well, apparently, Zed ain’t dead.

I believe that no matter what the next President believes or says about personal privacy rights, the “law enforcement” legions are going to continue to invade our lives. By tracking us so closely, it will be very hard to impossible to rebel once the powers behind the “throne” take over.

But they still can’t figure out where you are when you call 911 from your cell phone. I guess that is because protecting power and profits is much more important, eh?

Hey loosehead, thank you for this…I think.

jus cogens!

I’m so glad I never fell into the cell phone trap. I have absolutely no reason to be talking to somebody on the phone while I’m walking, buying tiger or human food, etc. My 22 bucks a month land line works just fine.

There just has to be a corrupt relationship between the telecos, the NSA and other government spooks, private contractors and public officials. Duke Cunningham is just the tip of the iceberg.

Why have our elected reps allowed these kinds of violations? Who is benefitting from this monetarily? Lets follow the money.

So why couldnt they get Jason Bourne?

Because he is too cool.

Of course GPS capability is mandated in all new handsets. Anonymity is dead.

Digg it!

So, does this fall under consumer rights or civil rights?

dugg it!

Somebody’s Watching Me

In a related story in Rolling Stone L1 Identity Solutions of Connecticut, on whose board sits former CIA advisor George Tenet, may be guilty of violating U.S. law

The company’s reticence to publicize its activities in China could have something to do with the fact that the relationship between Yao and L-1 may well be illegal under U.S. law. After the Chinese government sent tanks into Tiananmen Square in 1989, Congress passed legislation barring U.S. companies from selling any products in China that have to do with “crime control or detection instruments or equipment.”

Be sure to read the whole article in Rolling Stone, it’s excellent.

c/advisor George Tenet/director George Tenet/

Gadzooks I screwed that up. Here’s the link to the story. Apologies, it’s been a long week.

“No matter where you go, there you are.”

And people wonder why I don’t have one of the infernal things. We have a cell phone that we take in the car if we’re going to be on a highway. Other than that the SOB stays at home. Turned off.

Look, if we just had ALL of the hay, we’d know EXACTLY where the Terrist needles are. They’re RIGHT THERE IN THE HAY!!!

“The surveillance mechanism works by monitoring the signals produced by mobile handsets and then locating the phone by triangulation – measuring the phone’s distance from three receivers.”

That is exactly the method they used to find out where those climbers were, and even the other day, they located two hikers who were lost in a remote region. They’ve had that capability for awhile. Some people even say that they can “listen” to your conversation while your cell phone is not in use if it is in the room with you. I don’t know if that is true, but I would guess it is likely that they can. They could place all kinds of spy devices inside of TV sets or inside satellite boxes or cable boxes too. I don’t know if they do, but they have the technology.

Even when it’s turned off, a cellphone makes contact with the towers every couple minutes. So, using this technology, Big Bro could know within a within a few feet and within a few minutes, where you were.

that would only be if you have the gps reciever installed on the phone only if you kept the battery in the phone

the answer is take the battery out

but your larger point is well taken indeed, we are watched

Take the battery out.

I guess there’s no longer any such thing as “confidential proprietary business communication,” ‘eh?

Why the Suits aren’t bitchin’ about this creeping panoptic surveillance escapes me.

If they can listen in…thinking about that special Quantico line they discovered recently…then they surely could listen in on any conversations taking place among opposition in Congress…even when the phones are not in use. Just a sensitive microphone that transmits to a special place.

Just too brilliant to omit here.

Colbert on Terror Watch List.

everyone, start surveilling yourselves!

too dam busy yap’n on the phone!

Seems that corporate tracking of consumer data, buying habits, and producing mailing lists for sale to other corporations will have limited utility – when everyone is capable of buying only rice and beans. Will they want to know what brands are preferred at that point? They have very nearly come to the brink of crashing the entire economy.

Do you have a link for that Quantico line? I haven’t heard of it.

Main Core stuff.

I’ve heard talk that I consider credible that there are bugs that can be introduced to your phone that turns it into an open mike. It has come to light in organized crime investigations.

