I am the changing of the season...
Brain Fartlings
Damn, I stayed up pretty damn late last night, AND it was a workday...haven't done that for a while...I tried to do way too much errand stuff I think, laundry, sorting bills, folding, chatting, man...a lot... Sucks cuz I haven't had the chance to do many house errands because of all the business trips as of late. And it was nice to get into "roll" mode(as Cic would say) and get so much done. Unfortunately, I'm dead tired.
So rainy season has officially started, and what better way to start the rainy season than with some rain? And boy oh boy is it raining. I had to take down the tarp from London's b-day down while it was raining outside. Kinda fun, but it was a little tough. Because it was so dark, I had to run my car and turn on the headlights. And then the tarp was so heavy because it took on a lot of agua. It was cool though, I got it done, and I'm still alive. I love rain. I just got a little dirtier than I had wanted to. And it's supposed to rain until Thursday, woohoo!!!
Ate at Market City Caffe in Burbank yesterday...mmmm. That place is good. Had the Chicken Parmigiana. Why did I have lunch in Burbank? Well, one of my coworkers and I had to meet w/ this guy from the Production Company we work with about our new responsibilities, which is dealing with recording stuff for the navigation systems. He was a cool guy, and I met everyone with whom we'll be working with in the near future. Lots of change goin on at work lately; personel, responsibility, business, etc. It's a little scary, but I totally look forward to the challenges ahead.
Rainy day drivers are stupid man. Seriously. There's a difference between erring on the side of caution and just plain dumb. I swear...argh!!!
Check out this article I read the other night...pretty interesting...
Churches Installing Cell Phone Jammers
Tue Oct 19, 9:04 AM
By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer
MONTERREY, Mexico - It was the reporters who noticed first. Unable to call their editors while covering the weddings of the rich and famous, they asked the priest why their cell phones never worked at Sacred Heart. His reply: Israeli counterintelligence.
In four Monterrey churches, Israeli-made cell phone jammers the size of paperbacks have been tucked unobtrusively among paintings of the Madonna and statues of the saints.
The jarring polychromatic din of ringing cell phones is increasingly being thwarted _ from religious sanctuaries to India's parliament to Tokyo theaters and commuter trains _ by devices originally developed to help security forces avert eavesdropping and thwart phone-triggered bombings.
The Indian parliament had jammers installed after politicians ignored requests to turn off their cell phones and legislative sessions were constantly interrupted.
In Italy, universities started using the blockers after discovering that cell phone-savvy teenagers were cheating on exams by sending text messages or taking pictures of tests.
The four Roman Catholic Churches in this northern city began using the devices, from Tel Aviv-based Netline Communications Technologies Ltd., after an insurance salesman imported them as a personal favor for a priest.
"There are still many people who don't understand that being at Mass is sharing a moment with God," said the Rev. Juan Jose Martinez, a spokesman for archdiocese. "Sadly, we had no other choice but to use these little gadgets."
Purchased for about $2,000 each, they can be turned on by remote control and emit low-level radio frequencies that thwart cell phone signals within a 100-foot radius. Users get a "no service" or "signal not available" message on their cell phones. Although Mexico has no law against the devices, the private use of cell phone blockers is illegal in the United States and most Western countries. But the tide is turning.
Japan allows public places such as theaters and concert halls to install jammers, provided they obtain a government-issued license. And last week, France's industry minister approved a decision to let cinemas, concert halls and theaters install them _ as long as provisions are in place so emergency calls can still be made.
Canada had considered allowing blocking in similar situations. But Industry Canada, which regulates the country's telecommunications, decided against it, saying the devices could infringe on personal freedom and affect public safety by crippling communication with law enforcement and security agencies.
Officials at Netline, which sold its first jammer in 1998, say they are selling thousands of jammers a year and have expanded their business throughout the world.
They're far from the only manufacturers. The devices are sold the world over, with dozens of suppliers selling them on the Internet.
Tokyo-based Medic Inc. sold thousands of its Wave Wall jammers before the government stepped in and regulated their use to venues with live performances. Commuters still buy mobile jammers to shut up chatty train passengers, even though their use is illegal.
In Scotland, businessman Ronnie McGuire, owner of Electron Electrical Engineering Services, imported Taiwan-made cell phone blockers and sold them to hotels, restaurants and bars until a local newspaper reported his activities, which were illegal in Britain.
McGuire has said he will still import the Taiwanese devices but sell them for export only to countries where they are allowed.
