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Pigeons to Blog Pollution

Strolls writes "In an release which conjures images of avian borg, a press release tells of plans to release pigeons equipped with cellphones and GPS so that they can "blog" air pollution data. The plan is the brainchild of Beatriz da Costa of the University of California Digital Arts Research Network and is scheduled as part of the inter-Society for Electronic Arts' annual symposium in San Jose in August. Da Costa has previously been involved with RFID roaches."

22 of 162 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmmmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sounds more like a job for African swallows, but then again African swallows are not migratory.

    1. Re:Hmmmmm by Viper+Daimao · · Score: 3, Funny

      pigeons equipped with cellphones and GPS

      I hope they weigh less than a coconut.

      --
      "In the game of life, someone always has to lose. To me, if life were fair, that someone would always be Oklahoma." -DKR
  2. Blogging Quality by narcolepticjim · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can't imagine they'd have anything too insightful to write in their blogs. Coooo, coooo.

    Either way, their comments section will be FILLED with anti-science trolls.

    1. Re:Blogging Quality by afaik_ianal · · Score: 5, Funny

      And that's worse than the current standard of the average blog?

    2. Re:Blogging Quality by nametaken · · Score: 2, Funny


      Either way, their comments section will be FILLED with anti-science trolls.


      And hunters that can't afford to pass up a free gps unit and cellphone with no bill.

  3. wow by cyranthus · · Score: 3, Funny

    wow, imagine that! pigeons with cellphones!

  4. Oh, this is good by cc-rider-Texas · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now we have to worry about inattentive pigeons flying into our cars along with business men and teenage girls while they're on the phone.

    --
    If you give a liberal an enema, he'll turn transparent.
    1. Re:Oh, this is good by ozbird · · Score: 4, Funny

      Do you have business men and teenage girls flying into your car often?

  5. Suspicious indeed by Saint37 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I don't know, this sounds like to sneaky attempt to set up a peer to peer network.

    http://www.commodore69.com/

  6. I'm not surprised... by grcumb · · Score: 5, Funny
    --
    Crumb's Corollary: Never bring a knife to a bun fight.
    1. Re:I'm not surprised... by TubeSteak · · Score: 5, Funny

      This is Slashdot, you should have linked directly to the RFC
      http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1149.txt

      --
      [Fuck Beta]
      o0t!
  7. Misused terms by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The pigeons will be podcasting their blogs via TCP over powerlines.

  8. Blogging is for the birds! by xdc · · Score: 5, Funny

    Man, I knew blogging is for the birds! Now this proves it.

    I suppose if any pigeons reply to this, they will be posting nested comments. <gr&d>

  9. Finally! by brian0918 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Finally! A blog that rivals MySpace and LiveJournal! And with the camera, we're sure to get photos of some hot chicks...

  10. How convenient! by techno-vampire · · Score: 3, Funny

    Letting all those pigeons get cell phones makes it easier for them to let each other know when some sucker in the park is feeding them. I'm sure Tom Lehrer would be thrilled.

    --
    Good, inexpensive web hosting
  11. How will I be able to trust search results??? by tomhuxley · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh Noes!!! What effect will that have on PigeonRank ?

  12. Re:Blog? by Geoffreyerffoeg · · Score: 2, Funny

    Why would anyone use a word like "blog" when it is not needed. Especially in this case where it makes no friggen sense.

    Why would anyone use a word like "friggen" when it is not needed? For the fun of it.

  13. Going to troll their blog by toupsie · · Score: 3, Funny

    I bet someone is just going to release Peregrine Falcons to troll the Pigeon blogs.

    --
    Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
  14. I'm outmoded again by Namarrgon · · Score: 3, Funny
    Yeah. And GPS too.

    Dammit, now even pigeons have better toys than I do. I really gotta try harder to keep up.

    --
    Why would anyone engrave "Elbereth"?
  15. Keep on blogging by novus+ordo · · Score: 2, Funny

    too bad that they will still be 'blogging' your windshields.

    --
    "You're everywhere. You're omnivorous."
  16. Raven's Livejournal by Bushido+Hacks · · Score: 5, Funny

    Monday
    The world is a pitch black place. I leave my cage. I see the people down the street. I hope one of them dies.

    Tuesday
    Children in the park. The air is so stagnant. A dirge to anyone whose traffic is within the city. Consumer whores have no sole.

    Wednesday
    High School Assemblies are evil. The humans collect themselves for a meaningless celebration. The sun it burns. I long for my solitude. I wish a cat would get that peppy song bird!

    Thursday
    I saw Jay. Told him to caw me later. My spelling checker is not working.

    Friday
    Saw The Crow for the umteenth time. Ruffled my feathers at some creepy goth kids who were following me. Humans are scary.

    Satuday - Poop Day!
    My favorite day of the week. Nailed the a car with football players. Grossed out their cheerleader girlfriends. Got caught by the scientists again.

    Sunday
    Escaped the lab. Found computer. My last entry and nothing more. If some human replys the word "nevermore" I will peck their eye out!

    --
    The Rapture is NOT an exit strategy.
  17. Possible blog entry would look like: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Mood: Hungry
    Altitude: 23 meters
    NP: Other pigeons doing their "Laughing Dove" - routine.

    Just took a dump on some statue, and ... Ooh! A peanut!