Friday Open Thread

Thinking about privacy issues, from KUOW:

Smart devices like your phone or tablet could be used to track your movements. A group of computer science researchers at the University of Washington recently demonstrated this.

They turned smart devices into active sonar systems using a new computer code they created called CovertBand and a few pop songs.

In essence, download and play the song from a malicious attacker, and the song itself acts like a spy.

Also from KUOW, in advance of Monday's eclipse: Make Your Own Eclipse Viewer

Speaking of privacy, a story from the Daily Sun in Yakima about their district's new social media policy.  They had an issue earlier in the year when a library assistant had posted on Facebook about her opposition to students in her district who are here illegally as did a first-grade teacher.

The policy was reviewed by the ACLU, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and Professional Educator Standards Board.  

The policy also outlines the necessity to take social media seriously. He said staff in the School District needs to take into account the effect a social media posting will have on their jobs.

Meanwhile, over at Microsoft, their president and chief legal counsel, Brad Smith, has jumped on the "the Legislature did great on McCleary and the Supreme Court should move on" train." As an officer of the court, I'm sure Mr. Smith is aware of how things work and rarely does a high court rubber-stamp anything.  Nice try, Brad.

From Microsoft:

We commend Gov. Jay Inslee and legislators from both sides of the aisle for signing into a law a measure that substantially increases state funding for basic education.  While we believe the McCleary decisions have played a valuable role in improving education funding in accordance with the state’s constitution, we hope the state Supreme Court will agree that the constitution’s obligations have now been met.  This would enable the legislature to move beyond the court’s ongoing scrutiny and focus on the key policy needs of the kids of our state rather than on who will argue what next in additional rounds of hearings among lawyers.

From Google, a story on pollen forecasts.  Maybe it might help if your child has allergies.

A slide inside a school?  Yup in Keller.  From KING-5:

Parkwood Hill, a 5th and 6th grade campus and Hillwood Middle, the 7th and 8th grade campus across the street, are divided into eight different "houses." Think Harry Potter. The students, roughly 1,200 at each campus, compete for academic rewards and the newest enticement is the reward of hearing your classmates cheer as you take a ride down that big green slide.

At a cost of approximately $18,600 and paid for by fundraising and donations, the slide is padlocked at the top and bottom until it is needed for one of its celebratory, ceremonial, or symbolic uses. The students will get to celebrate the results of house competitions, get to take a ceremonial first ride as 5th graders and a ceremonial last ride as they leave the 8th grade, and celebrate symbolic events like birthdays and other major milestones.

What's on your mind?