BIG BROTHER GETS COMPANY

The ever-cool Rob Hole of Mission Possible has a lot of neat "toys" for big kids and those who like the James Bond ("shaken, not stirred") spy-like lifestyle!

Karin Swain, one of those gung-ho gals with a smile that probably ignited global warming, sashayed into my office the other day and mischievously asked: “So, when was the last time you were buck naked in a hotel room?”
OK, wasn’t exactly sure how to answer our intrepid sales rep due to the instant tightening of my collar. Many corporate lawyers have retired young and wealthy due to indecent responses from we smart-ass types.
Do you say, for example: “Baby, thought you’d never ask?” Offer up a cheesy Wayne’s World “schwing?” Or do you choke a bit, turn different shades of red and whimper: “Are you, gulp, talking to me?”
As it turns out, Swain had just visited Rob Hole, the 20-year-old manager of Mission Possible who outlined how the sophisticated gadgetry in his new spy and surveillance equipment store works.
For example, a Sony Dream Machine clock radio in his store contains a hidden video camera that’s activated by heat or body motion. ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews was filmed naked by one of these beauties inside her hotel room and freaked out when her birthday-suit images appeared all over the Internet. Schwing, indeed!
Hole’s store appears to have everything you’ve marvelled about in those cool James Bond movies – pocket cameras, miniature listening devices, designer watches and Oakley-style sunglasses with secret video cameras. There is a nifty mail box camera, a bug and phone-tap detector, clocks and cans with hidden safes and home alarm systems with video cameras hidden inside motion detectors.
A small device called Spy Cobra can track e-mails and website surfing. Mission Possible has GPS tracking systems that will reveal where your vehicle went, where it stopped and how far it travelled. And for a few extra dollars, you can be e-mailed with location updates.
Want to keep tabs on the babysitter, the spouse, the kids, boyfriend or girlfriend? Well, Hole’s shop appears to have something for every need – with prices ranging from affordable to elaborate.
The young entrepreneur acknowledges that some folks believe his store represents yet another infringement on privacy. But on this morning, a man walks into the 1st Avenue shop looking for something to catch a lawnmower thief who has struck for the third time. And another shopper wants a listening device for his property to thwart would-be trespassers.
“Basically this is just a big kids’ toy store,” said Hole. “There’s some cool stuff in here that can be used as gifts, pranks, security, whatever.”
As a reality TV-like society, we’re getting accustomed to being recorded in public, whether we go to the bank, airport, school, the movies, the mall, on SkyTrain or toll bridges.
Asked if Big Brother has perhaps gone too far in poking his uninvited head into our personal business, Hole compared his gadgetry to the web.
“The Internet has many, many great uses, but some people use it for viewing or downloading questionable materials.
“Same with our store. A lot of what we sell is for property or personal protection, or to have some fun. The odd person may use it for things that aren’t ideal.”
Hole says consumers need to familiarize themselves with privacy laws if they are using the somewhat invasive gadgets.
“We have people coming in who are worried if their significant other is cheating. They may want to track their calls, or text messages, or travel. We have covert equipment for that.
“In fact, we have 170 items in our store and the inventory keeps growing and changing as micro-technology evolves.”
We get the picture – and thanks to Mission Possible, you can, too.