Opening Vault 7 

As President Donald Trump transforms the executive branch of the United States of America into a spectacle of gruesome amusement, WikiLeaks has released a small portion of confidential reports by the CIA in what they’re referring to as “Vault 7”.

To those who aren’t aware, as many are not, WikiLeaks is “an international non-profit organization working for transparency which publishes news leaks based on their ethical, historical and political significance” (Source). Since 2006, their efforts have ‘pulled back the curtain’ on the illusions of power by leaking out several thousand documents, files, emails, and various other forms of sensitive information. Their last big show of force covered by every media news source was none other than the email scandal surrounding Hillary Clinton and John Podesta during the peak of the election, significantly impacting her campaign. Director of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, has clarified that the release of these documents was intended to highlight how the CIA has lost control of its cyber weaponry, allowing it to fall into the hands of those who’d use it for malicious intent. In total, 8,761 documents were leaked out and many reveal the kinds of wild-west behavior that the CIA has been engaging in with their development of hacking tools and cyber weaponry that crosses moral and legal boundaries at every turn.

Some of the surveillance technology reported and brought into the public eye through the leak includes a program called “Weeping Angel,” which has the capability to “infest smart TVs, transforming them into covert microphones” (Source). The documents also highlight the software’s ability to infect Samsung smart televisions, placing them in a “Fake-Off” mode that allows the television to appear to be off, when in reality it is operating as a bug and recording conversations (Source). One of the more startling documents in the leak that has garnered a lot of the public’s ire are discussions from October 2014 that center on the development of software that can infect vehicle control systems used by modern cars and trucks (Source). WikiLeaks clarifies that there is no direct purpose in mind for the development of such a tool, but posits that it would “permit the CIA to engage in nearly undetectable assassinations” (Source).

Though Assange highlights the CIA’s ineptitude in allowing this kind of dangerous programming to fall into the wrong hands, I think that the very nature of such programs like “Weeping Angel” or the car-hacking initiative pose quite a clear and imminent danger to the lives of American citizens. What happens when the development of cyber weaponry is turned on any individual who resists the sway of the country? It wouldn’t be the first time that political action was met with the violent intervention of the United States. I’m terrified, to be honest. Many cyber-analysts and security experts are warning individuals to stay safe by avoiding any activity that would earn you a place under the CIA’s interest. But as we’ve seen time and time again, it is a privilege to not fall in the crosshairs of the American political, legal, and law systems. So I pose another line of questioning. Is it possible that the futures that Orwell, Huxley, and Bradbury imagined were not as accurate as we believe? Is it possible that it could become far worse?

– Christopher LaSasso

MAR10

Throughout the relatively short history of video gaming, no character is as iconic as Mario. Every year on March 10 Nintendo, who owns the Intellectual Property to the Mario franchise, celebrates with a different event. Nintendo typically encourages all fans of Mario to spend time with the iconic plumber and relish the nostalgia which he can evoke in you. But wait, there’s more.

Nintendo may be a company but that doesn’t mean they can’t do something good. In fact, Nintendo is working with a non-profit organization called Starlight Children’s Foundation, whose goal is to illuminate and brighten the lives of seriously ill children. Nintendo will first be refashioning the children’s hospital garments, which have been decried as embarrassing and unattractive. The redesign shall equip the children with fashionable gowns depicting images that will feature Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and other iconic characters from the Mario Universe.

This is a great cause and I am so happy Nintendo is doing something like this. My heart goes out for all the children who are chronically ill and are subjected to a life like this. Click here in case you want to find out more about this organization. However, there’s more to this article than Nintendo is letting on. Their mission is to foster relationships and create a memorable experience from their games. The 32 year lifespan of Mario definitely attests to that.

They stick to IPs like Mario, Zelda, and Kirby because it works. They appeal to children, adolescents, and adults. Their products are meant to foster a community, not isolate an individual. Mario Kart 8, for example, has the entire Mario cast driving comical race cars. Just the other day my brother and I were playing together, and it was a fun experience. I felt my childhood gushing forth while my brother was in the midst of experiencing his own. We were definitely competitive for the first race or two, but by the end of it all, my brother and I were smiling.

Quoting Don James, the VP of Nintendo of America’s operations, best reflects this:

“Mario puts a smile on everyone’s face, and we wanted our activities on MAR10 Day to reflect that… whether a longtime fan or someone new to the world of Nintendo, Mario can power up anyone’s day.”

Click here for more information!

Onur Ayaz

The Insanity of 45’s Health Plan

Number 45 has introduced the American Healthcare Reform Act of 2017 (HR 277) to the public and is steamrolling its way to the Senate floor. What is funny about this entire thing is that no one wants to take credit for the bill, so I shall refer to it as HR 277. If HR 277 becomes law, the 8 million people who seek help for mental health issues and nearly 11 million who seek assistance for substance abuse will no longer have coverage under Medicaid starting in 2020. Under Obamacare, Medicaid was expanded to cover mental health and substance abuse issues. Under HR 277, this expansion will be rolled back to compensate for what seems to be $600 million in tax cuts for the top 0.1 percent. Among many things if passed unchecked, HR 277 will upend one of the many campaign promises made by number 45 to take care of individuals who are currently addicted to drugs in major cities. Another troublesome part of HR 277 is the that maternity care and preventative services will no longer be guarantees, as is defined under the Affordable Care Act.

Not only will this aspect of Medicaid be rolled back, but there will be a freeze or a roll-back on the broader requirements for Medicaid in general. Medicaid is the nation’s largest outlet of health insurance for millions of Americans across the nation that help the poor, disabled, or students. This means that fewer Americans will qualify for Medicaid and will be kicked off the insurance program.

Another troublesome aspect is that there will be fewer tax credits under HR 477 which would allow seniors to shop for and afford insurance policies after retirement age. There are currently more tax credits to help seniors afford insurance under the Affordable Care Act than there will be under HR 477. A major flaw in the plan is its heavy reliance on tax credits to assist individuals to shop and afford health insurance plans. The bill will conversely allocate tax credits based on a person’s income, rather than inversely.

The Affordable Care Act has a law that prevents insurance companies from charging up to three times more for health insurance to seniors compared to young adults. Under HR 277, the law will be no more and insurance companies will be free to upcharge seniors on the cost of health insurance. This will be a return of what the Obama administration had deemed the “age tax.”

Currently, dealing with health insurance companies is nothing short of a headache and nightmare. Under HR 277 we will see the nightmare take a drastic turn for the worse if this health insurance bill becomes law in this country.

-Luis Roca