- The tech world is not a friendly place. Just ask IBM
employees at the company’s Armonk, N.Y. headquarters. Secrets in this realm are
guarded closely and for that reason, IBM employees are forbidden from having
conversations with their digital friend Siri at work. The digital assistant on
Apple’s iPhone is verboten at IBM headquarters because every query and verbal
prompt users send Siri’s way is sent to a large data processing center in
Maiden, N.C. Apple's
iPhone Software License Agreement makes the process clear: "When you use
Siri or Dictation, the things you say will be recorded and sent to Apple in
order to convert what you say into text." Siri also compiles names of
people from your address book and other unspecified user data, supposedly to
help the service do a better job providing answers in the future. The question
becomes how long Apple stores the data and who sees it. "By using Siri or
Dictation, you agree and consent to Apple's and its subsidiaries' and agents'
transmission, collection, maintenance, processing, and use of this information,
including your voice input and User Data, to provide and improve Siri,
Dictation, and other Apple products and services," the software agreement
states. That doesn’t sit well with IBM and CIO Jeanette Horan explained that
Siri isn't welcome on Big Blue's networks. "The company worries that the
spoken queries might be stored somewhere," Horan said. IBM isn't the only
entity concerned about Siri, as the American Civil Liberties Union put out a
warning about Siri just a couple of months ago. Edward Wrenbeck, the lead
developer of the original Siri iPhone app, knew well before Siri was sold to
Apple that privacy would be a major concern. "Just having it known that
you're at a certain customer's location might be in violation of a
non-disclosure agreement," Wrenbeck said. Another concern is that Siri can
be used to write e-mails or text messages, so theoretically Apple could be
storing confidential IBM messages. It’s one more reminder that the tech world
is not a kind place to operate………
- Oh, to be a movie fan in France. Aside from actually
living in France, there are benefits like not having to be subjected to the
latest identical Tyler Perry movie at your local multiplex. See, Perry’s movies
are
never scheduled in any French movie theaters or are only released in DVDs and
even if the reasons behind those decisions are shady and slightly racist
(allegedly), avoiding a terrible movie is still avoiding a terrible movie.
Perry’s movies aren’t bad for any racially based reason; they’re just bad
movies. But it’s the new (and terrible) comedy “Think Like a Man” that is
currently being ignored in France. The movie hasn’t been released in French
movie theaters despite its success in the United States. Conspiracy theorists
have suggested that the film doesn’t have enough diversity, but no official
reason or explanation has been given. Maybe the perception that French film
community doesn’t believe that films with all-black casts can do well at the
box office is true and maybe France’s cinematic racial profiling is a terrible
instance of discrimination. The fact is, there are plenty of great movies with
all-black or predominantly black casts; “Think Like a Man” simply isn't one of
them, nor are any of Perry’s films. “Think Like a Man” actually has a multi-racial
cast and has grossed nearly $100 million at the box office, but monetary
success is never an ironclad indicator of how good a movie is. France, you’re
dodging a bad movie bullet on this one……….
- Did you miss your chance to rock out to Black Veil
Brides, dress head to toe in black and wear the palest, more haunting makeup
you own? Unless you celebrated World Goth Day, the answer to that question is yes. May
22 is World Goth day and while those who embrace the culture treat every day
like it’s Halloween with their embracing of Gothic music, art, fashion and lifestyle, the rest of the world tends
to tune them out. The unofficial holiday is a chance to shine a light on an
often-misunderstood subculture. Even Goths don’t agree on what the term means,
much in the same way 100 different indie rock fans will give 100 different
definitions about what the genre is. Goth boils down to some variation on
darkness, but the culture isn't necessarily as morbid or death-obsessed as it's
often made out to be. Sure, there are a few freaks who sleep in coffins, are
obsessed with blood and listen only to music that sounds like pure death, but
not all Goths live that way. Some even blend into everyday culture and society
and aside from their slightly different attire, they fit in just fine. They
rock out to the Cure or Siouxsie and the Banshees and wear a healthy dose of
black when able. World Goth Day had its share of awards, events, music and general revelry, but its organizers also made a concerted effort to educate
the general public about acceptance and compassion for cultures outside the
mainstream. The history of the event is a poignant one. Its roots are in the
2007 assault of Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend, Robert Maltby, as they were
walking through a park in Lancashire, England, when they were attacked by a
group of five teenagers. Lancaster died from her injuries and Maltby suffered
lasting brain damage; both were attacked because they were wearing Goth
clothing. The incident gave rise to the Sophie
Lancaster Foundation and also inspired the founders of World Goth Day. On their website, the group
proclaims, "There are quite a few Goths who have fought damn hard
to retain their identity despite peer pressure, family pressure and indeed, any
pressure to conform. "And if you've gone to all that trouble to preserve
what you believe is the 'real you', don't you think you owe it to yourself to
shine for a day?" Hopefully everyone took the chance to let their inner
Goth out or at least hug a Goth………
- How many times has it been said, “You can’t fight city
hall….over upside-down tomato plants.” Too many times, that’s how many. For
Newton, Mass. resident Eli Katzoff, the battle over tomato plants in his yard has
become a bigger fight than he ever expected. Katzoff hung 34 upside-down tomato
plants in his yard, planning to give most of the produce away to local food
pantries. The idea seemed flawless in that growing things is good for the
environment, giving food away is kind and no one would get hurt in the process.
