Marketers are going to love this! Imagine being able to post information about your product on your competitions's website. I also think this is going to provide people with an ability to propogate disinformation about a product or company and it will show up right next to the victim's website. This could be a great tool as long as there is some control and the owner of a web site has a way to dispute a posting. While these concerns are somewhat addressed in the Content Policy let's hope that Google is able to make people adhere to the policy without becoming cost prohibitive or limiting free speech.
in reference to: Official Google Blog: Help and learn from others as you browse the web: Google Sidewiki (view on Google Sidewiki)Monday, December 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Military Recruiters Sharing Information About Your Kids Without Permission
The Department of Defense is maintaining a "Joint Advertising and Market Research Studies" Recruiting Database of over 30 million Americans between 16 and 25 years old. Huge exemptions to federal privacy laws leave it wide open for the DOD to disclose your kid's personal information without your permission! Go to the EPIC website for more information on the DOD Recruiting Database. If that's not enough, recruiters are at your child's school and recruiting your children without your permission. You have to opt out to keep them from actively recruiting your child. At my high school we had a recruiting station in one corner of the library with lots of pamphlets and brochures and once in a while a member of one of distinguished members of our Armed Services would be available to talk to any kid who was interested. I have absolutely no problem with that, What I do have a problem with is situations like the one described on MotherJones.Com. Where a young man was aggressively targeted by recruiters possessing information that he did not give them. I support all of our men and women in our Armed Forces and believe that military experience can be invaluable to many young people, but whatever happened to the old fashioned way of recruiting where interested kids sought out the recruiter? 2 of my own children have or are considering military service but I will be damned if I want some specially trained headhunter armed with insider information strong arming any of my kids into service. Remember, ours is a volunteer military.
Links
http://privacy.org/archives/003140.html
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/09/few-good-kids
http://epic.org/privacy/student/doddatabase.html
Links
http://privacy.org/archives/003140.html
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2009/09/few-good-kids
http://epic.org/privacy/student/doddatabase.html
Monday, September 14, 2009
Is Facebook Fan Check a Virus or a Hoax
There is currently a scare going around on Facebook and in emails stating that a Facebook application titled "Fan Check" is actually a virus that will activate after 48 hours even if you were tagged in a photo on someone else's profile. While the jury is still out on whether Fan Check is actually malicious, the greater risk comes from doing a search on the phrase '"Facebook Fan Check Virus" as you might be directed to a website containing fake antivirus software that will actually install a real virus or otherwise try to trick you out of your money. For an example of one of these sites watch the video below.
According to an article on Mashable the Fan Check app is most likely just a broken application that wont work because it violates Facebook's policies. Your safest bet is to stay away from Fan Check or any other application that claims that it can tell who's been viewing your profile, and definitely DO NOT search for “Fan Check Facebook virus”. If you are concerned that you have a virus or spyware scan your computer with trusted software. Do not install or scan your computer with any software that you are not familiar with or that you have not checked out thoroughly. Personally I use Spybot S&D, Adaware, and AVG Antivirus,
According to an article on Mashable the Fan Check app is most likely just a broken application that wont work because it violates Facebook's policies. Your safest bet is to stay away from Fan Check or any other application that claims that it can tell who's been viewing your profile, and definitely DO NOT search for “Fan Check Facebook virus”. If you are concerned that you have a virus or spyware scan your computer with trusted software. Do not install or scan your computer with any software that you are not familiar with or that you have not checked out thoroughly. Personally I use Spybot S&D, Adaware, and AVG Antivirus,
Saturday, September 12, 2009
GPS Tracking for Sex Offenders and Restraining Orders
What first seems like a common sense use for a valuable technology may in fact set a dangerous precedent for everyone. There are some who would like to use GPS technology to keep track of sex offenders and those who have had restraining orders placed upon them. In fact some states have already implemented this practice and more are likely to jump on the bandwagon. While I do not disagree with tracking of convicted felons as a condition of their parole, they are getting out early after all, I do feel that we should watch this trend very closely. By tracking offenders after their parole is up or individuals who have not been convicted of any crime as in the case of restraining orders, we are opening a door for the government to infringe on our privacy and civil liberties.
