Opus 2013-259: Tax Dollars at Work: The Obamaphone

While browsing the Drudge report I noticed a title, “Reporter issued three free ‘Obamaphones’.”   When I clicked on the link it took me to an article called “Me and My Obamaphones.” 

The reporter shares how he received three free cell phones without lying or giving false information.  He says he is well paid and is not eligible for any government programs.  In spite of that he was able to sign up seven times and has received three phones to date.  He reminds us that the American Tax Payers, you and me, are paying for his phones.

Why is this happening? 

“The Federal Communications Commission oversees the so-called Lifeline program, created in 1984 to make sure impoverished Americans had telephone service available to call their moms, bosses, and 911. In 2008, the FCC expanded the program to offer subsidized cell-phone service, and since then, the expenses of running the program have soared. In 2012, the program’s costs had risen to $2.189 billion, up from $822 million before wireless carriers were included. As of June, there were 13.8 million active Lifeline subscriptions.”

Notice the dates.  This program was started during the Reagan administration.  It was expanded under George W. Bush.  Both were Republicans.  It was then taken by the Obama administration and really expanded.  These are the phones that Obama has promised the masses.  Once again we see him taking an existing program, started by the Republicans and expanding it for political capital.

So the persons texting in the cars in front of you may be having you pay for their phone calls.

Also, keep in mind that one of the problems in education today is students using their cell phones to text during class.  It is incredibly disruptive.  Since most of the kids at our school qualify for free lunches I have wondered how they could afford these phones that I did not want to pay for.  Now I find that a good portion of these probably came from government handouts.  I am paying for their phones.

This sounds like a good candidate for a budget cut.

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-258: Firsts: K-Cups

While at DEFCON we are staying at a hotel that has a Keurig coffee maker, the kind that are designed for K-cups.  If you are not much into coffee, K-cups are the latest rage.  The coffee comes in little plastic containers with an individual portion of coffee measured out.  You put the little container in the machine and when you close the cover it punctures the cup and forces hot water through.  The concept is that you have a cup of fresh brewed coffee.  All the major coffee names are on board.  We bought an 18 cup package for about $12.00 of a brand I knew and liked. 
I have been wanting to try this but I am too cheap to buy the expensive machine, nor do I work at a place that has one.  This was my chance.  For the price of a pound of fresh roasted, quality coffee beans I was able to purchase 18 cups of perfectly mediocre brew.  I say mediocre because I am not a coffee snob.  I can tell the difference between a really bad cup of coffee and a really good cup but the nuances in between are lost on me.  This was definitely in between. 

My son talked to some friends and they suggested it might be the hotel water.  I bought some bottled water and tried again.  It was slightly better but still in the ho-hum class.  The cost of the bottled water, purchased in the hotel made the cup of average stuff about the same cost as a cup of Starbucks in a normal Starbuck’s location.

I may try again with another brand of coffee if I can do so without spending a fortune but for now I would recommend that you pass on the K-cup phenomenon.  If it is the only game in town, okay.  Some caffeine is better than no caffeine.  Good caffeine is better yet.

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-257: Headlines: Smile! Part 3 of 3

I continue to respond to an article called “Your TV Might Be Watching You” originally sourced from the Drudge Report.  I encourage you to read to entire thing.

The government is listening in places you might not suspect.  I am a teacher.  Several years ago when they were spending millions on redoing the buildings they installed a PA system.  In every room I have visited a large speaker and clock sits right in the middle of the front of the room.  It keeps us from using screens and projectors.  The location is typical of the government.  The ones that had been installed years ago were on the side, over a door.  That worked, this doesn’t.  But that is another issue.

I was at the school when the installation was done.  I talked to the workmen.  I asked questions.  I was told that not only did the PA have a speaker but it also had a microphone which enabled the administration or anyone with the codes to listen to what goes on in the classroom.  In theory there is a warning sound that occurs when the microphone is turned on.  The purpose behind it is so that the office and the teacher can have a conversation.  Sounds legit.  Then why do the administrators all deny that there is a microphone in the system?

The technicians installing the device said it had a microphone.  The administrators say it doesn’t.  Who am I going to believe?

Why would this ability be a good idea?  There are legitimate uses.  As I said, it would enable a conversation but we already have a telephone for that function and rarely when the office calls would I want the students to hear what was being said.  It is possible that there was a deviant teacher and they wanted to listen for child abuse going on but that could be done with a warrant and a specialized bugging device.  It could come in handy if we had an intruder on campus.  There might be other legitimate uses.

Why would I not want it installed?  First, I don’t know if the required warning sound is activated.  Second there is the issue of the fourth amendment.  There are also a long list of situations that require a belief in confidentiality.  I am sure that parents don’t want unseen people listening to conferences with the teacher.  They could be sharing personal information that no one else needs to know.  We could be having a faculty meeting.  What about the ability to listen to private phone conversations.  How about when I child is confiding in a trusted teacher?

I am sure I could go on but Big Brother might be listening.  If he went to public school there is a good chance he won’t be reading.

Be aware.  Be proactive.  Let the government know where you stand.

Or be a sheep and smile at the wolf when he arrives at your door.

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-256: Headlines: Smile! Part 2 of 3

I last wrote about possible cameras and microphones all around you.  It has already happened.  It is history.  The question is, “Will history repeat itself?”  We are reassured.

Again, this is from an article called “Your TV Might Be Watching You.”  I encourage you to read to entire thing.

