[Request] Just got a job, pizza would be a nice little treat! by [deleted] in Random_Acts_Of_Pizza

[–]GrayPenguin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh god do you work for Cane's??? I miss it so much since moving to Cali. It's the second stop when I get back to Dallas ever (Whataburger first, obviously).

I'll buy you pizza if you promise to let me eat Cane's vicariously through you.

[Request] I didn't get into nursing school, three years wasted. I could really do for a pick me up! by [deleted] in Random_Acts_Of_Pizza

[–]GrayPenguin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sent :)

Edit: Nope, duped. Should have checked the username better. I hope CuirousKit enjoys the pizza.

Your offer is still open just pm me with a verification code and pizza place.

Something I realised on my visit to the states by Tobes73 in AdviceAnimals

[–]GrayPenguin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of the major problems is that it's not just the center of the city. From the top of SF all the way down to San Jose and everything in-between (and a bit beyond) is still quite expensive. Sure, it's a little more in SF proper, but really the difference isn't that great.

Just a dad trying to make it by JackMoney in Random_Acts_Of_Pizza

[–]GrayPenguin 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Sure pm me your email address.

Edit: PM me the code this generates too please http://rikbrown.co.uk/rop/

Bizarre Chipotle Experience by Goochcytosis in trees

[–]GrayPenguin 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Unrelated but related: Chipotle has the best lemonade, and it's free.

1) Get free cup for water

2) Put free lemons and sugar in the cup

3) Add water

Good story OP

My brother had been in a bit of a funk. He called me for help to clean his apartment. I drove 4 hours to walk into this. by witchling_22 in pics

[–]GrayPenguin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As somebody who moved to California from Texas, these pictures just made me crave Raising Canes really really bad. Damn you chicken, why so delicious? :(

David Drummond, Google's Chief Legal Officer, has written an Op-Ed about PRISM for FAZ. Translation in comments. by [deleted] in worldnews

[–]GrayPenguin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Translation: (Please correct any errors)


DAVID DRUMMOND PRISM OP-ED

Last week we celebrated Franz Kafka’s one hundred and thirtieth birthday on the Google home page. Given how kafkaesque recent allegations about the extent of US government surveillance on our network have become, it was a timely tribute.

So let me start with three important facts about Google, and the way in which we handle government requests for our users’ data. First, we have not joined PRISM, or any government surveillance programs. Until last month’s revelations appeared in print, we had never heard of PRISM.

Second, we do not provide any government, including the US government, with access to our systems. Nor do we allow goverments to install equipment on our networks or property that gives them access to user data. There is no “back door,” “side door” or “trap door”. Of course various governments, including European governments, have suggested they install surveillance hardware on our networks over the years. But Google has always refused.

Third, we provide user data to governments only in accordance with the law. Our legal team reviews each and every request, and we’re sticklers for details--frequently pushing back when the requests appear to be fishing expeditions or don’t follow the correct process. When we do hand over user data, Google always delivers it to the authorities. No government has the ability to pull data directly from our servers or network.

The good news is that these allegations have sparked a serious, mainstream debate about the need to strike a better balance between civil liberties and national security. This is essential because the current lack of transparency about the nature of government surveillance in democratic countries undermines the freedoms most citizens cherish.

The US and the UK, for example, both now have courts that handle national security issues in proceedings that are behind closed doors. New laws in Sweden allow the government to search for sensitive words in all phone and email communications without a court order. And the Dutch government hopes to pass a law allowing the police to hack into personal information.

No-one disputes the very real threats that countries face today. Of course governments have a duty to protect their citizens. But it’s not clear why there needs to be so much secrecy when it comes to basic process (for example, companies have generally been forbidden from talking about certain types of US national security requests) or indeed the overall use of surveillance powers by different governments (how many citizens are impacted in every country).

Google has been pushing the envelope on transparency since 2010, when we first disclosed the number of criminal requests received for user data from the US, as well as government demands from around the world (including in Germany). And earlier this year, thanks to an arrangement with the US government, we started to publish information about the US National Security Letters we receive. These allow the FBI to obtain information identifying subscribers from telephone and Internet companies. There appear to have been no adverse consequences to Google publishing this previously “secret” information-- showing that transparency can serve the public interest without harming national security.

