Too Simple?

Another car bomb in Iraq kills scores of people lined up outside a building. My question is why do they let cars drive near lines of people? Why not close a street where people need to queue. Seems like a simple, logical solution to me.

Sci-Fact: Monkey Think, Monkey Do

University of Pittsburgh researchers announced last week that a monkey fed himself with a robotic arm controlled only by his thoughts. Not only does this give renewed hope to victims of spinal cord injuries or nervous system disorders, but also to couch potatoes too lazy to feed themselves.

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto,
Mata ah-oo hima de
Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto,
Himitsu wo shiri tai

You're wondering who I am-machine or mannequin
With parts made in Japan, I am the modern man
- from the song "Mr. Roboto" performed by the Styx, words by Dennis DeYoung
(c) 1983

Translation of the Japanese:
Domo arigato - Thank you very much
Mata ah-oo hima de - Until we meet again
Himitsu wo shiri tai - I want to know your secret

P.I.: Today's Goulash 02/16

PRIVATE EYE: Knock Knock, Future Calling

Here is a small sampler of Privacy issues for you. Little by little, pebble by pebble, we are losing the fight. Enjoy the twilight years of privacy as we know it.

Tag'em Like A Wild Animal
Brittan Elementary School in Sutter, California USA is disappointed that InCom Corp has withdrawn from a project to use RFID tags on the students. I wrote about RFID tags back in October 2004 ("P.I.: Tag! You're It"). Basically it a tiny (think grain of rice) chip that stores a unique number. A scanner sends a radio frequency (RF) to the chip and the chip transmits back the data. It needs no battery, instead it is powered by the RF wave. Currently this technology works from a few inches to several feet away. Expect greater distance as the technology matures. Since it is RF it goes through solid material (like flesh, clothes, or paper).

The Brittan School wants to track students everywhere on campus. Like every two-edged sword this cuts both ways - it can improve security, automate student attendance, and greatly increase making sure the kids are where they should be - all positive reasons for using RFID. But what about the negative? For one thing there is no way to turn the RFID off (other than destroying it). This means wherever the child goes with the tag the potential is there for tracking - stores, restaurants, individuals, well hopefully you are getting the idea. What about false positives - slipping your tag in another students pack, now you slip off while the system things it knows where you are. The solution to that will be implants under the skin.


Electronically Readable National ID Card
There is a bill before the US Congress (H.R.418) to require your state ID card to contain electronically readable data or else the Federal government will not accept it. If passed this law would force states to comply or else their citizens would be unable to interact with the Federal government (on second thought that might be a good thing). The US State Department will soon be issuing passports with RFID chips. This is all in response to national security. Sidestepping any state rights issue I actually endorse the "electronically readable" idea provided it is individual controlled - see my post from October 2004 "Give Me Your Life History". This would could be done with a magnetic strip on the ID card. Unfortunately I expect the RFID tag to be the method used by the states.


Has Your Identity Been Stolen Yet?
ChoicePoint Inc. is a company that describes itself as

ChoicePoint has grown from the nation's premier source of data to the insurance industry into the premier provider of decision-making intelligence to businesses and government. Through the identification, retrieval, storage, analysis and delivery of data, ChoicePoint serves the informational needs of businesses of all sizes, as well as federal, state and local government agencies.

ChoicePoint is now warning thousands of Californians that thieves breached security in October 2004 and stole Social Security numbers, credit reports, and other confidential information. The theft has resulted in estimates of 750 cases in Los Angeles county of identity theft. Were Californians the only people to have data stolen? Most likely not, but California is the only state that has laws requiring the citizens be notified. So if you are like me and live outside California you may be a victim of identity theft and not even know it.

One more thing, how did the crackers breach security? The old fashioned way - they set up accounts as valid businesses and subscribed to ChoicePoint's services. Nothing techy involved and any credit reporting service could fall victim to this type attack.
And people wonder why I oppose new and innovative ways to collect data about me.

It is your privacy – work to protect it.

You better not be caught off guard
This wolf is on the search now
A leopard just can't change it's spots
And I'm about to lurch now
I roar like the jungle, I fight tooth and nail
I just gotta get you, you'll fall without fail
I'm ready for the kill, I'm right on the brink
It's animal instinct
- from the song "Animal Instinct" performed by Elvis Presley, words by Giant, Baum, Kaye (c) 1965

TechTip: Mozilla Thunderbird - A Great Add-on

Back in December I told you to switch to Mozilla Thunderbird for your email client. If you haven't switched yet here is a great incentive: Senderface. (and if you have already switched this is a great bonus). In a nutshell Senderface is an extension (plug-in) for Tbird that lets you associate an image with an email address. Now when you open an email from Aunt Myrtle there is a thumbnail image of her smiling face next to her name. I receive a lot of newsletters and this really helps me keep up with what I am reading.