First let's consider how easy it is to get a restraining order in some states, and please keep in mind that each state has their own laws regarding restraining orders. Many a man going through a rough divorce has been barred from entering his own home or seeing his children based strictly on a statement by his wife that he has threatened her or the children. Perhaps this accusation is often true, but I am certain that this is not always the case. In some cases a restraining order may be enacted without any knowledge by the restrained person until he is served the order, meaning he may have never had any chance to refute the claims. Some restraining orders even have "relinquish firearms" provisions which means the subject has to turn any firearms and ammunition over to the authorities even though there may have been no crime.
Next lets consider the actual usefulness of tracking the individual. Individuals intent on doing bodily harm seldom let a restraining order stand in their way, hence the desire to track the individuals. The problem is, in my opinion, that GPS tracking will do very little to discourage violation of a restraining order by a determined individual. The tracking system would use a geo-fencing feature that could alert authorities if the 'offender' enters a restricted area, such as the victim's work place or neighborhood. However unless the 'victim' is also wearing a GPS tracker or carries a proximity alarm of some type the technology will only be helpful if the 'victim' is in one of the restricted areas. The record produce by the tracking system could prove useful as evidence in case the offender does violate the restraining order. Not much consolation to the victim perhaps, but it might help get a bad guy off the streets.
As with any technology GPS tracking can be used for good or bad we just need to be aware of the bad so we can make sure any laws that may pass contain provisions to protect law abiding citizens. I don't object to tracking someone who is a real threat to someone else but I think the threat should have to proven. A restraining order is not the same a criminal conviction where the accused has had the opportunity to provide a defense and face his accuser therefore they should not be able to infringe on any Constitutionally or God given rights.
In closing I think GPS may be appropriate for violent criminals on parole or out on bail and for individuals who have already violated a restraining order. GPS tracking is not appropriate in cases where there is no compelling evidence of a threat to the safety of the person requesting the order.
Links
Bill for GPS Tracking on Restraining Order Violations Could Head to State Legislature
A GPS Tracking System Could Assist with Restraining Orders
Wikipedia - Restraining order
First let's consider how easy it is to get a restraining order in some states, and please keep in mind that each state has their own laws regarding restraining orders. Many a man going through a rough divorce has been barred from entering his own home or seeing his children based strictly on a statement by his wife that he has threatened her or the children. Perhaps this accusation is often true, but I am certain that this is not always the case. In some cases a restraining order may be enacted without any knowledge by the restrained person until he is served the order, meaning he may have never had any chance to refute the claims. Some restraining orders even have "relinquish firearms" provisions which means the subject has to turn any firearms and ammunition over to the authorities even though there may have been no crime.
Next lets consider the actual usefulness of tracking the individual. Individuals intent on doing bodily harm seldom let a restraining order stand in their way, hence the desire to track the individuals. The problem is, in my opinion, that GPS tracking will do very little to discourage violation of a restraining order by a determined individual. The tracking system would use a geo-fencing feature that could alert authorities if the 'offender' enters a restricted area, such as the victim's work place or neighborhood. However unless the 'victim' is also wearing a GPS tracker or carries a proximity alarm of some type the technology will only be helpful if the 'victim' is in one of the restricted areas. The record produce by the tracking system could prove useful as evidence in case the offender does violate the restraining order. Not much consolation to the victim perhaps, but it might help get a bad guy off the streets.
As with any technology GPS tracking can be used for good or bad we just need to be aware of the bad so we can make sure any laws that may pass contain provisions to protect law abiding citizens. I don't object to tracking someone who is a real threat to someone else but I think the threat should have to proven. A restraining order is not the same a criminal conviction where the accused has had the opportunity to provide a defense and face his accuser therefore they should not be able to infringe on any Constitutionally or God given rights.
In closing I think GPS may be appropriate for violent criminals on parole or out on bail and for individuals who have already violated a restraining order. GPS tracking is not appropriate in cases where there is no compelling evidence of a threat to the safety of the person requesting the order.
Links
Bill for GPS Tracking on Restraining Order Violations Could Head to State Legislature
A GPS Tracking System Could Assist with Restraining Orders
Wikipedia - Restraining order
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Run a Background Check on Yourself Part 2
If you haven't already, check out my first article on how to Run a Background Check on Yourself. Go ahead I'll wait...
