I was wondering how everyone is dealing with the Real ID act in the United States. Some states are fighting it, but it looks like federal mandates will make it mandatory by 2009 or 2010 if everything goes according to their schedule.
Peter calls us to obey the laws of the state/country and to accept the rulings of the secular leaders. I've been praying on it, but I am still hesitant to accept this change.
David
What is the Real ID act? Not that I'm not going to immediately look it up, but without having that information I can't respond properly.
Hi dbm...
Is it possible to be more specific? Are there specific issues related to this Act that you oppose? If so, could you list those as written within the Act itself?
From what I understand, this ID is simply a State driver's license which would be difficult to counterfeit (because your information is verified by the Federal Government). It would also serve as a quasi-passport, being required upon admission back into the United States (currently, you are required to show your passport and an official photo id). The legislators who are trying to implement this are hoping to stop illegal immigration (since some states make it very easy to obtain a driver's license and fake passport), as well as curtail possible actions of terrorists.
Anyway, I am interested in your hesitations, as well as how they would relate to the Scriptures.
:-)
Its a complex issue.
I am employed in the field of healthcare IT where they are currently implementing a system called Electronic Medical Records. The full implementation involves state level databases of medical records, financial information, mental health records, etc. from everyone who visits a hospital. Along with this is the Veri-Chip which is an implantable chip that contains this information accessible in an RFID format.
The Clinton administration tied alot of their healthcare reform acts to assessment testing in public schools allowing a cross communication of health records and school records. There have been moves to require mandatory mental health testing for all public school children.
The Real ID is the beginning of a similar database system only tied to the drivers license. In its first implementation it will be only a scannable ID card, however eventually it will include RFID technology as well. At the moment they just don't have the funding.
The EMR system is based on punch card technology initially implemented in 1890 for the US census; 1890 was the same year that the US implemented its eugenics program (ie. planned parenthood, forced sterilization of "unfit parents") That same punch card technology was sold by IBM to the Nazis for use in managing the concentration camps. The numbers tattooed on the victims arms are IBM Hollerith numbers for use in tracking them with the Hollerith technology.
As these systems are currently being deployed the databases are seperate, but once in there is no reason they wouldn't be put on one database. Also with fears of pandemic flu outbreak IBM and other developers are working on modeling programs that simulate and monitor disease vectors. This means that they are able to show if a disease breaks out at point A where will it travel and in what amount of time. Again in and of itself not a scary proposition, however if these fears increase (and with the development of antibiotic resistant staph infections/TB/etc. they will) it would again be a case where all of these databases need to be synched up.
What this would mean is that the entire society is on a control grid, mapped, coordinated and monitored. It would take alot of work, but technology has an exponential rate of development and at the moment aside from the cost it wouldn't be impossible to put this system in immediately.
Socialized healthcare would mandate that every citizen have health insurance, with fears of pandemic flu it would also mandate that every person get vaccinated (thus being placed in the EMR database) or else be considered a potential "typhoid mary".
My concern is that each of these systems are innocent as stand alone systems, however if coordinated they would mean an end to legitimate personal freedom. Each step along the way is another step towards total control.
I've read reports from Sandia Laboratories (a federal lab in New Mexico funded by Lockheed Martin) that indicated as one of their implementation strategies the use of religion to make people comfortable with these systems. If you look at some of the current missionary practices they involve "networking the demographic information" for "unreached people groups" and rely heavily on the same Total Quality Management systems that are being implemented in businesses to database their production goals and plan for future developments.
Sorry if this is a sort of disconnected post, but theres alot of information involved and alot of it is technical.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_ID
Sorry to use the ubiquitous Wikipedia, but it presents all the information in a centralized area.
Here is information from opponents of the act:
http://epic.org/privacy/id-cards/epic_realid_comments.pdf
As for scriptural references this is really what my question is about. As Christians do we present a force of passive resistance to these trends discerning their probable end? or do we accept them, pray they don't lead to where they very well may, and deal with the issue when/if it gets bad.
As Christians we are called to be watchmen. Again I've been praying on it, and I have not come to a clear resolution in God.
Duplicate message error.
Its a complex issue.I am employed in the field of healthcare IT where they are currently implementing a system called Electronic Medical Records. The full implementation involves state level databases of medical records, financial information, mental health records, etc. from everyone who visits a hospital. Along with this is the Veri-Chip which is an implantable chip that contains this information accessible in an RFID format.
The Clinton administration tied alot of their healthcare reform acts to assessment testing in public schools allowing a cross communication of health records and school records. There have been moves to require mandatory mental health testing for all public school children.
The Real ID is the beginning of a similar database system only tied to the drivers license. In its first implementation it will be only a scannable ID card, however eventually it will include RFID technology as well. At the moment they just don't have the funding.
The EMR system is based on punch card technology initially implemented in 1890 for the US census; 1890 was the same year that the US implemented its eugenics program (ie. planned parenthood, forced sterilization of "unfit parents") That same punch card technology was sold by IBM to the Nazis for use in managing the concentration camps. The numbers tattooed on the victims arms are IBM Hollerith numbers for use in tracking them with the Hollerith technology.
As these systems are currently being deployed the databases are seperate, but once in there is no reason they wouldn't be put on one database. Also with fears of pandemic flu outbreak IBM and other developers are working on modeling programs that simulate and monitor disease vectors. This means that they are able to show if a disease breaks out at point A where will it travel and in what amount of time. Again in and of itself not a scary proposition, however if these fears increase (and with the development of antibiotic resistant staph infections/TB/etc. they will) it would again be a case where all of these databases need to be synched up.
What this would mean is that the entire society is on a control grid, mapped, coordinated and monitored. It would take alot of work, but technology has an exponential rate of development and at the moment aside from the cost it wouldn't be impossible to put this system in immediately.
Socialized healthcare would mandate that every citizen have health insurance, with fears of pandemic flu it would also mandate that every person get vaccinated (thus being placed in the EMR database) or else be considered a potential "typhoid mary".