But no good idea goes unchecked in a democracy and the city has come down hard
on Katzoff for his (apparent) stupidity. In a gesture of sheer audacity, he built
a large wooden structure to hold the plants. The structure measures 13 feet
high by 32 feet long and 16 feet wide and the trouble is has caused thus far is
immeasurable. “The city’s not happy about it,” Katzoff explained. Why are a
bunch of small-town bureaucrats angry? Because the structure he built is in the
front yard, that’s why. Newton laws say such structures must be built in the
back yard. Why didn’t Katzoff set up his mega-tomato planter out back? “You can
do it in the back yard, but the problem with us is there’s no sunlight in the
backyard,” Katzoff explained. In a typical display of bureaucratic ineptitude,
Katzoff said he called the zoning office at Newton City Hall before he built
the structure and was told his project was fine. That’s no longer the tale the
city is telling. “They need to be safe, and they need to be within the zoning
ordinances,” explained Bob Rooney, the city’s chief operating officer.
Katzoff’s hanging garden is still in place and the city worries that could be a
safety concern for people walking by, not to mention there’s the law that says
no structures on front yards. In a possible attempt to extend an alive branch,
Katzoff has been offered the chance to apply for a zoning variance that would
allow the structure to remain. Let the great tomato battle of 2012 commence………
- After having to spend part of his offseason in fear that
Peyton Manning would ride into town and rip his starting job, San Francisco
49ers quarterback Alex Smith has to feel damn good right about now. Manning
ended up in Denver, Smith kept his starting job and the team added to his cache
of weapons by adding free agents Randy
Moss and Mario Manningham and first-round pick A.J. Jenkins. Those new weapons
were on display during Wednesday's pad-free practice as the team launched its
first round of offseason team activities. Smith, who has been embattled
throughout his seven seasons in the NFL and will never be considered elite,
could not hide his excitement. "It's like waking up on Christmas,"
Smith said. "You have a lot of new toys out there, new presents." For
a team coming off a 13-3 regular season and an overtime loss in the NFC
championship game, that sort of added excitement is a very positive sign. Coach
Jim Harbaugh is optimistic as well. "Alex has really been, in the two days
out here, has been spreading the ball very well," coach Jim Harbaugh said.
"He's got a lot of options. That's been evident, too, for two days. "
The 49ers need an improved offense after their defense largely carried them
last season. Smith ranked 19th in the NFL with a career-high 3,144 yards
passing and was badly outplayed by Eli Manning in a 20-17 overtime loss in the
NFC title game to the eventual champion New York Giants. As a result, the 49ers
flirted with free agent Peyton Manning before eventually giving Smith a
three-year deal that has some $16.5 million guaranteed. Manningham was signed,
leaving the Giants ironically enough, Moss was inked as well after not playing
last season due to a lack of interest, and Jenkins was drafted in April. Moss
is the highest-profile acquisition, as the once-great, perpetually troubled
physical freak who once roasted any defensive back unfortunate enough to have
to cover him received no interest last year. Still, Smith is fired up to have
him back in the NFL. "The first day, it was surreal out there throwing
balls to him. The physical skills everybody knows. The thing you appreciate a
lot is the guy's a true pro. He's played a lot of football. He's incredibly
smart out there,” Smith declared. That
enthusiasm may fade if and when Moss starts to cause trouble as he always seems
to do, but for now everyone is holding hands and skipping through a field of
wildflowers…………
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