Dallas police win our “What the F” prize for their actions in defense of our language. For three years, the force has been ticketing motorist for failing to speak English. I’d like to make a citizen’s arrest for intolerance.

The Federal Communications Commission has launched the Web site, openinternet.gov, to solicit comments and engage the public on the topic of net neutrality.

 

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved two companion bills, Personal Data Privacy and Security Act (S. 1490) and the Data Breach Notification Act (S. 139).

One measure prohibits concealment of security breaches involved in fraud and the other would require Federal agencies and businesses to notify American residents whose personal information is accessed when a security breach occurs.

 

Japan’s space agency is bringing sci-fi down to earth. It plans to collect solar power in space and beam it down to earth using lasers or microwaves. Bring on the electric cars…

 

The Department of Interior just received a caning in its FISMA security vulnerability report. In the 46-page report, the IG blamed a decentralized organization structure, lack of oversight, bureau resistance to departmental guidance, fragmented IT governance processes, as well as the use of substantially under-qualified IT security personnel for the agencies FISMA flop. Handing Interior a crush IT security indictment, the IG report notes, “These serious flaws significantly negate the benefit of the $182 million spent on IT security in FY2009 and the efforts of the 677 employees and contractors fully devoted to information security across the department.”

 

A report recently published by Steve O’Keeffe’s alma mater, Lancaster University, U.K., shows that the Internet is a pacifier for big kids. The study shows that 75 percent of “digital natives” – aged 16 to 24 – say that they can’t live without Internet. 45 percent of teens assert that they are happier when online. That grey hair tells me that Steve is not in his old school’s sample demo.  

 

Seems you can listen with your eyes. MIT researchers have analyzed non-verbal signals in human interaction. Seems voyeurs can predict the outcome of an interaction with 80 percent accuracy. Now, can you see with your ears?

 

OPM director, John Berry asserts that the Federal “hiring system is broke” – and is calling for sweeping change. He suggests overhauling the 60-something General Schedule Federal pay scale.

 

“Money is not the most important thing in the world. Love is. Fortunately, I love money” – Jackie Mason

 

“What difference does it make how much you have? What you don’t have amounts to much more” – Seneca

 

“I used to have a drug problem, but now I have enough money” – David Lee Roth

 

“A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove you don’t need it” – Bob Hope

 

“If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple car payments” – Earl Wilson

 

“My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income” – Errol Flynn

 

17 members of the House of Representatives voted against a ceremonial bill to honor the Yankees for their 2009 World Series win. What would Yogi Berra say?