Big Brother Lives!!

[Mtnjim]

Seems that Big Brother lives!!

The New York Times (21 Oct 2007), in a article that may not have been
widely noticed because it was buried in the Automotive section, reports that
automakers and researchers, with U.S. government funding, are working on
anti-drunk-driving interlocks that ALL drivers will have to pass in order to
drive their cars, whether or not they have a record for DWI.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/automobiles/21ALKY.html&gt; (Better Interlocks to Detect Drunken Drivers Still Years Off - The New York Times)

Among other things, the article notes that to start a car with the
interlocks currently used, ``the driver must puff a breath into the unit. To
avoid cheating, the breath puff is measured and must be given in a uniquely
identifiable way that would be hard for a person who is not the driver to
duplicate.‘’ The breath puff isn’t just for starting cars. While driving,
the driver must periodically blow into the system to keep the car running."

The researchers acknowledge that the current technology is not reliable or
durable enough to install in all cars. But the capabilities to determine who
is taking the test and to require periodic retesting while driving would
presumably be carried over into the newer systems.

Aside for the Big Brother and Prohibition aspects, to me the RISK with both
current and future systems seems to be that your car can automatically stop
– regardless of road, weather or traffic conditions – if you don’t have
time or can’t split your attention to take the test (while doing 65 mph on
the freeway, or while you’re dealing with your children in the back seat),
or if there’s a false positive, or if the equipment is faulty.

[SteveO]

Yup that’s why I’m going to take up driving while on PCP

[Fra_Septimus]

Don’t worry, transportation will be provided to move groups from one work camp to another.

[chads]

A guy I know had one of those installed on his car. My friend was riding with this guy and they weren’t drinking. After they stopped for some pizza the thing wouldn’t let them start the car.

On another note I heard on the radio that the government can listen to your conversations on your cell phone even if it is turned OFF. I guess it acts like a bug. The only way to stop it is to remove the battery. Anyone else hear this?

[MarkL]

@chads

On another note I heard on the radio that the government can listen to your conversations on your cell phone even if it is turned OFF. I guess it acts like a bug. The only way to stop it is to remove the battery. Anyone else hear this?

Yes, like a television set, off does not really mean off, it means “in power saving mode.” Removing the batteries does the trick. The FBI revealed it used a cell phone to collect eavesdropping/wiretap/spying evidence in a recent organized crime trial (link) (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061203-8343.html).

It seems that the cell phone in power-saving mode can be “geo-located”, can be turned on remotely, and can also be a remote microphone even if no call is “dialed”.

[Rbt]

@MarkL

Yes, like a television set, off does not really mean off, it means “in power saving mode.” Removing the batteries does the trick. The FBI revealed it used a cell phone to collect eavesdropping/wiretap/spying evidence in a recent organized crime trial (link) (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061203-8343.html).

It seems that the cell phone in power-saving mode can be “geo-located”, can be turned on remotely, and can also be a remote microphone even if no call is “dialed”.

Just about anything without a physical make/break power switch is always “on.” Your cell phone, your TV, DVD player, PS/2, computers, etc. They are sometimes called “power vampires.” Many computers and some other equipment actually have two power switches, one may be “hidden” around back. The button up front only puts system into “sleep” mode, the other one, often located on or near power supply/cord, may be actual make/break on/off.

Same goes for most anything with one of those “wall wart” power supplies like cell phone charges, small TV sets, etc. They are always drawing power. I have installed switches on most of my stuff that is impractical to unplug so they are truly off/disconnected unless I’m using them.