Topic: Scanners

The decline of local investigative journalism has led to a lack of oversight in small cities and tourist destinations like Fredericksburg, Texas. The transition to digital, encrypted police scanners and the closure of city desks have made it difficult for reporters to track drug crimes or public safety incidents. This vacuum in reporting allows local governments to manage public perception without independent verification.

Rural mail carriers for the United States Postal Service are reportedly facing significant salary reductions, with some losing $20,000 from their annual pay. These cuts are attributed to new pay algorithms based on scanner data, leading to concerns that the service is being intentionally undermined to benefit private competitors like FedEx and UPS.

Public access to police and fire department radio communications is decreasing as agencies transition to encrypted digital systems. Older hardware like Bearcat scanners, which once required physical crystals for specific frequencies, are becoming obsolete. This shift prevents citizens from monitoring local emergency responses, such as California Highway Patrol activity during traffic accidents.

Amazon is promoting "Amazon One," a biometric service that allows users to pay and identify themselves by scanning their palms. Simultaneously, IDEMIA, the company behind TSA PreCheck, is working with several U.S. states to launch mobile IDs that could integrate with health passes. The hosts warn that these technologies are feeding into a centralized "Consumer Data Platform" that will eventually determine social credit scores.

Adam Curry recounts passing through a new 3D TSA scanner at the Miami airport while carrying an eight-inch pair of barber scissors in his carry-on bag. Despite the advanced imaging technology, the security agents failed to detect the sharp object. The hosts discuss this as an example of "security theater" and the inefficiency of expensive new screening hardware.

Listeners contribute to the show's "Value for Value" model, requesting "Jobs Karma" and "Health Karma" for various life events. One donor shared a story of successfully negotiating a higher salary at a high-tech company after receiving karma from the show. Another request focused on a three-year-old boy recovering from a heart transplant, prompting a discussion on the advancements in medical technology since the first transplant in South Africa.

A discussion on Google's content reviewers reveals that employees often overhear private conversations when "smart" microphones stay open too long. This prompts a historical anecdote about the era of analog cell phone scanners, where people could use modified Radio Shack equipment to listen in on their neighbors' private calls, ranging from drug deals to personal affairs.

Canada Post has restored most services following rotating strikes, though backlogs remain in Vancouver. In aviation news, O'Hare International Airport is testing new 3D scanners that may eventually allow travelers to keep liquids in their carry-on bags. The hosts credit the Chertoff Group and L3 for the rollout of this expensive new technology.

The Los Angeles County Metro is the first public transit system in the U.S. to deploy Thruvision, a passive screening technology that scans commuters for weapons and explosives. The system uses terahertz waves to see through clothing without exposing individuals to radiation. Concerns are raised regarding the potential health effects of terahertz frequencies and the invasive nature of the low-resolution "naked" body scans.

American Airlines donated eight high-tech 3D CT scanners to the TSA, with the first unit deployed at JFK Airport in New York. These $300,000 machines allow screeners to rotate bag images 360 degrees, potentially eliminating the need for passengers to remove liquids and laptops. Speculation suggests the sudden media focus on plastic "ghost guns" may be a public relations push to secure congressional funding for 2,000 additional scanners nationwide.

The Chicago Police Department's radio frequencies were recently breached by unknown individuals playing recordings of Adolf Hitler's speeches. The interference lasted for approximately 20 minutes, disrupting official communications. The hosts speculate on the technical nature of the hack and the potential for "ham radio" enthusiasts to help triangulate the source.

A producer who works in vehicle repossession explains how finance companies can now remotely disable cars and use GPS and license plate scanners to locate them. The hosts compare this modern surveillance to older technology, such as the 25-year-old Lexus and corded car phones, which they consider "classic" and potentially safer from remote interference.

An experiment conducted by students in Jutland involved growing cress seeds in two rooms, one with Wi-Fi routers and one without. After 12 days, the seeds near the routers were reportedly destroyed or dead. This leads to a broader discussion on the potential DNA-damaging effects of constant Wi-Fi exposure and the lack of long-term studies on the subject.

Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is beta testing new security scanners that allow passengers to keep liquids in their bags during screening. The technology reportedly distinguishes between dangerous substances and harmless liquids, potentially removing the volume restrictions currently in place. Concerns remain regarding the impact on terminal water sales if the gallon-limit restrictions are lifted.

Leaked police scanner audio from the night of the Las Vegas massacre reveals reports of shots fired at multiple hotels, including the Bellagio and Caesars Palace. The audio captures officers requesting medical assistance for gunshot victims in various lobbies, suggesting a more chaotic and widespread event than initially reported.

American Airlines and the TSA are testing new 3D CT scanners at Phoenix International Airport. While reports suggest these may eventually allow passengers to keep liquids and laptops in bags, the hosts remain skeptical, viewing it as another layer of expensive security theater.

The TSA is testing high-definition Computed Tomography (CT) scanners at security checkpoints in Phoenix and Boston to better identify explosives and firearms in carry-on bags. This technology, already used for checked luggage, creates 3D images and could eventually eliminate the need for passengers to remove laptops from their bags. Officials hope the 3D algorithms will speed up the screening process and reduce secondary inspections.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak examine the police shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota. They analyze police scanner audio suggesting Castile was a robbery suspect rather than a victim of a broken taillight stop. The discussion highlights the danger of user-generated video content on Facebook Live being accepted as absolute truth before all facts are established.

The hosts criticize the media's new practice of broadcasting live, unencrypted police scanner audio during active manhunts. They note discrepancies between scanner reports of IEDs and what was shown on CNN. Additionally, they highlight a news clip where a reporter accidentally refers to police officers as "soldiers" before correcting himself, pointing to the increasing militarization of domestic law enforcement.

An anecdote is shared regarding a fatal software bug in a computer-controlled CT scanner where using the delete key inadvertently added zeros to the radiation dosage. This resulted in a patient receiving a massive overdose due to poor interface programming. The hosts use this to illustrate the dangers of over-reliance on automated systems in critical infrastructure and aviation.