Autopen used to authorize Patriot Act

The debatable Patriot Act has been given a new start once again, thanks to Obama. President Obama did not really sign the bill in the White House as he is in Europe. It was revealed the document was signed into law using an autopen, a pseudo-robotic gadget that replicates signatures, and this act has proved controversial.

Provisions allowing government surveillance renewed

Recently, certain key provisions of the Patriot Act, were set to expire unless a bill was created, passed by Congress and signed by the president. The controversial surveillance was passed and signed into law by Obama at the last minute. This was regardless of all the debate on it, reports the Christian Science Monitor. Even though Senator Paul tried to rally against the bill, the government can still use the internet, business records and wiretaps without a warrant whenever they want. However, according to CNN, brouhaha in Congress has started as the president used a robotic pen.

All about the autopen business

An autopen was used to sign the document since the president is in France right now and the signature was needed. A person’s signature is reproduced with an autopen. The difference between an autopen and genuine signature is almost extremely hard to tell. The machines, according to MSNBC, vary in complexity while in simply tracing a template to far more mechanically complex machines. Many sites are reproducing an interview with Bob Olding who is the owner of one of the two businesses that exists in the U.S. that makes the machines. Since the 1930s, the technology to do this hasn’t changed much, Olding said. ABS states that Olding owns Damillic Corp. He also stresses that Damillic goes out of its way to properly vet its consumers and make sure that his products are getting used ethically.

Nothing illegal about it

In the Constitution, it simply states that the president will sign a bill. “He shall sign it” is in there. The signature is valid, the Department of Justice claims. It simply has to be directed a document to be legal. As long as a president gives his consent of signature, it is legal and valid to auto sign something. This was the response the Justice Department had in 2005 when an autopen for President Bush was being looked into. Donald Rumsfeld was found to have used an autopen to sign letters of condolences to the families of troops killed in action in 2004, and former Vice President Quayle admitted to using one in 1992. Thomas Jefferson built a signature and letter duplication machine, or polygraph, in the 19th century. Government officials, astronauts and business executives all have used autopens in the past.

Articles cited

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0527/Patriot-Act-three-controversial-provisions-that-Congress-voted-to-keep

CNN

whitehouse.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/27/rise-of-the-machines-autopen-puts-bill-into-law/?hpt=T2

MSNBC

firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/27/6731197-the-great-presidential-autopen-hullabaloo

ABC

blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2011/05/robama-is-it-ok-for-a-president-to-autopen-a-bill-into-law.html

Damillic Inc

realsig.com/index.htm

The coffee addicted men may be glad to know coffee helps prostate cancer

Men who drink a lot of coffee can revel in their habit, guilt-free. Coffee may ward off prostate cancer. A research is being unveiled that found higher coffee consumption, six cups a day or more, led to a lower instance of prostate cancer in men.

The plus side of being a caffeine fiend

MSNBC reports that there was a study released from the Harvard School of Public Health that will be good for those men who love caffeine. This study has determined that excessive coffee consumption may trigger the shakes, but it also is a great thing to do for endocrine health, as the most aggressive of guzzlers have a dramatically lower chance of contracting prostate cancer. CBS reports that there were 48,000 men in the study who were followed from 1986 to 2008. Those who drank six or more cups in a habit were not getting as several cases of prostate cancer. This was with all forms of the cancer.

Contrary results from research done previously

There was a research done in the Harvard School of Public Health 30 years ago. It was opposite of what this study said in its findings. However, the previous research was flawed due to its research methodology. Patients who had cancer reported coffee details better in the research from years ago since patients were asked about coffee habits. This is known as “recall bias.” It makes it so early outcomes are contaminated. Men had 60 percent chance less of prostate cancer and 20 percent chance less of deadliest forms of the cancer when drinking six or more cups of coffee a day, according to the study just unveiled. Those who drank three cups a day or fewer cut their chances by 30 percent, though it made no difference whether it was regular or decaffeinated coffee.