If you have ever wondered what information is available about you on the web and in public records I have found the perfect article for you Top 24 People Search Sites and Email Address Directories. While my previous article shows you how to get all the medical, credit, and insurance information available on you, the People Search Sites listed will show you what you have left behind online. Hopefully by now people are starting to wise up about where and how much information they put out into cyberspace, but it has been slow going. For example just consider how many people have been fired or denied employment for the things they post on their blog or Myspace account. While you may have control of deleting items you post to your accounts there is little or no control of what other people do with the information before you have deleted it, not to mention your information is likely to still be archived by thousands of search engines long after you have taken the information down. Your best safeguard is to think about everything you post before you post it, and remember that everything that you do post is permanent.
The next best thing if you really must post something that you are afraid will come back to haunt you is to post it under a pseudonym and do not link anything in your sensitive posts back to your true identity. This includes monetizing features like google adsense or adbrite. These may be linked back to you. Even creating a separate adsense or adbrite account may not help you if these accounts are linked back to your bank and tax ID.
If you have ever wondered what information is available about you on the web and in public records I have found the perfect article for you Top 24 People Search Sites and Email Address Directories. While my previous article shows you how to get all the medical, credit, and insurance information available on you, the People Search Sites listed will show you what you have left behind online. Hopefully by now people are starting to wise up about where and how much information they put out into cyberspace, but it has been slow going. For example just consider how many people have been fired or denied employment for the things they post on their blog or Myspace account. While you may have control of deleting items you post to your accounts there is little or no control of what other people do with the information before you have deleted it, not to mention your information is likely to still be archived by thousands of search engines long after you have taken the information down. Your best safeguard is to think about everything you post before you post it, and remember that everything that you do post is permanent.
The next best thing if you really must post something that you are afraid will come back to haunt you is to post it under a pseudonym and do not link anything in your sensitive posts back to your true identity. This includes monetizing features like google adsense or adbrite. These may be linked back to you. Even creating a separate adsense or adbrite account may not help you if these accounts are linked back to your bank and tax ID.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Use Cash for Clunkers Website and Your Computer Belongs to the Government
The Cash for Clunkers program may seem enticing but as the old saying goes, "here is no free lunch". If you try to log in to the Cash for Clunkers website you have to agree to the privacy policy, which of course no-one ever reads... After agreeing to the privacy policy a warning box pops up telling you that your computer will become property of the government and anything stored on your computer can be retrieved and shared, even with foreign entities.
Check out the video below to see how the government is tricking people into letting them irrevocable access EVERYTHING on their personal computers.
Check out the video below to see how the government is tricking people into letting them irrevocable access EVERYTHING on their personal computers.
Whitehouse Wants You to Report Anyone Who Speaks Out Against Healthcare Reform
It's true. The government is requesting assistance from the public in quashing dissension from those evil right wing extremists (ie, anyone who disagrees)! Seriously. Check out this excerpt from the Whitehouse blog:
Scary isn't it? Check out this link at RedState regarding the legality of this. White House Actions Might Be Unlawful
There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov.And just in case public response forces the removal of the statement from the Whitehouse blog here is a screenshot for posterity.
Scary isn't it? Check out this link at RedState regarding the legality of this. White House Actions Might Be Unlawful
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Chips Embeded in Official IDs Are a Huge Privacy Risk
For anyone who doesn't know, which is most of us, an RFID Chip is a tiny chip that can be embedded in virtually anything, from products in the grocery store to your bus pass and even people. You've probably seen the credit card commercial with the marathon runner that zips into a convenience store and pays for his purchase by merely holding his credit card close to the machine instead of sliding it through the machine the old fashioned way. Really convenient right? Well it's convenient for identity thieves too.
When this technology first came and out it wasn't wide spread an identity thief needed to get pretty close to the target to scan the chip and retrieve the information on it. This is no longer the case. As the technology has grown more prolific so have the profits in creating the gadgets that scan for it. As an example consider the experiment published in an article on the Fox News Website "Chips in Official IDs Raise Privacy Fears" in which a gentleman named Chris Paget cruised around Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, California scanning for the private information held on RFID tags of the crowds using a Matrics antenna and a Motorola reader that he bought on eBay for less than $250. In an hour he had 'skimmed' the private data from the new electronic U.S. passport cards of several individuals from as far away as 20 feet. Mr. Paget filmed his experiment and posted it to the Internet.
