Rise of the Machines: FirstNet=Skynet, yes as in THAT Skynet

FRY AND SPY

The Middle Class Tax Act has gifted Homeland Security a program called FirstNet (National Wireless Public Safety Network) which is funding the rollout of giant towers in metro areas- starting with a proposal for 47 microwave-emitting towers, including 15 mobile towers and 2 possible satellites in Los Angeles. FirstNet is partnering with corporations like Motorola and General Dynamics and offering communications services to first responders.

The question is, are emergency services in need of an upgrade or is this an excuse to put up more wireless infrastructure (by invoking America’s most respected profession- the firefighters and image of 9-11) that either isn’t needed or could be deployed by putting transmitters up on existing poles or heaven forbid, be transmitted by wireline infrastructure?

Here is how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) describes FirstNet: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Fact%20Sheet_Nationwide%20Public%20Safety%20Broadband%20Network.pdf

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Israel’s Supreme Court Ruling on Wi-Fi in schools

The ruling states that whether it is safe or not is a “professional dispute” (not unlike agency deference in the U.S.) but that the “doors of the court are open” for students with with unanswered complaints re: sensitivity to non-ionizing radiation.

Quite laughably, the Ministry of Education had expressed to the court that hard-wiring would create a tripping hazard and that dynamic learning activities such as study groups would be hampered because it would be harder to move around the furniture if the wired access points were fixed.

As a result the Ministry asserted that the existing policy “strikes a balance between properly maintaining the health of the students and the necessity to integrate pedagogical  teaching by advanced technological means.”

The petitioners argued that scientific knowledge already exists as well as mounting evidence that children get sick because of exposure to non-ionizing radiation, and therefore the Ministry’s policy is unreasonable.  They also argued that the stated policy and actual practice differ (presumably that wired was preferred to wireless, but the court didn’t see incongruity between the policy and the rollout).  The petitioners also presented evidence at the February 11th hearing of specific students experiencing severe physiological phenomena caused by radiation exposure.

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GAO: Wi-Fi can be hacked within the plane to down the airliner…

Internet access now available on most commercial flights makes it possible for hackers to infiltrate flight systems that could lead to taking over cockpit controls.”
There is a worry that if planes use the same wiring and routing for flight systems and entertainment, the aircraft could be compromised by terrorist hacking (file photo)
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report states: “According to cybersecurity experts we interviewed, Internet connectivity in the cabin should be considered a direct link between the aircraft and the outside world, which includes potential malicious actors.”  http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-15-370

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Plumas County Superior Court 4/6/15 Ruling: Electromagnetic Field Hypersensitivity is a Medical Condition

People are having luck in CA in small claims court getting smart meters removed from their premises.

The Plumas County Superior Court found in favor of a person who had an opt-out before the fee became state-wide policy, citing a state-wide law that states that utilities cannot require different rates (or prejudice or disadvantage) people because of  medical conditions (or ancestry, marital status, occupation or other characteristics).

In this case, the Plaintiff had refused to pay the opt-out fee and the utility shut off their power.  Citing Plaintiff’s doctor’s letter corroborating his assertion that he has Electromagnetic Field Sensitivity, the judge ordered the utility to cancel the opt-out fee and monthly fee, let the Plaintiff self-read the analog meter and turn his electricity back on (after 15 months).

The utility, the Plumas Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative is appealing and refuses to restore the Plaintiff’s electricity.

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Apple Watch

The newly released Apple Watch runs by transmitting info to one’s smartphone, which is 1) now encouraged to be even closer to the body (contrary to international precautionary guidance) and 2) the phone is effectively a hotspot.  (It is most likely using BlueTooth to transmit the signal to the watch.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=147&v=rwv-3wZocK4

apple watch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6CUWKWpFAs

They retail for $349-$649 with higher end models costing $1,000 to $17,000.

