Date: 10/21/2004 07:28 AM
From: Jason (earthvisionfest@yahoo.com)
Subject: American Passports to Get Chipped
I am living and working in Thailand. This type of big brother infringement is in line with last month's efforts by the Pentagon to block U.S. citizens working outside of the country from voting ("American Passports to Get Chipped," Oct. 21, 2004). Are you aware that was done?
What could the purpose actually be other than monitoring a specifically targeted group of world travelers, most of whom are well-educated and intelligent enough to know that the United States is not an island. With no precise explanation the Pentagon backed down with pressure from Congress and we are now to be allowed to cast our votes.
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Date: 10/21/2004 08:44 AM
From: Kent Sievers (kjsievers@cox.net)
Subject: Magazine Makes Gadget-Making Fun
Make magazine sounded great till I read the price tag ("Magazine Makes Gadget-Making Fun," Oct. 21, 2004). People like me who like to hack their own gadgets will not spend $15 on a magazine. Every one of the self-made gadgets mentioned in the preview article I have already seen on the web for free.
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Date: 10/21/2004 06:16 AM
From: Melanie Burns (Melanietif@aol.com)
Subject: It Takes a Con to Know a Con
Well if what the media hacker says is true, life is better in federal prisons than in state prisons ("It Takes a Con to Know a Con," Oct. 21, 2004). There are no prison theaters, no typewriters in the library, you have to supply your own, and what really shocked me, barbecue on the weekends? I bet the prison food with the feds isn't so bad either. I will never forget my last meal in Tennessee's state prison for women.
The only thing that I can see that the federal and state systems have in common is the count times. The 4:00 p.m. count is the most important. Better be sitting or standing or you'll enjoy the next 30 days in seclusion with a write-up to take to the parole board with you.
Hell, Martha isn't in jail, she's on house arrest, just not at home.
Hey, what about the swimming pool?
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Date: 10/21/2004 05:48 AM
From: Michael (thr35h0ld@hotmail.com)
Subject: Get Rid of TV-B-Gone
In your article "Inventor Rejoices as TVs Go Dark," you noted that "Altman said people who hear about TV-B-Gone start thinking about other nuisances ("Inventor Rejoices as TVs Go Dark," Oct. 19, 2004). Friends have asked for ways to jam cell phones, shut down vehicle subwoofers and kill car alarms."
Just because the guy is a brilliant inventor doesn't mean he should be allowed to run roughshod over the rights and privileges of others. I personally hate loud subwoofers that can be heard literally miles away. But those speakers are the property of another person, and I have no right to force them to turn off. And what kind of friends ask for a way to kill other peoples' cell phones and car alarms? Those things are personal security items. If I'm being mugged in a parking lot and I turn on my car alarm and scream for help, what good is it if the criminal can just turn off the alarm? Or, suppose I'm on the phone with a family member who is giving or receiving emergency instructions. Is some activist going to interrupt my cell-phone connection? Maybe the inventor would say that people would mostly use it to turn off cell phones not being used. It is of no consequence, that's still a violation of my personal property.
Nobody has a right to turn off my cell phone, car speakers, security system, computer, car, PaceMaker, whatever. I hope that Atman sees how dangerous this technology could be – and kills it now.
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