We are reassured by the people who found the problem.

“Samsung quickly fixed the problem after security researchers at iSEC Partners informed the company about the bugs.”

Don’t you feel more secure now?  I know I do, but I don’t have one of their TVs.  I assume that the problem could not also be in mine but I have noticed that the little red power button seems to be always on.

At the DEFCON convention one of the repeated concerns you hear is that the big companies don’t want to hear about these problems.  Most hackers do their intrusions as recreation.  They are not really out to destroy anything.  All they want to do is play a game of “gotcha!”  If they ever get really angry at the nation they could shut most things down in a heartbeat.  That is one reason why the government is trying to get control of the internet through regulation, data mining and taxes.  The recent scandals are a result of this.  They often gather information they have no legal right to and no current need for and store it for access later.  They fear hackers who can blow the whistle on them.

Business and government should welcome the work of these hackers.  Some seem to be catching on.  From the article,

“Companies like Samsung pay hackers when they report security vulnerabilities like the ones iSEC found.”

This is a good thing.  Capitalism and free enterprise can provide answers to the failures of capitalism and free enterprise.  The profit motive is very powerful.  If the failures can be broadcast and the successes rewarded then we as citizens and consumers will be ahead of the game.  We can buy from companies that have the right attitude and policies and bankrupt the ones who don’t provide the right kind of service.  No government regulation is needed, just openness and a free market.

This is the silver lining.  But the intrusions show up in places you would not think about.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-255: Headlines: Smile! Part 1 of 3

While browsing through the Drudge report I came across a headline, “Flaw in new Samsung TV allows hackers to see viewer.”  Since I am attending DEFCON, a hacker convention, where even my geek son takes great precautions, this caught my attention.  The Title on the actual article was “Your TV Might Be Watching You.”

My first reaction was, “Well, duh.”  It always amazes me what people think is new news.  My son has been warning me about this for years.  He has told me to cover the camera lens on my laptop.  Since I am lazy, I have not done so, but I am aware of the problem.  He also has advised me to put a plug in the microphone connection because what they can do to the camera, they can do to the built in microphone. 

Here is how the article summarized the problem.

“The flaws in Samsung Smart TVs, which have now been patched, enabled hackers to remotely turn on the TVs' built-in cameras without leaving any trace of it on the screen. While you're watching TV, a hacker anywhere around the world could have been watching you. Hackers also could have easily rerouted an unsuspecting user to a malicious website to steal bank account information.”

Keep in mind that if the hackers can do it, so can the government.  This is real, people.  Think of all the electronic devices that you have in your home that could very easily have small, built in, unannounced microphones and cameras.  As Elizabeth Barrett Browning once said, “Let me count the ways...”  Start with your smart phones and don’t forget your dumb phones.  How about your radio and stereo setups.  Do you have an Ipod?  How about a microwave?  Remote controls of any kind?  Use a little imagination and you will find all kinds of potential ways that a concerned-for-your-safety government can plant inroads into your privacy.  Another big program pushed by the government is the “smart meter” on your utilities.

We have a problem.  Stay tuned.  Rest assured that the government is.

To be continued...

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-254: The Question of Why?

Alton Brown is not known as a philosopher.  He is known for his cable cooking show.  Granted, he has a novel approach, but he is a food preparer.  In spite of that, as I was reading through one of his books I came across this.

“I know there are those who would say, ‘who cares?  As long as I know how, why bother with why?’  I can only offer that for me, until I deal with the why, I don’t really know the how...if you know what I mean.” page 7

The question of “why” is of great importance in a free society.  Just because we can doesn’t mean that we should.  We need people asking the reason behind the action.  It has to do with morals, ethics, goals and, yes, consequences.

Animals can be trained to push buttons and do simple tasks but they cannot be trained to think.  We need to teach people to understand the reasons why they are doing things.  In a crisis this will help them make decisions when there is no one to tell them what to do.  This is called growing up.

So ask “Why?”  Ask it in all areas of your life.  Drive people nuts.  Make them think.

Brown, Alton.  I’m Just Here for the Food.  New York:  Harry N. Abrams, 2006.

homo unius libri

Opus 2013-253: Headlines: Red Herrings to the Right of Me...

When I went on the Drudge Report this morning one of the headlines Read “Gay Athletes Could Be Prosecuted at '14 Winter Olympics...”  If I Were a homosexual I would not be too worried. 

Why not be worried?  I am one of those right wing, red necked, bigoted people who believe that homosexuality is not normal.  Homosexual sexual activity is a sin.  If you ask me I will tell you.  The thing is, unless you ask me you will probably never know how I feel about this sin just as you will not know how I feel about other sins such as gossip, adultery, slander, theft, etc. 

To my knowledge this headline was written by, and distributed by, a group of journalists who are on board for the homosexual agenda.  The reason they are publishing stuff like this is to stir up hatred and division.  I don’t know of anyone in my circle who would come up with the idea of prosecuting or persecuting homosexual athletes at the Olympics.  I work with homosexuals.  It has never been an issue.  I had a tremendous waiter the other day who appeared to be as gay as the apparel in the Christmas Carol "Deck the Halls."  He did an excellent job. 

This is a red herring perpetuated by the haters in the media not by supposed haters in the Christian community.  If you read the article you will find that it is exclusively a Russian thing and is mainly noise by a local politician. 

Read with care.  Always think, consider the source and ask the motivation.

homo unius libri

homo unius libri