Check your name on the terrorist list

[holtjv]

We have FOX coming tomorrow to shoot some little segment on how ancient the software is for the no fly list (it was written in 1918--no kidding).

Think you may be on the watch list? Want to know if you match a real terrorist? We loaded about 1,600 known terrorist names in the database and, using the same conceptual software the TSA/airlines are using, provide you results in highlighted red if you match a terrorist.

Try it. It's so fun it's depressing.

Also try barack obama--my personal favorite result is "Brisco O'Finn".

There will be a link on FOX houston's website going up after they air the segment but this one should stay up for a while.

http://nofly.s3.com

Jack

edited for the link and correct year

[Jeff Higgins]

1918? Really? But that's before Algore was even borne...

[holtjv]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
1918? Really? But that's before Algore was even borne...

that's right. it's so crappy because they didn't have "algoreithms" until after he was born.

[NICKG]

so what if you enter your name and it comes up on there?
mine did

[Overpaid Slacker]

More importantly, how do I go about adding certain names.....

muhuhuhahaha!


JP

[URY914]

My Dad is on the list. And he pasted away seven years ago.

[holtjv]

NICKG: I think it would put you on a possibles list for being on the no fly watch list. I'm seeing that each airline at each airport has some particular rules as well like pegging 1-way travelers and origination and destination cities. Take a name like James Moore, who is our PR guy. Jim's was put on the list immediately after the 2004 election which coincided with the release of his newest anti-bush/rove book. He was immediately suspicious (being that kind of guy). Then we ran his name and, sure enough, there's a militia dude named james moore in MI or WI on a named terrorist list. So does this mean that every single James Moore in the US is on the list? I can't believe it's THAT unsophisticated but you never know.

O/S: call the nsa.

[holtjv]

Btw, I appreciate you guys looking at this and throwing rocks at it--will help us anticipate some crazy support questions such as: "can you get me off the list?"

[slow&rusty]

I'm on there!! LOL!

[rattlsnak]

OK, i get it... For everyone who types in a name who is not on the list,. Surprise.. your name will be added and forwarded to the authorities..

[Moneyguy1]

rattel:

I thought I was the only one who was that cynical and cautious. Keying on that list, to me, would be like opening a virus-laced e-mail. Dangerous and of no redeeming value.

[adrian jaye]

The "SOFTWARE" was written in 1918,
like the 1918 before computers ?

Alan Turing was the genius who proved that the general purpose computer was possible and simple in 1937.

Originally posted by holtjv
We have FOX coming tomorrow to shoot some little segment on how ancient the software is for the no fly list (it was written in 1918--no kidding).
http://nofly.s3.com

Jack

edited for the link and correct year

[holtjv]

Hmm. Valid concern from a fellow cynic. If you take it one or 2 levels further though, a bad guy could use it to determine the aliases not to use.

The fact that this crap software is free and as easy to use as youtube makes this a real potential--if you search on "no fly list" and soundex, you can see articles several years old talking about it.

Maybe one reason why no bad guys have been nabbed by the list to date, aside from the inherently stupid premise of it.

Good feedback, not sure how to get around it though.

Jack

[holtjv]

Originally posted by adrian jaye
The "SOFTWARE" was written in 1918,
like the 1918 before computers ?

Alan Turing was the genius who proved that the general purpose computer was possible and simple in 1937.

"Algorithm" would be more precise than "software", but yes, absolutely.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soundex