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Man Arrested Unlawfully at Circuit City
I realize that this story isn’t directly related to the web, but I thought that it was important and worth sharing.
This man, Michael Righi, was arrested a few days ago in Brooklyn, Ohio at a local Circuit City store after failing to produce a drivers license. The man refused to let the loss prevention employee at Circuit City examine his recite. As he left the building to get picked up, the store employee stood in a position near the car so that it’d be impossible for them to leave.
(from Michael’s website):
Me: “Is there a problem?”
Joe: “I need to examine your bag and receipt before letting you leave this parking lot.”
Me: “I paid for the contents in this bag. Are you accusing me of stealing?”
Joe: “I’m not accusing you of anything, but I’m allowed by law to look through your bag when you leave.”
Me: “Which law states that? Name the law that gives you the right to examine my bag when I leave a Circuit City.”
When Michael could not leave he got out and called the police. The police arrived, and to Michael’s surprise, the officer agreed with the Circuit City employee. The officer then asked Michael to see his driver’s license.
(again, from Michael’s website):
Me: “I’m required by law to state that my name is Michael Righi, but I do not have to provide you with my driver’s license since I am not operating a vehicle.”
Officer Arroyo: “Give me your driver’s license or I will place you under arrest.”
Me: “My name is Michael Righi. I am not willing to provide you with my driver’s license.”
Officer Arroyo: “Turn around and up against the wall.”
According to Ohio State Law, Michael was under no obligation to give the officer his driver’s license.
While being driven down to the station in the back of the police car I struck up a conversation with Officer Arroyo. I asked him if he was surprised that my receipts matched the contents in the bag and in a surprise moment of honesty he admitted that he was. I then asked Officer Arroyo what charges were going to be brought against me. He explained that I had been arrested for failure to produce my driver’s license. I asked him what would happen if I never learned to drive and didn’t have a driver’s license. After all, at the time that he arrested me I was standing on a sidewalk outside a Circuit City. I wasn’t driving a car, and even when I was seated in the Buick I was a back seat passenger. The officer never gave me a satisfactory answer to this question, but promised to explain the law to me after I was booked.
The next morning Michael was charged with Obstructing Official Business.
You can read Michael’s updated page on the issue here. Also check out the story and comments at Biong Biong.
It’s scary, but we’re slowing losing our rights in America.
Control Video Games (and more) with your Mind
Several weeks ago I stumbled upon two videos that portray people actually controlling video games with their thoughts. That’s right, they controlled video games with their mind.
The first video can be found here.
There are two companies supposedly leading the way in the development of this technology: Emotiv Systems and NeuroSky. It as been suggested that this technology that converts thoughts into actions can and will potentially be used NASA for astronauts to fix problems outside of the ship, where thier large gloves would otherwise be too bulky. It’s also been suggested that this technology will eventually yield motor vehicles for the elderly.
I’ll admit, I’m still a bit skeptical. However, it looks legit. According to the PC World video we can see this in consumer products as soon as 2008. Other articles on the topic have come from credible sources, including CNBC.
The possibilities with this are endless. Forget the Wii. Image playing a shooter game with no need to shoot - only the need to think to shoot. Image an MP3 player or iPod in which the machine creates playlists based on your mood (my favorite idea yet!). If you’re angry, it generates a list of angry songs. If you’re happy, happy songs. Image phones that will call when you “think” of it calling. What if you could write a novel by “thinking” the words? Imaging driving a car with no steering wheel. The possibilties for this are endless.
This technology (if it’s real) is still in its infant stage, but the prospects for it are huge. It’s revolutionary. It’s the new light bulb. If I had the money to do so, I’d invest in Emotiv Systems and NeuroSky.