Ok, this new technology is just plain fucking evil and deserves to be thwarted.. by everyone.. at every possible opportunity.  A new “computer vision system” is being planned that will look inside your vehicle to count the number of people, then toll you accordingly.

Funny, I thought tolls were collected to help maintain our road system - you know, prevent damage from cars and trucks and such.  I had no idea that a Toyota Camry with 4 people did twice as much damage as one with 2 people in it!  And here I thought this was just one more way the government was trying to be total shitbags and shake the public down for more money!  I’m such a cynic.  I apologize, Big Brother!  Btw, I hear that under new laws, if you have 2 in the front and 2 in the back, you will actually be charged for 5.  That’s right: 2 + 2 = 5.

I won’t go off on a rant on what a huge invasion of privacy this is.  Let’s just examine the technology and discuss the high-tech devices in development to thwart this technology (see pics).  From the article:

[The system will] shine infrared light with a wavelength of about 1550 nanometres through the windscreen.  Light at this wavelength… is absorbed by human skin creating a dark area on the reflected infrared image. Other materials, such as hair, upholstery and clothing simply reflect the infrared light.

Wow, it can only be fooled by hair, upholstery, and clothing?  Hmm, that’s a toughie.  Well, for those of you with long hair, might I suggest brushing your hair in front of your face when passing the toll?  That would work.  Myself, I have short hair and a certain sense of style - I’m investing in a high-end solution called the Mexican Wrestling mask.  For those seeking a lower budget aversion tactic that’s fun for the kids, I’ve included a paper “Cute Panda” mask.  Screw the government and spend quality arts and crafts time with the kids, all at the same time!  And lastly, for those not going for the mask option, an ultra-L337 tech is being developed that can roll down from your visor.  It is tentatively called “light gauzy fabric”.

Just a trifle perhaps, but I noticed that yesterday’s Google News headlines about the release of the Anna Nicole Smith autopsy were accompanied by one of the classy Anna Nicole Goes to Washington photos (left), while today’s headlines proclaiming her death to be the result of an accidental overdose of prescription meds are accompanied by, shall we say, images of Smith at her less-than-glamorous-best (right). 

Granted, those images change as Google refreshes it’s news reader, but for most of the post-release morning, it was the trashy party girl Anna.  Coincidence or subtle reinforcement of stereotype? 

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I know this is a little off topic but if 23-24 million people voted and this performance kept him in the show, it’s worth talking about. The collective community intelligence just dropped a notch lower.

Sanjaya Malakar seems like a nice kid with an ok voice. He just stands out too much, in the wrong way.

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The video is nothing special, besides it’s a beautiful car. I’m posting this because of how may views it has had and how many comments the video has received.

3 out of 5 Stars: 1480 Ratings

Views: 603,216

Comments: 1781 (take some time and read some of these, pretty funny)

Favorited: 887 times

Honors: 37

More on the Bugatti Veyron

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I write software for a living and even I often conveniently ignore just how exposed I am on days I decide to work wirelessly from an internet cafe somewhere.  So for all of you who like me, often go wireless in public settings with “open” connectivity (hotspots that aren’t secured with passwords), here’s an article you really ought to read.

It provides a good primer into all the dirty secrets your laptop is giving up about you.  For those of you with whom The Force is strong, you’ll also want to keep checking back with either Errata or BlackHat.  Errata is about to publish a new network sniffer that “looks for traffic using 25 protocols… This means the sniffer will capture requests for network addresses, network management tools, Web sites queries, Web traffic and more.”

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This is one of those rare conferences that might be worth a day of your life. If you don’t know PSFK, you should by now. Here is a little more on them:

PSFK is one of the world’s most forward thinking innovation teams. Managed since 2003 by Piers Fawkes in New York and Simon King in London, PSFK is network of experts from across the globe who share the same energy, enthusiasm and wonder. They really seem to have the pulse of culture and how to be part of it. The image below will take you to the conference details. On that page, you will see who is attending and covering the event. It’s very impressive.

Unfortunately I can’t make this one but if you live in New York or will be there when the conference is on, please take the time and go.

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If you work for an ad agency, interactive shop or just have a ton of digital files you need to share, this is a tool for you. Even if you don’t, I’m sure you can find reasons to try the trial. Check out the V3 blog they set up, some interesting usage from the private beta.

The online product is called V3RSION. It’s a tool that lets you manage your assets and give access to others in an easy way.

With this handy tool, you sign up, upload your stuff and give access but what makes this really cool is that they have given the user the ability to add tags that are logical and searchable. Plus you get thumbnail views of the most common formats.

No longer do I have to send emails with attachments, my RSS feed (that my clients subscribe too) get pinged when I have added or made changes.

Anyway, check it out. I have already used it and love it.

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Black Balloons Energy Saving Campaign can’t help but bring back memories of the Nena song 99 Red Balloons from 1983.

In some ways this is a protest song just like the pop song/video. The hit German song tells a story of ninety-nine balloons floating into the air, triggering an apocalyptic overreaction by the military force.

In the energy saving campaign, the message is a little different. “Each one of these balloons represents 50 grams of Greenhouse Gas…the average home produces over 200,000 balloons each year…”

Ok, maybe the only similarity is the balloons. I really just wanted an excuse to post the Nena song, so you can be thinking and singing it all day long.



It’s a really simple and direct concept that is executed perfectly. Check it out.

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This is kind of a cool tool from NYTimes.com - it’s a State of the Union speech analyzer (free reg. may be req’d).

You plug in any word that you want to analyze, and it will look for that word in all the speeches from 2001 up to Tuesday night’s, giving you the prevalence and contexts of that word.  A couple of interesting stats of note:

A.  Usage of “freedom” and “liberty” took dives from previous years, while “terror” is holding steady.

B.  Use of the word “the” is up from 333 to a whopping 418!  Bush is making bold strides into definite articles!

C.  He used the word “words” twice, up from 1 time in 2006.  Despite his critics, our president is twice as good with words as he was last year.

D.  “C**k-sucking bastards” and “bad-ass muthaf**kers” continues to be eschewed by presidential speechwriters, showing up 0 times each in the last 7 years.

And as a fun side-note on the speeches, here’s a measurement of all that ridiculous applause that pervades every State of the Union.  28% of Tuesday’s address was applause!  In 49 minutes of speech, we were witness to 61 rounds of applause.  All for a time-honored tradition of stating a bunch of stuff they’re never going to follow through on.  Jackasses.

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A multi-national organization called Transparency International has just released their 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index.  After 2 years stuck at 17th, the US finally got the lead out this year, slipping down to 20th (tied with Chile).  Look out Spain and Barbados!  We’re on the move!

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