From The Intercept:

Documents obtained by The Intercept via the Freedom of Information Act reveal that a Pentagon war game, called the 2018 Joint Land, Air and Sea Strategic Special Program, or JLASS, offered a scenario in which members of Generation Z, driven by malaise and discontent, launch a “Zbellion” in America in the mid-2020s.

The Zbellion plot was a small part of JLASS 2018, which also featured scenarios involving Islamist militants in Africa, anti-capitalist extremists, and ISIS successors. The war game was conducted by students and faculty from the U.S. military’s war colleges, the training grounds for prospective generals and admirals. While it is explicitly not a national intelligence estimate, the war game, which covers the future through early 2028, is “intended to reflect a plausible depiction of major trends and influences in the world regions,” according to the more than 200 pages of documents.

The imaginary scenario involves a generation that's been psychologically scarred by 9/11, the Great Recessions, college debt, increasing healthcare costs, inequality, and economic frustrations. "Gen Z are often described as seeking independence and opportunity but are also among the least likely to believe there is such a thing as the 'American Dream,' and that the 'system is rigged' against them," the Pentagon writes. If these disillusioned youth were to rebel, they say, it will likely start as a protest movement growing out of major cities, eventually growing into a "Zbellion," a "global cyber campaign to expose injustice and corruption and to support causes it deem[s] beneficial." Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/10/the-pentagon-developed-a-plan.html

"Many young Kiwis are using porn to learn about sex."

The New Zealand Government released this PSA as part of their "Keep it Real Online" campaign.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/10/funny-and-true-psa-about-hel.html

Yes, it's that time again, the time when we ask: What hot garbage did impeached president Donald Trump spew on Twitter this morning.

Well, children, this is what the man said:

“For the first time in history, Police Organizations & National Security Organizations were used to SPY on a Campaign, & there was no basis for it. The media largely drove that, & claims were made that could have affected the election of the President.” A.G. Bill Barr @BretBaier

The tweet was almost certainly a direct response by Trump to a “Fox and Friends” segment the President was presumably watching on TV at the time.

Here's a screengrab, for context.

And here are responses to Trump's tweets this morning, from reporters and political observers.

The president has repeatedly talked about “dirty cops” in the investigation into his campaign. Yet in matters not involving him, he largely ignores allegations of impropriety by law enforcement, even some on videotape. https://t.co/MYmXNSTG0D

 Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) June 10, 2020

Actually given the most recent tweet this was actually a response to the initial segment.

Left, Fox & Friends, 7:53 a.m.Right, Trump, 8:51 a.m. pic.twitter.com/XyjyYduWF7

 Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) June 10, 2020

And then.

Left, Fox & Friends, 8:11 a.m.Right, Trump, 9:32 a.m. pic.twitter.com/yS3UxcfXaV

 Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) June 10, 2020

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/10/in-crazy-tweet-donald-trump-c.html

Not too long ago, projectors were those rickety old reel-to-reel devices that projected actual film. Now, projectors are as high tech as they come, and portable units are not only capable of serving as full-service on-the-go multimedia display systems, they’re also small enough to actually be truly portable.

It’s a lot of functionality to pack into a device that could slide easily into your back pocket -- and now, it can even convert your tiny smartphone screen into an image 10 feet wide with the Kinkoo 4K HD Pocket Projector for Android 9.0. 

Weighing under a pound, this projector’s compact and lightweight design allows users to take it virtually anywhere for entertainment or professional use on the road, at a friend’s house, or during a business meeting. 

This unit is about as simple to operate as they come. Just connect your phone via Bluetooth or the Miracast Mirror Display function, and this projector beams your phone screen on to any surface in full HD resolution at up to 120 inches across. It even works for projecting 3D video images with no distortion.

With a full charge, this projector’s LED 50 ANSI Lumens light source will shine for up to 90 minutes. And, the bulb itself is capable of running for about 20,000 hours without needing a replacement.