My concern is that each of these systems are innocent as stand alone systems, however if coordinated they would mean an end to legitimate personal freedom. Each step along the way is another step towards total control.
I've read reports from Sandia Laboratories (a federal lab in New Mexico funded by Lockheed Martin) that indicated as one of their implementation strategies the use of religion to make people comfortable with these systems. If you look at some of the current missionary practices they involve "networking the demographic information" for "unreached people groups" and rely heavily on the same Total Quality Management systems that are being implemented in businesses to database their production goals and plan for future developments.
Sorry if this is a sort of disconnected post, but theres alot of information involved and alot of it is technical.
That's a wealth of information. Thank you.
Has any one watch Arron Russo: The guy seem to be a pagan who has a lot of knowledge of the western corrupt financial system. [url=Arron]http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5420753830426590918
Listen to the video shed light on how the world elites through greed and power could want/plan to control the world by creating a one world order, reduce the world population and insert chip in every one, then tie that chip to the person's bank account (can't buy or sell), and manage and monitored he/she at a central database. They are wheeling us in slowing, first work ID (Pentagon work ID has every thing to include blood type), drivers licenses and passports.
I read some parents have opt to implant RFID chip in new born to prevent being switch at birth in the hospitals.
I also see many regions of the world are moving to form one currency. For example, Dubai region; South and Central American; US, Canada and Mexico; and we all know the Euro is old news.
As children of God there is no need to be fearful. Every believer who knows and obey the word has his wisdom, knowledge and discerning spirit, thus we will know the number when the time comes because it's man's number. Our redemption draw nigh when we see these things.
Error
Thank you Paula,
Bless you for having looked into this issue as it will become very pertinent in the coming years. I would caution against looking at any conspiracy theories and advise that we all look into the facts of this situation. There is alot of information out there, but I think there is a danger in relying on sources that might lend towards disbelief.
I know that other posts on this forum have lead to some stating that this kind of inquiry violates the Biblical mandate not to discredit leaders. By looking into the legislation and the technology I believe that as Christians we can avoid condemning individuals and address the situation. I've been blessed with employment that allows me to do this and I know that others aren't as aware of these issues.
Unfortunately Arron Russo is lumped in with conspiracy theorists; although he does provide anecdotes that pertain to this issue. I'm not saying that he might not be completely truthful, but he does name names and draws conclusions that may cloud the facts.
Discerning we should see that the time is now and that as Christians this is an immediate issue that needs to be addressed.
Search 20020165758 in the quick search option, this patent is from May 3rd, 2001.
Identification and tracking of persons using RFID-tagged items in store environments
Abstract
A method and system for identifying and tracking persons using RFID-tagged items carried on the persons. Previous purchase records for each person who shops at a retail store are collected by POS terminals and stored in a transaction database. When a person carrying or wearing items having RFID tags enters the store or other designated area, a RFID tag scanner located therein scans the RFID tags on that person and reads the RFID tag information. The RFID tag information collected from the person is correlated with transaction records stored in the transaction database according to known correlation algorithms. Based on the results of the correlation, the exact identity of the person or certain characteristics about the person can be determined. This information is used to monitor the movement of the person through the store or other areas.
Translate store environment to city realizing that the Real ID will eventually have RFID technology in it and a nasty picture emerges.
Also look at the New Freedom Comission ( http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov/reports/FinalReport/FullReport.htm )this directly affects every single child in America, saved an unsaved alike. The definitions for mental health conditions such as depression and incredibly vague and could lead to false diagnoses, especially if there is a legitimate issue within the environment causing people to feel disheartened:
Goal 4 - Early Mental Health Screening, Assessment, and Referral to Services Are Common Practice
In a transformed mental health system, the early detection of mental health problems in children and adults - through routine and comprehensive testing and screening - will be an expected and typical occurrence. At the first sign of difficulties, preventive interventions will be started to keep problems from escalating. For example, a child whose serious emotional disturbance is identified early will receive care, preventing the potential onset of a co-occurring substance use disorder and breaking a cycle that otherwise can lead to school failure and other problems.
Quality screening and early intervention will occur in both readily accessible, low-stigma settings, such as primary health care facilities and schools, and in settings in which a high level of risk exists for mental health problems, such as criminal justice, juvenile justice, and child welfare systems. Both children and adults will be screened for mental illnesses during their routine physical exams.
For consumers of all ages, early detection, assessment, and links with treatment and supports will help prevent mental health problems from worsening. Service providers across settings will also routinely screen for co-occurring mental illnesses and substance use disorders. Early intervention and appropriate treatment will also improve outcomes and reduce pain and suffering for children and adults who have or who are at risk for co-occurring mental and addictive disorders.
Early detection of mental disorders will result in substantially shorter and less disabling courses of impairment.
For consumers of all ages, early detection, assessment, and links with treatment and supports will help prevent mental health problems from worsening.
To aid in transforming the mental health system, the Commission makes four recommendations:
4.1 Promote the mental health of young children.
4.2 Improve and expand school mental health programs.
4.3 Screen for co-occurring mental and substance use disorders and link with integrated treatment strategies.
4.4 Screen for mental disorders in primary health care, across the lifespan, and connect to treatment and supports
The EDIT: I assumed it was a [i]Mental Health
4.2 Improve and expand school mental health programs.
Does this mean more music lessons for all children, healthy food options only, and much more time out in the fresh air doing sports?
:-)
Thank you for mentioning this. I was thinking more of it, today, and wondered.... if there isn't a difference between people who speak evil of the good, and those who speak truth about the evil?There is alot of information out there, but I think there is a danger in relying on sources that might lend towards disbelief.I know that other posts on this forum have lead to some stating that this kind of inquiry violates the Biblical mandate not to discredit leaders.
