ALPR - The all seeing eye of Big Brother

On November 8th, the US Supreme Court is set to hear a case which will determine whether or not police need a warrant to install a GPS tracking device on a vehicle.  The case will certainly be getting a lot more attention in the next few months due to its ability to change how the government views the 4th amendment.

But behind the scenes, technology is making GPS tracking of vehicles obsolete.  Automated License Plate Recognition (or ALPR or ANPR - Automated Number Plate Recognition).  It is sweeping the law enforcement world by storm.   In the United States, many police departments have outfitted patrol cars with ALPR systems, mostly funded by anti-terrorism grants.  So what does it do?  Well as the name implies, it automatically captures, records and checks license plates against a database and it can do so in huge numbers and with no intervention by police.  When the ALPR system finds a plate that is associated with a stolen vehicle or an outstanding warrant, the system alerts the officer and provides information on the vehicle and warrant.

On the surface, this seems like a great technology.  Police cars can rove the streets/parking lots and with little effort uncover any criminals who were stupid enough to drive around.  But like most technology, it will have unintended consequences.  The biggest one is that as ALPR becomes more popular, it will become easier and easier to track any particular individual's movement.   As the plate information is publicly visible on public streets, it's virtually immune from any 4th amendment challenge.  More cities are also installing ALPR systems at intersections in addition to patrol cars.  So the net effect will be that police will have the ability to determine not only where you and your car are at any given time, it will also (through the use of historical databases) allow them to see what any particular person's driving patterns are.    Effectively, this will make GPS tracking of vehicles unnecessary, at least in medium to large cities.

And as all of the technology that makes ALPR work is already in the public domain, it won't be long before the private sector makes use of it as well.  It's not hard to imagine that personal ALPR systems might be available in the future, allowing users to monitor patters of drivers though group-sourced traffic applications like Waze.

Imagine if a private company were able to capture license plate information along with travel patterns (where you live, work, drive). As of now, the government controls DMV information and most states make it very hard to get.  These private companies could offer this to you as well and as it's publicly visible information, it would be difficult to stop.  It would be a stalker's dream.

OK, I'll say it: Fukushima is much, much worse than Three Mile Island

Seems the governments of the world and the media are terrified of admitting that the Fukushima reactor meltdown is on par with Chernobyl. 

I'm here to tell you that not only is Fukushima worse than Three Mile Island, it has the very real potential to be worse than Chernobyl.  Fukushima is still an active disaster two weeks (at this point) after the initial failure.

This is so far beyond Three Mile Island, I can't believe people are still trying to compare the two.  We now have citizens leaving Japan who have seriously high radiation contamination.  That never happened in TMI.

In terms of a human disaster, Fukushima can very quickly become worse than Chernobyl.  By comparison, Chernobyl was out in the middle of nowhere.  Tokyo is only 150 miles from Fukushima.  What happens when a city of 13 million has to be evacuated...permanently?    Where do they move?  Where are they housed?  How are they fed?

New York Times Steps Closer To The Abyss

The NY Times announced they will be charging heavy users to view their web content.  Apparently once someone clicks on their 21st article, they will be presented with (3) pay-for-content digital packages.  How the Times will know when someone clicks on their 21st article is unclear.

Unless they will require all users to log in, it seems like a weak attempt to enforce their pay wall.    I can only hope I'm wrong and the Times will opt for hard-core enforcement and drive themselves into irrelevancy.

Here's a stat I'll revisit later:

The Times claims to have  "210,000 digital subscribers, and 400,000 copies circulate in print "


Here's what the Times has in store:

"...the pay wall's effect on the reach of the Murdoch papers has been direct and dire. Until the pay wall's creation last summer, the two Times papers (Times of London & Sunday Times) drew 20 million distinct online readers a month. Now, about 105,000 people visit their sites or digital products monthly, meaning the papers lost about 95 percent of their online audience . Only some 50,000 people actually have paid monthly digital subscriptions."

And for a world where digital papers are the (only) newspaper, that's a bad thing if you desire the power to sway public opinion.

And that's what the NY Times will have to chose between:  Being a powerful political agenda setter, or making money selling newspapers.  Ultimately, the real money is in swaying the public policy.  That's something the NY Times can't see because they've grown too comfortable with their unchallenged monopoly on that power.

