PC Rental Outfit Uses Webcams to Spy On Renters

Daily Tech is reporting that Aaron's used images taken from customer's webcams on PCs they had rented AND PAID OFF IN FULL. A class-action suit is likely to come.

According to the report, Crystal and Brian Byrd of Wyoming had completed their rent-to-own contract, but due to some 'clerical error', the rental outift came to their home, armed with pics taken with the webcam on the laptop they had recently paid off, presumably 'evidence' to the ownership of the machine.

The Byrds, in their statement to the AP, said that their main concern was for the safety of their family. They have small children, and if Aaron's had decided to snap a pic while their kids were getting out of the tub, that could be construed as child porn.

My concern is this: IF the software used to 'spy' on the Byrd's is found to be legal, when does it get de-activated? The software used also logs keystrokes as well, so is Aaron's intending to monitor the customer's web habits as a form of 'leverage'?

BUYER BEWARE! I would suggest that if you buy a PC with a webcam, better wipe the hard disk clean before you use it!

Undercover Survey: Mature Rated Games Hard To Buy

According to cnet.com's blogger Don Reisinger, the stats show that video games rated mature or higher are 'hard' to buy, with 13% of teenagers who were not age-appropriate being able to score the title anyway.

THAT IS NOT HARD TO BUY!! THAT IS EPIC FAIL!!

If any other corporation, regulatory body, or government agency stood up and said, "Hey, only 13% got through - that's a win!" they would be hauled before Congress to answer for themselves!

Link to the original article HERE. Please post your thoughts while I go get a cup of herbal tea and an ice pack to soothe my exploding head.

Breast Milk Ice Cream Pulled from UK Store: NPR

'Baby Gaga' is the name of a new ice cream flavor that went on sale in London last week - and was pulled from stock this week - amid fears of passing on viruses, such as Hepatitis, to the general public.

There is a sign up on the store window of 'The Icecreamist' shop in London, stating that they're sold out. NPR reports that the Westminster Council ordered the product pulled for screening and testing.

The ice cream is made from breast milk obtained from a pool of 15 women responding to an internet ad, flavored with vanilla and a bit of lemon zest.

Ironically, it was two men who complained about the ice cream being available. The store founder was quoted saying "It's pure, it's natural, it's organic, and it's free range — and if it's good enough for our kids, it's good enough to use in our ice cream."

Who can argue with that logic?

ACLU Looking into Preschoolers Being 'Chipped'

From 'California Watch' -

"The American Civil Liberties Union is questioning Contra Costa officials over their implementation of a microchip tracking program in their preschool centers."

Click the link for the article. I cannot believe that a local government thought putting microchips on kids was a GOOD idea!

Adolf Hitler Campbell: Part Zwei

It seems the second jack boot has dropped in the tale of a boy whose parents just wanted to buy a birthday cake with his name on it. (refer to the blog post from Jan 14, 2009 for background).

Little Adolf Hitler Campbell, along with his sisters, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, will not be returning to their parents by order of the State of New Jersey. The ruling comes over a year after authorities removed the children, at the time citing the names as cause. In fact, the State had to go looking for a reason to keep the kids; the Family Court found no cause to remove them (other than the names, I suspect). But yet the kids stayed in 'protective custody' while the search for a better reason continued.

The State has back-peddled a bit, now denying the names were the reason for revoking parental rights, and disclosing a few more dark details;
1) Unemployed parents who were abused,
2) 'Untreated' psychological problems (both mom and dad),
3) A father who can't read or write,
4) A mother who quit school in the 10th grade,
5) Adolf's vocabulary - at age 4 he can make sailors blush,
6) Accusations of abuse by the dad, Heath, who according to this ABC piece has been married twice before, with one ex-spouse moving away for her own protection.

The Campbells also have some interesting home decorating ideas, choosing swords and skulls over lace doilies and cut flowers.

I think the State was justified to remove these kids from their parents in light of the new details. As dire as the state has made this all out to be, its just amazing that the Campbells managed to survive day-to-day. But to me, if the state is going to use employment status, level of education and/or mental health issues as justification for removing kids from their parents, there may be no home in New Jersey left unchallenged, including the foster homes where these kids will wind up.