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LivingSocial/Fiesta Americana Resort Bait & Switch Scam
UPDATE: I contacted LivingSocial about this issue, and they responded in a timely manner, and offered a partial refund, which I feels remedies the situation. I am leaving this post up to tell the story, and to alert people that they should always be on guard for issues like this, but at least LivingSocial has made a [...]
US orders news blackout over crippled Nebraska Nuclear Plant– Coverup or Hoax?
In the Morning, I came across an article from the Pakistani news source, The Nation, titled US orders news blackout over crippled Nebraska Nuclear Plant. If this is true, it is terribly troubling–both because of the implications of a nuclear meltdown in the midwestern United States, as well as the idea of a government coverup [...]
Experimenting with Panoramic Photography
On a recent backpacking trip to Yosemite National Park, I decided to experiment panoramic photos. There are so many astounding views from the heights above Pate Valley and the Grand Canyon of the Toulomne, I was hoping to capture at least a fraction of that beauty with my camera. Now, I don’t have a fancy [...]
Speed Improvements for Mapping Site
Here is just a quick update on my site that allows you to map multiple locations on Google Maps. If you use the site regularly, you may have noticed that it has been slow, and sometimes unresponsive, lately. (Also, you may have noticed some very wonky behavior today, but that was because I was tweaking [...]
Wedding photos are coming in!
This will be a very quick post, but the wedding photos are trickling in from everyone.
Be sure to browse and share!
Big Brother on the Orange Line
I got on the Orange Line (one of Boston's subway lines) yesterday, and noticed this little guy watching me. There was one watching the inside of each door, and one looking either direction down the car from the center (there are three doors on each side of the car, so 8 cameras total, per car). Not all cars have these cameras, so I imagine they are testing them in some cars, or slowly rolling them out. I noticed them in cars numbered 01214 and 01248.
I wonder what prompted this, or is it just part of the general trend to watch everyone, at all times? Does anyone watch this live? Is it even recorded? Is it just for Panopticon effect?
At a time when the MBTA is massively in debt, this kind of surveillance is not cheap, especially with 8 cameras per car. I don't see this helping catch fare evaders. Are violent crimes on the subway very common? I've never seen or heard of any (though I have certainly heard of shootings on the busses). I doubt the transit police would bother even reviewing the tapes (let alone, install the system) for non-violent crimes, like pick-pockets.
Is this meant to catch those people that molest women in crowded subways? How would the camera see what was happening if it was that crowded?
Or is this all just more money spent to give us the illusion of security and safety?
Proof that Netflix is the only thing holding the USPS afloat