I saw the President speak this past saturday in Chanhassen, MN. Hey, it was free and I was bored on a saturday.

Anyway, I got off the buses. One of the first things they told me was to... turn my cell phone on, and leave it on for the duration I was there.

Perplexed, I listened to someone else confirm what they had just said. Yep. On. (this was repeated about 10 times anyway..)

So, put on your tinfoil hats and let's hear some theories. I sent this to Off The Hook, and they had some discussion about it tonight - if you listen to that. I'm going to assume that they polled everyone's number and quickly crossreferenced it with a list of 'blacklisted' numbers, and so on and so on. But who knows.

Something interesting, I thought.

I'm not sure how much good that would be. Imagine if there were 400 people there. Let's say the NSA picked up a phone number of someone on a list somewhere... Okay, so they know that somewhere in the 400 people there's someone they should be watching for.

Alright, now what? Are they going to keep calling it until an agent hears the phone ring?

I'd say "fuck you, my phone is staying off"

-Ex

It maybe some odd detection deviece for exsplosives or something. Lots of bombs use the same componets as a cell phone. God know what they have cooked up.

When President Bush visited NDSU, I know for a fact that the Secret Service/NSA tapped all phone calls that lasted longer then approximately 10 min about 2 weeks prior to the event and up. Have some idea of what both organizations are capable of, I would just turn off the phone.

2 things that might be relavent.

1: nearly all cel phones have satelite tracking. I believe you have to know the number you are tracking, but they can locate you anywhere, anytime.

2: Electronic devices are sometimes used as detonators or small bombs, etc... If you've ever been through an airport with a laptop they probably have asked you to turn it on for this reason.

I would also have said "FUCK YOU" just, because I don't like the feds (or anybody) telling me what to do.

Posted by berenonehand 1: nearly all cel phones have satelite tracking. I believe you have to know the number you are tracking, but they can locate you anywhere, anytime.

That's not entirely true. All cell phones manufactured after a certain date are mandated to have tracking devices of some kind built in, but older phones are located by a different method. If you are anywhere in range of multiple cellular towers, the system can locate you based on the lag time between signals from your phone to each tower (simple radio triangulation: http://searchnetwo....com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci753924,00.html)
The more towers you're near, the more prescise the location can be. This is automatic for 911 calls and wiretapping these days, but has been possible since cellular phones were first marketed (Kevin Mitnik was found this way). Even when you are not in an active call, your cell phone is sending and recieving network authentication and status signals (like checking for missed calls) which can be used to locate it.

2: Electronic devices are sometimes used as detonators or small bombs, etc... If you've ever been through an airport with a laptop they probably have asked you to turn it on for this reason.

I don't see what that would have to do with leaving your phone on.

I would also have said "FUCK YOU" just, because I don't like the feds (or anybody) telling me what to do.

And you'd probably just get kicked out, it's much easier to just turn off your phone when they're not paying attention, or if you're really a rebel you could txt message Bush to "STFU n00b Roflz"

That's not entirely true. All cell phones manufactured after a certain date are mandated to have tracking devices of some kind built in, but older phones are located by a different method. If you are anywhere in range of multiple cellular towers, the system can locate you based on the lag time between signals from your phone to each tower (simple radio triangulation: http://searchnetwo....com/sDefinition/0,,sid7_gci753924,00.html)
The more towers you're near, the more prescise the location can be. This is automatic for 911 calls and wiretapping these days, but has been possible since cellular phones were first marketed (Kevin Mitnik was found this way). Even when you are not in an active call, your cell phone is sending and recieving network authentication and status signals (like checking for missed calls) which can be used to locate it.



True. I believe that date is past. The general rule I've heard is anything with a color screen has satelite tracking. Some 2 tone screens do as well, but until recently it was not MANDATED. Most companies started early.


I don't see what that would have to do with leaving your phone on.

If there is a bomb in the device it usually is atleast partially gutted and won't turn on. Making sure it's functional is how they check for this. If they weren't checking the phones this probably isn't relavent.


And you'd probably just get kicked out, it's much easier to just turn off your phone when they're not paying attention, or if you're really a rebel you could txt message Bush to "STFU n00b Roflz"



True. I meant in attitude. I generally just do what I'm going to do and don't announce it, but I certainly wouldn't comply. And I wish I had his phone number. Somehow I don't think he'd get that message.