I remember a time - not so long ago - when a lot of people used to make fun of Japanese tourists, who'd get out of their tour buses and spend just enough time at any given place to take a photo. After all, what kind of experience was that if all you did was to take a photo? Fast forward to today, and there we are, with our digital cameras and/or cell phone cameras.

From last year's best-of:

So many things these days are made to look at later. Why not just have the experience and remember it?

From the 2006 Year in Ideas:

The reverse panopticon is now Sousveillance ...

A Bill:

Beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, any mobile phone containing a digital camera that is manufactured for sale in the United States shall sound a tone or other sound audible within a reasonable radius of the phone whenever a photograph is taken with the camera in such phone. A mobile phone manufactured after such date shall not be equipped with a means of disabling or silencing such tone or sound.

The Air Is Full of Sound:

... the kind of music people would pay good money to be able to silence, if only there were a switch.

A guru said this?

To minimize the risk, the government technology gurus have made it impossible to forward e-mail messages from the president or to send him attachments, people informed about the precautions say. His address is likely to be changed regularly as well. And the president’s friends and staff members are being lectured about security.

Security first:

The man "made the off-hand comment, 'Hey everybody. It's Richard Simmons. Let's drop our bags and rock to the '50s,"' said Phoenix police Sgt. Tom Osborne. "Mr. Simmons took exception to it and walked over to the other passenger and apparently slapped him in the face.

At all times:

* Control all bags and personal items.
* Do not accept any items to carry onboard a flight from anyone unknown to you.
* Report any unattended items in the airport or on an aircraft to the nearest airport airline or security personnel.