While the implementation of embedded RFID tags in government documents is not widespread yet there is a push from government officials to see it done quickly. Officials are touting safety and convenience of having you information easily accessible. Either they haven't bothered to think of the consequences or they just don't care because being able to track everything that you do fits there agenda. Thanks to the Real ID Act: h.r.00418 which was passed in 2005 without ANY debate, states must start issuing State IDs with and embedded RFID tag by 2017. The Real ID Act was pushed through by adding an amendment to a completely UNRELATED must pass bill to authorize funds for the Iraq war. This seems to be a common tactic in getting a controversial bill to pass that otherwise would not. In my humble opinion this practice is completely immoral and should be illegal, but I suppose that is the subject of another rant.
The Pass ID Act: S.1261 has recently been introduced before lawmakers which supposedly would repeal part of the Real ID Act as well as amend title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. However this bill does not protect citizens from identity theft or government abuses, in fact it may be a sneak attack to reinforce the Real ID Act. The Real ID Act needs to be repealed completely or by 2017 we will all be walking around with a tracking beacon in our pockets broadcasting our entire lives to anyone with the inclination to snoop, which includes alot of people and organizations. Just think of how much of your online activity is tracked by the government, retail websites, search engines, and marketing firms. Imagine how valuable a record of your real world travels, purchases, interests, and even health problems would be. To top off all this paranoia, it appears that two of the major backers of The Pass ID Act and previously the Real ID Act, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and the International Civil Aviation Organization, are INTERNATIONAL as in not USA organizations!
...and now for another paranoia inducing video
There may be other 'related' videos in the player above that may seem extremely paranoid. These videos are included by YouTube and do not necessarily reflect the views of this writer.
Eventually we will have one card (or pendant, wristband, or implant) that will contain all of our information and may even be used as currency. There are already pilot programs that allow users of already existing Real ID Cards to use them in lieu of their credit card. Now at the risk of sounding like a paranoid, end of the world, religious nut...
Aside from the above legislation we will never be completely free of RFID tags. RFID tags have many legitimate uses from inventory control to identifying lost pets. As mentioned above 'smart' passports and Real IDs are already in use. You will still need to take action to protect yourself from the common thief regardless of how you feel about the Real ID Act. There are several relatively inexpensive products
on the market now that will shield your card/passport from being scanned such as the RFID Blocking Leather Passport Case and the Travelon RFID Blocking Billfold
. Shoplifters have been blocking RFID for some time by using shopping bags lined with aluminum foil (don't get any ideas!). Here is an interesting artilcle on How to kill your RFID chip, of course when it comes to your passport you may not want to permanently destroy the chip rendering your passport void. Remember; tampering with a US passport is a federal offense. Of course any of the tags you find in items that you purchase are yours to do with as you wish.
For a partial list of companies that place RFID tags in their products check out Liz Michaels' website.
When this technology first came and out it wasn't wide spread an identity thief needed to get pretty close to the target to scan the chip and retrieve the information on it. This is no longer the case. As the technology has grown more prolific so have the profits in creating the gadgets that scan for it. As an example consider the experiment published in an article on the Fox News Website "Chips in Official IDs Raise Privacy Fears" in which a gentleman named Chris Paget cruised around Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, California scanning for the private information held on RFID tags of the crowds using a Matrics antenna and a Motorola reader that he bought on eBay for less than $250. In an hour he had 'skimmed' the private data from the new electronic U.S. passport cards of several individuals from as far away as 20 feet. Mr. Paget filmed his experiment and posted it to the Internet.
While the implementation of embedded RFID tags in government documents is not widespread yet there is a push from government officials to see it done quickly. Officials are touting safety and convenience of having you information easily accessible. Either they haven't bothered to think of the consequences or they just don't care because being able to track everything that you do fits there agenda. Thanks to the Real ID Act: h.r.00418 which was passed in 2005 without ANY debate, states must start issuing State IDs with and embedded RFID tag by 2017. The Real ID Act was pushed through by adding an amendment to a completely UNRELATED must pass bill to authorize funds for the Iraq war. This seems to be a common tactic in getting a controversial bill to pass that otherwise would not. In my humble opinion this practice is completely immoral and should be illegal, but I suppose that is the subject of another rant.