It seems to me that we [i]do[i]because
1 Peter 3:16
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
2 Peter 2:10
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous [i]are they
Recently I wondered if the information in these few verses from Ezekiel 9, is more illuminating of God's mind onBy looking into the legislation and the technology I believe that as Christians we can avoid condemning individuals and address the situation.
3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house.
And he called to the man clothed with linen, which [i]had
4 And the LORD said unto him, 'Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof'.
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, 'Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
6 Slay utterly old [i]and[i]is[i]were
7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah [i]is
10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, [i]but
11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which [i]had
Hi Dorcas,
You had qouted this...
"2 Peter 2:10
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities."
I notice three things in this passage:
[b]rebellion
[b]presumption
[b]self-will
If we consistently act in a way that is contrary or counter-productive to the mission and goals of this website and it's moderators, are we in danger of these things?
What do you think?
Something is wrong here: I cannot pull up most of the responses to this post! I get an error message. It was this way last night and it is still this way.
I also wonder what this Real ID is?
ginnyrose
Christopher,
I pray that I haven't been guilty in these posts of any of these. If you discern through the spirit of God that I have please let me know as I would gladly take the chastening.
David
...and Sandara here are some links that I posted regarding the Real ID act:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_ID
Sorry to use the ubiquitous Wikipedia, but it presents all the information in a centralized area.
Here is information from opponents of the act:
From what I understand, this ID is simply a State driver's license which would be difficult to counterfeit (because your information is verified by the Federal Government). It would also serve as a quasi-passport, being required upon admission back into the United States (currently, you are required to show your passport and an official photo id). The legislators who are trying to implement this are hoping to stop illegal immigration (since some states make it very easy to obtain a driver's license and fake passport), as well as curtail possible actions of terrorists.
Does this [b]compromise us[b]blaspheme God
Mandatory mental health testing would make it very difficult for Christians to practice as psychology has consistently taught that Biblical faith is "unhealthy" and "extremist". If your child is in a public school under the New Freedom Comission they would be screened and by professing a faith in God they would be deemed unstable if they did not hedge that profession with some amount of relativism. If the screening determines that you are unstable this means mandatory medication for the good of the community/individual. The Real ID act is not just a card in the mail it is part of a broader group of legislation that is going to make it difficult for everyone to remain faithful. If you are deemed unstable this will go on into a database linked to your identity, this identity is also linked to the Real ID card. If you don't accept compulsory treatment you can be tracked through the ID and will be held legally liable to comply with the diagnosis. This is not paranoia it's just how technology works.
As for being the mark, I purposefully did not mention Revelations to avoid this comparison.
Christians should be aware of what is happening, but it is not my intention to spread fear or division. Truly God is all powerful and fear is not necessary. I pray that God leads us in this. Hopefully the information here has enough for people to prayerfully look into these issues as well. Not intending to bring strife I will let people discern through God the right path and let the topic lie if this is deemed unfit for the forum.
Hi Chris,
You asked
My point was.... that perhaps it is possible to recognise and acknowledge, for the good of the body of Christ, that there could be a difference between those pandering to the flesh who resist the government of God, and, a true spiritual awareness of the issues which face Christians.If we consistently act in a way that is contrary or counter-productive to the mission and goals of this website and it's moderators, are we in danger of these things?
What do you think?
EDIT: 1 Peter 4
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 that he no longer should live the rest of [i]his
The above verses make an important distinction between the overcoming of sin in our own lives, and the resisting of evil [i]per se[i]whatever[u]no way
By this I do not mean to deny that some, being led by the Spirit, may well remain apparently [i]ignorant[u]are against the truth
We are told to wrestle [u]not
We also have been warned by Christ Himself that the deceptions which would come [u]upon the church
If so, do you propose those who do not discern this battle as clearly as others discern it, should not be [i]informed?
If so, how does this square with 'love one another', and the graphic picture scripture paints, of Christ, the Shepherd, carrying the weak and the young, and going at the pace of a nursing mother (sheep)?
dbm,
I work in security IT for the FED for a number of years now and the growing technology that I see in deployment phase both here and over seas is frighting. Many people are too busy chasing the $ and being entertain to stop for meditation of the word and discerning of the time. As an IT security expert I assure you there's not a single technology that is hack proof, not one. My people suffer from lack of knowledge! Abound in faith, knowledge and love and have peace in the midst of the storm.
paula4jc said
Dear sister,As an IT security expert I assure you there's not a single technology that is hack proof, not one.
Thank you for this very welcome ray of hope! :-D
Linn,
Thank you for posting the scripture from Ezekiel 9, it gives us much to pray on and further guidance on these issues. As do the further references you've posted...
and Chris thank you for being watchful of division, for seeking to call us to attention that fear is not Godly and for leading us to edify and not discourage through selfish desires and deceptions.
May God grant us all peace in the coming days.
Hi David,
Christians should be aware of what is happening, but it is not my intention to spread fear or division. Truly God is all powerful and fear is not necessary. I pray that God leads us in this. Hopefully the information here has enough for people to prayerfully look into these issues as well. Not intending to bring strife I will let people discern through God the right path and let the topic lie if this is deemed unfit for the forum.
Just wanted to say that there is an appreciation for the way you have carried yourself here. Have just put up a post that has to do with these very things and not knowing how long you have tarried here with us wanted to further clarify the back dating, that is, these things have a variety and generality to them over a cousre of time.
If anything, you are exemplifying the right way of going about this and I wanted to acknowledge that. Haven't read everything in the links and some caution or perhaps better, testing also, may well be forwarded in those links presented, but your spirit is quite helpful.
Mike,
Thank you and I apologize as reading over my first post in the General section I find that I did not use discretion in some of the links and would have been more in the Spirit of God to include links to purely factual resources.
If I have carried myself well it is only in Christ, by nature I am quite contentious. Thanks to you, Greg, the other moderators and all who participate on this site for providing a resource in which we can, as members of Christ's body, seek true revival. The sermons on this site have been a blessing, as has this forum and all the points of view discussed.
