"What is oozing out of our ground?"

I found this on Boing Boing. It's the funniest fucking thing I've seen in a while.

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Don't read this if you're prone to paranoia.

The Army's Remote-Controlled Beetle

A giant flower beetle with implanted electrodes and a radio receiver on its back can be wirelessly controlled, according to research presented this week. Scientists at the University of California developed a tiny rig that receives control signals from a nearby computer. Electrical signals delivered via the electrodes command the insect to take off, turn left or right, or hover in midflight. The research, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), could one day be used for surveillance purposes or for search-and-rescue missions.

UFOs Have Been Filmed At Bruce Springsteen Concert

The flying objects were seen above a Philadelphia concert by Bruce in support of US presidential candidate Barack Obama on October 4.

A group of mysterious grey dots flew in an apparent formation across the sky above the concert stage during Bruce's performance. The UFOs were spotted while it was still light and the sky was relatively clear.

Given Springsteen's lengthy pro-Obama/anti-Bush speech, I seriously have to wonder if the UFOs were recon drones sent to keep watch on the crowd. It wouldn't be the first time small unmanned craft have been spotted monitoring protesters.

2012: No Geomagnetic Reversal

Using the Mayan Prophecy as an excuse to create new and explosive ways in which our planet may be destroyed, 2012 doomsayers use the geomagnetic shift theory as if it is set in stone. Simply because scientists have said that it might happen within the next millennium appears to be proof enough that it will happen in four years time.

Minority Report Reality: 'Pre-Crime' Detector Shows Promise

Last year, New Scientist revealed that the US Department of Homeland Security is developing a system designed to detect "hostile thoughts" in people walking through border posts, airports and public places. The DHS says recent tests prove it works.

Well, if the DHS says so it's good enough for me.

Having recently endured several airports (where the Homeland Security Advisory threat level is always "orange"), I couldn't help but appreciate this patently moronic attempt to foster paranoia. We're living in a post-ironic era; Orwell himself couldn't have done it better.

Dick Cheney's shades reflect a strange being

The White House website hosts a photo of Dick Cheney "fly-fishing on the Snake River in Idaho," wearing a pair of reflective glasses. Eagle-eyed William Gibson noticed that there's something awfully weird reflected in them: mutant hybrid sex-slave? Tentacle creature? Elder god?

Hey, why must "mutant hybrid sex slave," "tentacle creature" and "elder god" be mutually exclusive?

Emotion-Tracking Wearable Device Lets Your Boss Monitor Your Feelings

Suggested uses are for medical patients who need to be monitored for health reasons. But obviously emotional monitoring extends way beyond cardiac care and blurs into the world of psychological regulation. Don't be surprised when you start seeing customer service jobs being monitored for emotional quality.

Word has it Starbucks wants in . . .

This one's from February. I found it at Unknown Country (surprise!) and have no idea if it's legit or so much fear-mongering. Frankly, I've always attributed talk of Nazi-esque railcars and massive secret prisons to paranoid delusion. Comments welcome.

Rule by fear or rule by law?

Beginning in 1999, the government has entered into a series of single-bid contracts with Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR) to build detention camps at undisclosed locations within the United States. The government has also contracted with several companies to build thousands of railcars, some reportedly equipped with shackles, ostensibly to transport detainees.

According to diplomat and author Peter Dale Scott, the KBR contract is part of a Homeland Security plan titled ENDGAME, which sets as its goal the removal of "all removable aliens" and "potential terrorists."

Fraud-busters such as Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Los Angeles, have complained about these contracts, saying that more taxpayer dollars should not go to taxpayer-gouging Halliburton. But the real question is: What kind of "new programs" require the construction and refurbishment of detention facilities in nearly every state of the union with the capacity to house perhaps millions of people?

UK top cop who led CIA probe found dead

A city police chief who led an investigation into charges that Britain cooperated with secret CIA flights to transport terrorism suspects without formal proceedings has been found dead, his deputy said Tuesday.

Nothing suspicious here, folks. Move on . . .

Another book for the Posthuman Blues reading pile. (Hey Trevor! How about a review copy?)

Reptilians shapeshifting live on camera (allegedly)

This video claims to show Hillary Clinton's hand shapeshifting into a Reptilian claw. The scene is looped repeatedly while the shot zooms in on her hand, as ominous music is played, which seems to be the norm in all of these videos. The hand does get blurry when the camera gets out of focus, but other than that, I don’t see any Reptilian flesh. What do you think?

(Via Technoccult.)

Aside from being the most boring YouTube video I've seen in a long while, there's absolutely nothing remarkable about it. Not that I really expected to see Hillary morph into a lizard, but still.

Ray (of Ray's X-Blog) relates his mysteriously failed attempt to contact renowned UFO researcher James Moseley. (Have the dreaded reptilians infiltrated the US postal system?)

Ray also mentions my own experiences with the meddling incompetents formally known as the Dep't of Homeland Security. In what I can only interpret as a positive development, Homeland Security has ceased opening my international mail, if my last two packages from Canada are any indication. I never had anything to hide (except, perhaps, an odd taste in books), but the regular sight of bright yellow tape on my FedEx deliveries had become both tiresome and ominous.

Am I off their list, assuming they had one? I guess. And I hope it stays that way.

Arrested, caged and DNA tested - for using MP3

A commuter was arrested at gunpoint and had his DNA and fingerprints taken simply for listening to his MP3 player while waiting for a bus.

Darren Nixon was surrounded by armed police after his music player was mistaken for a gun.

When a passer-by saw the 28-year-old get out his black Philips machine to change tracks, she panicked and dialled 999.

(Via Night of the Living Jackboots.)

Area 51 is now -- are you ready? -- "Homey Airport."

"Area 51" had such a becomingly ominous ring to it; I'm already waxing nostalgiac for the heyday of Bob Lazar . . .

CIA launches hunt for international computer hackers threatening to hold cities ransom by shutting off power

The CIA has launched a major hunt for international computer hackers who are threatening to throw cities into chaos by sabotaging their electricity supplies.

Pheromonally enraged zombies, blackened cities . . . that's it -- I'm joining a cult!

US and UK rival China for government surveillance

The US, the UK, China and Russia are "endemic surveillance societies", according to a recent study examining privacy protection around the world that gave the four nations the lowest possible rating.

The 10th annual report showed a global increase in surveillance and a decline in privacy safeguards during 2007, as concerns over immigration and border control continued to dominate national policy agendas.

(Via Nerdshit.)

Blog of the day: Saucers, Spooks and Spies

Another FedEx package opened by the tireless folks at Homeland Security. Maybe I'm a starry-eyed idealist, but for once I'd like to be the first person to look at my own mail.

Area 51's Robotic Spy Bird

Those robo-dragonflies may not be the only creatures keeping an eye on you. For many years now intelligence agencies have been looking at drones disguised as birds.

(Via UFOMystic.)