As for content, the Pocket Projector has all the biggest and most popular video file formats covered at up to 4K resolution, able to show H.265, H.264, MPEG4, WMV, and more with no problem. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/this-pocket-sized-projector-ca.html

In early June, about a week after George Floyd was murdered by police in Minneapolis — followed by the Trump administration gassing and shooting at peaceful protesters — Trump scuttled into a bunker to hide. He then built an ugly fence to cower behind. Now the eyesore has transformed into a wonderful collage of flowers, art, and messages like "Fuck Trump," "Black Lives Matter," "Let Them Breathe," "8:46," "The Media is Not the Enemy," and "Fund the Black Community."

Thanks for the free cork board Trump!

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/trumps-cowardly-fence-become.html

After spending months cooped up in the house and with the weather heating up, chances are you've already envisioned and planned your next road trip getaway for once the world opens back up.

Of course, it isn’t always smooth sailing down the highways and byways. If you press too many people and too much stuff into the confined space of a vehicle, you’re bound to dig up some frayed nerves. Now more than ever, people need some room, you know?

Rather than stacking your car, truck, van, or SUV to the roof with bags, supplies, and mountains of other stuff, the Pilot™ Automotive Cargo Carrier can quietly exile it all right out of your way, so everyone can enjoy traveling in comfort.

This carrier mounts quickly and easily to either the crossbars or side rails of your vehicle’s roof, offering 18 cubic feet of convenient storage space, or enough room to hold about six medium-sized suitcases. Even at that spacious size, its aerodynamic design reduces your drag and will even save you on gas costs, which are not a small consideration on lengthy road trips.

In case you encounter any weather, the carrier is completely weather-resistant and constructed with heavy-duty PVC material to be durable yet flexible, so it’s always capable of carrying objects of odd shapes and sizes. The large hooped zippers not only keep the elements out but are also lockable to keep all your contents safe even if you take an extended pitstop.

With its portable construction, the carrier is also a breeze when your trip comes to an end. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/planning-a-road-trip-dont-h.html

Last January, the BBC released the first episode of a true-crime style podcast called The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. Created by Julian Simpson, this story took a Serial-esque approach to a locked room mystery involving an American man who disappeared from an asylum in England. But as the story progresses, it quickly becomes apparent that there's something darker going on.

That "something darker" would be the fact that it's a loose adaptation of The Curious Case of Charles Dexter Ward by HP Lovecraft. Simpson's podcast version takes the initial Lovecraftian premise — a person of privilege uncovers some hidden knowledge that inevitably connects back to ancient evil Elder Gods — and spins an updated modern tale that spans the Atlantic Ocean. Simpson cleverly weaves in English folklore and the occultism of Aleister Crowley as the journalist narrators travel back-and-forth between England and Rhode Island.

One of those narrators, it should be noted, is a woman. And there are people of color, and class issues, too — a clear response to Lovecraft's notorious bigotry (the dude was so terrified of black people and vaginas that he literally crafted an entire universe of creepy-ass tentacled fish monsters just to try and justify it). It's an organic way to breathe new life into a story that doesn't have to be so bogged down in Lovecraft's more unfortunate qualities.

I recently binged all 10 episodes of the podcast while working on some home renovations, and I found it utterly delightful. The Investigative Reporting approach gives it an almost Blair Witch-like vibe — it's certainly presented as if it is a genuine true crime podcast, and you wouldn't be faulted for falling for it (In my humble opinion, that also makes for a more gripping narrative device than the usual Lovecraft method of Random Trustfund Baby Takes A Bus Into a Random Creepy Town and Randomly Gets Involved In This Dark Mystery About Cthulhu). Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/this-true-crime-podcast-is-act.html

A striking message from babynames.com today: "Each one of these names was somebody's baby." Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/babynames-lists-victims-of-lyn.html

Every year, the 5th graders at Wirtz Elementary School in Paramount, California get to have a big jam session concert with real musicians. It's the brainchild of teacher Eric Caruso, who recognized that a lot of the students came from underserved communities, and could really use the inspiration of an interactive arts program, complete with an awards ceremony and guest artists.

