Mon - December 5, 2005
The Eyes Of Missouri Are Upon You
The State will monitor the
signal from your cell phone
Missouri has contracted with a private company, the
National Engineering Technology Corporation, to monitor thousands of cell
phones, starting in Kansas City and St. Louis, to track traffic conditions and
report them to the public.
The program charts drivers' relative speed by measuring the time between the intermittent signals that cell phones send to towers along a stretch of road. The info is overlaid with highway maps to determine where the phones are and how fast they are moving. Supposedly, the information is is stripped of personal ID and serial numbers.
This is a leap forward in our nation," said Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn, minutes before the Highways and Transportation Commission's unanimous vote to authorize the contract. "No other department of transportation will be able to keep the users of their system as well informed."
The pesky folks at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) say that we consumers should have the right to opt into this public service. Lillie Coney, the Associate Director said, "Missouri may be creating a base for a new industry on the shoulders of the taxpayers."
Granny especially likes this provision in the contract:
"Under the terms of the $6.2 million, two-year contract, NET will wholly own the information and is free to sell it to outside vendors that could profit from offering just-in-time travel updates. The government has no authority to monitor where the information ends up, but Hillis said that after two years, the state may enter a revenue-sharing agreement with NET."
Oh, well, I guess we just have to trust them when they say that the information will be gathered and stored without any tracking information. After all, if you're not doing anything wrong, you shouldn't be at all concerned that your movements are being monitored . Isn't that right?
The program charts drivers' relative speed by measuring the time between the intermittent signals that cell phones send to towers along a stretch of road. The info is overlaid with highway maps to determine where the phones are and how fast they are moving. Supposedly, the information is is stripped of personal ID and serial numbers.
This is a leap forward in our nation," said Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn, minutes before the Highways and Transportation Commission's unanimous vote to authorize the contract. "No other department of transportation will be able to keep the users of their system as well informed."
The pesky folks at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) say that we consumers should have the right to opt into this public service. Lillie Coney, the Associate Director said, "Missouri may be creating a base for a new industry on the shoulders of the taxpayers."
Granny especially likes this provision in the contract:
"Under the terms of the $6.2 million, two-year contract, NET will wholly own the information and is free to sell it to outside vendors that could profit from offering just-in-time travel updates. The government has no authority to monitor where the information ends up, but Hillis said that after two years, the state may enter a revenue-sharing agreement with NET."
Oh, well, I guess we just have to trust them when they say that the information will be gathered and stored without any tracking information. After all, if you're not doing anything wrong, you shouldn't be at all concerned that your movements are being monitored . Isn't that right?
Posted at 08:26 AM
Mon - November 7, 2005
Rockbridge, Missouri
One of many gristmills in
southern Missouri
Rockbridge is about a two-hour drive from
Springfield. A dam and grist mill were built in 1868, and the small town grew
around the site.
Now, the site is a resort/restaurant/gun club and fishing spot.
The grist mill is a cozy pub.
.
.
Now, the site is a resort/restaurant/gun club and fishing spot.
The grist mill is a cozy pub.
.
.
Posted at 06:29 AM
Wed - October 12, 2005
Eisenhower Library, Abliene Kansas
As dull and insipid as the Eisenhower
Presidency.
Posted at 06:33 AM
Thu - July 21, 2005
National D-Day Museum in New Orleans
"Tanks for the
memories..."
This living
history museum , a world-class military archive, is the result of
years of work by the late historian Stephen E. Ambrose. Permanent exhibits
highlight the war in the European Theatre as well as the
Pacific.
This is the first exhibit we have seen that deals openly and honestly with racism in the military during the Second World War, as well as our government's imprisonment of American citizens who were of Japanese descent.
Another of our favorite military museums is in London: The Imperial War Museum, which we visited several times during the three years we lived in England. Appropriately enough, it is housed in a facility that was built during the Victorian Era as an Insane Asylum.
This is the first exhibit we have seen that deals openly and honestly with racism in the military during the Second World War, as well as our government's imprisonment of American citizens who were of Japanese descent.
Another of our favorite military museums is in London: The Imperial War Museum, which we visited several times during the three years we lived in England. Appropriately enough, it is housed in a facility that was built during the Victorian Era as an Insane Asylum.
Posted at 03:29 PM
Tue - July 19, 2005
Natchez Trace
A national treasure . It's 444 miles of sheer pleasure
to drive: no commercial establishments, no billboards, and a 50 mph speed limit.
I don't think we passed 20 cars all
day.
The perfect picnic spot is at about mile 200. We had crusty bread, feta cheese, Kalmata olives, fresh fruit and iced tea. Wish you were here!
The perfect picnic spot is at about mile 200. We had crusty bread, feta cheese, Kalmata olives, fresh fruit and iced tea. Wish you were here!
Posted at 04:30 PM
Sat - July 16, 2005
Meet Me in Saint Louie!
Meet me at the
Fairgrounds!
The Missouri History Museum is
located in a gorgeous, turn-of-the-century building in Forest Park (St. Louis)
on the grounds of the 1904 World's Fair. Bring the kids! The interactive
displays will keep them occupied all
afternoon.
We especially liked the Lindberg Gallery...and the replica of the "Spirit of St. Louis" that was built for the 1950's move starring James Stewart.
We especially liked the Lindberg Gallery...and the replica of the "Spirit of St. Louis" that was built for the 1950's move starring James Stewart.
Posted at 07:19 PM
Quick Links
Calendar
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
Categories
Archives
XML/RSS Feed
Statistics
Total entries in this blog:
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Dec 05, 2005 10:22 AM
Total entries in this category:
Published On: Dec 05, 2005 10:22 AM