The Pass ID Act: S.1261 has recently been introduced before lawmakers which supposedly would repeal part of the Real ID Act as well as amend title II of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. However this bill does not protect citizens from identity theft or government abuses, in fact it may be a sneak attack to reinforce the Real ID Act. The Real ID Act needs to be repealed completely or by 2017 we will all be walking around with a tracking beacon in our pockets broadcasting our entire lives to anyone with the inclination to snoop, which includes alot of people and organizations. Just think of how much of your online activity is tracked by the government, retail websites, search engines, and marketing firms. Imagine how valuable a record of your real world travels, purchases, interests, and even health problems would be. To top off all this paranoia, it appears that two of the major backers of The Pass ID Act and previously the Real ID Act, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators and the International Civil Aviation Organization, are INTERNATIONAL as in not USA organizations!
...and now for another paranoia inducing video
There may be other 'related' videos in the player above that may seem extremely paranoid. These videos are included by YouTube and do not necessarily reflect the views of this writer.
Eventually we will have one card (or pendant, wristband, or implant) that will contain all of our information and may even be used as currency. There are already pilot programs that allow users of already existing Real ID Cards to use them in lieu of their credit card. Now at the risk of sounding like a paranoid, end of the world, religious nut...
- Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
- Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Aside from the above legislation we will never be completely free of RFID tags. RFID tags have many legitimate uses from inventory control to identifying lost pets. As mentioned above 'smart' passports and Real IDs are already in use. You will still need to take action to protect yourself from the common thief regardless of how you feel about the Real ID Act. There are several relatively inexpensive products
on the market now that will shield your card/passport from being scanned such as the RFID Blocking Leather Passport Case and the Travelon RFID Blocking Billfold. Shoplifters have been blocking RFID for some time by using shopping bags lined with aluminum foil (don't get any ideas!). Here is an interesting artilcle on How to kill your RFID chip, of course when it comes to your passport you may not want to permanently destroy the chip rendering your passport void. Remember; tampering with a US passport is a federal offense. Of course any of the tags you find in items that you purchase are yours to do with as you wish.For a partial list of companies that place RFID tags in their products check out Liz Michaels' website.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Social Networking Websites May Keep your Deleted Photos
Have you ever deleted a photo from a social networking website like Facebook or MySpace? Did you think that was the end of it? You might just be wrong. According to an article on BBC many of the websites take the easy way out. When you delete the photo from the website it appears to actually go away, such as when viewed from the photo album, however the file still exists on their servers until it is overwritten by other files.
A similar thing happens when deleting a file from your personal computer, the shortcut or link to the file goes away, according to the operating system anyway, however the file is still on your computer and easily retrievable using free software such as freeundelete. You don't even need to be a forensics expert. While this is great when you want to recover something you accidentally deleted it can become a problem if you want to get rid of something permanently. Your best bet is to use a file shredding or wiping utility. One of my favorites is Evidence Eliminator which I have tested myself. You can even download a free demo of Evidence Eliminator and test it yourself. Evidence Eliminator will overwrite your deleted files a number of times making it unretrievable. More on the use of file shredders later, for now please read the article on BBC: Websites 'keeping deleted photos'
A similar thing happens when deleting a file from your personal computer, the shortcut or link to the file goes away, according to the operating system anyway, however the file is still on your computer and easily retrievable using free software such as freeundelete. You don't even need to be a forensics expert. While this is great when you want to recover something you accidentally deleted it can become a problem if you want to get rid of something permanently. Your best bet is to use a file shredding or wiping utility. One of my favorites is Evidence Eliminator which I have tested myself. You can even download a free demo of Evidence Eliminator and test it yourself. Evidence Eliminator will overwrite your deleted files a number of times making it unretrievable. More on the use of file shredders later, for now please read the article on BBC: Websites 'keeping deleted photos'
Monday, April 20, 2009
Obama Administration Blames USA for 90 Percent of Guns Seized in Mexico
For once the News Media has stood up to Washington and called them on at least one of the exaggerations they are using to further their anti gun agenda! Hooray for Fox News!