Update on the "Paywall"

I've had a couple of posts about online news sites trying to charge for their content. From The New York Times (who still haven't done it, probably because they're trying hard not to lose their last 10 readers), to Newsday, to Newscorp's several attempts at paid content.

Well Newscorp is doubling down their bet into paid content with the release of The Daily for the iPad. While the iPad is, in my opinion, a stupid product from Apple, Newscorp and everyone else in the free world is certain it's the next iPod/iPhone, and are out buying them to ensure they will be.

Regardless, The Daily is paid content, costing $1.00 a week or $40 a year. Will it succeed? Probably not. The Wall Street Journal remains the anomaly in the paid content world, in that they are allegedly making money. If Newscorp's experience with The Times of London's 'paywall' is any indication, The Daily will be a miserable failure. The Times has seen it's web traffic drop somewhere between 60 - 90 % since erecting their paywall. Ouch. Making people not want to look at your newspaper is a good way to go out of (the news) business.

But this one might be different, if Murdock can convince all those affluent Apple fans that The Daily is the next 'must have' app. I'm guessing, even that is hopeless.

An Idiot Abroad: Perhaps this can wash that Gold Rush disaster from my memory

I just watched the first episode of an Idiot Abroad on the Science Channel. This show is basically a travel documentary of Karl Pilkington's adventures around the globe. It's very enjoyable, although the title is somewhat misleading as Karl , the supposed 'idiot' of the program, is actually just like you and me, dealing with serious culture clash in the 3rd world.

Ricky Gervais says this of the show:

This is a (more real) documentary than most others you'll ever see on television. We don't plan it, he doesn't know what's going to happen.

This is produced by (and stars)Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. If the first episode is any indication, it is worthy of your time.

Discovery Channel Disaster: Gold Rush Alaska

I just watched a couple of episodes of Discovery Channel's Gold Rush Alaska, and I can only assume the whole show is a hoax. The reasons why this show sucks are long (for one, it appears to be completely scripted and the cast doesn't seem to be actually looking for gold ) but a check of the Discovery Channel's forum shows that the consensus is that this show seriously sucks and is not the quality you would expect from TDC. In short, it's embarrassing.

Discovery is touting this as the highest rated TV show on Friday night. If that's true, I think it's because the audience is enjoying the view of The Discovery Channel going down in flames.

Peon Puplit's Favorite Websites of 2010

Sites that Firefox says I visited a lot during 2010 (in no particular order):

• TitanTV
• Instawatcher
• LiveLeak
• Drudge Report
• HandyManHowTo
• Google Realtime
• Google News
  

Government Now Says Fluoride 'Maybe Not So Good For You'

It's only a start, but the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is now saying that the current minimum recommended fluoride levels for drinking water should now be the maximum allowed. Wow. That's quite a turn around.

HHS say it's due to the increase in fluorosis, but the Peon Pulpit suspects it's because it's always been a carcinogen and the people who've been feeding it to you for years are trying to quietly back away from it ("...nothing to see here people, nothing to see").

Those anti-fluoride nuts are looking less crazy aren't they?

The US goes after the (Wiki) Leaker. But what about the Flooders?

So the US is all upset about Julian Assange and Wikileaks. They have expressed their glee that he's been arrested in the UK for charges in Sweden. Eric Holder has launched a Justice Department probe. Some have even suggested that he be charged in the US with spying.

But here's an interesting experiment. Ask people you know what they know about the leaks. They'll probably tell you they heard (at least) the following:

• The USA pressured countries to take Guantanamo prisoners
• Saudi Arabia is the primary funding source for Al Qaeda
• Egypt would be 'ok' with the US bombing Iran
• Hillary Clinton ordered her staff to spy on representatives at the UN

Once they've told you about the leaks, ask them where they learned of them. Ask them "So you read this on the Wikileaks site?" I bet that 100% of them say no. They heard it from The New York Times (and the multitude of other papers who republished them after that).

Julian Assange didn't steal the secret cables. Bradley Manning did and will likely spend the rest of his life in a military prison. Assange just published them. Just like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and The LA Times, etc. And since most people learned of the cable's contents from those news sites/papers, aren't they the more damaging source? Aren't those 'sites' the ones who are really revealing these 'secret' cables to the world?

So why hasn't the US government pounded its fists on the table demanding the editors of the NY Times be arrested?

It's all a little strange.

