In The News

I received these links from a podcast I (try to) listen to regularly called Geek News Central. I like the podcast because the host is so congenial to listen to and he doesn't talk about just tech or computers, although that's most of his show. I encourage you to give it a listen.

Item 1 - Will that smoke detector really detect smoke? In a series of articles/reports called Deadly Delay, Indianapolis, IN television station WTHR points out that there are two types of sensors that may be in your smoke detector. The more commonly used ionization sensor (the other is called a Photoelectric sensor) may not alert you to the danger of a smoldering, smoky fire.

As I understand it, an ionization sensor detects changes in the particles in the air when they become ionized by the flames of a fire. A photoelectric sensor, again as I understand it, detects a change in the visual density of the air. It almost literally "sees" the smoke as an interruption of the beam of light the transmitter sends out.

The story details two people who have had recent fires where the ionization smoke detector, in perfect working order, never went off and resulted in the death of others in the household. According to the article, photoelectric smoke detectors can be had for less than $20. I would encourage you to go out and get dual-sensor detectors or at least have one of each in your house. I know I will be doing some shopping this weekend.

Item 2 - This is an article about how two countries have passed laws eventually banning the sale of incandescent bulbs in favor of compact fluorescent bulbs and suggesting the United States do the same. According to the article, "If there was a worldwide shift from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents, the drop in electricity use would permit us to close 270 coal-fired (500-megawatt) power plants that are contributing enormously to climate change."

Based on a Mythbusters episode where they tested different types of lightbulbs, I have started using compact florescent bulbs in my house where I can. You see, I've discovered three problems that would hinder the acceptance of CF bulbs in the United States (or anywhere as far as I can tell).

Problem 1: Because of the difference in shape, many lampshades would be rendered unuseable. In one design, the shade actually clips to the bulb. This is not possible with a CF.

Problem 2: There is no consistency of size for CF bulbs. Larger wattages are physically larger and fixtures with glass domes or other decorative features may not fit.

Problem 3: Certain styles of CF bulbs, such as indoor flood lights, take several seconds (30-60?) to come up to full brightness. I stopped using that particular type in my kitchen because they made it difficult to see properly when they were first turned on.

Item 3 - You got hacked? Prove it! While you're at it, prove that you did everything humanly possible to secure your router or we're going to sue you.

Apparently, in the UK, "people accused of uploading the game ‘Dream Pinball’ who claim they are the victim of a hacker, are starting to get letters back from lawyers explaining what they should do next. Among other things, the lawyers are demanding that the accused demonstrate computer security skills in providing evidence detailing exactly how their equipment was exploited."

I don't see how anyone can defend themselves against this type of logic. For one, many broadband modems and routers are sold as plug-and-play devices and are factory-configured in a secure state. Second, the average person knows very little about IT and network security and really shouldn't have to know a lot about it.

My problem with this is that it throws out the ideas of burden of proof and innocent until proven guilty. It appears the lawyers don't care and are attempting to strong-arm innocent civilians into paying fines because they know the civilians won't have the resources to contest the accusations. It's a good thing for the lawyers that the UK doesn't have the ACLU.