Loreen Haim, the director of marketing and sales for Netline, wouldn't say how many devices the company sells per year or what country buys the most.
In Mexico, the main clients have been banks looking to stop would-be robbers from communicating with their accomplices and the Mexican government, which is planning to use them at prisons, Haim said.
In Monterrey, the Sacred Heart church, a baroque temple favored by Mexico's elite for weddings, church officials acquired their blockers two years ago.
"Whenever there was a wedding, cell phones would ring every five minutes," said Bulmaro Carranza, a parish clerk. "It was a real problem because there were times when even the groom would forget to turn his cell phone off."
For months, the devices went unnoticed until reporters covering the weddings began complaining that their cell phones never worked.
Since word of the jammers went public, priests from around Mexico have been calling to find out how to get them, said Carranza.
At Sacred Heart, a device at the entrance to the church and another by the altar are turned on right before every Mass. Still, priests remind parishioners to turn off their phones before beginning the services, hoping good cell phone etiquette will eventually catch on.
The other Monterrey churches with the devices _ The Rosario, San Juan Bosco and Our Lady Queen of the Angels _ are also frequented by wealthier parishioners, Martinez said.
"For a lot of them, the cell phone is a necessity. But that shouldn't prevent them from having good manners and remembering that one must respect sacred places," Martinez said.
Margarita Escobedo, a Catholic who goes to church at least twice a week and volunteers at the San Genaro church, says she would welcome the jammers in her parish, where cell phones are becoming a nuisance.
"Those who bring cell phones to church are not committed to God," Escobedo said. "It's very distracting to be praying and suddenly hear birds chirping or techno music."
___
AP writers Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo and Kate Brumback in Paris contributed to this report.
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I actually think these jammer thingies are a good idea. So many people forget, and others, make calls and stuff KNOWING they shouldn't. I mean, if most people were just more respectful of following the rules, they wouldn't have to have these things at all. Unfortunately, the world is not full of totally honest people...rather, the opposite. And I'm ashamed to say it. Even I'm guilty of it some of the time. And people seem to just continually take advantage of everything they can until the privelege is either revoked or somewhat restricted. Even more, I think they should do it on planes too, I hate when people are talking on the phone when were already taxiing and they get in trouble and get all pissed. Some people think they're above the law...
man, long-winded...
Brain Fartlings
Damn, I stayed up pretty damn late last night, AND it was a workday...haven't done that for a while...I tried to do way too much errand stuff I think, laundry, sorting bills, folding, chatting, man...a lot... Sucks cuz I haven't had the chance to do many house errands because of all the business trips as of late. And it was nice to get into "roll" mode(as Cic would say) and get so much done. Unfortunately, I'm dead tired.
So rainy season has officially started, and what better way to start the rainy season than with some rain? And boy oh boy is it raining. I had to take down the tarp from London's b-day down while it was raining outside. Kinda fun, but it was a little tough. Because it was so dark, I had to run my car and turn on the headlights. And then the tarp was so heavy because it took on a lot of agua. It was cool though, I got it done, and I'm still alive. I love rain. I just got a little dirtier than I had wanted to. And it's supposed to rain until Thursday, woohoo!!!
Ate at Market City Caffe in Burbank yesterday...mmmm. That place is good. Had the Chicken Parmigiana. Why did I have lunch in Burbank? Well, one of my coworkers and I had to meet w/ this guy from the Production Company we work with about our new responsibilities, which is dealing with recording stuff for the navigation systems. He was a cool guy, and I met everyone with whom we'll be working with in the near future. Lots of change goin on at work lately; personel, responsibility, business, etc. It's a little scary, but I totally look forward to the challenges ahead.
Rainy day drivers are stupid man. Seriously. There's a difference between erring on the side of caution and just plain dumb. I swear...argh!!!
Check out this article I read the other night...pretty interesting...
Tue Oct 19, 9:04 AM
By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer
MONTERREY, Mexico - It was the reporters who noticed first. Unable to call their editors while covering the weddings of the rich and famous, they asked the priest why their cell phones never worked at Sacred Heart. His reply: Israeli counterintelligence.
In four Monterrey churches, Israeli-made cell phone jammers the size of paperbacks have been tucked unobtrusively among paintings of the Madonna and statues of the saints.
The jarring polychromatic din of ringing cell phones is increasingly being thwarted _ from religious sanctuaries to India's parliament to Tokyo theaters and commuter trains _ by devices originally developed to help security forces avert eavesdropping and thwart phone-triggered bombings.
