Sandy bridge processors have those cool cell phones built right in. But that kill switch will only be used in the event that your wonderful computer is stolen :D http://www.tgdaily.com/opinion-features/53108-analysis-intel-to-introduce-processor-with-remote-kill-switch

You don't have to use a certificate authority with thunderbird. Any openPGP compatible software allows you to use a "web-of-trust" type model. no centralized authority.

google "baseband exploit" http://vimeo.com/25806106 Also, there is something called STK or simtoolkit ( a gsm standard protocol). Big business like banks can make deals with carriers to run apps securely with the sim card. It isn't used so much in the usa but the capability is there. The way the sim card gets programmed via specially formatted sms with the proper keys etc.

If you can own the baseband you can own it all: http://vimeo.com/25806106

agree. I've often wondered how it is the nice people who put out "secure" apps and recommend them to dissidents, journalists, etc in oppressive regimes have never heard of baseband (radio) exploits. Also, apps can be run in the sim. The sim and baseband can be updated/programmed remotely. One doesn't know what's going on inside the sim or baseband.

Why you should worry about surveillance: http://www.harvardlawreview.org/symposium/papers2012/richards.pdf

Too many high school students get no theorems or proofs and memorize algorithms and have no idea what they mean. I corresponded with an online math prof recently while looking for some extra course work for my son and in part of his email he said: "We don't memorize too many equations in my class - we derive them". Maybe that approach isn't for everyone but I think it's better than the most.

Agree. You need a little of each of those things. Regarding bad teachers I thought the book by Liping Ma was interesting. A review: http://beta.metastudio.org/objects/2013/02/22/book-review-knowing-and-teaching-elementary-mathematics-liping-ma/ Seems chinese teachers with less education than their USA counterparts understand math far better. From the book: "The situation of the two teacher is that the U.S. teachers have a shallow understanding of a large number of mathematical structures including the advanced ones, but the Chinese teachers have a deeper understanding of the elementary concepts involved in mathematics."

Oh they'll buy it. These are the same people that elected obama, bush, etc etc

Lots of software installed via Play wont like that and refuse to run.

I recently came across an interesting app/middleware platform in the google play store for android called musubi group chat. It uses a type of encryption called "Identity based encryption" (first theorized by shamir of rsa fame). It is dead simple to use with all the key management being done without user intervention. In order to send someone an encrypted message you only need their email address (you generate the public key for them). You do need a trusted 3rd party involved but I think that drawback can be overcome. Anyway, if you have android give it a try as I think it is impressive and I'd like to see more apps use this.