Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Magna Carta
From the ACLU Blog:
Some call the Magna Carta democracy’s birth certificate. On June 15, 1215, at Runnymede, English barons forced King John to agree to terms that came to make up the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta sounded a clarion call for a new age: There will be legal and political accountability for government action….
Yesterday, David Rubenstein, a Washington lawyer and businessman, presented a 711-year-old hand-written copy of the Magna Carta to the National Archives, for a long-term loan.
The Magna Carta made civil liberties for the masses possible. Principles like the right to challenge one’s imprisonment, known as habeas corpus; Freedom of Speech; the rule of law; freedom of worship; the ban on cruel and unusual punishment all came out of this 13th Century artifact forged in a rebellion. [Read More]
Lockheed Secures Contract to Expand Biometric Database
From The Washington Post:
The FBI yesterday announced the award of a $1 billion, 10-year contract to Lockheed Martin to develop what is expected to be the world’s largest crime-fighting computer database of biometric information, including fingerprints, palm prints, iris patterns and face images. [Read More]
Calls to ban ‘anti-teen’ device
From the BBC:
Campaigners are calling for a ban on a device that emits a high-pitched sound to disperse groups of teenagers, saying it is not a fair way to treat them. There are estimated to be 3,500 of the devices, known as the Mosquito, in use in England, many at shopping centres. Their sound causes discomfort to young ears – but their frequency is above the normal hearing range of people over 25. [Read More]
Inside the 9/11 Comission
From the FAS Secrecy News:
“Senior investigators on the 9/11 Commission believed their work was being manipulated by the executive director to minimize criticism of the Bush Administration,” according to a new book on the Commission. “Investigative staffers at the Commission believe [executive director] Philip Zelikow repeatedly sought to minimize the administration’s intelligence failures in the months leading up to 9/11, which had the effect of helping to ensure President Bush’s re-election in 2004,” no less. That is the sensational thesis of “The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation” by New York Times reporter Philip Shenon. [Read More]
IBM and Emotiv demonstrate neural input device
IBM is partnering with Emotiv Systems in the development of Brain Computer Interface technology. A alpha version their “neural input” device was demonstrated at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) . The headset features a 12 channel EEG with a wireless interface. The device is intended for a braod range of applications but the initial focus will be for use in 3D virtual reality worlds and computer games.
Lawrence Pinneo and Early Brain Computer Interface Research « SIGINT
I’ve started a separate blog which will have longer articles on the technology behind the electronic harassment -See Lawrence Pinneo and Early Brain Computer Interface Research « SIGINT
The Voice of God Weapon Returns
The Voice of God Weapon Returns | Danger Room from Wired.com
At a government workshop some time ago I head someone describe a new tool that was described as the “voice of Allah.” This was said to be a device that would operate at a distance and would deliver a message that only a single person could hear. The story was that it was tested in a conflict situation in Iraq and pointed at one insurgent in a group, who whipped around looking in all directions, and began a heated conversation with his compatriots, who did not hear the message. At the time I greeted this story with some skepticism.