I would like you to note that this story was aired on April 2, 2009 yet President Obama continues to propagate the lie. Check out this link, again by Fox News
Obama Repeats '90 Percent' Stat for U.S. Guns Recovered in Mexico - First 100 Days of Presidency - Politics FOXNews.com
According to Fox News the actual number of guns that could be attributed as coming from the US into Mexico in 2007 and 2008 is 5,114 and that's out of the 29,000 guns seized. That's only 17.6 percent! I think even a first grader could tell you that 5000 in two years is NOT equal to 2,000 guns a day as Secretary of State Hilary Clinton states.
I guess Obama and others like him, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and US Senator Dianne Feinstein, figure that if they say it loud enough and often enough the American public will believe it and allow the 2nd Amendment to fade quietly into the night. Luckily, at least in this case, there are many who are questioning these statements, and for once it's not just the NRA. Just Google "90 percent guns Mexico" and you will see how many are standing up against this.
A huge problem with the media is that they are so eager to rush ahead with any information they get as soon as they get it in an effort to scoop the other guy that they often report erroneous information and rumors. Unfortunately the public in general trusts that the media has done their homework, and we believe the first reports we hear, which are also picked up by the other news agencies as soon as they are reported, and further disseminated until within one or two days everyone believes those first reports. More often than not if the truth comes out at all, it comes out later, with barely a whisper, usually after the event has ceased being 'news worthy'. If the story is cold enough the truth may never see the light of day. Take the Colombine School shooting 10 years ago. Up until this very day I like many other people believed that the two kids responsible were members of the 'Trench Coat Mafia' and were the victims of bullies. It turns out that this is not the case. This is just one example of disinformation that was rushed to print or broadcast in the heat of the moment, however when the dust settled and truth was discovered either it was under reported or the previous reports were already so entrenched into the public's minds that the truth just didn't sink in. Check out this article, Debunking the myths of Columbine, 10 years later.
Read Columbine, by Dave Cullen
I would like you to note that this story was aired on April 2, 2009 yet President Obama continues to propagate the lie. Check out this link, again by Fox News
Obama Repeats '90 Percent' Stat for U.S. Guns Recovered in Mexico - First 100 Days of Presidency - Politics FOXNews.com
According to Fox News the actual number of guns that could be attributed as coming from the US into Mexico in 2007 and 2008 is 5,114 and that's out of the 29,000 guns seized. That's only 17.6 percent! I think even a first grader could tell you that 5000 in two years is NOT equal to 2,000 guns a day as Secretary of State Hilary Clinton states.
I guess Obama and others like him, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and US Senator Dianne Feinstein, figure that if they say it loud enough and often enough the American public will believe it and allow the 2nd Amendment to fade quietly into the night. Luckily, at least in this case, there are many who are questioning these statements, and for once it's not just the NRA. Just Google "90 percent guns Mexico" and you will see how many are standing up against this.
A huge problem with the media is that they are so eager to rush ahead with any information they get as soon as they get it in an effort to scoop the other guy that they often report erroneous information and rumors. Unfortunately the public in general trusts that the media has done their homework, and we believe the first reports we hear, which are also picked up by the other news agencies as soon as they are reported, and further disseminated until within one or two days everyone believes those first reports. More often than not if the truth comes out at all, it comes out later, with barely a whisper, usually after the event has ceased being 'news worthy'. If the story is cold enough the truth may never see the light of day. Take the Colombine School shooting 10 years ago. Up until this very day I like many other people believed that the two kids responsible were members of the 'Trench Coat Mafia' and were the victims of bullies. It turns out that this is not the case. This is just one example of disinformation that was rushed to print or broadcast in the heat of the moment, however when the dust settled and truth was discovered either it was under reported or the previous reports were already so entrenched into the public's minds that the truth just didn't sink in. Check out this article, Debunking the myths of Columbine, 10 years later.
Read Columbine, by Dave Cullen
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The British Want Their Guns Back - Don't Let This Happen to U.S.
Through complacency and a desire for security the British allowed their government to confiscate their guns. Now they want them back! The politicians in the United States know they have an uphill battle if they want to take our guns outright (kuz ev'ry one know us Americans luvs our guns) so we will lose our freedom in baby steps. No they won't come beat down our door and snatch up your guns (yet), but in small almost unnoticeable (and unreported by the media) ways we are losing our Constitutional RIGHT to bear arms.