I get home at about 4:08. The battery will be sitting on the desk at 4:09. Thanks for the tip.

http://blog.wired.com/27bstrok…..wer-f.html

“No matter where you go, there we know where you are.”

But, but, but… Are those BRAND NAME rice and beans? Or only generic…?

can i get a fulltime job w/ bennies to provide surveillance on myself? :)

DUGG IT

Would a tin foil hat help?

see. GWOT creates jobs!

lol! Now thats an economic stimulus policy!

Ya know what? This is the tipping point for me. I’ve been debating for several months shifting to Working Assets/Credo for mobile. This is NOT a paid advertisement. I have absolutely no skin in their game. But I do value my own skin, thank you very much, incipient wrinkles and all. Crikey! Reality check: What country is this? What year is it?

You’ll go blind!

At this point a faraday cage would not help.

thanks

Even weirder, I read awhile ago…somewhere…I don’t have a link…that they are trying to decipher the patterns of certain brainwaves that occur when people are thinking things and words, and trying to connect those waves to language, so they can predict what someone may or may not do.

don’t forget teh google!

Yes they can, but only within a couple miles.

Barbara – not to throw cold water on your choice, but what makes you think Credo is any ’safer’ than Verizon wireless or anyone else? Check out this: http://www.credomobile.com/cov…..rage.aspx. They are using the same towers and systems everyone else is. They are using the same technology in the phones that everyone else is. The only safe wireless is: two tin cans and piece of string.

You buy tiger food?

I did so enjoy learning that youtube told Holy Joe to feck off.

And because he is a fictional character?

It’s grrrr-eat!

couldn’t resist…

Same here.
I don’t want to be reached everywhere I go!

Happiness abounds! No more lost hikers!

I know! What is up with that?

I know some young ladies (teens) who cannot lay off their phones to the point they cannot be in teh “here and now”. They are compulsive about pickg up the phone whenever it rings/interrupts. anNOYing!!!

Here’s a link:

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/conten…..6/22/12953

right the f?ck on!

Not being admitted to the English bar, I don’t know where it would fall over there.

But here, I think it’s a consumer rights issue absent legslation regulating it. After all, it’s a private entity doing it for their own marketing purposes.

I’ll tell you one thing I’m curious to find out, is whether over all trade at that mall falls as consumers chose to take their business elsewhere to avoid the surveillance.

One of my best frinds lives on Hyde Park Square in London. The London police have surveillance cameras all over the place on the street and there are signs saying “you are being monitored”. Instead of being outraged, the people think it’s great thing because they are not afraid of car theft.

Ack!

LOL . . . I think.

Is that anything like Lion Chow? After I watched Second hand Lion, I googled lion chow and could not find proof of its existence. Pretty sure that they made it up for the movie.

Yep.

The Japanese describe domestic, or house, cats as “the tiger that feeds from your hand.”

Second time someone has mentioned this in as many days. Good flick?

They have long had the technology to triangulate from cell phone towers, but that gives a couple of square miles to search–which is how they find lost hikers.

This pins you down in 2 minute intervals to within 3 feet.

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs2-wire.htm
http://www.privacyrights.org/f…..rivacy.htm

I see. It will only get worse.

I would very much like to see Webb do damage to Lindsay Graham, but I don’t espouse violence (cough). This is a pretty beautiful thing to see:

Just over an hour ago, the Senate voted overwhelmingly — a veto-proof 75-22 — to approve Sen. Jim Webb’s (D-VA) 21st Century GI Bill, which would expand educational benefits for veterans who joined the service after Sept. 11, 2001.

Before the vote, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who introduced his own watered-down, paltry version of the GI bill, exhorted President Bush to veto the measure, as he has indicated he will. Graham also insisted that his Republican colleagues would “get rewarded in the next election” if they vote against GI benefits:

This is a defining moment for the Senate, for the Republicans, and this war. I can tell you if we leave the generals alone and support our troops, they will win this war. And to my Republican colleagues, if we’ll stand firm for a fair procedure and a sensible solution to the veterans’ problems, we will get rewarded in the next election, not punished. If we give into this, we don’t deserve to be here.

