Random Thoughts and Whatnot

September 28, 2007

Bi-product of global warming: Brain-eating Amoebas

This is a grave medical story, perhaps a foreshadow of dangers to come: Brain-Eating Amoeba Kills Arizona Boy. It would be interesting to track the frequency of these buggers over the next few warming and warming years, if you believe in that kind of thing.

In looking for photos of amoeba, I came across this gallery: http://www.lastrefuge.co.uk/php/sitesearch2.php?q=%2Bclouds+%2Bhill+%2Bimaging

For serious scholarship, please visit this link:

Written at 9:04 PM by David.

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September 24, 2007

Comforting biometrics news

Online biometrics flaw gives hackers a 'fake finger'.

Imagine the utopia in 15 years when our fingerprint is our ID and we won't have to carry cash, credit cards, or medical information. Leave it to hackers to be one step ahead of the good guys.

And in investment news:

"The UK biometrics visa programme has awarded a $4.4m contract to Cross Match Technologies for the supply of fingerprint scanners to UK overseas missions.

The US-based biometric identity company will provide British embassies and consulates around the world with 1,385 of its livescan Guardian scanner devices."

I'm either getting lucky or good. The juxtaposition of these news articles kills me. One more cliche and I'll poke my eye out with a 10 foot pole. Ouch!

Written at 11:18 PM by David.

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September 20, 2007

I am struck by the coincidence in these two articles:

President Bush urged Congress to broaden surveillance activities and make the new eavesdropping law permanent after a visit to the National Security Agency.

versus

The UK is in danger of becoming a "surveillance society ruled by the technology and the politics of fear", the Liberal Democrats have warned.
Home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said the government saw "no limits" to the use of technology for spying on people.
The party's annual conference in Brighton voted to repeal the ID Cards Act and for the destruction of DNA samples taken from "innocent" people.
It also called for "appropriate regulation" of CCTV cameras.

Not that I believe the UK will scale back on their survelliance society, but I do smirk at the tone of the two articles. DNA samples taken from "innocent" people! That is news to me. I hope we don't go in that direction in the US, but pretty soon we may and then coupled with security camera biometric scanning, there is not telling what is next--real time law enforcement robots (!) who can grab anyone the computer tells them to grab. That's advancement!

Written at 7:54 AM by David.

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September 18, 2007

Biometrics and some fine wine

I put some money last week into a security company. Not mentioned in these articles, but here is some interesting writing about biometrics none-the-less:

Government Prodding Biometrics into the Mainstream?

IPO Analysis: Cross Match, Leader Of Biometric Technology

For more advice, please see my accountant. (Kidding)

On a more sobering note: Ten people murdered in Detroit since Saturday.

I did manage to run 3.5 miles today. It was slightly cool, or at least not warm, and I began the run slow but knew immediately it was one of those afternoons when I could run forever. Instead, I tempered my forever to a moderate 3.5 miles and had some rather quick stretches in there, of 5 minutes or more, where I let myself feel good.

Speaking of feeling good, I recommend a dry red wine I had last week: Castano Monastrell Yecla 2006, that I purchased from Whole Foods for $9.99. After a few sips, I felt this is the once in a decade find and I went out a few nights later and bought myself a half dozen bottles. I might even give some away as gifts. It is a dry red with a bold taste and lasting finish. I don't have the wine connoisseurs lingo, but I would have to say it is sophisticated and would go well with beef, lamb, or cheese and crackers. Whole Foods, check it out and buy a bottle. Best $9.99 you'll ever spend, beyond spending some $ with your 6-year-old at the game room downtown Ann Arbor.

Enjoy.

Written at 9:31 PM by David.

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September 17, 2007

Big Brother is watching us all

I quote from the article:

"Opinion polls, both in the US and Britain, say that about 75% of us want more, not less, surveillance. Some American cities like New York and Chicago are thinking of taking a lead from Britain where our movements are monitored round the clock by four million CCTV cameras.

So far there is no gadget that can actually see inside our houses, but even that's about to change."

