Radio tag study revealed
You might never lose another sock once radio frequency ID (RFID) tags are used everywhere, Google's chief internet evangelist has said.
Vint Cerf was speaking at the Cebit technology fair in Hanover after the announcement of a Europe-wide consultation study on RFID. The study was announced at a press conference by the European Commission. RFID is a technology that puts a small amount of computer memory into a tag readable at a distance by radio. It promises to revolutionise the way we track items - and even people, which worries civil liberties groups.
Now it sounds harmless and even good for humanity, but and I think it’s a big but do you trust people enough to allow them to know all about you? Do you know just what data is already collected about you by big business and government agencies?
But more important, DO YOU TRUST THEM?
I sure as hell do NOT.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Its old but good.
Its old but good.
Now I know how he feels, several times a day I hear something as stupid as this from people who are supposed to be far clever than me, at least they get more money.
There's always one. This has got to be one of the funniest things in a long time. I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired. This is a true story from the Word Perfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say the Help Desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the Word Perfect organization for "Termination without Cause".
Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee. (Now I know why they record these conversations!):
Operator: "Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?"
Caller: "Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect."
Operator: "What sort of trouble??"
Caller: "Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away."
Operator: "Went away?"
Caller: "They disappeared."
Operator: "Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?"
Caller: "Nothing."
Operator: "Nothing??"
Caller: "It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type."
Operator: "Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out??"
Caller: "How do I tell?"
Operator: "Can you see the C: prompt on the screen??"
Caller: "What's a sea-prompt?"
Operator: "Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?"
Caller: "There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type."
Operator: "Does your monitor have a power indicator??"
Caller: "What's a monitor?"
Operator: "It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on??"
Caller: "I don't know."
Operator: "Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??"
Caller: "Yes, I think so." Operator: "Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall.
Caller: "Yes, it is."
Operator: "When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one??"
Caller: "No."
Operator: "Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable."
Caller: "Okay, here it is."
Operator: "Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer."
Caller: "I can't reach."
Operator: "Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is??"
Caller: "No."
Operator: "Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over??"
Caller: "Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle - it's because it's dark."
Operator: "Dark??"
Caller: "Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window."
Operator: "Well, turn on the office light then."
Caller: "I can't."
Operator: "No? Why not??"
Caller: "Because there's a power failure."
Operator: "A power...................................... A power failure? Aha, Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in??"
Caller: "Well, yes, I keep them in the closet."
Operator: "Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from."
Caller: "Really? Is it that bad?"
Operator: "Yes, I'm afraid it is."
Caller: "Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them??"
Operator: "Tell them you're too f*%king stupid to own a computer!!!!!"
Now I know how he feels, several times a day I hear something as stupid as this from people who are supposed to be far clever than me, at least they get more money.
There's always one. This has got to be one of the funniest things in a long time. I think this guy should have been promoted, not fired. This is a true story from the Word Perfect Helpline, which was transcribed from a recording monitoring the customer care department. Needless to say the Help Desk employee was fired; however, he/she is currently suing the Word Perfect organization for "Termination without Cause".
Actual dialogue of a former WordPerfect Customer Support employee. (Now I know why they record these conversations!):
Operator: "Ridge Hall, computer assistance; may I help you?"
Caller: "Yes, well, I'm having trouble with WordPerfect."
Operator: "What sort of trouble??"
Caller: "Well, I was just typing along, and all of a sudden the words went away."
Operator: "Went away?"
Caller: "They disappeared."
Operator: "Hmm. So what does your screen look like now?"
Caller: "Nothing."
Operator: "Nothing??"
Caller: "It's blank; it won't accept anything when I type."
Operator: "Are you still in WordPerfect, or did you get out??"
Caller: "How do I tell?"
Operator: "Can you see the C: prompt on the screen??"
Caller: "What's a sea-prompt?"
Operator: "Never mind, can you move your cursor around the screen?"
Caller: "There isn't any cursor: I told you, it won't accept anything I type."
Operator: "Does your monitor have a power indicator??"
Caller: "What's a monitor?"
Operator: "It's the thing with the screen on it that looks like a TV. Does it have a little light that tells you when it's on??"