The Peon Pulpit's Best Shows On Television (2010)

1. Best News Show - RedEye W/Greg Gutfeld (FOX)
2. Best Reality Series - The Haunted (Discovery/Animal Planet) Stretching the 'reality' series designation, but all the other reality series are clearly fake as well. This one is at least interesting.
3. Best Drama Series - Dexter (Showtime)
4. Best Documentary Series - Frontline (PBS)
   
5. Best Comedy Show - Tosh.0 (Comedy Central)
   
6. Best Political Show - The McLachlan group (TMG)
7. Best Guilty Pleasure TV - America's Funniest Home Videos [ABC/Syndication] - I love this show...guaranteed laughs for me.
8. Best Educational/Documentary Series - Top Gear [BBC] - Even if I'm not a real petrolhead, I appreciate Jeremy Clarkson's sense of humor (it's also clear that Clarkson is the real-life blueprint for Alan Partridge)
   

The Rise of Government 'Privileges"

USA Today ran a story about how some public school districts are trying to enforce year round conduct standards on their students. The current target of these conduct contracts are students involved in extracurricular activities. You can be sure that the rest will soon follow. What bothers me about public schools enforcing conduct standards (some of the prohibited conduct is not illegal, BTW) is that you have to sign one in order to participate in extracurricular activities. School administrators justify this intrusion into students private lives by the "it's a privilege, not a right" mantra. Every adult who drives has no doubt heard that driving is a privilege and not a right. The first time you hear that, it's slightly shocking, since not being able to drive in America is basically a condemnation to poverty (unless you live in Manhattan or have a chauffeur).

However, the privilege argument begins to fall apart when over zealous school administrators try to apply it to public schools which are funded by public taxes. Driving can be seen as a right because as a citizen, I don't have to do it. I could opt to not buy a car, not get a driver's license, not pay insurance, etc. However, as a minor in America, I can't opt out of school attendance. As a property owner in the US, I cannot opt not to pay my property taxes which fund the schools and their extracurricular activities. So what kind of privilege are we talking about where I have to pay for it but the government can require me to give up my constitutional rights in order to take advantage of it? Using this logic, the fire department could tell me that their pumping water on my burning home is a privilege and not a right, and If I really want that privilege, I better sign their contract saying I'll be good 24 hours a day (and they define what 'good' is) and perhaps wax their cars while I'm at it.

It won't be long before an unelected government administrator tries to convince us that corruption free government is a privilege, not a right.

What will you be willing to give up to get it?

Recession was over more than a year ago? Ignorance really is strength.

The National Bureau of Economic Research says the worst recession since WW II ended June 2009.

If that's true, then the current recession started in July 2009.

Seriously, is anyone buying this?

Remember - The Peon Pulpit Called It First

Remember back in 2008 when I made my first stock market prediction and was somewhat amazed that it failed to even come close to being accurate? At the time I suggested that perhaps the Fed was covertly purchasing stocks to prop up the market artificially:

It does seem like every time the market makes some huge drop (like 11/13/2008's -554.11 drop) it makes a remarkable close up the next day (11/14/2008's 324.88

Could it be bargain hunters? Or could it be the Treasury/FED monster propping up the dead?

Either way, you heard it here first.

Well it appears that now I'm not alone in my suspicions:

Newsday Learns An Important Lesson

As pointed out here on the Pulpit, charging people for news is one sure way to get people to stop reading your news. Three months into their own 'pay to read' experiment, Newsday.com has a total of (35) paid subscribers. Yes...THIRTY-FIVE. They paid $4 million to upgrade the site to accept payments, and have made $9,000. Heh. Good riddance. That's the price you pay for not reading the Pulpit Newsday.

Next up: The New York Times.... I'm looking forward to that crash and burn.

Brown Win In Massachusetts Throws A Lifeline To Democrats

I suspect that the Scott Brown win in the race for Massachusetts senator will throw Democrats a lifeline. Unlike statements made earlier in the week that the Senate may delay seating Brown until they can pass a health care reform bill, I think Democrats will move to swiftly seat Brown.

The reason is simple: Democrats running for re-election in 2010 want out of the bill as fast as possible. They might push a watered down bill, which, like Keith Olbermann suggested, will only "mandate child-proof medicine bottles". I doubt they will even do that, as it will continue to keep the health care issue (which is now a Democratic albatross) in people's minds.