Think Progress

I’ll admit that I’m behind the times tech wise, but back when I was doing mob cases, there were bugs that got installed inside the phone that used the elctric current from the phone to power the device and used the phone line to transmit the calls.

But you had to get into the house to install the bug in the phone.

I loved it. Especially that part about the things you have to know to be a man. Where he beat up five young punks just after being discharged from the hospital.

So…all we need to do is slip a cell phone into Osama Bin Laden’s pockets…

(not that I believe he’s still alive)

(Click)

Hello?

(Pause)

Uh, is anybody there?

(Static)

Geez, this is weird …

(click. click …bzzz)

Wrong number, I quess …

(beep, beep, beep)

Hey! I just hung up. What is going on?

(Bzzzzt ‘This is a public service announcement: Please procede, in an orderly fashion, to the nearest Homeland Security Check Point. Do not, repeat DO NOT!!! attempt to remove the battery from this device, that is now a federal crime …. beep, beep …)

What!

(Resistence is futile … procede to the nearest Homeland Security Check Point … or your food and energy ration card will be terminated … we know where you live … where your spouse and children are … that you frequent FireDogLake and other banned sites … procede … IMMEDIATELY to the nearest Homeland Security Check Point … do not pass go … this is a recording … procede immediately … NOW HEAR THIS … Directive 51 has now been implemented … you are in violation …)

Thus were law and order restored to the land of the free lunch (for the one percenters) and the homeland of the brave little toaster.

Okay, children, lights out. Daddy has to go find a big hammer and repair the phone. Sleep tight and don’t let the ‘tronic bugs bite … love you, good night …

“And to my Republican colleagues, if we’ll stand firm for a fair procedure and a sensible solution to the veterans’ problems, we will get rewarded in the next election, not punished.”

It would be Bushco doing the rewarding.

Fox News selective condensation:

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) tells Republican colleagues, “We don’t deserve to be here.”

My thought is, what next?

Sorta technical question: what about the prepaid phones that people use. I would imagine the large companies wouldn’t put all that technology in a throw away, assuming they’re throw away. Or do they reprogram them with more minutes?

I thought all the phones made since like 2002 had GPS chips in them. And because of that part of the on air signal handshake includes something like PhoneID, Lat, and Long. The only need for a more than 3 meter accuracy whould be to know where in line you are for a movie not just at the theatre.

Wait, wait! It’s 3 a.m. How will you call Hillary???

Oh, you mean like Littleprop? We went to a fair once with her cousins. Rides and games and all that. She spent the entire day walking around text messaging instead of talking or having fun.

The wonder is that she could walk and text at the same time without bumping into anyone or falling.

Even on vibrate, that damn phone makes an annoying noise.

Daddy has to go find a big hammer and repair the phone.

Great… now I have to go and get paper towels to get the coffee off the monitor… 707!!

really? or is this snark? sorry, can’t tell on that one! :)

EPU but what the heck.
I think it’s a way of setting up their own zone of privacy.
Like reading a book when you’re eating out alone. I can understand that.

Total snark. Sorry.

Crazy. How can giving education benefits to veterans=undermining the generals?

It’s all about staying in power and keeping the perks. And sucking the very life out of our country.

Hey, Senator Graham! Yeah, you, shit-for-brains. Fuck you.

Well there is this urban legend that we were tracking OBL by his satillite phone until Shrub went and blabbed about it an the phone went dark.

I guess OBL knew the take the battery out trick.

and for your fiery patriotic pleasure:
I didn’t list all yeas:

YEAs —75

Clinton (D-NY)
Obama (D-IL)

KOOLAID DRINKERS — 22

Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennett (R-UT)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lugar (R-IN)
McConnell (R-KY)
Sessions (R-AL)
Voinovich (R-OH)

Not Voting – 3
Coburn (R-OK)
Kennedy (D-MA)
McCain (R-AZ)

“Hey, Senator Graham! Yeah, you, shit-for-brains. Fuck you.” I meant that lovingly, of course. :-)

Heh. :)

Sorry to trespass all the o/t on your thread, LHP.

