Make Me Care

Well, you already missed the auction highlighted on NPR over the past three months and featured in the time pressured Make Me Care segment where advocates get their chance at winning you over on news stories undifferentiated or squelched by mainstream news services. This past March, technology companies such as Google, Phillips, and Free Press bid over the FCC regulated electromagnetic spectrum that follows 58MHz - 698MHz TV channels 1-51 known commonly as "white space." Formerly these 700MHz and above air waves were the unused portion hoarded by major networks and overridden by your computer. These are the same range of radio waves that powers your 800.22 Mbps Wireless Internet Connection and your iPhone. Someone forgot to send you the memo! TV is going from analog, think of Ma Bell and telephone poles, to digital starting February 29, 2009! The FCC is mandating that all new TV's have a digital connection so that your old "rabbit ears" will now pick up a streaming TMZ video or two. Brit, Paris, Winehouse, and Whitney Houston in heavy cycle on your monitor, your PDA, and the old living room TV set. Now does that jolt you?

Indecision 2008: Vote McCain!

In this clip, John McCain reaches out to John Stewart of the Daily Show the media blowhorn for Indecision 2008.

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Surreptitious Sampling

Without the necessity for law enforcement to petition a judge for a warrant, police can pick up DNA samples from water bottles and cigarrette butts by the use of Surreptitious Sampling. Akin to digging through your neighbor's garbage set by the case California v. Greenwood, Courts look the other way when it comes to finding a dead ringer after he takes his last sip from a styrofoam Dixie cup. In comes the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008 (GINA). GINA restricts genetic tests or genetic illnesses from being used to deny insurance applications, health care coverage, or employment. What can be used against you in the Fourth Amendment, reasonable search and seizure context, cannot be used against you to violate your other civil rights. GINA passed in the Senate and the House of Congress except for Representative Ron Paul who cited the government's poor record in protecting privacy. Now how about them apples?

Dear John

When prominent men step out on their wives we see the hysteria it causes namely because of the illegal or scandalous ends that are taken. For example over the past several weeks the media has saturated our brains with Debra Jean Palfrey's abrupt death and Ashley Alexandra Dupre's' race for stardom and our noses with the stench of dirty laundry. But what happens when hubby Client Nine sends you text message: "86" or you can smell the cheap perfume via text message before he walks in the door? My supposition starts when technology supercedes the relationship by the use of sending written messages or even scents via your cell phone. KC Jones from Information Week reports that the new German patent for the smell-phone will only emanate whiffs of "ocean breezes" and "nice fragrances." If only technology was that merciful. In this day and age, Islamic law is debating whether it is lawful for a man to divorce his wife via text message, three times the charm. Take Kwame Kilpatrick, the Detroit Mayor's series of text messages with his Chief of Staff were uncovered through a whistle-blower law suit and eventually subjected him to perjury charges. A pair of scisscors or a the flush of a toilet handle won't rid a jilted wife of the remnants of a steamy trist his motorola. The electronic trail is recorded on the mother board for posterity. Unfortunately that also leaves Palfrey's DC Madam call grid as well.

No Free Parking

Although my first choice for a New Jersey Hall of Fame would be the Monopoly board game, Bruce Springsteen was one of the first inductees yesterday at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The Hall of Fame requires an inductee to live in the state for at least five years. Harriet Tubman was allowed an exception although she only lived in New Jersey for one year (Source???). I would like to buy Reading Railroad.

BWI's Mile High Club

Strange enough, NPR released a broadcast about the Transportation Security Administration's "whole-body scanner." The "whole body scanner" operates by using radio waves released in a glass booth to see under your clothes before you enter the airport terminal. This machine is not for the squemish, both women and men must enter the booth. It is supposed to release pictures of your body to be viewed remotely by airport security for drugs, bombs, or other contraband. Your face will be blurred. However is this a small price to pay for a safe flight or is it worth the agony over a stranger looking at you under your briefs when there are friends out there like Antonella Barba's?

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Warrant Less Wiretapping...

Comrades, the stuffed animal is a prop for some subversive movement...




$10 Remote Home Security Hack - video powered by Metacafe