In 2018, the students performed some Big Boi songs. In 2019, they grooved on Sly and the Family Stone. And in 2010, they rocked out to the seminal DC hardcore punk band, Minor Threat.

We're not the first, I hope we're not the last 'Cause I know we're all heading for that adult crash The time is so little, the time belongs to us Why is everybody in such a fucking rush?

Make do with what you have, take what you can get Pay no mind to us, we're just a minor threat

We're just! A minor threat! We're just! A minor threat!

The kids are all right. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/watch-a-bunch-of-5th-graders-s.html

I have a couple of different headlamps and this broadbeam LED headlamp, which uses a strip of 20 LEDs is my first choice for doing any kind of work in dark places. It lights a wide area and is very bright. It's lightweight, too. It uses 3 AAA batteries and has an easy on-off touch sensor switch. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/this-broadbeam-led-headlamp-il.html

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/cops-slash-dozens-of-car-tires.html

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/voice-actor-pranks-scammer-by.html

Later this year, Studio Ghibli will release Aya to Majo (“Aya and the Witch"), a new feature film from Hayao Miyazaki. The animation auteur's son Goro Miyazaki directed the film, the first 3D-CG effort from the studio. The movie is based on the children's book Earwig and the Witch by British writer Diana Wynne Jones who also penned the novel Howl's Moving Castle upon which the 2004 Ghibli film was based. From Variety:

In a statement Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki said he was worried as to whether “Aya to Majo” could hold up in the new post-corona environment.

“I thought that a number of times while watching the rushes,” he said. “Then I realized that one stand-out feature of the film is Aya’s cleverness. And if you are clever you can survive in any period of history. Thinking that, I felt relieved.”

image: detail of Japanese edition cover for "Aya to Majo" novel Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/new-studio-ghibli-film-coming.html

Actor and activist Keke Palmer, who we saw in a video from recent protests that went viral, has an amazing guest column in Variety today: ‘I Have Waited for a Revolution My Entire Life.’

In the video, we see Keke confronting heavily armed members of the National Guard, and peacefully imploring them to “March with us.”

Watch all of this. pic.twitter.com/YHq0QhXrnw

 Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) June 2, 2020

“They didn’t march with us, and while one offered to for a short stretch, he also said he had to “protect the businesses” and buildings in the area,” Keke writes:

White supremacy is the longest-lasting oppression in America, but it is not the only one. We may not all share in the Black experience of this, but I can guarantee you, almost everyone in this country has been oppressed in some form or another. It’s the reality of what happens when the illness of racism becomes validated through the system. It creates even more division, desensitizes us to the humanity of others to the point that so many can be easily blind to sweeping social injustices.

I don’t know everything, but I know how to speak from my heart — at least I try to every day. I know there are others who are just like me. They don’t have the answers, but they are present and they know they can’t do it alone. They ignite the little fires everywhere that shine a light that casts out the darkness.

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/i-have-waited-for-a-revoluti.html

Old man threatens a delivery man for trespassing, and promptly discovers that he is trespassing himself. from r/instantkarma

Here's an old guy being mean to an Amazon delivery person, but then a boss-level old guy and old lady with a bat appear for a plot twist.

I'm not sure where this is, but people in those parts don't take kindly to people stepping on their property. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/man-threatens-to-shoot-out-tir.html

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today voted unanimously to propose a $225 million fine against Texas-based health insurance telemarketers blamed for making 1 billion illegally spoofed robocalls. This is the largest such fine ever proposed by the FCC.

BREAKING NEWS: FCC proposes its largest fine ever: $225 million against a health insurance telemarketer for making about 1 billion illegally spoofed robocalls in less than 5 months in 2019. #OpenMtgFCC #FCCLive

 The FCC (@FCC) June 9, 2020

From Reuters:

The order names two individuals using business names including Rising Eagle and JSquared Telecom. The FCC said robocalls falsely claimed to offer health insurance plans from major health insurance companies such as Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and UnitedHealth Group.