Microchips Everywhere: a Future Vision
January 26, 2008 12:16 PM EST
Here's a vision of the not-so-distant future:
-Microchips with antennas will be embedded in virtually everything you buy, wear, drive and read, allowing retailers and law enforcement to track consumer items - and, by extension, consumers - wherever they go, from a distance.
-A seamless, global network of electronic "sniffers" will scan radio tags in myriad public settings, identifying people and their tastes instantly so that customized ads, "live spam," may be beamed at them.
-In "Smart Homes," sensors built into walls, floors and appliances will inventory possessions, record eating habits, monitor medicine cabinets - all the while, silently reporting data to marketers eager for a peek into the occupants' private lives.
Science fiction?
In truth, much of the radio frequency identification technology that enables objects and people to be tagged and tracked wirelessly already exists - and new and potentially intrusive uses of it are being patented, perfected and deployed.
Some of the world's largest corporations are vested in the success of RFID technology, which couples highly miniaturized computers with radio antennas to broadcast information about sales and buyers to company databases.
Already, microchips are turning up in some computer printers, car keys and tires, on shampoo bottles and department store clothing tags. They're also in library books and "contactless" payment cards (such as American Express' "Blue" and ExxonMobil's "Speedpass.")
Companies say the RFID tags improve supply-chain efficiency, cut theft, and guarantee that brand-name products are authentic, not counterfeit. At a store, RFID doorways could scan your purchases automatically as you leave, eliminating tedious checkouts.
At home, convenience is a selling point: RFID-enabled refrigerators could warn about expired milk, generate weekly shopping lists, even send signals to your interactive TV, so that you see "personalized" commercials for foods you have a history of buying. Sniffers in your microwave might read a chip-equipped TV dinner and cook it without instruction.
"We've seen so many different uses of the technology," says Dan Mullen, president of AIM Global, a national association of data collection businesses, including RFID, "and we're probably still just scratching the surface in terms of places RFID can be used."
The problem, critics say, is that microchipped products might very well do a whole lot more.
With tags in so many objects, relaying information to databases that can be linked to credit and bank cards, almost no aspect of life may soon be safe from the prying eyes of corporations and governments, says Mark Rasch, former head of the computer-crime unit of the U.S. Justice Department.
By placing sniffers in strategic areas, companies can invisibly "rifle through people's pockets, purses, suitcases, briefcases, luggage - and possibly their kitchens and bedrooms - anytime of the day or night," says Rasch, now managing director of technology at FTI Consulting Inc., a Baltimore-based company.
In an RFID world, "You've got the possibility of unauthorized people learning stuff about who you are, what you've bought, how and where you've bought it ... It's like saying, 'Well, who wants to look through my medicine cabinet?'"
He imagines a time when anyone from police to identity thieves to stalkers might scan locked car trunks, garages or home offices from a distance. "Think of it as a high-tech form of Dumpster diving," says Rasch, who's also concerned about data gathered by "spy" appliances in the home.
"It's going to be used in unintended ways by third parties - not just the government, but private investigators, marketers, lawyers building a case against you ..."
---
Presently, the radio tag most commercialized in America is the so-called "passive" emitter, meaning it has no internal power supply. Only when a reader powers these tags with a squirt of electrons do they broadcast their signal, indiscriminately, within a range of a few inches to 20 feet.
Not as common, but increasing in use, are "active" tags, which have internal batteries and can transmit signals, continuously, as far as low-orbiting satellites. Active tags pay tolls as motorists to zip through tollgates; they also track wildlife, such as sea lions.
Retailers and manufacturers want to use passive tags to replace the bar code, for tracking inventory. These radio tags transmit Electronic Product Codes, number strings that allow trillons of objects to be uniquely identified. Some transmit specifics about the item, such as price, though not the name of the buyer.
However, "once a tagged item is associated with a particular individual, personally identifiable information can be obtained and then aggregated to develop a profile," the U.S. Government Accountability Office concluded in a 2005 report on RFID.
Federal agencies and law enforcement already buy information about individuals from commercial data brokers, companies that compile computer dossiers on millions of individuals from public records, credit applications and many other sources, then offer summaries for sale. These brokers, unlike credit bureaus, aren't subject to provisions of the Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970, which gives consumers the right to correct errors and block access to their personal records.
That, and the ever-increasing volume of data collected on consumers, is worrisome, says Mike Hrabik, chief technology officer at Solutionary, a computer-security firm in Bethesda, Md. "Are companies using that information incorrectly, and are they giving it out inappropriately? I'm sure that's happening. Should we be concerned? Yes."
Even some industry proponents recognize risks. Elliott Maxwell, a research fellow at Pennsylvania State University who serves as a policy adviser to EPCglobal, the industry's standard-setting group, says data broadcast by microchips can easily be intercepted, and misused, by high-tech thieves.
As RFID goes mainstream and the range of readers increases, it will be "difficult to know who is gathering what data, who has access to it, what is being done with it, and who should be held responsible for it," Maxwell wrote in RFID Journal, an industry publication.
The recent growth of the RFID industry has been staggering: From 1955 to 2005, cumulative sales of radio tags totaled 2.4 billion; last year alone, 2.24 billion tags were sold worldwide, and analysts project that by 2017 cumulative sales will top 1 trillion - generating more than $25 billion in annual revenues for the industry.
Heady forecasts like these energize chip proponents, who insist that RFID will result in enormous savings for businesses. Each year, retailers lose $57 billion from administrative failures, supplier fraud and employee theft, according to a recent survey of 820 retailers by Checkpoint Systems, an RFID manufacturer that specializes in store security devices.
Privacy concerns, some RFID supporters say, are overblown. One, Mark Roberti, editor of RFID Journal, says the notion that businesses would conspire to create high-resolution portraits of people is "simply silly."