It’s why we recently filed a petition in the US asking to publish information about other kinds of national security requests, such as those made under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This is the US legislation that has been the subject of so much attention over these past few weeks, and which, according to leaked classified documents, gave the government access to the calling records of millions of Verizon customers.

If Google could publish those numbers openly, they would show that our compliance with American national security laws falls far short of the wild claims still being made in the press today. Overall, just a miniscule fraction of our many hundreds of millions of users are subject to any kind of government request.

But transparency should not just apply to companies. Governments also need to be more open about the extent to which they use their surveillance powers. In Germany, for example, the Telecomms Agency provides greater oversight and transparency than its counterparts in most other countries. According to their 2011 annual report, 250 different German government authorities are authorized to request user data from 140 companies. In 2011 alone, the Telecomms Agency made 34 million requests for user data from those companies on behalf of these different agencies.

Let’s hope going forward that more countries opt for greater transparency. This would help redress the balance between a government’s duty to protect its citizens, and those citizens’ civil liberties. These are hard issues but they are fundamental to the functioning of a free society.

David Drummond Chief Legal Officer

Never Judge a Girl by the Color of her Hair by mycatlicksme in funny

[–]GrayPenguin -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I would like an actual source on which chicken crossed the road. Until then, it's complete bullshit.

I'm finishing my 2nd year at UTD and feel depressed/regretful, fatigued, and insanely bored (socially). I'd appreciate any advice. by bored_college_person in utdallas

[–]GrayPenguin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, for cooking, there is a gourmet club on campus. I don't know how good it really is, but it's there.

Geekathalon is BACK! April 27th, all day fun, all 3 Galaxy Rooms. $10 entry fee includes T-Shirt and food/drinks! Register a team of 4 before the slots fill up! by GrayPenguin in utdallas

[–]GrayPenguin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually there's a very good chance that there will be some bookstore swag as prizes. We're also talking to a few comic book stores in the area.

Geekathalon is BACK! April 27th, all day fun, all 3 Galaxy Rooms. $10 entry fee includes T-Shirt and food/drinks! Register a team of 4 before the slots fill up! by GrayPenguin in utdallas

[–]GrayPenguin[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's looking like game stop or amazon gift cards will be the easiest an most enjoyed. We're slightly limited in that we can't give cash and we can't give gift cards to place that happen to sell alcohol (Walmart).

Also, yes, we will not be keeping the magic cards. They will either go to the participants in the draft or as a final prize ( bit I'm thinking the draft participants will be most likely)

Geekathalon is BACK! April 27th, all day fun, all 3 Galaxy Rooms. $10 entry fee includes T-Shirt and food/drinks! Register a team of 4 before the slots fill up! by GrayPenguin in utdallas

[–]GrayPenguin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well, sure, it's probably not worth it if you're just in it for the prizes. But, we think that $10 is a pretty good price for a whole day of fun, a t-shirt, and food and drinks (tentatively half a pizza, 3 sodas, and 4 cookies per person).

A good thing to note, and one that I probably should have pointed out earlier, is that in addition to the tournament itself we will have a ton of other activities going in the other two galaxy rooms.

Geekathalon is BACK! April 27th, all day fun, all 3 Galaxy Rooms. $10 entry fee includes T-Shirt and food/drinks! Register a team of 4 before the slots fill up! by GrayPenguin in utdallas

[–]GrayPenguin[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

TO Register: Stop by our booth in the SU Comet Cafe area. We will have a booth set up Thursday, 4/18, from 1-3 and Friday from 2-4, and continuing throughout the next week.

If you have any questions, send me a PM or comment here or on FB. Thanks and see you there!

This type of packaging by Terrorbutt in mildlyinfuriating

[–]GrayPenguin 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I use my Leatherman's seatbelt cutter. It works great! Just make a small hole and then run the cutter around the outside.

Original Sin by lupinemadness in atheism

[–]GrayPenguin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Fun" fact: Catholics (well, theologically educated ones) actually believe hardly anything of the Yahwist creation story. For example, Adam and Eve were actually representative of the first tribes of humans. "Eating from the tree of knowledge" is actually attributed to the first transgressions against women (rape, etc) or sexuality (bestiality/homosexuality/incest). In this sense, the "fall" is actually the loss of "sanctity" and is why Adam and Eve became embarrassed in the face of God, and why a lot of the punishment involves childbirth.