Dem
47
GOP
53
As we noted, on Wednesday, (Z) went to the Dodgers-Angels game, and so was there in person to see the Angels complete the season sweep. That's right, in their games against the Angels this year, the Dodgers went 0-6. If they go on to win the World Series, everyone is going to know who the real champions are.
Yesterday, the NBA schedule was announced, and tickets went on sale. (Z) planned to, and did, buy tickets for a Lakers game. However, while he has been to the Lakers' home arena (formerly, and largely still, known as Staples Center), he has not been to the shiny new arena built for the Clippers, which is called the Intuit Dome. So, he bought tickets for a Lakers-Clippers game that will be played there. That doesn't really change things all that much; the crowd will still be 60%-70% Lakers fans. Maybe 80%. It depends on how many Lakers fans are willing to lie, and sit in the "Clippers fans only" section.
The Clippers, and their venue, are owned by Steve Ballmer, formerly of Microsoft. Ballmer is somewhat notorious as an innovation-for-the-sake-of-innovation guy, and so he's tried to make his new venue into the basketball arena of the future. As part of that, you have to download an app if you are going to a game at the Intuit Dome. And it's not enough for one person to download the app; all members of the group have to have it. It's also necessary to go through a LOT of setup, and to allow the app to take your picture. That is because, as part of the arena-of-the-future shtick, entry to the venue is controlled by face-recognition software. When it works (and often, at least according to online reports, it does NOT), it saves patrons 2, maybe even 3 seconds, because they don't have to take their phones out of their pockets. Progress!
(Z) was not thrilled by this invasion of privacy—and, in fact, has not yet submitted the required photo. Ostensibly, this is being done in service of efficiency and an improved customer experience, but it would not be hard for it to be abused. And that's not just theoretical; it's already happening at a different NBA Arena. The New York Knicks are owned by a fellow named James Dolan, who is known for being thin-skinned and for maintaining vendettas against his perceived enemies. And, whaddya know? The Knicks are using facial-recognition technology at Madison Square Garden to keep "enemies" of Dolan from attending games. Apparently this largely means "lawyers who have sued Dolan/The Knicks" along with "anyone else who works at those lawyers' firms."
We don't wish to be paranoid, and we don't like to be Chicken Littles, but one can imagine a hundred different ways this technology could be abused by the Trump administration if they can figure out a way to do it. So, we thought we'd mention it, since it's something worth keeping an eye on (and, we would say, resisting as much as is possible). (Z)