The "face" can be any size PNG image. I recommend you limit the height to 64 pixels or it starts hampering your ability to read the email. Depending on your screen resolution it can easily be 200 pixels wide, making it very handy to use a webpage banner for the newsletters.

Trust me on this one - use it once and you will be hooked.

You can download Mozilla Thunderbird here
You can download the Senderface extension here.
View Senderface screenshots here.
Convert your images to PNG format (freeware) Easy Thumbnails or IrfanView32.

I have a picture
Pinned to my wall
An image of you and of me and we´re laughing
We´re loving it all
- from the song "Hold Me Now" performed by The Thompson Twins (c) 1984 Bailey, Currie and Leeway

Around the World in 72.9 Days - NEW WORLD RECORD!

Ellen MacArthur has set a new record for the fastest human sailor to circle the world solo on a multi-hull vessel. The new record is 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds. She beat the existing record by 32 hours, 35 minutes, 49 seconds set by Frenchman Francis Joyon in 2004. It has already been announced Queen Elizabeth will offer Ellen the title "Dame Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order", making her the youngest person to reach such a level in recent times.
What is so special about making a non-stop, solo trip around the globe? According to the BBC "Only five solo sailors have attempted a record circumnavigation on a multihull and only Joyon made it all the way round non-stop." Well now it is Joyon and MacArthur.

Well, I was born in the sign of water
And it's there that I feel my best
The albatross and the whales they are my brothers
It's kind of a special feeling
When you're out on the sea alone
Staring at the full moon, like a lover
- from the song "Cool Change" performed by the Little River Band, words by Glenn Shorrock (c) 1979

Around the World in 72.9 Days (day 71)

As of 9AM London time Feb 7th Ellen MacArthur is 32 hours ahead of the record. . .overnight finish possible.

Around the World in 72.9 Days (day 69)

As of 9AM London time Feb 5th Ellen MacArthur is 50 hours ahead of the record. . .In her latest email Ellen said: "Its funny yesterday the finish seemed quite close, now it feels a very long way away. It's going to be tough, it's so cold that I had stomach ache, headache, starting coughing...it saps everything you've got, you can't recover."

Around the World in 72.9 Days (day 68)

As of 9AM London time Feb 4th Ellen MacArthur is 61 hours ahead of the record. . .

Super Bowl XXXIX - Fears of 1981

Anyone remember the Fog Bowl of 1981? I do. It was December 28, 1981 in Jacksonville, Florida. North Carolina played Arkansas in the Gator Bowl. I don't remember what time the kickoff was but it was a night game so I'd guess it was 8PM. By the end of the first quarter both teams were in a fog. I mean real Spanish moss gray fog. The press box could not see the field. The only cameras ABC could use were ground level and even those were fuzzy.

That was 23 years ago. The Gator Bowl has long since been demolished. But a new stadium was built on the same spot. Right on the edge of the St. Johns River. Which just happens to be where Super Bowl XXXIX will be played this Sunday night. And the weather this morning in Jacksonville? Extremely foggy. As a football fan I don't want to see a repeat of the 1981 Fog Bowl, but it could happen. Now wouldn't that make for a game to remember.

By the way, North Carolina won the 1981 Fog, er I mean, Gator Bowl 31-27. Check out this link for video of that game.

Welcome to The River City - a place of sunshine and fog

I'll get off on Main Street, step into the crowd,
Sidewalk under my feet, yeah, traffic's good and loud.
When I see my inner city child, I'll be walkin' on a cloud.

'Cause I'm a fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city
- from the song "Fool For The City" performed by Foghat (c) 1975 Dave Peverett

Around the World in 72.9 Days (day 67)

As of 9AM London time Feb 3rd Ellen MacArthur is 77 hours ahead of the record. . .

Around the World in 72.9 Days (day 66)

In the last two days Ellen MacArthur has increased her lead to 81 hours. . .

TechTip: Printer Friendly Help Pages

There is world wide web of help on the Internet. If you find yourself at one of the professional, commercial sites and they have a great article but it spans multi-pages here is a trick to try out: See if there is a link for "Printer Friendly". Often this will do two things - give you the complete article on a single page and frequently it removes many of the advertisements. Now isn't that easier to read?

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) Sun-Shiny day.
- from the song "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash (c) 1972