Crazy. How can giving education benefits to veterans=undermining the generals?

Well the extra education may show them what idiots the generals are.

Prepaid phones can just like calling cards, have more minutes added. This is a favorite device of, ahem, parents of teenage children who don’t want unexpected huge phones bills cropping up.

Tula is upstairs with guests: The US Must Not Reward Murder

Tula upstairs

Guess the next big personal item will be a “personal jammer” “Glamorous but so helpful!” “When you want it to stay in vegas”

My hubby suspects the cost of higher education is going up for a reason….what dictator in their evil little mind wants an educated populace?

I know my education taught me to ask questions…we can’t have that, now can we?

I cannot imagine that DHS is going to allow something like that to come to market.

Tula has a brand new post upstairs about The U.S. Must Not Reward Murder! The post has been waiting for our attention since 10:42 am, so we’re already late to the party!

Ah, you don’t know me very well. That’s just for openers if I ever got the chance. I see no reason to be civil to the likes of Graham. He and his ilk forfeited the mantle of respectability long ago. I could carve a better man from a banana.

Even this part of about the tracking system sucks:

Path Intelligence, the Portsmouth-based company which developed the technology, said its equipment was just a tool for market research. “There’s absolutely no way we can link the information we gather back to the individual,” a spokeswoman said. “There’s nothing personal in the data.”

Sometimes you want to slam your fist through a tv screen or monitor. It’s always Big Brother or cut-throat capitalism. Sometimes I am beginning to feel we peasants are in danger of being squeezed like Poland by the Soviet Union and Hitler’s Germany combined. And the persons advocating the technology are probably breathlessly talking about it like it all smells like roses.
Speaking of our wonderful technology and how the gov wants to do so much for us . . . er peasants. The AFLCIO is advocating an internet speed test cause apparently the US does not have fast broadband access quite like other nations. We all knew that anyway. But speedmatters.org has a project.

Ding.

Jeb Bush did his very best to destroy the education system in Florida. His sorry ass supporters are still trying.

I suspeculate that Hilarious ageementally Pelosi’s duh convictulation that they’s NOT ta be bothered wid the problemos of duh widdle yolks and that doing sech a thingalation wud invokerate her wrathitude.

But muh brain-cell-fonelater is battery than it used ta bee (buzz …) so it is postulatory that I cud bee thinking the wrong sting about dis.

Maybe they’s all on our sideration and I’se jus too dumulated ta git it.

I cud use some adFISA on dis concerneration.

Howsowmebber, shud you desirerate ta collerate Herself, I wishelate yu da very bestest.

I guess we can excuse Kennedy?

Yeah, I believe you could! Years ago, a sweet little old lady of my acquaintance totally (and uncharacteristically) lost her temper and said to someone, “You big dummy!” She looked more shocked than the “dummy,” and added, “I meant that lovingly, of course.” Has stuck in my lexicon ever since.

Isn’t it possible to turn off the GPS function in your phone? I’m pretty sure that it is.

Don’t worry your pretty little head about this, my friend. That’s what the gubmint is for.

How on earth did a Webb bill GI bill get passed? I’ve been out of touch for a few weeks. Expanding educational benefits? Beautiful. But I thought the Republikans and Lieberman were dead set against that kind of thing.

Well, I don’t know. Isn’t he home sick? I think he would have voted if the amendment was in trouble?

Oh, he’s out in AZ playing eeny, meeny, miney mo on his VP choice..that is why he’s not there.

Not to mention Commander GUY …

A liitle knowledge is a … thing.

Suck it up, and move on, there is nothing …

But I can’t excuse someone running for president as a war hero who claims to support the troops but said he would vote against this. guess mccain sorta kinda dodged a bullet by not voting?

