I wish I were an Astronaut

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I wish I were an Astronaut, so I could play chess with nobody looking over my shoulder.

Photo editing by Michael Balzano

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Wall Street Journal on FaceBook (NON) privacy

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If you have a FaceBook account, read what the Wall Street Journal says about the latest FB privacy glitch (Were your private emails sent out in a blast email?).

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Hysterical discussion on how NOT to make a presentation

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Hysterical discussion on how NOT to make a presentation by comedian Don McMillan.

Enjoy... and learn.
Thanks to Barry Ritholtz at The Big Picture for the link.
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.. School District Accused of Spying on Students via Home Webcams

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Today I am stunned!

This is all over the internet & the blogosphere today.  Representative samples are  at law. com, USAToday, ArsTechnica, eWeek.com, CNet News, and AZCentral.com (The Arizona Republic).
According to a Federal class action lawsuit, Robbins v. Lower Merion School District, school district administrators and teachers have been spying on students -- in various rooms in the students homes -- without either the knowledge or permission of the students or their parents, using webcams on laptop computers supplied to the students by the schools.  The school authorities are alleged to have remotely activated the webcams over the internet.
In Robbins, the Plaintiffs argue that this spying violated the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Stored Communications Act, as well as violations of the Fourth Amendment, federal civil rights laws and Pennsylvania's wiretap statute.  
According to the lawsuit, "Many of the images captured and intercepted may consist of images of minors and their parents or friends in compromising or embarrassing positions, including, but not limited to, in various stages of dress or undress."
It seems to me that, if these school officials saw and/or recorded any sexual activities of any sort,  they may also be in violation of relevant child pornography statutes.

We haven't yet heard from the Defendant school officials.

UPDATE 1.  Dr. Christopher McGinley, Superintendent of Lower Merion School District, wrote here, "This feature has only been used for the limited purpose of locating a lost, stolen or missing laptop."

So, since the district has officially narrowed it down, which is it:  Did the school believe student Blake Robbins lost the laptop; did the school believe student Blake Robbins stole the laptop; or, did the school believe student Blake Robbins misplaced the laptop?

Inquiring minds want to know.
UPDATE 2.  The Associated Press (AP) reports here that the FBI is now investigating this case. 
UPDATE 3.  These videos from CBS & NBC News.

UPDATE 4.   Stryde Hax blog  reports here on the technical aspects of this situation.

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Aimee Mullins: The opportunity of adversity

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"The thesaurus might equate "disabled" with synonyms like "useless" and "mutilated," but ground-breaking runner Aimee Mullins is out to redefine the word. Defying these associations, she (s)hows how adversity -- in her case, being born without shinbones -- actually opens the door for human potential."

"A record-breaker at the Paralympic Games in 1996, Aimee Mullins has built a career as a model, actor and activist for women, sports and the next generation of prosthetics"
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. Airport body Scanners

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We've all heard about the new "security" full-body scanners at airports.  And we've all heard that those scans are immediately deleted for privacy reasons.

I don't believe it!

Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan tells here about his experience at London's Heathrow Airport -- autographing copies of his full body scan.

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. Get Ready For The SUPERBOWL... Commercials

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. You say you want to reduce the cost of healthcare?

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You don't!

George Whitesides is a Harvard chemistry professor.   Professor Whitesides has developed a medical lab the size of a postage stamp that costs virtually nothing!

You won't implement Professor Whitesides' lab, because you can't make money out of it.

What a shame!

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