NewsScan Daily, 4 June 2003 ("Above The Fold")

NewsScan Daily, 4 June 2003 ("Above The Fold")
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"ABOVE THE FOLD"
        Colleges, Music Industry Reach Accord on Webcasting
        CIA Bankrolls Development of Photo-Searching Software
        Ballparks Welcome Cell Phones
        Broadband Broadens Risk As Well As Performance
        Swarming Robots to See, Smell, Fight Terror

FEATURES
        Flash Card
        Worth Thinking About: The Language Police
        Mailbag: The World As We Find It

COLLEGES, MUSIC INDUSTRY REACH ACCORD ON WEBCASTING
The Recording Industry Association of America has reached agreement with 
U.S. colleges and universities over royalty payments by college radio 
stations that stream their playlist over the Internet. Under the pact, 
colleges and other educational broadcasters will pay a flat fee of $250 a 
year, retroactive to 1998. Other noncommercial webcasters will be charged 
$400 and fees may be lower if the content is limited to news or sports. The 
new pricing structure will be in effect through the end of next year. 
People on all sides of the negotiating table appeared happy with the 
agreement. (Reuters/CNet 3 Jun 2003)
http://news.com.com/2100-1027_3-1012907.html?tag=fd_top

CIA BANKROLLS DEVELOPMENT OF PHOTO-SEARCHING SOFTWARE
The CIA's venture capital group, In-Q-Tel, is funding the development of 
innovative software from California startup PiXlogic, designed to sift 
through millions of digital photos or video clips and pick out specific 
cars, street signs or, eventually, human faces. "There was a great deal of 
interest in these capabilities," says In-Q-Tel president Mike Griffin. 
"Because more and more of what is on the Internet is in visual form, the 
ability to search on those materials is important and getting more 
important all the time." PiXlogic CEO Joseph Santucci says his company is 
probably about a year away from adding effective face-recognition 
capabilities to the software to help CIA operatives track specific people. 
PiXlogic's software analyzes each photo or video frame, identifies each 
item by geometry, color and other characteristics, and stores these details 
in files linked to the image. It can then compare details from a sample 
image with those stored in its database or on the Web to make a likely 
match. "We're able to emulate the sight process pretty well, but there are 
no cognitive capabilities built into the software," says Santucci. Thus, it 
can recognize the side view of a car, but can't infer what that vehicle 
might look like from the front. (AP 3 Jun 2003)
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20030603/D7REF2GG0.html

BALLPARKS WELCOME CELL PHONES
Unlike most other public venues around the country, baseball parks are 
welcoming cell phones with open arms, encouraging patrons to order drinks 
and snacks through dialup food delivery services. Other features enable 
fans to bid on team memorabilia or predict a player's performance by phone. 
Twelve minor league teams have already taken the plunge and this summer, 
in-seat ordering is getting a Major League tryout when the Seattle Mariners 
and Atlanta Braves launch their services. Thus far, in-seat ordering has 
not been a big moneymaker, but with expenses spiraling ever upward, "We can 
throw so many things against the wall and see what sticks," says Mike 
Veeck, who owns five minor-league teams. (Wall Street Journal 4 Jun 2003)
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB105466383724866000.djm,00.html (sub req'd)

BROADBAND BROADENS RISK AS WELL AS PERFORMANCE
A study of 120 broadband users conducted by the National Cyber Security 
Alliance (a group of business and government entities) has found that 
although 77% think their systems are protected from outside hackers, fewer 
than 60% had installed firewalls to keep their systems safe. "The 
disconnect means we have to do more to educate people," says Alliance 
spokesman Keith Nahigan, who is also a consultant to the national Office of 
Homeland Security. Despite the vulnerability of their systems, 86% of 
broadband users keep sensitive information on their computers. Broadband 
systems are "always-on" and Nahigan notes: "When you have your connection 
open all day and all night, it's easier for hackers to get in." (New York 
Times 4 Jun 2003)
http://partners.nytimes.com/2003/06/04/technology/04NET.html

SWARMING ROBOTS TO SEE, SMELL, FIGHT TERROR
Computer scientists and artificial intelligence experts at the University 
of Wyoming have developed a "swarm intelligence" network of 
sensor-supported robots that can sense chemical, biological, or 
radiological plumes and respond to an accident or an attack without 
exposing people to the contaminants. The technology, which uses multi-modal 
sensor arrays, was begun after the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. (AP/USA 
Today 4 Jun 2003)
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/2003-06-03-terrorist-robot_x.htm

*****

FLASH CARD
      "A censor is a man who knows more than he thinks you ought to." 
(Laurence J. Peter)