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said later on Tuesday a group of state attorneys general is going to file action against the companies in U.S. District Court. The companies could not immediately be reached for comment.

Read more: FCC proposes record $225 million fine for massive robocall campaign Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/fcc-robocall-fine.html

How to lobster pic.twitter.com/PZTlomCi5T

 Sarah Cooper (@sarahcpr) June 9, 2020

Noted crustacean expert D. Trump, Ph.D., discusses lobsters, free trade, and car tariffs. Another piece of brilliant work by Sarah Cooper. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/sarah-cooper-lip-syncs-trump-t.html

• One of the largest spy-for-hire operations ever exposed

An Indian cyber firm that few people have ever heard of, BellTroX InfoTech Services, is reported to have been serving as an international hacking shop for surveillance jobs, helping clients spy on at least 10,000 email accounts belonging to politicians, investors, journalists and activists around the world.

The news comes from this report published Monday night by Citizen Lab:

Dark Basin Uncovering a Massive Hack-For-Hire Operation By John Scott-Railton, Adam Hulcoop, Bahr Abdul Razzak, Bill Marczak, Siena Anstis, and Ron Deibert June 9, 2020

“Researchers at internet watchdog group Citizen Lab, who spent more than two years mapping out the infrastructure used by the hackers, released a report here on Tuesday saying they had "high confidence" that BellTroX employees were behind the espionage campaign,” Reuters reports:

New Delhi-based BellTroX InfoTech Services targeted government officials in Europe, gambling tycoons in the Bahamas, and well-known investors in the United States including private equity giant KKR and short seller Muddy Waters, according to three former employees, outside researchers, and a trail of online evidence.

Aspects of BellTroX’s hacking spree aimed at American targets are currently under investigation by U.S. law enforcement, five people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment.

Reuters does not know the identity of BellTroX’s clients. In a telephone interview, the company’s owner, Sumit Gupta, declined to disclose who had hired him and denied any wrongdoing.

Muddy Waters founder Carson Block said he was “disappointed, but not surprised, to learn that we were likely targeted for hacking by a client of BellTroX.”

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/hacking-firm-in-india-spied-on.html

Director/writer Duncan Jones — whom you may know from his hyper-focused, small cast sci-fi films like Moon and Source Code, or the larger-scale Warcraft film that I admittedly never saw — has a new project out in the form of a graphic novel. Madi: Once Upon A Time In The Future is written by Jones and author/letterer Alex de Campi, with a huge team of artists including Ed Oca~na, Pia Guerra, James Stokoe, RM Gu'era, Chris Weston,  Rufus Dayglo, Annie Wu, David Lopez, Christian Ward, Matt Wilson, Nayoung Kim, Kelly Fitzpatrick, and many more. Here's a brief synopsis:

Madi Preston, a veteran of Britain’s elite special operations J-Squad unit, is burnt out and up to her eyeballs in debt. She and the rest of her team have retired from the military but are now trapped having to pay to service and maintain the technology put into them during their years of service.   They're working for British conglomerate Liberty Inc as  mercenaries, selling their unique ability to be remote controlled by specialists while in the field, and the debts are only growing as they get injured completing missions. We meet Madi as she decides she’s had enough.  She will take an off-the-books job that should earn her enough to pay out her and her sister, but when the piece of tech she’s supposed to steal turns out to be a kid, and she suddenly blacks out... she finds herself on the run from everyone she’s ever known.

Madi is supposed to the final part of a trilogy comprised of Jones's other M-productions, Moon and Mute; while each story exists independently, they're also part of a loosely connected universe. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/duncan-jones-is-raising-money.html

This is better than The Fugitive pic.twitter.com/wE3kR0TyO3

 P.S.Burton (@PSBurton) June 8, 2020

A police officer chases a man on foot. The man starts running down a pier, which seems like a bad idea, until it turns out to be a brilliant idea. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/09/worlds-greatest-escape-from.html