I think it was an Amendment to the larger war bill.

Maybe some republicans & fellow koolaid drinkers were “mugged by reality”?

It’s counterpart has to get through the House if it hasn’t already, conference committee and then Shrub vetoes it. Simple. The Rethugs don’t have many tricks left in the hat so they do what they can to fool the fools and get re-elected.

Path Intelligence’s technology can tell where a phone is to “within a couple of metres.”

That’s close enough for targeting a Hellfire missle.

Sleep well.

Now reading my cell manual, to wit:

(my phone) is an ALI-capable smart device equipped with a GPS receiver supporting a satellite-based GPS ALI-capable network to comply with the FCC’s ALI requirements (note to self: FCC dominated by Republican appointees).

The network compliance with the above FCC requirements is dependent on: (a) the use of digital technology by the wireless network; (b) GPS satellite signals being able to reach the handset (such transmissions do not always work indoors, for example): and (c) handset signals reaching wireless “base stations” . . .

Also the transmission of the ALI information is subject, in part, to system constraints within the wireless network to which the E911 signal is transmitted and over which UT Starcom has no control.

Finally, customers are advised that (my phone’s) ALI-capacity is to be used for E911 purposes only.

(Nothing, so far, about disengaging/disconnecting, whatever . . .)

Our Guvernator is doing his best as well. I’m surprised Maria isn’t clobbering him with her new book about it.

More from cell manual:

The FCC requires wireless carriers to transmit specific latitude and longitude location (ALI) information as well as “911″ calls to Public Safety Answering Points to ID the location of the caller in case of emergency.

Generally, the rules require that carriers ID an E911 caller’s location within 50 meters of the actual location for 67 percent of calls and within 150 meters of the actual location for 95 percent of calls.

(So this is in place for our protection, eh? How many 911 calls vs. access to how many phones? In other words, probability?)

Some alternatives to pulling the battery:

1) Grab a ziplok bag large enough to hold the device. Take a large enough single sheet of aluminum foil and wrap the phone in it, especially the antenna. Slip it into the bag and be sure that the loose ends of the foil wrap around and touch edges.

2) Take a piece of closed cell foam like the padding in camping mattresses and place it between the head set and the mike when you close the phone. Even a wadded up paper towel or tissue will dampen out much of the sound. That way, you can leave the phone on as well.

I for one find it hard to believe that the mike can be activated even with the phone off. There would have to be a method to power the electronics even with it off. Certain hardware that plugs into the wall have soft power off, but a soft off for phones would eventually drain the battery.

One more time and then to work:

What country are we living in?

It could pass the house, but what excuse would Chimpy give for a veto?

I wonder if it could be triggered “on” when a targeted person is in a special location…like in a backroom in Congress when the opposition is meeting…they can track where the phone is going and perhaps selectively listen in.

I don’t believe they have any interest in listening to everyone who has a cell phone all the time.

The GI bill/amdt is also supposed to be veto-proof non? Graham should know the peasants are watching, berets in hand.

My Palm Treo seems to ONLY do soft off

Even when it’s turned off, a cellphone makes contact with the towers every couple minutes. So, using this technology, Big Bro could know within a within a few feet and within a few minutes, where you were.

Are you certain about this? The Times article says,

Even when the owner is not using it, a mobile phone makes contact with the network every couple of minutes […]

“Turned off” and “not using” are two different things. Yes, cell phones routinely make contact with nearby cells, even when they are not being used, but they don’t do this when the phone is actually powered off.

Technology developed for “marketing purposes” only could definitely be used (the way we are going) to er track say the governor of New York or someone like that.

You know what this mall tracking device suddenly reminds me of?

The “Marauder’s Map” in Harry Potter!

The tech guy for my office tald me that even when turned off, cell phone do “handshakes” with the towers. The only way to prevent that is to pull the battery

Why, barbara, that is remindin’ me of that new Commander-type guy …

‘My friends …’

Jus’ … mmm … oh my! Cain’t ‘member his … name, uh … he … he

Ah shucks, he’s alot like duh one we’s got …

Duh Prince of SMIRK, his ownself.

