Monthly Archives: June 2014

FBI starts U.S. campaign to deter lasers being aimed at aircraft

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“The Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Tuesday it will pay up to $10,000 for tips leading to arrests of pranksters who point handheld lasers at aircraft, part of a national campaign to crack down on a growing threat known as ‘lasing.’  Officials said what looks like a small beam of light from the lasers on the ground can travel for more than a mile and illuminate a cockpit, temporarily blinding the pilots inside.  The lasers can be no more sophisticated than the pointer lasers available for a few dollars at office supply stores.  Last year, the FBI reported 3,960 laser strikes against aircraft, an average of almost 11 per day, and officials estimate that thousands more cases go unreported each year.”

http://kdal610.com/news/articles/2014/jun/03/fbi-starts-us-campaign-to-deter-lasers-being-aimed-at-aircraft/

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Senate Panel OKs $47 Billion Homeland Security Budget

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“The measure also includes a provision to increase the fee paid by travelers who enter the U.S. by commercial sea and air carriers by $2 to $9, using the revenue to pay for 1,000 new customs agents.  The measure funds the government’s newest Cabinet department and is free of contentious issues that dot many of the other 11 spending bills. It increases the budget for Customs and Border Protection by 4 percent and increases funding for detention of people entering the country illegally.  The bill’s chief author, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who faces a difficult re-election campaign this fall, included $318 million to build six fast response Coast Guard cutters at Bollinger Shipyards in her home state.”

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/senate-panel-oks-47b-homeland-security-budget-24318416

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Homeland Security Orders 1000s Of Briefs for Detained Immigrants

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“If you’re in the underwear-selling business, you’ve got a customer in the Department of Homeland Security.  Homeland Security is looking to buy thousands of pairs of men’s, from size medium to 6X-large. (Who knew such a size existed?)  A solicitation posted earlier this month by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement explains that the department is looking to buy 3,500 pairs of men’s underwear. The order is to be sent to El Paso.  As seen on CBS’ website, Breitbart reported ICE has recently had an influx of detained immigrants awaiting deportation.”

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2014/06/homeland_security_needs_underwear_for_detained_immigrants.php

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Vibram required to stop all health claims about its FiveFinger shoes

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“Vibram has settled a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of making false and unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits of its Vibram FiveFingers footwear, according to a report Tuesday from Runner’s World. The company will put $3.75 million into an escrow account to pay out settlements to class members and will remove all claims that its products either strengthen muscles or reduce injuries—unless it comes up with proof.  In addition to the settlement and removal of claims, Vibram is also required to run banner ads about the settlement on sites including runnersworld.com and Facebook.com and deliver around 300 million impressions of the ads.”

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/05/vibram-required-to-stop-all-health-claims-about-its-fivefinger-shoes/

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Gamers Hit with Criminal Charges for Cheating Online

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“Online game company Nexon is pressing charges against three gamers, ages 17 to 18, for obstruction of business. In short, the gamers were allegedly using in-game cheats for online FPS Sudden Attack. That, it seems, was hurting the game and Nexon.  Yomiuri Online, one of Japan’s largest newspapers, reports that this is the first time gamers have had criminal liability charged against them in Japan for allegedly using cheat programs.  One of the gamers is a university freshman, another is a 17 year-old vocational school student, and the last of the trio is a 17-year-old high school student.”

http://kotaku.com/forget-banning-online-gamers-are-in-legal-trouble-for-1595789066

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Wrongly imprisoned former Tulsan cleared by DNA sues city

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“A former Tulsa man who served about 16 years in prison on robbery and burglary convictions before being paroled and eventually cleared of wrongdoing sued the city of Tulsa and others in Tulsa federal court Monday.  Sedrick Courtney, who now lives in Stephens County, claims in his lawsuit that city officials used manufactured evidence to convict him and then obstructed his exoneration efforts while he was in prison and on parole.  The 41-page complaint also claims that Courtney for years after his imprisonment had requested access to evidence that he believed would clear him through DNA testing.”

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/courts/wrongly-imprisoned-former-tulsan-cleared-by-dna-sues-city/article_242c08eb-7c35-5368-bbff-a2a4857c2baa.html

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Oklahoma execution doctors’ secrecy law passed quietly

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“The clause, tucked into HB 1991, prevents the public from knowing whether doctors, pharmacists, EMTs and others taking part in executions are qualified.   State officials have cited the law in refusing to discuss the training of medical officials who, when the inmate was still writhing on the gurney 33 minutes after the lethal injection had started, stopped the procedure. To ensure there is no record of the participants in executions, the Department of Corrections uses petty cash accounts to pay pharmacists, doctors and others.  Critics say such laws, which are being adopted rapidly by other states, merely serve to protect doctors and pharmacists from criticism.”

http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/state-s-execution-secrecy-law-passed-quietly/article_c0f548e2-0ccb-58c3-a218-afe68938aa47.html

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Flying RoboCop is a “riot control” octocopter with guns and lasers

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“Meet the Skunk, a heavy-duty, semi-autonomous octocopter drone that can unleash pepper spray, plastic bullets, paintballs, strobe lights and ‘blinding’ lasers, as well as a cacophony of audio in its mission to persuade unruly mobs to disperse. Unveiled at the IFSEC International trade show in London this week, the Skunk is now for sale—and its manufacturer says the orders have begun to roll in.  According to marketing materials by the unmanned aircraft’s manufacturer, the highest rate of fire ‘will only be used in an extreme ‘Life threatening situation.”  The Skunk is also equipped with FLIR thermal infrared and HD color cameras to capture the identity of those in a crowd to be controlled.”

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/06/flying-robocop-is-a-riot-control-octocopter-with-guns-and-lasers/

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Supreme Court puts TV-over-Internet startup Aereo out of business

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“Aereo, a TV-over-the-Internet startup whose legal battles have been closely watched, has been ruled illegal by the Supreme Court today. If the company survives at all, its business model will have to change drastically, and it will have to pay fees to the television companies it has been fighting in court for more than two years.  In a 6-3 opinion (PDF), Aereo was found to violate copyright law. According to the opinion, the company is the equivalent of a cable company, which must pay licensing fees when broadcasting over-the-air content.  The court’s majority accepts the copyright arguments of the TV broadcasters who initiated the lawsuits against Aereo.”

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/06/supreme-court-puts-aereo-out-of-business/

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Dept. of Transportation wants control over phone navigation apps

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“The U.S. Department of Transportation is asking for explicit power to regulate navigation devices of all types, including apps on your smartphone or tablet.  A measure in the proposed GROW (Generating Renewal, Opportunity, and Work with Accelerated Mobility, Efficiency, and Rebuilding of Infrastructure and Communities throughout America) America Act would give the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the authority to set restrictions on apps and also order changes if the app’s features are considered dangerous.  [..] Whether or not the bill passes as is, regulators say they already have authority over navigation apps.”

http://www.techhive.com/article/2363213/u-s-department-of-transportation-wants-to-regulate-nav-apps-on-your-phone.html

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