PhoneBoy Says

Sitting silently just east of Toronto's Pearson airport is the derelict Regal Constellation Hotel. Built in 1962, this somewhat bizarre example of modernist architecture was geared toward conferences and trade shows, but due to corporate rearrangement, SARS, and a host of other unfortunate events, it has sat vacant for the past few years. This past weekend, I found myself at an international conference across the street (one that, ironically, used to be held at the Regal), and I could not help paying a visit to my old friend.

via blogto.com

Seeing this rather derelict looking hotel from my hotel window, I was rather curious as to it's history. Hard to see most of the other stuff going on at the site thanks to the snow and below freezing temperatures in February, but the 15 story buildings are still there. Various windows are broken. The red signs (which don't come on anymore) look like something out of another time and place. The state of the buildings look like something out of a post-apocalyptic future.

MINNEAPOLIS — Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura sued the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration on Monday, alleging full-body scans and pat-downs at airport checkpoints violate his right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.

Ventura is asking a federal judge in Minnesota to issue an injunction ordering officials to stop subjecting him to "warrantless and suspicionless" scans and body searches.

The lawsuit, which also names Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and TSA Administrator John Pistole as defendants, argues the searches are "unwarranted and unreasonable intrusions on Governor Ventura's personal privacy and dignity and are a justifiable cause for him to be concerned for his personal health and well-being."

via msnbc.msn.com

Having just went through a pat-down in San Diego's airport--they were running the nudeoscope and I opted out--I have to agree. It's funny, too, the person giving me my "freedom frisk" had told me "wow, I hadn't done one of these since November when there was a big ruckus about the scanners."

I hope he's able to move the needle on this, but I'm guessing he'll be told to "shut up slave" when it comes to brass tacks.

I remember radio. Back when there were real DJs who played real music. They answered the phone. They interacted with their audience. They most certainly weren't constrained by a playlist.And then Clear Channel--and companies of their ilk--took over all of the radio stations. All of their stations are automated with limited play lists. The logical conclusion to this trend is something like Jack FM, who even does away with those pesky DJs.And then Adam Curry comes along and reinvents radio. Using modern technology, and most importantly, audience participation, we (and I mean we) are creating the ultimate radio station. People in the community that have developed around No Agenda and the Daily Source Code are creating the software and contributing the tracks that drive the station. The insanely useful service Dropbox is a key component of this experiment. The result is a radio station that defies any traditional format. All kinds are music are played throughout the day. What's even better: the aaaaNo Agenda Stream can be heard worldwide from anywhere thanks to the Internet. And its only going to get better.