Corporations know Americans are sensitive about their privacy, he says, and are careful not to alienate consumers by violating it. Besides, "All companies keep their customer data close to the vest ... There's absolutely no value in sharing it. Zero."
Industry officials, too, insist that addressing privacy concerns is paramount. As American Express spokeswoman Judy Tenzer says, "Security and privacy are a top priority for American Express in everything we do."
But industry documents suggest a different line of thinking, privacy experts say.
A 2005 patent application by American Express itself describes how RFID-embedded objects carried by shoppers could emit "identification signals" when queried by electronic "consumer trackers." The system could identify people, record their movements, and send them video ads that might offer "incentives" or "even the emission of a scent."
RFID readers could be placed in public venues, including "a common area of a school, shopping center, bus station or other place of public accommodation," according to the application, which is still pending - and which is not alone.
In 2006, IBM received patent approval for an invention it called, "Identification and tracking of persons using RFID-tagged items." One stated purpose: To collect information about people that could be "used to monitor the movement of the person through the store or other areas."
Once somebody enters a store, a sniffer "scans all identifiable RFID tags carried on the person," and correlates the tag information with sales records to determine the individual's "exact identity." A device known as a "person tracking unit" then assigns a tracking number to the shopper "to monitor the movement of the person through the store or other areas."
But as the patent makes clear, IBM's invention could work in other public places, "such as shopping malls, airports, train stations, bus stations, elevators, trains, airplanes, restrooms, sports arenas, libraries, theaters, museums, etc." (RFID could even help "follow a particular crime suspect through public areas.")
Another patent, obtained in 2003 by NCR Corp., details how camouflaged sensors and cameras would record customers' wanderings through a store, film their facial expressions at displays, and time - to the second - how long shoppers hold and study items.
Why? Such monitoring "allows one to draw valuable inferences about the behavior of large numbers of shoppers," the patent states.
Then there's a 2001 patent application by Procter & Gamble, "Systems and methods for tracking consumers in a store environment." This one lays out an idea to use heat sensors to track and record "where a consumer is looking, i.e., which way she is facing, whether she is bending over or crouching down to look at a lower shelf."
The system could space sensors 8 feet apart, in ceilings, floors, shelving and displays, so they could capture signals transmitted every 1.5 seconds by microchipped shopping carts.
The documents "raise the hair on the back of your neck," says Liz McIntyre, co-author of "Spychips," a book that is critical of the industry. "The industry has long promised it would never use this technology to track people. But these patent records clearly suggest otherwise."
Corporations take issue with that, saying that patent filings shouldn't be used to predict a company's actions.
"We file thousands of patents every year, which are designed to protect concepts or ideas," Paul Fox, a spokesman for Procter & Gamble, says. "The reality is that many of those ideas and concepts never see the light of day."
And what of his company's 2001 patent application? "I'm not aware of any plans to use that," Fox says.
Sandy Hughes, P&G's global privacy executive, adds that Procter & Gamble has no intention of using any technologies - RFID or otherwise - to track individuals. The idea of the 2001 filing, she says, is to monitor how groups of people react to store displays, "not individual consumers."
NCR and American Express echoed those statements. IBM declined to comment for this story.
"Not every element in a patent filing is necessarily something we would pursue....," says Tenzer, the American Express spokeswoman. "Under no circumstances would we use this technology without a customer's permission."
McIntyre has her doubts.
In the marketing world of today, she says, "data on individual consumers is gold, and the only thing preventing these companies from abusing technologies like RFID to get at that gold is public scrutiny."
---
RFID dates to World War II, when Britain put transponders in Allied aircraft to help radar crews distinguish them from German fighters. In the 1970s, the U.S. government tagged trucks entering and leaving secure facilities such as the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and a decade later, they were used to track livestock and railroad cars.
In 2003, the U.S. Department of Defense and Wal-Mart gave RFID a mammoth push, mandating that suppliers radio tag all crates and cartons. To that point, the cost of tags had simply been too high to make tagging pallets - let alone individual items - viable. In 1999, passive tags cost nearly $2 apiece.
Since then, rising demand and production of microchips - along with technological advances - have driven tag prices down to a range of 7 to 15 cents. At that price, the technology is "well-suited at a case and pallet level," says Mullen, of the industry group AIM Global.
John Simley, a spokesman for Wal-Mart, says tracking products in real-time helps ensure product freshness and lowers the chances that items will be out of stock. By reducing loss and waste in the supply chain, RFID "allows us to keep our prices that much lower."
Katherine Albrecht, founder of CASPIAN, an anti-RFID group, says, "Nobody cares about radio tags on crates and pallets. But if we don't keep RFID off of individual consumer items, our stores will one day turn into retail 'zoos' where the customer is always on exhibit."
So, how long will it be before you find an RFID tag in your underwear? The industry isn't saying, but some analysts speculate that within a decade tag costs may dip below a penny, the threshold at which nearly everything could be chipped.
To businesses slammed by counterfeiters - pharmaceuticals, for one - that's not a bad thing. Sales of fake drugs cost drug makers an estimated $46 billion a year. In 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that RFID be incorporated throughout the supply chain as a way of making sure consumers get authentic drugs.
In the United States, Pfizer has already begun chipping all 30- and 100-count bottles of Viagra, one of the most counterfeited drugs.
Chips could be embedded in other controlled or potentially dangerous items such as firearms and explosives, to make them easier to track. This was mentioned in IBM's patent documents.
Still, the idea that tiny radio chips might be in their socks and shoes doesn't sit well with Americans. At least, that's what Fleishman-Hillard Inc., a public-relations firm in St. Louis, found in 2001 when it surveyed 317 consumers for the industry.
Seventy-eight percent of those queried reacted negatively to RFID when privacy was raised. "More than half claimed to be extremely or very concerned," the report said, noting that the term "Big Brother" was "used in 15 separate cases to describe the technology."
It also found that people bridled at the idea of having "Smart Tags" in their homes. One surveyed person remarked: "Where money is to be made the privacy of the individual will be compromised."
