"High security" Democratic convention bans umbrellas, flashlights

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

Here's an article saying that the Boston cops last week started random 
searches of commuters bags and purses on the subway. The alarming point 
is that these measures will be permanent:
http://www.nccprivacy.org/040723MBTA.html

John Young's Cryptome has published reports of how shoddy convention 
security was a few days before the Democratic convention, and here's a 
Globe article from July 25:

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/conventions/articles/2004/07/25/confusion_reigns_as_security_rules/
"About 500 journalists toting briefcases and cameras were herded around 
almost the entire perimeter of the FleetCenter, and across two ramps to 
Route 93 and onto the parking lot of the Spaulding Rehabilitation 
Center. Another 200 journalists cooled their heels at one entrance to 
the FleetCenter for more than 90 minutes not knowing that the media at 
another entrance was finally gaining access, at least to the magnetometers."

Here's a scan on potential 802.11 "WiFi" network vulnerabilities at the 
convention:
http://davesipaq.com/news/003947/iPAQ_WiFi_Security_DNC

And a related article by Hiawatha Bray:
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2004/07/22/laptops_at_the_fleetcenter_at_risk_of_breaches_attack?mode=PF

Here's the Democratic Party's response to all this fuss:

http://www.dems2004.org/site/pp.asp?c=luI2LaPYG&b=99034
"In order to provide a safe and enjoyable Convention, the Democratic 
National Convention Committee (DNCC) has determined that the following 
items and / or class of items are prohibited within the 2004 Democratic 
National Convention site in Boston, MA on July 26 - 29..."

That includes umbrellas, coolers, scissors, flashlights, tripods, 
unopened envelopes and (amazingly) "banners, signs, or placards."

Unfortunately, the weather forecast for this week calls for rain on 
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

-Declan
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