These little restrictions come along with almost no fuss because we are complacent and it's almost always in the name of security or safety.
Like:
Register yourself and you weapon so the government knows you are a safe and responsible law abiding citizen (and so they know who has the guns when it's time to collect).
Or:
Lock your guns up in a safe so your kids can't get to them (neither can you) and require gun locks so even if you can get to your gun by the time you load it you're dead. Hasn't anyone ever heard of educating your children. Yes there's accidents but people fall off ladders and no one wants those locked away. And, Yes gun owners must behave responsibly and take measures to keep guns out of the wrong hands, but the government should not be telling us what to do in our own homes, period. How would such a law be enforced? Would law enforcement have the right to inspect your home for 'legal gun storage'? Can you see where this is going?
There will not be a sudden outright ban of all guns, Americans wouldn't settle for that. No first the will place more and more limits on who can own guns, what guns you can have (umm Brady Bill anyone), how much ammunition you may keep, how you store you firearms, require you to have a license. They will make it increasingly difficult to own a gun thereby decreasing the number of LEGAL gun owners until there are to few to stand up and fight (figuratively speaking of course). Don't wait until it's too late. Take notice of the laws YOUR elected officials are trying to pass and don't buy into the "it's for your safety" bull crap. Be knowledgeable and be ACTIVE in protecting your freedom. Without the right to bear arms their will be no freedom of religion, no freedom of speech, no right to assembly or any other freedoms that we as Americans enjoy. It's not so much what your government is that you need to protect yourself from but what your children's government could become. Watch the video above, and see where we could be in a few years if we allow it.
These little restrictions come along with almost no fuss because we are complacent and it's almost always in the name of security or safety.
Like:
Register yourself and you weapon so the government knows you are a safe and responsible law abiding citizen (and so they know who has the guns when it's time to collect).
Or:
Lock your guns up in a safe so your kids can't get to them (neither can you) and require gun locks so even if you can get to your gun by the time you load it you're dead. Hasn't anyone ever heard of educating your children. Yes there's accidents but people fall off ladders and no one wants those locked away. And, Yes gun owners must behave responsibly and take measures to keep guns out of the wrong hands, but the government should not be telling us what to do in our own homes, period. How would such a law be enforced? Would law enforcement have the right to inspect your home for 'legal gun storage'? Can you see where this is going?
There will not be a sudden outright ban of all guns, Americans wouldn't settle for that. No first the will place more and more limits on who can own guns, what guns you can have (umm Brady Bill anyone), how much ammunition you may keep, how you store you firearms, require you to have a license. They will make it increasingly difficult to own a gun thereby decreasing the number of LEGAL gun owners until there are to few to stand up and fight (figuratively speaking of course). Don't wait until it's too late. Take notice of the laws YOUR elected officials are trying to pass and don't buy into the "it's for your safety" bull crap. Be knowledgeable and be ACTIVE in protecting your freedom. Without the right to bear arms their will be no freedom of religion, no freedom of speech, no right to assembly or any other freedoms that we as Americans enjoy. It's not so much what your government is that you need to protect yourself from but what your children's government could become. Watch the video above, and see where we could be in a few years if we allow it.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Free Temporary Disposable Email Address
Have you ever had to "Sign Up" or "Create an Account" in order to use some online service, access a website, or view a video, only to later find your email inbox full of junk from a site that you only planned to use once? Now you can get a free temporary disposable email address and use it to sign up. Don't use your personal email to sign up for some "free membership" that you will never use again. Check out GuerrillaMail.com to get a free temporary disposable email address. After you've gotten your disposable email address, go back to the website that requires you to "Sign Up" and use your new temporary email address. If the website sends you a confirmation email it can be retrieved from GuerrillaMail.com allowing you to complete the process. The email address will only exist for 15 minutes and then it's gone forever along with any unwanted emails from the offending site. The sweet thing about GuerrillaMail.com is that you don't have to go through the long sign up process that the other free providers require, and you never have to divulge your private information!
