Has Technology Gone Too Far?

Paired with TSA, some would argue it definitely has.

By now you’ve likely heard the nightmarish stories regarding the new TSA procedures. If you are “randomly selected” to be searched, you are asked to step into a backscatter unit – a large body scanning portal which displays a front and back image of your naked body in a style much like a photo negative. The photo to the right is modest – in some scans the entire male sexual organ can be viewed.

This scanning machine was originally meant to add another level of protection to airport security, but is quickly turning into a huge headache for the passengers, and I can only assume, the security officers.

But there may be an underlying problem to these backscatter units, aside from the already present privacy breach.

CNN reports, “While the TSA says the machines are safe, backscatter technology raises concerns among some because it uses small doses of ionizing radiation. …

The risk of harmful radiation exposure from backscatter scans is very small, according to David Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University and a professor of radiation biophysics.

But he said he is concerned about how widely the scanners will be used.

‘If you think of the entire population of, shall we say a billion people per year going through these scanners, it’s very likely that some number of those will develop cancer from the radiation from these scanners,’ Brenner said.

Skin cancer would likely be the primary concern, he said. Each time the same person receives a backscatter scan, the small risk associated with the low dose of radiation is multiplied by the number of exposures.”

If you’re concerned about the scan, you can always opt out for the new-and-improved pat down in which a TSA employee will aggressively check your body with an open palm. This new procedure includes swiping the hand across and around the groin area on men and the breast area on women. Some passengers feel this new process walks a fine line between security and sexual assault.

And get this, if you choose not to participate in either scan, not only will you not be allowed to board the plane, you will also be fined up to $10,000.

For more information visit newsy.com

The Importance of Recruiters to Education and Business

The following guest post is authored by Steve Mallard, blogger at TTC Shelbyville – Technical Blog.

Recruiters play a critical role in the placement of professionals in their chosen occupation.   Finding recruiters who work with the hiring client and the client they are placing in their profession while being an expert in their area of expertise is critical.

With cloud computing, virtualization, mobile computing, security, wireless technology, social networking and other technologies growing at an unprecedented rate; human resource departments need to make the right hiring decisions in an ever changing global economy.   Technology continues to change and the versatile skills needed in order to be successful are changing and becoming more complex.

The challenge of finding these information technology personnel with these skillsets truly needed by employers can be counterproductive for these companies.  While HR departments can interview dozens of applicants; finding the true technical expertise needed for specialized positions can result in hundreds of hours of lost time and thousands of dollars of lost profits.   Because data drives businesses, choosing the wrong person could also result in the loss of data, network up-time or even clients.

Recruiters who specialize in information technology are familiar with the technical criteria, experience and skills needed for specific jobs in IT.  These recruiters are familiar not only with this, but are knowledgeable of salaries and benefits needed to fill these positions with the most qualified personnel for the job.

So where do educators fit in?  Often many organizations need entry level or experienced personnel in their IT department that need a minimal amount of training.  With that said, recruiters will work with educators by reviewing curriculum and skills taught in the classrooms while comparing what is taught with what is needed in the real business world.   This complex relationship is needed to insure the employer and student are successful in their endeavors.

Steve Mallard is the IT Manager and Lead Computer Information Technology Instructor at the Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville in Shelbyville, Tennessee.  TTC Shelbyville is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the University and Community College System of Tennessee.

Office Shenanigans!

It’s been a while since we’ve given you a shenanigans post, and I think it’s time for one.

It’s the first week of November, which means the holiday season is right around the corner – Starbucks has changed over to the holiday cup, Christmas music is now playing 24×7 on radio stations, and soon mistletoe will be hanging from doorways across the nation.

It’s time to get in the holiday spirit. That’s why today I present you with the Funniest Office Pranks of All Time. Now you’ll have plenty of time to “give” to your colleagues.

Here are the top 5 (in my opinion)…

An office full of half-full water cups. Watch where you step - PWNd!

Jello Keyboard and Mouse - Straight from the antics of The Office

The office CTO turned 50 and to celebrate, his colleagues turned his office into a cemetery. That's real grass!

And a bonus prank for creativity…

Ouch!

To see more, visit The Huffington Post and Guzer.com