Blender Fox

John Oliver's response to Saturday evening's attacks

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youtu.be/3XS7tQ8bM…

The Meitu selfie app unlocks your anime beauty and personal data

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Meitu has been taking off – everywhere I look on my Facebook, Twitter, I see pictures run through the app.

But do you actually check to see what permissions it asks for? A crazy amount it seems. I just checked on Google Play (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mt.mtxx.mtxx) and these are the current permissions

Version 6.1.0.2 can access:
Device & app history
  • retrieve running apps
Location
  • approximate location (network-based)
Phone
  • read phone status and identity
Photos / Media / Files
  • read the contents of your USB storage
  • modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
Storage
  • read the contents of your USB storage
  • modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
Camera
  • take pictures and videos
Wi-Fi connection information
  • view Wi-Fi connections
Device ID & call information
  • read phone status and identity
Other
  • receive data from Internet
  • view network connections
  • change system display settings
  • full network access
  • change your audio settings
  • run at startup
  • reorder running apps
  • control vibration
  • prevent device from sleeping
  • Google Play licence check
For the most part, these aren't too much of a concern but these two might be:
Phone
  • read phone status and identity
 Device ID & call information
  • read phone status and identity
These relate to reading the device information such as the IMEI and call information. I'm not too concerned about the call side -- you can block this with later version of Android's permission manager (and I use that a lot with different apps), but I'm not sure if I can block attempts to read phone status.

Their justification of this to track usage in China because it is blocked, I guess does make sense, but am I the only one who thinks doing it this way leaves it way too open for abuse and misuse?

Source: The Meitu selfie app unlocks your anime beauty and personal data

Orlando shooting: Isil wages war on gays in the West after Omar Mateen kills 50 in nightclub attack - America's worst ever mass shooting

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• 50 dead and 53 injured after Isil gunman opened fire on gays and lesbians in Orlando nightclub • Shooter Omar Mateen, 27, said to have "pledged allegiance to Isil" in 9/11 call before massacre • Police use armoured vehicle to storm Pulse nightclub and release 30 hostages • Obama condemns attack as an "act of terror and hate" • World Trade Center to be lit up in LGBT colours in mourning for homophobic attack • Everything we know so far about the 50 people killed by Omar Mateen • Orlando gunman used AR-15 assault rifle to kill his victims - the weapon of choice for mass shooters

Source: Orlando shooting: Isil wages war on gays in the West after Omar Mateen kills 50 in nightclub attack - America’s worst ever mass shooting

Zak Ebrahim: I am the son of a terrorist. Here's how I chose peace

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TED videos are always inspirational. With all the fighting going on in and around, it is nice to know that there are some who refuse to follow in the footsteps of their extremist forefathers.

www.youtube.com/watch

America

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America has had a really, REALLY bad week this week.

First the Boston Marathon bombings, and now the explosion in West, TX.

From http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Explosion-Rocks-Fertilizer-Plant-During-Fire-203508011.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_DFWBrand

People can call the following emergency number for information on family and loved ones: 254-202-1100.
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Moston Marathon Explosions -- People Finder By Google

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Looking for someone caught up in the explosions? Have information about someone caught in the explosions? Google have setup a people finder to help on both fronts:

http://google.org/personfinder/2013-boston-explosions

EDIT: From Sky News UK

Boston Police said there is a helpline in the US for concerned relatives: 617 635 4500, and anybody with information about the blasts should call 1 800 494 tips.

The UK consulate in Boston said British Nationals in need of emergency consular assistance should call the Global Response Centre on 1 877 854 6872.

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