If for some reason you need a throwaway email account that lasts longer than 15 minutes such as the examples of my previous post: Hide Your Identity With a Pseudonym and Free Email Accounts use one of the free email providers such as Yahoo and Hotmail to set up throwaway email accounts.
No more Spam! - Guerrillamail.com
If for some reason you need a throwaway email account that lasts longer than 15 minutes such as the examples of my previous post: Hide Your Identity With a Pseudonym and Free Email Accounts use one of the free email providers such as Yahoo and Hotmail to set up throwaway email accounts.
No more Spam! - Guerrillamail.com
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The Government Wants to Track Your Car With GPS
Several states are looking into fitting GPS transponders in new cars to track where you drive. Their reasoning for this is so the government can tax the miles you drive instead of relying on the diminishing revenue they are getting from the gas tax since people have begun to drive more fuel efficient cars. While at first blush taxing the miles you drive instead of how much fuel you burn seems to make since. If you drive more miles then the other guy then you are causing more wear and tear on the road regardless of how fuel efficient your car is. The problem is how to track the miles you drive. Apparently not content to rely on the honor system and allow motorists to report their mileage when they renew their car registration (or check the frickin' odometer) certain politicians want to hook a GPS up to your car and track your mileage.
I'm not even going to get into whether we should be taxed for gas or for miles driven (check out MileHive.com for more), there is a much bigger problem with this scheme. The government will be able to track you everywhere you go. Of course government lackeys say that the GPS unit won't track you in detail and that law enforcement will not have access to the information, see the article in the Washington Post. The government supposedly doesn't have easy access to your private communications either right? Ever heard of a subpoena? Even if you don't believe that the boys in suits and dark glasses are surreptitiously logging every little thing you do, even a third grader knows that all law enforcement needs is an "anonymous tip" to get a subpoena and your private information in their greasy little hands.
The Oregon Department of Transportation employee in charge of that states project, James Whitty, dismissed privacy concerns by comparing it with the tracking capabilities of cell phones, stating that it hasn't deterred people from purchasing new cell phones. HELLO! You can turn off the locating system of your cell phone or just turn the phone off. If you really didn't want to be tracked you could leave the phone on and stuff it under the seat of a train heading to B.F.E. You wont have that option if the government requires you, by law, to allow your travels to be tracked. Disabling the GPS unit for any reason would likely be seen as an attempt to cheat "the man" out of his taxes and be punishable by law.
We have already given away too much of our privacy and freedom in the name of safety. Let's not do the same for the sake of smoother roads. Contact the lawmakers in your state and let them know that you DO NOT APPROVE of being tracked by the government, for any reason. There has got to be a better way to fix our infrastructure without stomping all over your civil rights.
See also:
5280 Denver's Magazine
MileHive.com
Washington Post
I'm not even going to get into whether we should be taxed for gas or for miles driven (check out MileHive.com for more), there is a much bigger problem with this scheme. The government will be able to track you everywhere you go. Of course government lackeys say that the GPS unit won't track you in detail and that law enforcement will not have access to the information, see the article in the Washington Post. The government supposedly doesn't have easy access to your private communications either right? Ever heard of a subpoena? Even if you don't believe that the boys in suits and dark glasses are surreptitiously logging every little thing you do, even a third grader knows that all law enforcement needs is an "anonymous tip" to get a subpoena and your private information in their greasy little hands.
The Oregon Department of Transportation employee in charge of that states project, James Whitty, dismissed privacy concerns by comparing it with the tracking capabilities of cell phones, stating that it hasn't deterred people from purchasing new cell phones. HELLO! You can turn off the locating system of your cell phone or just turn the phone off. If you really didn't want to be tracked you could leave the phone on and stuff it under the seat of a train heading to B.F.E. You wont have that option if the government requires you, by law, to allow your travels to be tracked. Disabling the GPS unit for any reason would likely be seen as an attempt to cheat "the man" out of his taxes and be punishable by law.
We have already given away too much of our privacy and freedom in the name of safety. Let's not do the same for the sake of smoother roads. Contact the lawmakers in your state and let them know that you DO NOT APPROVE of being tracked by the government, for any reason. There has got to be a better way to fix our infrastructure without stomping all over your civil rights.
See also:
5280 Denver's Magazine
MileHive.com
Washington Post
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