MANILA, Philippines -- Maybe I watch too many movies, especially those that display tricked out technology and emphasize how good big brother is at watching and keeping tabs over you. Of course, separating reality from a simple wish list is something else. For example, how many people doubted the existence of the Aurora hypersonic supposedly being given a work out in the deepest darkest corners of Area 54, another stuff of legend, but from where all those secret aircraft seem to emanate. Now, it is confirmed that the US is testing a hypersonic aircraft capable of near space flight and at a mind-bending 18,000mph! Sometimes, all is not fiction or a tale out of Buck Rogers.

On a much lower tech level, we have this fascination with how spy cameras and gadgets are used by law enforcement and spy agencies to great effect. Which leads us to the question about how lowly creatures like us are supposed to handle situations where we have to have some audio or visual proof of nefarious activities. Perhaps, the reason someone manages to get away with doing funny things is that no one has even had the guts to put things on record.

Comes now the Smiley Badge Spy Camera, an innocent looking camera that looks exactly like those ubiquitous Smiley buttons people put on to feel good about themselves. Imagine being able to place the Smiley camera on your lapel or even attached to a bag of yours. The micro on-board camera of the Smiley badge camera is able to shoot about 30 frames / second at an acceptable 720 x 480 pixels. The lens is a simple pinhole, a testament to the way things were way back then.The camera can run continuously for about 2 hours when fully charged, and then get a recharge straight from your laptop by way of a USB cable.

Unfortunately, this gadget is available only in the US, but any enterprising geek or geek store can probably import this and start selling it to those people who happen to want to record important meetings with people in authority or their minions, so that when a Senate investigation is called, one will have evidence of the evil deed. With a lip reader available, one can then reconstruct the exchange of ideas:

BGB: “Ok you sell my 2nd hand airplanes to the government  as 1st hand and give me 70% of the proceeds. Got that?”

PHM: “Yes boss…but you may have to sign something since the planes belong to you.”

BGB: “Of course not…what are your there for? Besides, I have my kid brother who will gladly be the fall guy in case anything happens.”

PHM: OK sir, but keep in mind we have to be careful because those senators and congressmen love to investigate things like this/”

BGB: Don’t worry about that. We intend to live forever – or migrate to some friendly European country. Whichever comes first”

For purposes of keeping the players confidential, we have decided to place acronyms instead, like Big Greedy Bastard (BGB) and Poor Hapless Minion (PHP).

Won’t this Smiley Badge Spy Camera just be a hit over here?