But, but Congress done said it too, so it must be true.

And worry-lines, and furrowed brows don’t become no one no how.

So I’se gonna take yer adFISA.

Oh Lard, I yam free, free at … damn! Phone’s ringing (actually, I got one of them there ecological ring tones, it sounds jus’ like a hungry polar bear, and there are voices in the background saying, “The northwest passage! The northwest passage! Oh Lard! We’s found the northwest passage”! It’s way cool, yes, yes!) Rats! Missed the call I sure hope it wasn’t importink.

Okay I understand the ziploc and tinfoil part. But doesn’t it defeat the purpose of all that when you take it out and answer your phone? (I am mentally challenged today maybe.)

Sci-Fi/Fantasy always has good metaphors for stuff like this.

I’m a tech guy too. Nevertheless, I could be wrong. But, if what you say is true, I would expect battery run-down time to be approximately equal whether the phone was powered on or off (as long as it isn’t used). That’s certainly not consistent with my experience. I’ll try to do some more checking.

First off…GPS is different than the triangulation system using towers. The GPS system allows your PHONE to pick up satellite position information. It sends NOTHING TO the satellites. The cell phone does send a signal of location to a nearby cell phone transmission tower or devices like these in the malls.

As suggested above. Simply take out the battery. OR you can shield your phone inside a metal casing. Either way you are giving up your ability to receive incoming messages for a time. Or yyou could leave your phone at home or in your car. Personally I think that if you are in a public space the privacy rights are “legally” pretty low…but one can take this up with companies who are working with the cell phone companies who are selling such information or capabilities to other groups that one doesn’t want one’s locatrion scrutinized in such a manner.

BTW FM security chips that are placed on products can also can provide similar “movement” information. Once you pick a product off a shelf and put it into you cart it can be followed around the store. If you don’t disable the transmitter it can be followed outside into the parking lot as well.

Well, I’ve now read a lot of conflicting Web opinions on this. Some of it sounds muddled and uninformed to me. It seems as though it may depend to some extent on the cell phone model in question. Still, this
not-implausible comment (2008-05-09 17:12:14) by Don Steel from the geeksaresexy.net site if enough to give you chills:

Even if you take the battery out , the cell phone can still respond to a charging electromagnetic wave which will enable it to send out brief signals of its location and owner. Also the capacitor that holds a charge can keep specific circuits alive for quite some periods!

The home of Magna Carta is fast becoming the crucible for its demise.

Admittedly, the UK is London-centric more so that even France is Paris-centric, once the gold standard for municipal dominance of an entire country. The US has nothing like it except regionally, which lacks the conflation of history, religion, tradition, power, money and logistics.

London has a large foreign and especially South Asian population – a legacy of its centuries of imperialism – which for decades was the butt of taxi and bus driver jokes, even when they owned not the local news agents or tobacconists, but half the land abutting Regent’s Park. London is also the world center for English-speaking business, finance, culture and tourism, while the US has put out the equivalent of the famous signs once found in European-controlled districts in Shanghai: “No Dogs or Chinese Allowed”. Substitute the foreign flavor or color of the month and there you have it. Even Italian lawyers visiting their soon-to-be fiancees aren’t welcome in Metro DC. And let’s not forget the Troubles, as the Irish might say. All of which makes London a unique potential target for terrorism.

Ironically, the UK is also part of the EU and has internalized its data protection rules via various statutes, eg, the Data Protection Act, which protect personal information. If so, it also seems to have the gapingest exceptions for police and national security purposes. Bourne Ultimatum-like films do not exaggerate the 24/7 coverage of CCTV and other surveillance systems throughout the metropolis. Where once the average tourist was photographed three thousand times in two weeks, via street corner, bank, transport hub cameras, that number is now much higher. Being caught speeding or in a road rage on the motorway, once the greatest fear caused by those ubiquitous cameras, would now be a relief.