In 2002, Fleishman-Hillard produced another report for the industry that counseled RFID makers to "convey (the) inevitability of technology," and to develop a plan to "neutralize the opposition," by adopting friendlier names for radio tags such as "Bar Code II" and "Green Tag."
And in a 2003 report, Helen Duce, the industry's trade group director in Europe, wrote that "the lack of clear benefits to consumers could present a problem in the 'real world,'" particularly if privacy issues were stirred by "negative press coverage."
(Though the reports were marked "Confidential," they were later found archived on an industry trade group's Web site.)
The Duce report's recommendations: Tell consumers that RFID is regulated, that RFID is just a new and improved bar code, and that retailers will announce when an item is radio tagged, and deactivate the tags at check-out upon a customer's request.
Actually, in the United States, RFID is not federally regulated. And while bar codes identify product categories, radio tags carry unique serial numbers that - when purchased with a credit card, frequent shopper card or contactless card - can be linked to specific shoppers.
And, unlike bar codes, RFID tags can be read through almost anything except metal and water, without the holder's knowledge.
EPCglobal, the industry's standard-setting body, has issued public policy guidelines that call for retailers to put a thumbnail-sized logo - "EPC," for Electronic Product Code - on all radio tagged packaging. The group also suggests that merchants notify shoppers that RFID tags can be removed, discarded or disabled.
Critics say the guidelines are voluntary, vague and don't penalize violators. They want federal and state oversight - something the industry has vigorously opposed - particularly after two RFID manufacturers, Checkpoint Systems and Sensormatic, announced last year that they are marketing tags designed to be embedded in such items as shoes.
Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, says, "I don't think there's any basis ... for consumers to have to think that their clothing is tracking them."
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On the Web:
http://www.fcsministries.org/up/index.html
First Hunger-free Zone in America
January 2008
The idea is brilliant — to make Kansas City the first hunger-free zone in the country. It is the brain-child of a very sharp entrepreneurial-type Christian businessman who has a concern for the poor and a mind that thrives on solving big problems. We sat in the pastor’s office of a prominent Baptist church, a church that had taken the lead in convening the city’s decision-makers around the issues of poverty. Considerable excitement had already been generated around this idea of eliminating hunger from the entire metro area. But this was far more than a mere feed-the-hungry program — it was a community-building initiative to mobilize people of faith and good will to join together in a visible expression of compassion in their own neighborhoods. For the church world, it would serve to unite the Body of Christ across denominational barriers as they reach out to serve others in need. The man with the plan leaned forward as he explained how the strategy would work.
The technology and data are already in place, he said, that identifies every church member in the greater Kansas City area — names, ages, where they live, phone numbers, email addresses, employment status, what church they are members of. This information can be assembled and printed on plat maps of every neighborhood in the city, block by block, house by house. The maps will be distributed to all the churches so every Christian can know where every other Christian in their community is located. With their churches’ blessing and encouragement, church members would contact other church members who live on their block, get acquainted, organize food collections from their neighbors and take the food to various collection points for distribution to the needy. As churches get behind the effort — organize their parishioners, post the number of membership groups being formed, report the quantity of food being gathered — momentum will build and a contagion of compassion will spread across the city. Based on reliable estimates of the number of residents at or below the poverty line, the quantity of food that could be collected each month is, in conservative estimates, far in excess of the need.
“How do you keep your data current?” I inquired. With so much mobility in our society, so many people moving, changing jobs, changing churches, it would seem that much of the data would be outdated within a year or two. “You don’t want to know,” the entrepreneur smiled. There are corporations with millions of highly secured, climate controlled square footage filled with mainframe computers that run around the clock gathering, storing, organizing and reporting everything about us, from our favorite cereal to kind of car we drive. “The data is available,” he assured me, “for a price.”
“How do you get churches to cooperate?” I asked. I know something about denominational competition, even competition between churches of the same stripe. His answer intrigued me. The food gathering would not be in the name of any particular church. It would be neighbors cooperating together around a cause that has broad appeal. Who would not want to eliminate hunger? It would attract not just church goers but compassionate people from every sector. And it would promote a sense of community, a common need that most neighbors recognize.
I was intrigued. I fired one question after another — funding, staffing, scale, collection points, warehousing, transportation — and every one had a well reasoned response. The plan had a lot of moving parts with massive logistical and coordinating challenges, but the costs were modest and both human and physical resources were there for the mobilizing. In less than an hour of intense discussion I had become almost persuaded that Kansas City might well become the first hunger-free city in the country.
But there was one remaining issue that was yet to be adequately addressed — distribution. How would tons of collected food actually reach hungry stomachs? Who would ensure that these donations would be properly distributed? Would this food be given away? By whom, in what quantities, under what circumstances? And if it were a free food program, what safeguards would be put in place to prevent multiple-dipping, hoarding, reselling food for drugs? What would keep this from fostering unhealthy dependency and becoming an entitlement program? It was obvious that this distribution issue was a thorny one, one that did not have clean solutions like the collection side of the ledger. Utilizing the existing distribution mechanisms in the city — church food pantries, homeless shelters, feeding stations — did not adequately address these troubling questions.
“We need to get the program going, and soon,” the entrepreneur was back to his sell. “Charlotte has picked up on the idea and wants to be first in the nation to roll it out!” I understood his urgency. Lose the “we’re first” distinction and you lose a good bit of the marketing sizzle. Kansas City was ready now. The plan had been vetted, a representative sample of ministers had responded favorably, there was good support from city government and the social service community. Now was the opportune time to declare Kansas City as the first hunger-free city in US.
The distribution problem could be fixed on the way, he was convinced. I was less sure. Doubling, even tripling the number of distribution outlets in the city would not get at the dependency problem. Computerization might cut down on the abuse of the system, but it would still separate people as “donor” or “recipient,” label them as benevolent or beggar. Computers could not address the pridelessness of one-way giving or the indignity of being a welfare case.