I also predict that the "tea bagger" jokes that have been repeated countless times by Democrats on television will suddenly fall out of favor. I bet making fun of the tea party movement Isn't going to be as popular with elected Democrats as it once was. This will leave it up to democratic mouthpieces (like Olbermann) to keep it alive. Eventually, even he'll be asked to tone it down, for fear that it will only serve to stoke voter anger against Democrats.

Mainstream Media HALL OF DOOM!

Nothing gets people interested in watching TV or reading newspapers & magazines quite the way that impending doom does. Just like clockwork, whenever the mainstream media runs out of legitimate stories (or when the current legit story get stale like, say, an ongoing debacle of a war in Iraq) they will trot out the latest "_This_ will scare the sh*t out of You!!" Story.

So today I inaugurate my new Mainstream Media Hall of Doom (MMHOD). This will be an ongoing collection of current and past "this is really going to ruin your life" themes the media harped on and then promptly forgot as the next juicy story overtook it. You may have forgotten about these yourself, so I will archive them here.

Mainstream Media Hall of Doom (MMHOD)

• Swine Flu Outbreak (2009) Attack of the Sick Pigs!
• Cell Phones and Cancer (2004- current) Boy, *that* was an expensive call
  
• Water Shortage (2003 - Current - Does this mean Water World won't happen??)
• Global Fish Shortage (Current 2008 - Suddenly, food=fear)
• Worldwide Food Shortage (Rice Famine? 2008 "At the end of the day, you will pay the price for being a fussy eater.")
• Colony Collapse disorder (2007 So Long, And Thanks For all The Pollen!!)
  
• Bird Flu (2006-2007)
• Rogue Asteroid Strike (2004)
• SARS (2003)
  
• Terrorism (current)
  
• Global Warming (current)
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (1990s -2000's Angry cows on the warpath)
  
• Y2K Glitch (1999)
• Deformed Frogs (1995)
• West Nile Virus (2002-2005 Invasion of the Infected Vampires)
• Satanic Day Care (1980-1990)
• Hole In The Ozone Layer (1985)
• Acid Rain (Late 1980's)
• Global Cooling (1975)
• Population Explosion (late 1960's)
• Commies Are Going To Get Us! (1950s-1980s)
  
• Nuclear Annihilation (1950-1980)

_______________________________________________________________
I have color coded these in the following way:

Green - While it might have been real to some extent, if you never fretted about it, you'd be no worse off
Orange - Maybe you should (or should have) worried a little about this one.
Red - OMG, the Media was right! We're all DOOMED!
Black - An ongoing event (too early to tell...so you'd better worry yourself into an ulcer just to be on the safe side).

Of course, an item's color code will change if the situation warrants.

Originally Posted: 4/24/2008
Last updated: 11/15/2009
_______________________________________________________________

The Peon Pulpit's Best Shows On Television (2009)

TV seems to be in a holding pattern these days.....

1. Best Reality Series -
2. Best Educational Series - How It's Made (Science Channel/Discovery Channel/Ztele)
3. Best Drama Series - Dexter (Showtime) New entry!
4. Best Documentary Series - Frontline (PBS)
   
5. Best Comedy Series - The Office (NBC)
6. Best News Show -
   
7. Best Political Show - The McLachlan group (TMG)

Updated 11/15/2009

Pfizer Bulldozes Woman's Home...Then Walks Away

Basically. After winning a case that went to the Supreme Court, New London, CT made a woman move out of her house so they could give her land to Pfizer. They took it promising all sorts of jobs and econmic benefits. The city in turn gave Pfizer all sorts of tax breaks. Now it looks like Pfizer just gave the town the middle finger. Nice.

Serves them right. This should be a warning to all other states to limit eminent domain.

Sounds That Remind Me Of Other Songs...

This is a collection of songs that to me, sound like other songs. Maybe not to the point of being completely ripped off, but definitely share similar sonic elements:

• Taylor Swift - "You Belong To Me" (2009) sounds like "First Time" by Lifehouse (chorus) (2007)
• Maroon 5 - "She Will Be Loved" (2004) sounds like Tears For Fears "Break It Down Again" (1993) ["I don't mind spending every day".... = "It's in the way you're always hiding from the light"]
  

American's Just Don't Know How To Protest

Americans are really bad at protesting...below is an amazing video on YouTube from an Estonian Protest in Tallinn.



I doubt people could get it together and protest like this in the US.