Sweet Home Chicago

Back in Chicago for a few days - sure is nice to have a break from the DC Humidity!

News of Interest

Library confrontation points up privacy dilemma
July 19 2008

By JOHN CURRAN
Associated Press Writer
RANDOLPH, Vt. (AP) -- Children's librarian Judith Flint was getting ready for the monthly book discussion group for 8- and 9-year-olds on "Love That Dog" when police showed up.

They weren't kidding around: Five state police detectives wanted to seize Kimball Public Library's public access computers as they frantically searched for a 12-year-old girl, acting on a tip that she sometimes used the terminals.

Flint demanded a search warrant, touching off a confrontation that pitted the privacy rights of library patrons against the rights of police on official business.

"It's one of the most difficult situations a library can face," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, deputy director of intellectual freedom issues for the American Library Association.

Complete Story
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Invasion at Potters Field!?!


Alien ship crashes into Potters Field? Movie stunt, promo, invasion... no one is quite sure what the deal is with this 'exhibit' over in Potters Field in London.
Gizmodo report

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US Exclusionary Rule - Time for Modification?

The Times has an interesting article on the US exclusionary rule and its lack of counterpart in foreign legal systems, and how the US uniqueness in automatically excluding evidence could come to an end next year when the Supreme Court hears a case to challenge Mapp v. Ohio.

New York Times Article

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Across China, Security Instead Of Celebration
Police Crack Down on 'Hostile Forces,' Apply New Safety Measures

By Edward Cody
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, July 19, 2008; Page A01
YENGISHAHAR, China -- Shortly after dawn on July 9, the local government here bused several thousand students and office workers into a public square and lined them up in front of a vocational school. As the spectators watched, witnesses said, three prisoners were brought out. Then, an execution squad fired rifles at the three point-blank, killing them on the spot.

The young men had been convicted of having connections to terrorist plots, which authorities said were part of a campaign aimed at disrupting the Beijing Olympics by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, an underground separatist organization here in the vast Xinjiang region of western China. The group has long fought for independence on behalf of the region's Muslim Uighur inhabitants.

The public execution of the men was a dramatic example of the massive, unforgiving security operation that has been mounted in China to protect the Beijing Games from what Communist Party authorities describe as an urgent threat of violence and anti-government protest.

Full Story

U.S. Capitol

Alright, so this post is a little touristy - but hey - how many people get the great pleasure of seeing the inside of our Nation's Capitol - especially with all the security now a days.

The building itself is amazing and the artwork, paintings, even the tile - is simply beautiful.

For More Info on the Tile Click Here

For More General Information Click Here

Wasabi and Finger Clippings

We shall start with the Finger Clippings... As you may or may not know, the mass transit system here in DC, WMATA, or METRO does not allow food or drinks on any of the subway trains, stations, or buses - if you get caught it is a $100 dollar fine.

So today, while I was on the metro a metro employee came walking by and proceeded to stand by the doors of the train. Then he took out his key ring from his pocket and began clipping his nails.. not just one NAIL as in a hang nail but ALL of his fingers.. all ten of them... and just let the clippings fall to the floor... So apparently eating and drinking are not allowed, but citizens and visitors of DC feel free to CLIP AWAY...


The good news, today I ate at Wasabi, the 'Americanized Japanese' place... The neat thing.. they have a conveyer belt that the sushi/food goes around on - when you see something you want you simply grab it off the line... Hmm.. wonder if that idea could work in a bar setting...

If you don't get the visual - then check out this video I took...

Still Fascinated with the iPhone

As more applications continue to poor out for the iPhone 3g, I continue to be amazed... for example, check out this application called Shazam - video below



I am also happy to report that MobileMe is now fully functional - making my life MUCH easier..

New Website Layout

Testing out a new format here at Roszaks.com

A few kinks, but hopefully everything will be smooth sailing in the near future...

Having fun with my new iPhone - as you can see from the video below



Have a good one, and stay tuned for more site updates

I Got Mine... How Bout You?

Not Only did I get the iPhone 3G today - I was also the FIRST to get the iPhone - which lead to a series of interviews... Below is the video of me being interviewed by DC NBC News 4 followed by a news story from the Washington Times



Additionally, I made it into the Washington Times -

D.C. lines up for new iPhone
By Jessica Lipowski, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Friday, July 11, 2008

Washingtonians gathered outside the AT&T retail store in Chinatown as early as 4:30 a.m. Friday to purchase the new phone. People brought Starbucks coffee, laptops and friends to help keep them awake, waiting for the doors to open at 8 a.m.

D.C. resident Andrew Roszak, 28, was the first one to arrive. Mr. Roszak said he didn't know what to expect, so he showed up at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Thursday night, eventually returning at 4:30 a.m. Friday morning.

"No other phone gives you this many features," Roszak said. "It's just a great phone."

One hour later, Sarah Hale showed up with friends at 5:30 a.m.

"I liked the old one, and I didn't like the idea of not having the newest, so I had to come get it," said Miss Hale, 25, who took several pictures of herself with her friends to stay entertained.

Sixteen-year-old Leon Young arrived at 6 a.m. with a laptop in hand, hoping to sell his spot in line for $50.

In preparartion for the launch -- and in an effort to avoid the pandemonium experienced during last summer's debut of the original iPhone -- AT&T representatives at the Chinatown were trained on managing crowds in addition to learning the features of the new phone, said Colin Martin, AT&T's executive director of sales for D.C. and Northern Virginia. The store had about 25 to 30 people staffed on Friday, Mr. Martin said.

Complete Story - Click Here