(Image is in the Public Domain)

In the UK, which is fast becoming a police state, they already have a large network of closed-circuit TVs (CCTV). Privacy groups are arguing that the CCTV must be converted to public webcams so people can see what the government is watching.

(Image is used under the Pixabay license)

Some pushback on corn fuel.

"The United States' Department of Energy is stating that corn based fuel is not the future In related news, Fidel Castro is blasting the production of corn fuel as a blatant waste of food that would otherwise feed 3 billion people who will die of hunger.

Why isn't all this time/money/effort being put into electric?

Breaking up with tech. Easier, but cold

(Image is used under the Pixabay license)

This is new.

Boyd writes: "By breaking up through MySpace comments, the heartbreaker is attempting to assert their view for everyone else to see so that they cannot be accused of saying something else in private."

Makes sense to me. Less emotionally involved, less likely to say or do something you'll regret. Still pretty cold though.

Out with the old...

(Image is in the Public Domain)

Did you know that the government is discontinuing broadcast television? At least the way we know it. That means that for any TV you own that you want to be able to receive television over the air (with your rabbit ears or whatever), you will need a digital converter.

"If we don't get this transition right, then (we will be) dealing with constituents," said Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa. "The government has broken their TV sets."

The government is offering incentive discounts for people to get the converters:

To help consumers absorb the cost, Congress set aside $1.5 billion to subsidize converter box purchases. Every household, regardless of whether it needs a box, will be eligible to receive two coupons, each worth $40, that can be used to buy two converter boxes. The coupons, to be distributed on a first-come first-serve basis, must be requested between Jan. 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009.

(Image used under: Creative Commons 2.0 [SRC])

Lest we forget that computers sometimes make errors too, here's an article about Google maps including a direction for swimming the Atlantic Ocean to get to your destination. The guys at Google have a great sense of humor.

(Image used under: Creative Commons 2.0 [SRC])

It now seems that the ones with the most tech smarts are the most effective bullies in schools these days.

DHL

(Image is in the Public Domain)

The DHS apparently has backed off of the requirement to use RFID in the National ID card. It's a start.

Sure beats a grave

(Image is used under the Pixabay license)

I've heard of this before: taking the remains of your loved ones and having them made into synthetic diamonds. I didn't know you could pick colors though.

Is it supposed to do that?

(Image used under: Creative Commons 2.0 [SRC])

Public Citizen reports that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has begun a service that will notify consumers by e-mail of any product safety recalls. While some manufacturers will do this voluntarily, some won't and even if they do, they usually ask for you to register all your products (including loads of personal information you don't want to give).

For example, Selina Patten, of Manassas, Va., had a close call when the recalled plastic nail from a Playskool toy tool bench became lodged in the throat of her 3-year-old daughter. She was able to remove the nail before serious injury occurred. She later discovered the product had been recalled after the death of two toddlers, though she did not hear about it.

Here are some of the common recalled product lines:

* Outdoor products: such as grills and outdoor furniture for porch or patio * Outdoor power equipment: air compressors and gas pool heaters * Children’s products: outerwear with drawstrings, necklaces that contain lead, battery packs for toy vehicles, and flashing pacifiers * Power tools: cut-out tools, nailers, circular saws and pressure washers * Household products: fans, candles * Electronics: computer batteries, remote controls

Note: This requires no registration of any kind! You do not have to tell them what products you have and the only personal information (if you can call it that) that they ask for is an e-mail address. There's also very little chance of them spamming you since they are a government agency.

So you have a perfectly usable version? Let's patch that up for you...

(Image is in the Public Domain)

The Consumerist is running an article explaining how both Quicken and MS Money improperly and possibly illegally force users to upgrade to newer software by purposely cutting off necessary features to older versions.