Over Population and World Food Myths?

Secret memo reveals which telecoms store your data the longest

The nation’s major mobile-phone providers are keeping a treasure trove of sensitive data on their customers, according to a newly released Justice Department internal memo that for the first time reveals the data retention policies of America’s largest telecoms.

The single-page Department of Justice document, “Retention Periods of Major Cellular Service Providers,” (PDF) is a guide for law enforcement agencies looking to get information—like customer IP addresses, call logs, text messages and web surfing habits—out of US telecom companies, including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon.

The document, marked “Law Enforcement Use Only” and dated August 2010, illustrates there are some significant differences in how long carriers retain your data.

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Wall Street Now Home to Protest Campground

A standoff near Wall Street between protesters opposed to what they say is corporate greed and police may drag on into winter, with a march on police headquarters the likely next test of whether tensions escalate.

The Occupy Wall Street movement was planning Friday an unauthorized demonstration on the streets outside the New York City police center of operations.

The group is adding complaints of excessive police force against protesters and police treatment of ethnic minorities and Muslims to its grievances list, which includes bank bailouts, foreclosures and high unemployment.

Police have made about 100 arrests and used pepper spray, which they called a better alternative than night sticks to subdue those blocking traffic.

"We're here for the long haul,'' said Patrick Bruner, a protester and student at Skidmore College in upstate New York, who is among those camped out in a private park near One World Trade Center.

Experts say they don't expect the type of violence recently seen in London.

Read more: On Fox News

Facebook changes spark new privacy concerns

Facebook’s announcement of site changes that included a new privacy setting, a new Timeline feature and a revamped news feed have sparked rumors of a new fee scheme and renewed privacy concerns. Faster Forward’s Hayley Tsukayama breaks down the facts and fictions of the Facebook redesign:

Read More.... Facebook changes, Timeline and apps spark new privacy concerns - The Washington Post

The Next Secretary of Defense Is Kind of a N00b

No one doubts that CIA Director Leon Panetta is qualified to become secretary of defense. Not the senators who said they couldn’t wait to vote for his confirmation, and probably not Osama bin Laden, whose death is the direct result of Panetta’s leadership. But at a few points during his Wednesday confirmation hearing, Panetta appeared out of his comfort zone on key issues he’ll have to tackle at the Pentagon — everything from shipbuilding to cybersecurity to the size of the Army. He even backed a plan that could edge us closer to a nuclear nightmare.

Read More - The Next Secretary of Defense Is Kind of a N00b