eric Trump responded with this suggestion: “Maybe we could have Dad sat (sic) on a horse, top off, giving the full Putin! He’s in better shape than his suits suggest.”

On Tuesday, 16-year-old Aries Clark was visiting with his cousin at an emergency youth shelter in Marion, Arkansas, when officers responding to a call at the facility shot him. Clark was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died from his injuries.  

Most of the details surrounding the shooting came from Aries Clark’s cousin, Chris Clark, who was there when officers arrived and started shooting.

“He held a BB gun in the air, and they just took him down on sight,” Chris Clark told reporters at Fox13.

Chris Clark also addressed why his cousin, and best friend, had come to the East Arkansas Youth Services building in the first place. He said that Aries would frequently stay at the shelter and had also been receiving counseling through Child Protective Services there. Aries Clark had left the shelter on Sunday night, but he had returned on Tuesday, to reportedly bring back a sweatshirt.

However, Chris Clark was left with only questions when it came to why the shooting occurred. And officers at the Marion Police Department aren’t releasing any information that would help family, friends, and the public better understand what happened Tuesday evening.

The officers responsible for the shooting, whose names were not released, are currently on paid leave and the Marion Police Department has issued a statement saying they are investigating the incident.

According to local news affiliate WMC Action News, “Marion Police Chief Gary Kelley declined to say why officers were called to the building.”  

Chris Clark said that he and Aries had been talking about pursuing music together, the night before Aries was shot. Chris recalled telling Aries, “You got to live long enough for us to see it. For you to see it,” he told Fox13.

As ATTN: has previously reported, there were 86 fatal police shootings of people wielding toy guns, pellet guns, and imitation weapons in 2015 and 2016 combined, with BB guns being the most common type of fake weapon found in these incidents.

Arkansas State Police are also declining to offer up any information about what could have led to the shooting, “citing the ongoing investigation,” according to The Huffington Post. But as The Root reported, they will be handling “the investigation into the shooting, [and] say that they will hand the results of their investigation over to state prosecutors.”

ATTN: has reached out to the Marion Police Department, but was told the Public Information Officer was not available for comment at this time. We will update this story when we hear back.

Family members reported that doctors informed them that Aries Clark had been shot in the back of the head. His grandmother, Vickie Burks said that on Monday, she had been preparing to gain full custody of her grandson soon.