President Obama’s Birthday Bash, Free Cell Phones Now a Civil Right, and More in Chad’s Steaming Pile

Here are just a few things in Chad’s Pile that you will hear on Lubbock’s First News this morning. Give Chad your feedback on the steaming topics.

1. Obama Birthday/Campaign Bash (link)

The economic picture of the United States isn't too pretty, but that's not stopping the President from having a huge birthday and campaign bash. The President was in Chicago yesterday celebrating his birthday (which is actually today) and raising money for his campaign. According to reports, it wasn't a cheap event.

Tickets for the fundraising dinner cost an astonishing $35,800 a person. Additional contributions of $50 will gain entry to the concert with limited seating, while $1,000 donors receive 'premium' seats for President Obama's birthday.

$10,000 tickets include 'preferred' seating along with the chance to take a photograph with Obama.

To be honest, I don't really blame the President. It's a campaign rally and a way to make money. It's not like he's tricking people into spending ten grand. Though, the people donating should think about who they are giving money too. If Obama has it his way, they won't have nearly as much money to spend.

2. Free phones (link)

Those in Pennsylvania who are on public assistance now have a new civil right, cell phones. According to the NY Post;

Recently, a federal government program called the Universal Service Fund came to the Keystone State and some residents are thrilled because it means they can enjoy 250 minutes a month and a handset for free, just because they don't have the money to pay for it. Through Assurance Wireless and SafeLink from Tracfone Wireless these folks get to reach out and touch someone while the cost of their service is paid for by everyone else. You see, the telecommunications companies are funding the Universal Service Fund to the tune of $4 billion a year because the feds said they have to and in order to recoup their money, the companies turn around and hike their fees to paying customers. But those of use paying for the free service for the poor, should be happy about this infuriating situation, says Gary Carter, manager of national partnerships for Assurance, because "the program is about peace of mind." Free cell service means "one less bill that someone has to pay, so they can pay their rent or for day care...it is a right to have peace of mind," Cater explained.

Pathetic.

3. China is full of hacks (link)

The internet security company, McAfee, has uncovered some disturbing news. McAfee officials suspect that a "state actor" is behind a series of large scale cyber attacks against many targets. According to Reuters;

The long list of victims in the five-year campaign include the governments of the United States, Taiwan, India, South Korea, Vietnam and Canada; the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); the International Olympic Committee (IOC); the World Anti-Doping Agency; and an array of companies, from defense contractors to high-tech enterprises.

In the case of the United Nations, the hackers broke into the computer system of its secretariat in Geneva in 2008, hid there for nearly two years, and quietly combed through reams of secret data, according to McAfee.

"Even we were surprised by the enormous diversity of the victim organizations and were taken aback by the audacity of the perpetrators," McAfee's vice president of threat research, Dmitri Alperovitch, wrote in a 14-page report released on Wednesday.

Expect more of these type of attacks to happen in the future. It's the newest form of warfare.

These and many more topics coming up on Thursday’s edition of Lubbock’s First News with Chad Hasty. Tune in mornings 6-9am on News/Talk 790 KFYO, streaming online at kfyo.com, and now on your iPhone and Android device with the radioPup App.