Who’s Watching You?

Do you care about surveillance cameras? Or the fact that you’re probably being watched and or monitored whenever you’re in public?

A lot of people care about this very much. A former co-worker from Halifax once created a blog especially to discuss CCTV cameras he hated them so much.

The other day on one of my posts, Brett went off on a rant Big Brother watching us all the time. It had nothing really to do with the post topic, but I guess he was responding to another comment. Brett’s not a fan of heightened airport and border security or surveillance cameras.

Those who are against these excessive security measures say they are a threat to our personal freedoms. That everything we do, every place we go, every person we meet, all of our daily activities, every move we make, can be monitored. This includes our internet usuage, all our electronic communication devices, credit cards – even our cars are traceable and watchable now.  The main issue with all of this is, there is no telling where this information is going to end up or how it’s going to be used or by whom.

Then there are many people who have no problem with this.  They say freedom of privacy is a redundant concept. That if we want the protections of law enforcement against criminals and terrorists then we have to accept being watched. They figure if you’re out in public or using public systems like the internet then it’s fair game.  Don’t do things in public you don’t want people to know about and don’t put information out there you want kept private.

There are arguments that these CCTV cameras and other surveillance devices don’t do anything to prevent crime – that they only move criminals to other areas that aren’t being monitored. Have all the additional security measures at airports stopped any terrorists? Who knows. I haven’t really heard about anyone they stopped who’d been planning to blow up a plane. But maybe they just haven’t told us about it. Then again maybe with all the security measures in place at airports, terrorists are thinking up other, less secured ways to attack.

From all reports – especially from the UK – CCTVs are helping police to catch many more criminals…. but that’s after a crime has been committed.

Britain is the world leader in CCTV usage with an estimated 4 million cameras around the country. They are also world leaders in building a DNA database with almost 9% of the population already logged. The US FBI database has over 6.7 million profiles and expects to accelerate its growth rate from 80,000 new entries a year to 1.2 million new entries annually by 2012.  Canada has logged about 208,000 DNA profiles as of 2009 with its new $10 million database which is said to be the most automated and sophisticated of its kind, located at RCMP headquarters in Ottawa.

It should be noted that, while there is fledgling legislation in place regulating from whom and how DNA samples can be collected, not all of the DNA samples in these databases are from criminals and there have been issues on how these samples are being retained.

So, are you concerned about any of this? Do you care if there’s CCTV camera pointed at your house? Or if the police have a sample of your DNA? Or if you’re watched as you do your grocery shopping or as you meet your secret lover at the Stay-A-While Motel?

Play It Again, Sam

It’s a new year, so I thought it only fitting that I complain about Hollywood remakes. Do they no longer have money to hire writers who can come up with an original script? Does it always have to be a movie based on a 1970s TV show or on a book or on a movie from 20 years ago?

For instance, my daughter loves The Poseidon Adventure  for some reason – the original with a hearty Shelley Winters saving everyone for a little while with her mad underwater swimming skills. We haven’t seen that one on DVD, so she bought the new Poseidon with Kurt (Disney) Russell and Richard (Whackjob) Dreyfuss.  Who knows what she was thinking. Not surprisingly, the whole thing sucked goats from beginning to end.

So, I was very excited to see a cover-free copy of Poseidon Adventure in the discount bin at a local video store the other day. “This is the old version, right? Not the new one?” I asked the helpful sales associate. They assured me it was. They confirmed that the new version sucked goats and was no longer an adventure as it was only called, Poseidon.

I brought it home all excited and XUP Jr. couldn’t wait to watch it. Some of you are already way ahead of me, so you won’t be surprised to learn that the “old” Poseidon Adventure they sold me, was actually another remake starring Adam (The Least Known) Baldwin and Steve (Ye Gods and Fishes) Guttenberg. This time terrorists turn the boat upside down. The whole thing was a mess.

Okay, so they screwed around with Poseidon Adventure a few times. Big deal. Not a great movie to begin with.  However, should they be allowed to screw around with the classics? There’s been a lot of talk over the years of remaking Casablanca, for instance.

Remember that famous final scene where Rick helps Laszlo to escape telling his true love, Ilsa, she cannot stay in Casablanca, but must go to Lisbon with Laszlo? There they are – the three of them on the tarmac while the propellers of a 1930s airplane spin in the distance waiting to take off. Laszlo is already on board and Rick and Ilsa have a heated, last minute discussion about why she must leave. Here’s a short (colourized)excerpt:

The most recent version of Casablanca just doesn’t have that same magic. How could it? Here, for instance is a bit of the script from the remake of that final scene.

Rick is standing in a line at a modern airport along with about 700 other people. Ilsa comes running up, breathless, with a cart full of of luggage. She stands with her face about 1/2 inch from his.

Rick: What the hell are you doing Ilsa? A steamer trunk? You can’t take a steamer trunk on an airplane. Do you know how much that would cost?  Dammit! The taxes and fuel surcharges have already blown your travel budget for the year… sweatheart.

Ilsa: But, Rick.

Rick: But nothing kid. Choose one bag to check and one bag for carry-on.

Ilsa: Oh Rick. No!

Rick: Yes, Ilsa, you must. What have you got in this carry-on anyway? Lipstick? Are you insane? An emery board?  A book in French? Why don’t you just turn yourself in as a terrorist right now? Get rid of all this stuff and now or you’ll regret it. Maybe not while we’re standing in line, but later, much later when we get to security.

Ilsa: Oh Rick.

Rick: And where’s your lunch sweetheart? Do you know how much airplane food costs? Do you know what airplane food is made of? If you eat that crap you’ll regret it. Maybe not right away, but soon and for the rest of your life.  All you should have in this carry-on bag is a plain, white bread sandwich, no pointy condiments like lettuce, no sharp toasted edges. And above all, no beverages! Remember to put the bag in the overhead compartment, Ilsa! For god’s sake don’t hold it in your lap. And get your hands out of your pockets. And take off that hat. You look suspicious.

Ilsa: (weeping a little) Oh Rick, Rick.

Rick: Oh Rick indeed. I’m sorry sweetheart, but this is no vacation you’re on here. This is an Airplane Trip!!! ……HEY! What are you doing with that martini? Get rid of it. Are you crazy? You won’t be able to leave your seat to pee. Lisbon’s a long trip….kid. And we haven’t even gotten to the baggage check yet. It’ll be hours before you even get on the plane by the time you’ve been through the security probes, scans, x-rays, shoe inspections and various levels of interrogation….why your bladder will be bursting.

Ilsa: Yes, Rick. Okay, Rick.

Rick: Okay, good. Now act natural. The CCTVs are looking at you, kid.

Attention Passengers! Flight 359 to Lisbon will be delayed 4 hours due to poor planning. Leaving your place in the corral queue will automatically render your flight ticket invalid. Meanwhile enjoy this airport muzak version of As Time Goes By.