The Indian parliament had jammers installed after politicians ignored requests to turn off their cell phones and legislative sessions were constantly interrupted.
In Italy, universities started using the blockers after discovering that cell phone-savvy teenagers were cheating on exams by sending text messages or taking pictures of tests.
The four Roman Catholic Churches in this northern city began using the devices, from Tel Aviv-based Netline Communications Technologies Ltd., after an insurance salesman imported them as a personal favor for a priest.
"There are still many people who don't understand that being at Mass is sharing a moment with God," said the Rev. Juan Jose Martinez, a spokesman for archdiocese. "Sadly, we had no other choice but to use these little gadgets."
Purchased for about $2,000 each, they can be turned on by remote control and emit low-level radio frequencies that thwart cell phone signals within a 100-foot radius. Users get a "no service" or "signal not available" message on their cell phones. Although Mexico has no law against the devices, the private use of cell phone blockers is illegal in the United States and most Western countries. But the tide is turning.
Japan allows public places such as theaters and concert halls to install jammers, provided they obtain a government-issued license. And last week, France's industry minister approved a decision to let cinemas, concert halls and theaters install them _ as long as provisions are in place so emergency calls can still be made.
Canada had considered allowing blocking in similar situations. But Industry Canada, which regulates the country's telecommunications, decided against it, saying the devices could infringe on personal freedom and affect public safety by crippling communication with law enforcement and security agencies.
Officials at Netline, which sold its first jammer in 1998, say they are selling thousands of jammers a year and have expanded their business throughout the world.
They're far from the only manufacturers. The devices are sold the world over, with dozens of suppliers selling them on the Internet.
Tokyo-based Medic Inc. sold thousands of its Wave Wall jammers before the government stepped in and regulated their use to venues with live performances. Commuters still buy mobile jammers to shut up chatty train passengers, even though their use is illegal.
In Scotland, businessman Ronnie McGuire, owner of Electron Electrical Engineering Services, imported Taiwan-made cell phone blockers and sold them to hotels, restaurants and bars until a local newspaper reported his activities, which were illegal in Britain.
McGuire has said he will still import the Taiwanese devices but sell them for export only to countries where they are allowed.
Loreen Haim, the director of marketing and sales for Netline, wouldn't say how many devices the company sells per year or what country buys the most.
In Mexico, the main clients have been banks looking to stop would-be robbers from communicating with their accomplices and the Mexican government, which is planning to use them at prisons, Haim said.
In Monterrey, the Sacred Heart church, a baroque temple favored by Mexico's elite for weddings, church officials acquired their blockers two years ago.
"Whenever there was a wedding, cell phones would ring every five minutes," said Bulmaro Carranza, a parish clerk. "It was a real problem because there were times when even the groom would forget to turn his cell phone off."
For months, the devices went unnoticed until reporters covering the weddings began complaining that their cell phones never worked.
Since word of the jammers went public, priests from around Mexico have been calling to find out how to get them, said Carranza.
At Sacred Heart, a device at the entrance to the church and another by the altar are turned on right before every Mass. Still, priests remind parishioners to turn off their phones before beginning the services, hoping good cell phone etiquette will eventually catch on.
The other Monterrey churches with the devices _ The Rosario, San Juan Bosco and Our Lady Queen of the Angels _ are also frequented by wealthier parishioners, Martinez said.
"For a lot of them, the cell phone is a necessity. But that shouldn't prevent them from having good manners and remembering that one must respect sacred places," Martinez said.
Margarita Escobedo, a Catholic who goes to church at least twice a week and volunteers at the San Genaro church, says she would welcome the jammers in her parish, where cell phones are becoming a nuisance.
"Those who bring cell phones to church are not committed to God," Escobedo said. "It's very distracting to be praying and suddenly hear birds chirping or techno music."
___
AP writers Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo and Kate Brumback in Paris contributed to this report.
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I actually think these jammer thingies are a good idea. So many people forget, and others, make calls and stuff KNOWING they shouldn't. I mean, if most people were just more respectful of following the rules, they wouldn't have to have these things at all. Unfortunately, the world is not full of totally honest people...rather, the opposite. And I'm ashamed to say it. Even I'm guilty of it some of the time. And people seem to just continually take advantage of everything they can until the privelege is either revoked or somewhat restricted. Even more, I think they should do it on planes too, I hate when people are talking on the phone when were already taxiing and they get in trouble and get all pissed. Some people think they're above the law...
man, long-winded...
posted by lil jay at
5:55 PM
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