Collecting food, like collecting toys for tots at Christmas, is the easy part — logistically demanding, perhaps, but fascinating fodder for the promoter and entrepreneur. Devising new methods of distribution, on the other hand, methods that enable the poor to participate in reciprocal exchange, methods that require mutual investment on the part of both donor and recipient, methods that offer honest compensation for honest work — such would be a transformation of historic proportions. The hard part does not lie in the creation of new models — food-buying coops, food for community service, wholesale outlets — such models are there for the researching. The hard part is the re-thinking of a well-entrenched give-away mentality and the restructuring of an established one-way charity system. A hunger-free zone may be possible but a dependency-free zone? Now that is a much bigger challenge. I have to admire the Kansas City spirit. A massive and sustained food drive says much about the compassion of a city. But compassion unexamined may not be all that compassionate after all.
Bob Lupton
from article above
I can't find the link on trunuews, which showed there is going to beBy placing sniffers in strategic areas, companies can invisibly "rifle through people's pockets, purses, suitcases, briefcases, luggage - and possibly their kitchens and bedrooms - anytime of the day or night," says Rasch, now managing director of technology at FTI Consulting Inc., a Baltimore-based company.
So much for either a cashless society, personal wealth, or even private poverty. I was planning to return to cash... :-o
Looks like a peasant economy is on its way, as has been predicted. I wonder what alternative to money will be developed by the ever-resourceful survivors of settling in the New World? Something's bound to turn up!
I have just been searching for 'Onward Christian Soldiers' for the praise thread - and settings are often in surprising places as you might know by now, so I opened a blogspot, which I don't wish to link to because of some of the pix there. (You know how you wouldn't have opened certain pages if you'd known in advance what you would have found?) But, I want to quote the whole very short article, as I believe it may be of serious interest to parents of young teens, in connection with driving licence RFID.
Within the article, you will see reference to the Beauregard Daily News. For the sake of authenticity I went there. It is $5 for access for a day. Many of the blog titles had a journalistic ring. Please don't be offended. (The year is not on the blog either.)
"Wednesday, November 17
Onward Christian Soldiers, Marching to Bush's War
I thought it a little strange when my son's draft card came in the mail shortly after his 18th birthday. We hadn't decided if we wanted him to sign up for the draft (ya know being that his father and I are former flower children) and finding out just how serious a crime it is to not sign up. Well that was settled. He got a draft card and there was no way to reply or tell anyone that he conscienciously objects to this.
So today, I happened to be reading the Beauregard Daily News in Louisiana and I see that even 15 year olds are being signed up for the draft in advance as soon as they get their licenses. This has greatly disturbed some folks. They contend that when a minor signs the dotted line for a drivers license, it should not be taken as an application for the selective service. According to the article, "Federal law only provides for ''early submission'' of information by a young man who is at least 17 years and three months old, he noted. When he turns 18, it is forwarded to the proper database."
The reporter asked some minors what they think about this:
''I don't care,'' said Mark Fontenot, a 16-year-old student at Apostolic Christian Academy.
Pineville High School student Josh Stokes, 15, said, ''I think it's good.'
''I think it's all right. I can't do anything about it anyway,'' said Stephen White, 16 and a student at Alexandria Senior High School.
Oh boy. "
I wondered how many fifteen year olds, only just developmentally attaining objectivity, can judge the thoughts they might have, three years ahead?
Hi dorcas...
"Wednesday, November 17
Onward Christian Soldiers, Marching to Bush's War
Anyway, I remember having to register for the Selective Service when I turned 18. My dad took me to the local Post Office. I'm not sure if you're aware, but the Selective Service is [u]not
I think that the goal of the Real Idea Act is simply to provide a driver's license that will prevent fraud -- voter fraud, license fraud, immigration fraud. In Texas, there is a huge problem with ID theft. Literally millions of Mexicans are in the United States illegally, and many of them obtain services provided only to legal residents through the use of ID fraud (and the forging and stealing of identification). In the last election, the Rio Grande Valley in Texas reported many votes from people who never truly voted. How? Someone stole their identity, obtained a driver's license and voted.
In some states (like California), it is legal for illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. A national ID -- governed by the Federal Government and using each state's driver's license -- could prevent the issuing a license to people here illegally. Like it or not, Americans must have a social security card. They must have photo identification with them in many states. The desire for a national identification is only hoped to prevent id theft and illegal activity. With millions and millions of people here illegally, it might save a lot of time and money to have a card that is understood through a federal database, rather than the database of a flawed state.
I understand the apprehension to such a system, but it is, in reality, simply a perfection of a system that is already in place -- regardless of whether it is right or wrong.
:-(
*EDIT*
Duplicate post.
Hi Chris,
I admit I assumed the draft list was something compulsory associated with the potential to be called up for military service. I do remember that this is not the case at this present time, though. Here's another BBC link about US plans to control illegal immiagration from Mexico.
[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7260179.stm]US-Mexico 'virtual fence' ready
'A high-technology system to control the US-Mexico border with cameras and radar instead of a physical fence has gained government approval, US officials say.
The $20m 'virtual fence' already covers 28 miles (48km) of the border between Arizona state and Mexico.
The system has already helped catch smugglers, and would be deployed elsewhere, said US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
But he said plans to complete 770 miles (1,130km) of physical fence remain.
"I have personally witnessed the value of this system," said Mr Chertoff. '
Please take a look at the whole article.
EDIT: Presumably this fence also has the potential to stop Americans leaving. Would that pose much problem, do you think?
I just heard about the Id act, there are 4 states that are fighting against it, Maine MOntana, Idaho and south Carolina. They are trying to get a bill passed. They said that there is over 600 org that working on this bill.
When looking who they where it was lots of jewish and catholic and other america freedom org. You can get the more info at www.aclu.org for a copy of the bill/
when thinking about, it just aother Id care right? there should no harm in this? there are 22 states that are againt the ID at this time.