More studies needed

WebMD reports that the reason why there might be this impact isn’t known although there are theories with antioxidants. Many benefits, for instance low risk of heart disease and cancer, have been shown to correlate with dietary antioxidants. Other studies on the benefits of coffee consumption have credited coffee consumption with lower risks for Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and gout. One in six men is affected by prostate cancer making it probably the most common cancer in men. More than 30,000 deaths are attributed to prostate cancer in the United States each year.

Information from

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/43065205/ns/health-cancer/

CBS

cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20063692-10391704.html?tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.9

WebMD

webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20110517/coffee-may-lower-prostate-cancer-risk

Mega sense in human beings possible

What would it be like to have a “Spidey sense”? Or simply get an echolocation radar sense like any superhero? According to U.C. Berkeley neuroscientist Dr. Bradley Voytek, human beings may be able to use mega senses that aren’t developed yet.

How we get the super abilities

There are mega senses that human beings can develop, according to U.C. Berkeley neuroscientist Dr. Voytek. He said humans have always had access to them. Voytek explains the human mind has unimaginable powers. We are able to hear and see with membranes in our brain. There is not a basic degree of sensitivity in our brain although the cellular processes work with and without our conscious awareness.

Abilities according to Voytek

According to Voytek, our abilities are remarkable. The upper and lower thresholds are much farther away than we realize. Human beings are able to see two photons in the retina. That is the lowest a human can see. As such, it would be possible, in theory, to see a candle flame from miles away, provided the right landscape and weather conditions.

A human should be able to focus and hear the random movement of atoms in particle theory, called Brownian motion, although it is commonly considered to be from 20 Hz to 20,000 kHz.

As few as 30 molecules of something could be smelt by a human. That is another great thing.

Nobody using the ’super senses’

Too much attention is needed to use mega sense which is why human beings do not use them, according to Voytek. The amount of focus required is daunting for a lot of people. There are some tests on the physical limits of human senses. Other senses have to be ignored while doing the test though. Consciously tuning out stimuli from other abilities can raise focused abilities to what some would call super-human acuity. It is important to focus on perception. The longer we focus, the more 3-D images could be created.

Examples around

The abilities can become much better whenever you lose one or two abilities. Ben Underwood and Terry Garrett are examples. They are both blind. Underwood is able to get around however he likes with echolocation as a teenager. He can even roller blade and skateboard. Like a dolphin or bat, Underwood makes a clicking sound that enables his ears and brain to work together to create a Daredevil-like sonar sense. Both Garrett and Underwood are able to use sound to play video games also.

Dr. Voytek and other scientists will not give up until they have developed the understanding they need of the brain and the brain’s senses. We will continue to move forward until we know exactly how to acquire these super human senses.

Articles cited

CBS News

cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/19/earlyshow/main1817689.shtml

Oscillatory Thoughts

blog.ketyov.com/2011/05/we-are-all-inattentive-superheroes.html

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownian_motion

Wired

wired.com/gamelife/2011/04/blind-gamer-plays-zelda-by-ear/

Ben Underwood has overcome his blindness without surgery

youtube.com/watch?v=G1QaCeosUmw

When automobiles learn to speak

Soon automobiles may be able to communicate in order to warn drivers of forthcoming dangers. Automakers and the governments alike are both looking seriously at the new technology. If implemented, this system has the potential to greatly reduce highway accidents and fatalities.

System more accurate than radar

This new technology, which is reportedly more accurate than radar, uses specialized GPS and WiFi technologies. The system will communicate up to 900 feet 360 degrees around it with a signal every 10 seconds. With the technology, the driver is notified of possible hazards. There are lights and beeps used to do this.

Future of automakers

It has taken over a decade for Ford to get this technology figured out. Ford’s vice president of sustainability, environment and safety engineering is Sue Cischke. “Ford believes intelligent vehicles that talk to each other through advanced WiFi are the next frontier of collision avoidance innovations that could revolutionize the driving experience,” she said.

