How It Works: Wireless Amber Alert Notifications

[AmyStrange]

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http://www.kmph.com/story/23073054/how-it-works-wireless-amber-alert-notifications

Many Californian's received an Amber Alert on their cell phones for the first time on Monday after the notification was issued out of San Diego County.

"'It kind of shocked me at first, because it was a loud buzzing that wouldn't stop,' said Joshua Kisby, who received the alert over his cell phone.

"Shannon Watson said she was with her stepfather when she received the alert. She said the loud buzzing noise shocked both of them.

"The alert is part of a National Wireless Emergency Alert Program... "

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[upaloopa]

1. I think I got the first alert at around 1:00 AM.

I didn't know what was going on with my phone on the night stand. I put on my glasses and read the Amber Alert.
I just felt so down that possibly some poor young girl is going to be raped and murdered.

[AmyStrange]

3. There are a lot of people who feel the same way...

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In case you're interested, GiaGiovanni has a thread going:

UPDATE on the AMBER ALERT (CA, OR, WA, TX, Mexico, Canada)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023421176

I'm helping out by keeping the thread updated with the latest news,
when I can,

d

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[agent46]

2. It woke up my wife and me

Sometime after midnight with a jarring alarm sound we'd never heard before. I found the whole thing incredibly intrusive.

What's next? Terrorist threats? Curfew announcements? Police Association fund raisers?

[AmyStrange]

4. Sorry

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go to the story I posted, it shows you how to opt out of them. The only ones you can't opt out of are the "Presidential" ones.

Those are the ones you are probably talking about, and not the Amber Alert ones. Hopefully.

I understand your frustration agent46, but Amber Alerts are important, in my opinion anyway, and probably also to those families who's child's life is on the line.

Sometimes it's good to rant and rave and this is a good place for it.

But hopefully, while you are ranting and raving you are also keeping an eye out for that little blue car,

d

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[upaloopa]

6. We had a reverse 911 call about a month ago

Two girls were missing in our town. I felt it was a good thing to do because someone may know where they were or saw them or would see them.
Later another reverse 911 told is they were found. The first one brings you down but the second one lifted your spirits.

[AmyStrange]

9. I'm glad they sent out the "found" call...

some parents never get that "found" call. Sorry, just writing that makes me cry

[agent46]

5. This isn't a rant and rave

We have a massive police and surveillance apparatus already set up in this country. I expect them to do their job. Saying "it's for the children" doesn't cut it like it used to. Sorry.

There are a dozen good sociological reasons why this should not be normalized, but it will.

[upaloopa]

7. Are you saying Amber Alerts are a bad thing!

I can surely allow my self to be inconvenienced to try and save a child from rape and murder.

[AmyStrange]

10. It's the "Presidential" ones you have to worry about...

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those you can't opt out of. That's scary, but still, you're right upa. People don't know really know what it's like until their child goes missing.

It's unimaginable

d

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[agent46]

15. Are you a silly thing?

You are being used. The horror of rape has convinced you that federal intrusion into your bedroom late at night is a morally necessary amenity.

Wake the fuck up.

[AmyStrange]

8. If this specific "Amber Alert" (Anderson Alert) wasn't really for the children...

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then you would have a case here, but if future alerts become destructive than I will be the first to come to you and apologize, to your face so you can knock me down if you feel the need.

You seem like a reasonable person though, and I suspect a nice guy.

Hopefully you won't take offense, because I do understand your security issues, but the alerts you should really be looking into are the "Presidential" ones. Those, you can't opt out of (turn off), those are the really scary ones, don't you think?

d

[AmyStrange]

13. They might be using Amber Alerts to sneak in the "Presidential" ones...

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if that's true (and it feels true), then that FREAKIN' PISSES ME OFF!

Children are too damn precious to be used as tools for dangerous political games

RANT OFF

d

[tritsofme]

11. You can disable the alerts, at least on the iPhone.

I read about this a few months ago and disabled them before they invaded.

[AmyStrange]

12. EXACTLY... except the "Presidential" ones

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those you can't opt out of, they're "suppose" to be for "national security" and "other" related stuff, and are coordinated by HLS (HomeLand Security), the CIA (right there, two bad signs) etc.

Amber Alerts are location specific and will be sent to all the cells connected to every cell tower in a specific location. These are coordinated by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the FBI, and Local LE (Law Enforcement)

They tell you how to opt out of receiving the Amber Alert ones in the link I have in my OP,

d

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ETA (Edited To Add): two "the"s in the second paragraph

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arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh, I forgot to add the two "the"s

[GiaGiovanni]

14. If you turn the sound on your phone off, you won't hear the loud buzzing

Before I go to bed at night, I always shut off my cell phone ringer. I never heard the alert, but I saw it. (I happened to be up late.)