Israeli Spyware Being Used To Snoop on Americans

spywareSean Adl-Tabatabai – Military-grade spyware from Israel is being used by governments around the world to snoop on journalists, activists and ordinary citizens, according to a bombshell new report.

Pegasus is a malware that infects iPhones and Android devices. It allows snoopers to retrieve messages, photos and emails, record calls and activate microphones. According to reports, 189 journalists, more than 600 politicians and government officials and more than 60 business executives were targeted by clients of NSO Group, a hacker-for-hire company based in Israel. Continue reading

4,000-Year-Old Ancient Babylonian Tablet Is Oldest Customer Service Complaint Ever Discovered

Liz Leafloor  – A clay tablet from ancient Babylon reveals that no matter where (or when) you go, good customer service can be hard find. So it was revealed by the irate copper merchant, Nanni, in 1750 B.C. The merchant’s aggravation is evident, spelled out in cuneiform on a clay tablet now displayed in The British Museum.

In what is said to be the oldest customer service complaint discovered, Babylonian copper merchant Nanni details at length his anger at a sour deal, and his dissatisfaction with the quality assurance and service of Ea-nasir.

Forbes reports, “The letter implies that Nanni had dispatched his personal assistants to Ea-nasir Fine Copper at least once looking for a refund, only to be rebuffed and sent home empty handed – and through a war zone!”

tabletsAccording to science site ABC Science, a translation of the tablet text is available in the book Letters from Mesopotamia: Official, Business and Private Letters on Clay Tablets from Two Millenni” by Assyriologist A. Leo Oppenheim. The book includes translations of letters written in ancient Akkadian from many walks of life; “from poverty-stricken women to their generous brothers, from pregnant slave girls and yes, between merchants, manufacturers and traders.”

The translation lays out Nanni’s displeasure:

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