'Road Trains’ resting happening

Recently, Volvo was in a “road train” test. It was successful for the first time. Road trains, formed through a process known as “platooning,” involve autos that are electronically tethered so that they can mimic the action of one another. This provides for a more efficient and safe flow of traffic.

“Platooning offers the prospect of improved road safety, better road space utilization, improved driver comfort on long journeys and reduced fuel consumption and hence CO2 emissions,” said Tom Robinson, spokesperson for the project.

Not as many individuals hurt

Peter Appel said “This technology has the potential to save a lot of lives.” Appel is at the DOT as the administrator of Research and Innovative Technology Administration. According to the DOT, the system might reduce traffic accidents considerably. Without narcotics and alcohol involvement, accidents could go down as much as 80 percent.

Cost factors

Adding the technology to the car doesn’t cost much at all. It can be as little as $100 per car to add. The system’s low cost would allow manufacturers to put it in both luxury and economy models.

Getting technology before 2013 possible requirement

Driver Acceptance Clinics will be done by the United States DOT starting in August in six United States cities. The DOT hopes to that the technology will be put in thousands of automobiles soon after the clinics are done. The technology could become mandatory as early as 2013, when federal officials are scheduled to make their decision.

Citations

MSNBC

editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1184897

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/25/AR2011012506232.html

Wired

wired.com/autopia/2011/01/talking-cars-are-coming-soon-to-keep-us-safe/

Tricks to keep away from rental auto gasoline penalties and other fees

Gasoline costs almost $4 per gallon average in the U.S. today. However if you are dealing with a returned rental car that you forgot to top off before returning, did you know it will cost you more than double? Don’t let this and other “hidden” fees burst your spending budget. Go to the rental car counter armed with knowledge and conserve.

Rental vehicle gasoline at $9.29 per gallon

Car rental companies at 13 United States airports were studied by USA Today. It found out that $9.29 a gallon is what Hertz charges to top off your gasoline tank while $8.99 a gallon is what Dollar and Thrifty charges. This price could be reduced significantly if renters pay for a tank of gasoline ahead of time with the rental business, however the price gouging illustrates how add-on fees can strike after low base rates reel in consumers.

More rental auto fees added on

1. Additional driver fees – About $10 per driver is typically charged by rental corporations.

2. Insurance – You’ve no need to buy extra insurance if you already are paying for it every month. This is especially true when you have comprehensive on your insurance. To be safe, see if your charge card business insures against rental auto losses.

3. Early/late return fees – It is always important that you return the automobile on time. Every day that you are late, it can cost $10 or more. However, you need to also know that several rental companies charge about $15 for early returns.

4. Child automobile seats – When renting, it helps to have your own vehicle seat. Make sure you bring it with you if you have kids. For every child safety seat rented, you will pay about $7 a day.

5. Toll bypass – Some rental corporations will sell you an electronic toll road pass. Just say no if you don’t want one or already have one.

6. Mileage – Watch the mileage limit. Make sure you find an unlimited mileage rental if you’re going to be driving long distances for the time you have the auto.

7. Cleaning – Don’t smoke in the auto and clean up your mess. Cleaning fees could be sizable.

Finding cheap vehicles to rent

To discover the least costly rental vehicles, start by searching travel websites like Travelocity.com, Expedia.com, Priceline.com and Hotwire.com for deals on rental vehicles. Plan ahead and you also may even be able to discover a good rate that comes as part of a package deal with airline tickets and hotel. You may be able to conserve even more with entertainment coupon books and websites like RetailMeNot.com. Make sure you rent for what you need. Do not go any longer. As long as you do not have too much stuff, you may be okay with an economy compact which will get you there safely.