Caller: "I don't know."
Operator: "Well, then look on the back of the monitor and find where the power cord goes into it. Can you see that??"
Caller: "Yes, I think so." Operator: "Great. Follow the cord to the plug, and tell me if it's plugged into the wall.
Caller: "Yes, it is."
Operator: "When you were behind the monitor, did you notice that there were two cables plugged into the back of it, not just one??"
Caller: "No."
Operator: "Well, there are. I need you to look back there again and find the other cable."
Caller: "Okay, here it is."
Operator: "Follow it for me, and tell me if it's plugged securely into the back of your computer."
Caller: "I can't reach."
Operator: "Uh huh. Well, can you see if it is??"
Caller: "No."
Operator: "Even if you maybe put your knee on something and lean way over??"
Caller: "Oh, it's not because I don't have the right angle - it's because it's dark."
Operator: "Dark??"
Caller: "Yes - the office light is off, and the only light I have is coming in from the window."
Operator: "Well, turn on the office light then."
Caller: "I can't."
Operator: "No? Why not??"
Caller: "Because there's a power failure."
Operator: "A power...................................... A power failure? Aha, Okay, we've got it licked now. Do you still have the boxes and manuals and packing stuff your computer came in??"
Caller: "Well, yes, I keep them in the closet."
Operator: "Good. Go get them, and unplug your system and pack it up just like it was when you got it. Then take it back to the store you bought it from."
Caller: "Really? Is it that bad?"
Operator: "Yes, I'm afraid it is."
Caller: "Well, all right then, I suppose. What do I tell them??"
Operator: "Tell them you're too f*%king stupid to own a computer!!!!!"
Thursday, March 09, 2006
You gotta love the Marines
This is one of the best comeback lines of all time. It is a portion of National Public Radio (NPR) interview between a female broadcaster and US Marine Corps General Reinwald who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military installation.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: General Reinwald, what things are you going to Teach these young boys when they visit your base?
GENERAL REINWALD: We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery, and shooting.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?
GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on The rifle range.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous
activity to be teaching children?
GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: But you're equipping them to become violent killers.
GENERAL REINWALD: Well, Ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not one, are you?
The radio went silent and the interview ended.
You gotta love the Marines!!
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: General Reinwald, what things are you going to Teach these young boys when they visit your base?
GENERAL REINWALD: We're going to teach them climbing, canoeing, archery, and shooting.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible, isn't it?
GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see why, they'll be properly supervised on The rifle range.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous
activity to be teaching children?
GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see how. We will be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.
FEMALE INTERVIEWER: But you're equipping them to become violent killers.
GENERAL REINWALD: Well, Ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute, but you're not one, are you?
The radio went silent and the interview ended.
You gotta love the Marines!!
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Treat others as you would be treated
Treat others as you would be treated.
Farmers welcome end to beef ban
British beef farmers have welcomed the lifting of a 10-year ban on exports, saying it is the "most positive news" for the industry in a decade.
The ban, lifted by the EU vets' committee, was enforced in 1996 to stop the spread of mad cow disease. The decision means the UK should be able to export live animals, beef and beef products in about six weeks. The National Farmers' Union said farmers would start as soon as possible to "recapture" their lost market share.
French wary of cat bird flu risk
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has urged cat owners not to let their pets stray into areas affected by bird flu.
The advice comes after a dead cat tested positive for the lethal H5N1 strain of the virus in Germany. The domestic cat, found on the virus-hit Baltic island of Ruegen, was the first EU mammal to die of bird flu. France is already vaccinating thousands of free-range poultry after 15 wild swans were found to have H5N1. "Adhering to the principle of precaution, cat owners are asked not to let them stray in zones where the H5N1 virus has been detected," Mr de Villepin said at his monthly press conference.
Does this mean that we can ban all meat imports from France for 10 years, and bring their farmers to the brink of financial ruin? Or would that send them running to the EU wringing their hands and screaming their heads off.
Farmers welcome end to beef ban
British beef farmers have welcomed the lifting of a 10-year ban on exports, saying it is the "most positive news" for the industry in a decade.