WORTH THINKING ABOUT: THE LANGUAGE POLICE
      Education writer and former assistant secretary of education Diane 
Ravitch says that, in order to eliminate bias and harmful stereotypes, 
school textbooks are now being policed beyond reason:
      "After many years of studying the history of education and writing 
about the politics of education, I discovered some things that shocked me. 
Almost by accident, I stumbled upon an elaborate, well-established protocol 
of beneficent censorship, quietly endorsed and broadly implemented by 
textbook publishers, testing agencies, states, and the federal government. 
I did not learn about this state of affairs in one fell swoop, but one step 
at a time. Like others who are involved in education, be they parents or 
teachers or administrators or journalists or scholars, I had always assumed 
that textbooks were based on careful research and designed to help children 
learn something valuable. I thought that tests were designed to assess 
whether they had learned it. What I did not realize was that educational 
materials are now governed by an intricate set of rules to screen out 
language and topics that might be considered controversial or offensive. 
Some of this censorship is trivial, some is ludicrous, and some is 
breathtaking in its power to dumb down what children learn in school.
      "Initially these practices began with the intention of identifying 
and excluding any conscious or implicit statements of bias against African 
Americans, other racial or ethnic minorities, and females, whether in tests 
or textbooks, especially any statements that demeaned members of these 
groups. These efforts were entirely reasonable and justified. However, what 
began with admirable intentions has evolved into a surprisingly broad and 
increasingly bizarre policy of censorship that has gone far beyond its 
original scope and now excises from tests and textbooks words, images, 
passages, and ideas that no reasonable person would consider biased in the 
usual meaning of that term."

See http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375414827/newsscancom/ref=nosim 
for Diane Ravitch's "The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What 
Students Learn" -- or look for it in your favorite library. (We donate all 
revenue from our book recommendations to adult literacy programs.)

MAILBAG: THE WORLD AS WE FIND IT

THE LION HATH LAIN DOWN WITH THE TIGER
Re: http ://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=8446
      And so "... Microsoft has agreed to pay AOL Time Warner $750 million 
in a settlement that lays a foundation for further cooperation between the 
two companies." And Lo, the lion hath lain down with the tiger and thus 
they have agreed on how to divvy up the lamb!... :-) (John Law)

A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD
Re: http ://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=8453
      The Cobbs refer to the government's data mining program as the 
Terrorism Information Awareness program. To placate critics, it was only 
recently changed from Total Information Awareness - a name that intimates 
its original purpose. When the powers-that-be introduce a potentially 
controversial program, then give it a candy-coated name for the public to 
swallow (e.g. "Patriot Act"), I get worried. While TIA might well be 
intended to detect terrorist activities, it is just as useful for tracking 
down citizens for whatever reason the government might see fit. (Thanks for 
keeping me informed every day. NewsScan is my favorite source of news!) 
(Louis Jezsik, Montreal)

HALF THE POPULATION ON A TERRORIST WATCH LIST
Re: http ://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=8453
      I'm amazed that the Cobbs' recommended response to inaccurate 
"suspicious activity" monitors is to "gas your car the day before you go 
shopping." If people start changing their behavior to fit some 
non-suspicious profile, soon conformance to that profile will make the 
monitor programs think you're trying to hide something. We'll all be like 
rats running through an ever-changing maze. Why didn't Chey speak to 
someone in authority at the bank, explain exactly why she was taking her 
business elsewhere, and then close all her accounts at that bank? 
Businesses will change if they realize these inane "security" policies cost 
them more money than the fraud they (don't) prevent. Unfortunately the 
Beltway technocrats may not wake up to the facts until half the U.S. 
population is on a terrorist watch list. (Jon Public)

WE CAN'T PURCHASE OUR FREEDOM WITHOUT OLD-FASHIONED MONEY
Re: http ://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=8453
      I read Chey and Stephen's 'Safe and Sound in the Cyberage' with 
interest. It surprised me however, that neither of them foresee the day 
when there will be no cash, only virtual money. It isn't too hard to 
imagine how we will get to that place. When the government and the people 
demand better security and the people are willing to give up certain 
freedoms to have that security, all aspects of our society will come under 
scrutiny in a search to "revolutionize the ability of the United States 
[government] to detect, classify and identify foreign terrorists and 
decipher their plans and thereby enable the U.S. to take timely action to 
successfully preempt and defeat terrorist acts." Cash can be exchanged for 
most business transactions without exchanging personal data--and this keeps 
snoops from detecting, classifying and identifying those individuals and 
merchandise involved in the transaction. Like millions of Americans I 
already use a plastic card for over 90% of my purchases and, without even 
having a merchant account, I can receive payment from others without ever 
touching the green stuff (enter Paypal, ecount, etc). When it becomes 
illegal to transact business with anything other than a digital, traceable, 
identifiable medium, many of us will not consider we have lost a vital 
freedom. (R. Brian dos Santos)

