Oval Office

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    Twitter can’t separate verification from validation

    by 
    Andrew Tarantola
    Andrew Tarantola
    11.09.2017

    2016 was a dumpster fire of a year for Twitter. Abusive language and toxic interaction became the norm across the microblogging site as it saw a dramatic rise in activity from users on the far right and their crystallization into the alt-right movement. But for as painful as last year was for the company, 2017 has seen it steadfastly refuse to do little else but pour more gasoline on the flames.

  • White House says broadband is a 'Core Utility' just like power and water

    by 
    Andrew Tarantola
    Andrew Tarantola
    09.22.2015

    Think you could survive in this day and age without access to a broadband connection? The White House has its doubts. A recent report from the Broadband Opportunity Council (under the auspices of the Oval Office) described broadband connectivity as an "essential infrastructure for communities" that "has steadily shifted from an optional amenity to a core utility" on par with water, electricity and sewers. According to the report, which was headed by the chairs of the US departments of Agriculture and Commerce, 51 million Americans lack access to download speeds beyond 25 Mbps. That's roughly a sixth of the national population.

  • Jeb Bush wants to expand the NSA's reach to fight 'evildoers'

    by 
    Andrew Tarantola
    Andrew Tarantola
    08.19.2015

    Presidential hopeful Jeb Bush says that the government should be granted broad surveillance powers over both the American people and and private technology firms so that intelligence agencies can better fight "evildoers", according to the Associated Press. No, seriously, he specifically used the term "evildoers." Dick Dastardly, Skeletor, Gargamel had all better watch their backs if Jeb lands the Oval Office.

  • Next President's trick new Marine One copter is better than yours

    by 
    Paul Miller
    Paul Miller
    08.27.2007

    There's a new presidential helicopter in town, and while George W. will have to run for a third term to get a shot at it, the next president of the United States is a lock for showing up on the White House lawn in this new ride. The Marine One VH-71 is a good many years in production, and will finally show up in 2009. There's seating room for 14 passengers, along with a kitchen, bathroom, high-speed communications suite, sound and vibration reduction and missile protection. The new choppers -- Lockheed Martin is building 23 of them by 2018 -- have a 350 mile range, compared to the current 100 miles of the VH-3Ds, and are being billed an "Oval Office in the sky." There was really never a better time to throw your hat in the ring for "leader of the free world."