The ban, lifted by the EU vets' committee, was enforced in 1996 to stop the spread of mad cow disease. The decision means the UK should be able to export live animals, beef and beef products in about six weeks. The National Farmers' Union said farmers would start as soon as possible to "recapture" their lost market share.
French wary of cat bird flu risk
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has urged cat owners not to let their pets stray into areas affected by bird flu.
The advice comes after a dead cat tested positive for the lethal H5N1 strain of the virus in Germany. The domestic cat, found on the virus-hit Baltic island of Ruegen, was the first EU mammal to die of bird flu. France is already vaccinating thousands of free-range poultry after 15 wild swans were found to have H5N1. "Adhering to the principle of precaution, cat owners are asked not to let them stray in zones where the H5N1 virus has been detected," Mr de Villepin said at his monthly press conference.
Does this mean that we can ban all meat imports from France for 10 years, and bring their farmers to the brink of financial ruin? Or would that send them running to the EU wringing their hands and screaming their heads off.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Gone to HELL
Gone to HELL.
Allergic to the things that are part and parcel of the 21st Century.
I always say to people who are coming to visit us at home "Wear no body spray or after shave” this is to stop me getting an asthma attack, but do people listen to me, no way. I think the next uncaring bugger who does not listen will be asked to leave, maybe they will listen then.
Warning over male breast cancer
Men are dying needlessly from breast cancer because they are unaware of the symptoms or are too embarrassed to seek help, an expert on the disease says. Professor Ian Fentiman says around 250 men are diagnosed with the disease in the UK yearly - with 70 dying from it. But half of male patients are not diagnosed until their cancer is very advanced, the Guy's Hospital expert writes in an article for the Lancet. Common signs are a painless lump in the chest or an inwardly turned nipple but these can also be symptomatic of gynaecomastia - a harmless swelling under the nipple. Professor Fentiman said: "If diagnosed early enough, a man with breast cancer has between 75% - 100% chance of making a full recovery, but this can drop to as low as 30% for men with very advanced disease." He added: "The main concern is that it's just something about which most are totally ignorant. "If we look at the length of time it takes men who find a lump to go to their GP - it's about 16 months. "Men are just not thinking about it." He explained that this means that when they finally do reach hospital, their breast cancer is far advanced and the chances of survival rates are far lower.
If men shouted as much as women then maybe something would be done for us. But then again no one or nothing can be as loud as a woman who wants something.
Under-18s DNA records to continue
Police can keep storing the DNA profiles of thousands of children and young people, ministers have decided. Tory MP Grant Shapps last month pressed for the details of 24,000 under-18s never cautioned, charged or convicted to be removed from the police database. He claimed a national DNA database was being created by stealth. Police have been able to collect DNA samples and fingerprints from people they arrest for more than 20 years. And since 2001 they have been able to keep the DNA profiles even when people are not cautioned, charged or convicted.
Why, is it so important for this information to be available to the authorities? It can not possibly be to fight crime, try and get a police response to an urgent telephone call.
Non-emergency calls to cost 10p
A new hotline aimed at taking the pressure off the current 999 emergency service will cost 10p a call. The government wants people to call 101 to report vandalism, harassment, fly-tipping and other non-urgent cases. The service will be launched in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Northumbria, Leics, Rutland, South Yorkshire and South Wales later this year. The Home Office wants to ease the workload on the 999 system which receives 10 million calls a year. A Home Office spokesperson said: "Drug-related anti-social behaviour is one of the activities that will be covered by the single non-emergency number. "But calling in any crime that requires an emergency response will still be dealt with via the 999 service." The plans were first unveiled as part of a package of wide-ranging police reforms by then Home Secretary David Blunkett in November 2004. The new service will be rolled out nationwide in 2008.
How long before renta-cop becomes the norm?
Call for free condoms in prisons
Male and female prisoners should be given free condoms as part of measures to halt the spread of HIV and hepatitis in UK jails, two charities have said. Prison healthcare is inconsistent and often sub-standard, said the Prison Reform Trust and National Aids Trust. Over half of prisons have no sexual health policy despite HIV and hepatitis C being commonplace, the survey of prison healthcare managers found. Researchers found hepatitis C levels in prisons are 20 times higher than the rate in the general public, with 9% of male inmates and 11% of women infected. And HIV rates in male prisoners are 15 times higher than those of men not in jail.
Now I can understand the need to supply the men with condoms (do not agree with it, but can understand it. Better they used bromide), but why supply the women with condoms? Am I missing something in my education? If so please will someone explain what!!!!
It all reminds me of the expression “GONE TO HELL IN A HAND BASKET”.
Allergic to the things that are part and parcel of the 21st Century.
I always say to people who are coming to visit us at home "Wear no body spray or after shave” this is to stop me getting an asthma attack, but do people listen to me, no way. I think the next uncaring bugger who does not listen will be asked to leave, maybe they will listen then.
Warning over male breast cancer
Men are dying needlessly from breast cancer because they are unaware of the symptoms or are too embarrassed to seek help, an expert on the disease says. Professor Ian Fentiman says around 250 men are diagnosed with the disease in the UK yearly - with 70 dying from it. But half of male patients are not diagnosed until their cancer is very advanced, the Guy's Hospital expert writes in an article for the Lancet. Common signs are a painless lump in the chest or an inwardly turned nipple but these can also be symptomatic of gynaecomastia - a harmless swelling under the nipple. Professor Fentiman said: "If diagnosed early enough, a man with breast cancer has between 75% - 100% chance of making a full recovery, but this can drop to as low as 30% for men with very advanced disease." He added: "The main concern is that it's just something about which most are totally ignorant. "If we look at the length of time it takes men who find a lump to go to their GP - it's about 16 months. "Men are just not thinking about it." He explained that this means that when they finally do reach hospital, their breast cancer is far advanced and the chances of survival rates are far lower.
If men shouted as much as women then maybe something would be done for us. But then again no one or nothing can be as loud as a woman who wants something.
Under-18s DNA records to continue
Police can keep storing the DNA profiles of thousands of children and young people, ministers have decided. Tory MP Grant Shapps last month pressed for the details of 24,000 under-18s never cautioned, charged or convicted to be removed from the police database. He claimed a national DNA database was being created by stealth. Police have been able to collect DNA samples and fingerprints from people they arrest for more than 20 years. And since 2001 they have been able to keep the DNA profiles even when people are not cautioned, charged or convicted.
Why, is it so important for this information to be available to the authorities? It can not possibly be to fight crime, try and get a police response to an urgent telephone call.
Non-emergency calls to cost 10p
A new hotline aimed at taking the pressure off the current 999 emergency service will cost 10p a call. The government wants people to call 101 to report vandalism, harassment, fly-tipping and other non-urgent cases. The service will be launched in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Northumbria, Leics, Rutland, South Yorkshire and South Wales later this year. The Home Office wants to ease the workload on the 999 system which receives 10 million calls a year. A Home Office spokesperson said: "Drug-related anti-social behaviour is one of the activities that will be covered by the single non-emergency number. "But calling in any crime that requires an emergency response will still be dealt with via the 999 service." The plans were first unveiled as part of a package of wide-ranging police reforms by then Home Secretary David Blunkett in November 2004. The new service will be rolled out nationwide in 2008.
How long before renta-cop becomes the norm?
Call for free condoms in prisons
Male and female prisoners should be given free condoms as part of measures to halt the spread of HIV and hepatitis in UK jails, two charities have said. Prison healthcare is inconsistent and often sub-standard, said the Prison Reform Trust and National Aids Trust. Over half of prisons have no sexual health policy despite HIV and hepatitis C being commonplace, the survey of prison healthcare managers found. Researchers found hepatitis C levels in prisons are 20 times higher than the rate in the general public, with 9% of male inmates and 11% of women infected. And HIV rates in male prisoners are 15 times higher than those of men not in jail.
Now I can understand the need to supply the men with condoms (do not agree with it, but can understand it. Better they used bromide), but why supply the women with condoms? Am I missing something in my education? If so please will someone explain what!!!!
It all reminds me of the expression “GONE TO HELL IN A HAND BASKET”.
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