STOPPING CREDIT CARD FRAUD
Re: http ://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=8453
      Chey and Stephen Cobb are irritated that their credit card issuer is 
using technology to zero in on credit card fraud. It seems unlikely that 
buying clothing after gas was the only chain of purchases that triggered 
the alert in their case. I, for one, am happy when my credit card company 
checks before approving when they see a suspicious pattern. We need their 
help in stopping credit fraud and identity theft. (Alan Sarhan)

[In this week's issue Chey and Stephen will continue their discussion of 
the topic begun -- in a tongue-and-cheek essay -- last week, and referred 
to in the reader comments above.]

SURVEILLANCE AND ETHICS
Re: http ://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=8442
      Stan Orchard makes the point that volunteer approaches such as those 
used in CB and HAM radio would be an effective approach to Homeland 
Security. This has an element of truth (less government) to being a better 
way, like a Cyber Neighborhood Watch program. The downside would be the 
need to expose all the surveillance cameras to everyone. This has much more 
downside than benefit in my view. Imagine stalkers (muggers, thieves...) 
having access to such feeds to select their hot spots, etc. While anything 
can be managed, there is a need for less rather than more surveillance 
until the recipients of such material in the government have access to 
better technology for properly and ethically dealing with the material. (On 
a topic in the same mailbag (Linotypes), thanks to Dr. Basil C. Kahan who 
obviously has much more knowledge on the subject than I do...) (Keith Cowan)

VIRUS-WRITING FOR CREDIT
Re: http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=8431
      This is an open letter from members of groups AVIEN and AVIEWS to 
express their disappointment with the announcement of the University of 
Calgary to advance with a course which will include the writing of viruses 
as part of the curriculum. We strongly believe that this course sends the 
wrong message to students and to current authors of malicious code, by 
providing a legitimizing factor...
      We disagree with the position that "a critical element of being able 
to stop these viruses is to have sufficient knowledge about them to be able 
to write them. That will come as no surprise to IT professionals who 
understand that to solve a computer problem it helps to understand what 
caused the problem."
      The main problem of computer viruses is not the fact that they exist, 
but that new ones appear constantly, which results in expensive upgrades to 
defence systems. Encouraging people to not write viruses has the desired 
effect of reducing the inflow.
      Please see Re: http ://www.avien.org and Re: http ://www.avi-ews.org 
(Robert Vibert, Administrator Anti-Virus Information Exchange Network)

REGISTRATION IN SUPPORT OF SPAM CONTROL
Re: http ://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=8444
      I think Scott Pollard has a great idea in requiring a Domain 
Name-like registration for bulk emailers as a means of spam control. We 
could also charge a fee to these guys (they make so much money already) 
great enough to fund the naming services, thereby making personal domain 
names free. I do see one problem, though. People are greedy. The spammers 
make enough money to bribe the domain name controllers. How would this be 
policed? It would need criminal penalties, which would need to be enforced. 
BTW: I'm glad Scott only used two X's in the phrase "...messages that are 
xx percent similar..." If he had used three X's no one would have ever seen 
this issue of NewsScan. (Michael H. Bell)

MAKING THE LIST
Re: http ://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=newsletter&id=8468
      Did you notice the clarity and brevity of the mission statement of 
their Information Awareness Office at Re: http ://www.darpa.mil/iao/ ? I 
suppose mocking this statement will get me on a list somewhere, but it's 
probably a list I got onto manually a long time ago anyway. (John Stuckey)

GIVE US A REST
Re: 
http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=honorary_subscriber&id=662
      Someone (possibly Ogden Nash) once penned: "Edgar Guest, Give us a 
rest." (Pete Drum)

'I'D RATHER FLUNK MY WASSERMAN TEST'
Re: 
http://www.newsscan.com/cgi-bin/findit_view?table=honorary_subscriber&id=662
      Your Honorary Subscriber reminded me of a short verse by Dorothy 
Parker from my college days: "I'd rather flunk my Wasserman Test/Than read 
a poem by Edgar Guest." In those days, a Wasserman Test was used for 
determining the presence of syphilis in the bloodstream. Great work on 
NewsScan Daily by the way, I've enjoyed your efforts for years now. (Joel Bown)

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