But, regarding biometrics, 14-year-old Jessica Roberts knows better: "I get an uneasy feeling with someone having my fingerprints," the 14-year-old said. "It creeps me out." After all, she can use her fingerprint to purchase lunch today. Hmm.

Written at 10:42 PM by David.

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September 14, 2007

Scott Adams quotations

When you need inspiration, check out Scott Adams and Dilbert Quotations at The Quotation Page.

Written at 12:47 PM by David.

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September 10, 2007

The future of RFID: California makes headway but danger to those in Cincinnati

"The California state Senate has approved legislation to bar employers from forcing workers to have RFID chips implanted under their skin". But what is most surprising to me is this: "Cincinnati video surveillance company CityWatcher.com already requires employees who work in its secure data centre to have a microchip implanted in an attempt to minimise security risks."

I can

accept RFID chips in pets or guitars, but not humans. Don't we have enough surveillance in our lives? I know, let's require each of us to have embedded video devices attached to our heads.

Here is my stunning interpretation of what I will look like in this future in a self portrait drawing I aptly call "MeWithRFIDChipAndVideo CameraAttachedToMyHead.jpg".

Enjoy, and happy future to us all!

Written at 10:05 AM by David.

1 comments

September 09, 2007

Hot link for Laura Veirs

I never heard of UGO, but at this link, you can enjoy a couple of her songs performed live and an interview as well. Recorded from the period when she was promoting Year of Meteors.

Of course, there are youtube videos, like this one or this one.

I am amazed every day at the internet. And to think, this is only the beginning. Our kids and their kids will be wrapped in the internet and not take notice of its presence, or oppression. Oppression?

Written at 9:57 AM by David.

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September 08, 2007

Follow up to The Field Mice post

I'm not a longtime acquaintance of The Field Mice. In fact, I heard their music a few short moments ago. After hearing "September's Not So Far Away", I felt compelled to post the lyrics and a link to the song.

I read the lyrics and felt a need to add a disclaimer that I enjoy the song on its own level and do not intend for the post to implicate me in any way. It's just a song.

So with that, enjoy the song and download it by following the appropriate hyperlink.

Written at 12:41 PM by David.

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September's not so far away, The Field Mice

http://images.artnet.com/artwork_images/74879/166921.jpg

"September's Not So Far Away"

i will, i'll always remember
the days and nights we spent together
the happiness of being with you
the sorrow of parting from you
more than a hundred miles away
you live, and sure I'll love you always
seeing you again was heaven
now you're gone again and it's hell

september's not, september's not so far away
september's not, september's not so far away

i will never again ask you
if there, if there is any chance
i understand you wanting to be
wanting to be totally free
i hope every call is from you
i'm not convinced i should not love you
i am merely missing you so
wanting to be kissing you so

september's not, september's not so far away
september's not, september's not so far away

september's not, september's not so far away

~lyrics by The Field Mice
art by William Zorach ~

Written at 12:35 PM by David.

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September 06, 2007

Europa Rising

Have you seen this image of Europa Rising? Check out the link at Nasa.gov by clicking the photo:

Amazing!

Written at 10:12 PM by David.

1 comments

September 05, 2007

What I browsed today

Food additives may cause hyperactivity.

Exercise may generate new blood vessels.

Doctor warns consumers of popcorn fumes.

Human-animal embryo research.

and in less startling news...

Chinese kids undergo required military training. I note: "The camps are part of a nationwide training network in which a record 50 million Chinese children ages 9 to 18 will get military education this year, according to the PLA. The program, expanded in the past year, is intended to inspire patriotism, teamwork and sacrifice."

And elsewhere in China, at least 20,000 police surveillance cameras are being installed along streets in the city of Shenzhen, in southern China, soon to be guided by facial recognition software from an American-financed company. For the citizens of Shenzhen, the warning "Big Brother Is Watching You" will become a fact of life.

Which makes this seem tame: UK to require fingerprint visas. Apparently the US has already begun fingerprinting as part of the passport process as well.

Meanwhile, back in Cincinnati, students use fingerprint scanners to pay for lunch.

Written at 7:34 PM by David.

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