Something tells me that this fight between personal privacy, policing, and the virtually unregulated arrogation of private information and space as commercial property, isn’t at its end, as Churchill once said of the Battle of Britain, or even at the beginning of its end. It is, perhaps, at the end of its beginning.

Here’s an article from the RFID Journal explaining the technology that’s probably at work here.

Developing RFID-Enabled Phones

Some cell phone manufacturers (notably Nokia, but probably others too) are already embedding RFID chips in their models. This technology could very well be capable of doing what’s been suggested in this thread, even with the unit powered down. And the power levels required to make this work are completely consistent with the assertion made in post 130 here.

I analogize it to a CEO voluntarily paying his union members a higher wage. I just don’t think the neocons appreciate any aspect of it as a good thing. It would cost money, true, but that’s irrelevant to them: they spend taxpayer money like a rube at his first lap dance parlor. It’s where the money would go that bothers them. It wouldn’t go to private outsourcing firms or intelligence or defense contractors. It would go, you know, to DFH’s.

They would spend it at those radical liberal universities, and on food and housing and maybe kids. They would acquire skills to match their abilities, and would imagine they have civil rights and privacy to protect. They would become thinking and independent, instead of the usual cannon fodder.

It’s hard to imagine other reasons to oppose the 21st Century GI Bill in the midst of two divisive wars that are going poorly and which will likely require some for of enhanced armed foreign presence for decades. McCain? He’s just following his lobbyists and fundraisers. Like Bush, whatever they think, he thinks. He couldn’t be bothered to vote on it, or anything else. His destiny is to succeed el Presidente.

That little cell phone handbook doesn’t advise customers about the national security uses to which GPS and other cell phone tracking technology is routinely put. The E911 program is useful, but was only the publicly acknowledged rationale for mandating the tracking capabilities inherent in currently manufactured phones.

It’s like most modern electronics; they’re never really “off” any more. Try using a current meter, readily available at Radio Shack, etc., on your home electronics. If relatively new, the tv and dvd draw nearly as much power “off” as on. Given the collateral uses of home electronics and cable lines, and now, even mundane power lines, it’s worrisome. Was it the X-Files that had the tag line: “We’re Not Alone”?

Why do they use more power off. I understand cable, but dvd?
It was x-files. That whole series was one great big metaphor (?) for government paranoia. I wonder what the shows creators would be writing about now.

New GritTV a couple of flights up

That is why those battery thingys come out. Off and remove the battery – no tracky.

I’m going to Big Brother land in the fall. I’ll have to ensure my face is rarely (if ever) available to the ubiquitous cameras and I will have to ensure my cell phone battery is removed from the handset when I’m not actually using it.

The amendments cost too much money. That’s been his standard excuse.

Don’t look at me that way. I can’t help it if the dickhead is a hypocrite. *g*

They use nearly as much power “off” as “on” because they’re not really “off”.

The tv screen may be dark, for example, but the set is still essentially “on”: its memory is fully functioning, as are its other feature. Something else to note is what gadgets like TiVo do when they’re on. It doesn’t just record individual programs. It records utilization patterns 24/7 and uploads them every day to its host: Jane watched I Spy reruns from cable/dvd/TiVo source from 12.30 am until 1.45 am then powered “off”.

If your gadgets are new, borrow or buy a voltage meter, they’re readily available, and test them. That’s also a useful exercise for those wanting to cut their carbon footprint. Instead of turning a gadget off, connect it to a surge protector and shut power off from there. You’ll notice a longer lead time in powering up your gadgets, and on gadgets without backups (typically, those coin-sized batteries) you may also lose memory, settings, etc. (less common than before). That may be inconvenient, but with oil at $135/gal. and rising, with comparable costs in electricity, that may become a small inconvenience.

I think they’re about to tell us. Rumor has X-Files redux in the works. Don’t know whether it’s a film or new series.

The X-Files: I Want to Believe

Take out the battery and they can’t find you — until, of course, you put the battery back in.