I still know so little about it, thanks for info posted.
I just heard about the Id act, there are 4 states that are fighting against it, Maine MOntana, Idaho and south Carolina. They are trying to get a bill passed. They said that there is over 600 org that working on this bill.
When looking who they where it was lots of jewish and catholic and other america freedom org. You can get the more info at www.aclu.org for a copy of the bill/
when thinking about, it just aother Id care right? there should no harm in this? there are 22 states that are againt the ID at this time.
I still know so little about it, thanks for info posted.
Charlene,
There are a number of different technologies being developed right now, and legislation that goes along with them, that are fairly alarming if they were ever centralized.
At the hospital level there are electronic medical records (including financial, health and mental health records0, which are being tied to street level camera systems and police databases through an emergency response network, there is the Real ID system which includes a database of photos that syncs up with the street level cameras in order to track terrorist activities (keep in mind that a number of Christian groups active in missionary work and Christian peace keeping efforts ended up on the terrorist watch list), there are pandemic flu modeling systems that are in use to track possible outbreaks which if tied to the electronic medical record system would track mandatory vaccination and require the medical records to be tied to the ID, and there are a couple of mental health reform laws that might make mental health screening mandatory (especially in public schools) with mandatory medication for anyone showing signs of mental illness.
At the moment privacy laws, the cost of implementation, and the constitution are standing in the way of this all coming together. These systems do enhance safety, the electronic medical records decrease pharmacy errors and save hospitals money, the Real ID could possibly combat illegal immigration, the pandemic flu modeling systems would help in case a pandemic breaks out...not too sure about the up side of mandatory mental health medication.
Google and Microsoft have developed their own electronic medical record systems that may allow hospitals to alleviate some of the cost if they are adopted by the public. There are privacy laws in place within healthcare (Health Insurance Portability Privacy Act or HIPAA), but these could be circumvented if the records were held by a third party, ie. Google, Microsoft or any of the other developers working in this area. The US government has also just outsourced the privacy panel that works on policy advise to a not-for profit think tank in Washingon.
One of the problems that I see is that the level of discussion on these issues is for the most part not being honest about the various systems' capabilities, I work in healthcare IT research, and there is a lack of information about prior plans to centralize these systems after 9/11, these plans were scrapped due to privacy concerns. When they were scrapped, however, a number of the patents, formerly public, were deemed classified.
California's attempts to ban homeschooling could lead to problems if it were to be adopted or move outside of California. At the public school level vaccinations and mental health screenings will probably become mandatory within 5-6 years. At the moment a belief in God is considered "belief in the supernatural" by psychology and could be deemed a sign of schizophrenia if the psychologist were of a mind to do so. Due to the move for a globalized economy all belief systems are being modified and moved towards a centerist perspective so that they don't hamper cultural homogenization and it is possible that in the future Biblical Christianity will be considered a form of deviation.
Since most of the initiatives are in different areas the public is not really given the information to understand how they could be tied together. Also since these systems do increase safety and effeciency it is easy to dismiss less tangible concerns about how they might be used.
You are all so greatly beloved of the Lord. I know His heart desires you spend more time with Him. I understand the need to be informed, but greater is our need to draw closer to God and be full of His Spirit. If we are walking with God, led by and governed by His Spirit all of this will be a moot point and won't matter...our number one concern should be letting the Holy Spirit lead us to the cross and crucify this self life of ours that gets in His way and pray for those who are lost in darkness. If we will let Him replace our self life with His supernatural life, that life that was the light of men in John 1:4 will again become the light that leads men and women out of darkness. This is not our world, we are to pass our time here with fear, and reverence, keeping our eyes upward, letting HIM be seen not ourselves, so others will want to follow. They don't know they are in darkness until and unless they see the light. Posting these things may very well serve as a wake up call to the slumbering virgins, but look up, be ready, He's coming...sooner than you think.
You are all so greatly beloved of the Lord. I know His heart desires you spend more time with Him. I understand the need to be informed, but greater is our need to draw closer to God and be full of His Spirit. If we are walking with God, led by and governed by His Spirit all of this will be a moot point and won't matter...our number one concern should be letting the Holy Spirit lead us to the cross and crucify this self life of ours that gets in His way and pray for those who are lost in darkness. If we will let Him replace our self life with His supernatural life, that life that was the light of men in John 1:4 will again become the light that leads men and women out of darkness. This is not our world, we are to pass our time here with fear, and reverence, keeping our eyes upward, letting HIM be seen not ourselves, so others will want to follow. They don't know they are in darkness until and unless they see the light. Posting these things may very well serve as a wake up call to the slumbering virgins, but look up, be ready, He's coming...sooner than you think.
Why are people afraid of the RFID chip? It's not the "Mark of the Beast" as many have supposed. It's just another form of Identification and the Transferring of money. They are doing it now with your bank card. I hardly use cash anymore, it's a nuisance to say the least. Can you imagine when "Paper Money" replaced coins, there were no doubt people frightening other people into thinking that paper money was going to be the ruin of civilization.
The Revelations is a book of Symbols, taking literally chapter 13 is dangerous. Just because something "looks like" a fulfillment doesn't mean that it is. We have to remember that there are all kinds of "look a likes" because there is "nothing new under the sun". At the end of that chapter it says, "Here is wisdom". And it says that those who have "Understanding" let him interpret what these mean.
So, here we have Wisdom which requires understanding which we have no knowledge of.
Did you know that Wisdom crieth out in the street and no one takes notice of it?
How much more we who "try" to fit our "end time" theology into something that requires wisdom which we tend not to listen to. So, if were not listening to what Wisdom is saying, what are we listening to to come up with these interpretations?
Because there are literally thousands of interpretations out there on this one book which strongly suggests that Wisdom crieth out and no one is listening.
God help us!
bumped, I submitted twice and it says that this thread did not exist.
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