Citations

Bankrate.com

bankrate.com/financing/cars/rental-car-gas-costs-9-a-gallon/

MSNBC

today.msnbc.msn.com/id/23471992/ns/today-money/t/secrets-renting-car-without-overspending/

Dollar Rent-A-Car was caught red-handed

youtube.com/watch?v=ZY4A-EJAbZs

Error in advertising code opened Facebook logins to marketers

No matter who you talk to, online privacy is a large concern. For Facebook, these concerns are practically an everyday discussion topic. The discussion of Facebook privacy has reached a fever pitch. The latest reveal of potential abuse is causing significant concern. A hole in the way certain links were coded could have exposed millions of Facebook accounts.

Issues with security being seen

The security firm Symantec is very helpful. It provides software to individuals. A “spare key” flaw was noted in the Facebook programming which Symantec explained in a blog post. By the time Symantec revealed this flaw, Facebook had taken action. This spare key glitch revealed hundreds of thousands of passwords and pieces of personal account details. The key, if properly used, would have allowed advertisers to access accounts, chats and friend details.

How to protect yourself

Though Facebook has corrected the flaw that revealed hundreds of thousands of pieces of personal information, some of that data is still accessible online. As with all private data stored online, the first step to ensuring security is to use appropriate passwords. Numbers and letters are both in passwords and shouldn’t be used for any online accounts you have. You need to also regularly change your passwords to ensure that cached versions of your details that live online do not work indefinitely.

Best way to take care of the flaw as fast as possible

Unlike most computer-security exploits, this particular Facebook breach was found before it had been exploited. Facebook took care of the flaw quickly after being informed. Google and Apple are also both facing strong questions about their security procedures. The phones have operating systems on them that track information. Private information from users is being tracked with them. Personal privacy practices should be followed no matter what. Even in case you are very careful, it could be hard to keep private information safe on the internet.

Citations

Symantec

symantec.com/connect/blogs/facebook-applications-accidentally-leaking-access-third-parties

NPR

npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=136206758

Fewer earnings anticipated by student but they're still optimistic

Individuals of the age group of college students expect to earn less over their lifetime than their parents. However, they expect a greater degree of personal satisfaction. An AP survey of individuals ages 18 to 24 revealed that younger individuals, especially those saddled with higher amounts of student debt, expect a lower quality of life than their parents.

Less money and more happy in the younger generation

MSNBC states that many in college feel like they won’t be making any money although they’ll be happy still. Goals for instance raising a family and buying a home are considered more difficult than before for 40 percent of survey respondents which were 18 to 24 years old according to a poll done by Viacom and the AP. When it comes to life, 25 percent believed they’d have it simple. They assumed it would be easier than their parents’ lives were. About 90 percent of the survey subjects believed they would eventually discover a career they find fulfilling.

Increase in student debt

The increased costs making a harder living is what people in the AP survey said would take place. Student debt has increased a lot in this age group. The average college graduate has about $24,000 in loan debt, according to the New York Times, which at an interest rate of 6.8 percent demands a payment of $276 per month, and student loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. According to the Department of Education, 65.6 percent of undergraduates from 2007 to 2008 got financial aid. Then, another 38.5 percent got student loans. According to the Department of Education, subsidized Stafford loans were taken out by 30 percent of undergraduates. Another 22 percent took out non-subsidized Stafford loans while at school.

Picking an investment

The bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average earnings with a college degree are $53,000 a year. Hardly anyone gets it quickly though. A college degree is not a guarantee of quickly falling into a healthy income, however it increases the likelihood that a person will earn a solid middle class income during their lifetime. The 2009 statistics showed that there’s a 4 percent lower rate of joblessness among college graduates than high school graduates. That means the chances of being unemployed goes down also. Now it is costing more to get a degree. Education does not come cheap.

Information from

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/42643248/ns/business-your_retirement/

Department of Education

nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=31

New York Times

economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/15/how-worrisome-is-student-debt/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Bureau of Labor Statistics

bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm