Worth Knowing, Probably Not Quite Threadworthy 8/20

[SVPete]

They Didn’t Need a Memo

https://jennifersey.substack.com/p/they-didnt-need-a-memo

The aftermath of Sunday’s Atlanta Dream vs Indiana Fever game has been a clinic in institutional weaseling. A Georgia mom and her 17-year-old daughter paid real money for seats two rows from the floor — the tickets were $1000 each! They wore XX-XY Athletics shirts supporting Sophie Cunningham’s statements about protecting women’s sports and spaces. In overtime, WNBA security approached them, declared the shirts “offensive” and offered a choice: put on the provided Dream “Wellness & Health Night” tees or get escorted out. They complied so they wouldn’t miss the last two minutes of the very close game (Indiana pulled it out and won 95-91.)

The WNBA’s statement was a classic non-apology: “The WNBA is aware of interactions at last night’s game in Atlanta in which fans were asked by league security to cover their shirts. This should not have happened.”

No we apologize.

No we told them to do it and we were wrong.

No we are sorry to the paying fans that they were told they couldn’t wear a t-shirt supporting female athletes.

None of that. Just a late admission that their own people overstepped — after the video of Kasey Thomason and her daughter Annie was already circulating.

I would argue that while there may have been specific direction to security to censor pro-woman messaging and for camera guys to skip over any support for XX-XY and save women’s sports messaging . . . it probably wasn’t even required. These institutions are so thoroughly captured that security and camera guys wouldn’t even need explicit orders. They already know which messages are forbidden. Which t-shirt to censor. Which people to skip in the broadcast.

Italics in the original. This is implausible deniability. Put nothing in writing/email, shampologize and hypovehiculate the security dudes should it become too public.

[enslaved1]

ASYLUM SHAME Disturbing guide on how ‘not to rape women’ in UK given to asylum seekers by Home Office after string of attacks

ASYLUM seekers arriving in the UK are being handed booklets warning them that sex with children is illegal, and that men and women are equal under UK law.

The nine-page document, published by the Home Office, tells migrants that they understand “laws and customs here may be different from your home country”.

If you have to tell people things like this, you don't want them in your country. 

[enslaved1]

New AirPods leak reveals built-in cameras and Visual Intelligence

Apple’s AirPods could soon do more than play music, with a leaked video appearing to reveal a new model that uses built-in cameras to help Siri understand the world around its wearer.

Cameras fitted inside wearable technology have previously proven a little controversial. Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses have faced privacy concerns over their ability to record discreetly, with several pubs, restaurants, and theatres reportedly restricting their use over fears that customers could be filmed without consent.

Leaks and rumors about unreleased products, so keep a salt block handy, but the despite the loud and almost immediate uproar over Google Glasses, there has been much less rumbling about the Meta glasses, indicating that people aren't paying attention/are giving up the fight and that tech companies are willing to keep pushing until they get the surveillance state that tells them exactly what ads are most effective for individuals.  Plus collect data to sell to governments and other unsavory folks.