New York Times Science Denialism in Full Force: The Tarring and Feathering of Nick Bilton

Here is the Daisy Chain:

Original Article, “Could Wearable Computers be as Harmful as Cigarettes” in the Styles Section, changed later in the day to the more milquetoast-sounding “Health Concerns of Wearable Tech” with Public Editor’s follow-up rebuke (and why was it in the Styles Section and not the Science Times?!?!): http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/19/style/could-wearable-computers-be-as-harmful-as-cigarettes.html?_r=0

NYT Public Editor’s blog post, tweet and responses to tweet: http://publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/19/a-tech-column-on-wearable-gadgets-draws-fire-as-pseudoscience/

https://twitter.com/Sulliview/status/579051306561769472

Dr. Louis Slesin’s article in Microwave News about the Brouhaha, “Ignorance Drowns Out Precaution: NY Times Tech Columnist Has Hands Slapped”: http://www.microwavenews.com/news-center/ignorance-drowns-out-precaution

FYI- back in December 2014, fashion maven Diane von Furstenberg has publicly questioned whether wearable technology is safe: http://qz.com/313039/the-question-we-havent-been-asking-enough-about-wearables-will-they-make-us-sick/

tar and feather

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Wi-Fi Exposure May Increase Risk of Neurodegenerative Disease

Effects Of 2.4 Ghz Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted From Wi-Fi Equipment On microRna Expression In Brain Tissue

Dasdag S, Akdag MZ, Erdal ME, Erdal N, Ay OI, Ay ME, Yilmaz SG, Tasdelen B, Yegin K. Effects Of 2.4 Ghz Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted From Wi-Fi Equipment On microRna Expression In Brain Tissue. Int J Radiat Biol. 2015 Mar 16:1-26. [Epub ahead of print] Doi: 10.3109/09553002.2015.1028599

Abstract

PURPOSE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play paramount role in growth, differentiation, proliferation and cell death by suppressing one or more target genes. However, their interaction with radiofrequencies is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the long term effects of radiofrequency radiation emitted from a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) system on some of the miRNAs in brain tissue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on sixteen Wistar Albino adult male rats by dividing them into two groups such as sham (n: 8) and exposure (n: 8). Rats in the exposure group were exposed to 2.4 GHz radiofrequency (RF) radiation for 24 hours a day for twelve months (one year). The same procedure was applied to the rats in the sham group except the Wi-Fi system was turned off. Immediately after the last exposure, rats were sacrificed and their brains were removed. miR-9-5p, miR-29a-3p, miR-106b-5p, miR-107, miR-125a-3p in brain were investigated in detail.

RESULTS: The results revealed that long term exposure of 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi radiation can alter expression of some of the miRNAs such as miR-106b-5p (ad jP* = 0,010) and miR-107 (adj P* = 0,005). We observed that mir 107 expression is 3.3 times and miR-106b-5p expression is 3.65 times lower in the exposure group than in the control group. However, miR-9-5p, miR-29a-3p and miR-125a-3p levels in brain were not altered.

CONCLUSION: Long term exposure of 2.4 GHz RF may lead to adverse effects such as neurodegenerative diseases originated from the alteration of some miRNAs expression and more studies should be devoted to the effects of RF radiation on miRNAs expression levels.

rat

http://1.usa.gov/1Cs15qg

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Radiation Pattern in a home from a relatively safe mechanical analog meter versus an AMR or “Smart” Meter

Note the qualitative difference in indoor radiation signal smog pattern created by these new, dangerous utility meters compared to safe, mechanical analog meters.

Analog vs. Smart Meter Radiation – Diagram by Michele Hertzanalog vs amr - michele

In terms of scale: note that the RF radiation in reality drops off with the square of distance from the source.  This is generally true regarding the re-radiated line pollution; although spikes in radiation can be seen near the conductors (these spikes don’t exceed the source intensity).  Also- other switch-mode power supply devices from household appliances and neighbors’ activities will affect the transient frequencies differently in any given home; it appears from anecdotal evidence, that the frequencies put on by the meters affect people more adversely than the line pollution from other electronics.

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